In-joint sensor for a surgical fluid management pump system

Abstract

An in-joint pump and control device comprising a pump and an in-joint sensor. The pump is configured to convey fluid to a body joint surgical site. The pump has an algorithm associated therewith to make calculations and to assist in controlling the operation of the pump. The in-joint sensor is operatively associated with the pump by at least a communication member. The in-joint sensor comprises a sheath, an integration member attached to the sheath, a pressure sensor connected to the integration member, and a temperature sensor adjacent the sheath. The pressure sensor is adapted to provide pressure information to the pump via the communication member. The temperature sensor is also adapted to provide temperature information to the pump via the communication member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An in-joint pump and control device comprising:
 a pump configured to convey fluid to a body joint surgical site, the pump having an algorithm associated therewith to make calculations and to assist in controlling the operation of the pump; and   an in-joint sensor operatively associated with the pump by at least a communication member, the in-joint sensor comprising a sheath, a pressure sensor adjacent the sheath and configured to sense and provide information for calculating pressure based on a static column of fluid, and a temperature sensor adjacent the sheath,   the pressure sensor adapted to provide the pressure information to the pump via the communication member, and the temperature sensor adapted to provide temperature information to the pump via the communication member.   
     
     
         2 . The in-joint pump and control device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication member comprises a wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         3 . The in-joint pump and control device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath has a distal end, and at least a portion of the temperature sensor is positioned adjacent the distal end of the sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The in-joint pump and control device of  claim 1 , wherein the algorithm uses information received from the communication member. 
     
     
         5 . An arthroscopic tubeset comprising:
 a cannula having a wall defining a first interior space and a wall surface, the cannula having a distal end;   a sheath attached to the wall surface of the cannula, the sheath defining a second interior space and having a sheath end adjacent the cannula distal end;   a pressure sensor disposed at least partially in the second interior space of the sheath and adjacent the sheath end;   a temperature sensor disposed at least partially in the second interior space of the sheath and adjacent the sheath end; and   at least one communication member attached to each of the pressure sensor and temperature sensor for relaying information to a controller, each communication member partially housed within the sheath.   
     
     
         6 . The arthroscopic tubeset according to  claim 5 , wherein the cannula is attached to in-flow tubing from a pump. 
     
     
         7 . The arthroscopic tubeset according to  claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are disposed side-by-side with respect to each other in the second interior space of the sheath. 
     
     
         8 . The arthroscopic tubeset according to  claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor has a diameter between about 120 microns and about 140 microns.