WO2019093607A1

WO2019093607A1 - Ultrasound imaging apparatus and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2019093607A1
Application number: PCT/KR2018/005825
Authority: WO
Inventors: 홍민기; 강승천; 양소라
Original assignee: 삼성메디슨 주식회사
Priority date: 2017-11-09
Filing date: 2018-05-23
Publication date: 2019-05-16
Also published as: KR20190052789A

Abstract

Disclosed are an ultrasound imaging apparatus having an improved structure so as to enable prevention of theft of the ultrasound probe, and a control method thereof. The ultrasound imaging apparatus comprises a body, a holder which has a side-surface cut-out section and is provided on the body, an ultrasound probe provided so as to be either mounted in the holder by means of the side-surface cut-off section of the holder or detached from the holder, and a locking device provided so as to selectively lock the side-surface cut-out section of the holder.

Description

Ultrasonic imaging device and its control method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an ultrasound imaging apparatus having an improved structure for preventing theft of an ultrasound probe and a control method thereof.

The ultrasound imaging apparatus irradiates an ultrasound signal from a body surface of a target object toward a target portion in the body and obtains an image related to a tomography or blood flow of the soft tissue using information of the reflected ultrasound signal (ultrasound echo signal) .

The ultrasound imaging device is small, inexpensive, real-time displayable, and easy to use in comparison with other imaging devices such as X-ray diagnostic apparatus, X-ray CT scanner, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) , There is no radiation exposure, and the safety is high. Thus, ultrasound imaging devices are widely used for diagnosis of heart, abdomen, urinary and gynecology.

Recently, various methods for preventing theft of the ultrasonic probe have been sought.

One aspect of the present invention provides an ultrasound imaging apparatus having a locking device for an ultrasound probe and a control method thereof.

The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a main body, a holder provided on the main body, having a side cut-out portion, an ultrasonic probe mounted on the holder through the side cut-out portion of the holder or detached from the holder, And a locking device adapted to selectively lock the side incision.

The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further include a connection member provided to connect the ultrasonic probe and the main body, and an anti-theft accessory attached to the connection member, the connection member being larger than the holder so as to be restricted from passing through the holder .

The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further include a connection member provided to connect the ultrasonic probe and the main body, wherein the connection member is coupled to a connection portion provided in the main body, And a cable to which the connector is mounted at one end and the ultrasonic probe is mounted at the other end.

Wherein the ultrasonic probe includes a head larger than the holder so as to be able to be mounted on the holder, a head provided to contact the object, a neck smaller than the holder so as to be fitted to the holder, And may include a body that is larger than the holder to be limited and that extends from the neck.

The locking device may include a moving member that linearly moves to open and close the side cutout portion of the holder.

The moving member may be provided to be selectively protruded toward the inside of the holder.

The locking device may include a moving member that is rotatable about a rotation axis to open and close the side cutout portion of the holder.

The locking device may include a moving member that is rotatably disposed on an inner circumferential surface or an outer circumferential surface of the holder so as to open and close the side cutout portion of the holder.

The moving member has a side opening corresponding to the side cutout portion of the holder, and the side cutout portion of the holder can be unlocked when the side cutout portion of the holder and the side opening portion of the moving member meet.

The main body includes an input panel provided with an input unit for inputting a command, and the holder may be provided on the input panel.

A method of controlling an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention having a holder locking mode and a holder unlocking mode for preventing the ultrasonic probe from being stolen is a method for checking user identification information input to an input unit, The holder is released from the holder by releasing the side cutout portion of the holder to check whether the ultrasonic probe is stuck to the holder through the sensor and if the ultrasonic probe is stuck in the holder for a predetermined time or longer, And executing a lock mode to close the side incision of the holder.

The user identification information may include at least one of a password, a pattern, and user biometric information.

The control method of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that when the holder unlocking mode is executed, an alarm unit for notifying the user that the holder unlocking mode has been performed by stimulating at least one of the visual, auditory, And the like.

In the control method of the ultrasound imaging apparatus according to the present invention, when it is detected that the ultrasound probe is fixed to the holder by the sensor and the power of the ultrasound imaging apparatus is turned off, the holder lock mode is executed, And closing the side incision.

