Insufflation System Flow Control for Small Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insufflation systems face challenges in reliably controlling gas flow rates, especially in small volume cavities, as they often require precise adjustments from minute to high flow rates, which existing technologies struggle to manage effectively.
Innovation Solution
An insufflation system incorporating a gas feeding device with a flow rate sensor, pressure sensor, and processor that calculates target flow rates and controls valves to adjust gas feeding and suction flow rates, ensuring stable control by adding suction flow rate to the gas feeding flow rate when the target flow rate is below a threshold, allowing for precise adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional insufflation systems are used to expand small volume cavities, then the basic insufflation function is provided, but the flow rate control reliability deteriorates when adjusting from minute to high flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas feeding flow rate control is segmented into two independent controllable paths: a first on-off valve for primary flow control and a second on-off valve that can be selectively opened to add suction flow rate. This segmentation allows the system to switch between different flow control modes, enabling reliable minute flow rates by closing the second valve and accurate flow rate matching by opening the second valve when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the gas feeding strategy based on real-time flow rate sensor feedback. The processor continuously monitors the actual gas feeding flow rate and compares it with the target flow rate, then dynamically controls the opening/closing of the second on-off valve and adjusts the first on-off valve to achieve precise flow rate control across the entire range from minute to high flow rates.
2Measurement precision
If gas feeding flow rate is increased to match suction flow rate, then flow rate control accuracy is improved, but the complexity of valve control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a feedback control mechanism where the flow rate sensor continuously measures the actual gas feeding flow rate and feeds this information back to the processor. The processor compares the measured flow rate with the target flow rate and automatically adjusts the valve states (first and second on-off valves) to minimize the difference, achieving accurate flow rate control without requiring complex manual valve coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment through automatic control logic. When the target gas feeding flow rate is calculated to be lower than the suction flow rate, the processor automatically opens the second on-off valve and adjusts the first on-off valve to achieve the correct flow rate matching, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex external control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If suction flow rate is added to gas feeding flow rate, then stable control in small volume cavities is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional valves
Solution Approach 1:
The second on-off valve and suction conduit are integrated into the existing insufflation system architecture, allowing the suction flow path to serve dual purposes: it can be closed during standard insufflation and opened when flow rate matching is required. This multi-functional integration minimizes additional hardware while achieving the desired control capability for both large and small volume cavities.
Solution Approach 2:
The second on-off valve acts as an intermediary control element that selectively connects or disconnects the suction flow path from the gas feeding system. This intermediary valve provides a simple binary control mechanism (open/closed) that enables the system to switch between different operational modes without requiring complex continuous adjustment mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
Enables stable control of gas flow rates across a wide range, ensuring reliable operation in small volume cavities by integrating suction flow rates into the gas feeding flow rates, thereby addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a flow rate sensor configured to measure a gas feeding flow rate of the gas
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor configured to measure body cavity internal pressure of the subject
Implementation Method 3
a first on-off valve provided on the gas feeding conduit and configured to control the gas feeding flow rate of the gas
Implementation Method 4
a second on-off valve provided on the suction conduit and configured to control opening and closing of the suction conduit
Implementation Method 5
a suction device configured to suction the gas from the body cavity at a predetermined suction flow rate and discharge the gas out of the body cavity
Data Source
AI summary
An insufflation system having a processor configured to calculate a first target gas feeding flow rate based on a difference between a body cavity internal pressure and an insufflation target pressure of a body cavity, determine whether the first target gas feeding flow rate is lower than a threshold gas feeding flow rate, and in response to determining that the first target gas feeding flow rate is lower than the threshold gas feeding flow rate, feed gas at a second target gas feeding flow rate by controlling a first valve provided at a gas feeding conduit and a second valve provided at a suction conduit, wherein the processor is configured to cause the suction conduit to suction at a first suction flow rate, and wherein the second target gas feeding flow rate is obtained by adding the first suction flow rate to the first target gas feeding flow rate.