Insufflating system, method, and computer program product for controlling the supply of a distending media to an endoscopic device

1. An insufflating system adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of a distending media and an endoscopic device so as to deliver the distending media to the endoscopic device, the insufflating system comprising:

a controller for detecting a pressure level within a lumen of the endoscopic device; and

a valve assembly in communication with said controller and in fluid communication between the source of distending media and the endoscopic device for delivering the distending media to the endoscopic device and adjusting a flow rate of the distending media delivered to the endoscopic device in response to the detected pressure level and at least one predetermined pressure threshold so as to prevent excess supply and waste of the distending media, wherein the at least one pressure threshold comprises a low pressure transition point and a high pressure transition point, wherein said controller is adapted to automatically control said valve assembly to increase the flow rate from a sensing flow rate to an insufflating flow rate for directing distending media into an anatomical cavity with the endoscopic device if the detected pressure level rises above the low pressure transition point, and wherein said controller is further adapted to automatically control said valve assembly to decrease the flow rate from the insufflating flow rate to a sensing flow rate if the detected pressure level falls below the high pressure transition point resulting from venting distending media to atmosphere with the endoscopic device.

2. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , further comprising a disposable tubing set in fluid communication between an output of said valve assembly and the lumen of the endoscopic device.

3. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , further comprising a filter device in fluid communication between an output of said valve assembly and a lumen of the endoscopic device, said filter device selected from a group consisting of:

a biological filter, and

a hydrophobic filter,

so as to prevent passage of a pathogen from the endoscopic device to said valve assembly.

4. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, in communication with said controller and said valve assembly, for receiving a user input.

5. An insufflating system according to claim 4 , wherein the user input comprises the at least one pressure threshold.

6. An insufflating system according to claim 4 , wherein the user interface comprises a display for displaying data selected from the group consisting of:

a volume of distending media delivered to the endoscopic device;

a volume of distending media remaining in the distending media source;

the user input; and

combinations thereof.

7. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , wherein the insufflating flow rate is between about 1 and 20 liters per minute, and wherein the sensing flow rate is between about 0.05 and 0.5 liters per minute.

8. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , wherein the insufflating flow rate is between about 1 and 20 liters per minute, and wherein the sensing flow rate is between about 0.05 and 0.5 liters per minute.

9. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises a programmed time limit and wherein said controller is adapted to control said valve assembly to increase the flow rate from a sensing flow rate to an insufflating flow rate when the detected pressure rises above the low pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time threshold and wherein said controller is further adapted to control said valve assembly decrease the flow rate from the insufflating flow rate to the sensing flow rate when the detected pressure falls below the high pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time limit.

10. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory device in communication with said controller for storing data comprising detected pressures for a plurality of insufflating procedures and wherein the controller is further adapted to automatically define a time limit, a low pressure transition point, and a high pressure transition point, at least partially based on the stored data, and wherein said controller is adapted to control said valve assembly to increase the flow rate from a sensing flow rate to an insufflating flow rate if the detected pressure rises above the low pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time limit and wherein said controller is further adapted to control said valve assembly decrease the flow rate from the insufflating flow rate to the sensing flow rate if the detected pressure falls below the high pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time limit.

11. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises a pressure transducer.

12. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , wherein said valve assembly comprises an electro-pneumatic valve.

13. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , wherein the distending media is selected from the group consisting of:

carbon dioxide;

anti-spasmodic gaseous media;

relaxant gaseous media; and

combinations thereof.

14. An insufflating system according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is adapted to automatically control said valve assembly to adjust the flow rate of the distending media delivered to the endoscopic device in response to a detected pressure level that is indicative of opening and closing of a valve associated with the endoscopic device for venting distending media to atmosphere.

15. An insufflating system according to claim 14 , wherein said controller is adapted to automatically control said valve assembly to increase the flow rate to an insufflating flow rate if the valve associated with the endoscopic device is closed, and wherein said controller is further adapted to automatically control said valve assembly to decrease the flow rate to a sensing flow rate if the valve associated with the endoscopic device is open.

16. A method for delivering distending media to an endoscopic device in fluid communication with a source of a distending media, the method comprising:

detecting a pressure level within a lumen of the endoscopic device;

delivering the distending media to the endoscopic device

automatically adjusting a flow rate of the distending media delivered to the endoscopic device in response to the detected pressure level and at least one pressure threshold so as to prevent excess supply and waste of the distending media, wherein the at least one pressure threshold comprises a low pressure transition point and a high pressure transition point, and wherein the adjusting step further comprises:

increasing the flow rate from a sensing flow rate to an insufflating flow rate for directing distending media into an anatomical cavity with the endoscopic device if the detected pressure level rises above the low pressure transition point; and

decreasing the flow rate from the insufflating flow rate to a sensing flow rate if the detected pressure level falls below the high pressure transition point resulting from venting distending media to atmosphere with the endoscopic device.

17. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising filtering a fluid pathway between the source and the endoscopic device so as to prevent passage of a pathogen from the endoscopic device to the source of the distending media.

18. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising receiving a user input for controlling the adjusting step.

19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the user input comprises the at least one pressure threshold.

20. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the insufflating flow rate is between about 1 and 20 liters per minute, and wherein the sensing flow rate is between about 0.05 and 0.5 liters per minute.

21. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the insufflating flow rate is between about 1 and 20 liters per minute, and wherein the sensing flow rate is between about 0.05 and 0.5 liters per minute.

22. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising providing a programmed time limit and wherein the adjusting step further comprises:

increasing the flow rate from a sensing flow rate to an insufflating flow rate if the detected pressure rises above the low pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time limit; and

decreasing the delivery parameter from the insufflating flow rate to the sensing flow rate if the detected pressure falls below the high pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time limit.

23. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

storing data comprising a plurality of detected pressure profiles corresponding to a plurality of insufflating procedures;

defining a time limit, a low pressure transition point, and a high pressure transition point, at least partially based on the stored data; and wherein the adjusting step further comprises:

increasing the flow rate from a sensing flow rate to an insufflating flow rate if the detected pressure rises above the low pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time limit; and

decreasing the flow rate from the insufflating flow rate to the sensing flow rate if the detected pressure falls below the high pressure transition point for a time period exceeding the time limit.

24. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising initially setting a flow rate of the distending media delivered to the endoscopic device to a sensing flow rate, and regulating the delivery of the distending media to the endoscopic device at a set flow rate.

25. A method according to claim 24 , wherein said adjusting step comprises:

increasing the set flow rate to an insufflating flow rate if the detected pressure level rises above the low pressure transition point; and

decreasing the set flow rate to a sensing flow rate if the detected pressure level falls below the high pressure transition point.

26. A method according to claim 16 , wherein said adjusting step comprises automatically adjusting the flow rate of the distending media delivered to the endoscopic device in response to a detected pressure level that is indicative of opening and closing of a valve associated with the endoscopic device for venting distending media to atmosphere.

27. A method according to claim 26 , wherein said adjusting step further comprises:

increasing the flow rate to an insufflating flow rate if the valve associated with the endoscopic device is closed; and

decreasing the flow rate to a sensing flow rate if the valve associated with the endoscopic device is open.