Patient infusion system for use with MRI

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems for generating diagnostic images of a patient's internal organs and more particularly, this invention relates to improved MRI systems with decreased interference between the magnetic field used for producing diagnostic images and the magnetic fields generated by the electric motors used for driving the pistons of the contrast media injectors. Additionally, the system employs an improved communication link between an externally located system controller and the injection head control unit located within the electromagnetic isolation barrier which defines the magnetic imaging room.

What we claim is:  
     
       1. A patient infusion control apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus to generate images of a patient, the patient infusion control apparatus comprising: 
       a) means for injecting fluid into the patient undergoing a MRI procedure;  
       b) an electric drive motor and motor control circuitry positioned remotely from the means for injecting to be substantially non-reactive with an electromagnetic field of the imaging apparatus; and,  
       c) a non-rigid drive connection between the electric drive motor and the means for injecting comprising a flexible drive shaft.  
     
     
       2. The patient infusion control apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electric drive motor and motor control circuitry are enclosed within electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
       3. The patient infusion control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the patient injection means is adapted to be located in close proximity to the patient. 
     
     
       4. The patient infusion control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible drive shaft is comprised of hard brass. 
     
     
       5. The patient infusion control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is positioned at least ten to fifteen feet from the patient injection means. 
     
     
       6. The patient infusion control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electric drive motor and the motor control circuitry are enclosed in an electromagnetic shield. 
     
     
       7. The patient infusion control apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery wherein the electric drive motor receives power from the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
       8. A patient infusion system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the patient infusion system comprising: 
       a) a room shielded from electromagnetic interference;  
       b) a system controller located externally of the shielded room;  
       c) a patient infusion apparatus including infusion apparatus control means for controlling an infusion operation, the patient infusion apparatus located within the shielded room; and,  
       d) a fiber optic communications control link between the system controller and the infusion apparatus control means.  
     
     
       9. A patient infusion system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the patient infusion system comprising: 
       a) a room shielded from electromagnetic interference, which includes a viewing window;  
       b) a system controller external to the shielded room;  
       c) a patient infusion apparatus within the shielded room and including infusion apparatus control means for controlling an infusion operation; and,  
       d) a communicating control link between the system controller and the infusion apparatus control means, the control link adapted to be substantially non- reactive with the magnetic field of the imaging system.    
     
     
       10. The patient infusion system of  claim 9 , wherein the communications link includes means for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation through the viewing window. 
     
     
       11. The patient infusion system of  claim 9 , wherein the communications link includes means for transmitting and receiving infrared electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
       12. The patient infusion system of  claim 9 , wherein the communications link includes means for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy in the visual range. 
     
     
       13. A patient infusion system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system to generate images of a patient, the patient infusion system comprising: 
       a) a room shielded from electromagnetic interference by an electromagnetic shield including a viewing window;  
       b) a system controller located outside the room;  
       c) a patient infusion apparatus located inside the room including infusion apparatus control means for controlling an infusion operation;  
       d) a communications control link between the system controller and the infusion apparatus control means, the control link adapted to be substantially non- reactive with the magnetic field of the imaging system ; and,  
       e) an electric drive motor and motor control circuitry separated from the patient infusion apparatus and a non-rigid drive connection between the electric drive motor and the patient infusion apparatus whereby  wherein the motor is positioned to be substantially non-reactive with an electromagnetic  the magnetic field of the imaging system.  
     
     
       14. The patient infusion system of  claim 13 , wherein the communications link comprises an external transceiver located outside the room and an internal transceiver located inside the room, both said transceivers communicating electromagnetic energy through the viewing window in the room. 
     
     
       15. The patient infusion system of  claim 14 , wherein the electromagnetic energy communicated between said transceivers is in the visible light spectrum. 
     
     
       16. The patient infusion system of  claim 14 , wherein said electromagnetic energy communicated between said transceivers is in the infrared spectrum. 
     
     
       17. The patient infusion system of  claim 13 , further comprising a rechargeable battery located in the room and connected to the electric drive motor for providing power to the electric drive motor. 
     
     
       18. The patient infusion system of  claim 13 , wherein the electric drive motor and motor control circuitry are enclosed within the electromagnetic shield. 
     
     
       19. The patient infusion system of  claim 13 , wherein the infusion apparatus control means is adapted to be located at least ten to fifteen feet from the patient. 
     
     
       20. The patient infusion system of  claim 13 , wherein the non-rigid drive connection is comprised of hard brass. 
     
     
       21. The patient infusion system of  claim 13 , wherein the patient infusion apparatus is adapted to be located in close proximity to the patient. 
     
