JP2011072703A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, enabling long time ultrasonic diagnosis, lowering the occurrence probability of a communication error, and communicating and connecting an ultrasonic probe with the apparatus body by radio. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a read part for reading timing data specifying the transmit timing of an ultrasonic wave at each vibration element 66 from the external, thereby reading data transmitted to a transmission beam former 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves into a living body to acquire information related to the tissue in the living body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses that acquire and receive information related to in vivo tissues by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves into the living body are widely used. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is composed of an ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves into a living body and the apparatus main body, and the user holds the ultrasonic probe by hand and makes ultrasonic waves while abutting on the measurement location of the subject. Make a diagnosis. Conventionally, the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body are connected by a cable, and the ultrasonic probe is controlled from the apparatus main body. In this way, when the user performs an ultrasonic diagnosis in a state where the ultrasonic probe is connected to the apparatus main body with the cable, the cable causes the handling property of the ultrasonic probe to deteriorate.

  In order to improve the handleability of the ultrasonic probe, a technique for wirelessly connecting the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  An electric signal transmitted by a conventionally used cable is directly replaced with a radio wave signal. By adopting wireless communication connection, the handling property of the ultrasonic probe is improved.

JP 2004-141328 A

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a transmission beam former is mounted so that ultrasonic waves transmitted from an ultrasonic probe are focused in a subject. The transmission beam former has a function of giving a delay adjustment amount to be added to the phase of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic probe. The user may want to change this delay adjustment amount at the time of ultrasonic diagnosis. In order to change the delay adjustment amount, it is necessary to transmit the data of the delay adjustment amount from the apparatus body via wireless, and the power consumption of the battery by wireless communication cannot be ignored. When the power consumption of the battery increases, sufficient diagnostic time for ultrasonic diagnosis cannot be taken.

  In addition, in the case of wireless communication connection, the probability of occurrence of a communication error increases, which may hinder ultrasonic diagnosis.

  The present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body are wirelessly connected to each other, while suppressing power consumption required for changing a delay adjustment amount used for a transmission beamformer, An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that enables diagnosis and is less susceptible to communication errors.

  The above object is achieved by the invention described below.

1. A vibration unit equipped with a plurality of vibration elements that transmit ultrasonic waves to the subject, receive reflected waves from the subject, and output received signals;
A reading unit for reading timing data defining the ultrasonic wave transmission timing for each vibration element from the outside;
A storage unit for storing the timing data;
A transmission unit that outputs a vibration unit drive signal for driving the vibration element based on the timing data;
A receiver for processing the received signal;
A received radio signal transmitter for transmitting a received radio signal corresponding to the received signal processed in the receiver;
An ultrasonic probe comprising:
A received radio signal receiver that receives a received radio signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe;
A signal processing unit that performs predetermined signal processing according to an operation mode on the received radio signal received by the received radio signal reception unit;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a main body of the apparatus.

  2. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit performs phasing addition processing on the received signal output for each of the vibration elements.

3. The ultrasonic probe is
3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 1 or 2, further comprising a switch unit that controls at least an operating state of the transmission unit.

4). The apparatus main body is
A switch control unit for generating a switch signal for controlling the switch means;
A switch radio signal transmitter for transmitting a switch radio signal corresponding to the switch signal;
Have
The ultrasonic probe is
4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a switch radio signal receiving unit connected to the switch means and receiving the switch radio signal.

  Ultrasonic diagnosis device with wireless connection between ultrasonic probe and device body, but enables long-time ultrasonic diagnosis by reducing the power consumption required to change the delay adjustment amount used in the transmission beamformer In addition, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is less susceptible to communication errors can be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows internal structure of the transmission beam former 18 grade | etc., In an ultrasonic probe. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of a reception beam former 22, an optical signal transmission unit 24, and the like in the ultrasonic probe 12. 1 is an external configuration perspective view of an ultrasonic probe 12 according to an embodiment. 2 is an external configuration diagram of a state in which a push sensor 95 is mounted on an ultrasonic probe 12. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state by which the push sensor 95 which detects whether the ultrasonic probe 12 was removed from the ultrasonic probe holder 5 to the ultrasonic probe 12 was attached. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an acceleration sensor 97. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 when a switch unit is provided in a device main body 14. FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic probe 12. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus main body 14. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 in a case where a reception beam former 22 is provided in an apparatus main body 14. FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. In addition, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in each figure shows that it is the same structure, The description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 includes an ultrasonic probe 12 and an apparatus main body 14 that are communicably connected via radio.

