Method and apparatus for supplying predetermined gas into body cavities of a patient

Abstract

A gas supply apparatus measures a first pressure inside a first body cavity of a patient and a second pressure inside a second body cavity of the patient. The gas supply apparatus regulates a pressure of a predetermined gas based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities.

1 . A gas supply apparatus for supplying predetermined gas into a first body cavity of a patient through a first delivery member and into a second body cavity of the patient through a second delivery member, the gas supply apparatus comprising: 
 a pressure regulator coupled to the first and second delivery members and configured to regulate a pressure of the predetermined gas;    a pressure measuring unit configured to individually measure a first pressure inside the first body cavity and a second pressure inside the second body cavity; and    a controller electrically connected to the pressure regulator and the pressure measuring unit and operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities.    
   
   
       2 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities so that the first and second pressures reach predetermined first and second pressure settings, respectively.  
   
   
       3 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities to keep the first and second pressures to the first and second pressure settings, respectively.  
   
   
       4 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressure regulator comprises: 
 an electropneumatic regulator coupled to the first and second delivery members and electrically connected to the controller, the electropneumatic regulator is configured to allow the predetermined gas to be supplied to both the first delivery member and the second delivery member with its pressure regulated;    a first opening and closing valve provided in the first delivery member and electrically connected to the controller; and    a second opening and closing valve provided in the second delivery member and electrically connected to the controller.    
   
   
       5 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is operative to execute: 
 a first control to: 
 cause the electropneumatic regulator to regulate the pressure of the predetermined gas; and  
 close the second opening and closing valve and open the first opening and closing valve so that the predetermined gas with the regulated pressure is supplied from the electropneumatic regulator to the first delivery member without being supplied to the second delivery member, and  
   a second control to: 
 after recognition of the first pressure inside the first body cavity has reached the first pressure setting, control the electropneumatic regulator to regulate the pressure of the predetermined gas; and  
 close the first opening and closing valve and open the second opening and closing valve so that the predetermined gas with the regulated pressure is supplied from the electropneumatic regulator to the second delivery member without being supplied to the first delivery member.  
   
   
   
       6 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a relief unit configured to individually release the predetermined gas in the first body cavity therefrom and that in the second body cavity therefrom, the relief unit being electrically connected to the controller, wherein, when at least one of the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities exceeds the corresponding at least one of the first and second pressure settings, the controller is operative to control the relief unit to release the predetermined gas in corresponding at least one of the first and second body cavities therefrom.  
   
   
       7 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a relief unit configured to individually release the predetermined gas in the first body cavity therefrom and that in the second body cavity therefrom, the relief unit being electrically connected to the controller, wherein the controller is operative to: 
 determine whether the measured first pressure inside the first body cavity is higher than the first pressure setting;    control the pressure regulator to regulate the predetermined gas so that the predetermined gas with the regulated pressure is supplied to the first delivery member without being supplied to the second delivery member when it is determined that the measured first pressure inside the first body cavity is lower than the first pressure setting; and    control the relief unit to release the predetermined gas in the first body cavity therefrom when it is determined that the measured first pressure inside the first body cavity is higher than the first pressure setting.    
   
   
       8 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is operative to: 
 cause the pressure measuring unit to repeatedly measure the first pressure inside the first body cavity after the relief of the predetermined gas from the first body cavity by the relief unit;    repeatedly determine whether each of the repeatedly measured first pressures by the pressure measuring unit after the relief of the predetermined gas from the first body cavity by the relief unit is higher than the first pressure setting; and    execute the control of the relief unit to release the predetermined gas in the first body cavity therefrom until the result of the repeated determining represents that one of the repeatedly measured first pressures reaches the first pressure setting.    
   
   
       9 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is operative to: 
 determine whether the measured second pressure inside the second body cavity is higher than the second pressure setting;    control the pressure regulator to regulate the predetermined gas so that the predetermined gas with the regulated pressure is supplied to only the second delivery member when it is determined that the second pressure is lower than the second pressure setting; and    control the relief unit to release the predetermined gas in the second body cavity therefrom when it is determined that the second pressure is higher than the second pressure setting.    
   
   
       10 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is operative to: 
 cause the pressure measuring unit to repeatedly measure the second pressure inside the second body cavity after the relief of the predetermined gas from the second body cavity by the relief unit;    repeatedly determine whether each of the repeatedly measured second pressures inside the second body cavity by the pressure measuring unit after the relief of the predetermined gas from the second body cavity by the relief unit is higher than the second pressure setting; and    repeatedly execute the control of the relief unit to release the predetermined gas in the second body cavity therefrom until the result of the repeated determining represents that one of the measured second pressures reaches the second pressure setting.    
   
