Fluid injector system

• US 7,566,320 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Duchon, Douglas, Gerold, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray; Phillip
• Application Number:
  US10/076,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,721 Days
• Field of Search: 600/432, 604/236, 604/131, 604/232, 604/151, 604 52- 54, 604/152, 604/155, 604/246, 604/247, 604/283, 604/256, 604/284
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• 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

Abstract

Fluid injector systems used for a variety of imaging and injection procedures are disclosed. The systems may include separate modules or assemblies that may be located in different rooms of a hospital or imaging facility. Various single use and multiple use components may also be used with the modules or assemblies of the system. In addition, the injector system may include hydraulic and/or pneumatic fluid sources to power the system modules of the present invention.

Claims

1. An injector system for use in magnetic resonance imaging procedures comprising:

an electrically powered injection device;

a main console, including at least one first cylinder assembly that is driven by the electrically powered injection device, the first cylinder assembly having a first plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the first cylinder assembly, the first plunger dividing the first cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber within the first cylinder assembly;

a hand held control in communication with said main console, said hand held control actuating the electrically powered injection device; and

at least one second cylinder assembly in fluid communication with said first cylinder assembly, the second cylinder assembly having a second plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the second cylinder assembly, the second plunger dividing the second cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber within the second cylinder assembly, said first and second cylinder assemblies in fluid communication forming a closed-loop system, the closed-loop system being formed by coupling a first tubing set from the distal sub-chamber of the first cylinder assembly to the proximal sub-chamber of the second cylinder assembly, and by coupling a second tubing set from the proximal sub-chamber of the first cylinder assembly to the distal sub-chamber of the second cylinder assembly; and

at least one syringe assembly having a third plunger in communication with the second plunger of said second cylinder assembly,

wherein said main console, said first cylinder assembly, and said hand held control are in a non-sterile control room and said second cylinder assembly and said syringe assembly are in an imaging room, and wherein said at least one syringe assembly injects fluid when said hand held control actuates said electrically powered injection device to drive said at least one first cylinder assembly and said at least one second cylinder assembly.

2. The injector system of claim 1 wherein said second cylinder assembly and said syringe assembly are made of non-ferromagnetic materials.

3. The injector system of claim 1 wherein said second cylinder assembly is driven with hydraulic fluid.

4. The injector system of claim 1 wherein said second cylinder assembly is driven with pneumatic fluid.

5. The injector system of claim 3 wherein said hydraulic fluid is water.

6. The injector system of claim 1 wherein movement of the first plunger in the first cylinder assembly hydraulically controls movement of the second plunger in the second cylinder assembly, and wherein movement of the second plunger in the second cylinder assembly causes movement of the third plunger in the syringe assembly.

21. The system of claim 3, wherein said hydraulic fluid is incompressible and said closed system fairly rigid.

7. A method of injecting a first fluid into a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure comprising:

providing an electrically powered injection device in a non-sterile control room of an imaging facility;

providing a first cylinder assembly in the non-sterile control room, the first cylinder assembly having a first plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the first cylinder assembly, the first plunger dividing the first cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber within the first cylinder assembly, wherein said first cylinder assembly is in communication with an injector console and is driven by the electrically powered injection device;

providing a second cylinder assembly and a syringe assembly in a patient room of the imaging facility, the second cylinder assembly having a second plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the second cylinder assembly, the second plunger dividing the second cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber within the second cylinder assembly, and wherein the syringe assembly has a third plunger in communication with the second plunger of the second cylinder assembly;

providing a second fluid in communication with said first cylinder assembly and said second cylinder assembly, said first and second cylinder assemblies and said second fluid in communication therewith forming a closed-loop system, the closed-loop system being formed by coupling a first tubing set from one of the distal or proximal sub-chambers of the first cylinder assembly to one of the distal or proximal sub-chambers of the second cylinder assembly, and by coupling a second tubing set from the other of the distal or proximal sub-chamber of the first cylinder assembly to the other of the distal or proximal sub-chamber of the second cylinder assembly;

driving said first cylinder assembly with a motor of the electrically powered injection device;

driving said second cylinder assembly with said second fluid provided by said first cylinder assembly;

driving said syringe assembly with said second cylinder assembly; and

injecting said patient with said first fluid using said syringe assembly.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said driving causes reciprocal movement of a plunger within said first cylinder assembly.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said driving causes fluid pressure differentials within said second cylinder assembly resulting in reciprocal movement of a plunger within said second cylinder assembly.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said driving causes movement of a plunger within said syringe assembly.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein driving said first cylinder assembly with said motor of the electrically powered injection device comprises driving said first cylinder assembly in response to actuation of a hand held control that is coupled to the electrically powered injection device.

