INJECTION DEVICE

Abstract

Injection device (1, 1), in particular for injecting a liquid into a body in magnetic resonance tomography, comprising: a syringe with a reservoir (3) for holding a liquid, with a nozzle (5) arranged on the reservoir, and with a plunger (9) for expelling the liquid from the reservoir through the nozzle, a drive member, which is connected to the plunger (9) in order to drive the plunger (9), and a non-electrical energy accumulator (17, 17), which is connected to the drive member in order to operate the drive member.

Claims

1. An injection device, for injecting a liquid into a body in tomography, comprising: a syringe with a reservoir for holding a liquid, with a nozzle arranged on the reservoir, and with a plunger for expelling the liquid from the reservoir through the nozzle, a drive member, which is connected to the plunger in order to drive the plunger, and a non-electrical energy accumulator, which is connected to the drive member in order to operate the drive member.

2. The injection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator comprises a store for compressed gas.

3. The injection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the energy accumulator is connected to the drive member via a fluid line.

4. The injection device as claimed in claim 1, with a valve, which is arranged between the energy accumulator and the drive member.

5. The injection device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the valve can be controlled electromagnetically.

6. The injection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance from the energy accumulator to the drive member is less than 1 m.

7. The injection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator comprises a spring, which is connected to the plunger.

8. The injection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spring can be released by means of an electromagnetic actuator.

9. A tomograph, in particular a computed tomograph or magnetic resonance tomograph, with the injection device as claimed in claim 1.

10. The tomograph as claimed in claim 9, which is designed as a magnetic resonance tomograph, wherein the syringe and the energy accumulator are arranged on a housing of coils of the magnetic resonance tomograph.

11. The injection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drive member effects a movement of the plunger with compressed gas from the fluid line.

12. The injection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tomography comprises magnetic resonance tomography or computed tomography.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further advantages and features of preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a typical embodiment of an injection device;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a further typical embodiment of an injection device; and

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a typical embodiment of a magnetic resonance tomograph.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Typical embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. The invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments; rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a typical embodiment of an injection device 1.

[0028] The injection device comprises a syringe with a reservoir 3 for holding a liquid. A nozzle 5 is arranged on the reservoir, and an injection hose 7 is secured on said nozzle 5. Liquid from the reservoir 3 can be injected through the nozzle 5 and the injection hose 7 into a patient. For this purpose, a plunger 9 of the syringe is moved in the reservoir 3, such that the space for the liquid becomes smaller.

[0029] In the illustrative embodiment in FIG. 1, the plunger 9 is driven by a drive member 11, which is pneumatic. The pneumatic drive member 11 comprises a spindle or a bolt 13 for driving the plunger 9, wherein the bolt 13 can be forced out of the housing of the drive member 11 by means of air pressure. The drive member 11 is connected via a fluid line 15 to a non-electrical energy accumulator 17 designed as a store for compressed gas.

[0030] The fluid line 15 is interrupted by a valve 19, with which the fluid line 15 can be shut off. The valve 19 can be controlled electromagnetically by a control device 21 via a cable 23. Although a certain amount of magnetically conductive material is brought into the environment of a magnetic resonance tomograph by the electromagnetically operated valve 19, this amount of material is low enough that the forces for a fastening mechanism can be overcome.

[0031] Advantages of the invention lie in its simple and reliable structure and in the possibility of remote control. In further illustrative embodiments, remote control takes place by air pressure, wherein the pressures for controlling the valve can be less than the pressure that prevails in the store for compressed gas.

[0032] In the illustrative embodiment in FIG. 1, the energy accumulator 17 is connected to the fluid line 15 via a thread 25. This permits a small energy accumulator and rapid exchangeability.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a further typical illustrative embodiment of an injection device 1, which has parts that are partially identical or similar to those in the injection device 1 of FIG. 1. Such parts are designated by the same reference signs and possibly not described again.

[0034] The injection device 1 in FIG. 2 comprises a syringe with a reservoir 3, a nozzle 5 and a plunger 9. In the illustrative embodiment of the injection device 1 in FIG. 2, the plunger 9 is subjected to pressure by a spring serving as energy accumulator 17, wherein pressure can be applied only after release by an actuator 31. The actuator 31 comprises a pin 33 which can be driven in and out, for example via a small electromagnetic activation coil.

[0035] In typical illustrative embodiments, the actuator comprises electromagnetic material, but the amount is so low that the forces caused by it are manageable. The spring of the energy accumulator can also be made of metal, preferably a non-magnetizable metal. In this way, forces in the injection device are reduced during operation of the magnetic resonance tomograph. In further illustrative embodiments, the spring of the energy accumulator is made of plastic.

[0036] The actuator 31 is in turn connected to a control device 21 via a control line 23.

[0037] In typical illustrative embodiments, the control device is arranged outside a room in which the magnetic resonance tomograph is arranged. This permits remote control from outside the magnetic resonance tomography room.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative embodiment of a typical resonance tomograph 100, which is provided with an injection device in one of the typical embodiments described here. The magnetic resonance tomograph 100 has one or more coils received in a housing 110. A securing part 120, in which parts of an injection device as are described in FIG. 1 or 2 are arranged, is arranged on the housing 110 of the coils. For example, the syringe, on which the injection hose 7 is secured, is arranged in the securing part 120.

[0039] The injection hose 7 can be used to attach a patient, placed on a table 130, to the syringe and thus to the reservoir (reference sign 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2). An actuator (reference sign 31 in FIG. 2) arranged in the securing part 120, or a valve (reference sign 19 in FIG. 1) arranged in the securing part 120, can be actuated by way of the control line 23. A control device 21 connected via the control line 23 can be arranged outside a boundary wall 140 of a room in which the housing 110 of the coils is arranged along with the bench 130 located therein. Such a room is typically also referred to as an MRT room. The control device permits remote control from outside the MRT room.

[0040] In some embodiments, a seat for the syringe and a seat for the energy accumulator are provided in a housing of the coils of the magnetic resonance tomograph. This permits a compact structure and can make an additional housing for the injection device superfluous.

[0041] The invention has been described on the basis of illustrative embodiments and with the help of drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims. Numerous modifications of the illustrative embodiments are possible within said scope, in particular with the features described herein.