Method and apparatus for surgical irrigation, aspiration and illumination

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the control means includes: means to control the vacuum provided by said first tube at the distal end of said probe member.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein the control means includes: means to control the flow of irrigating fluid supplied by said second tube at the distal end of said probe member.

Claim 5

The probe device of claim 1 wherein said second tube is disposed within the first tube.

Claim 6

The probe device of claim 1 wherein the probe member is provided with an opening at or near the distal end thereof in communication with said first tube providing a vacuum.

Claim 7

The probe device of claim 5, wherein the probe member is provided with an opening at or near the distal end thereof in communication with said second tube providing irrigation fluid.

Claim 8

The probe device of claim 1, wherein the probe member has an opening at or near the distal end thereof in communication with said light conducting element to illuminate the surgical incision.

Claim 9

The probe device of claim 1, wherein the conduit means in fluid communication between the fluid source and the fluid supply means is a flexible tube.

Claim 10

The probe device of claim 8, wherein said control means includes a finger operated means to control the flow of irrigating fluid from the source thereof to the fluid supply means comprising a pincher valve which operates on the flexible tube.

Claim 11

The probe device of claim 1, wherein the conduit means in fluid communication between the vacuum source and the vacuum means in the probe member is provided with a bleed hole to control the level of vacuum.

Claim 12

The probe device of claim 1 including a light source mounted in said housing member optically connected to said light conducting element to transmit light from the light source to the distal end of the probe member.

Claim 13

A surgical instrument for enabling a user using one hand to probe an incision and illuminate, irrigate and/or aspirate said incision, said device comprising: an elongated handle member having first and second ends and a perimeter wall defining a cross section dimensioned so as to fit comfortably in said user's one hand; an elongated probe member having first and second ends, said probe member first end attached to said handle member second end; irrigation passageway means formed in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for conveying a first fluid from a fluid supply coupled to said handle member first end for discharge at said probe member second end; aspiration passageway means in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for drawing a second fluid from said probe member second end to a vacuum source coupled to said handle member first end; illumination passageway means in said probe member for conducting light from said probe member first end to said probe member second end; first control means carried by said handle member responsive to finger pressure applied substantially perpendicular to the elongation of said handle member for controlling the flow of said first fluid through said irrigation passageway means; second control means carried by said handle member responsive to finger pressure applied substantially perpendicular to the elongation of said handle member for controlling the flow of said second fluid through said aspiration passageway means, said first and second control means being located in close proximity to one another on said handle member whereby said user can readily apply pressure to said first or second control means using a single finger of said user's one hand; and means carried by said handle member for supplying light proximate to said illumination passageway means at said probe member first end.

Claim 14

A surgical instrument for enabling a user using one hand to probe an incision and illuminate, irrigate and/or aspirate said incision, said device comprising: an elongated handle member having first and second ends and a perimeter wall defining a cross section dimensioned so as to fit comfortably in said user's one hand; an elongated probe member having first and second ends, said probe member first end attached to said handle member second end; irrigation passageway means formed in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for conveying a first fluid from a fluid supply coupled to said handle member first end for discharge at said probe member second end; aspiration passageway means in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for drawing a second fluid from said probe member second end to a vacuum source coupled to said handle member first end; illumination passageway means in said probe member for conducting light from said probe member first end to said probe member second end; first control means carried by said handle member responsive to finger pressure applied substantially perpendicular to the elongation of said handle member for controlling the flow of said first fluid through said irrigation passageway means; second control means carried by said handle member responsive to finger pressure applied substantially perpendicular to the elongation of said handle member for controlling the flow of said second fluid through said aspiration passageway means, said first and second control means being located in close proximity to one another on said handle member whereby said user can readily apply pressure to said first or second control means using a single finger of said user's one hand; and means carried by said handle member for supplying light proximate to said illumination passageway means at said probe member first end.

Claim 15

The device of claim 12 wherein said illumination passageway means comprises an elongated rod of light conducting material; and wherein said means for supplying light comprises an electrically energizable light source mounted within said peripheral wall of said handle member.

Claim 16

The device of claim 12 wherein said first control means includes a normally closed valve mounted in said handle member and a valve actuator member extending through said handle member perimeter wall and mounted for reciprocal movement substantially perpendicular to said handle member elongation whereby said user can apply finger pressure thereto to open said normally closed valve.

Claim 17

The device of claim 12 wherein said elongated probe member has a perimeter wall defining a cross section smaller than said handle member cross section.

Claim 18

The device of claim 12 wherein said second control means includes an air hole formed in said handle member whereby a user can apply finger pressure thereto for increasing the flow of said second fluid through said aspiration passageway means.

Claim 19

A surgical instrument for enabling a user using one hand to probe an incision and simultaneously illuminate, irrigate and aspirate said incision, said device comprising: an elongated handle member having first and second ends and a perimeter wall defining a cross section dimensioned so as to fit comfortably in said user's one hand; an elongated probe member having first and second ends, said probe member first end attached to said handle member second end; irrigation passageway means formed in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for conveying a first fluid from a fluid supply coupled to said handle member first end for discharge at said probe member second end; aspiration passageway means in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for drawing a second fluid from said probe member second end to a vacuum source coupled to said handle member first end; illumination passageway means in said probe member for conducting light from said probe member first end to said probe member second end; first control means carried by said handle member and operable by a single finger of said users one hand for controlling the flow of said first fluid through said irrigation passageway means; and electrically energizable light source means mounted within said peripheral wall of said handle member for supplying light proximate to said illumination passageway means at said probe member first end.

Claim 20

A surgical instrument for enabling a user using one hand to probe an incision and simultaneously illuminate, irrigate and aspirate said incision, said device comprising: an elongated handle member having first and second ends and a perimeter wall defining a cross section dimensioned so as to fit comfortably in said user's one hand; an elongated probe member having first and second ends, said probe member first end attached to said handle member second end; irrigation passageway means formed in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for conveying a first fluid from a fluid supply coupled to said handle member first end for discharge at said probe member second end; aspiration passageway means in said handle member and probe member extending from said handle member first end to said probe member second end for drawing a second fluid from said probe member second end to a vacuum source coupled to said handle member first end; illumination passageway means in said probe member for conducting light from said probe member first end to said probe member second end; first control means carried by said handle member and operable by a single finger of said users one hand for controlling the flow of said first fluid through said irrigation passageway means; and electrically energizable light source means mounted within said peripheral wall of said handle member for supplying light proximate to said illumination passageway means at said probe member first end.

Claim 21

The device of claim 17 wherein said light source means is mounted in close proximity to said aspiration passageway means whereby said second fluid drawn therethrough can carry away heat produced by said light source means.

Claim 22

The device of claim 18 further including: second control means carried by said handle member and operable by a single finger of said users one hand for controlling the flow of said second fluid through said aspiration passageway means.

Claim 23

The device of claim 19 wherein said first and second control means are located in close proximity to one another on said handle member whereby said first and second control means can be operated using the same single finger of said user's one hand.

Claim 24

The device of claim 20 wherein each of said first and second control means is responsive to finger pressure applied substantially perpendicular to the elongation of said handle member.