WO2008044304A1

WO2008044304A1 - Ultrasonic inspecting device

Info

Publication number: WO2008044304A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/320400
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshinori Masuda; Yutaka Shimizu
Original assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
Priority date: 2006-10-12
Filing date: 2006-10-12
Publication date: 2008-04-17

Abstract

Provided is a battery-operated ultrasonic diagnosis device comprising a battery-remaining detection unit (23) for detecting the battery-remaining, a probe discriminating unit (16) for discriminating the kind of a probe (11) connected with a device body (10), a storage unit (18) stored with imaging conditions to be executed by various probes and the maximum power consumption under the various imaging conditions, and a remaining-time calculating unit (17) for calculating the remaining time period of the device. When the battery-remaining becomes equal to or less than a threshold value, the remaining-time calculating unit (17) acquires information on the kind of the probe from the probe discriminating unit (16) and inquires of the storage unit (18) about that information, thereby to read out the imaging conditions to be executed by that probe and the maximum power consumption under the imaging conditions from the storage unit (18). On the basis of the maximum power consumption and the battery-remaining, the remaining-time calculating unit (17) then calculates the remaining time period under the various imaging conditions to be executed by the probe (11) now connected, and displays the same in the screen of a monitor (15).

Description

Specification

Ultrasonic inspection equipment

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus such as an ultrasonic nondestructive inspection apparatus or an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus operable by a battery.

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs in-vivo observation by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves has been generally used in a laboratory or the like of a medical institution. · The weight has been reduced and handy type ultrasonic diagnostic equipment has been developed and used for home visits. In addition, relatively large ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are mainly equipped with casters at the bottom of the apparatus so that diagnosis can be performed by moving the apparatus to the patient. Many of such ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses use a rechargeable battery as a power source, or can use a rechargeable battery and a commercial power source depending on the place of use. In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can be operated by a battery, the time during which the apparatus can be used is limited depending on the battery capacity.

[0003] Therefore, conventionally, the remaining amount of the battery is monitored, and when the remaining amount falls below a set threshold value, a warning screen indicating a decrease in the remaining battery level is displayed on the monitor. There is known an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function to call attention to. In addition, as a device to extend the usage time, it has a function to reduce power consumption by automatically lowering the clock frequency of the CPU when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold. Things are known.

[0004] Patent Document 1 displays the remaining usable time on the monitor screen when the remaining battery level of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having such a function of switching to a power saving operation decreases. In addition, there is described an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of automatically displaying a dialog box for inquiring of a user whether or not to shift to a power saving operation as described above.

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-323845 Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0006] However, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a B (Brightness) mode that displays a tomographic image, and a color flow mapping (CFM) mode that measures blood flow velocity using the Doppler effect and displays them in different colors. The power consumption varies greatly depending on the imaging mode. Furthermore, even in the same imaging mode, for example, when the center frequency of ultrasonic waves in B-mode imaging is different, the power consumption of the apparatus changes. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the remaining usable time corresponding to various imaging conditions simply by monitoring the remaining battery level, and even a skilled user can determine the remaining usable time corresponding to all imaging conditions. It is difficult to guess based on experience.

[0007] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to notify the user of the remaining usable time in consideration of the imaging conditions when the remaining battery level is reduced in the ultrasonic inspection apparatus operable by the battery. An ultrasonic inspection apparatus having a function to perform is provided. Means for solving the problem

[0008] The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, is an ultrasonic inspection apparatus operated by a battery.

a) a battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining charge of the battery;

b) power consumption storage means for storing the power consumption of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus under various imaging conditions;

c) usable time deriving means for deriving the remaining usable time in one or more of the various imaging conditions based on the remaining charge amount and the power consumption; and d) providing the remaining usable time to the user. A notification means for notification;

It is characterized by having.

[0009] In the present invention, the "ultrasonic inspection apparatus operated by a battery" refers to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus that can use a battery as a power source, and only an apparatus that operates only by a battery. Includes batteries that can be switched between notch and commercial power supply. In the latter case, only when the battery is used as a power source, the remaining battery level is detected and the remaining usable time is notified. In addition, “imaging conditions” refers to B mode and CFM mode. In addition to the so-called imaging mode, it includes various conditions such as the center frequency of ultrasonic waves and acoustic power.

[0010] The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention further includes:

e) Connected to the main body of the ultrasonic inspection device! A probe discriminating means for discriminating the type of the ultrasonic probe,

An imaging condition storage means for storing imaging conditions executable by various ultrasonic probes; and the remaining usable time deriving means determines imaging conditions executable by the currently connected ultrasonic probe. It is desirable to read out from the imaging condition storage means and read out the power consumption under the imaging conditions from the power consumption storage means and derive the remaining usable time based on the power consumption and the remaining charge amount.

