Bubble trap for high flow rate infusion

• US 20080269679A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Arizant Healthcare Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: McGregor, Andrew J., Hansen, Gary L., Arnold, Randall C., Bieberich, Mark T., Miller, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,803,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0085 Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/11 Laminar flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence

Abstract

A bubble trap for separating and collecting air and bubbles from a high flow rate stream of infusate includes multiple flow chambers to collect air, a sensor support mounted to one of the chambers, an air vent disposed in one of the chambers, and a valve in fluid communication with the chambers to control the flow of infusate therethrough.

Claims

1. A bubble trap for removing air from a stream of infusate, comprising:

a housing;

an inlet in the housing;

a first chamber means in the housing for reducing the flow rate of a stream of infusate from the inlet;

a second chamber means in the housing for receiving a cascade of infusate from the first chamber means and circulating the cascading infusate;

a third chamber means in the housing for forming circulating infusate into a laminar flow of infusate;

a fourth chamber means in the housing for forming an output stream of infusate from the laminar flow of infusate;

an outlet in the housing, the outlet in fluid communication with the fourth chamber means;

a valve in the housing, the valve having a first state blocking the flow of the output stream to the outlet and a second state permitting the flow of the output stream to the outlet; and

an air vent in the housing.

2. The bubble trap of claim 1, further including a sensor coupler mounted to the housing adjacent the third chamber means.

3. The bubble trap of claim 1, wherein the air vent is positioned at the third chamber means.

4. The bubble trap of claim 3, further including a sensor coupler mounted to the housing adjacent the third chamber means, opposite the air vent.

5. The bubble trap of claim 4, the sensor coupler defining at least one sensor field of view near the air vent.

6. The bubble trap of claim 4, the sensor coupler defining at least one sensor field of view in the third chamber means.

7. The bubble trap of claim 4, the air vent including a vent chamber in the housing, a hydrophobic membrane in the third chamber means, covering the vent chamber, and a check valve seated on the housing and acting between the vent chamber and ambient atmosphere outside the housing.

8. The bubble trap of claim 4, the fourth chamber means including a hydrophilic screen to filter bubbles from the infusate.

9. An apparatus for eliminating air from a stream of fluid, comprising:

a housing, containing;

a first, upwardly directed, flow section with an upwardly expanding flow path and a downwardly curved flow section in fluid communication with the upwardly expanding flow section;

an input in a lower portion of the upwardly expanding flow path;

a second, widened flow section in fluid communication with the downwardly curved flow section;

a third flow section defining a laminar fluid flow path in fluid communication with the second flow section;

a fourth flow section, positioned below the first, second, and third flow sections and in fluid communication with the third flow section;

an output;

a valve acting between the fourth flow section and the output;

air vent means for venting air collected in the housing; and

,

at least one sensor coupler mounted to an outside surface of the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the air vent means includes an air vent opening through the housing to the third flow section, and the at least one sensor coupler includes first and second sensor couplers defining first and second fluid sensing levels in the third flow section, the first fluid sensing level traversing a lower portion of the air vent, the second fluid sensing level positioned below the first fluid sensing level and above the fourth flow section.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the air vent including a vent chamber in the housing, a hydrophobic membrane in the third chamber means, covering the vent chamber, and a check valve seated on the housing and acting between the vent chamber and ambient atmosphere outside the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

an air vent chamber;

a valve between the air vent chamber and the third flow section; and

the air vent means including an air vent in the air vent chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the air vent including a vent chamber in the housing at the air vent chamber, a hydrophobic membrane in the air vent chamber, covering the vent chamber, and a check valve seated on the housing and acting between the vent chamber and ambient atmosphere outside the housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor coupler includes first and second sensor couplers defining first and second fluid sensing levels in the third flow section, the second fluid sensing level positioned below the first fluid sensing level and above the fourth flow section.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, the air vent including a vent chamber in the housing at the air vent chamber, a hydrophobic membrane in the air vent chamber, covering the vent chamber, and a check valve seated on the housing and acting between the vent chamber and ambient atmosphere outside the housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor coupler further includes a third sensor coupler defining a third fluid sensing level in the third flow section, between the first and second fluid sensing levels.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein venting the air from the apparatus includes venting air from the third chamber.

17. A method for removing air from a stream of infusate using a multi chambered apparatus, comprising:

receiving a stream of infusate;

reducing the flow rate of the stream of infusate by expanding the stream into a first chamber;

cascading the stream of infusate from the first chamber into a second chamber;

circulating the infusate in the second chamber;

forming infusate circulating in the second chamber into a laminar stream of infusate in a third chamber;

forming an output stream of infusate from the laminar flow of infusate in a fourth chamber;

providing the output stream to an outlet through a valve;

collecting air from the infusate in at least the first, second, and third chambers; and

,

venting the air from the apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sensing the fluid contents of the apparatus;

closing the valve if air is sensed;

otherwise

opening the valve.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein venting the air from the apparatus includes venting air from the third chamber.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the fluid contents includes sensing the fluid contents at a first level in the third chamber and at a second level in the third chamber below the first level, and closing the valve if air is sensed at the first and second levels.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the fluid contents includes sensing the fluid contents at a first level in the third chamber and at a second level in the third chamber below the first level, and:

if the valve is open and air is sensed at the first and second levels, closing the valve;

if the valve is closed and infusate is sensed at the first and the second level, opening the valve;

if the valve is closed, and air is sensed at the second but not at the first level, waiting for a period of time and then opening the valve;

or,

if the valve is closed, and air is sensed at the second level and infusate is sensed at the first level, opening the valve.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein venting the air from the apparatus includes venting air from a fifth chamber through which infusate does not flow.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the valve is a first valve, further including providing the air to the fifth chamber through a second valve.

25. The method of claim 24, further including;

opening the second valve when the first valve is open and air is sensed at a first level below the fifth chamber; and

opening the second valve and closing the first valve when air is sensed at a second level below the first level.