BALANCE BODY ULTRASOUND SYSTEM

• US 20130331694A1
• Filed: 04/04/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Barnes, Stephanie A., Bunce, Steven M., Cabatic, Bryan S., Little, Blake W., Purdue, Bill, Schultz, John D., Rice, Kari L.
• Application Number:
  US13/857,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331694A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52017 particularly adapted to short-range imaging G01S7/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52028 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5206 Two-dimensional coordinated display of distance and direction; B-scan display
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 : related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 : Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 : Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/345 : using energy switching from one active element to another

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hand held ultrasound system having a balance body, a transducer assembly connected to said balance body via a communication means and a plurality of control elements arranged in an ergonomic fashion on said balance body, such that a user may hold said system and operate at least one of said control elements with the same hand. In particular a medical ultrasound system comprising a balance body incorporating system electronics, a power supply and a user interface wherein the user interface comprises a D-controller and a touch screen and a transducer assembly attached to the balanced body by a cable.

Claims

1. A diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:

a balance body ultrasound unit, wherein the balance body ultrasound unit comprises a battery, and wherein balance of the balanced body results from predetermined arrangement of internal components of the balanced body including the battery; and

a docking station having a data I/O bus for communicating with the balance body unit, and a power relay for recharging the battery of the balance body ultrasound unit.

2. The diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein the docking station further comprises an aperture for receiving and charging a second battery.

3. The diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein the balance body ultrasound unit'"'"'s center of gravity is positioned close to the strength of a user'"'"'s hand.

4. The diagnostic ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein the balance body ultrasound unit is balanced for comfortable holding in a user'"'"'s hand.

5. A diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:

a balance body ultrasound unit, wherein the balance body ultrasound unit comprises a battery and the balance body ultrasound unit'"'"'s center of gravity is positioned close to the strength of a user'"'"'s hand and an aperture is positioned at least partially between the battery and system electronics of the balance body ultrasound unit; and

a station having a data I/O bus for communicating with the balance body unit, and a power relay for recharging the battery of the balance body ultrasound unit.

6. A diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:

a balance body ultrasound unit, wherein the balance body ultrasound unit comprises a battery and the balance body ultrasound unit'"'"'s center of gravity is positioned close to the strength of a user'"'"'s hand and wherein balance of the balanced body results from predetermined arrangement of the balance body'"'"'s internal components, including the battery, around an aperture; and

a station having a data I/O bus for communicating with the balance body unit, and a power relay for recharging the battery of the balance body ultrasound unit.