Ultrasound diagnostic device
First Claim
1. An ultrasound diagnostic device for acquiring and processing ultrasound images, the device comprising:
- a transducer;
a console portion having a plurality of input keys to enable a user to input commands and control circuitry that receives signals from the transducer and performs at least a portion of beamforming thereon and generates a display signal;
a display portion mechanically coupled to the console portion and being positionably adjustable with respect to the console portion, the display portion having a display monitor that displays images based on the display signal from the console portion, wherein the images displayed on the display monitor are modified by the electrical control circuitry in response to one or more keys actuated by the user, wherein the console portion comprises a shell that defines a recess for receiving the transducer when the transducer is not in use, the recess being substantially coplanar with the console and not extending through the console, the transducer being substantially coplanar with the console when the transducer is received in the recess.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound diagnostic device is provided which is portable, small, light weight and easy to use. Preferably, the ultrasound diagnostic device is very small and light weight. The weight of the ultrasound diagnostic device normally will be approximately 6 or 7 pounds, including electrical control circuitry, a battery pack, a carrying strap and a transducer assembly. The ultrasound diagnostic device is similar in design to a laptop computer, except that it is smaller than typical laptop computers. The ultrasound diagnostic device comprises a console portion and a display portion. To open the device, the user simply flips open the display portion by lifting up on the display portion at a location near the front end of the device. The display portion is in a hinging relationship with the console portion so that when the user lifts up on display portion, the display portion is rotated upwards and away from the console portion. A transducer assembly is attached to the ultrasound diagnostic device and comprises a transducer cable, a transducer handle, a transducer and a transducer connector. The transducer connector comprises a latch which engages a mating mechanism comprised in a receptacle formed in the console portion. The connector enables different types of transducer assemblies to be implemented with the ultrasound diagnostic device, depending on the bodily feature being imaged. The ultrasound diagnostic device may be adapted to be harnessed with a carrying apparatus, e.g., a strap assembly, which enables the user to carry the device in a manner similar to the manner in which a person carries a camera around his or her neck. The user may operate the device when it is strapped to the user'"'"'s body. The ultrasound device may include a handle to facilitate hand carriability.
277 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An ultrasound diagnostic device for acquiring and processing ultrasound images, the device comprising:
-
a transducer;
a console portion having a plurality of input keys to enable a user to input commands and control circuitry that receives signals from the transducer and performs at least a portion of beamforming thereon and generates a display signal;
a display portion mechanically coupled to the console portion and being positionably adjustable with respect to the console portion, the display portion having a display monitor that displays images based on the display signal from the console portion, wherein the images displayed on the display monitor are modified by the electrical control circuitry in response to one or more keys actuated by the user, wherein the console portion comprises a shell that defines a recess for receiving the transducer when the transducer is not in use, the recess being substantially coplanar with the console and not extending through the console, the transducer being substantially coplanar with the console when the transducer is received in the recess. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
5. An ultrasound diagnostic device for acquiring and processing ultrasound images, the device comprising:
-
a transducer;
a console portion having a plurality of input keys to enable a user to input commands and control circuitry that receives signals from the transducer and performs at least a portion of beamforming thereon and generates a display signal;
a display portion mechanically coupled to the console portion and being positionally adjustable with respect to the console portion, the display portion having a display monitor that displays images based on the display signal from the console portion, wherein the images displayed on the display monitor are modified by the electrical control circuitry in response to one or more keys actuated by the user, wherein the shoulder strap assembly further comprises a holster adapted to allow the user to store a transducer handle of the transducer assembly in the holster.
-
-
6. An ultrasound diagnostic device for acquiring and processing ultrasound images, the device comprising:
-
a transducer;
a console portion having a plurality of input keys to enable a user to input commands and control circuitry that receives signals from the transducer and performs at least a portion of beamforming thereon and generates a display signal;
a display portion mechanically coupled to the console portion and being positionally adjustable with respect to the console portion, the display portion having a display monitor that displays images based on the display signal from the console portion, wherein the images displayed on the display monitor are modified by the electrical control circuitry in response to one or more keys actuated by the user, wherein the console portion has a flange fixedly secured thereto, the flange being adapted to retain the transducer cable when the transducer cable of the transducer assembly has been wrapped about the flange, the flange maintaining the transducer cable adjacent the ultrasound diagnostic device.
-
-
10. An ultrasound diagnostic device for acquiring and processing ultrasound images, the device comprising:
-
a transducer;
a console portion having a plurality of input keys to enable a user to input commands and control circuitry that receives signals from the transducer and performs at least a portion of beamforming thereon and generates a display signal;
a display portion mechanically coupled to the console portion and being positionally adjustable with respect to the console portion, the display portion having a display monitor that displays images based on the display signal from the console portion, wherein the images displayed on the display monitor are modified by the electrical control circuitry in response to one or more keys actuated by the user, wherein each of the keys has an icon corresponding to a command, wherein each icon is intended to inform the user of the function associated with the key having the icon thereon, wherein each command corresponds to a particular function to be performed by the electrical control circuitry.
-
-
17. An ultrasound diagnostic device for acquiring and processing ultrasound images, the device comprising:
-
a transducer;
a console portion having a plurality of input keys to enable a user to input commands and control circuitry that receives signals from the transducer and performs at least a portion of beamforming thereon and generates a display signal;
a display portion mechanically coupled to the console portion and being positionally adjustable with respect to the console portion, the display portion having a display monitor that displays images based on the display signal from the console portion, wherein the images displayed on the display monitor are modified by the electrical control circuitry in response to one or more keys actuated by the user, wherein the console portion has a shell that defines a handle which enables a user to securely carry the ultrasound device with one hand.
-
-
18. An ultrasound diagnostic device for acquiring and processing ultrasound images, the device comprising:
-
a console portion, the console portion comprising means for inputting commands into the ultrasound diagnostic device, the console portion comprising means for receiving electrical signals from the control panel, the electrical signals corresponding to commands entered by the user on the means for inputting commands, the console portion comprising means for processing the electrical signals to produce image control commands;
a display portion mechanically coupled to the console portion by a means for coupling the display portion to the console portion, wherein the means for coupling enables the display portion to be positionally adjusted with respect to the console portion, the display portion comprising a means for displaying ultrasound images, wherein the ultrasound images displayed may be modified by the means for processing in response to one or more keys of the control panel being actuated by the user;
means for converting electrical signals into acoustical pulses intended to be propagated into a body, wherein the means for converting electrical signals into acoustical pulses receives the electrical signals to be converted into acoustical signals from the means for processing; and
means for converting acoustical pulses reflected out of the body into electrical signals, wherein the means for converting acoustical pulses into electrical signals outputs the electrical signals to the means for processing, and wherein the means for processing causes an image to be displayed on the means for displaying ultrasound images, the ultrasound images displayed corresponding to the acoustical signals reflected out of the body, wherein the ultrasound diagnostic device weighs less than approximately 6 pounds, wherein the ultrasound diagnostic device comprises means for storing the transducer cable in an abutting relationship with said console portions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A portable ultrasound imaging device comprising:
-
a transducer;
a display;
control circuitry that outputs an output signal to the transducer causing the transducer to output ultrasound signals toward a subject and receives input signals corresponding to echoes of the ultrasound signals from the transducer, the control circuitry using the input signals to create display signals that cause the display to display an image representative of the subject; and
a clam-shell case that integrates the display and the control circuitry, the clam-shell case having first and second portions which are rotatably coupled along first respective edges thereof, the first and second portions being rotatably adjusted with respect to each other. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification