Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment and utility racks that include video processing, computer, and electronic, and other utility equipment that can be easy inserted and removed from the base cabinet is disclosed. The boom includes a stationary base that is configured to be installed into an operating room and one or more boom arms supported by the stationary base and configured to extend over an operating table in the operating room. The structural base includes one or more bays configured to receive a modular rack of electrical equipment. In various embodiments, the structural base cabinet further incorporates wiring to connect the equipment installed in the modular racks to video monitors and other equipment mounted on the articulated booms. The modular racks are preconfigured with a variety of electronic equipment such as computers, video processors and the like. The modular racks are installed in the base cabinet subsequent to the cabinet&#39;s structural installation in the operating room and may be readily removed or replaced at a later time.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/785,052, filed Mar. 22, 2006, entitled “MODULAR INTEGRATED VIDEO PRESENTATION” (Attorney Docket No. COMPP002P) which is hereby incorporated by reference. The subject application is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/093,075, filed Mar. 28, 2005, entitled “ARTICULATED BOOM FOR SUPPORTING VIDEO AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN HOSPITAL OPERATING ROOMS,” (Attorney Docket No. COMPP001) incorporated herein for all purposes, and assigned to the same assignee of the present application. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a medical boom with one or more articulated arms used to suspend video displays for use in a hospital operating room, and more particularly, to a medical boom having a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment racks and utility cabinets which enable the easy insertion and removal of video processing, computer, electronic and other equipment into or out of the base cabinet.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     State of the art hospital operating rooms now contain a wide variety of audio, visual and technology tools, such as video cameras, video recorders, microphones and voice recorders, video guided ultrasound imaging systems, lasers, cytoscanners, etc. With delicate surgery for example, a video camera may be placed in or above the surgical area of the patient. The image from the camera is then transmitted to a large display, such as a flat panel, allowing the operating doctor and medical staff to see an enlarged visual of the surgical area. The enlarged image makes it easier for the doctor to perform the surgery compared to relying on the naked eye.  
         [0004]     U.S. application Ser. No. 11/093,075, entitled “ARTICULATED BOOM FOR SUPPORTING VIDEO AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN HOSPITAL OPERATING ROOMS”, incorporated herein for all purposes, and assigned to the same assignee of the present application, describes a medical boom used for suspending video and other equipment in a hospital operating room. The medical boom disclosed in the above-mentioned application features articulated arms attached to a structural equipment cabinet that is mounted to the floor or wall of the operating room. Electronic equipment is installed or mounted directly in the cabinet at the factory prior to shipment to customer facility such as a hospital operating room. While the aforementioned medical boom does dramatically lower installation time and cost compared to previously known approaches in the prior art, the requirement of installing electronic equipment in the structural cabinet of the medical boom in the factory, as opposed to on site, is less than ideal. Due to size and weight of the cabinet, the medical boom is typically transported by truck. The cabinet and pre-installed equipment are therefore subject to vibration, shock and adverse temperatures and humidity conditions during transit, all of which could potentially damage the electronic equipment. Alternatively, if the electronic equipment is shipped separately, it has to be installed and configured on site, requiring a team of technicians to travel to the customer facility, adding to the time and expense of the installation.  
         [0005]     A medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment and utility racks that include video processing, computer, and electronic, and other utility equipment that can be easy inserted and removed from the base cabinet is therefore needed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment and utility racks that include video processing, computer, and electronic, and other utility equipment that can be easy inserted and removed from the base cabinet is disclosed. The boom includes a stationary base that is configured to be installed into an operating room and one or more boom arms supported by the stationary base and configured to extend over an operating table in the operating room. The structural base includes one or more bays configured to receive a modular rack of electrical equipment. In various embodiments, the structural base cabinet further incorporates wiring to connect the equipment installed in the modular racks to video monitors and other equipment mounted on the articulated booms. The modular racks are preconfigured with a variety of electronic equipment such as computers, video processors and the like. The modular racks are installed in the base cabinet subsequent to the cabinet&#39;s structural installation in the operating room and may be readily removed or replaced at a later time. The placement of equipment into preconfigured modular racks allows such equipment to be transported and handled separately from the structural base cabinet while allowing it to be preconfigured as a system. This prevents damage to sensitive equipment during transport, enables faster installation, and facilitates rapid maintenance and upgrades of the equipment after it is placed in service.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment racks according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a modular equipment rack for use with the base cabinet of the medical boom of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a utility module that may be installed in the base cabinet of the medical boom in lieu of a modular equipment rack according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate two drawings showing the installation of a modular electronic equipment rack in the base cabinet of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross section diagram illustrating an exemplary routing for the electrical cabling used for the video display and electronics housed in the medical boom of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the modular equipment rack in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates retractable arms on the articulated arms of the medical boom in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 8A-8B  illustrate the routing of power and signal wires through the segments and joints of the articulated arm of the medical boom in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 9A-9B  illustrate a cowling plate used for covering the power and signal wires plugged into the back of the displays of the medical boom in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates the symmetrical features of the base cabinet of the medical boom according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0018]     It should be noted that like reference numbers refer to like elements in the figures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known operations have not been described in detail so not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a medical boom with articulated arms and a base cabinet designed to accommodate modular equipment racks according to the present invention is shown. The medical boom  10  includes a base cabinet  100 , one or more articulated arms  200 , and a plurality of video displays  220  suspended from the articulated arms  200 . The base cabinet  100  includes a number of equipment bays  150 . The equipment bays  150  are used for accommodating either equipment racks  300  and/or utility modules  400 . For more details on the design of the base cabinet  100  and articulated arms  200  of the medical boom  10 , see the aforementioned pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/093,075, incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a modular equipment rack  300  for use with the base cabinet  100  of the medical boom  10  according to one embodiment is shown. The equipment rack  300  is a rectangular shaped box or cabinet configured to house electronic equipment  310 . The front face of the rack  300  includes a pair mounting brackets  312 , each with a plurality of threaded holes. As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , screws are used to screw or mount the equipment  310  into the mounting brackets  312  of rack  300 . As illustrated in the two figures, one or more pieces of electronic equipment  310  can be housed in the rack  300 . The equipment rack  300  also includes a pair of guides  316  and stops  318  located on opposite sides of the cabinet (in the  FIG. 2A , only one groove  316  and stop  318  is visible). The guides  316  are used to install the rack  300  into the equipment bays  150  of the base cabinet  100 , as described in more detail below.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a utility module  400  that may be installed in the base cabinet  10  of the medical boom  10  in lieu of a modular equipment rack  300  according to the present invention is shown. The utility module  400  is also a rectangular shaped box or cabinet configured to store utility medical equipment, such as surgical tools and the like. The utility module  400  includes one or more shelves  410  and one or more draws  415 . The utility module also includes a pair of guides  316  and stops  318  also located on opposite sides of the cabinet (only one guide  316  and stop  318  are visible in the figure). The guide rails  316  are used to install the utility module  400  into the equipment bays  150  of the base cabinet  100 , as described in more detail below. It should be noted that utility module  400  does not necessarily require a combination of shelves  410  and draws  415 . In alternative embodiments, the modules  400  may include just one or more shelves  410  or just one or more draws  415 .  
         [0023]     In accordance with one embodiment, the equipment racks  300  and the utility modules  400  are the same size and are inter-changeable. Each can be inserted into any one of the equipment bays  150  of the base cabinet  100  to configure the medical boom  10  in any manner desired. It should be noted, however, that the racks  300  and modules  400  do not necessarily have to be the same size. The bays  150  in the base cabinet  100  can e made of any size and the racks and/or modules  400  can be made the appropriate size to fit into the bays  150 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the installation of a modular equipment rack  300  in the base cabinet  100  of the present invention is illustrated. In  FIG. 4A , an equipment rack  300  is shown being positioned for installation into a bay  150  of the base cabinet  100 . In  FIG. 4B , a pair of guide rails  155 , provided within each bay  150 , are shown (only one guide rail  155  is visible). The two guides  316  on the opposite sides of either the rack  300  and/or utility module  400  are configured to engage and move along the two guide rails  155  provided in each bay  150 . The stops  318 , located at the end of each of the guides  316 , prevent the rack  300  or utility module  400  from sliding through the back of the base cabinet  100 . A lock  157  is provided within the structure of the base cabinet  100  to lock either the rack  300  or utility module  400  in place once installed in the bay  150 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross section diagram illustrating an exemplary routing for the electrical cabling used for the video display and electronics housed in the medical boom  10  of the present invention. The cross section shows the routing of video  210  and power cabling  215  between the video displays  220  suspended by the articulated arms  200  connected to the bays  150  in the base cabinet  10 . The cross section also shows electrical wiring  120 , conduit  130 , and junction boxes  140  between a power supply  125  and the bays  150 . The aforementioned electrical wiring  120 , conduit  130 , and junction boxes  140  are pre-installed in the base cabinet  100  prior to shipment to a customer facility. During installation of the racks  300  and/or modules  400  at the customer facility (an operating room or other medical facility), the video  210  and power cabling  215  are connected along with electrical wiring  120  and conduit wiring  130  to the equipment in the bays  150 .  
