PORTABLE SYSTEM FOR HEATING, WASHING AND SUCKING LIQUIDS FOR LAPARASCOPIC AND LAPAROTOMIC SURGERY, GYNECOLOGY AND UROLOGY

Abstract

A portable system (1) is described, for heating, washing and sucking liquids for laparoscopic and laparotomic surgery, gynecology and urology, comprising: a trolley (3) for supporting and handling; a case (5) placed on the trolley (3) and composed of a first part made as a tank (7) for liquids equipped with an inclined bottom (9) to enable discharging liquids and cleaning the tank (7); and a second part containing at least one peristaltic pump (11) for sending a variable jet of liquid inside abdominal cavities, and at least one valve (13) for sucking liquids to wash the surgery field; a container (15) of liquids placed on the trolley (3) and equipped with a double pump (16) for taking and removing liquids into and from the tank (7); and a device (18) for keeping the temperature of liquids at an established maximum value.

Claims

1. Portable system (1) for heating, washing and sucking liquids for laparoscopic and laparotomic surgery, gynecology and urology, comprising: at least one case (5) composed of: a first part made as a tank (7) for liquids; and a second part containing at least one peristaltic pump (11) for sending a variable jet of liquid inside abdominal cavities, and at least one valve (13) for sucking liquids for washing the surgery field; characterized in that said system (1) further comprises: at least one trolley (3) for supporting and handling, said case (5) being placed on said trolley (3) and said tank (7) being equipped with an inclined bottom to enable discharging liquids and cleaning the tank (7); at least one container (15) of liquids placed on said trolley (3) and equipped with a double pump (16) for taking and removing liquids into and from said tank (7); and at least one device (18) for keeping the temperature of liquids at an established maximum value, said device (18) heating both said container (15) and said tank (7).

2. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is further equipped with a displaying device (20) for setting the operating parameters of the system (1).

3. System (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said displaying device (20) is of the touch-screen type and allows entering operating parameters and commands for

4. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is further equipped with at least one depurating device (21) for liquids in order to keep them clean upon every loading and emptying passage of said tank (7).

5. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said case (5) is equipped with two separate covers (22, 24) for the two parts of which it is composed, said covers (22, 24) providing the chance of having different opening widths, with room for the passage of disposable tubes for liquids, in order to avoid that such tubes are squashed by possible manoeuvres.

6. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said trolley (3) is equipped with a plurality, preferably four, of pivoting wheels (26) capable of being blocked, for its operating handling.

7. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said system (1) is further equipped with a blocking device of the case (5) for preventing its possible fall.

8. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said valve (13) for sucking liquids is of the gate type and is controlled by control means, preferably of the pedal type.

9. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature of liquids is set at a maximum value of 40° C.

10. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said liquids are composed of heated sterile physiologic water.

Description

[0021] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention, in which the component parts are designated with references to blocks;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a front schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention; and

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side view of the system of FIG. 2.

[0025] With reference to the Figures, a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention is shown and described.

[0026] It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) could be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention, as will appear from the enclosed claims.

[0027] According to the preferred, but not limiting, embodiment as shown, the portable system 1 for heating, washing and sucking liquids (preferably heated sterile physiologic water) for laparoscopic and laparotomic surgery, gynecology and urology according to the present invention comprises: [0028] at least one trolley 3 for supporting and handling; [0029] at least one case 5 placed on the trolley 3 and composed of: a first part made as a tank 7 for liquids equipped with an inclined bottom 9 to facilitate the discharge of liquids and the cleaning of the tank 7; and a second part containing at least one peristaltic pump 11 for making a variable jet of liquid inside abdominal cavities, and at least one valve 13 to suck liquids for washing the surgery field; [0030] at least one container 15 of liquids placed on the trolley 3 and equipped with a double pump 16 for taking and removing liquids into and from the tank 7; and [0031] at least one device 18 for keeping the temperature of liquids at an established maximum value, preferably 40° C.

[0032] The presence of the double pump 16 in the container 15 of liquids allows saving a lot of time in surgery rooms, enables the use of the inventive system 1 and allows always supplying clean water, free from limestone.

