JP2007275473A - Bubble removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bubble removing device capable of efficiently and surely removing bubbles in blood which circulates extracorporeally. <P>SOLUTION: The bubble removing device 1A has a device body 40A where the blood flows in, a negative pressure room 8 kept in negative pressure, first and second communicating parts 6 and 7 for communicating the device body 40A and the negative pressure room 8, a filter material 9 mounted to cover the first communicating part 6, a float 20 which is mounted movably to the vertical direction in the device body 40A and moves according to the change of the liquid surface height H of the blood in the device body 40A, and a valve structure 5 for opening and closing the second communicating part 7 according to the movement of the float 20, and when the bubble flows in the device body 40A with the blood, the bubble goes through the first communicating part 6 by the movement of the valve structure 5 and flows in the negative pressure room 8 to deaerate as the second communicating part 7 is closed, but the bubble passes through the second communicating part 7 prior to the first communicating part 6 with the movement of the valve structure 5 and flows into the negative pressure room 8 to deaerate as the second communicating part 7 is opened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,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, an extracorporeal blood circulation in which a blood pump is operated to remove blood from a patient's vein (vena cava), exchange gas with an artificial lung, and then return this blood to the patient's artery again. Done.

  A circuit (extracorporeal circuit) that performs such extracorporeal blood circulation is provided with a bubble removing device (blood filter) that removes (separates) bubbles that have flowed into the blood that has been removed. As this bubble removal apparatus, it has a housing and the filter member (filter element) accommodated in the housing (for example, refer patent document 1). In addition, the housing includes an inflow port through which blood flows into the housing, an outflow port through which blood in the housing flows out, and a bubble outlet (removal port) that is connected to deaeration means and degassed air bubbles in the housing. ) And protruding. In the bubble removing device described in Patent Document 1, when blood flowing in from an inflow port passes through a filter member, bubbles are separated from the blood by the filter member. The separated bubbles rise in the housing and are stored in the upper space in the housing until a certain amount is reached. At this time, a bubble sensor (air sensor) installed in the housing detects bubbles. When a bubble is detected, the deaeration means is activated and the bubble is degassed (removed) from the bubble outlet.

  In the bubble removing device described in Patent Document 1, the bubble sensor cannot detect that bubbles are stored in the upper space until a certain amount of bubbles is stored in the upper space of the housing. For this reason, in the housing, the bubbles remain in the upper space without being removed. As described above, in the bubble removing device of Patent Document 1, the efficiency of removing bubbles in the blood in the device is reduced. In addition, when the extracorporeal circulation was continued while the bubbles remained in the upper space, the blood contacted the bubbles, and thus the blood was activated (damaged). In addition, when extracorporeal circulation is continued in the same state, there is a problem that bubbles in the upper space are re-engaged in the blood passing through the filter member and may flow out from the outlet together with the blood.

US Pat. No. 6,302,860

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bubble removing device that can efficiently and reliably remove bubbles in blood circulating outside the body.

Such an object is achieved by the present inventions (1) to (16) below.
(1) A bubble removing device for removing bubbles in blood circulating outside the body,
A device body into which blood flows,
A negative pressure chamber provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body, connected to a deaeration means for sucking gas and kept at a negative pressure;
A first communication portion and a second communication portion capable of communicating the apparatus main body and the negative pressure chamber;
A filter member that is provided so as to cover the first communication portion, and that allows passage of gas in the apparatus body and prevents passage of blood in the apparatus body;
A float which is installed in the apparatus main body so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction, and moves according to a change in the liquid level of blood in the apparatus main body;
A valve mechanism that opens and closes the second communication part with the movement of the float;
When air bubbles flow into the apparatus body together with blood, the air bubbles pass through the first communication portion and flow into the negative pressure chamber when the second communication portion is closed by the operation of the valve mechanism. When the second communication portion is opened by the operation of the valve mechanism, the second communication portion passes through the second communication portion preferentially over the first communication portion and flows into the negative pressure chamber. Then, the bubble removing device is configured to be deaerated.

  (2) When the position of the float rises beyond a reference position, the valve mechanism closes the second communication part, and when the position of the float drops below the reference position, The bubble removing apparatus according to (1), wherein the second communication part is opened.

  (3) The bubble removing device according to (1) or (2), wherein the valve mechanism is configured to be capable of adjusting a flow rate of the gas passing through the second communication portion in the opened state.

  (4) The valve mechanism includes a needle portion having a substantially conical or pyramidal apex portion, and a ring-shaped elasticity installed along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral portion of the second communication portion. The outer peripheral surface of the top portion is in close contact with the elastic body to close the second communication portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the top portion is separated from the elastic body to thereby reduce the second communication portion. The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the bubble removing device is configured to open.

  (5) The bubble removing device according to (4), further including a link mechanism that connects the needle portion and the float, the needle portion and the float being located at different locations in the horizontal direction. .

  (6) The device body is provided with a swirling flow forming portion having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape and a substantially tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the swirling flow forming portion, and blood is swirled in the swirling flow forming portion. The inflow according to any one of the above (1) to (5), which has an inflow port for introducing blood into the swirl flow forming portion so as to form an inflow, and an outflow port provided below the swirl flow formation portion. Bubble removal device.

  (7) The apparatus main body has a partition wall portion provided in the swirl flow forming portion along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface with a gap between the inner peripheral surface and the inner side of the partition wall portion. The bubble removing apparatus according to (6), wherein the float moves.

  (8) The bubble removing device according to (7), wherein the partition wall has a through-hole penetrating the partition.

  (9) The bubble removing device according to (8), wherein the through hole is located below the partition wall.

  (10) The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the filter member is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.

  (11) The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the float is formed of a hollow body.

  (12) The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (11), further including posture maintaining means for maintaining the posture of the float.

  (13) The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (12), further including an antifoaming member carrying an antifoaming agent.

  (14) The bubble removing device according to (13), wherein the defoaming member is installed in the vicinity of the device main body side of the second communication portion.

  (15) The bubble removing apparatus according to (13) or (14), wherein the defoaming member is installed in the vicinity of the negative pressure chamber side of the second communication portion.

  (16) The bubble removing device according to any one of (1) to (15), wherein the negative pressure chamber is provided with a check valve that allows only a flow of gas toward the deaeration means.

  According to the present invention, since the valve mechanism operates according to the blood level in the bubble removing device, regardless of the amount of bubbles flowing into the bubble removing device, Air bubbles can be efficiently and reliably removed. Thereby, activation (damage) of blood due to contact with bubbles can be reliably suppressed.

  Further, when the defoaming member is installed in the vicinity of the apparatus main body side and / or in the vicinity of the negative pressure chamber side of the second communication part, the bubbles that have broken and the blood constituting the outer periphery of the bubbles is Returning to the main body, only air (gas) in the bubbles can be removed.

  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>
1 and 2 are partial longitudinal sectional views showing a first embodiment of the bubble removing device of the present invention (FIG. 1 shows a state where the second communication portion is closed, and FIG. 2 shows the second communication portion). 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an example of an extracorporeal circulation device using the bubble removing device shown in FIG. 1 (also in FIG. 2). FIG. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the upper side in FIGS. 1 and 2 (the same applies to FIGS. 4 and 5) is referred to as “upper” and the lower side is referred to as “lower”.

  A bubble removing device (bubble trap) 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.

  The bubble removing apparatus 1A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a device main body 40A into which blood flows, a negative pressure chamber 8 provided on the upper side of the device main body, an antifoaming member 10 installed in the negative pressure chamber 8, A check valve 30a and 30b, a first communication part 6 and a second communication part 7 capable of communicating the apparatus main body 40A and the negative pressure chamber 8, and a filter provided so as to cover the first communication part 6 A member 9; a valve mechanism 5 that opens and closes the second communication portion 7; a float 20 that is movably installed in the apparatus main body 40A; and a link mechanism 16 that connects the valve mechanism 5 and the float 20 to each other. And. In such a bubble removing device 1A, the second communicating portion 7 is normally closed (hereinafter referred to as “closed state”) by the operation of the valve mechanism 5, but a large amount of bubbles are formed together with blood. When it flows into the apparatus main body 40A, it is in an open state (hereinafter referred to as “open state”).

  The constituent materials of the apparatus main body 40A, the negative pressure chamber 8, the first communication portion 6, and the second communication portion 7 are not particularly limited. For example, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, 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.

Hereinafter, each part which comprises 1A of bubble removal apparatuses is demonstrated.
The apparatus main body 40A includes a swirling flow forming portion (outer tube) 2 having a bottomed cylindrical shape, a partition wall portion (inner tube) 13 provided in the swirling flow forming portion 2, and a swirling flow forming portion 2 (internal space). It has an inflow port 3 for introducing blood into it, and an outflow port 4 for discharging the blood in the swirl flow forming unit 2 to the outside of the bubble removing device 1A.

  The swirl flow forming unit 2 has a rotating body-shaped internal space, that is, an internal space having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and is a part that forms swirl flow on the blood that flows. The bubble removing device 1A is used in a posture in which the central axis (support shaft 17) of the swirling flow forming unit 2 is in the vertical direction (vertical direction).

  In the middle of the swirl flow forming portion 2 (near the center), a diameter-expanded portion 21 in which a part of its inner diameter and outer diameter is increased is formed. The enlarged diameter portion 21 is provided with an inflow port 3 so as to protrude in a substantially tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface 211 (see FIG. 3).

