Patent ID: 6920960

Claim:
An inline lubricant cartridge assembly for use with a pneumatically powered surgical instrument, the inline lubricant cartridge assembly comprising: a housing including first and second portions, the first portion defining a first cavity including a lubricant-soaked absorbent member; a first conduit having a first end for attachment to a source of pressurized fluid and a second end for attachment to a pneumatically powered surgical instrument, the first conduit passing through the second portion of the housing and defining a channel for transmission of a pressurized fluid stream, the channel being in fluid communication with the first cavity such that lubricant is drawn into the fluid stream for delivery to the pneumatically powered instrument; and a second conduit concentrically arranged with respect to the first conduit and cooperating with the second portion of the housing to define a path for returning exhaust gases from the pneumatically powered instrument; wherein the first portion also defines a second cavity including a relatively dry absorbent member and wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with the second cavity for passing the exhaust gases through the relatively dry absorbent member.