ATMOS MEDAP FUMOVAC 700 Smoke Evacuator: Facts and Fit

What the FUMOVAC 700 is

The MEDAP FUMOVAC 700 removes surgical smoke at the source. It is designed for continuous operation and delivers a quiet flow of 700 l/min. The manufacturer states that it meets the needs of HF, RF, ultrasound and laser surgery as well as laparoscopy, which makes it a general-purpose unit for a mixed-energy theatre.

ATMOS positions it at half the size and weight of its predecessor. It measures 150 × 280 × 390 mm (H × W × D) and weighs 5.0 kg with filter, so it fits into HF towers or on ceiling supply unit platforms. For the clinical background to smoke exposure, read our overview of surgical smoke hazards. Remember that exposure accumulates over long lists, so a quiet unit that staff are willing to leave running is better than a powerful one that gets switched off.

Filter and inlets

The four-stage filter lasts up to 35 hours, and the data sheet lists filter lifetimes of 18, 24 or 35 hours depending on the filter variant. The filter has three magnetically covered inlets for 22 mm, 9.5 mm and 6.4 mm tubes, which allows both wide open-surgery nozzles and thin laparoscopic lines to be connected, with the unused inlets closed by magnetic flaps.

Ask which filter variant is supplied with the unit and what the replacement programme is. Our guide to smoke evacuator filters shows how to convert hours of life into a cost per hour of use.

• Four-stage filter, up to 35 hours
• Inlets for 22, 9.5 and 6.4 mm tubes
• Magnetic flaps close unused inlets
• Filter variants of 18, 24 or 35 hours

Operation and activation

Operation is deliberately simple: two buttons with LED status indicators. An automatic HF remote switch activator starts and stops the unit together with the HF pencil, so staff do not have to remember to switch the evacuator on. This is convenient for electrosurgery and LEEP-type work; for laser procedures, confirm the activation method with the supplier.

Noise is stated at 55 dB(A). In a quiet consulting room or an OR where communication matters this is a useful figure, although you should still listen to the unit running in your actual environment.

Where it fits

The compact format suits hospitals that build HF towers or use ceiling pendants, and clinics that want a small dedicated unit. Where a department uses several energy sources, a unit that supports HF, RF, ultrasound and laser is easier to standardise on. In laparoscopy, the small inlets support direct connection of a filtered line; see laparoscopic smoke evacuation for the workflow.

For office-based laser and LEEP work see our smoke evacuator for laser and LEEP guide. If you are comparing units, a neutral alternative on our range is the BOWA SHE SHA, which has a sensor-activated four-stage ULPA-15 filter and 708 l/min.

Specification checklist

When writing the requirement, ask for flow at the nozzle, filter efficiency documentation, noise measured in the room, mounting options and the availability of filters and tubing locally. Beckfinity can provide the unit through its ATMOS brand range with installation support; see the ATMOS brand page and the FUMOVAC 700 product page, then contact our specialists for a quote.