Receiver for medical waste collection systems

Abstract

A receiver for a medical waste collection system. The receiver removably receives a manifold. A slide assembly moves with the manifold to facilitate movement of the manifold toward the inlet mechanism. A motion conversion assembly converts the movement of the slide assembly into movement of the inlet mechanism to align the inlet mechanism with the receiver outlet, fluidly communicating the manifold's suction inlet and outlet with the waste container and moving the inlet mechanism toward the manifold. When the manifold is fully inserted and fluidly communicating with the inlet of the inlet mechanism, a locking assembly locks the manifold within the receiver. An actuator can move axially to unlock the manifold from the receiver, disconnecting the fluid communication between the manifold and the suction inlet.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority and benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 111,848, filed November 10, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] Some surgical procedures produce liquid, semi-solid, and / or solid waste as byproducts. Liquid waste may include bodily fluids and irrigation solutions from the surgical site, while solid and semi-solid waste may include tissue fragments and surgical material fragments. Preferably, medical waste is collected regardless of its phase so that it neither contaminates the surgical site nor poses a biohazard to the medical room where the surgery is performed.

[0004] Medical waste can be removed from the surgical site through a suction tube under the vacuum provided by a suction / vacuum source. An exemplary medical waste collection system is sold by Stryker Corporation (Kalamazoo, Mich.) under the trade name NEPTUNE, and certain forms of this medical waste collection system are disclosed in the following documents: jointly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005 / 0171495, published August 4, 2005; International Patent Publication No. WO2007 / 070570, published June 21, 2007; and International Patent Publication No. WO2014 / 066337, published May 1, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Medical waste collection systems may include a receiver to removably receive a manifold, and the manifold facilitates the connection of the suction tube to the medical waste collection system. The manifold may also include a filter element for filtering waste material to prevent clogging or damage to components of the medical waste collection system. Facilitating safe and efficient repeated coupling and disconnection of the manifold from the medical waste collection system requires a robust and durable receiver, which remains an area of ​​particular interest and development. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This disclosure relates to a receiver for a medical waste collection system. The medical waste collection system includes at least one waste container defining a waste volume for collecting and storing waste material, and a receiver coupled to the waste container via a conduit. A vacuum pump is supported on a trolley and configured to apply suction to the waste container and the receiver. The receiver includes an inlet mechanism movable to couple with a manifold to establish fluid communication between the manifold and the waste container in a manner described further. The inlet mechanism may include a suction port and a suction outlet in fluid communication with the suction port. The suction port is configured to be in fluid communication with the manifold, and the suction outlet is configured to be in fluid communication with a receiver outlet. The receiver includes a housing defining an opening sized to removably receive the manifold.

[0007] The entry lock assembly may include a latch pivotally coupled to the lower wall of the receiver housing. The entry lock assembly may be biased to a locked position by a latch biasing member. The latch is pivotable about a latch axis and includes a head and a tail positioned opposite the latch axis. The tail may be longer than the head. The latch biasing member may be a helical spring disposed between the head and the lower wall of the housing. An inclined surface of the ridge of the manifold may directly contact the head at a deflection angle to cause the latch to pivot about the latch axis. The base of the entry mechanism may define a cavity for receiving the tail of the latch when the latch is in the unlocked position.

[0008] A claw may be coupled to a skateboard assembly. A housing may define one or more channels extending generally from proximal to distal on either side of the skateboard assembly. Each claw may include first and second claw pins slidable within each channel. The channels guide the path of the pins as the skateboard assembly moves proximally and distally. The first and second claw pins and channels cooperate to articulately move the claw inward toward the manifold in response to movement of the skateboard assembly in the proximal direction.

[0009] The locking assembly may include an arm rotatably coupled to the housing, and an arm biasing member, such as a spring. The arm biasing member biases the arm into a locking configuration in which the arm abuts against the manifold. The arms of the locking assembly are pivotally coupled to the housing and positioned opposite a gap space in which the manifold will be located. Each arm is biased to a locked position by a spring coupling the arm and the housing. Each arm may each include an inwardly biased shoulder. The slide body has an arm retaining surface configured to abut against the shoulder of the arm of the locking assembly and retain the arm in an unlocked configuration. Interference between the distally pointing surface and the shoulder prevents distal movement of the manifold within the receiver.

[0010] The actuator may include a tilted surface configured to abut against the arm and cause the arm to rotate in opposition to the arm biasing member. The actuator itself may be biased to an outward distal position by a biasing element for operation by push input. The biasing element may be positioned between the actuator and the housing. The actuator and biasing element may be slidably arranged on a track extending in a proximal-to-farward direction within the housing of the receiver. Proximal movement of the actuator causes the tilted surface to engage with the fingers of the arm. The fingers and shoulder of the arm are positioned opposite a pivot.

[0011] The motion conversion assembly may include a cam mechanism and a cam follower mechanism. The cam mechanism may include a cam body rotatably coupled to a housing about a central cam axis. The cam follower mechanism may include a link rotatably coupled to the housing about a link axis spaced apart from the central cam axis. The cam follower mechanism also includes a roller rotatably coupled to the link and configured for direct rolling contact with the cam body. The motion conversion assembly is configured to convert movement of the slide assembly in the proximal direction into movement of the inlet mechanism in the distal direction during manifold insertion, and conversely, to convert movement of the slide assembly in the distal direction into movement of the inlet mechanism in the proximal direction during manifold removal.

[0012] The cam mechanism may include an inlet mechanism engagement pin extending from the cam body and radially spaced from the cam central axis. The inlet mechanism engagement pin may be received in an inlet groove and configured to move within the inlet groove and abut against an inlet base to move the inlet mechanism proximally and distally in response to rotation of the cam body. The cam mechanism may also include a slide engagement pin extending from the cam body and radially spaced from the cam central axis. The slide engagement pin may be received in a slide groove. The slide body may also have proximal and distal sidewalls defining the proximal and distal ends of the slide groove, respectively. After the inlet mechanism's suction outlet is aligned with the receiver outlet, the proximal and distal sidewalls allow the slide body to continue proximal movement.

[0013] The distance between the slotted engagement pin and the cam's central axis can be greater than the distance between the inlet mechanism engagement pin and the cam's central axis. The roller is rotatably coupled to a first end of the connecting rod, and the second end of the connecting rod is elastically coupled to the housing via a connecting rod biasing member. The connecting rod axes can be spaced further apart from either the first or second end of the connecting rod. The roller is in direct contact with the cam, and the connecting rod biasing member causes the connecting rod to pivot about a third pin. The cam includes an eccentric surface relative to its central axis. The roller engages with the eccentric surface, and the relative distance between specific points arranged circumferentially on the eccentric surface results in greater pivoting of the connecting rod against bias from the connecting rod biasing member.

