# US 4,397,640 A · Instrument for irrigation of a surgical site > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,397,640 A - Document ID: US4397640A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/288,437 - Filed: 1981-07-30 - Granted: 1983-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 1980-12-19 - Assignees: Uteh and Haug GmbH - Inventors: Erich Haug; Siegbert Storz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397640A ## CPC - A61C 17/0208: {combined with means providing suction (A61C17/0211 takes precedence)} - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract A flushing instrument or irrigator for surgical purposes comprises a stem 11 having an inlet end 29 adapted for connection to a flushing fluid supply line 13 and a discharge end 12. A fluid supply passage 16, 17, 18, 24, 19, 20, 21 is able to convey flushing fluid from the inlet end 29 to the discharge end 12. A valve 14 with a longitudinally movable slider 15 is movable between first and second abutments 22 and 23 from a retracted position in which it blocks the supply passage to an advanced position in which the supply passage is open for the transfer of flushing fluid to the discharge end of the stem and then via a cannula 38 to the site of the operation. In one embodiment the cannula 38 is also provided with a drainage duct 50 leading to a drainage passage 49 in the stem 11 in order to drain fluid away from the site of the operation. The drainage passage can be blocked by a transversely disposed slide valve 31. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical irrigator comprising a stem having front and rear ends and a cylindrical portion with a cylindrical surface adjacent said front end; inlet means for an irrigation fluid at said rear end of said stem; passage means for guiding said irrigation fluid from said inlet means to said front end, a cannula for discharging said irrigation fluid from said front end of said stem, means for removably attaching said cannula to said front end of said stem; wherein said passage means comprises a first passage extending longitudinally through said stem from said inlet means towards said cylindrical portion; a first opening in said cylindrical surface; a first transverse bore extending from said first passage to said first opening; a second opening in said cylindrical surface spaced from said first opening; a second passage extending longitudinally through said stem to said front end; a second transverse bore extending from said second opening to said second passage; there being valve means for selectively closing or opening said passage means for the flow of said irrigation fluid therethrough, said valve means comprising a circumferentially extending sleeve displaceable longitudinally on said cylindrical portion, first and second abutments for limiting the range of axial displacement of said sleeve, said sleeve having an internal annular recess of a diameter greater than that of said cylindrical portion and an internal wall portion of substantially the same diameter as said cylindrical wall portion, said sleeve being arranged to permit transfer of said irrigation fluid from said first opening to said second opening via said annular recess when said sleeve is in contact with one of said abutments but to sealingly block one of said openings by said inner wall portion when in contact with the other of said abutments, thereby isolating said first and second openings one from the other, wherein said first abutment is defined by shoulder means of said stem on the side of said cylindrical portion adjacent said rear end and wherein said second abutment is defined by said means for removably attaching said cannula to said front end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve is arranged to block said second openings when in contact with said other abutment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve is arranged to permit passage of said irrigation fluid from said first opening to said second opening when in contact with said second abutment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said irrigation fluid is a liquid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve has an annular depression of concave rounded shape as seen in longitudinal section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve has an external annular corrugation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shoulder means comprises an annular shoulder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for removably attaching a cannula comprises a mouth piece with a front stub formed at said front end of said stem. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A surgical irrigator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the level of friction between said sleeve and said stem is selected to retain said sleeve in any position to which it is moved. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An irrigator in accordance with claim 1 and wherein a drainage passage is provided in said stem. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An irrigator in accordance with claim 10 and wherein said drainage passage lies generally parallel to said passage means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An irrigator in accordance with claim 10 and wherein said drainage passage and said passage means are arranged eccentrically in said stem. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) An irrigator in accordance with claim 10 and wherein said passage means opens into a connection stub which projects sideways and is inclined rearwardly at the rear portion of the stem. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) An irrigator in accordance with claim 10 and wherein said drainage passage has a substantially larger diameter than said passage means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) An irrigator in accordance with claim 10 and wherein a connection stub for a drainage hose is provided at the rear end of said stem coaxial thereto. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) An irrigator in accordance with claim 10 and wherein a slide valve is inserted in said drainage passage at the rear end of said stem. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An irrigator in accordance with claim 16 and wherein said slide valve comprises a transverse bore crossing said drainage passage, a piston spool extending through said transverse bore and having a blocking portion which fills said transverse bore and a transmitting portion of reduced diameter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An irrigator in accordance with claim 17 and wherein said piston spool has actuating knobs of larger diameter at its two ends with said knobs simultaneously serving as abutments to limit the range of movement of the piston spool. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) An irrigator in accordance with claim 10 and wherein both said drainage passage and said passage means open at a front end face of said stem defining said discharge end and wherein a combined irrigation and drainage cannula is releasably attached at said discharge end with said combined irrigation and drainage cannula having an irrigation duct adjoining said passage means and a drainage duct of substantially larger diameter forming a continuation of said drainage passage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An irrigator in accordance with claim 19 and wherein said irrigation duct comprises a irrigation tube attached within said cannula. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) An irrigator in accordance with claim 19 and wherein a stub pipe projects from said front end face of the stem as a continuation of the drainage passage with said stub pipe fitting in a corresponding bore in a rear end face of the combined irrigation and drainage cannula. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) An irrigator in accordance with claim 19 and wherein a stub pipe projects from a rear surface of the combined irrigation and drainage cannula and fits in a corresponding bore in said front end face of the stem. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) An irrigator in accordance with claim 19 and wherein said combined irrigation and drainage cannula is attached to said stem by a union nut. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) An irrigator in accordance with claim 19 and wherein said combined irrigation and drainage cannula has an operating tip there being a discharge opening for said irrigation duct and a drainage opening for said drainage duct at said operating tip with said discharge opening lying to one side of said drainage opening. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An irrigator in accordance with claim 24 and wherein drainage bores of small diameter are arranged in the side of said operating tip near to said drainage opening.