Apparatus and method for delivering insufflation gas and local anesthesia to a body cavity

摘要

A hand-held apparatus and method for insufflating an abdominal cavity includes a compact gas supply unit comprised of a gas cartridge which has a pair of tandem piercable seals positioned inside the cartridge neck and which contains a predetermined mass of compressed gas. A cap having a puncture stem is engaged with the gas supply unit, causing the puncture stem to penetrate the piercable seals and release gas through the puncture tube and into a hollow needle positioned inside the abdomen. The tandem piercable seals are arranged such that as the gas supply unit is engaged with the cap, the puncture stem punctures the first piercable seal and the first piercable seal seals around it before the puncture stem punctures the second piercable seal, thereby preventing accidental loss of gas and preserving the entire mass of gas for insufflation. Gas loss may be further prevented by a compression seal or an elastomeric diaphragm which provides a leakproof seal between the cap and the neck when the cap and gas supply unit are engaged. An anesthesia attachment provides for administration of an anesthetic liquid in combination with the insufflation gas.