ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an attachment surface which is an outer surface of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus; and a cable hook attached to the attachment surface, in which the cable hook has a movable arm configured to be switchable between a closed posture and an open posture, and the movable arm forms a pass-through path through which a probe cable is insertable and which has a substantially closed contour in a space with the attachment surface in the closed posture, and a part of the contour is interrupted and the pass-through path is opened in the open posture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Japan application serial no. 2023-087757, filed on May 29, 2023. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a cable hook.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the related art, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject (for example, a living body) and forms an ultrasound image such as a tomographic image based on a reception signal obtained by the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic waves is widely known. An ultrasound probe is connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus via a probe cable. In general, the probe cable has a certain length such that the ultrasound probe can be used even at a place distant from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. Therefore, unless special measures are taken, a part of the probe cable often hangs down to a floor surface.

Therefore, in the related art, it has been proposed to provide the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus with a cable hook for hooking and holding the probe cable. For example, JP2011-139722A, JP2012-143330A, and JP2017-192532A disclose an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having such a cable hook.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Here, in all cable hooks in the related art, a hook portion is open upward. In the related art, the probe cable is placed on the hook portion from above and hooked thereon. In such a configuration, the hooked probe cable is detached from the hook portion against the user's will. In addition, in the configuration of the related art, an unintended probe cable may slip into the hook portion, causing the probe cable to become entangled.

Therefore, the present disclosure is directed to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that can hold a probe cable more appropriately.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present disclosure comprises: an attachment surface which is an outer surface of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus; and a cable hook attached to the attachment surface, in which the cable hook has a movable arm configured to be switchable between a closed posture and an open posture, and the movable arm forms a pass-through path through which a probe cable is insertable and which has a substantially closed contour in a space with the attachment surface in the closed posture, and a part of the contour is interrupted and the pass-through path is opened in the open posture.

With such a configuration, it is possible to effectively prevent the probe cable from being detached from the cable hook against the user's will or the probe cable from entering the cable hook against the user's will. As a result, it is possible to more appropriately hold the probe cable.

In this case, the cable hook further may have a spring that biases the movable arm in a closing direction.

By providing the spring, the movable arm is closed in most cases. As a result, it is possible to prevent the probe cable from coming out of the pass-through path or the irrelevant probe cable from entering the pass-through path against the user's will.

In addition, the cable hook may further have a fixed body that is fixed to the attachment surface and to which the movable arm is swingably connected, a connecting force between the movable arm and the fixed body may be smaller than a limit strength of the movable arm, and in a case where a force in an opening direction, which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, is applied to the movable arm, the movable arm may be separated from the fixed body without being destroyed.

By configuring the movable arm to be separable from the fixed body, inconvenience is less likely to occur even in a case where an opening angle of the movable arm is reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce a size of a hinge mechanism of the movable arm.

In this case, the fixed body or an intermediate member interposed between the fixed body and the movable arm may be fitted into the movable arm, and in a case where the force in the opening direction, which is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, is applied to the movable arm, a part of the movable arm may be elastically deformed to release the fitting, so that the movable arm is separated from the fixed body.

With the above-described structure, the movable arm and the fixed body can be separably connected to each other with a simple structure.

In addition, the movable arm may include a main part extending in a direction substantially parallel to the attachment surface, and a terminal part extending from a terminal of the main part toward the attachment surface.

By forming the movable arm in the above-described shape, a closed pass-through path can be formed by one movable arm. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of components required for the cable hook.

In addition, a terminal of the movable arm may consist of an elastic material or may be covered with an elastic material.

With the above-described configuration, in a case where the movable arm is forcefully closed, a force of collision between the terminal of the movable arm and the attachment surface can be suppressed. As a result, with the above-described configuration, it is possible to suppress occurrence of noise and to prevent damage to the movable arm.

In addition, in a case where a maximum swing angle of the movable arm in the open posture is denoted by θo, a longitudinal direction dimension of the movable arm is denoted by La, and a maximum diameter of the probe cable inserted through the pass-through path is denoted by Φ, the cable hook may satisfy a condition of Φ≤La×sin θ0.

With the above-described configuration, the probe cable can be reliably inserted and pulled out into and from the pass-through path.

In addition, a connection terminal may be provided on a front surface of a body part of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and the attachment surface may be a side surface of the body part.

In a case where the connection terminal is provided on the front surface of the body part, providing the cable hook on the side surface of the body part facilitates handling of the probe cable.

In addition, the movable arm may extend in a front-rear direction and may be disposed such that a rotation axis is located near a front end of the movable arm.

