JP7501331B2 - Ultrasound probe holder, ultrasound diagnostic device, cart for ultrasound diagnostic device, and ultrasound diagnostic system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe holder, an ultrasound diagnostic device, a cart for an ultrasound diagnostic device, and an ultrasound diagnostic system.

Ultrasound diagnosis is a simple procedure of placing an ultrasound probe on the surface of the patient's body or inside a body cavity to obtain ultrasound images of the heart or fetus, and is highly safe, so the examination can be performed repeatedly. Ultrasound diagnostic devices used to perform such ultrasound diagnosis are known.

For example, an ultrasound diagnostic device is known that has an ultrasound diagnostic device main body, an ultrasound probe connected to the ultrasound diagnostic device main body, and casters, and is movable on a floor surface. The ultrasound probe has an ultrasound probe main body and an ultrasound probe cable, and is configured to be connected to the ultrasound diagnostic device main body via a connector.

Conventionally, a hook was provided on the main body of the ultrasound diagnostic device to prevent the ultrasound probe cable from getting in the way of users (examiners) such as doctors, and the ultrasound probe cable was hung on the hook. However, because the hook was located lower than the console (operating table) of the main body of the ultrasound diagnostic device, there was a risk that the ultrasound probe cable would get tangled in the casters or touch the floor. In addition, when the ultrasound probe cable was hung on the hook, the cable was not kept together, making it difficult to hang, and there was a risk of it getting tangled if multiple ultrasound probe cables were hung on one hook.

For this reason, an ultrasound diagnostic device is known that is equipped with a probe (ultrasound probe) holder that has a groove-shaped hook portion that holds the probe cable (cable) of the ultrasound probe (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-23861 A

However, the probe holder in Patent Document 1 has a roller for pulling the probe cable from one of the hook portions in a pulling direction (pulling direction), and the structure is complicated. The pulling direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the roller.

In addition, in the probe holder of Patent Document 1, the above-mentioned pulling direction of the probe cable is regulated by the rollers, so if the probe holder is installed on the right side of the main body of the ultrasound diagnostic device and the patient is on the right side of the main body, when pulling out the probe cable, the user needs to pull the probe cable in the pulling direction in which the rollers rotate (the rotation direction of the rollers, to the right with respect to the main body).

However, if the patient is on the left side of the main body, it is expected that the probe cable will be pulled in a direction different from the above-mentioned pulling direction (toward the patient or to the left of the main body). In that case, the probe cable may get caught on the edge of the hook part of the probe holder due to friction, etc., and the coating layer of the probe cable may wear away, causing scratches or tears, and even an electrical disconnection may occur.

The objective of the present invention is to simplify the configuration of the ultrasonic probe holder and prevent scratches and tears due to wear and tear on the ultrasonic probe cable, as well as electrical disconnections.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is:
An ultrasonic probe holder for holding an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic probe body and an ultrasonic probe cable connected to the ultrasonic probe body,
A holder for holding the ultrasonic probe body;
a groove portion for holding the ultrasonic probe cable;
The groove portion is
The ultrasonic probe holder has an inner wall portion having a convex curved shape on the inside of the groove over the entire length of the groove in a first direction in which the ultrasonic probe cable is guided.

The invention according to claim 2 provides the ultrasonic probe holder according to claim 1,
The inner wall portion has a length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the length of an end portion in the first direction being longer than the length of a central portion in the first direction.

The invention described in claim 3 is the ultrasonic probe holder described in claim 1 or 2,
The inner wall portion has two convex curved surface portions facing each other.

The invention according to claim 4 provides the ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The groove portion has a bottom surface portion disposed below the inner wall portion,
The bottom surface portion is gradually reduced in height from the front side to the back side in the direction in which the ultrasonic probe cable is drawn out.

The invention described in claim 5 is the ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The holding portion and the groove portion are integrally molded.

The invention described in claim 6 is the ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The groove is formed from a material having a slippery surface.

