System and method for operating a ureteroscope irrigation device
An irrigation device is integrated into a ureteroscope housing. The surgeon can increase flow of irrigation fluid by squeezing a compressible chamber of the irrigation device with the same hand used to hold the ureteroscope housing. A standard fluid bag and tubing can deliver irrigation fluid to the irrigation device.
1. A ureteroscope comprising:
a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
a compressible chamber composed of a flexible material and coupled to an outer surface of the housing, the compressible chamber having an inlet arranged adjacent the proximal end of the housing and an outlet arranged adjacent the distal end of the housing, wherein the inlet is configured to receive fluid and communicate the fluid into the compressible chamber;
a working channel coupled to the distal end of the housing and in fluid communication with the outlet of the compressible chamber, wherein the working channel is axially aligned with the outlet of the compressible chamber, wherein the working channel includes an interior volume configured to receive a surgical instrument;
a flexible tube coupled to the distal end of the housing that contains the working channel; and
a port disposed on an exterior of the housing, distal from the compressible chamber, and configured to receive the surgical instrument for insertion of the surgical instrument through the working channel from the housing through the flexible tube;
wherein when the compressible chamber is compressed, the fluid contained in the compressible chamber is forced out of the compressible chamber through the outlet and into the interior volume of the working channel.
2. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing has formed therein a recess that is sized and shaped to receive the compressible chamber so as to couple the compressible chamber to the outer surface of the housing.
3. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressible chamber is coupled to the housing.
4. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressible chamber is integrally formed as a part of the housing.
5. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressible chamber is composed of a flexible material having sufficient resilience such that after compressing the compressible chamber, the compressible chamber returns to its initial shape and draws fluid into the compressible chamber through the inlet.
6. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressible chamber has a cylindrical shape.
7. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 6 , wherein the compressible chamber has a length of 15 cm and a diameter of 2.5 cm.
8. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressible chamber has a thickness in a range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm.
9. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing is composed of a rigid material that provides counter resistance when the compressible chamber is compressed.
10. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a handpiece shaped to accommodate a user's hand such that the user's hand extends and wraps around the compressible chamber when holding the housing.
11. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve fluidically coupled to the inlet of the compressible chamber in order to prevent backflow of fluid from the compressible chamber into the inlet.
12. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 11 , wherein the one-way valve is arranged between the inlet and the compressible chamber.
13. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve fluidically coupled to the outlet of the compressible chamber in order to prevent backflow of fluid from the outlet into the compressible chamber.
14. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 13 , wherein the one-way valve is arranged between the outlet and the compressible chamber.
15. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a first one-way valve fluidically coupled to the inlet of the compressible chamber in order to prevent backflow of fluid from the compressible chamber into the inlet; and
a second one-way valve fluidically coupled to the outlet of the compressible chamber in order to prevent backflow of fluid from the outlet into the compressible chamber.
16. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first one-way valve is arranged between the inlet and the compressible chamber, and the second one-way valve is arranged between the outlet and the compressible chamber.
17. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a port arranged adjacent the distal end of the housing and in communication with the working channel, the port being configured to accommodate a surgical instrument.
18. The ureteroscope as recited in claim 17 , wherein the port is sized and shaped to accommodate a surgical instrument comprising at least one of a guidewire, an endoscopic basket, or a laser fiber.