Surgical apparatus providing tool access and replaceable irrigation pump cartridge

• US 6,375,653 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allegiance Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allegiance Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Desai, Ashvin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/492,964
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/49, 606/37-40, 606/46, 606/48-50, 606/210, 604/131, 604/151, 604/152, 417/395, 417/311
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit

Abstract

A surgical apparatus having an elongated probe assembly providing passage for irrigation and evacuation, as well as for inserting surgical tools such as an endoscope, RF electrodes and cutting tools. The probe assembly has a light weight handle for accurate positioning of the probe. An irrigation port is connected by way of a tube assembly to an irrigation pump having a novel, inexpensive, replaceable cartridge. An evacuation port on the probe assembly is connected to a tube assembly leading to an evacuation pump.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a probe assembly including

(i) an elongated probe for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body interior, said probe having at least one bore therethrough;

(ii) irrigation means providing passage of fluids for irrigating said body interior; and

(iii) evacuation means providing passage for evacuating matter from said body interior;

(b) pump means remotely located from said probe assembly for pumping irrigation fluid from a source of said fluid through said irrigation means into said body interior, said pump means including

(i) a replaceable pump cartridge; and

(ii) a motor drive unit for empowering said pump cartridge.

2. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said pump cartridge includes

(a) a cartridge housing having

(i) a pump cavity;

(ii) one way valve inlet means allowing passage of fluid into said cavity;

(iii) one way valve outlet means allowing passage of fluid from said cavity;

(b) a resilient diaphragm attached to said housing, forming a wall of said cavity;

whereby when oscillating pressure is applied to said diaphragm, said pump cartridge is operative to cause fluid to flow into said inlet means and out said outlet means.

3. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 further comprising

tubing assembly means for interconnecting said pump cartridge and said irrigation means.

4. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 further comprising

handle means for use by an operator in positioning said probe assembly.

5. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said bore is sealed at a proximal end of said probe assembly by a sealed port for sealable passage of a surgical tool into said bore.

6. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 5 wherein said sealed port has a bicuspid valve.

7. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said motor drive unit includes

(a) a motor;

and

(b) diaphragm compressor means configured to supply reciprocating drive motion to said diaphragm when driven by said motor.

8. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 7 wherein said diaphragm compressor means includes

(a) diaphragm actuator means including a piston connected to a rod, said piston having a convex surface for compressing said diaphragm;

(b) a sleeve means for guiding said piston;

(c) crank means for transforming rotational movement of said motor to reciprocating motion of said piston.

9. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 8 wherein said piston is of a ball shape, rigidly attached to said rod.

10. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a probe assembly including

(i) an elongated probe for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body interior, said probe having at least one bore therethrough, said bore being sealed at a proximal end of said port assembly by a valve for sealable passage of a surgical tool into said bore;

(ii) irrigation means providing passage of fluids for irrigating said body interior; and

(iii) evacuation means providing passage for evacuating matter from said body interior;

(b) pump means remotely located from said probe assembly for pumping irrigation fluid from a source of said fluid through said irrigation means into said body interior, said pump means including

(i) a replaceable pump cartridge; and

(ii) a motor drive unit for empowering said pump cartridge.

11. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 10 wherein said pump cartridge includes

a) a cartridge housing having

(i) a pump cavity

(ii) one way valve inlet means allowing passage of fluid into said cavity;

(iii) one way valve outlet means allowing passage of fluid from said cavity;

(b) a resilient diaphragm attached to said housing, forming a wall of said cavity;

whereby when oscillating pressure is applied to said diaphragm, said pump cartridge is operative to cause fluid to flow into said inlet means and out said outlet means.

12. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 10 further comprising

tubing assembly means for interconnecting said pump cartridge and said irrigation means.

13. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 10 further comprising

handle means for use by an operator in positioning said probe assembly.

14. A surgical tool as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

(a) electro surgical apparatus including

(i) a rotatable probe inserted into and electrically insulated from one of said bores, said rotatale probe having at least one conductive plate attached;

(ii) motor means having means for attachment to and for rotating said rotatable probe;

(iii) center conductor means providing an electrically conductive path for conducting RF energy to said at least one conductive plate;

(b) an opening in said one of said bores positioned for said conductive plate to pass over as said probe is rotated; and

(c) connector means for conducting RF energy from an RF generator to said electrically conductive path.

15. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 10 wherein said motor drive unit includes

(a) a motor;

and

(b) diaphragm compressor means configured to supply reciprocating drive motion to said diaphragm when driven by said motor.

16. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 15 wherein said diaphragm compressor means includes

(a) diaphragm actuator means including a piston connected to a rod, said piston having a convex surface for compressing said diaphragm;

(b) a sleeve means for guiding said piston;

(c) crank means for transforming rotational movement of said motor of reciprocating motion of said piston.

17. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 16 wherein said piston is of a ball shape, rigidly attached to said rod.

18. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a probe assembly including

(i) an elongated probe for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body interior, said probe having at least one bore therethrough;

(ii) irrigation means providing passage of fluids for irrigating said body interior; and

(iii) evacuation means providing passage for evacuating matter from said body interior;

(b) pump means remotely located from said probe assembly for pumping irrigation fluid from a source of said fluid through said irrigation means into said body interior, said pump means including

(i) a replaceable pump cartridge;

(ii) a motor;

(iii) diaphragm actuator means including a piston connected to a rod, said piston having a convex surface for compressing said diaphragm;

(iv) a sleeve means for guiding said piston; and

(v) crank means for transforming rotational movement of said motor of reciprocating motion of said piston.

19. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 18 wherein said pump cartridge includes

a) a cartridge housing having

(i) a pump cavity

(ii) one way valve inlet means allowing passage of fluid into said cavity;

(iii) one way valve outlet means allowing passage of fluid from said cavity;

(b) a resilient diaphragm attached to said housing, forming a wall of said cavity;

whereby when oscillating pressure is applied to said diaphragm, said pump cartridge is operative to cause fluid to flow into said inlet means and out said outlet means.

20. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 18 further comprising

tubing assembly means for interconnecting said pump cartridge and said irrigation means.

21. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 18 further comprising

handle means for use by an operator in positioning said probe assembly.

22. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 18 wherein said bore is sealed at a proximal end of said port assembly by a sealed probe for sealable passage of a surgical tool into said bore.

23. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 22 wherein said sealed port has a bicuspid valve.

24. A surgical tool as recited in claim 18 further comprising:

(a) electro surgical apparatus including

(i) a rotatable probe inserted into and electrically insulated from one of said bores, said rotatale probe having at least one conductive plate attached;

(ii) motor means having means for attachment to and for rotating said rotatable probe;

(iii) center conductor means providing an electrically conductive path for conducting RF energy to said at least one conductive plate;

(b) an opening in said one of said bores positioned for said conductive plate to pass over as said probe is rotated; and

(c) connector means for conducting RF energy from an RF generator to said electrically conductive path.

25. A surgical instrument as recited in claim 18 wherein said piston is of a ball shape, rigidly attached to said rod.