Systems And Methods For Managing Information Relating To Medical Fluids And Syringes Therefor

• US 20080147015A1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Potter, Victor Lee, Ortenzi, Vernon D., Gibson, Chad M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,446,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of operation for a contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of a syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

mounting a syringe having an RF data tag associated therewith on to the contrast media injector;

transmitting electromagnetic signals from an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector in response to the syringe being mounted on to the contrast media injector; and

electromagnetically reading data from the RF data tag of the syringe in response to the syringe being mounted on to the contrast media injector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data that is electromagnetically read comprises at least one of:

a syringe identification;

a serial number;

a use indicator of the syringe;

a syringe security code;

information relating to syringe volume;

information relating to syringe volume delivery;

syringe volume;

syringe dimension information;

medical fluid type;

medical fluid concentration data;

batch and lot numbers;

shelf life data;

fill date; and

combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiation of the transmitting occurs substantially simultaneously with the syringe being mounted on to the contrast media injector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contrast media injector comprises a latch for securing the syringe that is being mounted on to the contrast media injector, and wherein the transmitting occurs in response to the latch securing the syringe being mounted on to the contrast media injector.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein initiation of the transmitting occurs substantially simultaneously with the latch securing the syringe being mounted on to the contrast media injector.

6. A method of operation for a contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of a syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

dispensing medical fluid from a syringe having an RF data tag associated therewith, wherein the dispensing is accomplished using the contrast media injector;

transmitting electromagnetic signals from an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector in response to initiation of the dispensing; and

electromagnetically writing data to the RF data tag of the syringe using the electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data that is electromagnetically written to the RF data tag comprises at least one of:

time that the dispensing was finished;

date that the dispensing was finished;

dispensed volume;

achieved flow rate;

target flow rate;

volume of medical fluid remaining in the syringe;

dispensing time;

patient name;

patient weight;

patient age;

patient ID number;

injector serial number;

injector firmware version;

procedure number;

procedure name;

technologist name;

technologist identification number;

hospital name;

hospital identification number;

imaging apparatus information; and

combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein initiation of the transmitting occurs substantially simultaneously with the initiation of the dispensing.

9. A method of operation for a contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of a syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

mounting a syringe having an RF data tag associated therewith on to the contrast media injector;

transmitting electromagnetic signals from an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector in response to the syringe being mounted on to the contrast media injector;

electromagnetically reading data from the RF data tag of the syringe using the electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector, wherein the transmitting is terminated after the electromagnetically reading;

dispensing medical fluid from the syringe;

transmitting electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic device in response to initiation of the dispensing; and

electromagnetically writing data to the RF data tag of the syringe using the electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector.

10. A contrast media injector for supporting a syringe from which medical fluid is to be dispensed, the syringe having an RF data tag for storing data that is electromagnetically readable therefrom and/or electromagnetically writable thereto, the contrast media injector comprising:

a powerhead that is operable to dispense medical fluid from the syringe, the powerhead comprising;

a drive ram designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector; and

an electromagnetic device designed to read data from and/or write data to the RF data tag of the syringe; and

an injector control operatively connected to the powerhead and in electrical communication with the electromagnetic device of the powerhead,

wherein the injector control is operable to initiate transmission of electromagnetic signals by the electromagnetic device of the powerhead to electromagnetically read data from the RF data tag of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, and

wherein the injector control is operable to initiate transmission of electromagnetc signals by the electromagnetic device of the powerhead to electromagnetically write data to the RF data tag of the syringe when medical fluid is dispensed from the syringe by the powerhead.