Filter assembly device for use in surgical aspirated suction

A filter assembly for use in conjunction with a surgical evacuation system comprising an aspirator tip, a flexible suction conduit and a suction pump, the filter assembly comprising:

• a filter housing comprising a head portion and a body portion, the head portion having a first end, a second end and a through passageway extending therebetween, the first end of the head portion connected to the aspirator tip and fluidly communicating the aspirator tip with the passageway extending through the head portion, a portion of the passageway in the second end of the head portion of the filter housing defining a first chamber, the body portion having a first end, a second end and a through passageway extending therebetween, the second end of the body portion connected to the flexible suction conduit, a portion of the passageway in the second end of the body portion defining a second chamber such that when the first end of the body portion is slidingly disposed in the second end of the head portion the first and second chambers in the head portion and the body portion cooperate to define a filter receiving chamber;
• and
• a removable, elongated tubular mesh filter element disposed within the filter receiving chamber of the filter housing, the filter element comprising a head member having a fluid flow passageway extending therethrough, a fluid impermeable base member spatially disposed from the head member and a fluid permeable tubular mesh body member disposed between the head member and the based member, the head member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of the head member extending beyond the first end of the body portion of the filter body to facilitate removal of the filter element from the filter housing when the head portion of the filter housing is separated from the body portion of the filter housing and said second portion of the head member forming a substantially fluid-tight seal with the body portion of the filter housing whereby the fluid permeable tubular mesh body member of the filter element provides a collection chamber for aspirated tissue and materials during surgical procedures.