The locking device provided to selectively lock the side incision of the holder can be used to effectively prevent the ultrasonic probe from being stolen.

1 is a view showing an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are views showing a locking device of the ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment in the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention

4A and 4B are views showing a locking device of an ultrasonic probe according to a second embodiment of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention

5A and 5B are views showing a locking device of an ultrasonic probe according to a third embodiment in an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a control method of an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart showing a control method of the ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The term "front end", "rear end", "upper", "lower", "upper" and "lower end" used in the following description are defined with reference to the drawings, And the position is not limited.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, " X " represents the front-back direction of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1, " Y " represents the left- right direction of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1, and " Z "

1 and 2, the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may include a main body 10. The body 10 may include an input panel 12 disposed on the platform 11 and the platform 11. A handle portion 15 may be provided on one side of the input panel 12. The user can move the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1 by gripping the handle portion 15. [

The ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may further include a display 20. The display 20 may include a main display 21 and a sub display 22.

The display 20 can display the ultrasound image obtained in the ultrasound diagnostic process. In addition, the display 20 may display an application related to the operation of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1. [ As an example, the main display 21 may display the ultrasound image obtained in the ultrasound diagnostic process. The sub display 22 may display items related to the operation of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1. [

The main display 21 or the sub display 22 may be implemented as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), or the like. The main display 21 or the sub display 22 may be provided in combination with the platform 11 and may be separately provided from the platform 11. [

The ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may further include an input unit 30 provided in the main body 10. The input unit 30 may be provided in the form of a keyboard, a button, a dial, a foot switch, or a foot pedal. When the input unit 30 is a keyboard, the input unit 30 may be provided at an upper portion of the platform 11. When the input unit 30 is a foot switch or a foot pedal, the input unit 30 may be provided under the platform 11. The user can input a command for the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 through the input unit 30. [

When the input unit 30 is in the form of a keyboard, a button, a dial, or the like, the input unit 30 may be provided on the input panel 12.

The ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may further include an ultrasound probe 40 that transmits an ultrasound signal to a target object and receives an ultrasound signal reflected from the target object. The ultrasonic probe 40 may include a plurality of transducer elements capable of converting an electrical signal into an ultrasonic wave or vice versa. The transducer element can generate ultrasonic waves by vibrating with a transmission signal provided from the main body 10. [ The ultrasonic waves thus generated can be irradiated into the object. Further, the transducer element can generate a reception signal corresponding to the echo ultrasonic wave by vibrating by the echo ultrasonic wave reflected from the specific portion inside the object. The received signal may be transmitted to the main body 10 and used to generate an ultrasound image.

The ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1 may further include a connection member 50 provided to connect the ultrasonic probe 40 and the main body 10. Specifically, the connecting member 50 may be provided to connect the ultrasonic probe 40 and the platform 11. The connecting member 50 may include a cable 51 and a connector 52. A connector 52 may be mounted on one end of the cable 51 and an ultrasonic probe 40 may be mounted on the other end of the cable 51. The connector 52 may be releasably coupled to a connection 13 provided on the platform 11.

The ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1 may further include a holder 60 to which the ultrasonic probe 40 is mounted. The holder 60 may be provided on the main body 10. As an example, the holder 60 may be provided on the input panel 12. However, the position of the holder 60 is not limited to the input panel 12 but may be variously changed. When the user does not use the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1, the ultrasound probe 40 can be stored on the holder 60 and stored. The holder 60 may have a side cutout 61. The ultrasonic probe 40 can be inserted into the holder 60 through the side cutout 61 of the holder 60 and can be mounted on the holder 60 or separated from the holder 60. [

The ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may further include a locking device 300 that is provided to selectively lock the holder 60 to prevent theft of the ultrasound probe 40. The locking device 300 may be provided to selectively lock the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60. [ Details of the locking device 300 will be described later.

The ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may further include

caster units

71 and 72 provided to move the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1. The

casters

71 and 72 may be provided in the main body 10. Specifically, the

casters

71 and 72 may be provided on the platform 11. The

casters

71 and 72 may be arranged so as to move the main body 10 in a specific direction or move freely or may be locked so that the platform 11 stops at a specific position.

