Device for removing gases from fluids

• US 6,176,903 B1
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Wamsiedler, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Jay H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US08/861,543
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 962/08, 962/09, 962/10, 962/12, 962/13, 961/55, 210/436, 210/472, 952/61
• US Class Current: 96/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1658 Degasification
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes

Abstract

A device for removing gases from fluids, in particular from a dialyzing fluid, includes a container, which in the position of normal use is provided with a bottom first orifice and a bottom second orifice. Disposed inside the container is a partition wall which divides the container into a first chamber having the first orifice and a second chamber having the second orifice. The partition wall extends from the container bottom up to near the container cover, forming a gap-shaped interstitial space between the first and second chamber, and the container cover. Provision is made in the container cover for a venting orifice that is sealed by a hydrophobic filter. In one preferred embodiment, the first and second chamber form a tube-in-tube arrangement. The device according to the invention allows for a high separation rate to be achieved with a compact and simple design.

Claims

1. A device for removing gases from fluids comprising:

a substantially cylindrical container having a side surface, a top end and a bottom end;

a substantially cylindrical partition wall positioned in the container to divide the container into a first chamber, a second chamber, and an interstitial space substantially above the first and second chambers, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the second chamber via the interstitial space;

a cover positioned substantially at the top end of the container and including a hydrophobic membrane which permits passage of gas from the container while the container is completely filled with fluid such that the fluid is pressed against the hydrophobic membrane;

a first orifice formed on the partition wall adjacent to a bottom of the first chamber; and

a second orifice formed on the side surface adjacent a bottom of the second chamber.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall extends from the bottom end of the container to substantially to the cover.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the diameter of the cross-section of the first chamber is smaller than the diameter of the cross-section of the second chamber.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a first connector is in fluid communication with a first orifice of the first chamber;

a second connector is in fluid communication with a second orifice of the second chamber; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector extend in opposite directions substantially horizontal to the first orifice and the second orifice.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first connector is in fluid communication with the first orifice of the container and directs a rotational fluid flow into the first chamber.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is a hydrophobic membrane.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber has an outlet orifice.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is toroidally-closed.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluids are medical fluids.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluids are dialysis fluids.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber is in fluid connection with the second chamber only via the interstitial space.

12. A method for removing gases from fluids comprising the steps of:

passing fluid into a substantially cylindrical first chamber of a container, the container having a partition wall dividing the container into the first chamber, a second substantially cylindrical chamber and an interstitial space substantially above the first and second chambers, the fluid passing through a first orifice formed in the partition wall adjacent a bottom of the first chamber;

flowing the fluid from the first chamber over a top of the partition wall into the second chamber;

removing air from the fluid through a hydrophobic membrane positioned substantially at a top end of the container while the container is completely filled with fluid such that the fluid is pressed against the hydrophobic membrane; and

passing the fluid out of the second chamber through a second orifice formed in a side surface of the container, adjacent a bottom of the second chamber.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the passing the fluid step creates a rotational fluid flow in the first chamber.