Collection and filtration via suction of biological material during surgical procedure

1. A method for collecting and filtering biological material from blood and other fluids during a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a first cover to a collection trap, the first cover including a suction port and an intake port;

(b) attaching a suction source to the suction port;

(c) attaching an instrument to the intake port, through which instrument blood and tissue are suctioned and received through the intake port into the collection trap;

(d) at least partially filing the collection trap with blood and tissue;

(e) removing the collection trap from the first cover;

(f) attaching a second cover to the collection trap in place of the first cover, with the second cover including a suction port, a plunger including a press head having a screen portion permitting blood and other fluids to pass there through but generally blocking tissue from passing there through, and a vent configured to permit air outside of the collection trap to enter therethrough into the collection trap at an opening located above the press head and proximate a top of the collection trap;

(g) attaching a suction source to the suction port of the second cover and, by applying suction via the suction port, creating an airflow through the vent into the collection trap to and out of the suction port;

(h) separating the blood from the tissue by deploying the plunger; and

(i) utilizing the airflow, drawing off the blood from the collection trap through the suction port.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of attaching the first cover to a second collection trap and at least partially filling the second collection trap while performing said steps (f) through (i).

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the first cover to a surgical drape on the side of a patient during the surgical procedure, wherein the first cover remains secured to the surgical drape while performing steps (d) through (i).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the suction port and the intake port of the first cover project in orthogonal directions, the suction port projecting outwardly on a side of the first cover, and the intake port projecting upwardly on a top of the first cover.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intake port and the suction port of the first cover project in orthogonal directions, the intake port projecting outwardly on a side of the first cover, and the suction port projecting upwardly on a top of the first cover.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is an ultrasonic device for cutting and removing tissue.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a suctioning device for removing bone.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a length of open-ended tubing to the suction port of the first cover.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising securing the first cover to a surgical drape of the patient along a side of the patient by folding the surgical drape over the tubing attached to the suction port and securing the surgical drape in said folded position.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said steps (f)-(i) are performed while the first cover remains attached to the surgical drape of the patient during the surgical procedure.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first cover is maintained secured to the surgical drape throughout suctioning of the blood and other fluids during the surgical procedure.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locking the plunger in a position in which the press head of the plunger is located proximate an underside of the second cover at the top of the collection trap.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (h) comprise moving the plunger, against a spring force, away from a position in which the press head of the plunger is located proximate an underside of the second cover at the top of the collection trap, to a position in which the press head of the plunger is located proximate a bottom of the collection trap.

14. A method for collecting and filtering biological material from blood and other fluids during a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a first lid to a collection container, the first lid including a suction port and an intake port;

(b) attaching a suction source to the suction port of the first lid;

(c) attaching an ultrasonic device for cutting and removing tissue to the intake port of the first lid, through which ultrasonic device blood and tissue are suctioned and received through the intake port of the first lid into the container;

(d) at least partially filing a chamber of the container with blood and tissue;

(e) detaching the container from the first lid;

(f) attaching a second lid to the container in place of the first lid, with the second lid including a suction port, a plunger including a press head located within the chamber and having a screen portion permitting blood and other fluids to pass there through but generally blocking tissue from passing there through, and a vent permitting ambient air to enter from outside of the container into the chamber at an opening located above the press head and proximate a top end of the chamber;

(g) attaching a suction source to the suction port of the second lid and creating a flow of ambient air through the vent into the chamber, and from the chamber through the suction port;

(h) separating the blood from the tissue by deploying the plunger within the chamber; and

(i) drawing off the separated blood from the chamber through the suction port of the second lid utilizing the flow of ambient air through the chamber.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising securing the first lid to a surgical drape of the patient along a side of the patient, including attaching tubing to the suction port of the first lid, folding the surgical drape over the tubing attached to the suction port, and securing the surgical drape in said folded position.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said steps (f)-(i) are performed while the first lid remains secured to the surgical drape of the patient during the surgical procedure.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising locking the plunger in a position in which the press head of the plunger is located proximate an underside of the second lid at the top end of the chamber.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein said step (h) comprise moving the plunger through the chamber, against a spring force, away from a position in which the press head of the plunger is located proximate an underside of the second lid at the top end of the chamber, to a position in which the press head of the plunger is located proximate a bottom end of the chamber opposite to the top end.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of attaching the first lid to a second container and at least partially filling a chamber of the second container while performing said steps (f) through (i).

20. A method for collecting and filtering biological material from fluid suctioned from a patient during a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a first lid to a first collection container, the first lid including a suction port and an intake port;

(b) attaching a suction source to the suction port of the first lid;

(c) securing the first lid to a surgical drape of the patient along a side of the patient, including attaching tubing to the suction port of the first lid, folding the surgical drape over the tubing attached to the suction port, and securing the surgical drape in said folded position;

(d) attaching a device for suctioning fluid containing biological material from the patient to the intake port of the first lid, through which intake port the fluid containing the biological material is suctioned and received into the first container;

(e) at least partially filing a chamber of the first container with the fluid containing the biological material;

(f) detaching the first container from the first lid, attaching a second container to the first lid, and at least partially filling a chamber of the second container with additional fluid containing biological material suctioned from the patient;

(g) and while at least partially filling the chamber of the second container,

(i) attaching a second lid to the first container, with the second lid including a suction port, a plunger including a press head located within the chamber of the first container and having a screen portion permitting blood and other fluids to pass there through but generally blocking biological material from passing there through, and a vent permitting ambient air to enter from outside of the first container into the chamber of the first container at an opening located above the press head and proximate a top end of the chamber of the first container;

(ii) attaching a suction source to the suction port of the second lid and creating an airflow of ambient air through the vent into the chamber of the first container, and from the chamber of the first container through the suction port;

(iii) separating the blood from the biological material by deploying the plunger within the chamber of the first container; and

(iv) drawing off the blood from the chamber of the first container through the suction port of the second lid utilizing the airflow to transport the blood.