1. Field of the Invention
A mobile diagnostic assembly including a diagnostic unit and of the type for supporting a patient in a prone position along an examination surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The mobile diagnostic assemblies to which the subject invention pertains are assemblies which are movable to a testing position for disposing the assembly adjacent an examination surface. One such assembly is illustrated in U.S. Patent Application 2008/0077005 to Piron wherein the assembly includes a support frame having a top extending between a front edge and a rear edge and the assembly is movable to a testing position for disposing the rear edge adjacent the examination surface. In addition, the top defines at least one opening for receiving pendant breasts of the patient in the prone position.
Although the prior art diagnostic assemblies can include a mechanical attachment such as a clamp, straps or the like to prevent relative movement of the support frame in the testing position, such an assembly requires a nurse, technician or the like to establish a mechanical connection with the examination table. Correspondingly, when the support frame is disposed in the testing position, this mechanical attachment is often located in a place or area with limited access, thus making it difficult for the nurse or technician to establish the mechanical connection. Also, use of a mechanical attachment requires the diagnostic assemblies to be individually tailored to each targeted end use. In other words, the effectiveness of mechanical attachments are dependent on each individual examination surface, and thus add logistics and manufacturing costs to the diagnostic assembly. Accordingly, there remains a need for a design which can accommodate a variety of examination surfaces while correspondingly reducing manufacturing costs and set-up time when performing the diagnostic test.
The invention provides for a flap extending from the rear edge of the top for overlaying the examination surface in the testing position and supporting the prone patient along the examination surface and the flap and the top to prevent movement of the support frame relative to the examination surface.
The flap is advantageous because the prone patient supported on the flap prevents relative movement of the support frame. In other words, weight of the prone patient acting upon the flap eliminates the need to use a mechanical attachment with the diagnostic assembly. Accordingly, the flap provides a simple, quick and effective way to prevent movement of the support frame that ultimately reduces set-up time, and thus costs, for performing a diagnostic test using the mobile diagnostic assembly. In addition, since a mechanical attachment is not required, the flexibility of the mobile diagnostic assembly is increased because the flap can overlay a variety of examination surfaces. Correspondingly, the flap reduces manufacturing costs since mechanical components tailored for each end user do not need to be incorporated into individual mobile diagnostic assemblies.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a mobile diagnostic assembly 20 including a diagnostic unit is generally shown in
The assembly 20 includes a support frame 22 having four sides extending between a bottom 24 and a top 26 to define a front side 28 and a rear side 30 and a left side 32 and a right side 34. The assembly 20 also includes an interior 36 disposed between the top 26 and bottom 24 and inwardly from the sides 28, 30, 32, 34 for housing the diagnostic unit. The top 26 extends between a front edge 38 and a rear edge 40 to define a left edge 42 and a right edge 44, and a plurality of caster wheels 46 are attached to the bottom 24 and extend to a rolling plane P for establishing rolling movement of the assembly 20 over a support. Accordingly, the mobile diagnostic assembly 20 can be moved within an examination room or between adjacent examination rooms to and from a testing position for disposing the rear edge 40 adjacent the examination surface. The top 26 also defines at least one opening 48 for receiving pendant breasts of the patient in the prone position to allow the diagnostic unit to perform a diagnostic test on the pendant breasts. As best shown in
In the preferred embodiment, as best shown in
As also best shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the assembly 20, the front and rear sides 28, 30 have a support length Ls that is less than or equal to thirty six inches and the left and right sides 32, 34 have a support width Ws that is less than or equal to twenty four inches. Correspondingly, as best shown in
As best shown in
As best shown in
In the preferred embodiment, a graphical user interface 72 extends outwardly from the front side 28 of the support frame 22 and is disposed below the head rest 62 and is aligned with the face opening 64 for establishing communication with the prone patient. A computer 74 is electrically connected to the mechanical height adjuster 60 and the graphical user interface 72 and includes a processor 76 and a memory 78 and a plurality of computer programs 80, 82, 84. The plurality of computer programs 80, 82, 84 include a height adjustment program 80 for inputting a plurality of pre-determined heights of the support frame 22 and storing the pre-determined heights in the memory 78 to allow the mechanical height adjuster 60 to automatically select one of the pre-determined heights and elongate the leg 58 according to the selected pre-determined height. In the preferred embodiment, when the mobile diagnostic assembly 20 is to be used with multiple examination surfaces, the height adjustment program 80 will have a preset mode to identify a preset height associated with each of the examination surfaces for allowing an administrator to simply choose one of the examination surfaces. Accordingly, the height of the top 26 will automatically be adjusted to correspond with the height of the chosen examination surface.
The plurality of computer programs 80, 82, 84 also includes a patient information program 82 for displaying a questionnaire on the graphical user interface 72 and receiving a plurality of patient inputs in response to the questionnaire for storage within the memory 78 of the computer 74. This is advantageous because it allows personal data to be easily entered while using the mobile diagnostic assembly 20. In addition, the plurality of computer programs 80, 82, 84 includes a patient entertainment program 84 for storing a plurality of videos in the memory 78 and displaying the videos on the graphical user interface 72 to entertain the prone patient while the diagnostic unit is performing the diagnostic test.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. That which is prior art in the claims precedes the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. The use of the word “said” in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word “the” precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3973126 | Redington et al. | Aug 1976 | A |
4015836 | Redington et al. | Apr 1977 | A |
4298009 | Mezrich et al. | Nov 1981 | A |
4341222 | Gardineer et al. | Jul 1982 | A |
5078142 | Siczek et al. | Jan 1992 | A |
5415169 | Siczek et al. | May 1995 | A |
5564438 | Merchant | Oct 1996 | A |
5569266 | Siczek | Oct 1996 | A |
5609152 | Pellegrino et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
6199233 | Kantrowitz et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6298114 | Yoda | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6560310 | Stark | May 2003 | B2 |
6662042 | Grable | Dec 2003 | B1 |
7458118 | Bak | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7694370 | Lee | Apr 2010 | B1 |
7763864 | Formenti | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7771360 | Johnson et al. | Aug 2010 | B2 |
8366617 | Johnson et al. | Feb 2013 | B2 |
8475377 | Angott | Jul 2013 | B2 |
20040097811 | Smith et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
20050143638 | Johnson et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20060009693 | Hanover et al. | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20080043905 | Hassanpourgol | Feb 2008 | A1 |
20080077005 | Piron et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
20080201850 | Brito et al. | Aug 2008 | A1 |
20090080604 | Shores et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
20090143674 | Nields et al. | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20110047702 | Diao | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20110091018 | Tybinkowski et al. | Apr 2011 | A1 |
20130019876 | Zacharopoulos et al. | Jan 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
9855013 | Dec 1998 | WO |
2004041089 | May 2004 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report dated Apr. 16, 2013. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20130198960 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |