Air Sealing Technology Benefits Surgeons, Hospitals, and Patients

A novel insufflation sealing system provides unprecedented access to the abdominal cavity during both laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

The SurgiQuest AirSeal intelligent Flow System (iFS) provides a stable pneumoperitoneum, enabling surgeons to operate in even the most challenging situations, such as creating an open channel from the abdominal cavity for specimen removal, large instrument insertion, and colpotomy during laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy. The system works by continuously and automatically evacuating smoke and plume, as well as evacuating, filtering, and recirculating CO2, thus providing a constant valve-free trocar access to the abdominal cavity.


The software driven system features a large touchscreen display that enables the monitoring of key readouts including flow rate, intra-abdominal pressure, and gas supply level. The iFS also provides visual and audible alerts to communicate important messages to the operating room (OR) team, including low gas level warnings or excessive flow alerts, which may indicate an open stopcock or a dislodged trocar. The system is capable of operating in three different modes, depending on the specific needs of the procedure. For maximum performance, AirSeal Mode is recommended as it provides high flow insufflation, stable pneumoperitoneum (even under constant suction) and continuous smoke evacuation throughout the procedure.

The AirSeal Access Port features a proprietary 3-channel intake manifold that is designed to maximize inflow, evacuate smoke, and enable continuous pressure sensing. It also features a unique means of creating a seal by using a series of high-pressure nozzles within the cannula housing that directs a downward pressure of CO2 that is equal in force to the intra-abdominal pressure chosen by the surgeon with the AirSeal iFS. The result is an invisible, horizontal air barrier that instantaneously responds to changes in intra-abdominal pressure, either by allowing more CO2 inflow with pressure drops or by serving as a pressure relief valve during pressure spikes.

The valve-free design of the AirSeal Access Port enables smudge-free scope insertion, intact specimen removal, effortless insertion and withdrawal of instruments, implants, and sutures, insertion of multiple, small diameter instruments, and insertion of instruments without cylindrical geometry. The 12mm Access Port is available in several lengths and tip configurations to address both surgeon preference and patient variety. The SurgiQuest AirSeal System is a product of SurgiQuest (Milford, CT, USA).

“AirSeal does the job of an insufflator, smoke evacuator, and pneumo-occluder all-in-one,” said Ricardo Estape, MD, director of robotics at the Baptist Health System (Jacksonville, FL, USA). “As one of the biggest robotic programs in the country, we have seen its value and changed over all our systems to AirSeal.”

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SurgiQuest
Baptist Health System