Intra-operative blood recovery system

1. A method for recovering blood for autologous with a blood absorbent structure for blood transfusion into a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

absorbing blood from a surgical site associated with said patient with said blood absorbent structure;

introducing said blood absorbent structure into a perforated strainer received by a vessel;

conveying pressure to said vessel to apply a force on a member movable within said perforated strainer to contact said blood absorbent structure and cause egress of said blood from said blood absorbent structure to flow through said perforated strainer for collection;

wherein said strainer comprises a small diameter lower section joined to a large diameter upper section, said small diameter lower section having a base with a plurality of apertures, and said blood absorbent structure rests on said base; and

wherein said member is a piston comprising an upper piston head for engaging said large diameter upper section and a lower piston head for engaging said small diameter lower section.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pressure is provided by at least one source of negative pressure and positive pressure.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said force is provided by at least one of manually, pneumatically, mechanically, electro-mechanically and electrically.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said pressure on said upper piston head is multiplied by said lower piston head to provide intensified pressure on said blood absorbent structure, such that the arrangement of said lower piston head and said upper piston provides a mechanical advantage for efficient blood recovery from said blood absorbent structure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said pressure conveyed to said large diameter section is multiplied by a factor of at least two to said small diameter lower section.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said blood absorbent structure is one of a surgical sponge, gauze, towel and swab.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pressure minimizes hemolytic effects on blood components of said absorbed blood.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pressure is maintained at a predetermined level to minimize hemolytic effects on blood components of said absorbed blood.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blood absorbent structure is one of a surgical sponge, gauze, towel and swab.

10. A method for recovering blood for autologous blood transfusion into a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

absorbing blood from a surgical site associated with said patient with a surgical sponge;

introducing said surgical sponge into a perforated strainer received by a vessel;

conveying pressure to said vessel to apply a force on a piston to act on said surgical sponge and cause egress of said blood from said surgical sponge to flow through said perforated strainer into a reservoir;

wherein said perforated strainer comprises a small diameter lower section joined to a large diameter upper section, said small diameter lower section having a base with a plurality of apertures; and

wherein said piston comprises an upper piston head for engaging said large diameter upper section and a lower piston head for engaging said small diameter lower section.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said pressure is provided by at least one source of negative pressure and positive pressure.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said force is provided by at least one of manually, pneumatically, mechanically, electro-mechanically and electrically.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said pressure on said upper piston head is multiplied by said lower piston head to provide intensified pressure on said surgical sponge, such that the arrangement of said lower piston head and said upper piston provides a mechanical advantage for efficient blood recovery from said surgical sponge.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said pressure conveyed to said large diameter section is multiplied by a factor of at least two to said small diameter lower section.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said upper piston head engages an inner wall of said large diameter section and said lower piston head engages an inner wall of said small diameter section such that an air-tight cavity is defined between said upper piston head and a base of said vessel.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said pressure minimizes hemolytic effects on blood components of said absorbed blood.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein said pressure is maintained at a predetermined level to minimize hemolytic effects on blood components of said absorbed blood.

18. A device for recovering blood for autologous blood transfusion into a patient, the device having:

a vessel for receiving a surgical sponge for absorbing blood from a surgical site associated with said patient;

a perforated strainer received by said vessel,

a piston;

a source of pressure coupled to said vessel; and

whereby said piston is caused to travel within said strainer by a force provided by negative pressure; and

whereby said piston acts on said surgical sponge to cause egress of said blood from said surgical sponge to flow through said perforated strainer into a reservoir associated with said vessel;

wherein said strainer comprises a body having a small diameter lower section joined to a large diameter upper section, said small diameter lower section having a base with a plurality of apertures, wherein said surgical sponge rests on said base; and

wherein said piston comprises an upper piston head for engaging said large diameter upper section and a lower piston head for engaging said small diameter lower section.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein said pressure on said upper piston head is multiplied by said lower piston head to provide intensified pressure on said surgical sponge, such that the arrangement of said lower piston head and said upper piston provides a mechanical advantage for efficient blood recovery from said surgical sponge.