Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending therebetween along a longitudinal axis. At least one engagement member protrudes from a terminal portion of the sidewall in a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis. The at least one engagement member tapers axially in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end. The at least one engagement member is configured for engagement with a locking mechanism of a fluid injector to releasably lock the syringe with the fluid injector. A taper of the at least one engagement member is configured to rotationally guide the syringe into alignment with the locking mechanism and axially eject the syringe upon rotation of the syringe. The locking mechanism operatively engages the at least one engagement member regardless of an orientation of the syringe about the longitudinal axis relative to the injector.

Abstract: A diagnostic contrast composition includes a carrier fluid and a non-decaying gas-evolving fluid incorporated in the carrier fluid. The gas-evolving fluid has a vapor pressure sufficient to evolve the gas from a circulatory system within a lung of a patient. The gas-evolving fluid is a composition containing a sufficient quantity of atoms with an atomic number higher than 8 to provide an increased absorption sufficient to increase a Hounsfield Unit measurement in an image in a CT imaging system. The gas-evolving fluid is selected from the group consisting of xenon gas, krypton gas, sulfur hexafluoride, a perfluorocarbon, a brominated perfluorocarbon, and combinations thereof. The carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, saline, saline comprising one or more blood proteins, and saline comprising dissolved lipids.

Abstract: A plunger for use with a syringe has a plunger body with a proximal end, a distal end, and a circumferential sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end along a plunger longitudinal axis. The plunger further has at least one resiliently deflectable retaining member having a first segment attached to the plunger body and a second segment protruding toward the distal end of the plunger body and deflectable relative to the first segment. The plunger further has at least one actuation member associated with the at least one resiliently deflectable retaining member. The at least one actuation member interacts with a piston to deflect the at least one resiliently deflectable retaining member upon rotation of the plunger relative to the piston. The plunger is engageable with the piston regardless of a rotational orientation of the piston relative to the plunger.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for predicting, anticipating, and/or assessing tissue characteristics obtains measurement information associated with a parameter of a voxel of tissue of a patient measured at two or more time points, the two or more time points occurring before one or more characteristics of the voxel of the tissue are separable in an image generated based on the parameter of the voxel measured at a single time point of the two or more time points, and determines, based on the parameter of the voxel at the two or more time points, the one or more characteristics of the voxel of the tissue.

Abstract: A syringe retaining element protruding radially outward relative to an outer surface of a sidewall of a barrel of a syringe is described. The syringe retaining element is configured for interacting with a locking mechanism of a syringe port of a fluid injector to releasably retain the ring. Features of the syringe retaining element allow the syringe to be axially ejected from the syringe port upon rotation of the syringe. Other features of the syringe retaining element allow the syringe to engage the locking mechanism of the syringe port and rotationally guide the syringe into self-orienting alignment with the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An assembly for retaining a pressure jacket (134) and a syringe (132) on a fluid injector, the assembly including a base plate (1902) comprising a body (1904); at least a first retaining arm (1910a) and a second retaining arm (1910b) operatively mounted on the body of the base plate, the first retaining arm having a first retaining surface at a distal end thereof and the second retaining arm having a second retaining surface at a distal end thereof, wherein the first retaining surface and the second retaining surface are configured for abutting a distal surface of at least one of the pressure jacket and the syringe; a linkage assembly operatively connected to at least one of the first retaining arm and the second retaining arm, wherein the linkage assembly is configured to move at least one of the first retaining arm and the second retaining arm between at least a first open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A medical injector including at least one syringe port for engaging at least one syringe and having a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism enables the syringe to self-align with the syringe port for locking engagement upon insertion of the syringe into the syringe port and to axially eject the syringe from the port upon rotational disengagement of the syringe from the port.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for predictive maintenance. A method may include receiving operation data associated with one or more injection systems, wherein the operation data includes one or more operation parameters associated with one or more operations of the one or more injection systems: determining one or more prediction scores for the one or more injection systems based on the operation data, wherein the one or more prediction scores include one or more predictions of one or more operation failures or misuses for the one or more injection systems; and providing maintenance data associated with the one or more operation failures or misuses, wherein the maintenance data is based on the one or more prediction scores.

Abstract: Provided is a method for delivering a medical fluid. The method includes administering a test injection at a preselected total volumetric flowrate for a preselected duration. The preselected total volumetric flowrate of the test injection is substantially maintained throughout the preselected duration of the test injection and is substantially similar to an anticipated total volumetric flowrate of the fluid to be administered during at least a first phase of a diagnostic injection protocol. The method further includes performing a test scan of one or more regions of interest of the patient, determining a patient response function for the patient for each of the one or more regions of interest based, at least in part, on the enhancement output, and determining a diagnostic injection protocol based at least in part upon the patient response function from each of the one or more regions of interest.

Abstract: A fluid injector system for delivering a multi-phase fluid injection to a patient and methods of fluid delivery is disclosed. Methods of creating and using a multi-aspect fluid path impedance model of the injector system are used. Modeling and adjustment of factors that affect impedance and prevent or reduce backflow, reduce the likelihood of fluid flow rate spikes and provide more accurate flow rates and mixing ratios of fluids may be repeated or happen essentially continuously during an injection. The adjustments may be determined before the injection or determined and/or adjusted during the injection. The determination may include sensor feedback commonly used in injectors such as pressure and position feedback as well as other sensors. In all cases, the user can be notified of adjustments through on-screen notices and/or through the recordation of the injection data by a control device of the injector at the conclusion of the injection.

