Injector having low input power
View Patent ↗A powered injector that stores energy at a low rate when not in use and delivers energy at a high rate during injection. Energy may be stored in a highly responsive energy storage device, such as a capacitor, for rapid delivery of power to the injector motor. In certain embodiments, wires connecting the powered injector to a power supply may be relatively small and inexpensive because the current and voltage loads placed on the wires are relatively low.
1. A powered injector for injecting medical fluid, the powered injector comprising:
a single, on-board energy storage device that comprises:
a power input having an input current carrying capacity; and
a power output having an output current carrying capacity, wherein the output current carrying capacity is greater than the input current carrying capacity such that the power input is at a low rate and the power output is at a high rate;
a motor coupled to the power output of the single, on-board energy storage device; and
a ram coupled to the motor and having a syringe plunger interface.
2. The powered injector of claim 1 , wherein the single, on-board energy storage device comprises one or more capacitors.
3. The powered injector of claim 2 , wherein the one or more capacitors have a series capacitance greater than about 30 farads.
4. The powered injector of claim 2 , wherein the one or more capacitors comprises a series of serially connected supercapacitors, wherein one end of the series of supercapacitors is coupled to the input of the single, on-board energy storage device, and wherein another end of the series of supercapacitors is coupled to the output of the single, on-board energy storage device.
5. The powered injector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power cable connected to the input of the single, on-board energy storage device; and
a power source external to the powered injector and connected to the input of the single, on-board energy storage device via the power cable.
6. The powered injector of claim 5 , wherein a substantial portion of a length of the power cable consists essentially of insulated wire having a conductive portion with a cross-sectional area of less than about 2.6×10 −3 square inch.
7. The powered injector of claim 5 , wherein the single, on-board energy storage device is coupled to the power source via both the power cable and protection circuitry.
8. The powered injector of claim 5 , wherein the power source is a power source of less than about 500 watts.
9. The powered injector of claim 6 , wherein the single, on-board energy storage device is configured to output more than about 1000 watts of power when the single, on-board energy storage device is in an energized state.
10. The powered injector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a syringe having a medical fluid therein, wherein the syringe is coupled to the syringe plunger interface of the ram.
11. The powered injector of claim 1 , wherein the power input is the only power input into the single, on-board energy storage device.
12. An electric injector for use with a syringe having medical fluid therein, the injector comprising:
a single, on-board energy storage device comprising a plurality of supercapacitors coupled to one another in series;
a motor coupled in parallel to the plurality of supercapacitors; and
a syringe interface coupled to the motor.
13. The injector of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of supercapacitors have a combined capacitance greater than about one thousand farads.
14. The injector of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of supercapacitors comprises more than four supercapacitors.
15. The injector of claim 12 , further comprising:
a conductor having a current carrying capacity greater than about 10 amps, wherein the motor is connected to the plurality of supercapacitors through the conductor.
16. The injector of claim 12 , further comprising:
a controller having a switch configured to transmit more than about 800 watts of power when in a closed state, wherein the switch is disposed in series between the plurality of supercapacitors and the motor.
17. A method of medical fluid injector operation, the method comprising:
receiving energy from a remote power supply at an input wattage;
storing the energy on board the medical fluid injector; and
outputting at least a portion of the energy to a motor at an output wattage, wherein the output wattage is at least twice as great as the input wattage.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the storing comprises charging a bank of capacitors having a capacitance greater than about 1 farad.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the output wattage is greater than about 500 watts.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the outputting comprises moving a ram of the injector.