An apparatus for use in insufflation of a
body cavity 5, such as through a trocar 6 is described. One such application is
laparoscopic surgery. The device is also suitable for use in any situation involving insufflation of a
body cavity such as in arthroscopies,
pleural cavity insufflation (for example during thoracoscopy), retroperitoneal insufflations (for example retroperitoneoscopy), during
hernia repair, during mediastinoscopy and any other such procedure involving insufflation. The apparatus comprises a reservoir 1 for storing an liquid solution, an
aerosol generator 2 for aerosolising the solution, and a controller 3 for controlling operation of the
aerosol generator 2. Aerosolised liquid solution (which main contain a pharmaceutical) is entrained with insufflation gas using a T-piece connector or housing 30 having an insufflation gas inlet 31 and an outlet 32. The connector 30 also comprises an
aerosol supply conduit 34 for delivering the aerosol from the
aerosol generator 2 into a
mixing chamber 33 in which the aerosol is entrained with insufflation gas. The aerosol insufflation gas mixture passes out of the connector 30 through the outlet 32 and is delivered along the insufflation gas conduit 15 to the trocar 6 for delivery into a
body cavity 5. The connector 30 causes a substantial sudden reduction in the velocity of the insufflation gas from the insufflation gas inlet as it enters the
mixing chamber 33. The connector 30 also causes a
gradual increase in the velocity of the insufflation gas with entrained aerosol between the
mixing chamber 33 and the outlet 32.