JP2014200378A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further improve the operability of an operation panel attached to ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.SOLUTION: A user can selectively attach any one of a plurality of operation panels 40 to a panel attaching part 30 and use it. Each of the plurality of operation panels 40 is formed according to the kind of diagnosis. Each operation panel 40 has a panel layout suitable for the diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40. Also, each operation panel 40 includes a diagnostic data memory for storing diagnostic data used for the diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40, and a diagnostic processing part for executing diagnostic processing used for the diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40. Using the diagnostic data acquired from the operation panel 40 attached, a control part 24 controls the inside of the equipment by a diagnostic mode corresponding to the operation panel 40, and causes the operation panel 40 to execute diagnostic processing as needed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which an operation panel is attached.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with an operation panel that receives an operation from a user (examiner) who uses the apparatus. The operation panel is provided with a keyboard, a trackball, and many other switches (see Patent Document 1).

  In a conventional general ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an operation panel is integrally attached to the apparatus. For example, the function assignment to each switch in the operation panel is changed according to the type of diagnosis. The operability is improved.

JP-A-5-277107

  The invention according to the present application has been made in view of the background art described above, and an object thereof is to further improve the operability of an operation panel attached to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus suitable for the above object displays a probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, an apparatus main body that forms an ultrasonic image based on a signal obtained from the probe, and an ultrasonic image formed in the apparatus main body. A display and a panel mounting portion to which an operation panel that receives an operation from a user is mounted. The panel mounting portion includes at least one of a plurality of operation panels each formed according to a type of diagnosis. The apparatus main body includes a recognition unit that recognizes an operation panel attached to the panel attachment unit, and a control unit that controls the inside of the apparatus in a diagnosis mode according to the recognized operation panel. It is characterized by.

  In the above configuration, the operation panel is formed according to the type of diagnosis. For example, the panel layout, shape, function, and the like of the operation panel are determined in accordance with the type of diagnosis (the site to be diagnosed and the purpose of diagnosis). The panel attachment part to which the operation panel is attached may be provided separately from the apparatus main body, or may be provided in the housing of the apparatus main body, for example.

  According to the above configuration, the operation panel formed according to the type of diagnosis can be selectively used, and the inside of the apparatus is controlled in a diagnosis mode corresponding to the operation panel by attaching the operation panel. Therefore, the operability is remarkably improved, for example, a complicated operation for shifting to a desired diagnosis mode can be omitted.

  In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of operation panels include panel-side connectors at the same position, and the panel mounting portion includes a mounting-side connector that connects the panel-side connector at a position corresponding to the panel-side connector. It is characterized by that.

  In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of operation panels include mounting guides at the same position, the panel mounting portion includes a guide rail along the mounting direction of the operation panel, and the operation panel mounting guides extend along the guide rail. The operation panel is guided to attach the operation panel.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the operation panels includes a memory for storing diagnosis data corresponding to the operation panel, and the control unit of the apparatus main body is a diagnosis obtained from an operation panel attached to the panel attachment unit. The inside of the apparatus is controlled in the diagnosis mode corresponding to the operation panel using the data for the operation.

  In a preferred embodiment, each operation panel includes a diagnosis processing unit that executes a diagnosis process corresponding to the operation panel, and the control unit of the apparatus main body performs diagnosis on the operation panel attached to the panel mounting unit. And the inside of the apparatus is controlled in a diagnosis mode corresponding to the operation panel.

  A suitable operation panel for the above purpose is an operation panel that is detachably attached to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, is formed according to the type of diagnosis, and has a panel layout according to the diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel. And a memory for storing diagnostic data corresponding to the operation panel, and a diagnostic processing unit for executing diagnostic processing corresponding to the operation panel.

  According to the present invention, the operability of the operation panel attached to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be further improved. For example, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, an operation panel formed according to the type of diagnosis can be selectively used, and furthermore, by attaching an operation panel, a diagnosis mode corresponding to the operation panel can be used. Since the inside of the apparatus is controlled, the operability is remarkably improved, for example, a complicated operation for shifting to a desired diagnosis mode can be omitted.

