Wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wireless ultrasonic probe, and probe authentication method
First Claim
1. A wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- a diagnostic device which comprises a processor or integrated circuit and is configured to receive ultrasound signals and to wirelessly receive data in a frequency band different from ultrasound, under control by the processor or integrated circuit; and
a wireless ultrasonic probe which (i) generates a first signal including probe information for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe, (ii) transmits the first signal as a pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device for pairing said wireless ultrasonic probe and said diagnostic device, (iii) transmits an echo ultrasound to a subject, (iv) generates echo data using reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, the echo data being generated so as to be associated with the probe information included in the first signal for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe, and (v) wirelessly transmits, in the frequency band different from ultrasound, the echo data associated with the probe information to said diagnostic device;
wherein said diagnostic device, under control of the processor or integrated circuit, (i) receives the pairing ultrasound transmitted by said wireless ultrasonic probe, detects the probe information from the received pairing ultrasound, and sets the detected probe information, to thereby pair said wireless ultrasonic probe and said diagnostic device, (ii) receives data that is wirelessly transmitted in the frequency band different from ultrasound, (iii) determines whether or not the received data is associated with the set probe information, and determines that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by said paired wireless ultrasonic probe when it is determined that the received data is associated with the set probe information, and (v) when it is determined that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by said paired wireless ultrasonic probe, processes the received echo data,wherein said wireless ultrasonic probe includes a transducer which both (i) transmits the pairing ultrasound according to the first signal and (ii) emits the echo ultrasound,wherein output of both the pairing ultrasound and the echo ultrasound are controlled in accordance with a single input from an operating switch that is operated by an operator, andwherein said wireless ultrasonic probe transmits the first signal as the pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device when the operator provides the operating switch with the single input, in a state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device, and the pairing ultrasound reaches said diagnostic device only in the state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (30) including a wireless ultrasonic probe (300) and a diagnostic device (400). The wireless ultrasonic probe (300) includes: a wireless transmission unit (306) which wirelessly transmits echo data (352); and an ultrasound transmission unit (303) which transmits pairing ultrasound (351) including probe information for identifying the wireless ultrasonic probe (300). The diagnostic device (400) includes: an ultrasound reception unit (401) which receives the pairing ultrasound (351); a probe information detection unit (402) which detects the probe information (452) from the pairing ultrasound (351); and a wireless reception unit (406) which determines, using the probe information (452), whether or not received data is the echo data (352) wirelessly transmitted by the wireless ultrasonic probe (300).
28 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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a diagnostic device which comprises a processor or integrated circuit and is configured to receive ultrasound signals and to wirelessly receive data in a frequency band different from ultrasound, under control by the processor or integrated circuit; and a wireless ultrasonic probe which (i) generates a first signal including probe information for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe, (ii) transmits the first signal as a pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device for pairing said wireless ultrasonic probe and said diagnostic device, (iii) transmits an echo ultrasound to a subject, (iv) generates echo data using reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, the echo data being generated so as to be associated with the probe information included in the first signal for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe, and (v) wirelessly transmits, in the frequency band different from ultrasound, the echo data associated with the probe information to said diagnostic device; wherein said diagnostic device, under control of the processor or integrated circuit, (i) receives the pairing ultrasound transmitted by said wireless ultrasonic probe, detects the probe information from the received pairing ultrasound, and sets the detected probe information, to thereby pair said wireless ultrasonic probe and said diagnostic device, (ii) receives data that is wirelessly transmitted in the frequency band different from ultrasound, (iii) determines whether or not the received data is associated with the set probe information, and determines that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by said paired wireless ultrasonic probe when it is determined that the received data is associated with the set probe information, and (v) when it is determined that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by said paired wireless ultrasonic probe, processes the received echo data, wherein said wireless ultrasonic probe includes a transducer which both (i) transmits the pairing ultrasound according to the first signal and (ii) emits the echo ultrasound, wherein output of both the pairing ultrasound and the echo ultrasound are controlled in accordance with a single input from an operating switch that is operated by an operator, and wherein said wireless ultrasonic probe transmits the first signal as the pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device when the operator provides the operating switch with the single input, in a state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device, and the pairing ultrasound reaches said diagnostic device only in the state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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18. A wireless ultrasonic probe which is capable of wirelessly communicating with a diagnostic device that comprises a processor or integrated circuit and that is configured to receive ultrasound signals and to wirelessly receive data in a frequency band different from ultrasound under control by the processor or integrated circuit, wherein said wireless ultrasonic probe transmits an echo ultrasound to a subject and receives reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, said wireless ultrasonic probe comprising:
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a transducer which both (i) transmits the pairing ultrasound according to the first signal and (ii) emits the echo ultrasound; a processor or integrated circuit; and a non-transitory memory having stored thereon executable instructions, which when executed by the processor or integrated circuit, cause said wireless ultrasonic probe to; (i) generate a first signal including probe information for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe; (ii) transmit the first signal as a pairing ultrasound to the diagnostic device for pairing said wireless ultrasonic probe and said diagnostic device; (iii) generate echo data using the reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, the echo data being generated so as to be associated with the probe information included in the first signal for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe; and (iv) wirelessly transmit, in the frequency band different from ultrasound, the echo data associated with the probe information to the diagnostic device, and wherein output of both the pairing ultrasound and the echo ultrasound are controlled in accordance with a single input from an operating switch that is operated by an operator, and wherein said wireless ultrasonic probe transmits the first signal as the pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device when the operator provides the operating switch with the single input, in a state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device, and the pairing ultrasound reaches said diagnostic device only in the state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device.
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19. A probe pairing and authentication method performed by a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including:
- (i) a diagnostic device which comprises a processor or integrated circuit and is configured to receive ultrasound signals and to wirelessly receive data in a frequency band different from ultrasound, under control by the processor or integrated circuit, and (ii) a wireless ultrasonic probe which is configured to transmit ultrasound and to wirelessly transmit data in the frequency band different from ultrasound, wherein the wireless ultrasonic probe transmits an echo ultrasound to a subject and receives reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, and wherein the wireless ultrasonic probe comprises a transducer which both (i) transmits the pairing ultrasound according to the first signal and (ii) emits the echo ultrasound, said probe pairing and authentication method comprising;
generating, by the wireless ultrasonic probe, a first signal including probe information for identifying the wireless ultrasonic probe; transmitting, by the wireless ultrasonic probe, the first signal as a pairing ultrasound to the diagnostic device for pairing the wireless ultrasonic probe and the diagnostic device; receiving, by the diagnostic device, the pairing ultrasound transmitted by the wireless ultrasonic probe, detecting, by the diagnostic device, the probe information from the received pairing ultrasound, and setting the detected probe information, to thereby pair the wireless ultrasonic probe and the diagnostic device; generating, by the wireless ultrasonic probe, echo data using the reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, the echo data being generated so as to be associated with the probe information included in the first signal for identifying the wireless ultrasonic probe; wirelessly transmitting, by the wireless ultrasonic probe, the echo data associated with the probe information, to the diagnostic device, in the frequency band different from ultrasound; receiving, by the diagnostic device, data that is wirelessly transmitted; determining, by the diagnostic device, whether or not the received data is associated with the set probe information, and determining that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by the paired wireless ultrasonic probe when it is determined that the received data is associated with the set probe information; and when it is determined that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by said paired wireless ultrasonic probe, processing the received echo data, wherein output of both the pairing ultrasound and the echo ultrasound are controlled in accordance with a single input from an operating switch that is operated by an operator, and wherein said wireless ultrasonic probe transmits the first signal as the pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device when the operator provides the operating switch with the single input, in a state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device, and the pairing ultrasound reaches said diagnostic device only in the state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device.
- (i) a diagnostic device which comprises a processor or integrated circuit and is configured to receive ultrasound signals and to wirelessly receive data in a frequency band different from ultrasound, under control by the processor or integrated circuit, and (ii) a wireless ultrasonic probe which is configured to transmit ultrasound and to wirelessly transmit data in the frequency band different from ultrasound, wherein the wireless ultrasonic probe transmits an echo ultrasound to a subject and receives reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, and wherein the wireless ultrasonic probe comprises a transducer which both (i) transmits the pairing ultrasound according to the first signal and (ii) emits the echo ultrasound, said probe pairing and authentication method comprising;
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24. A wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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a diagnostic device which comprises a processor or integrated circuit and is configured to receive ultrasound signals and to wirelessly receive data in a frequency band different from ultrasound, under control by the processor or integrated circuit; and a wireless ultrasonic probe which (i) generates a first signal including probe information for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe, (ii) transmits the first signal as a pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device for pairing said wireless ultrasonic probe and said diagnostic device, (iii) transmits an echo ultrasound to a subject, (iv) generates echo data using reflected waves that are the echo ultrasound reflected from the subject, the echo data being generated so as to be associated with the probe information included in the first signal for identifying said wireless ultrasonic probe, and (v) wirelessly transmits, in the frequency band different from ultrasound, the echo data associated with the probe information to said diagnostic device; wherein said diagnostic device, under control of the processor or integrated circuit, (i) receives the pairing ultrasound transmitted by said wireless ultrasonic probe, detects the probe information from the received pairing ultrasound, and sets the detected probe information, to thereby pair said wireless ultrasonic probe and said diagnostic device, (ii) receives data that is wirelessly transmitted in the frequency band different from ultrasound, (iii) determines whether or not the received data is associated with the set probe information, and determines that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by said paired wireless ultrasonic probe when it is determined that the received data is associated with the set probe information, and (v) when it is determined that the received data is the echo data wirelessly transmitted by said paired wireless ultrasonic probe, processes the received echo data, wherein output of the pairing ultrasound is controlled in accordance with a single input from an operating switch that is operated by an operator, and wherein said wireless ultrasonic probe transmits the first signal as the pairing ultrasound to said diagnostic device when the operator provides the operating switch with the single input, in a state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in direct physical contact with said diagnostic device, and the pairing ultrasound reaches said diagnostic device only in the state in which said wireless ultrasonic probe is in physical contact with said diagnostic device.
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Specification