  The ultrasonic probe 12 transmits an ultrasonic wave to the subject H, receives a reflected wave reflected by the subject H, outputs a received signal, and receives a received radio signal corresponding to the received signal. It transmits to the apparatus main body 14.

  The apparatus main body 14 includes a display unit 40 that receives a received radio signal and displays an ultrasonic image according to an operation mode, an operation input unit 11 operated by a user, an ultrasonic probe holder 5, and the like. Composed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. Wireless communication connection between the ultrasonic probe 12 and the apparatus main body 14 is performed by radio wave signals, particularly optical signals. Since light has a large frequency, light has a wide communication band, so that it has a feature that a communication capacity can be increased.

  In the conventional wireless connection between the ultrasonic probe 12 and the apparatus main body 14, the data to be transmitted from the apparatus main body 14 to the transmission beam former 18 is transmitted wirelessly. In this embodiment, the data is transmitted to the transmission beam former 18. The data to be stored is held by the ultrasonic probe 12 itself.

  The ultrasonic probe 12 functions as an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, and includes a switch unit 13, a delay table storage unit 16, a terminal 17, a transmission beam former 18, a ROM reader 19, a vibration unit 20, a reception beam former 22, and an optical signal transmission unit 24. And a battery 26 or the like. The ultrasonic probe 12 is a portable type formed by a single casing.

  The switch means 13 has a function of controlling the operating state of the ultrasonic probe 12, that is, the start and stop of the operation of each part of the ultrasonic probe 12.

  The terminal 17 is a terminal that can connect a ROM (Read Only Memory) 15 or the like that functions as an external memory to the ultrasonic probe 12. In addition, as long as it is an external memory, you may use RAM other than ROM.

  The ROM reader 19 functions as a reading unit that reads from the ROM 15 a delay table in which timing data (delay adjustment amount) defining the ultrasonic wave transmission timing for each vibration element 66 constituting the vibration unit 20 is tabulated. The delay table may be in any format as long as the ROM reader 19 can read the data. Any storage device other than the ROM may be used as long as it is a nonvolatile storage device.

  When the user mainly wants to change the delay table, the ROM in which the new delay table is written is connected to the ROM reader 19 as shown in FIG. When a ROM or the like is connected to the ROM reader 19, the ROM reader automatically reads a delay table stored in the ROM or the like.

  The delay table storage unit 16 has a function of storing a delay table read by the ROM reader 19, and the transmission beamformer 18 generates a vibration unit drive signal based on the delay table stored in the delay table storage unit 16. Functions as a transmission unit. When a ROM or the like is not connected to the ROM reader 19, the delay table already stored in the delay table storage unit 16 is read.

  The vibration unit 20 is equipped with a plurality of vibration elements that transmit ultrasonic waves to the subject H based on the vibration unit drive signal, receive reflected waves from the subject H, and output a received signal. .

  The reception beamformer 22 functions as a reception unit that performs reception processing such as phasing addition processing on the reception signal output from the vibration unit 20.

  The optical signal transmitter 24 transmits a received radio signal (received optical signal) corresponding to the received signal processed by the reception beamformer 22 toward the apparatus main body 14 and functions as a received radio signal transmitter.

  The battery 26 has a function of a power source (secondary battery) that supplies power to the switch means 13, the transmission beam former 18, the ROM reader 19, the vibration unit 20, the reception beam former 22, the optical signal transmission unit 24, and the like. The battery 26 may be configured to be removable. By making the battery 26 removable, it is easy to replace it with a battery that has already been charged. Further, the battery 26 may be provided outside the housing of the ultrasonic probe.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the vibration unit 20, the transmission beam former 18, and the like in the ultrasonic probe 12.

  The vibration unit 20 includes a plurality of vibration elements 66 and an amplifier 68 that amplifies the vibration part drive signal output from the transmission beam former 18 to each vibration element.

  The transmission beamformer 18 includes a delay table acquisition unit 60 and a delay pulse generation circuit 64, and outputs a vibration unit drive signal to each of a plurality of vibration elements 66 via an amplifier 68 based on the delay table. To do.

  As described above, the delay table is a table that defines a delay table (delay adjustment amount for each vibration element) that defines the transmission timing of ultrasonic waves for each vibration element 66. The delay table is a delay table as described above. It is stored in the table storage unit 16. The delay table acquisition unit 60 acquires a delay table from the delay table storage unit 16.

