Sterilization of fluid paths in injection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017232185-A1
Application number	US-201615045898-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A contrast injector system includes one or more devices for reducing or eliminating risk of cross-patient contamination. In particular, the contrast injector system includes at least one of a sterilization device, vibration device, and illuminator device positioned on a component of the contrast injector system, where the sterilization device, vibration device, and/or illuminator device is in communication with a console of the contrast injector system. The sterilization device has an energy emitter positioned to emit energy to one or more components of the system. The vibration device is positioned on a component of the system so as to induce acoustic vibrations on a surface of such component. The illuminator device includes a light source positioned to illuminate a component of the system.

First claim

1 . A contrast injector system comprising:
a manifold including a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a valve, wherein the valve is configured to switch between allowing fluid communication from the first fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and fluid communication from the second fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; a first fluid communication line connecting a first fluid supply container in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet of the manifold; a second fluid communication line connecting a second fluid supply container in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet of the manifold; a reservoir main body positioned on the second fluid communication line and configured to receive fluid from the second fluid supply container and communicate the received fluid to the second fluid inlet of the manifold; a console configured to control an operational parameter of the reservoir main body; a conduit in fluid communication with both the fluid outlet and a vasculature of a patient; and a sterilization device in communication with the console and having an energy emitter, and wherein the energy emitter is positioned to emit energy to i) the conduit, ii) the first fluid communication line, or iii) the second fluid communication line.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization device includes a housing defining a housing inlet, a housing outlet, and a housing channel extending through the housing from the housing inlet to the housing outlet, the housing channel configured to receive i) the conduit, ii) the first fluid communication line, or iii) the second fluid communication line.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and wherein the housing is configured such that the second housing portion is movable to the first housing portion to provide access to the housing channel.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are hingedly connected.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization device is in signal communication with the console such that the sterilization device is controllable by the console.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the console is configured to communicate to the sterilization device a start/stop sterilization command, a change sterilization parameter command, and a sterilization status check command.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy emitter of the sterilization device is configured to emit ultraviolet radiation.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the ultraviolet radiation includes wavelengths between 280 nm and 100 nm.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir main body is configured to pressurize the received fluid from the second fluid supply container such that fluid communicated through the second fluid inlet of the manifold is at a higher pressure than fluid communicated through the first fluid inlet of the manifold.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the operational parameter of the reservoir main body that the console is configured to control is the pressurization of the received fluid from the second fluid supply container.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the valve comprises a spool valve, wherein the spool valve is spring biased so that the first fluid inlet is normally connected to the fluid outlet, and wherein the reservoir main body is configured to pressurize the received fluid from the second fluid supply container to a degree sufficient to overcome bias force against the spool valve so that the second fluid inlet is connected to the fluid outlet.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the second fluid supply container includes a supply of contrast media.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid supply container includes a supply of saline.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the energy emitter is in contact with the conduit.

15 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a check valve positioned along the first fluid communication line and configured to prevent fluid communication from the first fluid inlet of the manifold into the first fluid supply container, wherein the energy emitter is in contact with the second fluid communication line.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the console includes a motor for driving a plunger of the reservoir main body to pressurize the received fluid from the second fluid supply container.

17 . A contrast injector system comprising:
a manifold including a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a valve, wherein the valve is configured to switch between allowing fluid communication from the first fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and fluid communication from the second fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; a first fluid communication line connecting a first fluid supply container in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet of the manifold; a second fluid communication line connecting a second fluid supply container in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet of the manifold a reservoir main body positioned on the second fluid communication line and configured to receive fluid from the second fluid supply container and communicate the received fluid to the second fluid inlet of the manifold; a console configured to control an operational parameter of the reservoir main body; a conduit in fluid communication with both the fluid outlet and a vasculature of a patient; and a vibration device in communication with the console and disposed i) on a surface of the second fluid supply container, or ii) on the second fluid communication line.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the vibration device is disposed on the second fluid communication line at a surface of an inlet port, and wherein the inlet port is a portion of the second fluid communication line extending between the second fluid supply container and the reservoir main body.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the reservoir main body is configured to pressurize the received fluid from the second fluid supply container such that fluid communicated through the second fluid inlet of the manifold is at a higher pressure than fluid communicated through the first fluid inlet of the manifold.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the second fluid supply container includes a supply of contrast media and the first fluid supply container includes a supply of saline.

21 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the vibration device includes a housing with a piezoelectric actuator disposed within the housing.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is disposed within the housing of the vibration device proximate to the surface of the second fluid supply container or the second fluid communication line.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the housing includes a surface in apposition to the surface of the second fluid supply container or the second fluid communication line, and wherein the piezoelectric actuator is disposed on the surface in apposition to the surface of the second fluid supply container or the second fluid communication line.

24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is a low-frequency piezoelectric actuator configured to operate at a frequency between 100 kHz and 300 kHz.

25 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the vibration device is in signal communication with the console such

Assignees

• Acist Medical Sys Inc

Inventors

• Wilson Robert F
• Miller Edward R
• Waters Kendall R

Classifications

• A61L2103/15

  Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps · CPC title

• A61M5/007 Primary

  for contrast media · CPC title

• A61M5/14546

  Front-loading type injectors · CPC title

• A61L2/10

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title