CA2488862A1

CA2488862A1 - Instant-on air suctioning and filtering device

Info

Publication number: CA2488862A1
Application number: CA 2488862
Authority: CA
Inventors: Leonard Ineson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-15
Filing date: 2004-12-15
Publication date: 2006-06-15

Abstract

An air suctioning and filtering device for use in an surgery plume evacuation system comprises a suction inlet, a filter connected in fluid communication with the suction inlet, a connector pipe connected in fluid communication with the filter, and a suction fan connected in fluid communication with the connector pipe to suction air into the suction inlet, through the filter, and through the connector pipe. An air by-pass inlet having a valve mounted thereon permits air to be suctioned to the source of suction without ingressing into the suction inlet. In a standby position of the valve, air is precluded from being suctioned into the air by-pass inlet. In a full suctioning position, all of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the suction inlet.

Description

CANADA
TITLE: INSTANT-ON AIR SUCTIONING AND FILTERING DEVICE
INVENTOR: LEONARD INESON

FIELD OF THE INDENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an air suctioning and filtering devices for use in medical applications, and more particularly to such an air suctioning and filtering device for evacuating a surgery plume generated during electrocautery surgery.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVBNTfON

[0002] During surgery, the tissue of a patient is coagulated and cauterized by means of an electrosurgical pencil. L~hen the metal tip of the electrosurgical pencil touches or is near the tissue at the surgical site, a high frequency electrical current flows from the electrode to the tissue, thus coagulating and cauterizing the tissue.

[0003] Due to the cauterizing effect of the electrically conductive metal tip, small plumes of smoke are produced, which are typically referred to as surgical smoke, and must be removed. This surgical smoke is offensive in terms of its pungent odour, and is also potentially dangerous to surgeons and other operating room staff in that it contains possible carcinogenic elements, and also potentially contains transportable viable viral DNA. Exacerbating this problem, is the fact that such plumes of smoke tend to rise plumes toward the persons involved in the operation. Further, the evacuation of smoke away from the surgical site is vital so that the surgeon's view of the operation site remains as unobscured as reasonably possible.

[0004] In order to evacuate smoke from a surgical site, electrosurgical pencils have an air flow passage with an inlet that either terminates adjacent the electrically conductive metal tip, or is in fluid communication with the metal tip, and an outlet at the opposite end. The outlet is configured to receive and retain thereon a plastic air flow hose that is connected to a source of low air pressure that causes air to be drawn from the electrosurgical pencil. The air flow must be sufficient to draw away plumes of surgical smoke, which are subsequently filtered before they reach the source of low air pressure by a filter made from sponge foam, charcoal, or other suitable material.

[0005] However, in use, the source of suction is not turned on until it is required by the surgeon. A momentary contact switch on the electrosurgical pencil, or a foot operated switch, is pressed to cause the electric motor to start, thereby invoking the source of suction. Unfortunately, there is a delay between the time the momentary contact switch is pressed and the time the air suction actually starts drawing air, and therefore the plume of surgical smoke into the electrosurgical pencil. This time delay is medically significant since the plume of surgical smoke has time to waft towards the surgeon and others, which is highly undesirable.

[0006] A typical electrosurgical pencil and surgery plume filter device, also called a smoke evacuation apparatus, is described in United States patent 6, 524, 307 issued February 25, 2003 to Holland.
This surgery plume filter device is for filtering particulate, gases, harmful microbes and orders suspended in the smoke plume generated during surgery.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an air suctioning and filtering device for evacuating a smoke plume generated during electrocautery surgery, which air suctioning and filtering device overcomes the inherent time delay between starting the suctioning and the onset of the suctioning at the electrosurgical pencil.
SU1~ARY OF THE INyENTION

[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel air suctioning and filtering device for use in an surgery plume evacuation system. The air suctioning and filtering device comprises a suction inlet for permitting air to ingress. An air filter means is connected in fluid communication with the suction inlet so as for receiving suctioned air therefrom.
A connector pipe is connected in fluid communication with the filter for receiving filtered air therefrom. A source of suction is connected in fluid communication with the connector pipe to suction air into the suction inlet, through the air filter means, and through the connector pipe. An air by-pass inlet on the connector pipe to permit air to be suctioned to the source of suction without ingressing into the suction inlet. A valve means is operatively mounted nn the air by-pass inlet for movement between a standby position, whereat air is suctioned into the air by-pass inlet and to the source of suction, and a full suctioning position, whereat air is substantially precluded from being suctioned into the air by-pass inlet and to the source of suction.
A manually operable switch means for controlling the valve means.
In use, the valve means is moved by operation of the manually operable switch means between its standby position, such that a substantial_portia~ of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the air by-pass inlet and a significantly lesser portion of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the suction inlet, and its full suctioning position, such that substantially all of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the suction inlet.

