Irrigation solution administration system and reservoir therefor

Abstract

An irrigating solution administration system including a reservoir positioned for parallel flow of fluid from the solution container and the reservoir to the instrument being used is provided. The reservoir is placed in-line with the tubing connecting the solution container and instrument by means of a Y-type connector, for example. The reservoir assists in maintaining a constant pressure head, particularly when the reservoir comprises a flexible pouch, and increases the flow rate of fluid to the instrument.

Parent Case Text

This is a division of application Ser. No. 140,407, filed May 5, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,237.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Irrigating solutions are used for prophylaxis, treatment, and other special purposes including surgical irrigation such as for example, to irrigate or bathe body tissues, organs and wounds. Specific procedures are irrigation of the bladder for cystocopy and during and following urologic surgery; tidal irrigation of the bladder in paraplegic or quadriplegic patients; all types of irrigation of wounds to cleanse them, from rinsing a simple abrasion to removing surgical debris by irrigation, and to treat infection locally as an ancillary to a systemic administration of antibacterial agents. In some procedures, such as during transurethral prostatic resection (TUR), debris must constantly be washed from the operative field requiring relatively large quantities of irrigating solutions and a relatively constant and continuous flow. Accordingly, present systems employ a plurality of solution containers arranged in series for example, and attached to an instrument with flexible tubing for the flow of fluid therethrough. With such a system, as one container is emptied it can be replaced while flow continues through a second container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an irrigating system which includes a reservoir positioned for parallel flow of fluid from the solution container and the reservoir to the instrument being used and the patient. Preferably, the reservoir comprises a flexible pouch having a common inlet and outlet for flow of fluid into and out of the pouch and positioned in-line with the tubing connecting the solution container and instrument by means of a V-connector, for example. The reservoir assists in maintaining a constant pressure head, particularly when the reservoir comprises a flexible pouch, and increases the flow rate of fluid to the instrument. Before irrigation is begun, the flexible pouch is filled with fluid. By use of a Y-connector positioned at the bottom of the flexible pouch, flow can proceed directly from the solution container to the instrument being used through tubing connected between the solution container and one leg of the Y-connector, through the common leg of the Y-connector and thence through tubing to the instrument. Since the flexible pouch is connected to the other leg of the Y-connector, under certain conditions, flow can also proceed from the flexible pouch directly to the instrument. The flexible pouch assists in maintaining a constant pressure head because when the effective head drops in the solution container, flow will begin from the pouch. Being flexible, internal and external forces such as surface tension and atmospheric pressure will act on the pouch to increase the flow of irrigating solution so that a greater flow will result with a given static head. The flexible pouch also acts as a reservoir in the event of an emergency wherein for any reason, flow from the irrigating solution container is interrupted. In a transurethral prostatic resection procedure for example, the pouch can be made to contain enough solution for three changes of the bladder, i.e., about 1200 milliliters of solution. By filling the reservoir to a desired volume and then closing off the flow of fluid from the container; a measured volume of solution can be administered.

DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an irrigating system employing two solution containers arranged in series and including a reservoir comprising a flexible in-line pouch.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating one method of maintaining the in-line pouch in a vertical position during an irrigating procedure.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section illustrating the exit port of the in-line pouch.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an irrigating system employing an in-line flexible pouch and in which the solution containiners are arranged for parallel flow of fluid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement of a system in which the solution containers are arranged for series flow of fluid and including a flexible pouch positioned in-line with the tubing. The system 10 as illustrated includes two solution containers or bottles 11, 12 having a bail band or hanger 13, 14 positioned on the bottom thereof in order to facilitate hanging of the container during use, as shown. Attached to the mouth or opening of the containers 11, 12 are caps 15, 16 which include an exit port 17, 18 and an air vent or secondary port 19, 20 to which can be attached either a tubing adaptor 22 or air filter 23. In the system illustrated, a section of tubing 21 provides a pathway for fluid from the container 12 to the container 11 and is attached to the port 19 of the container 11 by means of a tubing adaptor 22 which is affixed to the tubing 21. The other end of the tubing 21 is sealed in fluid-tight engagement with the exit port 18 of the container 12. An air filter 23 is attached to the port 20 of the container 12 to permit the entry of filtered air as the fluid empties from the container 12. A clamp 24 is positioned on the tubing 21 to control the flow of fluid between the containers 11, 12. A section of tubing 25 is sealed in a fluid-tight relationship with the exit port 17 of the first or primary solution container 11 and provides a flow path for the fluid through the Y-manifold 26 and the tubing 30 to the instrument being employed or the patient. The Y-manifold 26 includes two legs 27, 28 one of which 27 is affixed in fluid-tight relationship with the tubing 25 in communication with the primary container 11. The single or common leg 29 is attached in fluid-tight relationship with the tubing 30 the other end of which includes an adaptor 31 to which is affixed a short segment 32 of tubing. The open end of the tubing 32 can be attached to an appropriate instrument and prior to use is covered by a hood 33. A flexible pouch 40 fabricated in a conventional manner from lay flat tubing material such as flexible polyvinylchloride is positioned in-line with the tubing 25: The pouch is sealed around its edges 41 and includes an exit port 42 which is in fluid-tight relationship with the interior of the pouch and the one leg 29 of the Y-manifold 26. To maintain the pouch 40 in a vertical position during use, a flap 43 extends from the end of the pouch 40 away from the exit port 42 and includes two openings 44, 45 through which the tubing 25 attached to the cap is threaded prior to sealing to the Y-manifold 26. If desired, instead of using a manifold connector as described, the tubing leading from the solution container or containers can be sealed directly into the bottom of the reservoir 40 as is the exit port 42.

