JP5266351B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus stably, wirelessly supplying a power to an ultrasound probe without impairing the operability of the ultrasound probe. <P>SOLUTION: A power supply unit 3 worn to the body of an operator includes a wireless power supply section 27, is wirelessly connected to a wireless power receiving section 17 disposed inside the ultrasound probe 1, and supplies the power to respective sections inside the ultrasound probe 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly, an ultrasonic probe wireless of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs diagnosis based on an ultrasonic image generated by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from a transducer array of an ultrasonic probe. Regarding power supply.

  Conventionally, in the medical field, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using an ultrasonic image has been put into practical use. In general, this type of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe with a built-in transducer array and an apparatus main body connected to the ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic waves are directed toward the subject from the ultrasonic probe. , The ultrasonic echo from the subject is received by the ultrasonic probe, and the received signal is electrically processed by the apparatus main body to generate an ultrasonic image.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that connects an ultrasonic probe and a diagnostic apparatus main body by wireless communication in order to eliminate the troublesomeness of a communication cable that connects the ultrasonic probe and the diagnostic apparatus main body and improve operability. Has been developed. In such a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a battery is built in the ultrasonic probe as a power source, and when the battery needs to be charged, The ultrasonic probe is housed in the installed probe holder, and the battery in the ultrasonic probe is fed in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic induction or the like from the power supply unit of the diagnostic apparatus main body or is installed around the diagnostic apparatus Similarly, power is supplied to the battery in a non-contact manner from power supply units of other power supply apparatuses.

JP 2010-233826 A

However, in the case of such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when power is supplied to the ultrasonic probe from the diagnostic apparatus main body, the ultrasonic probe must be stored in the probe holder. Cannot be used. In addition, when power is supplied from another power supply device installed around the diagnostic device, the distance from the power receiving unit of the ultrasonic probe changes depending on the operator's standing position, or around the ultrasonic diagnostic device. Under the influence of certain electronic devices, there is a risk that power cannot be efficiently supplied to the ultrasonic probe.
The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of performing stable wireless power feeding to an ultrasonic probe without impairing the operability of the ultrasonic probe. The purpose is to do.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the ultrasonic probe and the diagnostic apparatus main body are connected by wireless communication, an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from the transducer array of the ultrasonic probe toward the subject, and the ultrasound by the subject is also transmitted. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that processes a reception signal output from a transducer array of an ultrasonic probe that has received a sound echo, and generates an ultrasonic image in the main body of the diagnostic apparatus based on the processed reception signal. A wireless power receiving unit arranged on the probe and electrically connected to each part in the ultrasonic probe, and can be attached to the operator's body and wirelessly connected to the wireless power receiving unit of the ultrasonic probe. comprising a plurality of wireless power feeding section for feeding power to each unit, and a power supply unit having a connected power supply control unit to the plurality of wireless power supply unit, the power supply control unit, a plurality of radio Is intended for supplying power from and most feed efficient wireless power supply unit can supply power to the wireless power receiving portion of the ultrasonic probe of the conductive portion.

The ultrasonic probe preferably has a housing capable of visually recognizing the position of the wireless power receiving unit from the outside.
The ultrasonic probe may further include an indicator that is disposed in the housing and indicates power supply efficiency by the wireless power reception unit.
Further, it is preferable that the wireless power feeding unit stops power feeding while receiving an ultrasonic echo by the ultrasonic probe.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless power feeding unit stops power feeding during wireless communication between the ultrasonic probe and the diagnostic apparatus body.
The power supply unit may be attached to a glove that fits in an operator's hand or a jacket worn by the operator.

  According to the present invention, since the power supply unit can be attached to the body of the operator, stable wireless power supply to the ultrasonic probe can be performed without impairing the operability of the ultrasonic probe.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In Embodiment 1, it is a figure which shows the globe to which the electric power feeding unit was attached. It is a figure which shows the jacket with which the electric power feeding unit was attached. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply unit used in Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a power supply unit globe used in Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an ultrasonic probe in Embodiment 3. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe 1, a diagnostic apparatus main body 2 connected to the ultrasonic probe 1 through wireless communication, and a power supply unit 3 that wirelessly supplies power to the ultrasonic probe 1.

  The ultrasonic probe 1 has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 4 constituting a plurality of channels of a one-dimensional or two-dimensional transducer array, and a reception signal processing unit 5 is connected to each of the transducers 4 to receive a reception signal. A wireless communication unit 9 is connected to the processing unit 5 through a data storage unit 6, a phasing addition unit 7 and a signal processing unit 8 in order. A transmission control unit 11 is connected to the plurality of transducers 4 via the transmission drive unit 10, a reception control unit 12 is connected to the plurality of reception signal processing units 5, and a communication control unit 13 is connected to the wireless communication unit 9. ing. A probe control unit 14 is connected to the transmission control unit 11, the reception control unit 12, and the communication control unit 13. Furthermore, a battery 16 is connected to the probe control unit 14 via a battery control unit 15, and a wireless power receiving unit 17 for charging is connected to the battery 16.

Each of the plurality of transducers 4 transmits an ultrasonic wave according to a drive signal supplied from the transmission drive unit 10, receives an ultrasonic echo from the subject, and outputs a reception signal. Each transducer 4 includes, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic represented by PZT (lead zirconate titanate), a polymer piezoelectric element represented by PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PMN-PT (magnesium niobate / lead titanate solid solution). ), A piezoelectric body made of a piezoelectric single crystal or the like.
When a pulsed or continuous wave voltage is applied to the electrodes of such a vibrator, the piezoelectric body expands and contracts, and pulsed or continuous wave ultrasonic waves are generated from the respective vibrators, and the synthesis of those ultrasonic waves. As a result, an ultrasonic beam is formed. In addition, each transducer generates an electric signal by expanding and contracting by receiving propagating ultrasonic waves, and these electric signals are output as ultrasonic reception signals.

  The transmission drive unit 10 includes, for example, a plurality of pulsars, and based on the transmission delay pattern selected by the transmission control unit 11, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of transducers 4 pass through the tissue area in the subject. The delay amount of each drive signal is adjusted so as to form a wide ultrasonic beam to be covered and supplied to the plurality of transducers 4.

The reception signal processing unit 5 of each channel generates a complex baseband signal by performing orthogonal detection processing or orthogonal sampling processing on the reception signal output from the corresponding transducer 4 under the control of the reception control unit 12. Then, sample data including information on the area of the tissue is generated by sampling the complex baseband signal. The reception signal processing unit 5 may generate sample data by performing data compression processing for high-efficiency encoding on data obtained by sampling a complex baseband signal.
The data storage unit 6 is configured by a memory or the like, and stores at least one frame worth of sample data generated by the plurality of reception signal processing units 5.

The phasing addition unit 7 selects one reception delay pattern from a plurality of reception delay patterns stored in advance according to the reception direction set in the probe control unit 14, and sets the selected reception delay pattern. Based on this, the reception focus process is performed by adding a delay to each of the plurality of complex baseband signals represented by the sample data. By this reception focus processing, a baseband signal (sound ray signal) in which the focus of the ultrasonic echo is narrowed is generated.
The signal processing unit 8 corrects the attenuation due to the distance according to the depth of the reflection position of the ultrasonic wave on the sound ray signal generated by the phasing addition unit 7, and then follows a normal television signal scanning method. By converting into an image signal (raster conversion), a B-mode image signal that is tomographic image information relating to the tissue in the subject is generated.

The wireless communication unit 9 generates a transmission signal by modulating a carrier based on the B-mode image signal generated by the signal processing unit 8, supplies the transmission signal to the antenna, and transmits radio waves from the antenna. A mode image signal is transmitted. As the modulation scheme, for example, ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying), PSK (Phase Shift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), 16QAM (16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), and the like are used.
The wireless communication unit 9 performs wireless communication with the diagnostic apparatus main body 2 to transmit a B-mode image signal to the diagnostic apparatus main body 2 and to receive and receive various control signals from the diagnostic apparatus main body 2. The control signal thus output is output to the communication control unit 13. The communication control unit 13 controls the wireless communication unit 9 so that the B-mode image signal is transmitted with the transmission radio wave intensity set by the probe control unit 14, and also receives various control signals received by the wireless communication unit 9. Output to the probe controller 14.

The probe control unit 14 controls each unit of the ultrasonic probe 1 based on various control signals transmitted from the diagnostic apparatus main body 2.
The battery 16 functions as a power source for the ultrasonic probe 1 and supplies power to each unit that requires power in the ultrasonic probe 1. The battery control unit 15 controls the power supply from the battery 16 to each part in the ultrasonic probe 1 and monitors the remaining power of the battery 16. Further, the battery 16 is connected to the power supply unit 3 via the wireless power reception unit 17. Controls wireless charging.
The ultrasonic probe 1 may be an external probe such as a linear scan method, a convex scan method, a sector scan method, or an ultrasonic endoscope probe such as a radial scan method.

  On the other hand, the diagnostic apparatus body 2 includes a wireless communication unit 18, an image processing unit 19 is connected to the wireless communication unit 18, and a display control unit 20 and an image storage unit 21 are connected to the image processing unit 19, respectively. A display unit 22 is connected to the control unit 20. In addition, a communication control unit 23 is connected to the wireless communication unit 18, and an apparatus main body control unit 24 is connected to the display control unit 20 and the communication control unit 23. Further, an operation unit 25 for an operator to perform an input operation and a storage unit 26 for storing an operation program and the like are connected to the apparatus main body control unit 24, respectively.

The wireless communication unit 18 transmits various control signals to the ultrasonic probe 1 by performing wireless communication with the ultrasonic probe 1. In addition, the wireless communication unit 18 outputs a B-mode image signal by demodulating the signal received by the antenna.
The communication control unit 23 controls the wireless communication unit 18 so that various control signals are transmitted with the transmission radio wave intensity set by the apparatus main body control unit 24.
The image processing unit 19 performs various necessary image processing such as gradation processing on the B-mode image signal input from the communication control unit 23, and then outputs the B-mode image signal to the display control unit 20. Store in the storage unit 21.

  The display control unit 20 causes the display unit 22 to display an ultrasound diagnostic image based on the B-mode image signal that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 19. The display unit 22 includes, for example, a display device such as an LCD, and displays an ultrasound diagnostic image under the control of the display control unit 20.

  In such a diagnostic apparatus main body 2, the image processing unit 19, the display control unit 20, the communication control unit 23, and the apparatus main body control unit 24 are configured by a CPU and an operation program for causing the CPU to perform various processes. However, they may be composed of digital circuits. The operation program is stored in the storage unit 26. As a recording medium in the storage unit 26, a flexible disk, MO, MT, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or the like can be used in addition to the built-in hard disk.

The power supply unit 3 includes a wireless power supply unit 27 and is attached to the back of a glove 28 that fits in the operator's hand as shown in FIG. When the battery control unit 15 in the ultrasonic probe 1 determines that the remaining power of the battery 16 is below a preset threshold, electromagnetic induction from the wireless power supply unit 27 to the wireless power reception unit 17 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is performed. For example, power is supplied in a non-contact manner and the battery 16 is charged. Therefore, if the ultrasonic probe 1 is grasped with a hand with the glove 28 fitted, the distance between the wireless power receiving unit 17 and the wireless power feeding unit 27 is close, so that the operator can grasp and operate the ultrasonic probe 1. The power can be stably supplied from the wireless power feeding unit 27 to the battery 16 without being affected by the standing position of the person and other devices around the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
In addition, the operator can operate the cable without bothering compared to a wired ultrasonic probe. Furthermore, since it is possible to supply power while the ultrasonic probe 1 is used, the ultrasonic probe 1 can be used at any time without increasing the size of the battery 16.

  In the first embodiment, the power feeding unit 3 is attached to the glove 28 that fits in the operator's hand. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as it can be attached to the operator's body, as shown in FIG. In addition, the power supply unit 3 may be mounted in a jacket 29, for example, a pocket, worn by the operator.

Embodiment 2
Instead of the power supply unit 3 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1, a power supply unit 30 as shown in FIG. 4 may be used.
The power supply unit 30 includes a plurality of wireless power supply units 27 a to 27 c and is connected to the power supply control unit 31. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of wireless power feeding units 27 a to 27 c are respectively provided on the fingertip, the back, and the wrist of the globe 32.
Based on the remaining power of the battery 16 transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 1 by wireless communication, the power supply control unit 31 is fitted with the glove 32 by the operator from the plurality of wireless power supply units 27a to 27c as necessary. The wireless power receiving unit 17 can be charged while the ultrasonic probe 1 is held by hand, and the wireless power feeding unit that is closest and has high power supply efficiency is selected, wirelessly transmitted to the wireless power receiving unit 17, and supplied to the battery 16. To do.
If such a power feeding unit 30 is provided, the distance between the wireless power receiving unit 17 and the wireless power feeding unit 27 is close, and the wireless power feeding units 27 a to 27 c are arranged in a plurality of directions with respect to the wireless power receiving unit 17. Since the wireless power feeding unit appropriate for the operator's gripping method of the ultrasonic probe is selected from among the plurality of wireless power feeding units 27 and the power feeding operation is performed, the superpower is not affected by the gripping method of the operator. Stable power supply can be performed to the battery 16 of the acoustic probe 1.

