System for disposal of fluids

Abstract

A system for disposing of body fluids collected during surgery comprises a canister and an apparats for emptying and cleaning 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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A check valve for a canister adapted to receive fluids, said canister adapted to receive fluids, said canister having a vacuum port for application of vacuum to said canister for inducing a flow of fluids into said canister, said check valve being operably coupled to said vacuum port for stopping said application of vacuum to said canister when said fluids in said canister reach a pre-determined level.  
     
     
         2 . A check valve according to  claim 1  wherein said check valve comprises: 
 (a) a floatball operably coupled to a needle valve; and  
 (b) a floatball cage for housing said floatball, said floatball cage comprising a needle valve guide for slidably retaining said needle valve.