Irrigation pump with ablation and non-ablation operational modes

1. A method for pumping a fluid in a pump comprising a cylinder having first and second ends, each of the first and second ends comprising respective first and second inlet-outlet ports for alternately in-taking the fluid to the cylinder and outputting the fluid from the cylinder by each of the first and second inlet-outlet ports; the method comprising:

(a) moving a piston within the cylinder between the first and second ends of the cylinder in a first direction at a selected speed so as to pump the fluid through the first and second inlet-outlet ports;

(b) receiving position signals of piston position with respect to the cylinder;

(c) when the piston is within a predefined distance from the first end or the second end of the cylinder, controlling the piston to oscillate over a predefined interval distance that does not exceed the predefined distance from the first end or from the second end of the cylinder, the piston configured to oscillate in a periodic cycle that alternately reverses direction of movement of the piston without exceeding the predefined interval distance from the first end or second end of the cylinder; and

(d) upon receiving a control signal, controlling the piston to move in a second opposite direction to the first direction at a selected speed between the first end and the second end such that the piston moves past the predefined interval distance.

2. The method according to claim 1 , and comprising irrigating tissue with the fluid during a medical procedure by coupling at least one of the first and second inlet-outlet ports to a fluid reservoir via a first pipe, and to a catheter via a second pipe.

3. The method according to claim 2 , the medical procedure comprising tissue ablation by the catheter, and the control signal indicative of the tissue ablation.

4. The method according to claim 3 , the tissue ablation comprising positioning the catheter at first and second ablation sites, and controlling the piston to: (a) move at a first selected speed when the catheter is positioned at the first ablation site, and (b) move at a second, different, selected speed when the catheter is positioned at the second ablation site.

5. The method according to claim 1 , the selected speed comprising a constant speed.

6. The method according to claim 1 , the selected speed comprising a variable speed.

7. A method for pumping a fluid in a pump comprising a cylinder having first and second ends, each of the first and second ends comprising respective first and second inlet-outlet ports for alternately in-taking a fluid to the cylinder and outputting the fluid from the cylinder by each of the first and second inlet-outlet ports; the method comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a piston within the cylinder between the first and second ends of the cylinder in a first direction at a selected speed so as to pump the fluid through the first and second inlet-outlet ports;

(b) receiving position signals of piston position with respect to the cylinder;

(c) when the piston is within a predefined distance from the first end or the second end of the cylinder, controlling the piston to oscillate over a predefined interval distance that does not exceed the predefined distance from the first end or from the second end of the cylinder, the piston configured to oscillate in a periodic cycle that alternately reverses direction of movement of the piston without exceeding the predefined interval distance from the first end or second end of the cylinder; and

(d) upon receiving a control signal, controlling the piston to stop oscillating over the predefined interval distance and controlling the piston to move in a second opposite direction to the first direction at a selected speed between the first end and the second end.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising controlling the piston to oscillate in response to receiving position signals of piston position with respect to the cylinder.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising moving the piston faster in the second opposite direction as compared to the first direction.

10. A method for pumping a fluid in a pump comprising a cylinder having first and second ends, each of the first and second ends comprising respective first and second inlet-outlet ports for alternately in-taking a fluid to the cylinder and outputting the fluid from the cylinder by each of the first and second inlet-outlet ports; the method comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a piston within the cylinder toward the second end of the cylinder in a first direction at a selected speed so as to pump the fluid through the first and second inlet-outlet ports;

(b) receiving position signals of piston position with respect to the cylinder;

(c) when the piston is within a predefined distance from the second end of the cylinder, controlling the piston to oscillate over a predefined interval distance that does not exceed the predefined distance from the second end of the cylinder, the piston configured to oscillate in a periodic cycle that alternately reverses direction of movement of the piston without exceeding the predefined interval distance; and

(d) upon receiving a control signal, controlling the piston to stop oscillating over the predefined interval distance such that the piston moves in a second opposite direction to the first direction at a selected speed toward the first end such that the piston exceeds the predefined distance from the second end of the cylinder.