Bubble oxygenator

Claim 2

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing; means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; said flow path including a substantially horizontal imperforate plate disposed in said upper portion of said housing to receive blood foam from said foaming means in a direction substantially parallel thereto, and a substantially horizontal perforate plate carried in said upper portion of said housing, below said imperforate plate to receive blood foam flowing over the edge thereof, said perforate plate having perforations to permit blood foam to flow downwardly therethrough; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said perforate plate to separate liquid blood and gas thereby defoaming the blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood from said defoaming means.

Claim 3

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing including means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower reservoir-defining portion of said housing; blood foaming means comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; defoaming means carried in said flow path above said reservoir and below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to gravitationally receive and separate blood foam into liquid blood and gas, said defoaming means comprising defoaming material spanning said flow path; vent opening means in said flow path for venting gas separated from the blood foam, said vent opening means being adjacent a lateral edge portion of said defoaming means, whereby gas separated from the blood foam vents generally laterally through said defoaming means; and a support plate spanning said flow path, said support plate having opening means therein and being downwardly inclined toward said opening means, and a generally tubular-shaped filter element depending from said support plate into said reservoir and being in communication with said opening means, said defoaming material spanning said flow path being carried by said support plate.

Claim 4

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing including means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower reservoir-defining portion of said housing; blood foaming means comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; defoaming means carried in said flow path above said reservoir and below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to gravitationally receive and separate blood foam into liquid blood and gas, said defoaming means comprising defoaming material spanning said flow path; vent opening means in said flow path for venting gas separated from the blood foam, said vent opening means being adjacent a lateral edge portion of said defoaming means, whereby gas separated from the blood foam vents generally laterally through said defoaming means; and a support plate spanning said flow path, said support plate having opening means therein and being downwardly inclined toward said opening means, and a generally tubular-shaped filter element depending from said support plate into said reservoir and being in communication with said opening means, said defoaming material spanning said flow path being carried by said support plate.

Claim 5

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said support plate rests on an interior shoulder defined by a reduced diameter portion of said housing.

Claim 6

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a plate disposed in said blood reservoir above outlet means from said reservoir for preventing the formation of vortices in said liquid blood.

Claim 7

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid body, gas venting passages in said body to vent gas from said body; a substantially vertical venous blood passage, a tubular cylindrical porous sparger having said venous blood passage extending therethrough, an oxygen chamber around said tubular sparger so that oxygen bubble flow enters the venous blood passage through said sparger to foam the venous blood, a blood foam passage from the top of said sparger to the top of said body; a generally horizontal heat exchanger comprising a flat wound tubular coil in said body and passage means for delivering blood foam down through said heat exchanger; a defoamer directly positioned beneath said heat exchanger so that gravitationally delivered downwardly flowing temperature controlled blood foam is delivered to said defoamer and liquid blood and gas are downwardly delivered from said defoamer; and an arterial blood reservoir in said body below said defoamer so that blood from said defoamer gravitates into said arterial blood reservoir.

Claim 8

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid body, gas venting passages in said body to vent gas from said body; a substantially vertical venous blood passage, a tubular cylindrical porous sparger having said venous blood passage extending therethrough, an oxygen chamber around said tubular sparger so that oxygen bubble flow enters the venous blood passage through said sparger to foam the venous blood, a blood foam passage from the top of said sparger to the top of said body; a generally horizontal heat exchanger comprising a flat wound tubular coil in said body and passage means for delivering blood foam down through said heat exchanger; a defoamer directly positioned beneath said heat exchanger so that gravitationally delivered downwardly flowing temperature controlled blood foam is delivered to said defoamer and liquid blood and gas are downwardly delivered from said defoamer; and an arterial blood reservoir in said body below said defoamer so that blood from said defoamer gravitates into said arterial blood reservoir.

Claim 9

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a distributor system located above said horizontal heat exchanger, with said blood foam passage delivering foaming blood to said distributor system.