2, the ultrasonic probe 40 may include a head 41, a neck 42, and a body 43. [

The head 41 may be provided to be in contact with the object. The head 41 may be larger than the holder 60 so as to be mounted on the holder 60. In other words, the head 41 can have a width w1 larger than the width w of the holder 60 so that it can be supported on the upper surface portion 62 of the input panel 12 on which the holder 60 is provided have.

The neck 42 may extend from the head 41. The neck 42 may be smaller than the holder 60 so that it can fit into the holder 60. That is, the neck 42 is a portion located inside the holder 60 and may have a width w2 that is smaller than the width w of the holder 60.

The body 43 may extend from the neck 42. The head 41 and the body 43 of the ultrasonic probe 40 can be exposed to the outside of the holder 60 when the ultrasonic probe 40 is mounted on the holder 60. [

The connector 52 may be larger than the holder 60 so as not to pass through the holder 60. That is, the connector 52 may have a width w4 that is greater than the width w of the holder 60.

3A and 3B are views showing a locking device of an ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B, the locking device 300 may include a moving member 80 that moves to open and close the side cutout 61 of the holder 60. As shown in Fig. Specifically, the movable member 80 can linearly move to open and close the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60. [ That is, the moving member 80 can linearly move in the forward and backward directions X of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1 so as to open and close the side cutout portions 61 of the holder 60. The movable member 80 may be mounted on the input panel 12 to selectively protrude. When the movable member 80 is projected toward the inside of the holder 60, the side cut-out portion 61 of the holder 60 is closed so that the holder 60 is locked. Conversely, when the movable member 80 moves toward the outside of the holder 60, the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60 is opened, so that the holder 60 is in the unlocked state.

The locking device 300 may further include a locking device driver 140 (see FIG. 6) provided to operate the moving device 80. The lock device driving unit 140 may be provided in the main body 10.

4A and 4B are views showing a locking device of an ultrasonic probe according to a second embodiment of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description overlapping with that described in FIGS. 3A and 3B will be omitted.

4A and 4B, the locking device 300 may include a moving member 90 that moves to open and close the side cutout 61 of the holder 60. As shown in Figs. Specifically, the movable member 90 may be rotatable around a rotating shaft 91 to open and close the side cutout 61 of the holder 60. The rotary shaft 91 may be mounted on the input panel 12 such that it is parallel to the imaginary line extending in the vertical direction Z of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1. [ When the movable member 90 rotates about the rotary shaft 91 in the outward direction of the holder 60, the side cut-out portion 61 of the holder 60 is opened so that the holder 60 is in the unlocked state. Conversely, when the shifting member 90 is rotated inward of the holder 60 about the rotary shaft 91, the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60 is closed so that the holder 60 is locked.

5A and 5B are views showing a locking device of an ultrasonic probe according to a third embodiment of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description overlapping with that described in FIGS. 3A and 3B will be omitted.

5A and 5B, the locking device 300 may include a moving member 100 that moves to open and close the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60. As shown in FIGS. Specifically, the movable member 100 can be rotatably disposed on the inner circumferential surface 64 or the outer circumferential surface (not shown) of the holder 60 to open and close the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60. [ The movable member 100 may have a shape corresponding to the holder 60. [ The shifting member 100 may have a side opening 101 corresponding to the side cutout 61 of the holder 60. As the movable member 100 rotates, when the side opening portion 101 of the movable member 100 and the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60 meet, the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60 is opened, (60) is in the unlocked state. Conversely, when the side opening portion 101 of the movable member 100 and the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60 are staggered as the movable member 100 rotates, the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60 The holder 60 is locked.

It is sufficient that the locking device 300 is capable of opening and closing the side cutout portion 61 of the holder 60 and is not limited to the above example.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a method of controlling an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a transmission signal provided by the ultrasonic probe 40 is referred to as an ultrasonic signal, and a reception signal generated by the ultrasonic probe 40 is referred to as an ultrasonic echo signal.

