JPH02246938A - Ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a leak current through an external device and to maintain the safety to a human body by executing a coupling with external equipment such as a personal computer by means of a photocoupler. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic diagnostic device 10 is composed of ultrasonic equipment 1, an insulating transformer 6, a power source part 5, a photocoupler 2 and a lead wire 16. The insulating transformer 6 executed the conversion of the power source of AC100V from the external part, simultaneously, it is the equipment to execute the primary and secondary insulations, and the power source part 5 plays the roles of the generator of respective kinds of AC and DC voltages for the ultrasonic equipment 1 and the power source of the photocoupler 2. On the other hand, an external device 20 is composed of external equipment 4, a power source part 7 and a photocoupler 3, and the external equipment 4 is the equipment such as the personal computer. In the case of the personal computer, data in the ultrasonic equipment 4 are taken out, and a definite processing is executed. An optical fiber cable 9 executes the connection between the photocouplers 2 and 3. Thus, the electrical insulation between the ultrasonic diagnostic device 10 and external device can be executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is insulated from external equipment such as a personal computer.

[Prior art]

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is strongly required to be electrically insulated for safety. There are many cases in which the probe of an ultrasound probe is brought into contact with the patient, and electrocardiograms and heart sounds are measured in addition to ultrasound diagnosis. This is due to the fact that the equipment is frequently touched to operate it.

Conventionally, an isolation transformer was installed inside the ultrasound diagnostic equipment.
By insulating the equipment itself from the electrical system, the leakage current flowing through the equipment is reduced, making it electrically safe.

In addition, general literature on ultrasonic diagnostic equipment includes the ``Medical Ultrasonic Equipment Handbook'' (published by the Japan Electronics Industry Association, 1932).
(Published by Corona Publishing).

(Problem to be solved by the invention) There are many cases in which external devices such as personal computers are connected to ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.In the case of personal computers, the internal power supply uses AClooV. In this case, the problem is how to insulate it from the computer.

As a countermeasure to this problem, even in the case of a personal computer, it is conceivable to provide an isolation transformer inside or outside the diagnostic device. However, isolation transformers are relatively expensive, especially as the power supply voltage capacity increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that, when an external device such as a personal computer is connected, electrically insulates the external device from the main body of the diagnostic apparatus.

[Means to accomplish the task]

In the present invention, the connection to an external device such as a personal computer is electrically isolated via a photocoupler.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be electrically isolated from the external equipment such as the personal computer because the connection with the external equipment such as the personal computer is made by a photocoupler.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

The ultrasonic device 1 refers to devices that not only perform ultrasonic measurement and processing but also measure and process biological systems.

The isolation transformer 6, which also includes the display unit and operation equipment, converts the AClooV power source from the outside and also converts the primary and secondary power supplies.
This is a device that is insulated from the following: The power supply section 5 plays the role of generating various AC and DC voltages for the ultrasonic device 1 and as a power source for the photocoupler 2.

On the other hand, the external device 20 includes an external device 4, a power supply section 7, and a photocoupler 3. The external device 4 is a device such as a personal computer. In the case of a personal computer, the data in the ultrasonic device 4 may be taken out and subjected to certain processing. Here, the constant processing refers to processing other than that which the ultrasonic device 4 originally has.

The photocoupler 2 and 3 were connected by an optical fiber cable 9. As a result, electrical insulation is established between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 and the external device 20. Therefore, the leakage current from the external device 20 is
It no longer flows to 0.

FIG. 2 is a related diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1, including the mechanism of electrical isolation. As shown in the figure, a subject and an operator exist in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as persons who come into contact with the apparatus. There is a problem of electrical safety for such subjects and operators.

The ultrasound equipment l includes a biological signal system 11, an ultrasound signal system 12,
It consists of AD converters 13 and 14, a digital scan converter 15, and a display section 18. Although the biological signal system 11 is not an original device for ultrasonic diagnosis, it is installed in conjunction with the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and contributes to improving the diagnostic ability.

The biosignal system 11 includes an electrocardiograph (ECG) and a heartbeat needle (PCG).
) to measure electrocardiograms and heart sounds.

The ultrasonic signal system 12 is an original device and consists of a transmitting system and a receiving system, and the probe 12A transmits and receives signals to and from the subject.

The digital scan converter 15 is an image processing unit that converts the scanning of ultrasonic signals into timing for TV display, and the input data for this is input to the AD converter 13.1.
The 0 display section 18 obtained from 4 is a so-called TV, and displays the processing results of the converter 15, as well as electrocardiograms and heart sounds.

A personal computer A serving as an external device takes in data from a memory (not shown) in the converter 15 via a lead wire 16, a photocoupler 2, an optical fiber 9, and a photocoupler 3, and performs processing other than that of the converter 15.

Now, the equipment except the personal computer is mounted on the metal part 30 of the main body. On the other hand, the human body is (A) and (B).

Contact occurs at (C) and (H). Therefore, the main body metal part 3
The question is whether leakage current flows through the contact portions (A), (B), (C), and (H).

For example, leakage current from the primary side of the isolation transformer 6 via (D) and leakage current from the secondary side via (F) can be considered. However, these leakage currents tend to occur with ordinary transformers, but because an isolation transformer is used, these leakage currents do not occur.

On the other hand, since PC 4A uses AC, 100V as a power source, it uses lead wires that are originally electric wires for ultrasonic signal system! 10, there is a risk that a leakage current will flow to the metal part 30 via the route (II). It is conceivable that the leak current may leak to the human body through the air.

However, since the optical fiber 9 was used as the connection line,
The leakage current path (E) was eliminated, and the adverse effects on the human body were also eliminated.

Note that instead of optical fiber, ultrasonic communication or wireless communication may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, when an external device is connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic device, since the connection is electrically insulated like an optical fiber, there is no leakage current through the external device, and safety to the human body is maintained. Ru.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example thereof. Part equipment, 9...optical fiber.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasonic device and an external device connected to the device, in which the external device and the ultrasonic device are connected by an optical fiber.