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EP0253467A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid and gas separation system

Assignee: Baxter International Inc
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Filing: 1987-04-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-04-07
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Abstract

Abstract A defoaming device for separating foam and bubbles from a liquid, such as blood, is disclosed. The device can be used in conjunction with a medical device, such as a membrane oxygenator, for separating air from blood while minimizing blood contact with the antifoam agent used in the device. The device includes a reservoir and a filtering material that does not contain any antifoaming agent. This filtering material is positioned in a lower portion of the reservoir to separate foam and bubbles from the liquid. An element containing an antifoaming agent is positioned in the reservoir above the maximum surface fluid level therein and receives the foam and bubbles that rise from the filtering material. Contact of the liquid with the antifoaming agent is substantially avoided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lucas Streator Gordon

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 21:05
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/0031; A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/36; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3627; B01D19/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A defoaming device for first separating foam and bubbles from a liquid and then breaking down the foam and bubbles comprising: a reservoir means for containing the liquid; a filtering means absent an antifoaming agent and positioned in the reservoirs means to receive the liquid and separate foam and bubbles from the liquid; and means containing an antifoaming agent positioned in the reservoir above the maximum surface fluid level for receiving the foam and bubbles rising from the filtering means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 80 words
A defoaming device for first separating foam and bubbles from a liquid and then breaking down the foam and bubbles comprising: a reservoir means for containing the liquid; a filtering means absent an antifoaming agent and positioned in the reservoirs means to receive the liquid and separate foam and bubbles from the liquid; and means containing an antifoaming agent positioned in the reservoir above the maximum surface fluid level for receiving the foam and bubbles rising from the filtering means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
A defoaming device according to Claim 1 wherein said filtering means comprises a first filter for filtering foam, macroscopic bubbles and microscopic bubbles from said liquid and a screen for filtering microscopic bubbles from said liquid after it passes through the first filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
A defoaming device according to Claim 2 further comprising a second filter for further filtering said liquid after it passes through said screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A defoaming device according to Claim 2 wherein the upper portion of said first filter lies above said maximum surface fluid level and contains said antifoaming agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A defoaming device according to Claim 2 wherein said screen is treated with a wetting agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
A defoaming device according to Claim 1 wherein said antifoaming agent contains silicone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
A defoaming device according to Claim 1 wherein said device is used in conjunction with a medical device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
A defoaming device according to Claim 7 wherein said medical device is a blood oxygenator.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 85 words
A method for separating foam and bubbles from a liquid comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the liquid in a reservoir with a filtering means that is absent an antifoaming agent to first separate foam and bubbles from the liquid; and (b) then contacting the bubbles rising from the filtering means with an antifoaming agent positioned above the maximum surface fluid level in the reservoir whereby the foam bubbles are selectively exposed to the antifoaming agent without substantially exposing the liquid to the antifoam agent.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 85 words
A method for separating foam and bubbles from a liquid comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the liquid in a reservoir with a filtering means that is absent an antifoaming agent to first separate foam and bubbles from the liquid; and (b) then contacting the bubbles rising from the filtering means with an antifoaming agent positioned above the maximum surface fluid level in the reservoir whereby the foam bubbles are selectively exposed to the antifoaming agent without substantially exposing the liquid to the antifoam agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to Claim 9 wherein said liquid is blood and said foam and bubbles are formed by air.

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