Patent ID: 6986753

Claim:
An irrigation system for a medical device, comprising: an irrigation line; a valve to control a flow of fluid through said irrigation line; an irrigation reservoir providing fluid to the irrigation line, the irrigation reservoir operating as a first source of fluid for the medical device; a pump coupled to said irrigation line; an accumulator operating as a secondary source of fluid for the medical device, said accumulator including a first chamber, a second chamber, and a flexible membrane that separates said first chamber from said second chamber and deflects in response to a change in an amount of fluid pressure in the irrigation line, said first chamber of said accumulator providing a reservoir for pressurized fluid and supplying said pressurized fluid to said irrigation line in response to reduced speed of said pump and without adjustment of said valve; and, a controller including a pressure transducer in fluid communication with said second chamber to detect a change of fluid pressure in said second chamber caused by the deflection of the flexible membrane and to adjust said valve and control a flow rate of fluid passing through said irrigation line to counteract the change in the amount of fluid pressure in the irrigation line by varying a speed of said pump.