To use the system, caps 15, 16 and attendent tubing, flexible pouch and instrument (not shown) are attached to the irrigating solution containers 11, 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1. By means of the clamp 34, the tubing 30 at the bottom of the pouch 40 is closed off and the clamps 24 and 35 which control the flow of fluid from the containers 11, 12 are opened. This permits the flexible pouch 40 to fill with fluid after which the clamp 34 is released permitting fluid to flow through the system and into the instrument. In the system as illustrated, fluid flows in series from the secondary container 12 through the exit port 18 of the cap 16 into the tubing 21 and thence through the port 19 of the cap 15 and into the primary solution container 11. The fluid then flows from the primary container 11 through the exit port 17 of the cap 15 and into the tubing 25 and to the instrument as previously explained. It is apparent that the secondary container 12 will empty first at which time it can be replaced while flow continues from the primary container 11. As the dynamic head at the Y-manifold 26 drops due to fluid flow, flow will begin from the flexible pouch 40. The fluid will flow through the exit port 42 into the leg 28 of the Y-connector 26 and thence into the tubing 30 to the instrument being used. In this fashion, the flexible pouch 40 acts to maintain a constant dynamic head in the system. The pouch 40 also acts as a reservoir in the event both containers 11, 12 should empty or flow be prevented for any reason. Being flexible, the pouch 40 also acts to increase flow because of the action of internal and external forces such as surface tension and atmospheric pressure on the pouch 40. Accordingly, greater flow can be obtained with a decreased static head and an attendant reduced pressure at the instrument.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system in which the solution containers are arranged for parallel flow of the fluid and including a flexible pouch positioned in-line with the tubing. With this type of arrangement, flow of fluid normally proceeds simultaneously from both containers. With this arrangement, flow is increased somewhat in comparison to the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 since with that arrangement, flow must proceed from the secondary container to the primary container, through ports in the cap and thence through the tubing to the instrument. As with the system 10, illustrated in FIG. 1, this system 50 includes two solution containers or bottles 11, 12 suspended from a hanger 51 by means of a bail-band or hanger 13, 14 attached to the bottom of the bottle. A cap 15, 16 is attached to the mouth of the container as previously described. In this arrangement, the flexible pouch 40 includes an extending flap 43 from which the pouch 40 is suspended from the hanger 51 by means of a cord 54. Again, the pouch 40 is sealed around its edges 41 and includes an exit port 42 which is in fluid-tight relationship with the interior of the pouch 40 and a Y-manifold 55. One leg 56 of the manifold is attached to tubing 57 leading to the instrument being used (not shown). The other leg 58 of the Y-manifold 55 is connected to a second Y-manifold 59, one leg 60 of which is attached to the tubing 52 leading to the first solution container 11 and the other leg 61 is attached to the tubing 53 leading to the second solution container 12. Clamps 62, 63, 64 are positioned on the tubing to control the flow therein. The tubing 57 includes an adaptor 65 on its end distal from the pouch 40 engageable with a corresponding adaptor 66 on a section of tubing 67 the other end of which also includes an adaptor 31 engageable with a short segment 32 of tubing for ultimate connection to an instrument (not shown).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the administration of fluid in a surgical procedure comprising:

a container of fluid having an outlet port,

a reservoir for storage of fluid having a common inlet and outlet port allowing fluid to flow into and out of said reservoir,

said outlet port of said container and said common port of said reservoir connected in parallel to a manifold in communication with an instrument to be used in said procedure, whereby fluid from said container can flow through said manifold to fill said reservoir and a constant flow of fluid to said instrument can be provided.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said reservoir is a flexible pouch sealed about the edges thereof.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said manifold is external to said container and reservoir and is Y-shaped.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said outlet port of said container is connected to said manifold through a second manifold located between them.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein a plurality of containers of fluid have outlet ports connected to said second manifold.