Apparatus and methods for pumping and oxygenating blood are provided that
include a gas removal system. 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.
