JPH10216126A - Image diagnosing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighter and portable image diagnosing apparatus without growing large of the apparatus even when a plurality of display devices are installed. SOLUTION: A display means for displaying medical images collected by a collection means is constituted of a plurality of flat panel displays, namely, FPDs 1, 2 and 3. The medical images shown on the display means are used for diagnosis by physicians. The flat panel displays are made up of a thin and light image display device such as a liquid crystal display or plasma display panel(PDP).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image diagnostic apparatus capable of displaying, for example, a medical image for diagnosis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among various conventionally known image diagnostic apparatuses, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can collect and display an ultrasonic diagnostic image of a subject as a diagnostic image, for example, displays a diagnostic image. As a means, a cathode ray tube display (hereinafter, referred to as "CRT") is mainly used. CRT
Are widely and widely used as display devices that are inexpensive and have excellent performance.

When a CRT is used as a display device of an image diagnostic apparatus, there are some problems. One of them is CR
T is relatively large and heavy. Another is that the CRT consumes large power. Therefore, in a relatively compact image diagnostic apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a plurality of CRTs are required to display a plurality of images.
Equipped with, the device becomes larger and heavier,
This reduces portability. For this reason, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is generally equipped with one CRT. The CRT display screen is divided to display a plurality of diagnostic images at the same time, or a plurality of CRTs stored in the image memory. A function of sequentially reading images and switching and displaying the images one by one is provided.

[0004] Here, when a plurality of images are simultaneously displayed on the display screen of one CRT, there is a problem that each display image is inevitably small and it is difficult to interpret. Further, when images stored in the memory are switched and displayed as appropriate, there is a problem that it is difficult to compare a plurality of images.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce the size and weight of a portable device without increasing the size of the device even when a plurality of display devices are provided. To provide a good diagnostic imaging apparatus.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that the display means for displaying the medical image collected by the collecting means is constituted by a plurality of flat panel displays, and the medical image displayed by the display means is used for diagnosis. Features.

According to such an image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, as compared with the case where the display means is composed of a plurality of CRTs, the apparatus can be configured to be lightweight without increasing the size, and portability can be improved. (2) An image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing, a collecting unit mounted on the housing and collecting a diagnostic image of a subject, and a diagnostic image mounted on the housing and displayed by the collecting unit. And a plurality of flat panel displays.

According to such an image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the display means for displaying the diagnostic image obtained by the collecting means is constituted by a plurality of CRTs.
The device can be configured to be lightweight without increasing the size, and the portability can be improved. (3) The image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is the apparatus according to the above (2), further comprising a mechanism for storing at least one of the plurality of flat displays in the housing. .

According to such an image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a specific flat display can be stored in a housing, for example, when not in use or during transportation. (4) The image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is the apparatus according to the above (2), further including a bendable arm member, and supporting at least one of the plurality of flat display panels on the housing. It is characterized by further comprising a supporting means, and an adjusting means for adjusting a position at which the supporting means supports the flat display panel or an orientation of a display screen of the flat display panel.

According to such an image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the flat display panel can be supported at a predetermined position in space, and the operating environment can be further improved. (5) The image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is the apparatus according to the above (2), and further includes a display control means for displaying a different image or the same image on each of the plurality of flat panel displays. It is characterized by the following.

According to the image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to perform advanced display control such as display control according to the type of diagnosis and display control according to the arrangement state of the apparatus or the arrangement state of the interpreter. . (6) The image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention is the apparatus according to (2) above, and further includes a control unit that controls the image diagnostic apparatus, and an operation for giving an instruction from an operator to the control unit. Operating screen display means for displaying a screen on at least one of the plurality of flat panel displays.

According to the present invention, operability can be further improved by displaying an electronic operation screen on which a flexible and sophisticated operation can be performed, unlike a mechanical operation panel. (7) An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing, a collection unit mounted on the housing, and configured to collect an ultrasonic diagnostic image of a subject, and a thin external shape mounted on the housing. A plurality of flat panel displays capable of displaying an ultrasonic diagnostic image obtained by the means.