   
       11 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second pressure inside the second body cavity changes depending on a change of the first pressure inside the first body cavity, and the controller is operative to: 
 control the pressure regulator to regulate the pressure of the predetermined gas, thereby supplying the predetermined gas with the regulated pressure to the first delivery member;    control the pressure regulator to regulate the pressure of the predetermined gas, thereby supplying the predetermined gas with the regulated pressure to the second delivery member after the measured first pressure inside the first body cavity has reached the first pressure setting; and    obtain a change of the measured second pressure inside the second body cavity; and    control the relief unit to release the predetermined gas in the first body cavity based on the obtained change of the second pressure to decrease the first pressure inside the first body cavity from the first pressure setting by a predetermined value.    
   
   
       12 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller obtains, as the change of the measured second pressure inside the second body cavity, a rate of pressure rise inside the second body cavity, and the controller is operative to execute the control of the relief unit to release the predetermined gas in the first body cavity when the obtained rate of pressure rise is lower than a predetermined threshold rate.  
   
   
       13 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the first body cavity is an abdominal cavity inside the patient, and the second body cavity is a lumen located at a position in the patient, the position being affected by the first pressure inside the abdominal cavity.  
   
   
       14 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator comprises: 
 a common delivery member;    a pressure regulation valve electrically connected to the controller and coupled to the common delivery member, the pressure regulation valve being configured to regulate the pressure of the predetermined gas to supply the predetermined gas with the regulated pressure to the common delivery member; and    a switching unit coupled to the common delivery member and the first and second delivery members, and electrically connected to the controller, the switching unit being configured to switch output of the predetermined gas supplied through the common delivery member to any one of the first and second delivery members based on a control signal sent from the controller.    
   
   
       15 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities so that the second pressure is higher than the first pressure by a predetermined value.  
   
   
       16 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising an input unit electrically connected to the controller and configured to input at least one of a first input value and a second input value to the controller, the first input value being used to set a first target value of the first pressure inside the first body cavity, the second input value being used to set a second target value of the second pressure inside the second body cavity, 
 wherein the controller includes a pressure target value setting unit, the pressure target value setting unit being operative to set the first target value of the first pressure inside the first body cavity and the second target value of the second pressure inside the second body cavity based on at least one of the first and second input values so that the second target value is higher than the first target value by the predetermined value, the controller being operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities so that the first and second pressures reach the first target value and the second target value set by the pressure target value setting unit, respectively.    
   
   
       17 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein, when one of the first and second input values are changed by the input unit, the pressure target value setting unit is operative to automatically update, based on at least one of the first and second input values changed by the input unit, the first and second target values so that the second target value is higher than the first target value by the predetermined value.  
   
   
       18 . A gas supply apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of delivery members communicatively coupled to a supply source of predetermined gas and configured to supply the predetermined gas into a plurality of body cavities of a patient;    a pressure measuring unit configured to individually measure pressures inside the plurality of body cavities;    a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of the predetermined gas supplied from the supply source; and    a controller electrically connected to the pressure regulator and the pressure measuring unit and operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured pressures inside the plurality of body cavities to insufflate the predetermined gas into the plurality of delivery members in a predetermined order while regulating the pressure of the predetermined gas with respect to each delivery member.    
   
   
       19 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of body cavities includes at least two of a group of a first abdominal cavity, a first lumen, a second abdominal cavity different from the first abdominal cavity, and a second lumen different from the first lumen, and the plurality of delivery members includes corresponding at least two of a group of a first delivery member for supply of the predetermined gas into the first abdominal cavity, a second delivery member for supply of the predetermined gas into the first lumen, a third delivery member for supply of the predetermined gas into the second abdominal cavity, and a fourth delivery member for supply of the predetermined gas into the second lumen.  
   
   
       20 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of body cavities includes a first abdominal cavity, a first lumen, a second abdominal cavity different from the first abdominal cavity, and a second lumen different from the first lumen, and the plurality of delivery members communicably coupled to the supply source includes a first delivery member for supply of the predetermined gas into the first abdominal cavity, a second delivery member for supply of the predetermined gas into the first lumen, and a third delivery member, the delivery member being composed of any one of a first delivery channel for supply of the predetermined gas into the second abdominal cavity and a second delivery channel for supply of the predetermined gas into the second lumen.  
   
   
       21 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising an identifying information generating unit electrically connected to the controller and configured to generate identifying information for identifying which one of the first and second delivery channels is communicably coupled to the supply source and to send the identifying information to the controller.  
   
   
       22 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising a target pressure setting unit electrically connected to the controller and configured to set target pressures inside the plurality of body cavities, wherein the controller controls the pressure regulator based on the measured pressures inside the plurality of body cavities by the pressure measuring unit so that each of the pressures inside the plurality of body cavities reaches corresponding each of the target pressures set by the target pressure setting unit.  
   
   
       23 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a maximum acceptable volume setting unit electrically connected to the controller and configured to set maximum acceptable volumes of the plurality of body cavities;    a target pressure setting unit electrically connected to the controller and configured to set target pressures inside the plurality of body cavities; and    a flow-rate sensing unit electrically connected to the controller and configured to sense a flow-rate of the predetermined gas being supplied into each of the plurality of body cavities through each of the plurality of delivery members,    wherein the controller is operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured pressures inside the plurality of body cavities, the set maximum acceptable volumes, the set target pressures, and the sensed flow rate of the predetermined gas being supplied into each of the body cavities through each of the plurality of delivery members to insufflate the predetermined gas into each of the plurality of delivery members in the predetermined order while regulating the pressure of the predetermined gas with respect to each delivery member.    
   
