Connector case, ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic imaging apparatus

• US 20020151791A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nozaki, Mitsuhiro, Kawae, Sotaro, Uchibori, Masami
• Granted Patent: US 6,887,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

In order to facilitate recognition of the correct orientation of a connector, the rear portion of a connector 24 is configured to form an elevation angle when the front portion of the connector can be correctly inserted into a receptacle 500 in a horizontal direction.

Claims

1. A connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which a cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly therein, wherein said connector case is configured so that the rear portion forms an elevation angle when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.

2. A connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which a cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly therein, wherein said connector case has a color on a side that is obverse when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction, which color is different from that on a reverse side.

3. A connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which a cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly therein, wherein said connector case comprises an insertion stopping member that is retracted from an insertion stopping position to a release position by gravity when the front portion is in a position in which it can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.

4. The connector case as defined by claim 3, wherein said insertion stopping member has a pivotally supported arm, one end of which is provided with a stopper plate and the other end of which is provided with a weight.

5. An ultrasonic probe comprising:

a probe body;

a cable having one end connected to said probe body;

an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of said cable; and

a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which said cable is led, and containing said electric contact assembly therein, said connector case being configured so that the rear portion forms an elevation angle when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.

6. An ultrasonic probe comprising:

a probe body;

a cable having one end connected to said probe body;

an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of said cable; and

a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which said cable is led, and containing said electric contact assembly therein, said connector case having a color on a side that is obverse when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction, which color is different from that on a reverse side.

7. An ultrasonic probe comprising:

a probe body;

a cable having one end connected to said probe body;

an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of said cable; and

a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which said cable is led, and containing said electric contact assembly therein, said connector case comprising an insertion stopping member that is retracted from an insertion stopping position to a release position by gravity when the front portion is in a position in which it can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.

8. The ultrasonic probe as defined by claim 7, wherein said insertion stopping member has a pivotally supported arm, one end of which is provided with a stopper plate and the other end of which is provided with a weight.

9. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle;

a probe body;

a cable having one end connected to said probe body;

an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of said cable; and

a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into said receptacle and a rear portion out of which said cable is led, and containing said electric contact assembly therein, said connector case being configured so that the rear portion forms an elevation angle when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.

10. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle;

a probe body;

a cable having one end connected to said probe body;

an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of said cable; and

a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into said receptacle and a rear portion out of which said cable is led, and containing said electric contact assembly therein, said connector case having a color on a side that is obverse when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction, which color is different from that on a reverse side.

17. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus as defined by any one of claims 9-16, wherein said imaging apparatus body has a generally rectangular-parallelepiped outer shape in which the height dimension is smaller than the length and width dimensions, and has a housing provided with said receptacle on one of its surfaces other than the bottom and upper surfaces.

11. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle;

a probe body;

a cable having one end connected to said probe body;

an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of said cable; and

a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into said receptacle and a rear portion out of which said cable is led, and containing said electric contact assembly therein, said connector case comprising an insertion stopping member that is retracted from an insertion stopping position to a release position by gravity when the front portion is in a position in which it can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.

12. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus as defined by claim 11, wherein said insertion stopping member has a pivotally supported arm, one end of which is provided with a stopper plate and the other end of which is provided with a weight.

14. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus as defined by claim 13, wherein said sound is a noise.

15. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus as defined by claim 13, wherein said sound is a voice message.

16. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus as defined by claim 15, wherein said voice message is a multilingual voice message.

18. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus as defined by claim 17, wherein said imaging apparatus body has on an upper surface of said housing a generally planar display section that is tiltable around a hinge.

13. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle;

a probe body;

a cable having one end connected to said probe body;

a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into said receptacle and a rear portion out of which said cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of said cable therein; and

warning means for generating a warning sound when the front portion of said connector case is about to be inserted into said receptacle in an incorrect orientation.