Abstract: In general, the present invention includes a connector for a fluid administration system, the connector comprising a housing, a first conduit and a second conduit defined by said housing, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit, and at least a first check valve disposed within said housing; and a fluid administration system, comprising a fluid input device, a fluid output device operatively connected to said fluid input device, and a check valve disposed within said fluid administration system, said check valve adaptable to allow flow of a fluid from said fluid output device to said fluid input device.

Abstract: The present invention embodies a method and an injector adapted to incorporate this method, for keeping a patient's vein open during an intravenous contrast injector procedure without injecting a saline solution from a separate syringe. The injector includes a controller having a programable software module to allow an operator to configure the injector to push some contrast media fluid through an injection site and then retract a plunger drive ram. A syringe is adapted to allow a patient's blood pressure to move the syringe plunger back towards its starting position, thus enabling a patient's blood to pass through the injection site. Alternatively, the syringe is adapted with an elastic plunger which as it enlarges and contracts facilitates fluid communication through the injection site. Additionally, the plunger drive ram can be adapted to gradually pull as well as push the plunger, thereby causing fluid to flow across the injection site.

Abstract: An auto purge for an intravenous contrast injector of the type having a motor which advances a plunger drive ram and configured for use with a pre-filled or user-filled syringe containing an approximate known amount of air including a processor which causes the motor to move and a memory storing a predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air in the syringe, the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an amount substantially equal to the predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air contained in the syringe.

Abstract: An auto purge for an intravenous contrast injector of the type having a motor which advances a plunger drive ram and configured for use with a pre-filled or user-filled syringe containing an approximate known amount of air including a processor which causes the motor to move and a memory storing a predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air in the syringe, the injector configured to automatically advance the plunger drive ram an amount substantially equal to the predetermined purge stop point representative of the approximate known amount of air contained in the syringe.

Abstract: The filling of a syringe can be performed at a faster rate using a filling sequence which expels air from the fill tube before filling the syringe. A similar method is used when changing contrast containers during a filling sequence to ensure that all the air is expelled from the fill tube before filling resumes with the new contrast container. Additionally, by including a contrast container holder that is affixed to an injector head and holds the container near the syringe tip, the filling sequence can be accomplished without requiring the operator to hold the contrast container during the sequence.

Abstract: An intravenous contrast injector which stores different syringe definitions in firmware includes a software routine that permits a service technician to update the syringe definitions without requiring the installation of new firmware. These syringe definitions can then be used when the injector performs operational routines such as filling a syringe.

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.

Abstract: Adapters for use with an angiographic injector. A face plate adapter includes a channel for receiving a rearward end of a syringe. First and second mounting flanges on the adapter overlay a portion of the channel, to cooperate with mounting flanges on a rearward end of the syringe, so that the syringe mounting flanges may be inserted between the adapter mounting flanges, and then rotated in the channel behind the adapter mounting flanges, to thereby lock the syringe to the adapter. The adapter further includes one or more locking pins, which in a locked position extend across the channel, to block the syringe from rotating in the channel and thereby prevent a syringe from being dismounted from the adapter. A collar incorporated in the adapter interacts with a drive ram of the injector to move the locking pins into their locked position whenever the ram is forward of a rearwardmost position.

Abstract: An animal fluid injector, replaceable syringe and method of replacement of the syringe in the injector are provided in which the syringe is loadable and unloadable into and from the injector through the open front end of a pressure jacket of the injector, thereby permitting replacement without retraction of the syringe plunger drive or disconnection of the injection tubing. The syringe is provided with a pressure restraining front end, such as an integral or removable cap with structure such as threads that lock the syringe to the front end of the jacket by mating with threads on the jacket. A mechanism in the injector, which includes, for example, a key on cam ring operated by a lever with one hand of an operator, interacts with structure such asymmetrically spaced notches on the back end of the syringe to, for example, rotate the syringe and simultaneously translate or rotate a coupling on the syringe plunger into and out of engagement with the plunger drive in the injector.

Abstract: An injector 20 that may be used to deliver radiographic contrast media and/or flushing solution into a patient's vascular system for the purposes such as obtaining enhanced diagnostic x-ray images. The injector includes the following features: (1) a syringe mount 26 for attachment of a syringe 28 to the injector 20; (2) display 34 and controls 90 for volume and flow rates; (3) automatic limiting of the operating pressure of the injector 20 as determined by the selection of a flow rate; (4) a syringe cradle 48 having a warming capability; (5) a purge/retract trigger 36 for control of the injection procedure having intuitive direction (i.e.

Abstract: An animal fluid injector, replaceable syringe and method of replacement of the syringe in the injector are provided in which the syringe is loadable and unloadable into and from the injector without retraction of the syringe plunger drive or disconnection of the injection tubing. A mechanism in the injector, which includes, for example, a key on cam ring operated by a lever with one hand of an operator, interacts with structure such asymmetrically spaced notches on the back end of the syringe to, for example, rotate the syringe and simultaneously translate or rotate a coupling on the syringe plunger into and out of engagement with jaws of the plunger drive in the injector.

