Integrated cassette for controlling fluid having an integral filter

• US 6,491,656 B1
• Filed: 11/21/1997
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Critical Care Finance Inc (Mallinckrodt plc), Mallinckrodt Pharma Ip Trading DAC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Therakos, Inc (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Morris, Livingston B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US08/975,688
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-6, 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6-1-, 604/6.07, 604/6.08, 604/6.09, 604/6.1, 604/6.11, 604/19, 604/27-31, 604/34, 604/66-67, 128/DIG.12, 128/13, 417/279, 417/458, 417/479, 417/442, 417/448, 417/474-75, 417/477.2, 417/477.9, 137/613, 137/454.2, 137/454.4, 137/315.05, 137/546, 137/861, 137/863, 210/739, 210/741, 210/321.6, 210/321.62, 210/321-1-3, 210/321.75, 210/500.1, 210/503, 210/252, 210/256-88, 210/257--25, 210/258-62, 422/44-48
• US Class Current: 604/6.09
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/303 having a reservoir for treated blood to be returned
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3621 Extra-corporeal blood circuits single-needle circuits A61M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362227 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36226 Constructional details of cassettes, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362264 the filter being a blood filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362266 Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3643 Priming, rinsing before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3644 Mode of operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3646 Expelling the residual body fluid after use, e.g. back to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3681 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3683 using photoactive agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3693 using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0415 Plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7545 for solid matter, e.g. microaggregates

Abstract

An apparatus controls movement of fluids during an extracorporeal blood treatment session. A hollow cassette enclosure has a plurality of fluid input ports for receiving fluids into the enclosure and a plurality of fluid output ports for expelling fluids from the enclosure. Internal fluid passageways disposed within the hollow enclosure are provided for coupling together the fluid input ports, and the fluid output ports. At least one internal valve is disposed within the hollow enclosure for controlling movement of the fluid within the hollow enclosure. A filter is integrated into the cassette to filter the blood passing therethrough.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling movement of fluids during an extracorporeal blood treatment session, comprising:

a hollow enclosure having a plurality of fluid input ports for receiving said fluids into said enclosure and a plurality of fluid output ports for expelling said fluids from said enclosure;

internal fluid passageways disposed within said hollow enclosure for coupling together said fluid input ports, and said fluid output ports;

at least one internal valve disposed within said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for controlling movement of said fluid within said hollow enclosure during said extracorporeal blood treatment session;

a filter in said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for filtering said fluid, and wherein said filter is adapted to pass whole blood and filter blood clots therefrom; and

wherein said filter comprises a first chamber and a second chamber within the enclosure which are separated from each other by a filter media.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter media comprises a woven mesh.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the woven mesh comprises a polyester.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first chamber is at least partially formed of a first layer of elastomeric membrane material disposed on a first outer surfaces of said hollow enclosure.

5. An apparatus for controlling movement of fluids during an extracorporeal blood treatment session, comprising:

a hollow enclosure having a plurality of fluid input ports for receiving said fluids into said enclosure and a plurality of fluid output ports for expelling said fluids from said enclosure;

internal fluid passageways disposed within said hollow enclosure for coupling together said fluid input ports, and said fluid output ports;

at least one internal valve disposed within said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for controlling movement of said fluid within said hollow enclosure during said extracorporeal blood treatment session; and

a filter in said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for filtering said fluid, and wherein said filter is adapted to pass whole blood and filter blood clots therefrom.

6. An apparatus for controlling movement of fluids during an extracorporeal blood treatment session, comprising:

a hollow enclosure having a plurality of fluid input ports for receiving said fluids into said enclosure and a plurality of fluid output ports for expelling said fluids from said enclosure;

internal fluid passageways disposed within said hollow enclosure for coupling together said fluid input ports, and said fluid output ports;

at least one internal valve disposed within said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for controlling movement of said fluid within said hollow enclosure during said extracorporeal blood treatment session; and

a filter in said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for filtering said fluid, and wherein said filter is adapted to filter blood clots from whole blood, wherein said filter comprises a first chamber and a second chamber within the enclosure which are separated from each other by a filter media, and wherein the filter media comprises a mesh having a pore size of about 200 microns.

7. An apparatus for controlling movement of fluids during an extracorporeal blood treatment session, comprising:

a hollow enclosure having a plurality of fluid input ports for receiving said fluids into said enclosure and a plurality of fluid output ports for expelling said fluids from said enclosure;

internal fluid passageways disposed within said hollow enclosure for coupling together said fluid input ports, and said fluid output ports;

at least one internal valve disposed within said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for controlling movement of said fluid within said hollow enclosure during said extracorporeal blood treatment session; and

a filter in said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for filtering said fluid, and wherein said filter is adapted to filter blood clots from whole blood, wherein said filter comprises a first chamber and a second chamber within the enclosure which are separated from each other by a filter media, and wherein the filter media comprises a mesh having a pore size between about 200 microns and about 400 microns.

8. An apparatus for controlling movement of fluids during an extracorporeal blood treatment session, comprising:

a hollow enclosure having a plurality of fluid input ports for receiving said fluids into said enclosure and a plurality of fluid output ports for expelling said fluids from said enclosure;

internal fluid passageways disposed within said hollow enclosure for coupling together said fluid input ports, and said fluid output ports;

at least one internal valve disposed within said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for controlling movement of said fluid within said hollow enclosure during said extracorporeal blood treatment session;

a filter in said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for filtering said fluid, and wherein said filter is adapted to filter blood clots from whole blood, wherein said filter comprises a first chamber and a second chamber within the enclosure which are separated from each other by a filter media; and

air evacuation means for evacuating air from at least one of said first and second chambers.

9. An apparatus for controlling movement of fluids during an extracorporeal blood treatment session, comprising:

a hollow enclosure having a plurality of fluid input ports for receiving said fluids into said enclosure and a plurality of fluid output ports for expelling said fluids from said enclosure;

internal fluid passageways disposed within said hollow enclosure for coupling together said fluid input ports, and said fluid output ports;

at least one internal valve disposed within said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for controlling movement of said fluid within said hollow enclosure during said extracorporeal blood treatment session;

a filter in said hollow enclosure and connected to at least one of said internal fluid passageways for filtering said fluid, and wherein said filter is adapted to filter blood clots from whole blood, wherein said filter comprises a first chamber and a second chamber within the enclosure which are separated from each other by a filter media; and

a second filter in said hollow enclosure.