Leak detecting apparatus and a method for detecting a leak in a hollow organ or lumen in a human or animal body

A leak detecting apparatus for detecting a leak from a hollow structure in a human or animal body to a cavity in the human or animal body, the leak detection apparatus comprising:

• a first insufflator configured to deliver a first gas into the hollow structure,
• a first pressure sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a pressure in the hollow structure,
• a second pressure sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a pressure in the cavity,
• a pressure regulator in communication with a processor, the pressure regulator configured to control the pressure in one of the hollow structure or the cavity for maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity,
• one of
• a gas detector configured to produce a signal indicative of a presence of the first gas in the cavity, or
• a flow meter configured to produce a signal indicative of a rate of flow of the first gas delivered to the hollow structure, and
• the processor configured to compute a size of the leak as a function of the pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity, and at least one of
• the presence of the first gas in the cavity, or
• the rate of flow of the first gas to the hollow structure.

A method for detecting a leak in a hollow structure located in a cavity in a human or an animal body, the method comprising:

• delivering a first gas into one of the hollow structure or the cavity,
• monitoring a pressure in the hollow structure,
• monitoring a pressure in the cavity,
• controlling the pressure in one of the hollow structure or the cavity for maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity by controlling the delivery of the first gas to the one of the hollow structure or the cavity,
• monitoring a rate of flow of the first gas being delivered to the one of the hollow structure or the cavity while the pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity is being maintained substantially constant, and
• computing a size of the leak as a function of the pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity, and the monitored rate of flow of the first gas to the one of the hollow structure or the cavity while the pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity is being maintained substantially constant.

A method for detecting a leak from a hollow structure in a human or animal body to a cavity in the human or animal body, the method comprising:

• delivering a first gas into the hollow structure,
• monitoring a pressure in the hollow structure,
• monitoring a pressure in the cavity,
• controlling the pressure in one of the hollow structure or the cavity for maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity,
• monitoring one of:
• gas in the cavity or gas exhausted from the cavity for a presence of the first gas, or a rate of flow of the first gas delivered to the hollow structure, and
• computing a size of the leak as a function of the pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity, and one of
• the presence of the first gas in the cavity, or
• the rate of flow of the first gas to the hollow structure.

A method for detecting a leak in a hollow structure located in a cavity in a human or an animal body, the method comprising:

• delivering a first gas into one of the hollow structure or the cavity,
• monitoring a pressure in the hollow structure,
• monitoring a pressure in the cavity,
• controlling the pressure in one of the hollow structure or the cavity for maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity by controlling the delivery of the first gas to the one of the hollow structure or the cavity,
• monitoring a rate of flow of the first gas being delivered to the one of the hollow structure or the cavity while the pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity is being maintained substantially constant, and
• computing a size of the leak as a function of the monitored rate of flow of the first gas to the one of the hollow structure or the cavity while the pressure differential between the pressure in the hollow structure and the pressure in the cavity is being maintained substantially constant.