Antimicrobial filter for use in electrocautery or laser surgery
US5874052A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D46/12
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention includes a filter, 10, for purifying smoke plume generated from electrocautery or laser surgery. The filter includes a pre-filter, 11, for filtering gross particulate; a first filter, 12, having a structurally blended antimicrobial agent and adapted to capture and destroy minute and harmful organic particles such as viruses or bacteria at high efficiency; a second filter, 13, having a charcoal bed for removing gaseous toxins and odors from the smoke plume and a post-filter, 14, adapted to complete the general filtering process and to control the migration of any charcoal fines or other filter elements. The filter is adapted to be used in connection with various filter containers or hoods, including a rectangular hood, 16, or an industry-standard cylindrical filtering container, 20. The invention further includes the method for producing the blended antimicrobial first filter through the casting of a polymer membrane, 30, from a solution of a solvent, 25, polymer, 24, and antimicrobial, 26, cast on a substrate, 28, and made the subject of controlled evaporation of the solvent, 29. Thereafter, the resulting polymer membrane, thoroughly diffused and blended with …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.