Patent ID: 8419685

Claim:
An air block apparatus adapted for preventing gas from passing through a catheter into a patient's cardiovascular system comprising: an outer shell located external to a patient comprising a first inner lumen having a proximal end and a distal end and a first longitudinal axis; a core tube located within the first inner lumen of the outer shell and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the outer shell, wherein the core tube has a second longitudinal axis that is parallel with the first longitudinal axis of the outer shell, the core tube further comprising a second inner lumen, the core tube having a plurality of fenestrations thereon; a first hemostasis valve affixed to the second inner lumen of the core tube towards the proximal end of the core tube; a second hemostasis valve affixed to the second inner lumen of the core tube towards the distal end of the core tube; and a first port affixed to the outer shell at a first location, wherein the first port is operably connected to the first inner lumen of the outer shell, wherein the first port is an inlet that is configured to pass liquid into the first inner lumen of the outer shell; a second port affixed to the outer shell at a second location, wherein the second port is operably connected to the first inner lumen of the outer shell wherein the second port is an outlet that is configured to pass at least gas out of the first inner lumen of the outer shell and substantially preventing the removal of the liquid from the inner lumen of the outer shell; wherein the fenestrations in the core tube are large enough to permit gas to pass out of the second lumen of the core tube and into the first lumen of the outer shell, and wherein the gas passes out of the first lumen of the outer shell via the second port.