Abstract: Described is an in-scan phantom for use during an imaging procedure. The phantom can include at least one measuring insert and/or at least one measured insert. The measuring insert may have radiation detecting capabilities while the measured insert may include a radioactive material. Also described is an imaging modality system that includes an imaging modality and an in-scan phantom as well as methods of using the in-scan phantom for imaging a patient or performing a scout scan.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for predictive maintenance. A method may include receiving operation data associated with one or more injection systems, wherein the operation data includes one or more operation parameters associated with one or more operations of the one or more injection systems; determining one or more prediction scores for the one or more injection systems based on the operation data, wherein the one or more prediction scores include one or more predictions of one or more operation failures or misuses for the one or more injection systems; and providing maintenance data associated with the one or more operation failures or misuses, wherein the maintenance data is based on the one or more prediction scores.

Abstract: A rolling diaphragm syringe for receiving a medical fluid therein, the rolling diaphragm syringe comprising a sidewall that is flexible and rolls upon itself when acted upon by the piston such that an outer surface of the sidewall is rolled in a radially inward direction as the piston is advanced from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the flexible sidewall comprises at least one surface texturization feature.

Abstract: Described is a method of providing an estimate of radiation dose received by a patient during an imaging scan performed by an imaging system. The method includes receiving patient information about the patient, receiving scan data generated during the imaging scan of the patient by the imaging system, creating a virtual dose model of the patient based upon the patient information and the scan data, receiving a selection of a region of interest of the patient, performing a dose simulation on the virtual dose model of the patient or a portion thereof, and determining, based upon an outcome of the dose simulation, an estimate of the radiation dose received within the region of interest. The imaging scan can be a partial imaging scan of a portion of the patient. Also provided is a system and software for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A high crack pressure valve is described. The high crack pressure valve includes an inlet adapted to receive a medical fluid pressurized by a pump; an outlet in fluid communication with a fluid path element, wherein the fluid path element is in fluid communication with downstream system components of a fluid delivery system; and a moveable element having a crack pressure threshold. The moveable element has a first closed position and a second open position and is configured to move from the first closed position to the second open position when a fluid pressure at the inlet is greater than or equal to the crack pressure threshold. The pressure of fluid at the outlet of the high crack pressure valve has little or no effect on movement of the moveable element from the first closed position to the second open position. Fluid injector systems and fluid path elements which include the high crack pressure valve are also described.

Abstract: A fluid injector system for delivering a multi-phase fluid injection to a patient and methods of fluid delivery is disclosed. Methods of creating and using a multi-aspect fluid path impedance model of the injector system are used. Modeling and adjustment of factors that affect impedance and prevent or reduce backflow, reduce the likelihood of fluid flow rate spikes and provide more accurate flow rates and mixing ratios of fluids may be repeated or happen essentially continuously during an injection. The adjustments may be determined before the injection or determined and/or adjusted during the injection. The determination may include sensor feedback commonly used in injectors such as pressure and position feedback as well as other sensors. In all cases, the user can be notified of adjustments through on-screen notices and/or through the recordation of the injection data by a control device of the injector at the conclusion of the injection.

Abstract: Provided is a method for delivering a medical fluid. The method includes delivering a fluid volume, which includes contrast and/or a flush fluid, at a preselected total volumetric flowrate during a first duration of a fluid delivery procedure. The amount of the contrast agent and the flush fluid in the fluid volume can be controllably varied during the first duration of the fluid delivery procedure so as to substantially maintain a preselected total volumetric flowrate throughout the first duration of the fluid delivery procedure. Also provided is a fluid delivery system capable of performing this method.

Abstract: A method of maintaining an overall flow rate during a sequential delivery of at least two fluids to a patient's blood vessel includes delivering at least a first fluid into the patient's blood vessel at a first flow rate, delivering at least a second fluid into the patient's blood vessel at a second flow rate, and adjusting at least one of a first flow profile of the first flow rate and a second flow profile of the second flow rate to dampen a transient increase in the overall flow rate during a transition between delivering one of the first fluid and the second fluid to delivering the other of the first fluid and the second fluid.

Abstract: Provided is a method for delivering a medical fluid. The method includes delivering a fluid volume, which includes contrast and/or a flush fluid, at a preselected total volumetric flowrate during a first duration of a fluid delivery procedure. The amount of the contrast agent and the flush fluid in the fluid volume can be controllably varied during the first duration of the fluid delivery procedure so as to substantially maintain a preselected total volumetric flowrate throughout the first duration of the fluid delivery procedure. Also provided is a fluid delivery system capable of performing this method.

Abstract: An adapter for releasably attaching a syringe to an injector. The adapter comprises a mounting mechanism positioned at a rear end of the adapter to mount the adapter in a desired position relative to a front wall of the injector; and a syringe carrier section adapted to seat at least a portion of the syringe. The syringe carrier section defines a first opening on a top thereof to allow placement of the syringe therein from the top and a second opening in a rear section thereof to allow the drive member of the injector to communicate forward force to the plunger. A cover portion extends over a rearward end of the first opening and has a first end configured to abut the flange of the syringe when the syringe is positioned within the syringe carrier section.