Claim 10

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing, including means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; said flow path including a substantially horizontal imperforate plate disposed in said upper portion of said housing to receive blood foam thereonto from said foaming means, and a substantially horizontal perforate plate carried in said upper portion of said housing below said imperforate plate to receive blood foam flowing over the edge thereof, said perforate plate having perforations to permit blood foam to flow downwardly therethrough; heat exchanger means carried in said flow path below said perforate plate to control the temperature of blood foam as it moves along said flow path; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said heat exchanger means to receive blood foam from said heat exchanger means and to separate liquid blood and gas thereby defoaming the blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood from said defoaming means.

Claim 11

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing, including means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; said flow path including a substantially horizontal imperforate plate disposed in said upper portion of said housing to receive blood foam thereonto from said foaming means, and a substantially horizontal perforate plate carried in said upper portion of said housing below said imperforate plate to receive blood foam flowing over the edge thereof, said perforate plate having perforations to permit blood foam to flow downwardly therethrough; heat exchanger means carried in said flow path below said perforate plate to control the temperature of blood foam as it moves along said flow path; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said heat exchanger means to receive blood foam from said heat exchanger means and to separate liquid blood and gas thereby defoaming the blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood from said defoaming means.

Claim 12

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said blood foaming means is adapted to direct the flow of blood foam onto said imperforate plate in a direction substantially parallel therewith to provide a spreading of the blood foam thereacross to enhance oxygen transfer.

Claim 13

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said imperforate plate is spaced from the top of said housing, said perforate plate is spaced from said imperforate plate and said heat exchanger is spaced from said perforate plate.

Claim 14

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said lower portion of said housing is relatively narrower than said upper portion and depends therefrom to define a generally funnel shaped housing to aid in collecting liquid blood in said reservoir in said lower portion.

Claim 15

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a plate disposed in said blood reservoir above said outlet means for preventing the formation of vortices in said liquid blood.

Claim 16

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said blood foaming means comprises a tubular porous sparger with said blood passageway extending therethrough and said oxygen inlet passageway communicating with the exterior of said sparger, whereby said sparger generates a flow of oxygen bubbles into the venous blood to create blood foam.

Claim 17

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 12 wherein said sparger is made of hydrophobic material and includes an oxygen filter on the exterior surface thereof.

Claim 18

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said blood inlet passageway and said reservoir outlet means each comprises a downwardly directed connector for attachment to connective tubing extending between the oxygenator and a patient.

Claim 19

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a length of generally flexible tubing attached to one of said connectors and hanging in a half loop to prevent escape of gas to a patient.

Claim 20

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a support plate carried within said housing and supporting said horizontal portion of said defoaming means, a plate having center opening means and being downwardly inclined toward said center opening means, to direct liquid blood therethrough, and a generally tubular filter element depending from said support plate and communicating with said center opening means to receive and filter liquid blood before it exits the housing.

Claim 21

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 16 wherein at least a portion of said defoaming means is also carried within said tubular filter element.

Claim 22

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises a continuous horizontally disposed tubular heat exchanger substantially spanning said flow path.

Claim 23

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 18 wherein the ends of said heat exchanger extend through said housing above the blood foaming level in said housing.

Claim 24

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 18 in which said tubular heat exchanger comprises a flat wound coil and said flow path comprises a wall interiorly of and a wall exteriorly of said coil to constrain downwardly flowing blood foam to flow through said coil.

Claim 25

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid, generally funnel-shaped housing having a defined upper portion providing a blood oxygenating, temperature controlling and defoaming region and a narrower lower portion depending from said upper portion and providing an interior liquid blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom; means defining an interior flow path between said upper portion of said housing and said lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into the blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; heat exchanger means disposed in said flow path in the upper portion of said housing, below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood as it moves along said flow path; defoaming means carried in said flow path in said upper portion of said housing downstream of said heat exchanger means to separate liquid blood and gas, thereby defoaming the blood, and whereby said funnel-shaped housing comprises at least a portion of said means defining an interior flow path to aid in directing the flow of blood into said reservoir.

Claim 26

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid, generally funnel-shaped housing having a defined upper portion providing a blood oxygenating, temperature controlling and defoaming region and a narrower lower portion depending from said upper portion and providing an interior liquid blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom; means defining an interior flow path between said upper portion of said housing and said lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into the blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; heat exchanger means disposed in said flow path in the upper portion of said housing, below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood as it moves along said flow path; defoaming means carried in said flow path in said upper portion of said housing downstream of said heat exchanger means to separate liquid blood and gas, thereby defoaming the blood, and whereby said funnel-shaped housing comprises at least a portion of said means defining an interior flow path to aid in directing the flow of blood into said reservoir.

Claim 27

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 21 wherein said blood inlet passageway and said reservoir outlet means each comprises a downwardly directed connector for attachment to connective tubing extending between the oxygenator and a patient.

Claim 28

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 22 further comprising a length of generally flexible tubing attached to one of said connectors and hanging in a half loop to prevent escape of gas to a patient.

Claim 29

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 21 further comprising a plate disposed in said blood reservoir above said outlet means for preventing the formation of vortices in said liquid blood.

Claim 30

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 21 wherein said blood foaming means comprises a tubular porous sparger with said blood passageway extending therethrough and said oxygen inlet passageway communicating with the exterior of said sparger, whereby said sparger generates a flow of oxygen bubbles into the venous blood to create blood foam.

Claim 31

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 25 wherein said sparger is made of hydrophobic material and includes an oxygen filter on the exterior surface thereof.

Claim 32

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 21 further comprising a support plate carried within said housing and supporting at least a portion of said defoaming means, said plate having center opening means and being downwardly inclined toward said center opening means to direct liquid blood therethrough, and a generally tubular filter element depending from said support plate and communicating with said center opening means to receive and filter liquid blood before it exits the housing.

Claim 33

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 27 wherein at least a portion of said defoaming means is also carried within said tubular filter element.

Claim 34

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 21, said flow path further comprising a substantially flat imperforate distributor plate horizontally positioned in said relatively large upper portion of said housing, said blood foaming means being adapted to direct the flow of blood foam onto said imperforate plate in a direction substantially parallel therewith to provide a spreading of the blood foam thereacross to enhance oxygen transfer.

Claim 35

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 29 further comprising a perforate distributor plate between said imperforate plate and said heat exchanger means, to receive blood foam flowing over the edge of said imperforate plate and having perforations disposed to distribute the blood foam therethrough substantially evenly to said heat exchanger means.

Claim 36

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 30 wherein said imperforate plate is spaced from the top of said housing, said perforate plate is spaced from said imperforate plate and said heat exchanger means is spaced from said perforate plate.

Claim 37

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 29 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises a continuous horizontally disposed tubular heat exchanger substantially spanning said flow path.

Claim 38

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 32 wherein the ends of said heat exchanger extend through said housing above the blood foaming level in said housing.

Claim 39

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 32 in which said tubular heat exchanger comprises a flat wound coil and said flow path comprises a wall interiorly of and a wall exteriorly of said coil to constrain downwardly flowing blood foam to flow through said coil.

Claim 40

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing including means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower reservoir-defining portion of said housing; blood foaming means comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; defoaming means carried in said flow path above said reservoir and below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to gravitationally receive and separate blood foam into liquid blood and gas, said defoaming means comprising defoaming material substantially horizontally spanning said flow path; vent opening means in said flow path for venting gas separated from the blood foam, said vent opening means being adjacent a lateral edge portion of said defoaming means, whereby gas separated from the blood foam vents generally laterally through said defoaming means; and heat exchanger means in said flow path downstream of said foaming means and upstream of said defoaming means to regulate the temperature of blood foam moving therealong.

Claim 41

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing including means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower reservoir-defining portion of said housing; blood foaming means comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; defoaming means carried in said flow path above said reservoir and below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to gravitationally receive and separate blood foam into liquid blood and gas, said defoaming means comprising defoaming material substantially horizontally spanning said flow path; vent opening means in said flow path for venting gas separated from the blood foam, said vent opening means being adjacent a lateral edge portion of said defoaming means, whereby gas separated from the blood foam vents generally laterally through said defoaming means; and heat exchanger means in said flow path downstream of said foaming means and upstream of said defoaming means to regulate the temperature of blood foam moving therealong.

Claim 42

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 35 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises a continuous horizontally disposed tubular heat exchanger substantially spanning said flow path.

Claim 43

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 36 wherein the ends of said heat exchanger extend through said housing above the blood foaming level in said housing.

Claim 44

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 36 in which said tubular heat exchanger comprises a flat wound coil and said flow path comprises a wall interiorly of and a wall exteriorly of said coil to constrain downwardly flowing blood foam to flow through said coil.

Claim 45

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 35, said flow path further comprising distributor means above said heat exchanger means for enhancing oxygen transfer to the venous blood and for distributing blood foam evenly to said heat exchanger means, said distributor means comprising a substantially flat, imperforate distributor plate to receive blood foam from said blood foaming means and a perforated distributor plate therebelow to receive blood foam flowing over the edge of said imperforate plate, said perforated plate having perforations disposed to distribute blood foam, therethrough substantially evenly to said heat exchanger means therebeneath.

Claim 46

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 39 wherein said imperforate and perforate distributor plates are substantially horizontal, said blood foaming means being adapted to direct the flow of blood foam onto said imperforate plate in a direction substantially parallel therewith to provide a spreading of the blood foam thereacross to enhance oxygen transfer.

Claim 47

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 39 wherein said imperforate plate is spaced from the top of said housing, said perforate plate is spaced from said imperforate plate and said heat exchanger is spaced from said perforate plate.

Claim 48

A blood oxygenator comprising: a generally funnel-shaped housing, including an upper portion and a narrower lower portion defining a liquid blood reservoir therewithin, and including outlet means from said reservoir; means defining an interior flow path between said upper and lower housing portions; blood foaming means comprising venous blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; horizontally disposed heat exchanger means carried in said flow path in said upper portion of said housing below the level at which said blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood foam as it flows downwardly through said housing; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said heat exchanger means to receive heated blood foam therefrom to separate liquid blood and gas, said defoaming means comprising a horizontal portion underlying and substantially spanning said heat exchanger means in said upper portion of said housing, and a vertically disposed portion below said horizontal portion and extending into the narrower lower blood reservoir of said housing to conduct the flow of liquid blood thereinto.

Claim 49

A blood oxygenator comprising: a generally funnel-shaped housing, including an upper portion and a narrower lower portion defining a liquid blood reservoir therewithin, and including outlet means from said reservoir; means defining an interior flow path between said upper and lower housing portions; blood foaming means comprising venous blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; horizontally disposed heat exchanger means carried in said flow path in said upper portion of said housing below the level at which said blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood foam as it flows downwardly through said housing; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said heat exchanger means to receive heated blood foam therefrom to separate liquid blood and gas, said defoaming means comprising a horizontal portion underlying and substantially spanning said heat exchanger means in said upper portion of said housing, and a vertically disposed portion below said horizontal portion and extending into the narrower lower blood reservoir of said housing to conduct the flow of liquid blood thereinto.

Claim 50

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 42 further comprising a support plate carried within said housing and supporting said horizontal portion of said defoaming means, said plate having center opening means and being downwardly inclined toward said center opening means to direct liquid blood therethrough, and a generally tubular filter element depending from said support plate and communicating with said center opening means to receive and filter liquid blood before it exits the housing, said vertically disposed defoamer portion extending substantially into said filter element.

Claim 51

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 42 further comprising a plate disposed in said blood reservoir above said outlet means for preventing the formation of vortices in said liquid blood.

Claim 52

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 42 wherein said blood foaming means comprises a tubular porous sparger with said blood passageway extending therethrough and said oxygen inlet passageway communicating with the exterior of said sparger, whereby said sparger generates a flow of oxygen bubbles into the venous blood to create blood foam.

Claim 53

An oxygenator in accordance wih claim 45 wherein said sparger is made of hydrophobic material and includes an oxygen filter on the exterior surface thereof.

Claim 54

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 42 in which said tubular heat exchanger comprises a flat wound coil and said flow path comprises a wall interiorly of and a wall exteriorly of said coil to constrain downwardly flowing blood foam to flow through said coil.

Claim 55

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 47 wherein the ends of said heat exchanger extend through said housing above the blood foaming level in said housing.

Claim 56

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 42 wherein said blood inlet passageway and said reservoir outlet means each comprises a downwardly directed connector for attachment to connective tubing extending between the oxygenator and a patient.

Claim 57

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 49 further comprising a length of generally flexible tubing attached to one of said connectors and hanging in a half loop to prevent escape of gas to a patient.

Claim 58

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 42, said flow path further comprising distributor means above said heat exchanger means for enhancing oxygen transfer to the venous blood and for distributing blood foam evenly to said heat exchanger means, said distributor means comprising a substantially flat, imperforate distributor plate to receive blood foam from said blood foaming means and a perforated distributor plate therebelow to receive blood foam flowing over the edge of said imperforate plate, said perforated plate having perforations disposed to distribute blood foam, therethrough substantially evenly to said heat exchanger means therebeneath.

Claim 59

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 51 wherein said imperforate and perforate distributor plates are substantially horizontal, said blood foaming means being adapted to direct the flow of blood foam onto said imperforate plate in a direction substantially parallel therewith to provide a spreading of the blood foam thereacross to enhance oxygen transfer.

Claim 60

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 52 wherein said imperforate plate is spaced from the top of said housing, said perforate plate is spaced from said imperforate plate and said heat exchanger is spaced from said perforate plate.

Claim 61

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing; means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; a horizontally disposed continuous tubular heat exchanger substantially spanning said flow path below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood foam as it moves along said flow path, the ends of said heat exchanger extending through said housing above the blood foaming level in said housing; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said head exchanger to receive blood foam from said heat exchanger and to separate liquid blood and gas thereby defoaming the blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood from said defoaming means.

Claim 62

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing; means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; a horizontally disposed continuous tubular heat exchanger substantially spanning said flow path below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood foam as it moves along said flow path, the ends of said heat exchanger extending through said housing above the blood foaming level in said housing; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said head exchanger to receive blood foam from said heat exchanger and to separate liquid blood and gas thereby defoaming the blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood from said defoaming means.

Claim 63

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing; means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, sad blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; a tubular heat exchanger carried in said flow path below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood foam as it moves along said flow path, said heat exchanger comprising a flat wound coil and said flow path comprising a wall interiorly of and a wall exteriorly of, said coil to constrain downwardly flowing blood foam to flow through said coil; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said heat exchanger to receive blood foam from said heat exchanger and to separate liquid blood and gas thereby defoaming the blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood from said defoaming means.

Claim 64

A blood oxygenator comprising: a substantially rigid housing; means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, sad blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; a tubular heat exchanger carried in said flow path below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to control the temperature of blood foam as it moves along said flow path, said heat exchanger comprising a flat wound coil and said flow path comprising a wall interiorly of and a wall exteriorly of, said coil to constrain downwardly flowing blood foam to flow through said coil; defoaming means carried in said flow path below said heat exchanger to receive blood foam from said heat exchanger and to separate liquid blood and gas thereby defoaming the blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood from said defoaming means.

Claim 65

A blood oxygenator comprising; a substantially rigid housing; means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; defoaming means carried in said flow path below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to gravitationally receive and separate blood foam into liquid blood and gas; a support plate carried within said housing and supporting said defoaming means, said plate having center opening means and being downwardly inclined toward said center opening means to direct liquid blood therethrough, and a generally tubular filter element depending from said support plate and communicating with said center opening means to receive and filter liquid blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood.

Claim 66

A blood oxygenator comprising; a substantially rigid housing; means defining an interior flow path between an upper portion of said housing and a lower portion of said housing; blood foaming means carried by said housing and comprising blood and oxygen inlet passageways for providing a flow of oxygen bubbles into venous blood to create a blood foam, said blood foaming means communicating with said flow path in said upper portion of said housing to direct the flow of blood foam thereinto; defoaming means carried in said flow path below the level at which blood foam communicates therewith to gravitationally receive and separate blood foam into liquid blood and gas; a support plate carried within said housing and supporting said defoaming means, said plate having center opening means and being downwardly inclined toward said center opening means to direct liquid blood therethrough, and a generally tubular filter element depending from said support plate and communicating with said center opening means to receive and filter liquid blood; and an arterial blood reservoir, including outlet means therefrom, defined in said lower portion of said housing and communicating with said flow path to collect liquid blood.

Claim 67

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 56, wherein at least a portion of said defoaming means is disposed within said tubular filter element.

Claim 68

An oxygenator in accordance with claim 56 wherein said support plate rests on an interior shoulder defined by a reduced diameter portion of said housing.