Angiographic injector

An apparatus for injecting contrast media into the vascular system of an animal, the apparatus comprising holding means for a media containing syringe, means for forcing media from said syringe and into said vascular system, and including a media-warming heater comprising:

• a heating element;
• first and second thermostats connected in series with said heating element, the respective thermostats designed to operate at a first temperature and at a second and higher temperature, each being normally closed and opening at the respective first and second temperatures;
• means for connecting a source of electrical energy to the series circuit of said heating element and said first and second thermostats;
• and means for indicating failure of said first thermostat to open at said first temperature.

An apparatus for injecting a contrast media into the vascular system of an animal said apparatus comprising:

• holding means for a media-containing syringe;
• means for forcing media from said syringe and into said vascular system;
• means for controlling the injection of contrast media into said vascular system;
• means for programming the injection of contrast media into the vascular system;
• and an indicator for representing the state of said apparatus, said indicator comprising illuminator means, circuit means for disabling said illuminator means if the apparatus is not in readiness to inject contrast media, for flashing said illuminator means when said apparatus is armed, and for maintaining said illuminator means in an illuminated condition when said apparatus is injecting contrast media.

An apparatus for injecting contrast media into an animal and comprising:

• holding means for a media-containing syringe;
• means for forcing media from said syringe and into said vascular system;
• programming means for setting the amount of contrast media desired for injection and for programming said apparatus for injecting such desired amount of contrast media;
• means for sensing the actual amount of contrast media in a syringe associated with said apparatus and in readiness to inject contrast media into the animal;
• and indicator means for indicating a condition wherein the sensed contents of contrast media in the syringe is less than that programmed by said programming means.

An apparatus for injecting contrast media into an animal and comprising:

• holding means for a media-containing syringe;
• means for preselecting and delivering the contrast media to the animal at a pre-set injection rate;
• means for recording the highest flow-rate attained during the injection and for maintaining an indication of such flow-rate;
• and means for sensing and recording the highest pressure attained during said injection and for maintaining an indication of such pressure.

An apparatus for injecting a contrast media into the vascular system of an animal, the apparatus comprising:

• a main casing holding on said main casing means for a media-containing syringe;
• means for forcing media from said syringe into said vascular system;
• means mounted in proximity to said main casing for sensing the actual cardiac R-waves of an animal;
• means for generating signals representative of the actual cardiac R-waves of said animal;
• output means for operating an external device in synchronism with said R-waves upon the closure of an output circuit;
• and means for closing said output circuit in synchronism with said signals for actuating said external device.

An apparatus for injecting a contrast media into an animal, wherein means are provided for programming the injection of the contrast media in accordance with a desired flow pattern, and comprising:

• a main casing holding means on said main casing for a media-containing syringe;
• means for forcing media from said syringe into said vascular system;
• means mounted in proximity to said main casing for sensing the actual cardiac R-waves of the animal;
• means for developing signals representative of the time spacing between successive R-waves;
• means for displaying the recorded interval between successive R-waves;
• and means for programming the injection of contrast media into said animal at a rate and volume so as to confine said injection to an R-to-R interval time pattern.

An apparatus for injecting contrast media into an animal, the apparatus comprising:

• a main casing;
• holding means on said main casing for supporting at least one media-containing syringe;
• means mounted in proximity to said main casing for sensing and displaying ECG information of the animal;
• means for forcing contrast media out of a media-containing syringe and into an animal;
• means for setting the desired flow-rate for the injection of contrast media into the animal and for injecting the contrast media into the animal at said flow-rate;
• means for setting the desired volume of contrast media to be injected into the animal and for injecting said volume of contrast media into the animal;
• and display means for previewing the flow and volume settings, the ECG information and the manner in which the flow and volume injection of contrast media synchronizes with said ECG information prior to the initiation of an injection so that the necessity for flow or volume setting adjustments can be previewed prior to actual injection.

An apparatus for injecting a contrast media into an animal, the apparatus comprising:

• holding means for receiving a media-containing syringe;
• means for forcing contrast media from said syringe into said animal;
• sensor means for associating with said syringe and for sensing the presence of contrast media and air in said syringe;
• and indicator alarm means for indicating the presence of air and issuing an alarm signal upon such presence of air.

An apparatus for injecting contrast media into an animal, the apparatus comprising:

• housing means for receiving and supporting a media-containing syringe;
• ejector means including a drive motor for forcing contrast media out of said syringe and into said animal in accordance with a pre-determined program;
• means for sensing the volume of contrast media in said syringe prior to the commencement of the injection;
• and means for over-driving said drive motor at the beginning of the injection and in accordance with a program which is proportional to the desired pressure of injection and the volume of contrast media sensed in said syringe prior to the commencement of the injection.

An apparatus for injecting a contrast media into an animal wherein a plunger forces a contrast media out of a syringe, and including a mechanism for preventing the plunger from excessive travel, the apparatus comprising:

• mounting means for supporting a media-containing syringe having a plunger to force contrast media therefrom;
• mechanical actuating means for controlling the operation of said plunger by linear movement;
• stop means integral with said actuating means, movable therewith and hence with said plunger;
• a movable abutment surface adapted to associate with said stop means for limiting the movement of said actuating means and hence said plunger;
• and means to move said abutment surface into preselected positions wherein said stop means contacts said abutment surface at locations corresponding to plunger positions where the desired amount of contrast media is injected.

An apparatus for injecting contrast media into the vascular system of an animal, the apparatus comprising:

• mounting means for accepting a contrast media-filled syringe;
• ejector means for forcing contrast media out of said syringe and into the animal;
• means for preselecting a first flow rate, and for controlling said ejector means to eject contrast media from said syringe and into the animal from a zero rate to said first flow rate;
• first duration means for preselecting the duration of media injection at said first flow rate, and for discontinuing injection at said first flow rate after the preselected duration;
• means for preselecting a final flow rate and for controlling said ejector means to eject contrast media at said final flow rate;
• acceleration means for preselecting a desired acceleration or deceleration from said first flow rate to said final flow rate, and for controlling said ejector means to accelerate or decelerate the injection from said first flow rate to said final flow rate;
• and volume limiting means for discontinuing the ejection of contrast media into the animal upon the ejection of a preselected volume of contrast media.