The invention described in claim 7 is the ultrasonic probe holder described in any one of claims 1 to 6,
The inner surface of the groove is treated to make it slippery.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention comprises:
An ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
an ultrasonic diagnostic device body to which the ultrasonic probe is connected;
The ultrasonic probe.

The invention according to claim 9 provides the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8,
The ultrasound probe cable has a weight portion on the side connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus main body rather than the portion held by the ultrasound probe holder.

The cart for an ultrasound diagnostic device according to the invention of claim 10 comprises:
An ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body to which the ultrasonic probe is connected is placed.

The ultrasound diagnostic system according to the invention of claim 11 comprises:
The cart for an ultrasonic diagnostic device according to claim 10,
The ultrasonic diagnostic device.

The invention according to claim 12 provides the ultrasound diagnostic system according to claim 11,
The ultrasound probe cable has a weight portion on the side connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus main body rather than the portion held by the ultrasound probe holder.

The present invention simplifies the configuration of the ultrasonic probe holder and prevents scratches and tears due to wear on the ultrasonic probe cable, as well as electrical disconnections.

1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. 1A is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe holder as seen obliquely from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe holder as seen obliquely from the rear. FIG. 2 is a top view of the ultrasonic probe holder. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic probe holder in a state where the ultrasonic probe is pulled out. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic probe holder that holds an ultrasonic probe. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic system according to the present modified example.

The following describes in detail the embodiments and modifications of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

(Embodiment)
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. First, the overall device configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic device 100 according to the present embodiment. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic device 100.

The ultrasound diagnostic device 100 is a mobile, all-in-one ultrasound diagnostic device that is installed in an examination room or the like of a medical facility such as a hospital. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ultrasound diagnostic device 100 includes an ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 and an ultrasound probe 2. The ultrasound probe 2 transmits ultrasound (transmitted ultrasound) into a subject, such as a patient's living body, and receives the reflected waves of the ultrasound reflected inside the subject (reflected ultrasound: echoes). The ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 is connected to the ultrasound probe 2, and transmits an electrical drive signal to the ultrasound probe 2 to cause the ultrasound probe 2 to transmit transmitted ultrasound to the subject, and images the internal state of the subject as ultrasound image data based on the received signal, which is an electrical signal generated by the ultrasound probe 2 in response to the reflected ultrasound from inside the subject received by the ultrasound probe 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are taken here. The ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 has an operation input unit 11, a display unit 17, a connector 32 (FIG. 2 (not shown in FIG. 1)), an ultrasound probe holder 40, and caster units 1b on the housing 1a. Here, as an example, a configuration in which three connectors 32 are provided on the side of the housing 1a will be described, but the number is not limited to this. Correspondingly, a configuration in which three ultrasound probe holders 40 are provided on the side of the housing 1a will be described (however, two are not shown in FIG. 1), but the number is not limited to this. The housing 1a is made of metal, resin, etc., and stores circuit components, etc., which will be described later.

The operation input unit 11 is disposed on the top surface (+z side) of the housing 1a. The operation input unit 11 has operation elements for accepting input of various image parameters for displaying, for example, a command to start a diagnosis, data such as personal information of the subject, ultrasound image data, etc. on the display unit 17, and accepts operation input to the operation elements from users such as doctors and engineers. The operation elements are, for example, push buttons, encoders (rotary knobs), lever switches, joysticks, trackballs, keyboards, or multifunction switches that combine these.

The display unit 17 is provided on the top surface (+z side) of the housing 1a. The display unit 17 has a display panel such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, or an inorganic EL display, and displays various display information such as ultrasound images on the display screen of the display panel.

The connector 32 is a receptacle connector that electrically connects the ultrasound probe 2 (connector 22 (Figure 2)). The ultrasound probe holder 40 is a (probe) holder that holds the ultrasound probe 2. The caster parts 1b are disposed on the bottom surface (-z side) of the housing 1a, and are movable parts such as wheels that can move the ultrasound diagnostic device 100 (ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1) on the floor surface that is the xy plane. The ultrasound diagnostic device 100 can be freely moved to a position such as the right or left side of a patient as a subject by the use of the caster parts 1b.

The ultrasonic probe 2 has an ultrasonic probe body 21, a connector 22, and an ultrasonic probe cable 23. The ultrasonic probe body 21 includes a transducer 2a, an acoustic lens (not shown) that focuses the transmitted ultrasonic waves toward a focal point, and the transducers 2a are arranged in a one-dimensional array in the azimuth direction (for example, 192 transducers). The transducers 2a may be arranged in a two-dimensional array. The number of transducers 2a can be set arbitrarily. The ultrasonic probe 2 is illustrated as an electronic scan probe of a linear scanning type, but it may be either an electronic scanning type or a mechanical scanning type, and it may be either a linear scanning type, a sector scanning type, or a convex scanning type. The above three ultrasonic probes 2 of different types of scanning types can be connected simultaneously to the connector 32 of the ultrasonic diagnostic device body 1.

The ultrasound probe body 21 transmits ultrasound from the transducer 2a to the subject in response to a drive signal input from the ultrasound diagnostic device body 1, receives reflected ultrasound from the subject using the transducer 2a, generates a received signal, and outputs it to the ultrasound diagnostic device body 1.

The connector 22 is a plug connector that fits and is electrically connected to the connector 32. The ultrasonic probe cable 23 is electrically connected between the ultrasonic probe body 21 and the connector 22, and is a signal line made of multiple insulated wires covered with a (protective) coating layer.

Next, the functional configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 includes an operation input unit 11, a transmission unit 12, a reception unit 13, an image generation unit 14, an image processing unit 15, a display control unit 16, a display unit 17, a control unit 18, a selector 31, and a connector 32 on the inside or outside of the housing 1a.

The operation input unit 11 accepts operation input from the operator via various operation elements and outputs the operation information to the control unit 18.

The transmission unit 12 is a circuit that supplies a drive signal, which is an electric signal, to the ultrasonic probe 2 via the selector 31 and the connector 32 under the control of the control unit 18, and causes the ultrasonic probe 2 to generate a transmission ultrasonic wave. The transmission unit 12 also includes, for example, a clock generation circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulse generation circuit. The clock generation circuit is a circuit that generates a clock signal that determines the transmission timing and transmission frequency of the drive signal. The delay circuit is a circuit that sets a delay time for each individual path corresponding to each transducer 2a, delays the transmission of the drive signal by the set delay time, and focuses the transmission beam formed by the transmission ultrasonic wave. The pulse generation circuit is a circuit that generates a pulse signal as a drive signal at a predetermined period. The transmission unit 12 configured as described above drives, for example, a continuous part (for example, 64 pieces) of the multiple (for example, 192 pieces) transducers 2a arranged in the ultrasonic probe 2 to generate a transmission ultrasonic wave. Then, the transmission unit 12 performs scanning by shifting the driven transducer 2a in the azimuth direction (scanning direction) every time a transmission ultrasonic wave is generated.

The receiving unit 13 is a circuit that receives an electric received signal from the ultrasonic probe 2 via the connector 32 and the selector 31 under the control of the control unit 18. The receiving unit 13 includes, for example, an amplifier, an A/D conversion circuit, and a phasing and summing circuit. The amplifier is a circuit for amplifying the received signal at a preset amplification rate for each individual path corresponding to each transducer 2a. The A/D conversion circuit is a circuit for analog-to-digital conversion (A/D conversion) of the amplified received signal. The phasing and summing circuit is a circuit for adjusting the time phase by giving a delay time to the A/D converted received signal for each individual path corresponding to each transducer 2a, and adding these (phasing and summing) to generate sound ray data.

The image generating unit 14, under the control of the control unit 18, performs envelope detection processing and logarithmic compression on the sound ray data from the receiving unit 13, adjusts the dynamic range and gain, and performs brightness conversion to generate B (Brightness) mode image data consisting of pixels having brightness values as received energy. In other words, B mode image data represents the strength of the received signal by brightness. The image generating unit 14 may be capable of generating ultrasound image data in other image modes, such as A (Amplitude) mode, M (Motion) mode, and image modes using the Doppler method (such as color Doppler mode), in addition to B mode image data as ultrasound image data in the B mode image mode.

