Medical devices and pumps therefor

Abstract

A microwave applicator device comprising a probe (11) for ablating the body of a human or animal, a cooling passage (20,21) extending through the probe (11) and arranged to carry a cooling fluid, a pump (71) for pumping the fluid through the probe (11), and an elongate flexible duct (104) extending between the pump (71) and one end of the cooling passage (20,21), the pump comprising a pump body (73) including a motor (120) and a pump head (72) detachably mounted to the pump body (73), the pump head (72) comprising a first port (86) connected to a proximal end of the elongate flow duct (104), a second port (85) and fluid propulsion means (84,92) for creating a flow of fluid between the ports (85,86) and along the elongate flow duct (104) upon energisation of the motor (120), the pump head (72) being arranged to sealingly contain the fluid. The pump head (72), the elongate flexible duct (104) and the probe (11) form a replaceable assembly that can be detached from the pump body (73) and discarded following use.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a medical device and a pump which are more particularly but not exclusively intended for use together. Background technique [0002] Microwave emitters are known to cut tissue in the body by heating and destroying surrounding tissue. One application of such emitters is the non-invasive treatment of cancer in internal organs such as the liver. GB2415630 discloses a transmitter of the above type comprising a probe with a thin elongated shaft which can be inserted into a patient for treatment. A handle is installed at the proximal end of the probe, which is connected to an external microwave generator through a slender flexible cable. The handle is connected to a radiating tip or antenna mounted at or adjacent to the distal end of the transmitting probe by means of an elongated microwave transmission line running through the interior of the probe. When in use, microwaves radiated from the tip heat and excise adjacent tis...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] One disadvantage of the above emitters is that the emitter probe can be heated for several reasons

The transmitting probe enters the body, so fluid flowing through the transmitting probe is also at risk of contamination, and the fluid and the catheter carrying the fluid to and from the transmitting probe are also preferably discarded after use

But the problem is that the fluid is in contact with the pump, and it is possible that the fluid directly contaminates the pump or there is contamination returning along the conduit connected to the emission probe, directly contaminating the pump

At the same time, it is difficult to clean and sanitize the pump, and it is too expensive to dispose of the pump after use

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