Injector and method for facilitating imaging of a patient
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorMichael Maschke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
To facilitate imaging of a patient two different image recording methods are to be carried out at the same time. An auxiliary fluid, for example a contrast medium or a tracer, may be introduced into the body in each image recording method. The invention proposes mixing the two auxiliary fluids in situ immediately before dispensing to the patient. For this purpose it provides an injector with which the auxiliary fluids may be mixed and supplied to the patient. Devices for controlling dispensing of fluid from containers connected to the injector to produce a mixed solution may be electronically controlled by a control unit which calculates the total quantities, and optionally sub-quantities, of auxiliary fluids, which are used for a mixed solution, before activating the devices.
Claims19
A system for injecting a solution into the body of a patient during a medical examination, comprising:
- a plurality of auxiliary media that are respectively used for a plurality of different image recording modalities combined in the medical examination, the plurality of different image recording modalities comprising angiographic X-ray, computer tomography, positron emission tomography, single position emission computer tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography and combinations thereof;
- a mixing unit that mixes the plurality of auxiliary media in order to form the solution for the plurality of different image recording modalities;
- and
- an injector that conveys the mixed solution to the patient via an access opening in the body,
- wherein the system comprises a plurality of different image recording devices used for the plurality of different image recording modalities.
A method for facilitating medical imaging of a medical patient, comprising:
- selecting a plurality of auxiliary media used for a plurality of different image recording modalities, the plurality of different image recording modalities comprising angiographic X-ray, computer tomography, positron emission tomography, single position emission computer tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography and combinations thereof;
- providing a mixing device that is controlled by a control unit for mixing the auxiliary media;
- establishing first and second image recording modalities that depicts desired features of the patient;
- supplying sample data that corresponds to the patient features to the control unit;
- selecting image recording parameters for the first and second image recording modalities;
- supplying parameter data that corresponds to the image recording parameters to the control unit;
- calculating desired quantities of auxiliary media for the first and second image recording modalities in the control unit;
- activating the mixing device to mix the auxiliary media and thereby produce a solution;
- dispensing the solution via an access opening in the body of the injector into the body of the patient;
- and
- imaging using the at least two image recording modalities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.