Patent ID: 7901389

Claim:
A disposable liquid removal apparatus for evacuating liquids for use during medical procedures to remove liquids from surfaces including floors, responsively to a drawn vacuum of preselected magnitude and contacting the surface, comprising; a plenum defined by an elongated rectangular crush resistant box element constructed from corrugated panel, capable of containing a vacuum, defining an interior volume by a top and bottom plate with a plurality of support members attached to the bottom of the top plate and the top of the bottom plate of the panel forming passage channels along the longitudinal axis of the plenum and within the plenum, each having ends, with one passage channel end open to receive a tube with the remainder of the passage channel ends sealed by plugs with the passage channels in direct air and fluid communication with one another by means of openings in adjacent support members, said bottom plate of plenum has a plurality of circular perforations having a diameter between 0.005 and 0.060 inches in fluid communication with the plenum, wherein the total leakage of air into the plenum is collectively limited by the perforations, an absorptive wicking pad having a top, a bottom, dimensions generally of the bottom plate, and a thickness, and constructed from a material having wicking and capillary properties commensurate with drawing and transporting liquids from a surface having a porosity sufficient to permit liquid flow through the pad when drawn by a vacuum from the top of the pad, with the top of the pad fixed to the bottom of the bottom plate of the plenum so as to cover and to be in liquid communication with all perforations in the bottom plate, and the bottom of the pad directly contacting the surface from which liquid is to be removed; and a flexible vacuum conduit tube having a distal end and a proximal end wherein the proximal end is coupled with the open passage channel end of the plenum for receiving a tube and the distal end is coupled to; and, is in direct fluid and liquid communication with a vacuum collection system having a drawn vacuum capable of drawing and collecting expelled fluids and designed for applications in medical procedural areas.