Diagnostic ultrasound system cart with swiveling control panel
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsRobert Mesaros, Yas Matsui, Jay Wilkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The control panel of an ultrasound system can swivel about the operator location. In one embodiment this capability is provided by pivoting the control panel about a pivot axis located forward of the center of the control panel, preferably within a few inches of the operator position. In another embodiment the control panel can be moved along a track which is curved about the operator position, and in a further embodiment the control panel is moved by a linkage which simultaneously moves the control panel from side to side and forward.
Claims13
A cart-borne ultrasound system including a movable cart having a center line;
- electronic circuitry located on the cart which processes ultrasound signals for the formation of ultrasound images, and a display coupled to the circuitry for the display of ultrasound images, comprising:
- a control panel coupled to the electronic circuitry for user control of the ultrasound system;
- and
- a swivel mechanism to which the control panel is connected for rotation, the swivel mechanism providing a position of rotation for the control panel which is forward of the center line of the movable cart and aligned with the forward half of the control panel nearest an operator position.
A cart-borne ultrasound system including a movable cart having a center line;
- electronic circuitry located on the cart which processes ultrasound signals for the formation of ultrasound images, and a display coupled to the circuitry for the display of ultrasound images, comprising:
- a control panel coupled to the electronic circuitry for user control of the ultrasound system;
- and
- a path of travel along which the control panel can be moved relative to the center line of the cart, the path extending laterally with the lateral extensions of the path being more forward located relative to the center line than the center of the path.
A cart-borne ultrasound system including a movable cart having a forward direction which opposes an operator position;
- electronic circuitry located on the cart which processes ultrasound signals for the formation of ultrasound images, and a display coupled to the circuitry for the display of ultrasound images, comprising:
- a control panel coupled to the electronic circuitry for user control of the ultrasound system;
- and
- a linkage coupled to the control panel which moves the control panel laterally to either side of a center position, the linkage moving the control panel in the forward direction as it moves laterally from the center position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.