CN211468068U - Mobile medical device with caster lock control - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a portable medical equipment, it includes the truckle and is used for controlling the truckle locking control device of the locking state of truckle. The caster lock control device includes: a wheel lock movable between at least two states; the movement device is connected to the wheel lock and is used for driving the wheel lock to move between the at least two states; an operation interface unit operable to be operated to select one of the states; a position control assembly for associating each said state with a position switch such that said movement means is stopped by the associated said position switch when said boot moves to each said state; and a controller for actuating the movement device to drive the wheel lock to move in response to a selection operation of the operation interface unit until the wheel lock reaches one of the states and the movement device is stopped by the position control assembly.

Description

Mobile medical device with caster lock control

Technical Field

The embodiment of the utility model provides a portable medical equipment with truckle locking control device is related to.

Background

Casters are widely used in medical devices to enable movement of the medical device. Existing medical devices typically use a foot switch to control the locking of the caster. Foot switches may require excessive force (e.g., up to 50 pounds of force) to control, and foot control is difficult for many operators, e.g., an operator cannot operate the foot switch while walking, and is difficult to operate the foot switch while sitting. Furthermore, the use of foot pedal control tends to create problems of inaccurate positioning, which may require re-movement and positioning.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved caster control apparatus that overcomes at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable medical device, which includes:

a caster wheel; and

a caster lock control device for controlling a locked state of the caster, the caster lock control device comprising:

a wheel lock movable between at least two states;

the movement device is connected to the wheel lock and is used for driving the wheel lock to move between the at least two states;

an operation interface unit operable to be operated to select one of the states;

a position control assembly for associating each said state with a position switch such that said movement means is stopped by the associated said position switch when said boot moves to each said state; and

a controller for actuating the movement device to drive the wheel lock to move in response to a selection operation of the operation interface unit until the wheel lock reaches one of the states and the movement device is stopped by the position control assembly.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portable medical device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view showing the base of the ambulatory medical device of FIG. 1 and the front caster and a portion of the control member of the front caster mounted to the base, with the two rear casters omitted and not shown;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the base shown in FIG. 2 and the front caster and portions of the control components of the front caster;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 2 at one of the front caster wheels;

figure 5 shows schematically the three control positions of the control lever of the wheel lock of the castor shown in figure 4; and

figure 6 shows the position switch assembly and the actuator arm of figure 3 in an enlarged scale.

Detailed Description

Some embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless clearly defined otherwise herein, the meaning of scientific and technical terms used herein is that which is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and similar referents herein is to be construed to mean that the specified items are included in the range, as well as equivalents thereof. The terms "or", "or" are not meant to be exclusive, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items and include the cases where a combination of the referenced items may be present. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the referenced items. References herein to "some embodiments" or the like, indicate that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, and/or characteristic) described in connection with the invention is included in at least one embodiment described herein, and may or may not be present in other embodiments. In addition, it is to be understood that the elements of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner.

When a component is referred to herein as being "secured to," "mounted to," or "connected to" (or the like) another component, it can be directly secured, mounted, or connected to the other component, or indirectly secured, mounted, or connected to the other component through other intervening elements. Further, two components that are "connected" or "coupled" may be two separate components that are directly or indirectly coupled together via a coupling device or may be integrally formed (i.e., two parts that are unitary).

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable ultrasonic device equipped with casters, in which an operator can control the release and engagement of a wheel lock by operating an operation interface unit (e.g., a set of buttons or a touch screen soft button) located on a console (console) or other suitable location, thereby controlling the casters. The control mode is very simple and convenient for the operator of the equipment.

Fig. 1 illustrates a portable medical device (e.g., an ultrasonic testing device) 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile ultrasound device 100 includes a base 102, a host 104 mounted on the base 102, and a console 106 and a display 108 electrically connected to the host 104. The host 104 may include various electronic components (e.g., circuit boards, electronic components, cables, etc.) for medical testing or diagnosis, various mechanical components (e.g., bases, supports, pins, housings, etc.) for fixing and connecting the electronic components, and any other components as needed or appropriate. In addition, the console 106 and the display device 108, etc. may adopt a structure known in the art, and will not be described in detail herein.

To facilitate movement of the medical device 100, casters 112, 114, 116, and 118 are mounted on the base 102, by which the main body 104, together with the console 106 and the display device 108, etc. mounted on the main body 104, can be moved easily by pushing and pulling, etc. The casters, when unlocked, can move, such as roll and/or rotate, as desired to advance, retract, and/or turn the medical device 100. In order to park the medical device 100 in a desired position and/or orientation, each caster is equipped with a wheel lock for locking at least one function (e.g., rolling and/or rotating) of the respective caster or unlocking the respective caster to enable desired movement in response to certain operator actions.

