A method of maintaining an overall flow rate during a sequential delivery of at least two fluids to a patient's blood vessel includes delivering at least a first fluid into the patient's blood vessel at a first flow rate, delivering at least a second fluid into the patient's blood vessel at a second flow rate, and adjusting at least one of a first flow profile of the first flow rate and a second flow profile of the second flow rate to dampen a transient increase in the overall flow rate during a transition between delivering one of the first fluid and the second fluid to delivering the other of the first fluid and the second fluid.

A pressure jacket includes a barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall extending substantially circumferentially between the proximal end and the distal end along a longitudinal axis. The pressure jacket also includes at least one retaining member having at least one first lug protruding radially outward relative to an outer surface of the sidewall. The at least one first lug has at least one third surface tapered axially relative to the longitudinal axis of the barrel in a proximal direction. The at least one first lug is configured for engagement with a locking mechanism associated with a port on a fluid injector to releasably lock the pressure jacket with the fluid injector. At least a portion of the at least one third surface axially ejects the pressure jacket upon rotation of the pressure jacket about the longitudinal axis.

A pressure jacket for use with a fluid injector includes a barrel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending between the distal end and the proximal end along a longitudinal axis. The pressure jacket includes at least one engagement member protruding from a terminal portion of the proximal end of the barrel in a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis. The at least one engagement member tapers axially in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end of the barrel. The at least one engagement member engages with a locking mechanism on the fluid injector to releasably lock the pressure jacket with the fluid injector. A taper of the at least one engagement member rotationally guides the barrel into self-alignment with the locking mechanism and axially ejects the barrel upon rotation of the barrel about the longitudinal axis.

A chemical-liquid injector includes a piston-driving mechanism (130) that moves a piston member of a syringe containing a contrast medium, which includes an actuator and a ram member which is moved back and forth by the actuator, a control circuit (150) which is electrically connected to the actuator, and an operating knob unit (170) which includes an operating knob that is to be operated by an operator, and a rotation sensor that outputs an electric signal corresponding to a rotation of the operating knob. The control circuit is configured to generate a predetermined control signal accordingly, on the basis of a signal from the rotation sensor, and the piston-driving mechanism is operated according to the control signal.

Injection systems and related methods including an injection device, an operator interface, and modules to determine operational parameters during an MRA imaging procedure. Such parameters may be used to optimize and/or maximize signal intensity during an MRA imaging procedure. The injection system may include a target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration determination module that determines a target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration at least partially based on contrast agent type and MRA imager parameters. The injection system may include a contrast agent injection rate determination module that determines a contrast agent injection rate at least partially based on the target in-bloodstream contrast agent concentration, an initial contrast agent concentration, and a cardiac output rate of a patient to be imaged. The injection system may include a diluent injection rate determination module that determines a diluent injection rate at least partially based on the contrast agent injection rate.

Systems and methods are presented for delivering medical fluids to a patient. A data storage device (120) is either separately attached to or incorporated within the structure of a reusable fixture that may be detachably connected to a barrel (111) of a syringe (107). A filling station (110) and an power injector (108) may each include a read-write device (114, 122) that is operable to read the data storage device (120) within its field of view. When the read-write devices (114, 122) are attached to the filing station (110) and the power injector (40), respectively, and when the fixture including the data storage device (120) is attached to the syringe (107), the read-write devices (114, 122) may be operable to store data on and read data from the data storage device (120) associated with the syringe (107). After an injection procedure, the fixture may be detached from the syringe (107) and reused with a new or resterilized syringe (107).

Aspects of systems and methods for authenticating illuminating medical infusion lines are disclosed. In one aspect a method for authenticating medical infusion lines utilizing a cap color detection assembly is disclosed. The method includes provisioning an electronic illuminator for illuminating medical infusion lines with a cap color detection assembly. Next, connecting a side scattering fiber optic cable with a fiber funnel cap that is configured with a visible color with the electronic illuminator. Then, transmitting a white light from the cap color detection assembly and recording reflected light from the fiber funnel cap. Then, converting the recorded reflective light to a color code. In another aspect a method for authenticating medical infusion lines is disclosed utilizing a fiber detection assembly. The method includes provisioning an electronic illuminator for illuminating medical infusion lines with a fiber detection assembly. Then connecting a side scattering fiber optic cable with a fiber funnel cap that is configured with a metallic plate with the electronic illuminator. Next, detecting a change in voltage as the fiber funnel cap of the side scattering fiber optic cable is connected, wherein a final voltage results in a magnetic flux key. Lastly, authenticating, by the MCU on the electronic illuminator, the magnetic flux key with stored parameters.

An engagement mechanism associated with a reciprocally movable piston of a fluid injector is configured for releasably engaging an engagement portion at a proximal end of a rolling diaphragm syringe having a flexible sidewall configured for rolling upon itself when acted upon by the piston. The engagement mechanism has a plurality of engagement elements reversibly and radially movable relative to the engagement portion of the syringe between a first position, where the plurality of engagement elements are disengaged from the engagement portion of the syringe, and a second position, where the plurality of engagement elements are engaged with the engagement portion of the syringe. The engagement mechanism further has a drive mechanism for moving the plurality of engagement elements between the first position and the second position.

A syringe for a fluid delivery system includes a pressure jacket having a distal end, a proximal end, and a throughbore therebetween. The syringe further includes a rolling diaphragm having a proximal end with an end wall for engaging a plunger, a distal end received within the throughbore of the pressure jacket. The distal end of the rolling diaphragm has a nozzle and a sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the rolling diaphragm along a longitudinal axis. At least a portion of one of the sidewall and the end wall has non-uniform thickness. At least a portion of the sidewall is flexible and rolls upon itself when acted upon by the plunger such that an outer surface of the sidewall at a folding region is folded in a radially inward direction as the plunger is advanced from the proximal end to the distal end of the rolling diaphragm.

The present disclosure provides improved methods for calibrating the zero position of at least one drive member of an injector system is disclosed. Automated methods of position calibration of the drive member of a fluid injector are disclosed. These methods address sources of error in positional accuracy and fluid delivery inaccuracies, such as disposable syringe tolerance and injector wear over time. According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, methods and fluid injector systems for determining and correcting for the amount of slack in a fluid injection apparatus are described. An understanding of the calibration and the amount of slack in a fluid injection system allows a processor to correct for the slack, thereby ensuring more accurate fluid delivery to the patient and more accurate imaging processes.