The mesh filter does not collect all particles;
anything smaller than 3mm (inside diameter
of restricted tubing) will pass through the filter
and into the suction canister.
Although the filter may look full during the procedure
it is most likely not. It may give
the illusion of being full since the particles in the
filter will be pushed outward due to the
flow of fluid, however the center of the filter will
be hollow. If the Surgeon has concerns
of clogging, have him test the suction on the shaver.
If there is suction, the filter is not
full. In the unlikely event the filter does fill up,
the OR staff should remove the used
StableVac product and attach a new one.
Yes! Surgeons who use an infusion pump are used to
seeing whirlwinds of fluid and
bubbles on their monitors. Because StableVac uses
gravity inflow, the flow of fluid is
constant providing a stable and clear view for the
Surgeon.
No, StableVac is designed for gravity inflow
procedures. StableVac’s restriction on
outflow provides the distention and pressure of a
pump with the added protection against
fluid extravasation.
Our flow studies have shown that our Dual Irrigation
Set and StableVac Suction Tubing
can provide intra-articular pressures up to 100mm/Hg.
With a gravity procedure, joint pressure is determined
by the height of the saline bag.
Our flow studies have determined exact joint
pressures at specific bag heights. We have
these bag heights and associated pressures printed on
our product packaging.
Yes, many Surgeons have used StableVac as a specimen
capsule for lab biopsies.
StableVac can be used in almost all Arthroscopy
procedures. It has been found
especially useful in hip and small joint arthroscopy
procedures such as ankles, wrist, and
elbows where the risk of extravasation caused by high
pump pressures is very high.
StableVac allows constant inflow and outflow with
excellent distention, without the risk
of fluid extravasation due to infusion surge.
No, the vacuum is unaffected by the restricted tubing
line. Only the outflow of the fluid
is lessened when StableVac is connected.
Standard suction tubing will cause the joint to
collapse and visualization to cease when the shaver is
used. This problem is caused by a negative pressure
level in the joint. Standard inflow with gravity
provides 1,200cc of fluid per minute into the joint,
which will provide sufficient distention for the joint.
The problem occurs when the shaver is used. Suction
canisters provide outflow rates around 2,000 cc of
fluid per minute. Since the rate of flow out of the
joint is greater than the rate of flow entering the
joint, the joint collapses and visualization is
compromised.
StableVac solves this problem by reducing the amount
of fluid leaving the joint via the suction canister.
Rather than 2,000cc per minute, StableVac reduces
this outflow rate to 800cc per minute. This creates a
system with 1,200cc of fluid per minute into the
joint, 800cc of fluid per minute out of the joint,
and 400cc of fluid inside the joint to provide
superior distention, pressure and visualization.
By controlling the outflow of fluid from the joint,
there is no need to increase the rate of fluid
entering the joint and therefore no need for an
infusion pump. The elimination of an infusion pump
creates many benefits for the patient, surgeon and
surgical staff including; reduced risk of
extravasation caused by infusion surges, few bags of
fluid used during the procedure, less fluid on the
floor, no pump setup hassles or maintenance, and a
less turbulent operative field of view.
If normal suction tubing is connected to the shaver
during a gravity inflow procedure, once the shaver is
turned on the outflow of fluid is so large that
distention, pressure and visualization in the joint are
compromised. One way to combat this is to manipulate
the valve on the shaver hand piece to restrict this
fluid outflow.
Pumps have been created to combat this exact problem.
Rather than restricting the flow out of the joint,
infusion pumps force more fluid into the joint to
counter the massive amounts of fluid escaping. Dual
Infusion/Aspiration pumps have also been created to
control the inflow and outflow of fluid in the joint.
StableVac works very much like a dual pump by
controlling the amount of fluid entering the joint
and restricting the amount of fluid leaving the joint
through the shaver handpiece. StableVac restricts
this fluid out of the joint automatically, so here is
no need to constantly manipulate the shaver hand
piece valve or force large amounts of fluid in and
out of the joint. Because the flow of fluid out of
the joint is reduced, the amount of fluid inflow
needed to distend the joint is also reduced.
StableVac can produce intra-articular pressures up to
100 mm/Hg depending on the
height of the saline bag and outflow connection.