Patent ID: 8858464

Claim:
A tissue filter assembly for collecting tissue excised by a tissue cutting device, comprising: a cap defining a tissue inlet port configured to be attached to a tissue aspiration line; a filter can having an open end configured for removable attachment to the cap; a porous filter trap sized to be removably seated in the filter can and configured for retaining excised tissue passing through the tissue inlet port, the filter trap defining a tissue collection chamber, the filter can defining a vacuum access port in fluid communication with the tissue collection chamber, the vacuum access port configured to be attached to a vacuum line, such that, when a tissue aspiration line is attached to the inlet port, the cap is attached to the filter can, and the vacuum line is attached to the vacuum access port, the respective tissue aspiration line, tissue collection chamber and vacuum line are in fluid communication with each other; and a gasket configured to be compressed between the cap and an outer peripheral wall of the filter can, wherein the cap, gasket, and filter can are collectively configured (i) to form a vacuum-tight seal when the cap is attached to the filter can if the filter trap is seated in the filter can, and (ii) to not form a vacuum-tight seal when the cap is attached to the filter can if the filter trap is not seated in the filter can.