Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling said fluid therefrom, and control means for controlling the rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel, said control means comprising means for independently preselecting more than one rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel and the periods of times of duration of each advancement prior to such advancement, and means for sequentially advancing said piston at such preselected rates of speed for such preselected periods of time during such advancement of said piston.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling said fluid therefrom, and control means for controlling the rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel, said control means comprising means for independently preselecting more than one rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel and the periods of times of duration of each advancement prior to such advancement, and means for sequentially advancing said piston at such preselected rates of speed for such preselected periods of time during such advancement of said piston.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises means for selectively stopping and restarting said piston at any time during such advancement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises switch means including an automatic position which when depressed and released causes said piston to automatically sequentially advance at such preselected rates of speed for such preselected periods of time, and an off/manual position which when depressed and released stops such automatic advancement of said piston but continues such advancement as long as such off/manual position is depressed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises means for preselecting a time delay for actuation of an X-ray machine upon completion of such sequential advancement of said piston.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means further comprises limit switch means for activating said time delay for such X-ray machine in the event that said piston reaches the end of its stroke before the preselected time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises an electric motor for driving said piston, and means for varying the speed of said electric motor to vary the speed of advancement of said piston in accordance with the preselected settings of said control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising clutch means for transmitting power from said motor to said piston to protect against damage if said piston bottoms out and limit pressure developed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control means further comprises means for causing said motor to rotate in opposite directions to retract and extend said piston for respectively filling and emptying said syringe barrel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control means further comprises means for causing said motor to rotate at a slower speed during extension of said piston for emptying said syringe barrel than during retraction of said piston for filling said syringe barrel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising limit switches for stopping said motor when said piston reaches either end of its stroke.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a ground fault interrupter circuit associated with said control means for detecting current leaks to ground and removing the power from said control means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control means further comprises means for testing said ground fault interrupter circuit to check its operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for moving said piston at a faster rate for filling said syringe barrel than for emptying said syringe barrel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for checking said syringe assembly for current leaks to ground prior to filling said syringe assembly with the desired quantity of fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a syringe cap and associated seal on the outer end of said syringe barrel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling said fluid therefrom, and control means for controlling the rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel, said control means comprising means for independently preselecting more than one rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel and volumes of each advancement prior to such advancement, and means for sequentially advancing said piston at such preselected rates of speed for such preselected volumes during such advancement of said piston.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling said fluid therefrom, and control means for controlling the rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel, said control means comprising means for independently preselecting more than one rate of speed of advance movement of said piston within said syringe barrel and volumes of each advancement prior to such advancement, and means for sequentially advancing said piston at such preselected rates of speed for such preselected volumes during such advancement of said piston.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
198 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, and means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling fluid therefrom, said last-mentioned means comprising a ball screw shaft connected to said piston, means mounting said ball screw shaft for axial movement but not rotational movement, a ball nut threadedly engaging said ball screw shaft, whereby rotation of said nut causes axial movement of said piston, and means for rotating said nut, said means mounting said ball screw shaft for axial movement but not rotational movement comprising a main support housing containing a longitudinally extending raceway for said ball screw shaft, said raceway being of generally channel shape, and a pair of ball bearing assemblies disposed on opposite sides of said ball screw shaft and connected thereto by a dowel pin extending through the center of said ball screw shaft and ball bearing assemblies, said ball bearing assemblies engaging said raceway to support said ball screw shaft for axial movement along said raceway and absorb any rotational forces acting on said ball screw shaft during such axial movement thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
198 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, and means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling fluid therefrom, said last-mentioned means comprising a ball screw shaft connected to said piston, means mounting said ball screw shaft for axial movement but not rotational movement, a ball nut threadedly engaging said ball screw shaft, whereby rotation of said nut causes axial movement of said piston, and means for rotating said nut, said means mounting said ball screw shaft for axial movement but not rotational movement comprising a main support housing containing a longitudinally extending raceway for said ball screw shaft, said raceway being of generally channel shape, and a pair of ball bearing assemblies disposed on opposite sides of said ball screw shaft and connected thereto by a dowel pin extending through the center of said ball screw shaft and ball bearing assemblies, said ball bearing assemblies engaging said raceway to support said ball screw shaft for axial movement along said raceway and absorb any rotational forces acting on said ball screw shaft during such axial movement thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising means providing a positive push-pull connection between said piston and ball screw shaft while accommodating any axial misalignment therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a nut onto which said piston is threaded, said nut having a polygonal shaped recess therein, a push-pull screw attached to the outer end of said ball screw shaft, said screw having a head of a shape corresponding to the polygonal recess in said nut but slightly smaller than said recess for receipt therein with some radial clearance to accommodate any such misalignment between said piston and ball screw shaft while still permitting positive pushing and pulling of said piston during axial inward and outward movement of said ball screw shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
184 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling fluid therefrom, and a main support housing for said syringe assembly, said main support housing having an elongated tube projecting therefrom, and a control assembly for controlling the operation of said syringe assembly, said elongated tube extending into said control assembly, said control assembly including a support having an opening therethrough in which said tube is slidably received to permit both longitudinal and rotational movement of said syringe assembly relative to said control assembly, a pair of spaced apart stop rods mounted within said control assembly paralleling said tube adjacent opposite sides thereof, a stop screw on the distal end of said tube engageable with said stop rods to limit the rotation of said tube in opposite directions for all longitudinal adjusted positions of said syringe assembly relative to said control assembly, and means for clamping said syringe assembly in the desired longitudinal and rotational adjusted positions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
184 words
Injection apparatus for injecting a fluid into the vascular system of a mammal comprising a syringe assembly including a syringe barrel containing a piston, means mounting said piston for axial movement within said syringe barrel for expelling fluid therefrom, and a main support housing for said syringe assembly, said main support housing having an elongated tube projecting therefrom, and a control assembly for controlling the operation of said syringe assembly, said elongated tube extending into said control assembly, said control assembly including a support having an opening therethrough in which said tube is slidably received to permit both longitudinal and rotational movement of said syringe assembly relative to said control assembly, a pair of spaced apart stop rods mounted within said control assembly paralleling said tube adjacent opposite sides thereof, a stop screw on the distal end of said tube engageable with said stop rods to limit the rotation of said tube in opposite directions for all longitudinal adjusted positions of said syringe assembly relative to said control assembly, and means for clamping said syringe assembly in the desired longitudinal and rotational adjusted positions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for clamping said syringe assembly in the desired longitudinal and rotational adjusted positions comprises a lock knob on said control assembly, a flexible collar surrounding said tube, and a rod extending from said lock knob and having threaded engagement with said collar for loosening and tightening said collar on said tube by rotation of said lock nut in opposite directions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a weight attached to said syringe assembly for locating the center of gravity of said syringe assembly closely adjacent the axis of rotation of said tube to facilitate rotation of the syringe assembly to any desired adjusted position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a support stand for said control assembly, and means mounting said control assembly on said support stand for vertical movement to provide for adjustment of the vertical height of the control assembly and syringe assembly connected thereto.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for moving said piston axially within said syringe barrel includes an electric motor for driving said piston, and clutch means for transmitting power from said motor to said piston to protect against damage if said piston bottoms out and limit pressure developed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a syringe housing surrounding said syringe barrel, means for releasably mounting said syringe barrel within said syringe housing, and means for electrically isolating said syringe barrel from said syringe housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said syringe housing includes a gear box containing drive mechanism for driving said piston by said motor, said syringe housing being attached to said main housing to provide a cover for said gear box.