Method of injecting fluids into multiple patients

Abstract

Systems for injecting fluids and / or other materials into a targeted anatomical location, in particular, an intra-articular space, include a handpiece assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle extending from the distal end of the handpiece assembly, a fluid delivery module comprising a cassette and a fluid transfer device. A conduit is generally configured to place the fluid delivery module in fluid communication with the handpiece assembly. Medications, formulations and / or other fluids or materials contained within vials that are secured to the fluid delivery module can be selectively delivered into an anatomy through a needle located at the distal end of the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, ultrasound or other imaging technologies can be used to locate a joint or other targeted anatomical location.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 340,595, filed Dec. 19, 2008, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 016,395, filed Dec. 21, 2007, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Inventions

[0003] This application relates generally to injection and / or aspiration devices, systems and methods, and more specifically, to devices, systems and methods of delivering pharmaceuticals or other substances and / or other fluids into and / or out of an intra-articular space.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Physicians, clinicians and / or other medical personnel often need to deliver a volume of medication, other fluid and / or other material to (or aspirate fluid from) an anatomical location, such as, for example a joint (e.g., toe, knee, wrist, shoulder, ankle, finger, spine, etc.). Accordingly, a needle can be inserte...

Examples

examples

[0417]Non-limiting examples of injection procedures that may be performed using the various embodiments of systems, devices and methods disclosed herein (or equivalents thereof) are provided below. It should be noted that these examples are provided to simply demonstrate only some of the features and / or other details of injection systems, devices and methods discussed and illustrated herein. As such, the following examples or any other portion of the specification or figures should not be used to limit the present application in any manner.

example no.1

Example No. 1

[0418]The flowchart in FIG. 53 schematically illustrates one non-limiting example of a sequence 1000 for delivering medications, formulations and / or other fluids or substances to a target anatomical site (e.g., a joint, an organ, etc.) using an injection system in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein. A touchscreen or other visual display of a fluid delivery module or other portion of the system can be configured to initially display 1010 a logo, the time, date, patient and / or physician identifying information, hospital or facility name or logo and / or any other image, design or other alpha-numeric text. However, in other embodiments, such a display is configured to not display anything at all. In fact, the fluid delivery module may not include a display at all.

[0419]With reference to FIG. 53, it may be necessary for a physician or other clinician to prepare the system 1014 for the subsequent delivery of fluids into a patient. For example, as discussed in gre...

example no.2

Example No. 2

[0437]FIG. 54 schematically illustrates another example of a injection / aspiration sequence 1100. With the exception of several steps and other details, the depicted embodiment is similar to the sequence 1000 discussed herein with reference to FIG. 53. For example, in the illustrated sequence 1100, once a targeted joint space or other anatomical location has been located 1134, the clinician can detach the tip 1136 from the proximal portion of the handpiece assembly (e.g., the clip, core, etc.). Then, as discussed herein with reference to FIG. 44, a syringe or other vacuum source can be placed in fluid communication with the tip and the needle attached thereto in order to selectively withdraw fluids and / or other substances from the patient. For example, it may be beneficial or desirable to remove excess fluids from a damaged joint before injecting one or more medications or formulations. Once a desired volume or other amount of fluid or other material have been removed fr...

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 340,595, filed Dec. 19, 2008, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 016,395, filed Dec. 21, 2007, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Inventions

[0003] This application relates generally to injection and / or aspiration devices, systems and methods, and more specifically, to devices, systems and methods of delivering pharmaceuticals or other substances and / or other fluids into and / or out of an intra-articular space.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Physicians, clinicians and / or other medical personnel often need to deliver a volume of medication, other fluid and / or other material to (or aspirate fluid from) an anatomical location, such as, for example a joint (e.g., toe, knee, wrist, shoulder, ankle, finger, spine, etc.). Accordingly, a needle can be inserte...

Examples

examples

[0417]Non-limiting examples of injection procedures that may be performed using the various embodiments of systems, devices and methods disclosed herein (or equivalents thereof) are provided below. It should be noted that these examples are provided to simply demonstrate only some of the features and / or other details of injection systems, devices and methods discussed and illustrated herein. As such, the following examples or any other portion of the specification or figures should not be used to limit the present application in any manner.

example no.1

Example No. 1

[0418]The flowchart in FIG. 53 schematically illustrates one non-limiting example of a sequence 1000 for delivering medications, formulations and / or other fluids or substances to a target anatomical site (e.g., a joint, an organ, etc.) using an injection system in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein. A touchscreen or other visual display of a fluid delivery module or other portion of the system can be configured to initially display 1010 a logo, the time, date, patient and / or physician identifying information, hospital or facility name or logo and / or any other image, design or other alpha-numeric text. However, in other embodiments, such a display is configured to not display anything at all. In fact, the fluid delivery module may not include a display at all.

[0419]With reference to FIG. 53, it may be necessary for a physician or other clinician to prepare the system 1014 for the subsequent delivery of fluids into a patient. For example, as discussed in gre...

example no.2

Example No. 2

[0437]FIG. 54 schematically illustrates another example of a injection / aspiration sequence 1100. With the exception of several steps and other details, the depicted embodiment is similar to the sequence 1000 discussed herein with reference to FIG. 53. For example, in the illustrated sequence 1100, once a targeted joint space or other anatomical location has been located 1134, the clinician can detach the tip 1136 from the proximal portion of the handpiece assembly (e.g., the clip, core, etc.). Then, as discussed herein with reference to FIG. 44, a syringe or other vacuum source can be placed in fluid communication with the tip and the needle attached thereto in order to selectively withdraw fluids and / or other substances from the patient. For example, it may be beneficial or desirable to remove excess fluids from a damaged joint before injecting one or more medications or formulations. Once a desired volume or other amount of fluid or other material have been removed fr...

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