HEART BYPASS SYSTEM INCORPORATING MINIMIZED EXTRACORPOREAL BLOOD CIRCULATION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD OF USE

摘要

The invention is a coronary bypass system (10’) incorporating a minimized extracorporeal blood circulation module (12’). In one embodiment, the extracorporeal blood circulation module comprises a rigid support plane (50) for carrying the blood-handling components of the system, including an blood pump, (186) an oxygenator (148), a filter (160), a venous blood reservoir (152), and a sampling manifold. The extracorporeal blood circulation module is pre-configured to interconnect all blood-handling modules, such that tubing length is minimized and interfacing with a heart-lung bypass console can be accomplished with maximum efficiency. In one embodiment, the venous reservoir is a soft-shell variety mounted over a raised platform, defining an indentation on the front surface of the support plane. A vacuum port (200) extending into the vacuum chamber (180/184) is adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source, thereby allowing regulated negative pressure be applied to the flexible reservoir membrane for vacuum-assisted venous drainage.