Patent ID: 7131965

Claim:
Liquid collection apparatus usable during surgery, comprising, in combination: a) a shallow tray defining a liquid receiving zone that is upwardly exposed for receiving liquid dropping from a surgery area, b) and a liquid collector in said zone for collecting said dropping liquid while allowing a surgeon to tread over said collector, during surgery, c) the tray having flexible plastic extent that is foldable, d) said collector comprising a porous mat received in the tray to extend generally horizontally to allow surgeon treading on the mat, and a tube extending generally horizontally in said tray zone, the tube having at least one liquid inlet, and a suction outlet, e) the tray having an upstanding wall extending about said liquid receiving zone and about said mat, f) the mat consisting of fibrous material and in which liquid dropping toward the tray is collected, the mat overall height being between ½ inch and 2 inches, g) said tube extending to a perimeter wall defined by the tray, the tube having multiple liquid inlets spaced along its length, and being flexible, that perimeter wall having height less than about one inch, as measured from the top of the tray bottom wall; h) there being a spacing from said upstanding wall and about the mat peripheral extent for allowing liquid drainage off the mat to gain access to an inlet or inlets defined by the tube.