  By the apparatus main body 40A having such a configuration, the blood that has flowed into the swirl flow forming unit 2 from the inlet 3 can surely form a swirl flow.

  Further, an outlet 4 that protrudes downward is provided at the bottom (lower part) 24 of the swirl flow forming unit 2. The vicinity of the boundary portion 41 between the outlet 4 and the swirl flow forming portion 2 has a shape in which the inner diameter gradually decreases downward, that is, a funnel shape (converged shape). Thereby, the blood in the swirl | flow flow formation part 2 flows easily to the outflow port 4 side.

  Further, a lid portion 25 is provided in the vicinity of the upper side of the bottom portion 24 of the swirl flow forming portion 2 so as to cover the upper opening 42 of the outlet 4. The lid portion 25 includes a top plate 251 having a disk shape, and a connecting portion 252 that connects the top plate 251 and the bottom portion 24 of the swirl flow forming portion 2. The connecting portion 252 is formed along the entire circumference of the top plate 251. A plurality of holes 253 penetrating the connecting portion 252 are formed in the connecting portion 252 along the circumferential direction thereof. The blood in the swirl flow forming unit 2 reaches the outflow port 4 through each hole 253.

  A partition wall portion 13 is provided on the top plate 251 of the lid portion 25. The partition wall 13 has a cylindrical shape along the circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface 22 (inner circumferential surface 211) of the swirl flow forming portion 2. The partition wall portion 13 is provided concentrically with the swirl flow forming portion 2. Thereby, a gap 26 is formed between the outer peripheral surface 131 of the partition wall 13 and the inner peripheral surface 22 of the swirl flow forming unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 2), in the apparatus main body 40 </ b> A, the swirl flow is generated in the gap 26 and hardly or does not occur inside the partition wall portion 13.

  In addition, a plurality of through holes 132 penetrating the partition wall 13 are formed at positions where the height of the partition wall 13 is different from that of the enlarged diameter portion 21 (inlet 3) of the swirl flow forming unit 2, that is, at the lower part of the partition wall 13. Is formed. These through holes 132 are formed along the circumferential direction of the partition wall 13. The blood that has flowed into the swirl flow forming portion 2 can flow into the inside of the partition wall portion 13 through each through hole 132. As a result, the blood level in the gap 26 and the blood level inside the partition wall 13 are equal to each other. Accordingly, the blood level H as a whole in the apparatus main body 40A is reduced. It becomes uniform (see FIG. 2).

  In addition, since each through-hole 132 is provided in the lower part of the partition wall portion 13, blood can quickly flow into the partition wall portion 13 when blood first flows into the apparatus main body 40A. Further, when a large amount of air bubbles flows into the apparatus main body 40A together with the blood, and the liquid level H of the blood is lowered, the blood can quickly flow out of the partition wall 13.

  A float 20 is housed (positioned) inside the partition wall 13. The float 20 moves inside the partition wall 13 in accordance with the change in the liquid level H of the blood in the apparatus main body 40A.

  The float 20 is formed of a hollow body in which the outer shape is a columnar shape and a hollow portion (lumen portion) 201 is formed. Thereby, the float 20 is surely floated in the blood in the apparatus main body 40A. The float 20 is configured by a hollow body in the present embodiment, but is not limited thereto. For example, the float 20 may be configured by a solid substance as long as it floats in the blood in the apparatus main body 40A. There may be.

  Further, the upper portion 202 of the float 20 has a tapered shape whose outer diameter gradually decreases upward. The lower part 203 has a tapered shape in which the outer diameter gradually decreases downward in the same manner as the upper part 202. The intermediate portion 204 is formed with a constant outer diameter. Since the float 20 has such a shape, resistance to blood when the float 20 moves can be suppressed, and therefore, the float 20 can move reliably according to the change in the liquid level height H.

  Further, as described above, the swirl flow of blood hardly occurs or does not occur inside the partition wall portion 13. By positioning the float 20 inside the partition wall 13 as described above, it is prevented or suppressed from being affected by the swirling flow, such as when the float 20 is pulled downward by a vortex generated on the liquid surface. The Therefore, the float 20 reliably moves according to the change in the liquid level height H.

  The float 20 having such a configuration moves in the state shown in FIG. 1, that is, in a state in which almost the whole of the apparatus main body 40A is filled with blood and most of the liquid level is in contact with the lower surface 92 of the filter member 9. It is in the upper limit position within the possible range. In the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, in a state where a large amount of air bubbles flows into the apparatus main body 40A together with the blood, and the liquid level H is located below the state shown in FIG. 1 and is located below the state of FIG.

  The constituent material of the float 20 is not particularly limited. For example, the materials described in the description of the apparatus main body 40A can be used. In this case, the same material as that of the apparatus main body 40A may be used, or a different material may be used.

