Filter for a humidification system

A filter for a surgical procedure comprising:

• a fluid pathway to transport fluid exhausted from a surgical site;
• a humidity regulating element located within the fluid pathway;
• a filter element located within the fluid pathway downstream of the humidity regulating element such that the humidity regulating element and the filter element are in fluid communication with each other, the filter element comprising a filter element inlet and a filter element outlet;
• a filter housing containing the filter element and the humidity regulating element, the filter housing comprising:
• an inlet connector for connecting to the fluid pathway;
• and
• an outlet connector;
• an inner wall structure disposed within the filter housing configured to separate the humidity regulating element from the filter element;
• and
• a tapered structure extending from the inner wall structure in a direction toward the inlet connector;
• wherein the humidity regulating element is configured to remove or reduce humidity from the fluid exhausted from the surgical site prior to the fluid reaching the filter element, the filter element configured to filter particulate matter from the fluid exhausted from the surgical site;
• and
• wherein the filter element inlet extends into a region within the tapered structure to define a passageway of the fluid pathway between the tapered structure and the filter element inlet in a direction toward the inlet connector.