CA2488867C

CA2488867C - Suction collection container

Info

Publication number: CA2488867C
Application number: CA002488867A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Leonard Ineson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Covidien LP
Priority date: 2004-12-15
Filing date: 2004-12-15
Publication date: 2007-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-15
Also published as: CA2488867A1

Abstract

A suction collection container for use in an surgery plume evacuation system comprises a main outer shell having a hollow interior. An inlet port permits air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter to ingress into the hollow interior of the main outer shell. An outlet port permits air and smoke within the hollow interior to egress therefrom. An air filter at the outlet port precludes of moisture, liquid, and particulate matter from exiting the hollow interior through the outlet port. A deflector plate is interpositioned between the inlet port and the outlet port in fluid receiving relation behind the inlet port, to thereby deflect fluids entering the hollow interior through the inlet port and preclude the fluids from reaching the outlet port. An air flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port permits air and smoke to pass from the inlet port to the outlet port.

Description

CANADA
TITLE: SUCTION COLLECTION CONTATNER
INVENTOR: LEONARD INESON

FIELD OF THE INDENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to suction collection containers for use in medical applications, and more particularly to such suction collection containers for collecting moisture and liquids during the evacuation of a surgery plume generated during electrocautery surgery.

[0002) The coagulation of blood vessels is a necessary part of medical surgery and is commonly performed by an electrosurgical tool commonly known as an electrosurgical pencil or coagulator pencil. During surgery, the tissue of a patient is electrically connected to one side of an electrosurgical circuit, arid the electrically conductive tip of the electrosurgical pencil is connected to the other side of the electrosurgical circuit. When the metal tip touches or is near the tissue at the surgical site, a high frequency electrical current flows from the electrode to the tissue, thus coagulating and cauterizing the tissue.

[0003] Due to the cauterizing effect of the electrically conductive metal tip, small plumes of smoke are produced, which are typically referred to as surgical smoke, and must be removed. This surgical smoke is offensive in terms of its pungent odour, and is also potentially dangerous to surgeons and other operating room staff in that it contains possible carcinogenic elements, and also potentially contains transportable viable viral DNA. Exacerbating this problem, is the fact that such plumes of smoke tend to rise plumes toward the persons involved in the operation. Further, the evacuation of smoke away from the surgical site is vital so that the surgeon's view of the operation site remains as unobscured as reasonably possible.

[0004] In order to evacuate smoke from a surgical site, electrosurgical pencils have an air flow passage with an inlet that either terminates adjacent the electrically conductive metal tip, or is in fluid communication with the metal tip, and an outlet at the opposite end. The outlet is configured to receive and xetain thereon a plastic air flow hose that is connected to a source of low air pressure that causes air to be drawn from the electrosurgical pencil. The air flow must be sufficient to draw away plumes of surgical smoke, which are subsequently filtered before they reach the source of low air pressure by a filter made from sponge foam or often suitable material. However, such sufficient air flow is typically strong enough to also draw in moisture and liquids. The capture of moisture and liquids is highly undesirable a they tend to clog up the filter. Further, the filter must be discarded if moisture or liquids collect in it, which is highly undesirable as these filters are typically quite expensive.

[0005] The a surgery plume filter material used in such filters is described in United States patent 5,874,052 issued February 23, 1999 to Holland. This anti-microbial filter is for filtering particulate, gases, harmful microbes and orders sus~~nderl in the smoke plume generated during surgery. The filter comprises a pre-filter arranged tn initially contact a generated smoke plume and to capture suspended particulate. A first filter is arranged adjacent to the pre-filter and is arranged to capture and kill harmful micro-organisms suspended in the smoke plume. The first filter comprises a filter media of filter strands, with each strand being a compound that includes a polymer and an organometallic anti-microbial agent ca-mingled homogeneously one with the other. A
second filter is in series with the pre-filter and the first filter and comprises activated charcoal constructed and arranged to remove gases and odours in the smoke plume. A post-filter is in series with the pre-filter and the first and the second filters and is constructed and arranged to prevent migration of the second filters activated charcoal.

