Patent ID: 8016822

Claim:
A suction device configured for use with a probe, the probe including a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion that carries at least one energy transmission device and a wettable structure around at least a portion of the energy transmission device, the suction device comprising: a main body defining a suction line; at least one suction pod defining a suction region and including a suction aperture in communication with the suction region and the suction line; a connector comprising a slot that is in-line with at least a portion of the suction region, the slot being configured to receive and secure the probe shaft to the suction device such that when the probe shaft is positioned within the connector, the probe shaft extends across the at least one suction pod and at least a portion of the wettable structure is within the suction region in spaced relation to the suction aperture; and at least one support device that extends from an inner surface of the at least one suction pod and into the suction region, the at least one support device being configured to engage the wettable structure and maintain a predetermined space between the wettable structure and the inner surface and between the wettable structure and the suction aperture.