Agitation devices and dispensing systems incorporating such agitation devices

Abstract

A system for dispensing a medium includes at least a first container to hold the medium, a pressurizing device, such as a pump, in fluid connection with the container for pressurizing the medium, and an agitation mechanism or device to maintain the components of the medium in a mixed state. The container and the pressurizing device can be separate units, as in the case of an bag or bottle in fluid connection with a peristaltic or other type of pump. The container and the pump can also be combined in a single unit, as in the case of a syringe, wherein the syringe barrel of the syringe acts to contain the medium and the syringe plunger pressurizes the medium within the syringe barrel. A method of injecting a multi-component medium includes the step of agitating the medium (for example, as described above) before or during an injection procedure to maintain the components of the medium in a mixed state.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An injector system for injecting a multi-component medium into a patient, the injector system comprising: 
 a syringe barrel having a longitudinal axis and operable to hold the medium;    a plunger movably disposed within the barrel for pressurizing the medium;    an agitation mechanism operably associated with and inducing reciprocal rotational bulk motion of the syringe barrel about the longitudinal axis to maintain the components of the medium in a mixed state; and    a power source operably associated with the agitation mechanism for powering the agitation mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The injector system of  claim 1  wherein the syringe barrel is formed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         3 . The injector system of  claim 2 , further comprising a flow member disposed within the syringe barrel to reduce the effects of rotational symmetry about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         4 . The injector system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operably associated with the power source and the agitation mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The injector system of  claim 4  wherein the controller is operable to operate the agitation mechanism at a first level of agitation and at a second level of agitation, the second level of agitation corresponding to a less vigorous level than the first level of agitation.  
     
     
         6 . The injector system of  claim 5  wherein the controller is operable to control a transition between the first level of agitation and the second level of agitation.  
     
     
         7 . The injector system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid path for conducting medium from the syringe barrel to the patient.  
     
     
         8 . The injector system of  claim 1 , further comprising a holder to which the syringe barrel is connected.  
     
     
         9 . The injector system of  claim 8  wherein the agitation mechanism is connected to the holder.  
     
     
         10 . The injector system of  claim 4 , further comprising a user interface operably associated with the controller, the user interface adapted to enable a user to program or control an injection procedure.  
     
     
         11 . An injector system for injecting a multi-component medium into a patient, the injector system comprising: 
 a syringe barrel having a longitudinal axis and operable to hold the medium;    a plunger movably disposed within the barrel for pressurizing the medium;    an agitation mechanism operably associated with and inducing substantially continuous rotational bulk motion of the syringe barrel in one direction and about the longitudinal axis to maintain the components of the medium in a mixed state; and    a power source operably associated with the agitation mechanism for powering the agitation mechanism.    
     
     
         12 . The injector system of  claim 11 , further comprising a free moving object disposed within the syringe barrel to assist in mixing.  
     
     
         13 . The injector system of  claim 11  wherein the syringe barrel is formed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         14 . The injector system of  claim 13 , further comprising a flow member disposed within the syringe barrel to reduce the effects of rotational symmetry about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         15 . The injector system of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller operably associated with the power source and the agitation mechanism.  
     
     
         16 . The injector system of  claim 15  wherein the controller is operable to operate the agitation mechanism at a first level of agitation and at a second level of agitation, the second level of agitation corresponding to a less vigorous level than the first level of agitation.  
     
     
         17 . The injector system of  16  wherein the controller is operable to control a transition between the first level of agitation and the second level of agitation.  
     
     
         18 . The injector system of  claim 11 , further comprising a fluid path for conducting medium from the syringe barrel to the patient.  
     
     
         19 . The injector system of  claim 11 , further comprising a holder to which the syringe barrel is connected.  
     
     
         20 . The injector system of  claim 19  wherein the agitation mechanism is connected to the holder.