Fluid management system

Abstract

Fluid management system and method of operating a fluid management system which may provide one or more functions associated with suction, irrigation, distention, deficit monitoring, infusion, fluid warming, and the like. The fluid management system may be selectable between pressure control and flow control modes.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of managing fluid delivery during a surgical procedure, the method comprising:
 (a) delivering an amount of fluid to a body cavity with a surgical system;   (b) applying at least one alarm action setpoint to the surgical system, wherein the alarm action setpoint comprises an expected measurement of at least one operating parameter based on the amount of fluid delivered to or returned from the body cavity;   (c) associating at least one alarm action with the at least one alarm action setpoint;   (d) determining an actual measurement of the at least one operating parameter after the amount of fluid is delivered to or returned from the body cavity; and   (e) initiating the at least one alarm action when the actual measurement differs from the expected measurement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the actual measurement of the at least one operating parameter further comprises:
 (a) measuring the at least one operating parameter; and   (b) calculating the actual measurement based at least in part on the measured at least one operating parameter.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises fluid pressure within the body cavity or the surgical system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alarm action setpoint comprises a target fluid pressure within the body cavity or the surgical system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the at least one alarm action comprises alerting the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein alerting the user comprises providing a visual and/or auditory alarm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the at least one alarm action further comprises adjusting an operating parameter of the surgical system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the at least one alarm action further comprises adjusting the flow rate of the fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting the flow rate of the fluid further comprises decreasing the flow rate of the fluid to zero. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alarm action setpoint is associated with a perforation of a bodily cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expected measurement comprises an expected range of values of the at least one operating procedure. 
     
     
         12 . A fluid management system comprising:
 (a) a pump configured to deliver a fluid from at least one fluid supply container to a surgical site; and   (b) a control system for operating the fluid management system according to operating parameters, the control system including a user interface for allowing a user to select one of a plurality of medical procedures involving delivery of the fluid to the site using the fluid management system, the control system further comprising:
 (i) default operating parameters that are associated with each of the plurality of medical procedures, 
 (ii) at least one alarm action setpoint, wherein the at least one alarm action setpoint comprises an expected measurement of at least one operating parameter based on the amount of fluid delivered to or returned from the surgical site, and 
 (iii) at least one alarm action setting associated with the at least one alarm action setpoint. 
   
     
     
         13 . The fluid management system of  claim 12 , wherein the default operating parameters associated with selection of at least one of the plurality of medical procedures include at least:
 (A) a target pressure, and   (B) a pressure control mode, wherein said control system controls the pump to deliver fluid to the site at approximately the target pressure.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid management system of  claim 12 , wherein the operating parameters associated with selection of at least one of the plurality of medical procedures include at least:
 (A) a target flow rate, and   (B) a flow control mode, wherein said control system controls the pump to deliver fluid to the site at approximately the target flow rate.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid management system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one alarm action setpoint comprises an expected measurement of a bodily pressure based on the amount of fluid delivered to the surgical site. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid measurement system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one alarm action setpoint comprises an expected measurement of a pressure within or near the surgical site based on the amount of fluid delivered to the surgical site. 
     
     
         17 . A method of managing fluid delivery during a procedure, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a medical procedure input with a surgical system, wherein the medical procedure input is selectable by a user from a plurality of medical procedures involving delivery of fluid to a site, wherein the site comprises a surgical site or patient; and   (b) delivering the fluid using a pump of the surgical system according to at least one default operating parameter associated with the medical procedure input, wherein the at least one default operating parameter associated with the medical procedure input comprises at least one of:
 (i) a pressure control mode, wherein the control system controls the pump to deliver fluid to the site at approximately a target pressure, and 
 (ii) a flow control mode, wherein the control system controls the pump to deliver fluid to the site at approximately a target flow rate. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (a) determining a bodily pressure to obtain a bodily pressure measurement; and   (b) associating the bodily pressure measurement with the pressure control mode and the target pressure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (a) determining a bodily pressure to obtain a bodily pressure measurement; and   (b) associating the bodily pressure measurement with the flow control mode and the target flow rate.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein determining the bodily pressure comprises measuring the pressure near or within the site, wherein the site comprises a body cavity.