Insufflation Apparatus For Introducing Limited Quantities Of Carbon Dioxide Into The Human Body For Operative Purposes

Abstract

The insufflation apparatus serves for introducing limited quantities of carbon dioxide into the human body for operative purposes and consists of a CO.sub.2 container disposed in a housing and comprising a manometer and a shut-off valve and of an optical and/or acoustic signal device which is connected to a flow meter via a control device comprising a measured value comparator and a time switch, and the shut-off valve of the flow meter is connected to a device which reopens the closed shut-off valve after passage of a variable regeneration time and is controllable via the time switch.

Description

The invention relates to an insufflation apparatus for introducing limited quantities of carbon dioxide into the human body for operative purposes. To enlarge body cavities, in particular in laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, it is usual to insufflate carbon dioxide gas under low pressure into the human body, the cavum uteri being carefully expanded using a hysteroscope adapter.

The amount of CO.sub.2 which may be introduced into the body within a certain time is limited because CO.sub.2 is absorbed by the blood and increases the natural carbonic acid present in venous blood due to muscular work. If under normal conditions more than about 200 mg CO.sub.2 per minute is artificially introduced the dissolving power of the blood may be exceeded and gas bubbles may form in the main coronary vein, endangering the life of the patient.

The problem underlying the invention is to avoid the danger of a gas emboly when carrying out CO.sub.2 insufflation into the human body. The problem is solved according to the invention in that an insufflation apparatus for introducing a limited amount of carbon dioxide into the human body is proposed which is characterized by the combination of the following features:

A. A replaceable CO.sub.2 container provided with a manometer and a shut-off valve and an optical and/or acoustic signal device are disposed in a housing.

B. The signal device is connected to a flow meter via a control device comprising a measured value comparator and a time switch.

C. The shut-off valve connected to the flow meter is connected to a device, such as a drive motor, which reopens the closed shut-off valve after passage of a variable regeneration time and is controllable via the time switch.

Since when carrying out insufflation the CO.sub.2 passes into the body at definite temperatures, such as the room temperature of the operating theater, and the pressure and flowing gas volume are set, the amount of gas and number of gas molecules flowing to the body in unit time are also known.

An example of embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 shows the gas insufflation apparatus in perspective and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the gas insufflation apparatus.

The gas insufflation housing 10 is provided with a grip 101 and an adapter connection 21 for the hysteroscope 20 (FIG. 1). Disposed on one side wall are the operating means for the shut-off valve 112, the setting device 121, the manual desired value setting device 142 and the adjusting means or control element 173 with the associated optical indicating means 111, 122, 154 and 172. Arranged to be clearly visible on the top of the apparatus housing 10 are the optical or acoustic warning indicating means 182, 192 and the visible portion 161 of the optical flow indicator 16 which may consist for example of a small gas turbine. Disposed in the housing 10 is the replaceable CO.sub.2 container 11 followed in the flow direction by the shut-off valve 112, the adjustable initial pressure regulator 12, the safety valve 13, the shut-off valve 19, the flow control valve 14, the flow meter 15, the optical flow indicating device 16, the pressure limiter 17, the safety relief valve 18 and the adapter connection 21 inserted into the wall of the housing 10. The PTC resistors 151 of the flow meter 15 are connected via a primary control element or pickup 152 to a controller 191 which contains a time switch and which comprises adjusting means or control element 153 for the desired value input and is connected by means of cable 193a to the warning indicator 192 and the positioning device 195 of the shut-off valve 19. The pickup 171 of the pressure limiter is connected by means of the cable 174 to the controller 141 which contains a manual desired value setting device 142 and by which the flow regulating valve 14 may be actuated via the adjusting means 143. Disposed at the relief safety valve 18 is a pickup 181 which is connected via the lines 183 to the warning indicating means 182. The flexible hose 22 of the hysteroscope 20 is connected by means of an adapter to the connection 21 of the housing 10.

Claims

I claim:

1. Insufflation apparatus for introducing limited quantities of carbon dioxide to the human body for surgical purposes comprising, in combination, a housing, a replaceable carbon dioxide container (11), a manometer and a shut-off valve (19) for said container, said shut-off valve (19) being operable between an open and a closed position, flow measuring means (15) comprising measured value pickup means (151) consisting of PTC conductor feelers, said measured value pickup means (151) being constructed as a cold conductor, a warning signal generating device (192), a control device (191) including a measured value comparator (152) and a time switch (193) connecting said signal generating device (192) to said flow meter (15), drive motor means, and means connecting said shut-off valve (19) to said flow measuring means (15) and to said drive motor means, said drive motor means being operable to reopen said shut-off valve (19) after closure thereof upon passage of a variable regeneration time under control of said time switch (193).