Apparatus and methods for pumping and oxygenating blood are provided that
include a gas removal system and a pump impeller with a single piece metal
insert. An integrated blood processing unit is provided in which a gas
removal/blood filter, pump and blood oxygenation element are mounted
within a common housing. The gas removal system includes a sensor mounted
on the housing to sense the presence of gas, and a valve is operably
coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the system when the sensor
detects an accumulation of gas.
