Power Injector with Decay Constant Functionality

Abstract

A power injector ( 154 ) is disclosed that may utilize decay constant determination logic ( 192 ). This logic ( 192 ) in turn may incorporate a test injection protocol ( 194 ). The test injection protocol ( 194 ) may be executed to acquire data for the derivation of a flow rate decay constant. The derived flow rate decay constant may be used by the power injector ( 154 ) to execute of an injection protocol ( 162 ), for instance in conjunction with an operation of an imaging unit ( 152 ) for an imaging operation.

1 . A power injector comprising:
 a syringe plunger driver comprising a motorized drive source;   a syringe comprising a syringe plunger, wherein said syringe plunger driver interacts with said syringe plunger to move said syringe plunger within said syringe in at least a first direction;   power injector control logic comprising an injection protocol that in turn comprises a flow rate decay constant; and   data storage accessible by said power injector control logic and comprising a plurality of data entries, wherein each said data entry comprises a different flow rate decay constant value.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The power injector of  claim 1 , further comprising a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The power injector of  claim 3 , further comprising a first output on said graphical user interface, wherein said first output comprises a listing of at least some of said plurality of data entries and an associated said flow rate decay constant value. 
     
     
         5 . The power injector of  claim 1 , wherein said power injector is configured to accommodate searching of said data storage. 
     
     
         6 . The power injector of  claim 1 , further comprising a data input device operatively interconnected with said power injector control logic, wherein a selected one of a flow rate decay constant value may be input to said injection protocol through said data input device. 
     
     
         7 . A power injector comprising:
 a syringe plunger driver comprising a motorized drive source;   a syringe comprising a syringe plunger, wherein said syringe plunger driver interacts with said syringe plunger to move said syringe plunger within said syringe in at least a first direction;   power injector control logic comprising an injection protocol that in turn comprises a decay constant, wherein said power injector control logic further comprises decay constant determination logic.   
     
     
         8 . The power injector of  claim 7 , wherein said decay constant determination logic comprises a test injection protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The power injector of  claim 7 , wherein said decay constant determination logic comprises an acquisition time variable. 
     
     
         10 . The power injector of  claim 9 , further comprising a prompt for inputting a value for said acquisition time variable. 
     
     
         11 . The power injector of  claim 9 , further comprising an average value input for said acquisition time variable. 
     
     
         12 . The power injector of  claim 9 , further comprising a patient-specific value input for said acquisition time variable. 
     
     
         13 . The power injector of  claim 7 , wherein said decay constant determination logic comprises an enhancement level variable. 
     
     
         14 . The power injector of  claim 13 , further comprising a prompt for inputting a value for said enhancement level variable. 
     
     
         15 . The power injector of  claim 7 , wherein said decay constant determination logic comprises a time delay variable. 
     
     
         16 . The power injector of  claim 15 , wherein a value for said time delay variable is patient specific. 
     
     
         17 . The power injector of  claim 15 , further comprising a prompt for inputting a value for said time delay variable. 
     
     
         18 . The power injector of  claim 7 , wherein said decay constant determination logic comprises an acquisition time variable, an enhancement level variable, and a time delay variable, wherein a decay constant value provided by said decay constant determination logic is equal to a natural logarithm of said enhancement level variable, divided by a first value, wherein said first value is said time delay variable, minus ½ of said acquisition time variable. 
     
     
         19 . An imaging system comprising an imaging unit and the power injector of  claim 18 , wherein said acquisition time variable is a number of heartbeats required for said imaging unit to acquire a first patient heart image, divided by a number of patient heartbeats per unit of time, wherein said enhancement level variable is an expressed percentage of an intensity of a right side of a patients heart that is required for a left side of a patients heart to reach before acquiring the first patient heart image, and wherein said time delay variable is a time required to realize a value for said enhancement level variable during execution of a test injection protocol. 
     
     
         20 . A method for acquiring a medical image with an imaging system comprising a power injector and an imaging unit, said method comprising:
 searching for a first value for a flow rate decay constant based upon a model of said imaging unit;   inputting said first value to said power injector; and   delivering an injection with said power injector and using said first value.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising prompting an entry of a value for flow rate decay constant. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said prompting step is executed on a display associated with said power injector. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said searching step comprises accessing a cross-reference of imaging unit model numbers to flow rate decay constants. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said searching step comprises retrieving said first value from memory utilized by said power injector. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said searching step comprises accessing a lookup table incorporated by said power injector. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said searching step comprising using the Internet. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of acquiring a medical image by operation of said imaging unit. 
     
     
         28 . A method for acquiring a medical image with an imaging system comprising a power injector and an imaging unit, said method comprising:
 delivering a first injection into a patient;   monitoring said first injection;   deriving a flow rate decay constant from said monitoring step; and   delivering a second injection into said patient, wherein said second injection comprises using said flow rate decay constant.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first injection comprises a test injection. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first injection comprises injecting a fluid volume of no more than about 15 mL. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first injection comprises using contrast media. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said monitoring step comprises acquiring data on said first injection. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said monitoring step comprises acquiring patient-specific data. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring an image intensity of a heart of said patient. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said deriving step comprises selecting a time delay value from said monitoring step, wherein said time delay value comprises an amount of time required after initiating said first injection for an image intensity of a left side of said heart to reach a predetermined level. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said predetermined level is expressed as a percentage of an image intensity of a right side of said heart. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising inputting said predetermined level to said power injector. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said deriving step comprises prompting entry of a value for said predetermined level. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said predetermined level is within about 25% of an image intensity of a right side of said heart. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising prompting entry of a value for an acquisition time variable, wherein said acquisition time variable is a number of heartbeats required for said imaging unit to acquire a first patient heart image, divided by a number of patient heartbeats per unit of time, wherein said deriving step comprises using said acquisition time variable. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising prompting entry of a time delay variable, wherein said time delay variable is a time required to realize said enhancement level variable provided by said first injection, wherein said deriving step comprises using said time delay variable. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said deriving step comprises using an acquisition time variable and a time delay variable, wherein deriving step comprises taking a natural logarithm of said enhancement level variable, divided by a first value, wherein said first value is said time delay variable, minus ½ of said acquisition time variable. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said deriving step comprises using an acquisition time variable, an enhancement level variable, and a time delay factor, wherein said deriving step comprises taking a natural logarithm of said enhancement level variable, divided by a first value, wherein said first value is said time delay variable, minus ½ of said acquisition time variable, wherein said acquisition time variable is a number of heartbeats required for said imaging unit to acquire a first patient heart image, divided by a number of patient heartbeats per unit of time, wherein said enhancement level variable is an expressed percentage of an intensity of a right side of a patient's heart that is required for a left side of a patient's heart to reach before acquiring the first patient heart image, and wherein said time delay variable is a time required to realize a value for said enhancement level factor during execution of a test injection protocol. 
     
     
         44 . A power injector comprising:
 a syringe plunger driver comprising a motorized drive source;   a syringe comprising a syringe plunger, wherein said syringe plunger driver interacts with said syringe plunger to move said syringe plunger within said syringe in at least a first direction;   power injector control logic comprising an injection protocol that in turn comprises a flow rate decay constant; and   data storage accessible by said power injector control logic and comprising a plurality of data entries, wherein each said data entry comprises a flow rate decay constant value associated with an imaging device identifier.   
     
     
         45 . The power injector of  claim 44 , further comprising a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         46 . The power injector of  claim 45 , further comprising a first output on said graphical user interface, wherein said first output comprises a listing of at least some of said plurality of data entries and an associated said flow rate decay constant value. 
     
     
         47 . The power injector of  claim 44 , wherein said power injector is configured to accommodate searching of said data storage. 
     
     
         48 . The power injector of  claim 44 , further comprising a data input device operatively interconnected with said power injector control logic, wherein a selected one of a flow rate decay constant value may be input to said injection protocol through said data input device.