Efficient continuous flow irrigation system

• US 8,226,549 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alka Kumar, Atul Kumar
• Original Assignee: Alka Kumar, Atul Kumar
• Inventors: Kumar, Alka, Kumar, Atul
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/871,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 600105-107, 600121-125, 600/153, 600155-156, 600/158
• US Class Current: 600/156
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• 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 1/893 with extraction of specific components, e.g. of stem cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3341 stabilising pressure or flow to avoid excessive variation
• 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 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps

Abstract

A continuous flow irrigation endoscope and a continuous flow irrigation fluid management system, both designed to be compatible to each other and meant to function as a single system. The endoscope and the fluid management system are synergistic to each other such that both enhance the efficiency of each other. The system allows a body tissue cavity to be distended by continuous flow irrigation so that the detached tissue pieces and waste fluid present inside a body tissue cavity are continuously automatically evacuated from the tissue cavity without causing the cavity to collapse at any stage and without the need of withdrawing the endoscope or a part of the endoscope from the tissue cavity.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a continuous fluid flow through and within a body tissue cavity during an endoscopic procedure, comprising the steps of:

providing a continuous flow irrigation endoscope at least partially within a tissue cavity, the endoscope comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end;

an outer tube, wherein at least a portion of the outer tube has a first diameter;

an inner tube located within the outer tube, the inner tube having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter, wherein the inner tube further defines within the outer tube a closed cavity within the body of the endoscope, the closed cavity surrounding an entire circumference of the inner tube; and

wherein the endoscope further comprises;

an inflow port formed on an outer circumferential portion of the outer tube at about a proximal end thereof and being configured to allow fluid to enter through the outer tube and into the closed cavity;

a plurality of perforations formed on an outer circumferential portion of the outer tube at about a distal end thereof and being configured to allow fluid to exit the closed cavity;

an outflow port formed on an outer circumferential portion of the inner tube at about a proximal end thereof and being configured to allow fluid and/or tissue debris to exit the body of the endoscope through the inner tube;

wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is about equal to a cross-sectional area of the inner tube,

wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is about equal to a cross-sectional area of a distally located opening being in communication with the outflow port, and wherein the inner and the outer tubes touch each other at their distal most ends, the distally located opening representing openings of both the tubes at a position where the tubes make a fluid tight contact with each other, and

wherein the inner channel accommodates an optical channel;

providing an inflow peristaltic pump in communication with the inflow port of the endoscope, to provide fluid into the tissue cavity;

providing an outflow peristaltic pump in communication with the outflow port of the endoscope, to remove fluid from the tissue cavity through the tube of the endoscope;

selecting an outflow rotational speed for the outflow peristaltic pump;

selecting a maximum flow rate at which fluid enters the tissue cavity and, based on the maximum flow rate, selecting an inflow rotational speed for the inflow peristaltic pump;

activating the inflow peristaltic pump and the outflow peristaltic pump, to allow fluid to flow through the inflow port of the endoscope and into the tissue cavity, and from the tissue cavity through the outflow port of the endoscope, so that pressure inside the tissue cavity rises to a set pressure cavity; and

maintaining the set pressure cavity for a period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of maintaining the set pressure cavity for a period of time is achieved by simultaneously increasing the inflow rotational speed and the outflow rotational speed by same numerical amount.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of maintaining the set pressure cavity for a period of time is achieved by simultaneously decreasing the inflow rotational speed and the outflow rotational speed by same numerical amount.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a constriction tube having a controllable constriction site between the inflow port of the endoscope and the inflow pump such that the constriction tube provides a route for any excess fluid being pumped by the inflow pump or due to the physiologic contraction of walls of the body cavity, therefore avoiding turbulence inside the body cavity and maintaining a stable pressure inside the body cavity.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of gradually reducing the diameter of the controllable constriction site to a fixed diameter until the set pressure cavity is achieved.