Flow control system and method for endoscopic surgeries

A system for controlling fluid flow in endoscopic surgery, comprising:

• a probe device insertable during endoscopic surgery to a surgical site for aspirating fluid and organic debris from the surgical site, the probe device supplying irrigation fluid and having an aspirating tip and including probe tubing coupled to receive fluid aspirated through the probe device;
• a drain receptacle device having an outlet and including drain tubing coupled to the outlet, the drain receptacle device being positioned to collect overflow irrigation fluid at the surgical site from a body opening communicating with the surgical site;
• a common tubing line coupling both the probe tubing and the drain tubing to the collection canister;
• and
• a negative pressure source coupled to the at least one collection canister for holding an interior of the at least one collection canister under negative pressure and producing a suction force through the probe tubing and drain tubing via the common tubing line;
• wherein the drain tubing has a sufficiently high impedance to flow as compared to the impedance to flow of the probe tubing such that the suction force at the aspirating tip is larger than the suction force at the drain receptacle and a majority of irrigation fluid at the surgical site is removed through the aspiration tip while overflow irrigation fluid is drawn into the collection canister from the drain receptacle.