[0009) Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00010] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the air suctioning and filtering device according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

(00011] Figure 1 is a simplified overall pictorial representation of a preferred embodiment of the suction collection container according to the present invention, in use with a surgery plume evacuation system;

[00012] Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front of the preferred embodiment of the air suctioning and filtering device of Figure 1;

[00013] Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment air suctioning and filtering device of Figure 2;

[00014] Figure 4 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the air suctioning and filtering device according to the present invention, with the outer casing removed;

[00015] Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment air suctioning and filtering device shown in Figure 2, with the flap valve of the air suctioning and filtering device in its standby position:

[00016] Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view from the top of the air by-pass inlet with the flap valve in a standby position;

[00017] Figure 7 is a top plan view similar to Figure 6, but with the flap valve in full suctioning position; and, [00018] Figure 8 is an enlarged side view of the of the solenoid and flap valve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[00019] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 8, which show a preferred embodiment of the air suctioning and filtering device of the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 20. The air suctioning and filtering device 20 is for use in an surgery plume evacuation system, as indicated by the general reference numeral 22 in Figure 1. The surgery plume evacuation system 22 includes an electrosurgical pencil 24, a first flexible tube 26, a suction collection container 28, a second flexible tube 30, and the air suctioning and filtering device 20. The intake end 26a of the first flexible tube 2& is connected to the electrosurgical pencil 24 and the delivery end 26b of the first flexible tube 26 is connected to the inlet nozzle 28a of the suction collection container 28 to permit delivery of air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter from the electrosurgical pencil 24 to the suction collection container 28. The intake end 30a of the second flexible tube 30 is connected to the outlet nozzle 28b of the suction collection container 28 and the delivery end 30b of the second flexible tube 30 is connected to a suction inlet 40 of the air suctioning and filtering device 20.

[00020) The air suctioning and filtering device 20 is for use in an surgery plume evacuation system 22. The air suctioning and filtering device comprises a suction inlet 40 for permitting air to ingress, as received from the electrosurgical pencil 24.

(00021] An air filter means 50 is connected in fluid communication with the suction inlet 40 so as for receiving suctioned air therefrom. The air filter means 50 preferably comprises a suitable air filter, such as a foam filter, a charcoal filter, or other suitable type of filter. The air filter 50 traps moisture, liquid, and particulate matter, and precludes them from travelling downstream. Preferably, the air filter 50 comprises a ,~'I
removable filter~within an outer housing 52 mounted on a base 54.

[00022) A connector pipe 60 is connected in fluid communication with the air filter 50 for receiving filtered air therefrom. The _ g _ connector pipe 60 is preferably a rigid plastic or metal pipe and about the same diameter as the suction inlet 40, although the exact diameter is riot overly important.

[00023] A source of suction is connected in fluid communication with the connector pipe 60 to suction air into the suction inlet 40, through the filter means, and through the connector pipe 60.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the source of suction comprises an electric fan ?0.

[00024] Preferably, the suction inlet 40, the air filter means 50, the connector pipe 60 and the electric fan 70 are substantially co-linearly aligned to maximize air flow therethrough.

[00025] There is an air by-pass inlet 62 on the connector pipe 60 to permit air to be suctioned to the source of suction without ingressing into the suction inlet 40. The air by-pass inlet 62 is at the end of a vertically oriented pipe portion extending upwardly from the connector pipe 60.

[00026] A valve means 64 is operatively mounted on the air by-pass inlet 62 for movement between a standby position and a full suctioning position. When the valve means 64 is in its standby position, the electric fan 70 is at a standby suctioning rate, and _ g _ when the valve means 64 is in its full suctioning position, the electric fan 70 is at a full suctioning rate.

[00027] In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the valve means 64 comprises a flap valve pivotally mounted at the air by-pass inlet 62. The flap valve 64 is moved by an electrically powered solenoid 66.

[00028] In the standby position of the flap valve 64, air is suctioned into the air by-pass inlet 62 and to the electric fan 70.
A significantly lesser portion of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the suction inlet 40.

[00029] There is a manually operable switch means 80 for controlling the flap valve 64. The manually operable switch means 80 comprises a foot operable air switch connected to an electronic sensor 82 on the main circuit board 84.

[00030] The air suctioning and filtering device 20 further comprises control circuitry 86 for controlling the speed of the standby suctioning rate of the electric fan 70, and control circuitry 88 for controlling the speed of the full suctioning rate of the electric fan 70. This control circuitry 86,88 is found on the main circuit board 84.

