Abstract:
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a portable medical instrument system. The system includes a frame for supporting system process and user interface components. One or more support rails are interconnected with the frame to provide an accessories support system to securely receive medical accessory components. In at least one embodiment, the support rails have a configuration substantially matching a bedrail of a hospital bed. In another aspect, the support rails have a height to width ratio of about 2 to 1. In still a further aspect, the support rails have a height to width ration of 1 to 0.375. According to yet another aspect, at least one of the support rails may be molded from portions of the portable medical system itself.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/625,827, filed Apr. 18, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Embodiments described herein relate to the field of portable medical systems. More particularly, embodiments described herein are related to providing mobile support structures to support a medical system and related accessories. 
     In the field of portable medical systems, multiple instruments, patient interface modules (“PIMs”) or other accessory devices are carried from one patient bed to the next, to monitor patient&#39;s performance, sense patient parameters, or provide medication. Some of the commonly used PIMs and accessories are handheld instruments with a relatively small form factor and low weight. Typical hospital beds include hangers such as bedrails that enable PIMs and other accessories to be placed next to the patient. The PIMs have clips and brackets designed for ease of mounting and dismounting onto the bedrails. Also, PIMs are easily moved along the rail to adjust the position relative to the patient, allowing multiple PIMs to be placed on a single bedrail. 
     However, some accessories, such as PIMs, need to be carried together with heavier and complex medical instrumentation. In particular, many complex instruments use computers and desktop platforms including keyboards and one or more large monitors. In such cases, the instruments are displaced from one patient location to another using a wheeled cart, which is easily pushed around by medical personnel. Different models for carts are commonly used in the market to allow for stability and maneuverability of a desktop platform including a CPU box a keyboard and a monitor. However, current models and designs for such carts do not allow accessories to be securely fixed to the cart for ease of transport. In some instances, current models and designs may allow for accessories to be fixed to the cart, having a specific fixing location for each specific accessory. This limits the flexibility of operation of the accessory and the positioning of the cart relative to the patient. This also limits the number of PIMs that may be attached on a given cart. 
     Therefore, there is a need for storage solutions that permit transport of accessory items in conjunction with complex medical devices. 
     In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a portable medical instrument system. The system includes a frame for supporting system process and user interface components. One or more support rails are interconnected with the frame to provide an accessories support system to securely receive medical accessory components. In at least one embodiment, the support rails have a configuration substantially matching a bedrail of a hospital bed. In another aspect, the support rails have a height to width ratio of about 2 to 1. In still a further aspect, the support rails have a height to width ratio of 1 to 0.375. According to yet another aspect, at least one of the support rails may be molded from portions of the portable medical system itself. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a partial view of a cart including support rails according to embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2  shows a partial view of a medical accessory mounted on a support rail according to some embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial perspective view of a support rail according to some embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 4  shows a partial view of a support rail according to some embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 5  shows a partial view of a cart including support rails according to embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 6  shows a partial view of a moving pole including support rails according to embodiments disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     In the figures, elements having the same reference number have the same or similar functions. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In a medical facility, complex medical instrumentation is often placed on carts that can be easily moved around from patient to patient rather than moving the patient to the equipment. Thus, medical instrumentation can be used at the bedside of multiple patients. The main medical instrument that sits in the cart typically includes a large CPU unit, a keyboard, and at least one monitor. A plurality of accessories associated with the medical system may also be included as accessories for the cart-based unit. The accessories need to be carried together with the main frame e.g. to provide a user interface. 
     The present embodiments and concepts can be applied to a wide variety of cart based medical systems. However, as one non-limiting example, one such medical instrument may be an intra-vascular, ultra-sound machine (IVUS). On a roll-around IVUS cart, storage of a PIM or other accessory may be desirable. In some embodiments it may be desirable for carts to include multiple PIMs in a single unit. In certain applications up to five (5) PIMs may be used with a single cart. Many of these PIMs may also be located at the bedrail, or transferred between the cart and the bedrail. 
     By incorporating a piece of support rail into a roll-around cart, a single PIM attached to the bedrail may be used in multiple locations and configurations. According to some embodiments, different accessories may be hung from a piece of rail as disclosed herein. For example, cable hooks, literature holders, and other medical instruments and accessories may be conveniently attached to the rail piece. This simplifies the transport of medical equipment around a facility. Thus, in embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, rails on either side of a roll-around cart are similar in cross section size and shape to the cross section size and shape of a bedrail in a hospital bed. Further embodiments may include a piece of a bedrail as used in a hospital bed, attached to a roll-around cart as a support rail. This enables transferring medical accessories between the bedrail and the roll-around cart easily and securely, facilitating the management of medical care to the patient. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure also facilitate a more efficient handling of medical equipment and accessories for a group of patients in a hospital. 
     Furthermore, embodiments consistent with the present disclosure include support rails that allow different medical accessories to be placed in any location along the rail. Thus, an operator handling a medical accessory may fix the accessory to the cart at any convenient location within the cart. 
       FIG. 1  shows a partial view of a cart  10  including support rails  100  and  150 , according to embodiments disclosed herein. Cart  10  has a frame  20  formed by a vertical portion  21  joining a top platform  22  and a bottom platform  24 . Bottom platform  24  includes wheels to enable rolling for cart  10 . Bottom platform  24  holds the bulk of the medical instrument to be carried by cart  10 . Cart  10  may also include a casing  25  on bottom platform  24 , to enclose and protect the medical instrument. Casing  25  may be made of acrylic or plastic, or a metal such as aluminum, and include a fan for providing a cooling air for the enclosed medical instrument. Also, casing  25  may include a panel of electrical connections for the enclosed medical instrument. In some embodiments the medical instrument may be a computing device for an IVUS machine. The bulk of the medical instrument typically includes a computer having a CPU unit including disk drives and other computer elements. Top platform  22  includes a handle bar  23  for pushing cart  10 . Top platform  22  holds user-interface accessories, such as a keyboard and monitor, connected to the bulk of the medical instrument on bottom platform  24 . 
     According to embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, support rail  100  may be a rail portion extending from top platform  22 , opposite handlebar  23 . In some embodiments, support rail  100  may be placed on one of the sides of top platform  22 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a PIM  160 - 1  placed on support rail  100 . Support rail  100  extends from top platform  22  forming a continuous loop, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In such configuration, top platform  22  has two protruding prongs holding either end of support rail  100 . Thus, the length of support rail  100  may be used almost in its entirety for holding PIMs. In embodiments where support rail  100  is made of a hard metal, a configuration such as shown in  FIG. 1  precludes any sharp, hard ends protruding out of the periphery of top platform  22 . Some embodiments may use one or more T-shape couplers to attach support rail  100  to top platform  22 . 
     A support rail according to embodiments disclosed herein may be formed as intermediate support rail  150 , shown in  FIG. 1 . Support rail  150  is placed on portion  21  of cart  10 , forming a C-shape between the two vertical pieces of frame  20  forming portion  21 . Thus, intermediate support rail  150  may provide ample space to place PIMs around a longer perimeter.  FIG. 1  shows PIM  160 - 2  placed on rail  150 , with plenty of space for other accessories to be carried by cart  10 . Furthermore, embodiments of support rail  150  consistent with the present disclosure have rounded corners and edges to avoid sharp, hard edges protruding outside of the periphery of cart  10 . 
     Embodiments of support rails  100  and  150  consistent with the present disclosure enable the transport of a plurality of accessories on a single cart such as cart  10 . This allows shared use of a plurality of accessories between multiple patient beds. Also, support rails  100  and  150  free-up space in top platform  22  and bottom platform  24 , according to embodiments herein. 
       FIG. 2  shows a partial view of a touch screen display and input accessory  220  mounted on a support rail  200 , according to some embodiments disclosed herein. A clip  210  holds PIM  220  securely on bedrail  200 . In some embodiments, PIM  220  may be a display device coupled to a medical instrument. For example, support rail  200  may be attached to a cart similar to support rails  100  and  150  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows PIM  220  placed horizontally to display its flat surface directly ‘up’. In some embodiments, clip  210  may allow PIM  220  to be oriented at a desired angle relative to a user or viewer. Thus, it will be appreciated that rail  200  may replace handlebar  23  on cart  10  (cf.  FIG. 1 ) such that the display unit  220  can be a user-input device for the sensing system. 
       FIG. 3  shows a partial perspective view of a piece of support rail  300  according to some embodiments disclosed herein. Piece  300  may have a rectangular cross section with a height H 300  and a width W 300 . According to embodiments disclosed herein, the cross section of support rail  300  is similar to the cross section of a patient&#39;s bedrail in a hospital bed. Thus, medical instrumentation such as PIMs that are generally placed on patient&#39;s bedrails may also be placed on rails having a cross section consistent with rail  300 . For example, support rails  100  and  150  in  FIG. 1  may have a cross section consistent with the cross section of support rail  300  in  FIG. 3 . The cross-section of support rail  300  in  FIG. 3  is approximately rectangular in shape. One of regular skill in the art would recognize that the exact shape of the cross-section of support rail  300  or support rails  100  and  150  is not limiting. Some embodiments may include a support rail having a rounded cross-section, or circular cross-section, or an oval cross section, such as an elliptical shape. The shape and size of the cross section of support rail  300  is generally determined by the shape and size of the cross section of a patient&#39;s bedrail in a hospital bed, according to some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, height H 300  may be approximately one (1) inch, and width W 300  may be approximately ⅜ of an inch (=0.375 inches). As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , height H 300  has tolerance values dH 1  and dH 2 , and width W 300  has tolerance values dW 1  and dW 2 . In some embodiments, tolerance dH 1  may be about 0.05 inches, and dH 2  may be about 0.1 inches. In some embodiments, tolerance dWl may be about 0.030 inches and tolerance dW 2  may be about 0.125 inches. In the illustrated examples, the rail has a height to width ratio of approximately 2 to 1. More specifically, the height to width ratio is 1 to 0.375. 
     Thus, embodiments consistent with the present disclosure include a roll-around cart for carrying medical instrumentation such that the cart includes support rails. The support rails have a cross section similar to that of a patient&#39;s bedrail, thus enabling the cart to carry medical instrumentation such as PIMs, typically placed on a patient&#39;s bedrail. 
       FIG. 4  shows a partial cross-sectional view of a support rail  450  according to some embodiments disclosed herein. Support rail  450  has a continuous C-shape that enables it to be attached to a cart in a manner similar to rail  150  in portion  21  of cart  10  (cf.  FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, rail  450  includes end portions  451 - 1  and  451 - 2  to be coupled to a cart. End portions  451 - 1  and  451 - 2  may include holes so that fixtures (e.g. screws or bolts) may be placed through, in order to attach rail  450  to cart  10 . For example, end portions  451 - 1  and  451 - 2  may be attached to either side of vertical portion  21  in frame  20  of cart  10  (cf.  FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, end portions  451 - 1  and  451 - 2  may be molded into a vertical portion of a cart frame, such as portion  21  in frame  20  of cart  10  (cf.  FIG. 1 ). 
     Loop portion  455  extends from end portions  451 - 1  to  451 - 2  forming a loop, having an extended perimeter that allows a plurality of accessories or PIMs to be placed on it. According to some embodiments, loop portion  455  may extend the perimeter of rail  450  by adding bends  452 - 1  and  452 - 2 . In embodiments consistent with the present disclosure bends  452 - 1  and  452 - 2  may be symmetric about a mid axis M (cf.  FIG. 4 ). Thus, a width W 1  at connection end portions  451 - 1  and  451 - 2  is smaller than a width W 2  on loop portion  455  (cf.  FIG. 4 ). In some embodiments, loop portion  455  is designed to loop around and leave space for casing  25 . Thus, loop portion  455  not only has an extended perimeter, but also allows for bigger pieces of desktop equipment to be placed on bottom platform  24 , while indenting the connection sections  451 - 1  and  451 - 2  to limit potential hazards to other equipment or personnel. 
       FIG. 5  shows a partial view of a cart  50  including support rails  100  and  150 , and support rails  500  and  550 , according to embodiments disclosed herein. Cart  50  has a frame  70  formed by a vertical portion  71  joining a top platform  72  and a bottom platform  74 . Bottom platform  74  includes wheels to enable rolling for cart  50 . Bottom platform  74  holds the bulk of the medical instrument to be carried by cart  50 . Cart  50  may also include a casing  75  to enclose and protect the medical instrument. Top platform  72  includes a handle bar  73  for pushing cart  50 . Top platform  72  holds user-interface accessories, such as a keyboard and monitor, connected to the bulk of the medical instrument on bottom platform  74 . According to embodiments disclosed herein, cart  50  may be as cart  10  described in detail above in relation to  FIG. 1 . Thus, frame  70  may be as frame  20 , top platform  72  may be as top platform  22 , bottom platform  74  may be as bottom platform  24 , and vertical portion  71  may be as vertical portion  21  (cf.  FIG. 1 ). Furthermore, handle bar  73  may be as handle bar  23 , and support rails  100  and  150  may be as disclosed in detail in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , above.  FIG. 5  also shows PIM  160 - 2  placed on rail  150 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates support rail  500  protruding out of top platform  72 , and support rail  550  protruding out of casing  75 . According to embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, support rails  500  and  550  may be integral parts of cart  50 . For example, support rails  500  and  550  may be molded from portions of the cart frame  70 . In some embodiments, molded support rail  500  is formed out of the material in top platform  72 , on at least one side of top platform  72 . Molded support rail  550  is formed out of the material in casing  75 , and on at least one side of casing  75 . Molded support rails  500  and  550  are similar to rails  100  and  150  in that the cross section of molded support rails  500  and  550  is similar to the cross section of a patient bedrail. Thus, medical instrumentation such as PIMs that are typically placed in a patient&#39;s bedrail may also be placed in either of molded rails  500  or  550 . Thus, for example a PIM  560 - 2  may be placed on molded rail  550 . More generally, any PIM that may be placed on a patient&#39;s bedrail may also be placed anywhere along either of support rails  100  or  150 , and molded support rails  500  or  550 , according to embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. In some embodiments, support rails  500  and  550  may be made out of metal or any other hard material different from the material in casing  75  and top platform  72 . In such configuration, support rail  550  may be attached to casing  75  using screws or any other fixture. And support rail  500  may be attached to top platform  72  using screws or any other fixture. 
       FIG. 6  shows a partial view of a moving pole  60  including support rails  600 - 1 ,  600 - 2 , and  600 - 3 , according to embodiments disclosed herein. According to some embodiments, moving pole  60  may include a pole  80  that holds a bottle or a container with Intra-Venous (IV) liquid. In some embodiments, pole  60  is carried around by a patient, a nurse, or other medical personnel, who may be connected to the container with IV liquid. Base  84  in moving pole  60  includes wheels to enable easy motion in any direction. 
     According to some embodiments, brackets  610 - 1 ,  610 - 2 , and  610 - 3  attach support rails  600 - 1 ,  600 - 2 , and  600 - 3  to pole  80 , respectively.  FIG. 6  illustrates support rails  600  attached to brackets  610  by two screws. Brackets  610  may have a ring shape that is fastened to pole  80 . One of regular skill in the art would recognize that many other configurations may be used to attach support rails  600  to pole  80 , such as bolts directly coupling the rails to the pole. Support rails  600 - 1 ,  600 - 2 , and  600 - 3  may be as described in detail above in relation to rail  200  (cf.  FIG. 2 ), rail  300  (cf.  FIG. 3 ), or rail  500  (cf.  FIG. 5 ). In particular, support rails  600 - 1 ,  600 - 2 , and  600 - 3  may have a cross section similar to or substantially the same as the cross-section of a hospital bedrail (cf.  FIG. 3 ). Thus, PIMs and other devices attachable to a hospital bedrail may also be attached to moving pole  60 . For example,  FIG. 6  illustrates a fixture  660  to hold a PIM. 
     Embodiments of the invention described above are exemplary only. One skilled in the art may recognize various alternative embodiments from those specifically disclosed. Those alternative embodiments are also intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the invention is limited only by the following claims.