Abstract:
A filtration system for use in connection with a central vacuum system in a hospital or other medical facility. In certain aspects, the filtration system comprises a removable filter for removing contaminants; a fitting adapted for connection to a central vacuum source/system which provides constant suction, which fitting is positioned between the filter and the central vacuum source; a flow control valve positioned between the filter and the fitting; wherein the relative positions of the fitting, flow valve and filter prevent contaminants from being discharged into the central vacuum system. In other aspects, the system provides variable filter life based upon variable flow.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/047,322, filed Sep. 8, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to filtration devices and systems for use in connection with medical procedures and, more specifically, for use in connection with a central vacuum system in a hospital or other medical facility. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for the purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present invention provides an improved filtration device and system for use in an operating room (OR) boom ( 1 ), OR wall ( 1 ), suite or cart, with a filter basket comprising a filter ( 6 ) and a filter receiver ( 5 ) configured and arranged to receive input through tubing ( 9 ) from a surgical site. In one aspect, a connector ( 3 ) such as a pipe fitting or barbed fitting is provided between the filter basket ( 5 ,  6 ) and the hospital&#39;s or medical facility&#39;s central vacuum source ( 2 ). In one embodiment, the tubing ( 9 ) and filter ( 6 ) are connected, configured and arranged such that the filter is close to the surgical site (i.e. the filter is not positioned such that smoke, blood and contaminants are discharged into the central vacuum source and associated piping/tubing, which would require cleaning/maintenance/replacement). 
         [0004]    In another aspect, the filtration system/device comprises a valve ( 4 ) such as a solenoid valve or the like for turning flow on and off, for throttling (or limiting) flow, or for counting or determining filter life, for example. In one aspect, the filtration system provides constant suction from the central vacuum source ( 2 ) but also provides the hospital or medical provider with the option to stop or limit airflow (on/off and variable switching/flow) through the tubing (i.e. bypass) with such a valve. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the invention provides variable filter life based on variable flow. For example, if the strength of the vacuum is limited to 50% of available flow from the central vacuum source, the determination of filter life is adjusted accordingly (in this example, the filter life would be decremented at 50% of time during the period of 50% flow). 
         [0006]    The filtration system/device may also comprise a control panel ( 7 ) for controlling the valve or solenoid. In one aspect, the control panel ( 7 ) provides various methods of remote activation such as RF, Bluetooth or wireless, for example (and any method, system or apparatus disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/431,492, filed Jan. 11, 2011, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/579,937, filed Dec. 23, 2011, or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/348,630, filed Jan. 11, 2012, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). 
         [0007]    For example, a remote control unit may be provided comprising: an receiver having an output; an output control line for controlling a device; a threshold setting button; a threshold parameter storage; a controller, configured to store a threshold parameter into the threshold parameter storage when the threshold setting button may be depressed, the threshold parameter being a function of the receiver output; and in which the controller is configured to produce a signal on the output control line as a function of the receiver output and the threshold parameter storage. 
         [0008]    The receiver may be an RF receiver, and may be a Bluetooth, or wife (e.g. IEEE 802.11 transceiver. The receiver may be an acoustic receiver. The output control line may be a digital wire whereby a first voltage on the output control line may be used to identify when the device is turned on and a second voltage on the output control line may be used to identify when the device is turned off. The RF receiver may comprise an antenna. The antenna may be an integrated antenna. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the filtration system and device may be configured and arranged to connect an electrosurgical generator, laser or plasma knife into an outlet near the device to sense activation of a plume-producing surgical instrument (e.g. sensing of power consumption on the electrical power line, or sensing RF energy generated during activation). 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, an oxygen sensor is provided to determine O 2  concentration at the surgical site. In one aspect, the system is configured and arranged to increase flow based on O 2  levels and, in another aspect, to limit activation of a generator or laser plugged into a dedicated outlet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a filtration device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of an embodiment for remotely controlling a central vacuum source. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is another embodiment for remotely controlling a central vacuum source. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is another embodiment for remotely controlling a central vacuum source with a flow splitter and a fluid canister. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a layout of an embodiment with a remote control unit accessory. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a high level circuit schematic. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a high level software block diagram of the software running on a microcontroller. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate. 
