Single port manifold

Abstract

A manifold assembly ( 12 ) for a medical waste collection device ( 10 ) is provided. The manifold assembly ( 12 ) comprises a housing ( 14 ) and a cap ( 16 ) connected to the housing ( 14 ) by a snap-fit connection ( 18 ). The housing ( 14 ) includes a bottom ( 20 ) and a wall ( 24 ) extending upwardly therefrom about an axis ( 26 ). A support structure ( 22 ) is disposed on the bottom ( 20 ) of the housing ( 14 ) to support a plurality of filters ( 60, 62 ). An intake port ( 58 ) is disposed on the cap ( 16 ) at a tangential position relative to the wall ( 24 ) such that the fluid and material entering the manifold assembly ( 12 ) is directed along the wall ( 24 ) to better separate the material from the fluid and increase the life of the filters ( 60, 62 ).

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . A manifold assembly for use with a medical waste collection device to direct fluid into the medical waste collection device while separating material from the fluid, said assembly comprising: 
 a manifold defining a chamber and having a bottom and a wall with a curved section extending upwardly from said bottom about a first axis;    a first filter disposed in said chamber and spaced radially inwardly from said curved section to define a material collection space;    an intake port in fluid communication with said chamber and tangentially disposed relative to said curved section such that the fluid and material entering said chamber from said intake port move along a curved path in a centrifugal motion to separate the material from the fluid in said material collection space; and    an outlet port in fluid communication with said chamber for directing the fluid from said chamber to the medical waste collection device.    
     
     
         30 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said first filter has a cylindrical configuration and extends from said bottom about said first axis.  
     
     
         31 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 30  including a second filter having a cylindrical configuration concentrically disposed about said first filter.  
     
     
         32 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 29  including a support structure disposed on said bottom and extending upwardly from said bottom to define a filter support surface.  
     
     
         33 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 32  wherein said first filter is disposed about said filter support surface.  
     
     
         34 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 33  wherein said support structure includes a plurality of spokes extending radially from said first axis to an outer ring to define said filter support surface.  
     
     
         35 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 34  wherein said plurality of spokes include a plurality of inner spokes radially extending from said first axis to an inner ring and a plurality of outer spokes extending from said inner ring to said outer ring.  
     
     
         36 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 34  including an annular rib spaced radially outwardly from said outer ring to define an annular groove therebetween wherein said first filter has a first end disposed in said annular groove to seal said first end in said bottom.  
     
     
         37 . A manifold assembly as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said manifold comprises a manifold housing and a manifold cap connected to said manifold housing to define said chamber therebetween.