Dual cylinder vacuum pump for medical aspiration system

Abstract

A dual cylinder pump that is used to create a vacuum in an aspiration tube of a medical system. The pump includes a first plunger that moves within a first cylinder and a second plunger that moves within a second cylinder. Movement of the plungers is controlled by a motor assembly. The pump includes valves that control the flow of fluid into and out of the cylinders so that one cylinder is pulling fluid from the aspiration tube while the other cylinder is discharging fluid. The pump housing can be constructed as a cartridge that can be removed and readily sterilized.

1 . A pump for a medical aspiration system, comprising: 
 a housing that has an input port, an output port, a first cylinder and a second cylinder;    a first plunger that moves within said first cylinder;    a second plunger that moves within said second cylinder;    a motor assembly that moves said first and second plungers within said first and second cylinders, respectively; and,    a valve assembly that controls fluid communication between said first and second cylinders, and said input and output ports.    
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said motor assembly includes a first motor connected to said first plunger by a first coupler and a second motor connected to said second plunger by a second coupler.  
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second plungers move out of phase relative to each other.  
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said valve assembly includes a first input valve that controls fluid communication between said input port and said first cylinder and a second input valve that controls fluid communication between input port and said second cylinder.  
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said valve assembly includes a first output valve that controls fluid communication between said first cylinder and said output port and a second output valve that controls fluid communication between said second cylinder and said output port.  
   
   
       6 . A medical system, comprising: 
 an instrument;    an aspiration tube coupled to said handpiece;    a pump coupled to said aspiration tube, said pump including; 
 a housing that has an input port coupled to said aspiration tube, an output port coupled to said aspiration tube, a first cylinder and a second cylinder;  
 a first plunger that moves within said first cylinder;  
 a second plunger that moves within said second cylinder;  
 a motor assembly that moves said first and second plungers within said first and second cylinders, respectively;  
 a valve assembly that controls fluid communication between said first and second cylinders, and said input and output ports; and,  
   a control device coupled to said pump.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said motor assembly includes a first motor connected to said first plunger by a first coupler and a second motor connected to said second plunger by a second coupler.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second plungers move out of phase relative to each other.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said valve assembly includes a first input valve that controls fluid communication between said input port and said first cylinder and a second input valve that controls fluid communication between input port and said second cylinder.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said valve assembly includes a first output valve that controls fluid communication between said first cylinder and said output port and a second output valve that controls fluid communication between said second cylinder and said output port.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said control device includes a foot pedal.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller coupled to said foot pedal and said pump.  
   
   
       13 . A method for creating a vacuum pressure within an aspiration tube of a medical system, comprising: 
 moving a first plunger within a first cylinder of a housing and moving a second plunger within a second cylinder of the housing; and,    switching at least one valve to create fluid communication between an input port of the housing and the first and second cylinders and a fluid communication between an output port of the housing and the first and second cylinders, so that movement of the first and second plungers create a vacuum within an aspiration tube coupled to the input port.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second plungers move out of phase with each other.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first plunger is moved by a first motor and the second plunger is moved by a second motor.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vacuum pressure irrigates fluid from an eye.  
   
   
       17 . A pump cartridge that can be connected to an aspiration tube of a medical system and a motor assembly of a pump, comprising: 
 a housing that has an input port that can be connected to the aspiration tube, an output port, a first cylinder and a second cylinder;    a first plunger that moves within said first cylinder and can be connected to said motor assembly;    a second plunger that moves within said second cylinder and can be connected to said motor assembly; and    a valve assembly that controls fluid communication between said first and second cylinders, and said input and output ports.    
   
   
       18 . The pump cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein said first and second plungers move out of phase relative to each other.  
   
   
       19 . The pump cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein said valve assembly includes a first input valve that controls fluid communication between said input port and said first cylinder and a second input valve that controls fluid communication between input port and said second cylinder.  
   
   
       20 . The pump cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein said valve assembly includes a first output valve that controls fluid communication between said first cylinder and said output port and a second output valve that controls fluid communication between said second cylinder and said output port.