Abstract: A waste collection container fitted with an inlet point and an outlet point is used for receiving contaminated carrier air from a medical suction procedure. Heavier solids and liquids are collected within the waste collection container by gravitational precipitation. The carrier air now containing only aerosol contaminants is then bubbled through a disinfecting bath to sterilize the carrier air before it is exhausted into the immediate indoor environment or the outdoor atmosphere. An activated charcoal filter is then used to remove odors from the sterilized carrier air. An input and exit port of the waste collection container are initially sealed and are punctured by manually operated actuator apparatus to permit carrier air to flow through the container and the disinfecting bath. When the waste collection container is full, before removal another actuator is manually operated to discharge the disinfecting bath into the precipitated fluids and solids in the container to thereby sterilize them.

Abstract: A hand held myringotomy instrument comprises an otoscope and an attached laser beam generator section. The laser beam generator section comprises a portion for moving the laser beam generator of the section along the laser beam axis, in order to adjust the position of the focus of the laser beam nearer, or father from the instrument. Preferably, the moving portion includes an inner sleeve carrying the generator and an outer sleeve respectively inside and outside of a tube connected to the otoscope. A pair of elements diametrically opposed attached to the inner tube project through longitudinal slots diametrically opposed in the tube and are externally threaded to mesh with internal threads on the outer sleeve. The slots restrict the motion of the elements to axial motion. Collars restrict the motion of the outer sleeve to rotational motion.