System for disposal of fluids

Abstract

A system for disposing of body fluids collected during surgery comprises a canister and an apparatus for emptying and cleaning the canister. The canister has a lid having an inlet port to receive body fluids during surgery and for insertion of a cleaning fluid sprayer during servicing, an outlet port with a suction tube extending into the canister for removal of fluids therefrom, and a vacuum port for the application of vacuum to the canister. The servicing unit is an appliance having a receiving compartment in which the canister is placed. A connector head in the servicing unit connects the canister to a source of cleaning fluid and to a conduit for evacuating the fluids in the canister through the suction tube and to a decontamination chamber, where they are brought into contact with a disinfecting fluid, and subsequently to a drain.

1 . A canister for receiving body fluids, comprising:
 (a) a vessel having side walls and a bottom;   (b) a removable lid for sealably covering said vessel;   (c) a first inlet port in said lid for inflow of said body fluids into said canister;   (d) a second inlet port in said lid for inflow of cleaning fluid into said canister;   (e) a vacuum port in said lid for application of vacuum to said canister for inducing said inflow of said body fluids into said canister; and   (f) an outlet port in said canister for outflow of fluids from said canister.   
   
   
       2 . A canister according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sprayer in fluid communication with said second inlet port for spraying said cleaning fluid within said canister. 
   
   
       3 . A canister according to  claim 2  wherein said sprayer comprises a sprayhead. 
   
   
       4 . A canister according to  claim 1 , further including a check valve on said lid operably coupled to said vacuum port for stopping said application of vacuum to said canister when said body fluids in said canister reach a predetermined level.