Injector system

• US 9,895,484 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Pollard, Pamela L., McGraw, Robert J., Powers, John E., Hoyt, Richard A., Ziemba, Robert J., Soni, Bina A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaman, Faisal M
• Application Number:
  US14/376,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20150025375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 710303, 710304
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

Multiple embodiments of contrast media injector systems (800, 800′, 800c) are disclosed. A number of different devices are disclosed for providing user input to such a contrast media injector system (800, 800′, 800c), including at least one tablet computer (700), a user-mountable user input device (760), a smartphone (762), and various combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A contrast media injector system comprising:

an injector module comprising;

a drive source; and

one or more tablet docking stations, wherein each said tablet docking station comprises a first docking connector;

an injector system control module in communication with said drive source; and

one or more tablet computers that are each in the form of a portable device and that are each operable when detachably mounted to said injector module via a corresponding said tablet docking station and also when detachably dismounted from said injector module, wherein said one or more tablet computers comprises a first tablet computer, wherein each said tablet computer comprises a second docking connector;

wherein each said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system is disposable in each of a docked configuration and an undocked configuration relative to said injector module, wherein each said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system is a given tablet computer and where;

said docked configuration is where said given tablet computer is physically connected to one said tablet docking station of said injector module and with its corresponding said second docking connector being interfaced with a corresponding said first docking connector of said injector module; and

said undocked configuration is where said given tablet computer is physically disconnected from each said tablet docking station of said injector module and with its corresponding said second docking connector not being interfaced with any said first docking connector of said injector module;

wherein each said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system is separately movable between its corresponding said docked and undocked configurations, wherein each said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system becomes part of said injector module only when in its corresponding said docked configuration, wherein said injector system is configured to require an established communication link between said first tablet computer and said injector system control module in order for said injector module to be operable for a least performing a programmed injection and including when no said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system is in said docked configuration and also when said first tablet computer is in said docked configuration, wherein all user inputs to said injector system control module are required to be provided only through at least one said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system, wherein said first tablet computer may be used to program an injection protocol, to initiate an injection by said contrast media injector system, and to terminate execution of said injection by said contrast media injector system, and wherein a communication link is establishable between said injector system control module and each said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system when in both of said docked and undocked configurations.

2. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said injector module further comprises a support and a powerhead movably interconnected with said support.

3. The injector system of claim 2, wherein said powerhead comprises said injector system control module.

4. The injector system of claim 2, wherein only a single user input device is available for communicating with said injector system control module when said first tablet computer is in said docked configuration, and wherein said single user input device is said first tablet computer.

5. The injector system of claim 2, wherein said powerhead comprises said injector system control module, and wherein all user inputs to said injector system control module are required to be entered through said first tablet computer.

6. The injector system of claim 2, wherein only a single touchscreen is available for providing user input to said injector system control module when said first tablet computer is in said docked configuration, and wherein said first tablet computer comprises said single touchscreen.

7. The injector system of claim 1, wherein having said established communication link between said first tablet computer and said injector system control module is required for said injector module to be operable in any respect.

8. The injector system of claim 1, wherein having said established communication link between said first tablet computer and said injector system control module is required for said injector module to be fully operable.

9. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said injector system has a single user input device in the form of said first tablet computer.

10. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said tablet computers that are each in communication with said injector system control module.

11. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said tablet docking stations, wherein each said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system is both dockable to and removable from each of said plurality of said tablet docking stations.

12. The injector system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of said tablet docking stations comprises a first tablet docking station and a second tablet docking station, wherein said injector module and said first tablet docking station are located in a first room, and wherein said second tablet docking station is located in a different second room.

13. The injector system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second tablet computer in communication with said injector system control module, wherein said first tablet computer is dedicated to said first tablet docking station, and wherein said second said tablet computer is dedicated to said second tablet docking station.

14. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said injector modules, wherein each said tablet computer of said contrast media injector system is configured to communicate with each of said injector modules.

15. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user-mountable user input device in communication with said first tablet computer, wherein said user-mountable user input device comprises at least one user mounting connector.

16. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said injector module comprises a powerhead, wherein said powerhead comprises said injector system control module, wherein said injector system further comprises a master/slave control architecture, wherein said powerhead is a master node for said master/slave control architecture, and wherein said first tablet computer is a slave node for said master/slave control architecture.

17. The injector system of claim 16, wherein said powerhead comprises a single stored injection protocol, and wherein said first tablet computer comprises a plurality of stored injection protocols.

18. The injector system of claim 16, further comprising:

an injection protocol data structure that comprises a plurality of injection protocols, wherein an entirety of said injection protocol data structure is stored on said first tablet computer and none of said injection protocol data structure is stored on said powerhead.

19. The injector system of claim 16, further comprising:

an injection history data structure, wherein an entirety of said injection history data structure is stored on said first tablet computer and none of said injection history data structure is stored on said powerhead.

20. The injector system of claim 16, further comprising:

an alarm history data structure, wherein an entirety of said alarm history data structure is stored on said first tablet computer and none of said alarm history data structure is stored on said powerhead.

21. The injector system of claim 1, wherein injection results are displayed on said first tablet computer.