JP2007014502A - Bubble removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bubble removing device capable of securely preventing liquid from leaking out of a bubble removing device. <P>SOLUTION: The bubble removing device 1A is the device for removing bubble in the extracorporeally circulating blood. The bubble removing device 1A comprises a device body 40 with an internal space into which the blood flows, a bubble reservoir chamber 5 disposed on the upper side of the device body 40 for temporarily storing the bubble floating from the device body 40, a negative pressure chamber 8 disposed on the upper side of the bubble reservoir chamber 5 and connected to a deaerating means to be held in the negative pressure, a first filter 9 disposed to separate the bubble reservoir chamber from the negative pressure chamber 8 for permitting passage of gas but preventing passage of the blood, and a liquid reservoir chamber 15 communicating with the negative pressure chamber 8, capable of storing the liquid leaking out of the negative pressure chamber 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bubble removing device that removes bubbles in blood circulating outside the body.

  For example, in cardiac surgery, extracorporeal blood is obtained by operating a blood pump to remove blood from a patient's vein (vena cava), performing gas exchange with an artificial lung, and then returning this blood to the patient's artery again. Circulation takes place.

  Such a circuit for extracorporeal blood circulation (extracorporeal circuit) is provided with a bubble removing device that removes (separates) bubbles that have flowed into the blood that has been removed. This bubble removing device has a housing and a bubble outlet provided at the upper part of the housing and connected to the deaeration means, applies centrifugal force to the blood flow, collects bubbles in the center of the housing, and further by buoyancy. It is known that air bubbles are collected at the upper part of the housing and then removed from the air bubble outlet by deaeration means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, this bubble removing device has a problem that water vapor from the blood becomes a liquid, and the liquid may flow out of the bubble removing device through the bubble outlet. For this reason, there is a possibility that the liquid may enter a suction wall of an operating room as a degassing means, which is one of medical gas piping facilities, and the medical gas piping facility may fail.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-8562

  The objective of this invention is providing the bubble removal apparatus which can prevent reliably that a liquid flows out of the exterior of a bubble removal apparatus.

Such an object is achieved by the present inventions (1) to (14) below.
(1) A bubble removing device for removing bubbles in blood circulating outside the body,
A device body having an internal space into which blood flows;
A bubble storage chamber that is provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body and temporarily stores bubbles floating from the apparatus main body;
A negative pressure chamber provided on the upper side of the bubble storage chamber, connected to a deaeration means and maintained at a negative pressure;
A filter member provided so as to separate the bubble storage chamber and the negative pressure chamber, permitting the passage of gas, and blocking the passage of blood;
A bubble removing apparatus comprising: a liquid storage chamber that communicates with the negative pressure chamber and that can store liquid flowing out of the negative pressure chamber.

  (2) The bubble removing device according to (1), wherein the negative pressure chamber has a flat shape and is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.

  (3) The bubble removing device according to (2), wherein the liquid storage chamber is provided on a lower side of the inclined negative pressure chamber.

  (4) The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the filter member is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.

(5) The negative pressure chamber and the liquid storage chamber are connected by a connecting pipe,
The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein a bottom surface of the connecting pipe and a top surface of the filter member are located on substantially the same plane.

  (6) The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (5), further including a deaeration port through which the gas in the negative pressure chamber is discharged.

  (7) The bubble removal apparatus according to (6), wherein the deaeration port is provided in the negative pressure chamber.

  (8) The bubble removal apparatus according to (6), wherein the deaeration port is provided in the liquid storage chamber.

  (9) The bubble removing device according to any one of (6) to (8), wherein a check valve is provided at the deaeration port.

  (10) The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the liquid storage chamber is provided with a discharge port capable of discharging the stored liquid.

  (11) The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the internal space of the apparatus main body has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.

  (12) In the above (11), which has an inflow port which is provided substantially in the tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the internal space and introduces blood into the internal space so that the blood forms a swirling flow in the internal space. The bubble removing apparatus described.

  (13) The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the device main body has a frustoconical portion with an inner diameter gradually decreasing upward.

(14) The first communication portion that allows the bubble near the top of the device main body to communicate with the bubble storage chamber, and the bubbles floating from the device main body pass through,
A second communication portion for communicating the vicinity of the peripheral wall portion of the apparatus main body with the bubble storage chamber;
The bubble rising from the device main body flows into the bubble storage chamber through the first communication portion, and the blood in the bubble storage chamber returns to the device main body through the second communication portion. The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (13).

  According to the present invention, the liquid in the negative pressure chamber (for example, water condensed through the filter member) can be reliably captured in the liquid storage chamber, so that the liquid flows out of the bubble removing device. Can be surely prevented.

  When the filter member is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the liquid (water droplet) flows down along the filter surface, and the liquid can be reliably stored in the liquid storage chamber. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the liquid from flowing out of the bubble removing device.

  In addition, when the negative pressure chamber and the liquid storage chamber are connected by a connecting pipe, and the bottom surface of the connecting pipe and the top surface of the filter member are located on substantially the same plane, the liquid is on the top surface of the filter member. To the bottom surface of the connecting pipe, so that the liquid can be reliably discharged toward the liquid storage chamber.

  Hereinafter, the bubble removing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a first embodiment of the bubble removing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A (bottom view) in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a line BB in FIG. Sectional drawing and FIG. 4 are figures which show an example of the extracorporeal circulation apparatus using the bubble removal apparatus shown in FIG. For convenience of explanation, the upper side in FIG. 1 is referred to as “upper” or “upper”, and the lower side is referred to as “lower” or “lower”.

  The bubble removing apparatus 1A shown in these drawings is for removing bubbles in blood circulating outside the body. The air bubble removing device 1A of the present invention does not circulate blood in the patient's heart and does not exchange gas in the patient's body. The extracorporeal circulation in which blood is circulated in the patient's heart and gas exchange is also performed in the patient's body. Can also be used.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the bubble removing device 1A will be described mainly with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the bubble removing device 1 </ b> A is provided on the upper side of the device main body 40, the bubble storage chamber 5 provided on the upper side of the device main body 40 (the swirl flow forming chamber 2), and the bubble storage chamber 5. A negative pressure chamber 8, a liquid storage chamber 15 communicating with the negative pressure chamber 8 via a connecting pipe 18, and a first filter (filter member (filter member)) provided to separate the bubble storage chamber 5 and the negative pressure chamber 8. Degassing membrane)) 9, a second filter 16 provided in the liquid storage chamber 15, and detection means 17 for detecting the liquid level of the blood in the bubble storage chamber 5.

  In addition, although the constituent material of the apparatus main body 40, the bubble storage chamber 5, the negative pressure chamber 8, the connection pipe 18, and the liquid storage chamber 15 is not specifically limited, For example, a polycarbonate, an acrylic resin, a polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polystyrene, A relatively hard resin material such as polyvinyl chloride, an acrylic-styrene copolymer, and an acrylic-butadiene-styrene copolymer is preferable. Moreover, a substantially transparent material is preferable so that the state of internal blood and the like can be visually confirmed.

  The apparatus main body 40 discharges the swirl flow forming chamber 2, the inlet 3 for introducing blood into the swirl flow forming chamber 2 (internal space), and the blood in the swirl flow forming chamber 2 to the outside of the bubble removing device 1A. It has the outflow port 4, the 1st communication part 6 and the 2nd communication part 7 which connect the swirl | vortex flow formation chamber 2 and the bubble storage chamber 5. As shown in FIG.

  The swirl flow forming chamber 2 has a rotating body-shaped internal space, that is, a space in which the cross-sectional shape is substantially circular, and is a room for forming a swirl flow in the inflowing blood. The bubble removing device 1A is used in a posture in which the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 is set in the vertical direction (vertical direction). Therefore, hereinafter, a plane perpendicular to the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 is referred to as a horizontal plane.

  The swirl flow forming chamber 2 includes a disk-shaped enlarged diameter portion 21 located at substantially the same height as the inlet 3, a frustoconical portion 22 provided on the upper side (upper part) of the enlarged diameter portion 21, and an enlarged diameter portion. It is comprised with the trunk | drum 23 provided in 21 lower side (lower part).

  The internal space of the truncated cone portion 22 has a substantially truncated cone shape whose inner diameter gradually decreases upward. In the illustrated configuration, the internal space of the frustoconical portion 22 has an almost perfect truncated cone shape. However, in the present invention, the internal space of the frustoconical portion 22 may not be completely frustoconical. The peripheral surface may be rounded in a side view.

  The internal space of the enlarged diameter portion 21 has a substantially disk shape whose inner diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the lower end of the truncated cone portion 22.

  The internal space of the trunk portion 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape (substantially columnar shape) whose inner diameter is smaller than that of the enlarged diameter portion 21. The lower part of the trunk | drum 23 has comprised the funnel shape, and the outflow port 4 protrudes and is formed in the lower end.

  The inflow port 3 is provided so as to protrude in a substantially tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 21 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 (see FIG. 2).

  By the apparatus main body 40 having such a configuration, the blood flowing into the swirl flow forming chamber 2 from the inlet 3 can surely form a swirl flow.

  The bubble storage chamber 5 is a room for temporarily storing bubbles that have risen from the swirl flow forming chamber 2. The bubble storage chamber 5 is filled with blood when the blood flowing into the swirl flow forming chamber 2 contains no bubbles.

