Abstract: An evacuation system and method for removing and/or treating gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures includes an end effector such as a side vent trocar, an operating room tower or the equivalent, a disposal vessel, a vacuum source and optionally a filter. The end effector may be coupled to the tower by a conduit, the tower may be coupled to the collection tank by a conduit, and the collection tank may be coupled to the vacuum source. Gaseous and/or particulate byproducts may flow from the surgical site through the trocar, conduits, tower tank and filter, and the flow may be regulated at least in part by the components of the system.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator and evacuation system for removing gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures and noxious vapors from chemicals is provided and includes an end effector or vacuum head positionable at a surgical site, the end effector including a plenum, a plenum support for preventing the plenum from collapsing, and an adaptor for coupling the end effector or vacuum head to a vacuum source.

Abstract: An evacuation system and method for removing and/or treating gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures includes an end effector such as a side vent trocar, an operating room tower or the equivalent, a disposal vessel, a vacuum source and optionally a filter. The end effector may be coupled to the tower by a conduit, the tower may be coupled to the collection tank by a conduit, and the collection tank may be coupled to the vacuum source. Gaseous and/or particulate byproducts may flow from the surgical site through the trocar, conduits, tower tank and filter, and the flow may be regulated at least in part by the components of the system.

Abstract: An evacuation system and method for removing and/or treating gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures includes an end effector such as a side vent trocar, an operating room tower or the equivalent, a disposal vessel, a vacuum source and optionally a filter. The end effector may be coupled to the tower by a conduit, the tower may be coupled to the collection tank by a conduit, and the collection tank may be coupled to the vacuum source. Gaseous and/or particulate byproducts may flow from the surgical site through the trocar, conduits, tower tank and filter, and the flow may be regulated at least in part by the components of the system.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator and evacuation system for removing gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures and noxious vapors from chemicals is provided and includes an end effector or vacuum head positionable at a surgical site, the end effector including a plenum, a plenum support for preventing the plenum from collapsing, and an adaptor for coupling the end effector or vacuum head to a vacuum source.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator and evacuation system for removing gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures and noxious vapors from chemicals is provided and includes an end effector or vacuum head positionable at a surgical site, the end effector including a plenum, a plenum support for preventing the plenum from collapsing, and an adaptor for coupling the end effector or vacuum head to a vacuum source.

Abstract: An evacuation system and method for removing and/or treating gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures includes an end effector such as a side vent trocar, an operating room tower or the equivalent, a disposal vessel, a vacuum source and optionally a filter. The end effector may be coupled to the tower by a conduit, the tower may be coupled to the collection tank by a conduit, and the collection tank may be coupled to the vacuum source. Gaseous and/or particulate byproducts may flow from the surgical site through the trocar, conduits, tower tank and filter, and the flow may be regulated at least in part by the components of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for evacuating material from a surgical site, the apparatus including a housing and a filter media, and being operably coupled to a vacuum source. The housing includes a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer side wall, together defining an inner cavity of the housing. The housing further includes an access opening in fluid communication with the inner cavity and one or more ingress apertures in fluid communication with the access opening. The filter media is positioned in or adjacent to the inner cavity such that a flow of fluid through the ingress apertures is moved through the filter media.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator and evacuation system for removing gaseous and/or particulate byproducts of surgical procedures and noxious vapors from chemicals is provided and includes an end effector or vacuum head positionable at a surgical site, the end effector including a plenum, a plenum support for preventing the plenum from collapsing, and an adaptor for coupling the end effector or vacuum head to a vacuum source.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a central vacuum producing system suitable for collecting both liquid and gaseous material, one or more end effectors for use at a site at which liquid and gaseous material are produced, and a coupling device or connector for operably coupling one or more end effectors to the central vacuum. The connector may include a suitable liquid monitor or counter such as a flow meter, and/or features for separating, quantifying, routing and/or disposing of collected bioaerosol and/or its components at the site at which the connector is being used.

Abstract: An apparatus for evacuating material from a surgical site, the apparatus including a housing and a filter media, and being operably coupled to a vacuum source. The housing includes a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer side wall, together defining an inner cavity of the housing. The housing further includes an access opening in fluid communication with the inner cavity and one or more ingress apertures in fluid communication with the access opening. The filter media is positioned in or adjacent to the inner cavity such that a flow of fluid through the ingress apertures is moved through the filter media.

