Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
An apparatus for extracorporeal lung assist, comprising: catheter means for selectively drawing blood from a patient positioned at a pressure head; first valve means coupled to said catheter means for regulating the flow of blood received from said catheter means; blood pump means at said patient pressure head coupled to said first valve means for pumping blood received from said first valve means, said blood pump means including flexible blood reservoir means, positioned within an interior cavity thereof, said flexible blood reservoir means having a maximum expanded volume, said interior cavity further having a liquid for alternatively contracting and expanding said blood reservoir means in dependence on the volume of fluid provided to said blood pump means; second valve means coupled to said blood pump means for regulating the flow of blood received from said blood pump means; membrane artificial lung means coupled to receive blood from said second valve means for purifying said blood and selectively providing purified blood to said catheter means; third valve means responsive to external signals for regulating said fluid flow; flexible flow reservoir means coupled to receive fluid from said third valve means disposed at a pressure head less than said blood pump means, further having a maximum expanded volume approximately equal to said blood reservoir means maximum expanded volume for alternatively expanding and contracting in volume; sensor means responsive to said fluid reservoir volume for providing signals indicative of said fluid reservoir volume expansion and contraction; fluid pump means responsive to external signals for pumping fluid to said blood pump means; control means receiving said sensor signals for providing signals to said third valve means and said fluid pump means so as to control the flow of fluid such that when said fluid reservoir means is expanded, said blood is drawn into said blood reservoir means, and when said fluid is pumped to said blood pump means, said blood is discharged from said blood reservoir means without backflow.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
325 words
An apparatus for extracorporeal lung assist, comprising: catheter means for selectively drawing blood from a patient positioned at a pressure head; first valve means coupled to said catheter means for regulating the flow of blood received from said catheter means; blood pump means at said patient pressure head coupled to said first valve means for pumping blood received from said first valve means, said blood pump means including flexible blood reservoir means, positioned within an interior cavity thereof, said flexible blood reservoir means having a maximum expanded volume, said interior cavity further having a liquid for alternatively contracting and expanding said blood reservoir means in dependence on the volume of fluid provided to said blood pump means; second valve means coupled to said blood pump means for regulating the flow of blood received from said blood pump means; membrane artificial lung means coupled to receive blood from said second valve means for purifying said blood and selectively providing purified blood to said catheter means; third valve means responsive to external signals for regulating said fluid flow; flexible flow reservoir means coupled to receive fluid from said third valve means disposed at a pressure head less than said blood pump means, further having a maximum expanded volume approximately equal to said blood reservoir means maximum expanded volume for alternatively expanding and contracting in volume; sensor means responsive to said fluid reservoir volume for providing signals indicative of said fluid reservoir volume expansion and contraction; fluid pump means responsive to external signals for pumping fluid to said blood pump means; control means receiving said sensor signals for providing signals to said third valve means and said fluid pump means so as to control the flow of fluid such that when said fluid reservoir means is expanded, said blood is drawn into said blood reservoir means, and when said fluid is pumped to said blood pump means, said blood is discharged from said blood reservoir means without backflow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said catheter means comprises a first catheter for receiving blood from said patient and a second catheter for returning said purified blood thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising fourth valve means receiving said purified blood from said membrane artificial lung means for selectively providing said purified blood to said catheter means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third valves are responsive to signals from said control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second valve means comprise flow check valves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said membrane artificial lung means comprises a coil type artificial lung.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said membrane artificial lung means comprises a hollow fiber type artificial lung.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises two proximity switches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fourth valve means comprises a check valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fourth valve means is responsive to external signals from said control means.