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 tubing set suitable for use in co-operation with a hemodialysis machine includes an out-tube for supplying the blood from the patient to a filter of the machine, an in-tube for supplying the blood from the filter back to the patient, a drip chamber placed along one of the tubes, adapted to let the blood drip through an air buffer, and a vial gate for the connection of vials containing drugs to be delivered into the blood. The vial gate includes a delivery lumen, suitable for delivering the drug from the vial to the drip chamber, and a vent lumen, suitable for providing air inside the vial in order to replace the delivered drug.

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 hollow-fiber-type blood processing device and methods for its manufacture include a hollow fiber membrane bundle which is obtained by bundling a large number of hollow fiber membranes into a columnar shape. A sheet body is mounted on an outer peripheral portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. The sheet body is expandable as a result of being woven from a sheet material. An inner diameter of the sheet body in a natural state where no external force is applied to the sheet body is smaller than the outer diameter of the hollow fiber membrane bundle.

A heating device for blocking flow of air if the inside of a cartridge enters a negative-pressure state is provided. The device includes a cartridge upper plate having a fluid-guide member for guiding the flow of a fluid; a cartridge lower plate having an inlet, an outlet and another fluid-guide member positioned spaced apart from the fluid-guide member of the cartridge upper plate; a heater disposed between the cartridge upper plate and the lower plate and heating the fluid being guided by the fluid-guide members; air filters positioned outside the fluid-guide members and discharging air bubbles in the heated fluid into the atmosphere; and extension units which are provided on the cartridge upper and lower plates having film members and outflow and discharge passages and that keep the flow of fluid normal in the positive-pressure state and block the fluid movement pathway if a negative pressure occurs inside the cartridge.

A drip chamber assembly that functions irrespective of its orientation and in the presence of increased internal pressure is provided.

The invention relates to a blood line (108) comprising an infusion site (145) intended to inject into the line a solution, comprising: a first main channel (200) having a first passage section, a second main channel (220) having a second passage section, means for the formation (210) of a turbulence area located downstream from the first main channel, located upstream from the second main channel, these formation means comprising a first fluid passage means (224) defining a reduction (225) in the passage section and whose smallest passage section is smaller than the first passage section and smaller than the second fluid passage section, a secondary channel (230) comprising an inlet (231) for letting in the solution and an outlet (232) in fluid communication with the first main channel or the means for the formation of a turbulence area or the second main channel.

Multiple embodiments of medical filters are described. For example, this document describes extracorporeal blood filters that have a gradient of filter pore sizes at different portions of the filter element. The gradient of filter pore sizes may enhance the filter's potential for capturing and removing gaseous bubbles that may be present in the blood or other fluid that is flowing through the filter.

Embodiments include a vacuum assisted venous drainage (VAVD) system, including a regulator valve assembly configured to facilitate application of vacuum to a reservoir; a control unit configured to control the regulator valve assembly to facilitate controlling application of the vacuum; at least one pressure sensor coupled to the reservoir and configured to obtain pressure measurements of pressure in the reservoir; a heating element configured to heat the regulator valve assembly to a target temperature; and at least one temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of the regulator valve assembly.

Described are embodiments that include methods and devices for separating components from multi-component fluids. Embodiments may involve use of separation vessels and movement of components into and out of separation vessels through ports. Embodiments may involve the separation of plasma from whole blood. Also described are embodiments that include methods and devices for positioning portions, e.g., loops, of disposables in medical devices. Embodiments may involve use of surfaces for automatically guiding loops to position them into a predetermined position.