  In the delay table storage unit 16, delay tables corresponding to all the steering angles required for electronic scanning are registered in advance. Based on the delay table acquired by the delay table acquisition unit 60, the delay pulse generation circuit 64 outputs a vibration unit drive signal to each vibration element 66 via the amplifier 68 at the ultrasonic output timing specified by the delay table. Output.

  Further, for example, a delay table that defines various focus positions can be stored in the delay table storage unit 16, and a desired focus position can be specified by a transmission control signal.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the reception beamformer 22, the optical signal transmission unit 24, and the like in the ultrasonic probe 12. The reception beamformer 22 includes a phasing adder 72 and an analog / digital converter (ADC) 74. Each vibration element 66 receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from the living body of the subject H and outputs a received signal. The received signal is output to the reception beam former 22 through the low pass filter 78 via the amplifier 76 provided for each vibration element 66. The reception beamformer 22 performs a delay adjustment for each received signal output from each vibration element 66 and performs a so-called phasing addition process of adding the received signal after the delay adjustment.

  The received signal after the phasing addition output from the phasing addition unit 72 is analog-digital converted in the ADC 74 and output to the optical signal transmission unit 24.

  The optical signal transmission unit 24 includes a light emitting element 80 and an optical filter 82. The digitized received signal after phasing addition output from the ADC 74 is converted into a received light signal by the light emitting element 80 that emits infrared light, for example. The received optical signal is, for example, an optical signal that has been subjected to binary optical intensity modulation corresponding to each of the high level and low level of the output of the ADC 74. The output of the light emitting element 80 is transmitted to the apparatus main body 14 via the optical filter 82.

  FIG. 5 is an external configuration perspective view of the ultrasonic probe 12 in the embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 5B is a diagram viewed from diagonally below. FIG. 5C is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic probe 12 is loaded in the ultrasonic probe holder 5.

  Reference numeral 90 denotes a window that contacts the subject H and transmits ultrasonic waves. Reference numeral 92 denotes a window for transmitting a received radio signal. The ultrasonic probe 12 includes a charging terminal 93 that is charged in electrical contact with the apparatus main body 14. The ultrasonic probe holder 5 is provided with a contact terminal 96 for charging the battery 26 of the ultrasonic probe 12. When the user loads the ultrasonic probe 12 into the ultrasonic probe holder 5, power is supplied to the ultrasonic probe 12 from the apparatus main body 14 via the charging terminal 93, and the supplied power is stored in the battery 26. Since there is no cable between the ultrasonic probe 12 and the apparatus main body, the troublesomeness of the cable at the time of diagnosis can be eliminated.

  Next, the switch means 13 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As the switch means 13, for example, a known push sensor 95 can be used. FIG. 6 is an external configuration diagram of a state in which the push sensor 95 is mounted on the ultrasonic probe 12. The push sensor 95 is a sensor that detects electrical conduction and non-conduction. The physical contact with the push sensor 95 controls the contact and non-contact of the two conductive wires by a mechanism provided in the push sensor 95. Therefore, when there is a physical contact with the push sensor 95, the on / off state of the switch can be detected as a change in the resistance value.

  Further, the push sensor 95 may be used as a sensor for detecting whether or not the ultrasonic probe 12 has been removed from the ultrasonic probe holder 5.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which a push sensor 95 that detects whether or not the ultrasonic probe 12 has been removed from the ultrasonic probe holder 5 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 12.

  As shown in the figure, the push sensor 95 is attached to the rear end of the ultrasonic probe 12, and when the ultrasonic probe 12 is loaded in the ultrasonic probe holder 5, the push sensor 95 is placed on the bottom surface of the ultrasonic probe holder 5. It is arranged at a position where the switch is turned on by contact.

  As the switch means 13, an acceleration sensor can be used. The acceleration sensor refers to a sensor that detects the direction and magnitude of acceleration generated in the ultrasonic probe 12 when the attached measurement object is gripped by the user. FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the acceleration sensor 97. The acceleration sensor 97 detects acceleration in three orthogonal directions (x direction, y direction, z direction).

  There are various known types of acceleration sensor systems that can be employed. For example, a silicon-based capacitive sensor using three-dimensional MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology is suitable. This is an acceleration sensor that utilizes the fact that the capacitance of a silicon microcapacitor fabricated by photolithographic technology changes when subjected to acceleration.

  Such an acceleration sensor 97 is built in the ultrasonic probe 12, the acceleration is detected in a three-dimensional direction, and when the synthesized acceleration exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the switch is turned on, and the user moves the ultrasonic probe 12. Judge that it is grasped.

