# US 11,998,674 B2 · Removal of microbubbles through drip chamber nucleation sites > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,674 B2 - Document ID: US11998674B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/478,995 - Filed: 2021-09-20 - Published: 2022-01-06 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-14 - Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: David Yuds; Martin Joseph Crnkovich; Colin Weaver - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998674B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/3627: {Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters} - A61M 5/168: Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters - B01D 19/0073: {by a method not covered by groups B01D19/0005 - B01D19/0042} - A61M 5/1411: {Drip chambers (A61M5/1689, A61M5/40 take precedence)} - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A drip chamber is provided that includes a hollow body and a nucleation column extending into the interior of the hollow body or formed on the inner surface of a drip chamber sidewall. The nucleation column can be formed with, or treated by a treatment to include, microfeatures or other surface properties that provide nucleation sites for the nucleation and amalgamation of microbubbles. The drip chamber can include a bubble catcher in the bottom of the hollow body and the nucleation column can extend from the bubble catcher into the interior of the hollow body. Methods of making such drip chambers are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drip chamber for separating air from blood in a blood line, the drip chamber comprising: a hollow body having a top and a bottom; an inlet in fluid communication with the hollow body; and an outlet in fluid communication with the hollow body at the bottom of the hollow body, wherein the hollow body is defined by a sidewall that defines an interior space, the inlet is above at least a portion of the sidewall that defines the interior space, the sidewall comprises a material and has an inner surface, the inner surface has been treated by a treatment to form microfeatures in or on the inner surface, a population of the microfeatures at the inner surface is greater than a population of microfeatures at an inner surface of the same material but that has not been treated with said treatment, and the microfeatures provide an improved nucleation efficiency and nucleation sites for nucleation and amalgamation of microbubbles in a liquid that contacts the inner surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drip chamber of claim 1, further comprising a bubble catcher in the bottom of the hollow body, the bubble catcher providing flow passages providing fluid communication between the interior space of the hollow body, and the outlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drip chamber of claim 2, further comprising a nucleation column extending from the bubble catcher into the interior space of the hollow body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drip chamber of claim 1, further comprising a nucleation column inside the hollow body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drip chamber of claim 1, wherein the treatment comprises a coating treatment and the inner surface of the hollow body comprises a coating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drip chamber of claim 1, wherein the treatment comprises at least one of machining the inner surface, chemically etching the inner surface, or applying a coating to the inner surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drip chamber of claim 6, wherein the treatment comprises applying a coating to the inner surface, and the coating comprises microparticles.