Devices, systems and methods for delivery of a fluid into a patient during a magnetic resonance procedure

A system for use in magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

• a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner defining a bore in which a patient is positioned for a scan;
• and a device for injection of a fluid into a patient, the device comprising:
• (a) a syringe configured to hold the fluid and defining an outlet through which the fluid can exit therefrom, the syringe having a plunger slidably disposed therein and being configured to be placed in fluid connection with the patient;
• (b) a pressurizing mechanism comprising a vacuum drive in operative connection with the plunger of the syringe for pressurizing the fluid therein, the vacuum drive including:
• (i) a housing defining a chamber therein in which a sealing member is slidably disposed, the sealing member being configured to retract from a closed end of the chamber to a position away from the closed end and configured to enable a vacuum to be internally developed within the chamber as the sealing member is slidably drawn away from the closed end thereof;
• and
• (ii) a force transfer member, linked to the sealing member within the chamber, to which the plunger of the syringe operatively links when the syringe is secured to the housing;
• (c) an actuator connected to the outlet of the syringe, the actuator being switchable between a first state in which the fluid is prevented from flowing through the outlet and a second state in which the fluid can flow through the outlet;
• (d) a controller configured to control the state of the actuator;
• and
• (e) a flow regulator configured to regulate the rate at which the fluid flows from the outlet, wherein the syringe, the pressurizing mechanism, the actuator and the flow regulator are MR compatible, thereby making the device suitable for use in or near the bore of the MR scanner;
• such that, upon the vacuum being established within the chamber and the syringe being secured to the housing, when the actuator is switched to the second state, the force transfer member receives a force caused by the vacuum pulling the sealing member towards the closed end of the chamber and transfers the force to the plunger of the syringe thereby causing the fluid contained therein to be expelled from the outlet.

An injection device comprising:

• (a) a syringe for injecting fluid into a patient, the syringe having a first plunger slideably disposed therein, a second plunger slidably disposed therein, an outlet at a forward end thereof and a plunger extension attached to a rearward end of the second plunger, the first plunger being spaced forward from the second plunger in the syringe to create an intermediate volume therebetween, the intermediate volume being filled with an incompressible fluid;
• (b) a gas generating mechanism disposed within the intermediate volume;
• and
• (c) an activating mechanism configured to activate the gas generating mechanism thereby enabling pressure to build within the intermediate volume;
• such that advancement of the plunger extension in a forward direction forces both the second and the first plungers forward until the first plunger abuts against the forward end of the syringe and, upon connection of the outlet to a source of the fluid, subsequent retraction of the plunger extension forces both the second and first plungers rearward thereby drawing the fluid into the syringe forward of the first plunger and, upon readying the patient for injection with the syringe, activation of the gas generating mechanism while the second plunger is locked into a fixed position causes the fluid to be expelled from the outlet of the syringe by virtue of the pressure building up in the intermediate volume.

An injection device comprising:

• (a) a syringe for injecting fluid into a patient, the syringe having a first plunger slideably disposed therein, a second plunger slidably disposed therein, an outlet at a forward end thereof and a plunger extension attached to a rearward end of the second plunger, the first plunger being situated forward of the second plunger in the syringe;
• (b) a gas generating mechanism disposed between the first and the second plungers;
• (c) an activating mechanism configured to activate the gas generating mechanism thereby enabling pressure to build between the first and the second plungers;
• and
• (d) means for locking the plunger extension and thus the second plunger attached thereto into a fixed position;
• such that advancement of the plunger extension in a forward direction forces both the second and the first plungers forward until the first plunger abuts against the forward end of the syringe and, upon connection of the outlet to a source of the fluid, subsequent retraction of the plunger extension forces both the second and first plungers rearward thereby drawing the fluid into the syringe forward of the first plunger and, upon readying the patient for injection with the syringe and locking the second plunger into the fixed position using the means therefor, activation of the gas generating mechanism while the second plunger is so locked causes the fluid to be expelled from the outlet of the syringe by virtue of the pressure building up between the first and the second plungers.