Apparatus and methods for providing extracorporeal blood circulation and oxygenation control include seven-stage de-airing of blood to provide automated cardiopulmonary replacement to sustain patient life during a medical procedure comprising repairing or replacing the heart valve in a patient.

A method for filling and venting a device for extracorporeal blood treatment is disclosed, such as a patient module in a heart-lung machine, without attached patient. A filling liquid from a filling liquid container located higher than the device flows by gravity via a venous side of the system into a reservoir and flows onwards into a blood pump located at the lower end of the reservoir, wherein a first controllable valve (HC1) for a venting line of a filter is opened and, after the response of an upper filling level sensor in the reservoir, is closed. An upper level of the filter is positioned higher than the upper filling level sensor, and a start-stop motion of the blood pump is performed, as a result of which a stepped flooding of the filter is made providing for an advantageous de-airing of the device.

A valve assembly including a valve body with an inlet port and an outlet port, a flow passage and a valve element disposed within the flow passage, an actuator and a lockout mechanism configured to maintain the position of the valve assembly in an opened position or a closed position. The lockout mechanism can include at least one screw.

A valve assembly including a valve body with an inlet port and an outlet port, a flow passage and a valve element disposed within the flow passage, an actuator and a lockout mechanism configured to maintain the position of the valve assembly in an opened position or a closed position. The lockout mechanism can include at least one screw.

A valve assembly (1) which is intended for differentiated individual control of the movement mechanisms of an IS machine and can therefore be used in a modular manner consists of a valve support (2′) and a head part (22) which supports two pilot control valves (3, 5), two safety valves (4, 6) and two switching valves as one assembly. By way of actuation of the safety valves (4, 6), the feed of control air to the switching valves can be interrupted, which switching valves are assigned, for example, to the opening movement and the closing movement, respectively, of a closing cylinder which is assigned to a preform. The valve assembly has interfaces for connection of control and operating air and for electric connection to a machine controller. If required, the assembly which is designed in this way makes it possible to interrupt the control air in a differentiated way which is related to an individual track, in addition to simple assembly and dismantling.

A valve assembly (1) which is intended for differentiated individual control of the movement mechanisms of an IS machine and can therefore be used in a modular manner consists of a valve support (2′) and a head part (22) which supports two pilot control valves (3, 5), two safety valves (4, 6) and two switching valves as one assembly. By way of actuation of the safety valves (4, 6), the feed of control air to the switching valves can be interrupted, which switching valves are assigned, for example, to the opening movement and the closing movement, respectively, of a closing cylinder which is assigned to a preform. The valve assembly has interfaces for connection of control and operating air and for electric connection to a machine controller. If required, the assembly which is designed in this way makes it possible to interrupt the control air in a differentiated way which is related to an individual track, in addition to simple assembly and dismantling.

Provided is a fluid controller which enables precise flow-rate adjustment while securing the durability. The fluid controller includes a stem vertical-movement-amount upper-limit-value setting means 10 which sets an upper limit value of a vertical movement amount of a stem 8 associated with opening and closing operations. The fluid controller further includes a stem vertical-movement-amount fine-adjustment means 11 which changes the vertical movement amount of the stem 8 associated with the opening and closing operations, within a range of not greater than the upper limit value.

A latching solenoid assembly is provided which includes a solenoid actuator. A housing is also provided which has an axial passage. An intermediate piston is moved by the solenoid actuator. A reaction member is also placed within the housing axial passage spring biased by a transfer spring from the intermediate piston. The housing has a latching port allowing pressure to latch the intermediate piston in position to set the force which is transmitted to the reaction member.

A latching solenoid assembly is provided which includes a solenoid actuator. A housing is also provided which has an axial passage. An intermediate piston is moved by the solenoid actuator. A reaction member is also placed within the housing axial passage spring biased by a transfer spring from the intermediate piston. The housing has a latching port allowing pressure to latch the intermediate piston in position to set the force which is transmitted to the reaction member.

Apparatus and methods for providing extracorporeal blood circulation and oxygenation control include multi-stage deairing of blood to provide automated cardiopulmonary replacement to sustain patient life during a medical procedure such as cardiopulonary bypass graft surgery, keyhole cardiopulmonary bypass graft surgery, percutaneous angioplasty, percutaneous stent placement, and percutaneous atherectomy.