Abstract: A power injector (200) is disclosed that includes a number of features to address leakage of contrast media from a syringe that may occur while operating the power injector (200), for instance when loading fluid into a syringe after being installed on a powerhead (210) of the injector (200) and/or when purging air from such a syringe. One or more drainage channels (240) may be incorporated on a faceplate mounting (234) which in turn receives a faceplate (310), which in turn receives a syringe. A cover assembly (260) may utilize a form-in-place gasket (274) between its top cover (262) and its bottom cover (290). A bezel (330) includes an overlay (334) that is disposed over a touch screen display (380) that is aligned with a display aperture (264) through the top cover (262), and the bezel (330) may include a gasket (350) to seal against the top cover (262).

Abstract: A power injector is disclosed having power injector control logic, which in turn includes a decay constant cross-reference, for instance in the form of a data structure. Flow rate decay constant information may be stored by the decay constant cross-reference. A decay constant, which may be used by the power injector to generate an exponentially decaying flow rate for an injection, may be stored in the decay constant cross-reference in conjunction with a particular imaging unit. The decay constant cross-reference may be searched by entering a model or module number of an imaging unit to identify the corresponding flow rate decay constant to be used by the power injector.

Abstract: A hand-activated syringe (14) is disclosed that uses a vacuum to retract a plunger (54) of the syringe (14) to draw fluid into a syringe body (18). A first seal (76) with the plunger (54) and a second seal (64) with the plunger (54) define a vacuum chamber (82). The spacing between the first seal (76) and the second seal (64) changes in response to the plunger (54) moving relative to the syringe body (18). Advancing the plunger (54) in a direction associated with a discharge stroke creates or increases a vacuum within the vacuum chamber (82) by increasing a spacing between the first seal (76) and the second seal (64). This vacuum thereafter may be used to retract the plunger (54) by decreasing a spacing between the first seal (76) and the second seal (64), and to thereby draw fluid into the syringe (14) from a fluid source (86).

Abstract: Contrast administration data that relates to operation of a contrast media injector system (602) may be converted from at least one format (e.g., a CAN-compliant format) to at least one other format (e.g., an HL-7-compliant format) by an injection data management module (660) for use by a medical system (600). Data on contrast media prescribed for an imaging operation using an imaging system (690), contrast media data for use in this imaging operation, and data on contrast media actually administered/injected by a contrast media injector system (602) for this imaging operation may be stored in a data structure (780) on the injection data management module (660). Patient renal function data may be used to control the dispensing of contrast media from a contrast media/storage/dispensing unit (500), to control the operation of the contrast media injector system (602), or both, and may be stored in the data structure (780) as well.

Abstract: Contrast administration data that relates to operation of a contrast media injector system (602) may be converted from at least one format (e.g., a CAN-compliant format) to at least one other format (e.g., an HL-7-compliant format) for use by a medical system (600). Data on contrast media prescribed for an imaging operation using an imaging system (690), data on contrast media dispensed from a contrast media storage/dispensing unit (500) for use in this imaging operation, and data on contrast media actually administered/injected by a contrast media injector system (602) for this imaging operation may be stored in a data structure (780). Patient renal function data may be used to control the dispensing of contrast media from the contrast media/storage/dispensing unit (500), to control the operation of the contrast media injector system (602), or both, and may be stored in the data structure (780) as well.

Abstract: A power injector syringe assembly (100) that includes a syringe body (110) having a syringe barrel (120). An outer wall (126b) of the syringe barrel (120) is tapered from its proximal end (122) to its distal end (124), with the outer diameter of the syringe barrel (120) progressively increasing when proceeding in the direction of its distal end (124). When this syringe barrel (120) is disposed within a pressure sleeve (180), the clearance between the outer diameter of the syringe barrel (120) and the inner diameter of the pressure sleeve (180) is progressively reduced proceeding in the discharge direction during power injector operations.

Abstract: A dual one-way check valve arrangement that may be used for assessing an operating condition of at least one of first and second check valves situated in series along/within a section of a patient-specific section of tubing. A pressure sensor may be associated with at least part of the flow path between the first and second check valves and may be operable to provide an indication of a failed condition of at least one of the first and second check valves. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor may change from a first state to a second state upon fluid pressure within the flow path between the first and second check valves falling below a predetermined level. For instance, the predetermined level may be a cracking pressure of at least one of the first and second check valves. The change in state may be visually discernible on an exterior of the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Multiple embodiments of contrast media injector systems (800, 800?, 800c) are disclosed. A number of different devices are disclosed for providing user input to such a contrast media injector system (800, 800?, 800c), including at least one tablet computer (700), a user-mountable user input device (760), a smartphone (762), and various combinations thereof.

Abstract: A power injector (200) is disclosed that includes a number of features to address leakage of contrast media from a syringe that may occur while operating the power injector (200), for instance when loading fluid into a syringe after being installed on a powerhead (210) of the injector (200) and/or when purging air from such a syringe. One or more drainage channels (240) may be incorporated on a faceplate mounting (234) which in turn receives a faceplate (310), which in turn receives a syringe. A cover assembly (260) may utilize a form-in-place gasket (274) between its top cover (262) and its bottom cover (290). A bezel (330) includes an overlay (334) that is disposed over a touch screen display (380) that is aligned with a display aperture (264) through the top cover (262), and the bezel (330) may include a gasket (350) to seal against the top cover (262).

