CO
2
EFFICIENT ENDOSCOPIC INSUFFLATOR Operator’s Manual
Page 5
Section 3.0 THEORY OF OPERATION
The CO
2
EFFICIENT ENDOSCOPIC INSUFFLATOR operates by administering
CO
2
at a maximum flow rate of 3 LPM, and then monitoring the endoscopic
pressure. A mode of operation is selected by the operator, by using a switch found on
the front panel to select from Free Flow Mode and Managed Flow Mode. It is used
to change the rate that the flow is delivered to the endoscopic system. When the
switch is set to Free Flow Mode, the unit will deliver CO
2
at a flow rate of 3 liters
per minute continuous. The clinician will use the air/water valve on the endoscope
and visual feedback of the endoscopic system to manually distend the
gastrointestinal tract with CO
2
.
When the switch is set to Managed Flow Mode, the system will be delivering CO
2
in
a more efficient manner. This mode reduces the amount of CO
2
that is lost through
the air/water valve which is normally lost at a rate of 3 liters per minute. When gas
is not used in the endoscopic system to insufflate, the unit will operate at the
Managed Flow rate of 0.25 to 1.0 liter per minute. This transition to the Managed
Flow rate will occur if the unit senses no need for insufflation in a 2 second time
period. When gas is needed to insufflate, the unit will deliver CO
2
at a flow rate of 3
liters per minute.
The user will need to place the system into RUN mode in order for it to deliver the
CO
2
to the endoscopic system.
The CO
2
EFFICIENT ENDOSCOPIC INSUFFLATOR has a Pressure Relief Valve
set at 375 mm Hg and an independent redundant Pressure Relief Valve pre-set to 400
mm Hg. Both pressure relief safety devices are active whether the
FLOW STOP/RUN is on or off.
