Importance

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Abstract

A combined cardiotomy and venous blood reservoir according to a preferred embodiment of the invention provides a separate in-flow path for both cardiotomy fluid and for venous blood, and includes a cardiotomy fluid filter element also serving as an initial de-foamer. The cardiotomy fluid is de-foamed, filtered, and again de-foamed. The venous blood is de-foamed, and then both fluids are combined for flow from the reservoir. The filter area provided for cardiotomy fluid is advantageously separated from the area of a final de-foamer element. Thus, both the cardiotomy fluid and venous blood may flow through this final de-foamer element simultaneously along separate flow paths. The reservoir design provides greater freedom in selecting adequate filter area for the cardiotomy fluid, while allowing the selection of effective de-foamer element areas in order to achieve acceptable flow rates for both cardiotomy fluid and for venous blood under various conditions of operation for the reservoir. An advantageous ratio of filter and de-foamer element areas to the volume of the reservoir results, with the reservoir requiring only an essential volume of fluid for processing. Also, venous blood and cardiotomy fluid flow inlets to the apparatus may be rotatable in plan view independently both of one another and of a housing of the reservoir.

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First Claim