  Further, a support shaft 17 is provided in the apparatus main body 40A to insert the float 20 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). The support shaft 17 has a rod shape, and an upper end portion thereof is supported by a bearing 27 protruding from the inner peripheral surface 22 of the apparatus main body 40 </ b> A, and a lower end portion thereof is supported by a top plate 251 of the lid portion 25.

  The float 20 can reliably move in the vertical direction along the support shaft 17. Further, the support shaft 17 can reliably prevent, for example, horizontal movement (lateral movement in FIG. 1) due to the swirling flow of the float 20. Therefore, it can be said that the support shaft 17 has a function as a posture maintaining means for maintaining the posture of the float 20.

  The support shaft 17 may be formed integrally with the apparatus main body 40A, or may be formed separately from the apparatus main body 40A and joined to the apparatus main body 40A.

  On the upper side of the apparatus main body 40A, a negative pressure chamber 8 communicating with the inside of the apparatus main body 40A via the first communication part 6 and the second communication part 7 is provided. The negative pressure chamber 8 is formed integrally with the apparatus main body 40A. The negative pressure chamber 8 includes a first chamber 82 that communicates with the first communication portion 6, a second chamber 83 that communicates with the second communication portion 7, and a deaeration port 81.

  The deaeration port 81 communicates with the first communication part 6 via the first chamber 82 and communicates with the second communication part 7 via the second chamber 83. The deaeration port 81 is connected to deaeration means for sucking gas. 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. The negative pressure chamber 8 can be kept at a negative pressure by the operation of the deaeration means. Thereby, when air bubbles flow into the apparatus main body 40A together with the blood, the air bubbles pass through the first communication portion 6 and the second communication portion 7 in the open state (the state shown in FIG. 2). And is discharged (degassed) from the negative pressure chamber 8 (see the arrows of “bubble flow” in FIGS. 1 and 2). In addition, although it does not specifically limit as a magnitude | size of the negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber 8, For example, it is preferable that it is 250-350 mmHg.

  Further, check valves 30a and 30b are installed in the vicinity of the deaeration port 81 side (downstream side) of the first chamber 82 and the second chamber 83, respectively. The check valve 30a can reliably prevent the gas in the first chamber 82 sucked by the degassing means from flowing back into the first communication part 6 or flowing into the second chamber 83. . Thereby, gas can be reliably removed from 1A of bubble removal apparatuses. The check valve 30b is substantially the same as the check valve 30a.

  As each of the check valves 30a and 30b, for example, one constituted by a duckbill valve can be used. The check valves 30a and 30b are not limited to this, and may be any valve body as long as the check valves 30a and 30b are configured to allow only the flow of gas to the deaeration means.

  In the second chamber 83, the defoaming member 10 carrying the defoaming agent is installed in the vicinity of the second communication portion 7, that is, upstream of the check valve 30b. Thereby, a small space 831 is formed between the defoaming member 10 and the second communication portion 7. Bubbles that have flowed in from the open second communication portion 7 are temporarily stored in the small space 831. When the second chamber 83 (negative pressure chamber 8) is made of a substantially transparent material, the presence of bubbles stored in the small space 831 can be confirmed.

  The antifoaming agent carried on the defoaming member 10 has a function of breaking when bubbles come into contact. Typical examples thereof include silicone (compound type containing silica, oil type, etc.) and the like. Can be mentioned. Since such a defoaming member 10 is installed, the air bubbles stored in the small space 831 come into contact with the defoaming agent carried on the defoaming member 10 and are therefore surely broken. When the bubbles break, the blood constituting the outer periphery of the bubbles does not pass through the check valve 30b, and only the air (gas) in the bubbles passes through the check valve 30b. Thereby, the blood returns again into the apparatus main body 40A, and only air is removed from the bubble removing apparatus 1A. As a result, activation (damage) of blood due to contact with air can be suppressed.

  The antifoaming agent is supported on the antifoaming member 10 by, for example, impregnating, applying or spraying a liquid containing the antifoaming agent on the material and then drying. In addition, examples of the material of the defoaming member 10 include foams such as foamed polyurethane, foamed polyethylene, foamed polypropylene, and foamed polystyrene, meshes, woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and sintered bodies such as porous ceramics and resins. Various porous materials can be mentioned. Among them, it is preferable to use a material having relatively low blood passage resistance (pressure loss).

  On the lower side of the negative pressure chamber 8, that is, on the upper part of the apparatus main body 40A, a lower opening (first main body side opening) 61 that opens to the apparatus main body 40A side of the first communication portion 6 and a second communication. A lower opening (second main body side opening) 71 that opens to the apparatus main body 40A side of the portion 7 is formed.

