US20150320388A1 - Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents
Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20150320388A1 US20150320388A1 US14/806,608 US201514806608A US2015320388A1 US 20150320388 A1 US20150320388 A1 US 20150320388A1 US 201514806608 A US201514806608 A US 201514806608A US 2015320388 A1 US2015320388 A1 US 2015320388A1
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- ultrasonic
- main body
- ultrasonic image
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- input device
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/13—Tomography
- A61B8/14—Echo-tomography
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
- A61B8/4427—Device being portable or laptop-like
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
- A61B8/461—Displaying means of special interest
- A61B8/462—Displaying means of special interest characterised by constructional features of the display
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
- A61B8/461—Displaying means of special interest
- A61B8/463—Displaying means of special interest characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
- A61B8/461—Displaying means of special interest
- A61B8/466—Displaying means of special interest adapted to display 3D data
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
- A61B8/467—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/46—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
- A61B8/467—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means
- A61B8/469—Ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic devices with special arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means for selection of a region of interest
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/5215—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of medical diagnostic data
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/54—Control of the diagnostic device
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
Definitions
- the present disclosure is directed to a portable, hand-held, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, provided with an input device to allow a user to grip and operate the apparatus with one hand.
- Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses direct ultrasonic signals from a body surface of an object to a desired region inside a human body, and obtain an image related to a mono layer of a soft tissue or a blood stream using the ultrasonic signals reflected from the object, i.e. information of the ultrasonic echo signals in a non-invasive manner.
- Such ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have a smaller size, lower price, functionality of real-time display and higher safety by elimination of X-ray exposure, as compared to other imaging diagnostic apparatuses, such as X-ray diagnostic systems, Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment, nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatuses, and the like. Accordingly, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been widely used for cardiac, abdominal, urinary and gynecologic diagnosis.
- CT Computerized Tomography
- MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are bulky and heavy and thus, have been fixedly installed at particular locations. Even in the case of small ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, they typically have a weight of 10 kg or more and thus, are not easy to move and are not portable. However, emergency rooms, operating rooms and other optional places for ultrasonic diagnosis may need small ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses that are easily movable. For this reason, portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been developed to overcome disadvantages of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses as described above.
- a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Although use of such a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is increasing because it advantageously has a minimized size or weight and is easily carried, placing the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus at a fixed position may be essential to allow a user to operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with one hand because the other hand of the user may be required to grip an ultrasonic probe so as to scan an object.
- a platform, cart or the like, on which the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is placed may be additionally provided, and the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus does not allow the user to grip and operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with one hand.
- a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasonic probe includes a main body, and an input device provided at a rear surface of the main body to receive user command information from a user.
- the main body may include a beam former to produce frame data by focusing ultrasonic signals received from the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic data producer to produce ultrasonic data via digital signal processing of the frame data, an ultrasonic image producer to produce an ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data, and a controller to control display of the ultrasonic image and a user interface according to the user command information.
- the controller may control provision of the user interface and optimization of the ultrasonic image according to the user command information.
- the input device may include a track ball.
- the track ball may input the user command information corresponding to a request and selection of the user interface.
- the track ball may input the user command information corresponding to a setting request of a region of interest included in the ultrasonic image, a size adjusting request of the region of interest, and a movement request of the region of interest.
- the input device may include at least one button provided at upper and lower sides or left and right sides of the track ball.
- the at least one button may include a first button to change a display mode of the ultrasonic image or a second button to pause a display screen of the ultrasonic image.
- the input device may include an image mode change button to change an ultrasonic image mode.
- the input device may include a touch panel.
- the input device may be separably coupled to the main body.
- FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1 ;
- FIGS. 3A to 3C are views illustrating user command input methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a display area of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a configuration of a main body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of a controller which provides the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a user interface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 9 is a view illustrating position change of a track ball with regard to the configuration of FIG. 8 ;
- FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of FIG. 1 .
- the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 includes a main body 20 , a display unit 30 , and an input device 40 .
- the main body 20 generally has a rectangular shape and defines an external appearance of the apparatus.
- the display unit 30 is installed to a front surface of the main body 20 and serves to display ultrasonic images related to various diagnostic information of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 .
- the input device 40 is installed to a rear surface of the main body 20 and serves to receive various operating commands of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 from a user.
- the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 further includes an ultrasonic probe 50 having a transducer element, which sends ultrasonic signals to an object (e.g., a body region, such as the liver, the kidneys, the pancreas, the heart, etc.) and receives the ultrasonic signals reflected from the object (i.e. ultrasonic echo signals) to convert the ultrasonic signals to electrical signals.
- the ultrasonic probe 50 may be connected to the main body 20 in a wired or wireless manner.
