Removable Inlet Manifold For A Medical/Surgical Waste Collection Unit

Abstract

A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a includes at least one fitting through which waste is drawn into the manifold. The fitting opens through an inlet port into a void space internal to the manifold. The manifold includes a drip stop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manifold for connection to a receiver of a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the receiver having a valve disk that selectively allows/blocks fluid flow through the receiver, the valve disk being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the valve disk, the manifold comprising:
 a housing sized and shaped to be disposed in the receiver and, when in the receiver, rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the valve disk, the housing having a proximal end base, an axis that extends through the end base, and a side wall extending distally from the end base, with an outlet opening defined in the end base that is off axis from the axis of the end base;   a filter disposed in the housing;   at least one fitting arranged in fluid communication with the housing that receives a suction line; and   a drip stop seated in the outlet opening, the drip stop having an outer perimeter slot that receives a perimeter section of the end base that defines the outlet opening, and having a plurality of lips that define a second slot in the drip stop.   
     
     
         2 . The manifold as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the end base of the housing defines an outer end base surface that faces away from the filter; and
 wherein at least a portion of the drip stop is disposed in abutment with the outer end base surface.   
     
     
         3 . The manifold as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the outer end base surface has a generally cylindrical profile. 
     
     
         4 . The manifold as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the outlet opening has a generally cylindrical profile which is nonconcentric with the generally cylindrical profile of the outer end base surface. 
     
     
         5 . The manifold as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the end base of the housing defines an outer end base surface that faces away from the filter; and
 wherein at least a portion of the drip stop is disposed in the housing such that the outer end base surface faces away from the plurality of lips of the drip stop that define the second slot in the drip stop.   
     
     
         6 . A manifold for connection to a receiver of a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the receiver having a valve disk that selectively allows/blocks fluid flow through the receiver, the valve disk being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the valve disk and having a boss that is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the valve disk, the manifold comprising:
 a housing sized and shaped to be disposed in the receiver and, when in the receiver, rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the valve disk, the housing having a proximal end base, an axis that extends through the end base, and a side wall extending distally from the end base, with an outlet opening defined in the end base that is off axis from the axis of the end base;   a filter disposed in the housing;   at least one fitting arranged in fluid communication with the housing that receives a suction line; and   a single-piece drip stop mounted to the end base around the outlet opening, the drip stop having:
 at least one movable valve member that, when the manifold is in the receiver, allows fluid flow through the outlet opening and, when the manifold is removed from the receiver, closes to block fluid flow through the outlet opening, and 
 a seal assembly that, when the manifold is in the receiver, forms a seal between the valve disk boss and the end base. 
   
     
     
         7 . The manifold as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the end base of the housing defines an outer end base surface that faces away from the filter; and
 wherein at least a portion of the drip stop is disposed in abutment with the outer end base surface.   
     
     
         8 . The manifold as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the outer end base surface has a generally cylindrical profile. 
     
     
         9 . The manifold as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the outlet opening has a generally cylindrical profile which is nonconcentric with the generally cylindrical profile of the outer end base surface.