Surgical field smoke evacuators

Abstract

Universally adaptable evacuators are adaptable to all surgical fields, easy to apply and, in most cases, may be expanded and/or removed as necessary. A hollow tube including a fitting adapted for connection to a vacuum source and at least one smoke inlet is held in position with the smoke inlet proximate to a surgical wound. According to a preferred embodiment, a stapling tab extending from a flexible perforated tube is used to hold the evacuator in place around the periphery of a surgical incision. According to an alternative embodiment, a smoke evacuator attaches temporarily or permanently to a retractor or other surgical instrument. Standard tubing and couplers may be used and the assembly may be prepackaged in sterile condition and disposed after use.

1 . A surgical field smoke evacuator, comprising:
 a retractor terminating in a bent, distal end; and   a suction tube attached to the retractor, the tube having a proximal end adapted for coupling to a vacuum source and a distal end supported at the bent, distal end of the retractor to evacuate smoke from an incision being held open with the retractor   
   
   
       2 . The surgical field smoke evacuator of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the suction tube is flared. 
   
   
       3 . The surgical field smoke evacuator of  claim 1 , wherein the suction tube is permanently attached to the retractor. 
   
   
       4 . The surgical field smoke evacuator of  claim 1 , wherein the suction tube is temporarily attached to the retractor. 
   
   
       5 . The surgical field smoke evacuator of  claim 1 , wherein the retractor is a Hibbs-type retractor. 
   
   
       6 . The surgical field smoke evacuator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retractor has an upper surface that extends to the bent, distal; end   the suction tube is disposed on the upper surface and also includes a bent section.