Patent ID: 8216159

Claim:
A method for gastrointestinal anastomosis leak testing, comprising: providing an anastomosis leak tester comprising: a conduit part having an interior space, an opening communicating with the interior space that is adapted to communicate with a partially occluded gastrointestinal tract, an arm defining a lumen and an aperture defining a conduit between the lumen and the ambient atmosphere, a pressure relief valve communicating with the interior space, and a movable indicator pin separate from the pressure relief valve, the indicator pin being at least partly arranged in the lumen and relative to the pressure relief valve and the aperture such that the indicator pin has a first position in which the pressure relief valve is not in flow communication with the aperture and a second position in which the pressure relief valve is in flow communication with the aperture, the indicator pin occluding the lumen at a location between the aperture and the pressure relief valve to prevent the pressure relief valve from being in flow communication with the aperture when the indicator pin is in the first position, the indicator pin being arranged to be movable from the first position to the second position past the aperture upon outflow of air from the pressure relief valve to cause the pressure relief valve to be in flow communication with the aperture when the indicator pin is in the second position, submersing the anastomosis in fluid; placing the conduit part in communication with the gastrointestinal tract and directing air into the interior space of the conduit part such that the air flows out of the interior space of the conduit part through the opening of the conduit part into the gastrointestinal tract to thereby distend the anastomosis; continuing to direct air into the interior space of the conduit part until air is caused to pass through the pressure relief valve and moves the indicator pin from the first position to the second position thereby allowing air flow from the pressure relief valve to escape to the ambient atmosphere through the aperture and providing pressure release from the interior space of the conduit part; and then checking for anastomotic leaks based on the presence of air bubbles in the fluid around the anastomosis.