JP7327558B2 - portable ultrasound imaging system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a portable ultrasound imaging device.

Conventionally, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received to and from a subject such as a living body using an ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic image data is generated based on signals obtained from the received ultrasonic waves, and ultrasonic images based on this are generated. is known on an image display device. Ultrasound image diagnosis using such a device is a simple operation of placing the ultrasound probe on the body surface of the subject. It is highly safe and can be performed repeatedly.

Moreover, in recent years, a portable ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus that is compact and portable has been put to practical use, making diagnosis possible outside medical facilities such as hospitals.

In such a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, for example, a rear end of a first housing in which operation members that can be operated by a user are arranged and a lower end of a second housing having a display panel are hinged. After the connection is made and the ultrasonic image diagnosis is completed, the second housing can be put away by rotating the second housing toward the front side using the hinge as a support shaft and folding it (for example, Patent Document 1). ).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,419

Since the portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is small as described above, it has the advantage that the apparatus can be installed anywhere when performing ultrasonic diagnostic imaging.
However, in the portable ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the display panel is arranged at the back of the apparatus during ultrasonic image diagnosis. When the apparatus is installed at a position higher than the patient's line of sight and the ultrasonic diagnostic image is viewed from below while performing diagnosis, the first housing becomes an obstacle and the display panel becomes difficult to see. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus capable of improving visibility of a display panel.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1,
A portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having a first housing and a second housing having a display panel provided with a touch panel, to which an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is connected There is
A connecting portion that connects the first housing and the lower end of the second housing,
The second housing is closed with respect to the first housing by being rotated about the horizontal axis of the connecting portion, and the display surface of the display panel is exposed. It is possible to be in a folded state that is approximately parallel to one housing,
The direction in which the display surface faces when the second housing is rotated from the folded state and the second housing is raised with respect to the first housing is defined as the front side, and the connection portion is , provided at a position closer to the front than the center of the first housing,
A gripping portion is provided so as to protrude from the front end of the first housing,
It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 2 is the portable ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
An operation member that can be operated by a user is arranged on the front side of a position where the connecting portion of the first housing is provided.

The invention according to claim 3 is the portable ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The operating member is exposed when the second housing is folded .

The invention according to claim 4 is the portable ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The display surface is oriented approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first housing when the display surface faces forward .

The invention according to claim 5 is the portable ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An ultrasonic probe connection part to which the ultrasonic probe is connected is provided on the side surface of the first housing, and the ultrasonic probe connection part is connected from the front side of the first housing. is also provided on the rear side .
The invention according to claim 6 is the portable ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5,
The ultrasonic probe is connected to the ultrasonic probe connecting portion via a cable.
The invention according to claim 7 is the portable ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The holding part is provided in the vicinity of the connecting part.
The invention according to claim 8 is the portable ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
The gripping portion is provided near the connecting portion,
The operating member is arranged between the holding portion and the connecting portion.

According to the present invention, the visibility of the display panel can be improved.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus; FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the appearance of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus; FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a hinge; 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is folded; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is folded; FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the slide base; FIG.

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In addition, in the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the components having the same function and configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 as a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has a box-shaped device main body 12 as a first housing and a display panel 16 on the front. 2 and a lid body 14 as a housing. The device main body 12 is made of, for example, a magnesium alloy, and accommodates an electronic circuit board on which electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) are mounted. The lid body 14 is formed in a size that matches with the device main body 12 in plan view when folded. The display panel 16 is a touch panel having, for example, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electronic Luminescence) display, and a position input device configured on the display screen of the display device. The position input device is, for example, a pressure-sensitive type (resistive film type) in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern on the display screen, and detects the XY coordinates of the force point pressed on the screen with a finger as a voltage value. , and outputs the detected position signal as an operation signal. Note that the position input device is not limited to the pressure-sensitive type, and an appropriate one from among various types such as an electrostatic capacity type can be applied. Moreover, the display panel 16 is not limited to a touch panel, and may be a display device having only a display function.
In the description of the present embodiment, left and right, front and back, and up and down mean left and right, front and back, and up and down with reference to the state in which the user of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 faces the display panel 16 .

In the present embodiment, the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 and the lid member are connected to the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 by a hinge 30 (see FIG. 3) covered by the cover body 14a at a position forward (front side) of the center of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12. 14 are connected. The hinge 30 is a so-called two-axis hinge, and can rotate the cover 14 with respect to the apparatus main body 12 by the horizontal axis H and the vertical axis V in FIG. Therefore, for example, when the lid body 14 is tilted rearward (backward) with the horizontal axis H as a support shaft from the state shown in FIG. The cover 14 and the apparatus main body 12 are superimposed so that the upper surface 12a of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 10 can be folded. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 is folded so that the display panel 16 is exposed upward. Further, after the lid 14 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 1 around the vertical axis V so that the display panel 16 faces rearward (that is, the rear surface of the lid 14 faces forward). 5, the lid 14 and the device main body 12 are superimposed so that the display panel 16 and the upper surface 12a of the device main body 12 face each other as shown in FIG. , the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 can be folded.

A specific configuration of the hinge 30 will now be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the hinge 30 viewed from the front side. In practice, the hinge 30 is covered with the cover body 14a, so that it cannot be visually recognized from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge 30 includes, for example, a rotary shaft 34, a horizontal arm 33, a torque limiter 32, and a mounting plate 31, and is engaged with the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12. It is attached to the slide base 26 which is mounted.

The rotating shaft 34 is supported at the center of the upper surface of the slide base 26 so as to be rotatable with the vertical axis V as a support shaft. A torque limiter (not shown) is provided at a portion of the slide base 26 supporting the rotating shaft 34 so that the slide base 26 rotates when a predetermined torque is applied to the rotating shaft 34 . It is configured.

A horizontal arm 33 extending in the left-right direction is fixed to the upper end portion of the rotating shaft 34 . That is, the horizontal arm 33 is rotatable about the vertical axis V together with the rotating shaft 34 . Both ends of the horizontal arm 33 are integrally formed with disc-shaped flanges 33a extending upward. Cylindrical torque limiters 32 matching the outer surface of the flange 33a are fixed to the outer surface of the flange 33a.

The torque limiter 32 rotatably supports the mounting plate 31 with the horizontal axis H as a spindle. The torque limiter 32 allows the mounting plate 31 to rotate when a rotational force of a predetermined torque is applied to the mounting plate 31 .

The mounting plate 31 has an arm 31b attached to the torque limiter 32 and a flat mounting portion 31a integrally formed at the tip of the arm 31b. The mounting portion 31 a has a plurality of screw holes and is configured to be screwed to the lid 14 .
Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, after rotating the lid body 14 about the vertical axis V and the horizontal axis H, it can be supported in that posture.

In the present embodiment, as described above, a biaxial hinge is used as the hinge 30, but a uniaxial hinge in which only the horizontal axis H is rotatable may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, a terminal (not shown) is provided on the right side surface of the device main body 12, and is configured to be connectable with a connector CN of the ultrasonic probe P. As shown in FIG. As a result, the ultrasonic probe P transmits ultrasonic waves (transmitted ultrasonic waves) to a subject such as a living body (not shown), and the ultrasonic waves reflected by the subject (reflected ultrasonic waves: echo ) can be received. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 causes the ultrasonic probe P to transmit a transmission ultrasonic wave to the subject by transmitting a drive signal of an electric signal to the ultrasonic probe P, and at the same time, The internal state of the subject is imaged as an ultrasound image based on the received signal, which is an electrical signal generated by the ultrasound probe P in response to the reflected ultrasound from the subject received by the probe P. can do.

An operation area 18 is formed in front of the hinge 30 on the upper surface 12a of the device main body 12, in which one or more operation members such as a trackball, a dial, and buttons that can be operated by the user are arranged. A substantially square-shaped gripping hole 20 is formed in substantially the center of the operation area 18, through which a user's hand can be inserted. That is, the operation area 18 is configured such that the operation members are arranged around the grip hole 20 . Then, the user can grip the grip portion 22 formed in front of the grip hole 20 while inserting the hand through the grip hole 20 . With this configuration, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 can be easily carried with one hand. In the present embodiment, the gripping hole 20 is provided in the operation area 18 , but the gripping portion 22 may protrude from the front end of the device main body 12 . Alternatively, a configuration without the gripping hole 20 may be employed. Also, the grip part 22 can be given a function as a hand rest when the user operates the touch panel. As a result, the operation of the touch panel can be easily performed, and the effect of reducing the operator's fatigue can be obtained.

A slide groove 24 extending in the front-rear direction is formed from the center of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 to the operation area 18. As shown in FIG. The slide groove 24 slides and guides the slide base 26 to which the hinge 30 is attached in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the lid 14 can slide along the slide groove 24 in the front-rear direction (the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIGS. 1 and 2) with respect to the device main body 12 . As a result, the lid 14 can be displaced between the position indicated by the solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the position indicated by the dashed line.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the configuration for making the lid 14 slidable with respect to the device main body 12 will be specifically described. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 showing the portion of the slide base 26 enlarged. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged portion of the slide base 26. As shown in FIG. 7 shows a part of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 cut away.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of flanges 121 protrude from the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 so as to face each other, thereby forming notches that are convex in cross section in the front-rear direction. A slide groove 24 is formed as an extended guide. A pair of support members 122 are attached to the rear surface of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus body 12 so as to cover the lower side of the slide groove 24. As shown in FIG.

The support member 122 extends along the extending direction of the slide groove 24 . The support member 122 includes a base portion 122a formed along the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12, a bent portion 122b bent downward at a right angle from the tip of the base portion 122a, and a bent portion 122b bent at a right angle from the lower end of the bent portion 122b. and a tip portion 122c. The pair of support members 122 are attached so that the tip portions 122c face each other. The support member 122 is attached to the back side of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 by screwing the base portion 122a to the back side of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 with screws B. As shown in FIG. At this time, a gap 241 through which the wiring C can be inserted is formed between the pair of tip portions 122c. The wiring C electrically connects the electronic circuit board housed in the device main body 12 and the display panel 16, and is composed of, for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC). A pair of flexible blocking members 123 are attached to the lower surface of each distal end portion 122 c so as to pass through the gap 241 . The closing member 123 is made of, for example, a PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) resin film and extends along the extending direction of the slide groove 24 . The pair of closing members 123 are provided so that their distal end portions contact each other. Since the closing member 123 is configured as described above, it is possible to block the gap 241 while sandwiching the wiring C inserted through the gap 241 . Also, since the closing member 123 has flexibility, it allows the wire C to move in the extending direction of the slide groove 24 .

A slide base 26 as a slide member is formed in a box shape, and has flanges 26a protruding laterally from the lower portions of the left and right side surfaces thereof. The slide base 26 is accommodated in the slide groove 24 and arranged so that the lower surface thereof is covered with the support member 122 . At this time, the flange 121 of the device main body 12 and the flange 26a of the slide base 26 are arranged to face each other in the vertical direction. Thereby, the slide base 26 can slide along the slide groove 24 without escaping from the slide groove 24 . The center of the upper surface of the slide base 26 is hollowed out to form a support portion 26b. The support portion 26b rotatably supports the rotation shaft 34. While the rotating shaft 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape, an insertion hole 26c through which the wiring C can be inserted is formed in the center of the bottom surface of the supporting portion 26b, and the inside of the rotating shaft 34 and the insertion hole 26c are communicated. Therefore, the wiring C inserted through the gap 241 can be guided to the display panel 16 through the insertion hole 26c and the rotating shaft 34 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an engaging recess 26d is formed on the side surface of a flange 26a provided on the right side surface of the slide base 26, and at a predetermined position facing the slide groove 24 on the upper surface 12a of the device main body 12, An engaging member 124 is attached to be engaged with the engaging recess 26d. The locking member 124 has an elastically deformable arm 124a and a locking portion 124b which is formed integrally with the tip of the arm 124a and bulges toward the slide groove 24 side. The arm 124a is urged toward the slide groove 24, and when the slide base 26 is slid and the engaging portion 124b is pressed by the side surface of the flange 26a, the arm 124a is elastically deformed against the urging force. Thereafter, when the engaging recess 26d and the engaging portion 124b of the engaging member 124 are matched, the elastic deformation of the arm 124a is restored and the engaging portion 124b is engaged with the engaging recess 26d. This makes it slightly difficult for the slide base 26 to slide, so that the lid 14 can be easily positioned.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the slide groove 24 and the slide base 26 are provided so that the lid body 14 can be slid in the front-rear direction, but the lid body 14 may not slide. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 is connected to the ultrasonic probe P for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the apparatus main body 12 and the display panel 16 are connected. The lid 14 is connected to the lower end of the lid 14 by a hinge 30 so that the lid 14 can be folded over the device body 12 . In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10, a hinge 30 is provided on the upper surface of the device main body 12 on the front side of the center, and the lid body 14 is rotated toward the back side of the device main body 12 with the horizontal axis H of the hinge 30 as a pivot. It is configured to be foldable by folding. As a result, since the display panel 16 is arranged on the front side, for example, the device is installed at a position higher than the line of sight of a user such as a doctor or a patient, and an ultrasonic diagnostic image is viewed from below the device while performing diagnosis. Even in such a case, the display state of the display panel 16 can be easily viewed, and the visibility of the display panel is improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the hinge 30 is a two-axis hinge further having a vertical axis V perpendicular to the horizontal axis H, and the lid body 14 is made rotatable about the vertical axis V as a spindle. Since the display panel can be stored without being exposed, the display panel can be well protected.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the display panel 16 is a touch panel, the display panel is arranged near the user's hand. can be performed, and the operability of the apparatus can be improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 includes the slide base 26 to which the hinge 30 is attached, and the slide groove 24 for slidingly guiding the slide base 26 in the front-rear direction of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12. Since the second housing is provided, the second housing can be appropriately moved back and forth to a position where the display panel can be easily viewed, thereby improving convenience.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 has the operation area 18 in which one or more operation members that can be operated by the user are arranged on the front side of the hinge 30 of the apparatus main body 12. A gripping hole 20 into which a user's hand can be inserted is formed in the operation area 18, and a gripping portion 22 capable of gripping the front end portion of the apparatus main body 12 is formed. It can be made more compact than the conventional one, and the size of the device can be reduced.

Note that the description in the embodiment of the present invention is an example of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each functional unit that constitutes the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus can also be changed as appropriate.

In this embodiment, the lid 14 is slidable in the front-rear direction by the slide groove 24 and the slide base 26 slidably guided along the slide groove 24. However, the lid 14 can be guided in the front-rear direction. The configuration is not limited to the above configuration as long as it can be configured. For example, a guide projection extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12, and the slide base is guided by the guide projection and slides on the upper surface 12a, thereby moving the cover 14 in the front-rear direction. may be configured as possible. The shapes of the slide groove 24 and the slide base 26 are not limited to those described above, and appropriate shapes can be applied.

Moreover, although the cover body 14 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction in the present embodiment, it may be configured not to be movable.

10 Ultrasound diagnostic imaging device (portable ultrasound diagnostic imaging device)
12 device body (first housing)
14 lid (second housing)
16 display panel 18 operation area 20 grip hole 22 grip portion 24 slide groove (guide portion)
26 slide base (slide member)
30 Hinge P Ultrasonic probe H Horizontal axis V Vertical axis

Claims (8)

A portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus having a first housing and a second housing having a display panel provided with a touch panel, to which an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is connected There is
A connecting portion that connects the first housing and the lower end of the second housing,
The second housing is closed with respect to the first housing by being rotated about the horizontal axis of the connecting portion, and the display surface of the display panel is exposed. It is possible to be in a folded state that is approximately parallel to one housing,
The direction in which the display surface faces when the second housing is rotated from the folded state and the second housing is raised with respect to the first housing is defined as the front side, and the connection portion is , provided at a position closer to the front than the center of the first housing,
A gripping portion is provided so as to protrude from the front end of the first housing,
A portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus characterized by: 2. The portable ultrasonic image according to claim 1, wherein an operation member that can be operated by a user is arranged on the front side of the position where the connecting portion of the first housing is provided. diagnostic equipment. 3. The portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operating member is exposed when the second housing is folded . 4. The portable type according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the display surface is oriented approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first housing when the display surface faces forward. Ultrasound imaging equipment. An ultrasonic probe connection part to which the ultrasonic probe is connected is provided on the side surface of the first housing, and the ultrasonic probe connection part is connected from the front side of the first housing. 5. The portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is provided on the rear side . 6. The portable ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic probe is connected to the ultrasonic probe connecting portion via a cable. The portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said holding part is provided in the vicinity of said connection part. The gripping portion is provided near the connecting portion,
4. The portable ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation member is arranged between the grip portion and the connection portion.

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