Surgical irrigation system incorporating flow sensor device
First Claim
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1. A surgical irrigation system comprising:
- a manually moveable handpiece having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, said handpiece being adapted for use by a surgeon adjacent a fluid source located at a position spaced apart from and at a level that is higher than said handpiece;
a flexible conduit extending from said fluid source to said handpiece to allow for feed of fluid to said handpiece;
a flow sensor device supported adjacent said fluid source, said flow sensor device having an inlet port, an outlet port, fluid flow chamber, switch means sensitive to fluid flow capable of activating and deactivating a fluid accelerator in communication with the fluid source which causes increased fluid flow through said handpiece and to said surgical site; and
handpiece control means carried by said handpiece to open and close flow of said fluid from said handpiece, whereby initiation of gravity flow by said handpiece hydraulically activates said switch means associated with the fluid chamber causing said switch means to activate said accelerator to increase the fluid flow rate through said handpiece.
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Abstract
A surgical irrigation system utilizing a flow sensor device; upon sensing fluid flow, the flow sensor device activates a fluid acceleration or pumping mechanism to pump fluid to a surgical site; the flow sensor device is capable of being conveniently located between an elevated source of fluid and a surgical handpiece; since the flow sensor device activates the pumping mechanism, the surgical handpiece is liberated from use of an electrical-type switch to activate the pumping mechanism, and, instead, is provided with a valve for mechanically starting and stopping fluid flow.
222 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical irrigation system comprising:
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a manually moveable handpiece having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, said handpiece being adapted for use by a surgeon adjacent a fluid source located at a position spaced apart from and at a level that is higher than said handpiece;
a flexible conduit extending from said fluid source to said handpiece to allow for feed of fluid to said handpiece;
a flow sensor device supported adjacent said fluid source, said flow sensor device having an inlet port, an outlet port, fluid flow chamber, switch means sensitive to fluid flow capable of activating and deactivating a fluid accelerator in communication with the fluid source which causes increased fluid flow through said handpiece and to said surgical site; and
handpiece control means carried by said handpiece to open and close flow of said fluid from said handpiece, whereby initiation of gravity flow by said handpiece hydraulically activates said switch means associated with the fluid chamber causing said switch means to activate said accelerator to increase the fluid flow rate through said handpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21)
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15. A flow sensor device connected to a surgical suction or irrigation system for performing suction or irrigation at an operative site in a surgical patient, comprising:
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a fluid flow chamber having an inlet port connected to a fluid source and an outlet port connected to provide fluid to said operative site;
detection means in said flow chamber, said detection means being sensitive to fluid flow through said chamber; and
switch means operative in response to said detection means for activating and deactivating an accelerator to increase the flow of said fluid through said fluid flow chamber and to said surgical system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification