Filtering system, apparatus, and method
AssigneeBuffalo Filter LLC
InventorsMark C. Szymanski, Michael A. Chimiak, Kyrylo Shvetsov, Gregory Pepe, Samantha Bonano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Presented are a method and apparatus for evacuation. An exemplary fluid evacuation system includes a surgical apparatus having a fluid conduit therethrough. The system further includes a vacuum tube fluidly coupled with the fluid conduit, and an electrostatic precipitator fluidly coupled with the fluid conduit. Additionally, the system includes a vacuum source fluidly coupled with the vacuum tube, wherein the vacuum source is operable to create a flow of fluid through the fluid conduit, the vacuum tube and the electrostatic precipitator.
Claims17
A fluid evacuation apparatus, comprising:
- a surgical apparatus having a fluid conduit therethrough;
- a vacuum tube fluidly coupled with the fluid conduit;
- an electrostatic precipitator fluidly coupled with the fluid conduit, the electrostatic precipitator comprising a housing and at least one collection surface operable to attract ionized particulate;
- and
- a vacuum source fluidly coupled with the vacuum tube, wherein the vacuum source is operable to create a flow of fluid through the fluid conduit, the vacuum tube and the electrostatic precipitator, wherein the electrostatic precipitator comprises a collection cell that is electrically charged to at least partially capture oppositely charged particulates in the flow of fluid, wherein the vacuum tube comprises a first section fluidly coupled between the surgical apparatus and the housing, and a second section fluidly coupled between the housing and the vacuum source.
A method comprising:
- providing a surgical apparatus having a fluid conduit therethrough;
- providing a vacuum tube fluidly coupled with the fluid conduit;
- providing a vacuum source fluidly coupled with the vacuum tube, wherein the vacuum source is operable to create a flow of fluid;
- and
- providing an electrostatic precipitator disposed in the flow of fluid, wherein the electrostatic precipitator comprises a housing and is operable to filter a plurality of particulates from a plume without creating resistance to the flow of the plume, wherein the vacuum tube comprises a first section fluidly coupled between the surgical apparatus and the housing, and a second section fluidly coupled between the housing and the vacuum source.
An electrostatic precipitator, comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication;
- a vacuum tube fluidly coupled with the inlet port and the outlet port;
- an electrode located within the housing and electrically coupled with a power source, the electrode operable to ionize a plurality of particulates in a plume;
- a collection surface located downstream of the electrode operable to attract the plurality of particulates;
- a collection tray located under the collection surface;
- and
- a cleaning element located within the housing operable to at least partially remove precipitate from the collection surface to the collection tray, wherein the vacuum tube comprises a first section fluidly coupled between a surgical apparatus and the housing, and a second section fluidly coupled between the housing and a vacuum source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.