DE202011108838U1 - Drug Infusor for use in highly magnetic environments - Google Patents

Abstract

System for a freely adjustable drug infusor (4) for use in strong magnetic fields, such as magnetic resonance tomography, characterized in that it works without electronic or electromechanical components.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for the drug or liquid infusion in patients (human or veterinary) in a highly magnetic environment, as z. B. in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the case.

In this case, drugs must be supplied to the patient permanently and consistently over a long period of time and at relatively low flow rates, in contrast to the contrast media also used in diagnostic imaging, which are administered by means of high-pressure injectors. For contrast agent administration, saline and contrast media are usually supplied at flow rates of 1 mL per second up to 10 mL per second. In the case of the medication infusion described in this application, on the other hand, only up to a maximum of 10 mL per minute is applied, generally even significantly less.

The described drug infusion system has no computer system for controlling the flow rate and can do without external electrical power. The whole system is made of completely non-magnetic materials and is therefore completely insensitive to magnetic fields and is not attracted to them.

Problem description and solution approach

Currently used drug infusion systems in strong magnetic fields are not really fully compatible due to the materials and electromechanical components used and can be used in high magnetic fields (> 5,000 G, 0.5 Tesla), as is the case with magnetic resonance imaging.

The systems can not be operated directly next to the patient or directly in the center of the magnetic field.

As a result, there is always a safety risk in the operation of these systems for the patient, but also for the magnet system.

In addition, the systems currently used all require a power supply for the operation of the feeding mechanism and the control functions, which on the one hand can be influenced by the electromagnetic fields emitted by a magnetic resonance tomograph, but on the other hand in the operating function can also generate their own electromagnetic fields and signals, which sensitive receiving electronics of the magnetic resonance tomograph can be recorded and thus can lead to false information in the created diagnostic image.

In addition, these systems are relatively expensive due to their design.

So, overall, it would be ideal to have a relatively low-cost system, perhaps even a kind of consumable for individual drug infusion, which is completely insensitive to magnetic and electromagnetic fields, and does not need its own power supply or components that generate their own electromagnetic fields or signals ,

The described system fulfills these requirements by combining a pumping mechanism based on osmosis regulation and completely made of non-magnetic materials with a non-electromagnetic adjustment system and a hose and feed system which is not susceptible to magnetic or electric fields, nor even electric or electric magnetic fields, which is of great importance in magnetic resonance tomography applications.

Description of the prior art

• EP 000001530440B1
• WO 002007058951A8
• DE 000060133526T2
• EP 000002060286B1
• DE 102007003609A1

Patents used for the application

• EP 000001530440B1
• WO 002007058951A8
• DE 000060133526T2
• EP 000002060286B1
• DE 102007003609A1

The current state of the art (as in the scriptures EP 1530440B1 . WO 2007058951A8 and DE 60133526T2 discloses) provides for constant drug infusion in magnetic resonance imaging with complex pumping systems, all of which are electrically or electromechanically or electro-hydraulically constructed.

These systems are not completely a-magnetic and have more or less complex electronic control systems and components. For this reason, all systems currently on the market must be set up outside the main magnetic field and are only permitted for use up to a maximum of 1,000 G to 2,000 G (0.1 Tesla-0.2 Tesla).

However, the nuclear magnetic resonance systems generally work with magnetic fields of 3,000 G to 30,000 G (0.3 Tesla-3 Tesla), with the result that these systems can only be operated at a certain distance from the magnet. In addition, the electronic components are susceptible to the high-frequency electromagnetic fields of the magnetic resonance tomograph and can in turn cause by their own fields strength information in the nuclear magnetic resonance tomography examination.

These problems are to avoid the present invention.

The present invention thus relates to a system for the infusion of drugs or liquids under strong magnetic fields without the above-mentioned disadvantages.

In the proposed system, a pumping mechanism based on osmosis regulation (as in Scripture EP2060286B1 shown) and completely made of non-magnetic materials combined with a non-electromagnetic adjustment system and a hose and feed system (see also DE 102007003609A1 ), which is neither susceptible to magnetic or electric fields, nor can affect even electric or magnetic fields, which is of great importance especially in the application in magnetic resonance tomography.

This construction allows the medicine infuser to be placed almost directly next to the injection site on the patient and pushed together with the patient into the strong magnetic field.

In addition to the fact that the path of the drug from the place of storage to the patient is dramatically shorter than the current state of the art, it also ensures that there is no dangerous situation for the patient and the operator when the system is attracted by the strong magnetic field.

The basic system does not require electrical power to perform the drug infusion at the desired flow rate because the drug delivery is adjusted by the adjustment of a potential gradient of a semipermeable membrane (can be mechanical) and delivered to the patient through the physical process of osmosis regulation.

