초록 ▼

For an endoscopic resection or examination of a body cavity or joint where a physiological liquid is pumped at one location to a joint from a feed conduit connected to a feed pump and withdrawn at another location from the joint through a suction conduit connected to a suction pump, this suction pum

For an endoscopic resection or examination of a body cavity or joint where a physiological liquid is pumped at one location to a joint from a feed conduit connected to a feed pump and withdrawn at another location from the joint through a suction conduit connected to a suction pump, this suction pump is operated at a rate corresponding to a generally constant low rate of flow in the suction conduit and the feed pump is operated in accordance with the pressure detected in the joint to maintain the pressure above a predetermined desired level. Furthermore when a tool carrying one end of an auxiliary suction conduit is inserted into the joint so that periodically this conduit can be connected to the pump so that liquid can be withdrawn from the joint through this auxiliary conduit, the method comprises the step of automatically increasing the suction-pump rate when the auxiliary conduit is connected to the suction pump to a predetermined relatively high rate. When the tool includes a blade and a motor operable to move the blade, the method further comprises the step of automatically disconnecting the suction pump from the main suction conduit and to the auxiliary suction conduit and simultaneously increasing the suction-pump rate from the low rate to the high rate when the motor is operated to move the blade.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for circulating a physiological liquid at a pressure and flow rate through a body cavity for an endoscopic resection or examination of the cavity, the apparatus comprising: a source of the liquid; an input pump connected to the source and having a feed conduit for extending into the cav

An apparatus for circulating a physiological liquid at a pressure and flow rate through a body cavity for an endoscopic resection or examination of the cavity, the apparatus comprising: a source of the liquid; an input pump connected to the source and having a feed conduit for extending into the cavity for supplying the liquid to the cavity; sensor means for detecting pressure in the cavity and for generating an output corresponding to the detected pressure; generator means for generating an output corresponding to a reference pressure; means including an input-pump comparator connected to the input pump and having inputs connected to the sensor means and to the generator means for receiving the outputs therefrom and for operating the input pump such that the detected pressure corresponds at least generally to the reference pressure; a suction pump having a main suction conduit extending into the cavity for aspirating the liquid therefrom; and suction control means for operating the suction pump at a predetermined generally uniform rate, said suction pump being a volumetric pump having a drive motor, the suction control means including a tachometer connected to the motor, means for generating a motor-speed set point, and a suction pump comparator having inputs connected to the set-point generating means and to the tachometer for comparing the actual motor speed detected with the motor-speed set point and having an output operatively connected to the motor for slowing the motor when the actual speed exceeds the set point and for speeding up the motor when the actual speed drops below the set point.