According to such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of flat panel displays having a thin outer shape are provided, so that the display means is provided with a plurality of CRTs.
As compared with the case where the apparatus is configured, the apparatus can be configured to be lightweight without increasing the size, and the portability can be improved.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment, the display means for displaying the medical images collected by the collection means includes a plurality of flat panel displays (FPDs: Flat Panel D).
isplay), that is, the FPDs 1, 2, and 3 here, and the medical images displayed by such display means are used for diagnosis by a doctor. The flat panel display is configured by a thin and lightweight image display device such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display panel (PDP). Here, as a more specific configuration example, the FPDs 1 to 3 have TFTs (Thin Film Transistors).
It shall be constituted by a liquid crystal display consisting of r). Although not shown, the housing 4 includes an ultrasonic probe and means for controlling the probe to acquire an ultrasonic diagnostic image of the subject.

The above liquid crystal display has a weight of 30.
The weight is about 0 to 500 grams, and the depth is about 1 to 3 cm. In medical image diagnosis, advanced display performance that is fine and has a wide dynamic range is required. At present, there are various points that are inferior to CRTs in terms of dynamic range, viewing angle, luminance, and the like. However, advances in FPDs such as liquid crystal displays are continually evolving, and there is a good possibility of obtaining display performance higher than CRTs.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
When the TR5 is used, the weight is generally 3 kg or more and the depth is 30 cm or more. In the present embodiment using the above-described TFT liquid crystal display instead of the CRT, the entire apparatus can be made compact in weight and volume, and the display means simultaneously displays a plurality of display screens ( Here, three screens) can be used.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when a plurality of image display devices are provided, a lightweight and highly portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be provided without increasing the size of the apparatus. The FPDs 1, 2, and 3 display tomographic images having different slice positions with respect to the same subject, display diagnostic images in different modes (for example, a B-mode image and an M-mode image), and perform comparison. Advanced display, such as displaying an image of another subject side by side on the screen. Of course, as in the past,
It is also possible to display a plurality of diagnostic images on one screen.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a mechanism for accommodating the plurality of flat displays (FPDs) 1, 2, and 3 when the apparatus is not used, including during movement.

That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment
The three FPDs 1, 2, 3 are installed on tables 8, 9, 10 having a slide mechanism 6 and a tilt (tilt) mechanism 7, respectively. First, each of the FPDs 1, 2, and 3 can be slid in the direction of the arrow in FIG. As a result, the FPDs 1, 2, and 3 can be developed in the horizontal direction, and three screens can be simultaneously observed as shown in FIG. Further, when the apparatus is not in use, including during transportation, the FPDs 1, 2, 3 can be stored compactly as shown in FIG. Next, according to the tilt mechanism 6, the direction of the display screen of each FPD can be freely changed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification of the mechanism for storing the FPD. As shown in FIG.
D2 is attached via the hinge member 11a, and the FPD
2 and the FPD 3 are attached via a hinge member 11b. The FPD 2 and the hinge members 11 a and 11 b are fixed to the housing 4. As a result, when the apparatus is not used, including when the apparatus is moved, the FPDs 1 and 3 can be compactly stored by being folded as shown in FIG. When the apparatus is used, the FPDs 1 and 2 are rotated through hinge members 11a and 11b in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

According to this embodiment, when only one screen is required, only one of the FPDs 1, 2, and 3 is used, and at this time, the other FPDs are stacked or folded and stored. It is possible to realize a usage form of the device such as Thus, a plurality of FPDs can be used only when necessary. Further, since the FPD is used instead of the CRT, the space on the housing 4 can be effectively used, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be configured to be compact. In addition, the total weight can be reduced as compared with the case where a CRT is used, and since no extra space is required, transportation and the like are easy. Further, there is an advantage that power consumption can be suppressed lower than in the case of using a CRT.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view according to a third embodiment of the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment includes bendable arm members 12 and 13 as supporting means for supporting at least one of the FPDs (here, FPDs 1 and 2) on the housing 4. Further, these arm-shaped members are provided with adjusting means for adjusting the position for supporting the FPD or the direction of the display screen of the FPD.

Thus, the positions and directions of the FPDs 1 and 2 can be freely changed. Therefore, the subject placed on the bed 14 observes the same display screen (contents) simultaneously with the examiner on each FPD (in the figure, the examiner observes FPD1 and the examinee observes FPD2). It becomes possible. In addition, since the individual FPDs can be adjusted in different display directions as needed by the adjusting means or the like, a plurality of observers can simultaneously observe the same image from different directions. For example, an operator (operator, laboratory technician) and a doctor of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a patient on the bed 14 or other people around can view the same screen on different FPDs.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. When the operation of the image diagnostic apparatus is performed using a so-called graphical user interface (GUI), a large CRT is required to realize the operation display and the diagnostic image display on the same display device, so that the entire apparatus is increased in size. Or it becomes heavy. For this reason, in a relatively small image diagnostic apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that has been developed so far, the operation panel is not configured by a full-scale GUI.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes:
It has a control means (not shown) for controlling the entire apparatus, an FPD 1 for displaying an operation screen for giving instructions from the operator to the control means, and an FPD 2 for displaying an ultrasonic diagnostic image of the subject. doing. An ultrasonic diagnostic image can be displayed on the FPD 1 as needed. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen (operation screen) of the FPD 1 of the device in detail.

