Heart-lung Patents (Class 128/DIG3)
  • Patent number: 6135966
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for non-invasive diagnosis of cardiovascular and related disorders. The system establishes a correspondence between the dynamics of the wave contour of the arterial pressure pulse and the associated disease states. The system comprises an input module, a contour signal receiver, and a processing module. The input module utilizes a pressure transducer for taking a non-invasive measurement of the arterial pulse. The contour signal receiver amplifies, digitizes and normalizes the arterial pressure pulse signal. In the processing module, the normalized arterial pressure contour is subjected to wavelet analysis, which transforms the dynamics of the time series of arterial blood pressure contour into multi-resolution wavelet coefficients or signatures. The processing module includes a neural network which is trained to associate the diagnostic features of the transformed arterial pressure contour embedded in the coefficients with a disease condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Gary Kam-Yuen Ko
  • Patent number: 5820579
    Abstract: Pulsatile cardiopulmonary flow closely approximating a natural heartbeat is generated in a heart-lung machine by using a proportioning valve to partly convey blood in the machine's cardiopulmonary circuit to the arterial supply line, and to partly recycle that blood into the cardiopulmonary circuit upstream of the arterial pump. The relative proportions of conveying and recycling are varied in accordance with a waveform approximating the waveform of a human heartbeat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil D. Plotkin
  • Patent number: 5818131
    Abstract: A compressor (10; 100; 200; 300; 500) with a build-in reciprocating motor, comprises a cylindrical housing (20; 120; 210; 510) with two ends thereof fitted with two opposing electromagnets (30; 130; 230; 530), each has a circular inner pole (36; 136) and a coaxial annular outer pole (34; 134). A free piston (50; 150; 250; 560; 600) is disposed in the housing between the two electromagnets, dividing the interior of the housing into two chambers (I, II). The piston carries permanent magnet (40; 140, 145; 561; 610), providing inner and outer poles (44, 46; 141, 146) which have conical surface portions (43, 49; 141, 146) complementary with the corresponding poles (34, 36; 134, 136) of the electromagnets. Sliding pole pieces (630 and 660) can be used to increase the stroke length and reduce the piston's total weight. Valves (61, 63, 65; 161, 165) are fitted to form one-way flow passage connecting the inlet and the outlet of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: Wei-Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 5702358
    Abstract: A cardioplegia delivery device for providing variable ratio delivery of blood and cardioplegia solution to a patient. The device includes separate pumps for crystalloid and blood. A heat exchanger control circuit is provided which includes a heater and an ice bath for warming or cooling the cardioplegia fluid delivered to the patient. The heat exchanger control circuit includes a priming circuit which may be used to purge air bubbles from the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Sorin Biomedical Inc.
    Inventors: Leland Witherspoon, Gerald D. Buckberg, Paul Akopian
  • Patent number: 5653681
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for more accurate administration of a composition being infused into a body fluid having formed elements. The improved accuracy is due to a correction factor that corrects for the relative impermeability of the formed elements to the infused composition. In one embodiment, the infusion system is a cardioplegia system in which a controller receives information pertaining to the hematocrit and initial blood potassium concentration and adjusts blood flow rate and crystalloid (KCl) solution flow rate so as to obtain the desired resulting potassium concentration in the cardioplegia. The invention further includes an infusion system that comprises a controller which uses an equation that relates the correction factor to an index of formed elements in the body fluid, such as the hematocrit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: COBE Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce S. Ellingboe
  • Patent number: 5645531
    Abstract: A system and method for blood mixture fluid delivery to a patient includes fluid delivery conduits connected to the patient for delivering blood mixture fluid, a pump for controlled pumping of blood mixture fluid through the conduits to the patient, and an automatic control mechanism operatively connected to the pump for controlling the pump so that the blood mixture fluid is continuously delivered to the patient at a defined constant pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Quest Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Thompson, Martyn Abbott, Kenneth A. Jones
  • Patent number: 5612226
