Blood Treatment Dialyzer/Filter Design to Trap and Remove Entrained Gas

Abstract

A configuration of a blood microtubular filter/dializer used in many kinds of renal replacement therapy systems can provide highly a effective mechanism for removing air from the blood circuit of such systems. In embodiments, for example, the invention takes advantage of the slow flow rate that usually occurs where blood exits the microtubules into a header area of the filter to provide a settling area and, preferably, a air release mechanism.

1 . A blood treatment apparatus, comprising: 
 a blood dialyzer or hemofilter processing element including filter media into which blood comes in contact during use;    said processing element having a header chamber where multiple flows of blood combine;    said header chamber being at a position where blood exits a treatment portion of said blood purifier, said header chamber having at least one blood outlet and at least one auxiliary outlet;    a holder configured to support said dialyzer or hemofilter in a position and orientation such that air can accumulate in said header chamber in a position in said header space that is adjacent and in communication with said auxiliary outlet.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary outlet is remote from said blood outlet.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary outlet is opposite said blood outlet.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a valve connected to said auxiliary port and pre-connected and sterilized together with said blood purifier.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a multi-way stopcock valve connected to said auxiliary port and pre-connected and sterilized together with said blood purifier.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a multi-way stopcock valve connectable to said auxiliary port and a syringe connectable to said multi-way valve, said valve, syringe, and said blood purifier forming a kit.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a holder, said blood purifier having a longitudinal axis and said holder being configured to support said blood purifier with said longitudinal axis at an angle with respect to the vertical, as defined with respect to the force of gravity.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a gas release component connected to said auxiliary port and pre-connected and sterilized together with said blood purifier, said air release component being configured to permit gas to egress from said header space without permitting blood to egress from said header space.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein said air release component includes a hydrophobic membrane.  
     
     
         10 . A blood treatment apparatus, comprising: 
 a blood purifier including filter media into which blood comes in contact during use;    said processing element having a header chamber at a position where blood exits a portion of said blood purifier, said header chamber having at least one blood outlet and one auxiliary outlet remote from said at least one blood outlet;    said auxiliary outlet being configured to permit the removal of gas accumulated in said header chamber and addition and removal of medicament.    
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as in  claim 10 , further comprising a valve connected to said auxiliary port and pre-connected and sterilized together with said blood purifier.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as in  claim 10 , further comprising a multi-way valve connected to said auxiliary port and pre-connected and sterilized together with said blood purifier.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as in  claim 10 , further comprising a syringe connected to said auxiliary port.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as in  claim 10 , further comprising a holder configured to orient said blood purifier such that said at least one blood outlet is lower, with respect to a direction of gravity, than said auxiliary outlet.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as in  claim 10 , further comprising a gas release component connected to said auxiliary port and pre-connected and sterilized together with said blood purifier, said air release component being configured to permit gas to egress from said header space without permitting blood to egress from said header space.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein said air release component includes a hydrophobic membrane.  
     
     
         17 . A blood treatment apparatus, comprising: 
 a blood purifier including microtubular filter membranes in a bundle with one end of said bundle terminating in a first manifold at a lower end of said blood purifier and a second end of said bundle terminating in a second manifold, blood flowing in an upward direction through said filter media during use;    said purifier having first and second header chambers forming respective passages where flow divides and coalesces in said first and second manifolds, respectively;    said second header having an outlet where a coalesced flow from said second manifold flows out of said second header;    said purifier being of generally cylindrical construction with a longitudinal axis parallel to said microtubular membranes;    said second header having an auxiliary port having fitted with a gas release membrane to allow any gas bubbles in blood in said second header to flow out of the auxiliary port;    a holder configured to hold said purifier in a preferred orientation in which said longitudinal axis forms an angle with respect to a direction of gravitation force and with said auxiliary port at a highest point of said second header and said outlet being positioned remote from    said port, said highest point being determined with respect to said preferred orientation;    said holder and a body of said purifier having mechanical features that prevent engagement of said purifier in said holder unless said purifier is in said preferred orientation with respect to said holder, thereby ensuring said purifier is used in said preferred orientation;    said holder being fixedly mountable on a blood processing machine or some other base of reference in a fixed orientation.