INJECTOR SYSTEM FOR ENCODING AND SENSING OF SYRINGE INFORMATION

• US 20090247867A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Hahn, Adam J., Havrilla, Joseph B., Rudnick, Joelle A., Nolan, William J. JR., Masters, Michael J., Spohn, Michael A., Joyce, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• 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 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• 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

Abstract

A syringe for use with a powered injector to inject a fluid into a patient includes at least a first indicator positioned on the syringe at a predetermined axial position. The distance between a rearward surface of the first indicator and a predetermined position on the powered injector provides information about the syringe configuration. The first indicator can, for example, be a rear surface of the attachment flange. An injector system includes a powered injector having a drive member and at least one sensor for detecting energy. The injector system also includes a syringe having at least a first indicator positioned on the syringe at a predetermined axial position. The energy detected by the sensor is determined by the axial position of the indicator when the syringe is attached to the powered injector. The axial position of the indicator thereby provides information about the syringe configuration.

Claims

1. An injector system comprising:

a powered injector comprising a drive member and at least one sensor for detecting energy; and

a syringe comprising at least a first indicator positioned on the syringe at a predetermined position, the syringe configuration that is detected by the sensor is determined by the position of the at least a first indicator when the syringe is attached to the powered injector, the position of the at least a first indicator thereby providing information about the syringe configuration.

2. The injector system of claim 1 wherein a rear surface of the first indicator transmits energy to the sensor.

3. The injector system of claim 2 wherein the rear surface of the first indicator comprises an energy source to transmit energy to the sensor.

4. The injector system of claim 2 wherein the rear surface of the first indicator comprises a surface that transmits energy to the sensor by reflecting energy from an energy source to the sensor.

5. The injector system of claim 1 wherein the powered injector further comprises a contact member movably disposed in the injector, a surface in operative connection with the contact member transmitting energy to the sensor, the contact member being positioned to come into contact with the first indicator when the syringe is in operative connection with the powered injector such that the position of the surface is determined by the axial position of the first indicator.

6. The injector system of claim 5 wherein the surface is a rear surface of the contact member.

7. The injector system of claim 6 wherein the rear surface of the contact member comprises an energy source to transmit energy to the sensor.

8. The injector system of claim 6 wherein the rear surface of the contact member comprises a surface to reflect energy from an energy source to the sensor.

9. The injector system of claim 6 wherein the energy is light energy.

10. The injector system of claim 8 wherein the energy is light energy.

11. The injector system of claim 10 wherein the reflective surface of the contact member is a mirrored surface.

12. The injector system of claim 11 wherein the first indicator is a rear surface of an attachment flange on a rear portion of the syringe.

13. An injector system comprising:

at least one syringe comprising at least a first indicator positioned on the syringe at a predetermined position, the position of the at least a first indicator being associated with information about the syringe configuration; and

a powered injector comprising a drive member and at least a first contact member movably disposed in the injector, the at least a first contact member is positioned to come into contact with the at least a first indicator when the syringe is attached to the powered injector such that the position of the at least a first contact member is determined by the position of the at least a first indicator, the amount of change in the position of the at least a first contact member as a result of contact with the at least a first indicator being associated with syringe configuration.

14. The injector system of claim 13 wherein at least three syringe configurations are associated with at least three corresponding positions of the first contact member.

15. The injector system of claim 13 wherein each syringe configuration is associated with a range of positions of the first contact member.

16. The injector system of claim 13 wherein the powered injector further comprises at least one light reflective surface in operative connection with the first contact member, the injector system further comprising a sensor to detect light reflected from the light reflective surface.

17. The injector system of claim 16 wherein the first indicator is positioned on the rear surface of an attachment flange of the syringe.

18. The injector system of claim 13 wherein the powered injector further comprises a plurality of sensors and at least a first shutter mechanism in operative connection with the first contact member, each of the sensors having an on state and an off state, the shutter mechanism comprising at least one cooperating member to cooperate with at least one of the sensors to place the sensor in an on state or an off state, the state of each of the plurality of sensors providing a digital code corresponding to information on syringe configuration.

19. The injector system of claim 18 wherein the first indicator is positioned on the rear surface of an attachment flange of the syringe.

20. The injector system of claim 18 wherein the shutter mechanism comprises a plurality of cooperating members.

21. The injector system of claim 20 wherein the sensors are optical sensors and the cooperating members are spaced opaque members operable to block transmission of light to the sensors.

22. An injector for use with a syringe comprising at least a first indicator positioned thereon, the position of the at least a first indicator being associated with syringe configuration, the injector comprising:

a drive member; and

at least a first contact member movably disposed in the injector, the at least a first contact member is positioned to come into contact with the at least a first indicator when the syringe is in operative connection with the injector such that the position of the at least a first contact member is determined by the position of the at least a first indicator, the amount of change in the position of the at least a first contact member as a result of contact with the at least a first indicator being associated with syringe configuration.

23. The injector of claim 22 wherein at least three syringe configurations are associated with at least three corresponding positions of the first contact member.

24. The injector system of claim 22 wherein each syringe configuration is associated with a range of positions of the first contact member.

25. The injector of claim 24, further comprising at least one light reflective surface in operative connection with the first contact member, the injector system further comprising a sensor to detect light reflected from the light reflective surface, the light detected by the sensor being dependent upon the position of the first contact member.

26. The injector of claim 25 wherein the first indicator is positioned on the rear surface of an attachment flange of the syringe.

27. The injector of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of sensors and at least a first shutter mechanism in operative connection with the first contact member, each of the sensors having an on state and an off state, the shutter mechanism comprising at least one cooperating member to cooperate with at least one of the sensors to place the sensor in an on state or an off state, the state of each of the plurality of sensors providing a digital code corresponding to information on syringe configuration.

28. The injector of claim 27 wherein the first indicator is positioned on the rear surface of an attachment flange of the syringe.

29. The injector of claim 27 wherein the shutter mechanism comprises a plurality of cooperating members.

30. The injector of claim 29 wherein the sensors are optical sensors and the cooperating members are spaced opaque members operable to block transmission of light to the sensors.

31. The injector of claim 30 wherein the first indicator is positioned on the rear surface of an attachment flange of the syringe and causes the first contact member to move in an axial direction.

32. The injector of claim 31 wherein the first contact member is slidably positioned on a bushing that is rotatable about the axis of the syringe.

33. The injector of claim 32 wherein the shutter mechanism is attached to the first contact member and is rotated into cooperation with the plurality of sensor upon rotation of the bushing to attach the syringe to the injector.

34. An injector system comprising:

at least one syringe comprising at least a first indicator positioned on the syringe at a predetermined position, the position of the at least a first indicator being associated with information about the syringe configuration; and

an injector comprising;

a drive member;

a plurality of sensors;

at least a first contact member movably disposed in the injector, the at least a first contact member is positioned to come into contact with the at least a first indicator when the syringe is attached to the injector such that the position of the at least a first contact member is determined by the position of the at least a first indicator; and

at least a first shutter mechanism in operative connection with the at least a first contact member, each of the sensors having an on state and an off state, the shutter mechanism comprising at least one cooperating member to cooperate with at least one of the sensors to place the sensor in an on state or an off state, the state of each of the plurality of sensors providing a digital code corresponding to information on syringe configuration.