Medical injection system
First Claim
1. A method of injecting a contrast agent into a vessel of a patient comprising:
- providing a percutaneous implement defining a lumen and having a distal end;
attempting to position the distal end of the implement in the vessel 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 through the lumen such that the fluid exits the distal end;
determining whether fluid communication is established between the lumen and the vessel;
in the event that said determination is negative, pausing the automatic injection device and repeating the steps of attempting to position the distal end, injecting a predetermined amount of a first fluid, and determining whether fluid communication is established until said determination is affirmative;
resuming the operation of the automatic injection device such that the device injects a predetermined amount of a contrast agent into the vessel through the lumen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of preventing extravasation of contrast agent during a computed tomography injection. An automatic injector device facilitates ease of accomplishing the method. The method includes establishing the absence of extravasation using an absorbable injectate, such as saline, prior to injecting the contrast agent. The device includes a computerized injector head capable of switching between two injectates without physical human intervention. The device is controlled by a remote operating panel located in a control room that is protected from X-ray radiation. The device includes various software driven safety features that prevent the occurrence of unsafe conditions.
168 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of injecting a contrast agent into a vessel of a patient comprising:
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providing a percutaneous implement defining a lumen and having a distal end;
attempting to position the distal end of the implement in the vessel 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 through the lumen such that the fluid exits the distal end;
determining whether fluid communication is established between the lumen and the vessel;
in the event that said determination is negative, pausing the automatic injection device and repeating the steps of attempting to position the distal end, injecting a predetermined amount of a first fluid, and determining whether fluid communication is established until said determination is affirmative;
resuming the operation of the automatic injection device such that the device injects a predetermined amount of a contrast agent into the vessel through the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of injecting a contrast agent into a vessel using an automatic injection device comprising:
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operably connecting the device to the patient;
programming the device to inject a predetermined amount of contrast agent into a patient;
programming the device to inject a predetermined amount of a flushing fluid into the patient after the contrast agent has been injected.
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7. An injectate delivery device comprising:
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first and second syringes each having a distal end;
a catheter connector attachable to a percutaneous implement;
a fluid communication network, fluidly connecting the distal ends of the first and second syringes to the catheter connector, the network including a shuttle valve constructed and arranged to selectively port fluid from one of the first and second syringes to the catheter connector while blocking fluid from the other of the first and second syringes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40)
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26. An injectate delivery device, attachable to an automatic injector device, comprising:
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a first syringe and a second syringe, each syringe defining an inner chamber and having an open end and a distal end opposite the open end;
a plunger slideably disposed within the inner chamber of each syringe between the open end and the distal end, the plungers constructed and arranged such that they may be acted upon by a plunger rod of the automatic injection device;
a branched check valve fluidly connected to the distal end of each syringe, each branched valve having a normally blocked port connectable to a fluid supply and a normally open port fluidly connected to a cross tube;
a shuttle valve having three openings, two of said openings fluidly connected to the two cross tubes, the other of said three openings connected to a tube leading to a catheter tube whereby said check valves and said shuttle valve are constructed and arranged such that pressures created in one of the check valves, during an injection or fill procedure, are not felt within the other of the check valves.
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35. A method of ensuring safe operation of an automatic injector system comprising:
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monitoring signals from a plurality of predetermined tasks;
verifying that each of the plurality of predetermined tasks has generated one of the signals;
resetting a timer if all of the plurality of signals are “
all normal”
signals; and
,generating a shut down signal if the watchdog timer has not been reset within a predetermined interval.
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37. A computer program for ensuring safe operation of an automatic injector system, the program comprising:
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a code segment that monitors a plurality of signals from a plurality of predetermined tasks;
a code segment that verifies that each of the plurality of predetermined tasks has generated one of the plurality of signals;
a code segment that resets a timer if all of the plurality of signals are “
all normal”
signals; and
,a code segment that sends a shutdown signal if the timer has not been reset within a predetermined interval.
