Heat retention device for a syringe and methods of use

• US 20060271014A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Fago, Frank M., Hynes, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US11/141,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/507
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3633 thermally insulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags

Abstract

A heat-retaining syringe jacket for reducing the cooling rate of a medical fluid held inside a syringe and methods of using such syringe jackets while operating a medical fluid injector. The syringe jacket includes a jacket body placed about the exterior of the syringe barrel. The jacket body may include a material that experiences a phase transition at a phase transition temperature. Additionally or alternatively, the jacket body may include a material having a high specific heat.

Claims

13. A heat retaining syringe jacket for use with a syringe having a barrel and a medical fluid confined inside the barrel, comprising:

a jacket body including opposite first and second ends, a tubular sidewall extending between said first and second ends, and an interior cavity bounded by said tubular sidewall, said interior cavity adapted to be disposed about at least a portion of the barrel of the syringe, and said jacket body including a material having a specific heat greater than or equal to about 0.58 Btu/(lb−

°

F).

14. The syringe jacket of claim 13 wherein said interior cavity is sized and shaped such that said tubular sidewall at least partially contacts the barrel of the syringe circumferentially when the syringe is received in said interior cavity.

15. The syringe jacket of claim 14 wherein said interior is sized and shaped such that a portion of the barrel projects from said interior cavity at said second end.

16. The syringe jacket of claim 13 wherein said jacket body includes a slot extending between said first and second ends and penetrating through said tubular sidewall to permit access to said interior cavity.

17. The syringe jacket of claim 13 wherein said material is non-magnetic.

18. The syringe jacket of claim 13 wherein said syringe jacket is effective to reduce a cooling rate of the heated medical fluid.

19. The syringe jacket of claim 13 further comprising:

a flange proximate said first end and extending outwardly from said tubular sidewall.

20. A method of using a syringe containing a medical fluid, comprising:

placing at least a portion of the syringe in a syringe jacket including a phase change material having a phase transition temperature;

transferring the syringe, the syringe jacket, and the medical fluid to a medical fluid injector;

operating the medical fluid injector to inject an amount of the medical fluid into a patient; and

maintaining the temperature of the medical fluid approximately at the phase transition temperature while operating the medical fluid injector to inject the amount of the medical fluid.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the amount is less than a fluid capacity of the syringe.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

heating the syringe, the medical fluid, the syringe jacket, and the phase change material to an initial temperature greater than or equal to the phase transition temperature.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the initial temperature is greater than the phase transition temperature, and further comprising:

allowing the syringe, the medical fluid, and the syringe jacket to cool from the initial temperature to the phase transition temperature while operating the medical fluid injector.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

allowing the phase change material to complete a phase transition at the phase transition temperature while operating the medical fluid injector; and

continuing to operate the medical fluid injector after the medical fluid cools below the phase transition temperature.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

installing the syringe and the jacket in a syringe mounting of the medical fluid injector; and

holding the syringe and the jacket stationary within the syringe mounting while operating the medical fluid injector.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

removing the syringe mounting from the medical injector after the medical fluid injector is operated.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

performing diagnostic imaging utilizing a magnetic field after transferring the syringe, the medical fluid, and the syringe jacket to the medical fluid injector.

28. A method of using a syringe containing a medical fluid, comprising:

placing at least a portion of the syringe in a syringe jacket effective to increase a thermal mass of the syringe and the medical fluid;

transferring the syringe, the medical fluid, and the syringe jacket to a medical fluid injector;

operating the medical fluid injector to inject an amount of the medical fluid into a patient; and

reducing heat loss of the medical fluid with the syringe jacket while operating the medical fluid injector to inject the amount of the medical fluid.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the amount is less than a fluid capacity of the syringe.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

installing the syringe and the jacket in a syringe mounting of the medical fluid injector; and

holding the syringe and the jacket stationary within the syringe mounting while operating the medical fluid injector.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

removing the syringe mounting from the medical injector after the medical fluid injector is operated.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

heating the syringe, the medical fluid, and the syringe jacket to an initial temperature greater than or equal to a use temperature of the heated medical fluid for injection into a patient.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein reducing heat loss comprises:

maintaining the heated medical fluid at or above the use temperature while operating the medical fluid injector.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein the syringe jacket further includes a phase change material having a phase transition temperature, and reducing heat loss comprises:

maintaining the temperature of the heated medical fluid approximately at the phase transition temperature while operating the medical fluid injector.

35. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

performing diagnostic imaging utilizing a magnetic field after transferring the syringe, the medical fluid, and the syringe jacket to the medical fluid injector.

36. A syringe jacket for use with a syringe having a medical fluid disposed therein, the syringe jacket adapted to be disposed about a majority of a syringe barrel, said syringe jacket comprising:

a first material having a phase transition temperature between about 70°

F. and about 110°

F.; and

a second material that is substantially non-magnetic.

1. a heat retaining syringe jacket for use with a syringe having a barrel, the syringe confining a heated medical fluid capable of being injected into a patient at a use temperature, comprising:

a jacket body including opposite first and second ends, a tubular sidewall extending between said first and second ends, and an interior cavity bounded by said tubular sidewall, said interior cavity adapted to be disposed about at least a portion of the barrel of the syringe, and said jacket body including a phase change material having a phase transition temperature approximately equal to the use temperature.

2. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said interior cavity is sized and shaped such that said tubular sidewall at least partially contacts the barrel of the syringe circumferentially when the syringe is received in said interior cavity.

3. The syringe jacket of claim 2 wherein said interior is sized and shaped such that a portion of the barrel projects from said interior cavity at said second end.

4. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said jacket body includes a slot extending between said first and second ends and penetrating through said tubular sidewall to permit access to said interior cavity.

5. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said tubular sidewall of said jacket body includes a compartment and said phase change material is confined within said compartment.

6. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said phase change material is nonmagnetic.

7. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein the phase transition temperature of said phase change material is between about 70°

F. and about 110°

F.

8. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said syringe jacket is operative to maintain the heated medical fluid in the syringe approximately at the phase transition temperature.

9. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said syringe jacket is effective to reduce a cooling rate of the heated medical fluid by maintaining the heated medical fluid approximately at the phase transition temperature.

10. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said phase transition temperature of said phase change material is greater than the use temperature of the heated medical fluid.

11. The syringe jacket of claim 1 wherein said phase change material experiences a phase change from a liquid to a solid at said phase transition temperature.

12. The syringe jacket of claim 1 further comprising:

a flange proximate said first end and extending outwardly from said tubular sidewall.

37. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein the second material exhibits a specific heat greater than or equal to about 0.58 Btu/(lb−

°

F.).

38. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said second material is disposed about and confines said first material.

39. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said first material is a wax-like material.

40. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said first material has a phase transition temperature of about 90°

F.

42. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said first material has a phase transition temperature between about 80°

F. and about 100°

F.

43. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said first material has a phase transition temperature between about 90°

F. and about 100°

F.

44. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said first material experiences a phase change from a liquid to a solid at said phase transition temperature.

45. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said first material is substantially non-magnetic.

42-1. The syringe jacket of claim 36 wherein said first material has a phase transition temperature between about 85°

F. and about 100°

F.