United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 4,735,603
Goodson et al. [45] Date of Patent: Apr. 5,1988
[54] LASER SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
[75] Inventors: James H. Goodson, 3600 Gaston
Ave., Dallas, Tex. 75246; Millard M.
Judy; Rex A. Moses, both of Dallas,
Tex.
[73] Assignee: James H. Goodson, Dallas, Tex.
[21] Appl. No.: 905,823
[22] Filed: Sep. 10,1986
[51] Int. CI.* A61N 1/30
[52] U.S.C1 604/21; 604/26;
604/28; 604/35; 604/118; 604/317; 128/303.1;
128/747
[58] Field of Search 604/19-24,
604/26-28, 29, 31, 35, 118-120, 317-319, 320, 43-45; 128/303.1, 747.1 R, 395-398, 6, 202.12;
15/346
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,505,989 4/1970 Truhan 128/1 R
3,982,541 9/1976 L'Esperance, Jr. 604/20
4,211,229 7/1980 Wurster 128/395
4,381,007 4/1983 Doss 128/303.1
4,487,606 12/1984 Leviton et al 604/319
4,638,800 1/1987 Michel 128/303.1
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Steptoe, "Laparoscopy in Gynaecology", pp. 12-29, 1967.
Lotze, "Safety Considerations and Clinical Points Re
A laser smoke evacuation system and method for laser smoke removal from the site of laser laparoscopy in a patient cavity. The system includes a CO2 gas pump connected through a control valve, a pressure sensor, and a bacterial filter to a laparoscopic tube inserted into the patient, a return line from a second laparoscopic tube in the patient through a smoke filter, a pressure sensor, a control valve, and a fluid trap into the return of the pump, and an insufflator connected into the patient to supply CO2 gas lost by leakage and tissue absorption an to provide required distention of the patient cavity. The method includes the steps of supplying a first flow of CO2 gas into a patient cavity to the operation sites, returning the first flow of CO2 gas with removed laser smoke from the cavity, cleansing the smoke from the first flow of CO2 gas, recirculating the cleansed first flow of CO2 gas back to the patient, and providing a second makeup flow of CO2 gas to the patient to replace CO2 gas from the first flow lost by leakage and tissue absorption and provide cavity distention.
