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US 12,544,498 B2Granted
Treatment apparatus with gas separation device level controls and methods
AssigneeGambro Lundia AB
InventorsTimothy Nadolski, Michael Wangen, Nickolas Penning, Klaus Obergfell
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Abstract
Treatment apparatus with liquid level controls for gas separation devices used to separate gas bubbles from liquids are described herein along with methods of controlling the level of liquids in the gas separation devices. The gas separation devices may be used in liquid treatment apparatus to separate gas bubbles from one or more liquids such as, e.g., physiological liquids (e.g., blood, etc.).
Claims18
A liquid treatment apparatus comprising:
- a pump configured to move liquid, optionally blood or another physiological liquid, during extracorporeal blood treatment;
- a gas separation device, wherein the pump is configured to deliver liquid to the gas separation device, the gas separation device comprising:
- a containing body defining an internal volume,
- a first outlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, wherein the first outlet is located proximate a bottom of the containing body,
- a first inlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, the first inlet located above and spaced apart from the first outlet, and
- a second outlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, wherein the first inlet is located between the first outlet and the second outlet;
- a level control protection sensor to detect foam leaving the internal volume through the second outlet;
- and
- a level control apparatus in fluid communication with the internal volume of the gas separation device, the level control apparatus configured to deliver gas to the internal volume through an opening located above the first inlet to lower a liquid level in the internal volume of the gas separation device and remove gas from the internal volume through the opening to raise the liquid level in the internal volume of the gas separation device;
- a controller operably connected to the level control protection sensor and the level control apparatus, the controller configured to:
- receive a signal from the level control protection sensor;
- determine whether foam is present in a selected volume of the second outlet of the gas separation device based on the received signal from the level control protection sensor;
- and
- disable the level control apparatus when the controller determines that foam is present in the selected volume of the second outlet of the gas separation device based on the received signal from the level control protection sensor.
11 more elements
A liquid treatment apparatus comprising:
- a pump configured to move liquid, optionally blood or another physiological liquid, during extracorporeal blood treatment;
- a gas separation device, wherein the pump is configured to deliver liquid to the gas separation device, the gas separation device comprising:
- a containing body defining an internal volume,
- a first outlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, wherein the first outlet is located proximate a bottom of the containing body,
- a first inlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, the first inlet located above and spaced apart from the first outlet, and
- a second outlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, wherein the first inlet is located between the first outlet and the second outlet;
- a level control protection sensor configured to detect one or more of foam, non-blood liquid, and blood leaving the internal volume through the second outlet;
- a level control apparatus in fluid communication with the internal volume of the gas separation device, the level control apparatus configured to deliver gas to the internal volume through an opening located above the first inlet to lower a liquid level in the internal volume of the gas separation device and remove gas from the internal volume through the opening to raise the liquid level in the internal volume of the gas separation device;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the level control protection sensor and the level control apparatus, the controller configured to:
- receive a signal from the level control protection sensor,
- normalize the level control protection sensor by determining a normalization value of the signal when foam, non-blood liquid, and blood are not present in the second outlet, and
- determine that foam is present in a selected volume of the second outlet of the gas separation device if the received signal is less than or equal to a foam threshold value and greater than a blood threshold value, and
- disable the level control apparatus when the controller determines that foam is present in the selected volume of the second outlet of the gas separation device based on the received signal from the level control protection sensor.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.