Patent ID: 7572377
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: A61M,B01D

Abstract:
1. A method of removing free gas bubbles and debris from blood, the method comprising the steps of: a) introducing blood into the interior of a conical housing, said conical housing comprising: a purge port at the top of said conical housing; an active air purge assembly located below and in fluid communication with said purge port, said active air purge assembly comprising a hydrophobic filter, a one-way valve, an air removal port and a pressure monitoring port; at least a first microporous filter and a second microporous filter configured sequentially, wherein the top of said microporous filters are attached to a filter retaining ring with openings between attached portions of said microporous filters and in fluid communication with said purge port; and a microporous screen on top of a downspout assembly at the base of said conical housing; b) moving blood through said microporous filters into the center of said conical housing; c) removing a portion of gas from blood and said microporous filters and directing the portion of gas to openings in said filter retaining ring and through to said purge port; e) pushing remaining gas in said conical housing through said active air purge assembly, wherein gas moves through said hydrophobic filter, and through said one-way valve, and then exits from said air removal port; f) monitoring the pressure in said conical housing with said pressure monitoring port; and g) passing filtered and substantially gas-free blood out of said conical housing through said microporous screen and into said downspout assembly.