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We are a start-up company that sells a single product. It is called, “miniSquair®” and its purpose is to capture plume generated during open surgical procedures. It does this very well with a documented 99.5% efficiency assuming that the smoke evacuator to which it is attached can generate a minimum of 25…

We recently completed the yearly pilgrimage to AORN EXPO held in Denver. The weather was fantastic, the venue perfect thanks to AORN planning and the participants were engaged. The meeting had all the elements for success except that I didn’t see much innovation as I traversed the aisles of exhibits. Where were…

It is no secret that the federal government has increasingly been shifting risk associated with patient care to the hospitals through reduced reimbursements should surgical complications occur. These bureaucrats do not understand that such post-operative complications are most often inherent and not the result of clinical incompetence or technical errors. For example,…

So far, we have reviewed the harmful components of surgical smoke, the fact that chronic inhalation can cause systemic diseases and that federal and professional guidelines have not been sufficient to initiate universal protection for the perioperative team. Let’s examine this dissociation between reality and responsibility. As stated, it is the chronic…

To date, I have detailed my personal evolution from a surgeon who could not endure inhaling the smoke that resulted from my practice to one dedicated to resolving the problem for myself and others. I hope that as you have read these blogs, you have become energized to pursue your own solutions…

Designing a surgical device can be simple or difficult, inexpensive or costly. It depends on individual prototyping capabilities or a desire to work with a professional. Before you do either, however, first get a napkin or an envelope and start sketching. In our case, we made our initial design on the back…

When we began our journey, we said that our goal was to eliminate chronic inhalation of smoke plume that is produced in our operating rooms. Easier said than done since we have not achieved the goal after thirty (30) years of effort. The end-point has been elusive because, until recently, such a…

I’m waiting for my wife, Michele, to return home after her day’s work as an operating room nurse involved in robotic surgery. Which reminds me, in my previous blog, I said that I would discuss the laparoscopic phase of my career as a general surgeon so while I wait, please join my…