BLADDER SYRINGE FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20130211248A1
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Cowan, Kevin P., Hoffman, Raymond C., Trocki, Mark, Uber, Arthur E. III, Liscio, Edward P., Williams, Glen P., Wlodarczyk, Jaroslaw, Lang, Charles A., Mator, Joseph C., Hobi, Bernard J., Crouthamel, L. Robert, Rossitto, Vincent S., Schrauder, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,046,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2425 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence

Abstract

A bladder syringe for a fluid delivery system includes a cylindrical body, a cap-bladder assembly, a plunger element disposed in the cylindrical body, and a mounting assembly to secure the cap-bladder assembly to the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has a distal end and a proximal end and defines a throughbore. The cap-bladder assembly is adapted for connection to the distal end of the cylindrical body, and includes a cap body and a bladder. The cap body defines an interior cavity and a distal discharge conduit and is adapted to engage the distal end of the cylindrical body. A disc-shaped bladder is disposed within the interior cavity and typically includes a central membrane portion. The plunger element is disposed in the throughbore of the cylindrical body and is vented to enable evacuation of the space between the plunger element and the cap-bladder assembly in the cylindrical body.

Claims

1. A bladder syringe for a fluid delivery system, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a throughbore;

a cap-bladder assembly adapted for connection to the distal end of the cylindrical body, comprising;

a cap comprising a cap body defining an interior cavity and a distal discharge conduit, the cap body seated on the distal end of the cylindrical body; and

a disc-shaped bladder disposed within the interior cavity and comprising a membrane portion; and

a plunger element disposed in the throughbore of the cylindrical body.

2. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a retainer ring to secure the bladder in the interior cavity of the cap body.

3. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion has extra material in a central area of the membrane portion.

4. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion defines a convoluted central well portion.

5. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion is substantially planar.

6. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion comprises a plurality of annular ribs or rings.

7. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion comprises a plurality of radial ribs.

8. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion has extra material in a central area of the membrane portion and defines a convoluted central well portion.

9. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion comprises a series of concentric angular-shaped convolutes.

10. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion has a thinner center section and a thicker outer section tapering from the thinner center section.

11. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion comprises a series of thicker wall sections near the center of the bladder.

12. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thicker wall sections are stepped.

13. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion has a non-uniform cross-section.

14. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion defines a central well portion connected to an outer rim by a series of frangible webs.

15. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion is comprised of two or more materials.

16. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane portion has over-molded ribs on the bottom side thereof.

17. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plunger element comprises a distal portion facing the cap-bladder assembly and a proximal portion adapted for connection with a piston element of a power fluid injector.

18. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plunger element comprises a vent path allowing gas to pass through the plunger element to vent the space in the cylindrical body between the cap-bladder assembly and the plunger element, and wherein the plunger element has a one-way check valve in the vent path to allow gas to pass through the plunger element.

19. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plunger element comprises a seal ring providing a substantially fluid tight seal between the plunger element and the cylindrical body.

20. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plunger element comprises one of an optical, ultrasonic, or mechanical sensor to detect the presence of the cap-bladder assembly on the distal end of the cylindrical body.

21. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the plunger element and the membrane portion of the bladder are shaped to interact to maintain the bladder material aligned in the cylindrical body during expansion of the bladder.

22. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 21 wherein the membrane portion defines a convoluted central well portion, and wherein the distal portion of the plunger element defines a distal circular recess to interact with the convoluted central well portion.

23. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 21 wherein membrane portion defines a series or plurality of concentric stepped or ridged portions adapted to cooperate with corresponding concentric stepped or ridged portions on the surface of the distal portion of the plunger element.

24. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plunger element comprises a vent path allowing gas to pass through the plunger element to vent the space in the cylindrical body between the cap-bladder assembly and the plunger element, and wherein an inlet to the vent path is located at a circumferential outer surface of the plunger element.

25. A fluid delivery system, comprising:

a power fluid injector comprising an injector housing and a reciprocally operable piston element; and

a bladder syringe, comprising;

a cylindrical body having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a throughbore;

a cap-bladder assembly adapted for connection to the distal end of the cylindrical body, comprising;

a cap comprising a cap body defining an interior cavity and a distal discharge conduit, the cap body seated on the distal end of the cylindrical body; and

a disc-shaped bladder disposed within the interior cavity and comprising a membrane portion; and

a plunger element disposed in the throughbore of the cylindrical body and comprising a distal portion facing the cap-bladder assembly and a proximal portion adapted for connection with the piston element of the power fluid injector.

26. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a retainer ring to secure the bladder in the interior cavity of the cap body.

27. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion has extra material in a central area of the membrane portion.

28. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion defines a convoluted central well portion.

29. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion is substantially planar.

30. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion comprises a plurality of annular ribs or rings.

31. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion comprises a series of concentric angular-shaped convolutes.

32. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion has a thinner center section and a thicker outer section tapering from the thinner center section.

33. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion comprises a series of thicker wall sections near the center of the bladder.

34. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the thicker wall sections are stepped.

35. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion has a non-uniform cross-section.

36. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion defines a central well portion connected to an outer rim by a series of frangible webs.

37. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion is comprised of two or more materials.

38. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the membrane portion has over-molded ribs on the bottom side thereof.

39. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the plunger element comprises a vent path allowing gas to pass through the plunger element to vent the space in the cylindrical body between the cap-bladder assembly and the plunger element, and wherein the plunger element has a one-way check valve in the vent path to allow gas to pass through the plunger element.

40. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the plunger element comprises a seal ring providing a substantially fluid tight seal between the plunger element and the cylindrical body.

41. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the plunger element comprises one of an optical, ultrasonic, or mechanical sensor to detect the presence of the cap-bladder assembly on the distal end of the cylindrical body.

42. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the distal portion of the plunger element and the membrane portion of the bladder are shaped to interact to maintain the bladder material aligned in the cylindrical body during expansion of the bladder.

43. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 42 wherein the membrane portion defines a convoluted central well portion, and wherein the distal portion of the plunger element defines a distal circular recess to interact with the convoluted central well portion.

44. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 42 wherein membrane portion defines a series or plurality of concentric stepped or ridged portions adapted to cooperate with corresponding concentric stepped or ridged portions on the surface of the distal portion of the plunger element.

45. A fluid delivery system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the plunger element comprises a vent path allowing gas to pass through the plunger element to vent the space in the cylindrical body between the cap-bladder assembly and the plunger element, and wherein an inlet to the vent path is located at a circumferential outer surface of the plunger element.

46. A bladder syringe for a fluid delivery system, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a throughbore;

a cap-bladder assembly adapted for connection to the distal end of the cylindrical body, comprising;

a cap comprising a cap body defining an interior cavity and a distal discharge conduit, the cap body seated on the distal end of the cylindrical body; and

a disc-shaped bladder disposed within the interior cavity and comprising a membrane portion;

a plunger element disposed in the throughbore of the cylindrical body; and

a connecting assembly comprising an inner sleeve fixed to the distal end of the cylindrical body and comprising a plurality of flex legs and an outer sleeve coaxially disposed about the inner sleeve and rotationally engaged with the inner sleeve, such that rotation of the outer sleeve in one direction causes the flex legs to engage the cap body and secure the cap-bladder assembly on the distal end of the cylindrical body and rotation in an opposite direction releases the engagement.

47. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 46 wherein a distal end of the outer sleeve is internally curved to engage the flex legs.

48. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 47 wherein the flex legs terminate in a curved distal end to engage the internally curved distal end of the outer sleeve.

49. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 46 wherein the outer sleeve is in threaded engagement with the inner sleeve.

50. A bladder syringe as claimed in claim 46 wherein the flex legs terminate in a curved distal end that engages a circumferential rim on the cap body when the flex legs engage the cap body.