Fluid Driven Medical Injectors

• US 20100274126A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Fago, Frank M., Wagner, Gary S., Staats, Peter, Battiato, Dane
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• 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

Abstract

Some injectors of the invention may include a fluid drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid (e.g., liquid, pneumatic, or both) to impart a sequence of forces to drive a delivery device (e.g., a syringe) to deliver a medical fluid (e.g., a contrast agent, a radiopharmaceutical, a drug, or a combination thereof). Some injectors may include a multimedia tube configured to pass a working fluid (e.g., air) and a light signal (e.g., infrared). Some injectors may include a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid.

Claims

1. A medical fluid injector for use in an MRI procedure, comprising:

a substantially non-ferrous and substantially non-magnetic fluid drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid to impart a sequence of forces to drive a delivery device to flow medical fluid, wherein the fluid drive comprises a piston disposed in a cylinder, a rod coupled to the piston, and a rotary ratchet coupled to the rod, and the fluid drive is configured to not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the fluid drive is configured to not emit or detect radio frequency radiation.

3. The injector of claim 1, wherein the injector is configured to mount inside an imaging bore of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.

4. The injector of claim 1, wherein the rotary ratchet is configured to sequentially engage teeth of a gear in response to oscillating motion of the piston in the cylinder.

5. The injector of claim 4, wherein the gear is coupled to a ball screw.

6. The injector of claim 5, wherein the delivery device comprises a plunger disposed in a barrel, and the ball screw is coupled to the plunger.

7. The injector of claim 1, wherein the rotary ratchet comprises a first arm to sequentially engage the teeth of the gear.

8. The injector of claim 7, wherein the rotary ratchet comprises a second arm to sequentially engage the teeth of the gear at a location that is spaced from where the first arm sequentially engages the teeth of the gear.

9. The injector of claim 8, wherein the first and second arms each reciprocate relative to the gear, wherein when one of the first and second arms is pushing on an individual tooth of the gear, the other of the first and second arms is withdrawing away from another individual tooth of the gear.

10. The injector of claim 8, wherein only one of the first and second arms is pushing on an individual tooth of the gear at any given time.

11. The injector of claim 1, further comprising a pump coupled to the fluid drive.

12. The injector of claim 11, further comprising conduit leading from the pump to the fluid drive.

13. The injector of claim 11, further comprising a control coupled to the pump.

14. The injector of claim 13, further comprising a feedback sensor coupled to the control, wherein the feedback sensor is configured to monitor at least one of the delivery device and the fluid drive.

15. The injector of claim 14, wherein the feedback sensor is selected from the group consisting of a potentiometer, an optical encoder, or a combination thereof.

16. The injector of claim 11, wherein the pump provides a working fluid to the fluid drive.

17. An injection system comprising the injector of claim 1, and a delivery device that comprises a syringe.

18. The injection system of claim 17, further comprising a patient mount configured to support at least one of the delivery device and the fluid drive.

19. An injection system comprising the injector of claim 1, and a delivery device that has an output disposed generally proximate the fluid drive.

20. The injection system of claim 19, further comprising a patient mount configured to support at least one of the delivery device and the fluid drive.