"INTEGRATED DIGITAL SET FOR LAPAROSCOPY SURGERY"

The present patent refers to a computerized system that joints in a single equipment four basic functions for laparoscopy surgery and allows introduction of new perspectives like continuous monitoring of critical signs and images and equipment portability.

Currently it is used four basic equipments for surgeries via laparoscopy: CO ₂ (carbon dioxide) insufflator, Light Source (abdominal cavity lightening), Image Processing (video image generation) and Videocassette (surgery documentation). For performing the surgery, it is essential: maintenance of an abdominal cavity through a CO ₂ gas- controlled insufflation respecting the maximum limits of pressure and output; suitable lightening of the abdominal cavity by means of light source and good visualization of intrabdominal images through a micro camera. All of these items have greatly evolved in the past years. Although, they have evolved in an independent way keeping high complexity and high cost.

Some inconvenient may be pointed in those equipments that support the surgeon like: size of equipments that, because they are composed of several independent units, occupy a considerable space in surgical rooms, lack of portability what makes it difficult or even makes it impossible to move it for other hospitals, redundant and not centralized

controls, one or more for each equipment; independent alarms that often distracts the surgical team; and, finally, lack of documentation of critical signs throughout the surgeries such as intrabdominal pressure, temperature and insufflated gas volume. Another important problem refers to cost, since those equipments have independent controls and redundant devises what makes the final productexpensive.

Considering all of these problems and intending to overcome them, it was developed a computadorized equipment that puts together in a single cabinet all functions of CO _2, Insufflator, light source, image processor and DVD recorder. Controls are now digital which allows, then, all critical signals to be showed together with images generated by laparoscopy in a single screen, the screen used by the surgeon. This procedure solves problem referred to surgical team attention. Level of proposed architecture integration also allows effect dimension measurements of the patient organs together with critical signal observing. Besides such factors it was included control of all these equipments by an integrated system of hardware/software, which considerably reduces final cost of the system. All critical signals and images may be now recorded in a digital mean and all hereinabove mentioned modules, jointed in a single cabinet allow portability of the proposed product which is innovative, not existent yet. Another innovation presented refers to image and critical signals sharing in computer networks (local nets or

internet), which is essential in medical school institutions and that also make it possible other professional to act by way of telesurgery techniques.

Fig 1 shows components of the integrated digital set for laparoscopy surgery, object of the present patent highlighting equipment composition: insufflator, light source, image processor and DVD recorder in single equipment.

According to how much Fig 1 illustrates, the integrated digital set for laparoscopy surgery, object of the present patent consists of the joint of four devices in a single equipment (1) composed respectively by a microprocessed insufflator (5) which is responsible for CO ₂ flow control to be conducted from CO ₂ cylinder (2) to the patient's abdomen (19) upon restricted conditions of pressure and output established by medical recommendations; by a light source (17), which is responsible by generating a light beam that is conducted through the abdominal cavity (19) by an optical set composed by optical fiber wire (16) and by laparoscopy (15); and finally by computer, whose CPU, data processing unit (7) is responsible for digitalizing the micro camera images (14) through an image capture board (9), this image grouping with critical signals data (pressure, output, insufflated volume and temperature) resulting from flow system control (3), sending this composed image (12) to a monitor (13) VGA/SVGA input (21 ), and finally, recording all image historical and critical signals throughout the surgery in DEV pattern (11).

In the present disposition, insufflator (5) is composed by a system of flow regulation (output and pressure) of CO ₂ (3), being all action of flow control directed by a micro controller (4) which carries out an internal software for reading pressure and output signals of gas line and activation (opening and closing) a valve for flow adjusting in a way to keep great pressure and output in limits provided by user, which is made through numeric control in the interface (12) presented on monitor screen (13), which also present indicators to instant values of the gas flow control; such controls and indicators compose, together with the image from the micro camera a complete interface (12) that provides to user a global view of all surgical procedure then all surgical team focusing at a single screen (13). Thus, computer through its CPU (7) exchange information with local insufflator (5) controller (4) by a data communication interface (6) in a way to fulfill objectives of: keeping updated the information presented on the screen (12); inform to microcontrollers (4) any alteration made by the user regarding to pressure or output limit value; sending to insufflator (5) local controller (4) a periodic signal indicating a proper CPU (8) functioning being such safety procedure aiming at identifying any lost of communication between insufflator (5) microcontroller (4) and CPU (8) processor (7) caused by communication interface fail (6) or by improper CPU (8) operation, facts that result on interruption of periodic sinal

interruption by microcontroller (4) which automatically alters its modus operandi and starts to function on a security mode, transferring all indicators of process and controls of gas flow limits, originally presented on monitor screen (13), for local control interface (20) without any interruption of the action in the CO ₂ flow control; said security procedure does not avoid surgery continuing, but just equalize in this situation functionality of the product now claimed to current laparoscopy equipments that have only indicators and buttons of local control (20) in the insufflator panel (5).

Also in case of CPU failure which results in image lost composed (12) provided by computer video board (10) , the proposed product also predicts a security procedure that considers direct micro camera image supplying (14) for monitor (13) through second video input (22) having the surgeon just to image input door locking on monitor (13) that, thus, shows on the screen (12) only the micro camera (14) image without indicating critical signals values, such procedure does not present any damage to the surgical act but just equalizes herein claimed product functionality to current laparoscopy equipments.