Enhanced ultrasound system

• US 7,978,461 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sonosite Incorporated (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sliger, Bradley J., Diener, Alexander M., Lorusso, Tom, Van Eyck, Jerry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai; Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US11/852,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 600/459, 600/446, 36167901-67945, 36167955-67959, 601/2, 606/27, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 295/921, D24/158
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means

Abstract

An enhanced ultrasound housing and enhanced ultrasound platform facilitates a technician-friendly layout by providing a beneficial ergonomic layout. Control switches may also be configured to provide convenient implementation of ultrasound techniques. Further, an enhanced ultrasound housing and enhanced ultrasound platform provides physical protection to the device. Physical protection may come in the form of an exoskeletal member, or from a covering which inhibits liquid penetration.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system, said ultrasound system comprising:

a housing having a front portion configured to hold an ultrasound display; and

an exoskeletal member attached to said housing, said exoskeletal member configured to at least partially frame said housing and provide external protection from mechanical impacts of said housing, wherein said housing is at least partially within said exoskeletal member and said exoskeletal member is adapted to provide structural support at weak points of said housing;

wherein the ultrasound system comprising a bottom portion bounded on at least three sides by said exoskeletal member, said bottom portion extending at an angle in front of a plane defined by said front portion, said bottom portion configured to hold one or more user interface controls;

wherein the ultrasound system comprising a top portion bounded on at least three sides by said exoskeletal member, said top portion forming a handle, extending at an angle behind a plane defined by said front portion; and

wherein said exoskeletal member further comprises a hinge to facilitate movement of said exoskeletal member.

2. The ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein said front portion of said system is configured to hold at least one control switch.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein said top portion is configured to receive at least one tool for a user of the ultrasound device.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 3 wherein said at least one tool may be one or more items selected from a list including:

a gel bottle, and probe.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said handle is formed by said exoskeletal member.

6. The ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein said exoskeletal member comprises a shock-absorbent material.

7. The ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein said exoskeletal member is configured to hold a membranous cover.

8. The ultrasound system of claim 7 wherein said membranous cover interacts with said housing to configure one or more control switches to perform functions based on a specialized clinical application.

9. The ultrasound system of claim 8 wherein said membranous cover comprises a RFID chip to identify said membranous cover.

10. The ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein said exoskeletal member comprises metal.

11. The ultrasound system of claim 10 wherein said exoskeletal member comprises a metal band circumscribing said housing.

12. The ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein said exoskeletal member is adapted to provide an ergonomic form factor.

13. The ultrasound system of claim 1 wherein said exoskeletal member is adapted to cooperate with the ultrasound housing to hold any item from the group consisting of:

a tool and an ultrasound system accessory.

14. An ultrasound system comprising:

a processing unit;

a housing;

a display;

at least one user interface, wherein said ultrasound housing comprises;

a front portion configured to secure the display;

a top portion configured for forming a handle, said top portion extending at an angle behind a plane defined by said front portion;

a bottom portion extending at an angle in front of the plane defined by said front portion, said bottom portion configured to secure said at least one user interface; and

an exoskeletal member circumferentially around the housing and configured to cooperate with the top portion of the housing for forming said handle;

wherein said exoskeletal member further comprises a hinge to facilitate movement of said exoskeletal member.

15. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said exoskeletal member comprises a shock-absorbent material.

16. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said housing is at least partially covered by a membranous cover.

17. The ultrasound system of claim 16 wherein said membranous cover comprises a RFID chip to identify said membranous cover.

18. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said front portion of said housing is configured to house at least one control switch.

19. The ultrasound system of claim 18 wherein said at least one control switch is pre-configured to perform different functions based on various clinical applications implemented by the ultrasound system.

20. The ultrasound system of claim 19 wherein said pre-configuration is implemented by placing a membranous cover on said housing.

21. The ultrasound system of claim 20 further comprising one or more labels proximate to said at least one control switch, said labels corresponding to said functions of said at least one control switch.

22. The ultrasound system of claim 20 wherein said front portion and control switches are at least partially covered by a membranous cover.

23. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said top portion of said housing is configured to hold at least one tool for a user of the system.

24. The ultrasound system of claim 23 wherein said at least one tool may be one or more items selected from a list including:

a gel bottle, and an ultrasound probe.

25. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said bottom portion of said housing is pivotably disposed with said front surface thereby facilitating alteration of the inward angle of extension.

26. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said exoskeletal member comprises metal.

27. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said exoskeletal member is adapted to provide structural support to at least one weak point of said ultrasound housing.

28. The ultrasound system of claim 27 wherein said at least one weak point is caused by at least one of said angular extensions.

29. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said exoskeletal member frames said housing to define said angled top and bottom portions.

30. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said exoskeletal member comprises multiple portions.

31. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein said exoskeletal member is adapted to overhang one or more surfaces of said housing for enhanced edge protection.

32. The ultrasound system of claim 14 whereby a gap is provided between said exoskeletal member and said top portion.

33. A method for creating an ultrasound system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having a front surface forming at least one aperture, a top portion and a bottom portion, said bottom portion angularly extending forward with respect a plane defined by said front surface, said top portion angularly extending backward with respect to the plane defined by said front surface;

placing a display screen within said at least one aperture of said front surface of said housing, said display screen placed coplanar with said front surface of said housing;

placing a user interface device within said bottom portion of said housing; and

framing said housing within an exoskeletal member to structurally support said angular extensions;

wherein said exoskeletal member comprises a hinge to facilitate movement of said exoskeletal member.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said top portion is formed to serve as a handle for said system.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said

exoskeletal member comprises a center section, an inwardly sloping section at one end of said center section and an outwardly sloping section at the other end of said center section;

and

wherein said front surface is supported by said center section, said bottom portion is supported by said inwardly sloping section, and said outwardly sloping section forms a handle for said system.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of placing at least one control switch within said at least one aperture of said front surface of said housing.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of covering said control switches and said front surface with a membranous cover.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of configuring said at least one control switch to perform a different function based on various clinical applications implemented by the ultrasound system.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of placing a label proximate to said at least one control switch, said labels corresponding to said functions of said at least one control switch.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein said exoskeletal member comprises metal.