Mounting structure

Abstract

A mounting structure for an imaging device includes foot pads and is used on a subject of interest supported on a platform. The mounting structure includes a clamp configured to couple to the platform, a horizontal member coupled to the clamp, a vertical member coupled to the horizontal member, and a plate member coupled to the vertical member. The plate member defines orifices configured to receive the foot pads of the imaging device to constrain the imaging device from moving on the plate member in an X- and Y-direction.

1 . A medical imaging system comprising: 
 a medical imaging device configured to obtain internal medical images of a patient located on a patient bed; and    a mounting structure configured to mount the medical imaging device to the patient bed.    
     
     
         2 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure comprises: 
 a clamp configured to couple to the patient bed;    a horizontal member coupled to the clamp;    a vertical member coupled to the horizontal member; and    a plate member coupled to the vertical member, the plate member defining orifices configured to receive the foot pads of the medical imaging device, wherein the medical imaging device is constrained from moving on the plate member in an X- and Y-direction.    
     
     
         3 . The medical imaging system of  claim 2 , wherein one of the horizontal member and vertical member includes a telescopic section.  
     
     
         4 . The medical imaging system of  claim 2 , including a hook coupled to the plate member and configured to couple to the medical imaging device, wherein the medical imaging device is constrained from moving on the plate member in a Z-direction.  
     
     
         5 . The medical imaging system of  claim 2 , including a swivel at one end of the vertical member configured to allow 360° rotation of the vertical member.  
     
     
         6 . The medical imaging system of  claim 2 , including a swivel at one end of the horizontal member configured to allow 360° rotation of the horizontal member.  
     
     
         7 . A mounting structure for an imaging device, with the imaging device including foot pads and used on a subject of interest supported on a platform, the mounting structure comprising: 
 a clamp configured to couple to the platform;    a horizontal member coupled to the clamp;    a vertical member coupled to the horizontal member; and    a plate member coupled to the vertical member, the plate member defining orifices configured to receive the foot pads of the imaging device, wherein the imaging device is constrained from moving on the plate member in an X- and Y-direction.    
     
     
         8 . The mounting structure of  claim 7 , wherein one of the horizontal member and vertical member includes a telescopic section.  
     
     
         9 . The mounting structure of  claim 7 , including a hook coupled to the plate member and configured to couple to the imaging device, wherein the imaging device is constrained from moving on the plate member in a Z-direction.  
     
     
         10 . The mounting structure of  claim 7 , including a swivel at one end of the vertical member configured to allow 360° rotation of the vertical member.  
     
     
         11 . The mounting structure of  claim 7 , including a swivel at one end of the horizontal member configured to allow 360° rotation of the horizontal member.  
     
     
         12 . The mounting structure of  claim 7 , including a power adapter coupled to the plate member and configured to supply electrical power to the imaging device.  
     
     
         13 . The mounting structure of  claim 12 , wherein the imaging device is an ultrasound imaging device.  
     
     
         14 . An imaging system for use on a subject of interest supported on a platform, comprising: 
 an imaging sensor array;    an imaging processor coupled to the sensor array, with the processor including a plurality of foot pads; and    a mounting structure comprising:    a clamp configured to couple to the platform;    a horizontal member coupled to the clamp;    a vertical member coupled to the horizontal member; and    a plate member coupled to the vertical member, the plate member defining orifices configured to receive the foot pads of the processor, wherein the processor is constrained from moving on the plate member in an X- and Y-direction.    
     
     
         15 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein one of the horizontal member and vertical member includes a telescopic section.  
     
     
         16 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , including a hook coupled to the plate member and configured to couple to the processor, wherein the processor is constrained from moving on the plate member in a Z-direction.  
     
     
         17 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , including a swivel at one end of the vertical member configured to allow 360° rotation of the vertical member.  
     
     
         18 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , including a swivel at one end of the horizontal member configured to allow 360° rotation of the horizontal member.  
     
     
         19 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , including a power adapter coupled to the plate member and configured to supply electrical power to one of the processor and imaging sensor array.  
     
     
         20 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging sensor array is an ultrasound imaging sensor array.  
     
     
         21 . A method of facilitating the use of an ultrasound device on a subject of interest supported by a platform, the method comprising the steps of: 
 clamping a mounting structure to the platform, with the mounting structure including a clamp, a horizontal member, a vertical member and a plate member;    coupling the ultrasound device to the mounting structure, wherein the ultrasound device is constrained on the plate member from moving in a X and a Y-direction;    rotating the mounting structure to place the ultrasound device in operative proximity to the subject of interest; and    using the ultrasound device on the subject of interest.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , including the step of constraining the ultrasound device from moving in a Z-direction on the mounting structure.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the vertical member includes a telescopic section and adjusting the height of the vertical member with the telescopic section.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the horizontal member includes a telescopic section and adjusting the length of the horizontal member with the telescopic section.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the vertical member includes a swivel at one end and rotating the vertical member a selected number of degrees.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the horizontal member includes a swivel at one end and rotating the horizontal member a selected number of degrees.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , including the steps of coupling a power adapter to the plate member and coupling the ultrasound device to the power adapter.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of rotating includes maintaining the mounting structure outside of a sterile field defined about the subject of interest.  
     
     
         29 . A system comprising: 
 a patient bed configured to support a patient in a patient care facility;    a medical imaging device configured to obtain internal medical images of the patient;    a catheter coupled to the medical imaging device and configured to be inserted into the patient to cooperate with the medical imaging device to obtain the medical images; and    a mounting structure configured to mount the medical imaging device to the patient bed, such that the medical imaging device and the catheter remain stationary relative to the patient during movement of the patient bed in the patient care facility.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the mounting structure comprises: 
 a clamp configured to couple to the patient bed;    a horizontal member coupled to the clamp;    a vertical member coupled to the horizontal member; and    a plate member coupled to the vertical member, the plate member defining orifices configured to receive the foot pads of the medical imaging device, wherein the medical imaging device is constrained from moving on the plate member in an X- and Y-direction.    
     
     
         31 . The medical imaging system of  claim 30 , wherein one of the horizontal member and vertical member includes a telescopic section.  
     
     
         32 . The medical imaging system of  claim 30 , including a hook coupled to the plate member and configured to couple to the medical imaging device, wherein the medical imaging device is constrained from moving on the plate member in a Z-direction.  
     
     
         33 . The medical imaging system of  claim 30 , including a swivel at one end of the vertical member configured to allow 360° rotation of the vertical member.  
     
     
         34 . The medical imaging system of  claim 30 , including a swivel at one end of the horizontal member configured to allow 360° rotation of the horizontal member.