Injector system including a powered loading device for connecting a syringe to an injector

• US 7,029,459 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Reilly, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US10/174,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 604/111, 604/118, 604/131, 604/189, 604/154, 604/151, 604/218, 604/49, 604/65, 604/67, 604/93.01, 604/121, 604/152, 604/181, 604/187, 604/533, 604/534, 604/535, 235/375, 235/435, 235/448, 235/454, 235/462, 116/227, 128/DIG.1, 128/DIG.12, 600/431, 600/432
• US Class Current: 604/154
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• 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: A61M 5/1458 Means for capture of the plunger flange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

An injector for injecting a fluid from a syringe, which includes an elongated body, a mounting member positioned on a rear portion of the body, and a plunger moveably positioned within the body of the syringe, includes a housing having a front wall and a retainer on the front wall. The retainer is adapted to cooperate with the mounting member to releasably retain the syringe on the front wall. The retainer includes a powered loader adapted to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement to securely connect the syringe to the injector. The injector further includes a powered drive member in the housing. The drive member is adapted to engage the plunger and control the movement of the plunger.

Claims

1. An injector for injecting a fluid from a syringe comprising an elongated body, a mounting member positioned on a rear portion of the body and a plunger moveably positioned within the body of the syringe, the injector comprising:

a housing having a front wall;

a retainer on the front wall of the housing that is adapted to cooperate with the mounting member to retain the syringe on the front wall, the retainer comprising a powered loader adapted to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement to securely connect the syringe to the injector; and

a powered drive member in the housing, the drive member adapted to engage the plunger and control the movement of the plunger.

2. The injector of claim 1 wherein the retainer releasably retains the syringe on the front wall.

3. The injector of claim 1 wherein the retainer further comprises a retaining member and the powered loader moves the retaining member of the retainer to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement.

4. The injector of claim 1 further comprising a sensor to sense when the syringe is in position for the powered loader to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement.

5. The injector of claim 1 wherein the mounting member includes threading and the retainer includes cooperating threading.

6. The injector of claim 1 wherein the mounting member includes a flange and the retainer includes a cooperating flange.

7. The injector of claim 1 wherein the drive member comprises an engagement member on a forward end thereof, the engagement member adapted to connect to the plunger upon forward advancement of the drive member.

8. The injector of claim 7 wherein the drive member is automatically advanced forward upon loading of the syringe on the injector to connect the drive member to the plunger.

9. The injector of claim 7 wherein the injector further comprises a sensor to read syringe information encoded upon the syringe.

10. The injector of claim 9 wherein the injector controls the motion of the drive member based upon the syringe information encoded upon the syringe.

11. The injector of claim 10 wherein the injector determines that the syringe is empty from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe and causes the drive member to advance the plunger forward to expel air from the syringe in preparation for loading the syringe with fluid.

12. The injector of claim 10 wherein the injector determines that the syringe is prefilled from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe and stops forward advancement of the drive member upon connection of the drive member with the plunger.

13. A system for injecting a liquid medium, comprising a front-loading syringe for injecting a fluid into a patient and a powered injector, the syringe comprising:

an elongated body;

a mounting member positioned on a rear portion of the body, and

a plunger moveably positioned within the body of the syringe;

the injector comprising;

a housing having a front wall;

a retainer on the front wall, the retainer being adapted to cooperate with the mounting member to retain the syringe on the front wall, the retainer comprising a powered loader adapted to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement to securely connect the syringe to the injector; and

a powered drive member in the housing, the drive member adapted to engage the plunger and control the movement of the plunger.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the retainer releasably retains the syringe on the front wall of the injector.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the retainer further comprises a retaining member and the powered loader moves the retaining member to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the injector further comprises a sensor to sense when the syringe is in position for the powered loader to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the mounting member includes threading and the retainer includes cooperating threading.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the mounting member includes a flange and the retainer includes a cooperating flange.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the drive member comprises an engagement member on a forward end thereof, the engagement member adapted to connect to the plunger upon forward advancement of the drive member.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the drive member is automatically advanced forward upon loading of the syringe on the injector to connect the drive member to the plunger.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the injector further comprises a sensor to read syringe information encoded upon the syringe.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the injector controls the motion of the drive member based upon the syringe information encoded upon the syringe.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the injector determines that the syringe is empty from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe and causes the drive member to advance the plunger forward to expel air from the syringe in preparation for loading the syringe with fluid.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the injector determines that the syringe is prefilled from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe and stops forward advancement of the drive member upon connection of the drive member with the plunger.

25. A system for injecting a fluid comprising:

a syringe comprising an elongated body and a plunger moveably positioned within the elongated body; and

an injector comprising;

an adapter suited for attachment to the syringe, the adapter comprising a mounting member;

a housing having a front wall,

a retainer on the front wall, the retainer being adapted to cooperate with the mounting member to retain the adapter on the front wall, the retainer comprising a powered loader adapted to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement to securely engage the adapter to the injector; and

a powered drive member in the housing, the drive member adapted to engage the plunger and control the movement of the plunger.

26. An injector for injecting a fluid from a syringe comprising an elongated body, a mounting member positioned on a rear portion of the elongated body and a plunger moveably positioned within the elongated body, the injector comprising:

a housing having a front wall;

a retainer positioned on the front wall of the housing and adapted to cooperate with the mounting member to retain the syringe on the front wall, the retainer comprising;

a movable retaining member; and

a power source operably associated with the retaining member for moving the retaining member into engagement with the mounting member of the syringe to securely connect the syringe to the injector; and

a drive member disposed in the housing and adapted to engage the plunger of the syringe.

27. The injector of claim 26 wherein the retaining member rotates to securely connect the syringe to the injector.

28. The injector of claim 27 wherein the retaining member and the mounting member each comprises cooperating threads.

29. The injector of claim 26 wherein the power source comprises a motor.

30. The injector of claim 26 wherein the retainer further comprises a sensor in communication with the power source, the sensor adapted to determine when the syringe is in position to be connected to the injector and to activate the power source to cause the retaining member to engage the mounting member to connect the syringe to the injector.