Ergonomic Filmless Radiology Work Station with Keyboard Sanitizer

• US 20110120351A1
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S&S X-Ray Products Inc.
• Original Assignee: S&S X-Ray Products Inc.
• Inventors: Shoenfeld, Norman A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,087,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts

Abstract

An ergonomic radiology work station has front and back tables or work platforms that can be raised or lowered electrically to adjust for optimum posture and comfort of the user. Video monitors on the rear platform displays medical images. Interface equipment, e.g., keyboard and mouse, are situated on the front work platform. A pull-out sanitizer hood irradiates the keyboard and other interface devices with ultraviolet radiation after a radiology work session. An interlock arrangement ensures that the work platforms cannot be moved up or down when the hood is pulled out, and ensures that UV lamps in the hood are disabled when the hood is pushed back in to its home or withdrawn position. The hood with slide(s) and interlock(s) may be provided as a kit to retrofit an existing work station.

Claims

1. An ergonomic filmless radiology work station at which a radiologist can study medical images that have been captured in digital form and displayed on one or more monitors, comprising:

a base adapted to rest upon a floor;

at least one pedestal arrangement extending vertically upward from the base;

a front work platform adjustably supported from said at least one pedestal arrangement, the platform having a central area on an upper surface thereof adapted for placement of one or more interface control devices to be manipulated by the radiologist;

a rear work platform situated rearward of and elevated in respect to said front work platform, and adjustably supported from said at least one pedestal arrangement, said rear work platform being adapted to support one or more monitors for display of said medical images;

motorized height adjustment means operatively coupled to said front work platform and said rear work platform for controllably positioning said work platforms respectively at desired heights above said base;

control means coupled to said motorized height adjustment means, and actuable by said radiologist, permitting the radiologist to control the motorized height adjustment means for moving each of said front work platform and said rear work platform upward and downward;

a keyboard sanitizer device mounted at an underside of said rear work platform, including a slide mounted on said rear work platform;

an upper support portion mounted on said slide and adapted to be pulled forward to an extended position and pushed in to a retracted position beneath the rear work platform;

at least one UV generator lamp positioned on said upper support portion; and

a curtain surrounding said support portion and depending downward therefrom to contain radiation of said at least on UV generator lamp;

such that when said keyboard sanitizer device is pulled out it is positioned over said central area, and when the at least one UV lamp is energized the at least one UV generating lamp irradiates the central area with sanitizing UV radiation; and

electrical interlock means operatively coupled to said keyboard sanitizer device and to said motorized height adjustment means such that when said keyboard sanitizer device is pulled out to the extended position, the interlock means disables said motorized height adjustment means so that the height of the front and rear work platforms cannot be adjusted; and

when said keyboard sanitizer device is pushed in to its retracted position said interlock means disables said keyboard sanitizer device so that the at least one UV generator lamp is prevented from generating said UV radiation.

2. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 1, wherein said at least one pedestal arrangement includes left and right support posts supporting said rear work platform, and said motorized height adjustment means includes a pair of motor drives associated with the left and right support posts, respectively.

3. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 2, wherein said at least one pedestal arrangement includes left-front and right-front support posts supporting said front work platform, and said motorized height adjustment means includes a pair of motor drives associated with the left-front and right-front support posts, respectively.

4. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 1, wherein said curtain means of said keyboard sanitizer device includes rigid shades disposed at least on front, left and right sides of said upper support platform thereof.

5. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 1, wherein said curtain means of said keyboard sanitizer device includes a fabric curtain disposed at least on a front side of said upper support platform thereof.

6. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 1, wherein said curtain means of said keyboard sanitizer device is in the form of fabric drapes opaque to said UV radiation.

7. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 1, wherein said at least one UV generator lamp includes a UV fluorescent tube.

8. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 7, wherein said at least one UV generator lamp includes a pair of UV fluorescent tubes.

9. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 8, wherein said pair of UV fluorescent tubes are twenty-one to twenty-seven inch tubes and are disposed transversely on said upper support platform.

10. The ergonomic filmless radiology work station according to claim 1, wherein said electrical interlock means includes a presence switch disposed at the back of said keyboard sanitizer device and providing an indication of one sense when the keyboard sanitary device is disposed in its retracted position and providing an indication of an opposite sense when the keyboard sanitizer device is pulled out to its extended position.

11. A keyboard sanitizer arrangement adapted to be mounted at an underside of a rear work platform of an ergonomic filmless radiology work station at which work station a radiologist can study medical images that have been captured in digital form and displayed on one or more monitors, in which the work station is comprised of:

a base adapted to rest upon a floor;

at least one pedestal arrangement extending vertically upward from the base;

a front work platform adjustably supported from said at least one pedestal arrangement, the platform having a central area on an upper surface thereof adapted for placement of one or more interface control devices to be manipulated by the radiologist;

said rear work platform being situated rearward of and elevated in respect to said front work platform, and adjustably supported from said at least one pedestal arrangement, said rear work platform being adapted to support one or more monitors for display of said medical images;

motorized height adjustment means operatively coupled to said front work platform and said rear work platform for controllably positioning said work platforms respectively at desired heights above said base; and

control means coupled to said motorized height adjustment means, and actuable by said radiologist, permitting the radiologist to control the motorized height adjustment means for moving each of said front work platform and said rear work platform upward and downward;

and wherein said keyboard sanitizer arrangement comprises;

a keyboard sanitizer device including a slide adapted to be mounted onto an underside of said rear work platform;

an upper support portion mounted on said slide and adapted to be pulled forward to an extended position and pushed in to a retracted position beneath the rear work platform;

at least one UV generator lamp positioned on said upper support portion; and

a curtain surrounding said support portion and depending downward therefrom to contain radiation of said at least on UV generator lamp;

such that when said keyboard sanitizer device is pulled out it is positioned over said central area of the front work platform, and when the at least one UV lamp is energized the at least one UV generating lamp irradiates the central area with sanitizing UV radiation; and

electrical interlock means operatively coupled to said keyboard sanitizer device and adapted to be coupled to said motorized height adjustment means such that when said keyboard sanitizer device is pulled out to the extended position, the interlock means disables said motorized height adjustment means so that the height of the front and rear work platforms cannot be adjusted; and

when said keyboard sanitizer device is pushed in to its retracted position said interlock means disables said keyboard sanitizer device so that the at least one UV generator lamp is prevented from generating said UV radiation.

12. The keyboard sanitizer arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said curtain means includes rigid shades disposed at least on front, left and right sides of said upper support platform.

13. The keyboard sanitizer arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said curtain means includes a fabric curtain disposed at least on a front side of said upper support platform.

14. The keyboard sanitizer arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said curtain means is in the form of fabric drapes opaque to said UV radiation.

15. The keyboard sanitizer arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said at least one UV generator lamp includes a UV fluorescent tube.

16. The keyboard sanitizer arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said at least one UV generator lamp includes a pair of UV fluorescent tubes.

17. The keyboard sanitizer arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said pair of UV fluorescent tubes are twenty-one to twenty-seven inch tubes and are disposed transversely on said upper support platform.

18. The keyboard sanitizer arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said electrical interlock means includes a presence switch disposed at the back of said keyboard sanitizer device and providing an indication of one sense when the keyboard sanitary device is disposed in its retracted position and providing an indication of an opposite sense when the keyboard sanitizer device is pulled out to its extended position.