Surgical irrigation system

• US 7,632,248 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Delk, Michael, Felix, Augustus
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhisma
• Application Number:
  US10/380,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20040097872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,007 Days
• Field of Search: 604 30- 33, 604151-153, 604/27, 604/29, 604246-249, 604/254
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7413 by changing the cross-section of the line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0212 after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0266 Stands, holders or storage means for irrigation devices containers with storage means for cannula A61M3/0245

Abstract

A surgical irrigation system comprises a reusable console and a disposable pump unit. The disposable pump unit includes a pump/motor module which includes a pump and a motor for driving the pump. The module is adapted to be mechanically supported within a seat in the console. The console produces a direct voltage at a pair of terminals within the seat. When the pump/motor is placed within the seat, the console terminals are connected to contacts on the module to provide a source of direct voltage for the pump motor. In the preferred embodiment, the disposable unit includes a handpiece and an irrigation valve. A flow sensing device within the outlet tube if the pump/motor module is actuated when the valve is open to turn the motor on and drive the pump. When the valve is closed, the flow sensing device turns the motor off.

Claims

1. A surgical irrigation system, comprising a reusable console and a disposable pump unit comprising a pump unit housing that is separate from the console and is insertable therein,

said console including a transformer for producing a direct current, terminals on which a direct current from said transformer is produced, and a seat for mechanically supporting said pump unit after insertion of the pump unit into a cavity of the console, the seat shaped to substantially fit the pump unit housing and

a wire operatively connected to the console,

said pump unit including a pump/motor module including a pump, a motor for driving the pump, and an irrigation outlet tube that is operatively coupled to the pump to allow fluid to be transferred therethrough to a remote location, said pump unit housing containing said pump and motor, and contacts on said housing electrically connected to the motor, said housing being shaped so that when the pump unit is placed in said console seat, the pump unit is mechanically supported by the console and the console terminals are in electrical contact with the contacts on the pump unit housing connected to the motor, wherein the seat in the console includes a longitudinal passage for receiving the outlet tube and permitting the outlet tube to extend through and exit the console at a select location, the longitudinal passage being partially open along a longitudinal direction and open at a top of the console to allow lateral insertion of the outlet tube into the longitudinal passage and located so as to allow the pump unit to be inserted and slidingly travel longitudinally within the cavity until reaching a position where the console terminals are in electrical contact with the contacts on the pump unit housing.

2. A surgical irrigation system, according to claim 1, wherein said disposable pump unit includes an inlet flow tube for connecting the pump/motor module to a source of irrigating fluid, a handpiece having at least one valve for initiating the flow of irrigation liquid, the irrigation outlet tube connecting said module to said handpiece.

3. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 2, further including a flow sensing means in said console responsive to the flow of liquid in said irrigation outlet tube for starting and stopping the motor.

4. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 2, wherein said console includes means for converting an alternating current to said direct current.

5. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 2, wherein said console includes means for varying the voltage applied to said terminals.

6. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 2, wherein said pump/motor module includes a flow responsive device and said console includes a sensor responsive to said flow responsive device for turning said motor on and off.

7. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 2, wherein said console includes a control circuit for selectively applying said direct current to said terminals when the pump/motor is seated in the console.

8. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said pump/motor module and console include cooperating elements which prevent lateral movement of the module relative to the console.

9. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein the contacts on the pump unit are spring biased outwardly from said housing.

10. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said console includes means for varying the voltage applied to said terminals.

11. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 10, wherein the means for varying the voltage applied to the terminals is a switch.

12. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said pump/motor module includes a flow responsive device and said console includes a sensor responsive to said flow responsive device for turning said motor on and off.

13. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said console includes a control circuit for selectively applying said direct current to said terminals when the pump unit is seated in the console.

14. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said console includes means for mounting the console on a pole.

15. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said console includes means responsive to the current flow to the motor for turning the motor off when the current is below a predetermined level.

16. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein the console seat comprises an upper seat portion and a lower seat portion and each portion is adapted to receive features on the pump unit housing.

17. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein the console includes recessed longitudinal channels to permit insertion of the module in only one orientation within the cavity and the pump unit housing includes longitudinal ramps that are configured to be received within the recessed longitudinal channels for seating the pump unit within the console cavity as the pump unit housing is inserted therein, the console terminals being formed within the recessed longitudinal channels and the contacts on the housing being formed on the longitudinal ramps of said housing and located such that when the longitudinal ramps travel longitudinally within the recessed longitudinal channels, the console terminals are placed into electrical contact with the contacts on the pump unit.

18. For use with a surgical irrigation system which includes a reusable console containing a transformer, terminals on which a direct current is produced, a seat for mechanically supporting a disposable pump unit and permitting insertion of the disposable pump unit into a cavity formed in the console, the cavity including recessed longitudinal channels to permit insertion of the disposable pump unit in only one orientation, wherein the terminals are located within the longitudinal channels and a wire operatively coupled to the console, the disposable pump unit comprising:

a pump/motor module including;

a pump,

a motor for driving said pump,

a housing enclosing said pump and motor, the housing including longitudinal ramps that are received within the recessed longitudinal channels for seating the pump unit within the console cavity,

contacts disposed on the longitudinal ramps of said housing, the contacts being connected to said motor, and

inlet and outlet flow tubes, said housing being shaped so that when the pump/motor module is placed in said console seat, the module is mechanically supported but readily disengaged from the seat, and the terminals located within the recessed longitudinal channels are in electrical contact with the contacts disposed along the ramps and connected to the motor, the longitudinal ramps traveling within the recessed longitudinal channels prior to the contacts being placed in electrical contact with the terminals,

wherein the seat is shaped to support the housing of the disposable pump unit.

19. A disposable pump unit according to claim 18, further including a handpiece having at least one valve for initiating the flow of irrigation liquid connected to said outlet tube.

20. A disposable pump unit according to claim 19, further including a flow responsive device in said pump/motor module responsive to the flow of liquid in said outlet tube when said valve is open.

21. A disposable pump unit according to claim 18, wherein the cavity is open along a top and a side of the console and is configured to enclose only three sides of the module, while a front side of the module is exposed when the module is seated.

22. A disposable pump unit according to claim 18, wherein the cavity is defined by a console floor and a shelf on which a cap of the housing rests when the module is seated within the console.

23. A disposable pump unit according to claim 18, wherein reception of longitudinal ramps in the recessed longitudinal channels prevents forward and rearward motion of the module, while allowing longitudinal movement of the module within the cavity.

24. A surgical irrigation system, comprising a reusable console and a disposable pump unit comprising a pump unit housing that is separate from the console and is insertable therein,

said console including a transformer for producing a direct current, terminals on which a direct current from said transformer is produced, and a seat for mechanically supporting said pump unit after insertion of the pump unit into a cavity of the console, the seat shaped to substantially support the pump unit housing and includes shelves on which the pump unit rests, the shelves being formed intermediate opposing ends of the cavity, the shelves being formed at entrances to a pair of recesses formed in the console which receive the pump unit housing and in which an electrical connection is formed between the pump unit and the console, the cavity being open along a front side thereof, the cavity being open along a longitudinal direction of the console such that the console is open along a front side thereof and is open in a longitudinal direction of the console, and

a wire operatively connected to the console,

said pump unit including a pump/motor module including a pump, a motor for driving the pump, and an outlet tube that is operatively coupled to the pump, said pump unit housing containing said pump and motor, and contacts on said housing electrically connected to the motor, said housing being shaped so that when the pump unit is inserted into said cavity of said console and when seated against the shelves, the pump unit is mechanically supported by the console and the console terminals are in electrical contact with the contacts on the pump unit housing connected to the motor, the pump unit being accessible and exposed along the open front side of the console to allow the pump unit to be disengaged from the console by pushing upwardly on a bottom of the pump unit.