Syringe interfaces and syringe adapters for use with medical injectors

1. A method of attaching a syringe comprising a flange to an injector, the method comprising:

providing an injector comprising: a mounting mechanism on a front of the injector; a piston reciprocally movable through the mounting mechanism; and an adapter operable to attach a syringe comprising a flange to the adapter, the adapter comprising: a rear portion comprising an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the adapter to the mounting mechanism of the injector; a first retaining member that pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector, the first retaining member pivoting in a rearward direction to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and a second retaining member slideably positioned within a passage in the adapter to slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector to engage a portion of the syringe flange;

inserting the syringe flange into the adapter;

pivoting the first retaining member about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the injector piston to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and

moving the second retaining member in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of an injector piston to engage at least a portion of the syringe flange.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

rotating the syringe to attach a plunger of the syringe to the injector piston.

3. An injector comprising:

a mounting mechanism on a front of the injector;

a piston reciprocally movable through the mounting mechanism; and

an adapter operable to attach a syringe comprising a flange to the adapter, the adapter comprising:

a rear portion comprising an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the adapter to the mounting mechanism of the injector;

a first retaining member that pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector, the first retaining member pivoting in a rearward direction to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and

a second retaining member slideably positioned within a passage in the adapter to slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector to engage a portion of the syringe flange.

4. The injector of claim 3 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one or more mounting flanges.

5. The injector of claim 4 wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises at least one extending projection.

6. The injector of claim 3 wherein the adapter further comprises one or more indicators operable to provide information about the syringe to the injector.

7. The injector of claim 3 wherein the first retaining member and the second retaining member cooperate to engage the syringe flange around the entire perimeter of the syringe flange.

8. The injector of claim 3 wherein the first retaining member is biased toward an open position.

9. The injector of claim 3 , further comprising a contact member operably associated with the first retaining member, the contact member operable to cause the first retaining member to pivot about the axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston.

10. The injector of claim 3 wherein the second retaining member comprises a generally U-shaped abutment member operable to engage at least a portion of the syringe flange.

11. An injector comprising:

a mounting mechanism on a front of the injector;

a piston reciprocally movable through the mounting mechanism; and

a syringe interface operable to attach a syringe comprising a flange to the syringe interface, the syringe interface comprising:

a rear portion comprising an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the syringe interface to the mounting mechanism of the injector;

a first retaining member that pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston when the syringe interface is attached to the injector, the first retaining member pivoting in a rearward direction to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and

a second retaining member slideably positioned within a passage in the syringe interface to slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the piston when the syringe interface is attached to the injector to engage a portion of the syringe flange.

12. The injector of claim 11 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one or more mounting flanges.

13. The injector of claim 12 wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises at least one extending projection.

14. The injector of claim 11 wherein the syringe interface further comprises one or more indicators operable to provide information about the syringe to the injector.

15. The injector of claim 11 wherein the first retaining member and the second retaining member cooperate to engage the syringe flange around the entire perimeter of the syringe flange.

16. The injector of claim 11 , wherein the first retaining member is biased toward an open position.

17. The injector of claim 11 , further comprising a contact member operably associated with the first retaining member, the contact member operable to cause the first retaining member to pivot about the axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston.

18. The injector of claim 11 wherein the second retaining member comprises a generally U-shaped abutment member operable to engage at least a portion of the syringe flange.

19. An injector comprising:

a mounting mechanism on a front of the injector;

a piston reciprocally movable through the mounting mechanism; and

an adapter operable to attach a syringe comprising a flange to the adapter, the adapter comprising:

a rear portion comprising an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the adapter to the mounting mechanism of the injector, the attachment mechanism comprising one or more mounting flanges;

a first retaining member that pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector, the first retaining member pivoting in a rearward direction to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and

a second retaining member slideably positioned within a passage in the adapter to slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector to engage a portion of the syringe flange.

20. An injector comprising:

a mounting mechanism on a front of the injector;

a piston reciprocally movable through the mounting mechanism; and

an adapter operable to attach a syringe comprising a flange to the adapter, the adapter comprising:

a rear portion comprising an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the adapter to the mounting mechanism of the injector;

a first retaining member that pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector, the first retaining member pivoting in a rearward direction to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and

a second retaining member slideably positioned within a passage in the adapter to slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector to engage a portion of the syringe flange;

wherein the first and second retaining members cooperate to engage the syringe flange around the perimeter of the syringe flange.

21. An injector comprising:

a mounting mechanism on a front of the injector;

a piston reciprocally movable through the mounting mechanism; and

an adapter operable to attach a syringe comprising a flange to the adapter, the adapter comprising:

a rear portion comprising an attachment mechanism adapted to attach the adapter to the mounting mechanism of the injector;

a first retaining member that is biased toward an open position and pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector, the first retaining member pivoting in a rearward direction to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and

a second retaining member slideably positioned within a passage in the adapter to slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the piston when the adapter is attached to the injector to engage a portion of the syringe flange.

22. A method of attaching a syringe comprising a flange to an injector, the method comprising:

providing an injector comprising: a mounting mechanism on a front of the injector; a piston reciprocally movable through the mounting mechanism; and a syringe interface operable to attach a syringe comprising a flange to the syringe interface, the syringe interface comprising: a rear portion comprising an affachment mechanism adapted to attach the syringe interface to the mounting mechanism of the injector; a first retaining member that pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the piston when the syringe interface is attached to the injector, the first retaining member pivoting in a rearward direction to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and a second retaining member slideably positioned within a passage in the syringe interface to slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the piston when the syringe interface is attached to the injector to engage a portion of the syringe flange;

inserting the syringe flange into the syringe interface;

pivoting the first retaining member about an axis generally perpendicular to and offset from the axis of the injector piston to engage a portion of the syringe flange; and

moving the second retaining member in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of an injector piston to engage at least a portion of the syringe flange.