Programmable injector control

• US 6,643,537 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Gardner, John, Thompson, Jeffrey John, Rygg, Steven C., Griffith, Scott R., Zatezalo, Douglas M., Barbati, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Jeoyuh
• Application Number:
  US09/715,330
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/892.1, 604/19, 600/431, 600/432, 600/458
• 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 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• 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 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

A fluid injection arrangement, particularly involving a systematic fluid injection programming capability, in the context of patient imaging systems, in which phases of contrast medium infection and flushing medium injection can be freely and selectably ordered so as to make available to the operator and patient a vast array of possible protocols than has hitherto been essentially unattainable. Also contemplated is the use of a “hold” phase, involving an indefinite pause between phases of a protocol, in connection with such imaging systems. Further contemplated is the use of a “pause” phase in which a pause of fixed duration is pre-programmed into the protocols of MRI Injector systems.

Claims

1. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein said control device is adapted to allow an operator to;

selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure, a first phase comprising a flushing medium phase and a second phase comprising a contrast medium phase; and

selectively modify at least one phase of the injection procedure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device is operable to abort an injection procedure while the injection procedure is taking place.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two fluid containers comprises a syringe.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of phases is defined by at least two injection parameters selected from fluid flow rate, fluid volume and injection duration.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device is further adapted to allow the operator to program a KVO phase.

33. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow the operator to program a KVO phase.

34. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

35. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises two drive mechanisms and each of the fluid containers is adapted to be operably connected to a respective one of the two drive mechanisms.

36. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow the operator to program a pause phase.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the pause phase is programmed for a fixed duration of time.

38. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow the operator to program a hold phase.

6. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein at least one of said fluid containers includes an illumination element; and

wherein said control device includes at least one element affiliated with said illumination element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said illumination element is adapted to produce colored light.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said illumination element is associated with a color; and

said at least one element of said control device comprises an element associated with the color of said illumination element.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said at least one element of said control device includes a computer screen icon.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

each of said fluid containers comprises an illumination element;

said at least one element of said control device comprising at least two elements, each of which is affiliated with a corresponding one of said illumination elements.

39. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one of the two fluid containers comprises a syringe.

40. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

41. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises two drive mechanisms and each of the fluid containers is adapted to be operably connected to a respective one of the two drive mechanisms.

11. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein the control device is adapted to be used by an operator to;

(i) selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure, at least one of the phases comprising a contrast medium phase, a flushing medium phase, a pause phase or a hold phase;

(ii) produce, during programming, a graphical display indicating the programmed phases, the graphical display including a screen display field corresponding to the phases or a distinct color scheme associated with the phases; and

(iii) selectively recreate a facsimile of the graphical display at a subsequent time.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said control device is operable to recreate a facsimile of said graphical display at least at one of the following times:

prior to an injection procedure, during an injection procedure and immediately subsequent to an injection procedure.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said control device is operable to:

store a protocol comprising a plurality of phases;

store a graphical display corresponding to said protocol; and

recall the stored protocol, wherein a facsimile of the graphical display corresponding to the stored protocol is recreated.

42. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

14. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein said control device is operable to selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure, at least one phase comprising one of;

a contrast medium phase and a flushing medium phase;

wherein said control device is further operable to selectively establish and control a KVO state independently from the programming of any of said phases.

43. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of the two fluid containers comprises a syringe.

44. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

45. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises two drive mechanisms and each of the fluid containers is adapted to be operably connected to a respective one of the two drive mechanisms.

46. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of the at least two fluid containers comprises a syringe.

47. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the KVO state is defined by at least fluid flow rate.

15. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein said control device is adapted to allow an operator to selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure;

at least one phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase; and

at least another phase comprising a hold phase, the hold phase operable to allow the operator to modify one or more injection parameters of a subsequent phase.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control device further comprises a delay time clock, said control device further being operable to program the delay time clock during said hold phase.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the hold phase is of indefinite duration.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein KVO occurs during the hold phase.

19. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein said control device is adapted to allow an operator to selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure, a first phase comprising a flushing medium phase and a second phase comprising a contrast medium phase;

said control device further being adapted to allow the operator to selectively store a protocol comprising the programmed phases and selectively recall said protocol at a subsequent time for use in an injection procedure.

20. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein said control device is adapted to allow an operator to selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure;

a first phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase;

a second phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase; and

at least another phase comprising a pause phase programmed to occur between the first and second phases, the pause phase adapted to be programmable for a fixed duration of time.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the second phase automatically commences after the end of the pause phase.

22. A method of operating an injector providing visual stimuli corresponding to an injection protocol, the method comprising:

perceiving the visual stimuli;

recognizing a pattern provided by the stimuli;

correlating the recognized pattern to the injection protocol; and

interacting with the injector based on the recognized pattern.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the visual stimuli is graphical or iconic.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the visual stimuli comprises one or more of words, numbers, shapes and colors.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of interacting comprises programming the injector.

26. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, the control device adapted to allow an operator to;

(i) program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure, at least one of the phases comprising a contrast medium phase, a flushing medium phase, a pause phase or a hold phase;

(ii) modify at least one phase of the injection procedure; and

(iii) abort an injection procedure while the injection procedure is taking place.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein at least one of the two fluid containers comprises a syringe.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein a first phase comprises a flushing medium phase and a second phase comprises a contrast medium phase.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of the plurality of phases is defined by at least two injection parameters selected from fluid flow rate, fluid volume and injection duration.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow the operator to program a KVO phase.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

32. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises two drive mechanisms and each of the fluid containers is adapted to be operably connected to a respective one of the two drive mechanisms.

48. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein said control device is adapted to allow an operator to selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure,

at least one phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase, and

at least another phase comprising a hold phase, wherein KVO occurs during the hold phase.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the hold phase allows an operator to modify one or more injection parameters of a subsequent phase.

50. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the control device comprises a delay time clock that is adapted to allow the operator to program the delay time clock during the hold phase.

51. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the hold phase is of indefinite duration.

52. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein at least one of the two fluid containers comprises a syringe.

53. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein each of the plurality of phases is defined by at least two injection parameters selected from fluid flow rate, fluid volume and injection duration.

54. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

55. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises two drive mechanisms and each of the fluid containers is adapted to be operably connected to a respective one of the two drive mechanisms.

70. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein a first phase comprises a flushing medium phase and a second phase comprises a contrast medium phase.

56. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

at least one drive mechanism;

at least two fluid containers operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism, one fluid container containing a contrast medium and the other fluid container containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the at least one drive mechanism;

wherein the control device is adapted to allow an operator to selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure,

a first phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase,

a second phase comprising a pause phase, and

a third phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase, wherein the third phase automatically commences after the end of the pause phase.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow programming of a hold phase, which allows an operator to modify one or more injection parameters of a subsequent phase.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the hold phase is of indefinite duration.

59. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein at least one of the two fluid containers comprises a syringe.

60. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein each of the plurality of phases is defined by at least two injection parameters selected from fluid flow rate, fluid volume and injection duration.

61. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

62. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises two drive mechanisms and each of the fluid containers is adapted to be operably connected to a respective one of the two drive mechanisms.

63. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

a first drive mechanism;

a first syringe adapted to be operably engaged with the first drive mechanism, the first syringe containing a contrast medium;

a second drive mechanism;

a second syringe adapted to be operably engaged with the second drive mechanism, the second syringe containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the first and second drive mechanisms, the control device being adapted to allow an operator to (i) selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure, at least one of the phases comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase, and (ii) selectively establish a KVO phase independently from the other phases.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the control device comprises a touch screen.

65. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the KVO phase is defined by at least fluid flow rate.

66. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow the operator to abort the injection procedure.

67. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow the operator to program a hold phase.

68. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the control device is further adapted to allow the operator to program a pause phase.

69. A fluid injection apparatus comprising:

a first drive mechanism;

a first syringe adapted to be operably engaged with the first drive mechanism, the first syringe containing a contrast medium;

a second drive mechanism;

a second syringe adapted to be operably engaged with the second drive mechanism, the second syringe containing a flushing medium; and

a control device operably associated with the first and second drive mechanisms, the control device being adapted to allow an operator to selectively program a plurality of phases of an injection procedure,

a first phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase,

a second phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase, and

a third phase comprising a contrast medium phase or a flushing medium phase, and

a KVO phase independent from the other phases.