Surgical gas delivery system with remote gaseous sealing module for maintaining stable pressure in a surgical cavity

1. A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity, comprising:

a) a gas delivery device having a disposable filter cartridge received therein, wherein the gas delivery device is configured to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to a gas delivery lumen extending from the filter cartridge;

b) a gaseous sealing module communicating with a distal end of the gas delivery lumen remote from the filter cartridge and configured to generate a gaseous seal within a gas sealed lumen extending therefrom, wherein the gaseous sealing module includes a housing that supports a nozzle tube defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart gas jets for accelerating pressurized gas received from the gas delivery lumen to generate the gaseous seal within the gas sealed lumen, and wherein gas spent generating the gaseous seal is sent from the gaseous sealing module back to filter cartridge received in the gas delivery device through a gas return lumen; and

c) an access port communicating with a distal end of the gas sealed lumen, wherein the access port provides mechanically sealed instrument access to the surgical cavity and communication between the gas sealed lumen and the surgical cavity so as to maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity by way of the gaseous seal within the gas sealed lumen, and wherein the access port facilitates smoke evacuation from the surgical cavity.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery device includes a pump for delivering pressurized gas to the gas delivery lumen and for receiving gas from the gas return lumen.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the access port includes a valve sealed proximal housing for providing mechanically sealed instrument access to the surgical cavity.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery device includes an insufflator for delivering insufflation gas to a second access port through an insufflation lumen.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second access port includes a valve sealed proximal housing for providing sealed instrument access to the surgical cavity.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen communicate with a filter assembly that is dimensioned and configured for reception within the gas delivery device.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gaseous sealing module includes a vented housing for facilitating air entrainment from atmosphere into the surgical cavity and gas release to atmosphere from the surgical cavity.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing of the gaseous sealing module is configured such that the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged perpendicular to an outlet for the gas sealed lumen.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged to interface with the housing of the gaseous sealing module in a parallel configuration.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged to interface with the housing of the gaseous sealing module in a concentric configuration.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the gaseous sealing module includes a two-part housing assembly having a proximal sub-assembly connected to and communicating with the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen, and a distal sub-assembly connected to and communicating with the gas sealed lumen.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing of the gaseous sealing module is configured such that the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged in-line with an output from the gas sealed lumen.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged to interface with the housing of the gaseous sealing module in a parallel configuration.

14. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged to interface with the housing of the gaseous sealing module in a concentric configuration.

15. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the gaseous sealing module includes a two-part housing assembly having a proximal sub-assembly connected to and communicating with the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen, and a distal sub-assembly connected to and communicating with the gas sealed lumen.

16. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing of the gaseous sealing module is configured such that the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged in parallel to an output for the gas sealed lumen.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged to interface with the housing of the gaseous sealing module in a parallel configuration.

18. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen are arranged to interface with the housing of the gaseous sealing module in a concentric configuration.

19. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the housing of the gaseous sealing module comprises a two-part housing assembly having a proximal sub-assembly connected to and communicating with the gas delivery lumen and the gas return lumen, and a distal sub-assembly connected to and communicating with the gas sealed lumen.

20. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing of the gaseous sealing module includes a vented pathway that facilitates gas exchange, including but not limited to, air entrainment from atmosphere into the surgical cavity and gas release to atmosphere from the surgical cavity to relieve overpressure.

21. The system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the vented pathway is arranged perpendicular to the gas sealed lumen.

22. The system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the vented pathway is arranged in-line with the gas sealed lumen.

23. The system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the vented pathway is arranged in parallel to the gas sealed lumen.