ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS HAVING PLURALITY OF DISPLAY UNITS

• US 20150359515A1
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: HAN, Ki-wook
• Application Number:
  US14/833,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20150359515A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/464 involving a plurality of displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device

Abstract

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a main body supporting ultrasound equipment that generates ultrasound image signals. First and second display units are electrically coupled to the ultrasound equipment, and display ultrasound images corresponding to the ultrasound image signals. A first coupling unit couples the second display unit and the main body and enables movement of the second display unit relative to the main body. As the position of the second display unit is adjustable, a patient may easily view ultrasound images displayed on the second display unit.

Claims

1. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprising:

a main body supported by wheels and including an ultrasound image processing unit that generates ultrasound image signals;

a first display unit, electrically coupled to the ultrasound image processing unit and operable to display ultrasound images corresponding to the ultrasound image signals;

a second display unit electrically coupled to the ultrasound image processing unit, the second display unit displaying a control menu of the ultrasound image processing unit and displaying ultrasound images corresponding to the ultrasound image signals according to a user command, and the second display unit being a touchscreen panel configured to display an image and receive user commands via touch input; and

a first coupling unit comprising a hinge which rotatably couples a lower housing part of the second display unit and a housing part of the main body so as to allow the lower housing part of the second display unit to rotate with respect to a horizontal axis.

2. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the first coupling unit is configured to allow a display direction of the second display unit to be varied relative to a position of the main body.

3. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second coupling unit for coupling the first coupling unit to the main body so as to allow the second display unit to slide and/or to rotate left and right with respect to the main body.

4. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores position information for each of a plurality of users of the second display unit.

5. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing position information for at least one user of the second display unit; and

a control unit for controlling a position of the second display unit according to the position information stored in the memory.

6. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third coupling unit for coupling the first display unit and the main body so as to allow the first display unit to be movable relative to the main body.

7. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third coupling unit comprises at least one joint for coupling the first display unit and the main body.

8. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first display unit is coupled to a top portion of the main body.

9. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second display unit displays the same image as the first display unit in a first operating mode, and displays a different image than that displayed on the first display unit in a second operating mode.

10. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, wherein no separate control panel is attached to the main body.

11. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the horizontal axis is spaced from a front surface of the main body.

12. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 11, wherein the horizontal axis runs transverse to the front surface of the main body, such that the second display unit is rotatable towards and away from the front surface.

13. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprising:

a main body supported by wheels and including an ultrasound image processing unit that generates ultrasound image signals;

a first display unit, electrically coupled to the ultrasound image processing unit and operable to display ultrasound images corresponding to the ultrasound image signals;

a second display unit electrically coupled to the ultrasound image processing unit, the second display unit displaying a control menu of the ultrasound image processing unit and displaying ultrasound images corresponding to the ultrasound image signals according to a user command, and the second display unit being a touchscreen panel configured to display an image and receive user commands via touch input; and

a first coupling unit comprising a hinge which rotatably couples a lower housing part of the second display unit and a generally horizontal support member coupled to the main body so as to allow the lower housing part of the second display unit to rotate with respect to a horizontal axis.

14. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 13, wherein no separate control panel is attached to the main body.

15. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 13, wherein the horizontal axis is spaced from a front surface of the main body.

16. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of claim 15, wherein the horizontal axis runs transverse to the front surface of the main body, such that the second display unit is rotatable towards and away from the front surface.