  The bubble storage chamber 5 has a substantially disk-shaped internal space. The upper surface of the bubble storage chamber 5 is separated (covered) by the first filter 9. By making the bubble storage chamber 5 substantially disk-shaped, it is possible to secure a large area of the first filter 9 while reducing the filling amount (priming volume), and to reduce the remaining bubbles when filling the priming liquid. It can be surely prevented. The shape of the bubble storage chamber 5 is not limited to a substantially disc shape, and may be a polygonal plate shape.

  The central axis 50 of the bubble storage chamber 5 is eccentric to the left side in FIG. 1 with respect to the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. This makes it easier for bubbles flowing into the bubble storage chamber 5 to gather on one side (eccentric side, left side in FIG. 1) of the bubble storage chamber 5, so that the bubbles can efficiently pass through the first filter 9. it can.

  Further, the central axis 50 of the bubble storage chamber 5 is inclined with respect to the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. The direction of the inclination is such that the height of the bubble storage chamber 5 increases as the distance from the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 increases. Thereby, bubbles that have flowed into the bubble storage chamber 5 can be collected smoothly and quickly on one side of the bubble storage chamber 5.

  The inclination angle α of the central axis 50 of the bubble storage chamber 5 with respect to the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 0 to 50 °, and preferably about 5 to 20 °. More preferred.

  The bottom surface 51 of the bubble storage chamber 5 has a mortar shape in which the depth gradually increases toward the center.

  The vicinity of the top of the frustoconical portion 22 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 communicates with the bubble storage chamber 5 via the first communication portion 6. The 1st communication part 6 is comprised by the circular opening formed in the bottom face 51 of the bubble storage chamber 5 (refer FIG. 3).

  When blood forms a swirl flow in the swirl flow forming chamber 2, bubbles in the blood gather at the center due to the density difference between the gas and liquid due to the action of centrifugal force. The air bubbles gathered at the center part are further lifted by buoyancy and flow into the air bubble storage chamber 5 through the first communication part 6 (see the dotted line in FIG. 1).

  Bubbles that flow into the bubble storage chamber 5 gather to the higher portion (left side in FIG. 1) of the bubble storage chamber 5 due to buoyancy.

  The swirl flow forming chamber 2 and the bubble storage chamber 5 are further in communication with each other via the second communication portion 7. The second communication portion 7 is open near the left peripheral wall portion (mountain portion) of the truncated cone portion 22 in FIG. The second communication portion 7 communicates the bubble storage chamber 5 on the opposite side of the first communication portion 6 and the peripheral wall portion of the frustoconical portion 22 via the central shaft 50.

  Since the volume of the bubble storage chamber 5 is naturally constant, when the bubbles that have risen from the swirl flow forming chamber 2 flow into the bubble storage chamber 5 through the first communication portion 6, they are replaced by the same bubbles. Only blood needs to return from the bubble storage chamber 5 to the swirl flow forming chamber 2.

  In the present invention, by providing the second communication portion 7, the bubbles floating from the swirl flow forming chamber 2 flow into the bubble storage chamber 5 through the first communication portion 6, so that the inside of the bubble storage chamber 5 Blood can return to the swirl flow forming chamber 2 through the second communication portion 7 (see the dotted line in FIG. 1).

  Therefore, when the bubbles rising from the swirl flow forming chamber 2 flow into the bubble storage chamber 5, the order of the truncated cone portion 22 → the first communication portion 6 → the bubble storage chamber 5 → the second communication portion 7 → the truncated cone portion 22. Since the flow in one direction can be formed by the path, the bubbles in the swirl flow forming chamber 2 can be efficiently and smoothly introduced into the bubble storage chamber 5. In addition, since the unidirectional flow is formed, it is possible to prevent the blood from staying in the bubble storage chamber 5, so that a secondary effect that blood coagulation hardly occurs can be obtained.

  Further, since the second communication portion 7 communicates with the peripheral wall portion of the frustoconical portion 22, the vicinity of the outlet of the second communication portion 7 is relatively close to the central axis 20. Therefore, since the flow velocity of the swirling flow is relatively slow near the outlet of the second communication portion 7, the blood from the second communication portion 7 does not flow backward or disturb the swirling flow, and does not flow inside the frustoconical portion 22. Can enter smoothly.

  The outlet of the second communication part 7 may be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the peripheral wall of the frustoconical part 22 in plan view, and matched to the tangential direction of the peripheral wall of the frustoconical part 22, that is, the direction of the swirl flow You may face the direction.

  Unlike the present invention, if there is no second communication portion 7, when the bubbles in the swirl flow forming chamber 2 try to flow into the bubble storage chamber 5 through the first communication portion 6, the bubbles are exchanged. Since the blood returning from the storage chamber 5 to the swirl flow forming chamber 2 passes through the first communication part 6 in the opposite direction to the bubbles, the flow in the vicinity of the first communication part 6 is disturbed, and the smooth passage of the bubbles is inhibited. Will end up.

  In the present embodiment, a groove 53 whose depth is one step deeper than the bottom surface 51 is formed in a portion opposite to the first communication portion 6 through the central shaft 50. The inclined surface 52 that is the bottom surface of the groove 53 continues to the second communication portion 7 and is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to descend toward the second communication portion 7. By providing the inclined surface 52, the blood in the bubble storage chamber 5 can flow more smoothly and quickly to the second communication portion 7.

  The inclination angle β of the inclined surface 52 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0 to 90 °, and more preferably 5 to 40 °.

  The first filter 9 is a membrane member configured to pass air (gas) but not blood. The surface of the first filter 9 (the same applies to the second filter 16) is preferably hydrophobized or is a hydrophobic film (hydrophobic film).

  Examples of the constituent material of the hydrophobic film include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene (FEP), and a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA). , Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE), polypropylene (PP), etc. Can be mentioned. As the first filter 9, a material obtained by making these materials porous by a stretching method, a microphase separation method, an electron beam etching method, a sintering method, argon plasma particles, or the like is preferably used.

  Moreover, the method of the said hydrophobization process is not specifically limited, For example, the method etc. which coat the constituent material which has hydrophobicity on the surface of the 1st filter 9 are mentioned.

  The first filter 9 is provided perpendicular to the central axis 50 of the bubble storage chamber 5. That is, the first filter 9 is inclined with respect to a plane (horizontal plane) perpendicular to the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. As a result, the bubbles flowing into the bubble storage chamber 5 move to one side (left side in FIG. 1) of the bubble storage chamber 5 along the inclination of the first filter 9, so that the bubbles can be collected more smoothly and quickly. it can.

  Moreover, since the 1st filter 9 accept | permits passage of the gas in the bubble storage chamber 5 as mentioned above, the water vapor | steam from the bubble storage chamber 5 can pass the 1st filter 9. FIG. The water vapor that has passed through the first filter 9 is condensed to become the liquid L, and along the inclination of the first filter 9, on the side opposite to the bubbles (right side in FIG. 1), that is, on the liquid storage chamber 15 side. Therefore, the liquid L can easily flow into the liquid storage chamber 15.

  The negative pressure chamber 8 is a room having a flat (flat) internal space formed by being separated from the bubble storage chamber 5 by the first filter 9. The negative pressure chamber 8 is provided concentrically with the bubble storage chamber 5. Therefore, the central axis of the negative pressure chamber 8 is also inclined with respect to the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. Thereby, the liquid L in the internal space of the negative pressure chamber 8 can move to the liquid storage chamber 15 side as described above, and thus the liquid L easily flows into the liquid storage chamber 15.

  Blood does not flow into the negative pressure chamber 8. That is, the upper surface 91 of the first filter 9 does not contact blood, and the lower surface 92 contacts blood.

  Bubbles (air) accumulated in the bubble storage chamber 5 pass through the first filter 9 and are sucked into the negative pressure chamber 8, and pass through the deaeration port 10A provided in the liquid storage chamber 15 to remove the bubbles. It is discharged to the outside of 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a connecting pipe 18 protruding from the negative pressure chamber 8 is provided below the inclined negative pressure chamber 8 (on the lower portion 81 side).

  There is no step between the bottom surface 181 of the connecting pipe 18 and the upper surface 91 of the first filter 9, that is, the bottom surface 181 of the connecting pipe 18 and the upper surface 91 of the first filter 9 are provided on the same plane. It is preferred that Thereby, it is possible to prevent the liquid L from staying in the negative pressure chamber 8, that is, the liquid L can smoothly flow from the upper surface 91 of the first filter 9 to the bottom surface 181 of the connecting pipe 18, Therefore, the liquid L can be reliably discharged toward the liquid storage chamber 15.

  The negative pressure chamber 8 is connected to (provided with) a liquid storage chamber 15 via a connecting pipe 18.

  The liquid storage chamber 15 includes a storage chamber main body 151, a discharge port 156, and a check valve 158.

  The storage chamber main body 151 is a part having a box shape. In the storage chamber main body 151, the liquid L (water droplets) in the negative pressure chamber 8 flows down along the upper surface 91 (surface) of the first filter 9, and the liquid L is stored in the storage chamber main body 151 (liquid storage chamber). 15) can be stored within. As a result, the liquid L is surely captured by the storage chamber main body 151, and thus the liquid L can be reliably prevented from flowing out of the bubble removing device 1A.

  In addition, a discharge port 156 that opens to the storage chamber body 151 is provided at a lower portion of the storage chamber body 151. The discharge port 156 can discharge the liquid L stored in the storage chamber main body 151. Thereby, the liquid L can be discharged from the liquid storage chamber 15 before the stored liquid L comes into contact (arrives) with the second filter 16, that is, before the liquid L accumulates excessively.

  The discharge port 156 is normally sealed by the cock 157 in the running state (external circulation state). However, for example, after the operation, the seal is released, that is, the cock 157 is operated and stored. The liquid L is removed.

  The check valve 158 is provided in the discharge port 156. The check valve 158 is a valve element configured to allow only the flow of fluid to the cock 157 side. Thereby, for example, when the cock 157 is opened (opened), it is possible to prevent outside air from flowing into the storage chamber main body 151.

  In this embodiment, the check valve 158 is a duckbill valve (see FIG. 1). However, the check valve 158 is not limited to this, and is configured to allow only the flow of fluid to the cock 157 side. Any valve body can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical deaeration port 10 </ b> A protrudes from the upper portion 155 of the storage chamber main body 151.

  By providing such a deaeration port 10A, for example, a tube of a deaeration means (not shown) can be easily and reliably connected to the deaeration port 10A. And the inside of the liquid storage chamber 15 is maintained at a negative pressure, and the gas (air) in the negative pressure chamber 8 and the liquid storage chamber 15 is discharged from the deaeration port 10A. As the deaeration means, for example, wall suction in an operating room can be used. Wall suction is one of medical gas piping facilities such as oxygen, therapeutic air, nitrogen, and suction, and is a piping for suction (deaeration) installed on the wall of an operating room. In addition, a separate vacuum pump or the like may be used as the deaeration means.

Further, the protruding direction of the deaeration port 10 </ b> A is substantially the same as the protruding direction of the connecting pipe 18.
Further, a check valve 30 is installed near the boundary with the storage chamber main body 151 at the deaeration port 10A. The check valve 30 is a valve body configured to allow only the flow of gas to the deaeration means side. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the gas discharged by the deaeration means from flowing back to the negative pressure chamber 8, and thus it is possible to reliably remove the gas from the bubble removing device 1A. Further, the negative pressure state in the negative pressure chamber 8 and the liquid storage chamber 15 can be stably maintained.

  In the present embodiment, the check valve 30 is a duckbill valve (see FIG. 1), but is not limited to this, and is configured to allow only the flow of gas to the deaeration means. Any valve body may be used.

  A second filter 16 is installed in the liquid storage chamber 15. The second filter 16 is a membrane member that is substantially the same as the first filter 9 and that is configured to pass air (gas) and not liquid L.

  The 2nd filter 16 is provided in the upper part 155 side from the opening part 182 in which the connection pipe 18 of the storage chamber main body 151 opens. Thereby, the liquid L from the connecting pipe 18 can flow into the storage chamber body 151 without contacting the second filter 16. Therefore, the liquid L can be reliably stored in the storage chamber main body 151, and the liquid L can be more reliably prevented from flowing out of the bubble removing device 1A.

  The second filter 16 is substantially parallel to the first filter 9, that is, inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Since the second filter 16 is installed in such a posture, even if the liquid L touches the second filter 16, the second filter 16 is inclined (with an inclination angle β) along the second filter 16. Since the liquid L is quickly separated from the second filter 16, it is possible to prevent the ventilation capability (bubble removal capability) of the second filter 16 from being impaired.

  The second filter 16 is located above the first filter 9 in the thickness direction, that is, in the direction of the central axis 50. In other words, the second filter 16 has an uppermost end portion 161 positioned below the uppermost end portion 93 of the first filter 9, and a lowermost end portion 162 having the lowermost end portion 94 of the first filter 9. It is located at almost the same height.

  The first filter 9 and the second filter 16 are provided at different positions in the surface direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the central axis 50 (inclination direction). Thereby, the liquid L on the first filter 9 can be prevented from coming into contact with the second filter 16.

  In the present embodiment, the second filter 16 is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the second filter 16 may be omitted.

  In such a bubble removing device 1A, by providing the frustoconical portion 22 at the upper part of the swirl flow forming chamber 2, it is possible to collect bubbles using the centrifugal force and buoyancy efficiently, It can be efficiently sent to the bubble storage chamber 5 through the communication portion 6.

