Drip chamber head

Details Drip chamber head Drip chamber head

1997-03-31

1998-12-22

Stright, Ronald

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

604251, A61M 500

Patent

active

058512020

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drip chamber head intended to be attached to the upper region of a vertically arranged drip chamber.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drip chambers are known to be used in an extracorporeal blood circuit as an air separator to ensure that air does not accompany the blood as it is returned to a patient connected thereto.
The drip chamber is integrated in a set of tubes for use in dialysis, such as hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration or hemofiltration. The set of tubes cooperates with a dialysis machine comprising pumps and other equipment for performing and monitoring the dialysis process. Such pumps can be of the peristaltic type, which act on the exterior of a portion of a tube and force the blood within the tube along the tube.
An example of a drip chamber and its integration in a set of tubes and cooperation with a dialysis machine is described in European Patent No. 106 026, particularly FIG. 1 thereof. How a drip chamber can be designed is described in European Patent No. 614 675.
A drip chamber consists of a tube having considerably greater cross-section than corresponding connected blood tubes. The blood in the drip chamber thus provides a reduced flow velocity, which results in separation of any air bubbles in the blood. At its upper end, the drip chamber is provided with a head having several inlets with various functions, as described in greater detail in European Patent No. 106 026.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to improve upon the type of drip chamber head described in European Patent No. 106 026, and to provide a drip chamber head in which the tube arrangement is further simplified compared to the previously known drip chamber head.
In accordance with the present invention, these and other objects have now been accomplished by the invention of a drip chamber head for attachment to a drip chamber in which the drip chamber head comprises a vertically arranged body portion having an upper portion and a lower portion and including first connection means for connecting the body portion to a supply of blood and a drip member disposed within the body portion and including an upper portion and a depending lower portion, the upper portion of the drip member in communication with the first connecting means whereby the blood may be supplied to the drip chamber through the first connecting means and the drip member, thereby providing the blood at an adjustable level within the drip chamber with an air filled region thereabove, second connecting means disposed at the upper portion of the body portion communicating with the air filled region of the drip member, and an air permeable filter disposed at the upper portion of the body portion between the second connecting means and the adjustable level of the blood within the drip chamber whereby the air pressure within the air filled region of the drip chamber can be sensed through the second connecting means.
In accordance with one embodiment of the drip chamber head of the present invention, the body portion includes a lower body portion and an upper body portion comprising a cap for closing off the lower body portion, the filter being arranged between the lower body portion and the cap. Preferably, the cap includes the second connecting means. In a preferred embodiment, the second connecting means comprises a transversely extending nipple.
In accordance with another embodiment of the drip chamber head of the present invention, the filter comprises a membrane, preferably a membrane having a pore size of about 0.2 .mu.m.
In accordance with another embodiment of the drip chamber head of the present invention, the drip chamber head includes rib means extending transversely across the upper portion of the body portion thereby forming air passage means between the second connecting means and the air filled region of the drip chamber. Preferably, the rib means comprises a plurality of rib members.
In accordance with another embodiment of the drip chamber head of the present in

REFERENCES:
patent: 4586925 (1986-05-01), Carlsson et al.
patent: 4838865 (1989-06-01), Flank et al.
patent: 5098407 (1992-03-01), Okamura
patent: 5364371 (1994-11-01), Kamen

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Drip chamber head does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Drip chamber head, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Drip chamber head will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2041317