Rigidly mounted bubble-type blood oxygenator having flexible flow channels

Claim 2

IN A BUBBLE-TYPE BLOOD OXYGENATOR WHICH COMPRISES: A FLEXIBLE ENVELOPE HAVING SEALED PORTIONS DEFINING IN SAID ENVELOPE A FLOW PASSAGE WITH A BLOOD OXYGENATING PORTION AND A BLOOD DEFOAMING PORTION, AND WHICH HAS MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A STREAM OF BLOOD AND A STREAM OF OXYGEN BUBBLE INTO ONE END OF SAID FLOW PASSAGE, AND MEANS FOR REMOVING BLOOD FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID FLOW PASSAGE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: RIGID BACKING MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH AND CARRYING AND MAINTAINING SAID ENVELOPE IN FLAT, STRETCHED-OUT

Claim 3

The oxygenator of claim 1 in which said rigid backing means is sealed within a second envelope defined by one side of said flexible envelope and a flexible backing sheet, said flexible envelope and backing sheet being joined together by a peripheral seal to tightly enclose said rigid backing means, whereby said flexible envelope is stretched out along said rigid backing.

Claim 4

The oxygenator of claim 2 in which said rigid backing means is disposed adjacent said blood defoaming portion of the flexible envelope, but said blood oxygenating portion is laterally spaced from said rigid backing means.

Claim 5

The oxygenator of claim 3 in which means defining a fluid pressurizable flexible member are positioned along said blood oxygenating portion to adjust and control the cross sectional area of the oxygenating portion.

Claim 6

The oxygenator of claim 4 in which said blood defoaming portion comprises an upstream part containing defoaming sponge means, and a second part comprising a tortuous passage for final gas bubble removal from the blood, said rigid backing means defining an aperture adjacent said upstream part to permit increased distension of said flow passage at said upstream part, to provide space for said defoaming sponge means, and allow observation of the defoaming process from both the front and the back of the oxygenator.

Claim 7

The oxygenator of claim 5 in which said rigid backing means comprises a pair of rigid sheets lying against each other, each sheet comprising a pair of facing sheets separated by a plurality of parallel reinforcing members, the reinforcing members of each said rigid sheet defining an angle to the reinforcing members of the other rigid sheet of said pair, whereby said rigid backing means exhibits increased resistance to bending.

Claim 8

In a bubble-type blood oxygenator which comprises: a flexible envelope having sealed portions defining in said envelope a flow passage with a blood oxygenating portion and a blood defoaming portion, and which has means for introducing a stream of blood and a stream of oxygen bubbles into one end of said flow passage, and means for removing blood from the other end of said flow passage, the improvement comprising: a tubular blood sampling line communicating at one end with said defoaming portion below the level of blood in said defoaming portion in normal use and at its other end with an area which is vertically spaced above said blood level in normal use, said area being sealed from the exterior by removable seal means for maintaining a sterile environment about said other end, and a rigid backing means operatively associated with and carrying and maintaining said envelope in flat, stretched-out configuration, whereby said flow passage, when filled with blood and oxygen, exhibits reduced outward distension and sagging.

Claim 9

In a bubble-type blood oxygenator which comprises: a flexible envelope having sealed portions defining in said envelope a flow passage with a blood oxygenating portion and a blood defoaming portion, and which has means for introducing a stream of blood and a stream of oxygen bubbles into one end of said flow passage, and means for removing blood from the other end of said flow passage, the improvement comprising: a tubular blood sampling line communicating at one end with said defoaming portion below the level of blood in said defoaming portion in normal use and at its other end with an area which is vertically spaced above said blood level in normal use, said area being sealed from the exterior by removable seal means for maintaining a sterile environment about said other end, and a rigid backing means operatively associated with and carrying and maintaining said envelope in flat, stretched-out configuration, whereby said flow passage, when filled with blood and oxygen, exhibits reduced outward distension and sagging.

Claim 10

The oxygenator of claim 7 in which said rigid backing means is sealed within a second envelope defined by one side of said flexible envelope and a flexible backing sheet, said flexible envelope and backing sheet being joined together by a peripheral seal to tightly enclosed said rigid backing means whereby said flexible envelope is stretched out along said rigid backing means.

Claim 11

The oxygenator of claim 8 in which said rigid backing is disposed adjacent said blood defoaming portion of the flexible envelope, but said blood oxygenating portion is laterally spaced from said backing.