Methods and devices for pumping fluid and performing surgical procedures

• US 6,958,058 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medsafe, LLC
• Original Assignee: Medsafe, Inc.
• Inventors: Fowler, Reginald, Hunter, Donald W. Sr., Coplin, Allan, Cerola, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US10/454,920
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/27, 604/28, 604/30, 604/35, 604/43, 604/500, 604/31, 604/514, 604/149, 604/151, 604/264, 604/246, 604/247, 604/540, 604/543, 604/249, 604/167.01, 604/167.03, 417/377, 417/405, 128/DIG.12, 128/DIG.13, 415/141, 415/904, 418/236, 418/249, 418/141, 418/266, 418/259, 418/13, 418/267, 418/268, 433/132
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 415/904 Tool drive turbine, e.g. dental drill

Abstract

Devices and methods of use of such devices for pumping fluid and for use in surgical procedures preferably include vacuum-driven pumps for providing irrigation and suction functions to the surgical field. Such pumps may be freestanding, external to or integrated into handpieces of the surgical instruments.

Claims

1. A pump, comprising:

a pumping chamber having an inlet;

a rotating hub and blade assembly disposed in said pumping chamber, said rotating hub and blade assembly including blades being mutually offset on said hub at substantially 90°

angles, each of said blades being fixed to said hub by a connecting device;

a connection to a fluid source; and

a connection to an air source.

2. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the fluid source is an irrigation source and the air source is a suction source.

3. The pump according to claim 1, further comprising a pump body enclosing said pumping chamber and said rotating hub and blade assembly.

4. A pump, comprising:

a pumping chamber having an inlet;

a rotating hub and blade assembly disposed in said pumping chamber;

a dividing wall defining and separating said pumping chamber from an air motor chamber;

another rotating hub and blade assembly disposed in said air motor chamber;

a connection to a fluid source; and

a connection to an air source.

5. The pump according to claim 4, wherein said pumping chamber and said air motor chamber defined by said dividing wall have different volumes.

6. The pump according to claim 4, further comprising a shaft passing through said dividing wall and having a seal sealing said shaft at an opening in said dividing wall, said shaft connected to said rotating hub and blade assembly.

7. A pump, comprising:

a pumping chamber having an inlet;

a rotating hub and blade assembly disposed in said pumping chamber, said rotating hub and blade assembly in said pumping chamber including blades being mutually offset on said hub;

an air motor chamber having an inlet;

a rotating hub and blade assembly disposed in said air motor chamber, said rotating hub and blade assembly in said air motor chamber including blades being mutually offset on said hub;

each of said chambers having a respective end cap, said end cap of said air motor chamber having ports and blind pockets formed therein for conducting air to create different pressures at surfaces of said blades in said air motor chamber for rotating said blades;

a connection to a fluid source; and

a connection to an air source.

8. The pump according to claim 7, wherein said blades are biased against an inner wall surface of said air motor chamber by springs.

9. The pump according to claim 8, further comprising posts inserted in bores formed in said hub and engaging one end of said springs, another end of said springs being inserted in said bores formed in said blades.

10. A pump, comprising:

a pumping chamber having an inlet;

a rotating hub and blade assembly disposed in said pumping chamber;

a pump body enclosing said pumping chamber and said rotating hub and blade assembly, said pump body being transparent for visually monitoring a pumping operation;

a connection to a fluid source; and

a connection to an air source.

11. A method for providing fluid, which comprises:

a) providing a pump having a rotating hub and blade assembly and being connected to a source for fluid and a source for air, the rotating hub and blade assembly including blades being offset from one another on the hub at substantially 90°

angles, each of the blades being fixed to the hub by a connecting device ensuring constant spacing between the blades;

b) driving the pump with a vacuum; and

c) pumping the fluid to a site.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fluid source is an irrigation source, the air source is a suction source and the site is a surgical site.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the pump includes a pump body enclosing the rotating hub and blade assembly.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising carrying out the method in a procedure selected from the group consisting of laparoscopy, open surgery, orthopedics, oral surgery, arthroscopy, endoscopy, wound cleansing, liposuction and gynecology.

15. A method for providing fluid, which comprises:

a) providing a pump having a rotating hub and blade assembly and being connected to a source for fluid and a source for air;

b) biasing blades of the rotating hub and blade assembly against an inner wall surface of an air motor chamber containing the rotating hub and blade assembly;

c) driving the pump with a vacuum; and

d) pumping the fluid to a site.

16. The method according to claim 15, which further comprises admitting air through ports and blind pockets formed in an end cap of the air motor chamber to create different pressures at surfaces of the blades for rotating the blades of the rotating hub and blade assembly.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the fluid source is an irrigation source, the air source is a suction source and the site is a surgical site.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the pump includes a pump body enclosing the rotating hub and blade assembly.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising carrying out the method in a procedure selected from the group consisting of laparoscopy, open surgery, orthopedics, oral surgery, arthroscopy, endoscopy, wound cleansing, liposuction and gynecology.

20. A method for providing fluid, which comprises:

a) providing a pump connected to a source for fluid and a source for air and having a pumping chamber with a rotating hub and blade assembly and an air motor chamber with another rotating hub and blade assembly;

b) driving the other rotating hub and blade assembly of the air motor chamber with a vacuum; and

c) pumping the fluid from the pumping chamber to a site.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid source is an irrigation source, the air source is a suction source and the site is a surgical site.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising carrying out the method in a procedure selected from the group consisting of laparoscopy, open surgery, orthopedics, oral surgery, arthroscopy, endoscopy, wound cleansing, liposuction and gynecology.