Patent ID: 7097690

Claim:
A medical device for removing gas from a liquid to be delivered to a patient, the device comprising: a housing defining a chamber including a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet; a gas filter structure disposed within the chamber, the filter structure comprising a first gas permeable membrane layer spaced from a second gas permeable membrane layer, the first and second layers defining a gas collection space between the first and second layers, and defining a liquid flow space separated from the gas collection space by at least one of the membrane layers; a gas outlet in fluid communication with the gas collection space; a first liquid path conduit within the chamber and in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, the gas filter structure being disposed within the first liquid path conduit; a second liquid path conduit within the chamber and in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet; and a valve assembly configured to allow for the flow of liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet through the first liquid path conduit while preventing the flow of liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet through the second liquid path conduit, and the valve assembly further configured to allow for the flow of liquid from the liquid outlet to the liquid inlet through the second liquid path conduit while preventing the flow of liquid from the liquid outlet to the liquid inlet through the first liquid path conduit.