Ultrasonic probe, charger, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic system

• US 8,641,629 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kurokawa, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Selkin, Saurel J
• Application Number:
  US12/250,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 600/459, 320/108, 320/114
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/44 Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4477 using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe, a charger and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic system that uses them are provided by the present invention, which comprises a detector for detecting whether or not an ultrasonic probe having a rechargeable battery or the charger for charging this is in charging state; and a controller for stopping transmitting and receiving operations of ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a transmitting and receiving circuit for executing the generation of a signal related to the transmission of the ultrasonic waves and the generation of the diagnostic information based on the signal related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves; a probe switching circuit for selecting one of a plurality of ultrasonic probes; and a controller for controlling the probe switching circuit in accordance with a detection signal from the detector. The ultrasonic diagnostic system comprises the above-mentioned probes, chargers and diagnostic apparatus.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that uses respective rechargeable batteries as operational power sources, and sets, as the target of a communication, a plurality of ultrasonic probes for executing:

a transmission and a reception of ultrasonic waves to and from an examinee; and

a wireless transmission/reception of signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves, to and from an external apparatus, and selects any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes, in accordance with detection signals obtained by detecting that said ultrasonic probes are connected to respective chargers for charging said batteries, and transmits/receives the signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising;

a wireless communicator, configured to wirelessly communicate the signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves;

a transmitting and receiving circuit for generating a signal related to the transmission of an ultrasonic signal in an ultrasonic probe, and supplying it to said wireless communicator as the transmission signal to said ultrasonic probe, and generating a diagnostic information on the basis of the signals related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves in said ultrasonic probe that is received in said wireless communicator;

a probe switching circuit for selecting any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes and enabling the transmission/reception to/from said transmitting and receiving circuit; and

a controller configured to control said probe switching circuit so that said ultrasonic probe which is not connected to said charger is selected, in accordance with said detection signal, and to determine whether another ultrasonic probe, of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, that is currently transmitting and receiving further ultrasonic waves is also currently in use for diagnosis from a change in an ultrasonic image, and to stop the transmitting and the receiving of the further ultrasonic waves by the another ultrasonic probe when it is not currently in use for diagnosis.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of said respective chargers being connected to an external power source separately provided from said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, each one of said respective chargers being separate from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and being arranged to receive charging power for charging said batteries from said power source.

3. An ultrasonic diagnostic system comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic probes for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a plurality of chargers for charging said ultrasonic probes respectively and individually, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from said ultrasonic probes to generate diagnostic information, wherein

each one of said plurality if ultrasonic probes comprises;

a rechargeable battery;

a transducer that uses said battery as an operational power source and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an examinee; and

a first wireless communicator operatively connected to said battery to use said battery as an operational power source and configured to wirelessly communicate, using a signal related to the transmission and reception of said transducer, with said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,

each one of said plurality of chargers comprises;

a detector for detecting that an ultrasonic probe of said plurality of ultrasonic probes is connected; and

a signal transmitter circuit configured to transmit a detection signal from said detector to said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and

said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises;

a wireless communicator, configured to wirelessly communicate by using a signal related to the transmission and reception of said ultrasonic waves;

a transmitting and receiving circuit for generating the signal related to the transmission of the ultrasonic waves by said ultrasonic probe, and supplying it to said wireless communicator as a transmission signal to said ultrasonic probe, and generating diagnostic information in accordance with the signal related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves in said ultrasonic probe, which signal is received by said wireless communicator;

a probe switching circuit for selecting any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes to enable the transmission/reception to/from said transmitting and receiving circuit; and

a controller configured to control said probe switching circuit so that said ultrasonic probe which is not connected to said charger is selected, in accordance with said detection signal, and to determine whether another ultrasonic probe, of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, that is currently transmitting and receiving further ultrasonic waves is also currently in use for diagnosis from a change in an ultrasonic image, and to stop the transmitting and the receiving of the further ultrasonic waves by the another ultrasonic probe when the another ultrasonic probe is determined not to be currently in use for diagnosis.

4. The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 3, wherein each one of said plurality of chargers being connected to an external power source separately provided from said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, each one of said plurality of chargers being separate from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and being arranged to receive charging power for charging said batteries from said power source.

5. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that uses respective rechargeable batteries as operational power sources, and sets, as the target of a communication, a plurality of ultrasonic probes for executing:

a transmission and a reception of ultrasonic waves to and from an examinee; and

a wireless transmission/reception of signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves, to and from an external apparatus, and selects any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes, in accordance with detection signals obtained by detecting that said ultrasonic probes are connected to respective chargers for charging said batteries, and transmits/receives the signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising;

a wireless communicator, configured to wirelessly communicate the signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves;

a transmitting and receiving circuit for generating a signal related to the transmission of an ultrasonic signal in an ultrasonic probe, and supplying it to said wireless communicator as the transmission signal to said ultrasonic probe, and generating a diagnostic information on the basis of the signals related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves in said ultrasonic probe that is received in said wireless communicator;

a probe switching circuit for selecting any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes and enabling the transmission/reception to/from said transmitting and receiving circuit; and

a controller configured to control said probe switching circuit so that said ultrasonic probe which is not connected to said charger is selected, in accordance with said detection signal, and to determine whether another ultrasonic probe, of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, that is currently transmitting and receiving further ultrasonic waves is also currently in use for diagnosis from one of a change in an ultrasonic image and a change in echo signals forming an ultrasonic image as well as amplified and/or digitized signals all resulted from the echo signals, and to stop the transmitting and the receiving of the further ultrasonic waves by the another ultrasonic probe when it is not currently in use for diagnosis.

