Systems, apparatus, and methods for filtering air from a fluid line
Inventors
Robertson, Galen C. • LANE, Andrew W. • Steele, 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-12440629-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-14
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 a fluid-bag/infusion-line air-purging apparatus that includes a housing defining a reservoir with a sidewall configured to be deformed between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration. The housing has an upper cap coupled to a first end and defining an inlet, and a lower cap coupled to a second end and defining an outlet, and the reservoir contains a liquid fluid level that controls sealing behavior with respect to a minimum threshold fluid level.
A deformable valve seat is disposed within the housing, with an outer surface surrounded by an inner surface of the housing, and the valve seat defines a through-hole from a first end to a second end in fluid communication with the outlet of the lower cap. A sealing member floats at the liquid fluid level and seals with a sealing surface of the valve seat prior to the liquid fluid level decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level.
When the liquid fluid level decreases below the minimum threshold fluid level, the sealing member transitions from a sealed configuration to an unsealed configuration while sidewall flexing to the deformed configuration contacts and deforms the valve seat to disrupt a seal between the sealing member and the sealing surface. The disclosed arrangement prevents air from entering the outlet when the reservoir liquid level is at or above a minimum threshold and supports negative pressure fluid withdrawal while allowing air to vent from the reservoir through a vent structure using a hydrophobic filter/vent, including an umbrella valve option.
Claims Coverage
The claim set includes two independent apparatus claims. Across them, the core coverage centers on a deformable housing sidewall/reservoir, an inlet/outlet housing arrangement with a deformable valve seat having a through-hole, and a floating sealing member that seals against the valve seat until the reservoir liquid fluid level decreases below a minimum threshold, after which sidewall flexing deforms the valve seat to disrupt the seal.
Deformable housing reservoir with undeformed and deformed configurations
A housing defines a reservoir and has a sidewall extending between first and second ends, wherein the sidewall is configured to be deformed between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration.
Upper cap inlet and lower cap outlet
An upper cap coupled to the first end of the housing defines an inlet, and a lower cap coupled to the second end defines an outlet.
Deformable valve seat with through-hole in fluid communication with the outlet
A valve seat is deformable and defines a through-hole from a first end to a second end, where the second end is coupled to the lower cap so the through-hole is in fluid communication with the outlet, and the valve seat is disposed within the housing such that the outer surface is surrounded by the inner surface.
Different materials for valve seat and housing
The valve seat is formed of a first material and the housing is formed of a second material different from the first material.
Floating sealing member seals prior to minimum threshold fluid level
A sealing member floats at a liquid fluid level within the reservoir and seals with the sealing surface of the valve seat prior to the liquid fluid level decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level.
Sidewall flexing deforms valve seat to disrupt sealing upon threshold crossing
The sealing member transitions from a sealed configuration engaged with the sealing surface to an unsealed configuration in which the sealing member floats when the liquid fluid level is above the minimum threshold fluid level, in response to the sidewall being flexed to the deformed configuration to contact and deform the valve seat to disrupt a seal between the sealing member and the sealing surface.
Cylindrical constant-thickness sidewall defining reservoir
The housing has a cylindrical sidewall with constant thickness between the first end and the second end in the undeformed configuration, and the cylindrical sidewall is configured to be deformed between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration.
Circumferential gap between valve seat outer surface and housing inner surface
The valve seat has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the housing such that a circumferential gap is defined between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the valve seat, bounded on a lower end by the lower cap.
Circular sealing interface aligned with minimum threshold plane
The sealing member and sealing surface create a circular sealing interface, with the minimum threshold fluid level located in a horizontal plane aligned with the highest vertical portion of that interface.
Filter within reservoir and optional blood filter
A filter is located inside a reservoir portion, including an optional filter configured as a blood filter.
Negative pressure source maintaining sealed configuration under undeformed state
A negative pressure source coupled to an outlet applies a force that keeps a sealing member sealed when the liquid fluid level is above a minimum threshold while the valve seat and sidewall remain undeformed.
Upper cap with two fluidly connected inlets
An upper cap defines two fluidly connected inlets, including a first inlet and a second inlet that both communicate with the reservoir.
The inventive features combine a deformable sidewall, a deformable valve seat with a through-hole, and a floating sealing member that seals until a minimum threshold fluid level is reached, after which sidewall flexing deforms the valve seat to disrupt the seal. The second independent claim additionally constrains the sidewall as cylindrical constant thickness and defines a circumferential gap between the valve seat and the housing inner surface.
Stated Advantages
Prevents air from entering the outlet when the reservoir liquid level is at or above a minimum threshold fluid level.
Supports air venting from the reservoir via a vent structure including a hydrophobic filter/vent, including an umbrella valve option.
Maintains proper seal timing when the housing is tipped or placed on its side using an upper cap laterally extending brim/contact geometry to reduce air embolism risk.
Documented Applications
Fluid-bag/infusion-line air-purging applications, including embodiments for a fluid bag containing saline and a fluid bag containing blood.
Air embolism prevention during fluid delivery.
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