FLUID INJECTION APPARATUS HAVING ANTI-ROTATION ELEMENTS TO LIMIT SYRINGE PLUNGER ROTATION

• US 20090216192A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Schriver, Ralph E., Spohn, Michael A., Grubic, Herbert M., Joyce, Thomas P., Critchlow, Richard G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• 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 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• 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 5/1458 Means for capture of the plunger flange

Abstract

The fluid injection apparatus is adapted for use with a syringe and includes an injector and a pressure jacket associated with the injector. The injector includes a drive piston having a plunger engaging end. The syringe includes a body and a plunger movably disposed within the body, the plunger having a proximal end adapted for engagement by the plunger engaging end of the drive piston. An anti-rotation connection is formed by complementary anti-rotation elements associated with the proximal end of the plunger and the plunger engaging end of the drive piston to limit rotation of the plunger within the syringe body.

Claims

1. A fluid injection system comprising:

an injector comprising a drive piston having a plunger engaging end;

a syringe comprising a body and a plunger movably disposed within the body, the plunger having a proximal end adapted for engagement by the plunger engaging end of the drive piston; and

an anti-rotation connection formed by complementary anti-rotation elements associated with the proximal end of the plunger and the plunger engaging end of the drive piston to limit rotation of the plunger within the syringe body.

2. The fluid injection system of claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation elements comprise at least one pin extending from the plunger engaging end of the drive piston and at least one pin receiving opening formed in the proximal end of the plunger.

3. The fluid injection system of claim 2 wherein the at least one pin extends from an end plate forming the plunger engaging end of the drive piston.

4. The fluid injection system of claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation elements comprise at least one pin extending from the plunger engaging end of the drive piston and at least one coupling member formed on the proximal end of the plunger and adapted for engagement by the plunger engaging end of the drive piston.

5. The fluid injection system of claim 4 wherein the at least one pin extends from an end plate forming the plunger engaging end of the drive piston.

6. The fluid injection system of claim 4 wherein the at least one pin comprises opposing pins extending from the plunger engaging end of the drive piston and the at least one coupling member comprises a pair of coupling members, such that the opposing pins are associated with the respective coupling members when the drive piston is engaged with the syringe plunger.

7. The fluid injection system of claim 6 wherein the coupling members comprise flexible coupling members.

8. The fluid injection system of claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation elements comprises at least one tab formed on the plunger engaging end of the drive piston and at least one coupling member formed on the proximal end of the plunger and adapted for engagement by the plunger engaging end of the drive piston.

9. The fluid injection system of claim 8 wherein the at least one tab extends from an end plate forming the plunger engaging end of the drive piston.

10. The fluid injection system of claim 8 wherein the at least one tab comprises opposing tabs formed on the plunger engaging end of the drive piston and the at least one coupling member comprises a pair of coupling members, such that the opposing tabs are associated with the respective coupling members when the drive piston is engaged with the syringe plunger.

11. The fluid injection system of claim 10 wherein the coupling members comprise flexible coupling members.

12. The fluid injection system of claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation elements comprise at least one edge formed on the plunger engaging end of the drive piston and at least one coupling member formed on the proximal end of the plunger and adapted for engagement by the plunger engaging end of the drive piston.

13. The fluid injection system of claim 12 wherein the drive piston includes an end plate forming the plunger engaging end, and wherein the edge is formed on the end plate.

14. The fluid injection system of claim 12 wherein the at least one edge comprises opposing edges formed on the drive piston and the at least one coupling member comprises a pair of coupling members, the opposing edges adapted to be engaged by the respective coupling members when the drive piston is engaged with the syringe plunger to prevent rotation of the syringe plunger in the syringe.

15. The fluid injection system of claim 14 wherein the drive piston includes an end plate forming the plunger engaging end, and wherein the opposing edges are formed on the end plate.

16. The fluid injection system of claim 14 wherein the coupling members comprise flexible coupling members.