Patent ID: 7901579
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: A61M,B01D

Abstract:
1. A method of removing gas from blood in a filter, comprising: providing a microtubular fiber filter having a plurality of filter fibers with ends thereof opening into inlet header and outlet header spaces, the inlet header space having an inlet port and the outlet header having an outlet port and a gas release port; the outlet port and the gas release port lying at opposite ends of the outlet header space; the inlet header space and the outlet header space having inlet and outlet manifolds through which the filter fibers open, respectively, into the inlet and outlet header spaces; positioning the filter such that in the inlet header space, blood flows at least partly upwardly through the inlet header space; flowing blood through the inlet port into the inlet header space, through the plurality of filter fibers, into the outlet header space and out the outlet port; flowing the blood along the inlet manifold so that fractions of the blood leave the inlet header space through the manifold to enter the filter fibers causing the remaining blood left behind to diminish in volume progressively along a length of the inlet manifold; collecting gas in the inlet header space, conveying collected gas in a portion of the inlet manifold which feeds a subset of the filter fibers; conveying gas through the subset of filter fibers into a portion of the outlet header space remote from the outlet port and adjacent the gas release port; flowing blood along the outlet manifold toward the outlet port thereby accumulating blood in the outlet header progressively along a length of the outlet manifold as it enters the outlet header such that the volume of blood increases progressively from said portion of the outlet header space toward the outlet port; the rate of flow of blood and the sizes and shapes of the inlet and outlet header spaces being such that the shear rate is sufficient to prevent any stagnant flow regions from arising in the inlet and outlet header spaces; and periodically releasing gas from said portion of the outlet header space.