Noise and vibration management for smoke evacuation system

Inventors

Frampton, Chad S. • Horner, Shawn K. • Greep, Darcy W. • Shelton, Frederick • Harris, Jason • Yates, David • Millis, Roger

Assignees

MegaDyne Medical Products Inc

Abstract

A system for noise and vibration management of a smoke evacuation system includes a pump that compresses air and produces a pressure differential within an airflow path. The pump may be a sealed, positive displacement pump. The system includes vibration absorption mechanisms disposed between inner and outer housings, as well as on the outside surface of the outer housing. Methods of controlling and regulating a motor of the system to preserve the lifespan of the motor and maintain consistent airflow rates throughout the smoke evacuation system include varying a supply of electrical current to the motor so that it can operate at variable performance levels. Orifices are opened and closed in order to relieve resistance pressures within the airflow path due to clogging and blockages.

Core Innovation

A smoke evacuation assembly includes a filter and a dual scroll pump having a sealed positive displacement airflow path. The dual scroll pump includes a first scroll pump with a moving scroll configured to rotate in a first direction and a second scroll pump with a moving scroll configured to rotate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and a motor engages the dual scroll pump to rotate the moving scrolls.

The sealed positive displacement airflow path is configured to receive a gas and to control flow through the assembly. The dual scroll pump is defined by a first operating pressure and a second operating pressure, and a first flow rate of a gas at the first operating pressure is the same as a second flow rate at the second operating pressure. A difference in pressure between the first operating pressure and the second operating pressure is equal to or greater than 1.5 psig.

A smoke evacuation system further includes a filter and a dual scroll pump configured to draw a gas through the filter. The dual scroll pump includes a first scroll pump of a first size and a second scroll pump of a second size larger than the first size. The system maintains equal flow rate at two operating pressures with a pressure difference equal to or greater than 1.5 psig, while operating the first scroll pump to provide constant low-level airflow over time and operating the second scroll pump to provide a higher airflow over time.

Claims Coverage

The document contains at least two independent claims. Across the independent claims, the inventive features revolve around a dual scroll pump with a sealed positive displacement airflow path maintaining equal flow rate across defined operating pressures of at least 1.5 psig, motor engagement of the moving scrolls, and, in one claim, different-sized scroll pumps providing different airflow levels over time.

The independent claims establish a smoke evacuation architecture that relies on a dual scroll pump with a sealed positive displacement airflow path to maintain the same gas flow rate at two operating pressures with a pressure difference of at least 1.5 psig, with motor-driven rotation of the moving scrolls. The claims further specify opposite rotational direction between two scroll pumps and, in the system claim, different scroll pump sizes to achieve constant low-level airflow versus higher airflow over time.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found