Systems and methods for managing information relating to medical fluids and containers therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.

1 . A system for managing information relating to contrast media for use in a medical imaging procedure, the system comprising:
 a container having contrast media therein, wherein the container comprises an RF data tag;   a contrast media inventory database; and   a warmer for storing and heating the container, the warmer comprising:
 a heating element for elevating the temperature of the contrast media; 
 an electromagnetic device operable to read the data from the RF data tag; and 
 a warmer control that is in electrical communication with the inventory database. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an imaging information system in electrical communication with the warmer control and the inventory database. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one computer in electrical communication with the inventory database. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one computer in electrical communication with the inventory database. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the warmer is designed to bring the contrast media within the container up to about body temperature. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the warmer comprises a user interface. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the warmer comprises a touch screen. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the warmer comprises a user interface that facilitates selection of a container in the warmer. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a syringe. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises a date the container was placed in the warmer. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises an expiration data for the contrast media in the container. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises information to be utilized by a medical fluid administration device in administering the contrast media to a patient. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises an amount of contrast media in the container. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises concentration of the contrast media within the container. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises manufacturing information for the contrast media. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises a capacity of the container. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data on the RF data tag comprises dimensions of the container. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic device is operable to write data to the RF data tag of the container. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic device is configured to write data to the RF data tag of the container relating to a date the container is placed in the warmer. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic device is configured to write data to the RF data tag of the container relating to a date the container is removed from the warmer.