Patent ID: 8150493

Claim:
A patient infusion and imaging system, the system comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan room shielded from electromagnetic interference; image acquisition equipment positioned within the MRI scan room, the image acquisition equipment comprising a magnetic source; and an IV liquid infusion apparatus configured to be positioned at any location within the MRI scan room without introducing image degrading RF interference and without being affected by magnetic fields produced by the magnetic source, the IV liquid infusion apparatus comprising: a pump disposed to receive a liquid conduit and to transfer IV liquid through the liquid conduit from a liquid IV container source; a non-magnetic ultrasonic motor configured to provide mechanical movement to the pump in response to applied multiphasic electrical signals to provide positive displacement of the IV liquid from the IV container source; and a non-magnetic controller configured to selectively actuate the motor to drive the pump, and thereby transfer liquid from the IV container source through the liquid conduit at a controllable volumetric rate.