Portability enhancing hardware for a portable ultrasound system

• US 10,172,589 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edan Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edan Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Henderson, Richard, Murphy, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolourchi, Nader
• Application Number:
  US15/494,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4433 involving a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply

Abstract

A method for displaying status information related to a portable device includes detecting a portion of a user in a detection zone using a proximity sensor, determining, using a control circuit, that the portable device is in a powered off or power saving state, acquiring, using the control circuit, information about the portable device while the portable device remains in the powered off or power saving state, and displaying, using a system status indicator controlled by the control circuit, a representation of the information about the portable device. The detection zone is defined in relation to a handle of the portable device.

Claims

1. An ultrasound device, comprising:

a housing defining a lever opening and including a component receiver including a plurality of insertion blades, the housing configured to support an ultrasound electronics circuitry;

an electronic interface configured to be engaged to the ultrasound electronics circuitry when the ultrasound electronics circuitry is supported by the housing; and

a locking lever system configured to secure a remote component to the housing via the component receiver, the locking lever system including a lever assembly in the lever opening, wherein manipulation of the lever assembly causes the component receiver to secure the remote component and electronically couple the remote component to the electronic interface, the lever assembly including a lever configured to rotate a shaft connected to the insertion blades responsive to manipulation of the lever.

2. The ultrasound device of claim 1, wherein the lever includes an input gear configured to rotate about a first rotational axis responsive to rotation of the lever, and an output gear configured to rotate about a second rotational axis offset and parallel to the first rotational axis, the output gear engaged to the input gear to be rotated by the input gear in a direction counter to rotation of the input gear, the output gear coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft about the second rotational axis.

3. The ultrasound device of claim 2, wherein the locking lever system includes a flange disposed in the lever opening and adjacent to the lever assembly, the flange configured to prevent rotation of the lever assembly beyond a position at which the lever assembly contacts the flange.

4. The ultrasound device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a side defining the lever opening, the side extending from a first housing surface to a second housing surface, and the lever assembly is vertically oriented to be rotatable about an axis extending through the first housing surface and the second housing surface.

5. The ultrasound device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a side defining the lever opening, the side extending from a first housing surface to a second housing surface, and the lever assembly is horizontally oriented to be rotatable about an axis extending between the first housing surface and the second housing surface.

6. The ultrasound device of claim 1, further comprising a release lever configured to disconnect the ultrasound electronics circuitry from the housing, the release lever configured to rotate about an axle secured to the housing by a housing flange.

7. The ultrasound device of claim 1, wherein the remote component is an ultrasound transducer.

8. The ultrasound device of claim 1, wherein the remote component is an ultrasound probe.

9. An ultrasound device, comprising:

a housing defining a first lever opening and including a first component receiver adjacent to the first lever opening, the first component receiver including a first plurality of insertion blades, the housing defining a second lever opening and including a second component receiver adjacent to the second lever opening, the housing configured to support an ultrasound electronics circuitry;

an electronic interface configured to be engaged to the ultrasound electronics circuitry when the ultrasound electronics circuitry is supported by the housing;

a first locking lever system configured to secure a first remote component to the housing via the first component receiver, the first locking lever system including a first lever assembly in the first lever opening, wherein manipulation of the first lever assembly causes the first component receiver to secure the first remote component and electronically couple the first remote component to the electronic interface, the first lever assembly including a first lever configured to rotate a first shaft connected to the first plurality of insertion blades responsive to manipulation of the first lever; and

a second locking lever system configured to secure a second remote component to the housing via the second component receiver, the second locking lever system including a second lever assembly in the second lever opening, wherein manipulation of the second lever assembly causes the second component receiver to secure the second remote component and electronically couple the second remote component to the electronic interface, the second lever assembly including a second lever configured to rotate a second shaft connected to a second plurality of insertion blades responsive to manipulation of the second lever.

10. The ultrasound device of claim 9, wherein manipulation of the first lever assembly to cause the first component receiver to secure the first remote component includes rotating the first lever assembly towards a first side of the housing, and manipulation of the second lever assembly to secure the second remote component includes rotating the second lever assembly towards the first side of the housing.

11. The ultrasound device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a first side defining the first lever opening and a second side defining the second lever opening, the first side spaced from the second side, the first side and the second side each extending from a first housing surface to a second housing surface, the first lever assembly is vertically oriented to be rotatable about a first axis extending through the first housing surface and the second housing surface, and the second lever assembly is vertically oriented to be rotatable about a second axis extending through the first housing surface and the second housing surface.

12. The ultrasound device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a first side defining the first lever opening and a second side defining the second lever opening, the first side spaced from the second side, the first side and the second side each extending from a first housing surface to a second housing surface, the first lever assembly is horizontally oriented to be rotatable about a first axis extending between the first housing surface and the second housing surface, and the second lever assembly is horizontally oriented to be rotatable about a second axis extending between the first housing surface and the second housing surface.

13. An ultrasound device, comprising:

a housing configured to support an ultrasound electronics circuitry;

an inclinometer configured to sense an angle of the housing relative to gravity;

a plurality of feet protruding from the housing, wherein the plurality of feet are configured to adjust at least one of a height or an angle of the housing relative to a surface in contact with the plurality of feet, wherein at least one foot of the plurality of feet includes a threaded adjustment shaft configured to be rotated to adjust the height of the housing relative to the surface; and

a control circuit configured to control operation of an electric motor coupled to the at least one foot to extend the at least one foot to level the housing.

14. The ultrasound system of claim 13, wherein the at least one foot includes a spring configured to bias the at least foot to an extended position when the threaded locking mechanism is disengaged from the threaded adjustment shaft.

15. The ultrasound system of claim 13, wherein the housing defines at least one opening through which at least one foot of the plurality of feet protrudes, the at least one foot extending from a first foot end coupled to the housing to a second foot end opposite the first foot end, the first foot end including a flange larger than the housing to restrict removal of the at least one foot via the opening.