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.