US5830185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Position-independent fluid trap
Assignee: Instrumentarium Oyj
•
Filing: 1995-10-12
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Granted: 1998-11-03
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Expires: 2015-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A position-independent fluid trap for separating at least a portion of a first fluid of a first density entrained within a flow stream of a second fluid of a second density flowing through a fluid circuit. The trap is connectable within the fluid circuit to a first length of tubing defining an inlet line and to a second length of tubing defining an outlet line, and includes a housing enclosing an interior chamber having a geometric extent of a given volumetric capacity. An inlet port is provided to open in fluid communication with the interior chamber and to be couplable to the inlet line. An outlet tube is provided to extend from a proximal end couplable to the outlet line to a distal end disposed within the housing and opening in fluid communication with the interior chamber. Within the interior chamber, the first and second fluid are separated at an interface into a first and second fluid component according to the relative densities thereof. The outlet line distal end is disposed within the chamber effective to define with respect to the interface a predetermined fill volume of the second fluid maintaining the outlet line distal end within the second fluid component. This fill volume is substantially independent of the orientation of the trap within the fluid circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank E. Block, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/36; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3627; A61M16/00; A61M16/08; A61M16/0808; A61M16/0816; A61M16/0833; A61M16/0841; A61M16/085; A61M1/3623; A61M2230/00; A61M2230/40; A61M2230/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A fluid trap for separating at least a portion of a first fluid of a first density entrained within a flow stream of a second fluid stream of a second density flowing through a fluid circuit, said trap being connectable within a fluid circuit and including a first conduit defining an inlet line of said trap and to a second conduit defining an outlet line of said trap and comprising: a housing enclosing an interior chamber having a geometric extent of a given volumetric capacity; an inlet port opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber and couplable to said inlet line; and an outlet tube extending from a proximal end couplable to said outlet line to a distal end disposed within said housing and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber, first and second fluids being separated at an interface within said interior chamber into a first and a second fluid component according to their relative densities, and said outlet tube distal end being disposed within said interior chamber effective to define with respect to said interface a predetermined fill volume of a second fluid maintaining said outlet tube distal end within a second fluid component, said predetermined fill volume being substantially independent of the orientation of said fluid trap within a fluid circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A fluid trap for separating at least a portion of a first fluid of a first density entrained within a flow stream of a second fluid stream of a second density flowing through a fluid circuit, said trap being connectable within a fluid circuit and including a first conduit defining an inlet line of said trap and to a second conduit defining an outlet line of said trap and comprising: a housing enclosing an interior chamber having a geometric extent of a given volumetric capacity; an inlet port opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber and couplable to said inlet line; and an outlet tube extending from a proximal end couplable to said outlet line to a distal end disposed within said housing and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber, first and second fluids being separated at an interface within said interior chamber into a first and a second fluid component according to their relative densities, and said outlet tube distal end being disposed within said interior chamber effective to define with respect to said interface a predetermined fill volume of a second fluid maintaining said outlet tube distal end within a second fluid component, said predetermined fill volume being substantially independent of the orientation of said fluid trap within a fluid circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 wherein said predetermined fill volume is greater than about one half of said volumetric capacity of said interior chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 wherein said geometric extent of said interior chamber is defined as being symmetrical about a pair of orthogonal central axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fluid trap of claim 3 wherein said outlet tube extends within said interior chamber coaxially with one of said central axes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fluid trap of claim 4 wherein said outlet tube distal end is disposed generally centrally within said interior chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 further comprising an inlet tube extending generally parallel to said outlet tube from a first end couplable to said inlet line, to a second end disposed within said housing past said outlet tube distal end and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber to define said inlet port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 wherein said interior chamber has a generally spherical geometric extent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 further comprising at least one aspiration port openable in fluid communication with said interior chamber for removing a first fluid therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 wherein said inlet line extends from said inlet port of said fluid trap into fluid communication with a heat exchanger, and said outlet line extends from said outlet tube into intravenous fluid communication with a patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 wherein said inlet line extends from said inlet port of said fluid trap into tracheal fluid communication with a patient, and said outlet line extends into fluid communication with a ventilator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 wherein said interior chamber has a volumetric capacity of about from about 25 cm 3 to about 50 cm 3 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 further comprising an inlet tube extending from a first end couplable to said inlet line to a second end disposed within said housing and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber to define said inlet port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fluid trap of claim 12 wherein said second end of said inlet tube is coupled to said distal end of said outlet tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 wherein: said inlet line extends from said inlet port of said fluid trap into tracheal fluid communication with a patient; said outlet line extends into fluid communication with a ventilator; further comprising: an inlet tube extending from a first end couplable to said inlet line, to a second end disposed within said housing past said outlet tube distal end and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber to define said inlet port; an aspiration port mounted upon said housing and including a passageway extending from an access port located externally of said housing to an outlet positioned in confronting relationship with said outlet tube distal end, said passageway having a cross-sectional extent effective for slideably receiving a suction catheter, and including an obturator removably positionable within said passageway for blocking it.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fluid trap of claim 14 in which said aspiration port is configured at said passageway outlet as a deflector effective to laterally deflect patient generated fluids exiting said inlet tube second end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The fluid trap of claim 1 further comprising an inlet tube extending generally parallel to and in adjacency with said outlet tube from a first end couplable to said inlet line, to a second end within said housing conterminus with said outlet tube distal end and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber to define said inlet port.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
