Systems and methods for mounting medical equipment
Inventors
Jepsen, David Lee • Villarreal, Richard A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12109158-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems, devices and methods are described for mounting medical equipment on IV poles, bed rails and other supporting structures in medical facilities including operating rooms and critical care sections. A system including a mounting hanger and corresponding equipment housing is disclosed that allows quick mounting and dismounting of equipment from a supporting structure. The novel structural design of mounting hanger including a symmetrical t-slot feature and a plunger lock allows a piece of equipment to be mounted on a supporting structure in multiple orientations as per the requirement which allows a user to optimize the placement of equipment in the medical environment.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a tool-less medical equipment mounting system that uses at least one mounting hanger and a housing having at least one receiver section on an external surface. The mounting hanger includes a protruding section configured to mate with the receiver section, and when the protruding section slides into the at least one receiver section, the system automatically locks the protruding section with the receiver section using a plunger lock.
The mounting hanger further comprises a first straight portion and a second straight portion, where the second straight portion includes the protruding section and the plunger lock. The housing receiver section includes an opening and a locking access area having an accommodating hole, and the protruding section includes a t-slot in the locking access area and a plunger accommodating hole. This geometry allows coupling between the mounting hanger and the housing to be established through sliding and automatic plunger locking.
The invention enables mounting the medical equipment in multiple vertical/horizontal orientations by using symmetrical t-slot protruding coupling and receiver sections located at different vertical levels. The described mounting geometry permits rotating and mounting the equipment in multiple orientations, including 90-degree/180-degree/4 orientations, by repositioning receiver sections and using the same mounting hanger with automatic locking.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim covers a complete mounting system for medical equipment defined by a mounting hanger with a protruding section and a plunger lock that automatically locks into a receiver section on a housing. The inventive features include the mounting hanger structure, the housing receiver section configuration, and the automatic locking behavior upon sliding insertion, with dependent claims further refining geometry, materials, orientation, rotation, and manual disengagement.
Protruding section and plunger lock sliding automatic coupling
Upon the protruding section sliding into the at least one receiver section, the plunger lock is configured to automatically lock the protruding section of the at least one mounting hanger with the at least one receiver section.
Mounting hanger first and second straight portions including protruding section
At least one mounting hanger comprising a first straight portion configured to couple the at least one mounting hanger with the supporting structure and a second straight portion wherein the second straight portion comprises a protruding section and a plunger lock.
Housing receiver section on external surface with mating to protruding section
A housing comprising at least one receiver section on an external surface of the housing with the at least one receiver section configured to receive and mate with the protruding section of the at least one mounting hanger.
Symmetrical opening and locking access geometry
The opening shape of the at least one receiver section and the locking access area are symmetrical to the shape of the protruding section.
Multiple mounting orientations via rotation prior to insertion
The protruding section’s shape permits rotation of a mounting hanger about an axis prior to insertion into the housing receiver, allowing the hanger to be coupled to the housing in multiple orientations.
Connecting portion between first and second straight portions
The system includes a first straight portion and a second straight portion connected by an intermediate connecting portion.
Metal construction for protruding and receiver sections
The protruding section and the at least one receiver section are made of metal.
Manual plunger retraction for detachment
The plunger lock can be manually retracted against spring-loaded pressure to detach a mounting hanger from the housing.
Overall, the claim set centers on a sliding protruding-section-to-receiver-section coupling that automatically locks via a plunger lock, with refinements directed to symmetrical mating geometry, rotation-based multi-orientation coupling, connector geometry between straight portions, metal construction for mating features, and manual plunger retraction for detachment.
Stated Advantages
Automatic locking of the protruding section with the receiver section upon sliding insertion.
Ability to mount the medical equipment in multiple vertical/horizontal orientations.
Manual disengagement/detachment via manual plunger retraction against spring-loaded pressure.
Tool-less mounting described as a mounting system that does not require tools for mounting.
Documented Applications
Mounting medical equipment using the described system, including an example of mounting a cortical amplifier.
Mounting medical equipment on an IV pole, including embodiments using a pole mounting clamp.
Mounting medical equipment on bed rails using the described receiver sections and mounting orientations.
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