Patent ID: 7704455

Claim:
An active air removal (AAR) system for purging air from an integrated extracorporeal blood circuit providing extracorporeal oxygenation of a patient's blood during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery adapted to be performed on a patient in the presence of a perfusionist, the AAR system comprising: an air removal device incorporated in the extracorporeal blood circuit, the air removal device comprising: an air removal device housing enclosing a chamber; an air removal device purge port through the housing to the chamber; and an air sensor supported by the air removal device housing in relation to the chamber adapted to provide an air sensor signal indicative of the presence of fluid or air in the air removal device housing; an air removal device purge line coupled to the air removal device purge port and extending to a purge line connector adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source to apply suction to the air removal device purge port to draw air therefrom; and an AAR controller comprising a purge valve adapted to receive a portion of the purge line, the purge valve having a closed position to close the purge line and an open position to open the purge line; and AAR controller circuitry operable to perform an AAR controller operating algorithm and to selectively change the purge valve closed position to the purge valve open position that further comprises: means responsive to a perfusionist initiated command to enter a self-test mode that performs specified self-tests of components and operating conditions of the AAR system; means for progressing to a standby mode when self-tests are completed to monitor specified components and operating conditions of the AAR system, to power the air sensor, and to monitor the air sensor signal; and means responsive to a perfusionist initiated command to enter an automatic mode from the standby mode enabling automatic movement of the purge valve from the closed position to the open position when the air sensor signal is indicative of air in the air removal device housing to allow air sensed in the air removal device to be purged through the purge line by the suction of the vacuum source.