[0011] Further, an ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is an ultrasonic inspection apparatus operated by a battery.

b) power consumption detecting means for detecting the power consumption of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus; c) usable time deriving means for deriving the remaining usable time from the power consumption and the remaining charge amount;

d) a notification means for notifying the user of the remaining usable time;

It is characterized by having.

[0012] Further, the notification means may be configured to notify the remaining usable time at that time according to a user's instruction! Although the remaining charge level detected by the remaining battery level detection unit is predetermined. It is more desirable to automatically notify the user of the remaining usable time when the threshold is exceeded.

The invention's effect

[0013] According to the ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the remaining usable time of the apparatus is obtained by using the power consumption values under various imaging conditions stored in advance. Thus, it is possible to notify the user of an appropriate remaining usable time in consideration of imaging conditions such as the imaging mode and the center frequency of ultrasonic waves. Furthermore, if the above-mentioned probe discrimination means is provided, the ultrasonic pro- gram that is currently connected to the main body of the device!

1

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Because it is possible to notify only the remaining usable time in the imaging conditions that can be executed in the screen, it is possible to appropriately narrow down the items to be notified to the user.

[0014] Further, according to the ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the power consumption of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus is detected, and the remaining usage of the apparatus is utilized using the value of the power consumption By obtaining the available time, it is possible to obtain a more accurate remaining usable time corresponding to the imaging condition currently being executed.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a remaining usable time notification screen in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a remaining usable time notification screen in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

.... Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

11 ... Ultrasonic probe

12 ... Connector, Kuta

13 ··· Ultrasonic transceiver

14 ··· Signal processor

is monitor

le- ··· Probe discrimination part

17 '

18 • • • [5

19 ... Control part

20 Input section

21 · Power supply section 22

23 ··· Battery level detector

24 '

25 ··· Current sensor

30 ··· Commercial power

41 ··· Ultrasound image

42 Gauge

43 ·

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

Example 1

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the main part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. The probe 11 is in contact with the body surface of the subject and transmits / receives ultrasonic waves, and is connected to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 13 via the connector 12 provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 10. . The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 13 generates ultrasonic waves by applying driving pulses to a number of ultrasonic transducers built in the probe 11, and receives ultrasonic waves reflected in the living body to receive electrical signals (echoes). Signal). The signal processing unit 14 performs a predetermined calculation process based on the echo signal to generate a tomographic image, a flow velocity spectrum, character information of diagnostic data, and the like, and outputs them to the monitor 15. The operation of each of the above parts is controlled by the control unit 19, and instructions from the user are input to the control unit 19 by an input unit 20 such as a pointing device such as a track ball, a keyboard, and various operation buttons. .

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment is driven by a battery 24, and uses a commercial power source 30 to charge the battery 24, and the battery 24 transmits the battery 24. A power supply unit 21 is provided for supplying a current to be supplied to the above-described units. Further, the battery 24 is provided with a battery remaining amount detection unit 23, and the battery remaining amount detection unit 23 flows out of the battery 24 and the integrated value of the current flowing into the battery 24 (that is, the charge amount). The remaining charge of the battery 24 is calculated from the difference between the integrated current values (that is, the discharge amount). In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment further includes a fixed member attached to the ultrasonic probe 11 via the connector 12. A probe identification unit 16 that obtains a unique ID and identifies the type of the ultrasonic probe 11 based on the ID, imaging conditions that can be executed by various ultrasonic probes, and maximum power consumption under various imaging conditions. A storage unit 18 is stored, and a remaining time calculation unit 17 that calculates the remaining usage time of the apparatus based on the remaining battery level and the maximum power consumption is provided.

[0020] Next, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. When the user performs a predetermined operation from the input unit 20 to instruct the start of imaging, ultrasonic scanning by the ultrasonic probe 11 is started, and the signal processing unit 14 uses the echo signal acquired by the ultrasonic scanning. A tomographic image or the like is generated and displayed on the monitor 15. While the image is being captured, the remaining battery level detection unit 23 detects the remaining charge level of the battery 24 at a predetermined interval (step S11), and the detection signal is sent to the control unit 19. The control unit 19 determines whether or not the remaining charge level is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value! / (Step S12). If the remaining charge level is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the remaining time is calculated. Instruct part 17 to calculate remaining usable time.

[0021] Remaining time calculation unit 17 that has received an instruction from control unit 19 also acquires information about the type of probe 11 currently connected to ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 10 as well as probe discrimination unit 16 force (step S13). Then, by querying the storage unit 18 for the information, the imaging conditions that can be executed by the probe 11 and the maximum power consumption under the imaging conditions are read from the storage unit 18 (step S14). Subsequently, the remaining time calculation unit 17 executes the ultrasonic probe 11 that is currently connected from the value of the maximum power consumption in each imaging condition and the current remaining charge detected by the battery remaining amount detection unit 23. The remaining usable time under various possible imaging conditions is calculated (step S15) and displayed on the monitor 15 screen (step S16).

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An example of the display screen at this time is shown in FIG. Here, below the ultrasonic image 41, the remaining usable time under the above various imaging conditions is indicated by a gauge 42 and a numerical value 43. Here, “B” means B mode, rCFMj means color flow mapping mode, “PWD” means Pulse Wave Doppler (PWD) mode, and bar gauge 4 2 is the rest. It shows the available time as a percentage of an arbitrary time (here 1 hour). The user can know the appropriate charging time by referring to these displays. Then, it is possible to take measures such as changing the subsequent imaging schedule based on the remaining usable time in each mode. Note that only the remaining usable time in the currently executed imaging condition may be displayed.

[0023] Since the power consumption of the apparatus varies depending on the ultrasonic center frequency even in the same imaging mode, the remaining usable time in a plurality of imaging modes is displayed as described above, as well as various center frequencies. The remaining usable time may be displayed. It should be noted that it is desirable that the user can set in advance what remaining usable time under what imaging conditions should be displayed when the remaining battery level is low.

In this embodiment, the case where only one ultrasonic probe is connected to the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can connect a plurality of probes. The invention can be applied as well. In this case, the probe discriminating unit 16 discriminates all types of probes connected to the apparatus main body 10, and the remaining time calculating unit 17 performs the imaging conditions that can be performed for each probe and the consumption under the imaging conditions. Electric power is read from the storage unit 18. Thereafter, the remaining time calculation unit 17 calculates the remaining usable time for each probe and displays it on the monitor 15. Figure 4 shows an example of the display screen at this time. Here, probe A that can execute B mode, CFM mode, and PWD mode, and probe B that can execute continuous wave Doppler (CWD) mode in addition to the above modes. A display example of the remaining usable time when a type of probe is connected to the main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is shown.

Example 2

FIG. 5 shows a main configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure which is common or respond | corresponds with FIG. 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with a current sensor 25 for detecting the amount of current supplied from the power supply unit 21 to each part, and the detected value force of the current sensor 25 is also the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The total power consumption is derived, and the remaining usable time is obtained using that value. Note that the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 5 has a configuration in which the commercial power source 30 and the battery 24 can be switched and used as the power source, and the remaining battery charge is calculated only while the battery is being driven by the battery 24. And display of remaining usable time is executed. The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. Also in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, while the ultrasonic imaging is performed, the remaining charge of the battery 24 is detected at predetermined intervals by the battery remaining amount detection unit 23. (Step S21) When the control unit 19 determines that the remaining charge is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (“Yes” in Step S22), the remaining time calculation unit 17 calculates the remaining usable time. Is instructed. Receiving the instruction from the control unit 19, the remaining time calculation unit 17 acquires the detection value of the current sensor 25 via the control unit 19, and calculates power consumption based on the detection value (step S23). After that, the remaining time calculating unit 17 calculates the remaining usable time from the power consumption and the remaining charge detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 23 (step S24), and displays the result on the screen of the monitor 15 (Step S25)

[0027] In this way, the current value sent to each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is detected, and the remaining usable time is obtained from the power consumption calculated based on the current value. Unlike the first embodiment, it is not necessary to store power consumption under various imaging conditions in advance, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the power can be provided at a lower cost. In addition to the imaging conditions, more accurate remaining usable time can be obtained by reflecting the operating conditions of the entire ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including the brightness of the monitor 15 and the like.

As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described using examples, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications are allowed within the scope of the gist of the present invention. It is what is done. For example, the remaining battery level detection means in the ultrasonic inspection apparatus of the present invention is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment, and may be of any detection method, and further considers a decrease in battery capacity due to repeated charging or the like. It is more desirable to calculate the remaining charge.

[0029] In the above embodiments, the present invention is a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. However, the present invention is an ultrasonic flaw detection apparatus used for detecting defects in industrial products and buildings. It is clear that the present invention can be applied to various devices that acquire internal information of an object using transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] Ultrasonic inspection device operated by battery

An ultrasonic inspection apparatus characterized by comprising:

[2] In addition,

D imaging condition storage means for storing imaging conditions that can be executed by various ultrasonic probes, and the usable time deriving means for imaging the imaging conditions that can be executed by the currently connected ultrasonic probe. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remaining usable time is derived based on the power consumption and the remaining charge amount while reading out from the condition storage unit and reading out the power consumption in the imaging condition from the power consumption storage unit. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus described in 1.

[3] Ultrasonic inspection device operated by battery

d) a notification means for notifying the user of the remaining usable time;

An ultrasonic inspection apparatus characterized by comprising:

[4] The notification unit notifies the user of the remaining usable time when the remaining charge level detected by the remaining battery level detection unit falls below a predetermined threshold value. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 1.