Patent ID: 8574222

Claim:
An anti-clog suction tip apparatus for use during surgical procedures for the removal of debris from a surgical site, the anti-clog suction tip apparatus comprising a suction tip assembly and an ejection wire assembly, (a) wherein the suction tip assembly comprises, (i) a suction tip having a suction opening at a distal end of the suction tip assembly and having an interior defining a tubular suction channel for the removal of debris through suction applied at the suction opening, (ii) a hose attachment portion at a proximal end of the suction tip assembly, (iii) a handle portion from which the suction tip extends, and (iv) an ejection wire channel extending from the handle portion to a wire exit opening that opens into the tubular suction channel of the suction tip, the wire exit opening being located proximate the suction opening of the suction tip, and (b) wherein the ejection wire assembly comprises an ejection wire including a ball tip at an end thereof, and wherein the ejection wire assembly is transitionable between a retracted configuration and an advanced configuration such that, (i) when the ejection wire assembly is in the retracted configuration, the ejection wire including the ball tip at the end thereof is retained within the ejection wire channel and the ball tip does not obstruct suctioning of debris through the suction channel of the suction tip, (ii) when the ejection wire assembly transitions from the retracted configuration to the advanced configuration, the ball tip of the ejection wire advances from the ejection wire channel through the wire exit opening and into the suction tip, (iii) when the ejection wire assembly is in the advanced configuration and the ejection wire is fully advanced, the ball tip of the ejection wire extends beyond the suction opening at the distal end of the suction tip assembly, and (iv) when the ejection wire assembly transitions from the advanced configuration back to the retracted configuration, the ball tip of the ejection wire retracts from the suction channel back through the wire exit opening and into the ejection wire channel.