- the main body 20 has a size and weight (e.g., 1 kg or less) to allow a user to grip the main body 20 with one hand.
- the main body 20 receives ultrasonic signals from the ultrasonic probe 50 and forms 2-Dimensional (2D) or 3-Dimensional (3D) ultrasonic images using the received ultrasonic signals.
- the main body 20 is operated upon receiving electric power required to drive the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 from an integrated battery or an external power source.
- the main body 20 includes a connection unit connected to a connector provided at one end of the ultrasonic probe 50 and sends and receives signals to or from the ultrasonic probe 50 through the connection unit.
- the display unit 30 is constructed of light emitting elements, such as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), and the like.
- the display unit 30 displays 2D or 3D ultrasonic images produced in the main body 20 .
- the display unit 30 receives a user command corresponding to a request, selection and the like of a user interface from the input device 40 , and produces and displays user input information corresponding to the input user command.
- the display unit 30 displays ultrasonic images upon receiving a user command corresponding to a setting request, a size adjusting request, a movement request, and the like related to a region of interest.
- the display unit 30 displays the ultrasonic images along with names and setting values of set parameters.
- the input device 40 receives a user command related to operation of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 .
- the input device 40 may include a track ball, buttons or key switches, a sliding resistor, a rotary encoder, and the like.
- the input device 40 is provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 to allow the user to operate the main body 20 with a hand that is gripping the main body 20 .
- the input device 40 provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 may be installed at optional positions so long as it is operable by the user hand that is gripping the main body 20 .
- the input device 40 includes a track ball 41 having high operation freedom and one or more buttons 42 and 43 provided at upper and lower sides of the track ball 41 , thereby providing a User Interface (UI).
- UI User Interface
- the track ball 41 inputs a user command corresponding to a request, selection and the like of a user interface and also, inputs a user command corresponding to a setting request, size adjusting request, movement request, and the like related to a region of interest included in a displayed ultrasonic image.
- the one or more buttons 42 and 43 include a first button 42 to change a display mode of an ultrasonic image and a second button 43 to pause a display screen of the ultrasonic image.
- the first button 42 is a display mode change button to change a display mode of an ultrasonic image to be displayed on the display unit 30 .
- an ultrasonic image mode to be displayed on the display unit 30 such as a Brightness (B) mode, a Color (C) mode, a Pulsed-Wave (PW) mode, Motion (M) mode, Doppler (D) mode, Continuous Wave (CW) mode, and the like, is changed by pushing the first button 42 .
- the second button 43 is a freeze button to pause a display screen of an ultrasonic image to enable observation of an ultrasonic image displayed on the display unit 30 .
- a screen of an ultrasonic image that is being displayed on the display unit 30 is paused by pushing the second button 43 .
- first button 42 and the second button 43 are arranged at upper and lower sides of the track ball 41 to allow the user to operate the same with one hand
- the disclosure is not limited thereto and the first button 42 and the second button 43 may be arranged at left and right sides of the track ball 41 so long as they are operable using one hand.
- first and second buttons 42 and 43 may be arranged in parallel at any one side of the upper and lower sides or of the left and right sides of the track ball 41 .
- first button 42 and the second button 43 may be freely selected so long as the user can operate the input device 40 provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 with one hand that is gripping the main body 20 .
- the embodiment of the present disclosure describes the first button 42 as a display mode change button and the second button 43 as a freeze button by way of example, the disclosure is not limited thereto and functions of the first button 42 and the second button 43 may be exchanged. As necessary, additional buttons other than the first and second buttons 42 and 43 may be provided, or the track ball 41 may perform functions of the first button 42 and the second button 43 . For example, a freeze function of the second button may be realized by pushing the track ball, which enables omission of at least one of the first button 42 and the second button 43 .
- the input device 40 may include an image mode change button 44 to change an ultrasonic image mode.
- the image mode change button 44 is a button to change a mode of an ultrasonic image that is being displayed on the display unit 30 .
- the mode may include a gain, edge reinforcement, power, and the like, of the ultrasonic image.
- the embodiment of the present disclosure describes the image mode change button 44 as being arranged along with the track ball 44 by way of example, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the image mode change button 44 may be provided alone without the track ball 41 to receive a user command related to operation of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 .
- the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 may be implemented using a mobile device, for example, a mobile phone.