The image processing unit 15 performs image processing on the B-mode image data output from the image generation unit 14 according to the various image parameters being set, in accordance with the control of the control unit 18. The image processing unit 15 also includes an image memory unit 15a configured with a semiconductor memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In accordance with the control of the control unit 18, the image processing unit 15 stores the B-mode image data that has been subjected to image processing in the image memory unit 15a in frame units. Image data in frame units is sometimes referred to as ultrasound image data or frame image data. In accordance with the control of the control unit 18, the image processing unit 15 outputs the image data generated as described above to the display control unit 16 in sequence.

The display control unit 16 converts the image data received from the image processing unit 15 into an image signal for display according to the control of the control unit 18, and outputs it to the display unit 17.

The control unit 18 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), reads out various processing programs such as a system program stored in the ROM, expands them into the RAM, and controls the operation of each part of the ultrasound diagnostic device 100 according to the expanded programs. The ROM is composed of non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor, and stores the system program corresponding to the ultrasound diagnostic device 100, various processing programs that can be executed on the system program, and various data such as a gamma table. These programs are stored in the form of computer-readable program code, and the CPU sequentially executes operations according to the program code. The RAM forms a work area that temporarily stores the various programs executed by the CPU and data related to these programs.

The selector 31 is a circuit section that switches the connector 32 that is the target of ultrasonic transmission and reception (drive signal output from the transmitter 12 and received signal input from the receiver 13) according to the control of the controller 18.

For each part of the ultrasound diagnostic device 100, some or all of the functions of each functional block can be realized as a hardware circuit such as an integrated circuit. An integrated circuit is, for example, an LSI (Large Scale Integration), and an LSI may be called an IC (Integrated Circuit), a system LSI, a super LSI, or an ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration. In addition, the method of integration is not limited to an LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor, or may use an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connections and settings of circuit cells inside the LSI. In addition, some or all of the functions of each functional block may be executed by software. In this case, the software is stored in one or more storage media such as a ROM, an optical disk, or a hard disk, and the software is executed by a processor.

Next, the configuration of the ultrasonic probe holder 40 will be described with reference to Figs. 3(a) to 6. Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe holder 40 as seen diagonally from the front. Fig. 3(b) is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe holder 40 as seen diagonally from the rear. Fig. 4 is a top view of the ultrasonic probe holder 40. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic probe holder 40 with the ultrasonic probe 2 pulled out. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic probe holder 40 holding the ultrasonic probe 2.

As shown in Figures 3(a), 3(b), and 4, the ultrasonic probe holder 40 has a holding portion 41, a groove portion 42, and an attachment portion 43.

The holding portion 41 is an ultrasonic probe holder main body that holds the ultrasonic probe main body 21 of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the internal space. The holding portion 41 has a side portion 411 and a bottom portion 412. The side portion 411 has a cylindrical portion and a notch portion formed by cutting out a part of the cylindrical portion. The notch portion of the side portion 411 extends in the +z direction so as to widen its width from the -z direction.

The bottom surface portion 412 has a circular ring portion and a cutout portion formed by cutting out a part of the circular ring portion, and has a C-shape. The cutout portion of the bottom surface portion 412 extends from the center of the bottom surface portion 412 in a direction rotated 45° from the x-axis to the y-axis with approximately the same width.

When holding the ultrasonic probe 2 in the holding section 41, a user such as a doctor or technician passes the ultrasonic probe cable 23 through the notch in the side section 411, the notch in the bottom section 412, and the central hole in the annular section of the bottom section 412, in that order, and places the ultrasonic probe body 21 in the side section 411 and the bottom section 412. Conversely, when removing the held ultrasonic probe 2 from the holding section 41, the ultrasonic probe cable 23 passes through the central hole in the annular section of the bottom section 412, the notch in the bottom section 412, and the notch in the side section 411, and the ultrasonic probe body 21 is removed from inside the side section 411 and the bottom section 412.

