Balance body ultrasound system

• US 8,435,183 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sonosite Incorporated (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Barnes, Stephanie A., Bunce, Steven M, Cabatic, Bryan S., Little, Blake W., Purdue, Bill, Schultz, John D., Rice, Kari L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherby, Ellsworth
• Application Number:
  US10/404,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,690 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/446, 600/459
• US Class Current: 600/459
• 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 weighing less than three and a half pounds (3.50 lbs), wherein said balance body ultrasound unit comprises a battery, and wherein balance of said balanced body results from predetermined arrangement of internal components of said balanced body including said battery; and

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

2. The diagnostic ultrasound system as described in claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises an aperture for receiving and charging a second battery.

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

4. A diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:

a balance body ultrasound unit weighing less than three and a half pounds (3.50 lbs), wherein said balance body ultrasound unit comprises a battery and said 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 said battery and system electronics of said balance body ultrasound unit; and

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

5. A diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:

a balance body ultrasound unit weighing less than three and a half pounds (3.50 lbs), wherein said balance body ultrasound unit comprises a battery and said balance body ultrasound unit'"'"'s center of gravity is positioned close to the strength of a user'"'"'s hand and wherein balance of said balanced body results from predetermined arrangement of said balance body'"'"'s internal components, including said battery, around an aperture; and

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