Apparatus and method for controlling contrast enhanced imaging procedures

• US 6,317,623 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Uber, Arthur E. III, Griffiths, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/267,238
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 600/431, 600/432, 600/433, 600/434, 600/435, 600/458
• US Class Current: 600/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/481 involving the use of contrast agent, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream analysis of echo signal exploiting properties of a contrast enhancer in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52039
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors

Abstract

A system for delivery of a medium having ultrasound contrast enhancement agents therein to a patient includes a pressurizing device for pressurizing the medium, a fluid path connecting the pressurizing device to the patient and a concentration sensor in communication with the fluid path. The concentration of the contrast enhancement agents is measured by the concentration sensor during injection of the medium into the patient to assist in controlling the delivery system and/or an imaging procedure.

Claims

1. A fluid path element to cooperate with a system for delivery of a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the system including a container to hold the medium, a pressurizing device to pressurizing the medium, a fluid path connecting the pressurizing device to the patient, and at least one sensor in communication with the at least one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path, whereby a property of the contrast enhancement agents is measured by the sensor to control delivery of the medium to the patient, the fluid path element comprising:

a contact surface formed generally to a shape of a surface of one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path, the fluid path element being in contact with the sensor so that the fluid path element couples the sensor to at least one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path when the contact surface of the fluid path element is in physical contact with the surface of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path.

2. A system for delivery of a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the system comprising:

a pressurizing device for pressurizing the medium;

a fluid path connecting the pressurizing device to the patient;

a sensor operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path, the sensor operable to measure a property of the contrast enhancement agents in the medium;

a communication unit in communication with the sensor, the communication unit operable to communicate data corresponding to the measured property of the contrast enhancement agents;

a processing unit in communication with the communication unit, the processing unit operable to transmit one or more control signals based at least in part on the measured property data; and

a controller in communication with the processing unit, the controller operable to control the pressurizing device at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the pressurizing device comprises a syringe.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the pressurizing device comprises a pump.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the property of the contrast enhancement agents comprises at least one of concentration and size distribution.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising a user interface in communication with the communication unit to provide an indication functionally related to the measured property data to an operator.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising an imaging unit in communication with the processing unit, the imaging unit operable to produce an image of the patient at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the imaging unit is adapted to transmit one or more image signals corresponding to properties of the image to the processing unit.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is operable to control the pressurizing device at least in part in response to the one or more image signals.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising an agitation mechanism operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path to agitate the medium.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the agitation mechanism in is communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising a preparation mechanism operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path to prepare the medium.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the preparation mechanism is in communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

14. The system of claim 2 wherein the contrast enhancement agents comprise bubbles suspended in the medium.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a bubble concentration regulator operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path to regulate the concentration of the bubbles in the medium.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the bubble concentration regulator is in communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

17. The system of claim 2 wherein the concentration of the contrast enhancement agents is measured during delivery of the medium.

18. The system of claim 2 wherein the property of the contrast enhancement agents in the medium comprises a variable property.

19. The system of claim 2 wherein the contrast enhancement agents are suspended in the medium.

20. A system for delivery of a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the system comprising:

a pressurizing device for pressurizing the medium;

a fluid path connecting the pressurizing device to the patient;

a sensor operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path, the sensor operable to measure a property of the contrast enhancement agents in the medium;

a communication unit in communication with the sensor, the communication unit operable to communicate data corresponding to the measured property of the contrast enhancement agents;

a processing unit in communication with the communication unit, the processing unit operable to transmit one or more control signals based at least in part on the measured property data; and

an imaging unit in communication with the processing unit, the imaging unit operable to produce an image of the patient at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the pressurizing device comprises a syringe.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the pressurizing device comprises a pump.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the property of the contrast enhancement agents comprises at least one of concentration and size distribution.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising a user interface in communication with the communication unit to provide an indication functionally related to the measured property data to an operator.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising a controller in communication with the processing unit, the controller operable to control the pressurizing device at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the imaging unit is adapted to transmit one or more image signals corresponding to properties of the image to the processing unit.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a controller in communication with the processing unit, the controller operable to control the imaging unit at least in part in response to the one or more image signals from the processing unit.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising an agitation mechanism in communication with the processing unit and operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path to agitate the medium, the agitation mechanism operable to agitate the medium at least in part in response to the one or more image signals from the processing unit.

29. The system of claim 20 wherein the property of the contrast enhancement agents in the medium comprises a variable property.

30. The system of claim 20, further comprising an agitation mechanism operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path to agitate the medium.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the agitation mechanism in is communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

32. The system of claim 20, further comprising a preparation mechanism operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path to prepare the medium.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the preparation mechanism is in communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

34. The system of claim 20 wherein the contrast enhancement agents comprise bubbles suspended in the medium.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a bubble concentration regulator operably associated with at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path to regulate the concentration of the bubbles in the medium.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the bubble concentration regulator is in communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

37. The system of claim 20 wherein the concentration of the contrast enhancement agents is measured during delivery of the medium.

