Medical mounting system and method

• US 8,681,116 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Merritt, Fergus, Cohen, Asher, De Jong, Duane, Litzza, Gerald Lea, Cheline, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ip, Jason
• Application Number:
  US13/679,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20130120296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 600/407, 600/437, 600/466, 600/467
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0487 Special user inputs or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• 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: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 : Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

A bedside controller includes an integrally formed housing and self-contained mounting structure disposed on the housing. The mounting structure includes a mounting channel defined in the housing and a retaining clamp disposed above the mounting channel and configured to releasably secure a mounting platform within the mounting channel such that the bedside controller is mounted to the mounting platform. The bedside controller also includes a touch-sensitive display disposed within a surface of the housing and configured to display images and receive user input on the surface, a processor disposed within the housing, a communication module disposed within the housing, communicatively coupled to the processor, and configured to transmit and receive medical data, and a battery disposed within the integrally formed housing and electrically coupled to the touch-sensitive display, the processor, and the communication module.

Claims

1. A method of releasably mounting a bedside controller to a mounting platform associated with a patient undergoing an intravascular workflow, comprising:

positioning an intravascular imaging device within a vessel of the patient, the intravascular imaging device including at least one of an ultrasound transducer and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) component;

receiving intravascular medical information associated with the patient at a bedside controller, the intravascular medical information including images of the vessel of the patient obtained by the intravascular imaging device;

pivoting a retaining clamp to an open position, the retaining clamp being disposed on the bedside controller such that it extends over a mounting channel defined in a housing of the bedside controller, wherein the housing defines the mounting channel near an outer edge of the housing, the mounting channel being defined by a front wall extending across a width of the housing, a back wall extending across the width of the housing parallel to the front wall, and a top wall extending across the width of the housing between the front wall and the back wall, the top wall extending perpendicular to the front and back walls;

positioning the bedside controller such that the mounting platform extends through the mounting channel;

releasing the retaining clamp such that at least a slot extending across a width of the retaining clamp and the top wall of the housing engage the mounting platform to releasably secure the mounting platform within the mounting channel, thereby mounting the bedside controller to the mounting platform in a cantilevered manner;

viewing the intravascular medical information associated with the patient displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the bedside controller, the touch-sensitive display disposed within the housing such that a surface of the touch-sensitive display extends parallel to the top wall of the housing and is accessible to a user through an opening in the housing; and

inputting user inputs on the touch-sensitive display to manipulate the medical information displayed on the touch-sensitive display.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the retaining clamp is spring-loaded;

and

wherein the releasing the retaining clamp includes exerting pressure on the mounting platform within the mounting channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting platform is a bed rail in a sterile field.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein releasing the retaining clamp includes releasably securing the bedside controller to the bed rail in such a manner that the touch-sensitive display of the bedside controller is generally parallel with a top surface of a table associated with the bed rail.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting platform is disposed on an IV pole.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting platform is disposed on a mobile cart.

7. The method of claim 1, further including electrically charging a battery of the bedside controller via electrical contacts disposed within the mounting channel when the bedside controller is mounted to the mounting platform.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting user inputs includes inputting user inputs through a sterile drape.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting user inputs includes inputting user inputs via gloved touch.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein viewing medical information includes viewing an image captured by an imaging tool disposed within the patient and displayed by the touch-sensitive display.

11. The method of claim 10, further including performing measurements on the image through the user inputs.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein viewing medical information further includes viewing one of intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging information, fractional flow reserve (FFR) information, and coronary flow reserve (CFR) information.

13. A bedside controller, comprising:

a housing defining a mounting channel near an outer edge of the housing, the mounting channel defined by a front wall extending across a width of the housing, a back wall extending across the width of the housing parallel to the front wall, and a top wall extending across the width of the housing between the front wall and the back wall, the top wall extending perpendicular to the front and back walls;

a touch-sensitive display disposed within the housing such that a surface of the touch-sensitive display extends parallel to the top wall of the housing and is accessible to a user through an opening in the housing, the touch-sensitive display configured to display images obtained by an intravascular imaging device disposed within a vessel of the patient and receive user input;

a processor disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the touch-sensitive display;

a communication module disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the processor and communicatively coupled to the intravascular imaging device disposed within the vessel of the patient, the intravascular imaging device including at least one of an ultrasound transducer and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) component, wherein the communication module receives intravascular medical information that includes the images obtained by the intravascular imaging device;

a battery disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the touch-sensitive display, the processor, and the communication module; and

a retaining clamp pivotally secured to the housing adjacent to the mounting channel, the retaining clamp having a slot extending across a width of the retaining clamp, wherein the retaining clamp is pivotally movable with respect to the housing between a first position allowing insertion of a mounting rail into the mounting channel or removal of a mounting rail from the mounting channel and a second position fixedly securing the bedside controller to a mounting rail received within the mounting channel such that the mounting rail received within the mounting channel engages at least the top wall of the housing and the slot of the retaining clamp such that the bedside controller is mounted to the mounting rail in a cantilevered manner.

14. The bedside controller of claim 13, wherein the touch-sensitive display is further configured to display images associated with one of intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging, fractional flow reserve (FFR), coronary flow reserve (CFR), and angiography.

15. The bedside controller of claim 13, further including electrical contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the housing and electrically coupled to the battery, the electrical contacts configured to receive an electrical charge and pass the electrical charge to the battery.

16. The bedside controller of claim 15, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed within the mounting channel and configured to receive an electrical charge when the bedside controller is mounted to a compatible charging structure.

17. The bedside controller of claim 15, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed on the front wall of the housing.

18. The bedside controller of claim 13, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to accept user input through a sterile drape.

19. The bedside controller of claim 13, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to accept user input from gloved touch.

20. The bedside controller of claim 13, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to provide haptic feedback to a user.

21. The bedside controller of claim 13, wherein the communication module is a wireless communication module.

22. The bedside controller of claim 13, wherein the housing is fluid resistant.

23. The bedside controller of claim 21, wherein the housing has a rating of IPX4 against fluid ingress according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 60529.

24. The bedside controller of claim 21, wherein the housing is seamlessly molded.

25. The bedside controller of claim 13, wherein the housing is formed from at least one of a thermoplastic, a thermosetting plastic, and a moldable metal.

26. The bedside controller of claim 21, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing portions fixedly bonded to one another.