Arrangement of IVUS system components including remote and adjacent components

Abstract

In an IVUS system, units are located outside or remote from the patient except for the display monitor ( 12 ), the catheter interface module ( 4 ) and the catheter ( 3 ) which are located adjacent the patient together with a control arrangement ( 13 ) to enable the said units to be remotely controlled from a position adjacent the patient.

1. An IVUS system comprising:
 a) a catheter having an ultrasonic transducer array mounted at least near a distal end thereof;  
 b) a catheter interface module connected to a proximal end of the catheter;  
 c) a display monitor;  
 d) a control device for controlling the system;  
 e) a signal processing data entry and data storage device for processing and storing data derived from energizing the ultrasonic transducer array to output a signal to the display monitor in order to display an image of an interior of a patient's body; and  
 f) a bed for supporting a patient, wherein the catheter interface module, the display monitor and the control device are located adjacent to the bed such as to be easily viewed and operated respectively by a clinician, and  
 wherein the signal processing data entry and storage device is located remotely from the bed at a sufficient distance to enable a clear space around the bed for occupation by a medical team so that the medical team can be adjacent to the patient, and wherein the control device includes a wireless remote control device to enable control instructions to be given from a position adjacent the patient to remotely located units.  
 
     
     
       2. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 1  in which at least one of the following is located remotely from the bed:
 (i) a power distribution unit;  
 (ii) a video recorder; and  
 (iii) a video printer.  
 
     
     
       3. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the display monitor comprises a flat screen monitor. 
     
     
       4. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the control device incorporates a device to enable control instructions to be given by voice and incorporates a voice recognition device for accepting and implementing those instructions. 
     
     
       5. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the IVUS system is embedded in a conventional ultrasound system employing a transducer placed externally of the patient, so that units common to the IVUS system and the conventional ultrasound system can be shared. 
     
     
       6. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the IVUS system is embedded in an X-ray system, so that units common to the IVUS system and the X-ray system can be shared. 
     
     
       7. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the wireless control device comprises an infra-red remote control device. 
     
     
       8. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the display monitor is mounted on the catheter interface module. 
     
     
       9. A method of arranging components of an IVS system, the method comprising:
 providing an IVUS system having: 
 a catheter having an ultrasonic transducer array mounted at least near a distal end thereof,  
 a catheter interface module connected to a proximal end of the catheter;  
 a display monitor,  
 a control device for controlling the system,  
 a signal processing data entry and data storage device for processing an storing data derived from energizing the ultrasonic transducer array to output a signal to the display monitor in order to display an image of an interior of a patient's body, and  
 a bed for supporting a patient;  
 
 locating the catheter interface module, the display monitor and the control device adjacent that bed such as to be easily viewed and operated respectively by a clinician; and  
 locating the signal processing data entry and data storage device remotely from the bed at a sufficient distance to enable a clear space around the bed for occupation by a medical team so that the team can be adjacent the patient.  
 
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising the step of locating at least one of the following at a position remote from the bed:
 (i) a power distribution unit;  
 (ii) a video recorder; and  
 (iii) a video printer.  
 
     
     
       11. An IVUS system comprising:
   a )  a catheter having an ultrasonic transducer mounted at least near a distal end thereof;        b )  a catheter interface module connected to a proximal end of the catheter;        c )  a display monitor;        d )  a control device for controlling the system;        e )  a signal processing data entry and data storage device for processing and storing data derived from energizing the ultrasonic transducer to output a signal to the display monitor in order to display an image of an interior of a patient's body; and        f )  a bed for supporting a patient, wherein the catheter interface module, the display monitor and the control device are located adjacent to the bed such as to be easily viewed and operated respectively by a clinician, and        wherein the signal processing data entry and storage device is located remotely from the bed at a sufficient distance to enable a clear space around the bed for occupation by a medical team so that the medical team can be adjacent to the patent, and wherein the control device includes a wireless remote control device to enable control instructions to be given from a position adjacent the patient to remotely located units.     
     
     
       12. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 11  in which at least one of the following is located remotely from the bed:
 ( i )  a power distribution unit;      ( ii )  a video recorder; and      ( iii )  a video printer.     
     
     
       13. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 11  in which the display monitor comprises a flat screen monitor. 
     
     
       14. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 11  in which the control device incorporates a device to enable control instructions to be given by voice and incorporates a voice recognition device for accepting and implementing those instructions. 
     
     
       15. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the IVUS system is embedded in a conventional ultrasound system employing a transducer placed externally of the patient, so that units common to the IVUS system and the conventional ultrasound system can be shared. 
     
     
       16. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the IVUS system is embedded in an X- ray system, so that units common to the IVUS system and the X - ray system can be shared.   
     
     
       17. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 11  in which the wireless control device comprises an infra- red remote control device.   
     
     
       18. An IVUS system as claimed in  claim 11  in which the display monitor is mounted on the catheter interface module. 
     
     
       19. A method of arranging components of an IVS system, the method comprising:
   providing an IVUS system having:      a catheter having an ultrasonic transducer mounted at least near a distal end thereof,        a catheter interface module connected to a proximal end of the catheter;        a display monitor,        a control device for controlling the system,        a signal processing data entry and data storage device for processing an storing data derived from energizing the ultrasonic transducer to output a signal to the display monitor in order to display an image of an interior of a patient's body, and        a bed for supporting a patient;          locating the catheter interface module, the display monitor and the control device adjacent the bed such as to be easily viewed and operated respectively by a clinician; and        locating the signal processing data entry and data storage device remotely from the bed at a sufficient distance to enable a clear space around the bed for occupation by a medical team so that the team can be adjacent the patient.     
     
     
       20. A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising the step of locating at least one of the following at a position remote from the bed:
 ( i )  a power distribution unit;      ( ii )  a video recorder; and      ( iii )  a video printer.