| CPC A61M 5/31581 (2013.01) [A61M 5/31513 (2013.01); A61M 5/31515 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |

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1. A fluid injector system comprising:
at least one reciprocally operable piston having a piston head; and
a plunger engagement mechanism associated with the piston head, the plunger engagement mechanism comprising:
a cam sleeve disposed within the piston head and movable relative to the piston head, the cam sleeve having one or more tracks defining a cam surface, wherein each of the one or more tracks diverge from a longitudinal axis of the plunger head in a proximal to distal direction, such that a distal end of the track is radially farther from the longitudinal axis than a proximal end of the track;
an actuator operatively connected to the cam sleeve for moving the cam sleeve relative to the piston head, wherein the actuator is one of a linear electric motor, a linear actuator, and a solenoid; and
one or more pins at least partially disposed within the cam sleeve and movable within the one or more tracks with movement of the cam sleeve between a first, disengaged position, wherein the one or more pins are radially withdrawn into the piston head and a second, engaged position, wherein the one or more pins protrude radially outward relative to an outer surface of the piston head,
wherein linear movement of the actuator moves the cam sleeve axially in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the piston head.
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