EXTRACTION OF GAS FROM INFUSED LIQUID
First Claim
1. Apparatus for removing bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a feed liquid container;
means for supplying blood to said feed liquid container;
a vertical column, having a lower end and an upper end, and having an inlet adjacent the lower end for receiving liquid from said feed liquid container, a side outlet vertically thereabove for exit of the liquid from the column, and a gas trap adjacent the upper end;
a bubble-separator which causes bubbles in the liquid entering the column to move toward a central axis of the column as the liquid travels from the inlet to the outlet so that the bubbles enter the gas trap; and
means for creating a vacuum in an upper region of the gas trap, which means comprises means for supporting the feed liquid container at different vertical locations so as to control the pressure head in the column and create a vacuum in an upper region of the gas trap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (20) for removing gas bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient wherein a gas trap (42) is located at the upper end of a vertical column (38, 40, 40a) having a lower inlet (44) and an upper outlet (56). A bracket (39) supports the column above the patient, and a bubble-separator (46, 39a, 47, 66, 63), positioned between the inlet and the outlet, causes gas bubbles to move toward the column axis as they rise so that they are captured in the gas trap (42). Liquid to be de-gasified is supplied from a vertical level above the column outlet and is delivered through the side outlet (56) to the patient below.
32 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for removing bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a feed liquid container; means for supplying blood to said feed liquid container; a vertical column, having a lower end and an upper end, and having an inlet adjacent the lower end for receiving liquid from said feed liquid container, a side outlet vertically thereabove for exit of the liquid from the column, and a gas trap adjacent the upper end; a bubble-separator which causes bubbles in the liquid entering the column to move toward a central axis of the column as the liquid travels from the inlet to the outlet so that the bubbles enter the gas trap; and means for creating a vacuum in an upper region of the gas trap, which means comprises means for supporting the feed liquid container at different vertical locations so as to control the pressure head in the column and create a vacuum in an upper region of the gas trap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for removing bubbles from a liquid prior to infusion into a patient, which method comprises:
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supplying the liquid which contains bubbles to a drip chamber, supplying said liquid from the drip chamber by gravity flow so as to (1) enter a vertically oriented column through an inlet adjacent to a lower end thereof, which vertical column has a length greater than its diameter and a gas trap located along its central axis and adjacent to its upper end, and (2) exit from the column via a side outlet located vertically higher than the inlet; positioning the column at a location vertically higher than the patient and maintaining the vertical column in an operative position during flow of said liquid through the column; providing a bubble-separator which is located between the inlet to the column and the side exit which directs said liquid and bubbles flowing upward in the column so as to cause bubbles to move toward the central axis where they rise and enter the gas trap as said liquid moves radially outward and exits from the side outlet, directing said exiting liquid, with gas bubbles removed, from the side outlet to a lower location to effect gravity flow of liquid through the column, and creating a vacuum in the gas trap by moving the drip container vertically relative to the column to change the pressure head being applied to the column by said liquid flowing into the column. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification