Surgical irrigation system

• US 20040097872A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Felix, Augustus, Delk, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• 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,

said console including terminals on which a direct voltage is produced, and a seat for mechanically supporting said disposable pump unit,

said pump unit including a pump/motor module including a pump, a motor for driving the pump, a housing for said pump and motor, and contacts on said housing electrically connected to the motor, said housing being shaped so that when the pump/motor module is placed in said console seat, the module is mechanically supported and the console terminals are in electrical contact with the contacts on the module connected to the motor.

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, and an outlet flow tube connecting said module to said handpiece.

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

4. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said console includes means for converting an alternating voltage to said direct voltage.

5. 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.

6. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein the contacts in said pump/motor module are spring biased outwardly from said housing.

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

8. 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.

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

10. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 1, wherein said console includes means for mounting the console on a pole in proximity to a source of irrigation liquid.

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

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

13. 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.

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

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. For use with a surgical irrigation system which includes a reusable console having terminals on which a direct voltage is produced and a seat for mechanically supporting a disposable pump unit, a disposable pump unit comprising

a pump/motor module including

a pump,

a motor for driving said pump,

a housing retaining said pump and motor,

contacts on said housing 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 and the console terminals are in electrical contact with the contacts connected to the motor.

17. A disposable pump unit according to claim 16, further including a handpiece having at least one valve for initiating the flow of irrigation liquid connected to said outlet tube.

18. A disposable pump unit according to claim 17, 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.

19. A surgical irrigation system, comprising

a pump having an inlet and an outlet,

a motor for driving the pump,

a flow sensor, said flow sensor comprising a float movable in a float chamber between upper and lower positions in the outlet of the pump, means for producing an optical beam which is blocked when the float is in a first position, and means for producing a voltage in response to movement of the float relative to the optical beam, the voltage produced when said optical beam is affected by said float (air immunity voltage) being greater than the voltage produced when said IR beam is affected by an air bubble.

20. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 19, further including means responsive to the voltage produced by the sensor when the optical beam is affected by the float, but not by an air bubble, for actuating said motor to drive the pump.

21. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 21, wherein said motor is responsive to a voltage from said sensor lower than said air immunity voltage after said motor has been actuated by said air immunity voltage.

22. A surgical irrigation system, comprising a reusable console and a disposable pump unit,

said pump unit including a pump/motor module including a pump, a motor for driving the pump, a handpiece having an irrigation valve, and a flow sensing device comprising a float movable in a float chamber between upper and lower positions in the outlet of the pump, and

a console including means for supporting said disposable pump unit, means for applying a voltage to said pump/motor module for operating said motor, and a sensor for producing an optical beam when the disposable pump unit is supported by said console and for producing a control voltage depending on the float position relative to said optical beam for turning said motor on.

23. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 22, wherein said console includes power prime means for turning said motor on to facilitate priming of the pump when the disposable pump unit contains air.

24. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 22, wherein said sensor produces an air immunity voltage when the optical beam is blocked by said float, said air immunity voltage being greater than the voltage produced by said sensor when the optical beam is blocked by an air bubble.

25. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 24, wherein said console includes a control circuit which is responsive to said air immunity voltage for actuating said motor to drive the pump.

26. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 25, wherein said motor is further responsive to a voltage from said sensor which is lower than said air immunity voltage after the motor has been actuated by said air immunity voltage for a predetermined period of time.

27. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 25, wherein said console includes power prime means for turning said motor on when the disposable pump unit contains air.

28. A surgical irrigation system according to claim 26, wherein, after a predetermined time interval, the motor can only be turned on by a sensor output voltage equal to or greater than said air immunity voltage.