Fluid Driven Medical Injectors

• US 20100274127A1
• 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 8,343,102 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 multi-fluid drive comprising a pneumatic drive section coupled to a liquid control section, wherein the pneumatic drive section is responsive to pressure of a working pneumatic medium to induce movement, the liquid control section comprises a working liquid responsive to the movement to control a rate of the movement, and the multi-fluid drive is configured to not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the movement drives a delivery device to flow medical fluid.

3. The injector of claim 1, wherein the liquid control section is configured to control displacement of the working liquid in response to the movement.

4. The injector of claim 1, further comprising a piston disposed in a cylinder, wherein the working pneumatic medium is disposed on a first side of the piston, and the working liquid is disposed on a second side of the piston opposite from the first side.

5. The injector of claim 4, wherein the liquid control section comprises a piezoelectric valve disposed between the second side of the piston and a liquid reservoir.

6. The injector of claim 4, wherein the liquid control section comprises at least one of a gear pump and a check valve disposed between the second side of the piston and a liquid reservoir.

7. An injection system comprising the injector of claim 1, and a delivery device, wherein the piston is interconnected with the delivery device.

8. An injection system comprising the injector of claim 1, and further comprising a delivery device interconnected with an output of the injector.