Patent ID: 7335334
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: A61M,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An active air removal (AAR) system for purging air from an integrated extracorporeal blood circuit providing extracorporeal oxygenation of a patient's blood during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery adapted to be performed on a patient in the presence of a perfusionist, the AAR system comprising: an air removal device incorporated in the extracorporeal blood circuit, the air removal device comprising: an air removal device purge line coupled to the air removal device purge port and extending to a purge line connector adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source to apply suction to the air removal device purge port to draw air therefrom; an AAR controller having a purge valve adapted to receive a portion of the purge line and AAR controller circuitry to open or close the purge line, the AAR controller circuitry further comprising: further wherein the AAR controller further comprises a mechanical release button interconnected with the purge valve adapted to enable manual opening of the purge valve by the perfusionist.