Zimmer Gmbh

Bristol-myers Squibb Compnay

Snyder Laboratories, Inc.

Michael J Laco

Robert W Atkinson

Mark R Rufener

Daniel H Olson

William J Donizetti

Tim A Donaldson

The invention is directed to a self-powered lavage instrument used with an external fluid source for debridement of soft tissue. A housing includes at least two housing parts which are selectively attachable to and detachable from each other. A fluid nozzle is defined by or connected with the housing. A pump assembly is removably installed within the housing, and includes a case carrying an electric motor, a fluid pump and a plurality of power cells. The fluid pump is connected with the fluid nozzle and connectable with the external fluid source. The pump assembly further includes a plurality of clips, with each clip frictionally engaging and thereby electrically interconnecting two of the power cells.

Lavage instrument

Irrigation and suction instrument

Combined suction and irrigation surgical instrument

Control unit for medical and surgical fluid delivery device or the like

An irrigation system is provided to communicate fluid pressure to a body cavity for diagnostic or surgical proceedings. A pump control unit generates fluid pressure and a monitor control circuit provides feedback to the pump control unit to substantially avoid a build up of excessive fluid pressure within the body cavity. In combination with a hysterscope, the irrigation system extends a uterus in a safe manner so that fluid absorption within the uterus is substantially eliminated.

Low pressure irrigation system

A mechanism, such as a motor driving a pump, creates a pulsating fluid flow. A sensor senses an operating condition of the system and provides a signal representative of the condition. A controller responsive to the signal controls the pulsating fluid flow mechanism in a predetermined manner in accordance with the condition sensed. In one aspect the sensor is a pressure transducer which senses when a throttle valve on a lavage head shuts off or turns on the fluid flow and provides a signal to a controller which shuts off or turns on the motor. In another aspect the sensor is a thermistor which senses the temperature of the motor and provides a signal for controlling the power input to the motor to compensate for the effect of temperature on the performance of the motor.

Lavage system

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Sherrodsville, OH, United States of America

Michael J Laco