Distributed flow path insufflation

Abstract

A system includes a bypass valve, a first conduit, and a second conduit. The bypass valve includes at least a first channel and a second channel and is configured to permit insufflation fluid to flow along a first flow path when the second channel is closed and permit the insufflation fluid to flow along a second flow path when the first channel is closed. The first conduit is coupled to the bypass valve and is configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from an insufflator to the bypass valve. The second conduit is coupled to the first channel of the bypass valve and configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from the bypass valve to the patient cavity via a first medical appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for insufflating a body cavity with insufflation fluid, the method comprising:
 determining, by a controller, a first pressure measurement indicative of a pressure of a patient cavity;   supplying, by an insufflator, the insufflation fluid to the patient cavity based on the first pressure measurement, wherein the insufflation fluid is supplied according to a first setting, the first setting comprising at least a first volume and a first pressure and wherein supplying the insufflation fluid includes directing the insufflation fluid through a first conduit to a bypass valve, the bypass valve comprising at least a first channel and a second channel defining a portion of a first flow path and first portion of a second flow path, respectively; directing the insufflation fluid to the patient cavity via the first flow path when the second channel is closed, wherein the first flow path is further defined by a second conduit coupling the first channel of the bypass valve to a first medical appliance; and   directing the insufflation fluid to the patient cavity via the second flow path when the first channel is closed, wherein the second flow path is further defined by a third conduit coupling the second channel of the bypass valve to a second medical appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by a pressure sensor of the first appliance, the first pressure measurement.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via one or more cables coupling the first appliance to the insufflator, the first pressure measurement determined by the pressure sensor of the first appliance.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the insufflation fluid is not being supplied to the patient cavity, instructing a pressure sensor of the insufflator to take the first pressure measurement, wherein the first pressure measurement is based on information delivered via the second flow path.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 subsequent to supplying insufflation fluid based on the first pressure measurement, supplying the insufflation fluid based on a second pressure measurement determined by a pressure sensor of the first appliance.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the controller, that one of the first channel or the second channel is closed.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that one of the first channel or the second channel is closed, subsequently supplying, by the insufflator, the insufflation fluid according to a second setting, wherein:
 the second setting comprises at least a first volume and a first pressure; and 
 the second setting is different than the first setting. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 instructing the pressure sensor of the insufflator to take a third pressure measurement in response to determining that the first channel is closed.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 instructing, by a controller, the valve to close one of the first channel or the second channel in response to determining that the pressure of the patient cavity is at or above a threshold.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a bypass valve comprising at least a first channel and a second channel, the first channel defining a portion of a first flow path for insufflation fluid and the second channel defining a first portion of a second flow path for the insufflation fluid, wherein:
 the bypass valve is configured to permit the flow of the insufflation fluid along the first flow path when the second channel is closed; and 
 the bypass valve is configured to permit the flow of the insufflation fluid along the second flow path when the first channel is closed; 
   a first conduit coupled to the bypass valve and is configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from an insufflator to the bypass valve; and   a second conduit coupled to the first channel of the bypass valve and is configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from the bypass valve to the patient cavity via a first medical appliance.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first medical appliance is a trocar. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a third conduit coupled to the second channel of the bypass valve and configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from the bypass valve to the patient cavity via a second medical appliance. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 an insufflator;   a bypass valve comprising at least a first channel and a second channel, the first channel defining a portion of a first flow path for the insufflation fluid and the second channel defining a portion of a second flow path for the insufflation fluid, wherein:
 the bypass valve is configured to permit the insufflation fluid to flow along the first flow path when the second channel is closed; and 
 the bypass valve is configured to permit the insufflation fluid to flow along the second flow path when the first channel is closed; 
   a first conduit coupled to the bypass valve and configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from the insufflator to the bypass valve;   a second conduit coupled to the first channel of the bypass valve and configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from the bypass valve to the patient cavity via a first medical appliance; and   a third conduit coupled to the second channel of the bypass valve and configured to facilitate delivery of the insufflation fluid from the bypass valve to the patient cavity via a second medical appliance.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first medical appliance is a trocar; and   the trocar comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine a pressure measurement indicative of a pressure of the patient cavity.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second medical appliance is one from the set comprising:
 an insufflation needle; and   a hasson trocar.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the insufflator comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine, based on information delivered via the second flow path, a pressure measurement indicative of a pressure of the patient cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the insufflator comprises:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium having logic stored thereon, the logic operable, when executed by the processor, to supply insufflation fluid to a patient cavity based on a pressure measurement.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the insufflator is configured to supply the insufflation fluid to the patient cavity based on the pressure measurement determined by the pressure sensor of the trocar in response to determining that the insufflation fluid is being delivered to the patient cavity along the first flow path. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein insufflator is configured to supply the insufflation fluid to the patient cavity based on the pressure measurement determined by the pressure sensor of the insufflator in response to determining that the insufflation fluid is being delivered to the patient cavity along the second flow path. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the logic is further operable, when executed by the processor, to instruct a pressure sensor of the insufflator to take a pressure measurement in response to determining that insufflation fluid is not being supplied to the patient cavity.