US 2002/0177824 A1 · Surgical suction probe system with an easily cleaned internal filter

Abstract

A suction probe system for cleaning debris from a surgical site includes a probe tip, a cylindrical filter with inner and outer chambers in fluid communication with the probe tip, and a suction source in fluid communication with the filter unit. In a first version, the inner chamber is attached to the suction source, and an outer surface of the filter accumulates debris particles, which are removed by a cleaning cylinder sliding along the outer surface of the filter as a distal portion of the probe system is slid along a proximal portion thereof. In a second version, the outer chamber is attached to the suction source, and a inner surface of the filter accumulates debris particles, which are removed by rotation of a paddle within the filter as the distal portion of the probe system is rotated on the proximal portion thereof.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A suction probe for use with a vacuum system external to said vacuum probe to remove debris from a surgical site, wherein said suction probe comprises:

a proximal portion including a tubular port for attachment to said vacuum system;
a distal portion including a tubular probe tip, movably attached to said proximal portion;
a channel extending between an opening in said tubular probe tip and an opening in said tubular port;
a reservoir holding debris within said suction probe;
a filter extending within said channel, wherein said filter includes one or more apertures restricting movement of particles of said debris from said opening in said tubular probe tip to said opening in said tubular port;
and
a filter cleaning member, moving along said filter with movement of said distal portion relative to said proximal portion, wherein movement of said filter cleaning member pushes said particles of said debris away from each of said one or more apertures to be held in said reservoir.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surgical suction probe system with an easily cleaned internal filter

Life of this patent

Surgical suction probe system with an easily cleaned internal filter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17