247 words
A method within a fluid circuit for separating at least a portion of a first fluid of a first density entrained within a flow stream of a second fluid of a second density comprising the steps of: (a) providing a fluid trap connected within a fluid circuit to a first conduit defining an inlet line of said trap and to a second conduit defining an outlet line of said trap, said trap comprising: a housing enclosing an interior chamber having a geometric extent of a given volumetric capacity; an inlet port opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber and couplable to said inlet line; and an outlet tube extending from a proximal end coupled to said outlet line to a distal end disposed within said housing and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber, a first and a second fluid being separated at an interface within said interior chamber into a first and a second fluid component according to their relative densities, and said outlet line distal end being disposed within said interior chamber effective to define with respect to said interface a predetermined fill volume of said second fluid maintaining said outlet line distal end within a second fluid component, said fill volume being substantially independent of the orientation of said fluid trap within said fluid circuit; and (b) flowing a second fluid stream through such as fluid circuit to accumulate at least a portion of a first fluid entrained therein within said trap.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
247 words
A method within a fluid circuit for separating at least a portion of a first fluid of a first density entrained within a flow stream of a second fluid of a second density comprising the steps of: (a) providing a fluid trap connected within a fluid circuit to a first conduit defining an inlet line of said trap and to a second conduit defining an outlet line of said trap, said trap comprising: a housing enclosing an interior chamber having a geometric extent of a given volumetric capacity; an inlet port opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber and couplable to said inlet line; and an outlet tube extending from a proximal end coupled to said outlet line to a distal end disposed within said housing and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber, a first and a second fluid being separated at an interface within said interior chamber into a first and a second fluid component according to their relative densities, and said outlet line distal end being disposed within said interior chamber effective to define with respect to said interface a predetermined fill volume of said second fluid maintaining said outlet line distal end within a second fluid component, said fill volume being substantially independent of the orientation of said fluid trap within said fluid circuit; and (b) flowing a second fluid stream through such as fluid circuit to accumulate at least a portion of a first fluid entrained therein within said trap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fill volume is provided as being greater than about one half of said volumetric capacity of said interior chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said geometric extent of said interior chamber is provided as being symmetrical about a pair of orthogonal central axes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claim 19 wherein said outlet tube is provided to extend within said interior chamber coaxially with one of said central axes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said outlet tube is disposed generally centrally within said interior chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluid trap is provided as further comprising an inlet tube extending generally parallel to said outlet tube from a first end couplable to said inlet line, to a second end disposed within said housing past said outlet tube distal end and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber to define said inlet port.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said interior chamber of said fluid trap is provided as having a generally spherical geometric extent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluid trap is provided as further comprising at least one aspiration port openable in fluid communication with said interior chamber for removing a first fluid therefrom, and further comprising the step: (c) aspirating a first fluid through said aspiration port to maintain such as first fluid accumulated within said interior chamber below said predetermined fill level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said inlet line is provided to extend from said inlet port of said fluid trap into fluid communication with a heat exchanger, and said outlet line is provided to extend from said outlet tube into intravenous fluid communication with a patient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said inlet line is provided to extend from said inlet port of said fluid trap into tracheal fluid communication with a patient, and said outlet line is provided to extend into fluid communication with a ventilator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said interior chamber of said fluid trap is provided as having a volumetric capacity of from about 25 cm 3 to about 50 cm 3 .
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluid trap is provided as further comprising an inlet tube extending from a first end couplable to said inlet line to a second end disposed within said housing and opening in fluid communication with said interior chamber to define said inlet port.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said second end of said inlet tube is provided as being coupled to said distal end of said outlet tube.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluid trap is provided as further comprising an inlet tube extending from a first end coupled to said first end of said outlet tube within said housing to a second end couplable to said inlet line, said inlet tube having at least one aperture formed thereinto and disposed within said interior chamber defining said inlet port.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a first fluid comprises a liquid and a second fluid comprises a gas.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a first fluid comprises a gas and a second fluid comprises a liquid.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a fluid circuit is an extracorporeal fluid circuit of a patient.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a fluid circuit is in a breathing circuit of a patient.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-02 | 2002-05-04 | 2002-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-05-04 | 2006-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-02 | 2010-05-04 | 2010-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |