SURGICAL SMOKE TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR POLAR AND NONPOLAR GASES

1 . A surgical smoke filtration system for receiving and treating vapor, comprising:

a filter;

an activated carbon surface for adsorbtion of primarily nonpolar gases; and

a metallic gas catalyst for oxidation of primarily polar volatile gases;

wherein said filter, said activated carbon surface, and said metallic gas catalyst define an integrated filtration module; and

said integrated filtration module further comprises a connector or connection means to attach said filtration system and an output or output means to allow for expulsion of treated surgical smoke.

2 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said surgical smoke filtration system comprises a surgery instrument comprising:

a tubular body having a passageway for evacuating vapor from a surgical site;

said tubular body comprising an extension for cauterizing at said surgical site; said extension being conductive and adapted to be coupled to a power source for energizing said extension;

said tubular body having an inlet end having said extension and an outlet end coupled to a vacuum source adapted to create a predetermined pressure in said passageway in order to evacuate vapor from said surgical site through said tubular body prior to, during or after use of said filtration system at said surgical site, said vapor comprising at least one of smoke, cauterizing vapor, gas, liquid or debris.

3 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said activated carbon is substantially nonpolar and a preferential adsorber of nonpolar gases;

said activated carbon being activated by pyrolization, carbonization, or chemical activation, such that said activated carbon maintains nonpolar properties.

4 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said catalyst comprises a metallic substrate for catalyzing oxidation reactions of polar gases, including oxidation of aldehydes into other molecules, including carbon dioxide.

5 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein an evacuated surgical smoke stream traverses said activated carbon surface and thence traverses said metallic gas catalyst in a substantially serial manner.

6 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said carbon surface comprises a form of powdered, granular, fibrous, extruded, impregnated, coated, or woven carbon.

7 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said carbon surface comprises a drying component, including at least one desiccant such as silica gel, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, coordination polymer, Zeolite, or molecular sieve to reduce polar competition from water vapor or humidity;

wherein a condensation means such as cooling coil, dehumidifier or thermoelectric plate can be utilized in addition to or in lieu of desiccant.

8 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said filter comprises an outer housing with at least one connection to a surgical smoke collection means;

said collection means comprising at least one of a tubing system, vacuum system, electrocautery hand piece, funnel, gas separator, surgical port, surgical trocar, or surgical instrument.

9 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said metallic gas catalyst comprises a catalyst surface containing at least one of titanium, silver, palladium, platinum, manganese, iridium, rhodium, copper, zirconium, or other metallic element capable of catalyzing oxidation or mixed oxidation-reduction reactions of organic molecules.

10 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 9 wherein said metallic gas catalyst and/or a catalyst substrate comprises a form of one or more honeycomb, foam, extrusion, plate, coating, granule, cylinder, sphere, bead, mesh, or similar to allow for adequate contact area with gas reactant.

11 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 comprising an internal activation means for activating said gas catalyst;

said internal activation means comprising one or more of heating means, photon-generating means, electron-generating means, or electromagnetic radiation means.

12 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 10 wherein said activation means is located within a substantially enclosed housing of a filter cartridge;

said filter cartridge further comprising a transit means for connecting said cartridge to an external power source for powering of said activation means.

13 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 1 wherein said surgical smoke filtration system comprises a cauterizing system for cauterizing a surgical site associated with a patient, said surgical smoke filtration system comprising:

a tubular body having a passageway for evacuating vapor from the surgical site;

said tubular body comprising an extension for cauterizing at the surgical site; said extension being conductive and adapted to be coupled to a power source for energizing said extension;

said tubular body having an inlet end having said extension and an outlet end coupled to a vacuum source adapted to create a predetermined pressure in said passageway in order to evacuate vapor from said surgical site through said tubular body prior to, during or after use of said surgical smoke filtration system at the surgical site, said vapor comprising at least one of smoke, cauterizing vapor, gas, liquid or debris; and

wherein said passageway is defined by said tubular body and causes said vapor resulting from the cauterizing at the surgical site to be evacuated through said tubular body.

14 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein said tubular body is conductive and creates a conductive path for current to flow from a power source to said extension.

