Abstract

An actuator for moving an ultrasound transducer has a main body configured to be positioned adjacent to a target region of interest to be examined; and, a motor mounted on the main body. The motor is configured to have an ultrasound transducer connected thereto to simultaneously translate and rotate the ultrasound transducer to perform a compound scan of the target region of interest when the ultrasound transducer is connected to the motor. An ultrasound device has an ultrasound transducer movably mounted on the actuator. The actuator requires only single motor to effect both translation and rotation of the transducer thereby simplifying operation and providing a more compact device.

IPC Classes  ?

• A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
• A61B 8/08 - Clinical applications

Abstract

An actuator for moving an ultrasound transducer has a main body configured to be positioned adjacent to a target region of interest to be examined; and, a motor mounted on the main body. The motor is configured to have an ultrasound transducer connected thereto to simultaneously translate and rotate the ultrasound transducer to perform a compound scan of the target region of interest when the ultrasound transducer is connected to the motor. An ultrasound device has an ultrasound transducer movably mounted on the actuator. The actuator requires only single motor to effect both translation and rotation of the transducer thereby simplifying operation and providing a more compact device.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01N 29/265 - Arrangements for orientation or scanning by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

Disclosed is a counterbalance system for moving a payload and a method for counterbalancing the payload. The system and method comprise a resilient member that is in communication with the payload to be moved and two resilient members that are in communication with either end of the first resilient member. An actuator is in communication with the first and third resilient members and a payload arm, attached to the payload, is in communication with the first and second resilient members. The resilient members may be compressed and relaxed during movement of the actuator and the payload arm so that energy may be transferred between the system and the payload to counterbalance the weight of the payload.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 9/00 - Apparatus for assisting manual handling having suspended load-carriers movable by hand or gravity
• F16M 11/12 - Means for attachment of apparatusMeans allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction
• F16M 13/00 - Other supports for positioning apparatus or articlesMeans for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles

Abstract

A self-locking brake mechanism, which utilises a cantilever to engage a brake drum to prevent the brake drum from rotating, thereby resulting in braking behaviour. Further, locking mechanisms are provided that are useful for applications involving multiple brakes. The locking mechanism, through suitable use of indexing via Geneva mechanisms, allows multiple brakes to be engaged and/or disengaged from a single point of adjustment. The multiple brakes may be engaged or disengaged in a variety of combinations to achieve a particular desired braking configuration. The user can turn a single knob to engage or disengage varying combinations of brakes so as to achieve the desired braking configuration.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16D 49/00 - Brakes with a braking member co-operating with the periphery of a drum, wheel-rim, or the like
• F16D 65/14 - Actuating mechanisms for brakesMeans for initiating operation at a predetermined position
• F16D 71/00 - Mechanisms for bringing members to rest in a predetermined position

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for combining two 3 -dimensional ultrasound images of a patient's body part containing blood vessels into a single 3 -dimensional ultrasound image of that body part with a greater field of view. Blood vessels within the body part are used for registration. The two ultrasound images are preprocessed using a vessel enhancement algorithm to derive two corresponding enhanced images. The enhanced images can undergo a registration process based upon minimizing a mean-square-difference metric to derive an enhanced rigid transform, which represents a transform that maps the first enhanced image onto the second enhanced image. The two enhanced images are seamlessly combined via a blending process (via the use of a distance transform based weighting of the voxel values) to derive an output image.

IPC Classes  ?

• A61B 8/13 - Tomography
• G06T 5/50 - Image enhancement or restoration using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• G06T 11/60 - Editing figures and textCombining figures or text

Abstract

Disclosed is a counterbalance apparatus, and a method for counterbalancing using an apparatus, having a center of motion that is internal or external to the apparatus. The apparatus and method are adapted to support a payload, having a load vector applied in a direction of the vector or gravity, that is positioned distal to the center of motion. The apparatus includes a gimbal adapted to support the payload and allow for its rotational movement about the center of motion generating a load torque therefrom, and a resilient member adapted to engage the gimbal and supply a support torque to counterbalance the load torque. The method includes a step of supporting the payload with a gimbal adapted to allow rotational movement of the payload about the center of motion to generate a load torque therefrom, and a step of configuring a resilient member to engage the gimbal and supply a support torque to counterbalance the load torque.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 9/00 - Apparatus for assisting manual handling having suspended load-carriers movable by hand or gravity
• F16M 11/12 - Means for attachment of apparatusMeans allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting in more than one direction
• F16M 13/00 - Other supports for positioning apparatus or articlesMeans for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles

Abstract

A method for registering ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) images, comprising: receiving US and CT images representative of a body portion comprising blood vessels and an initial approximate transform; enhancing the blood vessels in the US and CT images, thereby obtaining an enhanced US and CT images; creating a point-set for a given one of the enhanced US and CT images; determining a final transform between the point-set and the other one of the enhanced US and CT images using the initial transform; applying the final transform to a given one of the US and CT images to align together a coordinate system of the US image and a coordinate system of the CT image, thereby obtaining a transformed image; and outputting the transformed image.

IPC Classes  ?

• A61B 6/03 - Computed tomography [CT]
• A61B 8/13 - Tomography
• G06T 7/00 - Image analysis

Abstract

A counterbalance apparatus for supporting a load is provided. The apparatus includes a base, a load bearing arm, a toggle linkage, and first and second resilient members for applying a force to the load bearing arm. The load bearing arm consists of a plurality of pivot points forming a parallelogram linkage, may project from the base at an attachment point and is adapted to support the load at a distal end. The toggle linkage may be pivotally connected to the base and moveable between a non-load bearing position and a load bearing position. The toggle linkage may also comprise an adjustment member positioned to define a distance relative to the attachment point. The first resilient member is adapted to apply a force to the load bearing arm and may have a first end connected to a first portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to the adjustment member; and the second resilient member is also adapted to apply a force to the load bearing arm and may have a first end connected to a second portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to the adjustment member. Movement of the toggle linkage from the non-load bearing position to the load bearing position engages the forces of the resilient members and movement of the adjustment member varies the distance to adjust a support vector adapted to counterbalance the load vector.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 7/00 - Devices for assisting manual moving or tilting heavy loads
• B65G 9/00 - Apparatus for assisting manual handling having suspended load-carriers movable by hand or gravity
• F16M 11/18 - Heads with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• F16M 13/00 - Other supports for positioning apparatus or articlesMeans for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular base link for use in a counterbalancing arm. The base link includes two base plates and four connection points. Two stabilizing members are connected to and extend between the base plates. Two resilient members, one of which is hingeably connected to and in communication with the two connection points, the other resilient member is hingeably connected to and in communication with the other connection points. The connection points are eccentrically and orthogonally disposed relative to each other. The resilient members are sufficiently resilient to permit movement of the base plates relative to each other so as to counterbalance the arm when a load is applied to either base plate.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 9/00 - Apparatus for assisting manual handling having suspended load-carriers movable by hand or gravity
• A61B 19/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories for surgery or diagnosis not covered by any of the groups A61B 1/00-A61B 18/00, e.g. for stereotaxis, sterile operation, luxation treatment, wound edge protectors(protective face masks A41D 13/11; surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses A41D 13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M 1/00)
• B25J 17/00 - Joints
• B25J 18/00 - Arms
• B25J 19/00 - Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewingSafety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators
• F16M 13/04 - Other supports for positioning apparatus or articlesMeans for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains

Abstract

A mechanical tracking system comprises a first set of linkage arms, a second set of linkage arms, a pair of shafts connected at first end to one arm of the first set of linkage arms and at a second end to one arms of said second set of the linkage arms, wherein each arm of the second set of linkage arms is oriented out of phase with a respective arm of the first set of linkage arms, an attachment shaft positioned adjacent to the first set of linkage arms to accommodate a tool, and a sensor arrangement configured lo sense the orientation and position of the attachment shaft.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01B 5/004 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring coordinates of points
• A61B 19/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories for surgery or diagnosis not covered by any of the groups A61B 1/00-A61B 18/00, e.g. for stereotaxis, sterile operation, luxation treatment, wound edge protectors(protective face masks A41D 13/11; surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses A41D 13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M 1/00)
• B25J 11/00 - Manipulators not otherwise provided for
• B25J 19/02 - Sensing devices
• G01C 9/00 - Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels