Patent ID: 6837852

Claim:
A suction device for applying vacuum to a tissue surface, the suction device comprising: a suction cup portion having a wall defining a cavity and an engagement surface for engaging the tissue surface; a vacuum inlet portion connected to the suction cup portion, the vacuum inlet portion having an inlet for connection to a vacuum source and a conduit in fluid communication with the vacuum inlet and the cavity such that a vacuum applied to the inlet is transferred to the cavity, at least a portion of the conduit comprising an axial bore extending from the cavity to an outer surface of the vacuum inlet portion; a valve disposed in the vacuum inlet for selectively venting the vacuum in the cavity, the valve comprising a seat for sealing engagement with a corresponding surface of the axial bore; and a vent hole in fluid communication with the conduit and an ambient environment; wherein the valve has vent means for selectively disengaging the seat against the corresponding surface of the axial bore to vent the cavity through the vent hole to the ambient environment, the vent means comprising a plunger slidingly disposed in the axial bore such that sliding of the plunger in an axial direction selectively disengages the seat from the corresponding surface of the axial bore.