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US4297318A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Blood oxygenator

Assignee: Baxter International Inc
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Filing: 1979-07-02
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Granted: 1981-10-27
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Expires: 1999-07-02
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Abstract

Abstract A blood oxygenating device comprising an oxygenating chamber and a heat exchange chamber, the oxygenating chamber comprising a bubbler chamber and a mixing chamber. Oxygen is introduced into the bubbler chamber through a porous diffusion means situated near the inlet of the bubbler chamber. Bubbles pass from the bubbler chamber into the mixing chamber which is provided with a plurality of secondary flow-producing deflectors to promote secondary flow and rotation of blood bubbles passing therethrough. The secondary flow results in a highly efficient oxygen-carbon dioxide transfer. The blood bubbles are then passed through a heat exchange chamber and a defoaming means prior to exiting the oxygenating device. In a preferred version, blood and oxygen-rich gas are admitted at the top of the device and caused to flow substantially downwardly through a tortuous path which causes at least a portion of the blood bubbles to rotate. During the course of downward flow, the blood-gas-bubble mixture passes around a heat exchange device, which preferably is convoluted, helically wound tubing so as to form the tortuous path, to bring the blood to a desired temperature. The oxygenator is equipped with a defoaming means such that the blood bubbles are converted back into liquid blood, which is then returned to the patient. Vent means are provided for removal of carbon dioxide and other vent gases. Means for promoting secondary flow in the blood are preferably provided in the upward region of the oxygenator.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald A. Raible

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 16:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/14; A61M1/32; A61M1/322; A61M1/325; A61M1/36; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3623; A61M1/369; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/03; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
Apparatus for oxygenating blood comprising: means for combining oxygen-containing gas with liquid blood to form a mixture of blood and gas, a substantial portion of said mixture being in the form of bubbles; means defining a flow path for the mixture; means in the flow path defining a passageway configured in a manner capable of imparting rotational movement to at least a portion of the bubbles, said passageway having a transverse dimension large enough to permit rotation of the bubbles; and defoaming means downstream of said passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 87 words
Apparatus for oxygenating blood comprising: means for combining oxygen-containing gas with liquid blood to form a mixture of blood and gas, a substantial portion of said mixture being in the form of bubbles; means defining a flow path for the mixture; means in the flow path defining a passageway configured in a manner capable of imparting rotational movement to at least a portion of the bubbles, said passageway having a transverse dimension large enough to permit rotation of the bubbles; and defoaming means downstream of said passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a hard-shell bubble oxygenator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for imparting rotational movement comprises a flow-directing means having an undulate configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said undulate configuration comprises a series of arcuate sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 65 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: an inlet for the blood and an inlet for the oxygen-containing gas, both of which inlets are proximate to one axial end of said apparatus and to the beginning of said flow path; and an outlet for oxygenated blood in the region of the other axial end of said apparatus and proximate to the end of the flow path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said defoaming means is between the end of the flow path and the outlet for the oxygenated blood.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for imparting rotational movement include a helically wrapped tube in said flow path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the outer surface of said helically wrapped tube is convoluted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said tube is a heat exchanger tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 138 words
Apparatus for oxygenating blood comprising: inlet means for liquid blood; inlet means for oxygen-containing gas; means for injecting said oxygen-containing gas into said blood to form a blood-gas mixture containing a substantial number of bubbles; passage means for conveying said blood-gas mixture containing a substantial number of bubbles away from said means for injecting; said passage means having a length substantially greater than its transverse dimensions; flow-directing means located along a substantial portion of the length of said passage means for imparting rotational movement to said bubbles; said flow-directing means forming at least one passageway having a transverse dimension sufficiently large to allow rotational movement of the bubbles; defoaming means located in the region of the end of said passage means remote from said means for injecting; blood outlet means; and means for venting gas from said apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 138 words
Apparatus for oxygenating blood comprising: inlet means for liquid blood; inlet means for oxygen-containing gas; means for injecting said oxygen-containing gas into said blood to form a blood-gas mixture containing a substantial number of bubbles; passage means for conveying said blood-gas mixture containing a substantial number of bubbles away from said means for injecting; said passage means having a length substantially greater than its transverse dimensions; flow-directing means located along a substantial portion of the length of said passage means for imparting rotational movement to said bubbles; said flow-directing means forming at least one passageway having a transverse dimension sufficiently large to allow rotational movement of the bubbles; defoaming means located in the region of the end of said passage means remote from said means for injecting; blood outlet means; and means for venting gas from said apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for imparting rotational movement comprises a flow directing means having an undulate configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said undulate configuration comprises a series of arcuately shaped elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 85 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said apparatus has a first end and a second end, said first end being at the opposite axial extremity of said apparatus from said second end; an inlet for the blood and a separate inlet for the oxygen-containing gas, both of which inlets are proximate to said first end and to the beginning of said flow path; and an outlet for oxygenated blood in the region of the second end and proximate to the end of the flow path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said blood inlet and said blood outlet are axially spaced from each other proximate to opposite axial ends of the apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for imparting rotational movement includes a helically wrapped tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said tube has convolutions on the outer surface thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said tube is a heat exchanger tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said tube is a heat exchanger tube.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2934067A Cited
US3468631A Cited
US3615238A Cited
US3898045A Cited
US4065264A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-10-26 1985-04-27 1985-10-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-10-26 1989-04-27 1989-10-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-10-26 1993-04-27 1993-10-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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