System for detecting air

• US 7,153,288 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert F., Liu, Jiyan, Paulson, Thomas, Duchon, Doug, Copa, Vince
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US11/201,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/220, 604/221, 604/225, 604/228, 604/229
• US Class Current: 604/110
• 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 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• 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 31/005 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• 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 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5066 Means for preventing re-use by disconnection of piston and piston-rod
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

A dual port syringe has an upper port for connection to a fluid reservoir and a lower port for delivery of the medical fluid under pressure to a patient. A first valve is connected between the fluid reservoir and the upper port, and second valve is connected between the lower port and the patient. During a fill operation, a piston is moved within the syringe to drawn fluid from the reservoir into the syringe through the upper port. During injection operation, the piston moves in an opposite direction to force fluid out of the syringe through the lower port.

Claims

1. A method for using a syringe in an injector system, the method comprising:

providing a syringe that includes a pumping chamber and a plunger;

inserting an actuator into the plunger; and

irreversibly deforming the plunger to preclude further use by removing the actuator from the plunger,

wherein the plunger comprises a plurality of tabs that extend inward towards a center of the plunger,

wherein the tabs are bent to accommodate the actuator when the plunger is engaged by the actuator during insertion, and

wherein the tabs are broken when the actuator is removed from the plunger.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tabs are constructed of a flexible, deformable material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plunger, after being deformed, cannot engage the actuator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator is removed from the plunger after the syringe has been used on one patient and before it is used on another patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the injector system comprises a motorized injection system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a plunger support member that includes the plurality of tabs.