Automatic engagement and pressure checking system for an inflation control system

• US 6,254,569 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1995
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Royce, Steven D., OʼDonnell, Joseph A., Quinones, Albert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/406,025
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 604/99, 604/100, 604/30-34, 604/65, 604/66, 604/67, 604/118, 604/97, 128/DIG.1, 128/DIG.12, 128/DIG.13
• US Class Current: 604/97.03
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10182 Injector syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10184 Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

An automated engagement system for coupling the plunger of a syringe to a drive arm is provided. A pressure integrity test of the syringe assembly is automatically conducted after engagement. After a position sensor communicates a signal indicating the presence of a properly installed syringe assembly to a processor, a display prompts the operator to vent and then close a stopcock in the fluid line. The processor then controls the drive arm of the system to move into engagement with the plunger of the syringe assembly, and to move the plunger forward into the syringe barrel. The drive arm stops when a pressure sensor produces a signal indicating a positive pressure in the fluid line. The processor then controls the drive arm to move the plunger in a reverse direction until a negative pressure is detected. After this confirmation of pressure integrity in the syringe assembly, the processor controls the drive to move forward until a non-negative pressure is detected by the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. An inflation control system comprising:

a movable drive device having a drive arm that moves in longitudinal directions in response to drive signals;

a syringe assembly comprising;

a syringe barrel having a volume and a plunger opening at a proximal end and an output at a distal end;

a fluid tube in fluid communication with the barrel volume through the output;

a plunger movably disposed in the plunger opening and in the barrel for altering the volume by means of its position in the barrel, the plunger having a drive retainer at a proximal end, the retainer permitting the drive arm to automatically engage the retainer from one direction and after engaging, securing the plunger to the drive arm so that the plunger moves with the drive arm in longitudinal directions;

a pressure sensor producing a signal representative of the pressure within said fluid line;

a mounting bracket for engaging said syringe assembly and maintaining said syringe assembly in a stationary position in relation to the drive arm;

a processor that provides drive signals to the drive device to automatically move the drive arm into engagement with the plunger retainer.

2. The inflation control system of claim 1 wherein the processor provides drive signals to the drive device to perform a syringe pressure integrity test after engagement of the drive arm with the drive retainer.

3. The inflation control system of claim 1 wherein:

after the processor has moved the drive arm into engagement with the drive retainer, the processor controls the drive device to move the drive arm in a first longitudinal direction until a positive pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor and in a second longitudinal direction until a negative pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor.

4. The inflation control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a flow control device that closes the fluid line;

wherein the processor provides drive signals to the drive device to perform a syringe pressure integrity test after engagement of the drive arm with the driver retainer.

after the processor has moved the drive arm into engagement with the driver retainer, the processor controls the drive device to move the drive arm in a first longitudinal direction until a positive pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor and in a second longitudinal direction until a negative pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor.

5. The inflation control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a flow control device that opens the fluid line;

wherein the processor receives the pressure sensor signal, compares it to a predetermined range of pressures and indicates an alarm if the sensor signal is outside that range.

6. The inflation control system of claim 1 wherein:

the driver retainer comprises two resilient retainer prongs that spread apart when initially contacted by the drive arm and which return to their at-rest positions when fully engaged by the drive arm to capture the drive arm between them.

7. The inflation control system of claim 6 wherein a notch is formed in said drive arm, and at least one of said at least two retainer prongs includes a barb for engaging said notch.

8. The inflation control system of claim 2 further comprising:

a position sensor which produces a position signal indicating when said assembly is properly mounted;

wherein the processor enables the syringe pressure integrity test only after receipt of the position signal.

9. An inflation control system comprising:

a movable drive device having a drive arm that moves in longitudinal directions in response to drive signal;

a processor that provides drive signals to the drive device to move the drive arm; and

a syringe assembly comprising;

a syringe barrel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a volume, the barrel further having a plunger opening at the proximal end and an output opening at the distal end;

a plunger slidably disposed in the plunger opening and in the syringe barrel for altering the barrel volume by means of the plunger'"'"'s position in the barrel, the plunger having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end, the plunger having a driver retainer at the plunger proximal end, wherein the driver retainer is configured to receive and automatically capture the drive arm of the movable drive device;

a fluid line in fluid communication with the barrel volume through the output opening; and

a pressure sensor producing a signal representative of the pressure within said fluid line.

10. The inflation control system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to provide drive signals to the drive device to perform a pressure integrity test after engagement of the drive arm with the driver retainer.

11. The inflation control system of claim 10, further comprising:

a position sensor that produces a position signal indicating proper mounting of said syringe assembly;

wherein the processor enables the syringe pressure integrity test only after receipt of said position signal.

12. The inflation control system of claim 9, wherein the processor receives the pressure sensor signal, compares said pressure sensor signal to a predetermined range of pressures, and indicates an alarm if the pressure sensor signal is outside said range.