The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 20, 1988
Filed:
Nov. 07, 1986
Perry L Lane, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
William D Wallace, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Lantech, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to improved methods and apparatus for the collection of blood, which are particularly useful for autotransfusion purposes. The apparatus includes an upper reservoir wherein the collected blood enters the device. A lower container is placed in fluid communication with the upper reservoir. Disposed within the interior of the container is a conventional blood bag which is in turn placed in fluid communication with the upper reservoir. The upper reservoir has two external connections. The first connection is for receiving blood from the patient. The second external connection places the upper reservoir in communication with a source of vacuum. In one embodiment of the present invention a filtering structure is disposed within the upper reservoir and is connected directly to the inlet connection from the patient. The filtering mechanism provides for early debubbling of the blood flowing into the device and also filters out any emboli or cell masses which may have developed in the collection process. In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus described above is combined with an air-blood separator to form a collection system. This system is particularly adaptable for use in the surgical setting in that it can operate at high vacuum while minimizing hemolysis. This is accomplished by early separation of air from the blood as the blood is collected. The lower container and the interior of the blood bag are placed in communication with the vacuum source of the reservoir. As a result, there is a pressure equalizing feature inherent within the device. This allows the blood to continue to flow through the device into the blood bag without extending or opening the blood bag. As a result, there is minimal air-blood interface as the blood enters the blood bag.