Injector head for medical use

• US 5,968,015 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sugan Co. Ltd. (Sheen Man Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sugan Co. Ltd. (Sheen Man Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US09/034,995
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 604/152, 604/154, 604/155, 128/DIG. 1, 128/DIG. 12
• US Class Current: 604/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe

Abstract

An injector head for medical use is provided with a position plate serving as both the position plate and a nut, placed at a rear end portion of a plunger, as well as a screw axis engaging with the position plate. A mechanical stopper which can slide only in a direction of an axis of the plunger is provided to the plunger. A female thread is formed on the surface of the mechanical stopper. A main body portion is provided which accommodates the mechanical stopper, the plunger, and the position plate and has a male thread formed on its inner surface and screwed together with the female thread. By utilizing this structure, an injector head for medical use can be provided which is scaled down and simplified while keeping its mechanical safety mechanism.

Claims

1. An injector head for medical use having a syringe attached thereto, the syringe including a cylindrical body portion having an inject portion and an opening portion respectively at a front end side and a rear end side and including a piston defining an internal space for sucking in contrast medium to be injected to a patient and provided movably between the front end side and the rear end side of said body portion, comprising:

a plunger having its front end portion coupled to said piston, capable of reciprocating in a direction of movement of said piston, and restrained from rotating on its axis;

first drive means provided at a rear end side of said plunger for reciprocating said plunger;

a mechanical stopper through which said plunger passes, provided such that it is capable of moving along the axis of said plunger and is restrained from rotating on the axis of said plunger;

move and fix means for moving said mechanical stopper along the axis of said plunger and fixing it at an arbitrary position by engaging with said mechanical stopper while rotating on the axis of said plunger;

second drive means for rotating said move and fix means;

a position plate provided at the rear end side of said plunger to the rear of said mechanical stopper for preventing said plunger from moving by contacting with said mechanical stopper when said plunger moves to the front end side; and

a frame for supporting said plunger, said first drive means, said mechanical stopper, said move and fix means, and said position plate.

2. The injector head for medical use according to claim 1, wherein

said first drive means includes:

a ball screw having a screw axis placed within said plunger and a nut provided at the rear end side of said plunger screwed together with the screw axis; and

a drive mechanism for applying a turning force to said screw axis, and

said nut serves as said position plate.

3. The injector head for medical use according to claim 2, wherein

said plunger includes at least one of a first concave and convex position formed on its surface along its axis and is supported by said frame at its front end portion such that it can slide member and is restrained from rotating,

said mechanical stopper includes at least one of a second concave and convex portion engaging with said at least one of first concave and convex portion as well as a first thread groove respectively formed on its inner surface and on its outer surface, and

said move and fix means has a cylindrical shape accommodating said plunger, said ball screw, and said position plate, and includes a second thread groove on its inner surface screwed together with said first thread groove of said mechanical stopper.

4. The injector head for medical use according to claim 3, wherein

said move and fix means further includes detect means for detecting that said position plate meets said mechanical stopper.

5. An injector head for medical use according to claim 3, wherein

said frame includes plunger rotation means for selectively rotating said plunger by a prescribed angle.

6. The injector head for medical use according to claim 2, wherein

said plunger is supported by said frame at its front end portion such that it can slide and is restrained from rotating,

said mechanical stopper includes a first thread groove and a second thread groove respectively on its inner surface and its outer surface, and

said move and fix means has a cylindrical shape accommodating some parts of said plunger and said nut of said ball screw and includes:

a main body portion having a second thread groove screwed together with said first thread groove and a slit groove for exposing a part of said nut of said ball screw on its outer surface; and

a gear having a third thread groove screwed together with said second thread groove of said mechanical stopper formed on its surface, the gear placed in parallel with said main body portion along a direction of the axis of said plunger.

7. The injector head for medical use according to claim 6, wherein

said move and fix means further includes detection means for detecting that said position plate meets said mechanical stopper.

8. The injector head for medical use according to claim 6, wherein

said frame includes plunger rotation means for selectively rotating said plunger by a prescribed angle.