This application builds upon a series of applications filed on behalf of assignee. In particular this application extends the innovative work in the area of collection systems for use during surgery described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 9,872,944 for Collection System for Surgical Use and U.S. Pat. No. 10,940,247 for Collection Jar and Collection Basket for Surgical Use. This application claims priority and claims the benefit of co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/113,561 for Bone Dust Collection System. This application incorporates by reference herein the contents of the '944 patent, the '247 patent, and the '561 application, with the provision that any discrepancies between the teachings of the incorporated documents and the present disclosure are to be resolved in favor of the present disclosure.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to systems that collect surgical samples via suction and filtration. More particularly to systems that are adapted to collect bone material that will be used in a surgical procedure.

Related Art

As this application extends the innovative work in the area of collection systems for use during surgery described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,872,944 for Collection System for Surgical Use, it is efficient and helpful to the Examiner to review what was taught in the '944 application.

FIG. 1shows an exploded front view of a surgical collection assembly100. Visible inFIG. 1are jar120with inlet124and outlet128. The inlet124and outlet128may have a shape designed to retain tubing such as a barbed profile. Jar120has a set of male threads132for engaging a corresponding set of female threads216(not shown here) within cap204.

A basket ring158is used to position a basket150within the jar120to allow the basket to collect material filtered from a flow of suctioned material taken from the surgical site. The basket150may be constructed so that a basket sidewall154is connected to a basket bottom156.

Suction applied to the outlet128of the jar120through suction side tubing (not shown) pulls liquid and entrained material from the surgical site into surgical side tubing (not shown) into the inlet124of jar120and into the basket150. Suction pressure removes much of the liquid content of the liquid and entrained material provided to the basket150as the basket150serves as a filter to separate non-liquids from the liquid removed from the surgical site.

A plunger assembly200has plunger rod220with a distal plunger plate224that may be moved to compress the contents of the basket150to remove additional fluids from the collected material. The plunger rod220has a proximal end228that fits through a bore232(not visible here). The bushing212and O-ring208help maintain a vacuum seal around the plunger rod220. The bushing212is press fit into the bore232to capture the O-ring208to tightly fit around plunger rod220and inside the bore to provide an adequate vacuum seal. The vacuum seal does not need to be perfect, but should be sufficient so that suction applied to the outlet128to provide suction to the inlet124is sufficient for use in pulling material from the surgical site. If the opening at the surgical site is covered by something that cannot be pulled into the opening, then the suction may pull some air through the seal around the plunger rod220but small quantities of in-leakage are not a problem.

The proximal end228of plunger rod220fits through the interior of spring260and into a bore in plunger rod handle240. The connection between the proximal end228of the plunger rod220and the bore in the plunger rod handle240may be made in a number of ways. The connection may be a threaded connection and thus reversible. The connection may be a non-reversible connection made via any of a number of techniques known to those of skill in the art including a snap fit. Gluing may be used instead of a snap fit if there is a desire for a secure connection.

The spring260holds the plunger rod220in an elevated position with the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220above the flow of material entering the jar120through the inlet124. The plunger rod handle240may be pushed down against the spring force to push the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220downward to compress material collected in the basket150to further remove fluid.

FIG. 2provides a front view of the surgical collection assembly100.FIG. 3shows a cross section of the view fromFIG. 2taken through the midlines of the inlet124and outlet128.

Visible inFIG. 2andFIG. 3are previously referenced elements: plunger rod handle240, plunger rod220, spring260, bushing212, cap204, inlet124, jar120, and outlet128.

Additional elements visible inFIG. 3that are not visible inFIG. 2include: O-ring208resting on ledge236in bore232, proximal end228of plunger rod220, distal plunger plate224of plunger rod220, basket ring158, basket150, female threads216on cap204, and male threads132on jar120.

Note thatFIG. 3provides a view of the seal around the plunger rod220as the bushing212encloses the O-ring208between the bushing212and the ledge236within the bore232of the cap204.

A careful observer will note that the model shows the O-ring208in the shape it assumes before engagement with the uncapped plunger rod220. The O-ring is compressed between the plunger rod220and the cap204. However, the bushing212is not designed to compress the O-ring208.

FIG. 4shows the plunger rod220moved downward so that the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220is just above the basket bottom156. Force applied to the plunger rod handle240has compressed the spring260. Also visible in this view is cap204and basket ring158. In order to show the relationship between the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220and the basket bottom156, the jar120and sidewalls of the basket150have been made invisible.

After releasing the plunger rod handle240, the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220will move upward relative to the basket150as the spring force is sufficient to return the plunger rod handle240to the upper position. It is possible that during the compression of collected material that some collected material may fill any void between the outer perimeter of the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220in the inner perimeter of the basket150. To minimize any tendency to lift the basket150out of position, the basket ring158has a pair of handles162(one handle visible inFIG. 3). The top edge160of the handle162is positioned very close to the inside face206of the cap204so that the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220continues to move upward after the top edge160of the handle162strikes the inside face206of the cap204so that the basket150becomes dislodged from the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220.

Placement of Inlet and Outlet on Jar.

Note that by having both the inlet124and the outlet128located on the jar120and not split between the jar120and the cap204, rotating the plunger & cap assembly200to remove the plunger & cap assembly200to expose the interior of the jar120may be done without disconnecting the vacuum side tubing connecting the outlet128to the vacuum source and without disconnecting the surgical side tubing connected to the inlet124. Thus neither the connection of tubing to the inlet124or to the outlet128needs to be a more expensive quick disconnect connection such as a bayonet connection.

Allowing quick removal of the plunger & cap assembly200from the surgical collection assembly100to expose the basket150allows collected material to be removed and a new basket150to be inserted. As the connections to the inlet124and outlet128are in place, the process of collecting can resume quickly after the plunger & cap assembly200is re-engaged with the jar120.

A second advantage of having the inlet124on the jar120rather than on the cap204is that this placement helps keep material coming in through the inlet from getting up on the top side of the distal plunger plate224of the plunger rod220. This avoids wasting material that could have been collected in the basket150and reduces the opportunity for material to interfere with the operation of the plunger rod220.

When using the plunger rod220to press the collected material, an operator may wish to lift the surgical end of the surgical side tubing out of the surgical site so that only air is entering the inlet124. The suction source may be left on during this process to help remove fluids that are pressed out of the collected material.

As the plunger assembly is of focus in the present application, a set of additional views of the plunger assembly from the '944 patent is provided.

FIG. 5is a top perspective view of plunger & cap assembly480.

FIG. 6is a bottom perspective view of plunger & cap assembly480.

FIG. 7is a side view of plunger & cap assembly480.

FIG. 8is a top plan view of plunger & cap assembly480.

FIG. 9is a bottom plan view of plunger & cap assembly480.

FIG. 10is a side view of a cross section ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11is a top, side perspective view of a cross section ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 12is a top, side perspective view of a cross section ofFIG. 9.

United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63/113,561.

The application builds upon the teachings found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/113,561 for Bone Dust Collection System. This application teaches the use of a finger ring. While this application is not prior art to the present application, to help with the focus on what is new in this application, the teachings from the '561 application are discussed here.

FIG. 13shows a basket454that has basket sidewalls154pressed inwardly by a set of finger springs510extending from an upper portion504of finger ring500towards the basket bottom156. Thus, movement of the distal plunger plate224will make contact with the inwardly pressed basket sidewalls154which will dislodge bone material and other items that are on the basket sidewalls154. Removing material from the basket sidewalls154will tend to increase the ability of fluid to flow out of the basket while in use and subject to vacuum pressure applied to the jar outlet.

FIG. 14shows finger ring500in isolation. Finger ring500has an upper portion504that fits just under basket ring358(FIG. 13). The finger ring500has a number of finger springs510that push the basket sidewalls154inward so that movement of the distal plunger plate224of plunger rod220is resisted by the finger springs510that are covered by portions of the basket sidewalls154. While resistance is not sufficient to preclude easy movement of the plunger rod220, the movement of the distal plunger plate224of plunger rod220now scrapes bone dust material from portions of the basket sidewalls154to enhance the removal of fluid through the basket sidewalls154under the influence of suction applied to the surgical collection assembly100.

The '561 application has several embodiments and additional detail but this review is sufficient to introduce the finger ring500which will be visible in some figures for the present disclosure.

Vocabulary.

A, An.

In this application, and the claims that follow, the terms a, an, or the identification of a single thing should be read as at least one unless such an interpretation is impossible within the context of the entirety of the specification. For example, the use of the terms sole, only, or the phrase not more than one would indicate that a single item is intended.

Gne and Gnes.

To avoid the awkward he/she and his/her or the potentially confusing singular use of they and their, this application uses the gender-neutral pronoun gne and the possessive gnes.

Or.

Unless explicit to the contrary, the word “or” should be interpreted as an inclusive or rather than an exclusive or. Thus, the default meaning of or should be the same as the more awkward and/or.

Proximal and Distal.

Proximal and distal should be considered relative to the user. Thus the proximal end of the component is the portion of the component that is closest to the user when using the device. In this instance, a user compressing collected material would be handling plunger rod handle240which would thus be proximal to gner and the bottom of the jar120would be distal to gner.