Abstract: A smoke evacuating system for use during surgical procedures, particularly minimally invasive procedures involving the use of a laser or cautery at a surgical site having an associated higher than ambient pressure, wherein the system includes a filter with a site side and an outlet side and a fluid conduit extending between the surgical site and the filter. The filter includes a filter media and a housing substantially surrounding the filter media with a space between the filter media and the housing to collect condensed vapor. The filter exhibits low resistance or a low pressure drop and resists fluid flow, whereby the higher than ambient pressure is not substantially diminished and generates a fluid flow in the fluid flow path tending to carry smoke to and through the filter.

Abstract: A smoke evacuating system for use during surgical procedures, particularly minimally invasive procedures involving the use of a laser or cautery at a surgical site having an associated higher than ambient pressure, wherein the system includes a filter with a site side and an outlet side and a fluid conduit extending between the surgical site and the filter. The filter includes a filter media and a housing substantially surrounding the filter media with a space between the filter media and the housing to collect condensed vapor. The filter exhibits low resistance or a low pressure drop and resists fluid flow, whereby the higher than ambient pressure is not substantially diminished and generates a fluid flow in the fluid flow path tending to carry smoke to and through the filter.

Abstract: A smoke evacuating system for use during surgical procedures, particularly minimally invasive procedures involving the use of a laser or cautery at a surgical site having an associated higher than ambient pressure, wherein the system includes a filter with a site side and an outlet side and a fluid conduit extending between the surgical site and the filter. The filter includes a filter media and a housing substantially surrounding the filter media with a space between the filter media and the housing to collect condensed vapor. The filter exhibits low resistance or a low pressure drop and resists fluid flow, whereby the higher than ambient pressure is not substantially diminished and generates a fluid flow in the fluid flow path tending to carry smoke to and through the filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of and apparatus for producing and digitizing a number of images to create a digital library of images, providing an image from outside the digital library, digitizing it and comparing it to the digital images in the digital library, and providing a text descriptive of the image from outside the digital library.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a central vacuum producing system suitable for collecting both liquid and gaseous material, one or more end effectors for use at a site at which liquid and gaseous material are produced, and a coupling device or connector for operably coupling one or more end effectors to the central vacuum. In this embodiment, the connector may be made of various materials, and may include a suitable liquid monitor or counter such as a flow meter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of and apparatus for producing and digitizing a number of images to create a digital library of images, providing an image from outside the digital library, digitizing it and comparing it to the digital images in the digital library, and providing a text descriptive of the image from outside the digital library.

Abstract: A smoke evacuating system for use during surgical procedures, particularly minimally invasive procedures involving the use of a laser or cautery at a surgical site having an associated higher than ambient pressure, wherein the system includes a filter with a site side and an outlet side and a fluid conduit extending between the surgical site and the filter. The filter includes a filter media and a housing substantially surrounding the filter media with a space between the filter media and the housing to collect condensed vapor. The filter exhibits low resistance or a low pressure drop and resists fluid flow, whereby the higher than ambient pressure is not substantially diminished and generates a fluid flow in the fluid flow path tending to carry smoke to and through the filter.

Abstract: An improved smoke evacuation system (10), a method for removing gaseous byproducts of surgical procedures, and noxious vapors from chemicals, is provided. The smoke, and vapor evacuation system includes a vacuum head (18) positioned at a surgical site or incorporated into a workstation. The vacuum head includes a plenum (28), a plenum support for preventing the plenum from collapsing when a vacuum or low pressure is established therein, and is adapted to facilitate the use of the system in a variety of surgical or commercial procedures at a variety of surgical sites or commercial workstations.

Abstract: A smoke evacuating system for use during surgical procedures, particularly minimally invasive procedures involving the use of a laser or cautery at a surgical site having an associated higher than ambient pressure, wherein the system includes a filter with a site side and an outlet side and a fluid conduit extending between the surgical site and the filter. The filter includes a filter media and a housing substantially surrounding the filter media with a space between the filter media and the housing to collect condensed vapor. The filter exhibits low resistance or a low pressure drop and resists fluid flow, whereby the higher than ambient pressure is not substantially diminished and generates a fluid flow in the fluid flow path tending to carry smoke to and through the filter.