Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus capable of probe exchange
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus capable of probe exchange comprising:
- an image forming unit having a first connector;
a probe having a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed in a predetermined configuration;
means including a second connector associated with the probe for electrically connecting and disconnecting said probe from said image forming unit connector;
storage means physically associated with the probe for storing control information and read-out imaging procedure information unique to said probe;
said image forming unit including a control means for reading information stored in the storage means associated with said probe, said control means being connected through said connectors to control said transducer elements when transmitting signals; and
means responsive to signals received from said transducer through said connectors for forming an image using the read-out imaging procedure information.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus capable of interchangeably using a plurality of probes each having ultrasonic transducer elements disposed in an array and being detachably connected to the apparatus via a connector, wherein a storage unit is provided in the probe for storing data associated with the elements disposal configuration or control information on scanning or focusing, and a controller provided in the ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus accesses the storage unit via the connector to read the element disposal configuration data or the control information and perform a control operation of picking up an image in accordance with the read-out data.
59 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus capable of probe exchange comprising:
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an image forming unit having a first connector; a probe having a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed in a predetermined configuration; means including a second connector associated with the probe for electrically connecting and disconnecting said probe from said image forming unit connector; storage means physically associated with the probe for storing control information and read-out imaging procedure information unique to said probe; said image forming unit including a control means for reading information stored in the storage means associated with said probe, said control means being connected through said connectors to control said transducer elements when transmitting signals; and means responsive to signals received from said transducer through said connectors for forming an image using the read-out imaging procedure information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus including an image forming unit adapted for use with a plurality of probes that can be interchangeably used wherein each of said probes has:
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a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed in a predetermined configuration and connected to signal lines; a connector for detachably and electrically connecting one of said probes to said image forming unit; and a storage means for storing data uniquely related to the transducer element disposal configuration of said probe; and
wherein the image forming unit comprises;element selection means for selecting certain ones of said signal lines connected to said transducer elements; transmitting means for applying a drive signal to each of said selected signal lines; means for delaying signals received from said transducer elements via said selected signal lines and for adding together said delayed received signals in the same phase; and control means for an imaging procedure wherein the control information in said probe is used to effect a transducer element selection sequence by said element selection means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus including an image forming unit adapted for use with a plurality of probes that can be interchangeably used wherein each of said probes has:
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a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed in a predetermined configuration and connected to signal lines; a connector for detachably and electrically connecting one of said probes to said image forming unit; and a storage means for storing control information uniquely related to the transducer elements in said probe; and
wherein the image forming unit comprises;element selection means for selecting certain ones of said signal lines connected to said transducer elements; transmitting means for applying a drive signal to each of said selected signal lines; means for delaying signals received from said transducer elements via said selected signal lines and for adding together said delayed received signals in the same phase; and control means for an imaging procedure wherein said means generates signals which serve as means for controlling an amount of delay for said transmitting means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification