SYSTEM FOR DISTENDING BODY TISSUE CAVITIES BY CONTINUOUS FLOW IRRIGATION

摘要

The present invention provides a system and a method for distending a body tissue cavity of a subject by continuous flow irrigation such that minimal or negligible fluid turbulence is present inside the cavity, such that any desired cavity pressure can be created and maintained for any desired outflow rate. The present invention also provides a method for accurately determining the rate of fluid loss, into the subject's body system, during any endoscopic procedure without utilizing any deficit weight or fluid volume calculation or flow rate sensor. The system and the methods of the present invention described above can be used in any endoscopic procedure requiring continuous flow irrigation few examples of such endoscopic procedures being hysteroscopic surgery, arthroscopic surgery, trans uretheral surgery, endoscopic surgery of the brain and endoscopic surgery of the spine.

主权项

1. A system for distending body tissue cavities of subjects by continuous flow irrigation during endoscopic procedures, said system comprising:
a fluid source reservoir containing a low viscosity physiologic fluid; a fluid supply conduit tube connecting the fluid source reservoir to an inlet port of a variable speed positive displacement inflow pump and an outlet port of the said inflow pump being connectable to an inflow port of an endoscope through an inflow tube for pumping the fluid at a controlled flow rate into the body tissue cavity, the flow rate of the said inflow pump being termed as the inflow rate; an outflow port of an endoscope being connectable to an inlet port of a variable speed positive displacement outflow pump through an outflow tube for removing the fluid from the body tissue cavity at a controlled flow rate, the flow rate of the said outflow pump being termed as the outflow rate; the said inflow rate being always greater than the outflow rate; an outlet port of the outflow pump being connected to a waste fluid collecting container; a tube having a controllable constriction site provided between the fluid source reservoir and the inflow tube such that the tube by-passes the inflow pump, wherein the tube provides a route for a part of the fluid being pumped by the inflow pump to bypass the inflow pump into the fluid supply tube to maintain a constant cavity pressure in the body tissue cavity.