Remote wireless control device for an ultrasound machine and method
First Claim
1. An ultrasound machine, comprising:
- a user-interface assembly including a user-interface input section having a plurality of controls;
an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;
a screen for displaying an ultrasound image;
a control unit coupled to said user-interface assembly, said screen and said transducer to enable control of said transducer, processing of the received ultrasonic waves and control of the images displayed on said screen via said controls of said user-interface input section; and
a remote control device wirelessly coupled to said control unit and including only a portion of said controls of said user-interface input section to enable remote control of said transducer, of the processing of the received ultrasonic waves and of the images displayed on said screen.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasound machine enabling remote wireless control and including a user-interface input section having controls, an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving waves, a screen for displaying an image and a control unit coupled to the input section, screen and transducer to enable control of the transducer, processing of received waves and images displayed on the screen via the controls of the input section. A remote control device is wirelessly coupled to the control unit and includes only a portion of the controls of the input section to enable remote control of the transducer, processing of the received waves and images displayed on the screen. The controls on the remote control device are typically the most frequently used controls. The remote control device is positionable in any position in which it is comfortable for the sonographer to operate the controls, thereby providing an ergonomic benefit.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasound machine, comprising:
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a user-interface assembly including a user-interface input section having a plurality of controls;
an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;
a screen for displaying an ultrasound image;
a control unit coupled to said user-interface assembly, said screen and said transducer to enable control of said transducer, processing of the received ultrasonic waves and control of the images displayed on said screen via said controls of said user-interface input section; and
a remote control device wirelessly coupled to said control unit and including only a portion of said controls of said user-interface input section to enable remote control of said transducer, of the processing of the received ultrasonic waves and of the images displayed on said screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19)
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16. A method for enabling ergonomic placement of controls of an ultrasound machine, comprising:
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transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves via an ultrasonic transducer;
processing the received ultrasonic waves to generate an image;
displaying the image generated from the received ultrasonic waves on a screen;
providing a user-interface assembly including a user-interface input section having a plurality of controls for enabling control of the transmission, reception and processing of the ultrasonic waves and images displayed on the screen;
arranging only a portion of the controls of the user-interface input section on a remote control device; and
coupling the remote control device via a wireless connection to a control unit housed in the ultrasonic machine to enable wireless control of the transmission, of the reception and processing of the ultrasonic waves and of the images displayed on the screen via the controls on the remote control device and to enable a sonographer to place the remote control device in an ergonomically pleasing position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 20)
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Specification