6, the ultrasonic probe 40 may receive an ultrasonic signal from the main body 10 via a cable 51, or may transmit an ultrasonic echo signal to the main body 10. The ultrasonic probe 40 may be controlled by the main body 10 by receiving a control signal from the main body 10 via the cable 51. [

Specifically, when a control signal corresponding to a control command input through the input unit 30 is generated in the main body 10, the ultrasonic probe 40 receives the control signal via the cable 51 and is controlled according to the control command . For example, when a control command for setting the depth of focus of the ultrasonic wave to be irradiated, the size or shape of the aperture of the ultrasonic probe 40, or the steering angle is input through the input unit 30, May generate a control signal corresponding to the control command. The control signal thus generated is transmitted to the ultrasonic probe 40 through the cable 51 and used for beam forming.

The beam former 150 can beam-form an ultrasonic signal so that the ultrasonic probe 40 can irradiate ultrasonic waves, or beam-form an ultrasonic echo signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 40. Here, the beamforming may mean a method of delaying and sorting echoes reflected at specific points of a target object or echoes reflected from a specific point. This is to correct the time difference in which the echo ultrasonic waves arriving at or reaching a specific point of the object reaches each of the plurality of transducer elements.

The beam former 150 may include a transmission beamformer 151 for beamforming the ultrasonic waves irradiated to the object and a reception beamformer 152 for beamforming the collected echo ultrasonic waves.

The beam-shaped ultrasound echo signal from the beam former 150 is transmitted to an image processing unit 160, which will be described later, and can be used to generate an ultrasound image.

The image processing unit 160 processes the beamformed ultrasonic echo signal by the beamformer 150 to generate an ultrasound image for the object and transmits it to the display 20 to be described later so that the user can visually recognize the anatomical information of the object As shown in FIG.

The storage unit 170 may previously store an external image of a target object acquired by an external imaging device. In particular, the storage unit 170 may previously store the volume image of the object including the volume information of the object. As an example, the storage unit 170 may store an MR image of a subject acquired through a CT image or a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus obtained through an external computed tomography (CT) apparatus Can be stored in advance.

In addition, the storage unit 170 may store various types of information for controlling the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 in advance. For example, the storage unit 170 may previously store a matching parameter used when matching an ultrasound image with an external image.

The display 20 can display the ultrasound image generated by the image processing unit 160. The user can start to recognize the anatomical information of the object through the ultrasound image displayed through the display 20.

The control unit 180 may control each component of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 according to a user's control command or internal operation input through the input unit 30. [

The control unit 180 may control the display 20 to display the matched two images after matching the ultrasound image generated by the image processing unit 160 and an external image stored in the storage unit 170 in advance.

The control unit 180 can also control the locking device driver 140 such that the side cutout 61 of the holder 60 is closed by the moving member 80 of the locking device 300. [ Details of the control of the lock driving unit 140 will be described later.

When the holder 60 is released from the locked state, the control unit 180 activates the alarm unit 130 to notify the user that the lock state of the holder 60 is released by stimulating at least one of the user's sight, .

The sensor 120 may sense whether or not the ultrasonic probe 40 is mounted on the holder 60. The result sensed by the sensor 120 may be transmitted to the control unit 180. Details of the operation of the sensor 120 will be described later.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

7, the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may include a holder lock mode and a holder unlock mode for preventing the ultrasound probe 40 from being stolen.

When the power of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 is turned on and the icon of the padlock shape displayed on the display 20 is clicked, a pop-up message asking whether to execute the holder lock release mode is displayed on the display 20. In order to execute the holder unlocking mode, the user identification information is input through the input unit 30. When the user identification information input to the input unit 30 is correct, the holder lock release mode is executed. When the ultrasonic probe 40 is used, the holder unlocking mode continues. When the holder lock mode execution command is input through the input unit 30 by clicking the padlock icon or if the ultrasonic probe 40 is not used for a predetermined time, the holder lock mode is executed. When the power of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 is turned off, the holder lock mode is executed.

The user identification information may include at least one of a password, a pattern, and user biometric information. As an example, the user biometric information may include fingerprint, voice, iris, face image, vein, retina, and the like.

The user identification information can be input to the input unit 30 by various user authentication methods such as a password input method and a USB input method.

