Safety Vent Structure for Extracorporeal Circuit
First Claim
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1. An extracorporeal medical fluid circuit component, comprising:
- a vent assembly comprising;
a micro-porous membrane; and
a vent structure adjacent to the micro-porous membrane, the vent structure comprises a porous material capable of swelling when moistened,wherein the component is capable of being used in an extracorporeal medical fluid circuit.
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Abstract
A vent assembly is described for use in an extracorporeal fluid unit. A vent structure adjacent to a micro-porous membrane forms the assembly. The vent structure is porous, but expands when the vent structure becomes wet, thereby closing off the pores and inhibiting (e.g., preventing) fluid from flowing through the vent structure. The vent structure also protects the membrane from becoming wet, such as from condensation.
81 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An extracorporeal medical fluid circuit component, comprising:
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a vent assembly comprising; a micro-porous membrane; and a vent structure adjacent to the micro-porous membrane, the vent structure comprises a porous material capable of swelling when moistened, wherein the component is capable of being used in an extracorporeal medical fluid circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A transducer protector comprising:
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a body defining a fluid pathway; and a vent assembly disposed within the fluid pathway, the vent assembly comprising a micro-porous membrane; and a vent structure adjacent to the micro-porous membrane, the vent structure comprises a porous material capable of swelling when moistened, wherein the transducer protector is capable of being connected in fluid communication with a fluid circuit and a pressure transducer such that the vent assembly inhibits liquid flowing within the fluid circuit from contacting the pressure transducer.
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26. An extracorporeal medical fluid circuit apparatus, comprising:
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a chamber including a fluid entry port and a fluid exit port; and a vent assembly comprising; a micro-porous membrane; and a vent structure adjacent to the micro-porous membrane, the vent structure comprising a porous material capable of swelling when moistened, wherein the fluid entry port and the fluid exit port are arranged to allow liquid to pass through the chamber from the fluid entry port to the fluid exit port so as to fill the chamber with the liquid, and wherein the vent assembly is arranged to allow gas to exit the chamber as the liquid passes through the chamber.
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27. An integrated fluid circuit component adapted to removably seat in a dialysis machine, comprising:
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a rigid body having a substantially flat main portion and a plurality of recessed portions extending from the flat main portion, the plurality of recessed portions comprising a first recessed portion forming a chamber, a second recessed portion forming a first channel that is in fluid communication with the chamber, and a third recessed portion of the forming a second channel in fluid communication with the chamber; a flexible backing covering at least one of the of recessed portions; and a vent assembly in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein the vent assembly includes a micro-porous membrane and a vent structure. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A dialysis system, comprising:
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a machine body; a pump on the machine body; fluid circuitry in fluid communication with the pump, wherein the pump is configured to push fluid through the circuitry; a vent assembly in fluid communication with the fluid circuitry, the vent assembly comprising; a micro-porous membrane; and a vent structure adjacent to the micro-porous membrane, the vent structure comprises a porous material capable of swelling when moistened. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A method of removing air from a bodily liquid in dialysis circuitry, comprising:
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providing a chamber comprising an entry port, an exit port, a micro-porous membrane and a vent structure; passing a first liquid through the entry port, filling the chamber so that substantially no air remains in the chamber; and passing a second liquid through the entry port, forcing a portion of the first liquid out of the exit port of the vertical chamber and forming a liquid-liquid interface between the first and second liquids. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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Specification