Patent ID: 7141097

Claim:
A filter for filtering intravenous fluid comprising: a) a base member having an outer perimeter, one or more vent holes and a fluid inlet chamber; b) a cap member having an outer perimeter, an inlet, an outlet and a fluid outlet chamber, wherein the one or more vent holes are positioned generally opposite the inlet; c) generally planar hydrophilic filtration media mounted between the base member and the cap member, separating the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber; d) the perimeters of the base and cap members being sealed together to form a filter housing, and the filter having a flow path such that fluid passing into the filter housing through the inlet passes through the hydrophilic filtration media before passing out the outlet; e) one piece of hydrophobic vent media positioned over the one or more vent holes and secured to the base member; and f) the base member having a center section and side sections forming the inlet chamber, the side sections extending from the center section towards the perimeter of the base member and being formed at an angle of between about 2° and about 45° compared to the plane of the hydrophilic filtration media so as to encourage any air in the inlet chamber to flow towards the vent.