[00031] In use, the flap valve 64 is moved by means of operation of the foot operable air switch 80 between its standby position and its full suctioning position. In the standby position, a substantial portion of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the air by-pass inlet 62 and a significantly lesser portion of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the suction inlet 40. In the full suctioning position, substantially all of the air suctioned by the source of suction is suctioned into the suction inlet 40.

[00032] It has been found that a suctioning rate of about ten cubic feet per minute by the electric fan 70, for the standby suctioning rate, creates an airflow of about two to three cubic feet per minute into the suction inlet 40, and therefore at the electrosurgical pencil 24. This slight air flow essentially keeps air moving into the electrosurgical pencil 24 without causing purposeful suctioning. However, this slight air flow is sufficient to allow for immediate full suctioning air flow, when the flap valve 64 is moved to its full suctioning position.

[00033] In the full suctioning position, air is substantially precluded from being suctioned into the air by-pass inlet 62 and to the electric fan 70. Instead, all of the air suctioned by the electric fan 70 is suctioned from the electrosurgical pencil 24 and into the suction inlet 40 of the air suctioning and filtering device 20. Further, the full suctioning rate of the electric fan 70, which is acheived when the flap valve 70 is moved to its full suctioning position, is preferably greater than the standby suctioning rate, which is acheived when the flap valve 70 is in its standby suctioning position. It has been found that a rate of suctioning of about twenty cubic feet per minute by the electric fan 70, is suitable for the full suctioning rate.

[00034] In other words, during actual use, a high suctioning rate of the electric fan 70 is desirable for suctioning air through the electrosurgical pencil 24. However, between periods of use, a lesser air flow is sufficient to keep a small amount of air suctioning into the electrosurgical pencil 24. It must be understood though that if the electric fan 70 is kept at a standby suctioning rate of just enough to suction a small amount of air (two to three cubic feet per minute) into the electrosurgical pencil 24, the electric fan 70 will take significantly longer to change from that low standby suctioning rate to the necessary full suctioning rate.

[00035] Of course, both of the standby suctioning rate and the full suctioning rate are fully adjustable and could even be the same.

[00036] As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides an air suctioning and filtering device for evacuating a smoke plume generated during electrocautery surgery, which air suctioning and filtering device overcomes the inherent time delay between starting the suctioning and the onset of the suctioning at the electrosurgical pencil, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.

[00037] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the suction col~.ection container of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An air suctioning and filtering device for use in an surgery plume evacuation system, said air suctioning and filtering device comprising:
a suction inlet for permitting air to ingress;
a air filter means connected in fluid communication with said suction inlet so as for receiving suctioned air therefrom;
a connector pipe connected in fluid communication with said filter for receiving filtered air therefrom;
a source of suction connected in fluid communication with said connector pipe to suction air into said suction inlet, through said air filter means, and through said connector pipe;
an air by-pass inlet on said connector pipe to permit air to be suctioned to said source of suction without ingressing into said suction inlet;
valve means operatively mounted on said air by-pass inlet for movement between a standby position, whereat air is suctioned into said air by-pass inlet and to said source of suction, and a full suctioning position, whereat air is substantially precluded from being suctioned into said air by-pass inlet and to said source of suction;
manually operable switch means for controlling said valve means;
wherein, in use, said valve means is moved by operation of said manually operable switch means between its standby position, such that a substantial portion of the air suctioned by said source of suction is suctioned into said air by-pass inlet and a significantly lesser portion of the air suctioned by said source of suction is suctioned into said suction inlet, and its full suctioning position, such that substantially all of the air suctioned by said source of suction is suctioned into said suction inlet.

2. The suction collection container of claim 1, wherein said air filter means comprises a removable filter within an outer housing.

3. The suction collection container of claim 1, wherein said suction inlet, said air filter means, said connector pipe and said source of suction are substantially co-linearly aligned to maximize air flow therethrough.

4. The suction collection container of claim 1, wherein when said valve means is in its standby position, said source of suction is at a standby suctioning rate, and when said valve means is in its full suctioning position, said source of suction is at a full suctioning rate.

5. The suction collection container of claim 4, wherein said source of suction comprises an electric fan.

6. The suction collection container of claim 5, further comprising control circuitry for controlling the speed of said standby suctioning rate of said electric fan.

7. The suction collection container of claim 6, further comprising control circuitry for controlling the speed of said full suctioning rate of said electric fan.

8. The suction collection container of claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises a flap valve pivotally mounted at said air by-pass inlet.

9. The suction collection container of claim 8, wherein said flap valve is moved by an electrically powered solenoid.

10. The suction collection container of claim 9, wherein said manually operable switch means comprises a foot operable air switch connected to an electronic sensor.