×

Side flow bubble trap apparatus and method

  • US 5,591,251 A
  • Filed: 12/22/1994
  • Issued: 01/07/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method of removing bubbles from blood flowing through a bubble trap apparatus in an extracorporeal blood treatment circuit, said apparatus including a housing having an upper housing end and a lower housing end, the housing defining a substantially vertical chamber extending substantially along a vertical longitudinal axis between said upper and lower housing ends, said chamber having a substantially cylindrical upper subchamber and a lower subchamber, said upper subchamber being offset from said lower subchamber and having upper and lower level indicator marks formed thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

  • introducing blood into the upper subchamber substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the chamber at a position intermediate between the upper and lower housing ends;

    deflecting at least a portion of the blood introduced into the chamber with a frustoconical deflector above the position where the blood is introduced into the chamber to form a pool of blood in the chamber in the upper subchamber in a portion of the upper subchamber having a diameter wider than the diameter of the chamber adjacent the frustoconical deflector;

    allowing bubbles in the blood to separate from the blood in the pool;

    collecting the separated bubbles;

    removing the blood from the chamber after the bubbles have been separated therefrom; and

    maintaining an upper blood surface within the chamber between the upper and lower level indicator marks.

View all claims
  • 6 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×