The groove 42 is a groove that guides and holds the ultrasonic probe cable 23 from the connector 22 side, guides the ultrasonic probe cable 23 in the +x direction (from the back side (-x side) to the front side (+x side)), and has an inner wall 421 and a bottom surface 422. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner wall 421 has a circular portion as a convex curved shape of the holding portion 41 along the y-axis direction and an opposing circular portion, and has a hyperbolic shape over the entire length in the x direction when viewed from above (+z direction). However, the hyperbolic shape of the inner wall 421 is not limited to two opposing circular portions. The inner wall 421 may have, for example, one or two other opposing convex curved shapes.

The inner wall portion 421 also has a space portion extending in the x-axis direction, and with respect to the length of the space portion in the y-axis direction, the length of the end portion P2 in the x-axis direction is longer than the length of the center portion P1 in the x-axis direction. In other words, the groove portion 42 has a wider space portion in the x-axis direction at the end portion of the inner wall portion 421 than at the center portion of the inner wall portion 421. This makes it easier to pull out the ultrasound probe cable 23 in the left-right direction (-y direction, +y direction) without friction.

The inner wall portion 421 has a sloped shape in which the height (value in the +z direction) decreases from the front side (+x side) to the back side (-x side) in the pull-out direction. Therefore, the bottom surface portion 422 allows the ultrasonic probe cable 23 to slide to the back side under its own weight, and the ultrasonic probe cable 23 on the front side does not get in the way.

The ultrasonic probe cable 23 may also be configured such that the weight portion 24 is attached closer to the connector 22 than the portion held in the groove portion 42. In this configuration, the weight portion 24 and the bottom surface portion 422 allow the ultrasonic probe cable 23 to slide further toward the back due to its own weight, so that the ultrasonic probe cable 23 on the front side is even less likely to get in the way.

The mounting portion 43 is a part that mounts the ultrasonic probe holder 40 (holding portion 41 and groove portion 42) to the housing 1a, and is attached by, for example, having a hole for a screw and threading the screw into the housing 1a through the hole.

The groove 42 is configured to have at least a slippery surface (low coefficient of friction), which allows the ultrasonic probe cable 23 to slide easily toward the back. As a slippery configuration, the groove 42 may be made of a material with a slippery surface, for example, a resin such as POM (polyacetal, polyoxymethylene). Alternatively, as a slippery surface configuration, the groove 42 may be configured such that the surface of the inner surface of the groove 42 is treated with Teflon (registered trademark, polytetrafluoroethylene).

The ultrasonic probe holder 40 is also molded as a single unit.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the ultrasonic probe holder 40 holds the ultrasonic probe 2 including the ultrasonic probe body 21 and the ultrasonic probe cable 23 connected to the ultrasonic probe body 21. The ultrasonic probe holder 40 includes a holding portion 41 that holds the ultrasonic probe body 21, and a groove portion 42 that guides and holds the ultrasonic probe cable 23. The groove portion 42 has an inner wall portion 421 that has a convex curved shape on the inside of the groove portion 42 over the entire length of the groove portion 42 in the first direction (x direction) that guides the ultrasonic probe cable 23 (in the axial direction).

The ultrasound diagnostic device 100 includes an ultrasound probe holder 40, an ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 to which the ultrasound probe 2 is connected, and the ultrasound probe 2.

As a result, since no rollers are provided in the ultrasound probe holder 40, the configuration of the ultrasound probe holder 40 can be simplified, and even if the ultrasound probe cable 23 is pulled out of the groove 42 and pulled forward (+x direction) or left and right (+y direction, -y direction), friction between the ultrasound probe cable 23 and the groove 42 can be reduced, preventing scratches and tears due to wear and electrical disconnection of the ultrasound probe cable 23. Furthermore, when multiple ultrasound probes 2 are connected to the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1, tangling of the multiple ultrasound probe cables 23 can be prevented.

