SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING INFORMATION RELATING TO MEDICAL FLUIDS AND CONTAINERS THEREFOR

• US 20080208042A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Ortenzi, Vernon D., Gibson, Chad M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

electromagnetically reading data from a data tag of the syringe, wherein the syringe has medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure disposed therein, wherein the electromagnetically reading is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector; and

electronically checking the data that is electromagnetically read against a database of previously used syringes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking is performed in order to block potential reuse of the syringe.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag is associated with the barrel of the syringe.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector during the electromagnetically reading.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the contrast media injector comprises a faceplate for mounting the syringe thereto.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the contrast media injector comprises a faceplate for mounting the syringe thereto.

5. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

electromagnetically reading data from a data tag of the syringe, wherein the syringe has medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure disposed therein, wherein the electromagnetically reading is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector; and

transferring the data that is electromagnetically read to the imaging apparatus, wherein the data that is electromagnetically read and transferred comprises data regarding a used or unused status of the syringe.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data tag is associated with the barrel of the syringe.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector during the electromagnetically reading.

8. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

electromagnetically reading data from a data tag of the syringe, wherein the syringe has medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure disposed therein, wherein the electromagnetically reading is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector; and

determining whether a recommended shelf life of the medical fluid in the syringe has been exceeded using the electromagnetically read data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises comparing the electromagnetically read data to a current date.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetically read data comprises at least one of shelf life data and fill data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector during the electromagnetically reading.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the data tag is associated with the barrel of the syringe.

13. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

expelling medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure from the syringe using the contrast media injector; and

electromagnetically writing data to a data tag of the syringe, wherein the electromagnetically writing is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector, and wherein the data that is electromagnetically written to the data tag comprises data regarding a used status of the syringe.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electromagnetically writing occurs after the expelling has been completed.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector during the electromagnetically writing.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the data tag is associated with the barrel of the syringe.

17. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

electromagnetically reading data from a data tag of the syringe, wherein the syringe has medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure disposed therein, wherein the electromagnetically reading is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector;

expelling the medical fluid from the syringe using the contrast media injector; and

updating an imaging information system with data that includes a used status of the syringe.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the updating occurs after the expelling has been completed.

19. A method of helping prevent reuse of a medical fluid syringe that is or has been mounted to and used with a contrast media injector having a powered drive ram designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:

electromagnetically writing a syringe-used flag to a data tag of the syringe.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetically writing is accomplished using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetically writing occurs after medical fluid has been expelled from the syringe.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector during the electromagnetically writing.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetically writing occurs while the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector, and the method further comprises removing the syringe from the contrast media injector subsequent to the electromagnetically writing.