38. The system of claim 20 wherein the contrast enhancement agents are suspended in the medium.

39. A method of delivering a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the method comprising:

measuring the concentration of the contrast enhancement agents; and

controlling at least one of the delivery of the contrast enhancement agents or an imaging procedure carried out in conjunction with delivery of the contrast enhancement agents by selective destruction of contrast enhancement agents.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the delivery of the contrast enhancement agents is further controlled by adjusting the medium delivery flow rate.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of pressurizing the medium.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of producing an image of the patient.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of agitating the medium.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of preparing the medium.

45. The method of claim 39 wherein the selective destruction of contrast enhancement agents occurs prior to delivery of the contrast enhancement agents into the patient.

46. A method of delivering a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the method comprising:

measuring the concentration of the contrast enhancement agents; and

controlling at least one of the delivery of the contrast enhancement agents or an imaging procedure carried out in conjunction with delivery of the contrast enhancement agents by generating additional contrast enhancement agents.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the delivery of the contrast enhancement agents is further controlled by adjusting the medium delivery flow rate.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of pressurizing the medium.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of producing an image of the patient.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of agitating the medium.

51. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of preparing the medium.

52. A method of delivering a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the method comprising:

measuring the concentration of the contrast enhancement agents; and

controlling at least one of the delivery of the contrast enhancement agents or an imaging procedure carried out in conjunction with delivery of the contrast enhancement agents by agitating the medium.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the delivery of the contrast enhancement agents is further controlled by adjusting the medium delivery flow rate.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of pressurizing the medium.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of producing an image of the patient.

56. The method of claim 52 wherein the controlling step further comprises adjusting the agitation level of the medium.

57. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of preparing the medium.

58. A fluid path element adapted to cooperate with a system for delivery of a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the system including a pressurizing device to pressurize the medium, a fluid path connecting the pressurizing device to the patient, and a concentration sensor in communication with the at least one of the pressurizing device or the fluid path, whereby the concentration of the contrast enhancement agents is measured by the concentration sensor before or during delivery of the medium into the patient, the fluid path element comprising:

a conduit for the fluid; and

a molded coupler associated with the conduit for retaining the concentration sensor thereon.

59. The fluid path element of claim 58 wherein the conduit comprises a connector tube.

60. The fluid path element of claim 58 wherein the molded coupler comprises an injection molded coupler.

61. A system for delivery of a medium with contrast enhancement agents therein into a patient, the system comprising:

a container to hold the medium;

a pressurizing device operably associated with the container for pressurizing the medium;

a fluid path connecting the pressurizing device to the patient; and

a sensor operably associated with at least one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path to measure the size distribution of the contrast enhancement agents.

62. The system of claim 61, further comprising a communication unit in communication with the sensor, the communication unit operable to communicate data corresponding to the measured size distribution of the contrast enhancement agents.

63. The system of claim 62, further comprising a processing unit in communication with the communication unit, the processing unit operable to transmit one or more control signals based at least in part on the measured size distribution data.

64. The system of claim 63, further comprising an imaging unit in communication with the processing unit, the imaging unit operable to produce an image of the patient at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the imaging unit is adapted to transmit one or more image signals corresponding to properties of the image to the processing unit.

66. The system of claim 63, further comprising a controller in communication with the processing unit, the controller operable to control the pressurizing device at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

67. The system of claim 63, further comprising an agitation mechanism operably associated with at least one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path to agitate the medium.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the agitation mechanism in is communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

69. The system of claim 63, further comprising a preparation mechanism operably associated with at least one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path to prepare the medium.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the preparation mechanism is in communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

71. The system of claim 63, further comprising a bubble concentration regulator operably associated with at least one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path to regulate the concentration of the bubbles in the medium.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein the bubble concentration regulator is in communication with the processing unit and operates at least in part in response to the one or more control signals from the processing unit.

73. The system of claim 62, further comprising a user interface in communication with the communication unit to provide an indication related to the measured size distribution data to an operator.

74. The system of claim 61 wherein the container comprises a syringe barrel and the pressurizing device comprises a syringe piston.

75. The system of claim 61 wherein the pressurizing device comprises a pump.

76. The system of claim 61, further comprising a second sensor operably associated with at least one of the container, the pressurizing device or the fluid path for measuring the concentration of the contrast enhancement agents.

77. The system of claim 61 wherein the contrast enhancement agents comprise bubbles suspended in the medium.

78. The system of claim 61 wherein the contrast enhancement agents are suspended in the medium.