Medical suction apparatus

A suction system for absorbing and collecting blood and other interstitial fluids from a patient during surgical procedures into a fluid receptacle for possible reuse comprising:

• a. absorbing means contacting and absorbing fluid to be collected;
• b. a suction source for providing suction through the absorbing means such that the absorbed fluid is drawn away from said absorbing means;
• c. a backing plate, attached to said absorbing means, for supporting said absorbing means, said backing plate having a centrally positioned orifice formed therein;
• p1 d. delivery means, attached to the orifice of the backing plate, for receiving suction force from the suction source and delivering the suction force to the absorbing means;
• e. suction force proportioning means, in communication with said backing plate and said absorbing means, for distributing the suction force from said suction means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means.

A method for absorbing and collecting blood and other interstitial fluids from a surgical site within a patient comprising the steps:

• a. obtaining an apparatus for absorbing and collecting the blood comprising:
• 1) absorbing means for contacting and absorbing the fluid to be collected;
• 2) backing means, attached to said absorbing means, for supporting said absorbing means, said backing means having a substantially centrally positioned orifice formed therein;
• 3) delivery means, attached to the orifice of the backing means, for receiving suction force from a suction source and delivering the suction force to the absorbing means;
• 4) suction force proportioning means, in communication with said backing means and said absorbing means, for distributing the suction force from said suction means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means;
• b. placing said absorbing means against the area from which the fluid is to be collected;
• c. allowing the fluid to be absorbed into the absorbing means;
• d. attaching a suction source to said delivery means;
• e. operating the suction source such that a suction force is provided through the delivery means to the absorbing means;
• f. allowing the suction force proportioning means to disperse the suction force along the absorbing means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means into the delivery means;
• g. collecting the fluid extracted from the absorbing means into a fluid receptacle for later reuse of the collected fluid.