         [0019]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is an embodiment of a filtration system and device for use in a hospital or medical facility with a central vacuum system. In this embodiment, the filtration system/device is mounted in or associated with an OR boom or wall  1 . It may also be mounted or incorporated in a suite or cart known to those skilled in the art. A central vacuum source  2  is provided which is connected through a connector  3  to a filter receiver  5  and filter  6  (collectively, a filter basket). The filter basket permits insertion and removal of filters and replacement filters as desired. This embodiment also includes a valve  4  such as a solenoid valve for controlling air flow to/from the surgical site. The filter basket (filter  6  and filter receiver  5 ) is connected through tubing  9  to the surgical site. A control panel  7  is also provided, said control panel being electrically connected to the filtration device through an electrical connection  8 . 
         [0020]    The filter basket  5 ,  6  in this embodiment is positioned near the surgical site such that smoke, blood and contaminants are filtered near the surgical site to eliminate or minimize the smoke, blood and contaminants which are transmitted to the central vacuum system  2  and associated piping and tubing. 
         [0021]    The filtration system and device may be configured and arranged to connect an electrosurgical generator, laser or plasma knife (not shown) into an outlet near the device to sense activation of a plume-producing surgical instrument in a manner described below or known to those skilled in the art (e.g. sensing of power consumption on the electrical power line, or sensing RF energy generated during activation). 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  discloses embodiment  100  of a device for remotely controlling a medical vacuum source. Embodiment  100  comprises housing  102 , outlet port  104 , and inlet port  106 . Housing  102  is made of metal. The metal surface is nonporous and thus easily disinfectable. Other materials such as plastic may be used to construct housing  102 . Outlet port  104  contains an adapter for creating an airtight connection to standard vacuum tubing  103  and connecting to vacuum source  108 . Outlet port  104 &#39;s adapter forms an air-tight seal through compressively engaging with tubing  103 . Similarly, inlet port  106  contains an adapter for creating an air-tight seal with standard tubing for connecting to medical suction apparatus  110 . A Luer-Lock or other style adapter may alternatively be used for the inlet and outlet port adapters. 
         [0023]    Embodiment  100  contains activatable valve  112  arranged within housing  102 . A first end of valve  112  connects to outlet port  104  through tube  120 . Valve  112  is connected to controller  116  through control line  141 , which controls the extent valve  112  is open. Activatable valve  112  is a solenoid valve such as Ingersoll-Rand Solenoid Valve Model #CAT66P-120-A. Other activatable valves may be used. The second end of valve  112  connects to filter  114  through tube  122 . 
         [0024]    Filter  114  is a multilayer filter, containing layer  115  for odor absorption and layer  117  for particle absorption. Odor absorption layer  115  contains activated charcoal and the particle absorption layer  117  is a ULPA filter. Filter  114  contains RFID tag  118 . RFID tag  118  is a passive RFID tag containing embedded information indicating the filter type and lifetime. RFID transceiver  119  is arranged within the housing and oriented to read RFID tag  118 . RFID transceiver  119  is a Melexis part #MLX90109 RFID transceiver, however, other RFID transceivers may be used. 
         [0025]    Controller  116  is an Alterra Stratix FPGA; however, other FPGA&#39;s, microcontrollers, CPUs, or logic devices may be used. Controller  116  contains embedded software which controls the operation of controller  116 . Controller  116  receives input from line  123  which is connected to output  125  of receiver  124 . Controller  116  contains an internal timer. 
         [0026]    Receiver  124  is a current sensor having output  125  and input  126 . Receiver  124  has terminals  126  and  127 . Terminal  127  is connected to external power supply  130  through wall socket plug  129  and terminal  126  is connected to power line  132 . The voltage on output  125  is a function of the magnitude of the current passing through terminals  126  and  127 . Receiver  124  is an isolated hall-effect sensor such as those offered by Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Alternative current sensors, such as a simple resistor voltage divider, may also be used. An analog to digital converter may need to be placed between receiver  125  and controller  116  depending upon the type of receiver and controller used. Receivers based on technology other than current sensors may also be used as will be described in the following embodiments. 
         [0027]    Power line  132  connects to line  133 , which passes out inlet port  106  and travels within tubing  105  to medical apparatus  110 . Line  132  and  133  contain multiple wires including at least a ground wire and a power wire. In the following example, medical apparatus  110  is an electrosurgical device. Medical apparatus  110  contains activation button  111  for turning on the electrosurgical device. 
         [0028]    The operation of first embodiment  100  begins with properly connecting the embodiment to power supply  130 , vacuum source  108 , and medical apparatus  110 . Wall socket plug  129  should be inserted into standard electrical wall outlet. Tubing  103  should be connected to outlet port  104 &#39;s adapter and vacuum source  108 , ensuring that an air-tight seals are created. Tubing  105  similarly should be connected to inlet port  106 &#39;s adapter and the suction port on medical apparatus  110 . Also, line  133  should be connected to the power line  132  and medical apparatus  110 . 
         [0029]    After all the proper connections are made, the medical apparatus should be off (activation button  111  should not be depressed). Since the medical apparatus is not on, there will be no current flow through lines  129  and  132 . The lack of current flow will be sensed by current sensor/receiver  124  and indicated on output  125 . Controller  116  will read output  125  and determine that the medical apparatus is not on. Controller  116  will then send a command signal along control line  141 . Activatable valve  112  receives the control signal along line  141  and shuts the valve closed. With valve  112  closed, fluid flow is prevented along the path from medical apparatus  110 , into inlet port  106 , through filter  114 , through valve  112 , out outlet port  104 , and to vacuum source  108 . 
         [0030]    When a user of medical apparatus  110  depresses activation button  111 , medical apparatus begins to draw current along line  133  and thus along lines  132  and  129 . Current sensor/receiver  125  senses the increase in current flow through terminals  124  and  126 , and thus changes output  125 . Controller  116  senses the change in signal on line  123  and in response changes the command signal on command line  141  from a closed signal to an open signal. Valve  112 , in response to the open signal opens. Fluid is now allowed to flow from medical suction apparatus  110 , and into inlet port  106 . Impurities such as smoke particles and odors in the fluid coming in inlet port  106  are removed by filter  114 . Fluid flow continues through valve  112 , out outlet port  104  and into vacuum source  108 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  discloses an embodiment  200  which contains multiple receivers,  251 ,  252 ,  253 ,  254 , and  255 , designed to work with various surgical device types  271 ,  272 ,  273 ,  274 , and  275 . The multiple receivers allow for remote control to be accomplished in several different ways. 
         [0032]    Receiver  251  is an adapter giving a direct electrical connection to manual switch  260  or surgical device  271 . For example, manual switch  260  may be a foot pedal switch. Similarly, surgical device  271  may include manual switch buttons. Manual switch  260  and the manual button in surgical device  271  will electrically connect control wires  262  and  263 . This electrical connection notifies the control box when the activation button on surgical device  271  or manual switch  260  are depressed and controls solenoid valve  212  accordingly. Alternatively, the manual switch or surgical device buttons may be analog switches which control an analog voltage level on line  263 . In another form, the manual switch or surgical device buttons may provide a serial digital signal indicating their state on line  262 . 
         [0033]    Receiver  252  is an audio receiver such as a microphone. Surgical device  272  emits a fixed frequency tone when in use. Control box  216  contains a microprocessor for analyzing the microphone signal from receiver  252 . Whether surgical device  272  is on is determined by analyzing the microphone signal. More specifically, a fast fourier transform is performed on the microphone signal. If the power within the frequency range containing the tone frequency emitted by surgical device is above a threshold, surgical device  272  is determined to be on and valve  212  is controlled accordingly. The threshold may be adjusted to minimize false activations. Additionally, DSP processors and advanced algorithms such as FIR and IIR filters may be used within the control box to more accurately trigger off of surgical device  272 . 
         [0034]    Receiver  253  is a current sensor connected to surgical device  273 &#39;s power supply  261 . Receiver  253  contains an output indicating the magnitude of the current drawn by surgical device  273 . Control box  216 &#39;s microprocessor compares the current level from current sensor (receiver)  253  and if determines if surgical device  273  is on based on whether the current sensor output exceeds a threshold. Multiple thresholds are used to detect multiple activation schemes of surgical device  273  and to adjust valve  212  accordingly. For example, surgical device  273  may be an electrosurgical device having a cut mode and a coagulate mode, each drawing different levels of current. A threshold may be created for each mode, and valve  112  assigned a separate flow rate for each mode. 
         [0035]    Receiver  254  is a current sensor which operates without direct contact. Such current sensing is achieved using a hall-effect sensor or a sensor containing an electrical loop around the surgical device power line. Similar to the operation of receiver  253 , depending upon the magnitude of the output from current sensor  254 , control box  216  will appropriately adjust valve  212 . 
         [0036]    Receiver  255  is an RF sensor configured to measure an AM signal in the frequency range of 350 kHz to 1.25 MHz. RF sensor  255  may be coupled to an antenna. Receiver  255  is configured to detect the RF given off by surgical device  275  when in operation. For example, an electrosurgical device typically gives off amplitude modulated radio signals in the range of 350 kHz to 1.25 MHz. Control box  216  can perform signal analysis on receiver  255 &#39;s output similar to the analysis performed on audio receiver  252 &#39;s output. RF mixers may be used to convert the RF signal to a lower (baseband) frequency range which can be more easily analyzed by the microprocessor within control box  216 . 
         [0037]    The embodiment in  FIG. 4  includes a flow splitter  349  and fluid canister  350 . Flow splitter  349  is configured to separate any liquid entering inlet  306  into liquid path  380 . The alternate path for gas should be free of any liquid. Flow splitter  349  may be part of filter  314 . Fluid canister  350  may optionally be connected to liquid outlet port  385  which connects to an external liquid drain. 
         [0038]    In other embodiments, a delay may be added to before switching the activatable valve open or closed from when the surgical device turns on and off. Additionally, a biohazard sensor may be added to any of the embodiments and may connect to an alarm. The filter may be designed to remove moisture. Additionally, an occlusion sensor may be added in the flow path and configured to cause the controller to shut the valve if an occlusion is detected. For example, if the suction device were to come into direct contact with flesh. Swivels may be added to the tubes. The device may be made of disposable or recyclable components. Additionally, the device may contain its own vacuum unit. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 5 , a remote control unit for use with a filtration device is shown. This embodiment provides a remote control unit in an accessory format that can be used to remotely switch on and off any device through a controlled output wire. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a smoke evacuator unit is the controlled device, receiving the output wire from the remote control unit. This embodiment contains an RF sensor which is optimized for sensing the RF given off by an electrosurgical unit (electrosurgical pen). A user interfaces with the remote control unit in order to set a variety of operating parameters. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows the major circuit elements of the remote control unit, including an RF antenna, an amplification transistor, a user button, a microcontroller, and the control output line. The RF antenna is embedded into a printed circuit board. The transistor is properly biased with a voltage divider such that an RF signal sensed by the antenna is amplied at the microcontroller input pin. Software is provided on the microcontroller which samples the amplified RF input from the transistor and sets the control output voltage as a function of the input signals and several configuration parameters. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a top level software block diagram of the software running on the microcontroller. Several interrupt driven program subroutines are used. One subroutine periodically samples the RF input and another subroutine determines the user button state. 
         [0042]    In one aspect, a device can be triggered off of the radio signals emitted by a surgical device. Such triggering allows the remote control device to be electrically isolated (no direct wire contact) from the surgical device. Such a configuration is advantageous to ensure that the electrical system of the surgical device is not compromised by external systems, thus increasing safety. Also, a remote activation device is provided which can be remotely triggered off of a variety of signal types. For example, when the surgical device the embodiment is used with provides a direct electrical connection for triggering the remote device, an adapter for receiving such signal directly is provided. Alternatively, if the surgical device emits an audio signal during use, this audio signal can be used to trigger the remote device. In other scenarios, the radio frequency radiation emitted by a surgical device can be used as a trigger. 
         [0043]    Therefore, while the presently-preferred form of the filtration device and system have been shown and described, and several modifications discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed herein.