Patent ID: 8172787

Claim:
An insufflator to provide a regulated pressurized gas for introduction into the body of a patient during an endoscopic medical procedure, the apparatus comprising: a gas input port at which to receive gas from a gas supply; a gas output port at which to output the regulated pressurized gas; an internal flow path coupled between the gas input port and the gas output port and through which to convey the pressurized gas; a regulator in the internal flow path to regulate the pressurized gas; a heating element, a venting valve, a pressure relief valve, and an input pressure sensor, each coupled to the internal flow path between the gas input port and the regulator, the heating element to maintain the gas at a predetermined temperature; a humidifier in the internal flow path to regulate the humidity of the pressurized gas and reduce dehydration in the body of the patient; a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor, each coupled to the internal flow path between the humidifier and the gas output port; an output pressure sensor and an output flow sensor each coupled to the gas flow path coupled to the gas flow path between the regulator and the gas output port; an external gas output conduit coupled to the gas output port to transport the gas to the body of a patient during the endoscopic medical procedure; a trocar at an end of end of the external gas conduit; a first biosensor located in the trocar at the end of the external gas conduit to detect the presence of biocontamination during the endoscopic medical procedure and to output a first wireless signal in response thereto; a second biosensor to detect the presence of biocontamination during the endoscopic medical procedure and to output a second wireless signal in response thereto, wherein the first biosensor is positioned to detect biocontamination entering the insufflator at the gas input port and the second biosensor is positioned within the external gas output conduit to detect biocontamination about to enter the insufflator at the gas output port; a control unit coupled to the regulator, the humidifier, the humidity sensor, the heating element, the first biosensor, and the second biosensor, the control unit to receive, via a wireless communication link, the first signal and the second signal and, in response to either of the first signal or the second signal, to output an alarm to a user and to cause the insufflator to activate a protection procedure, and wherein the input pressure sensor, output pressure sensor, output flow sensor, humidity sensor, and temperature sensor provide respective output signals to the control unit to control pressure, flow rate, humidity, and temperature of the gas; and a touchscreen display unit coupled to the control unit, the touchscreen display unit to present indicators and a graphical user interface and receive input to control the regulator and the humidifier.