METHOD FOR PREVENTING AIR EMBOLISM IN A SYRINGE FOR ANGIOGRAPHIC POWER INJECTOR

• US 3,752,145 A
• Filed: 11/01/1971
• Issued: 08/14/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MDT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Frank W. Longson, Robert R. Runnells
• Inventors: Runnells, Robert R., Longson, Frank W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGowan, J. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/194,747
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218R,218C,221,218N,2R,215,216,214C,218A,2.5R,2.5F,2S
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31 Details

Abstract

A power injector or syringe designed for use in angiographic studies having a cylindrical, hollow housing and a plunger or piston fitted for reciprocating action within the housing. The housing is provided with a transparent, magnifying conical-shaped head for more easily detecting air bubbles entrained in a liquid contained by the syringe. Detection of these bubbles prior to injection minimizes the chances of air embolism during intravenous injections.

Claims

1. In angiography wherein contrast solution is poured into the housing of a power injector syringe and thereafter expelled at a controlled rate by power means advancing the plunger of said syringe towards the outlet thereof, the improvement for eliminating the hazard of air embolism resulting from expelling entrapped air from said syringe into the vascular system of a patient comprising:

providing the outlet of said syringe in a removable, transparent, magnifying head;

providing in said head adjacent said outlet, a safety chamber configurated such that the plunger of the syringe cannot be advanced thereinto;

filling said syringe with contrast solution;

orienting the syringe with the outlet end up, thereby permitting any enTrapped air to rise towards the outlet;

viewing the contents of said safety chamber through the transparent walls of said magnifying head to determine whether bubbles of entrapped air are present in said chamber;

advancing said plunger towards said outlet to expel any entrapped air from said safety chamber by displacement while said outlet end is oriented up;

orienting said outlet end down, thereby to permit any remaining entrapped air to rise through said contrast solution away from said outlet; and

injecting said contrast solution in accordance with the program of an angiographic procedure with said outlet end pointing down and said syringe as nearly vertical as the angiographic procedure permits.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the contrast solution is poured into said syringe from the outlet end with the said magnifying head removed.

3. The improvement of claim 1 including attaching a tube to said outlet;

submerging the free end of said tube in a pool of contrast solution afer contrast solution is poured into said syringe;

expelling entrapped air through said tube by advancing the plunger towards said outlet;

drawing additional contrast solution into said syringe from said pool through said tube; and

viewing the contents of said safety chamber through the transparent walls of said magnifying head to determine whether bubbles of entrapped air remain in said chamber.