JP2020151111A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an ultrasonic probe which can be easily operated in a state where both an ultrasonic probe and a portable terminal are housed in a probe cover.
An ultrasonic probe 101 includes an ultrasonic sensor unit 113 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a signal processing unit 114 that processes a signal received by the ultrasonic sensor unit 113 and transmits the signal to a mobile terminal 102, and an ultrasonic sensor. It includes a housing 112 that accommodates the unit 113 and the signal processing unit 114, and also has a holding unit 131 that holds the mobile terminal 102. The mobile terminal 102 can be housed in the probe cover 200 while being held by the holding portion 131, and the holding portion 131 is carried so that at least a part of the mobile terminal 102 is located on the upper end surface of the housing 112. Holds the terminal 102.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic probe, and more particularly to an ultrasonic probe that displays an image on a mobile terminal.

Since it is relatively easy to observe the inside of the body using an ultrasonic diagnostic device, its use in the medical field is expanding.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe and a monitor for displaying an image generated by the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic sensor unit provided in the ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject and receives echoes from the subject. The received signal received by the ultrasonic sensor unit is processed by the signal processing circuit to generate an ultrasonic image, which is displayed on the monitor.

By integrating the ultrasonic probe and a small monitor, it is possible to realize a portable ultrasonic diagnostic device that can confirm the image at hand while ensuring operability. However, when the ultrasonic probe and the monitor are housed together in one housing, the circuit and arrangement must be specially designed, which increases the manufacturing cost. Therefore, it has been studied to attach a general-purpose mobile terminal such as a smartphone to an ultrasonic probe and use it as a monitor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). For example, in Patent Document 1, the mobile terminal is fixed to the front side of the side wall, and a handle-shaped grip portion is formed on the rear side of the side wall.

JP-A-2017-153584

However, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the ultrasonic apparatus and the portable terminal are exposed to the outside, and consideration is given to the possibility of contamination of the puncture site in applications such as puncturing of a puncture needle and insertion of a catheter. It has not been.

An object of the present disclosure is to prevent contamination via an ultrasonic device or a mobile terminal.

The first aspect of the ultrasonic probe of the present disclosure is an ultrasonic sensor unit that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a signal processing unit that processes signals received by the ultrasonic sensor unit and transmits them to a mobile terminal, and an ultrasonic sensor unit. In the probe cover, the ultrasonic sensor unit and the signal processing unit are housed so that is located at the lower end, and a housing having a holding unit for holding the mobile terminal is provided, and the mobile terminal is held by the holding unit. The portable terminal is held so that at least a part of the mobile terminal is located on the upper end surface of the housing.

According to the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the probe cover prevents contamination of the mobile terminal. In addition, by holding the mobile terminal so that at least a part of the mobile terminal is located on the upper end surface of the housing, the lower part of the mobile terminal and the acoustic lens with the ultrasonic probe housed in the probe cover. The width of the deviation in the front-back direction can be reduced. Therefore, the width of the probe cover in the front-rear direction can be reduced, and the situation where wrinkles or the like intervene between the acoustic lens and the probe cover can be reduced.

In the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the holding portion can hold at least a part of the mobile terminal so as to be inclined with respect to the skin, and at least a part of the mobile terminal may include a screen.

According to the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, it is possible to achieve both easy viewing of the screen by the user and miniaturization of the cover in the front-rear direction. Further, by reducing the size of the cover in the front-rear direction, the probe cover can be fixed to the ultrasonic probe without slack, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which wrinkles or the like intervene between the ultrasonic sensor unit and the probe cover.

In the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the direction of the short side of the mobile terminal and the width direction of the housing can be made to coincide with each other while being held by the holding portion.

According to the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the width of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the portable terminal is held by the ultrasonic probe can be reduced, so that the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be easily accommodated in the probe cover. be able to.

In the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the holding portion is an engaging socket or an engaging plug provided on the upper end surface of the housing and receiving an engaging plug or an engaging socket attached to the back surface of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can be held at an angle with respect to the vertical axis of the housing. With such a configuration, the mobile terminal can be held in a state where it can be easily accommodated in the probe cover while simplifying the configuration of the holding portion.

In the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the holding portion may be provided on the upper end surface of the housing and may be a terminal insertion recess into which the lower end of the mobile terminal is inserted. With such a configuration, the width of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the mobile terminal is held by the ultrasonic probe can be further reduced.

