Variable capacity reservoir assembly

Claim 1

A variable capacity blood reservoir assembly for use in a blood oxygenator system, which comprises: a blood reservoir including a pair of sheet segments in superposed relation, secured together so as to define a blood receiving volume between said sheet segments which define said blood receiving volume being separable in response to blood entering said volume so that said volume is expandable; a blood inlet on one side of said blood reservoir communicating with said blood receiving volume for directing blood flow into said volume; a blood outlet on said one side of said blood reservoir communicating with said blood receiving volume for directing blood flow from said volume; a vent located on the side of the blood reservoir opposite to said one side, said vent communicating with said volume for venting said blood receiving volume to atmosphere; a pinch clamp slidably positioned on said one side between said blood inlet and said blood outlet and slidable toward said opposite side, for controlling the separation of the sheets so as to control the expansion of said volume; said pinch clamp including an elongated slidable bifurcated clamp constructed to grasp said sheet segments and maintain said sheet segments in back-to-back contact between said bifurcations; and said clamp having an elongated back, and a shaped front which includes an upper clamping portion biased toward said back for holding said sheet segments between said clamp back and said clamp upper portion in said back-to-back contact.