Air separator for extracorporeal fluid treatment sets

• US 8,747,342 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Caleffi, Luca, Ribolzi, Francesco, Sakota, Ranko
• Primary Examiner(s): Su, Susan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Townsend, Guy K
• Application Number:
  US12/447,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20100292627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,780 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.09, 604/6.15, 604/317, 604/321
• US Class Current: 604/6.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3638 with a vapour trap
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3641 Pressure isolators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0042 modifying the liquid flow B01D19/0021 takes precedence

Abstract

An air separator (1) comprises a first chamber (2) where blood or other fluid can be received, an inlet and an outlet port associated to the bottom wall (4) and in fluid communication with the first chamber. A first channel (14) extending along the lateral wall of the separator and has a first and a second portion (16 and 18). The channel second portion (18) terminally forms an orifice (15) facing the chamber and extending in an area closer to a top wall (5) of the chamber (2) than to the bottom wall of the same chamber. The orifice faces the top of the separator and has a flow passage cross section greater than that of a first portion (16) of the channel.

Claims

1. Air separator for extracorporeal fluid treatment sets comprising:

a first chamber where fluid can be received, the first chamber presenting;

a bottom wall,

a top wall,

a lateral wall extending between the top and bottom walls,

an inlet port and an outlet port associated to the bottom wall and in fluid communication with the first chamber,

a first channel extending along at least a portion of the lateral wall and having a first end, directly connected to the inlet port, and a second end terminating in an orifice which is closer to said top wall than to said bottom wall, wherein said first channel has a first portion extending from the first end and at least a second portion terminating at the second end, the second end terminating where the fluid may first flow laterally out of the first channel and into the first chamber, the second portion presenting a flow passage cross section greater than that of the first portion, wherein the configuration of the first channel provides for a speed reduction of flow therethrough.

2. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein at least the second portion has a continuously and progressively increasing flow passage cross section.

3. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein the flow passage cross section of the first portion and the flow passage cross section of the second portion are substantially constant.

4. Air separator according to claim 3, wherein said first channel comprises a connection portion extending between the second portion and the first portion.

5. Air separator according to claim 4, wherein the connection portion has a progressively increasing flow passage cross section.

6. Air separator according to claim 4, wherein the connection portion comprises at least one aperture that puts into communication the first channel directly with the first chamber.

7. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion extend in correspondence of and substantially parallel to the lateral wall of the first chamber.

8. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is longer than the second portion.

9. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein the orifice opens into the first chamber and faces said top wall.

10. Air separator according to claim 9, wherein said orifice extends on a plane perpendicular to the lateral wall of the first chamber.

11. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein a ratio A1/A3 is comprised between 1.5 and 2.5, where:

A1 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first channel in correspondence of said orifice,

A3 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first channel in correspondence of the first portion.

12. Air separator according to claim 1 wherein a ratio D2/D1 is greater than 0.5, where:

D1 represents the measure of the distance between top wall inner surface of the first chamber and bottom wall inner surface of the first chamber,

D2 represents the measure of the distance between the horizontal plane where the orifice of the first channel extends and the bottom wall inner surface of the first chamber.

13. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein ratio A1/A2 is greater than 0.25 and less than 0.75, where:

A1 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first channel in correspondence of said orifice,

A2 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first chamber in correspondence of a section horizontally aligned with the orifice.

14. Air separator according to claim 1, comprising a filter engaged to the bottom wall in correspondence of the outlet port.

15. Air separator according to claim 14, wherein the filter axially extends into the first chamber according to a direction substantially parallel to the first channel, this latter being parallel to lateral wall.

16. Air separator according to claim 15, wherein the filter presents an overall axial extension substantially not greater than 70% of the measure of the distance between the horizontal plane where the orifice of the first channel extends and the bottom wall inner surface of the first chamber.

17. Air separator according to claim 16, wherein the filter has an axial extension not greater than that of the first portion of said first channel.

18. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein the first channel and the first chamber are made in one single plastic piece.

19. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein the air separator has a flattened structure, said first channel and said first chamber having a substantially square shaped transverse section.

20. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein said lateral wall presents:

a front wall,

a rear wall spaced from the front wall, and

side walls extending between said front and rear walls,

said air separator comprising an intermediate wall extending between the front and rear walls and laterally delimiting said channel in cooperation with one of said side walls.

21. Air separator according to claim 20, wherein said intermediate wall presents a first wall portion parallel to said one side wall, a second wall portion parallel to the same side wall and a deflecting portion connecting said first and second portion thereby forming said first portion, said connection portion and said second portion.

22. Air separator according to claim 1 comprising:

a second chamber positioned in side by side relationship with respect to said first chamber,

said second chamber being delimited by respective bottom wall, top wall, and lateral wall extending between the top and bottom walls, and being provided with respective inlet and outlet ports.

23. Air separator according to claim 22, wherein said lateral wall of the second chamber presents:

a front wall,

a rear wall spaced from the front wall, and

side walls extending between said front and rear walls, said first and second chamber being in one single piece and sharing a common side wall which extends in correspondence of a central zone of the air separator.

24. Air separator according to claim 23, comprising a second channel extending parallel to the lateral wall of the second chamber and having a first end, connected to the inlet port, and a second end terminating into the second chamber, the second channel having constant cross section and presenting a deflector in correspondence of its second end defining an orifice facing the lateral wall of the second chamber.

25. Air separator according to claim 24, wherein the orifice of the second channel is substantially at the same height as the orifice of the first channel.

26. Air separator according to claim 1, wherein the lateral wall of said first chamber comprises pressure transducer means and wherein said first channel ends immediately below said pressure transducer means.

27. Air separator according to claim 22, further comprising a second channel extending parallel to the lateral wall of the second chamber and having a first end, connected to the inlet port, and a second end terminating into the second chamber, wherein the lateral wall of said second chamber comprises pressure transducer means and wherein said second channel ends immediately below said pressure transducer means.

28. Air separator for extracorporeal fluid treatment sets comprising:

a first chamber where fluid can be received, the first chamber presenting;

a bottom wall,

a top wall,

a lateral wall extending between the top and bottom walls,

an inlet and an outlet port associated to the bottom wall and in fluid communication with the first chamber,

a first channel having a first portion connected to the inlet port, and a second portion terminating where the fluid may first flow laterally out of the first channel and into the first chamber, wherein each of the flow passage cross section of the first portion and the flow passage cross section of the second portion are substantially constant and the second portion flow passage cross section is greater than that of the first portion, wherein the configuration of the first channel provides for a speed reduction of flow therethrough.

29. Air separator according to claim 28, wherein ratio A1/A2 is greater than 0.25 and less than 0.75, where:

A1 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first channel in correspondence of said orifice,

A2 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first chamber in correspondence of a section horizontally aligned with the orifice.

30. Air separator according to claim 28, wherein a ratio D2/D1 is greater than 0.5, where:

D1 represents the measure of the distance between top wall inner surface of the first chamber and bottom wall inner surface of the first chamber,

D2 represents the measure of the distance between the horizontal plane where the orifice of the first channel extends and the bottom wall inner surface of the first chamber.

31. Air separator according to claim 28, wherein ratio A1/A2 is greater than 0.25 and less than 0.75, where:

A1 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first channel in correspondence of said orifice,

A2 represents the measure of the flow passage cross section area of the first chamber in correspondence of a section aligned with the orifice.

32. Air separator for extracorporeal fluid treatment sets comprising:

a first chamber where fluid can be received, the first chamber presenting;

a bottom wall,

a top wall,

a lateral wall extending between the top and bottom walls,

an inlet port and an outlet port associated to the bottom wall and in fluid communication with the first chamber,

a first channel extending along at least a portion of the lateral wall and having a first end, directly connected to the inlet port, and a second end terminating in an orifice which is closer to said top wall than to said bottom wall, wherein said first channel has a first portion extending from the first end and at least a second portion terminating at the second end, the second end terminating where the fluid may first flow laterally out of the first channel and into the first chamber, the second portion presenting a flow passage cross section greater than that of the first portion, wherein the configuration of the first channel provides for a speed reduction of flow therethrough, said air separator comprising at least one item selected from the group consisting of;

a venous line which has at least one end designed to be connected to a patient and another end designed to be connected with a blood treatment unit, said venous line including a first flexible tube engaged to the inlet port of the first chamber, a second flexible tube engaged to the outlet port of the first chamber,

an arterial line which has at least one end designed to be connected to a patient and another end designed to be connected with a blood treatment unit, said arterial line including a third flexible tube engaged to an inlet port of a second chamber, and a fourth flexible tube engaged to an outlet port of the second chamber and to one wall of said second chamber for forming a loop which is symmetric about a loop axis transverse to the lateral wall of the second chamber.

33. Blood treatment machine comprising:

a dialysis liquid preparation module for preparing dialysis liquid,

at least a waste line for receiving spent dialysate,

a blood treatment unit having a first treatment chamber connected to the dialysis liquid preparation module and to the waste line, and a second treatment chamber separated from the first treatment chamber by means of a semipermeable membrane, and

an air separator for extracorporeal fluid treatment sets comprising;

a first chamber where fluid can be received, the first chamber presenting;

a bottom wall,

a top wall,

a lateral wall extending between the top and bottom walls,

an inlet port and an outlet port associated to the bottom wall and in fluid communication with the first chamber,

a first channel extending along at least a portion of the lateral wall and having a first end, directly connected to the inlet port, and a second end terminating in an orifice which is closer to said top wall than to said bottom wall, wherein said first channel has a first portion extending from the first end and at least a second portion terminating at the second end, the second end terminating where the fluid may first flow laterally out of the first channel and into the first chamber, the second portion presenting a flow passage cross section greater than that of the first portion, wherein the configuration of the first channel provides for a speed reduction of flow therethrough, said air separator comprising at least one item selected from the group consisting of;

a venous line which has at least one end designed to be connected to a patient and another end designed to be connected with a blood treatment unit, said venous line including a first flexible tube engaged to the inlet port of the first chamber, a second flexible tube engaged to the outlet port of the first chamber,

an arterial line which has at least one end designed to be connected to a patient and another end designed to be connected with a blood treatment unit, said arterial line including a third flexible tube engaged to an inlet port of a second chamber, and a fourth flexible tube engaged to an outlet port of the second chamber and to one wall of said second chamber for forming a loop which is symmetric about a loop axis transverse to the lateral wall of the second chamber, wherein the arterial line is connected to an inlet of the second chamber and the venous line is connected to an outlet of the second chamber.