Laparoscopic irrigation bottle pump

Claim 1

A laparoscopic irrigation pump for controlling gas under pressure driving irrigation solution from a container comprising: first means for monitoring a source of gas under pressure and responsive to the gas pressure falling below a predetermined value to indicate same, second means for introducing gas under pressure into a container containing irrigation solution for driving the irrigation solution out of the container, third means for monitoring liquid level of irrigation solution in the container, detecting when the level falls to a predetermined value and responsive thereto terminating flow of the irrigation solution out of the container, and fourth means for receiving gas under pressure from the source, delivering gas to the second means and controlling the level of gas pressure delivery to the second means for introduction into the container for driving the irrigation solution out of the container, said fourth means including a pressure regulator for acting on gas from the source to adjust positive and negative deviations of the gas pressure to a predetermined level, a stepping motor connected to drive the regulator, a pressure transducer for sensing deviations of gas pressure on the output side of the pressure regulator correlated with said predetermined level of gas pressure and for converting same into corresponding electrical signals, control means acting responsive to said electric signals for controlling said stepping motor to restore the gas pressure on the output side of the pressure regulator to said predetermined level of gas pressure.