JP5844123B2 - Transmitter support stand and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a transmitter support stand and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an examination using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an image captured by another medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus is compared with the ultrasonic image. Thus, a technique for improving diagnosis accuracy is known. In such a technique, a magnetic sensor or the like is used to align the tomographic plane such as a CT image or MR image with the tomographic plane of an ultrasonic image.

  For example, when alignment is performed using a magnetic sensor, a pole stand that supports a magnetic transmitter that generates a magnetic field is disposed in the vicinity of the bed, and the magnetic sensor is attached to the ultrasonic probe. The magnetic transmitter generates a magnetic field in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions. And the magnetic sensor attached to the ultrasonic probe detects the position and angle of the ultrasonic probe by detecting the position in each axial direction and the rotation angle with respect to each axis.

  Here, when the magnetic transmitter is supported by the pole stand as described above, the magnetic transmission is performed by moving the support portion supporting the magnetic transmitter up and down in order to form the magnetic field at the optimum position. The height of the machine is adjusted. However, in the above-described prior art, the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter may be deteriorated.

JP 2000-005168 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a transmitter support stand and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of improving the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter.

The transmitter support stand according to the embodiment includes a support portion, a support column portion, a position fixing portion, and a fixing mechanism . The support unit supports a transmitter used for detecting the position of the ultrasonic probe, and is provided with a through hole. The support column is formed with a plurality of engaging recesses continuously in the longitudinal direction, and holds the support at a predetermined height. The position fixing portion moves in the through hole and engages with any of the plurality of engagement recesses, and presses the engagement projection in the direction of the engagement recesses, And an elastic body for engaging the engaging convex portion with the engaging concave portion. The fixing mechanism fixes the support portion to the support column in a state where the position fixing portion and the engagement recess are engaged.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a pole stand according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a problem related to the prior art. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the support portion in the pole stand according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the lock pin according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining fixing of the height position of the support portion by the lock pin according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the knob screw according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the fixing of the support portion to the support column with the thumbscrew according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment.

(First embodiment)
First, the overall configuration of the transmitter support stand according to the first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, a pole stand that supports a magnetic transmitter will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment includes a support 110, a support 120, a grip 121, an arm 130, a magnetic transmitter 140, a leg 150, and a caster 160. With.

  The support 110 holds the support 120 at a predetermined height. The support unit 120 supports a transmitter used for detecting the position of the ultrasonic probe. Specifically, the support unit 120 holds the arm unit 130 that holds the magnetic transmitter 140 at a predetermined height. The arm unit 130 supports the magnetic transmitter and moves the magnetic transmitter 140 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support column 110. The magnetic transmitter 140 generates a magnetic field for detecting the position of the ultrasonic probe. The leg 150 supports the support 110. The caster 160 rotates in an arbitrary direction and moves the pole stand 100 in an arbitrary direction.

  In the pole stand 100, the height of the magnetic transmitter 140 is adjusted by moving the support portion 120 in the direction of the arrow 21 or the arrow 22 in FIG. The pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment makes it possible to improve the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter. Here, the case where the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter is lowered in the prior art will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a problem related to the prior art. In FIG. 2, the figure which expanded the support part area | region of the pole stand which concerns on a prior art is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the pole stand 200 according to the related art includes a column 210, a support part 220, an arm part 230, a knob screw 240, and a pressurizing application part 250. In the pole stand 200 shown in FIG. 2, the height of a magnetic transmitter (not shown) indicated by the arm unit 230 is adjusted by the support unit 220 sliding up and down in a groove provided in the column 210. .

  Here, in the pole stand 200, the height position of the magnetic transmitter is fixed at a desired height by the knob screw 240. Specifically, the operator determines the height position of the magnetic transmitter by moving the support unit 220 up and down with the knob screw 240 loosened. Then, the operator fastens the knob screw 240 and fixes the support portion 220 to the column 210 by friction between the tip of the knob screw 240 and the column 210. That is, the magnetic transmitter is fixed at the height position desired by the operator.

  Here, in the above-described frictional fixation using the knob screw, if the knob screw 240 is loosened accidentally, the heavy magnetic transmitter may fall unintentionally to the patient or the operator. Therefore, in the prior art, a pressure is applied to the support column by the pressure application unit 250 so that the magnetic transmitter does not fall even if the knob screw 240 is loosened accidentally.

  However, in the above-described prior art, since a constant frictional force is always generated by the pressurizing application unit 250, the smooth ascending / descending operation is hindered, and the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter is reduced. To do. Therefore, in the present application, the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter is improved by the configuration described in detail below.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the support portion 120 in the pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment includes an engaging recess 111, a knob screw 122, and a lock pin 123 in order to improve the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter. Prepare.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of engaging recesses 111 are formed continuously in the longitudinal direction of the column 110. In addition, the size of the engagement recessed part 111, the arrangement | positioning space | interval, and the arrangement | positioning range in the support | pillar 110 can be arbitrarily designed by the designer. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the support portion 120 includes a through hole into which the knob screw 122 and the lock pin 123 are inserted.

  The lock pin 123 moves in the through hole and engages with any one of the plurality of engagement recesses 111, and presses the engagement projection in the direction of the engagement recess 111 to engage the lock pin 123. And an elastic body for engaging the convex portion with the engaging concave portion 111. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the lock pin 123 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the top view of the support part 120 removed from the support | pillar 110 in the pole stand 100 shown in FIG. 1 is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lock pin 123 has an engaging convex portion 123 a that engages with the engaging concave portion 111, and is inserted into the inside 120 a of the support portion 120 through a through hole provided in the support portion 120. . Here, the inside 120a is an area into which the support 110 is inserted. That is, the lock pin 123 is inserted from the engagement convex portion 123a side in the direction of the support column 110 inserted into the support portion 120. A roller 124 is provided in the interior 120 a of the support unit 120. The roller 124 rotates on the surface of the support 110 to smoothly perform the raising / lowering operation of the support unit 120.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining fixing of the height position of the support portion 120 by the lock pin 123 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, the figure at the time of seeing the cross section of the perpendicular direction of the support part 120 from the direction of the arrow 23 of FIG. 3 is shown. As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 5, the lock pin 123 is inserted in the direction of the column 110 through the through hole 126 provided in the support portion 120. Here, the lock pin 123 is provided with a spring 125 (elastic body) as shown in FIG.

  The spring 125 presses the engaging convex portion 123 a in the direction of the engaging concave portion 111 to engage the engaging convex portion 123 a with the engaging concave portion 111. For example, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 5, the spring 125 is fixed at a predetermined position with the lock pin 123 inserted therein. Here, the spring 125 is fixed so that the engaging convex portion 123 a of the lock pin 123 is engaged with the engaging concave portion 111 by the restoring force of the spring 125. As described above, the engaging convex portion 123 a is engaged with the engaging concave portion 111 by the restoring force of the spring 125, so that the height position of the support portion 120, that is, the magnetic transmitter 140 supported by the support portion 120. The height position of is automatically fixed.

  For example, when the operator pulls the lock pin 123 in the direction of the arrow 24 in the lower diagram of FIG. 5, the spring 125 contracts, and accordingly, the engagement convex portion 123 a and the engagement concave portion 111 are moved. The engagement is disengaged, and the support 120 can be moved up and down. Needless to say, when the operation of pulling the lock pin 123 is stopped, the engaging convex portion 123a is pushed out toward the engaging concave portion 111 by the restoring force of the spring 125, and engages with any of the plural engaging concave portions 111. It becomes.

  Accordingly, the operator pulls the lock pin 123 forward (in the direction of the arrow 24 in FIG. 5) and releases the lock pin 123 at a desired height, so that the height position is automatically fixed. . Although the case where the lock pin 123 is inserted into the spring 125 has been described, the embodiment is not limited to this, and a plurality of springs are arranged in the circumferential direction of the lock pin 123 and the springs are locked. The case where it fixes to the pin 123 may be sufficient. Moreover, the diameter of the engagement convex part 123a can be designed arbitrarily, for example, as long as it is shorter than the width | variety of the short side direction of the engagement recessed part 111, what kind of size may be sufficient as it.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the knob screw 122 fixes the support portion 120 to the column 110 in a state where the lock pin 123 and the engagement recess 111 are engaged. Here, the knob screw 122 is preferably disposed in the vicinity of the lock pin 123. In the first embodiment, a case where the knob screw 122 and the lock pin 123 are integrated will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the knob screw 122 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the bottom view of the support part 120 removed from the support | pillar 110 in the pole stand 100 shown in FIG. 1 is shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the knob screw 122 according to the first embodiment is arranged coaxially with the lock pin 123, and the screw part 122 a is screwed into the through hole provided in the support part 120. Here, the knob screw 122 is designed so that it can be screwed to a position where the tip of the screw portion 122a contacts the support 110. The knob screw 122 includes a through hole into which the lock pin 123 is inserted in the rotation axis direction of the screw portion 122a.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining fixing of the support portion 120 to the support column 110 by the knob screw 122 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 7, the figure at the time of seeing the cross section of the perpendicular direction of the support part 120 from the direction of the arrow 23 of FIG. 3 is shown. In FIG. 7, the lock pin 123 is not shown in order to show the contact between the knob screw 122 and the column 110, but actually, the lock pin 123 has a through hole provided in the rotation axis direction of the knob screw 122. It is inserted in the direction of the support 110 through the via.

  As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 7, the knob screw 122 is screwed in the direction of the column 110 through the through hole 126 provided in the support portion 120. Here, the diameter of the threaded portion 122a of the knob screw 122 is designed to be larger than the width of the engaging recess 111 in the short direction. As a result, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 7, when the screw portion 122 a is screwed to a position where it contacts the column 110, the tip of the screw portion 122 a does not engage with the engagement recess 111 and the side surface of the column 110. You will be in touch. As a result, friction is generated between the side surface of the column 110 and the tip of the screw portion 122 a, and the knob screw 122 can fix the support portion 120 to the column 110.

  For example, when the operator adjusts the height position of the magnetic transmitter 140, the operator first engages the engaging convex portion 123a of the lock pin 123 with the engaging concave portion 111, and then rotates the knob screw 122 to support it. The part 120 is fixed to the support 110. When adjusting the height position of the magnetic transmitter 140 again, the operator rotates the knob screw 122 in the loosening direction so that the tip of the screw portion 122a is moved as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. After being separated from the support 110, the lock pin 123 is pulled forward and the support 120 is moved up and down to adjust the magnetic transmitter to a desired height position.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the support unit 120 supports the magnetic transmitter 140 used for position detection of the ultrasonic probe, and is provided with the through hole 126. The support column 110 has a plurality of engaging recesses 111 formed continuously in the longitudinal direction, and holds the support 120 at a predetermined height. The lock pin 123 moves in the through hole 126 and engages with any of the plurality of engagement recesses 111, and presses the engagement protrusion 123 a in the direction of the engagement recess 111. And the spring 125 for engaging the engaging convex portion 123a with the engaging concave portion 111. Therefore, the pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment can improve the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter.

  For example, the operator holds the grip 121 with one hand, pulls the lock pin 123 with a finger, adjusts the magnetic transmitter 140 to a desired height, and then releases the lock pin 123 with a simple operation. The height position can be adjusted.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the knob screw 122 fixes the support portion 120 to the column 110 in a state where the lock pin 123 and the engagement recess 111 are engaged. Therefore, the pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment suppresses rattling of the support portion 120, and can also suppress a slight movement of the magnetic transmitter in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the knob screw 122 is disposed at a position close to the lock pin 123. Therefore, the pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment can make the support portion 120 smaller, and can further improve the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the knob screw 122 and the lock pin 123 are integrated. Therefore, the pole stand 100 according to the first embodiment can adjust and fix the height position of the magnetic transmitter 140 with one hand, and further improve the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter. to enable.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the pole stand 100 described in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment includes an apparatus main body 1, a monitor 2, an operation unit 3, an ultrasonic probe 4, a position sensor 5, and a magnetic transmitter 140. And a pole stand 100 for supporting the

  The apparatus main body 1 performs overall control of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10. For example, the apparatus main body 1 executes various controls related to the alignment of CT images, MR images, and ultrasonic images, and generation of ultrasonic images. The monitor 2 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for an operator of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 to input various setting requests using the operation unit 3, and displays an ultrasonic image generated in the apparatus main body 1. Or display.

  The operation unit 3 includes a trackball, a switch, a button, a touch command screen, and the like, receives various setting requests from an operator of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10, and transfers the received various setting requests to the apparatus main body 1. . The ultrasonic probe 4 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. As shown in FIG. 8, the position sensor 5 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 4 and detects the position of the ultrasonic probe 4 in the magnetic field generated by the magnetic transmitter 140.

(Third embodiment)
Although the first and second embodiments have been described so far, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms other than the first and second embodiments described above.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where a rod-like lock pin is used as the position fixing portion has been described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and, for example, a case where a member having a different thickness of the engaging convex portion and the thickness of other portions is used as the position fixing portion may be used.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the lock pin and the knob screw are integrated is described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a case where the lock pin and the knob screw are arranged at positions separated from each other.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where a magnetic transmitter is used as the transmitter has been described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, an infrared transmitter or the like may be used.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, the transmitter support stand and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment can improve the operability related to the height adjustment of the transmitter.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 4 Ultrasonic probe 10 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 Pole stand 110 Support | pillar 111 Engagement recessed part 120 Support part 122 Knob screw 123 Lock pin 123a Engagement convex part 140 Magnetic transmitter

Claims (4)

Supporting a transmitter used for detecting the position of the ultrasonic probe, a support part provided with a through hole,
A plurality of engaging recesses are continuously formed in the longitudinal direction, and a support column for holding the support at a predetermined height;
An engaging convex portion that moves through the through hole and engages with any of the plurality of engaging concave portions, and presses the engaging convex portion in the direction of the engaging concave portion, thereby A position fixing portion having an elastic body to be engaged with the engagement recess;
A fixing mechanism for fixing the support portion to the support column in a state where the position fixing portion and the engaging recess are engaged;
A transmitter support stand characterized by comprising: The transmitter support stand according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing mechanism is disposed in the vicinity of the position fixing unit. The transmitter support stand according to claim 2 , wherein the fixing mechanism and the position fixing unit are integrated. An ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound; and
An apparatus body for generating an image based on the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic probe;
A transmitter support stand for supporting a transmitter used for position detection of the ultrasonic probe;
With
The transmitter support stand is
Supporting a transmitter used for position detection of the ultrasonic probe, a support portion provided with a through hole,
A plurality of engaging recesses are continuously formed in the longitudinal direction, and a support column for holding the support at a predetermined height;
An engaging convex portion that moves through the through hole and engages with any of the plurality of engaging concave portions, and presses the engaging convex portion in the direction of the engaging concave portion, thereby A position fixing portion having an elastic body to be engaged with the engagement recess;
A fixing mechanism for fixing the support portion to the support column in a state where the position fixing portion and the engaging recess are engaged;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

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