Mixed-gas insufflation system

• US 7,654,975 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northgate Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Northgate Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mantell, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US10/829,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: 12820312-20329, 604 23- 26
• US Class Current: 604/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/00 Insufflators for therapeutic or disinfectant purposes , i.e. devices for blowing a gas, powder or vapour into the body hand-held units in which gas flow is produced by muscular energy at the moment of use B05B11/062
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/102 Measuring a parameter of the content of the delivered gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/103 the CO2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws

Abstract

A mixed-gas insufflation system for mixing insufflation gases includes a gas supply providing at least two sources of insufflation gas and a mixer system. The mixer system includes a chamber having at least two inlets and at least one outlet. The at least two inlets of the chamber are in fluid communication with the gas supply. The mixer system mixes the at least two sources of insufflation gas.

Claims

1. A mixed-gas insufflation system for mixing insufflation gases, comprising:

a gas supply providing at least two sources of insufflation gas; and

a mixer system including a tubing system associated with each of the at least two sources of insufflation gas, the tubing system including a first sensor for sensing whether a predetermined supply of insufflation gas is present and a second sensor for identifying the insufflating gas to be associated with the tubing system, and including a chamber, the chamber having at least two inlets and at least one outlet, wherein the at least two inlets of the chamber are in fluid communication with the tubing system, the mixer system for mixing the at least two sources of insufflation gas, and wherein the output is in fluid communication with an insufflator for supplying a gas mixture from the mixer system.

2. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, further comprising activation means for selecting an insufflation gas to enter the corresponding tubing system.

3. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the tubing system further comprises a flow valve to allow the flow of insufflation gas and a metering valve to control the flow of insufflation gas.

4. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprises at least one baffle.

5. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 4, wherein the chamber further comprises four baffles.

6. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprises a plate having a plurality of holes.

7. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claims 1, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the mixing chamber further comprises a fan.

8. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the at least two sources of insufflation gas are different from each other.

9. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the at least two sources of insufflation gas include oxygen.

10. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the mixer system further comprises a sensor for identifying the presence of the insufflating gas associated with the corresponding tubing system.

11. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 10, wherein the sensor further comprises a resistor block that senses the assigned ohmic value assigned to the insufflating gas.

12. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 10, wherein the sensor further comprises a gas analyzer.

13. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the mixer system further comprises at least one dual-capacity tube having an inlet for attachment to at least one outlet of an insufflator.

14. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the insufflator further comprises a multi-output insufflator having:

at least two inputs;

at least two delivery paths attached to the at least two inputs for allowing the flow of insufflation gases from at least two pressurized sources attached to the at least two delivery paths;

a central processing unit for monitoring and controlling the flow of insufflation gas passing through the at least two delivery paths;

at least two output lines attached to the at least two delivery paths; and

wherein the mixer system is located internal to the multi-output insufflator and along the at least two delivery paths for mixing the insufflation gas.

15. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claims 1 or 14 further comprising a multi-lumen catheter having at least one inlet attached with the at least one output of the chamber and at least one inlet for attachment with a source of liquid.

16. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claims 1 or 14 further comprising a humidification system having at least one inlet attached with the at least one output of the mixing chamber.

17. The mixed-gas insufflation system of claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprises at least one output in fluid communication with a connector for insertion into a surgical site and a catheter having at least one lumen and an outlet for insertion into the surgical site.