Abstract:
A patient stand for supporting a patient in a standing position on a platform during examination by an ultrasound technologist. The patient stand comprised of an elevation apparatus mounted on a base. The platform is mounted on the elevation apparatus which is configured to raise and lower the platform to an ergonomically convenient height to allow the technologist to accurately position the ultrasound probe during examination. An electric motor lifts and lowers the patient stand, and optionally rotates on a “lazy susan” style base. One embodiment of a lifting mechanism is a scissors style mechanism and another embodiment uses a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder mechanism. The patient stand is also comprised of horizontally spaced apart left and right free-standing arm rest supports mounted vertically on the platform; and further having patient arm rests horizontally mounted on left and right arm rest supports respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application is a continuation application, entitled to the benefit of, and claims priority to U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/288,857, filed on Nov. 3, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to obtaining patient venous evaluation by ultrasound, and in particular, to an elevating and optional rotating stand facilitating ultrasound evaluation of a patient&#39;s lower extremity veins. 
         [0003]    Ultrasound evaluation is often of a patient&#39;s legs. Known methods for taking such evaluation includes several repositioning steps and require the ultrasound technologist to kneel or otherwise position themselves below the patient&#39;s waist. Thorough evaluation benefits from the ultrasound probe being positioned perpendicular to the skin and a very steady hold. Awkward positions often result making it difficult to achieve the best positioning, hampers obtaining accurate evaluation, and causes damage to the ergonomic health of the technologist and patient. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing an elevating and optional rotating patient ultrasound stand which facilitates accurate evaluation of venous hemodynamics. A base provides both elevation changes and rotation. An electric motor lifts and lowers the stand, and optionally rotates on a “lazy susan” style base. One embodiment of a lifting mechanism is a scissors style mechanism and another embodiment is a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder mechanism. The stand resides above the elevating and rotating mechanism and includes arm rests on each side and a seat to provide a patient with rest from standing long periods of time. 
         [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an elevating patient ultrasound stand. The height of the stand is controlled by electrical switches controlling an electrical drive. The height adjustment allows an ultrasound technologist to easily and accurately position an ultrasound probe for evaluation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of an elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention, 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a front view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a detailed side view of a scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention in a raised position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a detailed front view of the scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism according to the present invention in the raised position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a detailed side view of the scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism according to the present invention in a lowered position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a detailed front view of the scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism according to the present invention in the lowered position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed side view of a hydraulic or pneumatic type elevating and rotating mechanism of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention in the raised position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a detailed side view of a hydraulic or pneumatic type elevating and rotating mechanism according to the present invention in the lowered position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention in the raised position taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1B . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention in the raised position taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1B . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention in the raised position taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1B . 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a shelf under a left arm rest according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0022]    A side view of an elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1A , a front view of the ultrasound patient stand  10  is shown in  FIG. 1B , and a top view of the ultrasound patient stand  10  is shown in  FIG. 1C . The ultrasound patient stand  10  includes a base  12  resting on a floor  13  or other horizontal surface. An elevation apparatus  14  is rotatably attached to the base  12 , for example, by an optional lazy susan type apparatus. A platform  16  is attached to the elevation apparatus  14  and is preferably an open back  16   a  box like structure, the open back  16   a  providing a step for patients. A step extension  18  may extend to the front of the platform  16 . 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, a patient seat  28  may be provided to provide a patient with rest from standing for long periods of time. The patient seat  28  may be supported by a vertical column (or tube) reaching up from the platform  16  and a bracing structure  24  may be fixed to the platform  16  at the base of the column  26 . A seat height adjuster  26   a  may be attached proximal to the top of column  26  to allow adjustment of the seat height, for example, a bicycle style clamp. The patient seat  28  is preferably a bicycle style or triangular shaped seat. A nose  28   a  of the seat  28  points forward and the seat  28  is horizontally spaced away from a vertical plane which a rear edge  16   b  of the platform  16  resides in. The bicycle or triangular seat  28  allows free movement of patient legs. 
         [0024]    Arm rests  30  are vertically supported from the platform  16  by horizontally spaced apart right and left arm rest supports. Preferable, each arm rest supports comprises a front vertical member  20  and a rear vertical member  22  supporting the arm rests  30 . The front vertical members may comprise a pair of horizontally spaced apart vertical members  20   a  and  20   b  (see  FIG. 6 ). First and second right horizontal members  19  and  21  connect the right vertical members  20  and  22 . The first right horizontal member  19  is preferably a solid plate attached to the right vertical members  20 ,  22  about ¼ of the distance from the platform  16  to the right arm rest  30  and the second right horizontal member is preferably a pair of rods approximately aligned with ledges of the first right horizontal member  19  and connecting the right vertical members  20 ,  22  about mid way between the platform  16  to the right arm rest  30 . First and second left horizontal members  23  and  25  connect the left vertical members  20 ,  22 . The first horizontal member  23  is preferably a solid plate attached to the right vertical members  20 ,  22  about ¾ of the distance from the platform  16  to the left arm rest  30  and the second horizontal member  25  is preferably a pair of rods approximately aligned with ledges of the first left horizontal member  23  and connecting the left vertical members  20 ,  22  about ¼ of way between first left horizontal member  23  and the left arm rest  30 . Gaps  11  reside on each side of the seat  28 . 
