Power injector with status messaging
View Patent ↗A status messaging protocol ( 140 ) for a power injector ( 10 ) is disclosed. A setup screen ( 230 ) may be displayed on a graphical user interface ( 11 ) associated with the power injector ( 10 ). A status message ( 268 ) is displayed in a status message zone ( 266 ) on the setup screen ( 230 ). As the status of the power injector ( 10 ) changes, the status message ( 268 ) in the status message zone ( 266 ) on the setup screen ( 230 ) is updated.
1. A power injector, comprising:
a powerhead;
a syringe plunger driver;
a first graphical user interface; and
a setup screen presented on said first graphical user interface in conjunction with a fluid delivery protocol executable by said power injector, wherein said fluid delivery protocol comprises a programmed sequence that when executed by said power injector delivers at least one fluid to a patient, wherein said setup screen is configured to allow at least one parameter for said fluid delivery protocol to be input to said power injector, wherein said setup screen comprises a status message zone, wherein at least one status message is displayed at all times in said status message zone on said setup screen, wherein said at least one status message comprises a plurality of icons that are simultaneously presented in said status message zone on said setup screen, wherein each said icon conveys an association with a different task that pertains to execution of said fluid delivery protocol by said power injector, wherein each said icon is presentable in at least two different states within said status message zone on said setup screen, wherein presenting each said icon in each of its different corresponding states conveys a different said status message, wherein said plurality of icons comprises first and second icons such that said first and second icons are simultaneously presented in said status message zone of said setup screen, wherein each of said first and second icons is representative of an injection that is executable in conjunction with the execution of said fluid delivery protocol by said power injector, wherein said injection associated with said first icon is different from each of said fluid delivery protocol and said injection associated with said second icon, wherein said injection associated with said second icon is different from each of said fluid delivery protocol and said injection associated with said first icon, wherein said injection associated with said first icon is one of a patency check injection, a drip mode injection, an exponentially decaying flow rate injection, and an injection for determining a scan delay amount, and wherein said injection associated with said second icon is a different one of said patency check injection, said drip mode injection, said exponentially decaying flow rate injection, and said injection for determining a scan delay amount;
wherein each screen that is presented on said first graphical user interface while said power injector is in a powered on state comprises its own said status message zone, wherein said status message zone appears at a common location on each said screen that is presented on said first graphical user interface while said power injector is in said powered on state, wherein at least one said status message is displayed at all times in said status message zone on each said screen that is presented on said first graphical user interface while said power injector is in said powered on state, and wherein each said status message is reflective of a then current status of said power injector in relation to the execution of said fluid delivery protocol by said power injector; and
wherein each said status message that is displayed in a corresponding said status message zone is a message that is indicative of a status that is selected from the group consisting of: that said power injector is powered on and that no syringes are installed on said powerhead, that at least one syringe is installed on said powerhead, that said powerhead is in a tilted up position, that an air purge operation is being executed, that an air purge operation has been completed, that said powerhead is in a tilted down position, that said power injector is ready to be enabled, that said power injector is enabled, that a patency check injection is being executed, that a patency check has been completed, that a drip mode injection is being executed, that a drip mode injection has been terminated, that a timing bolus injection is being executed, that a timing bolus injection has been completed, that an injection is being executed, that an injection has been interrupted, that an injection has failed, that an injection has been completed, that each syringe has been removed from said powerhead, that a “return each syringe plunger driver to a home position” operation is being executed, and that said power injector is ready to accept a number of syringes for which said power injector is configured.
2. The power injector of claim 1 , wherein each said icon is presentable in each of a first state, a second state, a third state, and a fourth state within said status message zone on said setup screen, wherein presenting a given said icon in said first state conveys that its associated said task is not currently being executed, wherein presenting a given said icon in said second state conveys that its associated said task is currently being executed, wherein presenting a given said icon in said third state conveys that its associated said task has been completed, and wherein presenting a given said icon in said fourth state conveys that its associated said task was undertaken but was not completed.
3. The power injector of claim 1 , wherein said at least two different states comprises first and second states, wherein said first state is an inactive state and said second state is a completed state.
4. The power injector of claim 1 , wherein each said icon is presentable in at least three different states.
5. The power injector of claim 1 , wherein each said icon is presentable in four different states.
6. The power injector of claim 5 , wherein each said state is selected from the group consisting of an inactive state, an active state, a completed state, and a prematurely terminated state.
7. The power injector of claim 1 , further comprising a listing of a plurality of status messages that have each been previously displayed in a corresponding said status message zone in relation to the execution of said fluid delivery protocol by said power injector.
8. The power injector of claim 1 , wherein said at least one status message and a next action due message are simultaneously displayed in said status message zone of each said screen that is presented on said first graphical user interface while said power injector is in said powered on state.
9. The power injector of claim 1 , wherein said at least one status message, that is displayed in said status message zone of each said screen that is presented on said first graphical user interface while said power injector is in said powered on state, further comprises a textual status message.