According to the knowledge of the present inventor, the bubbles gathered in the central portion by the action of the swirling flow in the swirling flow forming chamber 2 become a substantially cylindrical lump, and the bubble lump has a diameter of the inner diameter of the first communicating portion 6. It is formed so as to be d ₂ and generally the same. For this reason, the inner diameter d _{2 of} the first communication portion 6 and the maximum inner diameter of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 are approximate values, or the inner diameter d _{2 of} the first communication portion 6 is larger than the maximum inner diameter of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. Then, the bubble mass spreads in the swirl flow forming chamber 2 as a whole, and the gas-liquid separation efficiency decreases.

From this point of view, the ratio d ₂ between the inner diameter (maximum inner diameter) d ₁ of the trunk portion 23 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2 and the inner diameter of the first communication portion 6 is d ₁ : d ₂ = 1: 1 to 10 : 1 is preferable, and 2: 1 to 4: 1 is more preferable.

  Further, the apex angle θ of the truncated cone portion 22 is preferably 10 to 170 °, more preferably 30 to 150 °, and further preferably 40 to 120 °.

  If the apex angle θ of the frustoconical portion 22 is too large, the frustoconical portion 22 has a flat shape with a low height. Therefore, it becomes difficult to guide the bubbles to the bubble storage chamber 5 by effectively using buoyancy, and conversely. If the apex angle θ of the frustoconical portion 22 is too small, the height of the frustoconical portion 22 increases and the filling amount increases.

  In the body portion 23 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2, a disk 11 that acts to define the lower end of the bubble mass collected at the center, and a connecting member that connects the disk 11 to the bottom of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. 12 are installed. The disc 11 is installed in a posture perpendicular to the central axis 20 of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. The disk 11 is preferably installed concentrically with the swirl flow forming chamber 2, but may be eccentric.

  By providing the disk 11, the bubble mass is not formed below the disk 11, so that the collected bubbles can be more reliably prevented from flowing out from the outlet 4.

  The height of the upper surface of the disk 11 is substantially the same as or lower than the lower end 31 of the inlet 3. Thereby, the disc 11 does not obstruct the swirl flow formation.

  The diameter of the disk 11 is set to be approximately the same as or larger than the inner diameter of the first communication portion 6. As described above, since the diameter of the bubble mass is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the first communication portion 6, the diameter of the disk 11 is made larger than the inner diameter of the first communication portion 6 by setting the diameter of the disk 11 to be larger than that of the first communication portion 6. Since it becomes more than the diameter of a lump, it can prevent more reliably that a bubble lump is formed below the disc 11.

  The disc 11 is fixed to the upper end portion of the connecting member 12. The connecting member 12 is a cylindrical member having substantially the same diameter as the disk 11, and the lower end thereof is fixed to the bottom surface of the swirl flow forming chamber 2. A plurality of slits or openings are formed in the peripheral wall of the connecting member 12, and blood flows from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the connecting member 12 through the slits or openings, and further flows to the outlet 4.

  A filter that does not allow air bubbles to pass may be installed in the slit or opening of the connecting member 12. Further, the connecting member 12 may be a member such as a leg that simply supports the disk 11.

  The cross-sectional area of the donut-shaped (cylindrical) flow path formed between the outer peripheral surface of the disk 11 and the connecting member 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the body portion 23 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the inflow port 3. Increased. Thereby, the channel resistance in this donut-shaped channel can be reduced.

  The bubble removing device 1A is provided with detection means 17 for detecting the level of blood in the bubble storage chamber 5. This detection means 17 is comprised by the liquid level sensor (bubble sensor) 13 provided in the outer side of the upper surface 521 vicinity of the inclined surface 52 (groove 53) (refer FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid level sensor 13 includes an ultrasonic transmission unit (transmission unit) 131 and an ultrasonic reception unit (on the opposite side of the ultrasonic transmission unit (transmission unit) 131 via the groove 53 ( Receiving section) 132. The liquid level sensor 13 receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmission unit 131 by the ultrasonic wave reception unit 132, and utilizes the fact that the transmittance of the ultrasonic wave is different between the liquid (blood) and the gas (bubble). It is possible to detect whether there is blood (liquid phase) or bubbles (gas phase) between the ultrasonic transmitter 131 and the ultrasonic receiver 132. That is, when bubbles are accumulated in the bubble storage chamber 5 and the liquid level is lowered to the position of the liquid level sensor 13, the liquid level (liquid level) can be detected by the liquid level sensor 13.

  The ultrasonic transmission unit 131 and the ultrasonic reception unit 132 can also be used together. In this case, the ultrasonic transmission unit 131 and the ultrasonic reception unit 132 can be installed on one side of the groove 53 in the bottom view.

  Further, the liquid level sensor 13 is not limited to the ultrasonic type as described above, but may be another type such as an optical type.

  Next, an example of the extracorporeal circulation device 100 using the bubble removing device 1A will be described with reference to FIG.