Set.

Unless explicit to the contrary, the word “set” should be interpreted as a group of one or more items.

Step.

The term step may be used in descriptions within this disclosure. For purposes of clarity, one distinct act or step may be discussed before beginning the discussion of another distinct act or step. The term step should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps disclosed unless the specific order of individual steps is expressly indicated.

Substantially.

Frequently, when describing an industrial process it is useful to note that a given parameter is substantially met. Examples may be substantially parallel, substantially perpendicular, substantially uniform, and substantially flat. In this context, substantially X means that for purposes of this industrial process it is X. So something that may not be absolutely parallel but is for all practical purposes parallel, is substantially parallel. Likewise, mixed air that has substantially uniform temperature would have temperature deviations that were inconsequential for that industrial process.

As recognized in C. E. Equipment Co. v. United States, 13 U.S.P.Q.2d 1363, 1368 (Cl. Ct. 1989), the word “substantially” in patent claims gives rise to some definitional leeway—thus the word “substantially” may prevent avoidance of infringement by minor changes that do not affect the results sought to be accomplished.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the teachings contained within this disclosure are addressed in the claims submitted with this application upon filing. Rather than adding redundant restatements of the contents of the claims, these claims should be considered incorporated by reference into this summary.

This summary is meant to provide an introduction to the concepts that are disclosed within the specification without being an exhaustive list of the many teachings and variations upon those teachings that are provided in the extended discussion within this disclosure. Thus, the contents of this summary should not be used to limit the scope of the claims that follow.

Inventive concepts are illustrated in a series of examples, some examples showing more than one inventive concept. Individual inventive concepts can be implemented without implementing all details provided in a particular example. It is not necessary to provide examples of every possible combination of the inventive concepts provided below as one of skill in the art will recognize that inventive concepts illustrated in various examples can be combined together in order to address a specific application.

Some aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure may be expressed as a surgical collection assembly for filtering material from liquid obtained during surgery; the surgical collection assembly comprising:a collection basket,a collection jar, anda plunger assembly.

Within the surgical collection assembly, the plunger assembly comprising: ajar cap assembly that can be reversibly connected to an open end of the collection jar; and a plunger device that in turn includes a distal plunger plate to compress collected material that is collected in the collection basket; and a plunger rod to pass through a bore in the jar cap assembly so that a proximal end of the plunger device may be moved by a user.

The plunger device and jar cap assembly adapted for movement to reversibly engage the plunger device with the jar cap assembly to retain the distal plunger plate in a retained position so that the distal plunger plate cannot impede ingress of liquid and entrained material entering the collection jar through an inlet port. The movement to reversibly engage the plunger device with the jar cap assembly requires an elastic deformation of at least one component.

Some aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure may be expressed as a process for disengaging a plunger device from a jar cap assembly and subsequently re-engaging the plunger device with the jar cap assembly. This process involves obtaining the surgical collection assembly comprising:a collection jar with a collection basket;a jar cap assembly; andthe plunger device with a distal plunger plate.

The process includes inducing a temporary elastic deformation in order to disengage the plunger device from a reversible retention in a retracted position so that the distal plunger plate does not interfere with a flow path for ingress of liquid and entrained material through an inlet port to the collection jar. Then, moving the distal plunger plate away from the jar cap assembly before using the distal plunger plate to compress collected material in the collection basket. Subsequently, moving the distal plunger plate in a proximal direction which is away from the bottom of the collection basket and toward the jar cap assembly and engaging the plunger device with the jar cap assembly in the reversible retention with the distal plunger plate in the retracted position that does not interfere with a flow path for an ingress of liquid and entrained material through the inlet port to the collection jar by elastically deforming at least one component in the surgical collection assembly.

Some aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure may be expressed as a process for connecting a combination of a surgical collection assembly and associated tubing to a drape within a sterile field. This process includes engaging a drape clamp to a portion of the surgical collection assembly and hyper-crossing a pair of legs of the drape clamp so that there is elastic deformation within the drape clamp and thus a spring force to move the pair of legs back to their original position and a gap between a first set of at least one finger on a first leg within the pair of legs and second set of at least one finger on a second leg within the pair of legs. Inserting a portion of drape material in the gap between the first set of at least one finger and the second set of at least one finger while the pair of legs are hyper-crossed and releasing the drape clamp so that first set of at least one finger moves towards the second leg and the second set of at least one finger moves towards the first leg to form a serpentine path for the portion of drape material to form a reversible engagement between the surgical collection assembly and the drape.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosed teachings will be immediately apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within the scope of and be protected by the accompanying claims.