         [0025]    The base  12  is preferably round with a diameter D of about 24 inches. The bottom of the platform  16  is a height H 1  from the floor  13 , which height H 1  is raised and lowered by the elevating and rotating mechanism  14  providing a height adjustment of about thirteen inches for the platform  16  allowing the bottom of the platform  16  to the adjusted from a height of approximately twelve inches from the floor to a height of approximately 25 inches from the floor. The height H 2  of the platform  16  is about 11 inches, and the height H 3  from the top of the platform  16  to the arm rests  30  is about 43 inches. The seat  28  is height adjustable to reside a height H 4  between 39 and 37 inches above the top of the platform  16 . The platform  16  has a width W 2  of about 31 inches and a length L 1  of about 19.5 inches. The column  26  is spaced a length L 2  of between six and fourteen inches and preferably about ten inches from the rear of the platform  16   b . While these dimensions are preferred, those skilled in the art will recognize that the dimensions maybe varied and an ultrasound patient stand according to the present invention having altered dimensions is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    A detailed side view of a scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism  14  according to the present invention is shown in a raised position in  FIG. 2A , a detailed front view of the scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism  14  in the raise position is shown in  FIG. 2B , a detailed side view of the scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism  14  is shown in a lowered position in  FIG. 3A , and a detailed front view of the scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism  14  is shown in the lowered position in  FIG. 3B . The scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism  14  is rotatably attached to the base  12  by a lower plate  40 . The scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism  14  includes four pairs of links  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56 . The lower ends of the links  50  are pivotally attached to the lower plate  40  at pivots  42   a  and lower ends of the links  52  are slidably attached to the plate  40  at slides  43   a . Upper ends of the links  50  are pivotally attached at pivots  45  to links  56  and upper ends of the links  52  are pivotally attached at pivots  45  to links  55 . The upper ends of the links  56  are pivotally attached to the upper plate  40  at pivots  42   b  and upper ends of the links  54  are slidably attached to the plate  48  at slides  43   b.    
         [0027]    A screw  44  is threadedly attached to a cross bar  47  by a threaded collar  46 . The screw  44  is rotated by a chain  62  driven by a motor  60 . The screw  44  rotates but does not translate, thereby lifting and dropping the cross bar  47 , The links  52  and  54  pivot about the axis of the cross bar  47  and lifting and dropping the cross bar  47  raises and lowers an upper plate  48  of the scissors type elevating and rotating mechanism  14 , thereby raising and lowering the platform  16 . A blower  64  resides under the platform  16  and provides a circulation of air. 
         [0028]    A detailed side view of a hydraulic or pneumatic type elevating and rotating mechanism  14   a  of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand  10  according to the present invention in the raised position in  FIG. 4  and a detailed side view of a hydraulic or pneumatic type elevating and rotating mechanism  14   a  is shown in a lowered position in  FIG. 5 . A remote or attached pump  65  provides a pneumatic or hydraulic flow to raise the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand  10 . The pump  65  is preferably an electric pump. 
         [0029]    A cross-sectional view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand  10  taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1B  is shown in  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand  10  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1B  is shown in  FIG. 7 , and a cross-sectional view of the elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand  10  taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1B  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The bracing  15  and  17  residing on the top surface of the platform  16  braces the lower ends of the vertical supports  20  and  22 . The first right horizontal member  19  connects the right vertical supports  20  and  22  providing additional bracing, and the second right horizontal support member  21  provides still more bracing for the right vertical supports  20  and  22 . The horizontal support members  23  and  25  are similar to the horizontal members  19  and  21 . 
         [0030]    A shelf  70  under the left arm rest  30  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The shelf  70  comprises the horizontal members  19  and  21 . The horizontal member  19  provides a floor and the horizontal member  21  provides an upper edge for the shelf  70 . A shelf  70  residing on the technologist&#39;s left when facing the patient (i.e., the patient&#39;s right) is higher and is for patient&#39;s use to place a water bottle or book etc. A shelf  70  on the technologist&#39;s right when facing the patient (i.e., the patient&#39;s left) is lower in position is for technologist&#39;s needs for the ultrasound coupling gel, clip board, towel and the like. In other embodiments the shelf may have solid sides, basket like sides, or the like, and an ultra sound patient stand having shelves of any form is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0031]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.