Injection systems capable of using feedback for adjustment of injection parameters

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the field of medical devices for delivering contrast media during medical diagnostic and therapeutic imaging procedures and more particularly, this invention relates to improved contrast media delivery systems and methods of use which allow adjustment of contrast media concentration and injection parameters either before or during an injection procedure to provide patient specific dosing of contrast media, thus decreasing the waste and cost of these procedures while increasing their efficiency.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A system for injecting fluid media into a patient, the system comprising: 
 (a) a pressurizing unit for pressurizing at least one of a contrast medium and a diluent for injection into the patient during an injection procedure;    (b) an electronic control means operatively associated with the pressurizing unit for calculating an initial set of injection parameters based on data characteristic of the patient; and    (c) an electronic interface for enabling the electronic control means to receive from an imaging system feedback in the form of one or more images of a desired region of the patient through which the at least one of the contrast medium and the diluent flows;    wherein the electronic control means is adapted for using the feedback to automatically adjust the injection parameters during the injection procedure in order to enable improvement in quality of the images obtained in connection with an imaging procedure.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the injection parameters include at least one of flow rate, concentration, volume, pressure and time delay for administration of the fluid medium(s).  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the data characteristic of the patient includes at least one of size, weight, hydration, cardiac status, vessel type, vessel status, circulation transit time, and kidney function.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic control means includes a microprocessor, memory and associated software for permitting input of the data characteristic of the patient, for calculating the initial injection parameters based thereon, and for adjusting the injection parameters based on the feedback from the imaging system.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the electronic control means calculates the injection parameters based not only on the data characteristic of the patient but also on initial parameters particular to the imaging procedure to be performed.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic interface also enables the electronic control means to receive the data characteristic of the patient from a separate information system.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the separate information system is a hospital information system.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the adjusted injection parameters are stored for use in subsequent or other injection procedures.  
   
   
       30 . A system for injecting fluid media into a patient, the system comprising: 
 (a) a pressurizing unit for pressurizing at least one fluid medium for injection into the patient during an injection procedure;    (b) an electronic control means operatively associated with the pressurizing unit for calculating an initial set of injection parameters based on data characteristic of the patient;    (c) a sensor for providing feedback on operation of the system; and    (d) an electronic interface for enabling the electronic control means to receive from the sensor the feedback pertaining to the operation of the system;    wherein the electronic control means is adapted for using the feedback to automatically adjust the injection parameters during the injection procedure in order to enable improvement in quality of images obtained during an imaging procedure.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the sensor is an imaging system from which the feedback is one or more of the images obtained during the imaging procedure.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the at least one fluid medium includes a contrast medium, and the feedback provided in the form of the one or more images reveals concentration of the contrast medium in a desired region of the patient during the injection procedure.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the sensor is for monitoring concentration of the at least one fluid medium in the patient during the injection procedure.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 30  wherein, for when the imaging procedure is one that employs x-rays, the sensor includes a source of x-rays and a receiver for determining an amount of x-ray radiation that passes through a desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the sensor employs electromagnetic radiation to determine concentration of the at least one fluid medium in the patient during the injection procedure.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the electromagnetic radiation takes the form of at least one of visible light and infrared light.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the sensor is capable of measuring pressure within a vessel of the patient.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the sensor provides the feedback in the form of a voltage proportional to concentration of the at least one fluid medium in the patient.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the injection parameters include at least one of flow rate, concentration, volume, pressure, and time delay for administration of the at least one fluid medium.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the data characteristic of the patient includes at least one of size, weight, hydration, cardiac status, vessel type, vessel status, circulation transit time, and kidney function.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the electronic control means includes a microprocessor, memory and associated software for permitting input of the data characteristic of the patient, for calculating the initial injection parameters based thereon, and for adjusting the injection parameters based on the feedback from the sensor.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the electronic control means calculates the injection parameters based not only on the data characteristic of the patient but also on initial parameters particular to the imaging procedure to be performed.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the electronic interface also enables the electronic control means to receive the data characteristic of the patient from a separate information system.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the separate information system is a hospital information system.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the adjusted injection parameters are stored for use in subsequent or other injection procedures.  
   
   
       46 . A system for injecting a contrast medium into a patient, the system comprising: 
 (a) a pressurizing unit for pressurizing the contrast medium for injection into the patient during an injection procedure;    (b) an electronic control means operatively associated with the pressurizing unit for calculating initial injection parameters based on data characteristic of the patient;    (c) at least one sensor for providing feedback on operation of the system; and    (d) an electronic interface for enabling the electronic control means to receive from the at least one sensor the feedback pertaining to the operation of the system;    wherein the electronic control means is adapted for using the feedback to automatically adjust the injection parameters for the injection procedure.    
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the at least one sensor includes an imaging system from which the feedback includes one or more of images obtained during an imaging procedure.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the feedback provided in the form of the one or more images reveals concentration of the contrast medium in a desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the at least one sensor is for monitoring concentration of the contrast medium in the patient during the injection procedure.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the at least one sensor provides the feedback in the form of a voltage proportional to concentration of the contrast medium in the patient.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the injection parameters include at least one of flow rate, concentration, volume, pressure, and time delay for administration of the contrast medium.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the data characteristic of the patient includes at least one of size, weight, hydration, cardiac status, vessel type, vessel status, circulation transit time, and kidney function.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the electronic control means includes a microprocessor, memory and associated software for permitting input of the data characteristic of the patient, for calculating the initial injection parameters based thereon, and for subsequently adjusting the injection parameters based on the feedback from the at least one sensor.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the electronic control means calculates the injection parameters based not only on the data characteristic of the patient but also on initial parameters particular to an imaging procedure to be performed.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the electronic interface also enables the electronic control means to receive the data characteristic of the patient from a separate information system.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the electronic control means adjusts the injection parameters for the injection procedure to enable an imaging system to produce images of a quality better than those produced in connection with the initial parameters.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the adjusted injection parameters are stored for use in subsequent or other injection procedures.  
   
   
       58 . A system for injecting fluid media into a patient, the system comprising: 
 (a) a first pressurizing device, adapted for operative use with a source of a first fluid medium, for pressurizing the first fluid medium for injection into the patient during an injection procedure;    (b) a second pressurizing device, adapted for operative use with a source of a second fluid medium, for pressurizing the second fluid medium for injection into the patient during an injection procedure;    (c) an electronic control means for controlling the first and second pressurizing devices and for calculating an initial set of injection parameters based on data characteristic of the patient;    (d) at least one sensor for providing feedback on operation of the system; and    (e) an electronic interface for enabling the electronic control means to receive from the at least one sensor the feedback pertaining to the operation of the system;    wherein the electronic control means is adapted for using the feedback to automatically adjust the injection parameters for the injection procedure.    
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the at least one sensor includes an imaging system from which the feedback includes one or more of the images obtained during the imaging procedure.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 59  wherein the feedback provided in the form of the one or more images reveals concentration of at least one of the fluid mediums in the patient.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the injection parameters include at least one of flow rate, concentration, volume, pressure, and time delay for administration of at least one of the first and second fluid mediums.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the data characteristic of the patient includes at least one of size, weight, hydration, cardiac status, vessel type, vessel status, circulation transit time, and kidney function.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the electronic control means includes a microprocessor, memory and associated software for permitting input of the data characteristic of the patient, for calculating the initial injection parameters based thereon, and for adjusting the injection parameters based on the feedback from the at least one sensor.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 63  wherein the electronic control means calculates the injection parameters based not only on the data characteristic of the patient but also on initial parameters particular to an imaging procedure to be performed.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the electronic interface also enables the electronic control means to receive the data characteristic of the patient from a separate information system.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the electronic control means adjusts the injection parameters for the injection procedure to enable an imaging system to produce images of a quality better than those produced in connection with the initial parameters.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the adjusted injection parameters are stored for use in subsequent or other injection procedures.