A fluid injector system includes at least one syringe configured for injecting medical fluid and a fluid path assembly in fluid communication with the at least one syringe, the fluid path assembly including at least one air detection region. The system includes an air detector configured to detect one or more air bubbles in a fluid path associated with the air detection region, at least one shutoff valve at a distal end of the fluid path assembly, and at least one processor programmed or configured to actuate the shutoff valve in response to the air detector detecting the one or more air bubbles in the fluid path associated with the air detection region to prevent fluid flow out of the fluid path assembly. The fluid path assembly has a length greater than a distance that an air bubble can travel or expand during an actuation time of the shutoff valve.

An infusion pump (18) for delivery of a fluid is disclosed. The infusion pump allows a user to selectively control a flow rate of a fluid and includes a spike member (26) that is connectable to an injection port of an intravenous fluid container (12).

Apparatus and methods for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient are provided. The apparatus includes a humidification system configured to deliver humidified breathing gas to a patient. The humidification system includes a vapor transfer unit and a base unit. The vapor transfer unit includes a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, and a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage. The base unit includes a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit. The liquid passage is not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow therebetween when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit.

A valve assembly for a fluid injector system includes a valve housing, a first port configured for fluid communication with a fluid injector, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port configured for fluid communication with a patient line. The valve assembly includes an air detection region associated with the first port, a fluid path length having a proximal end in fluid communication with the second port and a distal end in fluid communication with the third port, and a valve element defining a first fluid path and a second fluid path. The first fluid path provides fluid communication between the first and second ports in a delivery position of the valve housing. The second fluid path provides fluid communication between the third and fourth ports in the delivery position. The third port is isolated from the fourth port in a stop position of the valve housing.

An apparatus (300) for suspending air bubbles in a fluid path of a fluid injector system includes an internal chamber (320) having a curved interior wall (322) defined within the housing (310), an inlet fluid pathway in fluid communication with the internal chamber, and an outlet fluid pathway in fluid communication with the internal chamber. The inlet fluid pathway extending into the chamber at a tangent to the curved interior wall, and the outlet fluid pathway spaced from the inlet fluid pathway such that fluid flowing into the internal chamber via the inlet fluid pathway is directed away from the outlet fluid pathway. The internal chamber is configured to create an internal fluid vortex in an injection fluid entering the internal chamber from the inlet fluid pathway, and wherein the internal fluid vortex at least temporarily suspends air bubbles in the fluid in the internal vortex and delays the passage of the air bubbles to the outlet fluid pathway.

A method and apparatus are provided for use with a pump. The method includes, (a) placing liquid in a tube coupled to the pump, (b) injecting an air bubble into the tube in a manner that does not increase pressure within the tube, and such that there is a predetermined volume of liquid between the air bubble and the pump, (c) using the pump to advance the air bubble along the tube to the bubble detector of the pump, (d) using the pump, assessing accuracy of the pump by automatically measuring the volume of liquid pumped to advance the air bubble to the bubble detector, and (e) using the pump to continue advancing the air bubble along the tube, past the bubble detector, and using the pump to measure a volume of the air bubble. Other applications are also described.

A method, including ejecting irrigation fluid from a distal end of a probe so as to irrigate tissue, and receiving, over a period of time, initial signals indicative of respective temperatures of the distal end, from a temperature sensor in the distal end. The method also includes formulating from the initial signals a temperature range between upper and lower temperature thresholds and, when a further signal from the temperature sensor, received subsequent to the period of time, is indicative of a further temperature above the upper temperature threshold, raising an alarm that a bubble is present in the irrigation fluid.

Fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems. The fill stations may be opened and closed to accept a reservoir and to allow fluid to be introduced into the reservoir for use with personal pump systems. The fill stations may hold the reservoir at a tilt relative to an underlying surface and may discourage overfilling of the reservoir. The filling stations may also include viewing windows having fluid lines marked thereon for indicating volume of fluid within the reservoir.

It may desirable to monitor or control a pump remotely. For example, the pump may be positioned near the patient, with remote control or monitoring of the pump occurring in a control room. In one exemplary embodiment, the pump is used in an MRI environment. In another exemplary embodiment, the pump is used in a hyperbaric chamber. The pump may monitor one or more physiological parameters and transmit them to the remote. The pump may also transmit information relating to the pump's operation. The pump may send the device and/or physiological data using one or more packets. The packets may consist of low priority sequential packets and high-priority asynchronous packets. The high-priority packets may enable the real-time monitoring of a patient's heart beat or other physiological parameter.

A system is disclosed. The system includes a reservoir for containing a fluidic medium, the reservoir including a front surface, a resilient cylindrical flexure portion connected to the front surface, the resilient cylindrical flexure portion comprising an accordion-like structure that is able to expand and contract to change an interior volume within the resilient cylindrical flexure portion, a central passageway within the resilient cylindrical flexure, and a collection chamber connected to the central passageway. Also, a system including a reservoir, a plunger head located within the reservoir, a plunger arm connected to the plunger head, a driving shaft connected to the plunger arm, and a motor connected to the driving shaft, the motor controllable to move the drive shaft in a first motion and a second motion so as to move the advance plunger head and retract the plunger head within the reservoir.