Angiographic injector and angiographic syringe for use therewith

Abstract

An angiographic injector has an injector portion which includes a rotating turret for housing two angiographic syringes in readiness for injection. The injector further employs a driving mechanism for connecting with and controlling the movement of a syringe plunger once one of the syringes is in place for injection. Through the use of guide means on each syringe and corresponding alignment means on a pressure jacket, the syringe is alignably and securely mounted within the pressure jacket on the rotating turret. Each syringe plunger is releasably connected to the driving mechanism for an injection operation, and released from the driving mechanism when the injection operation has been completed, such that the driving mechanism can be withdrawn from the syringe relative to the plunger without drawing body fluid of a patient into the syringe. Various types of plunger release mechanisms for this purpose are disclosed. The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/003,918 filed Aug. 7, 1995, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An angiographic injector for injecting a contrast media from an angiographic syringe which includes a movable plunger for forcing contrast media from said syringe into the vascular system of an animal, said injector comprising: mounting means for supporting at least one syringe for an injection operation;   actuating means adjacent said mounting means for controlling the movement of said plunger in said syringe;   drive means disposed at one end of said actuating means for causing retraction of said plunger in said syringe and advancement of said plunger in said syringe to force the contrast media from said syringe in the injection operation; and   quick release means forming respective mating parts of said plunger and said drive means for selectively placing said plunger in a driven state by said drive means such that said drive means can retract said plunger in said syringe, and in an undriven state by said drive means such that said drive means can be retracted relative to said plunger without retraction of said plunger, the mating parts of said quick release means cooperating so that said plunger can be placed in its driven state or in its undriven state at any time during the injection operation and at any position of the plunger, without substantial force being applied therebetween.   
     
     
       2. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, wherein said quick release means is an interlocking mechanism which is releasable upon relative rotational movement of said drive means and said plunger. 
     
     
       3. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 2, wherein said quick release interlocking mechanism comprises a stem portion and a rectangular head portion connected thereto, and at least one L-shaped hook member cooperable with said stem and head portion. 
     
     
       4. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes first and second alignment means for cooperating with first and second guide means disposed on said at least one syringe. 
     
     
       5. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, wherein said injector includes a rotating turret for housing two syringes sequentially movable into a position for an injection operation by rotation of said turret, said turret having first and second mounting means for supporting said syringes. 
     
     
       6. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 5, wherein a driven state of said drive means with the syringe plunger of one of said syringes is achieved upon rotation of said turret into position for an injection operation. 
     
     
       7. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, in which said releasable means comprises: projecting lug means on one of said plunger or said drive means for connecting said plunger to said drive means; and   cam means forming part of the other of said plunger or said drive means and cooperable with said lug means for placing said plunger in the driven state and the undriven state as said drive means reciprocates in said syringe.   
     
     
       8. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 7, wherein said cam means is rotatably mounted for free rotation. 
     
     
       9. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 8, wherein said cam means includes a series of cam surface cooperable with said lug means for placing said plunger in the driven state and the undriven state, respectively, as said drive means reciprocates in said syringe. 
     
     
       10. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, in which said releasable means comprises: first and second latch members forming parts of said plunger and said drive means, respectively; and   a spring-biasing mechanism associated with one of said latch members for causing interconnecting and disconnecting of the latch members, to place said plunger in the driven state and the undriven state, respectively, as said drive means reciprocates in said syringe.   
     
     
       11. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a hollow pressure jacket for accepting said at least one syringe, said pressure jacket being rotatable to rotate said syringe and said plunger with said syringe, to place said plunger in the driven and the undriven state, respectively. 
     
     
       12. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, in which said releasable means comprises: a screw-threaded member on one of said plunger or said drive means; and   latch means forming part of the other of said plunger or said drive means and cooperable with screw threads of the screw-threaded member for placing said plunger in the driven and undriven states as said drive means reciprocates in said syringe.   
     
     
       13. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, in which said releasable means comprises: magnetic means for placing said plunger in the driven and undriven states.   
     
     
       14. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, in which said releasable means comprises: a circular flange on one of said plunger or said drive means;   ferromagnetic latch means forming part of the other of said plunger or said drive means and movable between latched and unlatched positions with respect to said circular flange, for placing said plunger in the driven and undriven states, respectively; and   selectively operable electromagnetic means forming part of one of said plunger or said drive means, for selectively moving said latch means between the latched and unlatched positions.   
     
