Insufflator With Integrated Flue-Gas Extraction and Dual Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insufflators face limitations in achieving sufficient gas volume flow and pressure control during minimally invasive surgery, leading to potential leakage issues and safety concerns when higher pressures are required.
Innovation Solution
The insufflator incorporates two pressure and flow control units with proportional valves and sensors, enabling a secondary gas supply through a second trocar to maintain pressure and achieve a maximum total volume flow of up to 40-60 liters/minute, and allows continuous pressure measurement without disrupting gas inflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the input pressure is increased to achieve higher gas volume flow, then the gas flow capacity is improved, but the patient safety risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the single gas supply path into two separate paths, each with its own pressure and flow control unit. This segmentation allows the system to achieve higher total gas flow (40-60 liters/minute) by operating both paths simultaneously, while maintaining safe pressure levels in each individual path, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety
2Productivity
If a single pressure and flow control unit is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the gas flow capacity is limited to 20-30 liters/minute
Solution Approach 1:
Each pressure and flow control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a flow control device and a pressure control device. This universal design allows the system to achieve doubled gas flow capacity (40-60 liters/minute) through two parallel paths while avoiding the need for separate dedicated components, thus managing the complexity increase
3Measurement precision
If pressure measurement is performed by interrupting gas inflow, then the measurement precision is improved, but the surgery time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary pressure equalization by allowing brief, controlled gas inflow periods before each pressure measurement. This preliminary action ensures accurate pressure reading while minimizing the total time interruption, allowing continuous monitoring without significant surgery time loss
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design ensures stable pressure and increased gas flow, reducing leakage risks and maintaining consistent cavity pressure during surgeries with enhanced pressure control and measurement capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure and flow control unit equipped with a proportional valve and a pressure sensor (3)
Implementation Method 2
a first pressure and flow control unit equipped with a proportional valve and a pressure sensor (3)
Implementation Method 3
a first pressure and flow control unit equipped with a proportional valve and a pressure sensor (3)
Implementation Method 4
an in-feed line (4, 6) with filter (5)
Implementation Method 5
connected to an extraction device with variable extraction power (14)
Implementation Method 6
via a second pressure and flow control unit (18) to the extraction line
Implementation Method 7
via a second pressure and flow control unit (18) to the extraction line
Implementation Method 8
optionally between the filter (10) and the extraction device (14), a shut-off valve (13) is provided
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an insufflator with integrated flue gas extraction. Thanks to a novel valve regulation system, it is possible to direct the gas inflow through two tubes into the body cavity. The novel device also enables an improved pressure control of the body cavity, which leads to lower pressure variations in the body cavity and furthermore compensates higher leakage volume flows.