Device for removal of gas bubbles and dissolved gasses in liquid

• US 6,503,225 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Claudia Francoise-Eve Kirsch
• Original Assignee: Celgard LLC (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Reed, Bradley W., Kirsch, Claudia F. E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wallberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fastovsky, Leonid M
• Application Number:
  US09/530,309
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 604/118, 604/126, 96/8, 210/321.8, 210/645, 210/137, 422/48
• US Class Current: 604/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1627 Dialyser of the inside perfusion type, i.e. blood flow inside hollow membrane fibres or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/04 Specific sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/041 Gaskets or O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/00 Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor separation of gases or vapours by diffusion B01D53/22
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/043 with separate tube sheets

Abstract

A device (10) for removal of gas bubbles and dissolves gasses from fluids delivered into a patient during medical procedures is disclosed. A housing (20) having a number of gas permeable hollow fibers (50) passing therethrough is provided. The infused fluid is introduced through the interior lumens of the hollow fibers (50), and entrained or dissolved gasses are drawn through the fiber walls to the outer or shell side of the fibers. A vacuum may be drawn on the housing through a vent (32) to enhance gas removal. A passage (70) is optionally provided through the device to allow a tool or other device to be passed therethrough.

Claims

1. A device for removal of gas from a liquid in a medical fluid infusion line, said device comprising:

(a) a housing having a first end comprising an inlet port, a second end comprising an outlet port, an interior surface extending between said inlet port and said outlet port, and a vacuum port between said inlet port and said outlet port;

(b) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes within said housing, each said hollow fiber membrane having a first end adjacent the inlet port and a second end adjacent the outlet port;

(c) a first fluid tight seal between the first end of each said hollow fiber membrane and the interior surface of the housing; and

(d) a second fluid tight seal between the second end of each said hollow fiber membrane and the interior surface of the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each said hollow fiber membrane comprises a microporous hydrophobic material.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said microporous hydrophobic material comprises a polyolefin.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said polyolefin comprises polypropylene.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said polyolefin comprises polyethylene.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein said polyolefin comprises polymethylpentene.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein each said hollow fiber membrane comprises a hollow fiber microtubing with a gas permeable coating.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said gas permeable coating comprises silicon.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said gas permeable coating comprises polymethylpentene.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said gas permeable coating is applied to an internal lumen of said hollow fiber microtubing.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein each said hollow fiber membrane comprises a material having a porosity of approximately 10-50%.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said material comprises a plurality of pores having a pore size of approximately 0.01 to 0.2 microns.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second fluid tight seals comprise a potting resin selected from the group consisting of thermosetting resins, UV-curable resins, silicone, urethane and epoxy.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said inlet port and said outlet port comprise detachable couplings for releasably engaging fluid delivery conduit.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said vacuum port comprises a detachable coupling for releasably engaging a vacuum line.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sealed passage extending through said first and second fluid tight seals.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said sealed passage comprises a sleeve having a first end generally aligned with said inlet port of said housing and a second end generally aligned with said outlet port of said housing.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising tool sealing means for slidably engaging a tool received in said sleeve.

19. The device of claim 16, further comprising closure means for maintaining said sealed passage closed to fluid passage.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein said sealed passage comprises a resilient flexible material.

21. A device for removal of gas from a liquid in a medical fluid infusion line, said device comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a vacuum vent;

(b) a sealed chamber within said housing between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said sealed chamber being in communication with said vacuum vent; and

(c) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through said sealed chamber, each of said plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a first end in communication with said fluid inlet and a second end in communication with said fluid outlet.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprise a microporous hydrophobic material.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprise porous hollow fiber microtubes having a gas permeable coating.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein said housing comprises a first endcap adjacent said fluid inlet, and a second endcap adjacent said fluid outlet, and wherein said first and second endcaps and said vacuum vent comprise detachable couplings.

25. The device of claim 21, further comprising a passage through said sealed chamber, said passage comprising a first end in communication with said fluid inlet, a second end in communication with said fluid outlet, and a sleeve extending between said first and second ends.

26. A device for removal of gas from a liquid infused to an internal delivery site, and for allowing passage of a medical implement to the internal delivery site, said device comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a vacuum vent;

(b) a sealed chamber within said housing between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said sealed chamber being in communication with said vacuum vent;

(c) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through said sealed chamber, each of said plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a first end in communication with said fluid inlet and a second end in communication with said fluid outlet; and

(d) a passage through said sealed chamber, said passage comprising a first end in communication with said fluid inlet, a second end in communication with said fluid outlet, and a sleeve extending between said first and second ends.

27. A method of removing gas from a liquid infused to an internal delivery site of an organism, and accessing the internal delivery site with a medical implement, the method comprising:

(a) passing the liquid through at least one hollow fiber membrane within a housing;

(b) degassing the liquid by removing gasses through pores in the at least one hollow fiber membrane;

(c) infusing the liquid to the internal delivery site; and

(d) accessing the internal delivery site by passing the medical implement through a passage extending through the housing.