Surgical Laser Products, Inc.

Thomas J Wertz

Gerald D Abell

Russell W Todd

In a single portable housing a system for evacuating a laser plume from a surgical site. The system extracts the laser plume from the surgery site through a primary inlet tube supported on an articulated arm. A suction canister communicating with the primary inlet tube removes liquid contaminants from the laser plume and is connected by a secondary inlet tube to a primary filter canister in which is located a primary filter comprised of activated carbon granules. Also disposed in the primary filter canister upstream on the pathway followed by the laser plume through the system is a disposable prefilter disc. In combination with the primary filter the prefilter disc removes substantially all of the particulate contaminants and odor in the laser plume. Downstream from the primary filter canister is a fan for advancing the laser plume through the system. The fan blades of the fan are enclosed in a fan housing having an inner surface taking the form of a spiral in a plane normal to the rotational axis of the fan blade. From the fan the laser plume enters a sterilization chamber containing an ultraviolet light source where all remaining biologically viable contaminants are killed. A secondary filter containing a vertically disposed pleated filter and a layer of activated carbon granules receives the output from the sterilization chamber.

Ultraviolet air enhancement and laser plume evacuation method and system

A system for filtering the harmful particulates and liquids from a laser plume formed during surgical procedures. The laser plume may be passed through a suction canister to remove a liquid component from the laser plume. Thereafter, the laser plume is passed through a filter containing granular activated charcoal and a pleated filter to remove substantially all toxic elements and particulate matter in the laser plume. The system is self-contained and is configured such that the air from the laser plume is not cross-contaminated with either the ambient air in the room or the cooling air of the vacuum motor. The system also contains a pressure differential measuring device for indicating to the medical personnel when the filter of the present invention needs to be changed. Because of the unique configuration of the present invention, it is capable of running at increased suction levels while running at reduced noise levels as compared with conventional systems of this nature.

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The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Thomas J Wertz