- FIGS. 3A to 3C are views illustrating user command input methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
- User command input methods using the track ball 41 may include a method of pushing and releasing the track ball 41 (hereinafter, referred to as a click method), a method of scrolling the track ball 41 in a circular direction while pushing the track ball 41 with a finger 70 as illustrated in FIG. 3A (hereinafter, referred to as a touch and circular scroll method), a method of scrolling the track ball 41 in a vertical direction while pushing the track ball 41 with the finger 70 as illustrated in FIG. 3B (hereinafter, referred to as a touch and vertical scroll method), and a method of scrolling the track ball 41 in a horizontal direction while pushing the track ball 41 with the finger 70 as illustrated in FIG. 3C (hereinafter, referred to as a touch and horizontal scroll method). Operations to provide a user interface using the track ball 41 will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a display area of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the display unit 30 includes a first area 31 , which displays an ultrasonic image upon receiving a user command corresponding to a setting request, size adjusting request, movement request, and the like related to a region of interest, and a second area 32 which displays a user interface upon receiving a user command corresponding to a request, selection and the like of a user interface.
- the user may observe desired diagnostic information while seeing an ultrasonic image displayed via the first area 31 and may select or change a menu of an ultrasonic image while seeing a user interface displayed via the second area 32 .
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a configuration of the main body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the main body 20 includes a beam former 21 , an ultrasonic data producer 22 , an ultrasonic image producer 23 , a storage unit 24 and a controller 25 .
- the beam former 21 focuses ultrasonic signals received from the ultrasonic probe 50 to produce frame data.
- the ultrasonic data producer 22 produces ultrasonic data via digital signal processing of the frame data input from the beam former 21 .
- the ultrasonic data producer 22 may serve as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).
- DSP Digital Signal Processor
- the ultrasonic image producer 23 produces an ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data.
- the ultrasonic image includes at least one of a Brightness (B) mode image, Color (C) mode image, Pulsed-Wave (PW) mode image, Motion (M) mode image, Doppler (D) mode image and Continuous Wave (CW) mode image.
- B Brightness
- C Color
- PW Pulsed-Wave
- M Motion
- D Doppler
- CW Continuous Wave
- the storage unit 24 stores the ultrasonic data produced by the ultrasonic data producer 22 on a per frame basis. Further, the storage unit 24 stores the ultrasonic image produced by the ultrasonic image producer 23 . In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage unit 24 includes a first storage unit 241 to store the ultrasonic data on a per frame basis and a second storage unit 242 to store the ultrasonic image.
- the controller 25 controls transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals and production/storage of ultrasonic data and ultrasonic images.
- controller 25 controls display of an ultrasonic image.
- the controller 25 performs provision of a user interface and optimization of an ultrasonic image in response to a user command input via the input device 40 .
- operation of the controller 25 with regard to provision of a user interface will be described in detail.
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of the controller which provides the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a user interface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the user grips the main body 20 of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 with one hand and operates the input device 40 provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 using the hand that is gripping the main body 20 .
- the input device 40 produces user input information corresponding to the input user command and transmits the produced user input information to the controller 25 of the main body 20 ( 102 ).
- the controller 25 produces a user interface according to the transmitted user input information ( 104 ).
- the user interface may display selectable menu items and other menus depending on a user request.
- the user interface may be changed in various ways according to a diagnostic mode with regard to production of an ultrasonic image as well as user convenience.
- controller 25 controls display of the produced user interface and the user interface is displayed on the second area 32 of the display unit 30 under control of the controller 25 ( 106 ).
- the user selects or changes a menu of the user interface using the track ball 41 of the input device 40 while seeing the user interface displayed on the second area 32 of the display unit 30 .
- menu information of the selected user interface is transmitted to the controller 25 .
- the controller 25 controls production of an ultrasonic image to be displayed according to the menu information of the transmitted user interface.
- a method of producing an ultrasonic image is as follows.
- the ultrasonic probe 50 sends ultrasonic signals from the body surface of the object to a desired region in the human body and receives the ultrasonic signals reflected from the object, i.e. ultrasonic echo signals to convert the ultrasonic signals into electrical signals.
- the ultrasonic signals converted into the electrical signals by the ultrasonic probe 50 are transmitted to the main body 20 through the connection unit.
- the beam former 21 of the main body 20 focuses the ultrasonic signals received from the ultrasonic probe 50 to produce frame data and transmits the produced frame data to the ultrasonic data producer 22 .
- the ultrasonic data producer 22 performs digital signal processing of the frame data input from the beam former 21 to produce ultrasonic data and the ultrasonic image producer 23 produces an ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data.
- the ultrasonic image includes at least one of a Brightness (B) mode image, Color (C) mode image, Pulsed-Wave (PW) mode image, Motion (M) mode image, Doppler (D) mode image and Continuous Wave (CW) mode image.
- the storage unit 24 stores the ultrasonic data produced by the ultrasonic data producer 22 on a per frame basis in the first storage unit 241 , and stores the ultrasonic image produced by the ultrasonic image producer 23 in the second storage unit 242 .
