Removable inlet manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system, the manifold including a housing and a drip stop, the drip stop disposed within a housing lip

摘要

A manifold (46) for connection to a medical/surgical waste collection unit is described, wherein the waste collection unit has a receiver (44) for receiving the manifold. Said manifold comprises a housing (158,164) defining a void space. Said housing includes at least one fitting (48) for receiving a suction line (50) that defines a fluid communications path into the void space. The housing further includes a shell formed to have a base (168) and an outlet opening (170) formed in the shell base that is dimensioned to receive a fitting integral with the receiver. A drip stop (174,174a) is fitted in the housing outlet opening. The drip stop has a base (176,176a) with inner surfaces allowing the base of the drip stop to function as a lead in for the receiver fitting. The drip stop further has a valve (187,190) extending into the space defined by the outlet opening. The valve selectively blocks fluid flow out of the housing outlet opening. The housing is further formed to have a lip (172) that extends downwardly from the shell base, extends around and is spaced radially away from the housing outlet opening. The drip stop base is formed to have a slot (178,178a) around its outer perimeter, wherein the drip stop seats in the housing outlet opening so that the perimeter section of the shell base that defines the housing outlet opening seats in the drip stop base slot and the section of the drip stop base below the slot defining section seats inside a space defined by said housing lip.