Patent · US Expired

Flow control system and method for endoscopic surgeries

US6149633A · kind A · utility

83Cited by
8References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 1998
Grant dateNov 21, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 19, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/87676
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a system which utilizes an endoscope and irrigation fluid during surgery within a body orifice, and in which irrigation fluid is withdrawn via a principal path into a suction canister, there is a substantially constant suction and withdrawal rate from the operative site to limit absorption of irrigation fluid within the patient, because a bifurcated flow path that leads to the suction canister not only from the endoscope but also from a drain bag receiving overflow from the body orifice via a tailored drape includes a substantially greater flow impedance in the drain bag path. The common suction line joined to the endoscope line and the drain bag line draws a flow through the endoscope that predominates, to maintain substantially constant withdrawal of irrigation fluid via that path, and substantially eliminates the possibility of loss of suction.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.