SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HANDLING AIR AND/OR FLUSHING FLUIDS IN A FLUID CIRCUIT
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods handle air and rinsing fluid during fluid processing. The systems and methods eliminate air from a fluid processing system prior to, during, and after use. The systems and methods provide a connector assembly for establishing fluid flow from a fluid source. The connector assembly has discrete first and second passages that prevent communication between the fluid in first passage and the fluid in the second passage. Prior to system use, the connector assembly may be utilized in a priming function to remove residual air from a fluid circuit prior to use. The connector assembly may also be utilized after use to perform a rinse-back function.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A method for priming a fluid circuit comprising:
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coupling a connector assembly to a fluid reservoir, the connector assembly comprising a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; circulating fluid in the fluid circuit through the fluid reservoir by conveying fluid into an inlet of the fluid circuit from the reservoir through the second fluid passage while conveying fluid from an outlet of the fluid circuit into the reservoir through the first fluid passage; and during the circulating, accumulating air residing in the fluid circuit in the fluid reservoir, thereby removing air from the fluid circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for priming and flushing a fluid circuit, the method comprising:
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providing a connector assembly comprising a first fluid passage releasably coupled to an outlet of the fluid circuit and a second fluid passage releasably coupled to an inlet of the fluid circuit; coupling the connector assembly to a fluid reservoir; priming the fluid circuit through the fluid reservoir by conveying fluid into the inlet of the fluid circuit from the reservoir through the second fluid passage while conveying fluid from the outlet of the fluid circuit into the reservoir through the first fluid passage; after said priming, releasing the coupling between the connector assembly and the inlet and outlet of the fluid circuit while keeping the connector assembly coupled to the fluid reservoir; processing a selected fluid using the fluid circuit; after said processing, coupling the inlet of the fluid circuit to the second fluid passage; and rinsing residue of the selected fluid from the fluid circuit by conveying fluid into the inlet of the fluid circuit from the reservoir through the second fluid passage, while conveying the selected fluid residue from the outlet of the fluid circuit in a path that bypasses the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification