First clinical experience with the air purge control and electrical remote-controlled tubing clamp in mini bypass

Most mini bypass systems do not contain a venous and cardiotomy reservoir in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit and lack the capability to remove venous air. In conjunction with the manufacturer the air purge control system, a system which automatically removes air that is captured in a venous bubble trap, has been developed. This system is combined with an electrical remote clamp, which automatically clamps the arterial line in case air leaves the bubble trap. Twenty consecutive patients undergoing surgery with CPB were included in this clinical validation. Venous air was removed by the air purge control during bypass. The electrical remote clamp was never activated by the system, confirming that the air purge control adequately removed venous air during these cases. The air purge control, in conjunction with the electrical remote clamp, is a valuable safety feature in mini bypass, enhancing patient safety and user friendliness while providing a level of safety equivalent to those of conventional bypass systems.