Iodinated contrast agents (typically iodine-substituted benzene derivatives) are bound either in nonionic or ionic compounds. Ionic contrast agents consist of the negatively charged anion and the positively charged cation. Used components of the anion are for example diatrizoate, iodamide, iothalamate or metrizoate and of the cation the sodium or meglumine ion. The osmotic pressure depends on the number of particles in solution. Ionic contrast agents have a greater osmolarity; double that of nonionic contrast agents due to delivering more iodine atoms per molecule.
Ionic contrast agents were developed first and are still in use depending on the examination. Iodine based contrast media are water soluble and as harmless as possible to the body. However, ionic agents have more side effects compared to nonionic contrast agents due to their high osmolarity.

See also Ionic Dimer.

Multi-head contrast media injectors offer flexible contrast media management, simplified workflows and increased patient safety.
Contrast delivery is much more controlled and efficient when using a dual-head CT power injector. These medical devices are needed to enable the short imaging times typical of multidetector computed tomography (CT) scanners.
Triple-head injectors allow selection of a second contrast agent when two different contrast agents are used, or switching to full contrast agent containers when two identical contrast agents are used.

See also Contrast Media Injector, Syringeless CT Power Injector, Single-Head Contrast Media Injector, CT Power Injector.

Syringeless CT power injectors (also called pressure injectors) have been developed as a solution to reduce contrast fluid waste. The Joint Commission does not allow the reuse of unused cans from disposable syringes, so the syringeless option allows facilities to use contrast media as efficiently as possible.
A syringeless CT (computed tomography) contrast media injector permits delivery to be made directly from standard contrast media bottles, featuring multi-dosing and programmable automatic saline flush. This higher loading capacity for contrast agent ( up to two contrast bottles or 1000 ml) and a bag of saline at initial setup, enables to perform multiple contrast enhanced CT scans without reloading contrast agent; resulting in increased efficiency and less waste.

See also Single-Head Contrast Media Injector, Dual-Head CT Power Injector, CT Power Injector, Multi-Head Contrast Media Injector.