[0033] The inventive system 1 can be further equipped with a displaying device 20 for setting the operating parameters of the system 1 itself. In particular, such displaying device 20 is of the touch-screen type and allows entering operating parameters and commands for the system 1.

[0034] Moreover, the inventive system 1 can be equipped with at least one depurating device 21 for liquids in order to keep them clean upon every loading and emptying passage of the tank 7.

[0035] For a better operation, the case 5 is equipped with two separate covers 22, 24 for the two parts of which it is composed, such covers 22, 24 providing the chance of having different opening widths, with room for the passage of disposable tubes for liquids, in order to avoid that tubes are squashed by possible manouvres.

[0036] In particular, the trolley 3 can be equipped with a plurality, preferably four, of pivoting wheels 26 which can be blocked, for its operating handling.

[0037] Still in particular, the valve 13 for sucking liquids can be of the gate type and is controlled by control means, preferably of the pedal type.

[0038] Finally, the system 1 can also be equipped with a blocking device for the case 5 to prevent it from possibly falling.

[0039] With the inventive system 1, it is thereby possible to use hot liquids, in particular water for this type of application, with the following clinical advantages:

[0040] 1) Compression: the saline solution quickly washes the surgery field and dilutes the clots, allowing the sucking system to also remove the biggest clots. It also reduces the concentration of peritoneal liquids, the formation of displasies and protects the peritoneum from lesions. Moreover, compressed hot water helps keeping the optics clean.

[0041] 2) Thermo-hemostasis: the use of a saline solution at 40° C. during the whole intervention removes the risks of hypothermia and accelerates biologic hemostases.

[0042] 3) Hydrodissection: the outlet pressuse of the saline solution between 0 and 1.5 bar allows separating the tissues in adhesiolysis episodes.

[0043] 4) Hydroprotection: in destruction procedures of peritoneal pathologies, such as laser, CO2 or bipolar electro-coagulation, the saline solution can protect the structures below, like pelvic cavity, urether, prosthate and rectum vessels.

[0044] 5) Hydro-floatation: in gynecology, due to fertility problems of the Douglas, a sub-aquatic inspection is necessary, and in any type of surgery the sub-aquatic inspection of the surgery field is very useful, in modo topoint out possible hemorrhages.

[0045] 6) Waking up: in cooperation with anesthesiologists, from 100 to 300 cc of saline solution are left in the peritoneal cavity: this allows a quick rehidration of the peritoneum, replaces and complements the intravenous perfusion.

[0046] 7) Pain killing: the use of a hot saline solution at 40° C. during the whole intervention and the final filling of the abdominal cavity enable the last cc CO2 to go out and almost completely remove post-surgery pains.

[0047] In conclusion, from the clinical point of view, the use of a washing system which allows the immediate setting through a display both of the temperature (from ambient to 40° C.), and of the flow-rate, allows the operator to always have the chance of adequately acting in the various steps of the intervention, without useless and risky waits. In the conclusive step, all physiologic solution can be used which is necessary for the sub-aquatic inspection, without lowering the patient's body temperature. The patient already subjected to CO2 blowing at a lower temperature than his body temperature does not risk any hypothermia even during long interventions. The anesthesiologists therefore are facilitated during the whole intervention, and the patient will have a sweeter wake-up and practically absent post-surgery pains.

[0048] As regards commercial advantages, the inventive system gives the opportunity to propose a single apparatus which provides for the use of a hot physiologic solution, while the system itself is not a further expense with respect to already used systems, but rather an alternative with not comparable performances which are much greater.

[0049] A further feature of the inventive system is that, differently from prior art systems in which liquids are heated, the system of the invention performs a “bain marie” heating, in which the physiologic solution practically passes from the bags in which it has originally been supplied, directly into the patient, guaranteeing a higher sterility safety.

[0050] Some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been previously shown and described: numerous variations and modifications, functionally equivalent to the previous ones, will immediately appear to the skilled people in the art, and fall within the scope of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims. For example, the inventive system 1 can be adapted to operate with a dedicated disposable circuit (not shown) with a bar code reading to activate the system 1 itself for four hours, and with steel cannulas having different sizes and which can be re-used.