TWI696316B - Expansion module for ultrasound system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses an expansion module, configured to connect an ultrasound host. The expansion module includes a case, a first plug, a second plug, a number of probe slots, a path switching unit and a control unit. The first plug is disposed on a first side of the case. The second plug is disposed on a second side of the case, and is matched with the first plug. The probe slots are disposed on a third side of the case, and is configured to couple to one or more probes. The path switching unit is coupled to the first plug and the probe slots. The control unit is configured to couple to the first plug, the second plug and the path switching unit.

Description

Expansion module for ultrasonic system

The invention relates to an expansion module, in particular to an expansion module for an ultrasonic system.

Ultrasound (ultrasound) generally refers to sound waves or vibrations with a frequency higher than the highest upper limit of 20kHz that can be heard by human ears. Ultrasound is widely used in various fields. For example, in the military, ultrasound is used in radar technology; in exploration, ultrasound is used in deep-sea exploration; and in medical treatment, ultrasound is used in organ detection.

For medical purposes, an ultrasound system or instrument usually includes an ultrasound host and is equipped with one or more probes for ultrasound detection. The user can use corresponding probes for the parts, organs, ranges, etc. to be detected. However, due to hardware limitations, the number of probe slots on the ultrasonic host is limited. Once the number or type of probes to be used exceeds the number of probe slots, the user must insert the probe slots that have been inserted into the probe slots. Remove the probe to replace the probe. This is very inconvenient for users.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an expansion module, especially an expansion module for an ultrasonic system or an instrument, to make the user more convenient in operation.

The embodiment of the invention discloses an expansion module for connecting an ultrasonic host. The expansion module includes a housing, a first plug, a second plug, a plurality of probe slots, a path switching unit, and a control unit. The first plug is disposed on a first side of the housing. The second plug is arranged on a second side of the housing and is matched with the first plug. The probe slot is disposed on a third side of the housing for coupling to one or more probes. The path switching unit is coupled to the first plug and the probe slot. The control unit is coupled to the first plug, the second plug and the path switching unit.

In another embodiment, the aforementioned expansion module is used in an ultrasonic system, and the first plug is a male plug, and the second plug is a female plug.

The expansion module provided by the invention can increase the number of probes that can be connected to the ultrasonic host. For the user, it is possible to increase the convenience of using the ultrasonic system, thereby shortening the overall time of ultrasonic detection.

In order to have a better understanding of the above and other aspects of the present invention, the following examples are specifically described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:

10a, 10b, 10c: expansion module

102: Shell

104, 104b, 104_1, 104_2: the first plug

106, 106_1, 106_2: second plug

108A, 108B, 108A_1, 108A_2, 108B_1, 108B_2: Probe slot

110, 110_1, 110_2: path switching unit

112, 112_1, 112_2: control unit

20: Ultrasonic host

202: user interface

204: host slot

30: adapter

90, 90b: Ultrasonic system

Pinfo_1, Pinfo_2: Probe information

CTL: control signal

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an expansion module according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows an expansion according to another embodiment of the invention Schematic diagram of the module; and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound system according to another embodiment of the invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a schematic diagram of an expansion module according to an embodiment of the invention. The expansion module 10a can be used to connect an ultrasonic host (not shown). The expansion module 10a includes a housing 102, a first plug 104, a second plug 106, a plurality of probe slots 108A, 108B, a path switching unit 110, and a control unit 112.

The first plug 104 can be disposed on a first side of the housing 102. The second plug 106 may be disposed on a second side of the housing 102, and the second side is different from the first side. In this embodiment, the second side is the opposite side of the first side, but the invention is not limited to this, for example, the first side and the second side may also be adjacent or disposed on the same side. The second plug 106 is matched to the first plug 104. For example, the first plug 104 may be a male plug, and the second plug 106 may be a female plug matching the first plug 104. The probe slots 108A and 108B are disposed on a third side of the housing 102, and the third side is different from the first side and the second side. The probe slots 108A and 108B can be used to couple separate probes respectively. One or more probe slots (not shown) can be provided on the third side or other sides of the housing 102, and the probe insertion is not particularly limited here The number of slots.

The path switching unit 110 is coupled to the first plug 104 and the probe slots 108A and 108B. The control unit 112 is coupled to the first plug 104, the second plug 106 and the path switching unit 110. In an embodiment, the path switching unit 110 and the control unit 112 may be disposed inside the housing 102. The above is the structure of the expansion module 10a The structure will be described, and the operation details will be explained below with the ultrasound system shown in Figure 2.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates a schematic diagram of an ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic system 90 includes an ultrasonic host 20 and one or more expansion modules 10a_1, 10a_2 (in this embodiment, two are used as examples). The expansion modules 10a_1 and 10a_2 are, for example, the expansion module 10a shown in FIG. 1, both of which are the same in structure and function.

