Disclosed are systems and methods for power injectors incorporating a keep vein open functionality that is operable when an injection protocol (112) is suspended. The injector includes control logic (110) configured to include the injection protocol (112), and a separate drip mode injection protocol (114) executable only during a suspension of the injection protocol (112). In one embodiment, the drip mode injection protocol (114) is automatically or manually initiated immediately after and in response to the suspension of the injection protocol (112). In another embodiment, the drip mode injection protocol (114) is automatically initiated after a predetermined delay from start of the suspension of the injection protocol (112). The configuration parameters for the drip mode injection protocol (114) may be programmable prior to the initiation of an injection procedure, immediately prior to the execution of the drip mode injection protocol (114), or hard-coded into the injector.
