Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-23
2004-03-02
Jaworski, Francis J. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C248S118000, C248S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06699190
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to ultrasonic diagnostic imaging systems and, in particular, to ultrasound systems with integral wrist support pads.
Cart-borne ultrasound systems should be compact and easy to roll to a diagnostic lab or patient bedside. In use, these systems should be comfortable and convenient for the clinician to operate. Typically, such ultrasound systems have a control panel by which the clinician adjusts the features and performance of the system. These systems also generally have a keyboard by which the clinician can type in patient information and notations on images and reports produced by the system. In the past the keyboard has generally been made a part of the control panel, thereby presenting the full range of controls including the keyboard immediately in front of the operator. For a more compact design, it is desirable to integrate the control panel and keyboard together. For instance, if the keyboard is mounted beneath the control panel on a sliding drawer, the drawer and keyboard can be pulled out from under the control panel when needed, and rolled back under the control panel when not in use. Such an arrangement allows the control panel to be made smaller and more compact, as the keyboard is not a part of the control panel surface.
The clinician can spend many hours during the day operating the ultrasound system. To guard against fatigue and repetitive stress injuries and to afford comfort to the user, it is desirable to provide a support for the clinician's hand or arm while operating the ultrasound system. Such a support should be convenient to use as well as providing the necessary support, and should not detract from a clean and elegant system design.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an ultrasound system control panel has the keyboard integrated into the control panel structure. The keyboard slides out from beneath the control panel for use, and slides back under the control panel when not needed. The control panel has a wrist pad to support the operator's hand when operating the control panel. The keyboard is integrated into this wrist pad and has its own wrist pad when extended for use. Alternatively, the keyboard wrist pad can serve both the keyboard and the control panel. When the keyboard and its wrist pad are partially extended, the keyboard wrist pad provides an adjustable wrist pad for larger hands.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4870954 (1989-10-01), Satoh
patent: 5205175 (1993-04-01), Garza et al.
patent: 5251631 (1993-10-01), Tsuchiko et al.
patent: 5315999 (1994-05-01), Kinicki et al.
patent: D368521 (1996-04-01), Asai et al.
patent: 5570268 (1996-10-01), Selker
patent: D379231 (1997-05-01), Ungari
patent: 5927662 (1999-07-01), West et al.
patent: 5938352 (1999-08-01), Chen
patent: 5980143 (1999-11-01), Bayer et al.
patent: 6142940 (2000-11-01), Lathbury et al.
patent: 6312381 (2001-11-01), Knell et al.
patent: 6361497 (2002-03-01), Lathbury et al.
Matsui Yas
Mesaros Robert
Jaworski Francis J.
Yorks, Jr. W. Brinton
LandOfFree
Diagnostic ultrasound system cart with integral wrist pad does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Diagnostic ultrasound system cart with integral wrist pad, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Diagnostic ultrasound system cart with integral wrist pad will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3234495