Patent ID: 7717890

Claim:
A vacuum connector adapted to be operably coupled to a vacuum source, the vacuum connector comprising: one or more inlets, at least one of which is adapted to be operably coupled with an end effector; an outlet adapted to be operably coupled with the vacuum source; one or more separation chambers in communication with one or more of the inlets; an air pathway from the separation chamber to the outlet; a fluid pathway from the separation chamber to the outlet, the fluid pathway being separate from the air pathway; and a removable decontamination unit adapted to be coupled to an inlet of the connector; wherein the decontamination unit comprises a collapsible container containing a pre-measured amount of decontaminating solution; and wherein the collapsible container is configured such that upon actuation of the vacuum source, the decontaminating solution flows from the collapsible container to the separation chamber and the collapsible container collapses.