INJECTOR SYSTEM

• US 20150025375A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel Flarsheim Co LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Pollard, Pamela L., Powers, John E., Ziemba, Robert J., McGraw, Robert J., Hoyt, Richard A., Soni, Bina A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,895,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

Multiple embodiments of contrast media injector systems (800, 800′, 800c) are disclosed. A number of different devices are disclosed for providing user input to such a contrast media injector system (800, 800′, 800c), including at least one tablet computer (700), a user-mountable user input device (760), a smartphone (762), and various combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A contrast media injector system comprising:

an injector module comprising;

a drive source; and

a first tablet docking station;

an injector system control module in communication with said drive source; and

a tablet computer connectable to said first tablet docking station and comprising at least one user input device in communication with said injector system control module, wherein said tablet computer is both dockable to and removable from said first tablet docking station, wherein said tablet computer becomes part of said injector module only when connected to said first tablet docking station, and wherein said injector system is configured to require an active communication link between said tablet computer and said injector system control module before said contrast media injector system can execute an injection protocol.

2. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said injector module further comprises a support and a powerhead movably interconnected with said support.

3. The injector system of claim 2, wherein said powerhead comprises said injector system control module and a second user input device in communication with said injector system control module and in addition to said tablet computer, and wherein said tablet computer blocks access to said second user input device when connected to said first tablet docking station.

5. The injector system of claim 2, wherein only a single user input device is available for communicating with said injector system control module when said tablet computer is connected to said first tablet docking station, and wherein said single user input device comprises said tablet computer.

6. The injector system of claim 2, wherein said powerhead comprises said injector system control module, and wherein all user inputs to said injector system control module are required to be entered via a device that is operatively interconnected with said injector system control module and that is not part of said powerhead, and wherein said device comprises said tablet computer.

8. The injector system of claim 2, wherein said powerhead comprises a touchscreen, and wherein said tablet computer blocks access to said touchscreen of said powerhead when connected to said first tablet docking station.

10. The injector system of claim 2, wherein only a single touchscreen is available for providing user input to said injector system control module when said tablet computer is connected to said first tablet docking station, and wherein said tablet computer comprises said single touchscreen.

23. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said tablet computer is required for full operation of said injector module.

25. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said injector system comprises a single user input device in the form of said tablet computer.

26. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said tablet computers, wherein each of said plurality of tablet computers is in communication with said injector system control module.

33. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality tablet docking stations, wherein said tablet computer is both dockable to and removable from each of said plurality of tablet docking stations.

34. The injector system of claim 33, wherein said plurality of tablet docking stations comprises said first tablet docking station and a second tablet docking station, wherein said injector module and said first tablet docking station are located in a first room, and wherein said second tablet docking station is located in a different second room.

38. The injector system of claim 34, further comprising:

a second said tablet computer in communication with said injector system control module, wherein said tablet computer is dedicated to said first tablet docking station, and wherein said second said tablet computer is dedicated to said second tablet docking station.

41. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said injector modules, wherein said tablet computer is configured to communicate with each of said injector modules.

42. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user-mountable user input device in communication with said tablet computer, wherein said user-mountable user input device comprises at least one user mounting connector.

48. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said injector module comprises a powerhead, wherein said powerhead comprises said injector system control module, wherein said injector system further comprises a master/slave control architecture, wherein said powerhead is a master node for said master/slave control architecture, and wherein at least one said tablet computer is a slave node for said master/slave control architecture.

53. The injector system of claim 48, wherein said powerhead comprises a single stored injection protocol, and wherein at least one said tablet computer comprises a plurality of stored injection protocols.

54. The injector system of claim 48, further comprising:

an injection protocol data structure that comprises a plurality of injection protocols, wherein an entirety of said injection protocol data structure is stored on at least one said tablet computer and none of said injection protocol data structure is stored on said powerhead.

55. The injector system of claim 48, further comprising:

an injection history data structure, wherein an entirety of said injection history data structure is stored on at least one said tablet computer and none of said injection history data structure is stored on said powerhead.

56. The injector system of claim 48, further comprising:

an alarm history data structure, wherein an entirety of said alarm history data structure is stored on at least one said tablet computer and none of said alarm history data structure is stored on said powerhead.

61. The injector system of claim 1, wherein injection results are displayed on said tablet computer.

62. The injector system of any of claim 1, wherein said tablet computer is configured to both initiate and terminate the execution of an injection by said injector system.

4. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11. A contrast media injector system comprising:

an injector module comprising a drive source;

an injector system control module in communication with said drive source; and

at least one tablet computer in communication with said injector system control module, wherein said injector system is configured such that all user inputs to said injector system control module are required to be provided through said at least one said tablet computer.

12. (canceled)

13. A contrast media injector system comprising:

an injector module comprising a drive source;

an injector system control module;

a first computer in communication with said injector system control module; and

a user-mountable user input device in communication with said first computer, wherein said user-mountable user input device comprises at least one user mounting connector.

14-22. -22. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

27-32. -32. (canceled)

35-37. -37. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

43-47. -47. (canceled)

49-52. -52. (canceled)

57-60. -60. (canceled)

63-104. -104. (canceled)