  The filter member 9 is installed so as to cover the lower opening 61. The filter member 9 is a membrane member configured to pass the gas in the apparatus main body 40A and not to pass the blood in the apparatus main body 40A. The filter member 9 preferably has a hydrophobic surface or 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), a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), polypropylene (PP), etc. Can be mentioned. The filter member 9 is preferably made of these materials made porous by methods such as stretching, microphase separation, electron beam etching, sintering, and argon plasma particles.

  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 filter member 9 are mentioned.

  When air bubbles flow into the apparatus main body 40A together with blood, the air bubbles rise in the apparatus main body 40A, and further pass through the filter member 9 and are sucked into the negative pressure chamber 8, thereby degassing the negative pressure chamber 8. It is discharged to the outside of the bubble removing device 1A through the port 81.

  The filter member 9 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Thereby, the air bubbles rising in the apparatus main body 40A are moved to one side (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the apparatus main body 40A along the inclination (lower surface 92) of the filter member 9, that is, the first communication part 6 It moves toward the lower opening 61. For this reason, bubbles can be collected more smoothly and quickly.

  A box-shaped storage portion 28 is formed in the vicinity of the lower portion of the second communication portion 7 of the apparatus main body 40A (swirl flow forming portion 2). In the storage portion 28, a part of the valve mechanism 5 that opens and closes the second communication portion 7 and a part of the link mechanism 16 that connects the valve mechanism 5 and the float 20 are stored.

  The valve mechanism 5 has a needle part 51 and an elastic body 52 installed on the inner peripheral part of the second communication part 7.

  Moreover, the needle part 51 and the float 20 are located in a mutually different location in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the link mechanism 16 has an arm portion 163 that connects the needle portion 51 and the float 20.

  The needle portion 51 has a top portion 511 having a substantially conical shape (or a pyramid shape). The elastic body 52 has a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral portion of the second communication portion 7. With the needle portion 51 and the elastic body 52, the outer peripheral surface of the top portion 511 is in close contact with the elastic body 52, whereby the second communication portion 7 can be closed (see FIG. 1). In addition, the second communication portion 7 in the closed state is opened when the outer peripheral surface of the top portion 511 is separated from the elastic body 52 (see FIG. 2).

  The valve mechanism 5 having such a configuration can reliably deform (change) the second communication portion 7 between the closed state and the open state by its operation.

  One end portion 161 of the arm portion 163 is rotatably supported by the storage portion 28, and the other end portion 162 is connected to the float 20. Moreover, the lower part 512 of the needle part 51 is supported in the middle of the arm part 163 so that rotation is possible. When the float 20 moves in the vertical direction according to the change in the liquid level height H, the arm portion 163 rotates with the one end portion 161 as the rotation center (fulcrum). As the arm portion 163 rotates, the needle portion 5 moves in the vertical direction to approach / separate the elastic body 52, that is, the valve mechanism 5 opens and closes the second communication portion 7.

  In the valve mechanism 5, when the liquid level height H (the position of the float 20) rises above the reference height (reference position) S, the needle portion 51 rises with the rise of the float 20 and the elastic body 52. Close contact with. Thereby, the 2nd communication part 7 will be in a closed state. Further, when the liquid surface height H is lowered below the reference height S, the needle portion 51 is lowered and separated from the elastic body 52 as the float 20 is lowered. Thereby, the 2nd communication part 7 will be in an open state.

  In the bubble removing device 1A having the above-described configuration, when the bubbles flow into the device main body 40A together with the blood, the liquid level height H is displaced according to the amount of the bubble flowing in (accordingly). In the bubble removing device 1A, the second communication portion 7 is in the closed state, as described above, in the state where the bubbles flow in such a level that the liquid level height H does not become the reference height S or less (normal state). The state shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the bubbles sequentially pass through the filter member 9 and the first communication portion 6 and flow into the first chamber 82 of the negative pressure chamber 8. Bubbles flowing into the first chamber 82 pass through the check valve 30a and are deaerated from the deaeration port 81.

  Further, as described above, the bubble removing device 1A has the second communication portion 7 in a state where the bubbles flow in such a degree that the liquid level height H falls below the reference height S (a large amount of bubbles flow in). Is in an open state, that is, a state shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the bubbles in the apparatus main body 40 </ b> A include those that go to the first communication part 6 and those that go to the second communication part 7 in the open state as in the state shown in FIG. 1. . Since the second communication part 7 in the open state allows air bubbles to pass through more easily than the first communication part 6 covered with the filter member 9, most of the air bubbles in the apparatus main body 40A are opened. The second communication part 7 in the state passes preferentially over the first communication part 6. The bubbles (air) that have passed through the opened second communication portion 7 flow into the second chamber 83 and pass through the check valve 30b, and are further deaerated from the deaeration port 81. Further, the bubbles that have passed through the first communication part 6 are degassed from the deaeration port 81 as described above.

