Pressure jacket having syringe retaining element

Abstract

A pressure jacket configured for connecting to an injector head of a fluid injector has an open distal end, an open proximal end, and a sidewall defining a throughbore extending between the distal end and the proximal end along a longitudinal axis. The throughbore is configured for receiving at least a portion of a syringe. The pressure jacket has at least one syringe retaining element positioned at least partially within the throughbore. The at least one syringe retaining element is configured for engaging at least a portion of the syringe during pressurized delivery of fluid from the syringe to prevent or limit a distal movement of the syringe relative to the pressure jacket.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pressure jacket configured for removably connecting to an injector head of a fluid injector, the pressure jacket comprising:
 an open distal end, an open proximal end, and a sidewall defining a throughbore extending between the distal end and the proximal end along a longitudinal axis, the throughbore configured for receiving at least a portion of a syringe; and   at least one syringe retaining element positioned at least partially within the throughbore, wherein the at least one syringe retaining element comprises at least one protrusion protruding radially inward from an interior surface of the sidewall of the pressure jacket,   wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to engage at least a portion of the syringe during pressurized delivery of fluid from the syringe due to radial expansion of the cylindrical sidewall of the syringe to prevent or limit a distal movement of the syringe relative to the pressure jacket.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is circumferentially continuous or discontinuous around a circumference of the interior surface of the sidewall of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned on the interior surface of the sidewall of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure jacket of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one syringe retaining element further comprises at least one expansion pocket recessed radially outward into an interior surface of the sidewall of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure jacket of  claim 4 , wherein a volume of the at least one expansion pocket is selected to prevent plastic yield of a sidewall of the syringe during the pressurized delivery of fluid from the syringe exceeding a predetermined threshold pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure jacket of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one expansion pocket is circumferentially continuous or discontinuous around a circumference of the interior sidewall of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure jacket of  claim 4  wherein the at least one expansion pocket comprises a plurality of expansion pockets axially offset from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure jacket of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one expansion pocket comprises one or more through holes that extend through the sidewall of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure jacket of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the at least one protrusion is selected to maintain a predetermined axial restraining force due to radial expansion of at least a portion of a sidewall of the syringe against the at least one protrusion during the pressurized delivery of fluid from the syringe. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is dimensioned to allow insertion of the syringe into the throughbore of the pressure jacket during loading and provide sufficient axial restraining force when the cylindrical sidewall of the syringe sidewall is expanded against the sidewall of pressure jacket under pressure during an injection procedure. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is integrally formed with the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         12 . The pressure jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is removably or non-removably connected to the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         13 . The pressure jacket of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one protrusion is a label attached to the inner surface of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         14 . The pressure jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion has a roughened surface. 
     
     
         15 . A fluid injector for delivering fluid to a patient, the fluid injector comprising:
 at least one injector head; and
 at least one pressure jacket removably connected to the at least one injector head, the at least one pressure jacket having an open distal end, an open proximal end, and a sidewall defining a throughbore extending between the distal end and the proximal end along a longitudinal axis, the throughbore configured for receiving at least a portion of a syringe; and 
 at least one syringe retaining element positioned at least partially within the throughbore, wherein the at least one syringe retaining element comprises at least one protrusion protruding radially inward from an interior surface of the sidewall of the pressure jacket, 
 wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to engage at least a portion of the syringe during pressurized delivery of fluid from the syringe due to radial expansion of the cylindrical sidewall of the syringe to prevent or limit a distal movement of the syringe relative to the pressure jacket. 
   
     
     
         16 . The fluid injector of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one syringe retaining element further comprises at least one expansion pocket recessed radially outward into an interior surface of the sidewall of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid injector of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned on the interior surface of the sidewall of the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid injector of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one protrusion is dimensioned to allow insertion of the syringe into the throughbore of the pressure jacket during loading and provide sufficient axial restraining force when the cylindrical sidewall of the syringe sidewall is expanded against the sidewall of pressure jacket under pressure during an injection procedure. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid injector of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one protrusion is integrally formed with the pressure jacket. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid injector of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one protrusion is a label attached to the inner surface of the pressure jacket.