Systems, devices, and methods include a hand-held instrument with an aspiration conduit extending therethrough and with an aspiration needle arranged to aspirate fluid from a surgical site. A vacuum limiter is associated with the aspiration conduit. The vacuum limiter includes an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration conduit, an actuator disposed in the opening, and a biasing element biasing the actuator to a closed position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening. The biasing element is arranged to permit the actuator to displace from the closed position to a relief position so that fluid passes through the opening when a threshold vacuum is reached within the lumen. The actuator can further displace to an override position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening.