11. An injector system, comprising:

an electrically powered injection device in a non-sterile control room of an imaging facility;

a main console, including a first cylinder assembly that is driven by the electrically powered injection device, the first cylinder assembly having a first plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the first cylinder assembly, the first plunger dividing the first cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber within the first cylinder assembly;

a hand held control in communication with said main console adapted to actuate the electrically powered injection device;

a first system component in fluid communication with said first cylinder assembly, the first system component comprising a second cylinder assembly having a second plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the second cylinder assembly, the second plunger dividing the second cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber, said first and second cylinder assemblies forming a closed-loop fluid system via a first tubing set coupling one of the distal or proximal sub-chambers of the first cylinder assembly to one of the distal or proximal sub-chambers of the second cylinder assembly, and a second tubing set coupling the other of the distal or proximal sub-chambers of the first cylinder assembly to the other of the distal or proximal sub-chambers of the second cylinder assembly; and

a second system component in communication with said first system component, said second system component comprising a syringe assembly,

wherein said main console and said first cylinder assembly are located in a non-sterile control room, and wherein said first and second system components are located in an imaging room, and wherein said second system component injects fluid when said hand held control actuates said electrically powered injection device to drive said first cylinder assembly and said first system component.

12. The injector system of claim 11, wherein said first system component comprises a second cylinder assembly, and wherein said second system component comprises a syringe assembly.

13. The injector system of claim 12, wherein said second cylinder assembly and said syringe assembly are made of non-ferromagnetic materials.

14. The injector system of claim 12, wherein said second cylinder assembly is driven with hydraulic or pneumatic fluid.

15. The injector system of claim 11, wherein said hand held control is in the control room.

16. A method of injecting a first fluid into a patient, the method comprising:

providing an electrically powered injection device in a non-sterile control room of an imaging facility;

providing a first cylinder assembly in the non-sterile control room of the imaging facility, wherein said first cylinder assembly is in communication with an injector console, said first cylinder assembly being driven by the electrically powered injection device;

providing a first system component and a second system component in a patient room of the imaging facility, wherein said first system component is in fluid communication with said first cylinder assembly, and wherein said first system component is in communication with said second system components, said first system component comprising a second cylinder assembly, and said second system component comprising a syringe assembly;

providing a second fluid in communication with said first cylinder assembly and said first system component, said first system component, said first cylinder assembly and said second fluid forming a closed-loop system, wherein said first and second cylinder assemblies each comprise a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber, and wherein said second fluid is in communication between one of the proximal and distal sub-chambers of the first cylinder assembly and one of the proximal and distal sub-chambers of the second cylinder assembly, and wherein said second fluid is in communication between the other of the proximal and distal sub-chambers of the first cylinder assembly and the other of the proximal and distal sub-chambers of the second cylinder assembly;

driving said first cylinder assembly with a motor of the electrically powered injection device;

driving said first system component with said second fluid provided by said first cylinder assembly;

driving said second system component with said first system component; and

injecting said patient with said first fluid using said second system component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said driving causes reciprocal movement of a plunger within said first cylinder assembly.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said driving causes fluid pressure differentials within said second cylinder assembly resulting in reciprocal movement of a plunger within said second cylinder assembly.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein driving said first cylinder assembly with said motor of the electrically powered injection device comprises driving said first cylinder assembly in response to actuation of a hand held control that is coupled to the electrically powered injection device.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said second fluid is incompressible and said closed system fairly rigid.

23. An injector system for use in magnetic resonance imaging procedures comprising:

an electrically powered injection device;

a main console, including at least one first cylinder assembly that is driven by the electrically powered injection device, the first cylinder assembly having a first plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the first cylinder assembly, the first plunger dividing the first cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber within the first cylinder assembly;

a hand held control in communication with said main console, said hand held control actuating the electrically powered injection device; and

at least one second cylinder assembly in fluid communication with said first cylinder assembly, the second cylinder assembly having a second plunger adapted for reciprocating motion within the second cylinder assembly, the second plunger dividing the second cylinder assembly into a proximal sub-chamber and a distal sub-chamber within the second cylinder assembly, said first and second cylinder assemblies in fluid communication forming a closed-loop system, the closed-loop system being formed by coupling a first tubing set from the distal sub-chamber of the first cylinder assembly to the distal sub-chamber of the second cylinder assembly, and by coupling a second tubing set from the proximal sub-chamber of the first cylinder assembly to the proximal sub-chamber of the second cylinder assembly; and

at least one syringe assembly having a third plunger in communication with the second plunger of said second cylinder assembly,

wherein said main console, said first cylinder assembly, and said hand held control are in a non-sterile control room and said second cylinder assembly and said syringe assembly are in an imaging room, and wherein said at least one syringe assembly injects fluid when said hand held control actuates said electrically powered injection device to drive said at least one first cylinder assembly and said at least one second cylinder assembly.