IMPROVED FLUID MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY

摘要

This invention is an improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity, in particular for use in arthroscopic surgery having a pressurized fluid circuit (17) for supplying irrigation fluid, and a vacuum fluid circuit (17') for withdrawing waste fluid from the cavity. In a preferred embodiment there is an uninterrupted fluid supply comprised of a plurality of sterile solution saline bags (20) with an automatic spiker (30) to perforate the bags (20). The system is processor (10) controlled with numerous safety, and design features to automate arthroscopy to the highest degree possible. Some of the features include the monitoring, tracking of cavity pressure, flow rates to predetermined pressure, flow rates, tracking cavity to mean blood pressure, over-pressure protection, a plurality of pressure, flow rate baseline settings, monitoring, setting, controlling saline supply, specialized functions for providing pressure and flow rates for typical surgical procedures such as lavage, clear view, and burr/shaver. One or more vacuum discharge lines (68, 69) may be provided with an automatic self-cleaning feature. The system is compact and optionally employs a number of disposable components, including a novel fluid accumulator (46).