Gas elimination device
First Claim
1. Apparatus for eliminating a gas from a cellular fluid comprising plenum means and mounting means, said plenum means comprising means for separating said gas from said cellular fluid, said means for separating consisting of a chamber for producing a vertical flow rate in a fluid flowing therethrough adequate to release said gas in the form of bubbles which rise to the top of said chamber when said chamber is vertical, said chamber having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet below said fluid inlet, and a hydrophobic membrane above said fluid inlet when said chamber is in an operational orientation for freely receiving said bubbles and for passing said gas of said bubbles directly to the atmosphere through said membrane while preventing passage of said fluid, and wherein said mounting means comprises means for engaging support means for supporting said plenum only when said chamber is substantially vertical and for preventing rotating of said chamber about a horizontal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air elimination device includes a plenum arranged to cause a reduction in flow velocity of a physiological fluid whereby air bubbles form and rise to the top of the plenum. A hydrophobic membrane covers the top of the plenum, and the pressure in the fluid is greater than that which is required to drive the released air through the membrane and into the atmosphere. The air which collects at the top of the plenum forms a protective surface on the bottom of the hydrophobic membrane to prevent its being clogged by cellular materials. A support stand engages the air eliminator to hold it in the desired orientation whereby the air bubbles form at the top of the plenum.
142 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for eliminating a gas from a cellular fluid comprising plenum means and mounting means, said plenum means comprising means for separating said gas from said cellular fluid, said means for separating consisting of a chamber for producing a vertical flow rate in a fluid flowing therethrough adequate to release said gas in the form of bubbles which rise to the top of said chamber when said chamber is vertical, said chamber having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet below said fluid inlet, and a hydrophobic membrane above said fluid inlet when said chamber is in an operational orientation for freely receiving said bubbles and for passing said gas of said bubbles directly to the atmosphere through said membrane while preventing passage of said fluid, and wherein said mounting means comprises means for engaging support means for supporting said plenum only when said chamber is substantially vertical and for preventing rotating of said chamber about a horizontal axis.
- 12. A method for eliminating gas from a physiological fluid comprising providing an orientation-dependent means for separating said gas from said fluid, said means for separating comprising chamber means having a hydrophobic membrane at one end, an outlet at an opposite end and an inlet between said membrane and said outlet for allowing said gas to flow upwardly through said fluid only when said chamber means is vertical and means for engaging a support means for supporting said chamber means only when said chamber means is vertical and for preventing rotation of said chamber means about a horizontal axis, providing said means for supporting said chamber means only when said chamber is vertical, and attaching said chamber means to said means for supporting in an orientation wherein said membrane is above said inlet.
- 14. In combination, gas eliminator means for separating a gas from a fluid and support means for supporting said gas eliminator means, said gas eliminator means comprising plenum means and mounting means, said plenum means consisting of a chamber for producing a vertical flow rate in a fluid flowing therethrough adequate to release said gas in the form of bubbles which rise to the top of said chamber when said chamber is substantially vertical, said chamber having a hydrophobic membrane at one end of said chamber, an outlet at an opposite end of said chamber, and an inlet between said membrane and said outlet, said hydrophobic membrane being for freely receiving said bubbles and for passing said gas directly to the atmosphere, said support means securely engaging and supporting said gas eliminator only when said chamber is substantially vertical and preventing rotation of said gas eliminator about a horizontal axis.
Specification