Surgery plume filter device and method of filtering
AssigneeEnviroSurgical, Inc.
InventorRandy M. Skalla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter device and method of filtering components from a surgery plume. The filter device is comprised of a plurality of elements which react with one or more components of a surgery plume, such as that generated during electrocautery or laser surgery. The filter device, particularly in conjunction with a separate particle filter, removes cyanide, formaldehyde, benzene, and particulates, as well as odor-causing species and moisture from the surgery plume.
Claims16
A method of treating an airstream containing gaseous and particulate materials from a surgery plume comprising:
- directing a surgery plume airstream containing gaseous and particulate materials including cyanide, formaldehyde, organic compounds, moisture and odor-causing species into a container adapted to accept and exhaust an airstream;
- introducing into said container a reactive solution;
- forming and breaking down a foam with said reactive solution and said airstream in an area inside said container;
- maintaining said cyanide, formaldehyde, organic compounds, and odor-containing species contained in said airstream in said foam forming area for a time sufficient to effect removal thereof from said airstream;
- and
- exhausting a treated airstream from said container.
A method of treating an airstream containing bacteria and viruses from a surgery plume comprising:
- directing a surgery plume airstream containing bacteria and viruses at an inlet air pressure into a container adapted to accept and exhaust an airstream;
- introducing into said container a reactive solution;
- forming and breaking down a foam in an area inside said container;
- maintaining said bacteria and viruses in said foam forming area for a time sufficient to kill said bacteria and said viruses;
- and
- exhausting a treated airstream from said container at an outlet air pressure approximately corresponding to said inlet air pressure.
A method of treating an airstream containing bacteria and viruses from a surgery plume comprising:
- inducing a vacuum in a container adapted to accept and exhaust an airstream;
- directing a surgery plume airstream containing bacteria and viruses into said container;
- introducing into said container a reactive solution;
- forming and breaking down a foam with said reactive solution and said airstream inside said container;
- contacting said foam with said bacteria and viruses for a time sufficient to kill said bacteria and said viruses;
- and
- exhausting a treated airstream from said container.
A method of treating an airstream containing gaseous and particulate materials generated from burning tissue comprising:
- directing an airstream containing gaseous and particulate materials generated from burning tissue into a container adapted to accept and exhaust an airstream;
- introducing into said container a solution reactive to at least one of the gaseous and particulate materials in said airstream;
- forming and breaking down a foam with said reactive solution and said airstream in an area inside said container;
- maintaining said gaseous and particulate materials in said airstream in said foam forming area for a time sufficient to effect removal thereof from said airstream;
- and
- exhausting a treated airstream from said container.
A method of treating an airstream containing gaseous and particulate materials from a surgery plume comprising:
- directing the airstream comprising said gaseous and particulate materials into a canister having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet adapted to receive an airstream containing gaseous and particulate materials from a surgery plume;
- passing said airstream through a series of filter members positioned inside said canister downstream of said inlet for treating said airstream, said series including at least one said filter member incorporating a component reactive to cyanide and at least one said filter member incorporating a component reactive to aldehydes;
- passing said airstream through a discrete desiccant layer downstream of said inlet and a discrete activated carbon layer downstream of said desiccant layer;
- and
- exhausting said treated airstream through said outlet of said canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.