  With such a configuration, in the bubble removing device 1A, it is possible to efficiently and reliably remove bubbles in the blood circulating outside the body regardless of the amount of bubbles flowing into the bubble removing device 1A. Thereby, activation (damage) of blood due to contact with bubbles can be reliably suppressed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower portion 512 (connecting portion with the arm portion 163) of the needle portion 51 is connected to the other end portion 162 (float) of the arm portion 163 with respect to the one end portion 161 of the arm portion 163. 20). For this reason, the amount of movement of the needle portion 51 in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as “needle portion movement amount”) is smaller than the amount of movement of the float 20 in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as “float movement amount”). The ratio of the needle portion movement amount and the float movement amount is the ratio between the distance between the one end portion 161 and the lower portion 512 and the distance between the one end portion 161 and the other end portion 162. The ratio of the needle movement amount to the float movement amount (needle portion movement amount) / (float movement amount) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 1.0, for example, 0.2 to 0 .3 is more preferable.

  Further, the needle part movement amount is proportional to the float movement amount, that is, the inflow amount of bubbles. In the valve mechanism 5, the greater the inflow amount of bubbles, the greater the amount of movement of the needle portion, and the greater the distance between the needle portion 51 and the elastic body 52, that is, the greater the valve opening. Thus, in the valve mechanism 5, since the opening degree of the valve can be adjusted, the flow rate of bubbles (gas) passing through the second communication portion 7 can be adjusted.

  For example, when a large amount of air bubbles flows in, the opening degree of the valve increases, so that the air bubbles can easily pass through the second communication part 7, so that the air bubbles can be more efficiently removed from the air bubble removing device 1 </ b> A. It can be removed reliably.

  In addition, although it does not specifically limit as a constituent material of the needle part 51 and the arm part 163, For example, the material which was mentioned by description of 40 A of apparatus main bodies can be used.

  Further, the constituent material of the elastic body 52 is not particularly limited. For example, natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, hydrin rubber, Various rubber materials (especially those vulcanized) such as urethane rubber, silicone rubber, fluoro rubber, styrene, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polybutadiene, trans polyisoprene Various thermoplastic elastomers such as those based on fluorocarbons, fluororubbers, and chlorinated polyethylenes can be used, and one or more of these can be used in combination. Further, such a constituent material of the elastic body 52 can also be used as a constituent material of the needle portion 51.

  When an elastic material is used as the constituent material of the needle portion 51, the elastic body 52 may be made of a material harder than the needle portion 51 (for example, a material as described in the description of the apparatus main body 40A).

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

  The extracorporeal circulation apparatus 100 includes a centrifugal pump (blood pump) 101 for feeding blood (blood feeding), a blood removal line 102 connecting the suction port of the centrifugal pump 101 and the patient, a discharge port of the centrifugal pump 101, and the patient. A blood supply line 103, a bubble removing device 1 A installed in the middle of the blood removal line 102, and an artificial lung (artificial lung part) 104 installed in the middle of the blood delivery line 103 and performing gas exchange with blood. The flow meter 105 installed in the middle of the blood supply line 103 and the control device 110 for controlling the operation (rotation speed) of the centrifugal pump 101 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the extracorporeal circulation device 100, the blood returns to the patient via the blood removal line 102, the bubble removing device 1 </ b> A, the centrifugal pump 101, the artificial lung 104, the blood supply line 103, and the flow meter 105. That is, in the extracorporeal circulation device 100, blood flows in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

  The oxygenator 104 includes a blood inlet port (inlet) 104b through which blood flows into the oxygenator 104, a blood outlet port (outlet) 104a from which blood flows out of the oxygenator 104, a gas inlet port 104c, A gas outflow port (not shown), a heat medium inflow port 104d, and a heat medium outflow port 104e are formed to protrude. The artificial lung 104 has a hollow fiber membrane layer in which a large number of hollow fiber membranes having a gas exchange function are integrated, and a filter member provided on the outer peripheral portion of the hollow fiber membrane layer and having a function of trapping bubbles. Is stored.

  Further, the deaeration port 81 of the bubble removing device 1A is connected to a wall suction (a deaeration unit) 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.

  Further, the centrifugal pump 101 is provided with a rotating shaft (not shown) that rotates under the control of the control device 110. As a constituent material of the rotating shaft, for example, stainless steel can be used. Further, diamond-like carbon (DLC) may be deposited (coated) on the surface of the rotating shaft by, for example, ion deposition. Thereby, the abrasion of the surface of the said rotating shaft by rotating a rotating shaft can be suppressed or prevented. The thickness of the deposited diamond-like carbon layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 to 1.5 μm, and more preferably 0.7 to 1.3 μm, for example.