    Abstract: A gas/liquid contact method and apparatus, for example, for oxygenating blood using O.sub.2 and O.sub.3. A low pressure stream of oxygen is introduced into a chamber through a spray orifice while inducing blood into the oxygen stream in a first blood/oxygen contact zone. The blood is caused to issue from the spray orifice as a dispersed low-pressure spray of blood droplets and is directed against a dome-shaped film forming surface located within the chamber in the path of spray. The droplets impinge on the surface at relatively low velocity and form a film for providing a further oxygen/blood contact zone. The apparatus may be designed to operate on a one-pass or a recirculation basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: LifeTech Corporation
    Inventor: Michael R. Williams
  • Patent number: 5609571
    Abstract: A cardioplegia delivery device and method of use for delivering warm or cold cardioplegia fluid to the heart of a patient. The delivery device includes an air chamber having a housing with an integral pressure relief valve for diversion of cardioplegia fluid if the fluid pressure within the housing exceeds a predetermined pressure. The air chamber includes a membrane and one-way valve located near the top of the housing for removal of air from the cardioplegia fluid. The delivery device may include an integral heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of the cardioplegia fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Sorin Biomedical Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald D. Buckberg, Russell A. Heimstaedt, John M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5599173
    Abstract: A pump system is described which is particularly suited for use as a left ventricular assist device for internal use in humans. The pump system generally includes a pump having a deformable sac formed in a seamless piece of flexible resilient material having (i) a pair of opposite substantially planar walls and of substantially circular shape joined by an annular wall of substantially semicircular cross-section and (ii) inlet and outlet means. The inlet means have an asymmetric tapered section positioned to direct the inlet flow toward the annular wall of the sac to produce a smooth circular flow within the sac and minimize thrombus formation. A pair of pusher plates are disposed on opposite sides of the sac. Each of the pusher plates are engageable with a respective one of the planar walls of the sac for displacing at least one of the planar walls toward the other to deform the sac. The pump system also includes removable inlet and outlet conduit means with valve means for controlling inlet and outlet flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Baxter International, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Chen, Ronald A. Ness, John C. Woodard
  • Patent number: 5591404
    Abstract: A low priming volume integrated centrifugal pump and membrane oxygenator comprising a housing (10) containing a mass transfer bed (40) comprising gas permeable hollow membrane fibers (38) placed circumferentially in a ring around an impeller (30). The mass transfer bed (40) is formed by a multiple wrap of a fiber ribbon (42) comprising at least two layers of fibers (38) bonded in precise orientation with fibers in alternate layers positioned in line with the opening between fibers in the layers above and below. Adhesion means ensure precise orientation of the fibers (38). Priming volume is further reduced by a small impeller flow channel volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Wilfred Mathewson
  • Patent number: 5591399
    Abstract: A system which provides information necessary to diagnose a failure or malfunction of an oxygenator. The system provides information to differentiate oxygenator failure from other causes of hypoxemia (inadequate blood oxygen concentration). Such as malfunction of the ventilating circuit, or components of the ventilating circuit. This is accomplished by analyzing the oxygen concentration of the ventilating gas entering the oxygenator, the flow of the ventilating gas entering the oxygenator, and also the pressure in the ventilating gas circuit or the pressure of gas within the oxygenator. As a result the invention provides information to diagnose ventilating gas flow obstruction or a gas leak from an oxygenator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventors: Julian M. Goldman, Lyle Kirson
  • Patent number: 5573526
    Abstract: A soft shell reservoir bag is provided as a storage reservoir for blood in a bypass extracorporeal circuit during open heart surgery. The reservoir bag is constructed to allow for the easy venting of air and to prevent the accidental delivery of air to patient. Blood enters the reservoir through the inlet port, passes through the microscreen and exits through the outlet port to a pump which feeds an oxygenator. The shape of the bag and component disposition give the bag its main advantages. The inlet port is positioned above the outlet port which puts a larger volume above the outlet port which promotes mixing and no vortex. Also the shape above the outlet port gives the bag a low hold-up volume and lower resistance to keep the bag open. The shape also promotes low venous resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Minntech Corporation
    Inventor: Paul H. Hess
  • Patent number: 5573502
    Abstract: A display panel for use with a blood mixture fluid delivery system, which system has mechanisms for infusing blood mixture fluid to a patient and for controlling characteristics of the fluid delivery system. The display panel includes a visible schematic representation of a blood mixture fluid flow path through the fluid delivery system and visible displays of two or more of the controllable characteristics of the fluid delivery system, which visible displays are positioned along the schematic representation of the blood mixture fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Quest Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. LeCocq, Thomas C. Thompson, Kenneth A. Jones, Martyn Abbott, Albert M. Davis, Andrew P. Mattson
  • Patent number: 5511958
    Abstract: A pump system is described which is particularly suited for use as a left ventricular assist device for internal use in humans. The pump system generally includes a pump having a deformable sac formed in a seamless piece of flexible resilient material having (i) a pair of opposite substantially planar walls and of substantially circular shape joined by an annular wall of substantially semicircular cross-section and (ii) inlet and outlet means. The inlet means have an asymmetric tapered section positioned to direct the inlet flow toward the annular wall of the sac to produce a smooth circular flow within the sac and minimize thrombus formation. A pair of pusher plates are disposed on opposite sides of the sac. Each of the pusher plates are engageable with a respective one of the planar walls of the sac for displacing at least one of the planar walls toward the other to deform the sac. The pump system also includes removable inlet and outlet conduit means with valve means for controlling inlet and outlet flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Baxter International, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Chen, Ronald A. Ness, John C. Woodard
  • Patent number: 5501663
    Abstract: An intravenous fiber membrane oxygenator is disclosed in several embodiments wherein the fibers either run at a transverse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the oxygenator and/or are of a reduced length to optimize the gas transfer efficiency of the oxygenator. Various helical or spiral wraps of fibers are disclosed. One embodiment utilizes two sets of longitudinally extending fibers wherein the oxygen gas is moved in opposite directions from a central location of the oxygenator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Medtronic Electromedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Brack G. Hattler, Harvey S. Borovetz, Gary D. Reeder, Patricia J. Sawzik, Frank R. Walters
  • Patent number: 5487727
    Abstract: An intravascular membrane lung is adapted for percutaneous venous insertion into a living body and comprises an elongated multi lumen catheter and elongated gas exchange members in the form of a large number of microporous fibers tethered at one end to the catheter and extending away from the catheter in all directions. The microporous fibers are in communication with the lumina of the catheter which includes one conduit for delivery of 100% oxygen to the fibers and another conduit for flushing away carbon dioxide from the fibers. The catheter extends between a proximal end and a distal end being a leading end for insertion into the body. The distal end includes a selectively inflatable balloon having an enlarged size larger than a nominal transverse dimension of said catheter and smaller than the inner nominal dimensions of any of the body cavities into which it extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Michael T. Snider, Kane M. High, Georg Panol, James Ultman, Russell B. Richard, John K. Stene, Garfield B. Russell
  • Patent number: 5474740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for transferring constituents into and out of a fluid such as blood. The apparatus includes a biphasic foam body which functions as a blood oxygenator, blood dialyzer, or other blood mass transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventors: Leonard A. Trudell, Anthony D. Whittemore
  • Patent number: 5466216
    Abstract: An antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia valve, system and method are provided. The valve includes conduits for entry of blood and cardioplegic solution, for pressure sensing, and for delivery of blood and cardioplegic solution to the aortic root by means of an aortic root cannula for antegrade infusion or to the coronary sinus by means of a coronary sinus cannula for retrograde infusion. Within the valve a cylindrical sliding member slides axially within an inner cylindrical chamber for selection of retrograde or antegrade infusion. An independent conduit communicates with the coronary sinus cannula for continuous coronary sinus pressure monitoring. A method and system incorporating the valve are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Gish Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack W. Brown, Brian Strauss, George W. White
  • Patent number: 5411705
    Abstract: A reservoir for use in an extracorporeal blood circuit including a rigid shell forming an enclosed reservoir. A filter unit divides the reservoir into an inlet chamber and outlet chamber. Cardiotomy blood filtering and defoaming means and venous blood filtering and defoaming means are located within the inlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Avecor Cardiovascular Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Thor, Kevin D. McIntosh, Bruce R. Jones, Jeremy D. Dando
  • Patent number: 5395468
    Abstract: A mass transfer device and method of construction thereof. The mass transfer device may be an oxygenator having a fiber bundle comprised of hollow gas permeable fibers. The method of making the fiber bundle used in the mass transfer device includes winding one or more hollow fibers around a supporting core which includes first and second core sections. First and second outer casing sections are mounted adjacent the exterior of the hollow fibers. The hollow fibers are then cut longitudinally in two circumferentially spaced locations to form first and second fiber bundles located between the first and second core and outer casing sections. The method results in the simultaneous construction of first and second fiber bundles which are useable in separate mass transfer devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Rena S. Juliar, Jeanne S. Pierson
  • Patent number: 5385540
    Abstract: A cardioplegia system for delivering cardioplegic solution to the heart during open heart surgery in cooperation with an extracorporeal blood circuit employing a heart/lung machine, includes a conduit diverting a portion of the blood flow from the heart/lung machine to a cardioplegia delivery line. A heat exchanger for controlling fluid temperature is provided in the cardioplegia delivery line. A first pump combines the blood from the conduit with a second fluid and delivers the combined flow into the delivery line leading to the heat exchanger. A control panel is operatively connected for adjusting the ratio of blood and second fluid delivered by the first pump and for adjusting the total volumetric rate of flow from the first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Quest Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Martyn S. Abbott, Thomas C. Thompson, Kenneth A. Jones, Albert M. Davis, Andrew P. Mattson
  • Patent number: 5376069
    Abstract: An inflatable percutaneous oxygenator has an inflatable balloon suitable for insertion into a blood vessel. Oxygen is circulated through a number of gas-permeable passageways (such as hollow gas-permeable fibers) adjacent to the balloon surface to permit diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood vessel and the passageways. Pulsatile flow can be used to increase the rate of cross-diffusion of gases. A pump is used to alternately expand and contract the balloon. This causes movement of the passageways within the blood vessel to minimize streaming or channeling of the blood flow around the oxygenator, maximizes turbulence in the bloodstream, and therefore maximizes diffusion of gases. In one alternative embodiment, the balloon is made of a gas-permeable material and is inflated with oxygen to supplement cross-diffusion of gases with the bloodstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventor: Brack G. Hattler
  • Patent number: 5366696
    Abstract: An oxygenation apparatus for introducing a flow of oxygen gas molecules into a carrier liquid in a one-pass operation comprises a receiving chamber for receiving carrier liquid, a contacting chamber for allowing the oxygen gas molecules to thoroughly contact the carrier liquid, and a separating partition located between the receiving chamber and the contacting chamber so as to preclude the return of oxygenated carrier liquid from the contacting chamber to the receiving chamber. There is an inlet for introducing oxygen gas molecules at a pressure slightly above the ambient surrounding air pressure into the apparatus, which terminates in an end portion having a gas introduction orifice. The gas introduction orifice is located in fluid communication with the receiving chamber, and causes a jet of oxygen gas molecules to be emitted therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: 1077075 Ontario Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Williams
  • Patent number: 5316724
    Abstract: A membrane oxygenator designed to provide blood flow evenly across a gas permeable membrane in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gas permeable membrane. In particular, the present invention is directed to a membrane oxygenator wherein the blood is distributed substantially evenly and at a substantially constant velocity, in a cross-wise direction across the gas permeable membrane. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a bundle of gas permeable hollow fibers with the blood being distributed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the individual hollow fiber membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfred F. Mathewson, Richard L. Bringham, Philip L. Ritger, David Karshmer
  • Patent number: 5308314
    Abstract: An integrated heart-lung machine, which includes a blood pump having a casing of a cup-like shape interiorly defining a pump chamber at an intermediate portion thereof for pumping in and out blood from a blood inlet to a guide flange formed at opposite ends of the casing; a rotor having a rotary member securely fixed to the fore end thereof within the pump chamber and journalled in the guide flange; an artificial lung of a doughnut-like or cylindrical shape connected contiguously to a blood flow passage in the guide flange and concentrically with the rotor; a stator detachably fitted in an intermediate portion between the rotor and the artificial lung; and a pedestal base located at one side of the artificial lung and provided with a blood outlet in communication with the artificial lung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignees: Yasuhiro Fukui, Katsumi Takahashi
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Fukui, Akio Funakubo, Katsumi Takahashi, Hiroshi Sasagawa, Hikaru Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 5294401
    Abstract: A membrane type oxygenator for effecting exchange of gases with a porous gas-exchange membrane possessing minute through pores forming a path for gas, which membrane type oxygenator is characterized by the fact that minute particles are retained in the minute pores of the porous gas-exchange membrane to permit a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the path for gas and as blood anticoagulant is retained in the minute particles or between the minute particles, and it is manufactured assembling a membrane type oxygenator containing a porous gas-exchange membrane possessing minute through pores forming a path for gas, then causing a dispersion of minute particles to flow through the interior of the membrane type oxygenator thereby allowing the minute pores to retain the minute particles and permitting a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the path for gas, removing the dispersion remaining within the membrane type oxygenator, and further causing a liquid containing a blood anticoagulant to flow through th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 5277176
    Abstract: An extracorporeal lung assistance device having an oxygen-containing gas chamber positioned in such relationship to a gas exchange chamber that transfer of oxygen to blood and the withdrawal of carbon dioxide from blood disposed may be made. The gas exchange chamber has a blood flow channel extending through the gas exchanger defined by a microporous membrane forming a wall separating the blood flow channel from an oxygen, carbon dioxide exchange media. A second membrane supported in spaced-apart relationship from said first membrane. The space between the membranes is filled with the oxygen carbon dioxide exchange media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventors: Nader M. Habashi, Howard N. Reynolds, Ulf R. Borg
  • Patent number: 5270005
    Abstract: An extracorporeal blood oxygenation system comprising an integral blood processing unit having a blood reservoir/oxygenator/heat exchanger/pump and pump motor and a remote control console connectable to the integral blood processing unit by way of non-blood containing connections such as electrical cable or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventor: Donald A. Raible
  • Patent number: 5270004
    Abstract: A compact, cylindrical integrated blood heater/oxygenator in which the blood flows transversely to the axial direction of hollow heat exchange and oxygenation fibers. Blood enters a longitudinally extending central chamber of the blood heater/oxygenator, and moves radially through annular hollow heat exchange and oxygenation fiber bundles in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the device and generally transverse to the axial direction of the fibers. The blood proceeds toward the outer wall of the oxygenator where the temperature is adjusted and oxygenated blood is collected and passed out of the oxygenator through an exit port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Minntech Corporation
    Inventors: Louis C. Cosentino, Jeffrey A. Lee, Daniel A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5254080
    Abstract: A connection system for facilitating connections with an apparatus for handling medical fluids, such as blood, to adapt the apparatus for one or more particular uses. The system includes one or more connector blocks having an access opening and at least one connection device, such as a fitting for mounting medical grade tubing, in fluid communication with the access opening, and a seal tray for slidably mounting a connector block and initialy sealing the access opening in the connector block. A track and a part are provided on the apparatus, with the track being adapted to slidably mount the connector block on the apparatus such that the access opening of the block can be moved into and out of alignment with the port. The seal tray and the track are so configured that the seal tray can be aligned with the track to allow the connector block to be moved at least partially off of the sealing tray onto the track, thereby to bring the connector block's access openings into alignment with the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Erin J. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 5240677
    Abstract: A hollow fiber blood oxygenator is provided having a plurality of enclosed, coaxial heat exchanger coils, having a common header to insure uniform temperature in the coils. An enclosed fiber bundle is concentrically positioned inside the heat exchanger coils to define a flow path around the coils and through the fiber bundle. The heat exchanger coils and the outside of the fiber bundle are tapered to provide a close fit. Gas manifolds direct gas flow to and from the hollow fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Shiley, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Jones, Francis M. Servas, Timothy C. Ryan, Gregory G. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 5236665
