Portable ultrasound scanner

Abstract

An apparatus includes a plurality of portable scanners and docks. The scanners include first and second configurations to provide different functionality. The docks include at least one of floor, a wall, and a table dock. The scanners are selectively mateable to the various docks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first dock including a first common portion and a base portion, wherein the first common portion of the first dock includes one or more electrical connectors and the base portion of the first dock is configured to support the first common portion of the first dock relative to a first surface;   a first portable ultrasound scanner including an ultrasound transducer interface, a display on a first side of the first portable ultrasound scanner, at least one complementary electrical connector on a second side of the first portable ultrasound scanner which is opposite the first side and which is configured to attach the first portable ultrasound scanner to the one or more electrical connectors, and a dock interface that selectively connects the first portable ultrasound scanner to the first dock for operation in conjunction therewith; and   a second portable ultrasound scanner including an ultrasound transducer interface, a display on a first side of the second portable ultrasound scanner, at least one complementary electrical connectors on a second side of the second portable ultrasound scanner which is opposite the first side and which is configured to attach the second portable ultrasound scanner to the one or more electrical connectors, and a dock interface that selectively connects the second portable ultrasound scanner to the first dock for operation in conjunction therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including a second dock, wherein the second dock includes a first common portion and a base portion, wherein the first common portion of the second dock includes one or more electrical connectors and the base portion of the first dock is configured to support the first common portion of the second dock relative to a second surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein first common portion of the first dock and the first common portion of the second dock are the same. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the base portion of the first dock and the base portion of the second dock are different. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one complementary electrical connector of the first portable ultrasound scanner and the at least one complementary electrical connector of the second portable ultrasound scanner is configured to attach the first portable ultrasound scanner and the second portable ultrasound scanner to the one or more electrical connectors of the second dock. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the dock interface of the first portable ultrasound scanner and the dock interface of the second portable ultrasound scanner is configured to selectively connect the first portable ultrasound scanner and the second portable ultrasound scanner to the second dock for operation in conjunction therewith. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first dock includes a support member with a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region there between, a keyboard mounted to only the first end region, and a portable ultrasound scanner support mounted to only the second end region. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the portable ultrasound support comprises at least one mechanical connector, and the first portable ultrasound scanner includes at least one complementary mechanical connector on the second side, which is configured to attach the first portable ultrasound scanner to the at least one mechanical connector. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second portable ultrasound scanner includes at least one complementary mechanical connector on the second side, which is configured to attach the second portable ultrasound scanner to the at least one mechanical connector. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second dock includes a support member with a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region there between, a keyboard mounted to only the first end region, and a portable ultrasound scanner support mounted to only the second end region. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the portable ultrasound support of the second dock comprises at least one mechanical connector, and the first portable ultrasound scanner includes at least one complementary mechanical connector on the second side, which is configured to attach the first portable ultrasound scanner to the at least one mechanical connector of the second dock. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second portable ultrasound scanner includes at least one complementary mechanical connector on the second side, which is configured to attach the second portable ultrasound scanner to the at least one mechanical connector of the second dock. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second portable scanner is configured to provide functionality different from the functionality of the first portable ultrasound scanner. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second portable scanner includes a physiological variable transducer interface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the physiological variable includes a vital sign. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the functionality provided by the second portable ultrasound scanner includes a subset of the functionality provided by the first portable ultrasound scanner. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound transducer interface includes a single element mechanical transducer interface. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display of the first portable ultrasound scanner is oriented in the portrait mode, and the first portable ultrasound scanner is configured to simultaneously present at least first and second ultrasound images on the display of the first portable scanner.