Patent ID: 8318092

Claim:
A blood processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet, the blood inlet extending into an interior of the apparatus housing; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the blood inlet and disposed about the blood inlet; a gas exchanger disposed about the heat exchanger such that an inner surface of the gas exchanger is positioned to receive blood exiting an outer surface of the heat exchanger, an annular space being defined between an outer surface of the gas exchanger and an interior surface of the apparatus housing such that blood exiting the outer surface of the gas exchanger can collect in the annular space; an annular filter housing coupled concentrically about the apparatus housing, and including an outer portion; a filter comprising a planar net, arranged within the annular filter housing and encircling the apparatus housing, forming a first annular chamber between the filter and the apparatus housing and a second annular chamber between the filter and the outer portion of the annular filter housing, wherein the first annular and second annular chambers are co-radially arranged within the annular filter housing; an elongate opening formed within the annular filter housing such that blood collecting in the annular space can pass into the first annular chamber; a first purge port in communication with the first annular chamber; and a second purge port in communication with the second annular chamber.