Abstract: A medical fluid injector system (450) is disclosed that may utilize one or more of flow rate determination logic (130), injection volume determination logic (132), display control logic (134), drive ram motion control logic (136), and pressure monitoring logic (138). The flow rate determination logic (130), injection volume determination logic (132), and display control logic (134) each may utilize a concentration input (172, 192, 202) to calculate flow rates, injection volumes, and generate multi-color graphics, respectively, for a simultaneous injection configuration. The drive ram motion control logic (136) may utilize both a target pressure and a monitored pressure to derive a velocity for advancing a drive ram. The pressure monitoring logic (138) may provide a monitored pressure value for the drive ram control logic (136), where this monitored pressure value may be derived from the input power being used to advance a drive ram and the drive ram velocity.

Abstract: A powerhead (50) of a power injector is disclosed that includes a syringe housing (110) that contains a capacitive fluid detector (112). The capacitive fluid detector (112) may be operable to detect fluid within a syringe (116) installed on the syringe housing (110). The output of the capacitive fluid detector (112) may be used to estimate the volume of fluid within the syringe (116). The capacitive fluid detector (112) may include a plurality of discrete capacitors (118a-118h) arranged serially along a longitudinal axis (120) of the syringe (116). Each of the plurality of capacitors (118a-118h) may be operable to produce an electric field extending into the syringe (116). Each of the plurality of capacitors (118a-118h) may be formed on a printed circuit board (130).

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for delivering medical fluids to a patient. A data storage device (120) is either separately attached to or incorporated within the structure of a reusable fixture that may be detachably connected to a barrel (111) of a syringe (107). A filling station (110) and an power injector (108) may each include a read-write device (114, 122) that is operable to read the data storage device (120) within its field of view. When the read-write devices (114, 122) are attached to the filing station (110) and the power injector (40), respectively, and when the fixture including the data storage device (120) is attached to the syringe (107), the read-write devices (114, 122) may be operable to store data on and read data from the data storage device (120) associated with the syringe (107). After an injection procedure, the fixture may be detached from the syringe (107) and reused with a new or resterilized syringe (107).

Abstract: Injection systems and related methods including an injection device, an operator interface, and modules to determine operational parameters during an MRA imaging procedure. Such parameters may be used to optimize and/or maximize signal intensity during an MRA imaging procedure. The injection system may include a target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration determination module that determines a target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration at least partially based on contrast agent type and MRA imager parameters. The injection system may include a contrast agent injection rate determination module that determines a contrast agent injection rate at least partially based on the target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration, an initial contrast agent concentration, and a cardiac output rate of a patient to be imaged. The injection system may include a diluent injection rate determination module that determines a diluent injection rate at least partially based on the contrast agent injection rate.

Abstract: Some injectors of the invention may include a fluid drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid (e.g., liquid, pneumatic, or both) to impart a sequence of forces to drive a delivery device (e.g., a syringe) to deliver a medical fluid (e.g., a contrast agent, a radiopharmaceutical, a drug, or a combination thereof). Some injectors may include a multimedia tube configured to pass a working fluid (e.g., air) and a light signal (e.g., infrared). Some injectors may include a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid.

Abstract: A status messaging protocol (140) for a power injector (10) is disclosed. A setup screen (230) may be displayed on a graphical user interface (11) associated with the power injector (10). A status message (268) is displayed in a status message zone (266) on the setup screen (230). As the status of the power injector (10) changes, the status message (268) in the status message zone (266) on the setup screen (230) is updated.

Abstract: A multi-dose injection system is disclosed that allows for vacuum-assisted removal of air from an interconnected tubing set and syringes and subsequent filling with fluid. The injection system may include a bulk fluid container holder module operable to hold one or more bottles of fluid for administration to a patient. The holder module may include a vacuum source that is selectively fluidly interconnectable to the tubing set. Air may be removed from the tubing set and syringes by fluidly interconnecting the vacuum source to the tubing set. Then the vacuum source may be fluidly isolated from the tubing set and the bottles fluidly interconnected to the tubing set, thereby allowing fluid from the bottles to fill the at least partially evacuated tubing set and syringes.

Abstract: A drive ram for use with a medical fluid injector may include a central, longitudinal reference axis. First and second gripper members may be pivotally interconnected with a plunger engaging end of the drive ram. Each of the first and second gripper members may be pivotable about a common pivot axis that intersects the reference axis. Each of the gripper members may further include a first end that is remote from the common pivot axis. In some embodiments, the first and second gripper members may be pivotable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first ends of the gripper members may be spaced apart by a first distance, while in the second position, they may be spaced apart by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A piezo motor (150) may be tuned to a specific frequency range having a small deviation from an operational frequency range of a magnetic resonance imaging system component. This may be done by applying a pressure to the piezo motor (150), generating at least one signal via a control board (200) and where this signal is at a selected frequency within the specific frequency range applying the signals to the piezo motor (150), measuring a vibration frequency of the piezo motor (150), and varying the applied pressure to the piezo motor (150). The applied pressure may continue to be adjusted until the measured vibration frequency of the piezo motor (150) is at a resonant frequency for the piezo motor (150). After the piezo motor (150) is tuned in this manner, the piezo motor (150) may be incorporated into a magnetic resonance imaging system component.

Abstract: A hand-held remote for a medical fluid injector includes a syringe and a conduit which may be coupled to a pressure transducer on a control circuit of the injector. Movement of a plunger within a syringe body on the syringe creates a pressure which is sensed by the pressure transducer and the control circuit responds to the sensed pressure by causing fluid to be ejected from, or drawn into, a syringe mounted to the injector. The pressure developed by the remote provides tactile feedback to an operator for improved control over injections.