Abstract:
A set of units for a device integrated in an extracorporeal blood circuit, comprising a cardiotomy reservoir which is provided with elements adapted to provide a monolithic coupling selectively with identical complementary elements of a venous reservoir and a venous bag.

Description:
The present invention relates to a set of units for a device integrated in an extracorporeal blood circuit. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is known that the extracorporeal blood circuit established during certain surgical procedures substantially comprises units through which the blood is intended to flow, and the first unit that the blood encounters as it exits, by means of a cannula, from a vein of a patient is a container which can have rigid or flexible walls and is known as “venous reservoir” and “venous bag” respectively. 
   Such venous reservoir or bag, besides receiving blood directly from the patient, is connected to an additional container, known as cardiotomy reservoir, which is designed to receive and filter the blood collected on the operating field. 
   The blood is drawn from the venous bag or reservoir by means of a pump and is sent to a heat exchanger, which regulates the temperature, to an oxygenation unit for correct addition of oxygen, and finally returned to the patient via an arterial line which is provided with a suitable filter. 
   The units around the operating field are therefore numerous, with a presence which runs the risk of compromising or at least reducing the freedom of action of the operators, and therefore there is a tendency to reduce their bulk by integrating different units in a single device, achieving the additional advantage of reducing priming, i.e., the amount of blood for filling the circuit. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is from this standpoint that the invention has the aim of providing a set of units particularly adapted to constitute an integrated device to be inserted in an extracorporeal blood circuit. 
   This aim is achieved by a set of units for a device integrated in an extracorporeal blood circuit, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises a cardiotomy reservoir having means adapted to provide a monolithic coupling selectively with identical complementary means of a venous reservoir and a venous bag. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a view of three units constituted by a cardiotomy reservoir, a venous reservoir and an oxygenation unit, ready to be associated so as to constitute an integrated device; 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are different views of the integrated device obtained by assembling the units of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view of three units, constituted by a cardiotomy reservoir, a venous bag, and an oxygenation unit, ready to be associated so as to constitute an integrated device; 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are different views of the integrated device obtained by assembling the units of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to the figures, the reference numeral  1  designates a cardiotomy reservoir, which comprises a lid  2  provided with couplings  2   a  for the arrival of blood from the operating field and with a coupling  2   b  for optional withdrawals, and further comprises a bottom  3  provided with a coupling  3   a  for the outflow of the blood. 
   Moreover, in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  the reference numeral  4  designates a venous reservoir, which comprises a lid  5  provided with couplings  5   a  for the arrival of blood from different points, and further comprises, at the bottom, a connector  6  provided with couplings  6   a ,  6   b  for the arrival of blood respectively from the patient and from a cardiotomy reservoir; the reference numeral  7  designates a blood outflow coupling. 
   Moreover, in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6  the reference numeral  8  designates a venous bag which is provided, proximate to the bottom, with couplings  8   a ,  8   b  for the inflow of blood respectively from a cardiotomy reservoir and from a patient, and with a blood outflow coupling  8   c ; the reference numeral  8   d  further designates a drain coupling. 
   Finally, the reference numeral  9  designates an oxygenation unit provided with couplings  9   a ,  9   b  for blood inflow and outflow, respectively. 
   An important feature of the invention consists in that the cardiotomy reservoir  1  comprises two cylindrical portions  10  and  11  which extend respectively from the lid and from the bottom. 
   The portion  10  is adapted to enter and be locked selectively within a ring  12  which protrudes, by means of tabs  12   a ,  12   b , from the lid of the reservoir  4 , and within a ring  13  which protrudes, by means of tabs  13   a ,  13   b , from a rigid base  14  for supporting the venous bag  8 . 
   The portion  11  is adapted to enter and be locked selectively in a ring  15  which protrudes, by means of a tab  15   a , from the enclosure of the reservoir  4 , and in a ring  16  which protrudes, by means of a tab  16   a , from the rigid base  14  for supporting the venous bag  8 . 
   Of course, the means for connecting the cardiotomy reservoir selectively to the venous reservoir and to the venous bag may assume any configuration. 
   A tube  17  is also provided, which protrudes from the outflow coupling  3   a  of the cardiotomy reservoir, which is adapted to be connected selectively to the coupling  6   b  of the venous reservoir  4  and to the coupling  8   a  of the venous bag  8 ; the tube  17  is adapted to be blocked when there is no need to supply blood from the cardiotomy reservoir by means of the known scissor-like tool known as clamp, and a tube provided with a tap might be provided in its place. 
   The venous reservoir  4  and the venous bag  8  are provided with identical means for monolithic connection to the oxygenation unit  9 , which comprise the identical tabs  18  and  19  which protrude respectively from the bottom of the reservoir  4  and from the rigid base  14  for supporting the bag  8  and are adapted to enter a slot  20  provided on the lid of the oxygenation unit in order to be locked thereat; of course, said means also may assume any configuration. 
   Four units have thus been provided which can be used autonomously or can be assembled so as to form two different integrated devices, and the adoption of identical connection means on the venous reservoir and on the venous bag allows to use the same type of cardiotomy reservoir and oxygenation unit for both of said integrated devices. 
   The described invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations besides those mentioned, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
   The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. M12006A001188 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.