Priming system

Abstract

A device ( 100 ) such as a drip chamber that can be filled to a predetermined level is disclosed. The device comprises a housing ( 14 ) and a porous medium ( 10 ), wherein the porous medium allows gas to pass therethrough.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A device for transferring fluid comprising: 
 a housing suitable for holding gas and a liquid, the housing providing a gas flow path; and    a vent comprising a porous medium that allows gas but not liquid in the housing to pass through the medium and from the housing until the medium is contacted by the liquid and gas flow stops, the porous medium including a liquophilic element and a liquophobic element, the device allowing a desired amount of liquid to held in the housing wherein the amount is less than the total liquid capacity of the housing.    
     
     
         2 . A drip chamber comprising: 
 a housing including a porous medium that allows liquid to fill the housing to a predetermined level without completely filling the housing with liquid;    the porous medium allowing gas to pass from the housing exteriorly to the device until the porous medium is contacted by the liquid, the porous medium including a liquophilic element and a liquophobic element.    
     
     
         3 . A method for transferring fluid comprising: 
 passing a fluid into a device comprising a housing including a fluid reservoir for gas and liquid; and a vent communicating with the housing, said vent comprising a liquophilic element and a liquophobic element;    passing liquid into the housing and passing gas through the porous medium until the liquid contacts the porous medium and the housing holds a desired amount of liquid that is less than the total liquid capacity of the housing.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising passing a biological fluid through the device.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising passing a non-biological fluid through the device.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising passing first and second fluids through the device, wherein the first fluid comprises the non-biological fluid, and the second fluid comprises a biological fluid.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of concentric channels along the gas flow path, said vent and said housing being cooperatively arranged to allow gas to pass along the plurality of concentric channels and from the housing.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of radial channels along the gas flow path, said vent and said housing being cooperatively arranged to allow gas to pass along the plurality of radial channels, and from the housing.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of concentric channels and a plurality of radial channels along the gas flow path, said vent and said housing being cooperatively arranged to allow gas to pass along the plurality of concentric channels and the plurality of radial channels, and from the housing.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the porous medium has a bacterial blocking pore structure.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the porous medium has a bacterial blocking pore structure.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a port through which gas passes from the housing exteriorly to the device, the device further comprising a removable cap engageable with the housing for covering the port.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a port through which gas passes from the housing exteriorly to the device, the device further comprising a removable cap engageable with the housing for covering the port.  
     
     
         14 . The drip chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the porous medium has a bacterial blocking pore structure.  
     
     
         15 . The drip chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a port through which gas passes from the housing exteriorly to the device, the drip chamber further comprising a removable cap engageable with the housing for covering the port.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the device is not inverted while passing the fluid into the device.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the device housing is not compressed before passing the fluid into the device.