Dock for connecting peripheral devices to a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mini-dock for connecting peripheral devices to a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, the mini-dock comprising:
- a receptacle housing;
a plurality of peripheral device ports, in or on said receptacle housing, each peripheral device port connected to one or more individual electrical connector(s), at least one peripheral device port of said plurality of peripheral device ports comprises an ultrasound transducer adaptor; and
a receptacle for releasably mating with an I/O port of said modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, said receptacle in electronic communication with said plurality of peripheral device ports.
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Abstract
The present invention describes a system for use with a core module for diagnostic ultrasound, the system comprising at least one core module having a housing, system electronics package and a I/O port and one or more docking station(s) in electronic communication with a plurality of peripheral devices, the docking station capable of releasable connection to the core module. The invention further details the individual modular components of the system, being a receptacle connector, a docking station, a multiple transducer adaptor and a mobile docking station.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A mini-dock for connecting peripheral devices to a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, the mini-dock comprising:
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a receptacle housing; a plurality of peripheral device ports, in or on said receptacle housing, each peripheral device port connected to one or more individual electrical connector(s), at least one peripheral device port of said plurality of peripheral device ports comprises an ultrasound transducer adaptor; and a receptacle for releasably mating with an I/O port of said modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, said receptacle in electronic communication with said plurality of peripheral device ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A docking station for connecting a plurality of peripheral devices to a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, the docking station comprising:
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a mini-dock having a housing, a receptacle, a plurality of peripheral device ports in electronic communication with the receptacle, at least one peripheral device port of said plurality of peripheral device ports comprises an ultrasound transducer adaptor; a base fixedly attached to the mini-dock and having means for guiding a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus into alignment with said mini-dock and means for securing the modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus to the mini-dock; and a power supply incorporated within said base and in electronic communication with said mini-dock such that electrical power can be fed from the power supply to the modular ultrasound apparatus through the mini-dock. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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- 13. A multi-transducer connector module comprising a housing having a relief connector for mating with an aperture for a transducer connector on a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, said multi-transducer connector having a plurality of recess connectors fittingly engaging a plurality of relief transducer connectors of a plurality of diagnostic ultrasound transducer assemblies, the housing having a switch for each recess connector by which an operator can select which transducer connected to the ultrasound device to be used at any particular moment.
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17. A mobile docking station for use with a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus comprising:
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a base having a plurality of castors wherein at least one said castor is capable of locking; a tower mounted on said base; and a docking station located substantially near the top of the tower, the docking station capable of releasably receiving a modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, said docking station having a plurality of peripheral device ports, each peripheral device port connected to one or more individual electrical connector(s), at least one peripheral device port of said plurality of peripheral device ports comprises an ultrasound transducer adaptor, and a receptacle for releasably mating with an I/O port of said modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, said receptacle in electronic communication with said plurality of peripheral device ports. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for diagnostic ultrasound examinations comprising:
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at least one core module having a housing, system electronics package and a I/O port; and one or more docking station(s) in electronic communication with a plurality of peripheral devices, the docking station capable of releasable connection to said core module, wherein the core module is operable to generate diagnostic ultrasound images while docked to at least one docking station of the one or more docking station(s), and said core module further operable so that all data inputs and outputs are sent or received through the at least one docking station to or from the peripheral devices. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification