Patent ID: 7766987

Claim:
An apparatus for collection and retention of particulate matter during a surgical procedure comprising: (a) an access sheath with a first end and a second end, and a first lumen through a length of the access sheath, further comprising a skirt disposed upon the second end and a plurality of flanges that radially extend from the skirt; (b) a filter assembly removably connectable to the second end to receive flow from the second end of the access sheath, the filter assembly comprising an adaptor, a filter housing, and a filter mesh disposed within the filter housing, wherein adaptor and filter housing are removeably connectable with each other such that the filter housing is fluidly connected with the first lumen when the filter assembly is connected to the second end of the access sheath, the adaptor is configured with a plurality of arms that extend radially from a side surface of the adaptor, the arms each comprise a hand that is configured to engage a respective flange upon the skirt, the arms each being biased inward such that the adaptor is mechanically fixed to the skirt when the hands engage the respective flange; the filter housing is a hollow cylindrical member with the filter mesh disposed within a flow path through the filter housing.