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 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.

Abstract: Embodiments of an injector, injector system, 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 seated within an injector without regard to any particular orientation of the syringe about its axis with respect to the injector.

Abstract: An injector system 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 operatively associated with the fluid path set. The fluid control device is adapted to permit purging of air from the fluid path set and to stop flow of the injection fluid to a 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 fluid control device is preferably part of the fluid path set between the source of injection fluid and the pump device.

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 medical container loading system includes a medical container loading device and a fill station. The fill station is located proximate to the medical container loading device and includes a mounting plate and a holding assembly. The holding assembly is connected to the mounting plate for supporting a medical fluid container adapted for fluid communication with a medical container, such as a syringe, used in the medical container loading device. The holding assembly may include a fixed support and a movable support, which maintain the medical fluid container in the holding assembly. The fixed support may be funnel-shaped with a smooth or stepped inner wall. The fixed support may also be rectangular shaped and have an inclined inner wall or support for supporting the body of the medical fluid container. The movable support may be a resiliently biased support arm or an adjustable strap.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a hazardous pharmaceutical comprising the steps of: connecting a source of flushing fluid to a first port of a fluid delivery set; connecting a pressurizing unit of a powered injector system (including a powered injector and the pressurizing unit) to a second port of the fluid delivery set; purging air from the fluid delivery set; and, after purging air from the fluid delivery set, connecting a third port of the fluid delivery set to a source of the hazardous pharmaceutical. The fluid delivery set can, for example, include a valve system or assembly to control flow of fluid through the fluid delivery set.

Abstract: A syringe interface for attaching syringes to a drive mechanism which includes a drive member to impart motion to a syringe plunger includes a plurality of syringe mount apertures having different dimensions to attach each of a plurality of syringes to the syringe interface. Each of the syringes for attachment to the syringe interface includes at least one mounting flange, and each of the plurality of syringes has a different mounting flange dimension. Each of the plurality of syringe mount apertures is in general alignment with an axis of the drive member. A syringe drive mechanism includes a syringe interface as described above. The syringe drive mechanism can further include a sensing system to sense which size of the plurality of syringes is mounted on the syringe interface. The syringe drive mechanism can also include a processor and a memory which are in operative communication with the drive member. The memory includes a control program stored therein.

Abstract: An injector system includes a powered injector, a pressurizing chamber in operative connection with the powered injector, a fluid path in fluid connection with the pressurizing chamber, and a manual control in fluid connection with the fluid path. The manual control includes at least one actuator for controlling the injector through application of force by an operator. The actuator provides tactile feedback of pressure in the fluid path to the operator via a fluid connection with the fluid path.

Abstract: An injector system includes an injector and a syringe. The injector includes a housing having a front wall, a drive member moveable through the front wall of the housing, and a pressure jacket assembly for operably associating the syringe with the housing. The pressure jacket assembly includes a rearward end mounted on the front wall of the housing and a forward open end for receiving the syringe therethrough. The syringe includes a body having a main section, a conical section in fluid communication with the main section and a fluid discharge section in fluid communication with the conical section. The syringe further includes a plunger movably disposed in the body. The plunger includes one or more hook members extending rearward from the plunger for connecting the plunger to the drive member of the injector. The syringe also includes a protrusion for facilitating handling of the syringe. Preferably, the protrusion is operably associated with and extends forwardly from the conical section of the body.

Abstract: An injector for injecting a fluid from a syringe, which includes an elongated body, a mounting member positioned on a rear portion of the body, and a plunger moveably positioned within the body of the syringe, includes a housing having a front wall and a retainer on the front wall. The retainer is adapted to cooperate with the mounting member to releasably retain the syringe on the front wall. The retainer includes a powered loader adapted to bring the mounting member and the retainer into secure engagement to securely connect the syringe to the injector. The injector further includes a powered drive member in the housing. The drive member is adapted to engage the plunger and control the movement of the plunger.

Abstract: A syringe adapter, which permits use of syringes of various types and sizes to be used with a front-loading injector, includes a piston extension and an adapter face plate. The piston extension includes structure for connecting the piston extension to a drive piston of the injector and a plunger of the syringe. The adapter face plate includes a mounting device for attaching the adapter face plate to an injector and a recess for receiving the distal flange of the syringe. The adapter face plate may also include locking pivot arms for releasably engaging the syringe flange.

Abstract: A syringe loading/filling device (or “syringe loader”) includes a syringe mounting mechanism adapted to cooperate with an attachment mechanism of a syringe to attach the syringe to the syringe loader and a drive member adapted to impart motion to the syringe plunger. The syringes for use with the syringe loader include a syringe plunger slidably disposed therein and an attachment mechanism for attachment of the syringe to an injector. Such injectors include a mounting mechanism adapted to cooperate with the attachment mechanism on the syringe to mount the syringe on the injector.

Abstract: The plunger systems for use in an injector-actuated syringe of the present invention include a dynamic wedge seal which improves the sealing engagement between the plunger cover and syringe barrel, and flexible capture members extending from the rear surface of the plunger which permit the engagement and disengagement of the plunger from the injector drive means at any plunger position within the syringe. Further, the plunger systems include a contrast saving tip which expells the injection liquid from the syringe tip.

Abstract: An injector system includes a syringe and an injector. The syringe includes a body portion and a plunger movably disposed within the body portion. The injector includes a housing defining a front opening therein, a drive member extendible through the front opening of the housing for imparting motive force to the plunger disposed within the syringe, and a pressure jacket assembly associated with the housing for substantially enclosing the syringe during an injection procedure. The pressure jacket assembly includes a jacket cylinder having an open front end for receiving the syringe and a front member associated with the housing. The front member is pivotable between a closed position for retaining the syringe within the jacket cylinder and an open position for allowing the syringe to be inserted into and removed from the front end of the jacket cylinder.

Abstract: An injector for injecting a fluid from a syringe (which syringe includes a body, a plunger moveably positioned within the body, and an encoding device providing syringe information)r includes a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, 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 when the syringe is attached to the injector, a drive member disposed in the housing and powered by the motor, the drive member operable to automatically advance and engage the plunger when the sensor reads the syringe information provided by the encoding device, and a plunger engagement detection device operably associated with the controller and operable to indicate when the drive member of the injector has engaged the plunger of the syringe.

Abstract: An injection apparatus for use with a syringe is provided. The injection apparatus includes an injector and a pressure jacket assembly. The injector preferably includes a housing defining a front opening and a drive piston extendible through the front opening for imparting motive force to a plunger disposed within the syringe. The pressure jacket assembly preferably includes a jacket cylinder having a rear end coupled to the injector housing and an open front end for receiving the syringe therethrough, a support member having a rear end pivotally coupled to the injector housing and a front end, and a front member pivotally coupled to the front end of the support member. Preferably, the front member is pivotable between a closed position for retaining the syringe within the jacket cylinder and an open position for allowing the syringe to be inserted into and removed from the front end of the jacket cylinder.