In the first aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the holding portion is a cutting table extending obliquely upward from the upper end surface of the housing, and the lower end portion of the mobile terminal may be located on the upper end surface of the housing. .. With such a configuration, the mobile terminal can be held more stably.

A second aspect of the ultrasonic probe of the present disclosure is an ultrasonic sensor unit that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a signal processing unit that processes signals received by the ultrasonic sensor unit and transmits them to a mobile terminal, and an ultrasonic sensor unit. The inside of the probe cover is provided with an ultrasonic sensor unit and a signal processing unit, and a housing having a holding unit for holding the mobile terminal so that the mobile terminal is held by the holding unit. The holding portion is a mounting member that protrudes from the upper end surface of the housing, has a member for fixing the mobile terminal at the end, and has a rotating portion in the middle portion, and is a mounting member having a rotating portion in the middle portion. Hold the orientation in line with the width of the housing.

According to the second aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the width of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the mobile terminal is held by the ultrasonic probe can be reduced, and the angle of the mobile terminal can be changed, so that the operability can be improved. ..

A third aspect of the ultrasonic probe of the present disclosure is an ultrasonic sensor unit that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a signal processing unit that processes signals received by the ultrasonic sensor unit and transmits them to a mobile terminal, and an ultrasonic sensor unit. The ultrasonic sensor unit and the signal processing unit are housed so as to be located at the lower end, and the housing is provided with a holding unit for holding the mobile terminal. The holding unit keeps the housing inside the first probe cover. In the housed state, the portable terminal housed in the second probe cover is held so that at least a part of the portable terminal is located on the upper end surface of the housing.

According to the third aspect of the ultrasonic probe, the mobile terminal can be easily attached / detached while both the ultrasonic probe and the mobile terminal are housed in the probe cover, thus improving operability. be able to.

According to the ultrasonic probe of the present disclosure, both the ultrasonic probe and the mobile terminal can be easily accommodated in the probe cover, and the width of the probe cover in the front-rear direction can be reduced. It is possible to reduce the situation where wrinkles or the like intervene between the probe cover and the probe cover.

It is a perspective view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 1st modification. It is a perspective view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 2nd modification. It is a perspective view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 3rd modification. It is a side view which shows the ultrasonic wave diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 4th modification. It is a perspective view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 5th modification. It is a side view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 6th modification. It is a side view which shows the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which concerns on 7th modification.

1 to 3 show the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 101 that generates an ultrasonic image and a portable terminal 102 that displays an ultrasonic image generated by the ultrasonic probe 101. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 in which the portable terminal 102 is held by the ultrasonic probe 101 can be housed and used in the bag-shaped probe cover 200.

The mobile terminal 102 held by the ultrasonic probe 101 is not particularly limited as long as it has a data wireless communication function and an image display function, and the size of the display (screen) 121 is about 4 inches to 6 inches on the market. Mobile phone terminals (smartphones), mobile information terminals, tablet terminals, etc. can be used.

The ultrasonic probe 101 has a housing 112, an ultrasonic sensor unit 113 housed in the housing 112, and a signal processing unit 114. The ultrasonic sensor unit 113 includes an oscillator for transmitting ultrasonic waves and a sensor for receiving ultrasonic waves, and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. Specifically, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers having a vibrator and a sensor are arranged along the width direction of the housing 112, or are arranged along the width direction and the thickness direction of the housing 112. It can be a two-dimensional sensor array. Further, the ultrasonic sensor unit 113 may be any of a sector type, a linear type and a convex type. The lens surface of the ultrasonic sensor unit 113 is exposed on the lower end surface of the housing 112, and ultrasonic irradiation and reception of ultrasonic echo can be performed in a state of being in contact with the surface of the subject.

The signal processing unit 114 has a function of driving the ultrasonic sensor unit 113, digitally converting a received signal, converting to an image, communicating with a mobile terminal, and the like. It is also possible for the mobile terminal 102 to carry out some of these functions.

