IP Library Granted Patent US 11,583,637
Granted Patent B2
US 11,583,637 · App. 17/240,021 · Granted Feb 21, 2023

Systems, methods, and components for trapping air bubbles in medical fluid transfer modules and systems

Inventors: Thomas F. Fangrow (Mission Viejo, CA); Jay Hachey (Newport Beach, CA)
Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
A61M5/36A61M5/14546A61M5/16813A61M5/38A61M39/223A61M5/14A61M5/1413A61M5/16831A61M39/22A61M2039/0009A61M2039/229A61M2205/3327A61M2205/3379A61M2205/3561A61M2205/502A61M2205/52
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,583,637
App. No.
17/240,021
Granted
Feb 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Bubble traps for use in medical fluid lines and medical fluid bubble trap systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the bubble trap is configured to trap gas (e.g., air) that flows into the bubble trap from a fluid line. In some embodiments, the bubble trap includes an inlet and an outlet and a chamber between the inlet and the outlet. For example, in some embodiments, the bubble trap is configured to inhibit gas from flowing into the outlet once gas flows into the chamber from the inlet. In some embodiments, the bubble trap is in fluid communication with a source container, a destination container, and/or a patient.

Claims (24)

1. An inline bubble trap device configured to be in fluid communication with a medical fluid line, the inline bubble trap device comprising:

an inlet comprising:

an inlet luer end, and

an inlet projection comprising an inlet opening and an inlet channel in fluid communication with the inlet;

an outlet comprising:

an outlet luer end, and

an outlet projection comprising an outlet opening and an outlet channel in fluid communication with the outlet; and

a chamber being located between the inlet and the outlet and comprising an interior volume,

wherein each of the inlet projection and the outlet projection extends towards a central region of the chamber such that at least a portion of the inlet projection overlaps and is in contact with at least a portion of the outlet projection within the internal volume of the chamber, and

wherein the bubble trap is configured to inhibit a flow of gas from the inlet to the outlet.

2. The inline bubble trap of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is configured to trap gas that flows into the bubble trap.

3. The inline bubble trap of claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening of the outlet projection is positioned at a central region of the chamber.

4. The inline bubble trap of claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening is positioned at a central region of the chamber.

5. The inline bubble trap of claim 1 , wherein every flow path from the inlet opening to the outlet opening includes a bend.

6. The inline bubble trap of claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are on opposite ends of the chamber.

7. A medical fluid transfer system configured to trap air during the transfer of medical fluids, the medical fluid transfer system comprising:

a fluid transfer device configured to transfer fluid from a fluid source to a fluid destination; and

the inline bubble trap of claim 1 ,

wherein the bubble trap is configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid transfer device, a fluid source, and a fluid destination, and

wherein the bubble trap is configured to inhibit a transfer of gas from the fluid source, through the outlet of the bubble trap, and into the fluid destination.

8. The inline bubble trap of claim 7 , wherein the bubble trap is in fluid communication with the fluid source.

9. The inline bubble trap of claim 7 , wherein the bubble trap is in fluid communication with the fluid destination.

10. The inline bubble trap of claim 7 , wherein the inlet luer end comprises a male luer end.

11. The inline bubble trap of claim 7 , wherein the outlet luer end comprises a female luer end.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 31, 2022
From: ICU MEDICAL, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 059618/0412 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: FANGROW, THOMAS F.; HACHEY, JAY
To: ICU MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 056051/0509 →