a suction probe system for cleaning debris from a surgical site includes a probe tip , a filter unit in fluid communication with the probe tip , and a suction source in fluid communication with the filter unit . the filter unit includes a cylindrical filter having an inner chamber attached to the suction source and an outer surface which accumulates debris particles too large to pass through holes within the cylindrical filter . the filter unit also includes a slider having an open - ended cylinder which is slid along the outside of the cylindrical filter to remove accumulated debris particles and to push these debris particles into a reservoir within the filter unit . the slider and the probe tip can be made integral parts of a single sliding member .