Abstract:
A surgical collection assembly for filtering material from liquid obtained during surgery. A jar having an inlet and an outlet each adapted for connection to a suction line. A set of orientation features to position an upper portion of a collection basket within the jar such that an upper portion of the collection basket does not impede a flow of material entering the jar through the inlet. A bottom surface with a pattern of recessed paths in the bottom surface, the pattern of recessed paths connected to the outlet. A plunger assembly that may be reversibly attached to the jar so that a distal end of a plunger may be used to compress collected material within the collection basket to help remove fluid from the collected material. For certain uses, the surgical collection assembly may have a simple jar lid without an integrated plunger.

Description:
This application claims priority to co-pending and commonly owned Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/046913 filed Aug. 12, 2016 for Collection System for Surgical Use, the &#39;913 application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates generally to systems that collect surgical samples via suction and filtration. 
     Terminology 
     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. 
     Specimen Collection—The term should be read broadly to include anything that might be collected and analyzed in pathology through biopsy or other processes. 
     Tissue—The term tissue should be read expansively to include any portion of a patient that may be removed from the surgical site by suction and then separated from fluids by filtration. This may include pieces of bone, organs, muscle, or other matter. The material gathered may include foreign substances that were introduced into the patient. 
     Patient—The term patient should be read expansively to include humans, cadavers undergoing autopsies or used in training, and animals undergoing a surgical procedure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure may be stated as a surgical collection assembly for filtering material from liquid obtained during surgery; the surgical collection assembly having a jar. The jar having:
         an open end that may be reversibly sealed with a jar top;   an inlet adapted for connection to a suction line;   an outlet adapted for connection to a suction line;   a set of orientation features to position an upper portion of a collection basket within the jar such that an upper portion of the collection basket does not impede a flow of material entering the jar through the inlet;   a bottom surface with a pattern of recessed paths in the bottom surface, the pattern of recessed paths connected to the outlet;       

     The surgical collection assembly also having a collection basket with sidewalls and a bottom connected to an upper portion of the collection basket so that the upper portion of the collection basket can be used to position the collection basket within the jar. 
     The surgical collection assembly also having a plunger assembly. The plunger assembly having a jar top that can be reversibly connected to the open end of the jar; the jar top having a bore that allows a plunger rod with a distal end to move relative to the jar top so that a distal end of a plunger may be used to compress collected material within the collection basket to help remove fluid from the collected material. 
     The plunger assembly also having a plunger with a distal end to compress collected material and a plunger rod to pass through the bore in the jar top so a proximal end of the plunger may be moved by a user. 
     The surgical collection assembly adapted to allow suction applied to the outlet of the jar to pull liquid and non-liquid material through a tube connected to the inlet of the jar; the liquid and non-liquid material passing into the collection basket with much of the liquid leaving the collection basket through at least a portion of the collection basket to enter the pattern of recessed paths in the bottom surface and then out the outlet leaving a filtered portion of the non-liquid material in the collection basket. 
     For certain uses, the surgical collection assembly may have a simple jar lid without an integrated plunger. 
     Aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure may be summarized as a method for gathering collected material from a surgical procedure and compressing the collected material to remove fluid. The method including inserting a first collection basket into a collection jar. The collection jar having an inlet and an outlet. The collection jar outlet in fluid communication with a recessed pattern in a basket side of a bottom of the collection jar. Applying suction to the outlet will pull material through inlet tubing connected to the inlet, the material passing through the inlet, with at least some fluid in the material passing through the first collection basket and into the recessed pattern then to the outlet to leave filtered material in the first collection basket. The step of inserting the first collection basket into the collection jar guided by an interaction of the collection jar and the first collection basket precluding placement of a set of at least one basket handle in a position that obstructs the inlet. 
     The method including placing a plunger assembly onto the collection jar; connecting inlet tubing to the inlet; and connecting outlet tubing to the outlet. The order of these three actions not material to the method. 
     The method including applying suction to the outlet tubing connected to the outlet so that whenever a non-jar end of the inlet tubing is placed into a surgical site, fluids and small materials are pulled through the inlet tubing through the inlet and into the first collection basket. 
     The method including removing a non-jar end of the inlet tubing from the surgical site and using the plunger assembly to move a distal end of a plunger downward to compress materials collected in the first collection basket. 
     Removing the plunger assembly from the collection jar while the inlet tubing is still connected to the inlet and the outlet tubing is still connected to the outlet and removing the first collection basket with compressed material from the collection jar. 
     Repeating the process with a second collection basket which may be the first collection basket after material is removed from the first collection basket. 
     Additional 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 provide 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. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded front view of a surgical collection assembly  100 . 
         FIG. 2  provides a front view of the surgical collection assembly  100 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross section of the view from  FIG. 2  taken through the midlines of the inlet  124  and outlet  128 . 
         FIG. 4  shows the plunger rod  220  moved downward so that the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220  is just above the basket bottom  156 . 
         FIG. 5  is top front perspective view of the jar  120 . 
         FIG. 6  is the same view as  FIG. 5  but the basket ring  158  is removed so that the portions of the jar  120  that support and position the basket ring  158  may be seen. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross section of the jar  120  taken again through the inlet  124  and outlet  128 . 
         FIG. 8  provides a top perspective view of alternative cap  304 , including female threads  216  to engage corresponding male threads  132  of the jar  120 . 
         FIG. 9  provides a bottom perspective view of alternative cap  304 , including female threads  216  to engage corresponding male threads  132  of the jar  120 . 
         FIG. 10  provides a view of jar  320  as set to transparent to allow view of the basket ring  358 . 
         FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of jar  320  showing basket ring  358  but not the basket. 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of jar  320  without the basket ring  358  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top, left, front perspective view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom, right, front perspective view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 18  is a left side view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 19  is a right side view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 20  is a top and front perspective view of jar  420 . 
         FIG. 21  is a top, right, rear perspective view of a cross section of jar  420  taken as indicated in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 22  is a top, front perspective view of basket  454 . 
         FIG. 23  is a bottom, right perspective view of basket  454 . 
         FIG. 24  is a top plan view of basket  454 . 
         FIG. 25  is a front, left perspective view of basket  454 . 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom plan view of basket  454 . 
         FIG. 27  is a right, front perspective view of basket  454 . 
         FIG. 28  is a top perspective view of the interior of the cross section of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 29  top perspective view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
         FIG. 30  bottom perspective view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
         FIG. 31  is a side view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
         FIG. 32  is a top plan view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
         FIG. 33  is a bottom plan view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
         FIG. 34  is a side view of a cross section of  FIG. 33 . 
         FIG. 35  is a top, side perspective view of a cross section of  FIG. 33 . 
         FIG. 36  is a top, side perspective view of a cross section of  FIG. 33 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded front view of a surgical collection assembly  100 . Visible in  FIG. 1  are jar  120  with inlet  124  and outlet  128 . The inlet  124  and outlet  128  may have a shape designed to retain tubing such as a barbed profile. Jar  120  has a set of male threads  132  for engaging a corresponding set of female threads  216  (not shown here) within cap  204 . 
     A basket ring  158  is used to position a basket  150  within the jar  120  to allow the basket to collect material filtered from a flow of suctioned material taken from the surgical site. The basket  150  may be constructed so that a basket sidewall  154  is connected to a basket bottom  156 . 
     Suction applied to the outlet  128  of the jar  120  through suction side tubing (not shown) pulls material from the surgical site into surgical side tubing (not shown) into the inlet  124  of jar  120  and into the basket  150 . Suction pressure removes much of the liquid content of the material provided to the basket  150  as the basket  150  serves as a filter to separate non-liquids from the liquid removed from the surgical site. 
     A plunger assembly  200  has plunger rod  220  with a broad distal end  224  that may be moved to compress the contents of the basket  150  to remove additional fluids from the collected material. The plunger rod  220  has a proximal end  228  that fits through a bore  232  (not visible here). The bushing  212  and O-ring  208  help maintain a vacuum seal around the plunger rod  220 . The bushing  212  is press fit into the bore  232  to capture the O-ring  208  to tightly fit around plunger rod  220  and 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 outlet  128  to provide suction to the inlet  124  is 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 rod  220  but small quantities of in-leakage is not a problem. 
     The proximal end  228  of plunger rod  220  fits through the interior of spring  260  and into a bore in plunger rod handle  240 . The connection between the proximal end  228  of the plunger rod  220  and the bore in the plunger rod handle  240  may 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 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 spring  260  holds the plunger rod  220  in an elevated position with the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220  above the flow of material entering the jar  120  through the inlet  124 . The plunger rod handle  240  may be pushed down against the spring force to push the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220  downward to compress material collected in the basket  150  to further remove fluid. 
       FIG. 2  provides a front view of the surgical collection assembly  100 .  FIG. 3  shows a cross section of the view from  FIG. 2  taken through the midlines of the inlet  124  and outlet  128 . 
     Visible in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are previously referenced elements: plunger rod handle  240 , plunger rod  220 , spring  260 , bushing  212 , cap  204 , inlet  124 , jar  120 , and outlet  128 . 
     Additional elements visible in  FIG. 3  that are not visible in  FIG. 2  include: O-ring  208  resting on ledge  236  in bore  232 , proximal end  228  of plunger rod  220 , distal end  224  of plunger rod  220 , basket ring  158 , basket  150 , female threads  216  on cap  204 , and male threads  132  on jar  120 . 
     Note that  FIG. 3  provides a view of the seal around the plunger rod  220  as the bushing  212  encloses the O-ring  208  between the bushing  212  and the ledge  236  within the bore  232  of the cap  204 . 
     A careful observer will note that the model shows the O-ring  208  in the shape it assumes before engagement with the uncapped plunger rod  220 . The O-ring is compressed between the plunger rod  220  and the cap  204 . However, the bushing  212  is not designed to compress the O-ring  208 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the plunger rod  220  moved downward so that the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220  is just above the basket bottom  156 . Force applied to the plunger rod handle  240  has compressed the spring  260 . Also visible in this view is cap  204  and basket ring  158 . In order to show the relationship between the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220  and the basket bottom  156 , the jar  120  and sidewalls of the basket  150  have been made invisible. 
     After releasing the plunger rod handle  240 , the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220  will move upward relative to the basket  150  as the spring force is sufficient to return the plunger rod handle  240  to 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 end  224  of the plunger rod  220  in the inner perimeter of the basket  150 . To minimize any tendency to lift the basket  150  out of position, the basket ring  158  has a pair of handles  162  (one handle visible in  FIG. 3 ). The top edge  160  of the handle  162  is positioned very close to the inside face  206  of the cap  204  so that the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220  continues to move upward after the top edge  160  of the handle  162  strikes the inside face  206  of the cap  204  so that the basket  150  becomes dislodged from the distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220 . 
     Placement of Inlet and Outlet on Jar. 
     Note that by having both the inlet  124  and the outlet  128  located on the jar  120  and not split between the jar  120  and the cap  204 , the rotating the plunger &amp; cap assembly  200  to remove the plunger &amp; cap assembly  200  to expose the interior of the jar  120  may be done without disconnecting the vacuum side tubing connecting the outlet  128  to the vacuum source and without disconnecting the surgical side tubing connected to the inlet  124 . Thus neither the connection of tubing to the inlet  124  or to the outlet  128  needs to be a more expensive quick disconnect connection such as a bayonet connection. 
     Allowing quick removal of the plunger &amp; cap assembly  200  from the surgical collection assembly  100  to expose the basket  150  allows collected material to be removed and a new basket  150  to be inserted. As the connections to the inlet  124  and outlet  128  are in place, the process of collecting can resume quickly after the plunger &amp; cap assembly  200  is re-engaged with the jar  120 . 
     A second advantage of having the inlet  124  on the jar  120  rather than on the cap  204  is that this placement helps keep material coming in through the inlet from getting up on the top side of the broad distal end  224  of the plunger rod  220 . This avoids wasting material that could have been collected in the basket  150  and reduces the opportunity for material to interfere with the operation of the plunger rod  220 . 
     When using the plunger rod  220  to 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 inlet  124 . The suction source may be left on during this process to help remove fluids that are pressed out of the collected material. 
       FIG. 5  is top front perspective view of the jar  120 . For purposes of illustration, a basket ring  158  is visible in  FIG. 5 , but the basket ring  158  does not have a basket sidewall  154  or basket bottom  156 .  FIG. 6  is the same view as  FIG. 5  but the basket ring  158  is removed so that the portions of the jar  120  that support and position the basket ring  158  may be seen. 
     The basket ring  158  may be described as a pair of handles  162 . Between the handles  162  are portions of the basket ring  158  that may be called inter-handle segments  166 . The inter-handle segments  166  may be distinguished from the intra-handle segments  170  which may be thinner than the inter-handle segments  166 . 
     The difference between the intra-handle segments  170  and the inter-handle segments  166  allows the basket ring  158  to be oriented within the jar  120  to avoid blocking the inlet  124 . The jar  120  orients the basket ring  158  by locating long ribs  136  and short ribs  140 . The inter-handle segments  166  may rest on short rib ledges  144  but are too wide to be aligned with the long ribs  136 . In contrast, the narrower intra-handle segments  170  can fit inside the perimeter formed by the upper portions  152  of the long ribs  136  and rest upon the long rib ledges  148 . 
     Recessed Pattern. 
     As noted in  FIG. 6  the jar  120  has a bottom surface  190  that supports the bottom surface of the basket  150  including when the plunger rod  220  is compressing material within the basket  150 . A recessed pattern  194  fans out from the outlet mouth  198  so that suction pulling on the outlet  128  applies suction pressure throughout the recessed pattern  194  to pull liquids from the basket  150  and draw the liquid to the outlet mouth  198  and out the outlet  128 . The pattern used for the recessed pattern  194  does not need to be identical to the pattern shown here. A number of different patterns are possible. While symmetry on either side of a midline between the inlet  124  and  128  may be a natural choice, this is not required. The width and depth of the recessed pattern does not need to be uniform. A pattern that allows suction to reach a distal end of the pattern even if a small obstruction is lodged in a portion of the pattern has advantages over a pattern that lacks the cross links that allow for alternate routes for drainage. 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross section of the jar  120  taken again through the inlet  124  and outlet  128 . The cross section has been rotated to move the cap  204  towards the observer to allow bottom surface  190 , recessed pattern  194 , and outlet mouth  198  to be visible relative to the basket  150  and in particular to the basket bottom  156 . Notice that the combination of the basket ring  158 , long ribs  136  and short ribs  140  impede flow from the inlet  124  to the outlet  128  that passes around the perimeter of the basket  150 . Having the distal ends of the recessed pattern  194  terminate beyond the outer edges of the basket  150  provides suction beneath the basket ring  158  to pull fluids from the basket sidewalls  154  in addition to pulling fluid from the basket bottom  156 . 
     Basket Formation. 
     A variety of techniques may be used to make a basket and basket ring assembly in keeping with the teachings of this disclosure. As noted above, the basket may be made of a sidewall joined to a bottom. The connection of the sidewall to the bottom may be connected via stitching. Alternatively, the connection of the sidewall to the bottom may be accomplished by placing a flexible ring at the bottom perimeter of the basket and connecting both the sidewall and the bottom to the flexible ring. The connection may be via stitching, over molding, heat sealing, or some other connection process that is suitable for use in collecting bone material that will be used in a surgical procedure. The connection to the basket ring may be heat staked, welded, or connected via adhesive. The bottom may be on the same plane as the bottom edge of the sidewalls. 
     Having a basket  150  which is flexible allows the basket bottom  156  to be moved relative to the basket ring  158  so that the basket  150  is inverted to that that interior surfaces of the basket  150  during collection become the outer surfaces of the basket  150  during delivery of collected material. 