- the controller 25 controls display of the ultrasonic data and ultrasonic image stored in the first storage unit 241 and the second storage unit 242 in response to the user command via the input device 40 .
- the ultrasonic image is displayed on the first area 31 of the display unit 30 under control of the controller 25 .
- the user operates the track ball 41 provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 with one hand that is gripping the main body 20 .
- the input device 40 produces user change information corresponding to the input user command and transmits the produced user change information to the controller 25 of the main body 20 .
- the controller 25 If the user change information is transmitted from the input device 40 , the controller 25 produces a user interface changed according to the transmitted user change information and displays the changed user interface on the second region 32 of the display unit 30 ( 114 ).
- the user When it is desired to change a display mode of the ultrasonic image on the second area 32 of the display unit 30 , the user operates the first button 42 provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 with one hand that is gripping the main body 20 .
- the input device 40 produces user change information corresponding to the input user command and transmits the produced user change information to the controller 25 of the main body 20 .
- the controller 25 If the user change information is transmitted from the input device 40 , the controller 25 produces the ultrasonic image mode changed according to the transmitted user change information and displays an ultrasonic image of the changed mode on the first region 31 of the display unit 30 ( 118 ).
- the embodiment of the present disclosure has described the input device 40 provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 as including the track ball 41 and the buttons 42 , 43 and 44 by way of example, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the same effects as the disclosure may naturally be obtained even if the input device 40 includes a key switch, sliding resistor, rotary encoder, touch input device, and the like.
- FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 is constructed such that a touch panel 60 is attached to the rear surface of the main body 20 .
- the touch panel 60 is another example of the input device 40 that receives a user command related to operation of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 .
- the touch panel 60 may select user command information, such as mode change, content change, screen pause, and the like for an ultrasonic image to be displayed on the display unit 30 .
- FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 9 is a view illustrating position change of a track ball with regard to the configuration of FIG. 8 .
- the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 is configured such that a separable member 45 provided with the track ball 41 is mounted to the rear surface of the main body 10 .
- the separable member 45 allows the user to freely change a position of the track ball 41 provided at the rear surface of the main body 20 in consideration of different sizes of user hands.
- the user can operate the track ball 41 while gripping the main body 20 with one hand regardless of the size of the user's hand.
- FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 is configured such that the touch panel 60 is attached to a rear surface of the main body 20 and the separable member 45 provided with the track ball 41 is mounted to the rear surface of the main body 10 to which the touch panel 20 has been attached.
- the user can operate the track ball 41 while gripping the main body 20 with one hand regardless of the size of the user's hand and can select user command information, such as mode change, content change, screen pause and the like foe an ultrasonic image to be displayed via the touch panel 60 .
- the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which includes an input device provided at a rear surface of a main body thereof to allow a user to operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with one hand that is gripping the main body. Accordingly, a separate platform or cart required to place the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus thereon may be unnecessary, which reduces an equipment price and allows the user to conveniently grip the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
- the size of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be minimized and an ultrasonic image may be displayed on the entire screen, which expands a visual field of the ultrasonic image, resulting in enhanced user satisfaction.
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Abstract
Description
- This application is a Continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 13/541,520, filed Jul. 3, 2012, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0066162, filed on Jul. 4, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which applications are incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field
- The present disclosure is directed to a portable, hand-held, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, provided with an input device to allow a user to grip and operate the apparatus with one hand.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses direct ultrasonic signals from a body surface of an object to a desired region inside a human body, and obtain an image related to a mono layer of a soft tissue or a blood stream using the ultrasonic signals reflected from the object, i.e. information of the ultrasonic echo signals in a non-invasive manner. Such ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have a smaller size, lower price, functionality of real-time display and higher safety by elimination of X-ray exposure, as compared to other imaging diagnostic apparatuses, such as X-ray diagnostic systems, Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment, nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatuses, and the like. Accordingly, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been widely used for cardiac, abdominal, urinary and gynecologic diagnosis.
- Most ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are bulky and heavy and thus, have been fixedly installed at particular locations. Even in the case of small ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, they typically have a weight of 10 kg or more and thus, are not easy to move and are not portable. However, emergency rooms, operating rooms and other optional places for ultrasonic diagnosis may need small ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses that are easily movable. For this reason, portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses have been developed to overcome disadvantages of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses as described above.
- Although use of such a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is increasing because it advantageously has a minimized size or weight and is easily carried, placing the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus at a fixed position may be essential to allow a user to operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with one hand because the other hand of the user may be required to grip an ultrasonic probe so as to scan an object. To this end, a platform, cart or the like, on which the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is placed, may be additionally provided, and the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus does not allow the user to grip and operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with one hand.
