Balloon inflation device

1. A method implemented by a powered inflation device to prepare a balloon catheter for use during a medical procedure, the method comprising:

closing a first valve of the inflation device to close off fluid communication between the balloon catheter and a pressurizing unit of the inflation device;

opening a second valve of the inflation device to allow fluid communication between the pressurizing unit and a fluid reservoir; and

after closing the first valve and opening the second valve, and during a first motorized operation of the inflation device, moving a plunger of the pressurizing unit a first distance in a first direction to draw an amount of medical fluid from the fluid reservoir into the pressurizing unit;

after the first motorized operation of the inflation device:

closing the second valve to close off fluid communication between the pressurizing unit and the fluid reservoir,

opening the first valve to allow fluid communication between the pressurizing unit and the balloon catheter, and

during a second motorized operation of the inflation device, moving the plunger of the pressurizing unit a second distance in the first direction to remove an amount of air from the balloon catheter; and

after the second motorized operation of the inflation device, and during a third motorized operation of the inflation device while the second valve is closed and the first valve is open, moving the plunger of the pressurizing unit a third distance in a second direction to inject the amount of medical fluid from the pressurizing unit into the balloon catheter to inflate a balloon located at a distal end of the balloon catheter, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of medical fluid comprises an amount of contrast media.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the amount of medical fluid further comprises an amount of diluent.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

injecting the amount of air into a waste container.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during a fourth motorized operation of the inflation device, moving the plunger of the pressurizing unit in the first direction to deflate the balloon.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a control panel coupled to the inflation device to receive user input and to display information related to use of the inflation device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving on the control panel user input to set an inflation rate or a deflation rate.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving on the control panel user input to set an inflation pressure limit.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

displaying on the control panel a pressure-volume curve during inflation of the balloon at the distal end of the balloon catheter.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving on the control panel a single user input command to cause the inflation device to perform the acts of moving the plunger of the pressurizing unit to draw the amount of medical fluid into the pressurizing unit and to remove the amount of air from the balloon catheter during the first and second motorized operations, respectively.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after the second motorized operation of the inflation device, comparing a vacuum pressure associated with the balloon catheter with a negative pressure limit;

if the vacuum pressure is greater than the negative pressure limit, repeating at least the second motorized operation until the vacuum pressure is less than or equal to the negative pressure limit.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first valve is different from the second valve.

13. A powered inflation device to prepare a balloon catheter for use during a medical procedure, the inflation device comprising:

a motor; and

a pressurizing unit comprising a plunger, the pressurizing unit being operatively coupled to the motor and to a fluid reservoir;

wherein before a first operation, the inflation device closes a first valve of the inflation device to close off fluid communication between the pressurizing unit and the balloon catheter, and opens a second valve of the inflation device to allow fluid communication between the pressurizing unit and the fluid reservoir;

wherein, during the first operation, the motor causes the plunger of the pressurizing unit to move a first distance in a first direction to draw an amount of medical fluid from the fluid reservoir into the pressurizing unit;

wherein, after the first operation, the inflation device closes the second valve to close off fluid communication between the pressurizing unit and the fluid reservoir, and opens the first valve to allow fluid communication between the pressurizing unit and the balloon catheter;

wherein, after the first operation and during a second operation, the motor causes the plunger of the pressurizing unit to move a second distance in the first direction to remove an amount of air from a balloon catheter that is coupled to the inflation device; and

wherein, after the second operation and during a third operation, and while the second valve is closed and the first valve is open, the motor causes the plunger of the pressurizing unit to move a third distance in a second direction to inject the amount of medical fluid from the pressurizing unit into the balloon catheter to inflate a balloon located at a distal end of the balloon catheter, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

14. The inflation device of claim 13 , wherein the amount of medical fluid comprises an amount of contrast media.

15. The inflation device of claim 14 , wherein the amount of medical fluid further comprises an amount of diluent.

16. The inflation device of claim 13 , further comprising a waste container.

17. The inflation device of claim 13 , further comprising a control panel to receive user input and to display status information.

18. The inflation device of claim 13 , wherein, during a fourth operation, the motor causes the plunger of the pressurizing unit to move in first direction to deflate the balloon.

19. The inflation device of claim 13 , wherein the inflation device is a stand-alone device.

20. The inflation device of claim 13 , wherein the inflation device is coupled to an angiographic injector system.

21. The inflation device of claim 20 , wherein a common control panel is operable to control both the inflation device and the angiographic injector system.

22. The inflation device of claim 13 ,

wherein after the second motorized operation, the inflation device compares a vacuum pressure associated with the balloon catheter with a negative pressure limit, and

wherein if the vacuum pressure is greater than the negative pressure limit, the inflation device repeats at least the second motorized operation until the vacuum pressure is less than or equal to the negative pressure limit.

23. The inflation device of claim 13 , wherein the first valve is different from the second valve.