Method and apparatus for removing air or gas from fluid
First Claim
1. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids, comprising:
- communicating a fluid from at least one fluid inlet to at least one side wall within a first chamber;
creating a fluid dead zone within said first chamber, and filtering air or gas entrained in said fluid through a barrier adjacent said fluid dead zone into a second chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for removing entrained air or gas from fluids includes a first chamber having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a second chamber, adjacent said first chamber, having a plurality of channels, a porous barrier separating the first chamber and the second chamber and a vent in fluid communication with the second chamber. The inlet is connected to the first chamber through at least one fluid passage. Fluid flows from the inlet, through the passage, and into the first chamber. A fluid dead zone adjacent the barrier assists an air or gas bubble to coalesce and pass through the barrier into the second chamber. The plurality of channels within the second chamber collect the air or gas and direct it to the vent in communication with the channels. A clip, or similar device, may be used to secure the device to medical equipment adjacent the patient or fluid source.
102 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids, comprising:
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communicating a fluid from at least one fluid inlet to at least one side wall within a first chamber;
creating a fluid dead zone within said first chamber, and filtering air or gas entrained in said fluid through a barrier adjacent said fluid dead zone into a second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
venting said air or gas from said second chamber. -
3. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising diverting an inlet flow through at least one fluid passage to said first chamber.
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4. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 3, further comprising diverting an inlet flow through at least two fluid passages to said first chamber.
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5. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 3, further comprising terminating said fluid passage adjacent said side wall.
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6. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 3, further comprising terminating said fluid passages adjacent said at least one side wall.
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7. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising communicating said fluid along said at least one side wall to substantially prevent splashing.
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8. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising communicating said fluid along said at least one side wall to minimize bubble generation.
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9. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising communicating said fluid along said at least one side wall to promote bubble migration toward the barrier.
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10. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising communicating said fluid along said at least one side wall to reduce fluid velocity in the main fluid flow direction.
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11. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising raising the level of said fluid in said first chamber to coalesce air or gas proximate a barrier.
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12. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising reducing the volume of said first chamber proximate said barrier.
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13. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising creating a fluid dead zone proximate said barrier to enable said air or gas to coalesce and to assist said coalesced air or gas to pass through said barrier.
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14. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising filtering said coalesced air or gas from said fluid dead zone to a second chamber.
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15. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising collecting said transferred air or gas in a plurality of channels behind said barrier.
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16. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising venting said collected air or gas.
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17. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising preventing re-introduction of air or gas through said barrier by locating a check valve down stream of said barrier.
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18. A method for removing entrained air or gas from fluids as defined in claim 1, further comprising preventing re-introduction of air or gas through said barrier by sizing an outlet to create back pressure against said barrier.
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19. A bubble trap for fluids, including:
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a) a first chamber, including;
1) a first wall portion, including;
a) an inlet end, b) a plurality of sidewalls down standing from said first wall, c) a plurality of down standing walls proximate said inlet end, d) a portion of said first wall proximate said plurality of down standing walls biased toward said first wall portion, and e) an outlet end, and 2) a second wall portion, including;
a) an inlet end, b) a fluid inlet integrally formed within said inlet end, c) a plurality of side walls upstanding from said second wall, d) an outlet end, and e) a fluid outlet integrally formed in said outlet end, and b) a second chamber adjacent said first chamber, including;
1) plurality of interconnected channels, and c) at least one porous barrier separating said first chamber from said second chamber.
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20. A device for removing entrained air or gas from fluids, comprising:
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a first chamber having at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet; and
at least one sidewall,a second chamber adjacent said first chamber having a plurality of interconnected channels;
at least one porous barrier attached to said first chamber and separating said first chamber and said second chamber;
at least one fluid passage in communication with said inlet and terminating in said first chamber adjacent said at least one side wall. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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21. A device for removing entrained air or gas from fluids, comprising:
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a first chamber having at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet; and
at least one sidewall,a second chamber adjacent said first chamber having a plurality of interconnected channels;
at least one porous barrier attached to said first chamber and separating said first chamber and said second chamber;
at least one fluid passage in communication with said inlet and terminating in said first chamber adjacent said at least one side wall, and a vent in fluid communication with said channels.
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55. In a pressure infusion system, a device for removing entrained gas from fluids comprising:
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A device for removing entrained air or gas from fluids, comprising;
a first chamber having at least one fluid inlet and at least one outlet;
a second chamber adjacent said first chamber having a plurality of interconnected channels;
at least one porous barrier separating said first chamber and said second chamber;
at least one fluid passage in communication with said inlet and terminating in said first chamber adjacent an edge portion of said barrier; and
a vent in fluid communication with said channels.
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56. In a blood warming system, a device for removing entrained gases from blood comprising:
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A device for removing entrained air or gas from fluids, comprising;
a first chamber having at least one fluid inlet and at least one outlet;
a second chamber adjacent said first chamber having a plurality of interconnected channels;
at least one porous barrier separating said first chamber and said second chamber;
at least one fluid passage in communication with said inlet and terminating in said first chamber along an edge portion of said barrier; and
a vent in fluid communication with said channels.
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57. A system for removing entrained air or gas from intravenous fluids, comprising:
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a pressure infusion system in fluid communication with an intravenous fluid source;
a fluid warming device in fluid communication with said pressure infusion system;
a bubble trap in fluid communication with said fluid warming device;
said bubble trap comprising;
a first chamber having at least one fluid inlet and at least one outlet;
a second chamber adjacent said first chamber having a plurality of interconnected channels;
at least one porous barrier separating said first chamber and said second chamber;
at least one fluid passage in communication with said inlet and terminating in said first chamber along an edge portion of said barrier; and
a vent in fluid communication with said channels; and
a fluid connection between said bubble trap and a fluid recipient.
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Specification