Smoke evacuator remote on/off switch apparatus and method

A system, including a surgical tool, for controlling operation of a smoke evacuator in response to operation of the surgical tool which produces smoke as a side effect when performing a surgical function, comprising:

• an electrosurgical surgical power generator for activating the surgical tool in order to perform the surgical function at a surgical site;
• a conductor for introducing power from the generator to the surgical tool to enable the surgical tool to perform the surgical function at the surgical site, the conductor having a first state when the power is being introduced to the surgical tool and a second state when the power is not being introduced to the surgical tool;
• a sensor circuit coupled to the conductor and responsive to the introduction of power from the generator to the tool for producing a transition signal when the conductor changes state from one of the first state and second state to the other of the first state and the second state;
• a switch responsive to the transition signal and having properties for momentarily closing when the conductor changes between the first state and the second state;
• a smoke evacuator for removing from the surgical site smoke produced by the surgical tool, the evacuator having first suction characteristics and second suction characteristics;
• and
• a control circuit responsive to momentary closure of the switch for changing the condition of the evacuator from one of the first and second suction characteristic to the other of the first and second suction characteristics.