1 is a functional block diagram showing an overall configuration of a preferable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a plurality of operation panels 40. FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example which concerns on attachment / detachment of the operation panel. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in FIG. 1.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (present ultrasound diagnostic apparatus) suitable for implementing the present invention. The probe 10 includes a plurality of vibration elements that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the diagnostic region. The plurality of vibration elements are arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, for example. The probe 10 may be any one of, for example, a convex scanning type, a sector scanning type, a linear scanning type, a two-dimensional image (tomographic image), and a three-dimensional image. The probe 10 transmits and receives at least one of a pulse wave and a continuous wave, for example.

  Each vibration element included in the probe 10 is transmitted and controlled by the transmission / reception unit 21 to transmit an ultrasonic wave, and receives the ultrasonic wave obtained from the diagnosis region in accordance with the transmission. A reception signal obtained by each ultrasonic element receiving the ultrasonic wave is sent to the transmission / reception unit 21.

  The transmission / reception unit 21 outputs a transmission signal to each of the plurality of vibration elements included in the probe 10 to control transmission of the plurality of vibration elements to form a transmission beam, and scans the transmission beam in the diagnostic region. . That is, the transmission / reception unit 21 has a function of a transmission beamformer.

  Further, the transmission / reception unit 21 forms a reception beam by performing phasing addition processing or the like on a plurality of received signals obtained from a plurality of vibration elements provided in the probe 10. That is, the transmission / reception unit 21 has a function of a reception beamformer. Then, the reception beam is scanned over the entire diagnostic region so as to follow the scanning of the transmission beam, and a reception beam signal (echo signal) is collected along the reception beam.

  The image forming unit 22 forms image data of an ultrasonic image related to the diagnostic region based on the received beam signal collected from within the diagnostic region. The image forming unit 22 forms image data related to an ultrasonic image such as a B-mode image (tomographic image), a three-dimensional image, or a Doppler image.

  The display processing unit 23 forms a display image including an ultrasonic image corresponding to the image data based on the image data sent from the image forming unit 22. The display image formed in the display processing unit 23 is displayed on the display 50.

  The control unit 24 totally controls the inside of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The control unit 24 controls the entirety of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in a centralized manner in a diagnostic mode corresponding to the operation panel 40 recognized by the panel recognition unit 25.

  The transmission / reception unit 21, the image forming unit 22, the display processing unit 23, the control unit 24, and the panel recognition unit 25 are provided in, for example, a housing of the apparatus main body 20. Note that the transmission / reception unit 21, the image forming unit 22, the display processing unit 23, and the panel recognition unit 25 can be realized by using hardware such as a processor and an electronic circuit, respectively. In addition, the control unit 24 is configured by, for example, hardware such as a CPU or a processor having a calculation function and software (program) that defines the operation thereof.

  An operation panel 40 is attached to the panel attachment portion 30. The user (inspector) can selectively use one of the plurality of operation panels 40 by attaching it to the panel mounting portion 30.

  Each of the plurality of operation panels 40 is formed according to the type of diagnosis. Each operation panel 40 has a panel layout suitable for diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40. Each operation panel 40 includes a diagnosis data memory for storing diagnosis data used for diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40, and a diagnosis processing unit for executing diagnosis processing used for diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40. It has.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the plurality of operation panels 40. Each operation panel 40 is formed according to the type of diagnosis, for example, the region to be diagnosed and the purpose (use) of the diagnosis. For example, in the case of the abdominal operation panel 40, it is easy to use operation devices (keyboard, trackball, and other switches) that are frequently used in the abdominal diagnosis so that the user can easily use the abdominal diagnosis. The panel layout is collected at each location. Similarly, the fetus operation panel 40 has a panel layout suitable for fetal diagnosis, and the circulatory operation panel 40 has a panel layout suitable for cardiovascular diagnosis. The panel layout may be changed as desired by the user.

