Insufflation device for endoscopic intervention

Claim 1

In an insufflation device for introducing a gas into a body cavity through a feed pipe, said device including a feed pipe, a source of gas being selectively connected to an expansion valve by one of a direct line and a second line having an intermediate container, said expansion valve being connected by a shut-off valve, a pressure regulator and flow indicator to the feed pipe which has an end connected to a cannula insertable into the body cavity, the improvements comprising the flow indicator being connected to two parallel flow channels leading to a switching valve connected to said feed pipe, a first flow channel of the two parallel flow channels having a shut-off valve and an expansion valve means for setting the gas pressure at a value above a desired, required pressure in the body cavity, a second flow channel of the two parallel flow channels having an expansion valve being adjustable to the desired, required pressure of the body cavity, flow sensor means for determining the flow in the second flow channel, a first pressure pickup and a first pressure indicator, said feed pipe downstream of said switching valve being connected to a second pressure pickup with a second pressure indicator, first means for constantly comparing the first and second pressure indicators, said switching valve having control means for changing the switching valve between a first position only connecting the first flow channel to the pipe for an initial time period and a second position only connecting a second flow channel to the pipe, said flow sensor means monitoring the flow in the second flow channel while the switching valve is in the second position and then creating a signal for the control means to change the switching valve back to the first position if the flow in the second flow channel exceeds a predetermined amount.