Patent Application
20230065731
The disclosure generally relates to systems for performing minimally invasive surgery, and more particularly, to a closed loop smoke filtration system.
Minimally invasive surgery eliminates the need to make a large incision in a patient, thereby reducing discomfort, recovery time, and many of the deleterious side effects associated with traditional open surgery. In laparoscopic procedures, the abdominal cavity is insufflated with an insufflation gas such as, e.g., CO2, to create a pneumoperitoneum thereby providing access to the underlying organs. A laparoscopic instrument is introduced through a cannula or a trocar accessing the abdominal cavity to perform one or more surgical tasks. The cannula may incorporate a seal to establish a substantially fluid tight seal about the instrument to preserve the integrity of the pneumoperitoneum.
Instruments utilized during a laparoscopic procedure may include lasers, electrocautery, or sonic cutting instruments, which produce smoke and/or an aerosol as a byproduct of treating tissue. Smoke plumes may obscure the clinician’s field of vision and the odor generated is unpleasant. Further, the smoke plume may contain infectious agents which may contaminate the operating arena thereby presenting a danger to operating personnel. The chemical vapor may be irritating to the respiratory tract and also may be carcinogenic. The smoke, noxious fumes, and other gases and vapors may include particulates, bacteria, viral elements, and undesirable odors.
It would be desirable to provide a safe and efficient smoke evacuation system.
In accordance with the disclosure, a closed loop filtration system includes first and second trocars providing sealed access to a body cavity, a power supply, first and second ionizer units electrically coupled to the power supply, and a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge includes an inlet in communication with the first trocar, an outlet in communication with the second trocar, a first electrode disposed downstream of the inlet of the filter cartridge, and a second electrode disposed downstream of the first electrode. The first electrode is electrically coupled to the first ionizer unit to ionize airborne particulate matter flowing therethrough. The second electrode is electrically coupled to the second ionizer unit and configured to attract the airborne particulate matter that is ionized by the first electrode.
In an aspect, the closed loop filtration system may further include a pump connected to the outlet of the filter cartridge to direct a fluid from the first trocar to the filter cartridge.
In another aspect, the closed loop filtration system may further include an insufflation source connector that is coupled to an insufflation source and the second trocar.
In yet another aspect, the insufflation source connector may also be connected to an outlet of the pump.
In still yet another aspect, the first or second electrode may be a mesh.
In still yet another aspect, the filter cartridge may further include a mechanical filter.
In an aspect, the mechanical filter may be a HEPA or ULPA filter.
In another aspect, the power supply may provide an output voltage between about 10k VDC to 30k VDC.
In still yet another aspect, the power supply may be a lithium-ion battery.
In an aspect, the first electrode may be negatively charged.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a closed loop filtration system includes a first trocar configured to supply a fluid into a body cavity, a second trocar configured to discharge the fluid from the body cavity, a power supply, first and second ionizer units electrically coupled to the power supply, and a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge includes an outlet in communication with the first trocar, an inlet in communication with the second trocar, a first electrode disposed downstream of the inlet of the filter cartridge, and a second electrode disposed downstream of the first electrode. The first electrode is electrically coupled to the first ionizer unit to electrically charge airborne particulate matter passing through the first electrode. The second electrode is electrically coupled to the second ionizer unit and configured to attract the airborne particulate matter that is electrically charged by the first electrode.
In an aspect, the fluid may be an insufflation gas.
In another aspect, the filter cartridge may further include a mechanical filter that is disposed downstream of the second electrode.
In yet another aspect, the closed loop filtration system may further include a pump electrically coupled to the power supply and having a pump inlet in communication with the outlet of the filter cartridge and a pump outlet in communication with the first trocar.
In still yet another aspect, the pump may have an output of about 15 liters per minute.
In still yet another aspect, the first or second electrodes may be formed of stainless steel.
In still yet another aspect, the first or second electrodes may be a mesh.
In an aspect, the closed loop filtration system may further include an insufflation source connector disposed downstream of the pump outlet. The insufflation source connector may be coupled to an insufflation gas source.
In another aspect, the pump may be a diaphragm pump.
In yet another aspect, the power supply may be a lithium-ion battery.
The above and other aspects and features of this disclosure will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.
The closed loop smoke filtration system disclosed herein is described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.
As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is being described which is farther from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described which is closer to a user. In addition, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood to include relative configurations that are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular up to about + or - 10 degrees from true parallel and true perpendicular. Further, to the extent consistent, any or all of the aspects detailed herein may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspects detailed herein.
Initially, with reference to
The first and second trocars 500, 550 are inserted through tissue and are placed adjacent a surgical site. The first trocar 500 provides sealed access of surgical instruments into an insufflated body cavity, such as the abdominal cavity. The first trocar 500 includes a cannula 510 and a housing 520. The cannula 510 defines a lumen extending therethrough. The housing 520 may be secured with or integrally formed with the cannula 510. The housing 520 is configured to support a seal assembly to provide sealed passage of the surgical instrument through the first trocar 500. The housing 520 includes an insufflation port 522 that is coupled to an insufflation source “IS” to provide the insufflation gas to the body cavity. The outlet tubing 450 interconnects the insufflation port 522 of the first trocar 500 to an insufflation source connector 452 that is coupled to the insufflation source “IS”. The insufflation gas from the insufflation source “IS” and the filtered insufflation gas from the filter cartridge 300 are supplied to the body cavity through the first trocar 500. In particular, the insufflation source “IS” provides the insufflation gas to the insufflation source connector 452 to initially insufflate the body cavity and also to compensate for any loss of the insufflation gas during a surgical procedure. While pneumoperitoneum in the body cavity is maintained, the smoke filtration system 100 forms a closed loop system and only the filtered insufflation gas is recirculated through the insufflation source connector 452.
The second trocar 550 is identical to the first trocar 500 and thus will not be described. The second trocar 550 is also placed to provide sealed access of surgical instruments into the insufflated body cavity, such as the abdominal cavity, and to remove the contaminated insufflation gas from the insufflated body cavity. Under such a configuration, new or filtered insufflation gas is supplied to the body cavity via the first trocar 500, while the contaminated insufflation gas is discharged from the body cavity via the second trocar 550 in order to maintain pneumoperitoneum. While the first and second trocars 500, 550 are shown, it is contemplated that a single trocar having separate intake and exhaust flow paths may be used. For a detailed description of the structure and function of components of exemplary surgical access devices such as trocars and cannulas, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,300,448; 7,691,089; and 8,926,508, the entire content of each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference.
With continued reference to
By subjecting the airborne particulate matter to a negative electric field and ionizing the airborne particulate matter with a negative electric charge, the oppositely charged electrode easily attracts and retains the ionized airborne particulate matter thereby inhibiting the airborne particulate matter from exiting the body cavity and into the environment surrounding the patient (e.g., an operating room).
It is contemplated that the electrical fields may be reversed such that a positive electric field is generated in the vicinity of the first electrode 320 and a negative electric field is generated in the vicinity of the second electrode 330. In this instance, the airborne particulate matter would acquire a positive electric charge as it passes through the first electrode 320 and is attracted to the negative electric field near the second electrode 330 where the airborne particulate matter would accumulate. One or both of the first and second electrodes 320, 330 may be a wire, a mesh (
In use, the first and second trocars 500, 550 are placed with respect to the surgical site to maintain proper pneumoperitoneum of the surgical site. Initially, an insufflation gas is supplied to the surgical site by the insufflation source “IS” to inflate the body cavity. The clinician may perform surgical procedures as needed. During the surgical procedure, the clinician may utilize electrosurgical devices that may create smoke and impair visualization of the surgical site. The clinician may activate the smoke filtration system 100 as needed to remove the contaminated insufflation gas safely and efficiently from the body cavity. Activation of the smoke filtration system 100 activates the pump 700 to discharge the contaminated insufflation gas from the body cavity through the second trocar 550 to the filter cartridge 300. The first and second electrodes 320, 330 and optionally the mechanical filter 1370 removes the particulate matters and pathogens from the contaminated insufflation gas. The filtered insufflation gas is returned to the body cavity along with a new insufflation gas from the insufflation source “IS.” In this manner, the smoke filtration system 100 inhibits the contaminated insufflation gas from being released to the operating room and the environment, while maintaining pneumoperitoneum and improving visibility of the surgical site.
Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting. It is envisioned that the elements and features may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the disclosure.
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Serial No. 63/237,357, filed on Aug. 26, 2021 the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63237357 | Aug 2021 | US |
