Docking device

• US 20070015988A1
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FRW 1 LLC
• Original Assignee: FRW 1 LLC
• Inventors: Rose, Harold, Woskow, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/152,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20070015988A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

A facility for coupling different types of catheters to an imaging system is provided. The facility comprises a docking module and a plurality of couplers for coupling the different types of catheters to the imaging system. The docking module provides a mechanical and electrical interface between a catheter and the imaging system. The plurality of couplers enables the different types of catheters having different mechanical and electrical coupling structures, to engage and interact with the docking module.

Claims

1. A facility for coupling different types of catheters to an imaging system, the facility comprising:

a docking module for providing a mechanical and electrical interface to a selected catheter; and

a plurality of accessory couplers for enabling a plurality of additional catheters having different mechanical and electrical coupling structures to engage and interact with the docking module.

2. The facility of claim 1 wherein the docking module comprises an electronic module for storing catheter usage data.

3. The facility of claim 1 wherein the docking module comprises an electronic module for storing system usage data.

4. The facility of claim 2 wherein the docking module further comprises a drive shaft for transferring rotational motion of a motor to a catheter interface mechanism and a coupler that engages the catheter interface mechanism.

5. The facility of claim 2 wherein the docking module further comprises a lock for locking the docking module with a coupler.

6. The facility of claim 1 wherein a coupler comprises an electronic device for storing catheter usage data.

7. The facility of claim 6 wherein the coupler allows exchange of electronic signals between the docking module and the catheter.

8. The facility of claim 6 wherein the electronic device generates a catheter end of life warning signal when the catheter usage approaches the catheter end of life.

9. The facility of claim 7 wherein the electronic device locks the catheter on expiry of the catheter end of life, preventing further usage of the catheter.

10. A coupler for use in an ultrasonic imaging system, the coupler comprising:

a mechanical interface for providing a mechanical coupling between a docking module and a catheter, and

a electrical interface for providing an electrical coupling between the docking module and the catheter.

11. A docking device for use with an imaging system, the system comprising:

a docking module for providing an electrical and mechanical interface to a catheter; and

a plurality of couplers for enabling a plurality of catheters having different mechanical and electrical coupling structures to engage and interact with the docking module wherein the docking module comprises;

means for controlling rotation of a catheter engaged with the docking module through a selected coupler;

means for communicating electrical signals transmitted to and received from the catheter to an imaging module; and

means for monitoring usage data selected from the group consisting of either system usage data or catheter usage data.

12. An electronic orientation module for use with a catheter docking section of an imaging system, the mechanism comprising:

a slotted disk mounted to a drive shaft of a catheter rotational drive system;

a light source located to one side of the slotted disk;

a photo-detector located on an opposing side of the slotted disk, and arranged to detect light from the light source as a slot formed in the slotted disk passes between the light source and the photo-detector; and

a processor located in an associated imaging system having programming instructions for interpreting signals received from the photo-detector and using the signals received from the photo-detector to enable upright display of a superior portion of an imaged organ on a display unit of the imaging system.