Elevating and rotating ultrasound patient stand

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Ultrasound patient stand comprising:
 an elevation apparatus mounted on a base;   a platform mounted on the elevation apparatus, the elevation apparatus configured to raise and lower the platform;   horizontally spaced apart right and left arm rest supports mounted vertically on the platform; and   patient arm rests horizontally mounted on the arm rest supports.   
     
     
         2 . A patient stand for supporting a patient in a standing position on a platform during examination by an ultrasound technologist, the patient stand comprising:
 an elevation apparatus mounted on a base;   the platform mounted on the elevation apparatus, the elevation apparatus configured to raise and lower the platform to an ergonomically convenient height to allow the technologist to accurately position the ultrasound probe during examination;   horizontally spaced apart left and right free-standing arm rest supports mounted vertically on the platform; and   patient arm rests horizontally mounted on left and right arm rest supports respectively.   
     
     
         3 . A method for obtaining a patient venous evaluation by ultrasound, the method comprising the following steps:
 mounting an elevation apparatus on a base;   mounting a platform to the elevation apparatus;   raising and lowering the patient standing on the platform to an ergonomically convenient height to allow a technologist to accurately position an ultrasound probe during examination; and   supporting the patient's arms using free-standing patient arm rests on left and right sides of the patient vertically mounted on the platform.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the elevation apparatus is rotably mounted onto the base. 
     
     
         5 . The patient stand according to  claims 1  and  2 , wherein the elevation apparatus is ratably mounted onto the base. 
     
     
         6 . The patient stand of  claim 2 , wherein horizontal gaps reside between the arm rests. 
     
     
         7 . The patient stand of  claim 2 , wherein the elevation apparatus comprises a scissor apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The patient stand of  claim 2 , wherein the elevation apparatus comprises a piston apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The patient stand of  claim 2 , further including a fan residing under the platform for providing a circulation of air. 
     
     
         10 . The patient stand of  claim 2 , wherein the ultrasound probe allows the technologist to accurately evaluate a venous hemodynamics of the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The patient stand of  claim 2 , further including a patient seat to allow the patient to rest from standing for a long period of time. 
     
     
         12 . The patient stand of  claim 2 , wherein each of the arm rest supports include a front vertical member and a rear vertical member to support the arms rests.