Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of oxygenating a patient's blood, comprising the steps of providing a device comprising a thermally conductive core centrally disposed within a housing and having a heat exchange surface, the device further comprising a plurality of gas permeable membranes and a plurality of blood flow passageways, the plurality of blood flow passageways positioned parallel to the heat exchange surface and defined by the heat exchange surface and the plurality of gas permeable membranes, each of the plurality of gas permeable membranes having a hollow lumen; passing a gas through the hollow lumens by the plurality of gas permeable membranes; and passing a patient's blood through the device by simultaneously exposing the blood to the heat exchange surface and the plurality of gas permeable membranes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of oxygenating a patient's blood, comprising the steps of providing a device comprising a thermally conductive core centrally disposed within a housing and having a heat exchange surface, the device further comprising a plurality of gas permeable membranes and a plurality of blood flow passageways, the plurality of blood flow passageways positioned parallel to the heat exchange surface and defined by the heat exchange surface and the plurality of gas permeable membranes, each of the plurality of gas permeable membranes having a hollow lumen; passing a gas through the hollow lumens by the plurality of gas permeable membranes; and passing a patient's blood through the device by simultaneously exposing the blood to the heat exchange surface and the plurality of gas permeable membranes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of passing a patient's blood includes the step of: directing the patient's blood through the plurality of blood flow passageways by simultaneously exposing the blood to the heat exchange surface and the plurality of gas permeable membranes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of passing a patient's blood includes the step of: collecting and returning the blood to the patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange surface comprises an inside surface and an outside surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of directing a heat exchange fluid against the inside surface of the heat exchange surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of blood flow passageways is defined by the plurality of gas permeable membranes and the outside surface of the heat exchange surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the step of passing a patient's blood includes the step of: directing the patient's blood through the plurality of blood flow passageways by simultaneously exposing the blood to the outside surface of the heat exchange surface and the plurality of gas permeable membranes.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of oxygenating a patient's blood, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a blood oxygenator comprising a housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet; a cylindrically shaped bellows mounted within the housing, the bellows having an outer wall with a plurality of pleats formed therefrom, with a plurality of blood receiving channels being defined between adjacently positioned pleats, and wherein the outer wall of the bellows defines a heat exchange surface; a plurality of gas permeable hollow fiber membranes positioned in each of the blood receiving channels, each of the hollow fiber membranes having a hollow lumen; and a plurality of circumferential blood flow paths defined between the outer wall of the bellows and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes; (b) directing blood from a patient into the blood inlet and into the plurality of blood flow paths; and (c) passing a gas through the hollow lumen of each hollow fiber membrane; (d) simultaneously exposing the blood to the outer wall of the bellows and the plurality of gas permeable membranes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of oxygenating a patient's blood, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a blood oxygenator comprising a housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet; a cylindrically shaped bellows mounted within the housing, the bellows having an outer wall with a plurality of pleats formed therefrom, with a plurality of blood receiving channels being defined between adjacently positioned pleats, and wherein the outer wall of the bellows defines a heat exchange surface; a plurality of gas permeable hollow fiber membranes positioned in each of the blood receiving channels, each of the hollow fiber membranes having a hollow lumen; and a plurality of circumferential blood flow paths defined between the outer wall of the bellows and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes; (b) directing blood from a patient into the blood inlet and into the plurality of blood flow paths; and (c) passing a gas through the hollow lumen of each hollow fiber membrane; (d) simultaneously exposing the blood to the outer wall of the bellows and the plurality of gas permeable membranes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: (e) upon substantially filling the plurality of blood flow paths, directing the blood through the hollow fiber membranes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: (f) collecting and returning oxygenated blood to the patient through the blood outlet.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of oxygenating a patient's blood, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a blood oxygenator comprising a housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet; a cylindrically shaped bellows mounted within the housing, the bellows having an outer wall with a plurality of pleats formed therefrom, with a plurality of blood receiving channels being defined between adjacently positioned pleats; a plurality of gas permeable hollow fiber membranes positioned in each of the blood receiving channels, each of the hollow fiber membranes having a hollow lumen; and a plurality of circumferential blood flow paths defined between the outer wall of the bellows and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes; (b) directing blood from a patient into the blood inlet and into the plurality of blood flow paths; (c) passing a gas through the hollow lumen of each hollow fiber membrane; (d) upon substantially filling the plurality of blood flow paths, directing the blood through the hollow fiber membranes; and (e) collecting and returning oxygenated blood to the patient through the blood outlet.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of oxygenating a patient's blood, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a blood oxygenator comprising a housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet; a cylindrically shaped bellows mounted within the housing, the bellows having an outer wall with a plurality of pleats formed therefrom, with a plurality of blood receiving channels being defined between adjacently positioned pleats; a plurality of gas permeable hollow fiber membranes positioned in each of the blood receiving channels, each of the hollow fiber membranes having a hollow lumen; and a plurality of circumferential blood flow paths defined between the outer wall of the bellows and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes; (b) directing blood from a patient into the blood inlet and into the plurality of blood flow paths; (c) passing a gas through the hollow lumen of each hollow fiber membrane; (d) upon substantially filling the plurality of blood flow paths, directing the blood through the hollow fiber membranes; and (e) collecting and returning oxygenated blood to the patient through the blood outlet.