Patent ID: 7758562

Claim:
A method of addressing contrast induced nephropathy, the method comprising: injecting a contrast agent into a patient; imaging the patient; and inducing diuresis to drive any contrast agent through the patient's kidneys to reduce its toxic effects on the kidneys and prevent damage to the kidneys by: setting a desired fluid balance, collecting urine expelled by the patient in a urine collection bag, weighing the urine collection bag, employing a pump to infuse the patient with fluid from a fluid source, monitoring the pump to provide a first indication regarding the amount of fluid infused into the patient, weighing the fluid source to provide a second indication regarding the amount of fluid infused into the patient, automatically adjusting the pump based on the weight of the urine collection bag and the first and second indications and controlling the amount of fluid infused into the patient based on the amount of urine expelled by the patient and the set desired fluid balance, determining if a bolus amount of infusion fluid is required for the patient in addition to the fluid infused to achieve the desired fluid balance and if so setting a desired bolus amount, and if a bolus amount was set, automatically controlling the pump to infuse the set bolus amount into the patient.