Karl D. Kirk

Two chambered autotransfuser device and method of use

An autotransfuser that includes, in a single receptacle, a pair of chambers separated by a common wall. Each receptacle can alternately perform, a blood infusion or blood collection function. Each chamber includes at least three inlets/outlets, a blood inlet, a blood outlet and an air inlet means In some embodiments of the invention the air inlet means serves alternately to couple either an air or a pressure source on the one hand or a vacuum source on the other hand to the corresponding chamber. In other embodiments of the invention, the air inlet means comprises a vacuum inlet and a separate air or pressure inlet. A disk like device or valve manifold is arranged for rotatable movement adjacent the inlets/outlets. The disk like device includes four channels, one for each of air or pressure, vacuum, blood collection and blood infusion. Each channel includes a port for coupling to external tubing and at least one channel end. The channel ends are located in the disk like device so that by rotating the disk like device to two distinct positions, one or the other of the functions can be performed by each chamber. A blood valve is also disclosed which has a float element having a specific gravity which allows it to float in a pool of human blood and a significant closure force in excess of about ten to fifteen grams.