Laser smoke evacuation system and method

A laser smoke evacuation system for removal of CO.sub.2 laser produced smoke from a laser operation site in a patient cavity comprising:

• a closed circuit CO.sub.2 gas recirculation system including pump means, a discharge line from said pump means, a tube connected with said discharge line and insertable into said patient cavity, a control valve, a pressure sensor, and a bacterial filter in said discharge line between said pump means and said patient, a return line to said pump means, a tube connected with said return line and insertable into said patient cavity, a smoke filter, a pressure sensor, a control valve, and a fluid trap in said return line;
• system control means connected with said closed circuit for operating said valves and said pump means responsive to predetermined operating conditions in said closed circuit;
• and
• an insufflator connected with a CO.sub.2 supply line, a tube connected with said insufflator and insertable into said patient cavity for supplying makeup CO.sub.2 gas to replace CO.sub.2 gas lost from said closed circuit system and absorbed by patient tissue and to provide a predetermined pressure for distention of said patient cavity for providing visualization and operating space at said operation site in said cavity.

A laser smoke evacuation system for removal of laser smoke from an operation site in a patient cavity comprising:

• a closed circuit CO.sub.2 gas system for recirculating CO.sub.2 gas through said patient cavity to remove laser smoke from said operation site including a CO.sub.2 gas pump, a discharge line from said pump to a first laparoscope tube for positioning into said patient cavity, a first solenoid valve in said discharge line, a pressure sensor in said discharge line downstream from said first solenoid valve, a bacteria removing filter in said discharge line downstream from said pressure sensor, and a first laparoscope tube for connection into said patient cavity for discharging CO.sub.2 gas into the operation site at the inward end of said laparoscope tube, a second laparoscope tube for connection into said patient cavity spaced from said first laparoscope tube, a CO.sub.2 gas return line from said second laparoscope tube to said pump for recirculating CO.sub.2 gas and laser smoke from said operation site, a laser smoke removal filter in said return line downstream from said second laparoscope tube, a pressure sensor in said return line downstream from said smoke filter, a second solenoid valve in said return line downstream from said pressure sensor, a fluid trap in said return line downstream from said second solenoid valve, a first shunt line from said first solenoid valve across to said return line between said pressure sensor in said line and said second solenoid valve, a second shunt line from said second solenoid valve across to said CO.sub.2 gas discharge line from said pump connected into said line between said pump and said first solenoid valve, a control module electrically connected with said pressure sensors, a relay connected with said control module and with said first and second solenoid valves for operating said valves responsive to predetermined pressure conditions sensed by said pressure sensors, and a manual switch connected with said control module for manually shutting down the said system;
• and
• an insufflator for a connection into said patient cavity through one of said laparoscope tubes for supplying makeup CO.sub.2 gas to replace gas lost through leakage and tissue absorption and to maintain a predetermined pressure in said patient cavity to provide operating room at said operation site and permit visualization of said operation site.

A laser smoke evacuation method for removing laser smoke from an operation site in a patient cavity during laser laparoscopy comprising the steps of:

• recirculating CO.sub.2 gas in a closed system through said patient cavity across said operation site through a supply line tube into said patient cavity and a return line tube into said patient cavity;
• removing laser smoke from said CO.sub.2 gas after said gas is discharged from said patient cavity before recirculation of said gas back to said cavity;
• and
• supplying makeup gas thorugh a tube into said patient cavity independently of said recirculation system for replacing recirculating CO.sub.2 gas lost through leakage and tissue absorption and for maintaining a predetermined pressure in said patient cavity for distention of said cavity to permit adequate space at the operation site and provide for visualization of said site.