Powerhead control in a power 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.

1 . A contrast media injector system comprising: 
 a display for a user interface for an operator of the contrast media injector system;    an ambient light sensor configured to detect an ambient light level; and    a control circuit coupled with the ambient light sensor and configured to control a brightness level for the display based on the ambient light level.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display is provided in a powerhead of the contrast media injector system.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display is provided in a console of the contrast media injector system.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the display comprises a plurality of display items.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of display items include an LED.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the control circuit controls a duty cycle of a signal to the LED based on the ambient light level.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of display items include a LCD driver circuit and LCD display.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the LCD driver circuit pulse-width-modulates a signal to control the LCD display based on the ambient light level.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an override setting circuit configured to set the brightness level to a value different than the control circuit.    
   
   
       10 . A method for controlling the display of a contrast media injector system, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting an ambient light level within an environment in which the injector system is operating;    determining a brightness level for at least one display element of a user interface display in the injector system based on the ambient light level; and    controlling the at least one display element based on the brightness level using a control circuit within the contrast media injector system.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface display is provided in a powerhead of the contrast media injector system.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface display is provided in a console of the contrast media injector system.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface display comprises a plurality of display items.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of display items include an LED.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the control circuit controls a duty cycle of a signal to the LED based on the ambient light level.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of display items include a LCD driver circuit and LCD display.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the LCD driver circuit pulse-width-modulates a signal to control the LCD display based on the ambient light level.  
   
   
       18 . A contrast media injector system comprising: 
 a powerhead configured to control delivery of a fluid via a fluid container, comprising a fluid container mounting and a motorized drive for performing a fluid injection with said fluid container; and    a touch screen display incorporated into said powerhead and configured to provide an interactive user interface for controlling substantially all aspects of the contrast media injector system.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the interactive user interface provides a series of displays screens having a plurality of input regions.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the interactive user interface duplicates the functionality of a console of the contrast media injector system.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the interactive user interface provides a redundant source for the functionality of a console of the contrast media injector system.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the interactive user interface provides one or more of the functions from the list of: entering a protocol; saving a protocol; editing a protocol; identifying total patient contrast volume; displaying historical injection data; displaying injection phase information; displaying injection delay information; orientation of the display and selecting a language setting.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the interactive user interface provides contextual help information for one or more of the display screens.  
   
   
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       58 . An injector system comprising: 
 a powerhead configured to control delivery of a fluid via a syringe, comprising a syringe drive for driving a syringe for injection of fluid;    a display on said powerhead configured to provide an interactive user interface; and    a mount connecting said powerhead and display screen, said mount permitting said display to be positioned flush with a surface of said powerhead and permitting said display to be moved to a position extending from the surface of the injector.    
   
   
       59 . The injector system of  claim 58  wherein said mount provides a double swivel permitting said display to be swivelled away from said injector surface and pivoted about its axis.  
   
   
       60 . The injector system of  claim 58  wherein said display is capable of presenting a display in one of at least two orientations.  
   
   
       61 . The injector system of  claim 60  further comprising a controller for controlling said powerhead in accordance with a sequence of steps, and generating display information for said display, said controller providing a display in a first orientation during a first of said sequence of steps and generating display information for said display in a second orientation during a second of said sequence of steps.  
   
   
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