What is a suction canister?

A suction canister is a temporary storage container that's used to collect this infectious medical waste until it is disposed of properly. In a hospital setting, suction canisters are usually seen attached to the wall of the patient's room or in close proximity to the patient's bed.

What is the purpose of suction?
Most commonly, suctioning is done for the removal of secretions from the respiratory tract, but sometimes also for the removal of blood or other materials like meconium in specific cases. Airway suctioning is also performed for diagnostic purposes.