Apparatus and method for improved insufflation

• US 5,360,396 A
• Filed: 07/19/1993
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 544456 BC Limited
• Original Assignee: Andronic Devices, Ltd.
• Inventors: Chan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/093,455
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 604/23-26, 128/747
• US Class Current: 604/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site

Abstract

The flow of insufflating gas is adjustable and regulated to prevent excessive pressure in the body cavity. A filter removes particulate matter from the gas entering the body and removes bacterial and viral matter from the gas leaving the body cavity.

Claims

1. An insufflating apparatus comprising:

a source of pressurized gas;

an elongated conduit connected to the source for conducting the gas from the source, the conduit having a distal end adaptable for directing the gas into and out of a body cavity;

a regulator connected to the conduit so that the gas from the source flows through the regulator to the distal end, the regulator being responsive to an electronic signal for increasing and decreasing the gas pressure in the conduit for maintaining the gas pressure in the conduit within a pressure range defined by a minimum pressure level and a maximum pressure level, the regulator decreasing the pressure by bleeding gas from the conduit; and

a safety relief valve connected to the conduit between the source and the distal end for relieving gas pressure within the conduit whenever the pressure within the conduit exceeds a second pressure level that is substantially higher than the maximum pressure level of the pressure range.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filter replaceably connected to the conduit between the regulator and the distal end, the conduit defining the only path for gas flow between the filter and the distal end, and the filter being constructed for filtering the gas irrespective of the direction the gas travels within the conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, including a shutoff valve connected to the conduit near the distal end and wherein the filter is connected between the shutoff valve and the distal end, the shutoff valve being operable to stop gas flow through the conduit, thereby facilitating the replacement of the filter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure range is about 6 mmHg.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, including a second safety relief valve connected to the conduit between the distal end and the regulator for relieving gas pressure within the conduit whenever the pressure within the conduit exceeds a second pressure level that is substantially higher than the maximum pressure level of the pressure range.

6. A method of safely insufflating a gas into and out of a body cavity, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of pressurized gas;

conducting gas from the source through a conduit and into a body cavity;

connecting a safety relief valve to the conduit between the source and the body cavity to relieve gas pressure in the conduit in the event the gas pressure in the conduit exceeds a first pressure level;

regulating the pressure in the conduit by maintaining the gas pressure in the conduit within a pressure range defined by a minimum pressure level and a maximum pressure level, the maximum pressure level being substantially lower than the first pressure level, and by bleeding gas from the conduit in response to the gas pressure in the conduit exceeding the maximum pressure level; and

filtering the gas in the conduit with a filter that filters the gas irrespective of the direction the gas flows in the conduit.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of replaceably connecting the filter to the conduit for facilitating replacement of the filter after each insufflating procedure.