Injector with changeable syringe constants

• US 20050148867A1
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Neer, Charles S.
• Application Number:
  US10/749,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148867A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

An intravenous contrast injector which stores different syringe definitions in firmware includes a software routine that permits a service technician to update the syringe definitions without requiring the installation of new firmware. These syringe definitions can then be used when the injector performs operational routines such as filling a syringe.

Claims

1. Within a contrast media injector system, a method for modifying syringe constants, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying an interface that permits a service technician to configure one or more service-level aspects of the injector system;

providing within the interface a data collection routine that prompts for the syringe constants;

in response to said prompts, receiving input related to the syringe constants; and

updating a syringe definition according to the received input.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing the syringe definition in a non-volatile memory that is part of the injector system.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the syringe constants comprise one or more of a syringe diameter;

a syringe stroke length, and a syringe volume.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

requesting data related to two of the syringe constants; and

calculating the third syringe constant.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

modifying one or more operational routines of the injector system affected by the step of updating the syringe definition.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

modifying one or more parameters stored by the injector system which are affected by the step of updating the syringe definition.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

associating a label with the syringe information based on the received input.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of updating includes one of the steps of a) modifying an existing syringe definition or b) creating a new syringe definition.

9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

deleting another syringe definition from the non-volatile memory before storing the syringe definition.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

exiting the interface;

displaying an operational interface whereby an operational routine is executed.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the operational routine relies on the syringe definition.

12. A contrast media injector system comprising:

a processor;

a non-volatile storage coupled with the processor;

an application stored within said non-volatile storage configured to execute on said processor, said application including;

an interface for configuring the injector system;

an input routine configured to receive data related to syringe constants; and

an updating routine configured to generate a syringe definition based on the data.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the input routine is further configured to prompt a technician for a portion of the syringe constants;

to determine an omitted syringe constant; and

to calculate the omitted syringe constant.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the syringe definition is stored in the non-volatile storage.

15. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

an operational application stored in the non-volatile storage, said operational application includes one or more control routines to operate an injector of said injector system, wherein the control routines use the syringe definition to operate the injector.

16. A method for updating an injector system comprising the steps of:

entering a service mode of the injector system;

inputting one or more syringe constants;

based on the one or more syringe constants, calculating an additional syringe constant; and

storing a syringe definition in the injector system based on the one or more syringe constants and the calculated syringe constant.

17. A method for updating an injector system comprising the steps of:

entering a service mode of the injector system;

inputting at least three syringe constants; and

storing a syringe definition in the injector system based on the three syringe constants.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least three syringe constants comprise a syringe diameter;

a syringe stroke length, and a syringe volume.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

updating a software routine within the injector system which relies on the syringe definition.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more syringe constants are selected from the group comprising:

syringe diameter, syringe stroke length, and syringe volume.