Surgical Irrigation Pump Priming with Tube Set Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical pumps face challenges such as confusion during procedures due to the availability of various tube sets, leading to incorrect selections, and require manual priming, which increases procedural time and can result in unnecessary waste.
Innovation Solution
A system with a control console that integrates with surgical handpieces and tube set cassettes, using memories in both the handpieces and cassettes to determine the appropriate irrigation fluid flow rates and automatically prime the pump, ensuring the correct tube set is used and reducing manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different tube sets are available for various surgical procedures, then the system can accommodate different surgical needs (large joint vs. small joint procedures), but confusion arises during procedures leading to incorrect tube set selections
Solution Approach 1:
The control console includes a processor that reads data from a memory in the tube set cassette identifying its type, and provides feedback by displaying information about the tube set type on a display device. This feedback mechanism allows surgical personnel to verify the correct tube set is attached, eliminating confusion between different tube set types for different surgical procedures.
2Ease of operation
If manual priming of the pump is performed to ensure proper fluid flow, then the pump can be primed, but procedural time increases and unnecessary waste of irrigation fluid occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic priming where the processor controls the pump to automatically prime the tube set after it is attached to the control console. The pump runs for a predetermined time to fill the tube set with irrigation fluid, then automatically stops. This self-service priming eliminates the need for manual intervention, reduces procedural time, and prevents waste by stopping automatically when priming is complete.
3Productivity
If the pump is left unprimed to save time, then setup time is reduced, but delay occurs when the pump is first actuated and irrigation fluid is not immediately discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary priming action automatically when the tube set is attached to the control console, before the surgical procedure begins. The processor activates the pump for a predetermined time to fill the tube set with irrigation fluid in advance, ensuring that when the pump is subsequently actuated during surgery, fluid is immediately discharged without delay.
4Reliability
If the pump runs continuously to ensure fluid availability, then fluid supply is reliable, but unnecessary waste of irrigation fluid occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates periodically rather than continuously - it runs for a predetermined time to prime the tube set, then stops automatically. The pump only operates when needed: during the brief priming phase after tube set attachment and during the actual surgical procedure when irrigation is required. This periodic operation ensures fluid availability while preventing waste during non-operative periods.
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 streamlines surgical procedures by ensuring the correct tube set is selected and automatically primes the pump, reducing operational time and minimizing waste, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing the risk of errors.
Implementation Method 1
A set of rollers attached to a rotor press the tube against the curved surface. The action of the rollers pushing against the tube forces the fluid in the tube downstream so it is discharged at the surgical site.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool system for operating an irrigation pump. The pump includes a fixed pump head driven by a pump motor and a removable tube set. A readable memory such as a RFID is integral with the tube set. The tube set memory contains data describing the physical characteristics of the tube set. A control console reads the data in the tube set memory. Based on these data, the control console then regulates the operation of the pump motor so that fluid, when required, is delivered at those flow rates. These data are also used by the control console to regulate priming of the pump so that when the system is initially set up a head of irrigation fluid can be pumped close to the end of the handpiece from which the fluid is to be discharged.