Airless artificial kidney assembly
First Claim
1. An airless artificial kidney assembly comprising(1) an artificial kidney having inlet and outlet ports,(2) a liquid-tight subassembly having a filter, microporous vent means for venting to atmosphere gas bubbles separated from liquid in said subassembly and preventing gas entry through said vent means into said subassembly, pressure measuring means for continuously monitoring the pressure of liquid in said subassembly, a housing for blood having an upper region and an outlet connector communicating with said housing for discharging blood therefrom,(3) a first tube secured at one end to said kidney inlet port and terminating at its opposite end in a connector for connecting said first tube with a patient,(4) a second tube secured at one end to said outlet connector of said subassembly and terminating at its opposite end in a connector for connecting said second tube with a patient,(5) said kidney outlet port opening into said housing for discharging blood thereinto,said filter being arranged for filtering blood flowing from said kidney outlet port to said outlet connector, said vent means comprising an upwardly opening microporous hydrophobic vent in communication with said upper region of said housing for receiving and discharging air bubbles therefrom, and means containing an aqueous solution overlying said vent for preventing downward flow of air through said vent into said housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an artificial kidney extracorporeal circuit assembly including an artificial kidney having detachably attached multifunctional subassembly means for automatically venting gas bubbles from liquid flowing therethrough, for continuously sensing the liquid pressure of and for filtering said liquid, together with blood tubes for connecting a patient'"'"'s artery to the kidney and the subassembly outlet port to a patient'"'"'s vein.
The subassembly includes means associated with a hydrophobic gas bubble vent which prevent clogging, minimize blood clotting and insure against ambient gas entry through the vent.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An airless artificial kidney assembly comprising
(1) an artificial kidney having inlet and outlet ports, (2) a liquid-tight subassembly having a filter, microporous vent means for venting to atmosphere gas bubbles separated from liquid in said subassembly and preventing gas entry through said vent means into said subassembly, pressure measuring means for continuously monitoring the pressure of liquid in said subassembly, a housing for blood having an upper region and an outlet connector communicating with said housing for discharging blood therefrom, (3) a first tube secured at one end to said kidney inlet port and terminating at its opposite end in a connector for connecting said first tube with a patient, (4) a second tube secured at one end to said outlet connector of said subassembly and terminating at its opposite end in a connector for connecting said second tube with a patient, (5) said kidney outlet port opening into said housing for discharging blood thereinto, said filter being arranged for filtering blood flowing from said kidney outlet port to said outlet connector, said vent means comprising an upwardly opening microporous hydrophobic vent in communication with said upper region of said housing for receiving and discharging air bubbles therefrom, and means containing an aqueous solution overlying said vent for preventing downward flow of air through said vent into said housing.
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5. A multi-functional, liquid-tight subassembly for attachment to an artificial kidney for filtering flowing liquid, automatically separating gas bubbles from liquid therein, and continuously monitoring pressure of liquid therein which comprises
(1) a hollow elongated housing having upper and lower ends, (2) liquid inlet means adjacent one end of said housing, (3) liquid outlet means adjacent the opposite end of said housing, (4) a microporous vent sealingly enclosing the upper end of said housing at a location above said inlet means, said vent having interior and exterior surfaces, (5) means for effecting a stagnant pool of fluid immediately adjacent the interior surface of said vent comprising diverting means within said housing adjacent to said liquid inlet means for diverting the direction of flow of liquid entering said housing through said liquid inlet means initially directly away from said interior surface of said microporous vent for preventing said flow from sweeping across said interior surface of said microporous vent, (6) a filter in said housing below said inlet means for filtering fluid flowing in said housing from said inlet means to said outlet means, (7) pressure sensing means located below said filter in a wall of said housing for continuously sensing pressure changes in the pressure of liquid flowing through said subassembly.
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11. An airless artificial kidney assembly comprising
(1) an artificial kidney having inlet and outlet ports, (2) a liquid-tight subassembly having a filter, microporous vent means for venting to atmosphere gas bubbles separated from liquid in said subassembly, pressure measuring means for continuously monitoring the pressure of liquid in said subassembly, a housing for blood having an upper region, and an outlet connector communicating with said housing for discharging blood therefrom, (3) a first tube secured at one end to said kidney inlet port and terminating at its opposite end in a connector for connecting said first tube with a patient, (4) a second tube secured at one end to said outlet connector of said subassembly and terminating at its opposite end in a connector for connecting said second tube with a patient, said kidney outlet port opening into said housing for discharging blood thereinto, (5) means for providing a stagnant pool of blood in said upper region of said housing, (6) said vent means being in communication with said stagnant pool in said upper region for receiving and discharging air bubbles therefrom, said means for providing said stagnant pool comprising baffle means within said housing adjacent to said inlet means for diverting the direction of flow of liquid entering said housing through said inlet means initially directly away from said vent means for preventing said flow from sweeping across said vent means, and said filter being arranged for filtering blood flowing in said housing from said kidney outlet port to said outlet connector.
Specification