  The extracorporeal circulation apparatus 100 includes a centrifugal pump (blood pump) 101 for feeding (transferring) blood, a blood removal line 102 connecting the suction port of the centrifugal pump 101 and the patient, and a discharge port of the centrifugal pump 101 and the patient. A blood supply line 103 to be connected, a bubble removing device 1A installed in the middle of the blood removal line 102, an artificial lung 104 installed in the middle of the blood supply line 103 to exchange gas with respect to blood, and a blood supply line 103 A flow meter 105 installed on the way, a recirculation line 106 that short-circuits and connects a blood removal line 102 near the suction port of the centrifugal pump 101 and a blood supply line 103 near the outlet of the artificial lung 104, and a line are configured. Clamps 107, 108 and 109 that open and close the flow path by sandwiching and opening the tube to be opened, and the detection signal of the liquid level sensor 13 installed in the bubble removing device 1A A control device for controlling the opening and closing state of the lamp 107, 108 and 109 (control means) and a 110.

  The clamp 107 is installed in the blood removal line 102 near the outlet 4 of the bubble removing device 1A, the clamp 108 is installed in the blood supply line 103 near the outlet of the oxygenator 104, and the clamp 109 is It is installed in the circulation line 106.

  Further, the deaeration port 10A of the bubble removing device 1A is connected to wall suction (deaeration means) via a deaeration line 111. A negative pressure regulator 112 that adjusts the pressure in the negative pressure chamber 8 is provided in the middle of the deaeration line 111.

  The control device 110 performs control so that the clamps 107 and 108 are opened and the clamp 109 is closed during normal times.

  When the centrifugal pump 101 is activated, blood removed from the patient via a blood removal catheter (not shown) passes through the blood removal line 102 and first flows into the inlet 3 of the bubble removing device 1A. In the bubble removing device 1A, the bubbles in the blood are removed as described above. The blood from which bubbles have been removed flows out from the outlet 4 of the bubble removing device 1A, passes through the centrifugal pump 101, and is sent to the oxygenator 104. In the artificial lung 104, the blood is subjected to gas exchange (oxygenated / decarboxylated gas). The blood after gas exchange is returned to the patient via a blood supply line 103 and a blood supply catheter (not shown).

  On the other hand, in the bubble removing apparatus 1A, when a predetermined amount of bubbles are accumulated in the bubble storage chamber 5, that is, when the liquid level of the blood is detected by the liquid level sensor 13, the control device 110 causes the clamp 107 to And 108 are closed and the clamp 109 is opened. As a result, the blood that has left the artificial lung 104 returns to the suction port of the centrifugal pump 101 again through the recirculation line 106. Therefore, blood repeatedly circulates (recirculates) through the annular flow path including the centrifugal pump 101 and the artificial lung 104.

  By performing this recirculation, it is possible to reliably prevent the bubbles in the bubble removing device 1A from being sent to the patient, and even if the centrifugal pump 101 continues to be driven, blood damage in the centrifugal pump 101 is prevented. Can be suppressed.

  During recirculation, the liquid level sensor 13 detected that the bubbles in the bubble storage chamber 5 were absorbed into the negative pressure chamber 8 and the amount of bubbles in the bubble storage chamber 5 was reduced or disappeared. When the blood level rises and the liquid level is not detected by the liquid level sensor 13, the control device 110 returns the clamps 107 and 108 to the open state and the clamp 109 to the closed state, so that the normal extracorporeal circulation state is established. Return to.

  Through the control as described above, the extracorporeal circulation device 100 can perform smooth and appropriate blood extracorporeal circulation while reliably preventing excessive accumulation of bubbles in the bubble storage chamber 5.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 5 is a sectional side view showing a second embodiment of the bubble removing apparatus of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the upper side in FIG. 5 is referred to as “upper” or “upper”, and the lower side is referred to as “lower” or “lower”.

Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the bubble removing device of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the description will focus on differences from the above-described embodiment, and the description of the same matters will be omitted.
The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the installation location of the deaeration port is different.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the bubble removing device 1 </ b> B, the deaeration port 10 </ b> B is formed to protrude from the upper part 82 of the negative pressure chamber 8. As a result, in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment, for example, the tube of the deaeration means can be easily and reliably connected to the deaeration port 10B, so that the inside of the negative pressure chamber 8 and the liquid storage chamber 15 is The negative pressure is maintained. In particular, the gas (air) in the negative pressure chamber 8 is discharged from the deaeration port 10A.

Further, the deaeration port 10 </ b> B protrudes in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the connecting pipe 18.
Further, a check valve 30 is installed in the deaeration port 10B in the vicinity of the storage chamber main body 151 side. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the gas discharged by the deaeration means from flowing back into the negative pressure chamber 8, and thus it is possible to reliably remove the gas from the bubble removing device 1B. In particular, the negative pressure state in the negative pressure chamber 8 can be stably maintained.