- It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which an input device is provided at a rear surface of a main body, which allows a user to grip and operate the apparatus with one hand.
- Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.
- In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasonic probe includes a main body, and an input device provided at a rear surface of the main body to receive user command information from a user.
- The main body may include a beam former to produce frame data by focusing ultrasonic signals received from the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic data producer to produce ultrasonic data via digital signal processing of the frame data, an ultrasonic image producer to produce an ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data, and a controller to control display of the ultrasonic image and a user interface according to the user command information.
- The controller may control provision of the user interface and optimization of the ultrasonic image according to the user command information.
- The input device may include a track ball.
- The track ball may input the user command information corresponding to a request and selection of the user interface.
- The track ball may input the user command information corresponding to a setting request of a region of interest included in the ultrasonic image, a size adjusting request of the region of interest, and a movement request of the region of interest.
- The input device may include at least one button provided at upper and lower sides or left and right sides of the track ball.
- The at least one button may include a first button to change a display mode of the ultrasonic image or a second button to pause a display screen of the ultrasonic image.
- The input device may include an image mode change button to change an ultrasonic image mode.
- The input device may include a touch panel.
- The input device may be separably coupled to the main body.
- These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
-
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIGS. 3A to 3C are views illustrating user command input methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a display area of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a configuration of a main body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of a controller which provides the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a user interface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating position change of a track ball with regard to the configuration ofFIG. 8 ; and -
FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. - Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
-
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus ofFIG. 1 . - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10 includes amain body 20, adisplay unit 30, and aninput device 40. Themain body 20 generally has a rectangular shape and defines an external appearance of the apparatus. Thedisplay unit 30 is installed to a front surface of themain body 20 and serves to display ultrasonic images related to various diagnostic information of the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10. Theinput device 40 is installed to a rear surface of themain body 20 and serves to receive various operating commands of the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10 from a user. - The portable ultrasonic
diagnostic apparatus 10 further includes anultrasonic probe 50 having a transducer element, which sends ultrasonic signals to an object (e.g., a body region, such as the liver, the kidneys, the pancreas, the heart, etc.) and receives the ultrasonic signals reflected from the object (i.e. ultrasonic echo signals) to convert the ultrasonic signals to electrical signals. Theultrasonic probe 50 may be connected to themain body 20 in a wired or wireless manner. - The
main body 20 has a size and weight (e.g., 1 kg or less) to allow a user to grip themain body 20 with one hand. Themain body 20 receives ultrasonic signals from theultrasonic probe 50 and forms 2-Dimensional (2D) or 3-Dimensional (3D) ultrasonic images using the received ultrasonic signals. - The
main body 20 is operated upon receiving electric power required to drive the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10 from an integrated battery or an external power source. - The
main body 20 includes a connection unit connected to a connector provided at one end of theultrasonic probe 50 and sends and receives signals to or from theultrasonic probe 50 through the connection unit. - The
display unit 30 is constructed of light emitting elements, such as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), and the like. Thedisplay unit 30 displays 2D or 3D ultrasonic images produced in themain body 20. - The
display unit 30 receives a user command corresponding to a request, selection and the like of a user interface from theinput device 40, and produces and displays user input information corresponding to the input user command. - The
display unit 30 displays ultrasonic images upon receiving a user command corresponding to a setting request, a size adjusting request, a movement request, and the like related to a region of interest. Thedisplay unit 30 displays the ultrasonic images along with names and setting values of set parameters. - The
input device 40 receives a user command related to operation of the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10. Theinput device 40 may include a track ball, buttons or key switches, a sliding resistor, a rotary encoder, and the like. - The
input device 40 is provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 to allow the user to operate themain body 20 with a hand that is gripping themain body 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theinput device 40 provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 may be installed at optional positions so long as it is operable by the user hand that is gripping themain body 20. - In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
input device 40 includes atrack ball 41 having high operation freedom and one ormore buttons track ball 41, thereby providing a User Interface (UI). - The
track ball 41 inputs a user command corresponding to a request, selection and the like of a user interface and also, inputs a user command corresponding to a setting request, size adjusting request, movement request, and the like related to a region of interest included in a displayed ultrasonic image. - The one or
more buttons first button 42 to change a display mode of an ultrasonic image and asecond button 43 to pause a display screen of the ultrasonic image. - The
first button 42 is a display mode change button to change a display mode of an ultrasonic image to be displayed on thedisplay unit 30. In other words, an ultrasonic image mode to be displayed on thedisplay unit 30, such as a Brightness (B) mode, a Color (C) mode, a Pulsed-Wave (PW) mode, Motion (M) mode, Doppler (D) mode, Continuous Wave (CW) mode, and the like, is changed by pushing thefirst button 42. - The
second button 43 is a freeze button to pause a display screen of an ultrasonic image to enable observation of an ultrasonic image displayed on thedisplay unit 30. In other words, a screen of an ultrasonic image that is being displayed on thedisplay unit 30 is paused by pushing thesecond button 43. - Although the present embodiment describes the
