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 or 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: A system to provide a specified volume of a medical fluid from a bulk source to a dose and/or delivery container for injection into a patient. The fluid path between the bulk container and the delivery container is physically separated at a connecting site before fluid is injected from the delivery container into the patient. The bulk container may be a bag or bottle, and the delivery container may be a syringe or bag. A bag delivery container may be contained in a pressurizeable chamber and fluid may be delivered by providing pressure to a membrane in the chamber contacting a wall of the bag. The system may be automated.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector includes: an air detection system for detecting air in the neck of the syringe; a hand-operated control lever for controlling movement of the injector ram; magnetic conductors for delivering magnetic fields from a power head face plate to an internal circuit board to permit detection of different face plates; a tilt sensor detecting the tilt angle of the power head to control the speed of motion brought about by the hand-operated control lever and to control an invertible display; and a monitor microcontroller for monitoring the behavior of the central processing unit to detect and react to error conditions.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector, replaceable syringe, and coupling mechanism to engage the syringe plunger to the plunger drive ram of the injector are provided wherein coupling involves a cam cleat-like mechanism, thereby allowing for cooperative movement between the plunger drive ram and syringe plunger. The coupling mechanism of the plunger drive ram is provided with first and second movable members, each having toothed, arcuate surfaces, while the coupling mechanism of the syringe plunger is provided with a knurled extension. Disengagement of the coupling mechanism is facilitated by translational movement of a face plate located on the forward end of the injector housing.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector includes: an air detection system for detecting air in the neck of the syringe; a hand-operated control lever for controlling movement of the injector ram; magnetic conductors for delivering magnetic fields from a power head face plate to an internal circuit board to permit detection of different face plates; a tilt sensor detecting the tilt angle of the power head to control the speed of motion brought about by the hand-operated control lever and to control an invertible display; and a monitor microcontroller for monitoring the behavior of the central processing unit to detect and react to error conditions.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector includes: an air detection system for detecting air in the neck of the syringe; a hand-operated control lever for controlling movement of the injector ram; magnetic conductors for delivering magnetic fields from a power head face plate to an internal circuit board to permit detection of different face plates; a tilt sensor detecting the tilt angle of the power head to control the speed of motion brought about by the hand-operated control lever and to control an invertible display; and a monitor microcontroller for monitoring the behavior of the central processing unit to detect and react to error conditions.

Abstract: A computer-controlled injector of the type having a motor which advances and retracts a plunger located within a syringe housing toward and away from a nozzle located in the front of the syringe to inject fluid into or out of an animal subject. Manual motion is induced by operating a manual motion control; the operator can manipulate the control to indicate the desired direction and velocity of motion. The manual motion control also has a locking mode in which manual motion of the plunger will continue once initiated without requiring the operator to continue manipulating the manual motion control. The injector performs injections in accordance with one of several pre-programmed protocols, and automatically tracks the fluid volume remaining. The injector compensates for plunger extenders found in some partially pre-filled syringes by applying a stored offset value to the computed plunger position.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector includes: an air detection system for detecting air in the neck of the syringe; a hand-operated control lever for controlling movement of the injector ram; magnetic conductors for delivering magnetic fields from a power head face plate to an internal circuit board to permit detection of different face plates; a tilt sensor detecting the tilt angle of the power head to control the speed of motion brought about by the hand-operated control lever and to control an invertible display; and a monitor microcontroller for monitoring the behavior of the central processing unit to detect and react to error conditions.

Abstract: A power injector is provided for injecting fluid from a replaceable syringe and through an injection tube into the body of an animal. The syringe includes one or more operator-removable and interchangeable syringe mounting heads, at least one of which mounts syringes of a rear loadable type. Preferably an alternative head is provided that accepts front loadable syringes. The mounting head includes an opening and a moveable syringe holder that preferably pivots open to receive a syringe from the back of the holder and pivots closed to orient the rear of the syringe over the ram. The holder has a slot therethrough having a width sufficient to permit an injection tube attached to the syringe nozzle to be moved transversely through the slot to permit the syringe to be removed from the holder without disconnecting the tube from the orifice of the syringe and without withdrawing the tip of the tube rearwardly through the opening.

