Automatic smoke evacuator activator system for a surgical laser apparatus and method therefor

An automatic smoke evacuator activator system for a laser surgical apparatus comprising, in combination,

• smoke evacuator system means for removing smoke and toxic fumes from the area serviced by said smoke evacuator system means;
• and
• switch means which is adapted to be coupled to said laser surgical apparatus for turning on the laser cutting beam of the laser surgical apparatus and which is coupled to said smoke evacuator system means for simultaneously turning on said smoke evacuator system means when the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus is turned on;
• said switch means further comprising a switch position to turn off said smoke evacuator system means and the laser cutting beam of the laser surgical apparatus and time delay means coupled to said switch means for time delaying said turn off of said smoke evacuator means.

A medical laser system comprising, in combination,

• a laser surgical apparatus;
• smoke evacuator system means for removing smoke and toxic fumes from the area adjacent to said laser surgical apparatus;
• and
• switch means coupled to (a) said laser surgical apparatus for turning on the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus and (b) said smoke evacuator system means for simultaneously turning on said smoke evacuator system means when the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus is turned on;
• said switch means further comprising a switch position to turn off said smoke evacuator system means and to turn off the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus;
• and
• time delay means coupled to said switch means for delaying the time of the turning off of said smoke evacuator system with respect to the time of the turning off of said laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus.

A method for providing an automatic smoke evacuator activator system for a laser surgical apparatus comprising the steps of,

• providing transmitter means for generating and transmitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation;
• providing receiver means coupled to said transmitter means for receiving said beam of electromagnetic radiation;
• providing switch means between said transmitter means and said receiver means for operating on said beam of electromagnetic radiation to cause said receiver means to generate an electronic signal;
• and
• coupling smoke evacuator system means to said receiver means for receiving said electronic signal from said receiver means to activate said smoke evacuator system means to remove undesired smoke and toxic fumes from the area serviced by said smoke evacuator system means.

A method for providing an automatic smoke evacuator activator system for a laser surgical apparatus comprising the step of:

• providing smoke evacuator system means for receiving smoke and toxic fumes from the area serviced by said smoke evacuator system means;
• and
• coupling switch means is adapted to be coupled to said laser surgical apparatus for turning on the laser cutting beam of the laser surgical apparatus and which is coupled to said smoke evacuator system means for simultaneously turning on said smoke evacuator system means when the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus is turned on;
• said switch means having a switch position to turn off said smoke evacuator system means and the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus and time delay means coupled to said switch means for time delaying said turn off of said smoke evacuator means.

A method for providing a medical laser system comprising the steps of:

• providing a laser surgical apparatus;
• providing smoke evacuator system means for removing smoke and toxic fumes from the area adjacent to said laser surgical apparatus;
• and
• providing switch means coupled to (a) said laser surgical apparatus for turning on the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus and (b) said smoke evacuator system means for simultaneously turning on said smoke evacuator system means when the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus is turned on;
• said switch means further comprising a switch position to turn off said smoke evacuator system means and to turn off the laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus;
• and
• time delay means coupled to said switch means for delaying the time of the turning off of said smoke evacuator system with respect to the time of the turning off of said laser cutting beam of said laser surgical apparatus.