The housing 112 has a holding portion for holding the mobile terminal 102. The holding portion holds at least a part of the mobile terminal 102 so as to be located on the upper end surface of the housing 112. In the present embodiment, the holding portion is an engaging socket 131 provided on the upper end surface of the housing 112 and capable of receiving the engaging plug 132 provided on the back surface of the mobile terminal 102. In the present embodiment, the engaging plug 132 is inclined and protrudes with respect to the back surface of the mobile terminal 102. Therefore, by inserting the engaging plug 132 into the engaging socket 131, the mobile terminal 102 can be held at an angle with respect to the vertical axis of the housing 112.

In the present embodiment, the holding unit can hold the mobile terminal 102 so that the direction of the short side coincides with the width direction of the housing 112. By matching the direction of the short side of the mobile terminal 102 with the width direction of the housing 112, the width w1 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 holding the mobile terminal 102 is set, and the direction of the long side of the mobile terminal 102 is the direction of the housing 112. It can be made smaller than the case where it matches the width direction of. Further, since at least a part of the mobile terminal 102 is located on the upper end surface of the housing 112, the thickness t1 in the front-rear direction of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus holding the mobile terminal 102 can be set on the front surface of the housing 112. It can be smaller than if it is located in.

When the outer surface of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 holding the mobile terminal 102 is locally large in the anteroposterior direction or the width direction, not only is it likely to be an obstacle when accommodating in the probe cover, but also the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used. Looseness and wrinkles are likely to be formed on the probe cover to be accommodated. Wrinkles on the probe cover between the ultrasonic sensor and the skin cause noise. Therefore, noise is generated when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 holding the mobile terminal 102 is accommodated in the probe cover and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used by reducing the local unevenness in the anteroposterior direction and the width direction. It can be difficult to do. However, in the state of being held by the holding portion, the direction of the short side of the mobile terminal 102 and the width direction of the housing 112 do not have to match.

In the case of the holding portion as in the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 102 can be held at an angle with respect to the vertical axis of the housing 112. Thereby, at least a part of the mobile terminal 102 can be tilted with respect to the part of the patient's skin to be diagnosed. If the display 121 is arranged on the portion of the mobile terminal 102 that is inclined with respect to the patient's skin, the operator can easily see the display 121 while operating the display 121.

The angle formed by the vertical axis of the mobile terminal 102 and the housing 112 is preferably 5 ° or more, more preferably 10 ° or more from the viewpoint of improving the visibility of the screen. Further, from the viewpoint of suppressing the thickness of the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 including the ultrasonic probe 101 and the portable terminal 102 to be small, it is preferably 45 ° or less, more preferably 30 ° or less.

The width w2 of the housing 112 is limited by the width of the ultrasonic sensor unit 113. The width of the lens surface of the ultrasonic sensor unit 113 is preferably 15 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more from the viewpoint of securing an imaging region. The wider the width, the wider the imaging region can be, but from the viewpoint of operability, it is preferably 70 mm or less, more preferably 60 mm or less. The width w2 of the housing 112 may be a length that can accommodate the ultrasonic sensor unit 113, and is preferably 105% or more, more preferably 110% or more with respect to the width of the lens surface of the ultrasonic sensor unit 113. From the viewpoint of miniaturization, it is preferably 200% or less, more preferably 150% or less. Specifically, the width w2 of the housing 112 is preferably 40 mm or more, more preferably 50 mm or more, preferably 120 mm or less, and more preferably 100 mm or less.

The length of the short side of the mobile terminal 102 held in the holding portion is preferably not more than the width w2 of the housing 112. When such a mobile terminal 102 has its short side aligned with the width direction of the housing 112 and held by the holding portion, the protrusion length of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 in the width direction can be suppressed, so that a vertically long probe is used. It can be easily housed in the cover 200. Further, by suppressing the protrusion length in the width direction, the clearance between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 and the probe cover 200 can be reduced, and the probe cover 200 can be made less likely to be wrinkled.

Further, if the inclination angles of the mobile terminal 102 are the same, the ultrasonic probe 101 and the mobile terminal 102 are combined because at least a part of the mobile terminal 102 is located on the upper end surface of the housing 112. The thickness of the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 can be made smaller than when the mobile terminal 102 does not overlap the upper end surface of the housing 112. Therefore, when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 is housed in the probe cover 200, the clearance between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 and the probe cover 200 can be reduced, and the probe cover 200 accommodating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 can be used. Wrinkles can be less likely to occur.

