US 5,667,485 AGranted

Blood reservoir with visible inlet tube

AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

InventorErin J. Lindsay

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Abstract

A blood reservoir adapted for use in an extracorporeal circulatory support circuit. The blood reservoir includes a visible inlet tube that extends vertically outside the housing of the reservoir to allow visual observation of venous blood flowing in the inlet tube. The inlet tube is releasably held generally adjacent the top of the housing to allow the reservoir to be converted between top and bottom mounted venous blood inlets with a single inlet, as well as permitting the inlet tube to be moved to a position extending downwardly from the reservoir to allow draining the reservoir through the inlet tube after surgery. A generally funnel-shaped inlet portion may be provided in the inlet adjacent the chamber to decelerate blood before it enters the chamber, and a diverter cone may be provided over a venous inlet portion to divert the incoming blood.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A blood reservoir adapted for use in an extracorporeal circulatory support circuit, the blood reservoir comprising:

a housing having top, bottom and side walls defining a chamber inside the housing for holding fluid;
an outlet adjacent the bottom of the housing for draining fluid from the bottom of the chamber, the outlet having a connector for connecting tubing in fluid communication with the outlet;
an inlet tube connected to the housing outside the housing for supplying fluid to the chamber, the inlet tube comprising an elongate tube having a resiliently-flexible portion connecting the inlet tube in fluid communication with the chamber at or adjacent the bottom of the chamber and a free end opposite the resiliently-flexible portion, the free end of the inlet tube having a connector for connecting tubing in fluid communication with the inlet tube;
and
holding means for releasably holding the inlet tube in a first position, wherein the inlet tube is held in a generally vertical orientation generally adjacent the side wall of the housing, the inlet tube having a length that brings the connector of the inlet tube into generally close proximity with the top of the housing when the holding means holds the inlet tube in its first position, whereby the blood reservoir can be converted between top and bottom inlet configurations.

2 more elements

An extracorporeal circulatory support system for supporting a patient during heart bypass surgery, the system comprising:

a venous line for draining blood from the patient;
blood reservoir comprising:
a housing having top, bottom and side walls defining a chamber inside the housing for holding fluid;
an outlet adjacent the bottom of the housing for draining fluid from the bottom of the chamber, the outlet having a connector for connecting tubing in fluid communication with the outlet;
an inlet tube connected to the housing outside the housing for supplying fluid to the chamber, the inlet tube comprising an elongate tube having a resiliently-flexible portion connecting the inlet tube in fluid communication with the chamber at or adjacent the bottom of the chamber and a free end opposite the resiliently-flexible portion, the free end of the inlet tube having a connector for connecting the venous line in fluid communication with the inlet tube;
and
holding means for releasably holding the inlet tube in a first position, wherein the inlet tube is held in a generally vertical orientation generally adjacent the side wall of the housing, the inlet tube having a length that brings the connector of the inlet tube into generally close proximity with the top of the housing when the holding means holds the inlet tube in its first position, whereby the blood reservoir can be converted between top and bottom inlet configurations;
a blood oxygenator in fluid communication with the outlet of the blood reservoir to oxygenate blood before it is returned to the patient;
a pump for pumping blood through the system;
and
an arterial line for returning oxygenated blood to the patient.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.