US 5,181,916 AGranted

Surgical probe and smoke eliminator

AssigneeSorenson Laboratories, Inc.

InventorsValdon G. Reynolds, James L. Sorenson, Gordon S. Reynolds

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Abstract

The invention comprises a handpiece for use in a surgical procedure which involves directing a surgical agent to a target area of a person's body which procedure produces an unwanted smoke plume. The handpiece includes both a probe for directing a surgical agent, such as a CO.sub.2 laser beam, and a smoke eliminator for removing with suction the smoke created by the surgical procedure. The probe has no functional components for creating the laser beam, and is thus economical enough to be disposable after one use. The smoke eliminator includes a nozzle and/or an offset suction port so configured as to create a votrex flow in the smoke in the target area upstream in the fluid flow pathway of smoke through the hand piece from the distal tip of the hand piece.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A surgical handpiece for use in applying to a target area on or in the body of a patient a surgical agent that creates an unwanted smoke plume in the vicinity of the target area, the handpiece in combination with a suction device located external to the body of the patient removing the smoke plume from the vicinity of the target area, the handpiece comprising:

(a) a surgical probe comprising a first conduit, said first conduit having a proximal end coupleable to a source of the surgical agent and a distal end opposite therefrom, said surgical probe being configured so as to apply the surgical agent to the target area by orienting the distal end of the first conduit theretoward;
and
(b) a smoke eliminator comprising:
(i) a second conduit affixed to the first conduit, said second conduit having a distal end, a proximal end, and an elongate axis, the distal end of the second conduit being disposed in proximal relation to the distal end of the first conduit to define thereat a distal end of said handpiece
(ii) means for coupling the second conduit to the suction device, thereby to apply suction to the vicinity of the target area and to draw the smoke plume from the vicinity of the target area into the distal end of the second conduit and through the second conduit, defining thereby a fluid flow pathway for the smoke plume;
and
(iii) means for creating a vortex in the smoke plume upstream in said fluid flow pathway from the distal end of the second conduit when the second conduit is coupled to the suction device.

4 more elements

A surgical handpiece for use in applying a surgical laser beam to a target area of the body of a patient, the handpiece in combination with a suction device located external to the body of the patient removing from the vicinity of the target area the smoke and vaporized particles created by the laser beam, the handpiece comprising:

(a) a surgical probe comprising a first elongate tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is adapted for attachment to a source of the laser beam, and the distal end is open to permit passage of a laser beam therethrough;
and
(b) a smoke eliminator comprising:
(i) a second elongate tubular member having an open distal end, a proximal end opposite therefrom, and an elongate axis, said second tubular member being affixed to the first tubular member with the distal end of the second tubular member being disposed in proximal relation to the distal end of the first tubular member to define thereat a distal end of said handpiece,
(ii) a vacuum port affixed to the proximal end of the second tubular member and communicating therewith, said vacuum port being configured to enable selective coupling of the smoke eliminator to the suction device, thereby to apply suction to the vicinity of the target area and to draw the smoke and vaporized particles from the vicinity of the target area of the second tubular member through the distal end thereof, defining thereby a fluid flow pathway for the smoke and vaporized particles;
and
(iii) means for creating a vortex in the smoke and vaporized particles upstream in said fluid flow pathway from the distal end of the second tubular member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.