  Further, for example, an operation panel 40 with a touch panel or a touch panel type operation panel 40 may be formed depending on the purpose of diagnosis. Furthermore, an operation panel 40 having a function of recognizing sound obtained from an external microphone or a built-in microphone (voice recognition function), or an operation panel 40 to which a portable terminal can be attached or detached may be formed. The portable terminal is, for example, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a tablet-type information device, or the like, and exchanges signals with the operation panel 40 in a wired or wireless manner.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example relating to the attachment / detachment of the operation panel 40. (A) has shown the state (wearing state) to which the operation panel 40 was attached. That is, in the state shown in (A), the operation panel 40 is attached to the panel attachment portion 30. In the specific example shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 20 is supported by a base portion provided with casters, is supported by a column protruding from the apparatus main body 20, and a panel mounting portion 30 is disposed on the apparatus main body 20. The display 50 is held by an arm mechanism provided in the panel mounting portion 30.

  (B1) shows a state in which the operation panel 40 is removed (detached state). That is, in the state shown in (B1), the operation panel 40 is removed from the panel mounting portion 30. The panel mounting portion 30 shown in (B1) is provided with a connector 32 and a guide rail 34.

  When the operation panel 40 is attached to the panel attachment portion 30 of (B1), the connector 32 of the panel attachment portion 30 and the connector 42 of the operation panel 40 are structurally and electrically connected to each other via the electrical connection. A signal is exchanged between the apparatus main body 20 and the operation panel 40. The plurality of operation panels 40 are provided with a connector 42 at the same position, for example, on the operation panel rear surface 40R.

  Further, the panel mounting portion 30 of (B1) includes a guide rail 34 along the mounting direction of the operation panel 40, and a groove or a protrusion provided as a mounting guide on the side surface of the operation panel 40 extends along the guide rail 34. Are moved so that the operation panel 40 inserted in the moving direction is smoothly attached.

  (B2) shows another state in which the operation panel 40 is removed. That is, even in the state shown in (B2), the operation panel 40 is removed from the panel mounting portion 30. Also in (B2), when the operation panel 40 is attached to the panel attachment portion 30, the connector 32 of the panel attachment portion 30 and the connector 42 of the operation panel 40 are structurally and electrically connected to each other. Signals are exchanged between the apparatus main body 20 and the operation panel 40 through the electrical connection. In (B2), a connector 42 is provided on the operation panel bottom surface 40B of each operation panel 40, and the operation panel 40 is placed on the panel attachment portion 30 so that the operation panel 40 is placed on the panel attachment portion 30. It is attached.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (present ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus) in FIG. The operation of the part (configuration) shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  For example, when the power switch of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is operated to start the apparatus, first, basic control is started based on a program related to basic control such as an OS (operating system) (S401). When the basic control is started, the control unit 24 checks whether or not the operation panel 40 can be recognized in the panel recognition unit 25 (S402).

  For example, the panel recognition unit 25 recognizes the type of diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40 based on the identifier signal of the operation panel 40 obtained from the operation panel 40 attached to the panel attachment unit 30. The operation panel 40 may be configured to be identified based on the shape of the operation panel 40 or the pin assignment of the connector 42 (FIG. 3).

  If the operation panel 40 is not attached to the panel attachment portion 30, the operation panel 40 is not recognized (S402). For example, a message indicating that the operation panel 40 is not attached is displayed on the display 50, and the operation panel is displayed. It will be in the standby state which waits for attachment of 40 (S403). Then, the operation for ending the diagnosis is confirmed (S404). If there is no operation for ending the diagnosis, the process returns to S402, and if there is an operation for ending the diagnosis, the diagnosis is ended.

  On the other hand, when the operation panel 40 is attached to the panel attachment unit 30 and the operation panel 40 is recognized (S402), a panel control program corresponding to the operation panel 40 recognized by the panel recognition unit 25, for example, the operation panel 40 is related. A driver or the like is selected (S405), and a diagnostic mode corresponding to the operation panel 40 is executed (S406).

