System and method for reducing gaseous microemboli using venous blood bypass with filter

A system for reducing gaseous microemboli, the system comprising

• a fluid source;
• a flow diverter fluidly connected to the fluid source, wherein the flow diverter is configured to remove a portion of the fluid from the fluid source, and the fluid from the flow diverter passes into an oxygenator and into a bypass line;
• an inflow flow controller fluidly connected to the fluid source and to the flow diverter, wherein the inflow flow controller is configured to control the flow rate of fluid from the fluid source to the flow diverter;
• the bypass line is fluidly connected to the flow diverter;
• an optional bypass flow controller fluidly connected to the bypass line, wherein the bypass flow controller when present is configured to control the flow rate of fluid from the bypass line;
• a filter in fluid communication with the bypass line, wherein the filter removes gaseous microemboli from the fluid in the bypass line, the gaseous microemboli having a diameter greater than a pore size of the filter;
• the oxygenator is fluidly connected to the flow diverter, wherein the oxygenator is configured to oxygenate the fluid from the fluid source;
• an optional outflow flow controller fluidly connected to the oxygenator, wherein the outflow flow controller when present is configured to control the flow rate of fluid from the oxygenator;
• an outlet fluidly connected to the oxygenator and the bypass line, and configured to combine the fluid from the oxygenator and the bypass line;
• and
• a controller configured to control the inflow flow controller, the bypass flow controller when present, the outflow flow controller when present, or a combination comprising at least one or more of the foregoing.