Patent ID: 6558543
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An apparatus for removing elements from blood or plasma flowing in an extracorporeal blood circulation system of a patient, said apparatus comprising a container comprising, in sequence, an inlet chamber, an adsorption chamber for receiving an adsorbent, and an outlet chamber, said container also comprising a plurality of filter units for filtering the blood or plasma, including a first filter unit between the outlet chamber and the adsorption chamber and a second filter unit between the adsorption chamber and the inlet chamber, and a container wall portion that, with the first filter unit, defines the outlet chamber, said container wall portion comprising (a) an inlet and an outlet adjacent one another, (b) a plurality of passages, including a first passage that communicates with a transfer channel that extends from the first passage to the inlet chamber, and a second passage that communicates with the outlet chamber, (c) a bypass channel having first and second ends, and (d) valve means for connecting the inlet and the outlet with the respective first and second passages in a first arrangement of the valve means and for connecting the inlet and the outlet with the respective first and second ends of the bypass channel in a second arrangement of the valve means, said apparatus further comprising means for controlling movement of the valve means between said first and second arrangements.