Abstract: An image acquisition system operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of a body, includes an imaging system including at least one energy sensor to measure energy from the body, an image creating system adapted to create an image based at least in part from a signal from the at least one energy sensor, an image display in operative connection with the image creating system and a user interface in operative connection with the image creating system. The image acquisition system further includes a fluid injector system including at least one source of a first fluid, a pressurizing system in operative connection with the source of the first fluid, and a user interface in operative connection with the pressurizing system.

Abstract: The fluid delivery system generally includes a source of injection fluid, a pump device a fluid path set disposed between the source of injection fluid and the pump device, and a fluid control device. The fluid path set includes a multi-position valve. The fluid control device is operatively associated with the fluid path set and includes a valve actuator adapted to operate the multi-position valve. The valve actuator is adapted to close the multi-position valve to isolate the pump device from a patient and stop flow of the injection fluid to the patient at substantially any pressure or flow rate generated by the pump device for delivering a sharp bolus of the injection fluid to the patient. The valve actuator is generally adapted to selectively place the pump device in fluid communication with the source of injection fluid for supplying the injection fluid to the pump device and the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a rheolytic thrombectomy catheter with a self-inflating proximal balloon having drug infusion capabilities. A self-inflating balloon having a plurality of outflow orifices located about the peripheral circumference thereof is located proximal to an inflow gap or orifices and a fluid jet emanator and which balloon is inflated and expanded by internal operating pressures to uniformly space and position the outflow orifices of the self-inflating balloon in close proximity to or in intimate contact with the thrombus or walls of the blood vessel. Devices of the present disclosure can be used for the purposes of thrombectomies, embolectomies, thrombus or vessel dilation and for the delivery of drugs to a thrombus or vessel site.

Abstract: Embodiments of an injector, syringe, syringe interface, syringe adapter, and piston/plunger assembly for an injector (of contrast medium, for example) are described. Preferably, the syringe is adapted to engage a syringe interface mechanism such that the syringe may be connected to an injector without regard to any particular orientation of the syringe to the injector or to the piston/plunger assembly. The injector piston or drive member includes a sensing pin positioned at a forward end thereof to sense contact with the syringe plunger during advancement of the piston or drive member to contact the plunger. The piston can be advanced automatically upon connection of, for example, the syringe to the injector, or piston advance can be automated to occur after operator initiation. The injector may include or be adapted to accommodate two syringes, which for example provide for simultaneous injection of fluid into separate injection sites on a patient.

Abstract: The fluid injection apparatus for use with a syringe includes an injector and a pressure jacket assembly associated with the injector. The injector includes a housing defining a central opening and a drive piston extendable through the central opening for imparting motive forces to a syringe plunger disposed within the syringe. The pressure jacket assembly includes a pressure jacket and at least one support arm associated with and extending outward from the housing. A syringe retaining member is attached to the at least one support arm. The syringe-retaining member defines a syringe receiving slot for receiving at least a portion of the syringe. A light source is located on the support arm and faces the pressure jacket for illuminating the syringe. The syringe includes an alignment flange defining a bulged air bubble viewing window (see A). The alignment flange is used to properly orient the syringe in the pressure jacket.

Abstract: The devices of the present disclosure are rheolytic thrombectomy catheters with a self-inflating distal balloon. A self-inflating balloon is located distal to an inflow gap or orifice and distal to a fluid jet emanator, which self-inflating balloon is inflated and expanded by the utilization of internal operating forces consisting of forwardly directed high velocity fluid jet streams and/or entrained thrombus particulate therein. The self-inflating balloon, when inflated, impinges on the wall of the blood vessel to isolate sections of the blood vessel distal and proximal to the inflated balloon in order to prevent flow of thrombus particulate, fluids and the like distal to the self-inflating balloon and to provide a stagnant nonflow region proximal to the self-inflating balloon. The devices of the present disclosure also provide for a uniform spacing of the catheter tube with respect to the thrombus and/or wall of the blood vessel.

