Methods of use of a blood filter having a sensor for active gas removal

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for removing gas from a blood handling system. A filter apparatus for monitoring and removing gas is provided comprising of a gas removal/blood filter, a sensor to sense the presence of gas, and a valve operably coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the apparatus when the sensor detects an accumulation of gas. When used with a previously known blood handling system, the present filter apparatus facilitates priming and the addition of additional blood handling elements during operation of the blood handling system.

1 - 20 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method of priming a blood handling system, comprising: 
 providing a filter having a sensor that detects the presence of gas, the sensor operably coupled to a valve that opens when gas is detected by the sensor to permit removal of the gas;    coupling the filter to the blood handling system;    providing a controller that regulates operation of the valve;    priming the blood handling system with a priming solution to remove air from the blood handling system by activating the filter;    connecting an arterial line to a patient using a cannula;    actuating the controller to draw blood from the patient into the blood handling system and displace the priming solution while evacuating air entering the blood handling system; and    connecting a venous line to the patient using a cannula;    returning blood to the patient from the blood handling system substantially free of the priming solution.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a suction source is coupled to the valve, the method further comprising aspirating gas from the filter when the valve is open.  
     
     
         23 . A method of adding an additional blood processing element to a blood handling system during operation, comprising: 
 providing a filter having a blood inlet and a sensor that detects the presence of gas, the sensor operably coupled to a valve that opens when gas is detected by the sensor to permit removal of the gas;    coupling an additional blood processing element to the filter; and    removing air from the additional blood processing element by activating the filter.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the coupling step comprises coupling the additional blood processing element to the blood inlet of the filter.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the valve comprises a solenoid-controlled one-way valve.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein removing air comprises clamping the venous line to isolate a location for the additional blood processing element.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein removing air further comprises unclamping the venous line to remove air present in the additional blood processing element using the filter.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the filter comprises a cylindrical tube of filter material having an effective pore size between 20 to 250 microns.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the cylindrical tube further comprises a central opening through an upper surface that communicates with an upper portion of a gas collection plenum.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising recirculating blood through the central opening from an interior of the cylindrical tube to an exterior of the pleated structure.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the filter comprises a pleated structure.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the pleated structure further comprises a chamber having a central opening through an upper surface that communicates with an upper portion of a gas collection plenum.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising recirculating blood through the central opening from an interior of the pleated structure to an exterior of the pleated structure.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising locating the filter on a venous side of the blood handling system ahead of a blood processing unit.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the valve comprises a solenoid-controlled one-way valve.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the filter comprises a cylindrical tube of filter material having an effective pore size between 20 to 250 microns.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the cylindrical tube further comprises a central opening through an upper surface that communicates with an upper portion of a gas collection plenum.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising recirculating blood through the central opening from an interior of the cylindrical tube to an exterior of the pleated structure.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the filter apparatus comprises a pleated structure.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the pleated structure further comprises a chamber having a central opening through an upper surface that communicates with an upper portion of a gas collection plenum.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising recirculating blood through the central opening from an interior of the pleated structure to an exterior of the pleated structure.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising locating the filter on a venous side of the blood handling system ahead of a blood processing unit.