Insufflation System Automatic Manual Gas Supply Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insufflation systems face challenges in balancing automatic and manual air supply for carbon dioxide gas, leading to excess air supply and increased operator load when trying to maintain a predetermined pressure in a body cavity.

Innovation Solution

An insufflation system with automatic and manual air supply conduit lines, controlled by a selection operation member that ensures only one line is active at a time, preventing simultaneous operation and reducing excess air supply, featuring opening-and-closing valves and a direction switching valve to manage gas flow effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If both automatic air supply and manual air supply are enabled simultaneously, then operator convenience is improved, but excess air supply occurs leading to increased patient load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator convenienceVSAvoidexcess air supply to patient
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A switching valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the automatic and manual air supply lines. This valve selectively connects either the automatic air supply line or the manual air supply line to the common outlet, preventing both lines from operating simultaneously. The switching valve acts as a mediator that ensures exclusive operation of one supply mode at a time, thereby maintaining operator convenience while preventing harmful excess air supply to the patient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual air supply is used to adjust pressure, then fine control is achieved, but frequent operator operation increases operation load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure control precisionVSAvoidoperation load on operator
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between automatic and manual air supply modes based on operational needs. The automatic mode handles routine pressure maintenance, reducing operator burden. When fine adjustments are needed, the operator can switch to manual mode for precise control. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements, maintaining pressure control precision while minimizing frequent manual operations and reducing overall operation load on the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If automatic air supply maintains predetermined pressure, then operator load is reduced, but manual adjustment capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator loadVSAvoidmanual adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The air supply system is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both automatic pressure maintenance and manual adjustment capabilities within a single integrated system. The switching valve enables the system to operate in either automatic mode or manual mode as needed. This universal design allows the system to automatically reduce operator load during routine operations while retaining the flexibility to switch to manual mode when adaptability and fine control are required, thus achieving both reduced operator load and maintained versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2926712B1Gas delivery system
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP2926712B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2926712B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2926712B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An insufflation system configured to supply a predetermined gas into a body cavity of a subject includes: an automatic air supply conduit line configured to automatically supply a gas into the body cavity to maintain a predetermined pressure in the body cavity; a manual air supply conduit line configured to supply a gas into the body cavity by a manual operation; a function selection button provided in an endoscope; and a control unit configured to cause, in accordance with an operation of the function selection button, an air supply conduit line selected by an operation of the function selection button to be in a communication state, and cause a non-selected air supply conduit line to be in a disconnection state.