  As described above, the timing when the user is about to start the ultrasonic diagnosis can be grasped using the switch means 13.

  Next, the apparatus main body 14 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 14 controls the operation input unit 11, the optical signal receiving unit 34, the signal processing unit 36, the display processing unit 38, the display unit 40, the power source 42, the storage unit 43, and these units. It is comprised by the control part 44 which performs.

  The optical signal receiving unit 34 functions as a received radio signal receiving unit that receives a received optical signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 12, and outputs a received electrical signal subjected to photoelectric conversion processing to the signal processing unit 36.

  Specifically, light is converted into electricity using a photoelectric conversion element through an optical filter having the same optical characteristics as the optical filter provided in the optical signal transmission unit 24.

  The storage unit 43 stores a program that operates on the apparatus main body 14.

  The control unit 44 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), calls a program for performing a series of operations used for operation from the storage unit 43, develops it on a RAM (not shown) in the control unit 44, and executes each unit according to the program. To control.

  The signal processing unit 36 performs predetermined signal processing corresponding to various operation modes, for example, B-mode signal processing or Doppler mode signal processing, based on the received electrical signal output from the optical signal receiving unit 34.

  The display processing unit 38 forms image data obtained by performing image display processing on the output of the signal processing unit 36 and outputs the image data to the display unit 40.

  The display unit 40 displays an ultrasonic image based on the image data formed by the display processing unit 38. It is desirable to employ a high resolution display such as a liquid crystal display for the display unit 40.

  The power source 42 supplies power to each part of the apparatus main body 14.

  The operation input unit 11 is configured so that the user can input various operations to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10.

  It should be noted that the apparatus main body 14 is provided with a switch function so that the switch means 13 of the ultrasonic probe 12 is not controlled manually by the user or the like, but is controlled by the user from the operation input unit 11 of the apparatus main body 14. Various configurations may be adopted. That is, the switch means 13 in this case refers to a switch controlled by a signal, not a switch controlled manually by a user or the like. For example, a relay can be adopted as the switch means 13. The switch radio signal received by the switch means 13 is, for example, a high or low voltage signal, and the relay controls driving and non-driving of the transmission beam former 18 according to the high or low voltage signal.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 when the apparatus main body 14 has a switch function. This will be described below.

  The difference from the block diagram shown in FIG. 2 is that a switch control unit 46, a switch radio signal transmission unit 47, and a switch radio signal reception unit 48 are provided.

  The switch control unit 46 receives an instruction from the control unit 44 and generates a switch signal for performing on / off control of the switch unit 13 in the ultrasonic probe 12.

  The switch radio signal transmission unit 47 transmits a switch radio signal corresponding to the switch signal.

  The switch radio signal receiver 48 receives the switch radio signal transmitted from the switch radio signal transmitter 47 via radio and transmits it to the switch means 13.

  Note that the radio signal is preferably an optical signal. Since light has a large frequency and a wide communication band, light has a feature that a communication capacity can be increased.

  Next, a specific flow of ultrasonic diagnosis using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic probe 12, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus main body 14.

  A specific flow in the ultrasonic probe 12 will be described with reference to FIG. As the ultrasonic probe 12, the ultrasonic probe 12 having the push sensor 95 that is pressed by the user, which is described with reference to FIG. 6 as an example, is employed.

  First, the user turns on a power source (not shown) of the apparatus main body 14 (step S1). Then, each unit such as the control unit 44 stands up, and the control unit 44 starts controlling each unit in the apparatus main body 14.

  Next, in order to start the ultrasonic diagnosis, the user holds the ultrasonic probe 12 (step S2) and turns on the push sensor 95 (step S3).

  Then, the power supply from the battery 26 of each part in the ultrasonic probe 12 including the transmission beam former 18 is started (step S4).

  The user connects the ROM to the ROM reader 19. Then, the ROM reader automatically reads the delay table stored in the ROM or the like. The delay table storage unit 16 stores the delay table read by the ROM reader 19. (Step S5).

  The delay table acquisition unit 60 in the transmission beamformer 18 reads the delay table recorded in the delay table storage unit 16. The delay pulse generation circuit 64 generates a pulse having a delay for beam forming. Each pulse is amplified through an amplifier 68 and output as a vibration unit drive signal to each vibration element 66 (step S6).

  Each vibration element 66 to which the vibration unit drive signal is input starts transmitting the ultrasonic wave 28 (step S7).

