# US 11,077,236 B2 · Powered lavage handle and associated use therefore > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,236 B2 - Document ID: US11077236B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/890,528 - Filed: 2015-11-09 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-15 - Assignees: Genicon, Inc. - Applicants: Daniel Glenn Doerr; Roland Strelitzki; Mohammed Ali Barakat; Keith Anderson; Gary Wayne Haberland; John A. Farnella; Kenneth M. Roger - Inventors: Daniel Glenn Doerr; Roland Strelitzki; Mohammed Ali Barakat; Keith Anderson; Gary Wayne Haberland; John A. Farnella; Kenneth M. Roger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077236B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/774: {Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently} - A61M 1/743: {by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves (A61M1/7413 takes precedence)} - A61M 3/0208: {before use} - A61M 3/0216: {Pressure} - A61M 3/022: {Volume; Flow rate} - A61M 3/0283: {with at least two inner passageways, a first one for irrigating and a second for evacuating (suction-irrigation systems A61M1/77; aspiration tips with fluid supply means A61M1/85; for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92)} - A61M 3/0202: {with electronic control means or interfaces} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A lavage handle for facilitating at least one of an irrigation function and a suctioning function at a target zone preferably includes a portable body, a power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism in communication with said body wherein said fluid-displacing mechanism has one of a first operating mode for inducing outward irrigation of fluid towards the target zone and a second operating mode for inducing inward suction of fluid from the target zone. An actuation mechanism is located at said body and operable communicated with said fluid-displacing mechanism such that said fluid-displacing mechanism is selectively operated in at least one of said first operating mode and said second operating mode. The actuation mechanism may include an irrigation-inducing mechanism and/or a suction-inducing mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lavage handle for facilitating at least one of an irrigation function and a suctioning function at a target zone, said lavage handle comprising: a body; a fluid-displacing mechanism in communication with said body, said fluid-displacing mechanism having one of a first operating mode for inducing outward irrigation of fluid towards the target zone and a second operating mode for inducing inward suction of fluid from the target zone; an actuation mechanism located at said body and operably communicated with said fluid-displacing mechanism such that said fluid-displacing mechanism is selectively operated in at least one of said first operating mode and said second operating mode; a fluid storage container in communication with said fluid-displacing mechanism, said fluid storage container including at least one of an irrigation container and a suction container in communication with said body, said at least one of said irrigation container and said suction container being located external of said body; a probe connector in fluid communication with a distal end of said body, said probe connector including a probe connector port located exterior of said distal end of said body for providing an inlet and an outlet for the fluid-displacing mechanism, wherein said probe connector port has a single distal opening that diverges proximally away from said distal end of said body, said probe connector port having a threaded outer surface, a suction connector port in fluid communication with said probe connector port, and an irrigation connector port in fluid communication with said probe connector port; wherein said probe connector port proximally bifurcates into said suction connector port and said irrigation connector port; an internal suction tube connected to said suction connector port; an internal irrigation tube connected to said irrigation connector port; an external suction tube connector located at a proximal end of said body and connected to said internal suction tube; an external irrigation tube connector located at said proximal end of said body and connected to said internal irrigation tube; and at least one of a suction probe and an irrigation probe in fluid communication with said threaded outer surface of said probe connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lavage handle of claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism is disposed at least partially exterior of said body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lavage handle of claim 2, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises: a multi-pole toggle switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The lavage handle of claim 2, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises: at least one rheostat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The lavage handle of claim 2, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises: a spring-resistive trigger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lavage handle of claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism is disposed entirely interior of said body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lavage handle of claim 6, wherein said body is formed from deformably resilient material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lavage handle of claim 7, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises: a pressure-sensitive contact in communication with said deformably resilient material such that said fluid-displacing mechanism is operated when said body is biased to a tensioned state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lavage handle of claim 1, further comprising: a feedback mechanism in communication with said fluid-displacing mechanism for notifying a user of at least one of said first operating mode and said second operating mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lavage handle of claim 9, wherein said feedback mechanism comprises: at least one transducer for generating and emitting at least one alert signal when said fluid-displacing mechanism is at one of said first operating mode and said second operating mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lavage handle of claim 10, wherein said at least one alert signal is selected from the group comprising: an audio signal, a visual signal, a mechanical signal, a sensory signal and a combination thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The lavage handle of claim 9, wherein said feedback mechanism is located interior of said body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The lavage handle of claim 9, wherein said feedback mechanism is located at least partially exterior of said body. ### Claim 14 A lavage handle for facilitating at least one of an irrigation function and a suctioning function at a target zone, said lavage handle comprising: a portable body; a power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism in communication with said body, said fluid-displacing mechanism having one of a first operating mode for inducing outward irrigation of fluid towards the target zone and a second operating mode for inducing inward suction of fluid from the target zone; an actuation mechanism located at said body and operably communicated with said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism such that said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism is selectively operated in at least one of said first operating mode and said second operating mode; and a fluid storage container in communication with said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism, said fluid storage container including an irrigation container and a suction container each in communication with said body, said irrigation container and said suction container each being located external of said body; a probe connector in fluid communication with a distal end of said body, said probe connector including a probe connector port located exterior of said distal end of said body for providing an inlet and an outlet for the fluid-displacing mechanism, wherein said probe connector port has a single distal opening that diverges proximally away from said distal end of said body, said probe connector port having a threaded outer surface, a suction connector port in fluid communication with said probe connector port, and an irrigation connector port in fluid communication with said probe connector port; wherein said probe connector port proximally bifurcates into said suction connector port and said irrigation connector port; an internal suction tube connected to said suction connector port; an internal irrigation tube connected to said irrigation connector port; an external suction tube connector located at a proximal end of said body and connected to said internal suction tube; an external irrigation tube connector located at said proximal end of said body and connected to said internal irrigation tube; and at least one of a suction probe and an irrigation probe in fluid communication with said threaded outer surface of said probe connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lavage handle of claim 14, further comprising: a user-interface; and a voice-activated mechanism operatively coupled to said actuation mechanism; wherein, upon receiving a user input signal, said user-interface generates and transmits a corresponding control signal to said voice-activated mechanism for operating said actuation mechanism. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The lavage handle of claim 14, further comprising: a flow monitoring mechanism in communication with said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism, said flow monitoring mechanism monitoring at least one of a flow pressure, flow rate, and a volume of the fluid passing through said body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The lavage handle of claim 14, further comprising: an optics generating mechanism in communication with said body, said optics generating mechanism including at least one of a light source for illuminating the target zone and a camera for capturing a visual image of the target zone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The lavage handle of claim 14, wherein said first operating mode of said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism causes fluid displacement from said irrigation container to the target zone; wherein said second operating mode of said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism causes fluid retrieval from the target zone to said suction container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The lavage handle of claim 14, wherein said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism is at least partially contained within said body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The lavage handle of claim 14, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises: an irrigation-inducing mechanism. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The lavage handle of claim 14, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises: a suction-inducing mechanism. ### Claim 22 A method of utilizing a lavage handle for facilitating at least one of an irrigation function and a suctioning function at a target zone, said method comprising the steps of: providing a portable body; providing and communicating a power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism with said body, said fluid-displacing mechanism having one of a first operating mode for inducing outward irrigation of fluid towards the target zone and a second operating mode for inducing inward suction of fluid from the target zone; providing and locating an actuation mechanism at said body; operably communicating said actuation mechanism with said fluid-displacing mechanism such that said fluid-displacing mechanism is selectively operated in at least one of said first operating mode and said second operating mode; and providing and communicating a fluid storage container with said power-operated fluid-displacing mechanism, said fluid storage container including an irrigation container and a suction container each in communication with said body, said irrigation container and said suction container each being located external of said body; a probe connector in fluid communication with a distal end of said body, said probe connector including a probe connector port located exterior of said distal end of said body for providing an inlet and an outlet for the fluid-displacing mechanism, wherein said probe connector port has a single distal opening that diverges proximally away from said distal end of said body, said probe connector port having a threaded outer surface, a suction connector port in fluid communication with said probe connector port, and an irrigation connector port in fluid communication with said probe connector port; wherein said probe connector port proximally bifurcates into said suction connector port and said irrigation connector port; an internal suction tube connected to said suction connector port; an internal irrigation tube connected to said irrigation connector port; an external suction tube connector located at a proximal end of said body and connected to said internal suction tube; an external irrigation tube connector located at said proximal end of said body and connected to said internal irrigation tube; and at least one of a suction probe and an irrigation probe in fluid communication with said threaded outer surface of said probe connector. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: accessing a surgical procedure; and employing said lavage handle during said surgical procedure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: accessing a surgical port; and employing said lavage handle in conjunction with said surgical port. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: obtaining at least one of a suction probe and an irrigation probe; and employing said lavage handle in conjunction with said at least one of a suction probe and an irrigation probe.