Insufflator Suction Control for Constant Abdominal Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current insufflation systems in minimally invasive surgery face challenges in maintaining constant abdominal pressure during smoke evacuation, as excessive suction leads to pressure drops, while inadequate suction results in poor visibility and prolonged operations.

Innovation Solution

An insufflator with an integrated suction pump and electronic control unit that adjusts suction power based on real-time pressure measurements, reducing suction when pressure exceeds a threshold and increasing it when pressure falls below a set value, ensuring optimal smoke evacuation without compromising abdominal pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high suction power is used to effectively remove smoke, then smoke evacuation efficiency is improved, but abdominal pressure drops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke evacuation efficiencyVSAvoidabdominal pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The suction pump's suction power is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The electronic control unit continuously monitors abdominal pressure and automatically adjusts the suction power level in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to changing surgical conditions and maintain optimal balance between smoke evacuation and pressure maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates a pressure sensor that continuously monitors abdominal pressure and feeds this information back to the electronic control unit. Based on the feedback signal, the control unit automatically adjusts the suction pump power to maintain pressure within the target range, creating a closed-loop control system that resolves the contradiction between smoke removal and pressure maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Stress or pressure

If low suction power is used to maintain abdominal pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but smoke evacuation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabdominal pressure stabilityVSAvoidsmoke evacuation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction pump power is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The electronic control unit continuously monitors abdominal pressure and automatically adjusts the suction power level in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to changing surgical conditions and maintain optimal balance between smoke evacuation and pressure maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates a pressure sensor that continuously monitors abdominal pressure and feeds this information back to the electronic control unit. Based on the feedback signal, the control unit automatically adjusts the suction pump power to maintain pressure within the target range, creating a closed-loop control system that resolves the contradiction between smoke removal and pressure maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If manual suction control is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operational precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidpressure control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a pressure sensor that continuously monitors abdominal pressure and feeds this information back to the electronic control unit. Based on the feedback signal, the control unit automatically adjusts the suction pump power to maintain pressure within the target range, creating a closed-loop control system that resolves the contradiction between smoke removal and pressure maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-regulation through automatic control. The electronic control unit autonomously monitors pressure and adjusts suction power without requiring continuous manual intervention from the surgeon, allowing the system to maintain optimal performance automatically while reducing the cognitive burden on the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The system effectively maintains constant abdominal pressure by dynamically adjusting suction power, optimizing smoke evacuation and preventing pressure drops, thus ensuring stable operating conditions during minimally invasive procedures.

Implementation Method 1

The problem with this system is that if the smoke gases are suctioned too forcefully, the pressure in the abdomen drops

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

increased pressure is created in the abdomen using introduced gases (e.g., medical-grade carbon dioxide (CO2)). This expands the abdomen, providing sufficient space for visual inspection or therapeutic intervention

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3556413B1Pressure-maintaining smoke extraction in an insufflator
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 WOM WORLD OF MEDICINE GMBH
  • EP3556413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3556413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3556413B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an insufflator with smoke extraction, designed such that the abdominal pressure remains largely constant during extraction. The insufflator for minimally invasive surgery comprises: a gas connection with a proportional valve; a first trocar; a gas supply line for gas from the gas connection with pressure measurement, filter, and connection to the first trocar; an extraction device with adjustable extraction rate; and a second trocar with extraction hose and filter, connected to the extraction device with adjustable extraction rate.and an electronic control unit, wherein a control valve is positioned in the suction line and the suction line has a connection to an external pump, wherein the electronic control unit controls the suction device depending on the pressure in the supply line, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the suction device, and wherein the suction rate is reduced when the pressure in the supply line exceeds a threshold value between 8.0 kPa (60 mm Hg) and 10.7 kPa (80 mmHg), and wherein the suction rate is increased when the pressure in the supply line falls below a threshold value between 0 and 6.7 kPa (50 mmHg).