Patent ID: 8424685

Claim:
A manifold assembly for use in a medical waste collection device to direct fluid into the medical waste collection device while filtering material from the fluid, said assembly comprising: a manifold housing having a bottom and a wall extending upwardly from said bottom about a first axis; a support structure disposed on said bottom and having a filter support surface spaced from said bottom to define a plurality of open spaces between said filter support surface and said bottom, said support structure having a ring defining an outer surface facing radially outward towards said wall and spaced from said wall; at least one filter supported by said filter support surface to filter the material from the fluid, said at least one filter having a periphery; a manifold cap connected to said manifold housing to define a chamber therebetween; an intake port disposed on said manifold cap to direct the fluid into said chamber; an outlet port disposed on said manifold housing; and a skirt unitary with said cap and having a lower edge and an inner surface, said periphery of said at least one filter positioned beneath said lower edge of said skirt and radially outward from said outer surface of said support structure.