JPH0650608U - Ultrasonic tomography - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Simplifies the probe connection work and improves the inspection efficiency in an ultrasonic tomography device that has a plurality of probe connection connectors and can select and use multiple types of probes. . [Structure] A means 4 for detecting a probe selected from a plurality of types of probes 1A to 1C, and an ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 for any of the plurality of probe connection connectors 3A, 3B. A connector for switching connection, and a connector for discriminating a selected probe by the detecting means 4, controlling the connector switching device 5 and connecting the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving circuit 6 to the connector to which the probe is connected. Switching device control means 8 and notification elements 9A and 9B provided corresponding to each of the connectors,
Of these notification elements, a notification element operating means 8 for operating the notification element corresponding to the connector to which the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 is connected is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ultrasonic tomography apparatus having a plurality of probe connection connectors and capable of selectively using a plurality of types of probes.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In recent years, the applications of ultrasonic tomography devices have expanded, and various types of probes have appeared according to individual applications, and the types of such devices have increased. However, one ultrasonic tomography device can handle multiple applications. For this reason, conventionally, a plurality of probe connection connectors are provided, a plurality of types of probes can be selectively used, and various ultrasonic images are obtained.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 Conventionally, in such an ultrasonic tomography apparatus, a plurality of types of probes are often placed in the vicinity of the apparatus main body in a state where the respective connecting cords are intricate. Therefore, when using the device, it was not possible to know which probe was connected to which probe connection connector of the main body of the device by groping for the connection cord of the probe.

Therefore, when a probe thought to be connected to the connector is applied to the subject, it is determined that the desired probe is not connected to the connector. In some cases, the child was not connected to any connector, and the probe connection cord had to be replaced again, which was inefficient.

Therefore, recently, an ultrasonic tomography apparatus has appeared, which displays the model name of the probe connected to the apparatus main body (probe connection connector) on the CRT, but in this case, a plurality of formats are remembered. It had to be done, was tedious, and was inefficient in the end.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic tomography apparatus capable of saving the time required for the conventional connector connection work of the probe by the fumbling and improving the inspection efficiency such as diagnosis.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The above-mentioned object is an ultrasonic tomography apparatus having a plurality of probe connection connectors and capable of selectively using a plurality of types of probes, and a probe selected from the plurality of types of probes. Detecting means for detecting an ultrasonic wave, a connector switching device for switching and connecting an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving circuit to any of the plurality of probe connecting connectors, and a selecting probe by the selecting probe detecting means. Connector switching device control means for switching and connecting the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit to the probe connection connector to which the probe is connected, and the plurality of probe connections. An alarm element provided corresponding to each of the connectors, and an alarm element actuating means for alarming the alarm element corresponding to the probe connection connector to which the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit is switch-connected among these alarm elements. It is achieved by providing.

[0008]

[Action]

 When the probe is selected, the selected probe (selective probe) is detected by the selective probe detecting means in the ultrasonic tomography apparatus main body. As a result, the connector switching device control means discriminates the probe connecting connector to which the selected probe is connected, controls the connector switching device, and switches and connects the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving circuit to the connector. At the same time, the notifying element actuating means causes the notifying element provided corresponding to the connector to which the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit is switched and connected, to notify.

As a result, it is confirmed that the selective probe is connected to the connector (connector to which the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit is connected) corresponding to the activated notification element, and preparation for inspection such as diagnosis is completed. In addition, if none of the alarm elements activates the alarm, it will be confirmed that the selected probe is not connected to any connector, which shortens the time required to connect the probe connector. Inspection efficiency such as diagnosis is improved.

[0010]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic tomography apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1A to 1C represent different types of probes, which are different in frequency and size, but all are connected to the probe connector 3 of the ultrasonic tomography apparatus main body 2. It is possible to connect to both A and 3B.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a detection switch provided on each of the probes 1A to 1C, and when pressed, the probe connection detection signal S1 is generated. Reference numeral 5 is a connector switching device, 6 is an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving circuit, 7 is an I / O port, 8 is a CPU as connector switching device control means and notification element operating means, 9A and 9B are notification elements, and here LEDs.

In this case, the connector switching device 5 switches and connects the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 to either of the probe connection connectors 3A and 3B. The CPU 8 receives the probe connection detection signal S1 via the I / O port 7, determines the probe connection connector 3A or 3B to which the signal S1 is input, and switches the connector switch 5 on and off. The ultrasonic wave transmitter / receiver circuit 6 is switched and connected to the probe connector 3A or 3B to which the signal S1 is input.

The LEDs 9A and 9B are provided corresponding to the respective probe connection connectors 3A and 3B, and here, the connector selection key (manually connecting the probe connection connectors 3A and 3B) provided on the operation panel 10 is used. The switch (selection switch) 11A, 11B is configured to be fitted.

The CPU 8 is also used as an operating means for the LEDs 9A and 9B, and activates the LED 9A or 9B corresponding to the probe connecting connector 3A or 3B to which the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving circuit 6 is switched and connected.

In this case, the LEDs 9A and 9B depend on whether the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 is originally switched and connected to the probe connection connector 3A or 3B to which the selected probe 1A, 1B or 1C is connected. , Blinks or lights up.

Next, the operation of the device of the present invention will be described. For example, suppose that the probe 1A is selected and used now, and the detection switch 4 is pressed, the probe connection detection signal S1 is output to the probe connection of the device main body 2 to which the probe 1A is connected. Input to the I / O port 7 via the connector 3A.

The CPU 8 reads this, and it is determined that the probe connection detection signal S1 is input to the probe connection connector 3A, that is, the probe 1A is selected. As a result, the CPU 8 controls the connector switching unit 5 to connect the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 to the probe connection connector 3A and turn on the LED 9A provided on the connector selection key 11A of the operation panel 10. When the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 is connected to the probe connector 3A from the beginning, the LED 9A is made to blink. By lighting or blinking the LED 9A, it is easily confirmed that the selected probe 1A can be used as it is.

Further, in the case of the probe 1C which is not connected to any of the probe connection connectors 3A, 3B, even if the detection switch 4 is pressed, neither of the LEDs 9A, 9B changes. Since it remains off, it can be easily confirmed that the selected probe 1C is not connected to any of the probe connection connectors 3A and 3B.

In the above-described embodiment, the LEDs 9A and 9B are used as the notification elements to notify visually, but a buzzer or a voice output IC is used to notify the auditory sense. May be.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the connector switching device control means, the CPU as the notification element operating means, and one CPU 8 are used, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as a means for detecting the probe 1A or 1B selected from the plurality of types of probes 1A and 1B, the detection operated by intentionally pressing is performed. The switches 4 are provided on the probes 1A and 1B, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, a piezoelectric sensor or an optical sensor is provided in the grip portion of the probes 1A and 1B, or a gyro element is provided in the probes 1A and 1B, and the probes 1A and 1B are gripped. Alternatively, the probe 1A or 1B selected may be detected by moving it while holding or moving it.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the means for detecting the probe 1A or 1B selected from the plurality of types of probes 1A and 1B is provided on the probe 1A, 1B side is described. Although described, it may be provided on the apparatus main body 2 side.

For example, in FIG. 1, when the image stillness key 12 is operated, the CPU 8 controls the connector switching device 5 to alternately switch and connect the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 to the probe connection connectors 3A and 3B. , So that ultrasonic transmission / reception is performed several times at each connection.

At this time, the reception signal pattern obtained by the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 6 is as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example. That is, when the probe 1A or 1B is not selected, the pattern is gentle as shown in FIG. 3, but when the probe 1A or 1B is selected, that is, when the probe 1A or 1B is in contact with the subject. The signal amplitude from various parts of the subject, for example, an organ, changes variously, resulting in a pattern in which the amplitude changes as shown in FIG.

Now, assuming that the pattern shown in FIG. 2 is obtained from the probe connecting connector 3A and the pattern shown in FIG. 3 is obtained from the probe connecting connector 3B, the probe 1A connected to the probe connecting connector 3A is obtained. Can be determined to have been selected.

In any of the embodiments, the number of probe connection connectors and the number of probes can be arbitrarily selected.

[0029]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver circuit switching connection is automatically performed from the plurality of probe connection connectors to the connector to which the actually selected probe is connected. At the same time, the fact that this has been done is notified, and since it is possible to determine when the selected probe is not connected to any connector, it is necessary for the connector connection work of the probe by conventional fumbling. This has the effect of saving time and improving the efficiency of inspections such as diagnosis.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a received signal pattern when a probe connected in the same apparatus is in contact with a subject.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a received signal pattern when the probe connected in the same apparatus is not in contact with the subject.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A probe 1B probe 1C probe 2 ultrasonic tomography unit body 3A probe connection connector 3B probe connection connector 4 detection switch 5 connector selector 6 ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit 7 I / O port 8 CPU (Connector switching device control means, notification element actuation means) 9A LED (notification element) 9B LED (notification element) 10 Operation panel 11A Connector selection key 11B Connector selection key 12 Image stationary key S1 Probe connection detection signal

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ultrasonic tomography apparatus comprising a plurality of probe connection connectors and capable of selectively using a plurality of types of probes, wherein a probe selected from the plurality of types of probes is provided. Selective probe detecting means for detecting a child, a connector switching device for switching and connecting an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving circuit to any of the plurality of probe connecting connectors, and a selective probe by the selective probe detecting means. A connector switching device control means for discriminating a child and controlling the connector switching device to switch and connect the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit to a probe connection connector to which the probe is connected; and the plurality of probes. An alerting element provided corresponding to each of the connecting connectors, and an alerting element operating means for alerting the alerting element corresponding to the probe connecting connector to which the ultrasonic transmission / reception circuit is switch-connected among these alerting elements Equipped with Ultrasonic tomographic apparatus according to claim Rukoto.