An anti-clogging device for a vacuum-assisted tissue removal system is provided. The device includes a tissue-separation chamber in a close proximity to (i) a cutting head operated by a physician and (ii) the physician for a filling and emptying by the physician during a tissue removal procedure, the cutting head and the tissue separation chamber in an operable communications with the suction assembly. The tissue separation chamber has an entry port in an operable communication with the cutting head for the entry of an excised tissue into the chamber, the excised tissue having a solid component and a liquid component; a baffle to separate the liquid component from the solid component; and, an exit port for the exit of liquid component out of the chamber. The tissue can include any tissue accessible through a small surgical opening, such as a nucleus pulposus tissue removed during a discectomy procedure.