first button 42 and thesecond button 43 as being arranged at upper and lower sides of thetrack ball 41 to allow the user to operate the same with one hand, the disclosure is not limited thereto and thefirst button 42 and thesecond button 43 may be arranged at left and right sides of thetrack ball 41 so long as they are operable using one hand. - In other embodiments, the first and
second buttons track ball 41. Those who skilled in the art will appreciate that arrangements of thefirst button 42 and thesecond button 43 may be freely selected so long as the user can operate theinput device 40 provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 with one hand that is gripping themain body 20. - In addition, although the embodiment of the present disclosure describes the
first button 42 as a display mode change button and thesecond button 43 as a freeze button by way of example, the disclosure is not limited thereto and functions of thefirst button 42 and thesecond button 43 may be exchanged. As necessary, additional buttons other than the first andsecond buttons track ball 41 may perform functions of thefirst button 42 and thesecond button 43. For example, a freeze function of the second button may be realized by pushing the track ball, which enables omission of at least one of thefirst button 42 and thesecond button 43. - In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the
input device 40 may include an imagemode change button 44 to change an ultrasonic image mode. The imagemode change button 44 is a button to change a mode of an ultrasonic image that is being displayed on thedisplay unit 30. For example, the mode may include a gain, edge reinforcement, power, and the like, of the ultrasonic image. - Although the embodiment of the present disclosure describes the image
mode change button 44 as being arranged along with thetrack ball 44 by way of example, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the imagemode change button 44 may be provided alone without thetrack ball 41 to receive a user command related to operation of the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10. - The portable ultrasonic
diagnostic apparatus 10 may be implemented using a mobile device, for example, a mobile phone. - Hereinafter, a user command input method using the
track ball 41 will be described with reference toFIGS. 3 A to 3C.FIGS. 3A to 3C are views illustrating user command input methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure. - User command input methods using the
track ball 41 may include a method of pushing and releasing the track ball 41 (hereinafter, referred to as a click method), a method of scrolling thetrack ball 41 in a circular direction while pushing thetrack ball 41 with afinger 70 as illustrated inFIG. 3A (hereinafter, referred to as a touch and circular scroll method), a method of scrolling thetrack ball 41 in a vertical direction while pushing thetrack ball 41 with thefinger 70 as illustrated inFIG. 3B (hereinafter, referred to as a touch and vertical scroll method), and a method of scrolling thetrack ball 41 in a horizontal direction while pushing thetrack ball 41 with thefinger 70 as illustrated inFIG. 3C (hereinafter, referred to as a touch and horizontal scroll method). Operations to provide a user interface using thetrack ball 41 will be described below in detail with reference toFIG. 6 . - Hereinafter, a display area of the
display unit 30 will be described with reference toFIG. 4 .FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a display area of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. - In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
display unit 30 includes afirst area 31, which displays an ultrasonic image upon receiving a user command corresponding to a setting request, size adjusting request, movement request, and the like related to a region of interest, and asecond area 32 which displays a user interface upon receiving a user command corresponding to a request, selection and the like of a user interface. - Accordingly, the user may observe desired diagnostic information while seeing an ultrasonic image displayed via the
first area 31 and may select or change a menu of an ultrasonic image while seeing a user interface displayed via thesecond area 32. -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a configuration of the main body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG. 5 , themain body 20 includes a beam former 21, anultrasonic data producer 22, anultrasonic image producer 23, astorage unit 24 and acontroller 25. - The beam former 21 focuses ultrasonic signals received from the
ultrasonic probe 50 to produce frame data. Theultrasonic data producer 22 produces ultrasonic data via digital signal processing of the frame data input from the beam former 21. Thus, theultrasonic data producer 22 may serve as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). - The
ultrasonic image producer 23 produces an ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data. The ultrasonic image includes at least one of a Brightness (B) mode image, Color (C) mode image, Pulsed-Wave (PW) mode image, Motion (M) mode image, Doppler (D) mode image and Continuous Wave (CW) mode image. - The
storage unit 24 stores the ultrasonic data produced by theultrasonic data producer 22 on a per frame basis. Further, thestorage unit 24 stores the ultrasonic image produced by theultrasonic image producer 23. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, thestorage unit 24 includes afirst storage unit 241 to store the ultrasonic data on a per frame basis and a second storage unit 242 to store the ultrasonic image. - The
controller 25 controls transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals and production/storage of ultrasonic data and ultrasonic images. - Further, the
controller 25 controls display of an ultrasonic image. Thecontroller 25 performs provision of a user interface and optimization of an ultrasonic image in response to a user command input via theinput device 40. Hereinafter, operation of thecontroller 25 with regard to provision of a user interface will be described in detail. -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of the controller which provides the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a user interface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG. 6 , the user grips themain body 20 of the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10 with one hand and operates theinput device 40 provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 using the hand that is gripping themain body 20. - If a user command to display an ultrasonic image is input by the user (100), the
input device 40 produces user input information corresponding to the input user command and transmits the produced user input information to thecontroller 25 of the main body 20 (102). - If the user input information is transmitted from the
input device 40, thecontroller 25 produces a user interface according to the transmitted user input information (104). In this case, the user interface may display selectable menu items and other menus depending on a user request. - The user interface may be changed in various ways according to a diagnostic mode with regard to production of an ultrasonic image as well as user convenience.
