Pulse-injector for quantitative angiographic blood-flow measurements
First Claim
1. Injection apparatus for quantitative angiographic blood flow measurements by injection of a contrast agent into a fluid transporting vessel, said apparatus comprising a pressurized source of contrast agent, a catheter for conducting the contrast agent from the source into the vessel, a control valve to control flow of said agent between said source and said vessel, said control valve having an inlet port connected to said source, an outlet port connected to said catheter and a valve body within a housing and including a passageway to extend between said inlet and outlet port, said valve body being rotatable within said housing between an open position in which flow between said inlet and said outlet is permitted and a closed position in which flow between said inlet and said outlet is inhibited to connect and disconnect periodically said inlet port and said outlet port and thereby alternately allow and inhibit fluid flow therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for pulsed-injection of radiographic contrast agent uses a pressurized source of contrast agent interrupted by a rotary valve at rates ranging from 1 to 30 Hz. This produces well-defined boli at the end of the catheter. The position of these boli is recorded by a digital radiographic system and analyzed to produce quantitative measurements of blood velocity and flow rate throughout the cardiac cycle.
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Citations
35 Claims
- 1. Injection apparatus for quantitative angiographic blood flow measurements by injection of a contrast agent into a fluid transporting vessel, said apparatus comprising a pressurized source of contrast agent, a catheter for conducting the contrast agent from the source into the vessel, a control valve to control flow of said agent between said source and said vessel, said control valve having an inlet port connected to said source, an outlet port connected to said catheter and a valve body within a housing and including a passageway to extend between said inlet and outlet port, said valve body being rotatable within said housing between an open position in which flow between said inlet and said outlet is permitted and a closed position in which flow between said inlet and said outlet is inhibited to connect and disconnect periodically said inlet port and said outlet port and thereby alternately allow and inhibit fluid flow therebetween.
- 31. A catheter for use with an injection apparatus to inject a contrast agent into a vessel, said catheter comprising an elongate body having an internal duct extending through said body and sealed at one end to inhibit flow therethrough, a plurality of apertures adjacent said one end of said body to allow egress of said agent from said duct, said apertures being axially spaced from one another along said body with adjacent apertures displaced circumferentially, said apertures being dimensioned to provide a cumulative area greater than the cross sectional area of said internal duct and being located within a 4.7 mm. axial extent of said body whereby an initial extent of a bolus of contrast agent along the vessel is reduced and jetting of the agent is avoided.
Specification