The ultrasonic host 20 may include a user interface 202 and one or more host slots 204. The first plugs 104_1, 104_2 of the expansion modules 10a_1, 10a_2 can be matched with the host slot 204. Therefore, in the ultrasonic system 90, the expansion module 10a_1 can be inserted into the host slot 204 through the first plug 104_1 to connect to the ultrasonic host 20; the expansion module 10a_2 can be inserted through the first plug 104_2 on The second plug 106_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 is connected to the expansion module 10a_1.

One or more probes P1~P3 can be selectively inserted into the probe slots 108A_1, 108B_1, 108B_1, 108B_2 of the expansion modules 10a_1, 10a_2. For example, in this embodiment, the probe P1 is inserted into the probe slot 108A_1 of the expansion module 10a_1; the probe P2 is inserted into the probe slot 108A_2 of the expansion module 10a_2; and the probe P3 is inserted into the probe of the expansion module 10a_2 Slot 108B_2. The control unit 112_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 can detect whether a probe is inserted in the probe slots 108A_1 and 108B_1, and if there is, the corresponding probe information will be obtained. Probe information can include the number of the probe slot, the model of the inserted probe, etc. For example, the probe information acquired by the control unit 112_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 may include the probe slot 108A_1 (probe slot number) into which the probe P1 (probe model) is inserted, and the probe No probe is inserted in the head slot 108B_1. Similarly, the control unit 112_2 of the expansion module 10a_2 will also perform the same operation. After the expansion module 10a_1 obtains the probe information Pinfo_1, the control unit 112_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 can transmit the probe information Pinfo_1 to the ultrasonic host 20 through the first plug 104_1; and after the expansion module 10a_2 obtains the probe information Pinfo_2, the expansion module The control unit 112_2 of the group 10a_2 can transmit the probe information Pinfo_2 to the expansion module 10a_1 through the first plug 104_2, and then to the ultrasonic host 20 through the expansion module 10a_1.

After the ultrasonic host 20 receives the probe information Pinfo_1 and Pinfo_2 from the expansion modules 10a_1 and 10a_2, it can display the corresponding information on the user interface 202 according to the probe information Pinfo_1 and Pinfo_2. The user can select the probe to be used by operating the user interface 202. The ultrasonic host 20 generates a control signal CTL according to the user's selection. The control unit 112_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 can receive the control signal CTL from the ultrasonic host 20 through the first plug 104_1, and operate the path switching unit 110_1 according to the control signal CTL to select at most one of the probe slots 108A_1, 108A_2. The control unit 112_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 also transmits the control signal CTL to the expansion module of the next stage (ie, the expansion module 10a_2) through the second plug 106_1. Similarly, the expansion module 10a_2 will also perform the same action.

For example, when the user selects the probe P1 by operating the user interface 202, the control unit 112_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 selects the probe slot 108A_1 according to the control signal CTL operation path switching unit 110_1, but does not select the probe slot 108B_1 , And the control unit 112_2 of the expansion module 10a_2 will operate the path switching unit 110_2 according to the control signal CTL to not select the probe slots 108A_2, 108B_2. Through the above operations, you can A signal transmission path is established between the probe P1 and the ultrasonic host 20. In other words, the detection information acquired by the selected probe P1 can be transmitted to the ultrasonic host 20 through the first plug 104_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 and the host slot 204 of the ultrasonic host 20.

For example, when the user selects the probe P2 by operating the user interface 202, the control unit 112_1 of the expansion module 10a_1 will operate the path switching unit 110_1 without selecting the probe slots 108A_1, 108B_1 according to the control signal CTL, and the expansion module The control unit 112_2 of 10a_2 selects the probe slot 108A_2 according to the control signal CTL operation path switching unit 110_2, but does not select 108B_2. Through the above operation, a signal transmission path can be established between the probe P2 and the ultrasonic host 20. In other words, the detection information obtained by the selected probe P2 can pass through the probe slot 108A_2 of the expansion module 10a_2, the first plug 104_2, the second plug 106_1 of the expansion module 10a_1, the first plug 104_1, and the ultrasonic host 20 The host slot 204 is transmitted to the ultrasonic host 20.

In some embodiments, the expansion module 10a_1 can be connected to the ultrasonic host 20 via an adapter. The adapter may include a first adapter and a second adapter, wherein the first adapter is matched to the host slot 204 of the ultrasonic host 20, and the second adapter is matched to the expansion module 10a_1 , 10a_2 of the first plug 104_1, 104_2.