In addition, with respect to the length of the spatial portion of the inner wall portion 421 in the second direction (y direction) perpendicular to the first direction (x direction), the length of the end portion P2 in the first direction is longer than the length of the center portion P1 in the first direction. This makes it easier to pull the ultrasonic probe cable 23 out of the groove portion 42 and in the left-right direction (-y direction, +y direction), and reduces friction with the groove portion 42 when pulling the ultrasonic probe cable 23.

The inner wall portion 421 also has two opposing circular portions as two opposing convex curved surfaces. This makes it easier to pull the ultrasonic probe cable 23 out of the groove portion 42 and in the left-right direction (-y direction, +y direction), and reduces friction with the groove portion 42 when pulling the ultrasonic probe cable 23.

The groove 42 also has a bottom surface 422 located below (on the -z side) of the inner wall 421. The height of the bottom surface 422 decreases from the front side (+x side) to the back side (-x side) in the direction in which the ultrasonic probe cable 23 is pulled out. This allows the ultrasonic probe cable 23 to slide to the back side (-x side) due to its own weight, and the ultrasonic probe cable 23 can be positioned so as not to get in the way.

In addition, the ultrasonic probe holder 40 (holding portion 41, groove portion 42, and mounting portion 43) are molded as a single unit. This allows the ultrasonic probe holder 40 to be easily manufactured with high strength.

The groove 42 is also made of a material with a slippery surface. This reduces friction between the ultrasonic probe cable 23 and the groove 42, and better prevents scratches and tears due to wear on the ultrasonic probe cable 23, as well as electrical disconnections.

The inner surface of the groove 42 is also treated to make it slippery. This reduces friction between the ultrasonic probe cable 23 and the groove 42, and better prevents scratches and tears due to wear on the ultrasonic probe cable 23, as well as electrical disconnections.

In addition, the ultrasound probe cable 23 has the weight portion 24 on the connection side (connector 22 side) to the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 rather than the portion held by the ultrasound probe holder 40. Therefore, the ultrasound probe cable 23 can slide toward the weight portion 24 due to its own weight and the weight of the weight portion 24, and the ultrasound probe cable 23 can be positioned so as not to get in the way.

(Modification)
A modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic system 1000 according to this modification.

The ultrasound diagnostic device 100 in the above embodiment is an ultrasound diagnostic device in which the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 and the caster unit 1b for moving the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 are integrated, but in this modified example, the ultrasound diagnostic device and the cart for moving the ultrasound diagnostic device are configured as separate entities.

The device configuration of this modified example will be described with reference to FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the ultrasound diagnostic system 1000 of this modified example has an ultrasound diagnostic device 100A and a cart 200 as a cart for the ultrasound diagnostic device.

The ultrasound diagnostic device 100A is a portable ultrasound diagnostic device and includes the ultrasound diagnostic device 100A and a cart 200. The ultrasound diagnostic device 100A includes an ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A and an ultrasound probe 2.

The ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A has the same functional configuration as the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1 of the above embodiment. For example, the operation input unit 11A and the display unit 17A of the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A are similar to the operation input unit 11 and the display unit 17 of the above embodiment. In addition, the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A can simultaneously connect three ultrasound probes 2, but is not limited to this number of connections.

The cart 200 has a main body mounting surface portion 210, a front end guide portion 220, a rear end guide portion 230, an ultrasonic probe holder 40, a support portion 240, and a caster portion 250.

The main body mounting surface 210 is a flat surface in the xy plane perpendicular to the z-axis direction, and the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body 1A is placed on it so that it contacts the bottom surface of the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body 1A. Fixing parts (not shown) that fix the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body 1A to the main body mounting surface 210 in the z-axis and y-axis directions are provided on the main body mounting surface 210.

The front end guide section 220 is a guide section that corresponds to the front end of the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A, and is provided on the front end side (+x side) of the main body mounting surface section 210. The front end of the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A can be positioned by the front end guide section 220. The rear end guide section 230 is a guide section that corresponds to the rear end of the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A, and is provided on the rear end side (-x side) of the main body mounting surface section 210.

