Patent ID: 6699388
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A filter for filtering blood, comprising:a coiled core with a hollow center, said core having a blood filter layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface and a spacer layer having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, blood flowing more easily through said spacer layer than through said blood filter layer, wherein both ends of said blood filter and surface layers are sealed, one of said first surface of said blood filter layer and said fourth surface of said spacer layer defining an outer circumference of said coiled core, said blood filter layer and said spacer layer being coiled so that inside said coiled core said first surface of said blood filter directly contacts said third surface of said spacer layer and said second surface of said blood filter layer directly contacts said fourth surface of said spacer layer; said blood filter layer comprising a nonwoven fabric made of fibers having a mean diameter of not less than 0.3 &mgr;m and less than 5.0 &mgr;m; and a casing having a blood inlet in fluid communication with said outer circumference of said coiled core and a blood outlet in fluid communication with said hollow center, wherein blood entering said blood inlet proceeds in two paths to said blood outlet, a first path within said spacer layer and a second path transversely across said blood filter layer and said spacer layer.