The control unit 180 confirms the user identification information input to the input unit 30 and operates the locking device driving unit 140 to open the side cutout unit 61 of the holder 60 when the user identification information is determined to be correct. That is, if the user identification information input to the input unit 30 is determined to be correct, the controller 180 executes the holder lock release mode. The sensor 120 may sense whether the ultrasonic probe 40 is mounted on the holder 60. [ The control unit 180 determines whether the ultrasonic probe 40 is mounted on the holder 60 based on the detection result of the sensor 120. The control unit 180 operates the lock device driving unit 140 so that the side cut unit 61 of the holder 60 is closed when the ultrasonic probe 40 is held in the holder 60 for a predetermined time or longer. That is, the controller 180 executes the holder lock mode if the ultrasonic probe 40 is held in the holder 60 for a predetermined time or longer. When the holder lock release mode is executed, the control unit 180 activates the alarm unit 130 to inform the user that the holder lock mode is released. The control unit 180 detects that the ultrasonic probe 40 is held in the holder 60 by the sensor 120 and the side cutout unit 61 of the holder 60 when the power of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 1 is turned off, The locking device driver 140 is operated. That is, the control unit 180 executes the holder lock mode.

8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description overlapping with those described in Figs. 1 to 7 will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 may further include an anti-theft accessory 200 mounted on the connecting member 50. Preferably, the anti-theft accessory 200 may be mounted to the cable 51. The anti-theft accessory 200 may be larger than the holder 60 so that passage through the holder 60 is limited. That is, the anti-theft accessory 200 may have a width w 'that is greater than the width w of the holder 60.

9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description overlapping with those described in Figs. 1 to 7 will be omitted.

9, the body 43a of the ultrasonic probe 40 may be larger than the holder 60 so that the body 43a is restricted from passing through the holder 60. As shown in Fig. More specifically, the body 43a of the ultrasonic probe 40 is guided by the interference between the body 43a of the ultrasonic probe 40 and the lower portion 63 of the input panel 12 provided with the holder 60, The width w3 of the holder 60 may be larger than the width w of the holder 60 so that the body 43a of the probe 40 does not pass through the holder 60. [

The foregoing has shown and described specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention described in the following claims .

Claims

main body;

A holder provided on the body and having a side cutout;

An ultrasonic probe mounted on the holder through the side incision of the holder or separated from the holder; And

And a locking device selectively locking the side incision of the holder.
The method according to claim 1,

A connecting member provided to connect the ultrasonic probe and the main body; And

And an anti-theft accessory attached to the connection member, the anti-theft accessory being larger than the holder so as to be restricted from passing through the holder.
The method according to claim 1,

Further comprising a connecting member connected to the ultrasonic probe and the main body,

The connecting member includes:

A connector coupled to a connection portion provided in the main body, the connector being larger than the holder so as to be restricted from passing through the holder; And

And a cable to which the connector is mounted at one end and the ultrasonic probe is mounted at the other end.
The method according to claim 1,

The ultrasonic probe includes:

A head larger than the holder so as to be able to be mounted on the holder, the head being provided to be in contact with the object;

A neck that is smaller than the holder and extends from the head so as to be fittable into the holder; And

And a body extending from the neck, the body being larger than the holder so as to be restricted from passing through the holder.
The method according to claim 1,

Wherein the locking device includes a moving member that linearly moves to open and close the side cutout portion of the holder.
6. The method of claim 5,

And the moving member is provided to be selectively protruded toward the inside of the holder.
The method according to claim 1,

Wherein the locking device comprises a moving member which is rotatable about a rotation axis so as to open and close the side incision part of the holder.
The method according to claim 1,

Wherein the locking device comprises a moving member rotatably disposed on an inner circumferential surface or an outer circumferential surface of the holder so as to open and close the side cutout portion of the holder.
9. The method of claim 8,

The moving member has a side opening corresponding to a side cutout portion of the holder,

Wherein the side cutout portion of the holder is unlocked when the side cutout portion of the holder and the side open portion of the moving member meet.
The method according to claim 1,

The main body includes an input panel provided with an input unit for inputting a command,

And the holder is provided on the input panel.