[0014] The electronic module can be coupled to the upper wall of the housing. The electronic module may include any number of electronic sub-components, such as sensors, integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, memory, communication devices, and electrical or data ports. The detectable element can be positioned on the skateboard assembly. An initial return movement from the motion conversion assembly can be large enough to space the detectable element away from the one or more sensors at a distance within which the one or more sensors generate a skateboard change signal. The skateboard change signal can be transmitted to the system processor, and any type of front-end function can be implemented based on this skateboard change signal.

[0015] The suction outlet is in fluid communication with the receiver outlet and the conduit. The inlet mechanism is movable proximally along an inlet axis that is tilted at a downward angle relative to a reference horizontal axis about gravity. The conduit may include a receiver coupling portion extending along its axis from the receiver toward the waste container. The conduit axis may be tilted relative to the inlet axis. The conduit axis may be vertical relative to gravity. The suction outlet may extend along a suction outlet axis tilted relative to the conduit axis. A seal may be coupled to the housing to cover the receiver outlet. The seal may be disposed between the housing and the suction outlet of the inlet mechanism. The seal may include upper and lower surfaces angled relative to each other to provide the downward tilt angle if the receiver coupling portion is oriented at a vertical angle. The upper and lower surfaces may be arranged at an angle ranging from two to seven degrees, and more specifically, five degrees. The seal may include a friction ring.

[0016] Therefore, according to a first aspect of this disclosure, a medical waste collection system for collecting medical waste material via a manifold during a medical procedure includes a waste container and a vacuum source configured to provide a vacuum over the waste container. The medical waste collection system also includes a receiver coupled to the waste container. The receiver includes a housing having an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted. The housing also includes a receiver outlet and an inlet mechanism, the inlet mechanism being coupled to the housing for movement in proximal and distal directions along an inlet axis. The inlet mechanism includes a suction port. The suction outlet is in fluid communication with the suction port. A slide assembly is movably coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the inlet mechanism. The slide assembly is configured to move in a proximal direction during insertion of the manifold into the receiver in the proximal direction to facilitate corresponding movement of the inlet mechanism in the distal direction, thereby establishing fluid communication between the suction outlet and the receiver outlet. A locking assembly is coupled to the housing and configured to lock the manifold in a fully inserted position within the receiver. An actuator is coupled to the locking assembly and is axially movable relative to the housing. The actuator is configured to receive axial input from a user to cause the locking assembly to unlock the manifold.

[0017] In some embodiments, the locking assembly may include an arm rotatably coupled to the housing. The locking assembly may also include an arm biasing member that biases the arm into a locked configuration in which the arm abuts against a manifold in a fully inserted position to prevent distal movement of the manifold and slide assembly. An actuator may include an inclined surface configured to abut against the arm and cause the arm to rotate away from the manifold against the biasing member to allow distal movement of the manifold and slide assembly. The slide assembly may include a slide configured to abut against the manifold. When the manifold is in the fully inserted position, the slide body may move at least to a proximal position. The slide body may also move to a distal position. When the manifold is positioned within an opening in the receiver, the slide body may move with the manifold. The slide assembly may include a slide biasing member coupled to the slide body. The slide biasing member may be configured to bias the slide body distally onto the arm when the arm is in the locked configuration. The slide biasing member may be configured to move the slide body and manifold distally from the proximal and fully inserted positions, respectively, in response to the arm moving to an unlocked configuration. The skateboard body may include an arm retaining surface configured to abut against the arm of the locking assembly when the skateboard body is in the distal position and to retain the arm of the locking assembly in the unlocked configuration.

[0018] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a medical waste collection system for collecting medical waste material via a manifold during a medical procedure includes a waste container and a vacuum source configured to provide a vacuum over the waste container. The waste collection system also includes a receiver coupled to the waste container. The receiver includes a housing with an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted. The housing includes a receiver outlet and an inlet mechanism coupled to the housing. The inlet mechanism includes a suction port. The suction outlet is in fluid communication with the suction port. The inlet mechanism is movable between a first position where the suction outlet and the receiver outlet are not in fluid communication and a second position where the suction outlet and the receiver outlet are in fluid communication. An inlet locking assembly has a latch configured to be movably coupled to the housing. A biasing member biases the latch to a locked position, preventing the inlet mechanism from moving to the second position. The latch is configured to move from the locked position to an unlocked position in response to abutment engagement with the manifold during insertion into the receiver, allowing the inlet mechanism to move to the second position.

[0019] In some embodiments, the latch may be pivotally coupled to the housing about a latch axis. The latch may include a head and a tail opposite to the head relative to the latch axis. The tail may be longer than the head. The entry mechanism may include an entry base movable between a first position and a second position. The latch may be configured to abut the entry base in a locked position to prevent the entry base from moving to the second position. The entry base may define a cavity for receiving the latch when the latch is in the unlocked position and the entry base is in the second position. A slide assembly may be movably coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the entry mechanism. The slide assembly may be configured to move in a proximal direction during manifold insertion of the receiver in a proximal direction to facilitate a corresponding movement of the entry mechanism to the second position in a distal direction. The entry lock assembly of the second aspect may be provided in conjunction with the actuator of the first aspect and optionally in combination with any corresponding embodiments thereof.

[0020] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a medical waste collection system for collecting medical waste material via a manifold during a medical procedure includes a waste container and a vacuum source configured to provide a vacuum over the waste container. The medical waste collection system also includes a receiver coupled to the waste container. The receiver includes a housing having an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted. The housing includes a receiver outlet. An inlet mechanism is coupled to the housing for movement in both proximal and distal directions. The inlet mechanism includes a suction port. The suction outlet is in fluid communication with the suction port. A slide assembly is movably coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the inlet mechanism. The slide assembly is configured to move in the proximal direction during manifold insertion into the receiver to facilitate a corresponding movement of the inlet mechanism in the distal direction, thereby establishing fluid communication between the suction outlet and the receiver outlet. A motion conversion assembly includes a cam mechanism operatively coupled to the slide assembly and the inlet mechanism to facilitate corresponding movements of the slide assembly and the inlet mechanism in the proximal and distal directions.

[0021] In some embodiments, the cam mechanism may include a cam body rotatably coupled to a housing about a central axis of the cam. The cam body has an eccentric surface, wherein a plurality of points on the eccentric surface are spaced apart from the central axis of the cam by different radial distances. The inlet mechanism may include an inlet base defining an inlet slot. The cam mechanism may include an inlet mechanism engagement pin extending from the cam body and received in the inlet slot. The inlet mechanism engagement pin may be configured to move within the inlet slot and abut against the inlet base to move the inlet mechanism proximally and distally in response to rotation of the cam body. The slide assembly may include a slide body defining a slide slot. The cam mechanism may include a slide engagement pin extending from the cam body and received in the slide slot. The slide engagement pin may be configured to move within the slide slot and abut against the slide body to move the slide assembly proximally and distally in response to rotation of the cam body. The motion conversion assembly may include a cam follower configured to provide resistance to rotation of the cam body. The cam follower may include a link rotatably coupled to the housing about a link axis spaced apart from the cam's central axis. The cam follower may include a roller rotatably coupled to the link and configured to directly contact an eccentric surface of the cam body. The cam follower may include a biasing element coupled to the link to bias the roller into contact with the eccentric surface of the cam body and provide resistance to rotation of the cam body. The eccentric surface may include a first point at a first radial distance from the cam's central axis, a second point at a second radial distance from the cam's central axis, and a third point at a third radial distance from the cam's central axis. The second radial distance may be greater than the first and third radial distances. The second point may be circumferentially positioned between the first and third points. The motion conversion assembly of the third aspect may be provided in conjunction with the actuator of the first aspect and / or the entry lock assembly of the second aspect, and optionally in combination with any corresponding embodiments thereof.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, a medical waste collection system for collecting medical waste material via a manifold during a medical procedure includes a waste container having a waste container inlet. The medical waste collection system also includes a vacuum source configured to provide a vacuum over the waste container. The medical waste collection system further includes a receiver coupled to the waste container. The receiver has a housing including an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted at a downward angle relative to the horizontal. The housing also includes a receiver outlet. An inlet mechanism is coupled to the housing and includes an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with the inlet port. The inlet mechanism is movable along an inlet axis at the downward angle between a first position where the outlet port and the receiver outlet are not in fluid communication and a second position where the outlet port and the receiver outlet are in fluid communication. A conduit is coupled to the receiver outlet and extends between them to facilitate the transfer of waste material from the receiver outlet to the waste container. The conduit has a receiver coupling portion extending from the receiver outlet along a conduit axis inclined to the inlet axis.

[0023] In some embodiments, a seal may be coupled to the housing to cover the receiver outlet. The suction outlet may extend along a suction outlet axis inclined to the conduit axis. The suction outlet axis may be perpendicular to the inlet axis. The conduit of the fourth aspect may be provided in conjunction with the actuator of the first aspect, the inlet locking assembly of the second aspect, and / or the motion conversion mechanism of the third aspect, and optionally in combination with any corresponding embodiments thereof.

[0024] In some embodiments, the slide assembly can be movably coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the inlet mechanism. The slide assembly can be configured to move in a proximal direction during manifold insertion into the receiver to facilitate a corresponding movement of the inlet mechanism to a second position in the distal direction. The slide assembly can be configured to move in a distal direction, opposite to the proximal direction, during manifold removal from the receiver to facilitate a corresponding movement of the inlet mechanism in the proximal direction, thereby disconnecting fluid communication between the suction outlet and the receiver outlet. A claw can be coupled to the slide assembly. The claw can be configured to selectively engage the manifold and facilitate movement of the slide assembly in the distal direction during manifold removal from the receiver. An electronics module can communicate with a vacuum source. The receiver may include a sensor communicating with the electronics module. The sensor can be configured to output signals indicating the position of the slide assembly in the proximal and distal directions. The electronics module can be configured to control the vacuum source based on signals from the sensor. A magnet can be disposed on the slide assembly and configured to be detected by the sensor. The electronics module can be configured to prevent operation of the vacuum source based on signals from the sensor when the manifold is not fully inserted into the receiver in the fully inserted position. A first barrier may be pivotally coupled to the housing. A first biasing element may be coupled to the first barrier and configured to bias the first barrier toward a closed position to selectively cover at least a portion of the receiver's opening. A second barrier may be pivotally coupled to the slide assembly and positioned proximal to the first barrier. A second biasing element may be coupled to the second barrier and configured to bias the second barrier toward a closed position. Movement of the inlet mechanism in the distal direction may facilitate moving the second barrier from a closed position to an open position, in which the inlet of the inlet mechanism is exposed to the inserted manifold. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and will be readily understood by referring to the following detailed description.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a medical waste collection system.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the receiver of a waste container coupled to a medical waste collection system.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the receiver and manifold.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a partially exploded view of the receiver, showing some of the internal components of the receiver and manifold.

[0030] Figure 5 It is along Figure 3 The receiver is a cross-sectional view taken from line 5-5, without the manifold.

[0031] Figure 6 It is a perspective view with part of the top receiver removed.

[0032] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the receiver, showing the manifold ready to enter the receiver.

[0033] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the receiver, in which the motion conversion component is shown in a first position and the skateboard component is in a first configuration.

[0034] Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the receiver, in which the motion conversion component is shown in a second position and the skateboard component is in a second configuration.

[0035] Figure 10 It is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the receiver, in which the motion conversion component is shown in the third position and the skateboard component is in the third configuration.

[0036] Figure 11 It is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the receiver, in which the motion conversion component is shown in the third position and the skateboard component in the fourth configuration.

[0037] Figure 12 This is a perspective view of part of the receiver and manifold.

[0038] Figure 13 It is along Figure 3 The receiver is shown in cross-sectional view taken from line 13-13. A portion of the manifold is shown as partially inserted into the receiver.

[0039] Figure 14 It is a perspective view of a portion of the receiver, in which the skateboard assembly is in the first configuration and the manifold begins to contact the skateboard assembly.

[0040] Figure 15 It is a cross-sectional plan view of the manifold and receiver, with the manifold fully inserted into the receiver.

[0041] Figure 16 yes Figure 15 A detailed cross-sectional plan view shows the receiver's locking arm and the manifold in the fully inserted position.

[0042] Figure 17 It is a detailed cross-sectional plan view of the side surface of the locking arm engaging the manifold with the manifold in a partially inserted position.

[0043] Figure 18 This is a detailed cross-sectional plan view of the locking arm engaging the skateboard assembly and the skateboard assembly in the first configuration.

[0044] Figure 19 This is a perspective view of the motion conversion components and the entry mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0045] Figure 1 A medical waste collection system 20 is shown for collecting waste materials generated during medical procedures, more specifically, waste materials generated during surgical procedures. The medical waste collection system 20 collects and / or stores the waste materials until it must be unloaded and disposed of. The medical waste collection system 20 may include a trolley 22, which includes wheels for moving the trolley along the floor surface within the medical facility. Further references Figure 2 The medical waste collection system 20 includes at least one waste container 24 defining a waste volume for collecting and storing waste material, and a receiver 26 coupled to the waste container 24 via a conduit 38. A vacuum pump is supported on a trolley and configured to apply suction to the waste container 24 and the receiver 26. Suitable configurations and operations of several subsystems of the medical waste collection system 20 are disclosed in commonly owned International Patent Publication No. WO2020 / 027850, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005 / 0171495, International Patent Publication No. WO2007 / 070570, International Patent Publication No. WO2014 / 066337, and International Patent Publication No. WO2017 / 112684, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] Receiver 26 includes an inlet mechanism 32, which is movable to be coupled to manifold 30 to establish fluid communication between manifold 30 and waste container 24 in a manner to be further described. Inlet mechanism 32 may include a suction port 33 and a suction outlet 34 in fluid communication with the suction port 33. The suction port 33 is configured to be in fluid communication with manifold 30, and the suction outlet 34 is configured to be in fluid communication with receiver outlet 36.

