Patent ID: 8425464

Claim:
A method of delivering an anesthetic to a subject using an imaging-guided injection system comprising: securing a container containing an anesthetic to an injection system; wherein the container is configured to be secured to a loading area of a fluid delivery module of the injection system, said loading area being configured to receive various sizes and shapes of the container; wherein the fluid delivery module comprises at least one interior reservoir, wherein the at least one interior reservoir is configured to be placed in fluid communication with the container when said container is properly secured to the at least one loading area; wherein at least one slidably movable member is configured to be moved within or out of the at least one interior reservoir to selectively transfer a volume of the anesthetic either into or out of the at least one interior reservoir, wherein movement of the at least one slidably movable member relative to the at least one interior reservoir changes an effective volume of the at least one interior reservoir; wherein the at least one slidably movable member is configured to be moved using at least one motor; wherein a volume of the anesthetic transferred out of the at least one interior reservoir is configured to be delivered to at least one conduit, said at least one conduit being configured to be placed in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir, said at least one conduit comprising a distal end; securing a needle to the distal end of the at least one conduit; transferring a volume of the anesthetic from the container into the at least one interior reservoir; transferring a volume of the anesthetic out of the at least one interior reservoir and into the at least one conduit; placing the needle within an anatomy of the subject for the subsequent delivery of the anesthetic through the at least one conduit and the needle; manipulating at least one controller configured to regulate at least one aspect of the delivery of the anesthetic from the fluid delivery module to a target anatomical location of the subject; wherein the injection system comprises a display configured to provide status information related to the delivery of the anesthetic to the target anatomical location; and wherein the injection system is configured to be placed in data communication with an imaging device to assist in accurately advancing the needle into the anatomy of the subject.