Patent ID: 8251679

Claim:
A medical pump for use in water jet surgery, the medical pump comprising: a pump unit having two pistons disposed within respective cylinders; and a pump actuating device, the pump actuating device comprising: a holding device configured to attach and detach the pump unit respectively to and from the pump actuating device; coupling devices configured to couple and uncouple respective pistons to and from the pump actuating device; a drive device controlled by a control system to actuate the pump unit by alternately displacing the two pistons within respective cylinders, to open and/or close the holding device, and to open and/or close the coupling devices; and a detection device in communication with the control system that detects a relative position between the pump unit and the pump actuating device and, when the pump unit is inserted into the pump actuating device, transmits a first detection signal to the control system and when the pump unit is not inserted into the pump actuating device, transmits a second detection signal to the control system, wherein upon receiving the first detection signal, the control system controls the drive device to close the holding device and the coupling device such that the pump unit is attached to and the pistons are coupled to the pump actuating device, wherein the detection device further comprises a photoelectric barrier and the pump unit further comprises an interrupter device for interrupting a light beam of the photoelectric barrier, thereby causing the detection device to transmit the first detection signal, and wherein the detection device further comprises a pushbutton or switch device that transmits the second detection signal.