In some embodiments, the first plugs 104_1, 104_2 of the expansion modules 10a_1, 10a_2 may not match the host slot 204 of the ultrasonic host 20. The expansion module 10a can be connected to the ultrasonic host 20 through a first expansion module 10b. As shown in FIG. 3, the structure of the first expansion module 10b is similar to the structure of the expansion module 10a, and the function and operation method are the same. The difference is that the first plug 104b of the first expansion module 10b may not match the second plug 106, but can be matched to the host slot 204 of the ultrasonic host 20.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the ultrasonic system 90b, the expansion modules 10c_1, 10c_2 and the expansion module 10a are only slightly different in structure. For the expansion module 10c_1, the difference from the expansion module 10a is that the first plug 104_1 and the second plug 106_1 are disposed on a first side of the housing 102, and the probe socket 108A_1 and the probe socket 108B_1 are respectively disposed in the housing A second side and a third side of the body 102 (the opposite side of the second side, not shown) are also the same for the expansion module 10c_2. In this embodiment, the expansion module 10c_1 is connected to the ultrasonic host 20 through an adapter 30. The various features and functions described above can be applied to this embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

In the above embodiments, the number of expansion modules inserted on the ultrasonic host is two. However, in actual application, a corresponding number of expansion modules can be inserted into the ultrasonic host according to the number of probes required. For example, when the number of the mainframe slots of the ultrasonic mainframe is only two, and the number of probes that the user needs to use is seven, the user can plug three expansion modules in series Sonic host, so as to achieve the effect of expansion.

As can be seen from the above, the expansion module provided by the present invention can increase the number of probes that can be connected to the ultrasonic host, so that the user only needs to select the probe to be used through the user interface to establish the signal transmission path without having to plug in Unplug the probe. For the user, it is possible to increase the convenience of using the ultrasonic system, thereby shortening the overall time of ultrasonic detection.

In summary, although the present invention has been disclosed as above with examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, without leaving Within the spirit and scope of the present invention, various changes and modifications can be made. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be deemed as defined by the scope of the attached patent application.

10a: Expansion module

102: Shell

104: first plug

106: second plug

108A, 108B: Probe slot

110: Path switching unit

112: control unit

Claims (9)

An expansion module is used to connect an ultrasonic host. The expansion module includes: a housing; a first plug is disposed on a first side of the housing; a second plug is disposed on a second of the housing The side is matched with the first plug; a plurality of probe slots are provided on a third side of the housing for coupling to one or more probes; a path switching unit is coupled to the first plug And the probe slots, the path switching unit is used to selectively establish a signal transmission path from the first plug to at least one of the probe slots; and a control unit coupled to the first plug , The second plug and the path switching unit, the control unit operates the switching unit, wherein the control unit receives a control signal from the ultrasonic host through the first plug, and the control unit operates the path switching according to the control signal The unit selects at most one of the probe slots, and the ultrasonic host establishes and selects the signal transmission path of the probe slot. The expansion module as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein, when a probe is selectively inserted into the probe slots, the control unit detects and obtains probe information of the probe, and the control unit passes the A plug transmits the probe information to the ultrasonic host. The expansion module as described in item 1 of the patent scope can be connected to a first expansion module, wherein the composition of the first expansion module is the same as that of the expansion module, and the expansion module is connected via the second plug A first plug of the first expansion module, the control unit receives one or more probe information through the second plug, and sends the one or more probe information to the ultrasonic host through the first plug. The expansion module as described in item 3 of the patent application scope, wherein the control unit receives a control signal from the ultrasonic host through the first plug, and sends the control signal to the first expansion module through the second plug Group, the ultrasonic host establishes a signal transmission path with a probe slot on the first expansion module. The expansion module as described in item 1 of the patent scope can be connected to a first expansion module, wherein the composition of the first expansion module is the same as that of the expansion module, and the expansion module is connected via the first plug A second plug of the first expansion module, a first plug of the first expansion module is connected to the ultrasonic host. The expansion module as described in item 5 of the patent application scope, wherein, when a probe is selectively inserted into the probe slots, the control unit detects and obtains probe information of the probe, and the control unit passes the A plug sends the probe information to the ultrasonic host through the first expansion module. An expansion module as described in item 5 of the patent application scope, wherein the control unit receives a control signal of the ultrasonic host from the first expansion module through the first plug, and the control unit operates the control signal according to the control signal The path switching unit selects at most one of the probe slots, and the ultrasonic host establishes and selects the signal transmission path of the probe slot. An expansion module as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the first plug is used to directly connect to a host slot of an ultrasonic host, or the first plug is used to connect to an adapter The host slot of the ultrasonic host. An expansion module is used to connect an ultrasonic host. The expansion module includes: a housing; a first plug is disposed on a first side of the housing; a second plug is disposed on a second of the housing The side is matched with the first plug; a first probe slot and a second probe slot are rectangular slots arranged in parallel on a third side of the housing, the first probe slot and The second probe slot is used to insert a first probe and a second probe respectively; a path switching unit is coupled to the first plug, the first probe slot and the second probe slot, the path is switched The unit is used to selectively establish a signal transmission path from the first plug to the first probe slot and the first plug to the second probe slot at least one of them; and a control unit, coupled to the first A plug, the second plug and the path switching unit, the control unit operates the switching unit.

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