Lubrication and exhaust system for a powered surgical instrument
AssigneeMedtronic Xomed, Inc.
InventorsS. Shane Dexter, Larry Dale Estes, Gabriel Johnston, Durrell Tidwell, Bret R. Hauser, Lauren DeVita
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lubrication cartridge includes a cartridge body. A cartridge coupling is located on the cartridge body and defines a first passage and a second passage. A lubricant reservoir is housed in the cartridge body and comprises a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage. A metering insert is located between the lubricant outlet and the second passage and comprises a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage.
Claims20
A lubrication cartridge for a surgical instrument lubrication system having a stem defining a primary fluid path in fluid communication with a suction tap, the lubrication cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body;
- a cartridge coupling located on the cartridge body and defining a first passage and a second passage;
- a lubricant reservoir housed in the cartridge body and comprising a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage, the lubrication outlet comprises a delivery tube;
- and
- a metering insert located between the suction tap and the delivery tube when the lubrication cartridge is attached to the stem, the metering insert comprising a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage.
A surgical instrument lubrication system, comprising:
- a lubrication cartridge;
- a stem defining a primary flow path in fluid communication with a suction tap;
- a quarter-turn coupling interface located on each of the lubrication cartridge stem that is operable to sealing mate the lubrication cartridge with the stem, wherein the lubrication cartridge and the stem comprising an initial coupling orientation and a final coupling orientation, and wherein the lubrication cartridge is rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to the stem between the initial coupling orientation and the final coupling orientation;
- a lubricant reservoir housed in the lubrication cartridge;
- a first delivery tube extending into the lubricant reservoir;
- a metering insert located between the suction tap and the first delivery tube and operable to meter lubricant flow from the lubricant reservoir to the primary flow path;
- and
- an exhaust portion housed in the lubrication cartridge and operable to filter exhaust fluid that passes through the lubrication cartridge.
A surgical system, comprising:
- a surgical instrument;
- a fluid supply system operable to supply a pressurized fluid to the surgical instrument to power the surgical instrument;
- a stem comprising:
- a quarter-turn stem coupling;
- a pressurized fluid entry port in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid exit port via a primary fluid path, wherein the pressurized fluid entry port is coupled to the fluid supply system and the pressurized fluid exit port is coupled to a tubing that is further coupled to the surgical instrument and operable to transmit pressurized fluid from the stem to the surgical instrument and transmit exhaust fluid from the surgical instrument to the stem;
- a Venturi neck located along the primary fluid path;
- a high pressure tap in fluid communication with the primary fluid path upstream from the Venturi neck;
- and
- a suction tap in fluid communication with the Venturi neck;
- a lubrication cartridge comprising:
- a quarter-turn lubrication coupling mateable with the quarter-turn stem coupling, a high pressure area annulus defined by the quarter-turn lubrication coupling, and a passage defined by the quarter-turn lubrication coupling and including an passage entrance located within the high pressure area annulus;
- a lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with the high pressure tap through the high pressure area annulus;
- a first delivery tube extending into the lubricant reservoir;
- a metering insert located between the suction tap and the first delivery tube;
- an exhaust passage operable to receive exhaust fluid transmitted from the from the surgical instrument, through the tubing, and to the stem;
- and
- an exhaust filter operable to remove lubricant located in the exhaust fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.