Systems and methods for managing information relating to medical fluids and containers therefor
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.
1. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:
electromagnetically reading data from a data tag of the syringe, wherein the syringe has medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure disposed therein, wherein the electromagnetically reading is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector;
transferring the data that is electromagnetically read to the imaging apparatus, wherein the data that is electromagnetically read and transferred comprises data regarding a used or unused status of the syringe; and
electronically checking the data that is electromagnetically read against a database of previously used syringes.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the checking is performed in order to block potential reuse of the syringe.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data tag is associated with the barrel of the syringe.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector during the electromagnetically reading.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contrast media injector comprises a faceplate for mounting the syringe thereto.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contrast media injector comprises a faceplate for mounting the syringe thereto.
7. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:
electromagnetically reading data from a data tag of the syringe, wherein the syringe has medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure disposed therein, wherein the electromagnetically reading is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector; and
transferring the data that is electromagnetically read to the imaging apparatus, wherein the data that is electromagnetically read and transferred comprises data regarding a used or unused status of the syringe.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the data tag is associated with the barrel of the syringe.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the syringe is mounted to the contrast media injector during the electromagnetically reading.
10. A method of operation for a medical imaging system that includes an imaging apparatus and a contrast media injector, the contrast media injector being designed to have a syringe mounted thereto, and the contrast media injector having a powered drive ram that is designed to interface with a plunger of the syringe to move the plunger of the syringe forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe when the syringe is mounted on the contrast media injector, the method comprising:
electromagnetically reading data from a data tag of the syringe, wherein the syringe has medical fluid for use in a medical imaging procedure disposed therein, wherein the electromagnetically reading is conducted using an electromagnetic device of the contrast media injector;
expelling the medical fluid from the syringe using the contrast media injector;
transferring the data that is electromagnetically read to the imaging apparatus, wherein the data that is electromagnetically read and transferred comprises data regarding a used or unused status of the syringe; and
updating an imaging information system with data that includes a used status of the syringe.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the updating occurs after the expelling has been completed.