     The basket material will be chosen by the designer as part of the total design but a basket made of material that has open area in the range of 47% with a mesh opening in the range of 200 micrometers may be used with certain baskets and applications. For context, 200 micrometers (also known as microns) is the type of filtration that might be used to remove fine sand from a liquid. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the disclosed surgical collection assembly  100  provides a basket with extensive filter surface area that allows for continuous filtration throughout the collection process. The large surface area of the basket and other features of the disclosed surgical collection assembly  100  make the assembly resilient to the presence of material that might clog and impair another collection system. 
     The mobility of the basket is also important to allow collected material to be moved to prep table, while allowing a cap to be placed back on and regular suction to be continued. 
     Alternatives and Variations. 
     Alignment of Inlet and Outlet. 
     The jar  120  has been shown with the inlet  124  to the outlet  128  offset by 180 degrees. This offset is believed to be useful because it allows for captured product to fill the entire basket because flow is across the diameter of the basket. If ports were on the same side, you may have product build up on one side of the basket. By having the inlet  124  arranged above the basket and the outlet pulling material from below the basket, the surgical collection assembly  100  is not reliant on gravity as the suction force is sufficient to promote proper operation even in the event that the jar  120  is knocked over so it is horizontal rather than vertical. 
     While there are advantages to having the inlet  124  to the outlet  128  offset by 180 degrees, there would be similar advantages with something less than a 180 degree offset. Even 90 degrees would provide substantial advantages. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that a surgical collection assembly  100  with an inlet  124  located directly above the outlet  128  would be a viable collection device even if such a collection device did not have the suggested 180 degree offset. 
     Having the outlet  128  located near the bottom of the jar  120  increases the ability of the collection device to be cleared of fluid relative to the use of the same suction source with an outlet placed close to the top of the jar. 
     Specimen Collection Lid. 
     The jar  120 , basket  150  with basket ring  158  may be used with an alternative cap  304  that does not have a bore for use with a plunger rod but is a solid top. This alternative cap  304  may be used when the jar  120  and basket  150  are employed to filter out material taken via suction from a surgical site. This material may be bone which is prepared and reused but is more likely to be material to be collected and sent for analysis. 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  provide a top and bottom perspective view of alternative cap  304 , including female threads  216  to engage corresponding male threads  132  of the jar  120 . 
     Alternative Way to Avoid Blocking the Inlet. 
     Disclosed above was a method to orient the basket ring to avoid interfering with the ingress of suction material passing from the inlet into the interior of the basket. The basket ring was oriented using an interaction between the basket ring  158  and the short rib ledges  144  and long rib ledges  148 . 
     An alternative way to orient a basket ring  358  within jar  320  is disclosed.  FIG. 10  provides a view of jar  320  as set to transparent to allow view of the basket ring  358 . Basket  150  is shown with just the basket bottom  156  visible to avoid obstructing views of the ribs  340 . The basket ring  358  rests on a set of rib ledges  344 . The rib ledges  344  on the top of the set of ribs  340  set the height of the basket ring  358 . A set of one or more orientation tab  380  sets the orientation of the basket ring  358  so that the one or more handles  362  are in defined positions with respect to the set of ribs  340 . As shown in  FIG. 10  there are a pair of handles  362  and they can be place in a number of positions including having one handle  362  placed between the ribs  340  on either side of the inlet  124 . The handle opening  364  is sized so that the flow of material coming into the jar  320  from the inlet  124  would pass through the handle opening  364  and the handle  362  would not serve as an impediment. 
     One of skill in the art will appreciate that additional short ribs may be placed on the sidewall of the jar  320  to prevent a choice of putting the handle  362  near the inlet so that the handle opening  364  would not need to be sized to accommodate flow through the handle opening  364 . 
     While placing the orientation tabs  380  beneath the handles  362  is one approach, the orientation tabs  380  could be placed elsewhere. There does not need to be a one to one correspondence between the number of orientation tabs and the number of handles. 
       FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  show the jar  320  as a solid object. The basket is rendered invisible to allow the ribs  340  and rib ledges  344  to be visible. The difference between  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  is the basket ring  358  is made invisible in  FIG. 12 . 
     Jar  320  and basket  150  may be used with plunger &amp; cap assembly  200  if the material collected in the basket  150  is to be compressed while in the jar  320  or may be used with an alternative cap  304  if there is no intent to use a plunger to compress the collected material in the jar  320 . 
     The basket and rib concept introduced through  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 12  may be used with jar  420  and basket  454 . A set of drawings shows these components without the clutter of lead lines and element numbers. A set of drawings without lead lines and element numbers shows a plunger &amp; cap assembly  480  that may be used with jar  420  and basket  454 . 
       FIG. 13  is a top, left, front perspective view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 14  is a bottom, right, front perspective view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 15  is a top plan view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 16  is a front view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 18  is a left side view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 19  is a right side view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 20  is a top and front perspective view of jar  420 . 
       FIG. 21  is a top, right, rear perspective view of a cross section of jar  420  taken as indicated in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 22  is a top, front perspective view of basket  454 . 
       FIG. 23  is a bottom, right perspective view of basket  454 . 
       FIG. 24  is a top plan view of basket  454 . 
       FIG. 25  is a front, left perspective view of basket  454 . 
       FIG. 26  is a bottom plan view of basket  454 . 
       FIG. 27  is a right, front perspective view of basket  454 . 
       FIG. 28  is a top perspective view of the interior of the cross section of  FIG. 24 . 
       FIG. 29  top perspective view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
       FIG. 30  bottom perspective view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
       FIG. 31  is a side view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
       FIG. 32  is a top plan view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
       FIG. 33  is a bottom plan view of plunger &amp; cap assembly  480 . 
       FIG. 34  is a side view of a cross section of  FIG. 33 . 
       FIG. 35  is a top, side perspective view of a cross section of  FIG. 33 . 
       FIG. 36  is a top, side perspective view of a cross section of  FIG. 33 . 
     Kits. 
     The surgical collection assembly  100  with jar  120  and plunger &amp; cap assembly  200  may be delivered in a kit with a piece of suction tubing fixed to the inlet port. Delivery of suction tubing ensures use of clean suction tubing between the collection site and the inlet of the jar  120  so that the collected material is free from other debris that may have been created and removed by other suction tubing. This can be important when the material collected, such as bone, is going to be used for a specific purpose. Providing tubing with the jar  120  ensures that tubing of suitable flexibility is provided to ensure for easier maneuvering of the end of the suction tubing. Finally, delivering the jar  120  with tubing affixed to the inlet removes one source of error for setting up the surgical collection assembly. 
     The kit may contain two or more baskets. The kit may include an alternative cap  304  in addition to a plunger &amp; cap assembly  200 . 
     Non-Circular Jar. 
     Note that while the examples provided in this disclosure had a jar with a circular cross section, one of skill in the art will appreciate that a jar with another cross section could be used. For example, the cross section could be oval or egg shaped. Alternative cross sections may be used as long as the design had an engagement between the plunger assembly (or specimen collection lid) and the jar that worked appropriately. Most likely this would be something other than a threaded engagement with the jar. The basket assembly would need to be sized appropriately but would not have to have the exact cross section shape of the jar. 
     Alternative Baskets. 
     While the taught the use of baskets with liquid permeable bottoms and liquid permeable sides, those of skill in the art will recognize that for certain applications the bottom may be liquid permeable while the sidewalls are not. This may be appropriate when the collection basket has a very large bottom surface or when the collection process is not intended to collect so much filtered material that the filtered material would get deep. Such a basket may seem more like a relatively flat pan than an elongated cylinder 
     Alternatively, a basket might have a bottom that is not permeable to liquid and rely on the fluids to be pulled out the liquid permeable sidewalls. In such a basket, the basket bottom may be small so that as layers of collected materials pile up, the materials are partially dried by the removal of fluids through nearby sidewalls. Such a basket may seem more like an elongated cylinder than a relatively flat pan. 
     One of skill in the art will recognize that some of the alternative implementations set forth above are not universally mutually exclusive and that in some cases additional implementations can be created that employ aspects of two or more of the variations described above. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples or particular embodiments provided to promote understanding of the various teachings of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the claims which follow covers the range of variations, modifications, and substitutes for the components described herein as would be known to those of skill in the art.