Patent ID: 8057419
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. In an extracorporeal blood perfusion system for receiving blood from a patient through a venous line, oxygenating the blood, and returning the oxygenated blood to the patient through an arterial line, a method of preventing the return of oxygenated blood containing gaseous bubbles to the patient, the extracorporeal blood perfusion system including a cardiopulmonary blood circuit having a plurality of tubing lines interconnecting a venous reservoir, a blood oxygenator and an arterial blood filter, the arterial filter having a blood inlet port, a blood outlet port and an air purge port, the method comprising: connecting the blood perfusion system for receiving venous blood from the patient and returning oxygenated blood to the patient; providing an air purge line including a purge valve having an open position for opening the purge line and a closed position for closing the purge line; fluidly connecting a first end of the purge line with the air purge port of the arterial blood filter and a second end of the purge line with an inlet of the venous reservoir; and providing a control unit having a sensor for determining the presence of gaseous bubbles in a tubing line connected to an outlet of the oxygenator, the control unit being connected to a pump for controlling the speed of the pump and being connected to the purge valve for automatically opening the purge valve when gaseous bubbles are sensed by the sensor such that at least a portion of the oxygenated blood is diverted from the patient through the air purge line back to the venous reservoir.