Embodiment 3
The casing of the ultrasonic probe 1 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first and second embodiments described above can be provided with an indicator that indicates the power supply efficiency by the wireless power receiving unit 17. The ultrasonic probe 33 shown in FIG. 6 has an indicator 35 having a plurality of lamps whose number of lighting changes stepwise according to the remaining amount of power in the battery 16. With the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having such an ultrasonic probe 33, it is possible to appropriately check whether the remaining amount of power of the battery 16 and whether power supply is being performed efficiently while the operator makes a diagnosis.
The indicator indicating the power supply efficiency is not limited to this. The indicator may indicate the remaining amount of power of the battery 16 as a numerical value, and the fact that power is being supplied is displayed by blinking the lamp. It may be a thing.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the above-described first to third embodiments, it is preferable that the ultrasonic probe 1 or 33 has a housing that can recognize the position of the built-in wireless power receiving unit 17. As a housing capable of recognizing the position of the wireless power receiving unit 17, a transparent housing capable of directly viewing the wireless power receiving unit 17 from the outside, and a housing attached with a code capable of recognizing the position thereof. Examples include the body. With such an ultrasonic probe 1 or 33, the wireless power feeding unit 27 in the power feeding unit 3 can be easily brought close to the wireless power receiving unit 17, so that power can be supplied efficiently and stably.

  Moreover, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the above-described first to third embodiments, it is preferable that the wireless power feeding units 27 and 27a to 27c stop power feeding during reception of the ultrasonic echo by the ultrasonic probe 1. If wireless power feeding is performed in this way, it is possible to suppress noise generated in a weak electrical signal due to ultrasonic waves under the influence of a strong magnetic field generated from the wireless power feeding unit 27.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless power feeding units 27 and 27a to 27c stop power feeding during wireless communication between the ultrasonic probe 1 and the diagnostic apparatus body 2. If such wireless power feeding is performed, noise generated in a weak image signal transmitted from the wireless communication unit 9 due to the influence of a strong magnetic field generated from the wireless power feeding unit 27 is suppressed, and transmission to the diagnostic apparatus body 2 is performed. A decrease in speed can be prevented.

1, 33 ultrasonic probe, 2 diagnostic device main body, 3, 30 power supply unit, 4 transducer, 5 reception signal processing unit, 6 data storage unit, 7 phasing addition unit, 8 signal processing unit, 9 wireless communication unit, 10 transmission Drive unit, 11 Transmission control unit, 12 Reception control unit, 13 Communication control unit, 14 Probe control unit, 15 Battery control unit, 16 Battery, 17 Wireless power reception unit, 18 Wireless communication unit, 19 Image processing unit, 20 Display control unit , 21 Image storage unit, 22 Display unit, 23 Communication control unit, 24 Device main body control unit, 25 Operation unit, 26 Storage unit, 27, 27a, 27b, 27c Wireless power supply unit, 28, 32 Globe, 29 Jacket, 31 Power supply Control unit, 34 housing, 35 indicator.

Claims (6)

The ultrasonic probe in which the ultrasonic probe and the diagnostic apparatus main body are connected by wireless communication, an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from the transducer array of the ultrasonic probe toward the subject, and an ultrasonic echo from the subject is received. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that processes a reception signal output from the transducer array of and generates an ultrasonic image in the diagnostic apparatus body based on the processed reception signal,
A wireless power receiving unit disposed on the ultrasonic probe and electrically connected to each unit in the ultrasonic probe;
A plurality of wireless power supply unit for the operator's body attachable at and above are wirelessly connected to the wireless power receiving portion of the ultrasonic probe for supplying power to each part of said ultrasound probe, the plurality of the wireless power supply unit and a power supply unit having a connected power supply control unit, the
The power supply control unit, ultrasonic characterized that you to supply power from the ultrasound the wireless power receiving portion and can supply power to the most feed efficient the wireless power feeding portion of the probe of the plurality of the wireless power supply unit Diagnostic device. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe has a housing that can visually recognize a position of the wireless power receiving unit from the outside. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising an indicator indicating the power supply efficiency by ultrasound are arranged in the probe of the housing and the wireless power receiving unit. The wireless power supply unit, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein during the reception of ultrasonic echoes by the ultrasonic probe to stop the feeding. The wireless power supply unit, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in a wireless communication with the diagnostic apparatus main body and an ultrasonic probe to stop power supply. The power supply unit, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 that is attached to a jacket clad in a body of the glove or operator to fit the operator's hand.

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