15 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein said extension is integral with said tubular body and both are conductive.

16 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein said tubular body is defined by a wall having at least one predetermined dimension, said wall defining said passageway and said extension.

17 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 16 wherein said extension comprising a cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than said at least one predetermined dimension.

18 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein an elongated portion of said extension comprises a first surface and a generally opposing second surface, said first surface defining a working surface having a generally curved or arcuate portion.

19 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 18 wherein said working surface has a radius of curvature substantially approximating a radius of curvature of said first surface.

20 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein said extension comprises a working surface that is generally planar.

21 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein said extension is detachably secured to said tubular body with a predetermined connection, said tubular body and said extension both being conductive to permit said extension to cauterize at said surgical site.

22 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 21 wherein said predetermined connection is a least one of a threaded, press-fit, bayonet, or socket connection.

23 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein said passageway is substantially centrally located in said tubular body to define a substantially linear or non-serpentine conduit for evacuating said vapor.

24 . The surgical smoke filtration system as recited in claim 13 wherein said tubular body comprises an interior wall that defines said passageway, at least a portion of said interior wall having a catalyst coating.

25 . An electrocautery and filtration system for cauterizing a surgical site associated with a patient and for treating vapor resulting therefrom, said electrocautery and filtration system comprising:

an electrocautery instrument that generates the vapor during a surgical procedure; and

a surgical smoke treatment system for receiving and treating said vapor, comprising:

a filter;

an activated carbon surface for adsorbtion of primarily nonpolar gases; and

a metallic gas catalyst for oxidation of primarily polar volatile gases;

wherein said filter, said activated carbon surface, and said metallic gas catalyst define an integrated filtration module;

said integrated filtration module further comprises a connector or connection means to attach said electrocautery instrument and an output or output means to allow for expulsion of treated surgical smoke;

wherein a passageway in said electrocautery instrument is defined by a tubular body and causes said vapor resulting from the cauterizing at the surgical site to be evacuated through said tubular body.

26 - 48 . (canceled)

49 . An electrocautery system for cauterizing a surgical site associated with a patient, said electrocautery system comprising:

a tubular body having a passageway for evacuating vapor from the surgical site;

said tubular body comprising an extension for cauterizing at the surgical site; said extension being conductive and adapted to be coupled to a power source for energizing said extension;

said tubular body having an inlet end having said extension and an outlet end coupled to a vacuum source adapted to create a predetermined pressure in said passageway in order to evacuate vapor from said surgical site through said tubular body prior to, during or after use of said electrocautery system at the surgical site, said vapor comprising at least one of smoke, cauterizing vapor, gas, liquid or debris;

wherein said passageway is defined by said tubular body and causes said vapor resulting from the cauterizing at the surgical site to be evacuated through said tubular body; and

a surgical smoke treatment system for receiving evacuated vapor and for treating it, said surgical smoke treatment system comprising:

a mechanical filter;

an activated carbon surface for adsorbtion of primarily nonpolar gases; and

a metallic gas catalyst for oxidation of primarily polar volatile gases;

wherein said mechanical filter, activated carbon surface, and metallic gas catalyst define an integrated filtration module;

said integrated filtration module further comprises a connector or connection means to attach to said electrocautery system and an output or output means to allow for expulsion of treated surgical vapor.

50 - 70 . (canceled)

71 . A surgical smoke treatment system comprising:

a mechanical filter;

an activated carbon surface for adsorbtion of primarily nonpolar gases; and

a metallic gas catalyst for oxidation of primarily polar volatile gases;

wherein said filter, carbon surface, and catalyst comprise an integrated filtration module;

said module further comprising a connection means to attach a surgical smoke collection means, and an output means to allow for expulsion of treated surgical smoke.

72 - 81 . (canceled)

82 . A method for staged treatment of nonpolar and polar gases from surgical smoke comprising evacuation of surgical smoke from a surgical environment utilizing a collection means, directing surgical smoke to an enclosed filtration area, drying the surgical smoke via desiccant or condensation, absorption via activated carbon, and oxidation and/or reduction of polar gases via metallic catalyst.