Abstract: An occlusive guidewire system having an ergonomic handheld control mechanism and torqueable kink-resistant guidewire having a distally located inflatable balloon. The present invention provides convenient structure and overall mechanism for operation of a torqueable kink-resistant guidewire, including evacuation and inflation control of an occlusive balloon, and sealing and severing of a crimpable inflation tube which is in communication with an occlusive balloon. The torqueable kink-resistant guidewire includes a centrally located shaft which imparts robustness to the torqueable kink-resistant guidewire. An inflation lumen aligns within the torqueable kink-resistant guidewire for inflation of the balloon.

Abstract: A method of substituting an MRI incompatible pump for delivering fluid to a patient with an MRI compatible pump, both pumps being microprocessor controlled. The first pump operates upon administration tubing for pumping fluid from a source thereof to the patient. The method includes the steps of: providing the second pump to be substituted for the first pump; providing second tubing having a portion thereof that is operable to function with the second pump; connecting the second tubing to the administration tubing to establish an altered fluid path from the source to the patient, the altered path including portions of both the administration and second tubing; placing the second pump for operation upon the second tubing to enable the second pump to pump the fluid through the altered path according to programming thereof; and disconnecting the first pump from the administration tubing before bringing the patient into the MRI environment.

Abstract: An injector for injecting fluid from a syringe mounted thereon includes a housing, a drive member at least partially disposed within the housing and operable to engage a plunger of the syringe, and a syringe retaining mechanism associated with the housing. The syringe retaining mechanism is adapted to releasably engage the syringe regardless of the orientation of the syringe with respect to the injector. Further, the retaining mechanism is preferably movable upon rotation of the syringe between a relaxed state, where the syringe is engaged by the retaining mechanism, and a tensioned state, where the syringe is released from the retaining mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method for mixing and delivering fluids such as contrast media and saline is disclosed including at least two fluid sources, a pump, a joining fluid path connecting the at least two fluid sources to an inlet to the pump, and a valve device in the fluid path upstream of the pump. The valve device includes an actuator adapted to restrict flow in at least one of respective fluid lines connecting the at least two fluid sources to the pump inlet. A patient interface device may be associated with an outlet of the pump. The valve device actuator is generally adapted to restrict the flow in at least one of the respective fluid lines such that an incremental positional change in valve device actuator position provides a substantially linear change in fluid mixture ratio of the fluids from the at least two fluid sources to the pump inlet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the selection of and application of RF power to a plurality of transmit and/or transmit/receive coil elements to decrease patient SAR and to limit the potential for artifact problems. Without any change to the hardware or software of an MR scanner, the present local coil system provides system logic and coil design flexibility such that only transmit coil elements that are required for a particular portion of an MR scan will be utilized at that time. The local coil system may include any combination of transmit-only, receive-only and transmit/receive coil elements as part of the coil system (array of coil elements). The logic controller of the local coil system gathers input data from the MR scanner, from the attached coil elements and optionally from one or more sensors attached to the coil system itself.

Abstract: An intracavity probe for use with an MR system allows images or spectra of a region of interest within a cavity of a patient to be obtained. The probe includes a shaft, a balloon at one end thereof, and a coil loop within the balloon. The coil loop preferably includes two drive capacitors and a tuning capacitor, all of which in series. A junction node between the drive capacitors serves as a ground for electrically balancing the coil loop. Diametrically opposite the junction node, the tuning capacitor enables the coil loop to resonate at the operating frequency of the MR system. Across each drive capacitor is connected an output cable having an electrical length of SL+n(?/4). The output cables terminate in a plug that is used to connect the coil loop to an interface device for the intracavity probe.

Abstract: A system for the collection, management, and dissemination of information relating at least to a medical procedure is disclosed. The system includes a user interface adapted to provide raw data information at least about one of a patient, the medical procedure, and a result of the medical procedure. A medical device communicates with the user interface, receives the raw data information from the user interface, and generates operational information during use. A central database communicates at least with the medical device and receives data from the medical device. The central database is used to create related entries based on the raw data information and the operational information and optionally transmits the related entry to the medical device or the medical device user. The related entry includes information that provides guidance based on previously tabulated, related medical procedures.