In the present embodiment, the engaging plug 132 has an inverted L shape in which two rods intersect at right angles, and the end portion of the first rod is a recess provided on the upper end surface of the housing 112. It is inserted into 131, and the mobile terminal 102 is tilted and fixed to the end of the second rod with respect to the first rod. By forming the engaging plug 132 in an inverted L shape, it becomes easy to tilt and hold the mobile terminal 102 with respect to the vertical axis of the housing 112. However, the angle at which the first rod and the second rod intersect is not limited to 90 °. Further, the engaging plug 132 may be a straight rod.

The portion to be inserted into the engaging socket 131 of the rod may be, for example, a columnar shape having no corners, but may also have a shape with corners such as a square columnar or a hexagonal columnar shape. In addition, a taper may be provided for easy insertion. The engaging socket 131 may have a shape that can be accepted according to the shape of the portion into which the engaging socket 131 is inserted. It should be noted that the engaging plug 132 and the engaging socket 131 may be provided in a plurality of sets instead of one set.

The engaging socket 131 can be a recess into which the engaging plug 132 can be inserted with some play. In this way, the mobile terminal 102 can be easily attached to and detached from the ultrasonic probe 101. Since the engaging socket 131 is provided on the upper end surface of the housing 112 and the engaging plug 132 is held in the direction of gravity, there is play between the engaging socket 131 and the engaging plug 132. Can also hold the mobile terminal 102. Although it depends on the size and number of the engaging socket 131 and the engaging plug 132, if the engaging plug 132 preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more is inserted into the engaging socket 131, ultrasonic waves can be obtained. The mobile terminal 102 can be prevented from falling off even if the diagnostic device 100 is slightly tilted.

A magnet is placed on at least one of the engaging socket 131 and the engaging plug 132, and a magnet or a magnetic material is placed on the other so that when the engaging plug 132 is inserted into the engaging socket 131, they are magnetically coupled to each other. It can also be configured as such.

The engaging plug 132 may be fitted into the engaging socket 131. For example, a complementary taper may be provided on the inner surface of the engaging socket 131 and the outer surface of the engaging plug 132 so that the taper fits. In this way, the mobile terminal 102 can be made more difficult to fall off.

Further, at least a part of the inner wall of the engaging socket 131 may be a movable wall, and the engaging plug 132 inserted by the movable wall may be pressed to suppress rattling. For pressing by the movable wall, a mechanism using a screw or the like can be used, or a mechanism urging by a spring or the like can be used.

The engaging plug 132 can be fixed to the back surface of the mobile terminal 102 with an adhesive, an adhesive tape, or the like. Further, by using a member such as a case for sandwiching and fixing the mobile terminal 102, the convex portion can be fixed to the back surface of the case or the like, or the convex portion can be formed integrally with the case.

Further, the holding portion may be an engaging plug provided in the housing 112, and a protruding portion having an engaging socket on the end surface may be provided on the back surface of the mobile terminal 102.

As in the first modification shown in FIG. 4, an inclined surface 141 corresponding to the inclination angle of the mobile terminal 102 may be provided at the upper end of the housing 112. By doing so, since the back surface of the mobile terminal 102 comes into contact with the inclined surface 141, the mobile terminal 102 can be held more stably.

The probe cover 200 can be a resin bag. After inserting the ultrasonic probe 101 holding the mobile terminal 102 into the probe cover 200, the upper part of the probe cover 200 is folded back and the ultrasonic probe is pressed against the probe cover via the folded portion. The pushing force applied to the upper part of the mobile terminal that comes into contact with the folded portion is transmitted to the acoustic lens and the probe cover via the holding portion, and the acoustic lens and the probe cover are brought into close contact with each other without intervening air bubbles or wrinkles. Next, the probe cover 200 is fixed in the folded state with a seal or the like so as to maintain the close contact state. It is also possible to fix the probe cover 200 so as not to shift by fitting the bracket 151 from above the probe cover 200 while the ultrasonic probe is pressed against the probe cover. The bracket 151 can be fixed to the housing 112 by using, for example, a protrusion 142 provided on the side surface of the housing 112. It can also be fixed to the housing 112 by another method. The bracket 151 may be integrated with the probe cover 200, and a gel sheet covering the portion of the acoustic lens 113 may be attached to the bracket 151. It is also possible to attach the puncture guide to the bracket 151.

An example is shown in which the holding portion is an engaging socket into which the engaging plug provided in the mobile terminal 102 is inserted. However, as in the second modification shown in FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 102 itself is inserted as the holding portion. It is also possible to provide a terminal insertion recess 137 as such. By making a part of the wall surface of the terminal insertion recess 137 movable by a screw or the like, or by urging a part of the wall surface by a spring, a mobile terminal 102 of various sizes can be inserted. Further, an adapter can be used according to the size of the mobile terminal 102.

The terminal insertion recess 137 can be tilted so that the inserted mobile terminal 102 is tilted with respect to the vertical axis of the housing 112. However, the axis of the mobile terminal 102 may be easily aligned with the axis of the housing. Further, if a notch is provided on the front side of the terminal insertion recess 137 or a transparent window is provided, the entire surface of the display is used even if the display portion of the mobile terminal 102 is inserted into the terminal insertion recess 137. It becomes possible.

As in the third modification shown in FIG. 6, the holding portion may be a cutting table 138 extending diagonally upward from the upper end surface of the housing 112. In the fourth modification, since the mobile terminal 102 can be held on the surface, it can be held more stably. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the length of the cutting table 138 is almost the same as the length of the long side of the mobile terminal, but the length of the cutting table 138 is about 1/3 of the length of the long side of the mobile terminal. If it is longer than about 1/2, it can be held more stably. Further, it may be longer than the length of the long side of the mobile terminal.

Various methods can be used to secure the mobile terminal 102 to the cutting table 138. For example, pressing portions 139 can be provided on both sides of the cutting table 138 so as to sandwich the mobile terminal 102. If the pressing portion 139 is urged by a spring or the like, the mobile terminal 102 can be easily attached and detached. Further, an adhesive gel sheet or the like may be provided on the front surface of the cutting table 138 and fixed in close contact with the back surface of the mobile terminal 102.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the pressing portion 139 is a pressing wall that presses almost the entire side wall of the mobile terminal 102, but one or a plurality of points on both side walls of the mobile terminal 102 are suppressed by points. It can also be configured as such.

In FIG. 6, the lower end of the mobile terminal 102 is supported by the upper end surface of the housing 112. In this way, the mobile terminal 102 can be held more stably. It is also possible to provide a recess corresponding to the lower end of the mobile terminal 102 on the upper end surface of the housing 112, or to provide a recess into which the lower end can be inserted. However, it is not necessary to support the lower end of the mobile terminal 102 with the upper end surface of the housing 112, and a protrusion or the like is provided at an appropriate position on the front surface of the housing 112, and the lower end of the mobile terminal 102 is supported by the protrusion or the like. It can also be. Further, a protruding portion or the like that supports the lower end portion of the mobile terminal 102 may be provided on the side of the cutting table 138.

In FIG. 6, the entire mobile terminal 102 is located above the upper end surface of the housing 112, but only a part of the mobile terminal 102 may be located above the upper end surface. For example, the back surface of the cutting table 138 may be connected to the upper end of the housing 112. In this case, an inclined surface may be provided at the upper end of the housing 112 so that the back surface of the cutting table 138 comes into contact with the inclined surface.

The cutting table 138 can be integrally molded with the housing 112. It can also be attached to the housing 112 later. When the cutting table 138 is retrofitted, the setting table 138 may be replaced according to the size of the mobile terminal 102 to be used. Further, the inclination angle of the housing 112 of the cutting table 138 with respect to the vertical axis may be changed.

As in the fourth modification shown in FIG. 7, the angle of the mobile terminal 102 can be adjusted by using the engaging plug 161 in which the two rods are connected by the joint 162 which is the rotating portion provided in the intermediate portion. It can be changed freely. The joint 162 may rotate only on one axis such as a hinge joint. In this case, it is possible to change only the tilt angle of the mobile terminal 102. Further, it may rotate in multiple directions, such as a ball joint. In this case, not only the tilt angle of the mobile terminal 102 but also the orientation can be adjusted. If a rotatable joint is provided around the vertical axis and the cross section of the housing 112 is circular at least at the top, the mobile terminal 102 held by the holding portion rotates 360 ° around the housing 112. Can be done.

