Patent ID: 8419709

Claim:
A system for detecting and removing a gas bubble from a vascular infusion line, the system comprising: a disposable cassette adapted for disposition intermediate the infusion line, said disposable cassette comprising: a body; and a flexible hollow tube having an inlet port configured for connection to a supply side of the infusion line, an outlet port configured for connection to a patient side of the infusion line, and a purge port disposed intermediate the inlet port and the outlet port, the flexible hollow tube defining a sensor loop; a base unit adapted to receive said disposable cassette and to monitor fluid flow through said flexible hollow tube, wherein said base unit comprises: a gas bubble sensor disposed adjacent side-by-side first and second portions of said flexible hollow tube to simultaneously detect a presence of a gas bubble in the fluid flowing through the side-by-side flexible hollow tube first and second portions, the first and second portions of said flexible hollow tube being proximate each other along the length of said sensor; a pinch valve adapted to stop the flow of fluid through said flexible hollow tube; an electronic control unit adapted to operate said base unit such that (i) fluid is permitted to flow past said pinch valve when no gas bubble is detected by said gas bubble sensor; and (ii) fluid flow is arrested when a gas bubble is detected by said gas bubble sensor; said body of said disposable cassette having therein a groove configured to receive said flexible hollow tube; and said disposable cassette further comprises a cover for securing said flexible hollow tube within the groove.