Method and apparatus for removal of gas bubbles from blood

A cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for use with a patient, said bypass circuit comprising:

• a pump for pumping blood from the patient through the bypass circuit;
• a particulate filter disposed in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit;
• a venous cannula in fluid communication with the pump, said venous cannula adapted for fluid connection to the venous system of a patient;
• an apparatus adapted for removing gas bubbles from blood passing through the bypass circuit, said apparatus comprising:
• an axially elongate cylindrical shell defining a chamber;
• an impeller disposed within the chamber;
• a motor operably connected to the impeller,
• a gas vent in fluid communication with the central axis of the chamber and located proximate the top of the chamber,
• a blood inlet port affixed to the chamber and in fluid communication with the venous cannula;
• and
• a blood outlet port located at the radial periphery of said chamber;
• wherein the impeller is configured to rotate a volume of blood within the chamber about the central axis of the chamber thus forcing air bubbles within the volume of blood to migrate radially inwardly in response to centrifugal forces imparted on the volume of blood by the rotation of said blood;
• an arterial cannula in fluid communication with the blood outlet port, said arterial cannula adapted for fluid connection to the arterial system of the patient.