Fluid driven medical injectors

• US 8,308,698 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Wagner, Gary S., Fago, Frank M., Staats, Peter, Battiato, Dane
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Jr., Bradley G
• Application Number:
  US12/830,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/150, 604/151, 604/65, 604/890.1, 604/30, 604/140, 604246-249, 600/432, 251/129.01
• US Class Current: 604/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• 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

Abstract

Some injectors of the invention may include a fluid drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid (e.g., liquid, pneumatic, or both) to impart a sequence of forces to drive a delivery device (e.g., a syringe) to deliver a medical fluid (e.g., a contrast agent, a radiopharmaceutical, a drug, or a combination thereof). Some injectors may include a multimedia tube configured to pass a working fluid (e.g., air) and a light signal (e.g., infrared). Some injectors may include a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid.

Claims

1. A medical fluid injector for use in an MRI procedure, comprising:

a multimedia tube configured to pass each of a working fluid and a light control signal to a common destination;

a light switch coupled to a valve, wherein the light switch is responsive to the light control signal to control the valve, and the valve is configured to control flow of the working fluid; and

a substantially non-ferrous and substantially non-magnetic fluid drive coupled to the multimedia tube, wherein the fluid drive is configured to not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the fluid drive comprises a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of the working fluid.

3. The injector of claim 1, wherein the fluid drive comprises a cylinder having a piston coupled to a ratchet and gear assembly, and wherein the piston is configured to oscillate in response to pressure of the working fluid to rotate the ratchet and gear assembly.

4. The injector of claim 1, wherein the fluid drive comprises a pneumatic drive section coupled to a liquid control section.

5. The injector of claim 1, further comprising a delivery device coupled to the fluid drive, wherein the delivery device is configured to deliver medical fluid in response to a drive force, and the fluid drive is configured to impart the drive force in response to pressure from the working fluid.

6. The injector of claim 5, wherein the delivery device comprises a syringe.

7. The injector of claim 1, wherein the working fluid comprises air.

8. The injector of claim 1, wherein the light control signal comprises infrared light.

9. The injector of claim 1, wherein the common destination comprises a multimedia port, and wherein the multimedia tube extends to the multimedia port.

10. The injector of claim 9, further comprising:

a first conduit extending from the multimedia port to a valve, wherein the working fluid is directed from the multimedia port, through the first conduit, and to the valve; and

a second conduit extending from the multimedia port to the light switch, wherein

the light control signal is transmitted from the multimedia port, through the second conduit, and to the light switch.

11. The injector of claim 10, wherein the light switch controls operation of the valve, which in turn controls flow of the working fluid to the fluid drive.

12. The injector of claim 10, wherein the light switch disposes the valve in either an open position or a closed position based upon the light control signal.

13. A medical fluid injector for use in an MRI procedure, comprising:

a multimedia port;

a multimedia tube connected to the multimedia port, wherein both a working fluid and an optical control signal are directed through the multimedia tube to the multimedia port;

a valve;

a first conduit extending from the multimedia port to the valve, wherein the working fluid is directed from the multimedia port, through the first conduit, and to the valve;

an optical switch operatively connected with the valve;

a second conduit extending from the multimedia port to the optical switch, wherein the optical control signal is transmitted from the multimedia port, through the second conduit, and to the optical switch, wherein the optical switch is responsive to the optical control signal to control the valve; and

a substantially non-ferrous and substantially non-magnetic fluid drive, wherein the fluid drive is configured to not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging, and wherein the valve controls flow of the working fluid to the fluid drive.

14. The injector of claim 13, wherein the optical switch controls operation of the valve.

15. The injector of claim 13, wherein the optical switch disposes the valve in either an open position or a closed position based upon the optical control signal.

16. The injector of claim 13, wherein the fluid drive comprises one of:

a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of the working fluid;

a cylinder having a piston coupled to a ratchet and gear assembly, wherein the piston is configured to oscillate in response to pressure of the working fluid to rotate the ratchet and gear assembly; and

a pneumatic drive section coupled to a liquid control section.

17. The injector of claim 13, further comprising a delivery device coupled to the fluid drive, wherein the delivery device is configured to deliver medical fluid in response to a drive force, and the fluid drive is configured to impart the drive force in response to pressure from the working fluid.

18. The injector of claim 17, wherein the delivery device comprises a syringe.