ACUDERM
Creating Cleaner, Safer Surgical Environments

Acuderm offers cutting-edge solutions designed to protect medical professionals from harmful smoke and the minute airborne particles generated during dermatological surgical procedures. Committed to safety and efficiency, the company established itself as a leader in providing high-quality instruments, devices and services.

Central to Acuderm’s success is its flagship product, Acu-Evac—the only surgical smoke evacuator on the market to have received a patent. Featuring a nozzle to have received 3 patents for superior capture, Acu-Evac delivers an impressive filtration efficiency of 99.99997 percent on particles as small as 0.01 microns. Its compact, user-friendly design, coupled with the ability to capture even the finest particles, including micro-blood droplets makes it a game changer in the market.


“We offer proven, science-backed products designed to provide effective protection,” says Charles R. Yeh, president and CEO.

Acu-Evac was developed in response to dermatologists’ growing concern about removing smoke and improving visibility during surgical procedures. At the time, smoke evacuators were rarely used or even considered.

A dermatologist teaching advanced dermatologic surgery at Duke University Medical Center used an electrosurgical device that produced plumes of smoke, impairing visibility and causing irritation. He instinctively recognized the risk despite limited knowledge of its dangers and approached Yeh to solve the problem. This manifested as an opportunity for Yeh and his team to develop an effective and affordable solution.

“Our approach focuses on delivering the fastest, most cost-efficient solutions, ensuring rapid and widespread adoption,” says Yeh.

Where Efficiency Becomes the ROI

Acuderm sets a new benchmark in surgical smoke evacuation. It creates safer, quieter, cleaner
environments that safeguard doctors, nurses and patients from exposure to harmful smoke particles. Risks caused by smoke, which is mutagenic, include impaired visibility, respiratory irritation, blood droplets containing live viruses and the smell of burnt human flesh in treatment rooms.

Despite the known risks of small but pungent puffs of smoke released during procedures, many doctors viewed smoke evacuation systems as an expense rather than a necessary protective device.

The significance of smoke evacuation devices became increasingly evident during studies conducted in Germany, which revealed that surgical smoke contains approximately 146 hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens. Researchers also discovered virus-carrying micro-blood droplets in the smoke. They cultured these viruses to demonstrate that inhalation could lead to direct infections.

A notable case published in the association of perioperative registered nurses (AORN) journal describes an orthopedic surgeon who had to undergo a double lung transplant after breathing in significant amounts of surgical smoke.

In response to these alarming findings, Yeh was invited to participate in lobbying efforts aimed at the need for protective measures in operating rooms, especially for nurses who spend long hours exposed to surgical smoke. AORN has worked state by state to pass legislation, resulting in 18 states to date mandating the use of smoke evacuators in medical facilities, with more legislation in the pipeline.

Superior Smoke Evacuation

Acu-Evac has been widely accepted as the product of choice in an industry filled with expensive, noisy and inefficient products that fail to serve the intended purpose.

We offer proven, science-backed products designed to provide effective protection. Our approach focuses on delivering the fastest, most cost-efficient solutions, ensuring rapid and widespread adoption

It has been designed by considering key principles of physics and filtration science to maximize smoke capture efficiency and ensure a safe, odor-free environment. Initially, the industry relied on round nozzles, which are simply the ends of hoses. The 7/8-inch hose is meant to avoid interfering with medical procedures. These designs do not effectively address the physics involved in smoke evacuation. Many companies mistakenly believe that “more is better,” but in physics, counteracting forces can cancel out effectiveness, leading to significant efficiency losses.

When the idea of a one-inch diameter hose was proposed, many companies adopted this change. Yet, it still resulted in a two-inch sphere of influence, meaning that by the time the smoke reached the second diameter, only 2 percent operational efficiency remained, reflecting a 98 percent loss in effectiveness.

Acuderm’s patented hyperbolic cone-shaped nozzle addresses these inefficiencies. The innovative design utilizes the venturi effect—similar to the vortex created by a tornado—expanding its sphere of influence by over 60 percent. The effectiveness of the design is showcased by its ability to actively draw smoke in, unlike traditional nozzles that allow smoke to escape. The visual demonstration illustrates how smoke follows the nozzle like a tornado, highlighting the impressive performance.

Practitioners can work from a distance of three to four inches from where the smoke originates, a technique they had never considered before, as Acu-Evac also took into account the directional airflow within the room. The safe and proven product is easy to use and utilizes a sealed filter that is leak-tested.

Acu-Evac is the first product to obtain FDA clearance for exceptional filtration efficiency proven through rigorous tests. It features a multi-stage filtration system driven by its highly efficient ULPA absolute filters. The primary filtration mechanisms of interception and diffusion target larger and smallest particles, respectively.

Innovative design and advanced technology, with a deep understanding of filtration science that ensures efficiency and safety, are the hallmarks of Acu-Evac. It uses a combination of macro, micro and mesoporous carbon to capture a broader spectrum of odors produced by burnt skin.

It also added a key improvement in filter design.

This system is contained within a sealed, unitized canister equipped with a plastic plug for easy replacement. Replacing the main filter is simple and safe. The old filter slides out, and a stopper from the new filter is used to seal it, ensuring all biohazardous material is securely contained. The old filter can then be safely disposed of in a biohazard bag.

User-Friendly Product Guaranteeing Performance and Protection

Acuderm has thoroughly considered every aspect to prioritize user needs. It offers the solution under two starter packages. The wall mount package is suitable for practices with a mount fixed next to the ESU or surgical table. The only wall-mountable unit on the market, Acu-Evac eliminates the need for additional floor equipment, reducing the risk of tripping hazards. Equally impressive is its cart mount package, which facilitates the mobility of the equipment and is ideal for larger procedure rooms. A dual cart, boom arm and foot switch are provided with the product. Both packages include a 16-procedural-hour main filter, hose and 5 TX nozzles for enhanced functionality.



While many competitors try to outdo Acuderm by offering lower prices, higher costs of disposables would force dermatologists to spend as much on consumables annually as the price of one or two additional machines.

“We take pride in being knowledgeable about our product and the market that we’re in. We don’t get carried away with convenience at the expense of performance and protection,” says Yeh.

A steadfast commitment to safety and ease of use is reflected in the excellent feedback Acuderm receives from customers. The team actively participates in medical conventions to showcase their innovations and gather insights from the medical community. To highlight Acu-Evac’s filtration efficacy in real-world conditions, Acuderm set up a demonstration using the nozzle, pre-filter, and a beef steak inside an enclosed space alongside an electrosurgical unit (ESU). It activated the ESU and simultaneously used Acu-Evac to remove the smoke. Over time, the soft pre-filter turned brown, indicating particles and blood droplets were being captured from the smoke.

The capabilities of Acu-Evac were further emphasized when Acuderm engaged with Dr. Jeff Dover, M.D., a lecturer in ablative laser surgery formerly affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Having used all the commercial smoke evacuators, he was intrigued by Acu-Evac. During a one-hour full-face resurfacing procedure with a seven-millimeter spot size CO2 laser, he noticed how effectively Acu-Evac’s nozzle captured smoke. About a minute into the procedure, he paused and told the anesthesiologist that, for the first time, he could not smell the smoke. The anesthesiologist concurred.

Steering ahead, Acuderm is committed to developing new products that meet client requests. The first in the pipeline is a remotely activated handpiece with improved nozzle designed for enhanced performance and convenience.

By continually advancing its solutions in surgical smoke evacuation, Acuderm is reinforcing its position as a trusted leader that provides science-backed protection for medical professionals.