Blood treating and filtering apparatus

Claim 2

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vessel has resiliently deformable sidewalls on the upstream side of the filter assembly adapted to be compressed and re-expanded for pumping blood through the apparatus.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including a. a first perforate support member between the blood clot filter member and the first mat, supporting the blood clot filter member and compressing the first mat, and b. a second perforate support member between the first and second mats supporting the first mat and compressing the second mat.

Claim 4

downstream from the first mat a second mat of finely subdivided blood-contact material comprising a solid fibrous material the fibers of which are nondegrading to the blood and characterized by the ability selectively to adhere the aggregates, the second mat having a density greater than the first mat for selectively removing aggregates of smaller size,

Claim 5

downstream from the second mat fiber filter member for filtering from the blood fragments of mat fiber filter material, c. means for introducing stored blood into a inlet port and for passing it through the filter assembly, d. and means for withdrawing the treated blood from the outlet port.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the blood clot filter member comprises a dome-shaped screen support at its open end on the first support member, the latter having a central opening through which the first mat projects into the spacing defined by the screen.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 including inwardly extending projections on the first support member engaging the first mat to prevent free escape of the latter into the space defined by the screen.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 including valve means adjacent the outlet port operable to prevent back flow of blood from the outlet port into the vessel.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second mat of fibrous material has a density of about 0.1 to 0.4 grams per cc.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mat fiber has a diameter not substantially great than about 30 microns, the density of the second mat is about 0.2 grams per cc. and the density of the first mat is about 1/4 - 1/2 the density of the second mat.

Claim 11

A high volume, continuous blood filter comprising: a. upstream and downstream end pieces, b. a tubular body secured between the end pieces to form a chamber, c. an inlet port at the center of the upstream end piece, d. an outlet port below the top of the downstream end piece, e. the inlet and outlet ports thereby enabling substantially horizontal blood flow through the chamber, f. a quantity of blood-filter material between thE end pieces, g. upstream perforated, filter-material-retaining means locating the filter material in the path of the blood flow, h. means spacing apart the downstream retaining means and end piece and forming therebetween a recess at the downstream end of the chamber for separating and collecting air entrained in the blood, and i. air-exhaust port means communicating with the top of the recess for exhausting collected air therefrom.

Claim 12

The blood filter of claim 9 wherein spacing means comprises a peripheral boss on the downstream end piece projecting inward therefrom for abutment by the downstream retaining means.

Claim 13

The blood filter of claim 9 including means spacing apart the upstream retaining means and end piece and forming therebetween a recess at the upstream end of the chamber.

Claim 14

The blood filter of claim 11 wherein the spacing means comprises a peripheral boss on the upstream end piece projecting inward therefrom for abutment by the upstream retaining means.

Claim 15

The blood filter of claim 9 including baffle means opposite the inlet port for diffusing the blood laterally over the entire area of the blood filter material.

Claim 16

The blood filter of claim 13 wherein the baffle means comprises an imperforate central portion of the upstream retaining means.