Patent ID: 6485451
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An irrigation system for cleaning a body cavity of a patient, said irrigation system comprising:a housing fluidly connected to a liquid source through an inlet port, said housing further having at least one interior chamber, a discharge port, and means for preventing liquid which is greater than a first predetermined temperature from exiting said discharge port, wherein said liquid exit preventing means includes a valve assembly disposed in said housing, said valve assembly including at least one thin valve member formed from a bimetallic temperature responsive material which is movable between a first position and a second position when liquid exceeding the first predetermined temperature impinges directly thereupon to automatically prevent liquid exceeding the first predetermined temperature from being discharged from the housing to the handpiece; a handpiece connected to the discharge port of said housing, said handpiece having an actuable control element to control the dispensing of liquid from said liquid source to a body cavity through a discharge opening; and means for delivering liquid from the discharge port to the discharge opening of said handpiece, said liquid delivering means including means for indicating when said liquid is greater than a second predetermined temperature, said second predetermined temperature being a suitable temperature for effectively cleaning the body cavity without patient discomfort.