Abstract: A medical instrument comprising: (a) a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom; (b) a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom; (c) a pair of repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint; (d) an open-ended occlusion clip detachably mounted to the pair of repositionable jaws; and, (e) a controller operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of repositionable jaws, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member, and a third control config

Abstract: A medical instrument including a first joint including a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom, a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint including a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom, a pair of repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint, an open-ended occlusion clip detachably mounted to the pair of repositionable jaws, and a controller operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of repositionable jaws, the controller including a control with a line operatively coupled to the first and second jaws in at least a gun tackle pulley configuration.

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: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a first elongated occlusion arm; (b) a second elongated occlusion arm; (c) a first elongated biasing arm coupled to a distal portion of the first elongated occlusion arm; (d) a second elongated biasing arm coupled to a distal portion of the second elongated occlusion arm, where a proximal portion of the first elongated biasing arm is coupled to a proximal portion of the second elongated biasing arm, where the first elongated occlusion arm extends parallel to the first elongated bias arm along a majority of its length, and where the second elongated occlusion arm extends parallel to the second elongated bias arm along a majority of its length.

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 portable hand-held fastener driving tool of the type which tends to keep the driver element better aligned with the head of the fastener while it's being driven. A biasing spring in the fastener track skews the directional path of the fastener as it is being driven, but the biasing spring does not noticeably affect the path of the driver element, thereby compensating for the slight movement of the tool (and driver) due to the tool's recoil. In an alternative embodiment, a magnet is used rather than a biasing spring, to skew the direction of the fastener as it is being shot by the tool.

Abstract: Various structures are used in a front-loading injector, for mounting the syringe to the injector and/or preventing leakage of spilled fluid from an external surface of a syringe into the vicinity of the drive ram. A conically-shaped structure on the rearward end of the syringe is specifically disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to control of medical fluid injection systems. For instance, in some embodiments, an injection protocol may be initiated, and an actual flow rate of the medical fluid utilized in the injection protocol may be adjusted based, at least in part, on an inherent system elasticity of the injection system.

Abstract: A dual head contrast media injection system performs a patency check or test injection, determining flow rate and/or flow volume from the programmed protocol. The tubing that connects syringes to a patient shares only a short common section near to the patient. Appropriate injection steps are taken to compensate for tubing elasticity. A wireless remote control and a touch screen control are provided, improving functionality and information delivery. The display brightness is controlled based on the ambient light, and the display panel includes a double swivel permitting re-orientation. The orientation of the display may also be controlled based on, e.g., the current step, the tilt angle of the powerhead, or a manual control. Furthermore, the display is customizable to identify the type of fluid (contrast, saline, etc.) on either side of the injector, to provide matched color coding, and to provide a folder/tab analogy for retrieving injection protocol parameters.

Abstract: A power injector (40) includes a movable ram (74) operable to interface with and move a plunger (90a/b) of a syringe (86a/b). The power injector (40) may be operable to automatically determine a proper home position for a particular type of the syringe (86a/b) to be used in a fluid injection sequence. The power injector (40) may also include a ram homing logic (182) operable to automatically move the ram (74) to the home position after the injection sequence. Such automatic homing of the ram (74) may, for example, be initiated by an end of the injection sequence in preparation for another injection sequence, by opening of a faceplate (102a/b), by a user input, or by any combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter for a syringe plunger. The adapter of some embodiments may include a first side adapted to interface with a syringe plunger and an opposing a second side adapted to interface with a drive ram of a medical fluid injector. The adapter may include a peripheral side surface exhibiting a thickness and may include what may be characterized as at least one mating section adapted to engage with the syringe plunger. The mating section(s) may include a channel extending through the entire thickness of the adapter. In some embodiments, the mating section(s) may include a stop adjacent the channel that extends less than the entirety of the thickness of the adapter.

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: A dual head contrast media injection system performs a patency check or test injection, determining flow rate and/or flow volume from the programmed protocol. The tubing that connects syringes to a patient shares only a short common section near to the patient. Appropriate injection steps are taken to compensate for tubing elasticity. A wireless remote control and a touch screen control are provided, improving functionality and information delivery. The display brightness is controlled based on the ambient light, and the display panel includes a double swivel permitting re-orientation. The orientation of the display may also be controlled based on, e.g., the current step, the tilt angle of the powerhead, or a manual control. Furthermore, the display is customizable to identify the type of fluid (contrast, saline, etc.) on either side of the injector, to provide matched color coding, and to provide a folder/tab analogy for retrieving injection protocol parameters.

Abstract: An injector automatic limiting of the operating pressure of the injector as determined by the selection of a flow rate; a syringe cradle having a warming capability; a purge/retract trigger for control of the injection procedure having intuitive direction (i.e., forward for injecting, reverse for filing), non-contact control transmission through the housing of an injector for an improved seal integrity, a speed lock, and/or the ability to change the concentration and/or flow rate of media or other fluid during an injection procedure; a switch to determine when the drive ram is in a “home” position; a “soft” on/off power switch separate from the injector; and a structure to prevent rotation of the drive ram about its axis of symmetry. Additionally, the injector system includes software for the control of various components.

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: A handle assembly (100) for a hand-actuated fluid delivery device (10) is disclosed. The handle assembly (100) includes a first handle member (110) that is mounted on a pivot (126) fixed to a second handle member (120). A locking spring (130) is mounted on this pivot (126). This locking spring (130), together with a corresponding actuator (140), cooperate to selectively provide resistance to movement of a plunger (30) in an aspiration direction in at least certain conditions. Disposing the actuator (140) in a locking position disposes the locking spring (130) in a locking configuration. Sliding friction or sliding friction forces between the locking spring (130) and the pivot (126), with the locking spring (130) being in its locking configuration, provides resistance to movement of the first handle member (110) relative to the second handle member (120) in a manner that would move the plunger (30) in an aspiration direction.

Abstract: A single-use, single-patient, or patient-specific tubing set (300) is disclosed. The tubing set (300) includes at least one check valve (304), along with a use indicator (320). This use indicator (320) provides a visual indication when the tubing set (300) has been used for an injection. In this regard, a piston (340) moves from one position to another when exposed to a certain fluid pressure.

Abstract: In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.

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 single-use, single-patient, or patient-specific tubing set (300) is disclosed. The tubing set (300) includes at least one check valve (304), along with a use indicator (320). This use indicator (320) provides a visual indication when the tubing set (300) has been used for an injection. In this regard, a piston (340) moves from one position to another when exposed to a certain fluid pressure.