Patent Publication Number: US-2022236749-A1

Title: Flushing pump

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from GB 2100984.0 filed on Jan. 25, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to flushing pumps, such as those for use during endoscopic surgery. 
     Prior Art 
     Flushing pumps are used to provide a supply of liquid to a medical instrument, for flushing and irrigation, during medical procedures such as endoscopies. Generally sterile water is drawn from a reservoir and is pumped to a remote output which is used to flush and irrigate the region of interest during the surgery. The flushing pump may include two pumps (one for supplying liquid under pressure, and another for providing suction), or a single pump may facilitate both functions. For example, peristaltic pumps may be used as the flushing pump to avoid contact between mechanical parts and the sterile flushing water. Examples of flushing pumps are described in WO 2018 211259 A1 and EP 3 543 531 A1. 
     With existing flushing pumps, it is not possible to evaluate its usage and performance, in order to carry out any useful diagnostics regarding the flushing pump. Thus, the entire flushing pump must be removed from service and disassembled so that it can be inspected. There is therefore a need for an improved flushing pump. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, a flushing pump is provided. The flushing pump comprising: a pump for drawing fluid from a reservoir and expelling the drawn fluid from a fluid outlet; a processor configured to control operation of the pump; a remote controller connection port in electrical communication with the processor, the remote controller connection port comprising: an output system connection point; an input system connection point; a debugging connection point; and a ground connection point held at a reference voltage level, wherein the processor is configured to output diagnostic information to the output system connection point in response to the debugging connection point receiving a signal at the reference voltage level. This allows for remote diagnostics and servicing. 
     The reference voltage level may be an earth ground voltage. This is a convenient reference voltage, which may also be used by a remote controller attached to the connection port. 
     The flushing pump may further comprise: a remote controller comprising a remote controller connector for attachment to the connection port, the remote controller being configured to transmit a control signal to the input system connection point to instruct the processor to operate the flushing pump. The remote controller allows the user to remotely operate the flushing pump, such as by starting and/or stopping pumping. 
     The remote controller connector may be configured to leave the debugging connection point at a floating voltage. Left at a floating voltage, the processor will not enter the debugging mode where diagnostic information is output. This may be achieved by having nothing connected to the debugging connection point. 
     The flushing pump may further comprise: a debugging cable comprising a debugging connector for attachment to the connection port, the debugging connector being configured to provide the reference voltage level to the debugging connection point. This provides a debugging method by attaching the correct cable, which may be provided to service providers. 
     The debugging connector may comprise an electrical connection configured to connect the debugging connection point and the ground connection point when the debugging connector is inserted into the connection port. This provides a hard-wired solution to enter the debugging mode using existing connection points. 
     The debugging connector may further comprise a serial output. The debugging connector may further comprise a serial-to-USB adaptor. This provides an output format for the diagnostic information. 
     Each connection point may be a socket. For example, a plug connector or female connector. It may be more convenient to insert the external component (i.e., the diagnostic cable or remote controller) into a socket, rather than the other way around. 
     The connection port may be suitable for receiving a four-pin connector. The four-pin connector may be a Hirose four-pin connector. Four pin connectors are resilient and effective connectors for such a flushing pump. 
     The processor may be further configured to perform a handshake process in response to the debugging connection point receiving a signal at the reference voltage level, before outputting diagnostic information. This provides a software check, in addition to the hardware check of the debugging connection point. This provides a further layer of security and prevents unauthorized users from inadvertently triggering the processor to enter the debugging mode and outputting diagnostic information. 
     The pump may be a peristaltic pump. This prevents contact between the fluid and the mechanical parts of the pump, thereby reducing the risk of any contamination. 
