Patent ID: 7682563

Claim:
A method of priming an integrated extracorporeal blood circuit with prime solution displacing air in the components and lines interconnecting the components of the extracorporeal blood circuit, the integrated extracorporeal blood circuit drawing venous blood from the venous system of a patient through a venous return line and delivering oxygenated blood through an arterial line to the arterial system of the patient during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery adapted to be performed on the patient in the presence of a perfusionist, the priming method comprising: coupling the venous return line to the arterial line; supporting the extracorporeal blood circuit in 3-D space so that the components and lines interconnecting the components are disposed between a circuit high elevation and a circuit low elevation; supporting a prime solution source at a source elevation higher than the circuit low elevation; delivering prime solution into the integrated extracorporeal blood circuit at the circuit low elevation; controlling the flow of prime solution from the prime solution source into the extracorporeal blood circuit to upward fill the components and lines of the extracorporeal blood circuit with prime solution; and purging air from the extracorporeal blood circuit as the prime solution rises and fills the extracorporeal blood circuit.