Efficient continuous flow irrigation system

• US 8,911,363 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• 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:
  US13/540,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20120271110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 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 continuous flow irrigation 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 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 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 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 equal to a cross-sectional area of the inner tube,

wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is 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.

2. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is at least equal to a cross-sectional area of the inner tube.

3. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the inner tube is a surgical channel for an instrument selected from the group consisting of an electrosurgical cutting loop, electrode, electrosurgical instrument, roller ball electrode and right angle electrode.

4. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the plurality of perforations allow irrigation fluid to enter a tissue cavity undergoing a surgical procedure.

5. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the outflow port has an elliptical or round cross-section.

6. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the outflow port has an elliptical cross-section.

7. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the inflow port is in communication with an inflow pump and wherein the outflow port is in communication with an outflow pump.

8. A continuous flow irrigation system, comprising:

a resectoscope-based endoscope comprising;

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 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 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 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 equal to a cross-sectional area of the inner tube,

wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is 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,

an inflow pump connected to the inflow port of the resectoscope-based endoscope; and

an outflow pump connected to the outflow port of the resectoscope-based endoscope.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the inflow pump and the outflow pump is a peristaltic pump, piston pump, gear pump or diaphragm pump.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the inflow pump is connected to a fluid source reservoir, and wherein the system further comprises a tube having a variable size constriction site provided between the fluid source reservoir and the inflow port of the resectoscope-based endoscope, the tube providing a route for any excess fluid being pumped by the inflow pump to bypass the inflow pump.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the resectoscope-based endoscope further comprises an optical channel located inside the inner lumen, the optical channel being about parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer and inner sheaths.

12. A continuous flow irrigation system for an endoscopic procedure, the system comprising:

an endoscope comprising;

the endoscope comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end;

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

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

wherein the endoscope further comprises;

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

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

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

wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is 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 lumens touch each other at their distal most ends, the distally located opening representing openings of both the lumens at a position where the lumens make a fluid tight contact with each other, and

wherein the inner channel accommodates an optical channel

a first peristaltic pump connecting a fluid source reservoir to the inflow port of the endoscope via an inflow tube;

a second peristaltic pump connecting a waste fluid reservoir to the outflow port of the endoscope; and

a tube having a controllable constriction site provided between the fluid source reservoir and the inflow port of the endoscope, the tube providing a route for any excess fluid being pumped by the first peristaltic pump to bypass the first peristaltic pump.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the inner lumen of the endoscope is configured to allow passage of a surgical instrument to effectuate at least a surgical procedure on tissue of a body cavity.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of hysteroscopic endometrial resection, hysteroscopic fibroid resection, hysteroscopic polyp resection, hysteroscopic septoplasty, hysteroscopic adhesiolysis, hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, trans uretheral resection of the prostate, transuretheral resection of bladder tumors and arthroscopy.