Manifold For Gas Enhanced Surgical Instruments

Abstract

There is disclosed a fluid supply manifold for use with various surgical instruments, such as, electrosurgical instruments. The fluid supply manifold includes two or more connection ports for receipt of sources of fluid supply by either bulk sources or sources contained within canisters. The manifold may include a mixing chamber for mixing the various sources of fluids within the manifold or may include flow tubes for providing the sources of fluid directly to the surgical instrument to be mixed within the surgical instrument. Control valves are associated with each of the connection ports to control the flow of fluids through the manifold. The manifold may also include a gas inlet to facilitate drawing the fluids out of the various sources as well as mixing the fluids within the manifold.

1 . A fluid supply manifold for use with a surgical instrument, the fluid supply manifold comprising:
 a housing;   at least two connection ports for receipt of sources of fluid supply; and   an individual flow port provided on each of the at least two connection ports.   
   
   
       2 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a mixing chamber in fluid communication with each of the individual flow ports. 
   
   
       3 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the at least two connection ports includes a control valve to regulate the flow of fluid through the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the control valve is operated by an actuator associated with a surgical instrument assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a gas inlet port defined therein, the gas inlet port being in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       6 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the connection ports includes a needle defining a fluid flow path into the housing, the needle configured to pierce a septum of an associated fluid supply canister. 
   
   
       7 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each connection port includes an O-ring seated therein dimensioned to provide a fluid-tight seal with an external fluid supply source. 
   
   
       8 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the connection ports are threaded to receive a corresponding thread on a fluid supply source. 
   
   
       9 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the external fluid supply source is affixed within the connection port by a press fit such that the needle is forced through a septum of the external fluid supply source. 
   
   
       10 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a discharge tube in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each connection port includes a flow tube passing through the housing. 
   
   
       12 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a control valve position intermediate the flow port and the flow tube. 
   
   
       13 . The fluid supply manifold as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a neck for connection with an associated flow tube port on a surgical instrument. 
   
   
       14 . A fluid supply manifold for use with a surgical instrument, the manifold comprising:
 a housing configured to operably couple the surgical instrument to at least a first source of pressurized gas;   at least two connection ports configured to receive fluid from a fluid supply; and   an individual flow port provided on each of the at least two connection ports, wherein the manifold is configured such that release of pressurized gas from the at least first source of pressurized gas draws fluid from the fluid supply.