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Abstract

A cardiotomy reservoir for separating air from blood including a housing having top, bottom and side walls and defining upper and lower cylindrical chambers. A defoaming element comprising an annulus of sponge material is disposed in the upper end of said lower chamber and extends around the periphery of the housing. The upper chamber includes a channel for directing blood to the sponge annulus whereby the blood flows through the latter to the lower chamber, the sponge annulus including an antifoaming agent for causing air bubbles in the blood to coalesce and form larger air bubbles as the blood flows through the sponge annulus. A passage is disposed between the sponge annulus and the upper chamber whereby large air bubbles exit the sponge annulus and move through the passage to the upper chamber where air but not blood is vented automatically to the atmosphere through a hydrophobic membrane.

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First Claim