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.

Abstract: A syringe for injecting a fluid, such as a contrast medium for radiological diagnostic imaging, is enhanced by hydrophilic treatment of interior surfaces of the syringe, reducing air bubble attachment to the syringe. Air bubbles that do form or that are drawn into the syringe fail to attach to, or readily release from, the interior surface and can be expelled prior to being used on a patient.

Abstract: A contrast medium injector for injecting a patient with contrast medium for a CT scan is programmed to provide an injection protocol that is a representation of an ideally defined exponential curve with an initial injection rate decaying at an exponential rate. This has been found to produce a uniform vascular enhancement for the scanning of a patient's blood vessels. The particular exponential decay coefficient which has been found to be optimal is directly proportional to the cardiac output divided by the patient's weight and is approximated at 0.01 for a typical human.

Abstract: Various sealing structures are used in a front-loading injector, for preventing leakage of spilled fluid from an external surface of a syringe into the vicinity of the drive ram. For example, a sealing gasket may be incorporated into the front face of the injector housing, for mating to the rearward circular edge of the cylindrical body of a syringe. Alternatively, sealing and locking functions may be performed by a single structure on the rearward end of the syringe. Further, leakage may be prevented by including a non-planar sealing flange on the syringe, positioned on the syringe forward of the locking structure, or by a two-piece structure, including a syringe and a separate leakage stopping washer for surrounding the syringe to halt the flow of fluid along the exterior of the syringe. (As part of this aspect, or as an independent feature, the syringe may include an annularly discontinuous flange forward of the locking structure, for providing mechanical support for the syringe against the injector.

Abstract: Adapters for use with an angiographic injector. A face plate adapter includes a channel for receiving a rearward end of a syringe. First and second mounting flanges on the adapter overlay a portion of the channel, to cooperate with mounting flanges on a rearward end of the syringe, so that the syringe mounting flanges may be inserted between the adapter mounting flanges, and then rotated in the channel behind the adapter mounting flanges, to thereby lock the syringe to the adapter. The adapter further includes one or more locking pins, which in a locked position extend across the channel, to block the syringe from rotating in the channel and thereby prevent a syringe from being dismounted from the adapter. A collar incorporated in the adapter interacts with a drive ram of the injector to move the locking pins into their locked position whenever the ram is forward of a rearwardmost position.

Abstract: A syringe for injecting a fluid, such as a contrast medium for radiological diagnostic imaging, is enhanced by hydrophilic treatment of interior surfaces of the syringe, reducing air bubble attachment to the syringe. Air bubbles that do form or that are drawn into the syringe fail to attach to, or readily release from, the interior surface and can be expelled prior to being used on a patient.

Abstract: A remotely powered magnetic resonance (NR) contrast media injector eliminates the use of batteries to power a power head in a shielded magnet room thereby eliminating inconvenient and costly charging and replacing of batteries. In particular, a power supply regulates and converts electrical power from a standard utility AC outlet available outside of the shielded magnet room to one or more forms of electrical power for supplying a power control for a power head inside the shielded magnet room. Advantageously, the power supply increases flexibility and convenience by using the same number of electrical cables as existing systems and by readily retrofitting existing battery-powered injector system that use a power control with battery receptacles.

Abstract: A power injector and a removable replacement faceplate therefor are provided along with a method of front loading syringes, particularly prefilled syringes, which have outwardly extending structure such as flanges which have been typically breech loaded or side loaded into injectors or operated in a hand held fashion. The holder or faceplate of or for the injector is provided with a set of jaws spaced around a syringe receiving opening into which a syringe is loaded, rearward end first, with the jaws in a retracted position, until the flange or other outwardly extending structure on the syringe is rearward of the syringe is beyond a locking position of the jaws. The jaws are then actuated, either by operating an actuator on the faceplate or injector or by twisting the syringe in the opening, so that the jaws move radially inward and close in iris-like fashion about the syringe.

Abstract: An animal fluid injector, replaceable syringe and method of replacement of the syringe in the injector are provided in which the syringe is loadable and unloadable into and from the injector through the open front end of a pressure jacket of the injector, thereby permitting replacement without retraction of the syringe plunger drive or disconnection of the injection tubing. The syringe is provided with a pressure restraining front end, such as an integral or removable cap with structure such as threads that lock the syringe to the front end of the jacket by mating with threads on the jacket. A mechanism in the injector, which includes, for example, a key on cam ring operated by a lever with one hand of an operator, interacts with structure such asymmetrically spaced notches on the back end of the syringe to, for example, rotate the syringe and simultaneously translate or rotate a coupling on the syringe plunger into and out of engagement with the plunger drive in the injector.