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: A device for locating a venous structure of a patient includes a frame having a bottom surface and a top surface, an adhesive disposed on the bottom surface of the frame to allow the frame to be removably attached to skin or a patient, and one or more sections removably attached to the top surface of the frame. The sections are formed of a liquid crystal material that is sensitive to human skin temperature ranges.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a source of an injection fluid including a source outlet. The system also includes a control system including a control system inlet in fluid connection with the source outlet, a control system outlet and, alternatively, an actuator. The control system is adapted to deliver a predetermined amount of fluid via the control system outlet upon activation of the actuator or modification of the control system. In several embodiments, the injection fluid in the source is pressurized. The source can, for example, include a plunger slidably disposed therein and a force application mechanism to place force upon the plunger and pressurize the fluid within the source. The control system can further include a metering volume in fluid connection with a valve system. The metering volume can include a plunger slidably disposed therein.

Abstract: A syringe for use with a powered injector to inject a fluid into a patient that includes a length of material adapted to transmit or propagate electromagnetic energy therethrough. The length of material includes at least a first indicator positioned along the length of material. The first indicator is adapted to interact with at least a portion of the energy being propagated through the length of material 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 syringe adapter for an injector and a method of adapting an injector to accept a syringe are provided. The syringe adapter preferably includes a rear mounting member adapted to engage a syringe retaining mechanism associated with the injector and a front mounting member adapted to engage a corresponding mounting member associated with a syringe to install the syringe on the injector.

Abstract: A syringe for use with an injector includes a body having a rear end and a front end, a plunger movably disposed within the body, an attachment member associated with the body and adapted to releasably engage a syringe retaining mechanism of the injector regardless of the orientation of the syringe with respect to the injector, and an encoding device operable to provide syringe information to the injector.

Abstract: A method of preparing for an injection procedure preferably includes: mounting a syringe comprising a distal end and a plunger on an injector comprising a piston; sensing that the syringe is mounted on the injector; advancing the piston of the injector to engage the plunger of the syringe and to advance the plunger to the distal end thereof; and retracting the piston to retract the plunger and aspirate fluid into the syringe. Preferably, the method includes determining whether the syringe is an empty syringe, a preloaded syringe or a prefilled syringe.

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: An injector system includes an injector and a syringe. The syringe preferably includes a body having a forward end and a rearward end, and a plunger movably disposed in the body. The injector preferably includes a housing and a piston movably disposed at least partially within the housing. The piston is adapted to drive the plunger of the syringe in a forward direction without a connective engagement therebetween to dispense fluid from the forward end of the body during an injection procedure, and to connectively engages the plunger to retract the plunger within the syringe.

Abstract: A syringe includes a body and a plunger disposed therein. The body includes a nozzle formed therein and at least one hub member connected thereto or integrally formed thereon for holding an end of a connector tube. The connector tube includes two ends, each end preferably being connected to a respective hub member to retain the connector tube in contact with the syringe. Preferably, the syringe and the connector tube are packaged in a pre-connected condition for ease of use by the customer. Furthermore, flexible inlet tubing for connection to a syringe for filling the syringe with contrast media, for example, is described. The inlet tubing permits filling of the syringe from either a bag or a bottle and may remain attached to the syringe so that it forms at least a part of the connection to the patient. In addition, an apparatus for facilitating the purge of air from a connector tube that will ultimately be connected between a syringe and a patient is described.

Abstract: Embodiments of an injector, syringe, syringe interface, 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.

Abstract: A syringe includes a body and a plunger disposed therein. The body includes a nozzle formed therein and at least one hub member connected thereto or integrally formed thereon for holding an end of a connector tube. The connector tube includes two ends, each end preferably being connected to a respective hub member to retain the connector tube in contact with the syringe. Preferably, the syringe and the connector tube are packaged in a pre-connected condition for ease of use by the customer. Furthermore, flexible inlet tubing for connection to a syringe for filling the syringe with contrast media, for example, is described. The inlet tubing permits filling of the syringe from either a bag or a bottle and may remain attached to the syringe so that it forms at least a part of the connection to the patient. In addition, an apparatus for facilitating the purge of air from a connector tube that will ultimately be connected between a syringe and a patient is described.

Abstract: A syringe interface includes a top opening into which a syringe can be loaded, a first retaining member positioned on one side of the opening and a second retaining member positioned on a second side of the opening. The first retaining member and the second retaining member abut a forward facing abutment surface of a syringe flange on the syringe generally symmetrically. The syringe interface further includes a cradle, at least one engagement member to abut a forward facing abutment surface of a syringe flange, and a carriage slidably disposed within the cradle. The carriage includes a connector to form a releasable connection with a plunger or plunger extension of the syringe and a drive member of the injector. The connector includes a plurality of flexing capture members that flex radially outward to connect to a flange on the rear of the plunger or plunger extension of the syringe when the carriage is moved forward within the syringe interface.

Abstract: A syringe for use in a medical injection procedure in connection with connectors having a tapered fitting includes a syringe tip having a cooperating tapered fitting including a passage therein in fluid communication with an interior of the syringe. The syringe also includes a first connecting member having a radially inward threaded portion on an inner surface thereof adapted to connect to a first type of connector including a tapered fitting having at least one radially outward extending flange adapted to connect to the radially inward threaded portion of the first connecting member. In that regard, the first connecting member allows connection of the syringe to, for example, a standard luer fitting connector.

Abstract: A syringe for use with a powered injector to inject a fluid into a patient that includes a length of material adapted to transmit or propagate electromagnetic energy therethrough. The length of material includes at least a first indicator positioned along the length of material. The first indicator is adapted to interact with at least a portion of the energy being propagated through the length of material 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 syringe includes a body and a plunger disposed therein. The body includes a nozzle formed therein and at least one hub member connected thereto or integrally formed thereon for holding an end of a connector tube. The connector tube includes two ends, each end preferably being connected to a respective hub member to retain the connector tube in contact with the syringe. Preferably, the syringe and the connector tube are packaged in a pre-connected condition for ease of use by the customer. Furthermore, flexible inlet tubing for connection to a syringe for filling the syringe with contrast media, for example, is described. The inlet tubing permits filling of the syringe from either a bag or a bottle and may remain attached to the syringe so that it forms at least a part of the connection to the patient. In addition, an apparatus for facilitating the purge of air from a connector tube that will ultimately be connected between a syringe and a patient is described.

Abstract: Embodiments of an injector, syringe, syringe interface, 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides pressure measuring devices comprising a sensor to detect the force upon at least a portion of a contact surface of a syringe plunger during pressurization of a fluid medium within the syringe. A determination of the pressure of the fluid medium within the syringe is thereby enabled.

Abstract: An improved vascular reinforcing stent for use in angioplasty which comprises a sleeve tubular stent of a cross-linkable substance that is completely encapsulated within a biologically compatible film and a process for using such a stent.

Abstract: An x-ray film changer includes a removably mounted, passive-type cassette having no film driving mechanism and comprising a film-receiving spiral guide plate extending within the cassette in excess of one and one-half 360.degree. turns. The cassette further comprises an anvil bar for reverse bending of the guide plate when the cassette is opened, to facilitate film removal, a light-blocking gate which uncovers a film feed-in slot in response to mounting of the cassette on a film exposure device, and a combination carrying handle-latch mechanism.