Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

• US 20040158148A1
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• 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: Amemiya, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,351,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/44 Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0215 for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/76 Medical, dental
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52019 Details of transmitters

Abstract

For the purpose of reducing the size and power consumption of a power source in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, charge pump circuits 50 and 60 are connected to a transmitter power source 14. A regulator in the transmitter power source 14 drives the charge pump circuit 50 to generate a positive bias voltage +HV2 higher than a positive voltage +HV1 generated by the transmitter power source 14. The regulator in the transmitter power source 14 also drives the charge pump circuit 60 to generate a negative bias voltage −HV2 lower than a negative voltage −HV1 generated by the transmitter power source 14.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic signals from ultrasonic transducers toward a subject to be examined, and receiving reflected waves of said ultrasonic signals for display, comprising:

an analog switch for switching ultrasonic transducers for transmission of said ultrasonic signals and reception of said reflected waves;

a transmitter power source for supplying a high voltage to a transmitter circuit for causing said ultrasonic transducers to drive said ultrasonic signals; and

a bias power source generating circuit for generating a bias power source for said analog switch from said transmitter power source.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said bias power source generating circuit comprises a positive bias power source generating circuit for outputting a voltage value higher than a positive voltage value of said transmitter power source, and a negative bias power source generating circuit for outputting a voltage lower than a negative voltage value of said transmitter power source.

3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, wherein a circuit for generating said bias power source from said transmitter power source is a charge pump.

4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a transmission voltage control circuit for variably controlling the voltage value of said transmitter power source.

5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 3 or 4, wherein a driving circuit for said charge pump shares a driving circuit in said transmitter power source.

6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter power source comprises a stabilizing power source circuit for decreasing and stabilizing the positive voltage value supplied to said transmitter circuit, and a stabilizing power source circuit for increasing and stabilizing the negative voltage value supplied to said transmitter circuit.