Smoke evacuation system for invasive surgical procedures

1. A smoke evacuation system for an open surgical site, comprising:

a) a filter assembly including a housing having a front end cap and a rear end cap, the front end cap having a front inlet port and front outlet vent slots opening to atmosphere, the rear end cap having a sealed rear inlet port and a sealed rear outlet port, the filter assembly further including an internal inlet flow path providing communication between the front inlet port of the front end cap and the rear outlet port of the rear end cap, and an internal outlet flow path providing communication between the rear outlet port of the rear end cap and the front outlet vent slots of the front end cap, and a filter element disposed within the internal inlet flow path for filtering air drawn into the filter assembly from the surgical site;

b) a flexible conduit having a proximal end connected to the front inlet port of the filter assembly; and

c) a smoke evacuator configured for detachable connection to a distal end of the flexible conduit for drawing smoke filled air away from the surgical site and into the filter assembly through the flexible conduit.

2. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the flexible conduit includes a mechanical fitting for connecting with a coupling associated with the smoke evacuator.

3. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the smoke evacuator includes a configurable smoke evacuation tube having a plurality of spaced apart smoke intake ports on a peripheral surface thereof.

4. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the smoke evacuation tube is closed at both ends.

5. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the smoke evacuation tube has an open end and a closed end.

6. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 3 , wherein a slotted intake nozzle is operatively associated with each smoke intake port.

7. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 4 , wherein a branching tube extends from the smoke evacuation tube to the flexible conduit.

8. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one drape clip is operatively associated with the smoke evacuator.

9. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 5 , wherein a rotatable coupling is operatively associated with the open end of the smoke evacuation tube for connection with the fitting on the distal end of the flexible conduit.

10. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 7 , wherein a rotatable coupling is operatively associated with an open end of the branching tube for connection with the fitting on the distal end of the flexible conduit.

11. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the smoke evacuator includes a corrugated tube having a suction nozzle operatively associated with a distal end thereof and a rotatable coupling operatively associated with a proximal end thereof for connection with the fitting on the distal end of the flexible conduit.

12. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the suction nozzle is defined by an elongated intake tube.

13. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the intake tube includes an outwardly flared intake port.

14. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the intake tube includes a bowed intake flange having a plurality of intake ports formed therein.

15. A smoke evacuation system for an open surgical site, comprising:

a) a filter assembly including a housing having a front end cap and a rear end cap, the front end cap having a front inlet port and front outlet vent slots opening to atmosphere, the rear end cap having a sealed rear inlet port and a sealed rear outlet port, the filter assembly further including an internal inlet flow path providing communication between the front inlet port of the front end cap and the rear outlet port of the rear end cap, and an internal outlet flow path providing communication between the rear outlet port of the rear end cap and the front outlet vent slots of the front end cap, and a pleated filter element disposed within the internal inlet flow path for filtering air drawn into the filter assembly from the surgical site;

b) a flexible conduit having a proximal end connected to the inlet port of the filter assembly and a distal end having a mechanical fitting associated therewith; and

c) a configurable smoke evacuation tube configured for detachable connection with the fitting on the distal end of the flexible conduit and having a plurality of spaced apart smoke intake ports on a peripheral surface thereof for drawing smoke away from the surgical site and into the filter assembly through the flexible conduit.

16. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the smoke evacuation tube has an open end and a closed end.

17. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the smoke evacuation tube is closed at both ends.

18. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 17 , wherein a branching tube extends from a central section of the smoke evacuation tube to the flexible conduit.

19. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 15 , wherein a slotted intake nozzle is operatively associated with each smoke intake port.

20. A smoke evacuation system as recited in claim 15 , wherein a rotatable coupling is operatively associated with the smoke evacuation tube for detachable connection with the fitting on the distal end of the flexible conduit.