US 5,047,072 A · Ultraviolet air enhancement and laser plume evacuation method and system

Abstract

In a single portable housing a system for evacuating a laser plume from a surgical site. The system extracts the laser plume from the surgery site through a primary inlet tube supported on an articulated arm. A suction canister communicating with the primary inlet tube removes liquid contaminants from the laser plume and is connected by a secondary inlet tube to a primary filter canister in which is located a primary filter comprised of activated carbon granules. Also disposed in the primary filter canister upstream on the pathway followed by the laser plume through the system is a disposable prefilter disc. In combination with the primary filter the prefilter disc removes substantially all of the particulate contaminants and odor in the laser plume. Downstream from the primary filter canister is a fan for advancing the laser plume through the system. The fan blades of the fan are enclosed in a fan housing having an inner surface taking the form of a spiral in a plane normal to the rotational axis of the fan blade. From the fan the laser plume enters a sterilization chamber containing an ultraviolet light source where all remaining biologically viable contaminants are killed. A secondary filter containing a vertically disposed pleated filter and a layer of activated carbon granules receives the output from the sterilization chamber.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A self-contained air enhancement system for removing contaminants from a laser plume produced at a surgical site, the system comprising:

(a) a housing;
(b) a primary inlet tube for extracting the laser plume from the surgical site;
(c) a suction canister in communication with said inlet tube for removing liquid components of the contaminants from the laser plume;
(d) a primary filter canister located in said housing and being in communication through a secondary inlet tube with said suction canister, said primary filter canister housing a primary filter for removing substantially all of the particulate contaminants and the odor from the laser plume;
(e) suction means located downstream from said primary filter on the pathway of the laser plume through said system for advancing the laser plume in sequence through said primary inlet tube, said suction canister, said secondary inlet tube, and said primary filter canister;
(f) ventilation means for supplying cooling air at ambient temperature to said suction means;
(g) isolation means for preventing cross-contamination of said cooling air by the laser plume as the laser plume passes through said housing;
(h) sterilization means disposed along said pathway for killing biologically active material in the laser plume;
and
(i) an outlet in said housing for expelling air from the laser plume treated by said system.

7 more elements

A self-contained air enhancement system wherein a laser plume produced by a laser at a surgical site is drawn along a pathway through the system to remove contaminants therefrom, said system comprising:

(a) a housing for supporting the elements of said systems;
(b) a primary inlet tube for extracting the laser plume from the surgical site;
(c) a suction canister in communication with said inlet tube for removing liquid components of the contaminants of the laser plume, said suction canister being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port on the top thereof, said inlet port being connected to said primary inlet tube;
(d) a primary filter canister located in said housing and being in communication through a secondary inlet tube with said outlet port of said suction canister, said primary filter canister housing a primary filter for removing substantially all of the particulate components and the odor from said laser plume and a prefilter disk disposed in said primary filter canister upstream of said primary filter on the pathway;
(e) a fan blade located downstream of said primary filter canister on the pathway for advancing the laser plume through said system;
(f) a fan housing surrounding said fan blade for containing the laser plume, the inner surface of said fan housing in a plane normal to the access of said fan blade assuming a spiral configuration;
(g) an electric motor for driving said fan blade in rotation;
(h) ventilation means for supplying cooling air from the outside of said housing to said electric motor while said fan housing prevents cross-contamination of said cooling air by the laser plume;
(i) a sterilization chamber located along said pathway downstream from said fan blade;
(j) a baffle disposed in said sterilization chamber so as to cause the laser plume to travel in a serpentine path through said sterilization chamber;
(k) an ultraviolet light tube disposed along said serpentine path;
(l) a secondary filter located on said pathway downstream from said sterilization chamber, said secondary filter comprising:
(i) a vertically disposed pleated filter having a cylindrical shape;
and
(ii) a layer of activated charcoal located on the pathway between said pleated filter and said sterilization chamber;
and
(m) an outlet in said housing communicating with said secondary filter through which to expel air from the laser plume treated by said system.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultraviolet air enhancement and laser plume evacuation method and system

Life of this patent

Ultraviolet air enhancement and laser plume evacuation method and system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49