Medical testing system with an illuminating component and automatic shut-off

• US 6,915,155 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stern, Glenn N., Surwillo, John M., Secora, Gary J., Mikula, Patricia J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oropeza, Frances P.
• Application Number:
  US09/915,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/384, 600/450, 600/483, 600/508, 600/509, 600/512, 600/516, 600/517, 600/520, 600/522, 600/523, 600/525, 600/437, 362/83, 362/85, 362 97- 99
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/321 Accessories or supplementary instruments therefor, e.g. cord hangers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/329 Load diagnosis, e.g. cardiac stress tests

Abstract

A medical testing system has an instrument for monitoring a characteristic of a patient and an illuminating component for illuminating the instrument. The instrument includes a component for selectively activating and deactivating the illuminating component and a deactivating component for automatically deactivating the illuminating component, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

Claims

1. A medical testing system for monitoring the electrical activity of a patient'"'"'s heart by successively performing both electrocardiogram and echocardiogram monitoring procedures in the same location, the system comprising:

a movable cart housing a central control system for controlling both the electrocardiogram and echocardiogram procedures;

the central control system comprising

a display for displaying monitoring output from the electrocardiogram and/or echocardiogram monitoring procedures,

a printer for printing monitoring output from the electrocardiogram and/or echocardiogram monitoring procedures,

a work surface upon which the printed monitoring output is disposed,

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys for inputting control commands to the control system to conduct the echocardiogram procedures, and

a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys for inputting commands to the control system to conduct the electrocardiogram and/or echocardiogram procedures; and

an illuminating component for selectively illuminating the work surface, keypad and keyboard and thereby facilitating successive performance of the electrocardiogram and echocardiogram monitoring procedures by allowing a caregiver to view and manipulate the keys on the keypad and keyboard and view the printed monitoring output regardless of surrounding lighting conditions of the location,

wherein the illuminating component is automatically de-activated if a key on the keypad is not actuated for a predetermined time period.

2. The medical testing system of claim 1, wherein the movable cart comprises a plate for supporting the display above the work surface and the illuminating component is attached to the plate.

3. The medical testing system of claim 2, wherein the illuminating component comprises a circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes.

4. The medical testing system of claim 1, wherein the illuminating component comprises a circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes.

5. The medical testing system of claim 1, wherein the illuminative component can be activated or de-activated by actuating a key on the keypad.

6. The medical testing system of claim 1, wherein the illuminating component comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.