JP2019136518A - Portable ultrasonic image diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a portable ultrasonic image diagnostic device capable of improving visibility of a display panel.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic image diagnostic device 10 is connected with an ultrasonic probe P for performing transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave, and has a configuration in which a device body 12 and the lower end of a lid body 14 having a display panel 16 are connected to each other with a hinge, and the lid body 14 is overlapped with the device body 12 to fold the ultrasonic image diagnostic device 10. The ultrasonic image diagnostic device 10 has a configuration in which the hinge is provided on the upper surface on the nearer side than the center of the device body 12 and the lid body 14 is rotated to the depth side of the device body 12 with a horizontal shaft H of the hinge as a spindle to fold the ultrasonic image diagnostic device 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus.

  Conventionally, an ultrasonic probe transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a subject such as a living body, generates ultrasonic image data based on a signal obtained from the received ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that displays the image on an image display apparatus. Ultrasound image diagnosis using such a device is a simple operation in which the ultrasound probe is applied to the body surface of the subject, and the state of heart pulsation, fetal movement, etc. can be obtained in real time and non-invasively. Because of its high safety, it can be repeated.

  In recent years, portable ultrasonic image diagnosis apparatuses that are small and portable have been put into practical use, and diagnosis outside medical facilities such as hospitals has become possible.

  In such a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus, for example, the rear end of the first casing on which an operation member that can be operated by the user is arranged and the lower end of the second casing having the display panel are hinged. After the connection and the end of the ultrasound image diagnosis, the second housing is turned to the front side and folded with the hinge as a support shaft so that it can be finished (for example, Patent Document 1). ).

US Pat. No. 6,980,419

Since the portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus is small as described above, there is an advantage that the installation location of the apparatus is not selected when performing the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging.
However, in the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as shown in Patent Document 1, the display panel is arranged at the back of the apparatus at the time of ultrasonic diagnostic imaging. When it is installed at a position higher than the patient's line of sight and an ultrasonic diagnostic image is viewed from the lower side of the apparatus while making a diagnosis, the first casing becomes an obstacle and the display panel becomes difficult to see. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that can improve the visibility of a display panel.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a second housing having an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and having a first housing and a display panel. A portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus configured to be foldable so that a lower end of a body is connected by a hinge and the second casing is superimposed on the first casing;
The hinge is provided on an upper surface on the front side of the center of the first casing, and the second casing is rotated to the back side of the first casing with the horizontal axis of the hinge as a supporting shaft. It is characterized by being configured to be foldable.

The invention according to claim 2 is the portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
The hinge is a biaxial hinge further having a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis, and the second casing can be rotated about the vertical axis as a support shaft.

The invention according to claim 3 is the portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The display panel is a touch panel.

The invention according to claim 4 is the portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A slide member to which the hinge is attached, and a guide portion that slide-guides the slide member in the front-rear direction of the upper surface of the first housing.

The invention according to claim 5 is the portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
There is an operation area in which one or more operation members that can be operated by the user are arranged on the front side of the hinge of the first housing, and a gripping hole into which the user's hand can be inserted is provided in the operation area A grip portion that is opened and can grip the front end portion of the first housing is formed.

  According to the present invention, the visibility of the display panel can be improved.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. It is a top view which shows the external appearance of an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. It is the elements on larger scale of a hinge. It is a perspective view which shows the state which folded the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state which folded the ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus. It is an AA cross-sectional enlarged view in FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of a slide base.

  Hereinafter, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In addition, in the following description, what has the same function and structure attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 as a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus includes a box-shaped apparatus main body 12 as a first housing and a display panel 16 on the front surface. 2 and a lid body 14 as a housing. The apparatus main body 12 is formed of, for example, a magnesium alloy, and stores therein an electronic circuit board on which electronic parts such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) are mounted. The lid body 14 is formed in a size that aligns with the apparatus main body 12 in a plan view when folded. The display panel 16 is a touch panel having a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electronic Luminescence) display and a position input device configured on the display screen of the display device. The position input device is, for example, a pressure-sensitive type (resistance film thickness type) in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern on the display screen, and detects the XY coordinates of the force point pressed on the screen with a finger as a voltage value. The detected position signal is output as an operation signal. Note that the position input device is not limited to a pressure-sensitive device, and an appropriate device can be applied from various methods such as a capacitance method. Further, the display panel 16 is not limited to a touch panel, and may be a display device having only a display function.
In the description of the present embodiment, left and right, front and rear, and top and bottom mean left and right, front and back, and top and bottom with reference to a state in which the user of the ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 faces the display panel 16.

  In the present embodiment, the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 and the lid body are hinged 30 (see FIG. 3) covered with the cover body 14a at a position ahead (near side) of the center of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12. 14 is connected to the lower end. The hinge 30 is a so-called biaxial hinge, and the lid body 14 can be rotated with respect to the apparatus main body 12 by a horizontal axis H and a vertical axis V in FIG. Therefore, for example, when the lid body 14 is tilted from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the rear side (back side) as it is with the horizontal axis H as a support shaft, as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 can be folded with the lid body 14 and the apparatus main body 12 superimposed so that the upper surface 12a faces each other. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 is folded so that the display panel 16 is exposed upward. Further, after the lid body 14 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 1 so that the display panel 16 faces rearward with the vertical axis V as a support shaft (that is, the rear face of the lid body 14 faces frontward). When tilted rearward with the horizontal axis H as the support shaft, the lid 14 and the apparatus main body 12 are superimposed so that the display panel 16 and the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 face each other as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 can be folded.

  Here, a specific configuration of the hinge 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the hinge 30 as viewed from the front side. Actually, the hinge 30 is covered with the cover body 14a, so that it cannot be visually recognized from the appearance.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge 30 includes, for example, a rotation shaft 34, a horizontal arm 33, a torque limiter 32, and a mounting plate 31, and is engaged with the upper surface 12 a of the apparatus main body 12. The slide base 26 is attached.

  The rotation shaft 34 is supported at the center of the upper surface of the slide base 26 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis V as a support shaft. A torque limiter (not shown) is provided at the support portion of the rotation shaft 34 of the slide base 26 so that it rotates relative to the slide base 26 when a rotational force of a predetermined torque is applied to the rotation shaft 34. It is configured.

  A horizontal arm 33 extending in the left-right direction is fixed to the upper end portion of the rotation shaft 34. That is, the horizontal arm 33 can rotate about the vertical axis V together with the rotation shaft 34. At both ends of the horizontal arm 33, disk-like flanges 33a extending upward are integrally formed. A cylindrical torque limiter 32 that is aligned with the outer surface of the flange 33a is fixed to the outer surface of the flange 33a.

  The torque limiter 32 supports the mounting plate 31 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis H as a support shaft. The torque limiter 32 allows the mounting plate 31 to rotate when a torque of a predetermined torque is applied to the mounting plate 31.

The attachment plate 31 has an arm 31b attached to the torque limiter 32, and a flat plate-like attachment portion 31a integrally formed at the tip of the arm 31b. The attachment portion 31 a has a plurality of screw holes and is configured to be screwed to the lid body 14.
In the present embodiment, since it is configured as described above, the lid 14 can be supported in its posture after being rotated about the vertical axis V and the horizontal axis H.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, a biaxial hinge is applied as the hinge 30, but a uniaxial hinge that can rotate only the horizontal axis H may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a terminal (not shown) is provided on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 12, and a connector CN of the ultrasonic probe P can be connected. As a result, the ultrasonic probe P transmits ultrasonic waves (transmitted ultrasonic waves) to a subject such as a living body (not shown), and also reflects reflected waves (reflected ultrasonic waves: echoes) reflected by the subject. ) Can be received. That is, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 transmits an ultrasonic signal to the subject by transmitting a drive signal of an electrical signal to the ultrasonic probe P, and transmits the ultrasonic wave to the subject. Based on the received signal, which is an electrical signal generated by the ultrasound probe P in response to the reflected ultrasound wave from the subject received by the probe P, the internal state in the subject is imaged as an ultrasound image. can do.

  An operation region 18 in which one or more operation members such as a track ball, a dial, and a button that can be operated by a user are arranged on the front side of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 with respect to the hinge 30 is formed. In addition, a substantially rectangular gripping hole 20 is formed in the approximate center of the operation area 18 so that the user's hand can be inserted. That is, the operation region 18 is configured such that an operation member is disposed around the gripping hole 20. The user can grip the grip portion 22 formed in front of the grip hole 20 with the hand inserted through the grip hole 20. With this configuration, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 can be easily carried with one hand. In the present embodiment, the gripping hole 20 is provided in the operation area 18, but the gripping part 22 may protrude from the front end of the apparatus main body 12. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which does not have the holding hole 20. FIG. In addition, the grip portion 22 can have a function as a hand rest when the user operates the touch panel. Thereby, operation of a touch panel can be performed easily and the effect that an operator's fatigue is reduced is acquired.