Abstract: A syringe interface is provided for attaching a syringe to an injector. The syringe includes, a first and second set of generally opposing, radially outward projecting mounting flanges, and a second set of flanges offset from the first set of mounting flanges. The syringe interface includes a first set of generally opposed slots adapted to receive therethrough the first set and second set, respectively, of mounting flanges, and a first and second set of generally opposed retaining flanges adapted to releasably engage the first and second set respectively, a set of mounting flanges, when the syringe is rotated within the syringe interface.

Abstract: A valve system for use in a system including a first source of a first pressurized fluid and a second source of a second pressurized fluid includes a valve housing including a first inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the first source, a second inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the second source and an outlet port. The valve system further includes a backflow prevention system to prevent flow of the first pressurized fluid through the second inlet and to prevent flow of the second pressurized fluid through the first inlet port. The valve system is adapted to provide a fluid path between at least the first inlet port and the outlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port. Several of the valve systems of the present invention provide for flow from the first inlet port to the outlet port and concurrent flow from the second inlet port to the outlet port.

Abstract: A valve system for use in a system including a first source of a first pressurized fluid and a second source of a second pressurized fluid includes a valve housing including a first inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the first source, a second inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the second source and an outlet port. The valve system further includes a backflow prevention system to prevent flow of the first pressurized fluid through the second inlet and to prevent flow of the second pressurized fluid through the first inlet port. The valve system is adapted to provide a fluid path between at least the first inlet port and the outlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port. Several of the valve systems of the present invention provide for flow from the first inlet port to the outlet port and concurrent flow from the second inlet port to the outlet port.

Abstract: A system for delivering a slurry to a patient includes a fluid, a material that is non-dissolvable or immiscible in the fluid, thereby forming a slurry, a container adapted to contain the slurry and a supernate of the slurry, the container defining an outlet through which the slurry is delivered to the patient, a fluidizing system associated with the container, a pressurizing mechanism adapted to create a pressure to cause the slurry contained within the container to flow for delivery to the patient and a control unit in communication with and adapted to control the fluidizing system and the pressurizing mechanism. The fluidizing system is adapted to effect dilation of the slurry while maintaining at least a portion of the supernate.

Abstract: An injector system includes, in combination, an injector and a syringe for injecting fluid into a patient. The syringe includes a body, a plunger movably disposed within the body, and an encoding device providing syringe information. The injector includes a motor, a controller operably associated with the motor, a sensor operably associated with the controller and operable to read the encoded syringe information provided by the encoding device, a drive member powered by the motor and operable to automatically advance and engage the plunger when the syringe is mounted on the injector, and a plunger engagement detection device operable to indicate when the drive member of the injector has engaged the plunger of the syringe.

Abstract: A syringe for use with a powered injector to inject a fluid into a patient inclides an encoder. The encoder includes at least a first indicator positioned on the encoder. The first indicator is adapted to interact with at least a portion of energy being propagated through or adjacent the encoder in a manner that is detectable. The presence (or absence) of the first indicator provides or corresponds to information about the syringe configuration. The indicator(s) of the present invention can, for example, provide information about syringe configuration by the number and/or position thereof. A plurality or set of such syringes can be provided, with the configuration of each such syringe being represented by the presence or absence of indicator(s) of that syringe.

Abstract: A system for delivering a fluid comprising cells to tissue of a patient, includes: a least a first container for holding an injection fluid in which the agent is carried; a first powered drive in operative connection with the container, the first powered drive being operable to pressurize contents of the container; a control system in operative connection with the first powered drive and operative to control the first powered drive; a fluid path in fluid connection with the container, the fluid path including a patient interface adapted to deposit the cells within tissue of the patient; a sensor system; and a communication system in connection with at least the control system and the sensor system. The communication system is adapted to provide information to the control system. The control system in adapted to transmit a control signal to at least the first powered drive based at least in part on information provided to the control system. The cells can for example be pregenitor cells or stem cells.