Controlling the delivery of embolic beads into an artery

An apparatus for controlling delivery of embolic beads into a subject's artery via a lumen of a catheter, the apparatus comprising:

• a pump configured to draw fluid into a chamber in response to a draw control signal and eject the fluid from the chamber in response to an eject control signal;
• at least one valve having a common port arranged in fluid communication with the pump, a first port, a second port, and a third port, wherein the at least one valve has a first operating state in which a fluid-flow path is provided between the first port and the common port, a second operating state in which a fluid-flow path is provided between the second port and the common port, and a third operating state in which a fluid-flow path is provided between the third port and the common port;
• a valve actuator operatively connected to the at least one valve such that the valve actuator (i) places the at least one valve in the first operating state in response to a first valve control signal, (ii) places the at least one valve in the second operating state in response to a second valve control signal, and (iii) places the at least one valve in the third operating state in response to a third valve control signal;
• a first inlet port arranged in fluid communication with the first port of the at least one valve, wherein the first inlet port is configured to provide a fluid-tight coupling with an orifice of an external syringe when the external syringe is connected to the first inlet port;
• a first outlet port arranged in fluid communication with the second port of the at least one valve, wherein the first outlet port is configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the lumen of the catheter when the catheter is connected to the first outlet port;
• a second inlet port arranged to provide a fluid-tight coupling with a source of saline solution;
• a first fluid flow path arranged to route the saline solution arriving via the second inlet port into the third port of the at least one valve;
• and
• a controller configured to generate the draw control signal, the eject control signal, the first valve control signal, the second valve control signal, and the third valve control signal in a controlled sequence to control the pump and the at least one valve to implement the steps of (f) subsequent to a connection of an external syringe filled with a fluid containing embolic beads to the first inlet port, drawing the fluid containing embolic beads into the chamber via the first inlet port and the first port of the at least one valve, and (g) ejecting the fluid containing the embolic beads out of the chamber and out of the first outlet port via the second port of the at least one valve.