  A slide groove 24 extending in the front-rear direction is formed from the center of the upper surface 12 a of the apparatus main body 12 to the operation region 18. The slide groove 24 slides and guides the slide base 26 to which the hinge 30 is attached in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the lid 14 is slidable in the front-rear direction (the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIGS. 1 and 2) along the slide groove 24 with respect to the apparatus main body 12. As a result, the lid body 14 can be displaced between a position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a position indicated by a chain line.

  Here, with reference to FIG.6 and FIG.7, the structure for enabling the cover body 14 to slide with respect to the apparatus main body 12 is demonstrated concretely. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the slide base 26 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 7 shows a part of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 in a cutaway manner.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12 is provided with a pair of flanges 121 so as to face each other on the upper surface side, so that a notch having a convex shape in cross section is formed in the front-rear direction. A slide groove 24 is formed as an extended guide portion. A pair of support members 122 are attached to the back surface of the upper surface 12 a of the apparatus main body 12 so as to cover the lower side of the slide groove 24.

  The support member 122 is extended along the extending direction of the slide groove 24. The support member 122 is bent at a right angle from a lower end of the bent portion 122b, a base portion 122a formed along the upper surface 12a of the apparatus main body 12, a bent portion 122b bent downward at a right angle from the tip of the base portion 122a. And a leading end 122c. The pair of support members 122 are attached so that the front end portions 122c face each other. The support member 122 is attached to the back side of the upper surface 12 a of the apparatus main body 12 by fixing the base portion 122 a to the back side of the upper surface 12 a of the apparatus main body 12 with a screw B. At this time, a gap 241 through which the wiring C can be inserted is formed between the pair of tip portions 122c. The wiring C electrically connects the electronic circuit board accommodated in the apparatus main body 12 and the display panel 16, and is composed of, for example, a flexible substrate (FPC). A pair of flexible closing members 123 are attached to the lower surface of each tip 122c so as to pass through the gap 241. The closing member 123 is made of, for example, a PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) resin film, and extends along the extending direction of the slide groove 24. The pair of closing members 123 are provided such that the tip portions abut against each other. Since the closing member 123 is configured as described above, the gap 241 can be closed while sandwiching the wiring C inserted into the gap 241. Further, since the closing member 123 has flexibility, the closing member 123 allows the movement of the wiring C in the extending direction of the slide groove 24.