  In the execution of the diagnostic mode corresponding to the operation panel 40 attached to the panel attachment unit 30, the control unit 24 uses the diagnostic data obtained from the diagnostic data memory of the operation panel 40 to respond to the operation panel 40. The inside of the apparatus is controlled in the diagnosis mode, and the diagnosis processing unit of the operation panel 40 executes diagnosis processing as necessary. The diagnosis data memory of the operation panel 40 stores diagnosis data specialized for the diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40, and the diagnosis processing unit of the operation panel 40 performs diagnosis specialized for the diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40. Execute the process. Therefore, for example, diagnosis data specialized for diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel 40 and diagnosis processing function can be omitted in the apparatus main body 20, and the apparatus main body 20 has basic diagnosis data common to all diagnoses. Or a basic processing function.

  For example, if the operation panel 40 attached to the panel attachment unit 30 is for Doppler diagnosis, diagnostic data for Doppler diagnosis is stored in the diagnosis data memory, and the diagnosis processing unit executes Doppler processing, the apparatus In the main body 20, the diagnostic data for Doppler diagnosis and the function of Doppler processing can be omitted. Thereby, the structure of the apparatus main body 20 can be simplified and the processing load in the apparatus main body 20 can be reduced.

  When the diagnosis mode corresponding to the operation panel 40 attached to the panel attachment unit 30 is executed, the control unit 24 determines that the operation panel 40 is based on the presence or absence of an identifier signal or the like obtained from the operation panel 40, for example. It is monitored whether it has been removed (S407).

  For example, if an identifier signal or the like is obtained and the operation panel 40 is not removed, the diagnosis end operation is confirmed (S408). If there is no diagnosis end operation, the process returns to S406, and the diagnosis end operation is performed. If so, the diagnosis is terminated.

  On the other hand, for example, when an identifier signal or the like cannot be obtained and removal of the operation panel 40 is confirmed (S407), for example, a message indicating that the operation panel 40 is not attached is displayed on the display 50, and the operation panel 40 is displayed. (S403). Then, the operation for ending the diagnosis is confirmed (S404). If there is no operation for ending the diagnosis, the process returns to S402, and if there is an operation for ending the diagnosis, the diagnosis is ended.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above is only a mere illustration in all the points, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention includes various modifications without departing from the essence thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Probe, 21 Transmission / reception part, 22 Image formation part, 23 Display processing part, 24 Control part, 25 Panel recognition part, 30 Panel attachment part, 40 Operation panel.

Claims (6)

A probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasound,
An apparatus body for forming an ultrasonic image based on a signal obtained from a probe;
A display for displaying an ultrasonic image formed in the apparatus body;
A panel mounting portion to which an operation panel for receiving an operation from a user is mounted;
Have
At least one of a plurality of operation panels each formed according to the type of diagnosis is selectively attached to the panel attachment portion,
The apparatus main body is
A recognition unit for recognizing an operation panel attached to the panel attachment unit;
A control unit for controlling the inside of the apparatus in a diagnosis mode according to the recognized operation panel;
Comprising
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The plurality of operation panels include panel side connectors at the same position,
The panel attachment portion includes an attachment-side connector that connects the panel-side connector at a position corresponding to the panel-side connector.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The plurality of operation panels include mounting guides at the same position,
The panel mounting portion includes a guide rail along the mounting direction of the operation panel, and guides the mounting of the operation panel by moving the mounting guide of the operation panel along the guide rail.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Each operation panel includes a memory for storing diagnostic data corresponding to the operation panel,
The control unit of the apparatus main body uses the diagnostic data obtained from the operation panel attached to the panel attachment part, and controls the inside of the apparatus in a diagnosis mode according to the operation panel.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Each of the operation panels includes a diagnosis processing unit that executes a diagnosis process corresponding to the operation panel.
The control unit of the apparatus main body causes the operation panel attached to the panel attachment part to execute a process for diagnosis, and controls the inside of the apparatus in a diagnosis mode corresponding to the operation panel.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An operation panel that is detachably attached to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
Formed according to the type of diagnosis,
A panel layout according to the diagnosis corresponding to the operation panel;
A memory for storing diagnostic data corresponding to the operation panel;
A diagnostic processing unit that executes diagnostic processing corresponding to the operation panel;
Having
An operation panel characterized by that.