Smoke evacuation system fluid trap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smoke evacuation systems in electrosurgical settings face challenges in retaining extracted fluids, particularly when the fluid trap changes orientation during removal or transport, leading to potential spills and reduced filter efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a fluid trap with a notched cylindrical inlet port and an exhaust port positioned above the inlet, along with a splash canopy and splash wall, which incorporates fibrous wicking material to prevent spills and includes sensors and visual indicators for monitoring fluid levels, ensuring efficient fluid retention and orientation-independent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fluid trap is designed with a simple open structure for easy cleaning, then ease of manufacture and maintenance are improved, but fluid retention capability deteriorates when orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid trap is divided into multiple functional zones: an inlet region with a notched cylindrical structure that creates a barrier, a main collection chamber, and an exhaust region with a positioned outlet. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity for manufacturing and cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet port features an asymmetric notched cylindrical design where the notches are positioned at specific angles and depths. This asymmetric geometry creates directional flow patterns that prevent fluid from reaching the exhaust port during orientation changes, while still allowing easy access for cleaning through the same structure.
2Reliability
If the exhaust port is positioned high to prevent fluid escape during orientation changes, then fluid retention is improved, but the device height and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust port is merged with the rear cover structure rather than being a separate component. The port is positioned at the top surface of the rear cover, integrating the fluid retention function into the existing structural element and avoiding additional height or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing vertical height to prevent fluid escape, the solution uses the horizontal positioning and angular orientation of the exhaust port relative to the inlet. The port is angled such that its opening faces away from the inlet direction, creating a geometric barrier that prevents fluid escape during orientation changes without increasing device height.
3Productivity
If the inlet port extends deep into the chamber to capture more smoke, then smoke evacuation efficiency is improved, but the volume available for fluid collection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet port has different structural characteristics at different locations: the notched cylindrical section extends deeper to create effective smoke capture and directional flow, while the main collection chamber maintains sufficient volume. The local geometry of the notches provides the necessary flow control without compromising the overall fluid collection capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively minimizes fluid escape, extends filter life, and enhances the operational efficiency of smoke evacuation systems by ensuring that fluids are safely retained and processed, reducing the risk of spills and maintaining system performance across various orientations.
Implementation Method 1
The splash canopy and/or the splash wall can include a fibrous fluid wicking material that enables removal of aerosols and/or small droplet fluids and additionally, or alternatively, act as condensation promoting surfaces
Implementation Method 2
the sensor is an optical emitter and detector pair, an ultrasonic detector, a resistive strip, or a combination thereof that senses the amount of fluid in the fluid trap
Implementation Method 3
the sensor is an optical emitter and detector pair, an ultrasonic detector, a resistive strip, or a combination thereof that senses the amount of fluid in the fluid trap
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid trap for minimizing the escape of contaminated fluids from the fluid trap when an orientation of the fluid trap changes during removal or transport includes a front cover, a rear cover coupled to the front cover, and an interior chamber defined by the front and rear covers. The front cover defines an inlet port extending a first distance into an interior chamber of the fluid trap. The rear cover defines an exhaust port extending a second distance away from the rear cover of the fluid trap and positioned above the inlet port when the fluid trap is in an upright position. The interior chamber has a maximum fluid volume defined as the lesser of a fluid reservoir volume, a front cover volume, and a rear cover volume.