Abstract: A syringe plunger is formed by a two-shot molding process. A hard plastic core is formed in a first mold, and the distal portion of the hard plastic core is subsequently overmolded with soft rubber. The result is a fully automated manufacturing process increasing quality and lowering costs, and a unique plunger having a hard plastic core and soft rubber exterior which are molecularly and permanently bonded together.

Abstract: A foot-operated control device system coupleable to a multi-function apparatus comprises a body for positioning on a floor surface and a mode switch manipulatable by the foot of an operator to switch the control device between a dedicated operational mode and an icon operational mode. An actuator is engageable by the operator's foot, and the system operates to actuate a dedicated function of the multi-function apparatus with the system in the dedicated operational mode. Another actuator operates to actuate another dedicated function when the system is in the dedicated operational mode. The one actuator is further operable to select a function of the apparatus when the system is in the icon mode and the other actuator is further operable to actuate the selected function whereby the multi-function apparatus may be selectively operated in the dedicated operational mode for some functions of the apparatus and in the icon operational mode for other functions at the discretion of the operator.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector includes: an air detection system for detecting air in the neck of the syringe; a hand-operated control lever for controlling movement of the injector ram; magnetic conductors for delivering magnetic fields from a power head face plate to an internal circuit board to permit detection of different face plates; a tilt sensor detecting the tilt angle of the power head to control the speed of motion brought about by the hand-operated control lever and to control an invertible display; and a monitor microcontroller for monitoring the behavior of the central processing unit to detect and react to error conditions.

Abstract: A power injector is provided for injecting fluid from a replaceable syringe into the body of an animal. The syringe includes a syringe adapter interface for accepting side mountable syringes having pushrod extensions for actuating the syringe plungers from a point behind the syringe body. The injector is provided with an operator-removable and interchangeable interface in the form of a syringe mounting head. The interface includes a holder that has two halves, one fixed and one moveable, that open and close in a clam-shell fashion to respectively load or unload a syringe and to operate the syringe by driving the plunger thereof with a power driven ram that extends form the injector housing. The end of the injector ram, which is configured to normally couple to a button or key on the back of the plunger of a front or rear loadable syringe, is provided with an adapter that couples to the ram and to the large disk shaped end of a side loadable syringe pushrod.

Abstract: A syringe discharge end having a rotatable tubular connector member for engaging a luer connector on medical tubing. The syringe discharge end and the connector have mating threads which are used to affix the connector to the syringe discharge end. Once affixed, the connector is may freely rotate relative to the syringe, while being prevented from axial movement. On its distal end, the connector includes internal threads for engaging external threads on a standard luer connector of medical tubing. To engage the connector to tubing, the connector is rotated relative to the tubing and the syringe to draw the tubing onto the syringe discharge end.

Abstract: A limited backflow reflux valve for connection between a syringe, catheter, and bulk container of injection fluid. The reflux valve permits injection of fluid from the syringe through the catheter into the patient, and also permits refilling of the syringe from the bulk container, without disconnection of any tubing. The reflux valve also permits a limited volume of fluid to backflow from the catheter into the syringe, so that the catheter may be checked for patency, but prevents any further backflow along this path after this limited volume. Therefore, the limited backflow reflux valve not only permits injection through the catheter, but also permits both withdrawal of blood from the patient and refilling of the syringe from the bulk contrast media container, without requiring disconnection of the catheter or other tubing and without risk of contamination of the syringe or introduction of air, increasing the efficiency of the injection process, enhancing safety, and reducing waste of injection fluid.

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: A computer-controlled injector of the type having a motor which advances and retracts a plunger located within a syringe housing toward and away from a nozzle located in the front of the syringe to inject fluid into or out of an animal subject. The injector includes a display for querying the operator as to operating parameters for an injection, such as the capacity of the syringe, prior to an injection. The injector may be configured so as to generate a different sequences of displays prior to an injection, e.g., to not include a query as to the syringe capacity if the injector will not be used with syringes of differing capacities.