Device with a bag-shaped container and method for filling a pump-operated hollow line-supported liquid circuit without forming gas bubbles using the device
Inventors
Benk, Christoph • Grudke, Jürgen • Louoba, Joel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10603426-B2
Publication Date
2020-03-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to a container in the form of a bag having a flexible bag wall at least in a region, in which a first and a second hollow channel section, pass through the bag wall in a fluid-tight manner, wherein the hollow channel sections respectively have an open channel end that is located within the container for connecting the open channel ends to one another in a separable and fluid-tight manner.
Core Innovation
The invention concerns a container comprising a bag with a closed wall defining a sealed volume that receives fluids under pressure. A wall containing flexible regions passes first and second hollow channels that are sealed to the wall, and each channel has ends opening into an interior of the sealed volume. The channel ends are connectible together in a separable and fluid tight connection.
Within the sealed volume, a first filter defines a first filter volume and includes a first filter wall through which a tubular fluid line passes, with fluid line openings that connect between the sealed volume, the first filter volume, and the tubular fluid line. An end of the first hollow channel located within the first filter volume is connected to be fluid tight to an end of the tubular fluid line and is separable from the end of the tubular fluid line.
The container is also described as a bag-shaped, flexible and light-transparent container for quickly filling a pump-operated hollow-line liquid circuit without forming gas bubbles. Degassing and filling lines feed liquid into the filter volumes so that liquid is pumped through filter walls to degas, and the internal hollow channel ends are separated and reconnected within the liquid-filled bag volume to form a bubble-free connection between supply and discharge lines.
Optionally, a second filter insert provides a two-stage degassing effect for high flow rates, and the arrangement is described with optional coupling to an oxygenator for oxygenated blood delivery.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present. Independent claim 1 covers the container structure, including the bag, flexible-wall hollow channels with separable fluid-tight connections, and a first filter cooperating with a tubular fluid line to enable fluid-tight separable coupling of a hollow channel end to the tubular line end inside a sealed bag volume. Independent claim 13 covers a method for filling a pump-operated liquid circuit without forming gas bubbles using the same container features and including separation and reconnection of hollow channel ends within the sealed bag volume during or after filling and pumping.
Pressurized sealed bag with separable fluid-tight hollow-channel connection
A bag including a closed wall defining a sealed volume with the sealed volume receiving fluids under pressure; the bag including a wall containing a flexible region through which pass first and second hollow channels sealed to the wall; each channel including ends opening into an interior of the volume, the ends being connectible together in a separable and fluid tight connection.
First filter volume cooperating with tubular fluid line openings
A first filter within the sealed volume defining a first filter volume and including a first filter wall through which passes a tubular fluid line having fluid line openings; the tubular fluid line being connected to the first filter wall, one of the fluid line openings being connected to the sealed volume and another of the fluid line openings being connected to the first filter volume.
Fluid-tight separable coupling of hollow channel end to tubular fluid line end inside the first volume
An end of the first hollow channel located within the first volume being connected to be fluid tight to an end of the tubular fluid line and separable from the end of the tubular fluid line.
Filling pump-operated liquid circuit without forming gas bubbles via filter-volume filling and in-bag reconnection
A method for filling a pump-operated liquid circuit without the formation of gas bubbles in which the liquid circuit is interrupted into two parts, one part being a supply line and another part being a discharge line; connecting the supply line to the first hollow channel and connecting the discharge line to the second hollow channel with the connecting being fluid tight; filling the liquid circuit with liquid introduced into the first filter volume; continuing pumping flow through the bag until the fluid has passed at least once through the first filter wall; and separating a connection between the first hollow channel and the tubular fluid line and making a fluid-tight connection between the first and second hollow channels within the bag during fluid flow or after a standstill of liquid flow with the sealed bag volume filled with the liquid.
The independent claims tie the invention to a pressurized sealed bag container with flexible-wall hollow channels whose ends can be separably connected in a fluid-tight manner, and to a first filter volume that cooperates with a tubular fluid line having fluid line openings so that fluid can pass through the first filter wall. The method claim further specifies filling a pump-operated circuit without gas bubble formation by filling through the first filter volume, continuing pumping until fluid passes the first filter wall, and performing separation and fluid-tight reconnection of hollow channel ends within the sealed bag volume.
Stated Advantages
Quickly filling a pump-operated hollow-line liquid circuit without forming gas bubbles.
Documented Applications
Filling an extracorporeal circulatory system including a pump-operated hollow-line liquid circuit, optionally with an oxygenator, for oxygenated blood delivery.
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