US5688256A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Evacuation unit and method for controlling the release of gas from a body cavity following surgery
Assignee: Lap Cap Assoc
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Filing: 1995-08-16
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Granted: 1997-11-18
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Expires: 2015-08-16
Abstract
Abstract An evacuation unit and method for using the unit for controlling the release from a body cavity of aerosolized blood and other body fluids or other contaminants contained in the gas present in the body cavity during an endoscopic surgical procedure is disclosed. The unit includes a port in fluid communication with the body cavity through which the contaminated gas passes to an evacuation connector having a first end in fluid communication with the port and a second end and an aerosol trap in fluid communication with the second end of the evacuation connector such that the aerosol-containing gas is able to flow from the connector through the aerosol trap whereby the aerosolized fluids or other contaminants in the gas are prevented from entering the atmosphere of the operating room. The connector preferably has a flow control valve between the ends.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Farris Surratt
- 👤 Steven K. Brockman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M13/00; A61M13/003; A61M1/00; A61M1/71; A61M1/78; A61M1/784
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In a method following an endoscope procedure for controlling the escape of an aerosol-containing gas that is under pressure from a body cavity into the air of an operating room, wherein an access port having a first end, an outer end and a flow valve has been placed through an incision in said body cavity during said procedure, the improvement comprising: closing said flow valve of said access port; inserting an evacuation connector into said outer end of said access port; opening the flow valve of said access port to allow said aerosol-containing gas under pressure having aerosolized blood and body fluids or other contaminants present in a body cavity contained therein to pass from said body cavity through said access port and into said evacuation connector; controlling the flow of said aerosol-containing gas through said evacuation connector and then through a filter; filtering said aerosolized blood and body fluids or other contaminants from said aerosol-containing gas to obtain a clean gas; and thereafter expelling said clean gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a method following an endoscope procedure for controlling the escape of an aerosol-containing gas that is under pressure from a body cavity into the air of an operating room, wherein an access port having a first end, an outer end and a flow valve has been placed through an incision in said body cavity during said procedure, the improvement comprising: closing said flow valve of said access port; inserting an evacuation connector into said outer end of said access port; opening the flow valve of said access port to allow said aerosol-containing gas under pressure having aerosolized blood and body fluids or other contaminants present in a body cavity contained therein to pass from said body cavity through said access port and into said evacuation connector; controlling the flow of said aerosol-containing gas through said evacuation connector and then through a filter; filtering said aerosolized blood and body fluids or other contaminants from said aerosol-containing gas to obtain a clean gas; and thereafter expelling said clean gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
163 words
An evacuation system for removing gas present in a body cavity during a surgical procedure and cleansing blood and body fluids in aerosolized form and other contaminants from the removed gas comprising in combination: a trocar having a first end adapted for fluid communication with said body cavity, and an outer end; an evacuation connector having a first end adapted for insertion into said outer end of said trocar, a second end, and a flow control valve located between said first end and said second end, said outer end of said trocar having a flexible ring fitting for forming a sealing relationship with said evacuation connector; and an aerosol trap having a first end in direct communication with said second end of said evacuation connector, an outlet end of said aerosol trap for gas exiting said evacuation unit, and a filter located between said first end and said outlet end, said filter having a pore size to trap aerosolized particles in said gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
An evacuation system for removing gas present in a body cavity during a surgical procedure and cleansing blood and body fluids in aerosolized form and other contaminants from the removed gas comprising in combination: a trocar having a first end adapted for fluid communication with said body cavity, and an outer end; an evacuation connector having a first end adapted for insertion into said outer end of said trocar, a second end, and a flow control valve located between said first end and said second end, said outer end of said trocar having a flexible ring fitting for forming a sealing relationship with said evacuation connector; and an aerosol trap having a first end in direct communication with said second end of said evacuation connector, an outlet end of said aerosol trap for gas exiting said evacuation unit, and a filter located between said first end and said outlet end, said filter having a pore size to trap aerosolized particles in said gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The evacuation system according to claim 2 wherein said second end of said evacuation connector and said first end of said aerosol trap are formed together as a single unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-17 | 2001-05-19 | 2001-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-05-19 | 2005-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-17 | 2009-05-19 | 2009-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |