Method and apparatus for removing debris from a drill hole during drilling

A method for removing debris from a drill hole, said method comprising:

• providing a drill system comprising:
• a drill rod comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a primary lumen extending between said proximal end and said distal end, and a secondary lumen extending parallel to said primary lumen, said primary lumen being fluidically-isolated from said secondary lumen;
• a drill bit, said drill bit comprising:
• a proximal end for mounting to said distal end of said drill rod;
• a distal end configured to drill into a material so as to form the drill hole;
• at least one air channel extending between said proximal end of said drill bit and said distal end of said drill bit, said at least one air channel being configured to be fluidically connected to said secondary lumen of said drill rod when said drill bit is mounted to said drill rod;
• and
• at least one vacuum channel extending between said proximal end of said drill bit and said distal end of said drill bit, said at least one vacuum channel being configured to be fluidically connected to said primary lumen of said drill rod when said drill bit is mounted to said drill rod;
• a container fluidically connected to said primary lumen of said drill rod;
• a compressor, said compressor being fluidically connected to said secondary lumen of said drill rod and fluidically connected to said container;
• wherein said compressor (i) draws air from said container so as to generate a vacuum within said container, which vacuum is fluidically connected to said primary lumen of said drill rod and hence to said at least one vacuum channel of said drill bit, and (ii) passes pressurized air through said secondary lumen of said drill rod such that said pressurized air passes through said at least one air channel of said drill bit and exits said distal end of said drill bit into the drill hole, such that pressurized air exiting said at least one air channel into the hole and debris in the hole enters said at least one vacuum channel and, under the power of the suction provided by said vacuum, is drawn through said primary lumen of said drill rod and into said container, such that the debris is collected in said container;
• rotating said drill bit so as to form a drill hole in a material;
• and
• passing pressurized air through said at least one air channel of said drill bit into the drill hole while simultaneously applying vacuum to said at least one vacuum channel so as to draw debris into said primary lumen of said drill rod and into said container.