6. An ultrasonic diagnostic system comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic probes for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a plurality of chargers for charging said ultrasonic probes respectively and individually, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from said ultrasonic probes to generate diagnostic information, wherein

each one of said plurality if ultrasonic probes comprises;

a rechargeable battery;

a transducer that uses said battery as an operational power source and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an examinee; and

a first wireless communicator operatively connected to said battery to use said battery as an operational power source and configured to wirelessly communicate, using a signal related to

each one of said plurality of chargers comprises;

a detector for detecting that an ultrasonic probe of said plurality of ultrasonic probes is connected; and

a signal transmitter circuit configured to transmit a detection signal from said detector to said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and

said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises;

a wireless communicator, configured to wirelessly communicate by using a signal related to the transmission and reception of said ultrasonic waves;

a transmitting and receiving circuit for generating the signal related to the transmission of the ultrasonic waves by said ultrasonic probe, and supplying it to said wireless communicator as a transmission signal to said ultrasonic probe, and generating diagnostic information in accordance with the signal related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves in said ultrasonic probe, which signal is received by said wireless communicator;

a probe switching circuit for selecting any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes to enable the transmission/reception to/from said transmitting and receiving circuit; and

a controller configured to control said probe switching circuit so that said ultrasonic probe which is not connected to said charger is selected, in accordance with said detection signal, and to determine whether another ultrasonic probe, of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, that is currently transmitting and receiving further ultrasonic waves is also currently in use for diagnosis from one of a change in an ultrasonic image and a change in echo signals forming an ultrasonic image as well as amplified and/or digitized signals all resulted from the echo signals, and to stop the transmitting and the receiving of the further ultrasonic waves by the another ultrasonic probe when the another ultrasonic probe is determined not to be currently in use for diagnosis.

7. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that uses respective rechargeable batteries as operational power sources, and sets, as the target of a communication, a plurality of ultrasonic probes for executing:

a transmission and a reception of ultrasonic waves to and from an examinee; and

a wireless transmission/reception of signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves, to and from an external apparatus, and selects any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes, in accordance with detection signals obtained by detecting that said ultrasonic probes are connected to respective chargers for charging said batteries, each one of said respective chargers being connected to an external power source separately provided from said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, each one of said respective chargers being separate from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and being arranged to receive charging power for charging said batteries from said power source, and transmits/receives the signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising;

a wireless communicator, configured to wirelessly communicate the signals related to the transmission and the reception of said ultrasonic waves;

a transmitting and receiving circuit for generating a signal related to the transmission of an ultrasonic signal in an ultrasonic probe, and supplying it to said wireless communicator as the transmission signal to said ultrasonic probe, and generating a diagnostic information on the basis of the signals related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves in said ultrasonic probe that is received in said wireless communicator;

a probe switching circuit for selecting any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes and enabling the transmission/reception to/from said transmitting and receiving circuit; and

a controller configured to control said probe switching circuit so that said ultrasonic probe which is not connected to said charger is selected, in accordance with said detection signal, and to determine whether another ultrasonic probe, of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, that is currently transmitting and receiving further ultrasonic waves is also currently in use for diagnosis from one of a change in an ultrasonic image and a change in echo signals forming an ultrasonic image as well as amplified and/or digitized signals all resulted from the echo signals, and to stop the transmitting and the receiving of the further ultrasonic waves by the another ultrasonic probe when it is not currently in use for diagnosis.

8. An ultrasonic diagnostic system comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic probes for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a plurality of chargers for charging said ultrasonic probes respectively and individually, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from said ultrasonic probes to generate diagnostic information, each one of said plurality of chargers being connected to an external power source separately provided from said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, each one of said plurality of chargers being separate from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and being arranged to receive charging power for charging said batteries from said power source, wherein

each one of said plurality if ultrasonic probes comprises;

a rechargeable battery;

a transducer that uses said battery as an operational power source and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an examinee; and

a first wireless communicator operatively connected to said battery to use said battery as an operational power source and configured to wirelessly communicate, using a signal related to the transmission and reception of said transducer, with said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,

each one of said plurality of chargers comprises;

a detector for detecting that an ultrasonic probe of said plurality of ultrasonic probes is connected; and

a signal transmitter circuit configured to transmit a detection signal from said detector to said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and

said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises;

a wireless communicator, configured to wirelessly communicate by using a signal related to the transmission and reception of said ultrasonic waves;

a transmitting and receiving circuit for generating the signal related to the transmission of the ultrasonic waves by said ultrasonic probe, and supplying it to said wireless communicator as a transmission signal to said ultrasonic probe, and generating diagnostic information in accordance with the signal related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves in said ultrasonic probe, which signal is received by said wireless communicator;

a probe switching circuit for selecting any one of said plurality of ultrasonic probes to enable the transmission/reception to/from said transmitting and receiving circuit; and

a controller configured to control said probe switching circuit so that said ultrasonic probe which is not connected to said charger is selected, in accordance with said detection signal, and to determine whether another ultrasonic probe, of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, that is currently transmitting and receiving further ultrasonic waves is also currently in use for diagnosis from one of a change in an ultrasonic image and a change in echo signals forming an ultrasonic image as well as amplified and/or digitized signals all resulted from the echo signals, and to stop the transmitting and the receiving of the further ultrasonic waves by the another ultrasonic probe when the another ultrasonic probe is determined not to be currently in use for diagnosis.