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Apparatus and methods for removing gas from a blood handling system. A filter apparatus for monitoring and removing gas is provided comprising of a gas removal/blood filter, a sensor to sense the presence of gas, and a valve operably coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the apparatus when the

Apparatus and methods for removing gas from a blood handling system. A filter apparatus for monitoring and removing gas is provided comprising of a gas removal/blood filter, a sensor to sense the presence of gas, and a valve operably coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the apparatus when the sensor detects an accumulation of gas. When used with a previously known blood handling system, the present filter apparatus facilitates priming and the addition of additional blood handling elements during operation of the blood handling system.

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1. A filter apparatus for removing gas from blood, comprising:a housing having an interior, a gas removal port, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, and an upper surface defining an apex, the gas removal port located at the apex of the housing;a sensor positioned to sense gas within the interior of the ho

1. A filter apparatus for removing gas from blood, comprising:a housing having an interior, a gas removal port, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, and an upper surface defining an apex, the gas removal port located at the apex of the housing;a sensor positioned to sense gas within the interior of the housing; anda filter element disposed within the interior of the housing, the filter element having a fluid impermeable conical upper wall around which fluid circulates upon entry into the housing, the conical upper wall defining a central opening allowing communication the interior of the filter element and the gas removal port. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter, element comprises filter material. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the filter material is screen-like and comprises at least one layer. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filter element rises an open cage that supports the screen like material. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filter element further comprises a fluid impermeable cruciform structure that supports the screen-like material. 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the filter material has effective pore size between 20 to 250 microns. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter element is disposed within the housing to separate the inlet from the outlet so that blood entering the inlet must pass through the filter element. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter element filters out particulate matter. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises a pleated material. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor either senses a parameter indicative of a level or volume of gas collected in the housing. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor uses a sensing technique selected from the group consisting of: detecting by capacitance, direct resistance, light absorbance, light refractance, and ultrasonic energy transmittance. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a valve operably coupled to the sensor, the valve opening responsive to detection of gas by the sensor. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a controller that controls operation of the valve responsive to a signal provided by the sensor. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a one-way valve that prevents air from flowing into the filter apparatus. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one baffle disposed within the filter element. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet directs the blood in a substantially tangential direction so that blood initially circulates within the interior. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects the absence of blood. 18. A filter apparatus for removing gas from blood, comprising:a housing having an interior, a gas removal port, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, and an upper surface defining an apex, the gas removal port located at the apex of the housing;a sensor positioned to sense gas within the interior of the housing; anda filter element disposed within the interior of the housing, the filter element having a fluid impermeable upper wall around which fluid circulates upon entry into the housing, the upper wall defining a central opening allowing communication between the interior of the filter element and the gas removal port,wherein the blood inlet directs blood in a substantially tangential direction so that blood initially circulates around the upper wall upon entering the interior of the housing. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a valve operably coupled to the sensor, the valve opening responsive to detection of gas by the sensor. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a controller that controls operation of the valve responsive to a signal provided by the sensor. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the filter element comprises filter material. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the filter material is screen-like and comprises at least one laye r. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the filter material has effective pore size between 20 to 250 microns. 24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the filter element is disposed within the housing to separate the inlet from the outlet so that blood entering the inlet must pass through the filter element. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the filter element further comprises an open cage that supports the screen-like material. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the filter element further comprises a fluid impermeable cruciform structure that supports the screen-like material. 27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the filter element filters out particulate matter. 28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the filter element comprises a pleated material. 29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor either senses a parameter indicative of a level or volume of gas collected in the housing. 30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor uses a sensing technique selected from the group consisting of: detection by capacitance, direct resistance, light absorbance, light refractance, and ultrasonic energy transmittance. 31. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a one-way valve that prevents air from flowing into the filter apparatus. 32. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising at least one baffle disposed within the filter element. 33. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor detects the absence of blood. 34. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the upper wall has a conical configuration.