Arthroscopic Surgical Temperature Control System

Abstract

An arthroscopic surgical temperature control system and method able to monitor and control the temperature within a surgical site during arthroscopic ablation procedures in order to prevent tissue damage is provided.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for use in arthroscopic surgery comprising:
 a sheath characterized by a central lumen, a distal section and a proximal wherein the central lumen is sized and dimensioned to receive an arthroscopic instrument, said sheath further comprising an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen;   a temperature sensor disposed on distal section of the sheath;   a mixing valve in fluid communication with the inflow lumen;   a first fluid source containing warm irrigation fluid and in fluid communication with the mixing valve;   a second fluid sources containing cool irrigation fluid and in communication with the mixing valve; and   a control system in electrical communication with the temperature sensor and the mixing valve, said control system capable of operating the mixing valve to mix fluid from the first fluid source and the second fluid source to lower the temperature of an inflow fluid from the fluid source when a temperature from a surgical site measured by the temperature sensor exceeds a safe threshold temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid aperture disposed on the distal section of the sheath in fluid communication with the inflow lumen. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid aperture in fluid communication with the outflow lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature-warning device in thermal communication with an outflow fluid from the outflow lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the temperature-warning device provides an audible warning when temperature of the outflow fluid exceeds a safe threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the temperature-warning device provides a visual warning when temperature of an outflow fluid exceeds a safe threshold. 
     
     
         7 . A method for performing arthroscopic surgery comprising:
 providing a sheath characterized by a central lumen, a distal section and a proximal wherein the central lumen is sized and dimensioned to receive an arthroscopic instrument, said sheath further comprising an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen, one or more fluid apertures disposed on the distal section in fluid communication with the inflow lumen and the outflow lumen and a temperature sensor disposed on distal section;   providing an ablation device;   performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure at a surgical site using the ablation device;   taking fluid temperature measurements within the surgical site with the temperature sensor;   cooling an inflow fluid prior to entering the surgical site with a mixing valve that mixes fluid received from a first fluid source and a second fluid source in order to keep temperatures at the surgical site below a threshold based on the temperature measurements taken by the temperature sensor.