[0006] As is well known, if moisture or liquids enter such a smoke plume filter, the filter can readily become clogged or inoperative, and must be replaced, which is highly undesirable, as such smoke plume filters are expensive.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a suction collection container for use in medical applications, during surgery.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a suction collection container for use in medical appli-cations, during surgery, which suction collection containers collect moistuxe and liquids during the evacuation of a surgery plume generated during electrocautery surgery.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suction collection container for use in medical applications, during surgery, which suction collection container is inexpensive to manufacture.
_ q _ SUI~rRY OF THE INVENTION

[00010] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel suction collection container for use in an surgery plume evacuation system. The suction collection container comprises a main outer shell having an inner surface that defines a substantially hollow interior. An inlet port is in fluid communication with the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell, to permit air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter to ingress into the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell. An outlet port is in fluid communication with the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell and in fluid communication with the inlet port, to permit air and smoke within the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell and egress from the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell. An air filter is disposed in filtering relation at the outlet port, so as to preclude moisture, liquid, and particulate matter from exiting the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell through the outlet port.
A deflector means is interpositioned between the inlet port and the outlet port in fluid receiving relation behind the inlet port, to therehy de~lect fluids entering the substantially hollow interior through the inlet port and preclude the fluids from reaching the outlet port. There is an air flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port, to permit air and smoke to pass from the inlet port to the outlet port. A downwardly sloping lower baffle plate and a downwardly sloping upper baffle plate are disposed within said hollow interi.nr of said main outer shell so as to partition said hollow interior into an upper fluid receiving chamber and a lower fluid collecting chamber. A liquid throughpassage between said upper baffle plate and said lower baffle plate permits the passage of liquids from said upper fluid receiving chamber to said lower fluid collecting chamber.

[00011] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended cla-ims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.

[00012] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the suction collection container according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[00013] Figure 1 is a simplified overall pictorial representation of a preferred embodiment of the suction collection con~.ainer according to the present invention, in use with a surgery plume evacuation system;
[0001x] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the suction collection container shown in Figure 1, with portions shown in dashed lining for the sake of clarity [00015] Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the suction collection container of Figure 2, with portions shown in dashed lining for the sake of clarity;

[00016] Figure 4 is a sectional side elevational view of the suction collection container of Figure 2, taken along section line 4-4 of Figure 3;
[00017] Figure 5 is a sectional front elevational view of the suction collection container of Figure 2, taken along section line 5-5 of Figure 2, with portions shown in dashed lining for the sake of clarity;
[00018] Figure 6 is a sectional front elevational view of the suction collection container of Figure 2, taken along section line 6-6 of Figure 2; and, [00019] Figure 7 is a sectional side elevational view similar to Figure 4, but showing the preferred embodiment suct~.an collection container in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EbP30DI~NT
[00020] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 7, which show a preferred embodiment of the suction collection container of the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 20. The suction collection container 20 is for use in an surgery _ g _ plume evacuation system, as indicated by the general reference numeral 22 in Figure 1. The surgery plume evacuation system 22 includes an electrosurgical pencil 24, a first flexible tube 26, the suction co.l.lection container 20, a second flexible tube 28, a main smoke filter 30, a suction hose 32, and a central suctioning system 34. The intake end 26a of the first flexible tube 26 is connected to the electrosurgical pencil 24 and the delivery end 26b of the first flexible tube 26 is connected to the inlet nozzle 50 of the suction collection container 20 to permit delivery of air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter from the electrosurgical pencil 24 to the suction collection container 20.
The intake end 28a of the second flexible tube 28 is connected to the outlet nozzle 60 of the suction collection container 20 and the delivery end 28b of the second flexible tube 28 is connected to the main smoke filter 30 to permit the delivery of air and smoke from the suction collection container 20 to the main smoke filter 30.
The main smoke filter 30 is connected to the central suctioning system 34, via the suction hose 32.
[00021] The suction collection container 20 comprises a main outer shell 40 having an inner surface 42 that defines a substantially hollow interior 44. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the main outer shell 40 comprises a front section 46 and a rear section 48 that are distinct one from the other and are joined together one to the other during the manufacturing process.
The front and rear sections 46,48 of the main outer shell 40 are made from a plastic such as polypropylene, or any other suitable plastic material.
[00022] The suction collection container 20 comprises an inlet port 52 defined by the inlet nozzle 50. The inlet port 52 is in fluid communication with the substantially hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40, to permit air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter received from the electrosurgical pencil 24 through the first flexible tube 26 to ingress into the substantially hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40.
[00023] The preferred embodiment suction collection container 20, as illustrated, further comprises a second inlet nozzle 54 and a second inlet port 56. The second inlet nozzle 54 and a second inlet port 56 are substantially identical to the inlet nozzle 50 and the inlet port 52. If required, a second electrosurgical pencil (not shown) is connected to the second inlet nozzle 54 far use by a second surgeon.
[00024] The suction collection container 20 also comprises an outlet port 62 defined by the outlet nozzle 60. The outlet port 62 is in fluid communication with the substantially hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40, and therefore is in fluid communication with the inlet port 52. The outlet port 62 permits air and smoke within the substantially hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40 to egress from the substantially hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40, so as to be received by the second flexible tube 28. The air and smoke then enter the main smoke filter 30, where the smoke is removed from the air. The filtered air is subsequently suctioned into the suction hose 32 and the central suctioning system 34.
[00025) An air filter means 70 comprising a suitable foam filter, or other suitable type of filter, is disposed in filtering relation at the outlet port 62, and is retained in place between a pair of opposed flanges. The air filter 70 precludes moisture, liquid, and particulate matter from exiting the substantially hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40 through the outlet port 62.
[00026) A deflector means 80 is interpositioned between the inlet port 52 and the outlet part 62 in fluid receiving relation behind the inlet port 52. The deflector means 80 comprises at least one deflector plate 80, and in the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, comprises a single deflector plate 80 that is substantially vertically oriented within the main outer shell 40.
The deflector plate 80 is defined by peripheral edges 82 including a bottom edge 84. The deflector plate 80 is secured in sealed relation to the inner surface 42 of the main outer shell 40 at each of the peripheral edges 82 other than the bottom edge 84. In this manned there is no passage of air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter past the deflector plate 80, except past the bottom edge 84 of the deflector plate 80. As can be seen in Figure 7, the deflector plate 80 deflects fluids entering the substantially hollow interior 44 through the inlet port 52 and precludes the fluids from reaching the outlet port 62.
[00027] An air flow path, as indicated by arrow "A", extends from the inlet port 52 to the outlet port 62, and under the bottom edge 84 of the deflector plate 80, to permit air and smoke to pass from the inlet port 52 to the outlet port 62.
[00028] The suction collection container 20 further comprises a partitioning means 90 disposed within the hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40. The partitioning means 90 comprises at least one baffle plate sloped downwardly to the liquid throughpassage 104, which will be discussed in greater detail subsequently. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the at least one baffle plate comprises a downwardly sloping lower baffle plate 92 defined by peripheral edges 93 including a bottom edge 94, and a downwardly sloping upper baffle plate 96 defined by peripheral edges 97 including a bottom edge 98. The upper baffle plate 96 and lower baffle plate 92 are each secured in sealed relation to the inner surface 42 of the main outer shell 40 at each of their peripheral edges 93,97, respectively, other than their bottom edges 94,98, respectively.
[00029] As can be best seen in Figures 3 and 6, the downwardly sloping lower baffle plate 92 and the downwardly sloping upper baffle plate 96 together partition the hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40 into an upper fluid receiving chamber 100 and a lower fluid collecting chamber 102. The liquid throughpassage 104 is defined between the bottom edge 98 of the upper baffle plate 96 and the lower baffle plate 92. The liquid throughpassage 104 permits the passage of liquids from the upper fluid receiving chamber 100 to the lower fluid collecting chamber 102, as caused by gravity. The lower fluid collecting chamber 102 holds about 70 cc to about 100 cc of moisture, liquid, and particulate matter, depending on the overall size of the main outer shell 40.
[00030] As can be best seen in Figures 3 and 6, the upper baffle plate 96 vertically overlaps the lower baffle plate 92, so as to minimize upwardly directed splashback of any liquids contained within the lower fluid collecting chamber 102. Preferably, the liquid throughpassage 104 is the only throughpassage from the lower fluid collecting chamber 102 to the upper fluid receiving chamber 100, so as to minimize the possibility of upwardly directed splashback of any liquids contained within the lower fluid collecting chamber 102.
[00031] As can be readily seen in the figures, the inlet port 52 is positioned to permit the ingress of air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter into the upper fluid receiving chamber 100_ Further, the outlet port 62 is positioned to permit the egress of air and smoke from the upper fluid receiving chamber 100.
[00032] Use of the preferred embodiment of the suction collection container 20 of the present invention will now be described, with reference to Figures 1 and 7. In use, air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter are suctioned into the electrosurgical pencil 24 and travel through the first flexible tube 26 into the suction collection container 20 through the inlet port 52, as indicated by arrow "B" in Figure 7. The moisture, liquid, and particulate matter impact on the substantially vertically oriented deflector plate 80, as indicated by arrow "C".
The deflector plate 80 deflects the moisture, liquid, and particulate matter such that they fall onto the downwardly sloping upper baffle plate 96 and the downwardly sloping lower baffle plate