     The present disclosure further provides a method of servicing a flushing pump, the method comprising: providing a flushing pump having features discussed above; attaching a debugging cable to the connection port to provide the reference voltage level to the debugging connection point; and reviewing the diagnostic information output from the flushing pump. This method allows servicing of the flushing pump using the architecture discussed in the present specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure refers, by way of example only, to the accompanying Figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic of a flushing pump including a remote controller connection port; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic of the remote controller connection port of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of a remote controller connection port and a remote controller connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic of a flushing pump  100 . The flushing pump  100  includes a pump  10 . The pump  10  may be any suitable form of pump. In an embodiment, the pump  10  may be a peristaltic pump (also known as a roller pump) such that the mechanical elements of the pump  10  do not contact the fluid being pumped. In a peristaltic pump, fluid is contained within a flexible tube fitted inside a cavity within a pump casing. A rotor with a number of pressing elements attached to the external circumference of the rotor progressively compresses the flexible tube. As the rotor turns, the part of the tube under compression is pinched closed, thus forcing the fluid to be pumped to move through the flexible tube. Additionally, as the tube opens to its natural state after the passing of the pressing element, fluid flow is induced to the peristaltic pump. 
     The pump  10  is configured to draw fluid from a reservoir  20 , such as a water supply or container. The fluid may be a sterile fluid such as sterile water. This fluid is drawn from the reservoir  20  by the pump  10 . The drawn fluid is then expelled from a fluid outlet  14  of the pump  10 . The fluid outlet  14  may be a connection point for attaching a flexible tube thereto. The flexible tube may be positionable within a patient&#39;s body at a site which is to be irrigated. When the pump  10  operates, fluid is drawn from the reservoir  20  and delivered to the fluid outlet  14  and then on to the area to be irrigated. 
     The pump  10  includes a processor  16  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), such as a CPU or computer, which controls operation of the pump  10 . This may include, for example, starting and/or stopping pump  10  operation, controlling the rate of pumping, and/or any other relevant control of the pump  10 . The pump  10  further comprises a remote controller connection port  40 . The remote controller connection port  40  is in electrical communication with the processor  16 . 
     A remote controller  30  is connectable to the remote controller connection port  40 . The remote controller  30  may include a remote controller connector  34  which is attachable to the remote controller connection port  40 . For example, the remote controller connector  34  may be insertable into the remote controller connection port  40 . That is, the remote controller connector  34  may be a male connector (also known as a pin connector) and the remote controller connection port  40  may be a female connector (also known as a plug connector or a socket connector). Of course, this may be reversed without departing from the present disclosure. 
     With the remote controller connector  34  connected to the remote controller connection port  40 , the remote controller  30  is in electrical communication with the processor  16 . This allows the remote controller  30  to send commands to the processor  16  to control operation of the pump  10 . For example, the remote controller  30  may comprise one or more buttons  32  which control operation of the pump  10 . In an embodiment, the remote controller  30  may control starting and stopping of the pump  10 . The remote controller may be actuated via any suitable mechanism, but in an embodiment it may take the form of a switch, such as a foot pedal operated by the user&#39;s feet. 
     Typically, the remote controller  30  will be arranged near a video monitor which the user is using to view the output from a camera being used in the procedure (such as endoscopy). 
     A schematic of the remote controller connection port  40  is shown in  FIG. 2 . While this Figure shows an embodiment of a circular four-pin connector, the remote controller connection port  40  may be any suitable connector. In an embodiment, the remote controller connection port  40  may be a port configured to receive a Hirose four-pin connector. 
     The remote controller connection port  40  includes a number of connection points. These connection points may be pins (i.e., elongate elements extending from a face of the remote controller connection port  40 , suitable for receipt in corresponding plugs) or plugs (i.e., cavities formed in a face of the remote controller connection port  40 , suitable for receiving corresponding pins), or any other suitable mechanism. The wiring of the connection ports is best shown in  FIG. 3 . While the depicted embodiment includes four connection points, it is noted that any suitable number of connection points may be used. For example, additional connection points may be provided to increase functionality. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the connection points may be combined. 
     The connection points include an output system connection point  41  and an input system connection point  42 . When the remote controller  30  is connected, these two system connection points  41 ,  42  may be used to send and receive signals to and from the remote controller  30  to allow the remote controller  30  to control operation of the pump  10 . These system connection points  41 ,  42  may be in electrical communication with the processor  16  such that system information can be sent to and from the processor  16 . The remote controller  30  may transmit a control signal to the input system connection point  42 , which is then transmitted to the processor  16  to instruct the processor to operate the pump  10  and hence the flushing pump  100 . 
