Portable ultrasound systems
AssigneeBard Access Systems, Inc.
InventorJonathan Karl Burkholz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are portable ultrasound systems and methods. In an example, a portable ultrasound system can include a handheld computer, a case holding the handheld computer, a probe head coupled to the case, and a communicating means for communicating between the probe head and the handheld computer. The handheld computer can include a display. The case can also include an anterior opening framing the display of the handheld computer. The case can include a rechargeable battery integrated into the case opposite the anterior opening. The probe head can include an array of ultrasonic transducers powered by the battery. In another example, a method of the portable ultrasound system includes a method of using the portable ultrasound system.
Claims25
A portable ultrasound probe, comprising:
- a case configured to removably hold a handheld computer, the case including:
- a posterior opening configured to frame a camera of the handheld computer;
- an anterior opening configured to frame a display of the handheld computer;
- and
- a rechargeable battery integrated into the case opposite the anterior opening;
- a probe head coupled to the case, the probe head including an array of ultrasonic transducers powered by the rechargeable battery;
- a needle guide coupled to a needle-guide holder of the probe head,
- the camera of the handheld computer configured to capture textual data from one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcodes and graphical data at any time, including before ultrasound imaging, with the portable ultrasound probe,
- the textual data and graphical data including technical details of a needle for accurate on- screen guidance on a display screen of the display when inserting the needle into an anatomical target under the probe head using the needle guide;
- and
- a communicating means for communicating between the probe head and the handheld computer.
A portable ultrasound system, comprising:
- a handheld computer including a display;
- a case configured to removably hold the handheld computer, the case including:
- a posterior opening configured to frame a camera of the handheld computer;
- an anterior opening framing the display of the handheld computer;
- and
- a rechargeable battery integrated into the case opposite the anterior opening;
- a probe head coupled to the case, the probe head including an array of ultrasonic transducers powered by the rechargeable battery;
- a needle guide coupled to a needle-guide holder of the probe head,
- the camera of the handheld computer configured to capture textual data from one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcodes and graphical data at any time, including before ultrasound imaging, with the portable ultrasound system,
- the textual data and graphical data including technical details of a needle for accurate on-screen guidance on a display screen of the display when inserting the needle into an anatomical target under the probe head using the needle guide;
- and
- a communicating means for communicating between the probe head and the handheld computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.