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An arterial line blood filter for use in extracorporeal blood circuits during heart bypass surgery has, among other components, a housing with a cap portion, a base portion, and a generally cylindrical wall portion. The blood filter has a filter element disposed within the housing. An inlet is posit

An arterial line blood filter for use in extracorporeal blood circuits during heart bypass surgery has, among other components, a housing with a cap portion, a base portion, and a generally cylindrical wall portion. The blood filter has a filter element disposed within the housing. An inlet is positioned at an upward angle with respect to the housing and includes an opening in the generally cylindrical wall portion in fluid communication with the inlet chamber. In some embodiments the position of the inlet limits the pressure drop and prime volume of the filter. According to one embodiment, the cap portion has an upwardly sloping inner surface and there is a vent in the cap portion. The inner surface of the cap portion can have a projection proximate the vent configured to limit immobilization of gaseous microemboli within the inlet chamber.

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1. A blood filter comprising: a housing comprising a cap portion, a base portion, and a generally cylindrical wall portion between the cap portion and the base portion, the housing defining a longitudinal axis and the wall portion forming an inner surface having a curved region that defines a radius

1. A blood filter comprising: a housing comprising a cap portion, a base portion, and a generally cylindrical wall portion between the cap portion and the base portion, the housing defining a longitudinal axis and the wall portion forming an inner surface having a curved region that defines a radius of curvature about the longitudinal axis in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;a filter element disposed within the housing and dividing the housing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber;a support element fixedly connected to the housing for supporting the filter element such that the filter element terminates at a filter tip opposite the base portion;an inlet terminating at, and fluidly open relative to, an opening in the curved region of the inner surface of the generally cylindrical wall portion, wherein the inlet is positioned at an upward angle with respect to the housing;a projection extending downwardly within an interior of the cap portion, the projection radially spaced a first distance from the longitudinal axis, wherein the opening for the inlet is radially spaced a second distance from the longitudinal axis, the first distance being less than the second distance,wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber,wherein relative to a direction of the longitudinal axis, at least a portion of the inlet opening is spatially between the filter tip and the base portion,and further wherein the inlet is positioned to disperse incoming blood throughout the inlet chamber; andan outlet in fluid communication with the outlet chamber. 2. The blood filter of claim 1, wherein the opening in the generally cylindrical wall portion is proximate the cap portion. 3. The blood filter of claim 1, wherein the inlet is positioned to direct at least a portion of the incoming blood towards the cap portion. 4. The blood filter of claim 1, wherein the upward angle is between approximately 7 and approximately 13 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane intersecting the housing. 5. The blood filter of claim 4, wherein the upward angle is approximately 10 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane intersecting the housing. 6. The blood filter of claim 4, wherein the upward angle is approximately 10.6 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane intersecting the housing. 7. The blood filter of claim 1, wherein the housing has a prime volume configured for use with pediatric patients. 8. The blood filter of claim 7, wherein the prime volume is approximately 40 milliliters. 9. The blood filter of claim 1, wherein the cap portion comprises a vent and the projection proximate the vent, the projection configured to limit immobilization of gaseous microemboli within the inlet chamber. 10. The blood filter of claim 1, wherein the inlet is coupled to the wall portion in a non-tangential orientation relative to a curvature of the curved region of the wall portion at which the opening is formed. 11. A blood filter comprising: a housing comprising a base portion, a generally cylindrical wall portion coupled with the base portion, and a cap portion coupled with the generally cylindrical wall portion, wherein the cap portion comprises an upwardly sloping inner surface;a filter element disposed within the housing and dividing the housing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber;a support element fixedly connected to the housing for supporting the filter element;an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet chamber;an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet chamber;a vent in the cap portion;wherein the cap portion defines a spiral blood flow path from the inlet to and past the vent;a projection extending downwardly from the inner surface proximate the vent configured to limit immobilization of gaseous microemboli within the inlet chamber, the projection creating a local minima in a contour of the inner surface proximate the vent; anda flow director extending downwardly from the inner surface for guiding blood flow from the inlet toward the vent;wherein relative to a direction of the blood flow path from the inlet, the projection is located downstream of the vent such that blood flow from the inlet passes the vent before contacting the projection, andwherein the projection is spaced radially inward relative to the inlet; andis radially asymmetric relative to the center longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical wall portion. 12. The blood filter of claim 11, wherein the upwardly sloping inner surface defines the blood flow path for guiding blood past the vent, and wherein the projection is located along the blood flow path subsequent to the vent. 13. The blood filter of claim 11, wherein the inner surface provides an upwardly and inwardly spiraling blood flow path. 14. The blood filter of claim 13, wherein the vent is offset and positioned at a highest part of the cap portion. 15. The blood filter of claim 11, wherein the inlet is positioned at an upward angle with respect to the housing. 16. The blood filter of claim 15, wherein the inlet comprises an opening in the generally cylindrical wall portion. 17. The blood filter of claim 16, wherein the opening is proximate the cap portion. 18. The blood filter of claim 11, wherein the projection is defined by a leading face facing the vent and a trailing face opposite the leading face, the leading and trailing faces extending from the inner surface and intersecting at terminal end of the projection, and further wherein the leading face projects radially outwardly in extension from the inner surface to the terminal end and the trailing face defines a convex curve in extension from the terminal end to the inner surface. 19. The blood filter of claim 11, wherein relative to an upright orientation of the blood filter, the inner surface extends above the projection immediately upstream and immediately downstream of the projection along a downwardly sloping shape of the inner surface downstream from the vent.