System and regulator device for evacuating smoke from a laparoscopic field and method of evacuating smoke from a laparoscopic field

A system for evacuating smoke from a laparoscopic field within the body of a patient, the laparoscopic field being insufflated with insufflation gas under positive pressure, said system comprising

• a first instrument port in fluid communication with the laparoscopic field for monitoring the pressure of the gas in the laparoscopic field;
• a second instrument port in fluid communication with the laparoscopic field for evacuating smoke from the laparoscopic field via said second instrument port;
• a smoke evacuator regulator device comprising:
• a housing;
• a first device port in said housing and configured for coupling to said first instrument port for monitoring the pressure of the gas in the laparoscopic field;
• a second device port in said housing and configured for coupling to said second instrument port for evacuating smoke from the laparoscopic field via the second device port;
• a third device port in said housing and configured for coupling to a vacuum source;
• and
• a valve in said housing, said valve being in a normally closed state and coupled between said second device port and said third device port, said valve being operative in automatic response to the pressure of the gas monitored at said first device port, whereupon said valve opens to an open state to enable suction from the vacuum source to be applied through said third device port to said second device port when the pressure monitored at said first device port reaches a set-point, whereupon smoke within the laparoscopic field is evacuated from the laparoscopic field via said second device port and said third device port.

A method of evacuating smoke from a laparoscopic field within the body of a patient, the laparoscopic field being insufflated with gas under positive pressure, said method comprising:

• continuously monitoring pressure of the insufflation gas within the laparoscopic field via a first instrument port in fluid communication with the laparoscopic field;
• coupling a pneumatically-operated smoke evacuator regulator device to a vacuum source and to a second instrument port in fluid communication with the laparoscopic field;
• and
• automatically applying suction from the vacuum source to the laparoscopic field when the pressure monitored reaches a set-point, whereupon smoke within the laparoscopic field is evacuated from said laparoscopic field via said second instrument port and said vacuum source.