I got this from a google query about a year ago. I use .search().remove to remove any element which .search() can find. I cannot use .search() for find comments so I use .orphan_node() to help me remove them.

[Source]

     # File app/controllers/frgmnts_controller.rb, line 198
198:   def Hpricot.orphan_node(node)
199:    list = node.parent.children
200:    node.parent = nil
201:    list.delete(node)
202:   end