Abstract:
A workstation includes a cart, a generally elongated linear actuator carried by the cart, a support arm assembly comprising a rail support arm adjustably carried by the linear actuator, a camera support rail adjustably carried by the rail support arm along an axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator and an arm motor engaging the rail support arm. The rail support arm traverses the linear actuator responsive to operation of the arm motor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/068,409, filed Mar. 6, 2008 and entitled “IR Medical Thermal Imaging Workstation”. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to medical infrared imaging systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a medical infrared imaging workstation which is suitable for supporting a medical infrared imaging workstation in a portable and positionally versatile manner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     State-of-the-art medical infrared imaging systems are known which use infrared cameras to generate digital infrared images for the early detection of breast cancer and other health-related conditions. Digital infrared imaging has proven to be of great value in aiding with the detection and analysis of inflammatory and circulatory conditions and other health-related conditions which may not be detected using conventional medical, imaging processes. The digital infrared imaging procedure is painless, does not contact the patient&#39;s body and does not use ionizing radiation. Digital infrared images may be used as an adjunctive tool alongside other forms of imaging and examination procedures when used in the early detection of breast cancer and other health-related conditions. 
     Digital infrared imaging systems which are currently in use may utilize state-of-the-art, un-cooled shielded focal plane array detectors that are virtually maintenance-free. The system may be used in a controlled environment and may not have portability as a primary feature as do most currently-available medical infrared cameras. 
     A medical imaging workstation is therefore needed which is suitable for supporting a medical imaging workstation in a portable and positionally versatile manner and which may be used to facilitate remote focus, automatic camera lift and horizontal camera adjustments of an infrared camera. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a workstation. An illustrative embodiment of the workstation includes a cart, a generally elongated linear actuator carried by the cart, a support arm assembly comprising a rail support arm adjustably carried by the linear actuator, a camera support rail adjustably carried by the rail support arm along an axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator and an arm motor engaging the rail support arm. The rail support arm traverses the linear actuator responsive to operation of the arm motor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation, more particularly illustrating multi-positioning capability of an infrared camera provided on the medical imaging workstation; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation, more particularly illustrating imaging of a patient in implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation; 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation, with the linear actuator detached from the cart of the workstation; and 
         FIG. 7  is a functional block diagram of an alternative illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-6  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The medical imaging workstation  1  includes a medical-grade cart  2  which may have a cart frame  3 . Multiple cart legs  4  may extend outwardly from the cart frame  3 . Cart wheels  5 , each of which may be a castor-type wheel, for example and without limitation, may be provided on the respective cart legs  4 . A cart body  6  may be provided on the cart frame  3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments a cart handle  7  may be provided on the cart body  6  or elsewhere on the cart  2  to facilitate pushing and/or pulling of the cart  2  across a floor or other surface (not illustrated) on the cart wheels  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments a DC converter  56  may be provided in the cart  2 . A power cord  63 , which may be adapted to plug into an AC power supply  62  such as a standard 120-volt household electrical outlet, for example and without limitation, may be connected to the DC converter  56  and extend from the cart  2 . 
     A vertical support frame  10  may extend upwardly from the cart body  6  of the cart  2 . In some embodiments, a work platform  13  may be mounted on the support frame  10 , such as via a platform support bracket  12  of suitable design. A keyboard support platform  16  may additionally be mounted on the support frame  10 . As illustrated in FIG.  2 , in some embodiments the keyboard support platform  16  may extend from the platform support bracket  12 . The work platform  13  and/or the keyboard support platform  16  may be vertically adjustable on the support frame  10  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. For example, vertical adjustability of the work platform  13  and/or the keyboard support platform  16  on the support frame  10  may enable sitting or standing of an operator (not illustrated) at the medical imaging workstation  1 . 
     A linear actuator  20  may extend upwardly from the cart  2 . The linear actuator  20  may include an actuator base  23  which may be attached to a side of the cart frame  3  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the actuator base  23  may be detachably attached to the cart frame  3  of the cart  2  via an actuator attachment bracket  24 . A generally elongated actuator housing  21  extends upwardly from the actuator base  23 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an elongated actuator housing slot  22  may be provided in the actuator housing  21  and may traverse substantially the entire length of the actuator housing  21  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     A support arm assembly  26  may be provided on the linear actuator  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the support arm assembly  26  may include an arm motor  27  which may be provided in the actuator housing  21 . The arm motor  27  may be electrically connected to the DC converter  56  through a motor cable  57 . An arm sleeve  29  may be slidably mounted and vertically adjustable on the actuator housing  21 , as indicated by the arrow  35  in  FIG. 5 . A gear assembly  28  in the actuator housing  21  may be drivingly engaged by the arm motor  27  and drivingly engage the arm sleeve  29  through the actuator housing slot  22  ( FIG. 1 ). The gear assembly  28  may be any mechanism which is known by those skilled in the art that is capable of translating rotational motion of the arm motor  27  into vertical motion of the arm sleeve  29  on the actuator housing  21 . In various embodiments the gear assembly  28  may be a lead screw, a ball screw or a belt drive, for example and without limitation. As further illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments a motor control pendant  32  may be connected to the arm motor  27  through a pendant cable  33  for user control of the arm motor  27  and selected upward and downward travel of the arm sleeve  29  on the linear actuator  20 . 
     The support arm assembly  26  may further include a generally elongated rail support arm  30  which extends outwardly from the arm sleeve  29 . The rail support arm  30  may be oriented in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of the linear actuator  20 . A camera support rail  31  may be slidably mounted on the rail support arm  30 . The camera support rail  31  may be capable of sliding back and forth on the rail support arm  30  as indicated by the arrow  31   a . In some embodiments, a camera base  34  may be provided on the camera support rail  31  to support an infrared camera  42  of a medical imaging system  36 , in typical application of the medical imaging workstation  1  which will be hereinafter described. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the infrared camera  42  may be capable of pivoting with respect to the camera support rail  31  as indicated by the arrow  44 . 
     In some applications, the medical imaging workstation  1  may be used to support a medical imaging system  36 . The medical imaging system  36  may include a computer  38  having a computer monitor  39  ( FIGS. 1-4 ) which may be provided on the support frame  10 . In some embodiments, the computer  38  may be attached to the support frame  10  using a computer mount bracket  40  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The computer mount bracket  40  may be vertically adjustable on the support frame  10  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The computer  38  may be electrically connected to the DC converter  56  through a computer cable  58 . A keyboard  46  and a mouse  47  may be provided on the keyboard support platform  46  and connected to the computer  38  through a keyboard/mouse cable  48 . 
     A digital medical infrared camera  42  may be provided on the camera base  34  on the camera support rail  31 . The infrared camera  42  may be connected to the computer  38  through a video cable  43  and may be electrically connected to the DC converter  56  through a camera cable  45 . The infrared camera  42  may be capable of being manually pivoted on the camera base  34  to a selected angle with respect to the camera support rail  31 , as indicated by the arrow  44  in  FIG. 3 . Moreover, the lateral position of the infrared camera  42  with respect to the linear actuator  20  may be manually adjusted as indicated by the arrow  31   a  by sliding the camera support rail  31  outwardly from the linear actuator  20  on the rail support arm  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in typical application of the medical imaging workstation  1 , the cart  2  is transported to a desired location in a clinic, medical office, hospital or other medical facility. The cart  2  may be transported across a floor (not illustrated) or other supporting surface by grasping the cart handle  7  ( FIG. 5 ) and rolling the cart wheels  5  on the floor or surface. When the cart  2  is positioned at the desired location, the power cord  63  may be plugged into the AC power supply  62 . The DC converter  56  converts AC electrical power which is supplied by the AC power supply  62  into DC power that is supplied to the computer  38  and the arm motor  27  of the linear actuator  20 . The height of the work platform  13  and the keyboard support platform  16  may be adjusted on the support frame  10  as needed according to the preferences of the user. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a patient  52  is positioned at a location generally in front of the IR camera  42 . The patient  52  may be sitting, standing or reposed in some other position. The lateral position of the IR camera  42  may be adjusted along the rail support arm  30 , as indicated by the arrow  31   a  ( FIG. 5 ), and the angular position of the IR camera  42  relative to the rail support arm  30  may be adjusted as indicated by the arrow  44  ( FIG. 3 ), to locate the patient  52  within the optical field  50  of the IR camera  42 . Items (not illustrated) such as the patient&#39;s file, for example, may be placed on the work platform  13 . Accordingly, digital infrared images of the patient  52  can be captured by the IR camera  42  and transferred to the computer  38 . The digital infrared images of the patient  52  can be displayed on the monitor  39  of the computer  38  and saved on the computer  38  typically for diagnostic purposes. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vertical adjustment capability of the arm sleeve  29  on the linear actuator  20  and the lateral adjustment capability of the IR camera  42  on the camera support rail  31  enables an imaging technician (not illustrated) to precisely adjust the vertical and horizontal positions of the IR camera  42  without having to move the patient  52 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments of the medical imaging workstation  1 , the linear actuator  20  can be detached from the cart  2  and disposed in a free-standing position at a selected distance from the cart  2 . The linear actuator  20  may support the IR camera  42  in the desired proximity to the cart  2 , with the video cable  43  connecting the IR camera  42  to the computer  38  and the motor cable  57  connecting the arm motor  27  to the DC converter  56  on the cart  2 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, an alternative illustrative embodiment of the medical imaging workstation  1   a  includes a battery  59  which may be electrically connected to the DC converter  56 . The arm motor  27  of the support arm assembly  26  may be electrically connected to the battery  59  via the motor cable  57 . The computer  38  may be electrically connected to the battery  59  via the computer cable  58 . The IR camera  42  may be electrically connected to the battery  42  via the camera cable  45 . In some embodiments, the battery  59  may be rechargeable via the AC power supply  62  and the power cord  63 . In application of the medical imaging workstation  1   a , the battery  59  provides portable electrical power to the arm motor  27 , the computer  38  and the IR camera  42 . This expedient facilitates use of the medical imaging workstation  1  at a location which is remote from the AC power supply  62 . 
     While the illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.