Disposable cartridge for a blood perfusion system

1. A method of circulating a patient's blood through an extracorporeal blood perfusion system, the extracorporeal blood perfusion system having a cardiopulmonary circuit for receiving venous blood from a patient, oxygenating the blood and returning the oxygenated blood to the patient, a cardioplegia circuit for delivering a cardioplegia solution to the patient, and a suction circuit for withdrawing blood or fluids patient's heart vasculature surgical site, the perfusion system having a control unit for controlling flow of fluids in one or more of the circuits, the method comprising:

providing a disposable cartridge having a housing including a first side formed from a first rigid portion and a second side formed from a second flexible portion, the housing defining at least a portion of a plurality of internal passageways between the first and second sides including, a first internal passageway, a second internal passageway and a third internal passageway;

connecting the first internal passageway to the cardiopulmonary circuit;

connecting the second internal passageway to the cardioplegia circuit, such that the second internal passageway forms at least a portion of the cardioplegia circuit;

connecting the third internal passageway to the suction circuit, such that the third internal passageway forms at least a portion of the suction circuit; and

connecting the cardiopulmonary circuit to receive venous blood from the patient and to return oxygenated blood to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the disposable cartridge further comprises a filter positioned in at least one of the plurality of internal passageways; and

wherein the method further comprises filtering fluid flowing through the filter.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the disposable cartridge further comprises a bubble trap configured for removing bubbles from fluid in at least one of the plurality of internal passageways; and

wherein the method further comprises flowing fluid through the bubble trap to remove bubbles therefrom.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a translucent material configured to allow viewing of fluid in the internal passageways.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the disposable cartridge further comprises at least one valve interconnected to at least two of the plurality of internal passageways, the valve being configured for selectively preventing fluid flow in at least one of the plurality of internal passageways; and

wherein the method further comprises flowing fluid through the valve to selectively prevent fluid flow in at least one of the plurality of internal passageways.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a plurality of fluid inlet ports and outlet ports.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing further defines an internal reservoir fluidly connected to at least one of the internal passageways.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposable cartridge further comprises a sample port configured for withdrawing a fluid sample from at least one of the plurality of internal passageways; and wherein the method further comprises withdrawing a fluid sample from the sample port.

9. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit of the perfusion system includes at least one fluid pressure sensor, wherein the disposable cartridge further includes at least one pressure sensing station connected to at least one of the plurality of internal passageways, the pressure sensing station being configured to interface with the pressure sensor on the control unit through the flexible portion of the housing; and

wherein the method further comprises interfacing the pressure sensing station with the pressure sensor on the control unit through the flexible portion of the housing.