LIQUID-GAS SEPARATOR
A method and system for separating a flow of matter is shown and described. The system includes one or more flow separation devices, one or more surgical instruments, and one or more suction sources. In some embodiments, the flow of matter comprises biological material. In some embodiments, the flow of matter comprises surgical waste.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A method of operating a liquid-gas flow separator, comprising:
providing a cylindrical cavity having a cylindrical cavity wall, a first cylindrical cavity end, and a second cylindrical cavity end, and operating the separator with the first cylindrical cavity end being up;
coupling a suction port to a suction source, the suction port being in the first cylindrical cavity end;
providing a conical cavity, the conical cavity having a wide end and a narrow end, and mating the wide end to the second cylindrical cavity end;
providing a collection port at the narrow end of the conical cavity;
receiving a flow comprising a mixture of liquid and gas at a input port, the input port being in the cylindrical cavity wall, and inducing the flow into the separator by the suction source, directing liquids in the flow to cling to the cylindrical cavity wall by configuring the input port;
providing a baffle disposed between the input port and the suction port, thereby preventing liquids in the flow from being pulled directly from the input port to the suction port without traversing at least a first portion of a circumference of the cylindrical cavity wall, and allowing gasses in the flow to separate from the liquids in the flow and pulling the gasses out of the separator via the suction port; and
providing a cylindrical central member disposed within the cylindrical cavity, disposing the central member to form an annular cavity between the central member and the cylindrical cavity wall, and passing the liquids in the flow through the annular cavity before dropping out the collection port.
3 . The method of operating a separator of claim 2 , further comprising providing a flow further comprising solids and passing the solids in the flow through the annular cavity before dropping out the collection port.
4 . The method of operating a separator of claim 2 , further comprising providing the baffle comprising a plurality of openings to allow the gasses in the flow to be pulled out of the separator via the suction port.
5 . The method of operating a separator of claim 2 , further comprising preventing liquids in the flow from being pulled directly from the input port to the suction port by providing the baffle comprising a solid portion, the solid portion corresponding to at least the first portion of the circumference.
6 . The method of operating a separator of claim 2 , further comprising providing the central member comprising a tapered section disposed in the conical cavity.
7 . The method of operating a separator of claim 2 , further comprising providing the central member comprising a plurality of cylindrical sections comprising different diameters.
8 . The method of operating a separator of claim 2 , further comprising providing a plurality of cylindrical sections comprising a first section defining a first portion of the annular cavity and a second section defining a second portion of the annular cavity.
9 . The method of operating a separator of claim 8 , further comprising disposing the first portion between the baffle and the second portion and disposing the second portion between the first portion and the conical cavity.
10 . The method of operating a separator of claim 9 , further comprising providing the central member a tapered section disposed in the conical cavity thereby forming a hollow cone shaped cavity and disposing the hollow cone shaped cavity between the second portion and the collection port.
11 . A method of operating a separator in a medical environment, comprising:
providing one or more fluid separators, wherein a fluid separator comprises:
a cylindrical cavity comprising a cylindrical cavity wall, a first cylindrical cavity end, and a second cylindrical cavity end, the fluid separator configured to operate with the first cylindrical cavity end being up;
an suction port operatively coupled to a suction source, the suction port being in the first cylindrical cavity end;
a conical cavity, the conical cavity comprising a wide end and a narrow end, the wide end mated to the second cylindrical cavity end;
a collection port at the narrow end of the conical cavity;
an input port to receive a flow comprising a mixture of liquid and gas, the input port being in the cylindrical cavity wall, the flow to be induced into the separator by the suction source, the input port configured to direct liquids in the flow to cling to the cylindrical cavity wall;
a baffle disposed between the input port and the suction port, the baffle to prevent liquids in the flow from being pulled directly from the input port to the suction port without traversing at least a first portion of a circumference of the cylindrical cavity wall, the baffle to allow gasses in the flow to separate from the liquids in the flow and be pulled out of the separator via the suction port; and
a cylindrical central member disposed within the cylindrical cavity, the central member disposed to form an annular cavity between the central member and the cylindrical cavity wall, the liquids in the flow to pass through the annular cavity before dropping out the collection port;
attaching the one or more separators each to an associated waste deposit;
attaching the suction port to a suction source;
activating the suction source, thereby creating flow through the one or more separators;
directing the flow using the cylindrical cavity and cylindrical central member to separate element comprising the flow;
ejecting liquids and/or solids from the collection port that have been separated from the flow; and pulling the gas out of the suction port using the suction source.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a canister as the waste deposit.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein attaching the suction port to a suction source comprises attaching the suction port of a first separator to the input port of a second separator that is attached to a suction source.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising attaching the input port of a separator to a suction device.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising attaching the suction device to a surgical instrument.
16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising operating the one or more separators in series by coupling the suction port of one separator to the input port of another separator, coupling the suction port of the last separator in the series of separators to the suction source and receiving the flow at the input of the first separator in the series of separators.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising receiving matter into the input port of a first separator in a series of separators via the suction source applied to the suction port of a last separator in the series of separators, pulling gas out of the suction port of another separator in the series of separators while an associated canister is filled below a pre-determined capacity expelling portions of the flow out of the collection port of another separator in the series of separators until an associated canister is filled to a pre-determined limit.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising passing the flow, unseparated, from the input port out of the suction port of the first separator in the series of separators when the flow is no longer ejecting from the collection port of the first separator to the input port of another separator ejecting the flow, or portions thereof, out of the collection port.