The ultrasound probe holder 40 holds the ultrasound probe 2 connected to the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A. The support column 240 is connected to the main body mounting surface 210 and the caster section 250, and is a support column extending in the z-axis direction, and supports the main body mounting surface 210 (the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A placed on it).

The caster unit 250 has wheels, and the rotation of the wheels allows the cart 200 and the ultrasound diagnostic device 100A attached thereto to be freely moved on the floor surface (xy plane).

As described above, according to this modified example, the cart 200 includes an ultrasound probe holder 40. The cart 200 carries an ultrasound diagnostic device 100A including an ultrasound probe 2 and an ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A to which the ultrasound probe 2 is connected. The ultrasound diagnostic system 1000 includes the cart 200 and the ultrasound diagnostic device 100A.

As a result, similar to the above embodiment, the configuration of the ultrasound probe holder 40 can be simplified, and the occurrence of scratches or tears due to wear and electrical disconnection of the ultrasound probe cable 23 can be prevented. Also, similar to the above embodiment, the ultrasound probe cable 23 may be configured to have the weight portion 24 on the connection side (connector 22 side) to the ultrasound diagnostic device main body 1A rather than the portion held by the ultrasound probe holder 40.

The above-described embodiments and modifications are merely examples of suitable ultrasound probe holders, ultrasound diagnostic devices, carts for ultrasound diagnostic devices, and ultrasound diagnostic systems according to the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting.

Furthermore, the detailed configurations and detailed operations of the components constituting the ultrasound diagnostic device 100 and ultrasound diagnostic system 1000 in the above embodiments and modifications may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1000 Ultrasonic diagnostic system 100, 100A Ultrasonic diagnostic device 1, 1A Ultrasonic diagnostic device main body 11, 11A Operation input unit 12 Transmission unit 13 Reception unit 14 Image generation unit 15 Image processing unit 15a Image memory unit 16 Display control unit 17, 17A Display unit 18 Control unit 31 Selector 32 Connector 1a Housing 40 Ultrasonic probe holder 41 Holding unit 411 Side unit 412, 422 Bottom unit 42 Groove unit 421 Inner wall unit 43 Mounting unit 1b, 250 Caster unit 2 Ultrasonic probe 21 Ultrasonic probe main body 2a Transducer 22 Connector 23 Ultrasonic probe cable 24 Plummet unit 200 Cart 210 Main body mounting surface unit 220 Front end guide unit 240 Support unit

Claims (12)

An ultrasonic probe holder for holding an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic probe body and an ultrasonic probe cable connected to the ultrasonic probe body,
A holder for holding the ultrasonic probe body;
a groove portion for guiding and holding the ultrasonic probe cable;
The groove portion is
The ultrasonic probe holder has an inner wall portion having a convex curved shape on the inside of the groove over the entire length of the groove in a first direction in which the ultrasonic probe cable is guided. The ultrasonic probe holder according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall has a length at the end in the first direction that is longer than the length of the central portion in the first direction with respect to the length of the spatial portion in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The ultrasonic probe holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner wall portion has two convex curved portions facing each other. The groove portion has a bottom surface portion disposed below the inner wall portion,
The ultrasonic probe holder according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface portion is gradually reduced in height from a front side to a rear side in a direction in which the ultrasonic probe cable is pulled out. The ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding portion and the groove portion are integrally molded. An ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the groove portion is formed of a material having a slippery surface. An ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner surface of the groove is treated to make it slippery. An ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
an ultrasonic diagnostic device body to which the ultrasonic probe is connected;
An ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasound diagnostic device according to claim 8, wherein the ultrasound probe cable has a weight portion on the side connected to the ultrasound diagnostic device body rather than the portion held by the ultrasound probe holder. An ultrasonic probe holder according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus cart on which an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body to which the ultrasonic probe is connected is placed. The cart for an ultrasonic diagnostic device according to claim 10,
An ultrasound diagnostic system comprising the ultrasound diagnostic device. The ultrasound diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein the ultrasound probe cable has a weight portion on the side connected to the ultrasound diagnostic device body rather than the portion held by the ultrasound probe holder.

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