Patent ID: 8366694

Claim:
A tissue refining device for use with a harvesting instrument and a vacuum source, the device comprising: a canister body with an open top region and a base including a tissue retrieval port; a lid constructed to releasably engage the canister body and cover the open top region, the lid further including a vacuum port and a drain port operable to be placed in communication with the vacuum source, a tissue harvesting port operable to be placed in communication with the harvesting instrument and to direct a quantity of tissue retrieved by the harvesting instrument into the canister body when suction is applied to the vacuum port by the vacuum source; a separator element sub-dividing the canister body into an upper vacuum chamber in communication with the vacuum port and the tissue harvesting port and a lower vacuum chamber in communication with the drain port, the separator element including at least one aperture projecting through the separator element and a depression with a channel in communication with the tissue retrieval port; a drain tube projecting into the canister body from the evacuation port of the lid and having a lower end extending through the separator element and disposed within the lower vacuum chamber; and a vent passage between the upper vacuum chamber and the lower vacuum chamber operable to enable airflow between the two chambers when a fluid level within the canister body drops below a predetermined level, the vent passage further being operable to trigger a vacuum break when a sufficient amount of the quantity of tissue settles on the separator element and covers the at least one aperture.