Foot pedal medical irrigation system

Abstract

A foot pedal irrigation system allows a physician or other operating person to control the flow of irrigation fluid to a diagnostic or therapeutic device without using the physician's hands. The system attaches to one or more bags of irrigation fluid and uses clamps on inlet and output tubing. The system may include a visual drip chamber to monitor fluid flow without applying pressure to a foot pump which is part of the system. When increased irrigation is desired, the physician presses with a foot on the foot pedal pump; one way valves assure the increased one-way flow of fluid from the pump to the diagnostic or therapeutic device.

1 . A foot pedal irrigation system, comprising: 
 a pump body configured for operation during a medical procedure by a foot of a user;    a fluid outlet fitting and a fluid inlet fitting connected to the pump body; and    at least one check valve connected to the fluid outlet fitting or the fluid inlet fitting.    
   
   
       2 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising fluid inlet tubing or fluid outlet tubing.  
   
   
       3 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet and fluid outlet tubing is selected from the group consisting of medical tubing, silicone tubing, plastic tubing, elastomeric tubing, polypropylene tubing, polyethylene tubing, fluorocarbon tubing, polystyrene tubing, polyurethane tubing, nylon tubing and PVC tubing.  
   
   
       4 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 2 , further comprising a clamp on the fluid inlet tubing or fluid outlet tubing.  
   
   
       5 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump body further comprises a back plate.  
   
   
       6 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid outlet tubing further comprises a fitting for connecting to a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.  
   
   
       7 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 2 , further comprising a drip chamber connected to the fluid inlet tubing.  
   
   
       8 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one check valve is color-coded for inlet and outlet.  
   
   
       9 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid inlet tubing further comprises at least one bag spike or connector.  
   
   
       10 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump body comprises a chamber for holding fluid.  
   
   
       11 . A foot pedal irrigation system, comprising: 
 inlet tubing suitable for attachment of a fluid for use during a medical procedure;    a pump body connected to the inlet tubing by an inlet check valve, the pump body comprising a chamber for holding fluid, a lower surface comprising a stiffener plate, and an upper surface configured for use by a foot of a user; and    outlet tubing connected to the pump body via an outlet check valve.    
   
   
       12 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet check valve is colored differently from the inlet check valve.  
   
   
       13 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one tubing clamp.  
   
   
       14 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 11 , wherein the pump body comprises a valve housing and a pump housing.  
   
   
       15 . The foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 11 , wherein the pump body holds from about 25 to about 500 ml of liquid.  
   
   
       16 . A method of making a foot pedal irrigation system suitable for use during a medical procedure, the method comprising: 
 forming a valve housing and a pump housing;    attaching an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve to the valve housing;    adhering the valve housing to the pump housing; and    attaching inlet fluid tubing suitable for a medical fluid to the inlet check valve and attaching fluid outlet tubing to the outlet check valve.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching a back plate to the pump housing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising color coding an inlet portion of the foot pedal irrigation system a first color and color coding an outlet portion of the foot pedal irrigation system a second color.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising installing a clamp on at least one of the fluid inlet tubing and fluid outlet tubing.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising installing a drip chamber to the fluid inlet tubing.  
   
   
       21 . A method of irrigating a medical instrument, the method comprising: 
 connecting a source of irrigation liquid to the foot pedal irrigation system of  claim 1;     filling a pump body with irrigation liquid; and    controlling a flow of irrigation liquid through fluid inlet tubing and fluid outlet tubing to a medical diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising squeezing the pump body.