Powerhead of a Power Injection System

• US 20080108896A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Brooks, David, Gibbs, Jonathan, Bruce, John, Ziemba, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018

Abstract

A contrast media injection system detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.

Claims

1. A powerhead of a contrast media injector system, the powerhead comprising:

a housing;

a syringe ram;

a drive mechanism within the housing configured to move the syringe ram;

a first manual knob outside the housing mechanically coupled to the drive mechanism such that movement of the syringe ram results in rotation of the first manual knob corresponding to a speed at which the syringe ram is moving; and

an illumination source configured to generate light that emits from the first manual knob.

2. The powerhead of claim 1, wherein the illumination source comprises one or more LEDs.

3. The powerhead of claim 1, wherein the illumination source illuminates an interior of the first manual knob in different colors in response to an operative mode of the powerhead.

4. The powerhead of claim 1, wherein the manual knob further comprises:

a light guiding region coupled with the illumination source;

a substantially transparent or translucent portion coupled with the light guiding region; and

a substantially opaque region surrounding the transparent or translucent portion, the opaque region having one or more openings through which the transparent or translucent portion is visible.

6. The powerhead of claim 1, wherein the powerhead is a dual head injector system that includes a second manual knob substantially similar to the first manual knob, wherein the first manual knob and the second manual knob operate independently of each other.

5. The powerhead of claim 5, wherein the transparent or translucent portion and the opaque region comprise longitudinal stripes along the periphery of the first manual knob, and the opaque region is made from a material with one or more of a greater surface friction or a softer surface than the transparent or translucent portion.