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.

A filter cartridge for a surgical gas delivery system is disclosed which includes a housing having a front end and a rear end and defining a first interior flow path extending downstream from a first inlet at the rear end of the housing to a first outlet at the front end of the housing, and a second interior flow path extending upstream from a second inlet at the front end the housing to a second outlet at the rear end of the housing, a first pleated filter element operatively associated with the first interior flow path, a second pleated filter element operatively associated with the second interior flow path, and a carbon filter disc operatively associated with the second interior flow path and positioned adjacent a downstream side of the second pleated filter element.

An electrosurgical instrument includes an instrument shaft, and a suction tube extending along the shaft, the suction tube being formed of an electrically-conductive material and including a way or portion by which it can be connected to a source of electrosurgical energy. A blade-like tissue treatment electrode extends from the shaft, the blade-like tissue treatment electrode being integrally formed by the distal end of the suction tube. The distal end of the suction tube is flattened to form the blade-like tissue treatment electrode, and the distal end of the suction tube is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A medical apparatus includes a treatment device configured to be capable of treating a subject by applying energy to the subject, an optical fiber including a light emitting face for emitting light into the subject, the optical fiber being connected to the treatment device, and a shield portion that is disposed in front of the light emitting face of the optical fiber, the shield portion being configured to expose the light emitting face when the treatment device does not perform a treatment operation and to shield the light emitting face when the treatment device performs the treatment operation.

A surgical device including a surgical generator configured to provide energy for an energy based surgical instrument; a functional device configured to provide a function in its activated state; a switch for activating and deactivating the surgical generator a capacitive sensor including at least one measuring electrode that is arranged at the switch, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to measure a capacity change or a capacity at the measuring electrode and activate or deactivate the functional device as a function of a measured capacity change or capacity.

A gas circulation system is disclosed for performing robotically assisted surgical procedures in a surgical cavity of a patient, which includes a multi-lumen tube set including a dual lumen portion having a pressurized gas line and a return gas line, and a single lumen portion having a gas supply and sensing line, a valve sealed access cap for cooperative reception with a first robotic cannula and having an inlet path for communicating with the gas supply and sensing line of the tube set, and a gas sealed access cap for cooperative reception with a second robotic cannula and having an inlet path for communicating with the pressurized gas line of the tube set and an outlet path for communicating with the return gas line of the tube set.

In an example, an electrosurgical device includes a housing defining an interior bore. The electrosurgical device also includes a shaft telescopically moveable in the interior bore of the housing. The shaft includes an optical waveguide at a distal end of the shaft, and a smoke evacuation channel circumferentially surrounding the optical waveguide at the distal end of the shaft. The electrosurgical device also includes an electrosurgical electrode coupled to the shaft.

Examples of a module for housing unrelated electronic and electromechanical equipment for use during surgery. The module can include a lower section and a tower-like upper section. The lower section can house unrelated electronic and electromechanical equipment. The tower-like upper section can be located on top of the lower section. A water-resistant cowling can enclose at least a portion of the lower section and the tower-like upper section. A cartridge containing one or more ultraviolet-C producing lights can be protectively housed within the tower-like upper section. The cartridge containing one or more ultraviolet-C producing lights can be configured to emerge upward from a top of the tower-like upper section to substantially seat itself on the top of the tower-like upper section when activated allowing the ultraviolet-C light to disinfect the patient and staff-contacting upper surfaces of the equipment in the operating room.

A tissue guard includes a body defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending through the body between the open proximal end and the open distal end. The tissue guard further includes a lip extending radially outwardly from the open proximal end of the body. The lip includes a plurality of spaced-apart cut-outs defined about the outer circumference of the lip to define a plurality of tabs of the lip. Each tab includes an outer edge segment. The body and the lip are monolithically formed as a single piece of material.

An exhaust tool (50) includes: a flexible body portion (51) extending over substantially an entire length of a cylindrical shaft (30, 90) of an incision energy device (e.g., ultrasonic coagulation incision device 10 or electrocautery device 80) having an energy generation portion (32) for incision provided at a tip thereof; a pair of holding portions (52) provided to the body portion (51) and configured to hold the cylindrical shaft (30, 90); and a flow path formation portion (54) forming therein a flow path (56) for mist generated from the energy generation portion (32). The exhaust tool (50) is allowed to be attached/detached to/from the cylindrical shaft (30, 90) by the pair of holding portions (52) being opened through bending of the body portion (51).