         [0026]     The medical boom  10  of the present invention thus provides a flexible, self-contained medical video presentation unit that can be quickly and easily installed in an existing operating room. With the bays  150  in the base cabinet, electrical equipment in the equipment racks  300  and other utilities in the utility modules  400  can readily be installed on site in the hospital operating room. In the event the electronic equipment needs to be service or repaired, the racks  300  can be readily be removed and the equipment repaired or replaced, with minimum down time.  
         [0027]     In the one embodiment, a structural cabinet  100  is shipped to the customer facility along with articulated boom arms  200 . One or more equipment racks  300  and/or utility modules  400  are then configured with electronic equipment  310  and other utility equipment according to customer requirements at a location remote from the customer. After configuration and testing, the racks  300  of equipment  310  and/or modules  400  are then separately shipped to the customer facility, either simultaneously or at a different time as the cabinet  100 . The required video monitors  220  are can be either shipped together with either the racks  300 , the boom  10 , or separately.  
         [0028]     At the customer facility, the base cabinet  100  is first structurally attached to the facility floor in the desired location. The base cabinet is affixed to the floor or wall of the operating room using any one of a number of known elements such as concrete anchors, bolts, studs, structural adhesives or a combination thereof. Upon completion of the structural installation, the installation of the necessary electrical power or signal cabling is carried out to connect the electrical wiring and conduit in the base cabinet  100 . Next, the articulated boom arms  200  are mounted to the base cabinet  100  and the video monitors  220  are attached to the booms  200 . To complete the installation of the present invention, one or more of the preconfigured equipment racks  300  are installed into the equipment bays  150  of the base cabinet  100 . One or more of the equipment bays  150  may also receive a utility module  400 . As a final step, electrical connections are made to the installed electrical equipment  310  and then the entire system is powered up and tested.  
         [0029]     In an alternative embodiment, one or more equipment bays may be configured with protective covers or user-accessible doors to protect the electronic equipment contained therein and to optionally limit user access thereto.  
         [0030]     Should service or configuration changes be required after the system of the present invention is placed in service, one or more of the equipment racks  300  can be readily removed, serviced, or replaced with another preconfigured equipment rack. The complete racks  300  can be easily shipped to the factory for service or configuration. A replacement preconfigured rack  300  can be shipped to the customer facility in advance and quickly exchanged in the field with any troubleshooting and configuration being performed offline, resulting in the minimum possible downtime and cost.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6C , an alternative embodiment of the modular equipment rack is shown. In this embodiment, the equipment rack  600  includes a plurality of trolley wheels  602 , each located at the bottom four corners of the rack  600 . The trolley wheels  602  are designed to allow the equipment rack  600  to be readily rolled around. The trolley wheels  602  also facilitate in the installation of the rack  600  into the bays  150  of the base cabinet  100  of the boom  10 . A plurality of slots  604  are provided in the bay  150  in the bottom of the base cabinet  100 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 6A . Although not clearly illustrated in the figure, the slots  604  are provided to accommodate the trolley wheels  602  of the rack  600 . During installation, the rack  600  is rolled into the equipment bay  150  until the trolley wheel  602  drop into the slots  604  of the cabinet  100 . With the trolley wheels  602  in the slots  604 , the rack  600  is “locked” into place within the boom  10 . To remove the rack  600 , a firm pull on the rack is required to pull the trolley wheels  602  out of the slots  604 . The rack  600  can thereafter be rolled out of the equipment bay and readily accessed for repairs or upgrades.  FIGS. 6B  shows the rack  600  inside the bay  150 .  FIG. 6C  shows an exploded view of one of the wheels  602  of the rack  600  dropped into place within a slot  604  of the base cabinet  100 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the articulated arms  200  with retractable handles  70  are shown in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. One or more handles  70  are provided on each articulated arm  200  for the purpose of facilitating the movement of the video displays  220  and other supported equipment into position. For the sake of illustration, a first handle  70 A is shown in a retracted position, while handle  70 B is shown in the non-retracted position. When the handle  70  is not in use, it may be partially housed within the articulated arm  220 . When the arm  200  is to be positioned, the exposed portion of the handle is pulled down into the non-retracted position. The handle  70  is then used to move the articulated arm  200  so the display monitors  220  are positioned to a desired location. The handle  70  provides a higher degree of leverage, making it easier to move the articulated arms  200  into a desired position. It also makes it easier for members of the medical staff in the operating room who are not very tall to be able to move or manipulate the position of the arms  200  and display monitors  220 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 8A-8B  illustrate yet another feature of the articulated arms  200  of the present invention. With this embodiment, the articulated arms  200  include a plurality segments joined together by joints  80 . The segments include recesses that allow for the routing of wires  82 , for example power and signal cabling for the displays  220 . As best illustrated in the cross section diagram of  FIG. 8A , the joints  80  are capable of distributing the wires in multiple directions, including through the top and bottom of the joint and forward to the next segment of the articulated arm  200 .  FIG. 8B  shows two wires  82   a  and  82   b  protruding out from the top and bottom directions of the joint  80 , allowing equipment to be attached to both the top and bottom of the arms  200 . For example, appendage arms and/or displays  220  can be suspended off the bottom of an arm  200 , while task lighting or other equipment can be attached to the top of the arm  200 . For more details of the segments and the joints  80  of the arm  200 , see the above-identified application U.S. Ser. No. 11/093,075.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a cowling plate  90  used for covering the power and signal wires plugged into the back of the displays  220 . In  FIG. 9A , the cowling  90  is illustrated removed from the back of the display  220 . In  FIG. 9B , the cowling  90  is attached to the back of the display  220 , covering the wires. In various embodiments, the cowling  90  can be made from a metal, plastic or any other hard or soft material. The cowling  90  is desirable for several reasons. It is easier to clean and keep sterile. It also protects the wires from contaminants and prevents the wires from being inadvertently pulled or removed from the displays  220 , and is more aesthetically pleasing to look at.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the symmetrical nature of the base cabinet  100  is shown. The cabinet  100  is symmetrical for a number of reasons. The articulated arms  200  (not illustrated) can be attached to any one of the four recesses  94  located in the four corners of the top of the cabinet  100 . For the sake of illustration, a wire  82  is shown passing through one of the recesses  90 . If an articulated arm  200  were attached, the wire would be routed through the arm  200  and joints  18  as described above. Within the base cabinet  100 , the wire  82  would be connected to electrical equipment, power transformers, a power supply, etc. The equipment racks  300 ,  600  can also be inserted into the equipment bays  150  from either the side of the cabinet  100 , either as shown in the diagram or in the opposing side of the diagram. In this regard, the medical boom  10  does not have a “front” or “back”. On the contrary, the cabinet  100  is symmetrical, allowing the front panel or the equipment contained in the racks  300 ,  600  to be exposed through either side of the medical boom, depending on how it was installed. The symmetrical design of the medical boom  10  increases flexibility and allows the base cabinet  100  to be installed into virtually all operating room environments.  
         [0036]     While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alteration, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. For example, the stationary base does not necessarily have to be fastened to the floor of an operating room. It can also be attached to or affixed to the wall of an operating room. Further, while the present invention has been described as a medical boom for use in a hospital operating room, it does not necessarily have to be limited to this environment. Rather the boom of the present invention may be used in a dentist office, examination rooms, veterinary clinics, surgical suites, etc. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.