Patent ID: 7278981

Claim:
A method of circulating a patient's blood through an extracorporeal blood perfusion system, the extracorporeal blood perfusion system having a cardiopulmonary circuit for receiving venous blood from a patient, oxygenating the blood and returning the oxygenated blood to the patient, a cardioplegia circuit for delivering a cardioplegia solution to the patient, and a suction circuit for withdrawing blood or fluids patient's heart vasculature surgical site, the perfusion system having a control unit for controlling flow of fluids in one or more of the circuits, the method comprising: providing a disposable cartridge having a housing including a first side formed from a first rigid portion and a second side formed from a second flexible portion, the housing defining at least a portion of a plurality of internal passageways between the first and second sides including, a first internal passageway, a second internal passageway and a third internal passageway; connecting the first internal passageway to the cardiopulmonary circuit; connecting the second internal passageway to the cardioplegia circuit, such that the second internal passageway forms at least a portion of the cardioplegia circuit; connecting the third internal passageway to the suction circuit, such that the third internal passageway forms at least a portion of the suction circuit; and connecting the cardiopulmonary circuit to receive venous blood from the patient and to return oxygenated blood to the patient.