   
       24 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the controller is operative to: 
 obtain a total volume of the predetermined gas accumulated in each of the plurality of body cavities based on the sensed flow rate of the predetermined gas being supplied into each of the body cavities through each of the plurality of delivery members;    compare the total volume of the predetermined gas of each of the plurality of body cavities with each of the maximum acceptable volumes of the plurality of body cavities; and    prevent the predetermined gas being excessively supplied into each of the plurality of body cavities based on the compared result of each of the plurality of body cavities.    
   
   
       25 . A gas supply apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the controller is configured to execute: 
 (a) a process of controlling the pressure regulator to insufflate a predetermined volume of the predetermined gas into each of the plurality of body cavities through each of the delivery members, the predetermined volume being equivalent to a predetermined percentage of each of the maximum acceptable volumes;    (b) a process of obtaining a total volume of the predetermined gas accumulated in each of the plurality of body cavities based on the sensed flow rate of the predetermined gas being supplied into each of the body cavities through each of the plurality of delivery members;    (c) a process of calculating a difference between each of the maximum acceptable volumes and each of the total volumes of the predetermined gas accumulated in each of the plurality of body cavities and of redefining the calculated difference of each of the plurality of body cavities as each of the maximum acceptable volumes of each of the plurality of body cavities; and    (d) a process of repeatedly executing the processes of (a) to (c).    
   
   
       26 . A gas insufflating apparatus for insufflating predetermined gas into a first body cavity of a patient through a first delivery member and into a second body cavity of the patient through a second delivery member, the gas insufflating apparatus comprising: 
 means for measuring a first pressure inside the first body cavity and a second pressure inside the second body cavity; and    means for regulating a pressure of the predetermined gas based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities.    
   
   
       27 . A gas insufflating apparatus for insufflating predetermined gas supplied form a supply source into a plurality of body cavities of a patient through a plurality of delivery members, the gas insufflating apparatus comprising: 
 means for individually measuring pressures inside the plurality of body cavities; and    means for insufflating the predetermined gas into the plurality of delivery members in a predetermined order while regulating the pressure of the predetermined gas with respect to each delivery member based on the measured pressures inside the plurality of body cavities.    
   
   
       28 . An observation system comprising: 
 a gas supply apparatus for supplying predetermined gas into a first body cavity of a patient through a first delivery member and into a second body cavity of the patient through a second delivery member, the gas supply apparatus comprising: 
 a pressure regulator coupled to the first and second delivery members and configured to regulate a pressure of the predetermined gas;  
 a pressure measuring unit configured to measure a first pressure inside the first body cavity and a second pressure inside the second body cavity; and  
 a controller electrically connected to the pressure regulator and the pressure measuring unit and operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities; and  
   an observation device integrated with a gas delivery channel and configured to be inserted into the second body cavity of the patient to observe an inside of the second body cavity, the gas delivery channel serving as part of the second delivery member.    
   
   
       29 . An observation system comprising: 
 a gas supply apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of delivery members communicatively coupled to a supply source of predetermined gas and configured to supply the predetermined gas into a plurality of body cavities of a patient;  
 a pressure measuring unit configured to individually measure pressures inside the plurality of body cavities;  
 a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of the predetermined gas supplied from the supply source; and  
 a controller electrically connected to the pressure regulator and the pressure measuring unit and operative to control the pressure regulator based on the measured pressures inside the plurality of body cavities to insufflate the predetermined gas into the plurality of delivery members in a predetermined order while regulating the pressure of the predetermined gas with respect to each delivery member; and  
   an observation device integrated with a gas delivery channel and configured to be inserted into at least one of the plurality of body cavities of the patient to observe an inside of at least one of the plurality of body cavities, the gas delivery channel serving as part of at least one of the plurality of delivery members corresponding to at least one of the plurality of body cavities.    
   
   
       30 . A method of insufflating predetermined gas to a first body cavity of a patient through a first delivery member and to a second body cavity of the patient through a second delivery member, the method comprising: 
 measuring a first pressure inside the first body cavity and a second pressure inside the second body cavity; and    regulating a pressure of the predetermined gas based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities so that the first and second pressures reach predetermined first and second pressure settings, respectively.    
   
   
       31 . A method of insufflating predetermined gas supplied form a supply source into a plurality of body cavities of a patient through a plurality of delivery members, the method comprising: 
 individually measuring pressures inside the plurality of body cavities; and    insufflating the predetermined gas into the plurality of delivery members in a predetermined order while regulating the pressure of the predetermined gas with respect to each delivery member based on the measured pressures inside the plurality of body cavities.