If the joint 162 is an easily separable joint such as a magnet ball joint, the ultrasonic probe 101 and the mobile terminal 102 can be attached to and detached from each other at the joint portion. For example, if the base portion of the magnet ball joint is attached to the upper end surface of the housing 112 and the ball portion is attached to the side of the mobile terminal 102, the magnet ball joint itself can be used as the holding portion.

Further, the engaging plug is a commercially available bunker ring to which the ring portion is attached via a joint whose angle can be adjusted, and the housing 112 is provided with a slit-shaped recess for receiving the ring portion of the bunker ring as an engaging socket. Can be done. Further, as in the fifth modification shown in FIG. 8, the holding portion is an engaging convex portion 164 provided on the housing 112, and the engaging convex portion 164 is inserted and held by the ring portion 165 of the bunker ring. It may be. Costs can be significantly reduced by using a general-purpose bunker ring.

In the fourth and fifth modifications, depending on the length of the rod and the angle of the joint 162, the mobile terminal 102 is parallel to the axis of the housing 112, and the mobile terminal 102 is not located on the upper end surface of the housing 112. In some cases. However, since the holding portion is provided on the upper end surface of the housing 112, the ultrasonic diagnosis in which the portable terminal 102 is held by the ultrasonic probe 101 is more than the case where the holding portion is provided on the front surface of the housing 112. The thickness of the entire device 100 can be reduced. For example, if the back surface of the mobile terminal 102 is in contact with the front surface of the housing 112 at a position where the mobile terminal 102 is parallel to the vertical axis of the housing 112, the thickness of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 can be minimized. Can be done. The smaller the thickness of the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 in which the portable terminal 102 is held by the ultrasonic probe 101, the smaller the clearance between the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 and the probe cover, and the smaller the clearance, the more super In a state where the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 and the probe cover are fixed, wrinkles can be less likely to occur in the probe cover.

As in the sixth modification shown in FIG. 9, the mounting member 167 having the U-shaped clamp portion 168 that sandwiches the housing 112 is held instead of using the engaging socket into which the engaging plug is inserted as the holding portion. As a unit, the portable terminal 102 may be held by the ultrasonic probe 101. Although FIG. 9 shows an example in which the mounting member 167 has a joint 162, the joint 162 may not be provided and the inclination angle of the mobile terminal 102 may be fixed. Further, although the example in which the clamp portion 168 sandwiches the front and rear surfaces of the housing 112 is shown, other configurations such as sandwiching both side surfaces may be used.

As a method of fixing the mobile terminal 102 to the end of the mounting member 167, various methods can be used. For example, the end portion of the mounting member 167 can be adhered directly to the back surface of the mobile terminal 102 or with a case interposed therebetween. Further, a concave portion may be provided at the end of the attachment member 167, and the convex portion may be attached directly to the back surface of the mobile terminal 102 or with a case or the like interposed therebetween, and the concave portion and the convex portion may be engaged with each other. In this case, the convex portion and the concave portion can be interchanged. Further, threads can be provided in the concave portion and the convex portion.

When using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100, it may be desired to use the ultrasonic probe 101 and the portable terminal 102 in a separated state. Since the mobile terminal 102 can be easily attached to and detached from the holding portion of the ultrasonic probe 101 of the present embodiment and each of the modified examples, such a usage method can be supported.

When it is decided in advance that the ultrasonic probe 101 and the mobile terminal 102 are used separately, the ultrasonic probe 101 is housed in the first probe cover 201 as in the seventh modification shown in FIG. The mobile terminal 102 can be held by the holding portion in a state where the mobile terminal 102 is housed in the second probe cover 202.

In the case of a holding portion having a configuration in which the engaging plug 132 is inserted into the engaging socket 131, if a play is provided between the engaging plug 132 and the engaging socket 131, the first probe is used to hold the mobile terminal 102. It is possible to prevent the cover 201 and the second probe cover 202 from being torn. In this case, a mechanism for tightening the engaging plug 132 after the engaging plug 132 has been inserted into the engaging socket 131 can be provided. If the two-step holding mechanism is such that the mobile terminal 102 is first supported in the direction of gravity and then tightened with some member so as to limit the lateral movement, the probe cover can be less likely to be torn. It is also possible to prevent the engaging plug 132 from rattling in the engaging socket 131 by using the holding by magnetic force as an auxiliary.

