Powerhead control in a power injection system
Inventors
Small, James R. • Brooks, David M. • Neer, Charles S. • Fago, Frank M. • Wagner, Gary S. • Borgemenke, Elaine • Lafferty, Sean
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8900187-B2
Publication Date
2014-12-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dual head contrast media injection system performs a patency check or test injection, determining flow rate and/or flow volume from the programmed protocol. The tubing that connects syringes to a patient shares only a short common section near to the patient. Appropriate injection steps are taken to compensate for tubing elasticity. A wireless remote control and a touch screen control are provided, improving functionality and information delivery. The display brightness is controlled based on the ambient light, and the display panel includes a double swivel permitting re-orientation. The orientation of the display may also be controlled based on, e.g., the current step, the tilt angle of the powerhead, or a manual control. Furthermore, the display is customizable to identify the type of fluid (contrast, saline, etc.) on either side of the injector, to provide matched color coding, and to provide a folder/tab analogy for retrieving injection protocol parameters.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a contrast media injector system that includes a powerhead configured to control delivery of a fluid via a fluid container, including a fluid container mounting and a motorized drive for performing a fluid injection. A controller monitors powerhead activity of a user to determine whether the user has performed a required sequence of operations prior to initiating execution of an injection protocol. The required sequence comprises a plurality of steps that each must be completed by the user before the contrast media injector system may be enabled for initiating an injection in accordance with the injection protocol.
The controller monitors for completion of each step of the plurality of steps and the display provides an interactive user interface. The display provides a first visual change in response to completion of the required sequence of operations to convey that the injector may thereafter be enabled. The display also identifies each step of the plurality of steps that remains to be done before the injector can be enabled, thereby providing ongoing step-by-step status to the user.
The method of operation for the contrast media injector system includes monitoring powerhead activity of a user to determine whether the required multi-step sequence has been performed prior to initiating execution of an injection protocol. The method identifies each step of the plurality that remains to be done before the injector can be enabled and generates an interactive user interface for the user. The generating provides a first visual change in response to completion of the required sequence of operations to convey that the injector may thereafter be enabled, and the identifying is executed before the generating of the interactive user interface.
Claims Coverage
The patent portion includes two independent claims: one directed to a contrast media injector system and one directed to a method of operation. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on monitoring user-required multi-step operations prior to enabling an injection protocol and presenting an interactive display that updates the user by indicating remaining steps and providing a visual change when the injector may thereafter be enabled.
Controller monitoring required sequence before enabling injection protocol
A controller that monitors powerhead activity of a user to determine whether the user has performed a required sequence of operations with the powerhead prior to initiating execution of an injection protocol, wherein the required sequence of operations comprises a plurality of steps that each must be completed by the user before the contrast media injector system may be enabled for initiating an injection in accordance with the injection protocol, wherein the controller monitors for a completion of each step of the plurality of steps.
Interactive display identifying remaining steps and providing visual enable indication
A display configured to provide an interactive user interface to the user, the display being configured to provide a first visual change in response to a completion of the required sequence of operations to convey to the user that the injector may thereafter be enabled, and wherein the display is configured to identify each step of the plurality of steps that remain to be done before the injector can be enabled.
Method monitoring, identifying incomplete steps before generating interactive user interface
A method of operation comprising monitoring powerhead activity of a user to determine whether the user has performed a required sequence of operations with a powerhead of the injector system prior to initiating execution of an injection protocol, wherein the monitoring step monitors for completion of each step of the plurality of steps; identifying each step of the plurality of steps that remains to be done before the injector can be enabled; and generating an interactive user interface to the user, wherein the generating comprises providing a first visual change in response to a completion of the required sequence of operations to convey to the user that the injector may thereafter be enabled, wherein the identifying step is executed before the generating step.
The independent claims broadly cover controller-based monitoring of completion of a required multi-step user sequence before an injection protocol is enabled and an interactive display/user interface that identifies remaining steps and provides a first visual change indicating the injector may thereafter be enabled, with the method requiring that identification of remaining steps occurs before generating the interactive user interface.
Stated Advantages
Provides interactive user interface feedback that conveys when the injector may thereafter be enabled and identifies steps that remain to be done before enabling.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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