Patent ID: 6176904
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: A61M,B01D

Abstract:
A blood filter device having a central longitudinal axis suitable for use in a vertical orientation in an extra corporeal blood flow circuit for removing foreign particles and undissolved gases from blood flowing through the device, comprising:a substantially cylindrical body having a circular upper end and a circular lower end forming a filtering chamber therein;a hollow substantially frusto-conically shaped upper cap having a base diameter closely matched to the diameter of the upper end of said body and attached thereto, forming an inlet chamber therein in communication with the filtering chamber;said upper cap having a vertical gas outlet at the uppermost surface near the center thereof, and having a horizontal tubular inlet therein with the inlet having a horizontal axis and having the outermost wall of the tubular inlet extending tangentially from the outermost wall of the base of said upper cap;a substantially flat circular bottom cap having a central tubular blood outlet extending therefrom and having a diameter closely matched to the diameter of the lower end of said body, and attached thereto;a cylindrically shaped filter element having an upper end, a lower end, a filter surface having an outer diameter lesser than the diameter at the lower end of said body, a filter inner surface having a diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular blood outlet, wherein said filter element is positioned coaxially within the filtering chamber of said body and supported at the lower end thereof on said bottom cap, with the inner surface thereof in communication with the outlet chamber, forming an outlet chamber therein;means for sealing and supporting the upper end of said filter element;means for sealing the lower end of said filter element;a stepped dome having a circular base with a diameter closely matched to the outer diameter of said filter element and attached to the upper end thereof, and having an upper surface with a substantially circular cross-section extending into the inlet chamber having a maximum diameter smaller than the diameter of the circular base and having the center of the upper surface offset from the central axis in a direction away from the tubular blood inlet so that the dome does not obstruct the path of blood into and around the blood inlet chamber of the blood filter device.