Avecor Cardiovascular Inc.

Eric J Thor

Kevin D McIntosh

Jeremy David Dando

Bruce R Jones

Mark S Goodin

William S Haworth

Theresa M Schaefer

An arterial line blood filter for use in extracorporeal blood circuits during heart bypass surgery. The blood filter includes a housing having a cap portion, a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion. A filter element is disposed within the housing and divides the housing into an inlet chamber in flow communication with a blood inlet and an outlet chamber in flow communication with a blood outlet. The filter element may include a plurality of concentric annular pleats, the length of which may be substantially equal to the length of the wall portion, the pleats being supported by a support element. In another embodiment the inner surface of the cap defines an inwardly spiral blood flow path which slopes upward and provides an effective means of distributing blood over the filter element.

Blood filter with concentric pleats and method of use

An improved blood reservoir formed by opposed, flexible sheets has a screen sandwiched between the sheets defining an input chamber, an output chamber, and vent chamber. A vent is in fluid communication with the vent chamber. An outlet is in fluid communication with the output chamber. One or more inlets direct blood into the input chamber through apertures that direct blood upward and along the screen, allowing gas bubbles entrained in the blood to escape through the vent. Support springs around the inlets allow them to be flexed without kinking. The reservoir can be coupled to an improved mounting board for use.

Blood reservoir

A heat exchanger is provided for use in extracorporeal blood oxygenation systems. The heat exchanger includes a housing, a core disposed within the housing, and a baffle disposed within the core. A blood passage chamber is defined by the outer surface of the core and the inner surface of the housing. Blood flows from the blood inlet, through the blood passage chamber, to the blood outlet. Heat exchange fluids flow from a fluid inlet, into an inlet chamber, around the baffle, into an outlet chamber, and to a fluid outlet.

Heat exchanger

A reservoir for use in an extracorporeal blood circuit including a rigid shell forming an enclosed reservoir. A filter unit divides the reservoir into an inlet chamber and outlet chamber. Cardiotomy blood filtering and defoaming means and venous blood filtering and defoaming means are located within the inlet chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia Heights, MN, United States of America

Eric J Thor