According to the present embodiment, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be performed via the GUI (operation window 71) on the FPD 1 as shown in FIG. Further, the fact that the GUI can be used for operating the diagnostic apparatus allows the GUI to be displayed easily in multiple languages (display language selection button 72), and not only makes it easier for the system to support various languages, but also allows the operator HELP display (guidance display), etc., when the user is at a loss of use, etc. can be easily performed (HELP button 7
3). In addition, if functions such as multi-window, multi-task, and network system (network window 74) functions which are now common are incorporated in an operating system (OS) as a base of the GUI, other computer systems and diagnostic systems can be provided. 75
It is also possible to easily perform connection with the device, transfer of information, remote control, etc., and operate the diagnostic apparatus and the network system as if using a normal computer. This means that the system operator can collect the necessary diagnostic images while consulting with the remote diagnosing person (physician) in real time, and the remote physician can control the system as needed. Can be. The fact that the operation screen can be operated as a GUI on the monitor further expands the possibility that the system can be upgraded simply by upgrading the software.
This also leads to cost reduction in the case of newly expanding functions. Further, the position of the GUI can be set at the same height as the line of sight of the diagnostic screen, so that the burden on the operator can be reduced, and complicated image processing can be performed while viewing the diagnostic image using the GUI. Is also possible.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Since a plurality of FPDs are used, different images can be displayed on each FPD. Here, the GUI is applied to the operation of the diagnostic apparatus, and the GUI screen and the display screen of the diagnostic image are configured to be simultaneously displayed on different FPDs. Can be displayed on different display devices at the same time.

Therefore, the operability of the apparatus can be improved, and the burden on the operator can be reduced. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the first to fourth embodiments, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been described as an example of an image diagnostic apparatus. However, the present invention is also applicable to various diagnostic apparatuses such as a calculus crushing apparatus or a computer tomography apparatus (CT). The invention is applicable.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, since a plurality of FPDs are used as display devices of an image diagnostic apparatus, the apparatus can be made lighter and more compact than when a conventional CRT is used. Since multiple screens can be used at the same time without restricting the screen size, it is possible to use an operation screen using a GUI, display a plurality of diagnostic images at the same time, Can simultaneously perform advanced display such as viewing the same screen from different directions. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lightweight and highly portable image diagnostic apparatus without increasing the size of the apparatus even when a plurality of display devices are provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of an image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a comparative example with the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external view showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in detail an operation screen of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3 FPD 4 Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 5 CRT 6 Tilt mechanism 7 Slide mechanism 8, 9, 10 Support base 11 Hinge member 12, 13 Arm member 14 Bed

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image diagnostic apparatus, wherein display means for displaying a medical image collected by a collecting means comprises a plurality of flat panel displays, and the medical image displayed by the display means is used for diagnosis. . 2. A housing, collecting means mounted on the housing and collecting diagnostic images of a subject, and a plurality of flat panel displays mounted on the housing and displaying diagnostic images obtained by the collecting means. ,
An image diagnostic apparatus comprising: 3. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a mechanism for storing at least one of the plurality of flat displays in the housing. 4. A supporting means including a bendable arm-shaped member and supporting at least one of the plurality of flat display panels on the housing; and a position where the supporting means supports the flat display panel, or the flat panel. 3. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an adjustment unit configured to adjust a direction of a display screen of the display panel. 5. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display control means for displaying different images or the same image on each of the plurality of flat panel displays. 6. A control means for controlling an image diagnostic apparatus, and an operation screen display means for displaying an operation screen for giving an instruction from an operator to the control means on at least one of the plurality of flat panel displays. The image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: 7. A housing, mounted on the housing, and collecting means for collecting an ultrasonic diagnostic image of a subject; An ultrasonic wave mounted on the housing, having a thin outer shape, and obtained by the collecting means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a plurality of flat panel displays capable of displaying a diagnostic image.