Automated syringe filling system for radiographic contrast agents and other injectable substances
First Claim
1. A system for filling a desired number of receiving syringes with desired volume(s) and desired concentration(s) of an injectate solution, said system comprising:
- a syringe filling device comprising;
i) at least one solution container containing a solution at a first concentration;
ii) at least one diluent container containing a diluent which is suitable for diluting said solution;
iii) a mixing apparatus fluidly connected to said solution container and said diluent container, said mixing apparatus being operative to combine a predetermined amount of said solution with a predetermined amount of said diluent to form an injectate solution of a predetermined volume and concentration;
iv) an injectate delivery conduit attached to said mixing apparatus, for delivering said injectate solution of said predetermined volume and concentration;
v) flow directing apparatus fluidly connected to said injectate delivery conduit, and to a plurality of individual syringe filling tubes, said flow directing apparatus being operative to alternately channel the flow of injectate solution received through said delivery conduit, to a single one of said syringe filling tubes;
a syringe-handling magazine adapted to receive and hold a plurality of syringes while each such syringe is connected to a selected one of said syringe filling tubes, said magazine being operative to deliver each syringe after such syringe has been filled with a predetermined volume and concentration of said injectate solution;
pumping apparatus for propelling said solution and said diluent from said solution and diluent containers, through said mixing apparatus, through said injectate delivery conduit, through said flow directing means, and through said syringe delivery tubes and into said syringes; and
,a programmable controller in communication with said mixing apparatus, said flow directing apparatus, said pumping apparatus and said syringe delivery magazine;
said controller being capable of receiving operator input of the i) desired number of syringes to be filled, ii) the desired volume of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe, and iii) the desired concentration of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe;
said controller being further operative to send control signals to i) said mixing apparatus, ii) said pumping apparatus, iii) said flow directing apparatus, and iv) said syringe handling magazine, to cause the desired number of syringe(s) to be filled with the desired volume(s) and the desired concentration(s) of injectate solution as input by the operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automated filling of one or more medical syringes with desired volume(s) and concentration(s) of an injectate solution, such as a contrast solution usable for medical imaging procedures (e.g., x-ray, MRI, ultrasound). The system may incorporate an automated syringe magazine which interfaces with the programmable system controller to deliver the desired number of syringes after the syringes have been filled. Also, the system may utilize a low-pressure pumping arrangement wherein a pumping device engages each receiving syringe and withdraws the plunger of the receiving syringe to pull the desired injectate solution into the receiving syringe by negative pressure.
285 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for filling a desired number of receiving syringes with desired volume(s) and desired concentration(s) of an injectate solution, said system comprising:
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a syringe filling device comprising; i) at least one solution container containing a solution at a first concentration; ii) at least one diluent container containing a diluent which is suitable for diluting said solution; iii) a mixing apparatus fluidly connected to said solution container and said diluent container, said mixing apparatus being operative to combine a predetermined amount of said solution with a predetermined amount of said diluent to form an injectate solution of a predetermined volume and concentration; iv) an injectate delivery conduit attached to said mixing apparatus, for delivering said injectate solution of said predetermined volume and concentration; v) flow directing apparatus fluidly connected to said injectate delivery conduit, and to a plurality of individual syringe filling tubes, said flow directing apparatus being operative to alternately channel the flow of injectate solution received through said delivery conduit, to a single one of said syringe filling tubes; a syringe-handling magazine adapted to receive and hold a plurality of syringes while each such syringe is connected to a selected one of said syringe filling tubes, said magazine being operative to deliver each syringe after such syringe has been filled with a predetermined volume and concentration of said injectate solution; pumping apparatus for propelling said solution and said diluent from said solution and diluent containers, through said mixing apparatus, through said injectate delivery conduit, through said flow directing means, and through said syringe delivery tubes and into said syringes; and
,a programmable controller in communication with said mixing apparatus, said flow directing apparatus, said pumping apparatus and said syringe delivery magazine; said controller being capable of receiving operator input of the i) desired number of syringes to be filled, ii) the desired volume of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe, and iii) the desired concentration of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe; said controller being further operative to send control signals to i) said mixing apparatus, ii) said pumping apparatus, iii) said flow directing apparatus, and iv) said syringe handling magazine, to cause the desired number of syringe(s) to be filled with the desired volume(s) and the desired concentration(s) of injectate solution as input by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for filling one or more receiving syringe(s) with desired volume(s) and desired concentration(s) of an injectate solution, said system comprising:
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a syringe filling device comprising; i) at least one solution container containing a solution at a first concentration; ii) at least one diluent container containing a diluent which is suitable for diluting said solution; iii) a mixing apparatus fluidly connected to said solution container and said diluent container, said mixing apparatus being operative to combine a predetermined amount of said solution with a predetermined amount of said diluent to form an injectate solution of a predetermined volume and concentration; iv) an injectate delivery conduit attached to said mixing apparatus, for delivering said injectate solution of said predetermined volume and concentration; v) a receiving syringe having a barrel and a plunger movably disposed within the barrel, said receiving syringe being connected to said injectate delivery conduit such that when the when the plunger of the syringe is withdrawn in a first direction, injectate will be thereby drawn through the delivery conduit and into the barrel of the receiving syringe; vi) a syringe pump engageable with said receiving syringe and operative to withdraw the plunger of the receiving syringe to cause the desired volume of injectate solution to be drawn into the barrel of the receiving syringe; a programmable controller in communication with at least said mixing apparatus, and said syringe pump; said controller being capable of receiving operator input of i) the desired volume of injectate solution to be dispensed into each receiving syringe, and iii) the desired concentration of injectate solution to be dispensed into each receiving syringe; said controller being further operative to send control signals to said mixing apparatus and said syringe pump to cause the syringe to be filled with the desired volume and the desired concentration of injectate solution. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for filling a desired number of receiving syringes with desired volume(s) and desired concentration(s) of an injectate solution, said method comprising:
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a) providing a syringe filling device which comprises; i) at least one solution container containing a solution at a first concentration; ii) at least one diluent container containing a diluent which is suitable for diluting said solution; iii) a mixing apparatus fluidly connected to said solution container and said diluent container, said mixing apparatus being operative to combine a predetermined amount of said solution with a predetermined amount of said diluent to form an injectate solution of a predetermined volume and concentration; iv) an injectate delivery conduit attached to said mixing apparatus, for delivering said injectate solution of said predetermined volume and concentration; v) flow directing apparatus fluidly connected to said injectate delivery conduit, and to a plurality of individual syringe filling tubes, said flow directing apparatus being operative to alternately channel the flow of injectate solution received through said delivery conduit, to a single one of said syringe filling tubes; a syringe-handling magazine adapted to receive and hold a plurality of syringes while each such syringe is connected to a selected one of said syringe filling tubes, said magazine being operative to deliver each syringe after such syringe has been filled with a predetermined volume and concentration of said injectate solution; pumping apparatus for propelling said solution and said diluent from said solution and diluent containers, through said mixing apparatus, through said injectate delivery conduit, through said flow directing means, and through said syringe delivery tubes and into said syringes; and
,a programmable controller in communication with said mixing apparatus, said flow directing apparatus, said pumping apparatus and said syringe delivery magazine; said controller being capable of receiving operator input of the i) desired number of syringes to be filled, ii) the desired volume of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe, and iii) the desired concentration of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe; said controller being further operative to send control signals to i) said mixing apparatus, ii) said pumping apparatus, iii) said flow directing apparatus, and iv) said syringe handling magazine, to cause the desired number of syringe(s) to be filled with the desired volume(s) and the desired concentration(s) of injectate solution as input by the operator; b) programming the controller by inputting the desired number of syringes to be filled, the desired volume of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe, and the desired concentration of injectate solution to be dispensed into each syringe; c) causing control signals to be sent by said controller to said mixing apparatus, said pumping apparatus, said flow directing apparatus and said syringe handling magazine, to thereby fill the desired number of syringe(s) with the desired volume(s) and the desired concentration(s) of injectate solution. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for filling one or more receiving syringes with desired volume(s) and desired concentration(s) of an injectate solution, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a syringe filling device which comprises; i) at least one solution container containing a solution at a first concentration; ii) at least one diluent container containing a diluent which is suitable for diluting said solution; iii) a mixing apparatus fluidly connected to said solution container and said diluent container, said mixing apparatus being operative to combine a predetermined amount of said solution with a predetermined amount of said diluent to form an injectate solution of a predetermined volume and concentration; iv) an injectate delivery conduit attached to said mixing apparatus, for delivering said injectate solution of said predetermined volume and concentration; v) a receiving syringe having a barrel and a plunger movably disposed within the barrel, said receiving syringe being connected to said injectate delivery conduit such that when the when the plunger of the syringe is withdrawn in a first direction, injectate will be thereby drawn through the delivery conduit and into the barrel of the receiving syringe; vi) a syringe pump engageable with said receiving syringe and operative to withdraw the plunger of the receiving syringe to cause the desired volume of injectate solution to be drawn into the barrel of the receiving syringe; a programmable controller in communication with at least said mixing apparatus, and said syringe pump; said controller being capable of receiving operator input of i) the desired volume of injectate solution to be dispensed into each receiving syringe, and iii) the desired concentration of injectate solution to be dispensed into each receiving syringe; said controller being further operative to send control signals to said mixing apparatus and said syringe pump to cause the syringe to be filled with the desired volume and the desired concentration of injectate solution; b) programming the controller by inputting the desired volume of injectate solution to be dispensed into each receiving syringe and the desired concentration of injectate solution to be dispensed into each receiving syringe; c) causing the controller to send control signals to said mixing apparatus and to said syringe pump to cause each syringe to be filled with the desired volume and the desired concentration of injectate solution. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification