Angiographic injector and injection method

• US 7,959,605 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Invasatec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Liu, Jiyan, Paulson, Thomas, Wilson, Robert F., Duchon, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITCZAK, CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US12/793,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/67, 604/131, 604/151, 604/152, 604/154, 222/52, 222/56, 222/71, 137/385, 141/18, 141/21, 141/95, 141/153, 141/192, 141/198, 600/432
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/001 Apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising syringes or needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• 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 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe

Abstract

An angiographic injector system includes a manifold and valve which selectively connects either a syringe pump or a low pressure system to a catheter which is inserted into a patient. The valve is normally biased to a state which connects the low pressure system to the catheter for pressure monitoring, saline flushing, or aspirating functions. When an injection is to be made, the valve automatically switches so that the low pressure system is disconnected and not exposed to high pressure, while the syringe pump is connected through the manifold to the catheter.

Claims

1. A powered injector for injecting a fluid into a patient in conjunction with a medical imaging procedure, the powered injector comprising:

a plunger drive ram,

a motor for moving the plunger drive ram,

a syringe holder configured to couple a syringe to the powered injector to permit the plunger drive ram to engage and move a plunger within the syringe;

a fluid reservoir adapted to be in fluid communication with a chamber of the syringe;

a control circuit configured to control the motor to advance the plunger drive ram to inject fluid from the chamber of the syringe, and to retract the plunger drive ram to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir into the chamber of the syringe,

said powered injector configured to;

advance the plunger drive ram to perform a first injection of fluid from the chamber of the syringe;

determine an amount of fluid remaining in the chamber of the syringe following the first injection;

receive a user input associated with a second injection via the powered injector, the user input comprising a safety parameter for the subsequent injection selected from the group consisting of maximum injection volume, maximum flow rate, maximum pressure, and rise time;

determine an amount of fluid to be delivered via the powered injector during the second injection based on the user input received;

compare the amount of fluid remaining in the chamber of the syringe with the amount of fluid to be delivered during the second injection; and

either

(a) advance the plunger drive ram to perform the second injection if the amount of fluid to be delivered is equal to or less than the amount of fluid remaining in the chamber of the syringe, or

(b) retract the plunger drive ram to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir into the chamber of the syringe if the amount of fluid to be delivered is greater than the amount of fluid remaining in the chamber.

2. The powered injector of claim 1 wherein the plunger drive ram is retracted to a predetermined position to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir into the chamber of the syringe if the amount of fluid to be delivered is greater than the amount of fluid remaining in the chamber.

3. The powered injector of claim 2 wherein retracting the plunger drive ram to the predetermined position maximally fills the chamber of the syringe.

4. The powered injector of claim 2 wherein retracting the plunger drive ram to the predetermined position draws an amount of fluid into the chamber that partially fills the chamber of the syringe.

5. The powered injector of claim 1 wherein, after retracting the plunger drive ram to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir into the chamber of the syringe, the powered injector is further configured to advance the plunger drive ram to purge air from the chamber of the syringe.

6. The powered injector of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises a maximum injection volume for the second injection.

7. The powered injector of claim 1 wherein the powered injector is further configured to retract the plunger drive ram at a first speed followed by a second speed, the first speed being slower than the second speed.

8. The powered injector of claim 7 wherein the first speed is about 2 mL/sec.

9. The powered injector of claim 7 wherein the second speed is about 3 mL/sec.

10. The powered injector of claim 7 wherein the powered injector is further configured to retract the plunger drive ram at the first speed until a predetermined volume of fluid has been drawn into the chamber.

11. The powered injector of claim 7 wherein the plunger drive ram is retracted at a rate of about 2 mL/sec until about 40 mL of fluid have been drawn into the chamber, and wherein the plunger drive ram is retracted at a rate of about 3 mL/sec thereafter.