Systems, apparatus, and methods for filtering air from a fluid line
Inventors
Robertson, Galen C. • LANE, Andrew W. • CARLSEN, Savannah K. • Piehl, Mark D. • Titkemeyer, Robert W. • Latham, Stephen • Rodenkirch, Douglas • Darley, Jesse • IRWIN, Curtis • CHOURASIA, Amrish
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11590295-B2
Publication Date
2023-02-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
In some embodiments, a housing can define a reservoir. A lower cap can be coupled to the housing and define an outlet, and an upper cap can be coupled to the housing and can define an inlet. The upper cap can include an extending portion extending laterally a distance beyond an outermost extending portion of the lower cap relative to a central axis of the housing such that, when the lower cap and the extending portion of the upper cap contact a horizontal surface, the central axis of the housing is transverse to the surface and a sealing member is configured to sealingly engage a sealing surface of a valve seat prior to a liquid fluid level within a reservoir decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for air-in-liquid filtration/air-purging of a fluid line using a housing reservoir with an inlet and an outlet and a floating sealing member. The housing includes a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion defined by coupled first and second housing portions, with an upper cap coupled to the first end to define an inlet and a lower cap coupled to the second housing portion to define an outlet. A filter is disposed within a reservoir portion and a valve seat is disposed within a deformed-configurable housing portion to control fluid communication to the outlet.
A sealing member is configured to float at a liquid fluid level within the reservoir and to seal with a sealing surface of the valve seat prior to the liquid fluid level decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level. The sealing member transitions from a sealed configuration, in which the sealing member is engaged with the sealing surface, to an unsealed configuration in which the sealing member floats at the liquid fluid level when the liquid fluid level is above the minimum threshold fluid level, as the valve seat is contacted and deformed to disrupt a seal between the sealing member and the sealing surface.
Geometric and structural features are used to maintain desired sealing behavior, including a laterally extending brim on the upper cap relative to the lower cap to maintain the housing axis transverse to a horizontal surface when tipped or placed on its side, ensuring sealing occurs before air reaches the outlet. Additional disclosed embodiments include venting air via a vent with an optional hydrophobic filter and using a negative pressure source to draw fluid through a valve seat through-hole while maintaining sealing until the fluid level threshold.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides three independent apparatus claims that share the same core concept: a floating sealing member that seals with a deformable valve seat sealing surface until a minimum threshold liquid level is reached, with valve seat disruption caused by housing deformation, and a filter arranged in a reservoir connected through cap-defined through-hole fluid communication. The independent claims differ mainly in housing architecture, filter placement, and the presence of specific through-hole communication paths and deformable actuation relationships.
Floating sealing member with minimum threshold level sealing transition
A sealing member configured to float at a liquid fluid level within a reservoir portion and to seal with the sealing surface of a valve seat prior to the liquid fluid level decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level, transitioning from a sealed configuration to an unsealed configuration in which the sealing member floats at the liquid fluid level when the liquid fluid level is above the minimum threshold fluid level.
Deformable valve seat disrupted by sidewall flexing
A valve seat defining a through-hole and having a sealing surface, where the valve seat is deformable, and the sealing member transitions from a sealed configuration to an unsealed configuration in response to a sidewall of a housing portion being flexed to a deformed configuration to contact and deform the valve seat to disrupt a seal between the sealing member and the sealing surface.
Coupled housing reservoir architecture with cap-defined inlet/outlet fluid communication
A first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled to define first and second reservoir portions with an upper cap defining an inlet and a lower cap defining an outlet, wherein a valve seat through-hole provides fluid communication between the reservoir portion and the outlet of the lower cap.
Across the independent claims, the inventive concept is a reservoir-based fluid line apparatus that uses a floating sealing member cooperating with a valve seat sealing surface, where sealing is maintained until a minimum threshold liquid level and then disrupted by deformation of a housing portion and/or valve seat to transition the sealing member to an unsealed floating configuration, in combination with filter placement and cap-defined through-hole fluid communication.
Stated Advantages
Ensures the sealing member seals with the sealing surface prior to the liquid fluid level decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level.
Disrupts a seal between the sealing member and the sealing surface by flexing and deforming the valve seat when a threshold-related transition occurs.
Maintains sealing behavior during conditions where the housing is tipped or placed on its side due to the laterally extending brim maintaining the housing axis transverse to a horizontal surface.
Documented Applications
Air-in-liquid filtration/air-purging of fluid lines using the described apparatus.
Blood filtration using the described apparatus.
System-level configurations involving multiple fluid sources and fluid bag/syringe arrangements are described.
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