- 14 -92. The moisture, liquid, and particulate matter then fall through the liquid throughpassage 104, as indicated by arrow "D", into the lower fluid collecting chamber 102. The air and smoke follow the air flow path, as indicated by arrow "A", under the bottom edge 84 of the deflector plate 80 and to the outlet port 62, whereat they travel through the filter 70 and egress from the substantially hollow interior 44 of the main outer shell 40, as indicated by arrow "~", for subsequent travel through the second flexible tube 28 to the main smoke filter 30, as drawn by the central suctioning system 34 through the suction hose 32.
[00033] As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a suction collection container, for use in medical applications, which suction collection containers collect moisture and liquids during the evacuation of a surgery plume generated during electrocautery surgery, and which suction collection container is inexpensive to manufacture, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.
(00034] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the suction collection

- 15 -container of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

- 16 -

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A suction collection container for use in an surgery plume evacuation system, said suction collection container comprising:

a main outer shell having an inner surface that defines a substantially hollow interior;

an inlet port in fluid communication with said substantially hollow interior of said main outer shell, to permit air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter to ingress into said substantially hollow interior of said main outer shell;

an outlet port in fluid communication with said substantially hollow interior of said main outer shell and in fluid communication with said inlet port, to permit air and smoke within the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell and egress from the substantially hollow interior of the main outer shell;

an air filter disposed in filtering relation at said outlet port, so as to preclude moisture, liquid, and particulate matter from exiting said substantially hollow interior of said main outer shell through said outlet port;

deflector means interpositioned between said inlet port and said outlet port in fluid receiving relation behind said inlet port, to thereby deflect fluids entering said substantially hollow interior through said inlet port and preclude said fluids from reaching said outlet port;

an air flow path from said inlet port to said outlet port, to permit air and smoke to pass from said inlet port to said outlet port.

2. The suction collection container of claim 1, wherein said deflector means comprises at least one deflector plate.

3. The suction collection container of claim 2, wherein said at least one deflector plate comprises a single deflector plate.

4. The suction collection container of claim 3, wherein said deflector plate is substantially vertically oriented.

5. The suction collection container of claim 4, wherein said deflector plate is defined by peripheral edges including a bottom edge, and said deflector plate is secured in sealed relation to said inner surface of said main outer shell at each of said peripheral edges other than said bottom edge.

6. The suction collection container of claim 1, wherein said main outer shell comprises a front section and a rear section that are joined together one to the other.

7. The suction collection container of claim 1, further comprising a secondary inlet port.

8. The suction collection container of claim 1, further comprising partitioning means disposed within said hollow interior of said main outer shell so as to partition said hollow interior into an upper fluid receiving chamber and a lower fluid collecting chamber, and a liquid throughpassage to permit the passage of liquids from said upper fluid receiving chamber to said lower fluid collecting chamber.

9. The suction collection container of claim 8, wherein said inlet port is positioned to permit the ingress of air, smoke, moisture, liquid, and particulate matter into said upper fluid receiving chamber and said outlet port is positioned to permit the egress of air and smoke from said upper fluid receiving chamber.

10. The suction collection container of claim 8, wherein said partition means comprises at least one baffle plate sloped downwardly to said liquid throughpassage.

11. The suction collection container of claim 10, wherein said at least one baffle plate comprises a downwardly sloping lower baffle plate defined by peripheral edges including a bottom edge and a downwardly sloping upper-baffle plate defined by peripheral edges including a bottom edge, with a liquid throughpassage being defined between said bottom edge of said upper baffle plate and said lower baffle plate.

12. The suction collection container of claim 11, wherein said upper baffle plate vertically overlaps said lower baffle plate.

13. The suction collection container of claim 11, wherein said upper baffle plate and lower baffle plate are each secured in sealed relation to said inner surface of said main outer shell at each of said peripheral edges other than said bottom edge.

14. The suction collection container of claim 11, wherein said liquid throughpassage is the only throughpassage from said lower fluid collecting chamber to said upper fluid receiving chamber.