Patent EP0206638A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0206638A2
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EP
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Liquid-gas bubble separator
Assignee: Baxter International Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A liquid-gas bubble separator comprising a container (11) having an inlet (13) for a fluid which includes liquid and gas bubbles, an outlet (15) and upstream and downstream vents (17, 19). A filter element (21) is provided in the container between the inlet (13) and the outlet (15). The filter element (21) permits the passage of the liquid and inhibits the passage of the gas bubbles. The filter element (21) is between the upstream and downstream vents (17, 19) so that gas bubbles which do not pass through the filter element (21 ) can be vented through the upstream vent (17), and any gas bubbles downstream of the filter element (21) can be vented through the downstream vent (19). A bypass (71) is provided around the filter element (21). A portion of the filtered fluid is recirculated through the bypass passage (71) to prevent forward flow through the bypass passage (71) when the filter element (21) is clean, and such recirculating flow is terminated when the filter element (21) is clogged to a predetermined degree to thereby open the bypass passage (71) for forward flow. The separator is particularly suitable for use as a venous reservoir bag.
Inventors
- 👤 Rolf Clarke
- 👤 David Balding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/36; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3627; A61M1/3601; A61M1/3603; A61M1/3672; A61M1/3673; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/03; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A liquid-gas bubble separator comprising: a container having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet; a filter element in said container between the inlet and the outlet, said filter element permitting the passage of the liquid and inhibiting the passage of the gas bubbles; vent means leading from the interior of the container to the exterior of the container for exhausting the gas bubbles from the container; a bypass passage around said filter element leading from the upstream side of the filter element to the downstream side thereof; and characterized by said bypass passage being open to fluid flow in both directions when liquid is not flowing through the container; and means responsive to flow through the container when the filter element is clean for recirculating a portion of the fluid that passes through said filter element back through the bypass passage to the upstream side of the filter element to essentially close the bypass passage to foward flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A liquid-gas bubble separator comprising: a container having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet; a filter element in said container between the inlet and the outlet, said filter element permitting the passage of the liquid and inhibiting the passage of the gas bubbles; vent means leading from the interior of the container to the exterior of the container for exhausting the gas bubbles from the container; a bypass passage around said filter element leading from the upstream side of the filter element to the downstream side thereof; and characterized by said bypass passage being open to fluid flow in both directions when liquid is not flowing through the container; and means responsive to flow through the container when the filter element is clean for recirculating a portion of the fluid that passes through said filter element back through the bypass passage to the upstream side of the filter element to essentially close the bypass passage to foward flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A separator as defined in claim 1 wherein said recirculating means is responsive to at least some clogging of the filter element to decrease the flow of liquid back through bypass passage from the downstream side of the-filter element to the upstream side of the filter element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A separator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said vent means includes first and second vents leading from the upstream and downstream sides, respectively, of the filter element to the exterior of the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
- 4. A separator as claimed in claim 3 including means for directing flow exiting the bypass passage downstream of the filter element generally toward the downstream vent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A separator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the filter element extends from one side of the flow channel only part way across the flow channel to define said bypass passage in the flow channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A separator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said recirculating means includes the inlet being arranged to direct incoming fluid in a direction which extends generally across the bypass passage and into the flow channel on the upstream side of the filter element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A separator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said recirculating means includes means for creating a swirling flow on the upstream side of the filter element to at least assist in inducing recirculating flow through the bypass passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A separator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said flow channel has upper and lower sides, said one side of said flow channel is the upper side, and said inlet and said outlet and the bypass passage are along the lower side of the flow channel and said vent means is at the upper side of the flow channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A separator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said filter element includes a generally tubular filter element having an opening at one end facing said bypass passage and said inlet
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A separator as claimed in claim 8 wherein a portion of said one end of the tubular filter element adjacent the opening is closed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A separator as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the container comprises a flexible bag, said tubular filter element is joined to the bag on the opposite sides of the opening so that inflation of the bag with liquid pulls the opening of the filter element open.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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