  As mentioned above, although the bubble removal apparatus of this invention was demonstrated about embodiment of illustration, this invention is not limited to this, Each part which comprises a bubble removal apparatus is arbitrary structures which can exhibit the same function. Can be substituted. Moreover, arbitrary components may be added.

  The liquid storage chamber may be provided with cooling means for cooling the liquid storage chamber. Thereby, water vapor | steam can be reliably condensed in a liquid storage chamber, Therefore It can prevent reliably that water vapor | steam passes a 2nd filter. Examples of the cooling means include providing a heat sink around the liquid storage chamber body and attaching a Peltier element.

  Moreover, the scale for grasping | ascertaining the quantity of the stored liquid may be provided in the liquid storage chamber.

It is a section side view showing a 1st embodiment of a bubble removal device of the present invention. It is A arrow directional view (bottom view) in FIG. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the extracorporeal circulation apparatus using the bubble removal apparatus shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional side view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the bubble removal apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B Bubble removal apparatus 2 Swirling flow formation chamber 20 Central axis 21 Expanded diameter part 22 Cone trapezoidal part 23 Body part 231 Bottom part 3 Inlet 31 Lower end 4 Outlet 5 Bubble storage chamber 50 Central axis 51 Bottom surface 52 Inclined surface 521 Upper part 53 Groove 6 First communication portion 7 Second communication portion 8 Negative pressure chamber 81 Lower portion 82 Upper portion 9 First filter (filter member)
91 Upper surface 92 Lower surface 93 Uppermost end portion 94 Lowermost end portion 10A, 10B Deaeration port 11 Disc 12 Connecting member 13 Liquid level sensor (bubble sensor)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 131 Ultrasonic transmitter 132 Ultrasonic receiver 15 Liquid storage chamber 151 Storage chamber main body 155 Upper part 156 Discharge port 157 Cock 158 Check valve 16 Second filter 161 Uppermost end 162 Lowermost end 17 Detection means 18 Connection pipe 181 Bottom surface 182 Opening 30 Check valve 40 Device body 100 Extracorporeal circulation device 101 Centrifugal pump 102 Blood removal line 103 Blood supply line 104 Artificial lung 105 Flow meter 106 Recirculation line 107, 108, 109 Clamp 110 Control device (control means)
111 Deaeration line 112 Negative pressure regulator L Liquid

Claims (14)

A bubble removing device for removing bubbles in blood circulating outside the body,
A device body having an internal space into which blood flows;
A bubble storage chamber that is provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body and temporarily stores bubbles floating from the apparatus main body;
A negative pressure chamber provided on the upper side of the bubble storage chamber, connected to a deaeration means and maintained at a negative pressure;
A filter member provided so as to separate the bubble storage chamber and the negative pressure chamber, permitting the passage of gas, and blocking the passage of blood;
A bubble removing apparatus comprising: a liquid storage chamber that communicates with the negative pressure chamber and that can store liquid flowing out of the negative pressure chamber.   The bubble removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure chamber has a flat shape and is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.   The bubble removing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the liquid storage chamber is provided on a lower side of the inclined negative pressure chamber.   The bubble removing device according to claim 1, wherein the filter member is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. The negative pressure chamber and the liquid storage chamber are connected by a connecting pipe,
The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a bottom surface of the connecting pipe and a top surface of the filter member are located on substantially the same plane.   The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a deaeration port through which the gas in the negative pressure chamber is discharged.   The bubble removal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the deaeration port is provided in the negative pressure chamber.   The bubble removal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the deaeration port is provided in the liquid storage chamber.   The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a check valve is provided at the deaeration port.   The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the liquid storage chamber is provided with a discharge port through which the stored liquid can be discharged.   The bubble removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the internal space of the device main body has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.   The bubble removal according to claim 11, further comprising an inflow port that is provided substantially in a tangential direction of an inner peripheral surface of the internal space and introduces blood into the internal space so that blood forms a swirling flow in the internal space. apparatus.   The bubble removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the device main body has a frustoconical portion with an inner diameter gradually decreasing upward. A first communication part through which bubbles near the top of the apparatus main body communicate with the bubble storage chamber, and bubbles floating from the apparatus main body pass;
A second communication portion for communicating the vicinity of the peripheral wall portion of the apparatus main body with the bubble storage chamber;
The bubble rising from the device main body flows into the bubble storage chamber through the first communication portion, and the blood in the bubble storage chamber returns to the device main body through the second communication portion. Item 14. The bubble removing device according to any one of Items 1 to 13.

Images