# US 10,117,638 B2 · Ultrasound system and apparatus having a portable storage bin > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,638 B2 - Document ID: US10117638B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/353,869 - Filed: 2016-11-17 - Published: 2018-05-17 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-17 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Philip Stankard; Robert Andrew Meurer; Muriel Shields - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117638B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/4405: {Device being mounted on a trolley} - A61B 8/4433: {involving a docking unit} - A61B 8/462: {characterised by constructional features of the display} - H05K 5/00: Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus - H05K 7/00: Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus (casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00) - A61B 8/00: Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An ultrasound apparatus includes a base, a housing extending upwardly from the base and having opposed lateral sides, the housing being configured to support an operator console and display, and a storage bin received in a recess in the housing. The storage bin is movable from a first position in which the storage bin is received within the recess of the housing, and a second position in which the storage bin extends from one of the lateral sides of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasound apparatus, comprising: a base; a housing extending upwardly from the base and having a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposed to the first lateral side, the housing being configured to support an operator console and display; a storage bin received in a recess in the housing, the storage bin having a first side and a second side that are generally contiguous to the first and the second lateral sides, respectively, when the storage bin is in a stowed position, the storage bin being bidirectionally slidable from the stowed position in both a first direction and a second direction each oriented along an axis normal to the first and the second lateral sides; wherein the storage bin transitions to a first access position and a second access position when moved in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, the first and the second access positions both permitting access to contents of the storage bin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the storage bin is removable from the apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the storage bin includes a first container and an insert nestable with the first container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the first container includes a slot in at least one of the sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the insert is divided into at least two compartments, including at least a first compartment having a depth that is approximately equal to a depth of the first container, and at least a second compartment having a depth that is less than the depth of the first container; wherein a floor of the second compartment is spaced from a floor of the first container and defines a recess therebetween; and wherein the slot provides access to the recess from the side of the storage bin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the storage bin is configured to rotate about a vertical hinge axis from a rear of the apparatus toward a front of the apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the storage bin includes a first compartment and a second compartment, each compartment being configured to rotate about a respective vertical hinge axis from a rear of the apparatus toward a front of the apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of casters coupled to the base and providing mobility for the ultrasound apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an articulated support arm extending from the housing and supporting the operator console and display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ultrasound apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the housing includes an electronics module containing a plurality of ports for connection of one or more transducer probes. ### Claim 11 A medical imaging system, comprising: a base; a housing extending upwardly from the base and having a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposed to the first lateral side, the housing being configured to support an operator console and display; a plurality of wheels supporting the base and providing mobility for the system; a removable storage bin received in a recess in the housing, the storage bin having a first side and a second side that are generally contiguous to the first and the second lateral sides of the housing, respectively, when the storage bin is in a stowed position, the storage bin being bidirectionally slidable from the stowed position in both a first direction and a second direction, each direction oriented along an axis normal to the first and the second lateral sides; and wherein the storage bin transitions to a first access position and a second access position when moved in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, the first and the second access positions both permitting access to contents of the storage bin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical imaging system of claim 11, wherein: the storage bin includes a slot formed in at least one of the sides of the storage bin, the slot permitting access to contents of the storage bin when the storage bin is in the stowed position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The medical imaging system of claim 11, wherein: the storage bin is configured to rotate about a vertical hinge axis from a rear of the system toward a front of the system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The medical imaging system of claim 11, wherein: the storage bin includes a first compartment and a second compartment, each compartment being configured to rotate about a respective vertical hinge axis from a rear of the system toward a front of the system. ### Claim 15 A method of storing items on an ultrasound imaging apparatus having a base, a housing extending upwardly from the base and supporting an operator console and display, and a plurality of wheels supporting the base, comprising the step of: inserting a storage bin into a recess in the housing; and positioning the storage bin in a stowed position such that opposed first and second sides of the storage bin are generally contiguous with opposed first and second lateral sides of the housing; wherein the storage bin is configured to slide bidirectionally from the stowed position in both a first direction and a second direction each oriented along an axis normal to the first and the second lateral sides; wherein the storage bin transitions to a first access position and a second access position when moved in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, the first and the second access positions both permitting access to contents of the storage bin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: inserting an insert of the storage bin into a main container of the storage bin to form a customized storage arrangement.