Sterilizable pump and systems for use with sterile fluids

Abstract

An improvement for a control system for a surgical procedure is provided. The control system includes an electrosurgical instrument connectable to a source of electrosurgical energy, and a pump for circulating fluid to the electrosurgical instrument. The improvement includes a pump housing configured and adapted for selective connection in an opening provided in the source of electrosurgical energy. The housing defines a circular chamber formed therein, the circular chamber defining a central axis; an eccentric bore formed therein having a central axis substantially parallel with and spaced apart from the central axis of the circular chamber; an inlet formed therein and in fluid communication with the circular chamber; and an outlet formed therein and in fluid communication with the circular chamber.

1 . A pump for selective fluid connection with a control system for circulating fluid to a target surgical site, the pump comprising: 
 a housing defining: 
 a circular chamber formed therein, the circular chamber defining a central axis;  
 an eccentric bore formed therein having a central axis substantially parallel with and spaced apart from the central axis of the circular chamber;  
 an inlet formed therein and in fluid communication with the circular chamber; and  
 an outlet formed therein and in fluid communication with the circular chamber; and  
   an impeller assembly rotatably supported in the circular chamber of the housing, the impeller assembly including: 
 a shaft operatively supported within the bore of the housing;  
 an impeller having an inner ring operatively connect to the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft results in rotation of the impeller, an outer ring configured and dimensioned for sliding engagement with an inner annular surface of the cylindrical chamber of the housing, and a plurality of radially angled vanes extending between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the vanes define a plurality of chambers around the inner ring;  
   wherein when the impeller assembly is positioned within the circular chamber of the housing a portion of the chambers of the impeller, in proximity to the inlet, are un-compressed and a portion of the chambers of the impeller in proximity to the outlet, are compressed.    
   
   
       2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the vanes of the impeller are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric polymers, plastic polymers, and blends of said elastomeric and plastic polymers.  
   
   
       3 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing further defines: 
 a first annular groove formed in a surface of the cylindrical chamber, which first annular groove is in fluid communication with the cylindrical chamber and the inlet; and    a second annular groove formed in a surface of the cylindrical chamber, which second annular groove is in fluid communication with the cylindrical chamber and the outlet.    
   
   
       4 . The pump according to  claim 3 , further comprising a cover selectively securable to the housing for retaining the impeller assembly within the cylindrical chamber, wherein a first end of the shaft of the impeller assembly projects from one side of the housing and a second end of the shaft of the impeller assembly is supported by the cover.  
   
   
       5 . The pump according to  claim 4 , further comprising a sealing member provided around the periphery of the cylindrical chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The pump according to  claim 3 , wherein rotation of the impeller assembly results in compression of the chambers of the impeller in the vicinity of the outlet to force fluid out of the pump, and expansion of the chambers of the impeller in the vicinity of the inlet to draw fluid into the pump.  
   
   
       7 . The pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing is configured and adapted for selective insertion into a complementary opening provided in the control system.  
   
   
       8 . The pump according to  claim 7 , further comprising a gear supported on the first end of the shaft of the impeller assembly.  
   
   
       9 . In a control system for a surgical procedure, wherein the control system includes an electrosurgical instrument connectable to a source of electrosurgical energy, and a pump for circulating fluid to the electrosurgical instrument, the improvement comprising: 
 a pump housing configured and adapted for selective connection in an opening provided in the source of electrosurgical energy, the housing defining: 
 a circular chamber formed therein, the circular chamber defining a central axis;  
 an eccentric bore formed therein having a central axis substantially parallel with and spaced apart from the central axis of the circular chamber;  
 an inlet formed therein and in fluid communication with the circular chamber; and  
 an outlet formed therein and in fluid communication with the circular chamber; and  
   an impeller assembly rotatably supported in the circular chamber of the housing, the impeller assembly including: 
 a shaft operatively supported within the bore of the housing;  
 an impeller having an inner ring operatively connect to the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft results in rotation of the impeller, an outer ring configured and dimensioned for sliding engagement with an inner annular surface of the cylindrical chamber of the housing, and a plurality of radially angled vanes extending between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the vanes define a plurality of chambers around the inner ring;  
   wherein when the impeller assembly is positioned within the circular chamber of the housing a portion of the chambers of the impeller, in proximity to the inlet, are un-compressed and a portion of the chambers of the impeller in proximity to the outlet, are compressed.    
   
   
       10 . The control system according to  claim 9 , wherein at least the vanes of the impeller are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric polymers, plastic polymers, and blends of said elastomeric and plastic polymers.  
   
   
       11 . The control system according to  claim 10 , wherein the housing further defines: 
 a first annular groove formed in a surface of the cylindrical chamber, which first annular groove is in fluid communication with the cylindrical chamber and the inlet; and    a second annular groove formed in a surface of the cylindrical chamber, which second annular groove is in fluid communication with the cylindrical chamber and the outlet.    
   
   
       12 . The control system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a cover selectively securable to the housing for retaining the impeller assembly within the cylindrical chamber, wherein a first end of the shaft of the impeller assembly projects from one side of the housing and a second end of the shaft of the impeller assembly is supported by the cover.  
   
   
       13 . The control system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a sealing member provided around the periphery of the cylindrical chamber.  
   
   
       14 . The control system according to  claim 11 , wherein rotation of the impeller assembly results in compression of the chambers of the impeller in the vicinity of the outlet to force fluid out of the pump, and expansion of the chambers of the impeller in the vicinity of the inlet to draw fluid into the pump.  
   
   
       15 . The control system according to  claim 14 , wherein the housing is configured and adapted for selective insertion into a complementary opening provided in the control system.  
   
   
       16 . The control system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a gear supported on the first end of the shaft of the impeller assembly.  
   
   
       17 . The control system according to  claim 16 , further comprising complementary mating elements provided on the housing of the pump and in the opening of the source of electrosurgical energy for securing the pump within the opening of the source of the electrosurgical energy.