Fluid mixing control device for a multi-fluid delivery system

Abstract

A fluid delivery system for use in medical procedures includes multiple fluid pump devices to deliver multiple injection fluids to a patient. The system includes a control unit controlling the fluid pump devices. An interactive visual display may be provided and electronically linked to the control unit so a user may select discrete mixture ratios of the first and the second of the multiple injection fluids to be delivered to the patient. A manual control device is operatively associated with the fluid pump devices and includes a housing and an actuator associated with the housing. Actuation of the actuator controls discrete flow rates of the selected discrete mixture ratio of the first and the second of the multiple injection fluids to the patient.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A manual control device for a fluid delivery system for use in medical procedures to deliver multiple injection fluids to a patient, comprising:
 a housing; and   an actuator associated with the housing, the actuator configured for controlling discrete flow rates of a selected discrete mixture ratio of a first and a second of the multiple injection fluids to a the patient,   wherein the manual control device is configured to be operatively associated with a first pump device of the fluid delivery system for delivering the first of the multiple injection fluids and a second pump device for delivering the second of the multiple injection fluids,   wherein the manual control device is configured to be operatively associated with a control unit for controlling the first pump device and the second pump device to deliver a discrete mixture ratio of the first and the second of the multiple injection fluids to the patients, and   wherein actuation of the actuator initiates flow rate output signals to the control unit to control the discrete flow rates of the selected discrete mixture ratio of the first and the second of the multiple injection fluids to the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The manual control device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic substrate disposed within the housing and comprising a conductive pattern, the actuator adapted to operatively associate with the conductive pattern when actuated by a user, and wherein the conductive pattern comprises a plurality of predetermined digital values corresponding to the discrete flow rates of the selected discrete mixture ratio of the first and the second of the multiple injection fluids to be delivered to the patient such that when the actuator is actuated, the actuator operatively associates with the conductive pattern and transmits the digital values to the control unit. 
     
     
         3 . The manual control device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is movably associated with the housing and the predetermined digital values are arranged such that the discrete flow rates are linearly proportional to distance of movement of the actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The manual control device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is movably associated with the housing and the predetermined digital values are arranged such that the discrete flow rates incrementally increase with distance of movement of the actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The manual control device of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined digital values comprise at least a first digital value corresponding to no movement of the actuator and a 0% discrete flow rate from the fluid delivery system, and a last digital value corresponding to a maximum movement of the actuator and a 100% discrete flow rate from the fluid delivery system. 
     
     
         6 . The manual control device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is movably associated with the housing and comprises an actuating member and a contact roller adapted to operatively associate with the conductive pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The manual control device of  claim 1 , wherein the manual control device is adapted to provide at least one of tactile and auditory feedback to the user. 
     
     
         8 . The manual control device of  claim 1 , wherein the manual control device is adapted to provide increasing tactile resistance to the user as the discrete flow rate increases. 
     
     
         9 . The manual control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary actuator adapted to transmit a secondary fluid actuation signal to cause the fluid delivery system to deliver a secondary injection fluid to the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The manual control device of  claim 1 , wherein the manual control device is disposable after a preset number of uses. 
     
     
         11 . A manual control device for controlling a multi-fluid delivery system delivering at least a first and a second of multiple injection fluids to a patient, comprising:
 a housing;   an actuator associated with the housing, the actuator configured for controlling discrete flow rates of a selected discrete mixture ratio of a first and a second of the multiple injection fluids to a the patient,   wherein actuation of the actuator initiates an output signal to a control unit of the multi-fluid delivery system to control the discrete flow rate of the selected discrete mixture ratios of the first and the second of the injection fluids.   
     
     
         12 . The manual control device of  claim 11 , further comprising an electronic substrate disposed within the housing and comprising a conductive pattern, the actuator adapted to operatively associate with the conductive pattern when actuated by a user, and wherein the conductive pattern comprises a plurality of predetermined digital values corresponding to the discrete flow rates of the selected discrete mixture ratio of the first and the second of the multiple injection fluids to be delivered to the patient such that when the actuator is actuated, the actuator operatively associates with the conductive pattern and transmits the digital values to the control unit. 
     
     
         13 . The manual control device of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator is movably associated with the housing and the predetermined digital values are arranged such that the discrete flow rates are linearly proportional to distance of movement of the actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The manual control device of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator is movably associated with the housing and the predetermined digital values are arranged such that the discrete flow rates incrementally increase with distance of movement of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The manual control device of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined digital values comprise at least a first digital value corresponding to no movement of the actuator and a 0% discrete flow rate from the fluid delivery system, and a last digital value corresponding to a maximum movement of the actuator and a 100% discrete flow rate from the fluid delivery system. 
     
     
         16 . The manual control device of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator is movably associated with the housing and comprises an actuating member and a contact roller adapted to operatively associate with the conductive pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The manual control device of  claim 11 , wherein the manual control device is adapted to provide at least one of tactile and auditory feedback to the user. 
     
     
         18 . The manual control device of  claim 11 , wherein the manual control device is adapted to provide increasing tactile resistance to the user as the discrete flow rate increases. 
     
     
         19 . The manual control device of  claim 11 , further comprising a secondary actuator adapted to transmit a secondary fluid actuation signal to cause the fluid delivery system to deliver a secondary injection fluid to the patient. 
     
     
         20 . The manual control device of  claim 11 , wherein the manual control device is disposable after a preset number of uses.