     
       22. A method of patient infusion for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising the steps of: 
       a) providing patient infusion apparatus having a patient infusion apparatus controller and means operable to inject fluid into a patient;  
       b) positioning the patient infusion apparatus controller away from the patient infusion apparatus to prevent interference in the image, the infusion apparatus controller including at least one electric motor and motor control circuitry; and  
       c) operably connecting the electric motor for controlling the patient infusion apparatus to the patient infusion apparatus with a non-rigid drive connection, the electric motor operating the patient infusion apparatus to infuse media into a patient.  The patient infusion system of  claim 9  wherein the communications link comprises a fiber optic line. 
     
     
       23. A method of patient infusion for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising the steps of: 
       a) providing a room shielded from electromagnetic interference including a viewing window;  
       b) providing a system controller located outside the room;  
       c) providing a patient infusion apparatus including infusion apparatus control means for controlling an infusion operation, the patient infusion apparatus located inside the room; and  
       d) transmitting control signals from the system controller to the infusion apparatus control means through the viewing window.  
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23  wherein the control signals are transmitted via electromagnetic transceivers. 
     
     
       25. A patient infusion system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the patient infusion system comprising: 
       
         an infusion apparatus positioned within a room shielded from electromagnetic interference, the infusion apparatus comprising an injector adapted to accommodate at least two syringes mounted thereon for injecting fluid into a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure, the at least two syringes operably engaged with at least one drive mechanism of the injector; and  
       
       
         a system controller positioned external to the shielded room and in communication with the infusion apparatus for controlling the operation thereof. 
       
     
     
       26. The patient infusion system of  claim 25  wherein the infusion apparatus further comprises an injector control unit positioned within the shielded room. 
     
     
       27. The patient infusion system of  claim 26  wherein the injector control unit comprises a battery for powering the injector. 
     
     
       28. The patient infusion system of  claim 26  wherein the injector control unit is remotely positioned from the injector. 
     
     
       29. The patient infusion system of  claim 28  wherein the injector and the injector control unit are connected by a non- rigid drive connection.   
     
     
       30. The patient infusion system of  claim 25  wherein the infusion apparatus and the system controller communicate with each other by means of a communication link disposed therebetween. 
     
     
       31. The patient infusion system of  claim 30  wherein the communication link comprises a fiber optic line. 
     
     
       32. The patient infusion system of  claim 30  wherein the communication link comprises means for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation through a window in the shielded room. 
     
     
       33. A patient infusion system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the patient infusion system comprising: 
       
         an infusion apparatus positioned within a room shielded from electromagnetic interference, the infusion apparatus comprising an injector for injecting fluid into a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure;  
       
       
         a system controller positioned external to the shielded room; and  
       
         a communication control link between the infusion apparatus and the system controller for controlling the operation of the infusion system, the control link adapted to be substantially non - reactive with the magnetic field of the imaging system.   
     
     
       34. The patient infusion system of  claim 33 , further comprising at least one battery for powering the infusion apparatus. 
     
     
       35. The patient infusion system of  claim 34  wherein the system controller comprises a battery charger for recharging the at least one battery. 
     
     
       36. The patient infusion system of  claim 33  wherein the injector is adapted to accommodate at least two syringes mounted thereon. 
     
     
       37. A method of infusing a patient with fluid during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure, the method comprising the following steps: 
       
         providing an injector adapted to accommodate at least two syringes mounted thereon for injecting fluid into a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure, the at least two syringes operably engaged with at least one drive mechanism of the injector, the injector positioned adjacent to the patient within a room shielded from electromagnetic interference;  
       
       
         injecting fluid contained within the at least two syringes into the patient; and  
       
       generating magnetic resonance images of the patient. 
     
     
       38. A method of patient infusion for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising the following steps: 
       
         providing a room shielded from electromagnetic interference;  
       
       
         providing a system controller positioned external to the shielded room;  
       
       
         providing an infusion apparatus positioned within the shielded room; and  
       
         transmitting control signals via a communication link between the system controller and the infusion apparatus, the control signals adapted to be substantially non - reactive with the magnetic field of the imaging system.   
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38  wherein the communication link comprises a fiber optic line. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 38  wherein the communication link comprises electromagnetic transceivers that transmit the control signals through a window in the shielded room. 
     
     
       41. A patient infusion system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system, the patient infusion system comprising: 
       
         a patient infusion apparatus within a room shielded from electromagnetic interference including a viewing window;  
       
       
         a system controller external to the shielded room; and  
       
       
         a communicating control link between the system controller and the infusion apparatus, the control link comprising means for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy through the viewing window. 
       
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 41  wherein the electromagnetic energy is in the visible light spectrum. 
     
     
       43. The system of  claim 41  wherein the electromagnetic energy is in the infrared spectrum. 
     
     
       44. The system of  claim 41  wherein the electromagnetic energy comprises electromagnetic radiation.