Even when the mobile terminal 102 is inserted into the terminal insertion recess 137, a play may be provided so that the probe cover is not torn. When using the cutting table 138, for example, if the lower end surface of the mobile terminal 102 is first supported and then the pressing portion 139 presses the side surface of the mobile terminal 102 as wide as possible, the probe cover is less likely to be torn. , It is possible to prevent the mobile terminal 102 from slipping off together with the probe cover.

A recess for gripping may be provided on the surface of the housing 112. The position and size of the recess can be appropriately determined depending on the size of the housing 112, the gripping direction, and the like. For example, when gripping the side surface from the back surface side of the housing 112, a recess can be provided on the side surface of the housing 112. Further, when gripping from the side of the housing 112 so as to be sandwiched by fingers, a recess corresponding to the thumb can be provided on the front surface side of the housing 112, and a recess corresponding to another finger can be provided on the back surface side. In this case, there is an advantage that the screen of the mobile terminal 102 can be easily operated with the thumb. In addition, the housing 112 may be provided with a handle or grip for gripping.

The ultrasonic probe of the present disclosure can be easily operated with both the ultrasonic probe and the portable terminal housed in the probe cover, and is useful as a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus or the like.

100 Ultrasonic diagnostic device 101 Ultrasonic probe 102 Portable terminal 112 Housing 113 Ultrasonic sensor unit 114 Signal processing unit 121 Display 131 Engagement socket 132 Engagement plug 133 Convex part 134 Ring part 137 Terminal insertion recess 138 Cutting table 139 Pressing Part 141 Inclined surface 142 Protrusion 151 Bracket 161 Engagement plug 162 Joint 164 Engagement convex part 165 Ring part 167 Mounting member 168 Clamp part 200 Probe cover 201 First probe cover 202 Second probe cover

Claims (8)

An ultrasonic sensor that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves,
A signal processing unit that processes the signal received by the ultrasonic sensor unit and transmits it to the mobile terminal.
The ultrasonic sensor unit and the signal processing unit are housed so that the ultrasonic sensor unit is located at the lower end, and a housing having a holding unit for holding the mobile terminal is provided.
The mobile terminal can be housed in the probe cover while being held by the holding portion.
An ultrasonic probe that holds the mobile terminal so that at least a part of the mobile terminal is located on the upper end surface of the housing. The holding portion holds the mobile terminal so that at least a part thereof is inclined to the skin.
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the mobile terminal includes a screen. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the direction of the end face of the mobile terminal and the width direction of the housing coincide with each other while being held by the holding portion. The holding portion is an engaging socket or an engaging plug provided on the upper end surface of the housing and receiving an engaging plug or an engaging socket attached to the back surface of the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal is mounted on the housing. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is tilted and held with respect to the vertical axis of the above. The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding portion is provided on the upper end surface of the housing and is a terminal insertion recess into which the lower end portion of the mobile terminal is inserted. The holding portion is a cutting table extending obliquely upward from the upper end surface of the housing, and the lower end portion of the mobile terminal is located on the upper end surface of the housing, any one of claims 1 to 5. The ultrasonic probe described in the section. An ultrasonic sensor that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves,
A signal processing unit that processes the signal received by the ultrasonic sensor unit and transmits it to the mobile terminal.
The ultrasonic sensor unit and the signal processing unit are housed so that the ultrasonic sensor unit is located at the lower end, and a housing having a holding unit for holding the mobile terminal is provided.
The mobile terminal can be housed in the probe cover while being held by the holding portion.
The holding portion is a mounting member that protrudes from the upper end surface of the housing, has a member for fixing the mobile terminal at the end, and has a rotating portion in the middle, and indicates the direction of the short side of the mobile terminal. An ultrasonic probe that holds in line with the width direction of the housing. An ultrasonic sensor that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves,
A signal processing unit that processes the signal received by the ultrasonic sensor unit and transmits it to the mobile terminal.
The ultrasonic sensor unit and the signal processing unit are housed so that the ultrasonic sensor unit is located at the lower end, and a housing having a holding unit for holding the mobile terminal is provided.
In the holding portion, the mobile terminal housed in the second probe cover with the housing housed in the first probe cover, at least a part of the mobile terminal is on the upper end surface of the housing. An ultrasonic probe that is held so that it is located on top.

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