Infiltration pump having insulated rollers and programmable foot pedal

Abstract

An infiltration apparatus, having a cannula, a flexible tubing connecting to one end of the cannula, a peristaltic pump comprising a pathway for the flexible tubing to extend through and a plurality of non-conductive rollers installed along the pathway to exerting force on the flexible tubing, a reservoir in fluid communication with the cannula via the flexible tubing extending through the peristaltic pump, a foot pedal pneumatically connected to the peristaltic pump to control operation thereof. The response of the foot pedal can be programmed into various modes. Under one of the modes, when the foot pedal is depressed, the peristaltic pump is switched on and remains as long as the foot pedal is depressed. Once the foot pedal is released, the peristaltic pump is switched off. Under another mode, one depression event, regardless how long the depression event lasts, the peristaltic pump is switched from on to off, or from off to on, and remains off/on before a next depression event occurs.

1 . A liposuction apparatus, comprising: 
 a cannula;    a flexible tubing, connecting to one end of the cannula;    a peristaltic pump comprising a pathway for the flexible tubing to extend through and a plurality of rollers installed along the pathway to direct flow direction of fluid flowing through the flexible tubing;    a reservoir, in fluid communication with the cannula via the flexible tubing extending through the peristaltic pump; and    a foot pedal, having a first mode of operation wherein the peristaltic pump is turned on and off by alternate depression of the foot pedal, the foot pedal having a second mode of operation wherein the peristaltic pump is turned on and off in a different manner compared to the first mode of operation.    
   
   
       6 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The liposuction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot pedal programmed in a momentary mode is operative to switch on the peristaltic pump while being depressed and switch off the peristaltic pump while being released.  
   
   
       11 . The liposuction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the peristaltic pump further comprises a rotation mechanism driving non-conductive rollers to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.  
   
   
       12 . The liposuction apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a mode selector for switching operation of the foot pedal between the first mode and the second mode.  
   
   
       13 . A liposuction apparatus, comprising: 
 a cannula;    a flexible tubing, connecting to the cannula;    an infiltration pump comprising a pathway for the flexible tubing to extend through and a plurality of rollers installed along the pathway to exert force on the flexible tubing;    a reservoir, connecting to the flexible tubing extending through the peristaltic pump; and    a foot pedal, operative to activate/inactivate the infiltration pump in response to depression performed thereon in a plurality of modes, wherein the modes comprise: 
 a momentary mode, under which the infiltration pump is activated when the foot pedal is depressed, and switched off when the foot pedal is released; and  
 a continuous mode, under which the infiltration pump is switched and remain on and off by alternate depressions performed thereon.  
   
   
   
       14 . The liposuction apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a mode selector for switching operation of the foot pedal between the momentary mode and the continuous mode.  
   
   
       15 . A liposuction apparatus, comprising: 
 a cannula;    a flexible tubing, connecting to the cannula;    an infiltration pump comprising a pathway, a plurality of rollers, and a rotation mechanism, the pathway being sized and configured to accommodate the flexible tubing therethrough, the plurality of rollers being installed along the pathway to exert force on the flexible tubing, the rotation mechanism being operative to drive the rollers rotating clockwise or counterclockwise;    a reservoir connecting to the flexible tubing extending through the peristaltic pump; and    a foot pedal being operative to activate/inactivate the infiltration pump in response to depression performed thereon in a plurality of modes, wherein the modes comprise: 
 a momentary mode, under which the infiltration pump is activated when the foot pedal is depressed, and switched off when the foot pedal is released; and  
 a continuous mode, under which the infiltration pump is switched and remain on and off by alternate depressions performed thereon.  
   
   
   
       16 . The infiltration pump according to  claim 15  further comprising an electric motor operative to drive the rotation mechanism.  
   
   
       17 . The infiltration pump according to  claim 15  wherein the rollers are made of insulated material.  
   
   
       18 . The liposuction apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a mode selector for switching operation of the foot pedal between the momentary mode and the continuous mode.  
   
   
       19 . A method of operating a liposuction apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. inserting a cannula into a body of a patient;    b. depressing and releasing a foot pedal to activate a peristaltic pump for flowing fluid contained in a reservoir through a flexible tubing, the peristaltic pump, the cannula and into the body of the patient;    c. depressing and releasing the foot pedal to deactivate the peristaltic pump to stop fluid flow through the flexible tubing;    d. depressing the foot pedal to activate the peristaltic pump for flowing fluid contained in the reservoir through the flexible tubing, the peristaltic pump, the cannula and into the body of the patient; and    e. releasing the foot pedal to deactivate the peristaltic pump to stop fluid flow through the flexible tubing.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein steps d and e define a continuous mode.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein steps b and c define a momentary mode.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of selecting either the momentary mode or the continuous mode via a mode selector.