Encoding and sensing of syringe information

• US 20060129104A1
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Medical Care Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Cowan, Kevin P., Brosovich, John A., Hirschman, Alan D., Yanniello, Michael J., Iddon, Barry
• Granted Patent: US 8,821,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/12 using electric or magnetic means G01D5/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A syringe for use with a powered injector to inject a fluid into a patient that includes a length of material adapted to transmit or propagate electromagnetic energy therethrough. The length of material includes at least a first indicator positioned along the length of material. The first indicator is adapted to interact with at least a portion of the energy being propagated through the length of material in a manner that is detectable. The presence (or absence) of the first indicator provides or corresponds to information about the syringe configuration. The indicator(s) of the present invention can, for example, provide information about syringe configuration by the number and/or position thereof. A plurality or set of such syringes can be provided, with the configuration of each such syringe being represented by the presence or absence of indicator(s) of that syringe.

Claims

1. A syringe encoder comprising:

a length of material adapted to propagate electromagnetic energy therethrough, the length of material including at least a first indicator positioned along the length of material, the first indicator being adapted to interact at least a portion of the energy being propagated through the length of material in a manner that is detectable, the first indicator providing information about syringe configuration.

2. The syringe encoder of claim 1 comprising at least a first plurality of indicators along the length of the material at unique predetermined positions, each of the indicators being adapted to interact with at least a portion of the energy being propagated through the length of material in a manner that is detectable, the predetermined positions of the indicators providing information about syringe configuration.

3. The syringe encoder of claim 1 wherein the syringe encoder is formed integrally with a syringe.

4. The syringe encoder of claim 1 wherein the syringe encoder is attachable a syringe.

5. The syringe encoder of claim 1 wherein the syringe encoder is formed integrally with a syringe adapter.

6. The syringe encoder of claim 1 wherein the syringe encoder is attachable to a syringe adapter.

7. The syringe encoder of claim 2 wherein the first plurality of indicators represents a first binary code.

8. The syringe encoder of claim 7 further comprising at least a second plurality of indicators along the length of the syringe wall at unique predetermined positions, the second plurality of indicators representing a second binary code.

9. An injector system for use with a syringe comprising:

a syringe encoder, a powered injector, the powered injector including a powered drive member to pressurize contents of a syringe, at least one energy source, and at lease one sensor;

the syringe encoder including a length of material adapted to propagate electromagnetic energy therethrough, the length of material including at least a first indicator positioned along the length of material, the first indicator being adapted to interact with at least a portion of the energy from the energy source being propagated through the length of material in a manner that is detectable by the sensor, the first indicator providing information about the syringe configuration.

10. The injector system of claim 9 wherein the syringe encoder is formed integrally with the syringe.

11. A method of encoding information about syringe configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

propagating energy through a least a portion of a length of material, providing at least a first indicator positioned along the length of material, the first indicator being adapted to interact with at least a portion of the energy being propagated through the length of material in a manner that is detectable, and detecting the modification of at least a portion of the energy, the indicator providing information about syringe configuration.