The probe cable is easily pulled toward a front side of the body part. In this case, in a case where the terminal of the movable arm is located on the front side, the movable arm is easily opened, and the probe cable is easily detached from the pass-through path. As described above, in a case where the rotation axis of the movable arm is located at the front end of the movable arm, it is possible to effectively prevent the detachment of the probe cable.

With the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present disclosure, it is possible to more appropriately hold the probe cable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10will be described with reference to the drawings.FIG.1is a schematic perspective view of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10. In the following drawings, “Fr”, “Up”, and “Rh” indicate a front side, an upper side, and a right side of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10, respectively. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject (for example, a living body) and forms an ultrasound image such as a tomographic image based on a reception signal obtained by the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10includes a body part12, an operation panel14, and a display16. The body part12is a main part of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10, and serves as a base that supports the operation panel14and the display16. The body part12is supported by casters22, whereby the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10can be easily moved on a floor surface.

An ultrasound probe18is connected to the body part12via a probe cable19. A plurality of connection terminals28to which a connector (not shown) of the probe cable19is connected are provided on a front surface24of the body part12.

The operation panel14receives an operation input from a user. The operation panel14includes various operation buttons, a trackball, and the like. The display16displays the ultrasound image and various types of information. Both the operation panel14and the display16are attached to a multi-joint arm (not shown). Then, the user can freely change a position and a posture of the operation panel14and the display16by changing a posture of the multi-joint arm.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10is further provided with a plurality of probe holders20. The probe holder20holds the ultrasound probe18in a standing posture such that a cable draw-out portion of the ultrasound probe18faces downward. Such a probe holder20is attached to a periphery of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10. In a case of the example inFIG.1, a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) the probe holders20are attached to each of left and right ends of the operation panel14.

In a case where the ultrasound diagnosis is performed, the user selects the ultrasound probe18suitable for the diagnosis from among the ultrasound probes18held by the plurality of probe holders20, and extracts the selected ultrasound probe18from the probe holder20. Then, the user acquires an ultrasound image by bringing the extracted ultrasound probe18into contact with a diagnosis site.

Here, the probe cable19has a sufficient length so that the ultrasound probe18can be carried to a site distant from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10. Therefore, unless special measures are taken, a part of the probe cable19often hangs down to a floor surface. In a case where work related to ultrasound diagnosis is performed while the probe cable19hangs down to the floor surface as described above, the probe cable19is stepped on by a person, entangled with another probe cable19, or entangled in the casters22of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10. As a result, in a case where the probe cable19is left in a state of hanging down to the floor surface, the probe cable19may be deteriorated or damaged.

Therefore, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10of this example, a cable hook30for hooking the probe cable19is provided. As shown inFIG.1, the cable hook30is attached to a side surface of the body part12. Hereinafter, the surface to which the cable hook30is attached is referred to as an “attachment surface26”. Although not visible inFIG.1, one cable hook30is attached to each of a right side surface and a left side surface of the body part12. This is for appropriately holding the probe cable19by the cable hook30even in a case where the ultrasound probe18is held by either the probe holder20on the right side or the probe holder20on the left side.

FIG.2is a schematic plan view of a periphery of the cable hook30. As shown inFIG.2, the cable hook30has a movable arm70that is swingable about a predetermined rotation axis Ra. In this example, the rotation axis Ra is located near a front end of the movable arm70, and is an axis parallel to a vertical direction. In addition, the movable arm70is disposed to have a long length in a front-rear direction, and swings in a horizontal plane. The movable arm70can be switched between a closed posture and an open posture by swinging, as will be described in detail below. InFIG.2, the movable arm70in the closed posture is shown by a solid line, and the movable arm70in the open posture is shown by a two-dot chain line.

The movable arm70forms a pass-through path32, through which the probe cable19can be inserted, in a space with the attachment surface26in the closed posture. The pass-through path32has a substantially closed contour. Here, the term “substantially closed contour” refers to a contour in which the probe cable19having the minimum diameter cannot move from the inside to the outside of the contour or from the outside to the inside of the contour. Therefore, the term “substantially closed contour” includes, in addition to a contour that is completely connected without any notches, a contour in which a notch is present but the notch is less than the minimum diameter.

In the open posture, a part of the contour of the movable arm70is interrupted, and the pass-through path32is opened. Here, the phrase “pass-through path32is opened” means that the notch of the contour is larger than the diameter of the probe cable19.

