Claims
- 1. A self-powered lavage instrument used with an external fluid source for debridement of soft tissue, said lavage instrument comprising:
- a housing including at least two housing parts, said housing parts being selectively attachable to and detachable from each other;
- a fluid nozzle being one of defined by and connected with said housing;
- a fluid pump enclosed within said housing, said fluid pump connected with said fluid nozzle and connectable with the external fluid source; and
- at least one power cell enclosed within said housing and connected to said fluid pump;
- wherein said at least one power cell may be removed from said housing upon detachment between said housing parts,
- further comprising a strap disposed around said at least two housing parts for providing said selective attachment and detachment therebetween
- and wherein at least one of said housing parts includes at least one nib extending from an exterior thereof, and wherein said strap includes opposing ends with a hole in each said end, said strap openings configured to receive an associated said nib therein.
- 2. The lavage instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one power cell comprises a plurality of DC batteries.
- 3. The lavage instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one power cell comprises a plurality of DC batteries, and further comprising a case enclosed within said housing and carrying said plurality of DC batteries, said case and said DC batteries defining a battery pack which is removable from said housing upon detachment between said housing parts.
- 4. A self-powered lavage instrument used with an external fluid source for debridement of soft tissue, said lavage instrument comprising:
- a housing including at least two housing parts, said housing parts being selectively attachable to and detachable from each other;
- a fluid nozzle being one of defined by and connected with said housing;
- a fluid pump enclosed within said housing, said fluid pump having an outlet connected with said fluid nozzle and having an inlet connectable with the external fluid source; and
- a battery pack enclosed within said housing, said battery pack including a case carrying a plurality of power cells, said battery pack farther including a plurality of clips which electrically interconnect said power cells,
- further comprising a strap disposed around said at least two housing parts for providing said selective attachment and detachment therebetween
- and wherein at least one of said housing parts includes at least one nib extending from an exterior thereof, and wherein said strap includes opposing ends with a hole in each said end, said strap openings configured to receive an associated said nib therein.
- 5. The lavage instrument of claim 4, wherein said plurality of clips interconnect said power cells in series.
- 6. The lavage instrument of claim 4, wherein said clips provide a dual functionality of interconnecting said power cells in series and holding said power cells within said case.
- 7. The lavage instrument of claim 4, wherein said plurality of power cells comprise a plurality of DC batteries, each said battery having a positive pole and a negative pole at opposing ends thereof, said clips connecting a positive pole of one said battery to a negative pole of an adjacent said battery.
- 8. The lavage instrument of claim 7, wherein said plurality of batteries are disposed in parallel, side-by-side relationship to each other such that said positive poles are disposed adjacent to each other and said negative poles are disposed adjacent to each other.
- 9. The lavage instrument of claim 4, wherein said case also carries an electric motor, and wherein said plurality of power cells at least partially surround said electric motor.
- 10. The lavage instrument of claim 4, wherein said case defines a plurality of openings, said plurality of power cells being disposed within respective said openings.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/602,231, entitled "Lavage Instrument", filed Feb. 16, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (24)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 029 636 A1 |
Jun 1981 |
EPX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
602231 |
Feb 1996 |
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