  Further, the blood removal line 102 is provided with a branch line 106 branched from the blood removal line 102 in the middle thereof. The blood supply line 103 is provided with a branch line 107 branched from the middle of the blood supply line 103 in substantially the same manner as the blood removal line 102. Each of these branch lines 106 and 107 is connected to a connector 108 such as a three-way stopcock at one end. Each connector 108 functions as, for example, a co-injection port for co-injecting a liquid such as a chemical into the line (circuit) of the extracorporeal circulation device 100.

  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 apparatus 1A, in the normal state, that is, in the state where bubbles flow into the liquid level height H not lower than the reference height S, the second communication portion 7 is in the closed state. In this way, bubbles in the blood are removed. 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, gas exchange (oxygenation / decarboxylation gas) is performed on blood. The blood that has undergone gas exchange (passed through the oxygenator 104) is returned to the patient via the blood supply line 103 (through the blood supply catheter (not shown)).

  On the other hand, in a state where a large amount of air bubbles have flowed into the air bubble removing device 1A, that is, in a state where air bubbles have flowed to such an extent that the liquid level height H falls below the reference height S, the second communication portion 7 is opened. In this state, bubbles in the blood are removed as described above.

  As described above, in the bubble removing device 1A, it is possible to efficiently and reliably remove the bubbles in the blood regardless of the amount of the bubbles flowing into the bubble removing device 1A. Thereby, activation (damage) of blood due to contact with bubbles in the bubble removing device 1A can be suppressed (reduced). As a result, also in the extracorporeal circulation apparatus 100, damage as a whole of blood circulating through the extracorporeal circulation apparatus 100 can be suppressed.

  As described above, the negative pressure chamber 8 is connected to the deaeration means and maintained at a negative pressure, that is, sucked. In the extracorporeal circulation device 100, it is preferable that a suction force is always applied to the negative pressure chamber 8.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view (a diagram showing a state where the second communication portion is opened) showing the second embodiment of the bubble removing device of the present invention.

  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.

  This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the installation position of the defoaming member is different.

  The apparatus main body 40B of the bubble removing apparatus 1B shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a defoaming member storage portion 29 for storing (installing) the defoaming member 10. The defoaming member storage portion 29 is located in the vicinity of the lower opening 71 of the second communication portion 7.

  The defoaming member storage unit 29 stores the defoaming member 10. The defoaming member 10 is installed on the outer peripheral portion 513 side of the needle portion 51 of the valve mechanism 5 so as to contact the outer peripheral portion 513. Thereby, the needle part 51 becomes like inserting the defoaming member 10.

  In the bubble removing apparatus 1B, the bubbles rising in the apparatus main body 40B pass through the defoaming member 10 while contacting the defoaming member 10 before passing through the open second communication portion 7. Become. Since the bubbles that have contacted the defoaming member 10 are broken, only the air in the bubbles passes through the second communicating portion 7 in the open state.

  With such a configuration, the bubbles break and the blood constituting the outer peripheral portion of the broken bubbles flows out to the deaeration port 81 and the deaeration means downstream from the deaeration port 81. There is an advantage that can be prevented.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view (a view showing a state where the second communication portion is opened) showing a third embodiment of the bubble removing apparatus of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the bubble removing device of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure. However, the difference from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same matters will be omitted.

  This embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except that the shape (size) of the defoaming member is different.

  The defoaming member 10 ′ of the bubble removing device 1 </ b> C shown in FIG. 5 is smaller in size than the defoaming member 10 described in the second embodiment. Accordingly, the overall size of the bubble removing device 1C is smaller than the bubble removing device 1B described in the second embodiment. Further, in such a bubble removing device 1C, most of the bubbles rising in the apparatus main body 40B are in contact with the defoaming member 10 ′, while the defoaming member 10 ′ and the outer peripheral portion 513 of the needle portion 51 are in contact with each other. May pass between. In this case, resistance by the defoaming member 10 ′ when air (bubbles) passes through the defoaming member 10 ′ is suppressed, and the air quickly reaches the second communication portion 7.

  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.

  Moreover, the bubble removal apparatus of the present invention may be a combination of any two or more configurations (features) of the above embodiments.

  For example, the defoaming member is installed on the negative pressure chamber side with respect to the second communication portion in the first embodiment, and with respect to the second communication portion in the second embodiment and the third embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be installed on the negative pressure chamber side and the apparatus main body side, for example.

It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view (figure which shows the state which the 2nd communication part closed) which shows 1st Embodiment of the bubble removal apparatus of this invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view (figure which shows the state which the 2nd communicating part opened) which shows 1st Embodiment of the bubble removal apparatus of this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-section (figure which shows the state which the 2nd communicating part opened) which shows 2nd Embodiment of the bubble removal apparatus of this invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view (The figure which shows the state which the 2nd communicating part opened) which shows 3rd Embodiment of the bubble removal apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the extracorporeal circulation apparatus using the bubble removal apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 2 is also the same).