     A ground connection point  44  is provided, which is held at a reference voltage level. This reference voltage level may be an earth ground voltage, supplied via an earth connection  18 . The ground connection point  44  may be directly connected to the reference voltage as shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the ground connection point  44  may connect to the processor  16  or other intermediary component. When the remote controller  30  is connected to the remote controller connection port  40 , the ground connection point  44  may provide the reference voltage to the remote controller  30 . 
     A debugging connection point  43  is provided. The debugging connection point  42  is electrically connected to the processor  16 . When the processor  16  receives a signal at the reference voltage level from the debugging connection point  43 , the processor  16  enters a diagnostic mode. In this diagnostic mode, the processor  16  may output diagnostic information via the output system connection point  41 . When the remote controller  30  is connected, the debugging connection point  43  may be left floating. That is, the remote controller connector  34  may not have any electrical connection for the debugging connection point  43 . As this leaves the debugging connection point  43  floating, the processor  16  does not enter the diagnostic mode. 
     The flushing pump  100  may further comprise a debugging cable  56 . The debugging cable may be used to perform diagnostics of the flushing pump  100 . The debugging cable may comprise a debugging connector  50 , which is connectable to the remote controller connection port  40 . Thus, the debugging connector  50  may be generally the same physical form as the remote controller connector  34 . 
     The debugging connector  50  is configured to provide the reference voltage level to the debugging connection port  43 . For example, the debugging connector  50  may include an electrical connection  55  connecting the debugging connection port  43  to the ground connection point  44 . This therefore acts as a hard-wired link between the two ports when the debugging connector  50  is connected to the remote controller connection port  40 . 
     With the debugging connector  50  connected to the remote controller connection port  40 , the reference voltage is provided to the processor  16  from the debugging connection point  43  and hence the processor  16  enters the debugging mode. 
     The debugging cable is configured to connect at its other end to a debugging system, such as a terminal or computer. For example, the debugging cable may include a serial output. This could be, for example, in the form of a serial-to-USB adaptor such that the debugging cable can be plugged into a USB port. 
     With the debugging cable connected to the debugging system, the processor  16  may perform a handshaking process to establish a connection with the debugging system. This may include one or more of the steps of verifying the connection, determining the speed, or authorizing the connection. For example, the debugging system may need to transmit a password to the processor  16  before any diagnostic information is output from the processor  16 . 
     When the processor  16  outputs diagnostic information, this may be via the output system connection point  41 . This diagnostic information may be transferred to the debugging system, for further processing and analysis. This diagnostic information may then be reviewed and used to service the flushing pump  100 . The diagnostic information may be any information regarding the operation of the flushing pump  100 . This may include, but is not limited to, usage durations, usage speeds, time between usage, usage durations at particular speeds, error messaging. 
     The user may input a request for particular diagnostic information into the debugging system. This can be transmitted to the system input connection point  42  and thereby transmitted to the processor  16 . The processor  16  will then receive this request and output the appropriate diagnostic information via the system output connection point  41 . 
     All of this diagnostic information can then be reviewed, either automatically or by human input, and used to determine appropriate servicing required for the flushing pump  100 . The diagnostic information may be analysed to determine which procedures the flushing pump  100  has been used for. For example, a particular characteristic usage profile may indicate that a particular procedure has been carried out. In a surgical procedure, as an example, the speed of the flushing pump  100  is likely to be low, but it will be used at this low speed for a long duration. 
     Thus, a method of servicing the flushing pump  100  is provided. A debugging cable is attached to the remote controller connection port  40 . The debugging cable is configured to provide the reference voltage level to the debugging connection point  43 . This then triggers the processor  16  to enter the debugging mode and output diagnostic information. As noted above, the processor  16  may first carry out a handshaking step to verify that the diagnostic information should be output. Finally, the diagnostic information may be used to evaluate the flushing pump  100 . For example, by reviewing the diagnostic information output from the flushing pump  100 . 
     This method of servicing the flushing pump  100  may indicate to a maintenance team which components require repair and/or replacement, thereby prolonging the life of the flushing pump  100 . 
     While there has been shown and described what is considered to be embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.