Infinitely refillable syringe

• US 6,656,157 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Invasatec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert F., Liu, Jiyan, Paulson, Thomas, Duchon, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): YU, JUSTINE ROMANG
• Application Number:
  US09/591,529
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/151-152, 604/155, 604/52, 604/53, 604/246-247, 604/283-284, 604/256, 604/228, 604/232, 604/234, 604/153-154, 128/DIG.12, 128/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/001 Apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising syringes or needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe

Abstract

An angiographic injector system includes a manifold and valve which selectively connects either a syringe pump or a low pressure system to a catheter which is inserted into a patient. The valve is normally biased to a state which connects the low pressure system to the catheter for pressure-monitoring, saline flushing, or aspirating functions. When an injection is to be made, the valve automatically switches so that the low pressure system is disconnected and not exposed to high pressure, while the syringe pump is connected through the manifold to the catheter.

Claims

1. A device for injecting angiographic fluid into a patient comprising:

an actuator assembly;

a syringe, said syringe being engageable with said actuator assembly;

said syringe having a fluid inlet port;

a valve associated with said fluid inlet port, said valve being automatically actuatable into an open position as a response to rearward movement of said actuator assembly relative to said syringe and automatically actuatable to purge air from said syringe during forward movement of said actuator assembly;

a reservoir of angiographic fluid, said reservoir being positioned relative to said syringe such that said reservoir is in continuous communication with said fluid inlet port of said syringe at least during the performance of an injection procedure on a patient; and

,

said reservoir sized to contain a volume of fluid that exceeds a maximum capacity of said syringe.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said syringe contains an outlet port through which angiographic fluid is expelled from said syringe during said injection procedure.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said injection procedure includes the injection of a quantity of angiographic fluid that is greater than the maximum capacity of said syringe and is less than or equal to the volume of fluid contained in said reservoir prior to the initiation of said injection procedure.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein a flow control valve is interposed between said reservoir and said syringe, said flow control valve having an open position and a closed position.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said flow control valve is disposed in said fluid inlet port of said syringe.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said flow control valve is a ball valve.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein said syringe includes a plunger axially movable within said syringe according to movement of said actuator assembly.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said flow control valve is disposed between said reservoir and said syringe such that said valve assumes its open position upon rearward movement of said plunger.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein said syringe includes an outlet port through which angiographic fluid is expelled from said syringe.

10. A device according to claim 9, further including a conduit extending from said outlet port to said patient.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said conduit includes an outflow control valve having at least a closed position.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said outflow control valve is in said closed position upon rearward movement of said plunger.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said angiographic fluid is selected from the group of fluid consisting of fluid for performing a radiologic injection, fluid for performing a magnetic resonance imaging injection;

fluid for performing a cardiologic injection.

14. A method of injecting angiographic fluid into a patient comprising:

providing an actuator assembly;

providing a syringe engageable with said actuator assembly;

providing a valve associated with a fluid inlet port of said syringe;

providing a reservoir of angiographic fluid;

placing said reservoir into communication with said syringe;

automatically opening said valve in response to a rearward movement of said actuator assembly relative to said syringe;

automatically acutuating said valve to purge air from said syringe during forward movement of said actuator assembly;

injecting an amount of angiographic fluid into a patient wherein said amount exceeds a maximum capacity of said syringe but is less than or equal to the volume of fluid present in said reservoir prior to the injecting; and

maintaining constant communication between said reservoir and said syringe throughout the injecting.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said act of injecting includes moving a plunger in said syringe in a forward direction to expel said angiographic fluid from said syringe.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said act of injecting includes at least partially refilling said syringe after an amount of angiographic fluid has been expelled from said syringe.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said partial refilling of said syringe occurs after said syringe has been substantially emptied of said angiographic fluid.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said act of at least partially refilling includes moving said plunger in a rearward direction and thereby drawing fluid into said syringe from said reservoir.

19. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein prior to said act of injecting, said syringe is filled with angiographic fluid.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said act of filling said syringe includes moving a plunger internal to said syringe in a rearward direction thereby drawing angiographic fluid into said syringe from said reservoir.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said angiographic fluid is drawn into said syringe from said reservoir through a flow control valve.

22. A method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said act of injecting includes moving a plunger in said syringe in a forward direction to expel said angiographic fluid from said syringe.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said act of injecting includes at least partially refilling said syringe after an amount of angiographic fluid has been expelled from said syringe.

24. A method as set forth in claim 23, wherein said partial refilling of said syringe occurs after said syringe has been substantially emptied of said angiographic fluid.

25. A method as set forth in claim 23, wherein said act of at least partially refilling includes moving said plunger in a rearward direction and thereby drawing fluid into said syringe from said reservoir.