Injector providing drive member advancement and engagement with syringe plunger, and method of connecting a syringe to an injector

A method of connecting a syringe comprising a plunger and encoded syringe information to an injector comprising a motor, a controller operably associated with the motor, a sensor operably associated with the controller, a drive member powered by the motor and a plunger engagement detection device, the method comprising:

• connecting the syringe to the injector;
• reading the syringe information encoded on the syringe;
• automatically advancing the drive member of the injector when the sensor reads the syringe information encoded upon the syringe;
• and
• determining when the drive member of the injector has engaged the plunger of the syringe.

An injector for injecting a fluid from a syringe comprising a body, a plunger moveably positioned within the body, and encoded syringe information, the injector comprising:

• a motor,
• a controller operably associated with the motor;
• a first sensor operably associated with the controller and operable to read the encoded syringe information when the syringe is attached to the injector;
• a drive member powered by the motor and operable to automatically advance and engage the plunger when the first sensor reads the encoded syringe information;
• and
• a sensor disposed on the drive member and operable to detect engagement of the drive member with the plunger.

An injector for use with a syringe comprising a body, a plunger moveably positioned within the body, and encoded syringe information, the injector comprising:

• a motor;
• a controller operably associated with the motor;
• a sensor operably associated with the controller and operable to read the encoded syringe information when the syringe is attached to the injector;
• a drive member powered by the motor and operable to automatically advance and engage the plunger when the sensor reads the encoded syringe information;
• and
• a plunger engagement detection device operable to determine when the drive member of the injector has engaged the plunger of the syringe,
• wherein the injector controller determines that the syringe is empty from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe and causes the drive member to advance the plunger forward within the syringe body to expel air from the syringe.

An injector for use with a syringe comprising a body, a plunger moveably positioned within the body, and encoded syringe information, the injector comprising:

• a motor;
• a controller operably associated with the motor;
• a sensor operably associated with the controller and operable to read the encoded syringe information when the syringe is attached to the injector;
• a drive member powered by the motor and operable to automatically advance and engage the plunger when the sensor reads the encoded syringe information;
• and
• a plunger engagement detection device operable to determine when the drive member of the injector has engaged the plunger of the syringe,
• wherein the injector controller determines that the syringe is prefilled with fluid from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe and substantially stops forward advancement of the drive member upon engagement of the drive member with the plunger.

A method of connecting a syringe comprising a plunger and encoded syringe information to an injector comprising a motor, a controller operably associated with the motor, a sensor operably associated with the controller, a drive member powered by the motor and a plunger engagement detection device, the method comprising:

• connecting the syringe to the injector;
• reading the syringe information encoded on the syringe;
• automatically advancing the drive member of the injector when the sensor reads the syringe information encoded upon the syringe;
• determining when the drive member of the injector has engaged the plunger of the syringe;
• determining that the syringe is empty from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe;
• and
• advancing the plunger forward to expel air from the syringe in preparation for loading the syringe with fluid.

A method of connecting a syringe comprising a plunger and encoded syringe information to an injector comprising a motor, a controller operably associated with the motor, a sensor operably associated with the controller, a drive member powered by the motor and a plunger engagement detection device, the method comprising:

• connecting the syringe to the injector;
• reading the syringe information encoded on the syringe;
• automatically advancing the drive member of the injector when the sensor reads the syringe information encoded upon the syringe;
• determining when the drive member of the injector has engaged the plunger of the syringe;
• determining that the syringe is prefilled with fluid from the syringe information encoded upon the syringe;
• and
• substantially stopping forward advancement of the drive member upon engagement of the drive member with the plunger to prevent expulsion of fluid from the syringe.