Patent ID: 6203762
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: A61B,A61L,B01D,Y10S

Abstract:
A filter device for treating an airstream containing gaseous and particulate materials from a surgery plume comprising:an elongated filter body having an inlet port positioned proximate a first end of the body and an outlet port also positioned proximate the first end of the body and the inlet port, an airstream passage extending between the inlet and outlet ports for accepting and exhausting the surgery plume airstream, the airstream passage proceeding from the inlet port along the body to an endwall at a second end of the body and then reversing direction and proceeding back along the body to the outlet port;an internal solution reservoir formed inside the filter body and positioned in-line with the airstream passage, the reservoir positioned proximate the endwall at the second end of the body to fill a portion of the passage for intercepting the airstream before it proceeds back to the outlet port;a charge of a reactive solution being contained within said reservoir;the intercepted airstream and the reactive solution operably interactive for forming and breaking down a foam inside the filter body;at least one dispersal pad positioned in the airstream passage between the solution reservoir and the outlet port, the dispersal pad configured for operably engaging the airstream and reactive solution for forming and breaking down the foam,the filter body configured to contain the foam and expose the airstream to the foam for a time period sufficient to effect removal of gaseous and particulate materials from the surgery plume airstream;whereby the filter device exhausts the treated airstream into the atmosphere through the outlet port generally cleansed of agents in the surgery plume.