# US 11,439,775 B2 · Systems for laparoscopic surgery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,775 B2 - Document ID: US11439775B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/427,132 - Filed: 2019-05-30 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-23 - Assignees: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited - Applicants: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited - Inventors: Michael Joseph Blackhurst; James Alexander Gordon; Jonathan David Harwood; David John Bain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439775B2 ## CPC - A61M 13/003: {Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing} - A61B 17/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20) - A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00) - G01F 22/00: Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - A61B 2218/006: for smoke evacuation - A61B 2218/007: Aspiration - A61B 2218/008: for smoke evacuation - A61M 16/0808: {Condensation traps} - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3327: Measuring - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3386: Low level detectors - A61M 2205/36: related to heating or cooling - A61M 2205/75: with filters - A61M 2205/7536: allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes - A61M 2210/1017: Peritoneal cavity - A61M 2210/1021: Abdominal cavity - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract This invention relates to a surgical smoke evacuation system for use in removing gases and smoke created in surgical procedures form within an insufflated surgical cavity, Such a system comprises a discharge assembly adapted to form a gases path, and having an end which in use is located within said surgical cavity so that gases and/or surgical smoke inside said cavity can pass out of said cavity and through said discharge assembly along said gases path, a flexible discharge limb having an operational site end and an outlet end, and a self-supporting wall defining a gases flow passage between said operational site end and said outlet end, in use said open operational site end sealingly connected to said discharge assembly so that said gases and/or surgical smoke can pass out of said discharge assembly and into said discharge limb, a filter connected in use to the outlet end of the discharge limb, at least part of said wall of the discharge limb formed from a breathable material, said breathable material allowing the passage of water vapour through the wall of the discharge limb without allowing the passage of liquid water or surgical smoke or other gases. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical filter assembly comprising: a discharge assembly forming a gases pathway to transport gases from a surgical site, the discharge assembly configured to discharge gases to atmosphere, the discharge assembly comprising: a filter configured to filter gases passing through the filter; and a drying device positioned upstream of the filter relative to a direction of gases flowing through the discharge assembly, the drying device configured to dry gases by removing moisture from the gases flow, wherein the drying device is a breathable device; and a support comprising at least two legs, the drying device attached to the support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the drying device comprises a material that is configured to absorb some water vapour from the discharge gases. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the drying device is configured to allow passage of water vapour from the drying device without allowing the passage of liquid water. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the drying device comprises a breathable tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the breathable tube comprises a breathable wall configured to allow passage of water vapour out of the breathable tube without allowing the passage of liquid water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The surgical filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the breathable tube comprises an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end in fluid communication with the surgical site and the outlet end in fluid communication with the filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter is in fluid communication with atmosphere to allow discharge gases to pass to atmosphere through the filter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the drying device comprises a hydrophilic thermoplastic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the drying device comprises a PTFE material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the drying device comprises a woven textile fabric. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the surgical filter assembly is a passive filter assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter is located downstream of a surgical cavity and at a lower pressure than the surgical cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The surgical filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the drying device is positioned between the filter and the surgical site, the drying device defining a fluid passage through it. ### Claim 14 A surgical filter assembly comprising: a discharge assembly forming a gases pathway to transport gases discharged from a surgical site, the discharge assembly comprising: a drying element comprising a body and a lumen defined through the body to transport of gases from the surgical site, the drying element configured to dry gases by removing moisture within the gases, wherein the body of the drying element comprises a breathable material configured to dry gases; and a filter in fluid communication with the drying element, the filter configured to filter dried gases from the drying element, the drying element positioned between the surgical site and the filter; and a retaining member comprising a hook or loop to retain the drying element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the filter is arranged in series with the drying element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The surgical filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the breathable material comprises a hydrophilic thermoplastic, a perflourinated polymer, or a woven material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The surgical filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the drying element is a breathable tube, the breathable tube comprising a breathable wall portion comprising the breathable material to allow passage of water vapour out of the breathable tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The surgical filter assembly of claim 17, wherein the breathable tube is between 400 mm and 1500 mm long. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The surgical filter assembly of claim 14, wherein at least 10% of a surface area of the drying element comprises the breathable material.