Apparatus and method for hand-held insufflation

A portable apparatus for inflating a body cavity with gas, the apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge containing compressed gas, the cartridge having a neck, an opening in the neck, and a sealing face sealing the opening in the neck of the cartridge;
• a hollow tube including a puncturing means for puncturing the sealing face and allowing gas to pass from the cartridge into the hollow tube;
• and
• a compression seal surrounding the hollow tube and engaging with the neck of the cartridge after the sealing face has been punctured by the puncturing means.

A portable apparatus for inflating a body cavity with gas, the apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge containing compressed gas, the cartridge having a neck, an opening in the neck, and a sealing face sealing the opening in the neck of the cartridge;
• a hollow tube including a puncturing means for puncturing the sealed opening and allowing gas to pass from the cartridge into the hollow tube;
• and
• an elastomeric diaphragm proximal to and operatively associated with the end of the cartridge;
• a cap, wherein the hollow tube is mounted;
• a cartridge housing means for receiving the cartridge, for engaging the cap, and for advancing the cartridge into the cap to cause the puncturing means to penetrate the sealing face and the elastomeric diaphragm, and to allow gas to pass from the cartridge into the hollow tube, the cartridge housing means having an opening therein sealed by the elastomeric diaphragm.

A portable apparatus for inflating a body cavity with gas, the apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge containing compressed gas, the cartridge having a neck, an opening in the neck, and a first sealing face sealing the opening in the neck of the cartridge;
• a hollow tube including a puncturing means for puncturing the first sealing face and allowing gas to pass from the cartridge into the hollow tube;
• and
• a second sealing face in tandem with the first sealing face.

A portable apparatus for inflating a body cavity with gas, the apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge containing compressed gas, the cartridge having an end, a neck, and an opening in the neck;
• a thick sealing face having an inner portion sealing the opening in the neck of the cartridge and an outer portion proximal to the end of the cartridge;
• and
• a hollow tube including a puncturing means for puncturing the thick sealing face and allowing gas to pass from the cartridge into the hollow tube.

A method of partially insufflating an abdominal cavity with gas, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow needle, a puncture tube, and a cartridge of gas having an end and a neck at its end, the cartridge being sealed with an inner portion of a thick seal;
• inserting the hollow needle into the abdominal cavity;
• connecting the hollow needle to the puncture tube;
• advancing one of the puncture tube and the cartridge to puncture the thick seal with the puncture tube;
• and
• forming a gas-tight seal between the puncture tube and an outer portion of the thick seal to prevent gas from escaping by passing out of the cartridge externally of the hollow needle.

A method of partially insufflating an abdominal cavity with gas, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow needle, a puncture tube, and a cartridge of gas having an end and a neck at its end, the cartridge being sealed with a cartridge seal in the neck, and further providing:
• a canister sealed with a diaphragm seal, the cartridge being sealed in the canister with the diaphragm seal adjacent to the cartridge seal,
• a cap wherein the puncture tube is mounted;
• inserting the hollow needle into the abdominal cavity;
• connecting the hollow needle to the puncture tube;
• advancing one of the puncture tube and the cartridge to puncture the diaphragm seal with the puncture tube;
• and
• forming a gas-tight seal between the cap, the diaphragm seal, and the neck of the cartridge to prevent gas from escaping by passing out of the cartridge externally of the hollow needle.

A method of partially insufflating an abdominal cavity with gas, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow needle, a puncture tube, and a cartridge of gas having an end and a neck at its end, the cartridge being sealed with a cartridge seal in the neck, and further providing:
• a cap wherein the puncture tube is mounted, and
• a compression seal mounted in the cap, surrounding the puncture tube;
• inserting the hollow needle into the abdominal cavity;
• connecting the hollow needle to the puncture tube;
• advancing one of the puncture tube and the cartridge to puncture the cartridge seal with the puncture tube and to form a gas-tight seal between the cap, the compression seal, and the neck of the cartridge to prevent gas from escaping by passing out of the cartridge externally of the hollow needle.

A method of providing partial insuffiation of an abdominal cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas cartridge containing a predetermined mass of gas sufficient to provide insuffiation of an abdominal cavity without over-distension, the call ridge having a neck and a main seal and an additional seal sealing the neck, and further providing a puncture tube connected to a hollow needle positioned in the abdominal cavity, and
• feeding substantially all of the predetermined mass of gas into the abdominal cavity by:
• puncturing the additional seal with the puncture tube to form a gas-tight seal between the additional seal and the puncture tube;
• and
• puncturing the main seal with the puncture tube to release the predetermined mass of gas from the cartridge through the puncture tube and hollow needle into the abdominal cavity.

A method of providing partial insuffiation of an abdominal cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas cartridge containing a predetermined mass of gas sufficient to provide insuffiation of an abdominal cavity without over-distension, the cartridge having a neck and a cartridge seal sealing the neck, and further providing:
• a puncture tube connected to a hollow needle positioned in the abdominal cavity,
• a cap wherein the puncture tube is mounted, and
• a compression seal mounted in the cap, surrounding the puncture tube;
• and
• feeding substantially all of the predetermined mass of gas into the abdominal cavity by:
• forming a gas-tight seal between the cap, the compression seal, and the neck of the cartridge, and
• puncturing the cartridge seal with the puncture tube to release the predetermined mass of gas from the cartridge through the puncture tube and hollow needle into the abdominal cavity.