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Medical injection system

  • US 9,901,671 B2
  • Filed: 11/05/2007
  • Issued: 02/27/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of injecting a contrast agent into a vessel of a patient, the method comprising:

  • using a percutaneous implement defining a lumen and having a distal end;

    attempting to position the distal end of the implement in a vessel of a patient such that fluid communication is established between the lumen and the vessel;

    instructing an automatic injection device to inject a predetermined amount of a first fluid at a first flow rate from a first syringe into the lumen such that the first fluid exits the distal end of the implement, the first fluid comprising saline, wherein the first flow rate is selected to be substantially equal to a desired flow rate of a contrast agent that is to be injected by the automatic injection device from a second syringe after injection of the predetermined amount of the first fluid from the first syringe, wherein the first syringe is connected to a fluid communication network using a first tube, wherein the second syringe is connected to the fluid communication network using a second tube different from the first tube, wherein the fluid communication network is further connected to the lumen, wherein the fluid communication network includes a valve that is configured to selectively provide the first fluid at the first flow rate from the first syringe, through the first tube and to the lumen, while blocking any fluid flow of the contrast agent from the second syringe to the lumen, and wherein responsive to at least one processor of the automatic injection device determining that a flow rate of the first fluid exceeds the first flow rate, the at least one processor is configured to shut down the automatic injection device by disabling power to a motor of the automatic injection device;

    while the automatic injection device is injecting the predetermined amount of the first fluid at the first flow rate from the first syringe into the lumen, determining whether fluid communication is established between the lumen and the vessel based on flow of the first fluid;

    upon determining that fluid communication is not established between the lumen and the vessel, repeatedly performing the following actions until it is determined that fluid communication is established between the lumen and the vessel;

    pausing operation of the automatic injection device;

    attempting to reposition the distal end of the implement in the vessel of the patient;

    resuming operation of the automatic injection device upon repositioning of the distal end of the implement; and

    instructing the automatic injection device to inject the predetermined amount of the first fluid at the first flow rate from the first syringe into the lumen such that the first fluid exits the distal end of the implement; and

    after fluid communication is established between the lumen and the vessel based on flow of the first fluid, instructing the automatic injection device to inject a predetermined amount of the contrast agent from the second syringe into the lumen at a second flow rate that is substantially equal to the first flow rate of the first fluid, wherein the valve of the fluid communication network is configured to selectively provide the contrast agent at the second flow rate from the second syringe, through the second tube and to the lumen, while blocking any fluid flow of the first fluid from the first syringe to the lumen,wherein the at least one processor of the automatic injection device is configured to maintain the second flow rate of the contrast agent within a predetermined range such that the second flow rate of the contrast agent does not exceed the first flow rate of the first fluid, and wherein responsive to the at least one processor determining that the second flow rate of the contrast agent exceeds the first flow rate, the at least one processor is configured to shut down the automatic injection device by disabling power to the motor of the automatic injection device.

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