  The slide base 26 as a slide member is formed in a box shape, and a flange 26a is protruded laterally at the lower part of the left and right side surfaces. The slide base 26 is accommodated in the slide groove 24 and disposed so that the lower surface is covered with the support member 122. At this time, it arrange | positions so that the flange 121 of the apparatus main body 12 and the flange 26a of the slide base 26 may oppose an up-down direction. Thus, the slide base 26 can slide along the slide groove 24 without escaping from the slide groove 24. The slide base 26 is hollowed out in the center at the upper surface to form a support portion 26b, and the support portion 26b supports the rotation shaft 34 so as to be rotatable. While the rotation shaft 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape, an insertion hole 26c through which the wiring C can be inserted is opened at the center of the bottom surface of the support portion 26b, and the inside of the rotation shaft 34 and the insertion hole 26c communicate with each other. Therefore, the wiring C inserted through the gap 241 can be guided to the display panel 16 through the insertion hole 26 c and the inside of the rotation shaft 34.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an engagement recess 26d is formed on the side surface of the flange 26a provided on the right side surface of the slide base 26, and at a predetermined position facing the slide groove 24 on the upper surface 12a of the apparatus body 12. A locking member 124 that is locked to the engaging recess 26d is attached. The locking member 124 has an elastically deformable arm 124a and a locking portion 124b that is integrally formed at the tip of the arm 124a and bulges toward the slide groove 24. The arm 124a is biased toward the slide groove 24. When the slide base 26 is slid and the locking portion 124b is pressed by the side surface of the flange 26a, the arm 124a is elastically deformed against the biasing force. Thereafter, when the engaging recess 26d and the locking portion 124b match, the locking member 124 restores elastic deformation of the arm 124a, and the locking portion 124b is locked to the engaging recess 26d. Thereby, the slide base 26 becomes slightly difficult to slide, and therefore the lid body 14 can be easily positioned.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the slide groove 24 and the slide base 26 are provided and the lid body 14 is configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction. However, the lid body 14 may be configured not to slide. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 is connected to the ultrasonic probe P for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and is connected to the apparatus main body 12 and the display panel 16. The lid 14 is connected to a lower end of the lid 14 by a hinge 30 so that the lid 14 can be folded so as to overlap the apparatus main body 12. In the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10, the hinge 30 is provided on the upper surface on the nearer side than the center of the apparatus main body 12, and the lid 14 is rotated to the back side of the apparatus main body 12 with the horizontal axis H of the hinge 30 as a support shaft. It is configured so that it can be folded. As a result, since the display panel 16 is disposed on the near side, for example, the apparatus is installed at a position higher than the eyes of a user such as a doctor or a patient, and an ultrasonic diagnostic image is visually recognized from below the apparatus while performing diagnosis. Even in such a case, the display state of the display panel 16 can be easily visually recognized, and the visibility of the display panel is improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the hinge 30 is a biaxial hinge further having a vertical axis V that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis H, and the lid 14 can be rotated about the vertical axis V as a support shaft. Since the display panel can be finished without being exposed, the display panel can be well protected.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the display panel 16 is a touch panel, the display panel is arranged near the hand. For example, a touch operation on the display panel is performed while the hand is supported by the installation base of the apparatus. And the operability of the apparatus can be improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 includes the slide base 26 to which the hinge 30 is attached and the slide groove 24 that slides the slide base 26 in the front-rear direction of the upper surface 12a of the apparatus body 12. Since it provided, the 2nd housing | casing can be suitably moved back and forth to the position where the display panel is easy to visually recognize, and the convenience improves.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus 10 has the operation region 18 in which one or more operation members that can be operated by the user are arranged on the front side of the hinge 30 of the apparatus body 12. In addition, since the gripping hole 20 into which the user's hand can be inserted is formed in the operation area 18 and the gripping part 22 capable of gripping the front end of the apparatus main body 12 is formed, the gripping part is provided so as to protrude from the apparatus main body. The apparatus can be made more compact, and the apparatus can be downsized.

  The description in the embodiment of the present invention is an example of the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each functional unit constituting the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus can be appropriately changed.

  In the present embodiment, the lid body 14 is configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction by the slide groove 24 and the slide base 26 that is slidably guided along the slide groove 24. However, the lid body 14 is guided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Any configuration that can be used is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, a guide protrusion extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper surface 12a of the apparatus body 12, and the lid 14 is moved in the front-rear direction by sliding the slide base on the upper surface 12a guided by the guide protrusion. You may comprise. The shapes of the slide groove 24 and the slide base 26 are not limited to those described above, and shapes can be appropriately applied.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the cover body 14 was comprised so that a movement in the front-back direction was possible, you may be comprised so that it cannot move.

10 Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging equipment (portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging equipment)
12 Device body (first housing)
14 Lid (second housing)
16 Display panel 18 Operation area 20 Grip hole 22 Grip part 24 Slide groove (guide part)
26 Slide base (slide member)
30 Hinge P Ultrasonic probe H Horizontal axis V Vertical axis

Claims (5)

An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is connected, and a first casing and a lower end of a second casing having a display panel are connected by a hinge, and the second casing is connected. Is a portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus configured to be foldable so as to overlap with the first housing,
The hinge is provided on an upper surface on the front side of the center of the first casing, and the second casing is rotated to the back side of the first casing with the horizontal axis of the hinge as a supporting shaft. A portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus that is configured to be foldable.   2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge is a biaxial hinge further having a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis, and the second casing is rotatable about the vertical axis. Portable ultrasound diagnostic imaging system.   The portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is a touch panel.   The slide member to which the hinge is attached, and a guide portion that slide-guides the slide member in the front-rear direction of the upper surface of the first housing, are provided. The portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus described.   There is an operation area in which one or more operation members that can be operated by the user are arranged on the front side of the hinge of the first housing, and a gripping hole into which the user's hand can be inserted is provided in the operation area The portable ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a grasping portion that is established and capable of grasping a front end portion of the first casing is formed.

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