- Next, the
controller 25 controls display of the produced user interface and the user interface is displayed on thesecond area 32 of thedisplay unit 30 under control of the controller 25 (106). - The user selects or changes a menu of the user interface using the
track ball 41 of theinput device 40 while seeing the user interface displayed on thesecond area 32 of thedisplay unit 30. - If the menu of the user interface is selected, menu information of the selected user interface is transmitted to the
controller 25. - Thus, if the menu information of the user interface is transmitted from the
input device 40, thecontroller 25 controls production of an ultrasonic image to be displayed according to the menu information of the transmitted user interface. - A method of producing an ultrasonic image is as follows.
- First, if the
ultrasonic probe 50 is moved in contact with the body surface of an object to be diagnosed, theultrasonic probe 50 sends ultrasonic signals from the body surface of the object to a desired region in the human body and receives the ultrasonic signals reflected from the object, i.e. ultrasonic echo signals to convert the ultrasonic signals into electrical signals. - The ultrasonic signals converted into the electrical signals by the
ultrasonic probe 50 are transmitted to themain body 20 through the connection unit. - The beam former 21 of the
main body 20 focuses the ultrasonic signals received from theultrasonic probe 50 to produce frame data and transmits the produced frame data to theultrasonic data producer 22. - The
ultrasonic data producer 22 performs digital signal processing of the frame data input from the beam former 21 to produce ultrasonic data and theultrasonic image producer 23 produces an ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data. The ultrasonic image includes at least one of a Brightness (B) mode image, Color (C) mode image, Pulsed-Wave (PW) mode image, Motion (M) mode image, Doppler (D) mode image and Continuous Wave (CW) mode image. - In this case, the
storage unit 24 stores the ultrasonic data produced by theultrasonic data producer 22 on a per frame basis in thefirst storage unit 241, and stores the ultrasonic image produced by theultrasonic image producer 23 in the second storage unit 242. - Thereby, the
controller 25 controls display of the ultrasonic data and ultrasonic image stored in thefirst storage unit 241 and the second storage unit 242 in response to the user command via theinput device 40. The ultrasonic image is displayed on thefirst area 31 of thedisplay unit 30 under control of thecontroller 25. - Thereafter, when it is desired to change a menu of the user interface displayed on the
first area 31 of thedisplay unit 30, the user operates thetrack ball 41 provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 with one hand that is gripping themain body 20. - If a user command to change the menu of the user interface is input by the user (112), the
input device 40 produces user change information corresponding to the input user command and transmits the produced user change information to thecontroller 25 of themain body 20. - If the user change information is transmitted from the
input device 40, thecontroller 25 produces a user interface changed according to the transmitted user change information and displays the changed user interface on thesecond region 32 of the display unit 30 (114). - When it is desired to change a display mode of the ultrasonic image on the
second area 32 of thedisplay unit 30, the user operates thefirst button 42 provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 with one hand that is gripping themain body 20. - If a user command to change an ultrasonic image mode is input by the user (116), the
input device 40 produces user change information corresponding to the input user command and transmits the produced user change information to thecontroller 25 of themain body 20. - If the user change information is transmitted from the
input device 40, thecontroller 25 produces the ultrasonic image mode changed according to the transmitted user change information and displays an ultrasonic image of the changed mode on thefirst region 31 of the display unit 30 (118). - Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has described the
input device 40 provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 as including thetrack ball 41 and thebuttons input device 40 includes a key switch, sliding resistor, rotary encoder, touch input device, and the like. -
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. - In
FIG. 7 , the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10 is constructed such that atouch panel 60 is attached to the rear surface of themain body 20. Thetouch panel 60 is another example of theinput device 40 that receives a user command related to operation of the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10. - In one example, the
touch panel 60 may select user command information, such as mode change, content change, screen pause, and the like for an ultrasonic image to be displayed on thedisplay unit 30. -
FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 9 is a view illustrating position change of a track ball with regard to the configuration ofFIG. 8 . - In
FIGS. 8 and 9 , the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10 is configured such that aseparable member 45 provided with thetrack ball 41 is mounted to the rear surface of themain body 10. Theseparable member 45 allows the user to freely change a position of thetrack ball 41 provided at the rear surface of themain body 20 in consideration of different sizes of user hands. - Accordingly, by coupling the
separable member 45 provided with thetrack ball 41 to a desired position of the rear surface of themain body 20, the user can operate thetrack ball 41 while gripping themain body 20 with one hand regardless of the size of the user's hand. -
FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. - In
FIG. 10 , the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus 10 is configured such that thetouch panel 60 is attached to a rear surface of themain body 20 and theseparable member 45 provided with thetrack ball 41 is mounted to the rear surface of themain body 10 to which thetouch panel 20 has been attached. - Accordingly, by coupling the
separable member 45 provided with thetrack ball 41 to a desired position of the rear surface of themain body 20, the user can operate thetrack ball 41 while gripping themain body 20 with one hand regardless of the size of the user's hand and can select user command information, such as mode change, content change, screen pause and the like foe an ultrasonic image to be displayed via thetouch panel 60. - As is apparent from the above description, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which includes an input device provided at a rear surface of a main body thereof to allow a user to operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with one hand that is gripping the main body. Accordingly, a separate platform or cart required to place the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus thereon may be unnecessary, which reduces an equipment price and allows the user to conveniently grip the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
- Further, as the input device to receive a user command is provided at the rear surface of the main body, the size of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be minimized and an ultrasonic image may be displayed on the entire screen, which expands a visual field of the ultrasonic image, resulting in enhanced user satisfaction.
- Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (1)
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US14/806,608 US20150320388A1 (en) | 2011-07-04 | 2015-07-22 | Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
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KR20110066162A KR101245145B1 (en) | 2011-07-04 | 2011-07-04 | Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
KR10-2011-0066162 | 2011-07-04 | ||
US13/541,520 US9095304B2 (en) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-07-03 | Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
US14/806,608 US20150320388A1 (en) | 2011-07-04 | 2015-07-22 | Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
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US10517572B2 (en) | 2014-02-28 | 2019-12-31 | Samsung Medison Co., Ltd. | Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method of controlling ultrasound imaging apparatus |
JP2020130874A (en) * | 2019-02-25 | 2020-08-31 | フクダ電子株式会社 | Biological information processing device |
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KR101245145B1 (en) * | 2011-07-04 | 2013-03-19 | 삼성메디슨 주식회사 | Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
DE112014001044T5 (en) * | 2013-02-28 | 2015-12-03 | General Electric Company | Portable medical imaging device with cursor pointer control |
KR20150012142A (en) * | 2013-07-24 | 2015-02-03 | 삼성메디슨 주식회사 | The user controlling device, the hardware device, the medical apparatus comprisiging the same and the method of operating the medical apparatus |
KR102190028B1 (en) * | 2013-09-10 | 2020-12-11 | 삼성메디슨 주식회사 | Method for setting a focusing point, apparatus for setting a focusing point and ultrasonic imaging apparatus |
KR102245193B1 (en) * | 2014-03-13 | 2021-04-28 | 삼성메디슨 주식회사 | Medical diagnostic apparatus and operating method thereof |
EP3028639B1 (en) * | 2014-12-05 | 2018-10-03 | Samsung Medison Co., Ltd. | Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method of controlling the same |
JP1561942S (en) * | 2016-02-23 | 2016-10-31 | ||
KR20170135197A (en) * | 2016-05-30 | 2017-12-08 | 연세대학교 산학협력단 | Apparatus and method for controlling ultrasound diagnostics based to gui and hardware interface |
USD796679S1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-09-05 | Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc. | Portable ultrasound device |
USD796678S1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2017-09-05 | Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc. | Portable ultrasound device |
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US10856840B2 (en) | 2016-06-20 | 2020-12-08 | Butterfly Network, Inc. | Universal ultrasound device and related apparatus and methods |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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KR20130004854A (en) | 2013-01-14 |
US9095304B2 (en) | 2015-08-04 |
KR101245145B1 (en) | 2013-03-19 |
US20130012817A1 (en) | 2013-01-10 |
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