Contrast media injector

• US 5,346,470 A
• Filed: 01/27/1993
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E-Z-EM Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Recinella, Daniel, Hawkins, Irvin F., Goodman, John, Hobbs, Eamonn, Zimmet, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rafa, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/009,861
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 604/23, 604/24, 604/26, 604/30, 604/32, 604/34, 128/635, 128/655
• US Class Current: 604/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• 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: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/12 Blood circulatory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for use with a contrast media injector. The injector is of the type including a gas source and a liquid source. The apparatus includes a gas delivery channel connected to the gas source and a liquid delivery channel connected to the liquid source. Two normally closed valves are provided to control flow from the gas and liquid channel. The valves insure that gas and liquid do not simultaneously exit from the channel. The valves minimize inadvertent mixing of the gas and saline downstream of the valves. The gas channel is connected to a gas source using a fitting which also connects electro-conductive wires in the apparatus to a power source. The liquid channel connects to a source of liquid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a contrast media injector of the type including a source of gas and a source of liquid, the apparatus comprising:

a gas delivery channel;

means for connecting said gas delivery channel to a gas source;

a liquid delivery channel;

means for connecting said liquid delivery channel to a liquid source;

electro-conductive wires connectable to a power source;

a plurality of normally closed, automatic valves for controlling the flow of gas and liquid from said gas and liquid channels, said normally closed valves including means for opening in response to predetermined internal pressures, a said normally closed valves including means for insuring that the gas and liquid do not simultaneously exit from said gas and liquid channels, when the back pressure of the gas is greater than the back pressure of the liquid, said normally closed valves minimizing inadvertent mixing of said gas and liquid;

said means for connecting said gas channel to said gas source including means to connect said electro-conductive wires to a power source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of normally closed valves includes two duckbill check valves placed at an angle of between 30°

to 45°

, and further included a common channel through which either gas or liquid flows after exiting said duckbill valves, said common channel having an inner diameter of between 0.062 to 0.110 inches.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a channel in which said electro-conductive wires are housed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gas delivery channel, said liquid delivery channel and, said channel housing said electro-conductive wires are three lumens of a bonded tri-lumen tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including a receptacle on said contrast media injector, and wherein said means for connecting said gas channel and said electro-conductive wires to a gas source and a power source is a fitting, said fitting including wire locks, said wire locks constructed to mate with spring loaded pins on said receptacle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the portion of said fitting which mates with said receptacle is flat.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fitting includes wire locks and said receptacle includes spring loaded pins, the wire locks engaging the spring loaded pins.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fitting includes a conductive epoxy and said receptacle includes spring loaded pins and the epoxy engaging the spring loaded pins.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fitting includes an O-ring and an O-ring tip and wherein said receptacle includes a central bore, the O-ring tip being shaped and dimensioned to fit in said bore, said O-ring sealing said bore before electrical contact is made.