Patent ID: 7798996

Claim:
A system for detecting and removing a gas bubble from a vascular infusion line, the system comprising: a disposable cassette adapted for disposition intermediate the infusion line, the disposable cassette comprising: a body; and a flexible hollow tube having an inlet port being configured for connection to the supply side of the infusion line, an outlet port being configured for connection to the patient side of the infusion line and a purge port located intermediate the inlet port and the outlet port; a base unit adapted to receive the disposable cassette and monitor fluid flow through the flexible hollow tube, wherein the base unit comprises: a gas bubble sensor disposed adjacent side-by-side first and second portions of said flexible hollow tube and adapted to simultaneously detect the presence of a gas bubble in the fluid flows through the side-by-side flexible hollow tube first and second portions, the first and second portions of said flexible hollow tube being proximate each other along the length of said sensor; the flexible hollow tube defining a sensor loop between the first and second portions of said flexible hollow tube; a pinch valve adapted to stop the flow of fluid through said flexible hollow tube; and an electronic control unit adapted to operate said base unit so that (i) fluid is permitted to flow past said pinch valve when no gas bubble is detected by said sensor; and (ii) fluid flow is arrested when a gas bubble is detected by said sensor.