Transport cart for nuclear medicine/molecular imaging radioisotopes having enhanced safety features and a process implementing the same

• US 10,278,877 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardionavix LLC
• Original Assignee: Laurel Healthcare Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Lon Patrick, Morosko, Jr., Ron Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US15/357,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20170143571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/30 characterised by sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/50 for radiography
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/56 Computers; Screens
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/67 Service trolleys, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/00 Ventilation; Heating; Cooling; Insulation
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/02 comprising a heating unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/04 comprising a cooling unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/003 Non-transparent side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/004 Details of doors or cover lids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/04 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0013 Protection covers, e.g. against rain
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0033 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/004 in wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/04 Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0414 dead man's brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0433 foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/049 locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/04 the driver walking

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a medical imaging supply transport cart having enhanced safety features and a process implementing the same. The medical imaging supply transport cart includes a support surface configured to support medical imaging supplies, the support surface further configured to support a support mechanism, and the support mechanism further configured to support the medical imaging supplies. The support mechanism further configured to rigidly hold the medical imaging supplies with a first holding mechanism, the medical imaging supplies configured to store at least one dose of a nuclear medicine, a plurality of wheels arranged below the support surface, at least one door configured to enclose the medical imaging supplies, and a handle configured to be grasped by a user to guide the medical imaging supply transport cart.

Claims

1. A medical imaging supply transport cart system comprising:

a supply transport cart; and

a medical imaging infusion system;

the supply transport cart comprising;

a floor surface configured to support the medical imaging infusion system;

a bottom portion configured to support the floor surface, the bottom portion comprising an air suspension;

a first securing mechanism configured to secure the medical imaging infusion system within the supply transport cart;

a first plurality of wheels arranged below the floor surface;

a cover and at least one door configured to enclose the medical imaging infusion system within the supply transport cart; and

a handle configured to be grasped by a user to guide the supply transport cart;

the medical imaging infusion system comprising;

a second plurality of wheels configured to roll the medical imaging infusion system onto and off the floor surface of the supply transport cart; and

at least one dose of a nuclear medicine.

2. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1

wherein the at least one door comprises a first door and a hinged top door, the first door being configured to move between an open position and a closed position;

wherein when the first door is in the open position, the first door is configured as a ramp for the medical imaging infusion system to roll onto and off the floor surface of the supply transport cart; and

wherein the supply transport cart further comprises a self-leveling mechanism.

3. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1

wherein the at least one door is configured to move between an open position and a closed position;

wherein when the at least one door is in the open position, the at least one door is configured as a ramp for the medical imaging infusion system to roll onto and off the floor surface of the supply transport cart; and

wherein the supply transport cart further comprises a shock absorbing mechanism.

4. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second securing mechanism configured to rigidly secure the medical imaging supply transport cart within a small delivery truck during transportation.

5. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 4 wherein the first securing mechanism and the second securing mechanism are configured to connect to tie down straps.

6. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 wherein the first plurality of wheels and the second plurality of wheels comprise a plurality of casters.

7. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 wherein the first plurality of wheels are configured with brake mechanisms.

8. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first plurality of wheels is configured with a motor to propel the supply transport cart.

9. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 wherein the first plurality of wheels are each configured with a shock absorber.

10. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 further comprising:

at least one locking mechanism associated with the at least one door, the at least one locking mechanism configured to lock the at least one door in a closed position.

11. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 further comprising:

nuclear medicine monitoring systems, the nuclear medicine monitoring systems configured to monitor a number of doses of a nuclear medicine provided by the medical imaging infusion system and monitor an amount of each of the doses of the nuclear medicine provided by the medical imaging infusion system;

at least one of the following;

environmental systems, sensor systems, and a redundant power backup system; and

at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one of the following;

the environmental systems, the sensor systems, and the redundant power backup system.

12. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 11

wherein the at least one monitoring device comprises a tablet computer;

and

wherein the at least one monitoring device is configured to estimate a location of the at least one monitoring device based on a global navigation satellite system.

13. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 11 further comprising the environmental systems,

wherein the environmental systems are configured to control an environment of the supply transport cart, the environmental systems comprising a cooling unit and at least one of the following:

a heating unit, a humidification unit, dehumidification unit, and an air purification unit.

14. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 11 further comprising the sensor systems,

wherein the sensor systems are configured to sense an environment of the supply transport cart, the sensor systems comprising at least a temperature sensor, and a motion sensor.

15. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 11 further comprising the redundant power backup system,

wherein the redundant power backup system is configured to provide power to the supply transport cart, the redundant power backup system comprising at least one power storage device.

16. A medical imaging supply transport cart monitoring system comprising the medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 11, the system further comprising:

a medical imaging supply transport cart monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of medical imaging supply transport carts; and

each of the plurality of medical imaging supply transport carts comprising the at least one monitoring device configured to connect to a wireless network and exchange information across the wireless network to the medical imaging supply transport cart monitoring system.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the medical imaging supply transport cart monitoring system is configured to monitor a location of the at least one monitoring device, each of the monitoring devices being associated with one of a plurality of medical imaging supply transport carts and configured to estimate a location based on a global navigation satellite system.

18. The medical imaging supply transport cart system according to claim 1 further comprising:

at least one of the following;

environmental systems, sensor systems, a redundant power backup system, and nuclear medicine monitoring systems; and

at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one of the following;

the environmental systems, the sensor systems, the redundant power backup system, and the nuclear medicine monitoring systems.

19. A medical imaging supply transport cart comprising:

a floor surface configured to support medical imaging supplies;

the floor surface further configured to support a support;

the support further configured to support the medical imaging supplies;

the support further configured to rigidly hold the medical imaging supplies with a first securing mechanism;

the medical imaging supplies configured to store at least one dose of a nuclear medicine;

a plurality of wheels arranged below the floor surface;

at least one door configured to enclose the medical imaging supplies;

a handle configured to be grasped by a user to guide the medical imaging supply transport cart;

a second securing mechanism configured to rigidly secure the medical imaging supply transport cart within a small delivery truck during transportation;

at least one locking mechanism associated with the at least one door, the at least one locking mechanism configured to lock the at least one door in a closed position;

environmental systems, sensor systems, a redundant power backup system, and nuclear medicine monitoring systems; and

at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one of the following;

the environmental systems, the sensor systems, the redundant power backup system, and the nuclear medicine monitoring systems,

wherein the support comprises a self-leveling mechanism;

wherein the support comprises a shock absorbing mechanism;

wherein the plurality of wheels comprise a plurality of casters;

wherein the plurality of wheels are configured with brake mechanisms; and

wherein the plurality of wheels are each configured with a shock absorber.

20. A medical imaging supply transport cart system comprising:

a supply transport cart; and

a medical imaging infusion system;

the supply transport cart comprising;

a floor surface configured to support the medical imaging infusion system;

a bottom portion configured to support the floor surface, the bottom portion comprising an air suspension;

a first securing mechanism configured to secure the medical imaging infusion system within the supply transport cart;

a first plurality of wheels arranged below the floor surface;

a cover and at least one door configured to enclose the medical imaging infusion system within the supply transport cart;

a handle configured to be grasped by a user to guide the supply transport cart;

a second securing mechanism configured to rigidly secure the medical imaging supply transport cart within a small delivery truck during transportation;

at least one of the following;

environmental systems, sensor systems, a redundant power backup system, and nuclear medicine monitoring systems; and

at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one of the following;

the environmental systems, the sensor systems, the redundant power backup system, and the nuclear medicine monitoring systems; and

at least one locking mechanism associated with the at least one door, the at least one locking mechanism configured to lock the at least one door in a closed position;

the medical imaging infusion system comprising;

a second plurality of wheels configured to roll the medical imaging infusion system onto and off the floor surface of the supply transport cart; and

at least one dose of a nuclear medicine,

wherein the supply transport cart comprises a self-leveling mechanism;

wherein the supply transport cart comprises a shock absorbing mechanism;

wherein the first plurality of wheels comprise a plurality of casters;

wherein the first plurality of wheels are configured with automatic brake mechanisms; and

wherein the first plurality of wheels are each configured with a shock absorber.