System and method for the effective, reliable and foolproof delivery of controlled amounts of a medical fluid

• US 9,662,435 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank Levy, Kimberley Levy
• Original Assignee: Frank Levy, Kimberley Levy
• Inventors: Levy, Kimberley, Levy, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosques, Edelmira
• Application Number:
  US14/497,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20150011879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 604 23, 604 26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/102 driven by a solenoid-activated pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/229 Stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1018 Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10182 Injector syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10185 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10187 Indicators for the level of inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/00 Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/025 having the pressure as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/013 Carbone dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/02 for medical applications

Abstract

A method for using CO₂ as a contrast material in medical imaging procedures is disclosed. The method includes providing a source of pressurized CO₂. The step of providing includes connecting the source of pressurized CO2 to a compressed gas unit for controlling delivery of the CO₂. The method also includes regulating pressure of the CO₂ delivered by the compressed gas unit, transmitting the pressurized CO₂ from the compressed gas unit to a control valve assembly for delivery to a patient in controlled dosages, and sequentially processing the CO₂ with the control valve assembly and delivering the CO₂ to the patient as a contrast media.

Claims

1. A method for using CO₂ as a contrast material in medical imaging procedures, comprising:

providing a source of pressurized CO₂;

connecting the source of pressurized CO₂ to a compressed gas unit for controlling delivery of the CO₂;

regulating pressure of the CO₂ delivered by the compressed gas unit;

transmitting the pressurized CO₂ from the compressed gas unit to a control valve assembly for delivery to a patient in controlled dosages;

sequentially processing the CO₂ with the control valve assembly and delivering the CO₂ to the patient as a contrast media, wherein the step of sequentially processing includes providing inlet and outlet conduits connected respectively to the compressed gas unit and the patient, and providing first and second syringes and the control valve assembly, which are interconnected between the inlet and outlet conduits, the control valve assembly includes a valve body having aligned inlet and outlet ports that are respectively communicably connectable to the inlet conduit and the outlet conduits, the valve body further including a first intermediate port to which the first syringe is selectively connected and a second intermediate port to which the second syringe is selectively connected, the control valve assembly further including a stopcock element mounted rotatably within the body and including a channel consisting essentially of a first channel segment and a second channel segment, the first channel segment and the second channel segment being selectively alignable with the inlet port and the first intermediate port to allow for communication between the inlet conduit and the first syringe, the first intermediate port and the second intermediate port to allow for communication between the first syringe and the second syringe, and the second intermediate port and the outlet port to allow for communication between the second syringe and the outlet conduit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sequentially processing includes operating the control valve assembly to communicably join the compressed gas unit and the first syringe and transmitting CO₂ from the compressed gas unit to only the first syringe;

adjusting the control valve assembly to communicably join the first and second syringes while isolating the first syringe from the compressed gas unit;

operating the first syringe to transmit CO₂ from the first syringe to only the second syringe through the control valve assembly;

adjusting the control valve assembly to, communicably join the second syringe to the outlet conduit and to isolate the first syringe and the compressed gas unit from the second syringe; and

operating the second syringe to transmit CO₂ from the second syringe to only the patient through the outlet conduit.