Injector

Abstract

An injector 20 that may be used to deliver radiographic contrast media and/or flushing solution into a patient's vascular system for the purposes such as obtaining enhanced diagnostic x-ray images. The injector includes the following features: (1) a syringe mount 26 for attachment of a syringe 28 to the injector 20 ; (2) display 34 and controls 90 for volume and flow rates; (3) automatic limiting of the operating pressure of the injector 20 as determined by the selection of a flow rate; (4) a syringe cradle 48 having a warming capability; (5) a purge/retract trigger 36 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 20 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; (6) a switch to determine when the drive ram 46 is in a “home” position; (7) a “soft” on/off power switch separate from the injector; and (8) a structure to prevent rotation of the drive ram 46 about its axis of symmetry 76 . Additionally, the injector system includes software for the control of various components.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . A medical fluid injector comprising:
 a drive ram having a longitudinal axis;   a motor to move the drive ram along the longitudinal axis;   a syringe mount comprising first and second members that are pivotable toward and away from one another, the first member being pivotable about a first pivot axis, and the second member being pivotable about a second pivot axis different from the first pivot axis, wherein a line connecting the first and second pivot axes does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the drive ram, wherein the first and second members of the syringe mount, when in a first position, are engaged with a rearward end of a syringe to substantially immobilize the syringe relative to the motor, and wherein the first and second members of the syringe mount, when in a second position, are disengaged from the rearward end of the syringe so that the syringe may be removed from the syringe mount; and   a sensor for determining whether the first and second members of the syringe mount are in the first position or the second position.   
   
   
       31 . The injector of  claim 30 , wherein each of the first and second members of the syringe mount comprises an arcuate surface. 
   
   
       32 . The injector of  claim 30 , wherein each of the first and second members of the syringe mount is biased toward the longitudinal axis of the drive ram when the first and second members are in the first position. 
   
   
       33 . The injector of  claim 30 , further comprising a housing that houses the motor and that allows the drive ram to extend out from the housing. 
   
   
       34 . The injector of  claim 30 , further comprising a console in electronic communication with the sensor and adapted to generate at least one console control signal for the injector. 
   
   
       35 . The injector of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one console control signal is interrupted when the sensor determines that the first and second members of the syringe mount are in the second position. 
   
   
       36 . The injector of  claim 34 , wherein a first signal of the at least one console control signal signals the motor to move the drive ram along the longitudinal axis in a first direction, and wherein the first signal is prevented from being delivered to the motor when the sensor determines that the first and second members of the syringe mount are in the second position. 
   
   
       37 . The injector of  claim 34 , wherein the sensor is adapted to deliver a signal comprising positional information for the first and second members to the console. 
   
   
       38 . The injector of  claim 30 , further comprising software that is adapted to allow manual control of the injector when the sensor determines that the first and second members are in the first position. 
   
   
       39 . The injector of  claim 30 , wherein the syringe has contrast media disposed therein.