[0047] Now for reference Figure 3-7The receiver 26 includes a housing 40. The housing 40 may define an opening 28 sized to removably receive a manifold 30. Certain portions of the manifold 30 may be illustrated and described herein, while in other respects may be similar or identical to those disclosed in co-owned U.S. Patent No. 10,471,188, issued November 12, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The receiver 26 may include a first barrier 44 positioned to cover the opening 28. As shown, the first barrier 44 may be biased to a closed position, wherein the bias is metered to be overcome by an anticipated force associated with inserting the manifold 30 through the opening 28. An actuator 46 is movably coupled to the housing 40 and further coupled to a locking assembly 48 configured to allow removal of the manifold 30 from the receiver 26. Thus, the actuator 46 may resemble a “pop-out button” configured to be pushed in a proximal direction. In other configurations, actuator 46 can be configured to receive pull input to move in the distal direction.

[0048] Receiver 26 may include sub-components and sub-assemblies configured to engage complementary features of manifold 30 during insertion and removal of manifold 30. These may include locking assembly 48 and inlet mechanism 32, and also include slide assembly 58, inlet locking assembly 60, claw 62, and motion conversion assembly 64. Inlet mechanism 32 may be configured to move in a direction opposite to the direction of slide assembly 58, in a proximal-to-distal direction, during insertion into and removal of manifold 30 from receiver 26. Inlet locking assembly 60 may be configured to prevent distal movement of inlet mechanism 32 during an attempt to insert a manifold lacking the necessary features. Claw 62 is movably coupled to housing 40 and configured to articulate inwardly to engage manifold 30. Motion conversion assembly 64 is configured to convert movement of slide assembly 58 into movement of inlet mechanism 32. The motion conversion component 64 can be configured to provide adjusted resistance during the insertion of the manifold 30 into the receiver, and further provide an initial return motion of the manifold 30 via the actuator 46 after the locking component 48 disengages from the manifold 30.

[0049] refer to Figure 7-11 The various sub-components and sub-assemblies are further described with reference to several locations associated with inserting the manifold 30 into the receiver 26 and further with reference to the relevant disclosure of the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 10,471,188. The manifold 30 is oriented to be inserted into the opening 28 of the receiver 26 and guided through the opening 28 to move the first barrier 44 to the open position. Figure 8 The manifold 30 is further advanced to the position where the ridge 76 of the manifold 30 engages with the inlet lock assembly 60. Figure 9The inlet lock assembly 60 may include a latch 68 pivotally coupled to the lower wall of the housing 40 of the receiver 26. The inlet lock assembly 60 may be biased to a locked position by a latch biasing member 71, in which potential interference between the base 69 of the inlet mechanism 32 and the latch 68 of the inlet lock assembly 60 will prevent the inlet mechanism 32 from moving distally, which is necessary to establish fluid communication between the inlet mechanism 32 and both the manifold 30 and the receiver outlet 36.

[0050] The latch 68 is pivotable about a latch axis 70 and includes a head 72 and a tail 74 positioned opposite the latch axis. The tail 74 may be longer than the head 72. A latch biasing member 71 may be a helical spring disposed between the head 72 and the lower wall of the housing 40. The ridge 76 of the manifold 30 engages with the latch 68 to move the entry lock assembly 60 from a locked position to an unlocked position, in which the base 69 of the entry mechanism 32 will collide with the tail 74, and in the unlocked position, the entry mechanism 32 is allowed to move further distally. More specifically, the inclined surface of the ridge 76 may contact the head 72 directly at a deflection angle to cause the latch 68 to pivot about the latch axis 70. The pivoting of the latch 68 displaces the tail 74 from potential interference with the base 69, which is correspondingly approaching from a proximal direction. The base 69 of the entry mechanism 32 may define a cavity for receiving the tail 74 of the latch 68 when the latch 68 is in the unlocked position. With the inlet lock assembly 60 in the unlocked configuration, the manifold 30 can be moved to the fully inserted position, where the base 69 is located within the cavity and fluid communication is established between the suction outlet 34 and the receiver outlet 36. In other words, if the manifold 30 lacks the ridge 76 and its other features relative to the manifold 30 described, interference between the inlet mechanism 32 and the inlet lock assembly 60 could cause the receiver 26 to "glued together" and prevent fluid communication between the suction outlet 34 and the receiver outlet 36. This could be intentional, such that only a genuine manifold can be used with the receiver 26.

[0051] The skateboard assembly 58 of receiver 26 may include a skateboard body 59. The skateboard body 59 may be slidably mounted on a track 66 extending within the housing 40 of receiver 26 in a proximal-to-farward direction, such as... Figure 4 and Figure 6As best shown. The user advances the manifold 30 further into the opening 28 of the receiver 26 until one or more arms 90 of the manifold 30 engage the slide body 59. More specifically, the slide body 59 may define one or more slots 91 for receiving one or more arms 90 of the manifold 30. By engaging the slide body 59 with the manifold 30, the slide assembly 58 is moved proximally along the track 66. In some configurations, the manifold 30 engages the slide assembly 58 before the ridge 76 of the manifold 30 engages the latch 68, as previously described. In other configurations, the manifold 30 engages the slide assembly 58 after the ridge 76 of the manifold 30 engages the latch 68. In still other configurations, engagement of the manifold 30 with the slide assembly 58 and engagement of the ridge 76 of the manifold 30 with the latch 68 occur simultaneously.

[0052] As the manifold 30 continues to be inserted into the opening 28 of the receiver 26, the claw 62 can engage the capture portion (not shown) of the manifold 30. The claw 62 can be coupled to the slide assembly 58, and movement of the slide assembly 58 can cause the claw 62 to articulate inward to engage the capture portion of the manifold 30. More specifically, Figure 19 The display housing 40 may define one or more channels 61a, 61b that extend generally in a proximal-to-distal direction on either side of the slide assembly 58. Each claw 62 may include first and second claw pins 63a, 63b that are slidable within each channel 61a, 61b. The channels 61a, 61b guide the paths of the pins 63a, 63b as the slide assembly 58 moves proximally and distally. The first and second claw pins 63a, 63b and the channels 61a, 61b cooperate to articulately engage the claw 62 inward toward the manifold 30 in response to movement of the slide assembly 58 in the proximal direction. The engagement between the claw 62 and the catcher transmits force from the manifold 30 to the slide assembly 58, particularly during the user's removal of the manifold 30 from the receiver 26.

[0053] As the skateboard assembly 58 moves further in the proximal direction, and consequently the inlet mechanism 32 moves in the distal direction, the suction outlet 34 of the inlet mechanism 32 moves toward alignment with the receiver outlet 36. By moving the inlet mechanism 32 in the distal direction, the second barrier 78 at least partially moves from the closed position (see...) Figure 7 and 8 Move to the open position, such as Figure 10 and 11 As shown. The second barrier 78, in the closed position, prevents the user from seeing or touching the entrance mechanism 32, even if the first barrier 44 is manually manipulated to the open position. Figure 11As shown, manifold 30 is in the fully inserted position within receiver 26. In this position, inlet mechanism 32 engages manifold 30, for example, by means of a seal extending through and covering the outlet opening of manifold 30. Furthermore, suction outlet 34 is aligned with receiver outlet 36 to establish fluid communication between manifold 30 and receiver outlet 36, and thus between manifold 30 and waste container 24.

[0054] To selectively secure the manifold 30 within the receiver 26, a locking assembly 48 is provided. The locking assembly 48 may include an arm 50 rotatably coupled to the housing 40 and an arm biasing member 86, such as a spring. The arm biasing member 86 biases the arm to a locked configuration, wherein the arm 50 is configured to abut against the manifold 30 in the fully inserted position to prevent distal movement of the manifold 30 and the slide assembly 58. In other words, in the fully inserted position, the locking assembly 48 moves from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration to engage the locking element 82 of the manifold 30 and retain the manifold 30 in a proximal-to-distal direction, and specifically resists distal forces from the motion conversion assembly 64, which will be described laterally.

[0055] Now for reference Figure 12-18 The arm 50 of the locking assembly 48 is pivotally coupled to the housing 40 and positioned opposite the gap space in which the manifold 30 will be located. The arm 50 is biased into a locked position while the spring 86 couples the arm 50 and the housing 40. For example, each arm 50 may include an inwardly biased shoulder 88. The skateboard body 59 has an arm retaining surface 65 configured to abut against the shoulder 88 of the arm 50 of the locking assembly 48 when the skateboard body 59 is in a distal position and to hold the arm 50 in an unlocked configuration. In other words, the arm retaining surface 65 is configured to hold the arm 50 in an unlocked configuration (e.g., an outward articulated connection) until the manifold 30 engages the skateboard assembly 58 to move the skateboard assembly 58 proximally away from the arm 50. Further advancing the manifold 30 into the receiver 26 includes the shoulder 88 of the arm 50 being biased by the spring 86 to slide away from the arm retaining surface 65 and “ride” on the side surface of the arm 90 of the manifold 30, as Figure 17 As best shown. The shoulder 88 of arm 50 continues to "ride" on the side surface of arm 90 of manifold 30 until manifold 30 is fully inserted. When manifold 30 is fully inserted, arm 50 encounters locking element 82 of manifold 30, which can be considered as the proximal end of the arm projecting outward from the housing of manifold 30. Continuous bias in spring 86 causes arm 50 to move so that shoulder 88 pivots inward to engage with locking element 82 of manifold 30, as... Figure 7As shown. Furthermore, the spring 86 may be designed with a spring constant or other suitable characteristics to pivot the shoulder 88 inward at a sufficiently high speed, causing the shoulder 88 to impact the housing of the manifold 30. This impact has a sufficiently large force to provide the user inserting the manifold 30 with audible and / or tactile feedback indicating that the manifold 30 is fully inserted and locked in place. The audible feedback may be a “click” sound from the impact, while the tactile feedback may be secondary to the impact of the shoulder 88 on the manifold 30, which may be a plastic construction and held by the user's hand.

[0056] With manifold 30 fully inserted, it may be impossible to remove it if locking assembly 48 is in the locked configuration. Figure 13 and 16 The display locking element 82 includes a distally positioned surface 84 adjacent to the shoulder 88. Interference between the distally positioned surface 84 and the shoulder 88 prevents the manifold 30 from moving distally within the receiver 26, particularly resisting distal forces from the sliding bias member 67 coupled to the motion conversion assembly 64, which will be described laterally.

[0057] The shoulder 88 of arm 50 can be configured to engage housing 40 in a locking configuration. More specifically, Figure 16 The shoulder 88 is compressed or "clamped" between the distal surface 84 of the manifold 30 and the inner surface 41 of the housing 40. Forces in the distal direction from the manifold 30 (biased from the motion conversion assembly 64) are counteracted by the housing 40, thus advantageously making the locking assembly 48 more robust in operation. The arm 50 is configured to pivot inward and outward as described above, so that forces in the distal direction are orthogonal to the pivot. The arm 50 of the locking assembly 48 also provides slight pivoting in the distal direction to allow the shoulder 88 to directly contact the inner surface 41 of the housing 40 when the manifold 30 is inserted into the receiver 26 and the locking assembly 48 is in the locked configuration. Without this advantageous arrangement of the housing 40 counteracting these forces, the pivot of the arm 50 itself might need to be designed to withstand considerable forces in these distal directions, which could require larger or heavier components stacked in a typically spaced-limited manner. Furthermore, the relatively lighter and more compact form of arm 50 allows spring 86 to have improved performance, enabling the shoulder 88 to pivot rapidly inward at sufficient speed to impact the housing of manifold 30.

[0058] Once it is desired to remove manifold 30 from receiver 26, such as after use of medical waste collection system 20 during a surgical procedure, actuator 46 is actuated (e.g., pulled or pushed). Reference Figure 12-14Actuator 46 may include a tilted surface 92 configured to abut against arm 50 and cause arm 50 to rotate away from manifold 30 against arm biasing member 86 to allow manifold 30 and slide assembly 58 to move in a distal direction. Actuator 46 itself may be biased to an outward distal position by biasing element 52 for operation by push input. Biasing element 52 may be positioned between actuator 46 and housing 40. Actuator 46 and biasing element 52 may be slidably arranged on track 56 extending upward in a proximal direction within housing 40 of receiver. In a configuration where actuator 46 is configured to receive pull input, actuator 46 may be biased to an inward proximal position by biasing element positioned between actuator 46 and housing 40.

[0059] Continue to refer to Figure 12 and 13 The proximal movement of actuator 46 moves tilting surface 92 to engage with finger portion 94 of arm 50. Finger portion 94 and shoulder portion 88 of arm 50 are positioned opposite the pivot. Tilting surface 92 typically pushes finger portion 94 upward and causes shoulder portion 88 to pivot outward against bias from spring 86, as... Figure 6 Generally shown. The shoulder 88 pivots outward to a degree sufficient to disengage the shoulder 88 from the distal surface 84 of the locking element 82 of the manifold 30. This disengagement allows the slide biasing member 67 to move the slide assembly 58 and the manifold 30 a distance distally. The manifold 30 can be removed from the receiver 26 in the reverse manner of the insertion described above. After the manifold 30 is removed, the latch 68 of the inlet locking assembly 60 returns to the locked position via the latch biasing member 71. Optionally, this return can be based on the relative weight of the head 72 and the tail 74.