In some embodiments, the casters 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be controlled integrally. In some embodiments, the casters 112, 114, 116, and 118 may each be independently controlled. In some embodiments, the casters 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be controlled in groups, such as by having the front casters 112 and 114 as one group, having the rear casters 116 and 118 as another group, selecting one of the groups for control, or controlling both groups separately. In other embodiments, the grouping may be performed in other ways as the case may be.

Figures 2 and 3 show portions of the control components of the base 102, front casters 112 and 114, and front casters 112 and 114 of the medical device 100. Most of the wheel locks are hidden in the caster mounting posts (such as the caster mounting posts 111 or 113, etc.), not shown, and only the control rod 122 of the wheel lock of the caster 114 is shown in fig. 4 and 5. The rear casters 116 and 118 shown in fig. 1 are omitted from fig. 2 and 3.

Fig. 4 shows the cooperation of the caster 114 with components such as the caster base 102, enlarged from the side of the caster 14. Figure 5 schematically shows three positions of the latch lever 122 of the caster 114. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the three positions 123, 124, and 125 of the control lever 122 correspond to the roll-locked, unlocked, and rotation-locked states, respectively, of the wheel lock of the caster 114. In the roll-locked state, the boot lock of caster 114 locks caster 114 against rolling. In the rotation-locked state, the wheel lock of the caster 114 locks the caster 114 against rotation. In the unlocked state, the wheel lock of the caster 114 unlocks the caster 114 so that it can move as desired. In some embodiments, the caster may also have a fully locked state in which the wheel lock locks the caster against movement (both rolling and rotation) and in which the caster is in a substantially stationary state. In this case, the lever 122 may also have a fourth position corresponding to this fully locked state. Although the wheel latch of the caster has been described above with reference to caster 114, it should be understood that the wheel latch of the other caster 112, 116, or 118 can be the same as or similar to that of caster 114.

The wheel lock may be any structure that can be used to perform at least one of the locking and unlocking functions of the caster, such as various wheel lock mechanisms or brake mechanisms that are currently known.

Referring to fig. 1-4, in the illustrated embodiment, the front casters 112 and 114 are controlled by a motor 132. The wheel lock levers (not shown) of the casters 112 and the wheel lock levers 122 of the casters 114 are connected to a motor 132 through links 130 and 128, respectively, and the two levers can be driven to desired positions by the motor 132 to thereby achieve control of the wheel locks of the casters 112 and 114. In other embodiments, fewer or more than two links may be used as the case may be. For example, if the motor output shaft is collinear with the latch lever of the casters 112 and 114, the casters 112 and 114 may also be connected to the motor 132 by the same linkage. In one embodiment, rear casters 116 and 118 are not connected to a motor for control. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the rear casters 116 and 118 may be controlled by another similar motor, or each caster may be independently controlled by a separate motor, or all casters may be controlled by the same motor, as the case may be. The one or more motors may together constitute a movement device, independently of each other or in cooperation with each other.

The motor may be any suitable motor for accomplishing the driving described herein, specific examples including, but not limited to, a dc motor, a gear motor, a control electromagnet, a stepper motor, and the like. In one embodiment, the motor is a dc motor. In one embodiment, the motor is a gear motor, or a motor operatively connected to the output of a gear motor.

In the illustrated embodiment, the caster lock control device may include a controller (not shown) electrically connected to the motion device and configured to control the motion device, in addition to the wheel lock, the motion device, and a connection member (e.g., link 128 or 130, etc.) connecting the wheel lock and the motion device. The controller may be any controller known in the art and may include various electronic components (e.g., circuit boards, etc.) and any other components mounted within the host 104 and/or in any other suitable location for performing the control functions described herein. For example, the controller may include a relay unit for controlling the supply of power to the moving device. The controller may drive the motion device to a desired position in response to an operator's operation. The controller will be described in more detail below in conjunction with other components.

In addition, the caster lock control apparatus may further include an operation interface unit operable to select two or more caster/wheel lock states (e.g., a roll lock state, a rotation lock state, a full lock state, and an unlock state). In some embodiments, the operator interface unit may include at least one set of operator interface elements 136, one state for each operator interface element, for an operator to operate to select a desired state. The operator interface element is typically a user interface, e.g. a touch screen element such as a button or a dummy button. When an operator operates the operation interface unit (e.g., presses a button) to select a certain state, the controller supplies a voltage to the movement device to drive the movement device, and thus the wheels of the caster wheels, to a desired position.

In one embodiment, the selection of both locked and unlocked states may be provided by two operator interface members. In one embodiment, selection of the three states of roll-lock, rotational-lock, and unlock may be provided by three operator interface elements. In one embodiment, the selection of the three states of rotational locking, full locking, and unlocking may be provided by three operator interface elements. In one embodiment, the selection of the three states of roll-lock, full-lock, and unlock may be provided by three operator interface elements. In one embodiment, the selection of the four states of roll-lock, rotational-lock, full-lock, and unlock may be provided by four operator interface elements. Upon selection of one of several states by the operator via the operator interface element, the controller provides a voltage to the respective motor in an appropriate manner depending on the type of motor used in the exercise device to cause the motor to drive one or more wheel locks to a desired position.

The at least one set of operator interface elements may be located in a position (front position) that is easily accessible to an operator when operating the ambulatory medical device 100, such as on the console 106 or near the console 106. The at least one set of operator interface elements may include two sets of operator interface elements or more than two sets of operator interface elements. In one embodiment, two sets of operator interface elements may be provided, respectively, with a first set of operator interface elements 136 located on console 106 or near console 106, and a second set of operator interface elements (not shown) located at a position (rear position) that is easily accessible to an operator when moving the movable medical device from a side opposite the console, e.g., behind console 106. In addition, more sets of operator interface elements may be provided at other locations (e.g., on the side of console 106) as desired. Operational interface elements are provided at various locations on the ambulatory medical device 100 to more easily control the movement of the device at the various locations.

In addition, the caster lock control apparatus may further include a position control assembly 140 for effecting positional control of the motor 132. The position control assembly associates each state of the caster and its wheel lock with at least one switch device such that when the caster and its wheel lock are in one of the states, the switch device associated with that state can stop the movement of the motor 132 by turning it on or off, thereby effecting positional control of the motor 132.

In the illustrated embodiment, the position control assembly 140 includes a position switch assembly 142 and an actuating arm 144. As shown in fig. 3, the drive arm 144 includes two attachment locations along its length, a first location 158 and a second location 162. The drive arm 144 is coupled to the motor 132 at a first portion 158 thereof such that the drive arm 144 is rotatable about the first portion 158 (pivoting about the first portion 158) in response to movement of the motor 132. The drive arm 144 is connected to the links 128 and 130 at a second portion 162 thereof. With the movement of the motor 132, the second portion 162 may rotate about the first portion 158, which may drive the movement of the links 128 and 130.

Specifically, the position switch assembly 142 is secured to the mounting bracket 153, and the protrusion 152 of the motor 132 extends through the through hole 154 of the mounting bracket 153 and the through hole 156 of the position switch assembly 142 and is secured to the first portion 158 of the drive arm 144 by a fastener 168. The protrusion 152 is rotatable within the through holes 154 and 156, thereby causing the drive arm 144 to rotate about the first portion 158. In addition, the links 128 and 130 are secured to the second portion 162 of the drive arm 144 at connection locations 166 and 164, respectively, by fasteners 168.

The drive arm 144, which rotates about the first portion 158, drives the movement of the links 128 and 130 connected to the second portion 162 thereof, which in turn drives the movement of the wheel locks to control the front casters 112 and 114, and for position control purposes by engaging the switches in the position switch assembly 142. Specifically, referring to fig. 6, the position switch assembly 142 includes three position switches, such as limit switches 174, 176, and 178, corresponding to the three states of the casters 112 and 114. In a first state (e.g., a roll-lock state), a third portion (end in the illustrated embodiment) of the drive arm 144 acts as a contact 172 against an end 175 of the limit switch 174, forcing the limit switch 174 to deform in a direction opposite the contact, thereby turning on or off the corresponding control circuit and stopping the motor 132, thereby maintaining the casters 112 and 114 in the first state. Similarly, in a second state (e.g., an unlocked state), the contact 172 abuts against an end 177 of the limit switch 176, forcing the limit switch 176 to deform in a direction opposite the contact, thereby turning the corresponding control circuit on or off, stopping the motor 132, and maintaining the casters 112 and 114 in the second state. In a third state (e.g., a rotation-locked state), the contact 172 abuts against an end 179 of the limit switch 178, forcing the limit switch 178 to deform in a direction opposite to the contact, thereby turning on or off the corresponding control circuit, stopping the motor 132, and maintaining the casters 112 and 114 in the third state. As the actuator arm 144 pivots clockwise about its first portion 158, the contact 172 contacts and acts on limit switches 174, 176 and 178 in sequence.

It should be understood that the position switch assembly 142 may also include less than three (e.g., two) or more than three (e.g., four) position switches, depending on the specifics of the caster control.

The controller may electrically actuate the movement device to drive the wheel lock to move in response to an operation of the operation interface unit until the wheel lock reaches a corresponding state (a wheel lock state corresponding to the operation) and the movement device is stopped by the position control assembly (specifically, a position switch associated with the corresponding state).

In some embodiments, the controller may further include a sensing device (not shown) operatively connected to the motion device for detecting the status of the wheel locks and casters connected to the motor. By detecting the states of the wheel lock and the caster in real time, position control can be performed better based on the detected states. For example, when it is determined based on the detection that the boot has not reached the desired state, the motor continues to be actuated until the boot reaches the desired state even if the motor is stopped by the position switch corresponding to the undesired state. The sensing means may comprise a switch or other means for detecting the presence of an object, etc.

In a specific embodiment, in response to a selection operation of the operation interface unit, the controller applies a voltage of an appropriate level and polarity to the movement device to drive the movement device to move from any position where the movement device is currently located to a movement device position corresponding to the selected state, at which the corresponding wheel lock controls the corresponding caster to reach the selected state.

The mode of truckle is controlled to the operation interface unit that is located the position such as control cabinet through manual operation, not only operates simple and conveniently, moreover, compares in the required traditional mechanism of a plurality of truckles of concurrent operation, the embodiment of the utility model provides a control mode cost that uses is lower. Furthermore, the embodiment of the utility model provides an in the mode of the motor that adopts combines position switch, can permit and need not use electric power to control when the wheel lock function is not used to save power consumption, energy-concerving and environment-protective more.

The foregoing specific embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will not be limited to these specific embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. An ambulatory medical device, comprising:

a caster wheel; and

a caster lock control device for controlling a locked state of the caster, characterized by comprising:

a wheel lock movable between at least two states;

the movement device is connected to the wheel lock and is used for driving the wheel lock to move between the at least two states;

an operation interface unit operable to be operated to select one of the states;

a position control assembly for associating each said state with a position switch such that said movement means is stopped by the associated said position switch when said boot moves to each said state; and

a controller for actuating the movement device to drive the wheel lock to move in response to a selection operation of the operation interface unit until the wheel lock reaches one of the states and the movement device is stopped by the position control assembly.

2. The ambulatory medical device of claim 1, wherein said position control assembly includes an actuating arm connected to said movement means and said wheel lock and configured to contact an associated said position switch when said wheel lock is moved to each of said states.

3. The ambulatory medical device of claim 2, wherein said drive arm is coupled to said wheel lock by at least one coupling.

4. The ambulatory medical device according to claim 2, wherein said drive arm is connected to said motive means and said wheel lock at first and second locations thereof, respectively, and has a third location for contacting said position switch, wherein said second and third locations rotate about said first location when said motive means is moved.

5. The ambulatory medical device of claim 1, wherein said at least two states comprise a free-motion state in which said casters are free to move, a roll-lock state in which at least one of said casters is not capable of rolling, and/or a spin-lock state in which at least one of said casters is not capable of rotating.

6. The ambulatory medical device of claim 1, wherein said operational interface unit comprises at least one set of operational interface elements including a button or a touch screen element.

7. The ambulatory medical device of claim 6, wherein said at least one set of operational interface elements comprises a first set of operational interface elements and a second set of operational interface elements each located at a different location on said ambulatory medical device.

8. The ambulatory medical device of claim 7, further comprising a console, wherein said first set of operator interface elements are located on or near said console and said second set of operator interface elements are located elsewhere on said ambulatory medical device.

9. The ambulatory medical device of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a relay unit for controlling the source of electrical power to said motion means.

10. The ambulatory medical device of claim 1, wherein said controller includes a sensing device coupled to said motive means for indicating that said boot is in one of said states.

11. The ambulatory medical device of claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a dc motor, a gear motor, a stepper motor, or a control electromagnet.

12. The ambulatory medical device of claim 1, wherein said casters comprise a first set of casters and a second set of casters, wherein said first set of casters are controllable by said caster-lock control device and said second set of casters are not controllable by said caster-lock control device.

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