Active blood filter and method for active blood filtration
First Claim
1. A blood filter for removing unwanted particles from blood, comprising:
- a housing having a blood inlet area for receiving blood to be filtered, a blood outlet area, and a blood return area for returning blood having unwanted particles to a reservoir;
a plurality of separate blood paths extending from the inlet area to the outlet area of the housing for flowing the blood therethrough, wherein each of the blood paths includes;
a detector adjacent to the blood path for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing through the blood path;
a valve in operable relationship with the blood path for closing the blood path when an unwanted particle is detected by the detectors; and
a circuit for limiting the number of the valves that close to ensure an adequate blood flow from the intlet to the outlet of the filter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A blood filter is disclosed which actively removes unwanted particles from the blood without using passive elements such as a cartridge. The blood filter includes a housing having a blood inlet area for receiving blood to be filtered, a blood outlet area for providing filtered blood to a patient, and a blood return area for returning blood having unwanted particles to a reservoir. A plurality of independent blood paths extend from the inlet area to the outlet area of the housing for separate flows of blood therethrough. An array of detectors is placed adjacent the exterior of each blood path for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing therethrough. An array of valves is placed in operable relationship with the blood paths to close selected ones of the blood paths when unwanted particles are detected. Blood return conduits open to divert the particle-containing blood to a reservoir. Several arrays of detectors and valve combinations may be provided for redundancy. A feedback and control circuit monitors the number of closed blood paths and sends control or alarm signals when the outlet blood flow reduces below a predetermined minimum. A spiral-shaped inlet manifold distributes the incoming blood into different regions corresponding to mass to help improve the efficiency of the filter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A blood filter for removing unwanted particles from blood, comprising:
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a housing having a blood inlet area for receiving blood to be filtered, a blood outlet area, and a blood return area for returning blood having unwanted particles to a reservoir; a plurality of separate blood paths extending from the inlet area to the outlet area of the housing for flowing the blood therethrough, wherein each of the blood paths includes; a detector adjacent to the blood path for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing through the blood path; a valve in operable relationship with the blood path for closing the blood path when an unwanted particle is detected by the detectors; and a circuit for limiting the number of the valves that close to ensure an adequate blood flow from the intlet to the outlet of the filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A blood filter for removing unwanted particles from blood, comprising
a housing having a blood inlet area for receiving blood to be filtered, a blood outlet area, and a blood return area for returning blood having unwanted particles to a reservoir; -
a plurality of blood paths extending in a downstream direction from the inlet area to the outlet area of the housing and adapted to flow blood therethrough; a first array of detectors attached to an upstream portion of the blood paths for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing trough the blood paths; a first array of valves attached to the blood paths downstream from the first array of detectors for closing selected ones of the blood paths when the unwanted particles are detected by the first array of detectors; a second array of detectors attached to the blood paths downstream from the first array of valves for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing through the blood paths; and a second array of valves attached to the blood paths downstream from the second array of detector for closing selected ones of the blood paths when the unwanted particles are detected by the second array of detectors; and a third array of detectors attached to the blood paths downstream from the second array of valves for detection unwanted particles in the blood flowing through the blood paths. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method or removing unwanted particles from blood, comprising the steps of:
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supplying blood to an inlet of a blood filter having a blood outlet and a blood return; concurrently flowing the blood through a plurality of separate blood paths extending from the inlet to the outlet of the blood filter; detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing through the blood paths and generating signals upon detection of particles; closing selected ones of the blood paths based on the signals and returning the blood to a reservoir through the blood return; and limiting the number of the closed blood paths to ensure an adequate blood flow from the inlet to the outlet of the filter. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A blood filter for removing unwanted particles from blood, comprising:
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a housing having a blood inlet are for receiving blood to be filtered, a blood outlet area, and a blood return area for returning blood having unwanted particles to a reservoir; a plurality of separate blood paths extending from the inlet area to the outlet area of the housing for flowing the blood therethrough, wherein each of the blood paths includes; a detector adjacent to the blood path for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing through the blood path; a valve in operable relationship with the blood path for closing the blood path when an unwanted particle is detected by the detector; wherein the inlet area of the housing has a spiral structure to impart momentum to blood entering the housing so that the blood is distributed the plurality of blood paths based on the momentum of the particles.
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Specification