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B, 1C Bubble removal device (bubble trap)
2 Swirl flow forming part (outer cylinder)
21 Expanded portion 211 Inner peripheral surface 22 Inner peripheral surface 24 Bottom (lower)
25 Lid 251 Top plate 252 Connecting part 253 Hole 26 Gap 27 Bearing 28 Storage part 29 Defoaming member storage part 3 Inlet 4 Outlet 41 Boundary part 42 Upper opening 5 Valve mechanism 51 Needle part 511 Top part 512 Lower part 513 Outer part 52 Elastic body 6 First communication portion 61 Lower side opening (first main body side opening)
7 Second communication portion 71 Lower side opening (second main body side opening)
8 Negative pressure chamber 81 Deaeration port 82 1st chamber 83 2nd chamber 831 Small space 9 Filter member 92 Lower surface 10, 10 'Antifoaming member 13 Partition part (inner cylinder)
131 Outer peripheral surface 132 Through hole 16 Link mechanism 161 One end portion 162 Other end portion 163 Arm portion 17 Support shaft 20 Float 201 Hollow portion (lumen portion)
202 Upper part 203 Lower part 204 Intermediate part 30a, 30b Check valve 40A, 40B Apparatus main body 100 Extracorporeal circulation apparatus 101 Centrifugal pump 102 Blood removal line 103 Blood supply line 104 Artificial lung 104a Blood outflow port (outlet)
104b Blood inflow port (inlet)
104c Gas inflow port 104d Heat medium inflow port 104e Heat medium outflow port 105 Flowmeter 106, 107 Branch line 108 Connector 110 Controller 111 Deaeration line 112 Negative pressure regulator H Liquid surface height S Reference height (reference position)

Claims (16)

A bubble removing device for removing bubbles in blood circulating outside the body,
A device body into which blood flows,
A negative pressure chamber provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body, connected to a deaeration means for sucking gas and kept at a negative pressure;
A first communication portion and a second communication portion capable of communicating the apparatus main body and the negative pressure chamber;
A filter member that is provided so as to cover the first communication portion, and that allows passage of gas in the apparatus body and prevents passage of blood in the apparatus body;
A float which is installed in the apparatus main body so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction, and moves according to a change in the liquid level of blood in the apparatus main body;
A valve mechanism that opens and closes the second communication part with the movement of the float;
When air bubbles flow into the apparatus body together with blood, the air bubbles pass through the first communication portion and flow into the negative pressure chamber when the second communication portion is closed by the operation of the valve mechanism. When the second communication portion is opened by the operation of the valve mechanism, the second communication portion passes through the second communication portion preferentially over the first communication portion and flows into the negative pressure chamber. Then, the bubble removing device is configured to be deaerated.   The valve mechanism closes the second communication portion when the float position rises above a reference position, and the second mechanism closes the second communication portion when the float position falls below the reference position. The bubble removing device according to claim 1, wherein the communicating portion is opened.   The bubble removing device according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism is configured to be capable of adjusting a flow rate of the gas passing through the second communication portion in the opened state.   The valve mechanism includes a needle portion having a substantially conical or pyramid-shaped top portion, and a ring-shaped elastic body installed along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral portion of the second communicating portion. And having the outer peripheral surface of the top close to the elastic body to close the second communication portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the top to be separated from the elastic body to open the second communication portion. The bubble removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein   The bubble removing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a link mechanism that connects the needle part and the float to each other, wherein the needle part and the float are located at different locations in the horizontal direction.   The device body is provided with a swirl flow forming portion having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape and a substantially tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the swirl flow forming portion, and blood forms a swirl flow in the swirl flow forming portion. The bubble removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an inflow port for introducing blood into the swirl flow forming unit and an outflow port provided below the swirl flow forming unit.   The apparatus main body has a partition wall portion provided in the swirl flow forming portion along a circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface with a gap between the inner peripheral surface and the float inside the partition wall portion. The bubble removing device according to claim 6, wherein   The bubble removing device according to claim 7, wherein the partition wall is formed with a through hole penetrating the partition wall.   The bubble removing device according to claim 8, wherein the through hole is located at a lower portion of the partition wall.   The bubble removing device according to claim 1, wherein the filter member is provided to be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.   The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the float is formed of a hollow body.   The bubble removing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising posture maintaining means for maintaining the posture of the float.   The bubble removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising an antifoaming member carrying an antifoaming agent.   The bubble removing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the defoaming member is installed in the vicinity of the apparatus main body side of the second communication part.   The bubble removing apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the defoaming member is installed in the vicinity of the negative pressure chamber side of the second communication portion. The bubble removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the negative pressure chamber is provided with a check valve that allows only a flow of gas toward the deaeration means.

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