Fluid jet cutting system

Abstract

A system for generating a high pressure fluid jet includes a variable pressure pump and a burst resistant delivery tube which safely conducts the pressurized stream to an instrument. The pump may include a disposable diaphragm pump cartridge which is driven by a reusable pump. The delivery tube may be a coiled hypo tube which enhances flexibility.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for pumping a fluid with a disposable diaphragm pump, said diaphragm pump comprising a pump cartridge and a diaphragm, the method comprising: 
 supplying a fluid to a pumping chamber within said diaphragm pump through an inlet disposed in said pump cartridge;    increasing a pressure of the fluid supplied to the pumping chamber to at least 1000 p.s.i. by applying a working force to a surface of said diaphragm; and    passing the fluid from the pumping chamber through an outlet disposed in the pump cartridge.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising before the supplying step, the step of: 
 mounting the disposable diaphragm pump in operative association with a reusable component.    
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein during the mounting step, the reusable component engages both the pump cartridge and the diaphragm and secures the pump cartridge and the diaphragm to each other.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a leaktight barrier is formed between the pump cartridge and the diaphragm during the mounting step.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein during the increasing step, said working force is exerted by the reusable component.  
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said working force is applied essentially uniformly to a surface of the diaphragm deformed by application of the working force.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the reusable component exerts said working force on the diaphragm by exerting a force on a working fluid contained in the reusable component, the working fluid being in contact with the pumping chamber and isolated from the fluid supplied to the pumping chamber during the supplying step.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising after the increasing step the step of: 
 varying and controlling the pressure of the fluid passed from the pumping chamber during the passing step.    
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising after the passing step the steps of: 
 communicating the fluid passed from the pumping chamber through a delivery tube to an instrument having a jet orifice; and    creating a fluid cutting jet by flowing the fluid through the jet orifice.    
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising after the creating step the steps of: 
 directing the fluid cutting jet toward a tissue of a patient; and    cutting the tissue with the fluid cutting jet.