# US 5,061,236 A · Venous reservoir with improved inlet configuration and integral screen for bubble removal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,061,236 A - Document ID: US5061236A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/554,759 - Filed: 1990-07-16 - Granted: 1991-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 1990-07-16 - Assignees: Baxter International Inc. - Inventors: Karl M. Sutherland; William R. Patterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5061236A ## CPC - A61M 1/3627: {Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters} - A61M 2039/0202: {for taking samples} - A61M 2206/11: Laminar flow - 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)} ## Abstract A blood reservoir device comprising a generally flexible blood collection chamber having an inlet portion and a main portion. The inlet portion is preferably sized and configured such that blood entering the inlet portion will avoid turbulence and will undergo generally laminar flow through the inlet portion, into the main portion of the chamber. A vent tube is provided for venting coalesced or collected gas bubbles from the top edge of the chamber. Additionally, one or more filter elements may be positioned within the chamber to further facilitate removal of air bubbles from blood passing through the chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blood reservoir device comprising: a generally flexible blood collection chamber having; (a) an inlet portion; and (b) a main portion; said inlet portion and said main portion being fluidly connected to one another such that blood may pass therebetween; a blood inflow tube fluidly connected to the inlet portion of the blood collection chamber; a blood outflow tube fluidly connected to the main portion of the blood collection chamber; at least one air vent tube fluidly connected to the blood collection chamber to vent air therefrom; said collection chamber inlet portion having a first blood entry location where blood flows into the inlet portion and a second blood departure location where blood flows out of the inlet portion into the main portion of said collection chamber, said inlet portion being sized and configured such that the cross-sectional area of said inlet portion gradually increases from said first location to said second location so that blood flowing between the first location and the second location is generally laminar and free of excessive turbulence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said first location and said second location are separated by approximately 41/2 inches and wherein the cross-sectional area of the said inlet portion at the first location is approximately 0.2 square inches and the cross-sectional area at said second location is approximately 2.0 square inches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional area of he inlet portion increases at a rate of about 0.4 in.sup.2 /in., for each succeeding inch of travel between the first location and second locations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the inlet portion is generally conical in configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the inlet portion is formed in the configuration of a curved cone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the inlet portion is formed to have a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the blood collection chamber further comprises an edge of generally peaked or curved configuration adjacent said air vent tube such that gas will collect at a high point of said peaked or curved configuration adjacent said air vent tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the highest point of the blood collection chamber is located within the main portion of the chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising: a filter element positioned within said blood collection chamber to collect and remove air bubbles from blood passing through the blood collection chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9 wherein said filter element comprises a screen. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9 wherein said filter element comprises a soft mesh material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9 wherein the filter element comprises a multiplicity of filtration pores, said filtration pores being from 20 to 200 microns in size. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9 wherein said filter element comprises a multiplicity of filtration pores, said pores having an average size of about 105 microns. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9 wherein said filter element is formed as a bag, having a mouth portion for receiving blood thereinto, said filter element being positioned such that said mouth is disposed the second location, such that blood flowing from the inlet portion into the main portion will enter the mouth of the bag-like filter element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the main portion of the collecting chamber is larger than the inlet portion of the collecting chamber.