Syringe Adapter Encoding Mechanism for Power Injectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing syringe adapters are limited in their ability to communicate encoded information about generic types of contrast media syringes to power injectors, requiring customized syringes and increasing waste and costs due to inefficient use of contrast media.
Innovation Solution
A syringe adapter with a mechanism for encoding information, including a lever and pins, that communicates syringe parameters to the power injector unit independently of the adapter's installation, allowing for the use of generic syringes and optimizing media usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If customized syringes with encoded information are used, then communication of syringe parameters to power injector is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component that bridges between generic syringes and the power injector's information system. The adapter contains an encoding mechanism with pins that can be configured to represent different syringe parameters, allowing information communication without requiring customized syringes. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling parameter communication while maintaining generic syringe compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter creates a simplified representation or copy of syringe parameters through its pin configuration system. Rather than requiring the syringe itself to contain encoded information, the adapter copies the essential parameter information into a format the power injector can read, using a standardized pin-based encoding scheme that represents various syringe characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If activation of encoding mechanism is coupled with adapter installation, then operation simplicity is improved, but flexibility in information encoding is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the adapter installation function from the encoding activation function. The adapter can be installed on the power injector independently, and the encoding mechanism can be activated separately when needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain ease of installation while preserving the flexibility to activate encoding only when syringe parameter communication is required, rather than forcing encoding activation to be coupled with every installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A syringe adapter includes an adapter body having a first connecting portion that may be received into a power injector unit used to deliver contrast media. The adapter also includes a second connecting portion configured to receive the rearward end of an associated syringe. The adapter includes means for encoding information about the associated syringe that may be communicated to the power injector unit through one or more sensors. The means for encoding information may include a mechanism that moves linearly laterally back and forth to activate an actuator used to convey the encoded information. In particular, the action of installing the adapter may be decoupled from the action of encoding information.