Reusable pump cartridge

Abstract

A pump cartridge for use in a high pressure fluid jet system is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the pump cartridge can be adapted to couple to a drive mechanism for driving fluid from a fluid source, through the pump cartridge, to a fluid jet delivery device, and the pump cartridge can be reusable to allow the pump cartridge to be sterilized between uses.

1 . A reusable pump cartridge, comprising: 
 a housing having a chamber adapted to allow fluid flow therethrough, and a drive assembly adapted to drive fluid through the chamber when the housing is coupled to a drive mechanism, the chamber being adapted to have a sealed configuration when the housing is coupled to the drive mechanism, and the chamber being adapted to be in an open configuration when the housing is disengaged from a drive mechanism such that the housing, the chamber, and the drive assembly can be steam sterilized between uses.    
   
   
       2 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes an inlet, and outlet, and an opening formed between the chamber and the drive assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 2 , further comprising a seal disposed within the opening and adapted to have an open configuration when the housing is disengaged from a drive mechanism, and adapted to receive a portion of the drive assembly when the housing is coupled to the drive mechanism such that the chamber is sealed.  
   
   
       4 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 3 , wherein the drive assembly includes a piston movably disposed through the seal, the piston being adapted to receive a push rod on a drive mechanism for moving the piston relative to the seal to drive fluid through the chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the piston floats within the housing such that it is movable about a longitudinal axis thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 4 , further comprising a biasing element coupled to the piston and effective to bias the piston to a first position in which the piston is fully removed from the chamber and the seal is open.  
   
   
       7 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet in the chamber includes a one-way inlet valve adapted to allow fluid to flow into the chamber, and the outlet in the chamber includes a one-way outlet valve adapted to allow fluid to flow out of the chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet and outlet valves comprise ball-in-aperture valves.  
   
   
       9 . A reusable pump cartridge, comprising: 
 a housing removably matable to a drive mechanism, the housing including a fluid flow chamber, a coupling chamber, and a seal separating the fluid flow chamber and the coupling chamber;    a piston movably disposed through the seal and including a receiving portion disposed within the coupling chamber and adapted to receive a push rod on a drive mechanism for moving the piston relative to the seal to drive fluid through the fluid flow chamber; and    a biasing element coupled to the piston and effective to bias the piston to a first position in which the piston is fully disposed within the pump chamber and the seal is open.    
   
   
       10 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the piston floats within the housing such that it is movable about a longitudinal axis thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a substantially planar surface.  
   
   
       12 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the piston comprises an elongate shaft and the receiving portion comprises an enlarged head formed on an end of the elongate shaft, and wherein the enlarged head includes a substantially planar surface for receiving a push rod on a drive mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the piston is formed from an autoclavable material.  
   
   
       14 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the piston is formed from sapphire.  
   
   
       15 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the seal is formed from an autoclavable material.  
   
   
       16 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the seal is formed from an impregnated fluoropolymer.  
   
   
       17 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring disposed around at least a portion of the piston.  
   
   
       18 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the piston comprises a head having a first end defining the receiving portion, and a second end having an elongate shaft extending therefrom and movably disposed through the seal.  
   
   
       19 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the biasing element extends around a portion of the elongate shaft and applies a biasing force to the second end of the head.  
   
   
       20 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid flow chamber includes a one-way inlet valve adapted to allow fluid to flow into the fluid flow chamber, and a one-way outlet valve adapted to allow fluid to flow out of the fluid flow chamber.  
   
   
       21 . The reusable pump cartridge of  claim 20 , wherein the inlet and outlet valves comprise ball-in-aperture valves.  
   
   
       22 . A reusable pump cartridge, comprising: 
 a housing adapted to couple to a fluid source, a fluid delivery tool, and a drive mechanism for driving fluid from the fluid source, through the housing, to the fluid delivery tool;    wherein the housing is adapted to have a first, sealed configuration when the housing is coupled to a fluid source, a fluid delivery tool, and a drive mechanism, and a second, open configuration when the housing is disengaged from the fluid source, the fluid delivery device, and the drive mechanism; and    wherein the housing is adapted to be steam sterilized in the second, open configuration.    
   
   
       23 . A method for using a pump cartridge, comprising: 
 coupling a drive assembly in a pump cartridge to a drive mechanism, and coupling a fluid flow chamber in the pump cartridge to a fluid source and a fluid delivery tool;    activating the drive mechanism to drive fluid from the fluid source, through the fluid flow chamber, to the fluid delivery tool;    disengaging the pump cartridge from the drive mechanism, the fluid source, and the fluid delivery tool;    sterilizing the pump cartridge; and    repeating the steps of coupling and activating.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein sterilizing the pump cartridge comprises autoclaving the pump cartridge.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the fluid delivery tool comprises a high pressure fluid jet.