Air eliminating filter

• US 4,031,891 A
• Filed: 11/03/1975
• Issued: 06/28/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Jess, Thurman S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/628,435
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 55/159, 210/DIG. 23, 210/308, 210/316, 210/441, 210/436, 128/214 R, 128/214 C, 128/214.2
• US Class Current: 604/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7527 liquophilic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/165 Filtering accessories, e.g. blood filters, filters for infusion liquids A61M1/14 , A61M1/34, A61M1/3627, A61M1/3679, A61M1/3687 take precedence; needle sets with incorporated air inlet filters A61M5/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/38 using hydrophilic or hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration

Abstract

An air eliminating filter for use in filtering intravenous or other liquids including an elongate hollow tubular member provided with inlet means at one end and having at least two window openings spaced longitudinally thereon, a hydrophilic filter element capable of passing liquid therethrough when the filter element has been wetted with liquid while simultaneously blocking air interposed in one of the window openings, at least one hydrophobic filter element capable of repelling liquid and passing air therethrough positioned in the other of the window openings and communicating with the ambient air and manifold means including outlet means to discharge liquid therefrom mounted on the tubular member communicating with the hydrophilic filter whereby the hydrophilic filter is wetted with liquid passed into the tubular member through the inlet means to permit the hydrophilic filter to pass liquid therethrough while simultaneously blocking air. The liquid passing through the hydrophilic filter element is collected in the manifold means for discharge through the outlet means while air in the tubular member is discharged through the hydrophobic filter.

Claims

1. An air-eliminating filter for intravenous liquids comprising:

an elongated, hollow, tubular filter support member defining inlet means at one end thereof and closed at its other end, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, longitudinally extending ribs defined along an intermediate portion of said tubular member, and circumferentially spaced window portions defined between said ribs to permit communication between the interior and exterior of said tubular support member;

a tubular, hydrophilic filter element capable of passing aqueous liquid therethrough when wet with said liquid, while simultaneously blocking the flow of air, positioned within said tubular member in coaxial relationship thereto, said hydrophilic filter element being carried by a central portion of said ribs to occlude central portions of said window openings;

a pair of tubular, hydrophobic filter elements capable of repelling aqueous liquid and passing air therethrough, each being positioned adjacent an end of said hydrophilic tubular filter element, said hydrophobic filter elements being carried by end portions of said ribs to block flow through end portions of said window openings,

and manifold means mounted on said tubular member to enclose said hydrophilic filter but not to enclose said hydrophobic filters, said manifold means including outlet means to discharge liquid therefrom.

2. An administration set for parenteral solutions comprising a flexible, tubular conduit, said conduit including separate sections communicating respectively with the inlet and the outlet of the filter of claim 1.