[0060] refer to Figure 7-11 Reference numerators 1 and 19 describe motion conversion assembly 64. Motion conversion assembly 64 may include a cam mechanism 96 and a cam follower mechanism 97. Cam mechanism 96 may include a cam body 108 (sometimes simply referred to as a "cam") rotatably coupled to housing 40 about a cam central axis CX. Cam follower mechanism 97 may include a link 98 rotatably coupled to housing 40 about a link axis LX spaced apart from cam central axis CX. Cam follower mechanism also includes a roller 100 rotatably coupled to the link and configured to roll directly into contact with cam body 108. As described above, motion conversion assembly 64 is configured to convert movement of slide assembly 58 into movement of inlet mechanism 32. More specifically, motion conversion assembly 64 is configured to convert movement of slide assembly 58 in the proximal direction into movement of inlet mechanism 32 in the distal direction during insertion of manifold 30, and conversely, to convert movement of slide assembly 58 in the distal direction into movement of inlet mechanism 32 in the proximal direction during removal of manifold 30.

[0061] To facilitate motion conversion between the cam body 108 and the entry mechanism 32, the entry base 69 may define an entry groove 105. The cam mechanism 96 may include an entry mechanism engagement pin 106 extending from the cam body 108 and radially spaced from the cam central axis CX. The entry mechanism engagement pin 106 may be received in the entry groove 105 and configured to move within the entry groove 105 and abut against the entry base 69 to move the entry mechanism 32 proximally and distally in response to rotation of the cam body 108. More specifically, the entry groove 105 may be arranged vertically such that only the proximal-to-distal movement of the cam body 108 moves the entry base 69. This pin arrangement in the groove allows for the conversion of rotational motion into linear motion.

[0062] To facilitate motion conversion between the cam body 108 and the slide assembly 58, the slide body 59 may define a slide groove 111. The cam mechanism 96 may include a slide engagement pin 112 extending from the cam body 108 and radially spaced from the cam central axis CX. The slide engagement pin 112 may be received in the slide groove 111. The slide engagement pin 112 is configured to move within the slide groove 111 and abut against the slide body 59 to move the slide assembly 58 proximally and distally in response to rotation of the cam body 108. More specifically, the slide groove 111 may be arranged vertically such that only the proximal-to-distal movement of the cam body 108 moves the slide body 59. This pin arrangement in the groove allows for the conversion of rotational motion into linear motion. The slide engagement pin 112 and the inlet mechanism engagement pin 106, arranged on opposite sides of the cam central axis CX, facilitate opposite-direction movement between the slide assembly 58 and the inlet mechanism 32.

[0063] The slide body 59 may also have proximal sidewalls 111a and distal sidewalls 111b, respectively defining the proximal and distal ends of the slide groove 111. After the suction outlet 34 of the inlet mechanism 32 is aligned with the receiver outlet 36, the proximal sidewalls 111a and distal sidewalls 111b allow the slide body 59 to continue moving proximally. As described above, the slide biasing member 67 is coupled to the slide body 59 and the motion conversion assembly 64 and is configured to bias the slide body 59 distally onto the arm 50 when the arm 50 is in a locked configuration and when the suction outlet 34 is in fluid communication with the receiver outlet 36. More specifically, the slide biasing member 67 is coupled to the slide engagement pin 112 of the motion conversion assembly 64. Further reference Figure 10 and 11After the suction outlet 34 of the inlet mechanism 32 is aligned with the receiver outlet 36, continued insertion of the manifold 30 and proximal movement of the slide body 59 cause the slide engagement pin 112 to move against the sliding bias member 67 from the proximal wall 11a of the slot 111 toward the distal wall 11lb of the slot 111. This continues until the manifold 30 is in fluid communication with the suction inlet 33 and the arm 50 of the locking assembly 48 locks the manifold 30 in place. In other words, the slide body 59 continues to move from its inlet 34 into the receiver outlet 36. Figure 10 The position in the middle moves proximally to its position in Figure 11 The manifold 30 is positioned to allow fluid communication between the manifold 30 and the inlet 33 without further distal movement of the inlet mechanism 32. When the arm 50 is in the locked configuration, the slide body 67 pushes the slide body 59 against the arm 50.

[0064] Furthermore, the distance between the slotted engagement pin 112 and the cam center axis CX can be greater than the distance between the inlet mechanism engagement pin 106 and the cam center axis CX. In one example, the distance between the slotted engagement pin 112 and the cam center axis CX can be at least three times the distance between the inlet mechanism engagement pin 106 and the cam center axis CX. These relative distances can advantageously provide a mechanical advantage to the user during the insertion of the manifold 30 into the receiver 26, where a smaller insertion force is required to move the slide assembly 58 and the inlet mechanism 32, as previously described.

[0065] These relative distances can be further adjusted to provide the desired resistance distribution during the insertion of the manifold 30 into the receiver 26. In other words, encountering little or no resistance during the insertion of the manifold 30 may leave the user uncertain whether it is fully or correctly installed for use. Providing tactile feedback of the smoothness and robustness of the receiver 26 is important, and the motion conversion assembly 64 of this disclosure advantageously provides these characteristics to achieve the benefits of the aforementioned mechanical advantages. The roller 100 is rotatably coupled to a first end of the link 98, and the second end of the link 98 is elastically coupled to the housing 40 via a link biasing member 104. The link axis LX can be spaced further away from the first or second end of the link 98 to impart the desired resistance during movement of the motion conversion assembly 64 between the first and second positions. The roller 100 is in direct contact with the cam 108, and the link biasing member 104 pivots the link 98 about a third pin 114 to maintain direct contact with the cam body 108 in all positions of the cam body.

[0066] Continue to refer to Figure 7-11And 19, cam 108 includes an eccentric surface 116 relative to the cam's central axis CX. Certain points along the eccentric surface 116 are further from the cam center than other points, in order to adjust the resistance distribution as needed throughout the insertion of manifold 30 into receiver 26. Similarly, certain portions of the eccentric surface 116 may be flatter or have greater curvature to further adjust the resistance distribution. More specifically, roller 100 engages the eccentric surface 116, and the relative distances between certain points arranged circumferentially on the eccentric surface 116 cause link 98 to pivot more against bias from link biasing member 104. For example, in the first position (see...) Figure 7 and 8 Roller 100 can directly contact the eccentric surface at point C. When the cam body 108 is moved by the slide assembly 58 and rotates about the cam's central axis (in... Figure 7 and Figure 8 (Clockwise), the contact point between roller 100 and eccentric surface 116 moves from point C toward point B. The distance from point B to the cam center axis CX is greater than the distance from point C to the cam center axis CX, and can also be the maximum distance of eccentric surface 116 from the cam center axis CX. Therefore, roller 100 is pushed away from the cam center axis CX, and link 98 pivots accordingly about link axis LX. Due to link biasing member 104, link 98 provides counterpart force on cam mechanism 96 through component stack-up – these counterpart forces are felt by the user as resistance. Resistance may be desirable in the early stages, requiring a relatively more forceful insertion, indicating the user's intention to insert manifold 30 into receiver 26.

[0067] As the manifold 30 advances further into the receiver 26 and the slide assembly 58 moves accordingly in the proximal direction, the cam 108 rotates further about its central axis CX. The contact point between the roller 100 and the eccentric surface 116 moves from point B toward point A. The distance from point B to the central axis CX is greater than the distance from point A to the central axis CX. As a result, the link biasing member 104 causes the link 98 to pivot accordingly about the link axis LX to maintain direct contact between the roller 100 and the cam 108. A small reaction force from the link 98 is transmitted to the cam mechanism 96 and through the component stack, which is perceived by the user operating the manifold 30 as less resistance. Reduced resistance may be desirable for later stages to achieve more mechanical advantages. In one embodiment, the motion conversion assembly 64 may require a relatively short distance (for which force is applied at the beginning and end of the insertion of the manifold 30) but provides relatively free movement.

[0068] As mentioned, movement of the motion conversion assembly 64 provides movement of the inlet mechanism 32 in the distal direction, i.e., in the direction opposite to the movement of the slide assembly 58. In other words, the motion conversion assembly 64 converts the movement of the slide assembly 58 into the movement of the inlet mechanism 32. As the inlet mechanism 32 moves in the distal direction, the suction outlet 34 of the inlet mechanism 32 moves toward alignment with the receiver outlet 36. It is also recognized that the motion conversion assembly 64 can provide an initial return movement of the manifold 30 after the locking assembly 48 disengages from the manifold 30 via the actuator 46. In the locked configuration, the locking assembly 48 engages the locking element 82 of the manifold 30, and the corresponding movement of the slide assembly 58 in the distal direction is prevented. Therefore, potential energy is retained and stored in the first bias element 102. The actuated actuator 46 moves the locking assembly 48 to the unlocked configuration as described above, allowing the slide assembly 58 to move in the distal direction again. When the user pushes or pulls actuator 46 to disengage arm 50, the potential energy stored in the first biasing element 102 is large enough to provide an initial return movement of the slide assembly 58 (and the manifold 30 coupled thereto) in the distal direction until the slide engagement pin 112 contacts the proximal wall 111a of the groove 111. For example, simply pressing the "eject button" causes the manifold 30 to partially eject from the receiver 26 by a fixed amount. The partial ejection of the manifold 30 provides the user with a visual indication that the manifold 30 is no longer fully inserted into the receiver 26. This fixed amount of ejection of the manifold 30 from the receiver 26 can be selectively adjusted based on the characteristics of the component stack, such as the spring constant of the slide biasing member 67 or the distance between the proximal wall 111a and the distal wall 111b. In some cases, the initial return movement is approximately a quarter inch, but a larger or smaller distance can be considered. This fixed amount can be a fraction of the length of the manifold 30 and should not reach a point where the manifold 30 might accidentally eject completely from the receiver 26.

[0069] An electronic module (not shown) may be coupled to the upper wall of housing 40. The electronic module may include any number of electronic sub-components, such as sensors, integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, memory, communication devices, and electrical or data ports. For example, the electronic module may include one or more sensors for detecting the position of the skateboard assembly 58 of receiver 26. Detectable element 120 may be positioned on skateboard assembly 58.

[0070] Partial ejection from manifold 30 allows a detectable element 120 coupled to slide assembly 58 to move away from detectability from one or more sensors, which may be coupled to an electronic module. For example, the one or more sensors may include Hall effect sensors, and the detectable element 120 may include a magnet, where changes in the magnetic field are sensed by the Hall effect sensor. Optional examples may include optical, electromagnetic, radio frequency, and ultrasonic sensing of the detectable element. The electronic module may communicate electronically with a system processor (unidentified), and the absence of the detectable element 120 detected by the one or more sensors may indicate that manifold 30 is not fully inserted (or that the manifold is absent). An initial return movement from motion conversion assembly 64 may be large enough to space the detectable element 120 away from the one or more sensors at a distance within which the sensors generate a slide change signal. The slide change signal may be transmitted to the system processor, and any type of front-end function may be implemented based on this slide change signal. For example, medical waste collection system 20 may output a visual or audible alarm to warn the user that manifold 30 is not fully inserted. For example, the medical waste collection system 20 can be electronically prevented from operating based on a change signal in the sliding plate.

[0071] In another example, one or more other sensors may be coupled to the electronic module and configured to detect a detectable element coupled to the first barrier 44. For example, the sensor may be a Hall effect sensor, or any suitable optical, electromagnetic, radio frequency, and ultrasonic sensor. The sensor's detection of the presence of the detectable element indicates that the first barrier 44 is in the open position. The sensor may generate a door change signal and transmit it to the system processor, and any type of front-end functionality may be implemented based on the door change signal. For example, the door change signal may be used in conjunction with a slide change signal, where it can be determined that the manifold 30 is partially, but not fully, inserted into the receiver 26 (i.e., the first barrier 44 is open, but the one or more sensors have not detected the detectable element 120).

[0072] refer to Figure 5The suction outlet 34 is in fluid communication with the receiver outlet 36 and the conduit 38, and therefore with the waste container 24. The inlet mechanism can be moved proximally along the inlet axis IX to disconnect the fluid connection between the suction outlet 34 and the receiver outlet 36. The inlet axis IX can be arranged at a decline angle relative to a reference horizontal axis HX about gravity. This decline angle facilitates a user-friendly loading angle and supports the discharge of excess fluid away from the opening 28. The conduit 38 may include a receiver coupling portion 39 extending along the conduit axis WX from the receiver 26 toward the waste container 24. The conduit axis WX can be inclined relative to the inlet axis IX. The conduit axis WX can be vertically positioned relative to gravity to help pack the conduit 38 and the waste container 24 onto the trolley 22 and below the receiver 26. The suction outlet 34 can extend along a suction outlet axis SX inclined to the conduit axis. In some configurations, the suction outlet axis SX is perpendicular to the inlet axis IX.

[0073] A seal 80 may be coupled to the housing 40 to cover the receiver outlet 36. The seal 80 may be disposed between the housing 40 and the suction outlet 34 of the inlet mechanism 32. The seal 80 may include upper and lower surfaces angled relative to each other to provide a downward tilt angle when the receiver coupling portion 39 is oriented at a vertical angle. The upper and lower surfaces may be arranged at an angle ranging from two to seven degrees, more specifically at an angle of five degrees. The seal 80 may include a friction ring configured to maintain a seal despite friction from the inlet mechanism 32 repeatedly sliding along the upper surface of the seal 80. The friction ring may be at least partially formed of Teflon or other low-friction materials.

[0074] The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any particular form. The terminology used is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive. In light of the foregoing teachings, many modifications and variations are possible, and the invention can be practiced in ways other than those specifically described.

Claims

1. A medical waste collection system for collecting medical waste materials via manifold during medical procedures, the medical waste collection system comprising: Waste containers; A vacuum source configured to provide a vacuum over a waste container; and A receiver, coupled to a waste container, includes: The housing includes an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted, and the housing also includes a receiver outlet; An inlet mechanism coupled to the housing to be movable along the inlet axis in the proximal and distal directions, wherein the inlet mechanism includes an intake port and an outlet port in fluid communication with the intake port; A slide assembly, which is movably coupled to a housing and operatively coupled to an inlet mechanism, wherein the slide assembly is configured to move in a proximal direction during insertion of the manifold into the receiver in a proximal direction to facilitate corresponding movement of the inlet mechanism in a distal direction, thereby establishing fluid communication between the suction outlet and the receiver outlet. A locking assembly, coupled to a housing and configured to lock a manifold in a fully inserted position within a receiver, wherein the locking assembly includes an arm rotatably coupled to the housing and an arm biasing member biasing the arm into a locking configuration in which the arm is configured to abut against the manifold in the fully inserted position to prevent distal movement of the manifold and the slide assembly; and An actuator, coupled to the locking assembly and axially movable relative to the housing, is configured to receive axial input from the user to unlock the manifold of the locking assembly. The actuator includes an inclined surface configured to abut against the arm and cause the arm to rotate away from the manifold against the arm biasing member, thereby allowing the manifold and slide assembly to move in a distal direction.

2. The medical waste collection system of claim 1, wherein, The skateboard assembly includes a skateboard body configured to abut against the manifold, the skateboard body being movable at least to a proximal position when the manifold is in the fully inserted position and the distal position, and the skateboard body being movable with the manifold when the manifold is positioned within an opening of the receiver.

3. The medical waste collection system of claim 2, wherein, The skateboard assembly includes a skateboard biasing member coupled to the skateboard body, the skateboard biasing member being configured to bias the skateboard body distally onto the arm when the arm is in a locked configuration, and wherein the skateboard biasing member is configured to move the skateboard body and the manifold distally from a proximal position and a fully inserted position, respectively, in response to the arm moving to an unlocked configuration.

4. The medical waste collection system according to claim 2, wherein, The skateboard body includes an arm retaining surface configured to abut against the arm of a locking assembly when the skateboard body is in a distal position and to retain the arm of the locking assembly in an unlocked configuration.

5. The medical waste collection system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The slide assembly is configured to move in a distal direction opposite to the proximal direction during removal of the manifold from the receiver, so that the inlet mechanism moves accordingly in the proximal direction to disconnect the fluid communication between the suction outlet and the receiver outlet.

6. The medical waste collection system according to claim 5, wherein, The receiver also includes a claw coupled to the skateboard assembly, wherein the claw is configured to selectively engage the manifold during removal of the manifold from the receiver and facilitate movement of the skateboard assembly in the distal direction.

7. The medical waste collection system according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising an electronic module in communication with the vacuum source, wherein the receiver further comprises a sensor in communication with the electronic module and configured to output signals indicating the position of the slide assembly in the proximal and distal directions, wherein the electronic module is configured to control the vacuum source based on the signals from the sensor.

8. The medical waste collection system of claim 7 further includes a magnet disposed on the slide assembly and configured to be detected by the sensor.

9. The medical waste collection system according to claim 7, wherein, The signal indicates whether the manifold is fully inserted into the receiver, wherein the electronic module is configured to prevent operation of the vacuum source based on a signal from a sensor when the manifold is not fully inserted into the receiver.

10. The medical waste collection system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The receiver also includes a first barrier pivotally coupled to the housing, and a first biasing element coupled to the first barrier, the first biasing element being configured to bias the first barrier toward a closed position to selectively cover at least a portion of the opening of the receiver.

11. The medical waste collection system according to claim 10, wherein, The receiver also includes a second barrier pivotally coupled to the slide assembly and positioned proximal to the first barrier, and a second biasing element coupled to the second barrier and configured to bias the second barrier toward a closed position.

12. The medical waste collection system according to claim 11, wherein, The movement of the inlet mechanism in the distal direction facilitates the movement of the second barrier from a closed position to an open position, in which the inlet of the inlet mechanism is exposed to the manifold being inserted.

13. A medical waste collection system for collecting medical waste material via a manifold during medical procedures, the medical waste collection system comprising: Waste containers; A vacuum source configured to provide a vacuum over a waste container; and A receiver, coupled to a waste container, includes: A housing including an opening, the manifold being configured to be inserted into the opening; A locking assembly includes an arm rotatably coupled to the housing and an arm biasing member biasing the arm into a locking configuration, wherein the arm is configured to abut the manifold to lock the manifold in a fully inserted position within the receiver to allow the manifold to fluidly communicate with the waste container, and to prevent distal movement of the manifold relative to the receiver; and An actuator, coupled to the locking assembly and axially movable relative to the housing, includes an inclined surface for engaging the arm of the locking assembly, wherein the actuator is configured to receive axial input from a user to cause the inclined surface to move axially against the arm of the locking assembly, causing the arm to rotate away from the manifold against the arm biasing member, thereby unlocking the manifold from the receiver and allowing the manifold to move away from the fully inserted position.

14. The medical waste collection system according to claim 13, wherein, The inclined surface is axially movable with the actuator to abut against the arm and cause the arm to rotate away from the manifold against the arm biasing member, thereby allowing the manifold to move in the distal direction.

15. The medical waste collection system according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein, The receiver also includes a slide assembly movably coupled to the housing, the slide assembly being movable in the proximal direction during manifold insertion into the receiver.

16. The medical waste collection system according to claim 15, wherein, The skateboard assembly includes a skateboard body configured to abut against the manifold, the skateboard body being movable at least to a proximal position when the manifold is in the fully inserted position and the distal position, and the skateboard body being movable with the manifold when the manifold is positioned within an opening of the receiver.

17. The medical waste collection system according to claim 16, wherein, The skateboard assembly includes a skateboard biasing member coupled to the skateboard body, the skateboard biasing member being configured to bias the skateboard body distally onto the arm when the arm is in a locked configuration, and wherein the skateboard biasing member is configured to move the skateboard body and the manifold distally from a proximal position and a fully inserted position, respectively, in response to the arm moving to an unlocked configuration.

18. The medical waste collection system according to any one of claims 16 and 17, wherein, The skateboard body includes an arm retaining surface configured to abut against the arm of the locking assembly when the skateboard body is in a distal position and to retain the arm of the locking assembly in an unlocked configuration.

19. The medical waste collection system according to any one of claims 13-14 and 16-17, wherein, The receiver includes a track, and the actuator is slidably arranged on the track.

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