Injection system, pump system for use therein and method of use of pumping system

An injection system for injecting a liquid medium into a patient, the injection system comprising:

• a. at least one liquid medium container;
• b. a pump system in fluid connection with the at least one liquid medium container, the pump system comprising at least two chambers, each chamber having disposed therein a pressurizing mechanism comprising an extending member to pressurize the liquid medium within the chamber, and a drive mechanism in operative connection with the extending members of the pressurizing mechanisms, the drive mechanism comprising timing means for driving the extending members of the pressurizing mechanisms in a timed fashion to reduce the pulsatile nature of the flow in an outlet line, each chamber further comprising a separate inlet port and a separate outlet port, each inlet port being connected to the at least one liquid medium container, each outlet port being connected to the outlet line for transmitting pressurized liquid medium to the patient, wherein each pressurizing member is reciprocally driven by the drive mechanism to inject the liquid medium into the patient;
• and
• c. a disposable patient interface in contact with the patient for injection of pressurized liquid medium into the patient, the disposable patient interface being in fluid connection with the outlet line.

A method of using a pump system for injecting a liquid medium into a patient, comprising the following steps:

• providing a powered drive mechanism;
• providing a disposable pump unit comprising at least two chambers, each of the chambers being attached to each other chamber in generally linear, side-by-side alignment, each chamber having disposed therein a pressurizing mechanism to pressurize the liquid medium via generally linear motion of the pressurizing mechanism, the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber comprising a connector to releasably connect the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber to the powered drive mechanism, each chamber further comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port of each chamber being in fluid communication with an inlet port check valve adapted to allow the liquid medium to flow into the chamber through the inlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing out of the chamber through the inlet port, the outlet port of each chamber being in fluid communication with an outlet port check valve adapted to allow pressurized liquid medium to flow out of the chamber through the outlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing into the chamber through the outlet port, each inlet port being connected to a liquid medium source, each outlet port being connected to a common outlet line for transmitting pressurized liquid medium to the patient;
• releasably connecting the disposable pump unit to the drive mechanism;
• and
• driving the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber via the drive mechanism in a timed fashion such that the flow rate and pressure of the liquid medium in the outlet line remain substantially constant.

A method of using a pump system for injecting a liquid medium into a patient, comprising the following steps:

• providing a powered drive mechanism;
• providing a disposable pump unit comprising at least three chambers, each of the chambers having disposed therein a pressurizing mechanism to pressurize the liquid medium via generally linear motion of the pressurizing mechanism, the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber comprising a connector to releasably connect the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber to the powered drive mechanism, each chamber further comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port of each chamber being in fluid communication with an inlet port check valve adapted to allow the liquid medium to flow into the chamber through the inlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing out of the chamber through the inlet port, the outlet port of each chamber being in fluid communication with an outlet port check valve adapted to allow pressurized liquid medium to flow out of the chamber through the outlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing into the chamber through the outlet port, each inlet port being connected to a liquid medium source, each outlet port being connected to a common outlet line for transmitting pressurized liquid medium to the patient;
• releasably connecting the disposable pump unit to the drive mechanism;
• and
• driving the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber via the drive mechanism in a timed fashion such that the flow rate and pressure of the liquid medium in the outlet line remain substantially constant.

A method of injecting a liquid medium into a patient, comprising the following steps:

• providing a drive mechanism comprising timing means;
• providing a pump unit comprising at least two chambers, each of the chambers having disposed therein a pressurizing mechanism to pressurize the liquid medium, the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber comprising an extending member having a connector to connect the pressurizing mechanism of each chamber to the timing means of the drive mechanism, each chamber further comprising a separate inlet port and a separate outlet port, each inlet port being connected to a liquid medium source, each outlet port being connected to an outlet line for transmitting pressurized liquid medium to the patient;
• connecting the pump unit to the drive mechanism;
• and
• driving the extending members of the pressurizing mechanisms of each chamber via the timing means of the drive mechanism in a timed fashion such that the flow rate and pressure of the liquid medium in the outlet line remain substantially constant, wherein each pressurizing member is reciprocally driven by the drive mechanism to inject the liquid medium into the patient.

A pump system for use in pressurizing a liquid medium for injection into a patient, the pump system comprising at least three chambers, each chamber having disposed therein a pressurizing mechanism comprising an extending member to pressurize the liquid medium, the pressurizing mechanism pressurizing the liquid medium via generally linear motion of the pressurizing mechanism within the chamber;

• and a drive mechanism in operative connection with the extending members of the pressurizing mechanisms, the drive mechanism comprising timing means for driving the extending members of the pressurizing mechanisms in a timed fashion to reduce the pulsatile nature of the flow in an outlet line, each chamber further comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, each inlet port being in fluid connection with an inlet port check valve adapted to allow the liquid medium to flow into the chamber through the inlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing out of the chamber through the inlet port, each outlet port being in fluid connection with an outlet port check valve adapted to allow pressurized liquid medium to flow out of the chamber through the outlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing into the chamber through the outlet port, each inlet port being connected to a liquid medium source, each outlet port being connected to a common outlet line for transmitting pressurized liquid medium to the patient.

An injection system for use in injecting a liquid medium into a patient, the injection system comprising:

• at least one liquid medium container;
• a pump system in fluid connection with the at least one liquid medium container, the pump system comprising at least three chambers, each chamber having disposed therein a pressurizing mechanism comprising an extending member to pressurize the liquid medium, the pressurizing mechanism pressurizing the liquid medium via generally linear motion of the pressurizing mechanism within the chamber, and a drive mechanism in operative connection with the extending members of the pressurizing mechanisms, the drive mechanism comprising timing means for driving the extending members of the pressurizing mechanisns in a timed fashion to reduce the pulsatile nature of the flow in an outlet line, each chamber further comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port of each chamber being in fluid connecting with an inlet port check valve adapted to allow the liquid medium to flow into the chamber through the inlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing out of the chamber through the inlet port, the outlet port of each chamber being in fluid connection with an outlet port check valve adapted to allow pressurized liquid medium to flow out of the chamber through the outlet port and to substantially prevent the liquid medium from flowing into the chamber through the outlet port, each inlet port being connected to the at least one liquid medium container, each outlet port being connected to a common outlet line for transmitting pressurized liquid medium to the patient;
• and
• a disposable patient interface in contact with the patient for injection of pressurized liquid medium into the patient, the disposable patient interface being in fluid connection with the common outlet line.