Abstract: A front-loading syringe which comprises a movable plunger for injecting liquid contrast media, is rotatably mountable on a front wall of an injector housing with an interference fit and in sealed relationship with respect thereto, with or without a pressure jacket, by a first-quick release mechanism. At the same time, the plunger is connected to an injector drive mechanism by a second readily releasable mechanism. During the mounting operation, a sensor reads injection information from an indicator device on the syringe and feeds it to an injector control. An audible-and-tactile indicating mechanism also is activated when the syringe is essentially in the desired mounted position. The syringe may include reinforcing ribs which also function as volumetric gradations, and liquid media presence-or-absence indicating dots which appear circular against a liquid media background and oval-shaped against an air background.

Abstract: An injector for use in injecting a fluid in a medical injection procedure includes a drive having a motor to pressurize the fluid; a sensor to provide a measure of fluid pressure; and a pressure monitor in communication with the sensor and the drive to stop the motor using 4-quadrant control when the sensor communicates a measured pressure of at least a pressure hazard limit. The pressure monitor also limits power input to the motor to a power limit once the sensor communicates a measured pressure of at least a power limiting pressure. The power limiting pressure is below the pressure hazard limit.

Abstract: A local or surface coil including a decoupling circuit to allow the coil to operate as a receive-only coil in a host MRI system, in which case the system body coil typically provides the transmit signal. Further, the local or surface coil includes a circuit to defeat the decoupling circuitry for both low power [receive] and high power [transmit] functions to allow the same physical coil to be used as a transmit/receive coil in addition to a receive-only coil. The two modes of the coil allow the user to select the mode of local or surface coil operation best suited to the particular type of imaging being performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pressure control system for an injector. The pressure control system includes a compliant piston or piston extension member that connects to the plunger of a injector-actuated syringe to prevent pressure overshoots when a closed or blocked fluid delivery pathway is encountered during an injection procedure.

Abstract: A front-loading syringe which comprises a movable plunger for injecting liquid contrast media, is rotatably mountable on a front wall of an injector housing with an interference fit and in sealed relationship with respect thereto, with or without a pressure jacket, by a first-quick release mechanism. At the same time, the plunger is connected to an injector drive mechanism by a second readily releasable mechanism. During the mounting operation, a sensor reads injection information from an indicator device on the syringe and feeds it to an injector control. An audible-and-tactile indicating mechanism also is activated when the syringe is essentially in the desired mounted position. The syringe may include reinforcing ribs which also function as volumetric gradations, and liquid media presence-or-absence indicating dots which appear circular against a liquid media background and oval-shaped against an air background.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for delivery of an injection fluid to a patient generally includes a pump system to pressurize the injection fluid, a patient interface in removable fluid connection with the pump system, and a connector in fluid connection between the pump system and the patient interface. The pump system is connected to an inlet of the connector, and the patient interface is removably connected to an outlet of the connector. The connector includes a sealing member at least partly disposed within a housing of the connector that is biased to close the outlet when the patient interface is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the detection of extravasation is positioned in a manner so that the vicinity of a site is available for palpation and is visible for visual inspection. Another embodiment of the apparatus improves the sensitivity of detection by positioning an energy source and a receiver between a first layer of a high dielectric material and a second lay of a low dielectric material. The apparatus may further include a third layer of a conductive material to shield the apparatus from stray capacitance. In addition, a system for detection of extravasation includes an array of sensors located at, adjacent to and/or remote from an injection site.

Abstract: A disposable unit for delivering fluid medium to one of a plurality of patients includes a sterile patient supply tube, and structure for receiving pressurized fluid medium into the patient supply tube. One or more devices is provided for precluding backflow of material from the patient to the fluid medium receiving structure, for preventing contamination of the fluid medium receiving structure and/or for preventing cross-contamination between patients.

Abstract: An aseptic connector comprises a first member and a second member. The first member preferably includes a resilient septum, and the second member preferably includes a penetrating member. Preferably, the septum is formed from an elastomeric material such as a silicone elastomer. The penetrating member preferably includes an extending penetrating element to penetrate the resilient septum. The aseptic connector further comprises a resilient sealing element that contacts the penetrating member and one of an inner wall of the first member and an inner wall of the second member to create a seal between the penetrating member and one of the inner wall of the first member and the inner wall of the second member. The seal created is suitable to withstand relatively high pressures (for example, those experienced during the injection of contrast media in CT procedures). A fluid delivery system comprising at least a first aseptic connector as described above is also provided.

Abstract: A medical syringe 2 includes a cylindrical syringe body 3 and a plunger 4 fitted in the syringe body 3 for injecting a liquid agent filled in the syringe body 3 from the syringe body 3 into the vascular system of the human body by advancing the plunger 4 relative to the syringe body 3. The plunger 4 comprising a plunger body 5 and an elastic cover 9 fitted over the plunger body 5 from the front. The plunger body 5 is provided with a backplate 62 at a rear end thereof, the backplate 62 having an annular groove 68 forwardly opened and formed in a front surface outer peripheral portion thereof. The portion of the elastic cover 9 to be rearwardly stretched by the advance of the plunger 4 is allowed to ingress into the annular groove 68 for escape.

Abstract: An apparatus for the detection of extravasation is positioned in a manner so that the vicinity of a site is available for palpation and is visible for visual inspection. Another embodiment of the apparatus improves the sensitivity of detection by positioning an energy source and a receiver between a first layer of a high dielectric material and a second lay of a low dielectric material. The apparatus may further include a third layer of a conductive material to shield the apparatus from stray capacitance. In addition, a system for detection of extravasation includes an array of sensors located at, adjacent to and/or remote from an injection site.

Abstract: A front-loading syringe which comprises a movable plunger for injecting liquid contrast media, is rotatably mountable on a front wall of an injector housing with an interference fit and in sealed relationship with respect thereto, with or without a pressure jacket, by a first-quick release mechanism. At the same time, the plunger is connected to an injector drive mechanism by a second readily releasable mechanism. During the mounting operation, a sensor reads injection information from an indicator device on the syringe and feeds it to an injector control. An audible-and-tactile indicating mechanism also is activated when the syringe is essentially in the desired mounted position. The syringe may include reinforcing ribs which also function as volumetric gradations, and liquid media presence-or-absence indicating dots which appear circular against a liquid media background and oval-shaped against an air background.

Abstract: A front-loading syringe which comprises a movable plunger for injecting liquid contrast media, is rotatably mountable on a front wall of an injector housing with an interference fit and in sealed relationship with respect thereto, with or without a pressure jacket, by a first-quick release mechanism. At the same time, the plunger is connected to an injector drive mechanism by a second readily releasable mechanism. During the mounting operation, a sensor reads injection information from an indicator device on the syringe and feeds it to an injector control. An audible-and-tactile indicating mechanism also is activated when the syringe is essentially in the desired mounted position. The syringe may include reinforcing ribs which also function as volumetric gradations, and liquid media presence-or-absence indicating dots which appear circular against a liquid media background and oval-shaped against an air background.

Abstract: A system for producing a contrast-enhanced medical image of a patient includes a source of a contrast or enhancement medium, a pressurizing unit in fluid connection with the source of contrast or enhancement medium, an energy source operable to apply energy to a region of the patient, an imaging unit providing a visual display of an internal view of the patient based upon a signal resulting from the energy applied to the region of the patient, and a control unit. In an embodiment, the signal is affected by a condition of the contrast or enhancement medium in the patient. To control the procedures, the control unit adjusts the condition of the contrast or enhancement medium in the patient based upon the signal. A communication interface preferably enables information between an injector subsystem and an imaging subsystem.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging receiver/transmitter coil system for providing images for regions of interest includes a first phased array formed of a plurality of electrically conductive members and defining an array volume and a second phased array formed of a second plurality of electrically conductive members and disposed at least partially within the defined array volume. At least one of the first and second phased arrays is adapted to apply a magnetic field to the defined array volume. At least one of the first and second phased arrays is further adapted to receive said applied magnetic field. The first phased array is extendible to define a further array volume and is provided with a switch for electrically coupling and decoupling an extension to effectively extend the length of the first phased array and thereby define the further array volume. In this manner the length of the first phased array is effectively extended to approximately twice its unextended length.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of medical devices for delivering contrast media during medical diagnostic and therapeutic imaging procedures and more particularly, this invention relates to improved contrast media delivery systems and methods of use which allow adjustment of contrast media concentration and injection parameters either before or during an injection procedure to provide patient specific dosing of contrast media, thus decreasing the waste and cost of these procedures while increasing their efficiency.

Abstract: A microwave antenna senses the temperature of tissue into which a fluid is to be injected. The fluid is injected by a needle or other vascular entry device connected to a fluid injector by a connector tube. The fluid temperature is measured by a temperature sensor attached to the connector tube. An alarm processor determines whether an extravasation occurs by comparing a temperature discrimination function derived from tissue temperature taken at different times with a calculated threshold value. The threshold value is calculated from the tissue temperature and the fluid temperature. The threshold value is recalculated and updated continuously during the fluid injection.

Abstract: The pressure jacket systems of the invention are used to permit the front loading and removal of a syringe from an injector and include a first jacket segment and a second jacket segment surrounding the exterior surface of the syringe, interior surfaces comformable to the exterior surface of the syringe, a mechanism which allows movement of the first jacket segment in relation to the second jacket segment to permit insertion and removal of the syringe from the pressure jacket, and a mechanism for securing the first and second jacket segments in a fixed relationship upon insertion of the syringe.

Abstract: A coil interface for coupling a phased array magnetic resonance imaging coil to a magnetic resonance imaging system. The coil interface includes a plurality of signal inputs and a plurality of output ports. Each of the output ports is associated with a receiver in the magnetic resonance imaging system. The coil interface also includes an interface circuit. The interface circuit selectively couples at least two of the signal inputs to at least one of the plurality of input ports. Where the coil is a quadrature phased array coil, a preferred embodiment allows the two quadrature signals to be acquired as a single signal, precombined at the RF level within the coil interface, or as two separate RF signals by two of the receivers of the magnetic resonance imaging system hardware.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems for generating diagnostic images of a patient's internal organs and more particularly, this invention relates to improved MRI systems with decreased interference between the magnetic field used for producing diagnostic images and the magnetic fields generated by the electric motors used for driving the pistons of the contrast media injectors. Additionally, the system employs an improved communication link between an externally located system controller and the injection head control unit located within the electromagnetic isolation barrier which defines the magnetic imaging room.