     
       15. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, in which said releasable means comprises: ferromagnetic means mounted on one of said plunger or said drive means; and   selectively operable electromagnetic means forming part of the other of said plunger or said drive means and cooperable with said ferromagnetic means to place said plunger in the driven and undriven states.   
     
     
       16. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one syringe or said mounting means includes at least one guide extension tab receivable in a guide slot in the other of said syringe or said mounting means. 
     
     
       17. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 16, wherein said at least one syringe includes a straight alignment edge disposed on a flange of said syringe in a preselected relationship to said guide extension tab and said slot. 
     
     
       18. An angiographic injector as defined in claim 17, wherein said quick release means comprises a stem portion and a rectangular head portion connected thereto, and at least one L-shaped hook member cooperable with said stem and head portion. 
     
     
       19. An angiographic syringe for use in combination with an angiographic injector in which at least one syringe can be supported for an injection operation, said angiographic injector including drive means for effecting an injection operation, said syringe comprising: a tubular body having a discharge end;   a plunger movably positioned in the tubular body, said plunger being retractable in said tubular body to draw contrast media into said syringe for the injection operation and being advanceable through said tubular body for forcing the contrast media from the discharge end of said tubular body in the injection operation; and   quick release means disposed at one end of said plunger .Iadd.and movable with said plunger within said tubular body .Iaddend.for forming a part of a releasable drive connection between said drive means of said angiographic injector and said plunger such that said drive means can selectively be drivingly connected with said plunger to enable retraction of said plunger in said tubular body and to enable advancement of said plunger in said tubular body to force the contrast media from the discharge end of said tubular body in the injection operation, said quick release means being selectively releasable from said plunger at any time during the injection operation and at any position of the plunger, without substantial force being applied thereto, such that said drive means can be retracted relative to said plunger in said tubular body after the injection operation has been completed, without retraction of said plunger.   
     
     
       20. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein at least portions of said drive connection-forming means on said plunger and said drive means of said injector are relatively movable to establish said drive connection therebetween such that said drive means can retract said plunger in said syringe, and to release said drive connection such that said drive means of said injector can be retracted relative to said plunger. 
     
     
       21. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 20, wherein at least portions of said drive connection-forming means on said plunger and said drive means of said injector are relatively rotatable to establish said drive connection therebetween and to release said drive connection such that said drive means can be retracted relative to said plunger. 
     
     
       22. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, which further comprises: guide means for aligning said plunger in a preselected relationship with respect to said drive means of said injector.   
     
     
       23. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 22, wherein said guide means comprises at least one guide extension tab disposed on one of said tubular body or a pressure jacket of said injector which receives said syringe for the injection operation, said at least one guide extension tab being receivable in a guide slot in the other of said tubular body or said jacket. 
     
     
       24. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 23, wherein said guide means further comprises a straight alignment edge disposed on a flange on said tubular body adjacent an entrance end of said tubular body in preselected relationship to said guide extension tab or said slot. 
     
     
       25. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 24, wherein said quick release means includes at least one L-shaped hook member extending from one of said plunger or said drive means and cooperable with a stem and a head portion on the other of said plunger or said drive means. 
     
     
       26. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein said syringe further comprises: a discharge extension; and   an intermediate portion connecting said tubular body and said discharge extension, said intermediate portion being funneled and including a hollow cone section and tapered neck section.   
     
     
       27. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 26, which further comprises guide extension tabs disposed on said tapered neck and cooperable with guide means on said angiographic injector for guiding said syringe into proper position in said injector. 
     
     
       28. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 26, which further comprises a straight alignment edge disposed on an entrance end of said tubular syringe body and cooperable with guide means on said angiographic injector for guiding said syringe into proper position in said injector. 
     
     
       29. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 26, wherein said drive-connection forming means comprises two L-shaped hook members extending from one of said plunger or said drive means and defining a slot and an aperture therebetween for receiving a stem and a head portion on the other of said plunger or said drive means. 
     
     
       30. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 26, wherein said hollow cone is constructed with a taper of between 40° and 50°, thereby promoting improved air removal from said syringe. 
     
     
       31. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 30, wherein said taper is 45°. 
     
     
       32. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 26, wherein said tapered neck and said discharge extension have a combined length of between 27/8 inches and 31/2 inches, thereby providing a longer sterile work field. 
     
     
       33. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 32, wherein said tapered neck and said discharge extension have a combined length of 31/4 inches. 
     
     
       34. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein the drive-connection forming means at the one end of said plunger includes at least one laterally projecting lug. 
     
     
       35. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein the drive connection includes a latch member on . .one of.!. said plunger . .or said drive means.!. controlled by a spring-biasing mechanism responsive to reciprocation of said injector drive means in said syringe. 
     
     
       36. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein the drive connection includes a drivingly engageable screw-threaded member on . .one of.!. said plunger. .or said drive means.!.. 
     
     
       37. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein the drive connection includes a circular flange on . .one of.!. said plunger. .or said drive means.!.. 
     
     
       38. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein the drive connection includes a magnetic means. 
     
     
       39. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 38, wherein said magnetic means includes a permanent magnet on . .one of.!. said plunger. .or said drive means!. 
     
     
       40. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 19, wherein said quick release means includes at least one L-shaped hook member extending from . .one of.!. said plunger . .or said drive means.!. and cooperable with a stem and a head portion on . .the other of said plunger or.!. said drive means. 
     
     
       41. An apparatus for injecting a contrast media into the vascular system of an animal, said apparatus comprising: at least one angiographic syringe including a plunger movably positioned in said syringe for forcing a contrast media from said syringe;   mounting means for supporting said syringe for an injection operation;   actuating means adjacent said mounting means for controlling the movement of said plunger in said syringe;   drive means disposed at one end of said actuating means for causing retraction of said plunger in said syringe and advancement of said plunger in said syringe to force the contrast media from said syringe in the injection operation; and   quick release means forming respective mating parts of said plunger and said drive means for selectively placing said plunger in a driven state by said drive means such that said drive means can retract said plunger in said syringe, and in an undriven state by said drive means such that said drive means can be retracted relative to said plunger without retraction of said plunger, the mating parts of said quick release means cooperating so that said plunger can be placed in its driven state or in its undriven state at any time during the injection operation and at any position of the plunger, without substantial force being applied therebetween.   
     
     
       42. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said syringe includes first and second guide means for guiding said syringe into proper position in said mounting means, and said mounting means includes first and second alignment means for cooperating with said first and second guide means. 
     
     
       43. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said quick release means is by a releasable interlocking mechanism. 
     
     
       44. An apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein said releasable interlocking mechanism comprises two L-shaped hook members extending from one of said plunger or said drive means and defining an aperture and an access slot therebetween. 
     
     
       45. An apparatus as defined in claim 44, wherein said releasable interlocking mechanism further comprises a stem portion and a head portion on the other of said plunger or said drive means, said head portion designed to fit within said aperture between said hook members, with said stem portion extending through said access slot. 
     
     
       46. An apparatus as defined in claim 45, wherein said head portion is removed from said aperture upon 90° relative rotational movement between said actuating means and said syringe, said head portion having a depth dimension and disposed so as to permit passage of said head portion through said access slot upon retraction of said actuating means from said syringe. 
     
     
       47. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said quick release means is a releasable interlocking mechanism which is connectable and releasable upon relative rotation of said drive means and said plunger. 
     
     
       48. An apparatus as defined in claim 47, wherein said releasable interlocking mechanism includes at least one projecting lug on one of said plunger or said drive means receivable in a cam member rotatably mounted for free rotation on the other of said plunger or said drive means. 
     
     
       49. An apparatus as defined in claim 47, wherein said releasable interlocking mechanism includes a drivingly engageable screw-threaded member on one of said plunger or said drive means. 
     
     
       50. An apparatus as defined in claim 47, wherein said mounting means comprises a pressure jacket for accepting said syringe, said pressure jacket being rotatably mounted on an associated support for rotating said syringe and said plunger therein, to connect and release said releasable interlocking mechanism between said plunger and said drive means. 
     
     
       51. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said quick release means is releasable interlocking mechanism which is connectable and releasable upon relative reciprocation of said drive means and said plunger. 
     
     
       52. An apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein said releasable interlocking mechanism includes a latch member controlled by a spring-biasing mechanism responsive to reciprocation of said drive means. 
     
     
       53. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said quick release means is a releasable magnetic mechanism. 
     
     
       54. An apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said syringe further comprises: a tubular body having an outwardly extending flange at one end;   a discharge extension;   an intermediate portion connecting said tubular body and said discharge extension, said intermediate portion being funneled and including a hollow cone section and tapered neck section;   said first guide means comprising guide extension tabs disposed on said tapered neck for cooperating with said first alignment means; and   said second guide means comprising a straight alignment edge disposed on said tubular body for cooperating with said second alignment means.   
     
     
       55. An apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein said mounting means comprises a pressure jacket for accepting said syringe, said pressure jacket having a conical nose section and first and second end faces, said end faces each having a circular opening; said first alignment means being disposed on said first end face and comprising guide extension notches for accepting said syringe guide extension tabs; said guide extension notches having substantially the same relative spacing as said guide extension tabs; said second alignment means being disposed on said second end face and comprising an alignment mark corresponding to said alignment edge of said syringe; said first and second alignment means being disposed for guiding said syringe into proper position in said pressure jacket, thereby permitting the passage of said guide extension tabs through said guide extension notches; and said pressure jacket being disposed to envelop said tubular body and said hollow cone section of said intermediate portion of said syringe upon insertion of said syringe into said pressure jacket in preparation for use, with said tapered neck and said discharge extension protruding through the circular opening of said first end face. 
     
     
       56. An apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein said hollow cone is constructed with a taper of between 40° and 50°, thereby promoting improved air removal from said syringe. 
     
     
       57. An apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein said taper is 45°. 
     
     
       58. An apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein said tapered neck and said discharge extension have a combined length or between 27/8 inches and 31/2 inches, thereby providing a longer sterile work field. 
     
     
       59. An apparatus as defined in claim 58, wherein said tapered neck and said discharge extension have a combined length or 31/4 inches. 
     
     
       60. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said apparatus includes a rotating turret for housing two syringes sequentially movable into a position for an injection operation by rotation of said turret, said turret having first and second mounting means for supporting said syringes. 
     
     
       61. An apparatus as defined in claim 60, wherein said drive means of said actuating means establishes a releasable drive relationship with the syringe plunger of one of said syringes upon rotation or said turret into position for an injection operation. 
     
     
       62. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said quick release means comprises a stem portion and a rectangular head portion connected thereto, and at least one L-shaped hook member cooperable with said stem and head portion. 
     
     
       63. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said at least one syringe or said mounting means includes at least one guide extension tab receivable in a guide slot in the other of said plunger or said mounting means. 
     
     
       64. An apparatus as defined in claim 63, wherein said at least one syringe includes a straight alignment edge disposed on a flange of said syringe in a preselected relationship to said guide extension tab and said slot. 
     
     
       65. An apparatus as defined in claim 64, wherein said quick release means includes at least one L-shaped hook member extending from one of said plunger or said drive means and cooperable with a stem and a head portion on the other of said plunger or said drive means. .Iadd. 
     
     
       66.  An angiographic syringe for use in combination with an angiographic injector including an injector portion for receiving at least one syringe in readiness for injection, mounting means for supporting said syringe in said injector portion, said mounting means having alignment means for cooperating with said syringe, said angiographic injector including drive means for effecting said injection, and injector engagement means disposed on said drive means for engaging said syringe, said syringe comprising: a tubular body having an outwardly extending flange at one end thereof;   a plunger slidably positioned within said tubular body for drawing contrast media therein and forcing contrast media therefrom;   guide means mounted on said tubular body for cooperating with said alignment means of said mounting means for guiding said syringe into a predetermined position in said mounting means; and   said plunger including plunger engagement means for cooperating with said injector engagement means, said plunder engagement means facilitating engagement with said injector engagement means in at least one predetermined rotational orientation of said tubular body and said plunger engagement means preventing engagement with said injector engagement means in orientations other than said at least one predetermined rotational orientation of said tubular body, said plunger being positioned in said tubular body in said at least one predetermined rotational orientation when said guide means cooperates with said alignment means. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       67.  An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 66, wherein said tubular body includes a discharge extension and an intermediate portion connecting a cylindrical portion and said discharge extension, said intermediate portion being funneled and including a hollow cone section and tapered neck section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 
     
     
       68.  An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 67, wherein said guide means comprises guide extension tabs disposed on said tapered neck. .Iaddend..Iadd.69. An angiographic syringe as defined in claim 67, wherein said outward extending flange has a straight alignment edge disposed thereon for guiding and aligning said syringe in said mounting means. .Iaddend..Iadd.70. An angiographic syringe as claimed in claim 66, wherein said plunger engagement means comprises two hook members extending from said plunger and defining an aperture therebetween, said hook members being L-shaped and disposed so as to create an access slot therebetween 
     
     
        communicating with said aperture. .Iaddend..Iadd.71.  The syringe of claim 66, and further comprising an alignment edge cut in the flange of the syringe and having a predetermined orientation with said guide means, and wherein said plunger engagement means comprises two hook members extending from said plunger and defining an aperture therebetween, said hook members being L-shaped and disposed so as to create an access slot therebetween communicating with said aperture, said hook members being aligned in a predetermined relationship with said alignment edge and thus with said guide means. .Iaddend..Iadd.72. An angiographic injection system comprising: an angiographic injector having an injector portion including mounting means for receiving at least one syringe in position for injection, alignment means on said mounting means for cooperating with said syringe, drive means for effecting said injection, and injector engagement means disposed on said drive means for engaging a syringe;   a syringe comprising a tubular body having proximal and distal open ends for containing contrast media to be injected, a plunger slidably positioned within said tubular body for drawing media therein and forcing media therefrom, plunger engagement means disposed on said plunger for releasably engaging with said injector engagement means, guide means disposed on said tubular body for cooperating with said alignment means of said mounting means for effecting a predetermined alignment of said syringe in said injector portion, said plunger including plunger engagement means for cooperating with said injector engagement means, said plunger engagement means facilitating engagement with said injector engagement means in at least one predetermined rotational orientation of said tubular body and said plunger engagement means preventing engagement with said injector engagement means in orientations other than said at least one predetermined rotational orientation of said tubular body, said plunger being positioned in said tubular body in said at least one predetermined rotational orientation when said guide means cooperates with said alignment means; and   means for moving said injector portion and said syringe relative to said drive means prior to performing an angiographic injection, whereby a preset alignment of said injector engagement means and said plunger engagement means is effected by cooperation of said guide means and said alignment means, and whereby said drive means thereby is in position for   
     
     
        initiating an injection after such relative movement. .Iaddend..Iadd.73. An angiographic injector and syringe assembly for injecting contrast media from a syringe, said assembly comprising: an injector portion of the angiographic injector for receiving at least one syringe in readiness for injection;   mounting means for supporting said syringe in said injector portion;   drive means disposed in said angiographic injector for effecting election of contrast media from said syringe;   injector engagement means disposed on said drive means for engaging said syringe;   alignment means disposed on said mounting means for cooperating with said syringe;   said syringe comprising a tubular body having proximal and distal open ends;   guide means positioned at said distal end of said tubular body for mating with said alignment means of said mounting means for guiding said syringe into a predetermined alignment in said mounting means; and   plunger means slidably positioned within said tubular body for drawing contrast media therein and forcing contrast media therefrom, said plunger means including plunger engagement means for cooperating with said injector engagement means, said plunger engagement means facilitating engagement with said injector engagement means in at least one predetermined rotational orientation of said tubular body and said plunger engagement means preventing engagement with said injector engagement means in orientations other than said at least one predetermined rotational orientation of said tubular body, said plunger being positioned in said tubular body in said at least one predetermined rotational orientation when said guide means cooperates with said alignment means.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.4.  An angiographic injector for injecting a contrast media from an angiographic syringe which includes a movable plunger for forcing contrast media from said syringe into a vascular system of an animal, said injector comprising: mounting means for supporting at least one syringe for an injection operation;   actuating means adjacent said mounting means for controlling the movement of said plunger in said syringe;   drive means disposed at one end of said actuating means for causing retraction of said plunger in said syringe and advancement of said plunger in said syringe to force the contrast media from said syringe in the injection operation; and   quick release means forming respective mating parts of said plunger and said drive means for selectively placing said plunger in a driven state by the drive means such that said drive means can retract said plunger in said syringe, and in an undriven state by said drive means such that said drive means can be retracted relative to said plunger without retraction of said plunger and without contacting the inside of said syringe, the mating parts of said quick release means cooperating so that said plunger can be placed in its driven state or in its undriven state at any time during the injection operation and at any position of the plunger, without substantial force being applied therebetween. .Iaddend.