Why smoke evacuation matters (in 30 seconds)
Surgical smoke contains ultra‑fine particles, VOCs and bio‑aerosols. CONMED’s Buffalo Filter line traps these hazards with multi‑stage filtration—ULPA media plus activated carbon—achieving 99.999% efficiency for 0.1–0.2 µm particles on legacy systems, and up to 99.9997% down to 0.01 µm on the newest platform. CONMED
Quick compatibility cheat‑sheet
| Evacuator (setting) | Primary filter family | Key part numbers | Ports | Rated life* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlumeSafe® X5™ (modern OR) | PX5 5‑stage filter | PX5‑135‑22 (1/ea), PX5‑1354‑22 (4/case) | Dual 22 mm (two 7/8″) | System‑tracked; 5‑stage, 99.9997% @ 0.01–0.2 µm CONMED |
| VisiClear® (acute care OR) | VisiClear 3‑port ViroSafe® | VS135, VS1352, VS1354 | 1/4″, 3/8″, 7/8″ | Up to 35 hours |
| ViroVac® (office & ASC) | ViroVac ViroSafe® | VS353, VS35302, VS35304 | 3‑port (covered) | Up to 35 hours (variable, tracked) CONMED |
| PlumeSafe Turbo / Whisper / Turbo Auto‑Sense (legacy) | ViroSafe® 6‑hour | VS06002 (2/case), VS06004 (4/case) | Single 7/8″ | 6 hours |
| Porta PlumeSafe® 604 (vet & non‑acute) | ViroSafe® XLL (long‑life) or ViroSafe® 6 | SING_VSXLL, VSXLL02, VSXLL04; or VS06002/VS06004 | XLL: 7/8″ & 1‑1/4″ dual; 6‑hr: single 7/8″ | XLL up to 18 hours; 6‑hr: 6 hours |
* Filter life refers to active suction time and is often tracked on the device (VisiClear & ViroVac) to prevent overuse. CONMED+1
Meet the systems (and when to choose each)
PlumeSafe® X5™ — CONMED’s newest 5‑stage platform
If you want the most aggressive capture (including very fine particulates), X5 adds a 5‑stage filter rated 99.9997% down to 0.01 µm, dual 7/8″ ports (run two pencils at once), and a touch interface with three procedure modes. Order filters as PX5‑135‑22 (1/ea) or PX5‑1354‑22 (4/case). CONMED+1
Best for: modern ORs seeking top‑tier particulate and VOC reduction with streamlined workflow.
VisiClear® — quiet, programmable, and OR‑ready
VisiClear brings Whisper Technology (low noise), SafePort™ covered ports, filter‑life tracking, an occlusion warning, and one‑touch modes for open tubing, pencil, and laparoscopic use. Uses the ViroSafe VisiClear 3‑port filter (VS135 series) rated up to 35 hours; the 3 ports accept 1/4″, 3/8″, and 7/8″ tubing. Common sku: VS1354 (4/case). CONMEDMFI MedicalDuraPro Health
Best for: acute‑care ORs that need quiet operation and flexible setups (including laparoscopy).
ViroVac® — compact value for clinics and ASCs
ViroVac is a smaller footprint unit with variable filter life (up to 35 hours) and a patented covered 3‑port filter design. Order filters as VS353 / VS35302 / VS35304. CONMED
Best for: physician offices and outpatient centers wanting tracked filter life without the bulk.
Legacy & specialty: PlumeSafe Turbo / Whisper / Auto‑Sense, and Porta PlumeSafe® 604
Many practices still run these reliable Buffalo Filter models. They typically pair with ViroSafe 6‑hour filters (VS0600x)—single 7/8″ port—for fast‑turnover procedures. For longer cases or lower staffing touchpoints on the Porta PlumeSafe 604, choose the ViroSafe XLL (dual 7/8″ & 1‑1/4″ ports) up to 18 hours. The 604 is positioned for veterinary and non‑acute environments where moderate flow is appropriate. CONMED
Filter families explained (what’s inside and why it matters)
- ViroSafe® (VisiClear & ViroVac versions): Four‑stage cartridge (pre‑filter, activated carbon, ULPA, post‑filter). 99.999% efficiency for 0.1–0.2 µm; models differ by porting and rated life (6, 18, or up to 35 hours). CONMED
- PX5 filter: Next‑gen 5‑stage design, 99.9997% down to 0.01 µm, with dual 7/8″ ports to power two smoke pencils simultaneously. CONMED
Port sizes & adapters at a glance
- Single 7/8″ (ViroSafe 6‑hr) — simple pencil/tubing setups.
- Dual 7/8″ & 1‑1/4″ (ViroSafe XLL) — flexibility for high‑flow or mixed accessories.
- 1/4″, 3/8″, 7/8″ (VisiClear filter) — maximum compatibility on the acute‑care unit.
How to choose the right unit + filter (simple decision flow)
- Setting & case mix
- Acute OR: Start with VisiClear (quiet + modes) or X5 (highest particulate/VOC capture). CONMED+1
- Clinic/ASC: ViroVac balances cost and capability; small footprint. CONMED
- Legacy/veterinary/non‑acute: Porta PlumeSafe 604 with XLL or 6‑hr filters. CONMED
- Procedure duration
- Short, high‑turn cases → ViroSafe 6‑hr (VS0600x). McKesson Medical-Surgical
- Mixed day / fewer change‑outs → ViroSafe XLL (up to 18 hrs). McKesson Medical-Surgical
- All‑day rooms / tracked usage → VisiClear VS135 or ViroVac VS353 (up to 35 hrs).
- Max capture spec / forward‑looking → PX5 filter. CONMED
- Noise & ergonomics
- Sensitive rooms benefit from Whisper Technology on VisiClear. CONMED
- Automation
- Add EZLink to auto‑activate suction with the energy device—extends filter life and reduces noise. Works across CONMED evacuators. CONMED
Model snapshots (spec highlights)
- VisiClear (VC120/VC220): 30 cfm using 7/8″ tubing; <55 dBA at max; 7.1″ H × 13.9″ W × 16.1″ D; includes one filter when ordered as VC120/VC220. CONMED
- ViroVac (VV120/VV220): compact shelf design; includes footswitch; variable life up to 35 hours; order VS353 filters. CONMED
- PlumeSafe X5 (PX5‑120 / PX5‑220): dual 7/8″ ports; touch‑sensitive display; 5‑stage filter (PX5‑135‑22 / PX5‑1354‑22). CONMED
- Porta PlumeSafe 604: portable, moderate‑flow; commonly used in veterinary & non‑acute settings. CONMED
FAQs
What’s the difference between ViroSafe 6, XLL, VS135, and VS353?
They’re all four‑stage ULPA/carbon cartridges, but they’re sized/ported and validated for different units and life ratings: 6‑hour single‑port (legacy Turbo/Whisper/604), XLL up to 18 hours (Turbo/604), VS135 up to 35 hours (VisiClear 3‑port), VS353 up to 35 hours (ViroVac 3‑port with covered ports). McKesson Medical-Surgical+1MFI MedicalCONMED
Do newer systems really capture more than older ones?
Yes. Legacy CONMED/Buffalo cartridges are 99.999% @ 0.1–0.2 µm, while PlumeSafe X5 is rated 99.9997% @ 0.01–0.2 µm thanks to its 5‑stage design. CONMED+1
Will the filters fit across different brands?
CONMED sells some competitive‑replacement filters, but always match your exact evacuator model to its specified filter part numbers to maintain performance specs. Start with the tables above or your device’s brochure/IFU. CONMED