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid treatment apparatus for the transfer of mass or energy through the membrane is disclosed. It is designed particularly, but not only, for use in membrane oxygenators. Hollow fiber membranes extend substantially longitudinally, first inert fibers are spaced between them and also extend substantially longitudinally. Second inert fibers extend generally transverse to the hollow fibers and generally contiguous therewith, so that a first fluid (preferably an oxygen-containing gas) can pass through the hollow fibers and a second fluid (preferably blood) can be passed over their exterior for mass or energy transfer through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfred F. Mathewson, Philip L. Ritger
  • Patent number: 5234663
    Abstract: A hollow fiber blood oxygenator is provided having a plurality of enclosed, coaxial heat exchanger coils, having a common header to insure uniform temperature in the coils. An enclosed fiber bundle is concentrically positioned inside the heat exchanger coils to define a flow path around the coils and through the fiber bundle. The heat exchanger coils and the outside of the fiber bundle are tapered to provide a close fit. Gas manifolds direct gas flow to and from the hollow fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Shiley, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Jones, Francis M. Servas, Timothy C. Ryan, Gregory G. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 5225161
    Abstract: A device including an integrally formed membrane oxygenator and heat exchange device positioned in a single housing. The device includes a thermally conductive body formed with a plurality of blood pathways on its surface, and a gas permeable membrane, or membranes positioned in the housing in substantial contact with the heat exchange body to cover or lie within a portion of each of the pathways. The membrane defines a gas pathway separate from the blood pathway through which a gas is directed. The blood is directed through the individual blood pathways. The device also includes various ports and passageways for delivering the blood to the individual channels, and for collecting and removing the blood from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfred F. Mathewson, Richard L. Bringham, Philip L. Ritger, David L. Karshmer
  • Patent number: 5219326
    Abstract: An inflatable percutaneous oxygenator has an inflatable balloon suitable for insertion into a blood vessel. Oxygen is circulated through a number of gas-permeable passageways (such as hollow gas-permeable fibers) adjacent to the balloon surface to permit diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood vessel and the passageways. Pulsatile flow can be used to increase the rate of cross-diffusion of gases. A pump is used to alternately expand and contract the balloon. This causes movement of the passageways within the blood vessel to minimize streaming or channeling of the blood flow around the oxygenator, maximizes turbulence in the blood stream, and therefore maximizes diffusion of gases. In one alternative embodiment, the balloon is made of a gas-permeable material and is inflated with oxygen to supplement cross-diffusion of gases with the bloodstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Brack G. Hattler
  • Patent number: 5217689
    Abstract: A blood oxygenation system includes an oxygenator for oxygenating blood and a heat exchanger for regulating blood temperature. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchange coil that provides a flow path for a heat exchange media, the heat exchange coil is configured to define a heat exchange zone, and the oxygenator is disposed in heat transfer relationship with the heat exchange zone in order to transfer heat between the heat exchange coil and the oxygenator. The heat exchange coil may at least partially circumscribe the oxygenator and, preferably, be helically shaped and disposed coaxially over a membrane oxygenator. In one embodiment, single or multiple hollow fiber strands are wound onto a small diameter center core so that the fiber segments provide spiralling helical blood-flow pathways which increase oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange by secondary flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventor: Donald A. Raible
  • Patent number: 5196166
    Abstract: A blood reservoir has a blood storage section for temporarily storing blood, a blood discharge port defined in a bottom of the blood storage section for discharging the blood, the blood discharge port being displaced from a central portion of the blood storage section, and at least one partition disposed substantially vertically in the blood storage section for suppressing resonant suppression of a surface level of the stored blood upon pulsative blood discharge from the blood storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiro Katsura
  • Patent number: 5192499
    Abstract: The fluid processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet; a fluid processing tubular means received in the housing; partitions securing the opposed ends of the fluid processing tubular means to the housing in a fluid tight seal to partition the housing interior into a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet and a second fluid chamber defined in the fluid processing tubular means; a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber; and projections formed on an inner surface of one end portion of the housing so as to project toward the nearer end opening of the housing, said partition of the one end portion side of said housing being secured to the one end portion of the housing so that the projections are positioned within the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Sakai, Kiyohide Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5192439
