Methods of injecting fluids for use in imaging and therapeutic procedures where feedback enables adjustment of injection parameters

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the field of medical devices for delivering contrast media during medical diagnostic and therapeutic imaging procedures and more particularly, this invention relates to improved contrast media delivery systems and methods of use which allow adjustment of contrast media concentration and injection parameters either before or during an injection procedure to provide patient specific dosing of contrast media, thus decreasing the waste and cost of these procedures while increasing their efficiency.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A method of delivering fluid media into a patient in connection with an imaging procedure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a media delivery system for injecting into the patient at least one of a contrast medium and a diluent;    (b) providing an imaging system for conducting the imaging procedure of a desired region of the patient through which the least one of the contrast medium and the diluent flows;    (c) providing an electronic interface for enabling the media delivery system to receive from the imaging system feedback in the form of an image of the desired region of the patient;    (d) providing the media delivery system with data characteristic of the patient for the purpose of calculating an initial set of injection parameters;    (e) injecting via the media delivery system at least one of the contrast medium and the diluent according to the initial set of injection parameters so calculated;    (f) acquiring via the imaging system one or more images of the desired region of the patient in accordance with the initial parameters;    (g) providing the feedback through the electronic interface from the imaging system to the media delivery system;    (h) adjusting the injection parameters via the media delivery system in accordance with the feedback obtained from the imaging system; and    (i) modifying the injection of at least one of the contrast medium and the diluent in accordance with the injection parameters so adjusted.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the data characteristic of the patient includes at least one of size, weight, hydration, cardiac status, vessel type, vessel status, circulation transit time, and kidney function.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the injection parameters include at least one of flow rate, concentration, volume, pressure, and time delay for administration of at least one of the contrast medium and the diluent.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of calculating the initial set of injection parameters is based not only on the data characteristic of the patient but also on initial parameters particular to the imaging procedure to be performed.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22  further including, after the modifying step, the step of acquiring during the imaging procedure one or more additional images of the desired region of the patient, the additional images(s) acquired in connection with the adjusted injection parameters being of a quality better than the acquired in connection with the initial parameters.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the media delivery system includes an electronic control means having a microprocessor, memory and associated software for permitting input of the data characteristic of the patient, for calculating the initial injection parameters based thereon, and for adjusting the injection parameters based on the feedback from the imaging system.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the electronic interface also enables the media delivery system to receive the data characteristic of the patient from a separate information system.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the separate information system is a hospital information system.  
   
   
       30 . A method of delivering fluid media into a patient in connection with an imaging procedure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a media delivery system for injecting into the patient at least one of a contrast medium and a diluent;    (b) providing an imaging system for conducting the imaging procedure;    (c) providing a sensor for sensing concentration of the contrast medium within a desired region of the patient;    (d) providing an electronic interface for enabling the media delivery system to receive from the sensor feedback pertaining to the concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient;    (e) providing the media delivery system with data characteristic of the patient for the purpose of calculating an initial set of injection parameters;    (f) injecting via the media delivery system at least one of the contrast medium and the diluent according to the initial set of injection parameters so calculated;    (g) acquiring via the imaging system one or more images of the desired region of the patient in accordance with the initial parameters;    (h) providing the feedback from the sensor through the electronic interface to the media delivery system;    (i) adjusting the injection parameters via the media delivery system in accordance with the feedback obtained from the sensor; and    (j) modifying the injection of at least one of the contrast medium and the diluent in accordance with the injection parameters so adjusted.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the data characteristic of the patient includes at least one of size, weight, hydration, cardiac status, vessel type, vessel status, circulation transit time, and kidney function.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the injection parameters include at least one of flow rate, concentration, volume, pressure, and time delay for administration of at least one of the contrast medium and the diluent.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the step of calculating the initial set of injection parameters is based not only on the data characteristic of the patient but also on initial parameters particular to the imaging procedure to be performed.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30  further including, after the modifying step, the step of acquiring one or more additional images of the desired region of the patient, the additional image(s) acquired in connection with the adjusted injection parameters being of a quality better than the images acquired in connection with the initial parameters.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the media delivery system includes an electronic control means having a microprocessor, memory and associated software for permitting input of the data characteristic of the patient, for calculating the initial injection parameters based thereon, and for adjusting the injection parameters based on the feedback from the sensor.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the electronic interface also enables the media delivery system to receive the data characteristic of the patient from a separate information system.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the separate information system is a hospital information system.  
   
   
       38 . A method of delivering fluid media into a patient, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a media delivery system with data characteristic of the patient for the purpose of calculating an initial set of injection parameters in accordance with which at least one of a contrast medium and an other fluid is injected into the patient;    (b) acquiring during an imaging procedure one or more images of a desired region of the patient through which the least one of the contrast medium and the other fluid flows;    (c) providing to the media delivery system a signal representative of concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient;    (d) adjusting the injection parameters via the media delivery system in accordance with the signal representative of the concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient; and    (e) modifying the injection into the patient of at least one of the contrast medium and the other fluid in accordance with the injection parameters so adjusted.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the data characteristic of the patient includes at least one of size, weight, hydration, cardiac status, vessel type, vessel status, circulation transit time, and kidney function.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the injection parameters include at least one of flow rate, concentration, volume, pressure, and time delay for administration of at least one of the contrast medium and the other fluid.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the step of calculating the initial set of injection parameters is based not only on the data characteristic of the patient but also on initial parameters particular to the imaging procedure to be performed.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 38  wherein a sensor provides the signal representative of concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the sensor is an imaging system from which the signal is one or more of the images obtained during the imaging procedure.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein, for when the imaging procedure is one that employs x-rays, the sensor includes a source of x-rays and a receiver for determining an amount of x-ray radiation that passes through the desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the sensor employs electromagnetic radiation to determine concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the electromagnetic radiation takes the form of at least one of visible light and infrared light.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the sensor employs pressure sensing within a vessel to determine concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the sensor provides the signal in the form of a voltage proportional to concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 38  further including, after the modifying step, the step of acquiring during the imaging procedure one or more additional images of the desired region of the patient, the additional image(s) acquired in connection with the adjusted injection parameters being of a quality better than the images acquired in connection with the initial parameters.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the media delivery system includes an electronic control means having a microprocessor, memory and associated software for permitting input of the data characteristic of the patient, for calculating the initial injection parameters based thereon, and for adjusting the injection parameters based on the signal representative of concentration of the contrast medium within the desired region of the patient.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the media delivery system includes an electronic interface to enable receipt of the data characteristic of the patient from a separate information system.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the separate information system is a hospital information system.