Method and apparatus for utilizing thermal energy generated by medical diagnostic devices

• US 8,212,183 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2006
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kwong, Wah Yiu, Wong, Hong W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US11/644,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/201
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/08 with bimetallic element

Abstract

This invention relates to the use of system thermal energy generated by equipment, such as an ultrasound sensing device, to transfer heat to the peripherals/sensors/probes under user control. This is accomplished by recycling the heat generated by the system and used that to keep the peripheral/sensor/probe warm.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic component selected from a CPU, a chipset, and a graphic controller;

a housing including an exterior portion, the housing arranged to be coupled to a medical peripheral device;

a heat-conducting element arranged within the housing and configured to warm the exterior portion of the housing, wherein the heat-conducting element is arranged to receive thermal energy generated by the electronic component;

a user temperature preference control arranged to control an amount of thermal energy transmitted to the heat-conducting element; and

a thermal sensor arranged to monitor temperature and create a feedback loop to control the transfer of thermal energy to the heat-conducting element via a heat transfer element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user temperature preference control is arranged to set a level of comfort at the exterior portion of the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medical peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of:

a sensor and a probe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heat transfer element, wherein the thermal energy is transferred to the heat-conducting element via the heat transfer element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermal sensor is arranged in a peripheral receptacle that is arranged to receive the medical peripheral device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bi-metal element to control the flow of the thermal energy and transferred to a peripheral receptacle that is arranged to receive the peripheral device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a medical device selected from the group consisting of:

a stethoscope, a blood pressure monitor, ultrasound transceiver, a device that touches the skin of a patient, and combinations thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the medical device is configured as a wireless device that is arranged to communicate data recorded using a wireless protocol.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a heating element arranged to warm up the housing before the electronic component is able to generate sufficient heat to keep the housing warm.

10. A method comprising:

providing an electronic component within a housing of an apparatus, the electronic component being selected from a CPU, a chipset, and a graphic controller;

providing a heat-conducting element within the housing of the apparatus and arranged to warm an exterior portion of the housing, wherein the heat-conducting element is arranged to receive thermal energy generated by the electronic component;

providing a medical peripheral device coupled to the exterior portion of the housing; and

controlling an amount of thermal energy transmitted to the heat-conducting element;

wherein the medical peripheral device is arranged to monitor temperature and create a feedback loop to control the transfer of thermal energy to the heat-conducting element via a heat transfer element.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a user temperature preference control to set a level of comfort at the exterior portion of the housing.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the medical peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of:

a sensor, a probe, an ultrasound transceiver, a device that touches the skin of a patient, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a heat transfer element, wherein the thermal energy is transferred to the heat-conducting element via the heat transfer element.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the medical peripheral device is arranged to monitor temperature and create a feedback loop to control the transfer of thermal energy from a device located in the housing to the heat-conducting element via a heat transfer element.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a bi-metal element to prevent overheating of the heat-conducting element.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the apparatus includes one or more medical devices selected from the group consisting of:

a stethoscope, a blood pressure monitor, an ultrasound transceiver, a device that will be in contact with the skin of a patient or person, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more medical devices are configured as wireless devices and communicate data recorded using a wireless protocol.