Smoke evacuation apparatus

Abstract

A smoke evacuator for use in electrosurgical and laser surgical procedures in which a source of rapidly moving fluid under pressure is introduced to a surgical site to entrain smoke and other surgical debris generated during the procedure and a collection element operated under reduced pressure. The latter is positioned adjacent to the surgical site so that the moving fluid stream entrains all of the smoke and surgical debris which is then collected in the collection element. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the collection element includes a flared horn portion to ensure laminar flow of the fluid stream as it enters the collection element. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the source of fluid under pressure and the collection element are mounted on a laser surgery handpiece or probe whereby the fluid pressure source and the collection element are integral with the probe and thus the tube is repositioned as the probe is repositioned.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.