Powerhead of a Power Injection System

• US 20080108943A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Wagner, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• 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 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018

Abstract

A contrast media injection system detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.

Claims

1. Within a contrast media injector system, a method comprising:

providing a fluid container containing a fluid for injection into a patient'"'"'s vasculature;

selecting an injection protocol;

determining a pressure limit value associated with the selected injection protocol based on pressures achieved during a previous execution of the selected injection protocol; and

injecting the fluid into the patient'"'"'s vasculature, using the pressure limit value while executing the selected injection protocol to limit the pressure applied by the contrast media injector system to the fluid injected into the patient'"'"'s vasculature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a particular injection protocol; and

storing historical pressure information associated with the particular injection protocol.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the historical pressure information includes a highest pressure experienced during the particular protocol.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the historical pressure information includes an average pressure experienced during the particular protocol.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a pressure limit value is determined based upon a statistical analysis of historical pressure information for the particular protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the pressure limit value to an operator;

receiving from the operator a change, if any, to the pressure limit value; and

executing the selected injection protocol according to the changed pressure limit value.

7. A contrast media injector system comprising:

a fluid container mounting;

a fluid container held by the fluid container mounting, the fluid container configured to contain a fluid for injection into a patient'"'"'s vasculature, and the fluid container configured to be coupled to tubing leading to the patient'"'"'s vasculature;

a drive configured for injecting fluid from the fluid container;

a processor;

a non-volatile storage coupled with the processor;

an application stored within the non-volatile storage and configured to execute on the processor to;

select an injection protocol;

determine a pressure limit value associated with the selected injection protocol based on previous execution of the selected injection protocol; and

inject the fluid from the fluid container into the patient'"'"'s vasculature, using the pressure limit value while executing the selected injection protocol to limit the pressure applied by the contrast media injector system to the fluid injected into the patient'"'"'s vasculature.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the application is further configured to:

perform a particular injection protocol; and

store historical pressure information associated with the particular injection protocol.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the historical pressure information includes a highest pressure experienced during the particular injection protocol.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the historical pressure information includes an average pressure experienced during the particular injection protocol.