PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air supply system allowing automatic removal of clogging of an air supply pipe line even if the clogging occurs in the air supply pipe line, and allowing stable supply of a gas into a body cavity.SOLUTION: A gas supply device 66 is detachably connected with a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 110, and is connected with first and second regulators 116, 118, a first solenoid valve 120, and a flow sensor 124 in series in order from the side of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 110. Carbon dioxide gas decompressed to a prescribed pressure via each of these components is supplied into a body cavity through an air supply pipe line formed in an insertion part 12 of an endoscope 10 or an insertion supporting implement 70. At that time, the carbon dioxide gas is supplied such that a pressure inside the body cavity is a prescribed pressure based on a detection result of a second pressure sensor 128. When it is determined that clogging has occurred in the air supply pipe line based on a detection result of the flow sensor 124, a high-pressure gas before decompressed by the second regulator 118 is supplied into the air supply pipe line, so that the clogging in the air supply pipe line is removed.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】送気管路に詰まりが発生しても送気管路の詰まりを自動的に解消することができ、体腔内にガスを安定供給可能な送気システムを提供する。【解決手段】ガス供給装置66には、炭酸ガスボンベ110が着脱自在に連結され、炭酸ガスボンベ110側から順に、第1及び第2レギュレータ116、118、第1電磁弁120、流量センサ124が直列に接続され、これらの各部を経由して所定の圧力に減圧された炭酸ガスが内視鏡10の挿入部12又は挿入補助具70に設けられた送気管路を介して体腔内に送気される。その際、第2圧力センサ128の検出結果に基づき、体腔内の圧力が所定圧となるように炭酸ガスの送気が行われる。また、流量センサ124の検出結果に基づき、送気管路に詰まりが発生したと判断される場合には、第2レギュレータ118で減圧される前の高圧ガスが送気管路に送気され、送気管路に詰まりが解消される。【選択図】図4
