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The phrase, “smoke evacuation” is DEAD!  It died when the coronavirus arrived. As elective surgery was pushed aside to prepare for increased medical hospital admissions, epidemiologists were questioning the pathogenicity of bioaerosols.

Thanks to Covid-19, our focus has shifted from removal of surgical smoke to capturing as many bioaerosols as technology allows.

The principles of aerosol control learned in the hospital setting should work as well for the aircraft environment.

A Simpler Solution for Increased Safety of the COVID-19 Caregiver

Nascent Surgical has expanded the usefulness of its highly effective aerosol capture device which is currently used to remove surgical plume. The alternative use is for protection of the healthcare worker that cares for the hospitalized, isolated COVID-19 patient.

I’ve recently been involved in a number of clinical trials of our “miniSquair® surgical smoke and bioaerosol capture device. It is a component of a smoke evacuation “system” which consists of the smoke capture device (the ESU “pencil” or the miniSquair®), a length of flexible tubing, an ULPA filter and a smoke…

The achievement of capturing and removing surgical plume has proven to be an evolutionary and not a revolutionary effort. The journey from a simple vacuum hose to a stylized electrosurgical (“ESU”) “pencil” to a transformative cell foam-based flat plenum or pad placed close to the wound, has taken thirty-three (33) years to…

The electrosurgical unit (ESU) “pencil” has had two decades to gain the favor of clinicians. Despite this lengthy period of use, surgeons have balked because of its interference with their ability to see the tip of the dissecting monopolar electrode, fatigue from the torque imposed on their hand by the embedded tubing…

The electrosurgical unit (“ESU”) “pencil” wars are heating up now that both the short and long-term health hazards caused by inhaling surgical plume have been accepted1,2. Perioperative nursing groups and various industry leaders have led the way in educational efforts aimed at clinicians, hospital administrators and even state politicians. Covidien, Stryker, Conmed…

Prior writings have revealed our belief that the meaning of the term, “smoke evacuation” has evolved well beyond meaning a method for capture of trace gases and particulates produced as a result of pyrolysis of tissue. As our teachings indicate, based upon third party testing of our miniSQUAIR,1 we now know that…