Systems for controlling injection and/or imaging procedures
First Claim
1. An injector system for use with an imaging system in producing a contrast-enhanced image of an internal region of a patient, the injector system comprising:
- (a) first and second pressurizing units for pressurizing a contrast medium and a diluent, respectively, for injection into the patient during an injection procedure;
(b) an injector control unit including programming therefor, the injector control unit operating according to the programming and injection parameters programmed therein for controlling the pressurizing units so as to enable a desired ratio of the contrast medium to the diluent to be injected into the patient during the injection procedure; and
(c) an injector interface in communication with the injector control unit, the injector interface being connectable to the imaging system through an imager interface thereof so as to enable the injector and imaging systems to exchange digital information therebetween for the purpose of enabling at least one of (i) closed loop control of one of the systems by the other of the systems based upon at least one of (A) selected portions of the digital information from at least one of the imaging system and the injector system and (B) a physiological condition of the patient obtained from a sensor thereof and (ii) adjustment of the desired ratio in accordance with the programming and at least some of the digital information received from the imaging system so as to achieve a desired level of enhancement therewith within the internal region of the patient of which the images are acquired by the imaging system during an imaging procedure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for producing a contrast-enhanced medical image of a patient includes a source of a contrast or enhancement medium, a pressurizing unit in fluid connection with the source of contrast or enhancement medium, an energy source operable to apply energy to a region of the patient, an imaging unit providing a visual display of an internal view of the patient based upon a signal resulting from the energy applied to the region of the patient, and a control unit. In an embodiment, the signal is affected by a condition of the contrast or enhancement medium in the patient. To control the procedures, the control unit adjusts the condition of the contrast or enhancement medium in the patient based upon the signal. A communication interface preferably enables information between an injector subsystem and an imaging subsystem.
89 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An injector system for use with an imaging system in producing a contrast-enhanced image of an internal region of a patient, the injector system comprising:
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(a) first and second pressurizing units for pressurizing a contrast medium and a diluent, respectively, for injection into the patient during an injection procedure; (b) an injector control unit including programming therefor, the injector control unit operating according to the programming and injection parameters programmed therein for controlling the pressurizing units so as to enable a desired ratio of the contrast medium to the diluent to be injected into the patient during the injection procedure; and (c) an injector interface in communication with the injector control unit, the injector interface being connectable to the imaging system through an imager interface thereof so as to enable the injector and imaging systems to exchange digital information therebetween for the purpose of enabling at least one of (i) closed loop control of one of the systems by the other of the systems based upon at least one of (A) selected portions of the digital information from at least one of the imaging system and the injector system and (B) a physiological condition of the patient obtained from a sensor thereof and (ii) adjustment of the desired ratio in accordance with the programming and at least some of the digital information received from the imaging system so as to achieve a desired level of enhancement therewith within the internal region of the patient of which the images are acquired by the imaging system during an imaging procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An injector system for use with an imaging system in producing a contrast-enhanced image of an internal region of a patient during an imaging procedure, the injector system comprising:
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(a) first and second pressurizing units for pressurizing a contrast medium and a diluent, respectively, for injection into the patient during an injection procedure; (b) an injector control unit including programming therefor, the injector control unit operating according to the programming and injection parameters programmed therein for controlling the pressurizing units so as to enable a desired ratio of the contrast medium to the diluent to be injected into the patient during the injection procedure; and (c) an injector interface in communication with the injector control unit, the injector interface being connectable to the imaging system through an imager interface thereof so as to enable the injector and imaging systems to exchange digital information therebetween for the purpose of enabling at least one of (i) closed loop control of at least one of the injection and the imaging procedures during which the contrast medium and the diluent is injected into the patient and (ii) adjustment of the desired ratio in accordance with the programming and at least some of the digital information so exchanged so as to achieve a desired level of enhancement therewith within the internal region of the patient of which the images are acquired during the imaging procedure, wherein the closed loop control is based upon at least one of (A) selected portions of the digital information from at least one of the imaging system and the injector system and (B) a physiological condition of the patient obtained from a sensor thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An injector system for use with an imaging system in producing a contrast-enhanced image of an internal region of a patient, the injector system comprising:
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(a) at least one pressurizing unit for pressurizing at least one of a contrast medium and a diluent for injection into the patient during an injection procedure; (b) an injector control unit including programming therefor, the injector control unit operating according to the programming and injection parameters programmed therein for controlling the at least one pressurizing unit so as to enable a desired ratio of the contrast medium to the diluent to be injected into the patient during the injection procedure; and (c) an injector interface in communication with the injector control unit, the injector interface being connectable to the imaging system through an imager interface thereof so as to enable the injector and imaging systems to exchange digital information therebetween for the purpose of enabling closed loop control of one of the systems by the other of the systems based upon selected portions of the digital information from at least one of the imaging system and the injector system so as to permit the desired ratio to be adjusted in accordance with the programming and the selected portion(s) of the digital information received from at least one of the imaging and injector systems to achieve a desired level of enhancement therewith within the internal region of the patient of which the images are acquired by the imaging system during an imaging procedure. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification