Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

• US 9,095,304 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ahn, Mi Jeoung
• Primary Examiner(s): ROZANSKI, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US13/541,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20130012817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 600437-447, 600459-463, 382/128
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• 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 8/466 adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5215 involving processing of medical diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device

Abstract

A portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe, and a main body including a display unit provided on a front surface of the main body. An input device is provided at a rear surface of the main body to receive user command information from a user, which allows the user to operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a hand that is gripping the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The apparatus may be used by moving the ultrasonic probe in contact with a surface of an object, sending ultrasonic signals from the object surface, receiving reflected ultrasonic signals from the object, and converting the ultrasonic signals into electrical signals.

Claims

1. A portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic probe;

a main body having a size and weight to be gripped by one hand of a user and including a display provided on a front surface of the main body; and

an input device provided at a rear surface of the main body to receive and change user command information by use of a finger of the user'"'"'s hand which is positioned on the rear surface of the main body when the user grips the main body,

wherein the display is configured to receive the user command information from the input device and to display an ultrasonic image based on the user command information, and

wherein the input device is configured to receive a freeze command to pause the ultrasonic image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body further includes:

a beam former configured to produce frame data by focusing ultrasonic signals received from the ultrasonic probe;

an ultrasonic data producer configured to produce ultrasonic data via digital signal processing of the frame data;

an ultrasonic image producer configured to produce an ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data; and

a controller configured to control display of the ultrasonic image and a user interface according to the user command information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control a provision of the user interface and optimization of the ultrasonic image according to the user command information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes a track ball.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the track ball is configured to input the user command information corresponding to a request and selection of a user interface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the track ball is configured to input the user command information corresponding to a setting request of a region of interest included in an ultrasonic image, a size adjusting request of the region of interest, and a movement request of the region of interest.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input device includes at least one button provided at upper and lower sides or left and right sides of the track ball.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one button includes a first button to change a display mode of an ultrasonic image or a second button to pause a display screen of the ultrasonic image.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input device includes a touch panel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes an image mode change button to change an ultrasonic image mode.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is separably coupled to the main body.

12. The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is provided on a separable member that is separately coupled to the main body, and a position of the separable member is changed in consideration of a size of a hand of the user.

13. A method of producing an ultrasonic image using a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic probe;

a main body having a size and weight to be gripped by one hand of a user and including a display provided on a front surface of the main body; and

an input device provided at a rear surface of the main body to receive and change user command information by use of a finger of the user'"'"'s hand which is positioned on the rear surface of the main body when the user grips the main body,

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

moving the ultrasonic probe in contact with a surface of an object,

sending ultrasonic signals from the object surface,

receiving reflected ultrasonic signals from the object,

converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals,

controlling display of the ultrasonic image on said display according to the user command information, and

pausing the ultrasonic image when a freeze command is received by the input device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

producing frame data by focusing ultrasonic signals received from the ultrasonic probe;

producing ultrasonic data via digital signal processing of the frame data;

producing the ultrasonic image using the ultrasonic data; and

controlling display of the ultrasonic image and a user interface according to the user command information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the producing the ultrasonic image comprises producing the ultrasonic image including at least one from the group consisting of a Brightness (B) mode image, a Color (C) mode image, a Pulsed-Wave (PW) mode image, a Motion (M) mode image, a Doppler (D) mode image, and a Continuous Wave (CW) mode image.