It may, however, make sense to equip the system with a DC power supply to send warning messages to the operator (eg, venous obstruction, infusion errors, etc.). This can be done with a commercially available battery and has no influence on the properties described above.

The system may also be designed so that the main system stops functioning after a certain number of infusions to prevent improper use for the benefit of the patient.

Of course, the respective patient supply system must be exchanged with each new patient.

In addition, it may make sense to provide a replaceable line module in the main system, which is used after a successful application to avoid contamination of various drugs.

Of course, multiple drug infusors can be switched in parallel to allow the patient to simultaneously deliver multiple drugs at different flow rates.

Character list and description

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

High-frequency shielded room around a magnetic resonance tomograph (optional)

2

Magnetic resonance tomograph (magnet) with horizontal or vertical field direction usually between 3.000 G and 30.000 G (0.3 Tesla-3 Tesla) in exceptions also significantly higher

3

Patient (human or veterinary)

4

Medicated infuser based on osmosis regulation with one

5

semipermeable membrane and flow rate adjustment mechanism by changing the potential gradient

6

Line system of the main system (optional exchangeable)

7

Filling container for medication

8th

Warning lamp in case of malfunction (optional)

9

Speaker in case of malfunction (optional)

10

Valves for connecting patient cables ( 11 ) or the lines to the filling container ( 12 ) and the parallel connection of several drug infusors

11

replaceable line to the patient ( 3 )

12

replaceable line to the filling container ( 7 )

13

Connectors in parallel operation of several drug infusors ( 4 )

Drawing 1 / 1 : Medication Infuser ( 4 ) in the magnetic field next to the patient ( 3 )

Drawing 2 / 2 : Medicine infuser in detail and a possible parallel connection of several drug infusors ( 4 )

In the 1 the schematic arrangement of the overall structure is shown. One Magnetic resonance tomography system, shown is only the imaging magnet with a vertical or horizontal field ( 2 ), optionally installed in a high-frequency shielded room ( 1 ) by the patient ( 3 ) on the patient bed in the magnetic field of the magnet ( 2 ) is located. The proposed drug infusion system ( 4 ) is located directly next to the patient in the main magnetic field and is fed via a filling container ( 7 ) supplied with the drugs or liquids to be administered.

2 shows the detailed representation of the drug infusion system ( 4 ), in which a flow rate to be used can be adjusted by changing the potential gradient of a semipermeable membrane ( 5 ), which then determines the drug based on the physical principle of osmotic balance of a drug container ( 7 ) via the conduit system of the filling container ( 12 ) and the management system of the main system ( 6 ) and corresponding valves ( 10 ) to the patient management ( 11 ) and subsequently in the patient ( 3 ) applied. Via parralelt line pieces ( 13 ) and other valves ( 10 ), another drug infuser ( 4 ) are connected in parallel, which according to the same principle from another drug container ( 7 ) another drug to the patient ( 3 ) leads.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 000001530440 B1 [0011]
• WO 002007058951 A8 [0011]
• DE 000060133526 T2 [0011]
• EP 000002060286 B1 [0011]
• DE 102007003609 A1 [0011, 0017]
• EP 1530440 B1 [0012]
• WO 2007058951 A8 [0012]
• DE 60133526 T2 [0012]
• EP 2060286 B1 [0017]

Claims (10)

System for a freely adjustable drug infuser ( 4 ) for use in strong magnetic fields, such as magnetic resonance imaging, characterized in that it functions without electronic or electromechanical components. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it is also made entirely of non-magnetic materials. System according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the system can operate completely unaffected by external magnetic fields of around 100,000 G (10 Tesla) and can also be placed directly in these fields without detrimental effect. System according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that it is not affected by external electromagnetic interference fields in its operation. System according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that it does not generate its own electromagnetic fields. System according to claim characterized in that the infusion mechanism takes place by setting a potential gradient on a semipermeable membrane and so by the osmosis regulation a variably adjustable, but constant flow rate is achieved. System characterized in that different filling containers ( 7 ) via exchangeable connection systems ( 12 ) to the management system of the main system ( 6 ) and thus to the main system ( 4 ) can be connected. For safety and ease of implementation, the valves ( 10 ). System characterized in that the patients ( 3 ) via exchangeable connection systems ( 11 ) to the piping system ( 6 ) of the main system ( 4 ) and thus can be connected to the main system. For safety and ease of implementation, the valves ( 10 ). System according to claim 1-7, characterized in that a warning mechanism based on optical or acoustic signals can be integrated in case of malfunction. System according to claims 1-6, characterized in that there are no electrical or mechanical connections through a high-frequency shielded room ( 2 ) needed.

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