Injector auto purge

• US 20050182323A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Fago, Frank M., Grispo, Keith M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,389 B2
• 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 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• 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 5/14546 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 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• 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, comprising:

a processor which causes the motor to move; and

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a memory storing a predetermined purge stop point;

the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an amount substantially equal to the predetermined purge stop point and enable a low flow rate upon reaching said predetermined purge stop point.

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.

7. The injector of claim 1 wherein said low flow rate is applicable to a manual movement control of said injector.

8. The injector of claim 1 wherein said low flow rate is applicable to a subsequent purge completion step in which said injector automatically purges additional fluid until purging is stopped by an operator input.

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

determining predetermined purge stop point for a syringe;

energizing a motor for the period necessary to move a ram to said predetermined purge stop point; and

enabling a low flow rate upon reaching said predetermined purge stop point.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the predetermined purge stop point is based on historical data.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the syringe size and type are entered from a user interface.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the syringe size and type are derived from a face plate to which the syringe is coupled.

35. The injector of claim 27 wherein said low flow rate is applicable to a manual movement control of said injector.

36. The injector of claim 27 wherein said low flow rate is applicable to a subsequent purge completion step in which said injector automatically purges additional fluid until purging is stopped by an operator input.

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45. 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; and

enabling a low flow rate of a motor of said first head upon reaching said predetermined purge stop point.

51. The injector of claim 45 wherein said low flow rate is applicable to a manual movement control of said injector.

52. The injector of claim 45 wherein said low flow rate is applicable to a subsequent purge completion step in which said injector automatically purges additional fluid until purging is stopped by an operator input.

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