Injector auto purge

• US 20050182322A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Grispo, Keith M.
• Application Number:
  US10/780,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20050182322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• 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 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/215 Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• 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 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

An auto purge for an intravenous contrast injector of the type having a motor which advances a plunger drive ram and configured for use with a pre-filled or user-filled syringe containing an approximate known amount of air including a processor which causes the motor to move and a memory storing a predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air in the syringe, the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an amount substantially equal to the predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air contained in the syringe.

Claims

1. An injector of the type having a motor which advances a plunger drive ram for use with a pre-filled syringe containing an approximate known amount of air, comprising:

a processor which causes the motor to move; and

,

a memory storing a predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air in the pre-filled syringe;

the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an amount substantially equal to the predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air contained in the pre-filled syringe.

2. The injector of claim 1 wherein the injector is further configured for use with an extension tubing also containing an approximate known amount of air;

the memory storing a value representative of the approximate amount of air in the extension tubing;

the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an additional amount substantially equal to the approximate known amount of air contained in the extension tubing.

3. The injector of claim 1, wherein the predetermined purge stop point is user adjusted.

4. The injector of claim 1, wherein the predetermined purge stop point is calibrated.

5. The injector of claim 1 wherein the predetermined purge stop point is based on historical information.

6. An injector of the type having a motor which advances a plunger drive ram for use with a user-filled syringe having a syringe plunger and containing an approximate known amount of air, the injector having a mechanical clearance between the plunger drive ram and the syringe plunger, the injector comprising:

a processor which causes the motor to move; and

,

a memory storing a predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air added by aeration during filling in the user-filled syringe and the mechanical clearance between the plunger drive ram and the syringe plunger;

the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an amount substantially equal to the predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air added by aeration during filling in the user-filled syringe and the mechanical clearance between the plunger drive ram and the syringe plunger.

7. The injector of claim 6 wherein the injector is further configured for use with an extension tubing also containing an approximate known amount of air;

the memory storing a value representative of the approximate amount of air in the extension tubing;

the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an additional amount substantially equal to the approximate known amount of air contained in the extension tubing.

8. The injector of claim 6, wherein the predetermined purge stop point is user adjusted.

9. The injector of claim 6, wherein the predetermined purge stop point is calibrated.

10. The injector of claim 6 wherein the predetermined purge stop point is based on historical information.

11. A dual head injector comprising:

a first head configured to receive a first syringe;

a second head configured to receive a second syringe; and

, Y-tubing coupling the first and second syringe;

the dual head injector configured to automatically purge substantially all of the air from the first and second syringes and the Y tubing.

12. The dual head injector of claim 11, the Y-tubing including a first section coupled to the first head, wherein the first head first purges air from the first syringe and the first section of tubing.

13. The dual head injector of claim 12, the Y-tubing including a second section coupled to the second head, a connector coupled to the first and second sections, and third section coupled to the connector, wherein the second head next purges air from the second syringe, the second section of tubing, the connector and the third section of tubing.

14. The dual head injector of claim 11, wherein the first syringe is a pre-filled syringe of contrast media.

15. The dual head injector of claim 11, wherein the second syringe contains a saline solution.

16. The dual head injector of claim 11, wherein one of the first and second syringes contains a contrast media.

17. The dual head injector of claim 11, wherein one of the first and second syringes contains a saline solution.

18. A method of automatically purging air from an injector comprising:

determining a syringe size and type; and

energizing a motor for the period necessary to move a ram to a predetermined purge stop point based on the syringe size and type.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising allowing a user to fill the syringe.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising performing said energizing step upon a user activating a purge button.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the predetermined purge stop point is based on actual values for amounts of air trapped in a particular pre-filled syringe and an extension tubing used therewith.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined purge stop point is based on historical data.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the syringe size and type are entered from a user interface.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the syringe size and type are derived from a face plate to which the syringe is coupled.

25. A method of automatically purging air from an injector comprising:

monitoring an air detector proximate a syringe;

energizing a motor to move a ram to advance a plunger of the syringe while monitoring the air detector proximate the discharge tip of the syringe; and

stopping the ram when air is no longer detected.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing a user to fill the syringe.

27. The method of claim 25, initiated upon a user activating a purge button.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said ram is stopped after a predetermined amount of fluid has been purged while air is not detected.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said air detector is proximate a discharge tip of said syringe.

34. The method of claim 28, initiated upon a user activating a purge button on the second head.

30. A method automatically purging air from a dual head injector comprising:

determining first and second syringe sizes and types installed on said injector;

energizing a motor of a first head for the period necessary to move a ram to a predetermined purge stop point based on the first syringe size and type;

energizing a motor of a second head for the period necessary to move a ram to a predetermined purge stop point based on the second syringe size and type.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising allowing a user to fill the first syringe.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising allowing a user to fill the second syringe.

33. The method of claim 30, initiated upon a user activating a purge button on the first head.