Irrigation and suction system, in particular for laparoscopic surgery

1. An irrigation and suction system, in particular for laparoscopic surgery, comprising:

an active control apparatus, provided with a reusable motor attached to and operating a disposable pump, and

a disposable handpiece provided with two valves capable to be connected respectively to an output duct from the pump and to a suction line, the two valves being operatable for making respectively the pump and the suction line communicate with a single output nozzle of the handpiece, the nozzle being capable to support a probe,

the active control apparatus comprising controlling electronics means for driving the motor,

wherein the irrigation and suction system comprises interface means connected to said controlling electronics means capable to select an operation mode of the motor between a continuous mode, wherein the pump delivers a fluid in a continuous and uniform way, and a pulse mode, wherein the pump flow rate switches between a minimum flow rate and a maximum flow rate with a switching period,

the interface means comprising a keypad with keys suitable to allow to select the operation mode of the motor,

wherein the interface means also comprises a graphic display suitable to visualize an operation state of the irrigation and suction system and a man-machine interface electronic module to which said keys and said graphic display are connected, and the interface means are housed on a handpiece, and

wherein the handpiece has an ergonomic banana shape with a first elongated arcuate surface extending from the two valves to the output nozzle on a proximal face of the handpiece, a second elongated arcuate surface spaced from the first elongated arcuate surface and extending from the two valves towards the output nozzle, a third elongated arcuate surface extending from the output nozzle towards the second elongated arcuate surface,

a pair of buttons which are contiguous with each other and are both disposed adjacent to each other on a distal face of the handpiece between the second and the third elongated arcuate surfaces, wherein the pair of buttons controls the operation of the two valves, whereby when the pair of buttons is pressed the two valves may communicate with the output nozzle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said interface means is capable to further select a flow rate of the pump.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said interface means is capable to further select, in case of pulse operation, one or more parameters selected from a group comprising of a minimum flow rate, a maximum flow rate, and a switching period.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said interface means comprises a keyboard.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said interface means comprises one or more elements selected from the group comprising a light signaling LED and an electro- acoustic indicator, or a buzzer.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said interface means is connected to said controlling electronics means through a cable or a wireless connection.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the active control apparatus comprises a detecting means, connected to said controlling electronics means and capable to detect a priming state of the pump, whereby said controlling electronics means enables or disables driving the motor when said detecting means detects that the pump is, respectively, primed or unprimed.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said detecting means is capable to detect an attaching of the pump to the motor, whereby said controlling electronics means enables or disables driving the motor when said detecting means detects that a pump is, respectively, attached or not attached.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein said interface means is further capable to cause an attempt of priming the pump within a maximum period (time-out), whereby the pump is operated for a pre-established period.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the active control apparatus comprises a current detecting means connected to said controlling electronics means capable to detect a current absorbed by the motor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said current detecting means is capable to further detect when said current absorbed by the motor exceeds a maximum threshold value.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said current detecting means directly inhibits said electronics means for driving the motor when it detects that said current absorbed by the motor exceeds said maximum threshold value.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein said controlling electronics means is capable to detect an unpriming state of the pump on a basis of the current absorbed by the motor as detected by said current detecting means, whereby said controlling electronics means enables or inhibits driving the motor when it detects that the pump is respectively primed or unprimed.

14. The system according to claim 10 , wherein said controlling electronics means is capable to detect a number of revolutions of the motor, whereby it inhibits driving the motor when said number of revolutions of the motor is incorrect.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the active control apparatus comprises a watching means connected to said controlling electronics means, said watching means being capable to detect one or more conditions selected from a group comprising a power-on state of the active control apparatus, a malfunction signaled by said controlling electronics means, an insufficient power supply, whereby the watching means resets said controlling electronics means or inhibits driving the motor for at least a time period upon detection of said one or more conditions.

16. The system according to claim 1 , wherein an attaching between the motor and the pump is of coaxial bevel gear pair type, comprising a male driver and a corresponding female driver.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the attaching between the motor and the pump is arranged according to a labyrinth type geometry seal.