Magnetic filter apparatus and method

Abstract

A hemofilter system. In one embodiment, the hemofilter system includes a container having a first surface, a second surface, and one or more wall surfaces, the first surface, the second surface and the one or more wall surfaces defining a volume; an input port in fluid communication with the first surface; an output port in fluid communication with the second surface; a filter bed comprising a plurality of planar magnetic meshes stacked in close juxtaposition and positioned within the container volume and coplanar with the first and second surfaces; a first magnet positioned on a first surface of the container; a second magnet positioned on the second surface of the container; a first input conduit in fluid communication with the input port; and a first output conduit in fluid communication with the output port. In another embodiment, the hemofilter system includes a pump in the input conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A device to connect a patient to a pump in an extracorporeal circuit comprising:
 a circuit input port having a first Luer-type connector for connecting to the patient;   a saline source connected to an input port of a valve through a first tube, the valve having an output port having a second Luer-type connector; and   a T-connector comprising:
 a first input port connected by a second tube to the first Luer-type connector of the circuit input port; 
 a second input port connected by a third tube to a third Luer-type connector for connection to the second Luer-type connector of the output port of the valve; and 
 an output port; 
   wherein the output port of the T-connector is connected to the pump by a fourth tube.