Automatic smoke evacuator system for a surgical laser apparatus and method therefor
First Claim
1. An automatic smoke evacuator system and an external laser surgical apparatus comprising, in combination:
- a laser surgical apparatus with a conduit for carrying gas;
flow means coupled to said laser surgical apparatus to provide a flow of gas through said conduit in said laser surgical apparatus;
exhaust means for carrying gas coupled to said laser surgical apparatus to withdraw gas from the area of the laser surgical apparatus;
vacuum means for providing a gas flow force for said exhaust means;
gas carrying conduit assembly means for connecting said exhaust means to said vacuum means;
electrically actuated valve means for controlling flow in said gas carrying conduit assembly means;
control means for activating said valve means in response to the activation of said laser surgical apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A smoke evacuator system for use during laser surgery is disclosed. In the case of a laser laparoscope, the laparoscope is provided with a conduit and fitting to provide CO2 gas through the laparoscope for distension purposes. The laser laparoscope is coupled to a special trocar that has exhaust holes near the tip (inside the body cavity) that are connected via conduit to an external fitting (outside the body cavity) to allow a vacuum source to draw smoke and CO2 gas out of the body cavity. The smoke evacuator system can use either a built-in vacuum pump or an external vacuum source such as that typically provided in an operating room. Electronics are provided which detect the activation of the cutting laser beam of the laser laparoscope, and activate the smoke evacuator system accordingly. In this manner the smoke evacuator system is turned on automatically each time the surgeon activates the cutting laser beam of the laser laparoscope. This smoke evacuation system has the advantages of not requiring an addition incision and not requiring additional personnel to operate the system.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An automatic smoke evacuator system and an external laser surgical apparatus comprising, in combination:
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a laser surgical apparatus with a conduit for carrying gas; flow means coupled to said laser surgical apparatus to provide a flow of gas through said conduit in said laser surgical apparatus; exhaust means for carrying gas coupled to said laser surgical apparatus to withdraw gas from the area of the laser surgical apparatus; vacuum means for providing a gas flow force for said exhaust means; gas carrying conduit assembly means for connecting said exhaust means to said vacuum means; electrically actuated valve means for controlling flow in said gas carrying conduit assembly means; control means for activating said valve means in response to the activation of said laser surgical apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for evacuating smoke out of a body cavity during a laser surgical procedure using a smoke evacuator system comprising of the steps of:
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providing a laser surgical apparatus with a conduit for carrying gas; providing flow means coupled to said laser surgical apparatus to provide a flow of gas through said conduit in said laser surgical apparatus; providing exhaust means for carrying gas coupled to said laser surgical apparatus to withdraw gas from the area of the laser surgical apparatus; providing vacuum means for providing a gas flow force for said exhaust means; providing gas carrying conduit assembly means for connecting said exhaust means to said vacuum means; providing electrically actuated valve means for controlling flow in said gas carrying conduit assembly means; providing control means for activating said valve means in response to the activation of said laser surgical apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification