The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 27, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 19, 2001
Medical diagnostic ultrasound instrument with ecg module, authorization mechanism and methods of use
Jen U. Quistgaard, Seattle, WA (US);
Leo R. Catallo, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Anthony R. Vannelli, Monroe, WA (US);
Blake W. Little, Bothell, WA (US);
Randy T. Holmberg, Bothell, WA (US);
Juin Jet Hwang, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Clinton T. Siedenburg, Marysville, WA (US);
Ramchandra Pailoor, Woodinville, WA (US);
D. Scott Hirschi, Snohomish, WA (US);
Sonosite, Inc., Bothell, WA (US);
Abstract
A handheld ultrasound instrument is disclosed having enhanced diagnostic modes including pulse wave Doppler, time-motion analysis, and tissue harmonic imaging. An external electrocardiograph (ECG) recording unit is also disclosed. The ECG unit is adaptable to be used with the handheld ultrasound instrument to provide for ECG monitoring while performing an ultrasound scan in B-mode, Doppler, color Doppler, M-mode, and PW mode. The enhanced handheld ultrasound instrument further includes a security mechanism allowing any combination of the diagnostic modes to be enabled by the manufacturer, and later to enable or disable any one or group of the diagnostic modes. The invention also discloses a method for a manufacturer to maintain a database of handheld ultrasound instrument capabilities after the instruments enter the stream of commerce.