  A reflected wave is generated from a portion of the subject where the mismatch of acoustic impedance occurs, and the generated reflected wave is received by the vibration element 66 and converted into a received signal which is an electric signal (step S8).

  The reception beam former 22 performs beam forming on the reception signal. (Step S9).

  The optical signal transmission unit 24 transmits a received optical signal corresponding to the received signal processed in the reception beam former 22 toward the apparatus main body 14. The above is the operation of the ultrasonic probe 12.

  Next, the operation of the apparatus main body 14 will be described with reference to FIG.

  While the apparatus main body 14 is in operation, the control unit 44 is constantly detecting whether or not a received optical signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 12 to the optical signal receiving unit 34.

  When the received optical signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the optical signal receiving unit 34, the control unit 44 controls the optical signal receiving unit 34 to output the received electrical signal to the signal processing unit 36 (step S11).

  The signal processing unit 36 performs, for example, B-mode signal processing based on the received electrical signal (step S12). Other processing such as signal processing for Doppler mode is not limited to signal processing for B mode. Which process is performed is configured to be selectable by the user from the operation input unit 11.

  The display processing unit 38 forms image data obtained by performing image display processing on the output of the signal processing unit 36 and outputs the image data to the display unit 40 (step S13). The display unit 40 displays an ultrasonic image (step S14). The above is the operation in the apparatus main body 14.

  As described above, in the conventional wireless connection between the ultrasonic probe 12 and the apparatus main body 14, the delay data to be transmitted from the apparatus main body 14 to the transmission beam former 18 is transmitted wirelessly. By using the transmission beam former 18, the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body are connected by wireless communication, and the power consumption required for changing the delay adjustment amount used for the transmission beam former is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that enables long-time ultrasonic diagnosis and is less susceptible to communication errors.

  In the description of the present embodiment, the operation has been described in the form in which the reception BF is built in. However, as shown in FIG. Of course, a form in which a reception signal is transmitted to the main body 14 and the received signal is beam-formed using the reception beam former 22 provided in the apparatus main body 14 is also conceivable.

  With respect to phasing addition, which is a major role of the reception beamformer 22, an algorithm for performing correlation processing as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-339698 has been proposed, and in order to realize such an algorithm, In addition, hardware with a high calculation speed is required, and it may be advantageous to perform beam forming on the apparatus main body 14 side in terms of circuit scale, power consumption, and low heat generation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Ultrasonic probe holder 10 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 11 Operation input part 12 Ultrasonic probe 13 Switch means 14 Apparatus main body 15 ROM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 Terminal 18 Transmission beam former 19 ROM reader 20 Vibrating part 22 Reception beam former 24 Optical signal transmission part 26 Battery 28 Ultrasonic wave 34 Optical signal reception part 36 Signal processing part 38 Display processing part 40 Display part 42 Power supply 43 Memory | storage part 44 Control part 46 switch control unit 47 switch radio signal transmission unit 48 switch radio signal reception unit 60 delay table acquisition unit 64 delay pulse generation circuit 66 vibration element 68, 76 amplifier 72 phasing addition unit 74 analog digital converter 78 low pass filter 80 light emitting element 82 light Filter 93 Charging terminal 95 Push sensor 96 Contact terminal 97 Acceleration sensor

Claims (4)

A vibration unit equipped with a plurality of vibration elements that transmit ultrasonic waves to the subject, receive reflected waves from the subject, and output received signals;
A reading unit for reading timing data defining the ultrasonic wave transmission timing for each vibration element from the outside;
A storage unit for storing the timing data;
A transmission unit that outputs a vibration unit drive signal for driving the vibration element based on the timing data;
A receiver for processing the received signal;
A received radio signal transmitter for transmitting a received radio signal corresponding to the received signal processed in the receiver;
An ultrasonic probe comprising:
A received radio signal receiver that receives a received radio signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe;
A signal processing unit that performs predetermined signal processing according to an operation mode on the received radio signal received by the received radio signal reception unit;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a main body of the apparatus.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit performs phasing addition processing on the received signal output for each of the vibration elements. The ultrasonic probe is
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch unit that controls at least an operating state of the transmission unit. The apparatus main body is
A switch control unit for generating a switch signal for controlling the switch means;
A switch radio signal transmitter for transmitting a switch radio signal corresponding to the switch signal;
Have
The ultrasonic probe is
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a switch radio signal receiving unit connected to the switch means and receiving the switch radio signal.

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