    Abstract: A blood collection reservoir and filter device includes a generally cylindrical housing and an internal filter medium with the filter medium being retained in spaced relationship from the side wall of the housing so that blood can pass through the filter in a non-traumatized manner and flow smoothly onto a dispersion plate for cascading delivery to the internal surface of the side wall of the housing where it can flow in a non-traumatic manner to an outlet in the bottom wall of the housing. The filter medium includes a defoaming filter layer and a particulate filter layer so that blood removed from a surgical wound can be defoamed and filtered within the device. The filter is elevated within the housing to provide a relatively large temporary storage area where blood can be retained in non-contact with the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Electromedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Roth, William D. Zillmann
  • Patent number: 5188801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blood-treatment device including hollow fibers which are suitable for conveying a fluid and are in a plurality of superposed layers arranged in directions which are offset from layer to layer so as to create a uniform flow of blood from an inlet chamber adjacent one end layer of the plurality of superposed layers to an outlet chamber adjacent the other end layer, the blood passing through the layers in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and bathing the external surfaces of the hollow fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Cortek S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Fini
  • Patent number: 5167921
    Abstract: A defoaming device for separating foam and bubbles from a liquid, such as blood, is disclosed. The device can be used in conjunction with a medical device, such as a membrane oxygenator, for separating air from blood while minimizing blood contact with the antifoam agent used in the device. In a first embodiment, the device includes a reservoir and a filtering material that does not contain any antifoaming agent. This filtering material is positioned in a lower portion of the reservoir to separate foam and bubbles from the liquid. An element containing an antifoaming agent is positioned in the reservoir above the maximum surface fluid level therein and receives the foam and bubbles that rise from the filtering material. Contact of the liquid with the antifoaming agent is substantially avoided. In a second embodiment, an element containing an antifoaming agent is positioned in the reservoir within the fluid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventor: Lucas S. Gordon
  • Patent number: 5162101
    Abstract: A device (10) having a blood oxygenator (12) and heat exchanger (14) of the outside perfusion type. The blood oxygenator (12) employs a tightly packed, crisscrossing bundle of gas permeable hollow fibers (50). The heat exchanger (14) employs a bundle of polyurethane, liquid impermeable hollow tubes (96). A center divider (16) facilitates two separate compartments (30, 40) and allows control over pack densities within each compartment while allowing blood to move in a planar manner throught out the device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Minntech Corporation
    Inventors: Louis C. Cosentino, Daniel T. Pigott, David T. Kesler, Jeffrey A. Lee
  • Patent number: 5162102
    Abstract: A medical instrument having a blood contact portion formed of a hydrophobic material, wherein a surface-active agent safe to a human body is deposited onto part or the entirety of the blood contact portion so that the medical instrument is fully primed by introducing liquid into the instrument without leaving fine bubbles adhered to the surface of the blood contact portion. Further, a method for fabricating a medical instrument is provided, comprising steps of assembling a medical instrument having a blood contact portion formed of a hydrophobic material, and contacting a liquid containing a surface-active agent safe to a human body to the blood contact portion, followed by drying, leaving the surface-active agent deposited onto the surface of the blood contact portion so that the surface-active agent is steadily and readily deposited onto the blood contact portion of hydrophobic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Nogawa, Osamu Nomura
  • Patent number: 5158539
    Abstract: A method and device for protecting the circulatory system of a patient from incurring injury from inadvertent passage of air into the aorta when elevated with respect to and supported by a heart-lung machine and associated nonocclusive pump. This device and method provides positioning a valve means having unidirectional flow properties within the extracorporeal blood line connecting the heart-lung machine and patient. The valve is configured to offer nominal resistance against blood being returned to the patient, while blocking blood flow from the patient to the heart-lung machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventors: Jacob Kolff, David Wurzel
