Fluid Management System with Compressible Chamber and Bypass Conduit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid management systems for surgical irrigation face challenges with reduced fluid flow rates and fluctuating pressures, leading to poor visualization and potential tissue barotrauma during procedures like knee arthroscopy, as they often result in excessively high pressures and lack a safety mechanism to release pressure build-ups.
Innovation Solution
A fluid management system featuring a compressible chamber and a bypass conduit with one-way valves that allows for selective pressure regulation, enabling a transition from an open to a closed system for increased pressure during debris flushing, while maintaining consistent fluid flow and pressure through a wide-diameter bypass conduit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a conventional closed system with one-way valves is used to pump fluid, then fluid pressure can be increased for flushing, but fluid flow rate is reduced and pressure becomes excessive leading to tissue barotrauma
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate pathways: a bypass conduit that allows free fluid flow from the reservoir to the surgical site, and a pumping chamber with one-way valves for controlled pressure application. This segmentation enables the flow path and pressure generation path to operate independently, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high flow rate and generating high pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass conduit acts as an intermediary element that decouples the relationship between pressure generation and fluid delivery. By providing a separate return path for fluid, it allows the pumping chamber to generate pressure without restricting the overall fluid flow rate through the surgical site.
2Productivity
If a conventional closed system with one-way valves is used, then fluid can be pumped to clear debris, but pressure accumulates excessively without a safety mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the potential harmful effect of pressure accumulation into a beneficial safety feature. The bypass conduit, which normally allows free flow, becomes a pressure relief mechanism when intra-articular pressure exceeds reservoir pressure, automatically preventing tissue barotrauma while enabling high-pressure flushing when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic pressure feedback through the bypass conduit. When pressure at the surgical site exceeds reservoir pressure, fluid automatically flows back through the bypass conduit, creating a negative feedback loop that prevents excessive pressure accumulation and protects against tissue barotrauma.
3Illumination intensity
If pressure is increased for flushing the surgical site, then visualization is improved, but the risk of capsular rupture and compartment syndrome increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic pressure control, allowing the practitioner to manually pump the chamber to achieve high pressure for flushing and visualization when needed, while the bypass conduit automatically relieves pressure when it becomes excessive. This dynamic adjustment capability enables optimal visualization while minimizing the risk of capsular rupture and compartment syndrome.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system achieves consistent and controlled fluid flow and pressure, reducing the risk of tissue barotrauma by allowing high-pressure flushing while preventing excessively high intra-articular pressures, thus improving surgical visualization and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible chamber (10) having an inlet end (16) and an outlet end (17)... wherein manual compression of the compressible chamber (10) forces fluid through a first one-way valve (80) into the compressible chamber (10) and through a second one-way valve (90) into the bypass conduit (40)
Implementation Method 2
a first one way valve (80) adapted to admit fluid from the fluid conduit into the interior of the compressible chamber and a second one way valve (90) adapted to admit fluid within the interior of the compressible chamber into the bypass conduit (40)
Implementation Method 3
a portion of the bypass conduit (40) upstream of the second one way valve (90) is adapted to be collapsible under the force of selectively applied external pressure when the compressible chamber is at least partially filled with fluid from the fluid source, so as to selectively close off the bypass conduit upstream of the second one way valve (90)
Implementation Method 4
maintaining consistent fluid flow and pressure through a wide-diameter bypass conduit
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a fluid management system (1) for providing fluid from a fluid source (20) to the body of a patient. The fluid management system (1) includes a compressible chamber (10). A fluid conduit (30) is in fluid communication with the fluid source (20) and with an interior of the compressible chamber (10). A bypass conduit (40) has an inlet end (43) in fluid communication with the fluid source (20) and an outlet end (44) for providing fluid to a trocar (70). The bypass conduit 40 passes either through or around the compressible chamber (10). A first one way valve (80) can admit fluid from the fluid conduit (30) into the interior of the compressible chamber (10). A second one way valve (90) can admit fluid within the interior of the compressible chamber (10) into the bypass conduit (40). A portion (46) of the bypass conduit (40) upstream of the second one way valve (90) is collapsible under the force of selectively applied external pressure when the compressible chamber (10) is at least partially filled with fluid from the fluid source (20), so as to selectively close off the bypass conduit (40) upstream of the second one way valve (90).