US5108474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smoke filter
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1991-01-03
•
Granted: 1992-04-28
•
Expires: 2011-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A smoke filter which is useful in containing smoke produced during electrosurgery or laser surgery procedures which has a prefilter layer to contain most of the smoke produced in these surgical procedures and to extend the useful life of the smoke filter, a microporous polymeric membrane layer which acts as a final filtering layer of the smoke filter and disposed between these two layers is a protective foam layer which protects the integrity of the microporous polymeric membrane from damage caused by the prefilter layer.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Riedy
- 👤 Ralph D. Zingle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:31
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/32; B01; B01D; B01D39/00; B01D39/14; B01D39/16; B01D46/00; B01D46/10; B01D46/12; B01D69/00; B01D69/12; B01D69/1213; B01D69/1216; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/30; B01D71/32; B01D71/36; B32B27/00; B32B27/32; B32B27/36; B32B27/40; B32B5/18; B32B5/24; B32B5/245; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B32B2266/00; B32B2266/02; B32B2266/0214; B32B2266/0278; B32B2266/06; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/02; B32B2305/026; B32B2315/00; B32B2315/08; B32B2317/00; B32B2317/18; B32B2317/22; B32B2319/00; B32B2323/00; B32B2323/04; B32B2323/10; B32B2327/00; B32B2327/06; B32B2367/00; B32B2375/00; B32B2377/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A smoke filter comprising layers in the sequence of: a) a prefilter layer selected from the class consisting of organic nonwoven material and nonwoven glass, b) a protective foam layer, c) a microporous polymeric membrane layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A smoke filter comprising layers in the sequence of: a) a prefilter layer selected from the class consisting of organic nonwoven material and nonwoven glass, b) a protective foam layer, c) a microporous polymeric membrane layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, wherein layer a) the prefilter layer and layer b) the protective foam layer are laminated to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 2, wherein layer c) the microporous polymeric membrane layer is laminated to layer b) the protective foam layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, wherein layer b) the protective foam layer and layer c) the microporous polymeric membrane layer are laminated to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the prefilter layer, the protective foam layer and the microporous polymeric membrane layer are firmly attached at their peripheries by a sealing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 5, wherein the sealing means is a mechanical means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 5 wherein the sealing means is an adhesive means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the prefilter layer, the protective foam layer and the microporous polymeric membrane layer are combined using a combination of lamination and sealing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a polymeric nonwoven support layer adhered to layer c) the microporous polymeric membrane layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a polymeric nonwoven support layer adhered to layer a) the prefilter layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the prefilter layer is an organic nonwoven material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 11 wherein the organic nonwoven material is selected from the class consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyethylene and cellulose.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1 wherein the prefilter layer is a nonwoven glass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective foam layer is an open celled reticulated foam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 14, wherein the protective foam layer is a foamed rubber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 15, wherein the protective foam layer is a foamed rubber selected from the class consisting of butyl rubber, natural rubber, neoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, latex rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, polychloroprene rubber and silicone rubber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 14, wherein the protective foam layer is a foamed plastic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 17, wherein the protective foam layer is a foamed plastic selected from the class consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-propylene terpolymers, polyacrylates and polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 17, wherein the protective foam layer is a polyurethane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the microporous polymeric membrane layer is between 0.005 and 0.762 mm thick.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1 wherein the microporous polymeric membrane layer is hydrophobic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1 wherein the microporous polymeric membrane layer is microporous polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1 wherein the microporous polymeric membrane layer is selected from the class consisting of nitrocellulose, triacetyl cellulose, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfone, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, acrylate copolymer and methacrylate copolymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A smoke filter as recited in claim 1 wherein the smoke filter is convoluted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A smoke filter housing comprising: a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet; b) a smoke filter comprising layers in the sequence of: i) a prefilter layer, ii) a protective foam layer, iii) a microporous polymeric membrane layer, and; c) a means of sealing said smoke filter between said inlet and said outlet of said housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
A smoke filter housing comprising: a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet; b) a smoke filter comprising layers in the sequence of: i) a prefilter layer, ii) a protective foam layer, iii) a microporous polymeric membrane layer, and; c) a means of sealing said smoke filter between said inlet and said outlet of said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4187390A
Cited
US4155247A
Cited
US4324574A
Cited
US4382440A
Cited
US4477270A
Cited
US4702940A
Cited
US4619672A
Cited
US4877433A
Cited
US4816328A
Cited
US4957518A
Cited
US4957522A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |