Chemical liquid injecting apparatus

Inventors

Nemoto, Shigeru • FUKIKOSHI, Yumiko

Assignees

Circulus Inc

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Publication Number

US-12514975-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2026-01-06

Expiration Date


Abstract

In a chemical liquid injection conduit, there is a need to prevent a backflow of body fluid of a subject reaching the inside of a common conduit portion. This is solved by the chemical liquid injecting apparatus that includes: a common conduit portion that flows a chemical liquid from a chemical liquid injector to a replaceable conduit portion; a control device that controls the chemical liquid injector; and a flow blocking unit that is arranged inside the replaceable conduit or in a conduit of a boundary portion between the replaceable conduit and the common conduit portion, and by receiving a command from the control device, is switchable between an open state allowing a flow of the chemical liquid and a closed state blocking a flow of the chemical liquid.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention is a chemical liquid injecting apparatus for injecting a chemical liquid into a subject. The apparatus includes a chemical liquid injector that discharges the chemical liquid according to a preset injection sequence defining a time at which injection is started until injection is completed. The apparatus further includes a flow blocking unit arranged with a conduit through which the chemical liquid flows, where the flow blocking unit is switchable between an open state allowing flow and a closed state blocking flow.

A control device controls the chemical liquid injector and determines timing points defined in the preset injection sequence. In one timing approach, the control device determines a completion timing at which injection is completed, and controls the flow blocking unit simultaneously with the completion timing so that the flow blocking unit starts blocking and is placed in the closed state during a time period from the completion timing. The flow blocking unit includes a member that sandwiches the conduit or a shut-off valve arranged within the conduit.

In another timing approach, the control device determines a start timing and a completion timing defined in the preset injection sequence. The control device controls the flow blocking unit so that it is placed in the open state after elapsing a first time period from the start timing, and so that it is placed in the closed state after elapsing a second time period from the completion timing. The disclosure also relates to structures and logic that maintain safe pressure behavior and support sequences such as attachment and detachment while preventing backflow of subject body fluid into a common conduit portion.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims cover two main variants, each centered on a chemical liquid injecting apparatus with preset injection-sequence timing and a controllable flow blocking unit. Across the two independent claims, the claims describe completion-timing-based blocking versus start-timing open followed by completion-timing-based closing, and two alternative flow-blocking implementations (conduit-sandwiching member or a shut-off valve arranged within the conduit).

Completion timing-based flow blocking for open/closed control

A chemical liquid injecting apparatus in which a control device determines a completion timing at which injection is completed as defined in a preset injection sequence, and controls the flow blocking unit simultaneous with the completion timing so that the flow blocking unit starts blocking the chemical liquid and is placed in the closed state during a time period from the completion timing.

Start and completion time period-based open/closed control

A chemical liquid injecting apparatus in which a control device determines a start timing and a completion timing as defined in a preset injection sequence, and controls the flow blocking unit so that the flow blocking unit is placed in the open state after elapsing a first time period from the start timing and is placed in the closed state after elapsing a second time period from the completion timing.

Overall, the claim coverage centers on timing-controlled switching of a conduit-placed flow blocking unit between open and closed states, with one independent claim focusing on simultaneous blocking at a completion timing for a defined closed-state time period and the other independent claim using an open period after a start timing followed by a closed period after a completion timing. Both alternatives include a flow blocking unit implemented by a conduit-sandwiching member or a shut-off valve arranged within the conduit.

Stated Advantages

Prevents backflow of subject body fluid into the common conduit portion.

Documented Applications

Chemical liquid injecting with a blood-vessel delivery configuration using a piercing member inserted into a subject’s blood vessel and a replaceable conduit connected to the piercing member to carry the chemical liquid flow.

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