Abstract: A surgical smoke evacuator comprising a housing, an airflow channel through the housing, at least one filter placed in an operative position along the air flow channel, filter alignment means between the filter and housing for guiding the filter relative to the housing along a predetermined circuitous path extending between the inlet of the housing and the filter cavity within the housing during loading and unloading of the filter in the smoke evacuator, said circuitous path including at least one axial portion wherein the filter is movable axially relative to the the housing and at least one angular portion wherein the filter is movable angularly about the longitudinal axis of the filter relative to the housing.

Abstract: A surgical smoke evacuator includes a housing and means defining an air flow channel through the housing. At least one filter having a longitudinal axis is disposed in the air flow channel with portions of the housing defining an inlet for receiving the filter and a filter cavity for receiving the filter in the air flow channel. Tabs on the filter and associated guide slots on the housing, guide the filter along a circuitous path between the inlet and filter cavity during loading and unloading of the filter. This path includes axial portions which facilitate axial filter movement and angular portions which facilitate angular filter movement relative to the housing.