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41. An automatic injector control tool implemented on a computer, the tool comprising:
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a monitoring unit useable to monitor a plurality of signals from a plurality of predetermined tasks; and
,a timing unit useable to turn off an automatic injector system after a predetermined period of time;
wherein after the monitoring unit verifies that each of the plurality of predetermined tasks has generated one of the plurality of signals, the monitoring unit resets the timing unit. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A method of controlling a flow rate created by a plunger being forced through a syringe by a motor, comprising:
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comparing data representative of actual plunger speed to a predetermined speed setting; and
,comparing data representative of actual motor load to a predetermined motor load limit;
maintaining said actual plunger speed within a predetermined range of said predetermined speed setting while said actual motor load is less than said predetermined motor load limit;
reducing said actual plunger speed once said actual motor load is equal to or greater than said predetermined motor load limit such that said actual motor load does not exceed said predetermined motor load limit by more than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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45. A method of controlling an automatic injector system comprising:
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receiving a plurality of readings from sensors monitoring various operating parameters of the automatic injector system;
comparing said readings to preselected safety limits corresponding to said operating parameters;
monitoring a timer, operably connected to a computer program operating the automatic injector system, to ensure said timer has not elapsed; and
,tripping a relay, thereby disabling power to a motor of said automatic injector system, in the event that either;
one of said predetermined parameters exceeds its corresponding preselected safety limits by a predetermined amount;
or,said timer elapses.
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46. A control circuit, useable to control an automatic injector system, comprising:
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a motor shutdown logic circuit;
a plurality of comparators, each having a first input line, a second input line, and an output line;
wherein;
each of said first input lines is connected to a different sensor measuring a selected operating parameter of the automatic injector system and carries voltages representative of said operating parameter;
each of said second input lines receives voltages corresponding to data representative of a predetermined limit on said selected operating parameter; and
,each of said output lines is connected to said motor shutdown logic circuit and sends a voltage signal thereto, generated by the corresponding comparator, whenever the voltage carried by the first input line differs from the voltage carried by the second input line by a predetermined amount;
a timer, operably connected to the motor shutdown logic circuit, which sends a signal thereto whenever it achieves a predetermined elapsed time; and
,a relay, operably connected to said motor shutdown logic circuit, and constructed and arranged to electrically connect a motor of the automatic injector system with a power supply;
whereby said motor shutdown logic circuit trips said relay whenever it receives any of said signals, thereby causing said relay to break the electrical connection between the motor and the power supply.
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47. A mechanism useable to attach a flanged syringe to a docking plate of an automatic injector device comprising:
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a pair of engagement members pivotally attached to the docking plate and spaced apart from the docking plate such that the flange of the syringe may be accepted between the engagement members and the docking plate; and
,linkages pivotally attached to upper portions of said engagement members and constructed and arranged to pull said upper portions together when said linkages are folded together;
whereby said engagement members include lower portions, opposite said upper portions, said lower portions shaped to secure the syringe to the docking plate when said linkages are in an unfolded position; and
,whereby said lower portions are pivoted away from each other when said upper portions are pulled together, thereby allowing the syringe to be removed.
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50. A docking plate, useable to attach a flanged syringe to an automatic injector device, the docking plate comprising:
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a slot, having an open end, sized to slidingly receive the flange of the syringe;
an opening defined by said plate, opposite said open end, through which a linear actuator of the injector device may pass to act on a plunger of the syringe. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. An automatic injector device, comprising:
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an injector head in a patient room, the injector head including;
a linear actuator assembly having a motor operably connected to a plunger rod;
a quadrature encoder operably connected to the motor to monitor motor movement;
a first microprocessor operably connected to the motor and having memory;
control software stored in the memory of the first microprocessor;
a plurality of syringes removably attached to the injector head, at least one of which is aligned to receive the plunger rod;
a fluid communications network fluidly connecting the syringes to a patient and including a shuttle valve constructed and arranged to direct fluid from at least one of the plurality of syringes to the patient;
a remote control panel located in a control room that is separated from the patient room;
the remote control panel including;
a second microprocessor having memory;
control software stored in the memory of the second microprocessor;
a communications link providing electronic communication between the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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Specification