  • Patent number: 5152964
    Abstract: A membrane blood oxygenator having a mechanism for automatically maintaining the total pressure of the oxygenating gas near yet below that of the blood across the membrane is described. This includes a valve for restricting the flow of oxygenating gas exiting the oxygenator with the pressure of the blood exiting the oxygenator. A tubing communicates the pressure of the exiting blood to the valve to activate the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Ronald J. Leonard
  • Patent number: 5149318
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling a patient's blood during a medical procedure which is convertible for use after the procedure for at least one further use. The apparatus comprises a reservoir having a port comprising at least one opening. A primary device, alignable with the port for adapting the reservoir for use during the procedure. The apparatus further comprises one or more secondary devices each alignable with the port means for adapting the reservoir for one or more further uses after the procedure. The primary device and the secondary devices are slidably mounted on the apparatus between tracks, with the primary device initially aligned with the port to allow the reservoir to be used during the medical procedure. The tracks allow the primary device to be moved out of alignment with the port and allow at least one of the secondary devices to be moved into alignment with the port so that the reservoir can be used after the medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Erin J. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 5139741
    Abstract: A housing accommodates a hollow fiber bundle such that a blood port zone is defined between an open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle and an inner wall surface of the housing. The blood port zone includes an increased distance space, which is formed annularly along an edge portion of the open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle and communicates with the blood port, and a small distance space, which communicates with the blood port and has an end wall surface substantially parallel to V, and at a small distance from V, the open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle. A movable member, such as a flexible membrane facing the end surface of the hollow fiber bundle, is provided for varying the volume of the blood port zone. A restriction is provided for restricting the movement of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 5137531
    Abstract: A device having a blood oxygenator and heat exchanger of the outside perfusion type. The blood oxygenator employs a tightly packed, crisscrossing bundle of gas permeable hollow fibers. The heat exchanger employs a bundle of polyurethane, liquid impermeable hollow tubes. A center divider facilitates two separate compartments and allows control over pack densities within each compartment while allowing blood to move in a planar manner throughout the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Minntech Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Lee, Louis C. Cosentino, Perry L. Blackshear, Daniel A. Baker
  • Patent number: H1324
    Abstract: A system for controlling and monitoring the extracorporeal circulation of fluids, which is particularly useful in controlling and monitoring the circulation of blood and cardioplegia solution in surgical procedures. A set of perfusion assemblies are mounted in a transportable console, each perfusion assembly having a separable pump and control module pod. Virtually all the instrumentation for the monitoring and controlling of the pump and the fluid being pumped by that perfusion assembly are present on the pump and control module pod for that perfusion assembly, without the need for any separate control screen. Further, the perfusion assembly uses removable circuit cards and associated instrumentation strips to custom configure the perfusion assembly for each application. The perfusion assembly thereby provides complete information at a glance and complete control of the perfusion assembly by using dedicated controls that are grouped to each perfusion assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: COBE Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Dalke, Gary A. Gruszecki, Bruce Ellingboe
  • Patent number: RE36386
    Abstract: A cardioplegia system for delivering cardioplegic solution to the heart during open heart surgery in cooperation with an extracorporeal blood circuit employing a heart/lung machine, includes a conduit diverting a portion of the blood flow from the heart/lung machine to a cardioplegia delivery line. A heat exchanger for controlling fluid temperature is provided in the cardioplegia delivery line. A flat pump combines the blood from the conduit with a second fluid and delivery the combined flow into the delivery line leading to the heat exchanger. A control panel is operatively connected for adjusting the ratio of blood and second fluid delivered by the first pump and for adjusting the total volumetric rate of flow from the first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Quest Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Martyn S. Abbott, Thomas C. Thompson, Kenneth A. Jones, Albert M. Davis, Andrew P. Mattson