Filtration system and method

1. A filter system for use in connection with surgical smoke generated during medical procedures performed in a cavity, the system comprising:

a main unit having an inflow port, an outflow port and a pressure sensing port, the main unit having a receiving chamber disposed thereon;

a pump contained within the main unit for conveying the surgical smoke through the filter system;

a controller contained within the main unit configured to operate the pump to control the flow of the surgical smoke through the system, the controller having a user interface;

a filter cartridge configured to removably attach to the receiving chamber on the main unit, the filter cartridge having an inflow pass-through line configured to interface with the inflow port, an outflow pass-through line configured to interface with the outflow port, and a pressure sensing pass-through line configured to interface with the pressure sensing port; and,

a filter media arranged in series with said inflow passthrough line.

2. The filter system of claim 1 , wherein a pressure sensor is disposed in fluid communication, via the pressure sensing port, with a cannula disposed in the cavity.

3. The filter system of claim 1 , further comprising an insufflator disposed in fluid communication with the outflow port, the insufflator capable of providing supplemental gas to the system in order to maintain a desired pressure inside the cavity.

4. The filter system of claim 1 , further comprising a heater arranged in series with the outflow port, the heat arranged and configured to warm and to humidify the gas being returned to the cavity.

5. The filter system of claim 1 , wherein the controller automatically detects when a cannula connected to the filter system at one of the ports is occluded.

6. The filter system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid dropout disposed in fluid communication with the inflow port.

7. The filter system of claim 1 , wherein the controller automatically detects when a cannula connected to the filter system is disconnected from a port selected from the group consisting of the inflow port, outflow port and pressure sensing port.

8. A filter system for use in connection with surgical smoke generated during medical procedures performed in a cavity, the system comprising:

a main unit having an inflow port, an outflow port, a pressure sensing port and a receiving chamber disposed thereon;

a controller contained within the main unit configured to control the flow of the surgical smoke through the system, the controller having a user interface;

a pump/filter assembly having a pump chamber, the pump/filter assembly configured to removably attach to the receiving chamber on the main unit, the pump/filter assembly having an inflow pass-through line, an outflow passthrough line, and a pressure sensing pass-through line; and,

a filter media arranged in series with said inflow passthrough line, wherein a pressure sensor is disposed in fluid communication, via the pressure sensing port, with a cannula disposed in the cavity.

9. The filter system of claim 8 , wherein the pump/filter assembly further comprises a diaphragm disposed in the pump chamber, the diaphragm connected to a rod.

10. The filter system of claim 9 , wherein the rod is connected to a crank rotated on a first mechanical element disposed on the pump/filter assembly.

11. The filter system of claim 10 , wherein the first mechanical element engages with a second mechanical element disposed in the main unit, the second mechanical element operatively connected to a motor/gearbox disposed in the main unit, the second mechanical element providing a driving force to the first mechanical element to operate the diaphragm in the pump chamber when the pump/filter assembly is attached to the main unit.

12. The filter system of claim 8 , further comprising an insufflator disposed in fluid communication with the outflow port, the insufflator capable of providing supplemental gas to the system in order to maintain a desired pressure inside the cavity.

13. The filter system of claim 8 , further comprising a heater arranged in series with the outflow port, the heat arranged and configured to warm and to humidify the gas being returned to the cavity.

14. The filter system of claim 8 , wherein the controller automatically detects when a cannula connected to the filter system at one of the ports is occluded.

15. The filter system of claim 8 , further comprising a fluid dropout disposed in fluid communication with the inflow port.

16. The filter system of claim 8 , wherein the controller automatically detects when a cannula connected to the filter system is disconnected from a port selected from the group consisting of the inflow port, outflow port and pressure sensing port.

17. The filter system of claim 8 , wherein the pump/filter assembly further comprises a motor.

18. A method for filtering surgical smoke generated during medical procedures performed in a cavity, the method comprising:

providing a main unit having an inflow port, an outflow port and a pressure sensing port, the main unit having a receiving chamber disposed thereon;

providing a pump contained within the main unit for conveying the surgical smoke through the filter system;

providing a controller contained within the main unit configured to operate the pump to control the flow of the surgical smoke through the system, the controller having a user interface;

providing a filter cartridge configured to removably attach to the receiving chamber on the main unit, the filter cartridge having an inflow pass-through line configured to interface with the inflow port, an outflow passthrough line configured to interface with the outflow port, and a pressure sensing pass-through line configured to interface with the pressure sensing port;

providing a filter media arranged in series with said inflow pass-through line;

providing a first conduit between the cavity and the pressure sensing pass-through line;

providing a second conduit between the cavity and the inflow pass-through line;

providing a third conduit between the cavity and the outflow pass-through line;

providing a pressure sensor disposed in fluid communication with the cavity and the pressure sensing passthrough line;

providing an insufflator in fluid communication with an outflow pass through port;

wherein the controller receives input from the pressure sensor regarding the pressure inside the cavity and automatically adjusts the flow of surgical smoke through the system based on detected pressure inside the cavity.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the controller diverts the flow from the outflow pass-through line in order to deflate the cavity.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising providing a cleaning cartridge for introducing a cleaning solution into the main unit.