The movable arm70changes from the closed posture to the open posture by applying a force in a direction away from the attachment surface26(hereinafter, referred to as an “opening direction”) to the movable arm70. In addition, the movable arm70is biased in a closing direction by a torsion spring86described below. Therefore, in a case where the force in the opening direction is released, the movable arm70is automatically switched from the open posture to the closed posture.

In a case where the probe cable19is held by the cable hook30, the user temporarily switches the movable arm70to the open posture and inserts the probe cable19into the pass-through path32through the notch of the contour. Thereafter, in a case where a hand is released from the movable arm70, the movable arm70returns to the closed posture. As a result, the probe cable19is prevented from being detached from the pass-through path32.

The probe cable19inserted through the pass-through path32always takes a detour to pass through the cable hook30in a process from the ultrasound probe18toward the connection terminal28. Accordingly, the probe cable19is effectively prevented from hanging down to the floor surface.

Next, a specific configuration of the cable hook30will be described.FIG.3is an exploded perspective view of the cable hook30. In addition,FIGS.4and5are cross-sectional views of the cable hook30cut along a plane parallel to the horizontal plane.

As shown inFIG.3, the cable hook30has a fixed body34, a rotating body50, the movable arm70, and a hinge shaft88. The fixed body34is a member that is fixed to the attachment surface26. The fixed body34includes a pair of bases36facing each other in an up-down direction, and a connecting wall38that connects the pair of bases36. Shaft holes40through which the hinge shaft88passes are formed in the pair of bases36. In addition, a part of the connecting wall38functions as a stopper surface42that abuts on a part of the rotating body50to restrict a rotation range of the rotating body50(seeFIGS.4and5).

The rotating body50is disposed between the pair of bases36of the fixed body34, and is a member that is rotatable with respect to the fixed body34. The rotating body50includes a pair of bases52facing each other in the up-down direction, an abutment wall54, and a locking wall56. Shaft holes58through which the hinge shaft88passes are formed in the pair of bases52.

The abutment wall54is a wall that connects front ends of the pair of bases52to each other. As shown inFIG.4, the abutment wall54is located in an abutment recess82, which will be described below, of the movable arm70. In a case where wall surfaces of the abutment wall54and the abutment recess82abut on each other, the rotating body50and the movable arm70integrally rotate. In addition, as shown inFIG.5, in a case where the rotating body50rotates in the opening direction by a certain degree or more, a part of the rotating body50abuts on the stopper surface42of the fixed body34. As a result, the maximum rotation angle of the rotating body50and the movable arm70is restricted. Hereinafter, the maximum rotation angle of the movable arm70is referred to as a “maximum swing angle θ0”.

In addition, the locking wall56is a wall that connects rear ends of the pair of bases52to each other. As shown inFIG.4, the locking wall56is bent in a substantially V shape in plan view. One end of the torsion spring86is locked to the locking wall56. The torsion spring86is a biasing member that biases the rotating body50and the movable arm70in the closing direction. The other end of the torsion spring86is locked to a part of the fixed body34. As shown inFIG.5, in a case where the rotating body50and the movable arm70are rotated in the opening direction, the torsion spring86applies a biasing force in the closing direction to the rotating body50. With this biasing force, the rotating body50and the movable arm70automatically return to the closed posture.

The movable arm70is roughly divided into a hinge part72and an arm part74. The arm part74further includes a main part76that extends in a direction parallel to the attachment surface26, and a terminal part78that extends from a terminal of the main part76in a direction approaching the attachment surface26. In other words, the arm part74has a substantially L-shape in plan view. By forming the arm part74in a substantially L-shape, the pass-through path32having a substantially closed contour can be formed by one movable arm70. In other words, by forming the arm part74in a substantially L-shape, it is not necessary to combine a plurality of components to obtain a closed contour, so that the number of components can be reduced.

The terminal part78of the arm part74is covered with an elastic material (for example, silicon rubber or natural rubber). With such a configuration, in a case where the movable arm70is forcefully closed, a force of collision between the terminal part78and the attachment surface26can be suppressed. As a result, a collision sound in a case of closing the movable arm70can be suppressed, and damage to the movable arm70can be prevented. It is needless to say that the terminal part78may be entirely made of an elastic material rather than being covered with an elastic material. Further, the terminal part78may be configured without the elastic material.

The hinge part72is provided at the front end of the movable arm70. The hinge part72is assembled to the fixed body34and the rotating body50via the hinge shaft88. The hinge part72will be described with reference toFIGS.4to7.FIG.6is a partially cut-away perspective view of the movable arm70. In addition,FIG.7is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A inFIG.4. InFIG.7, only the movable arm70and the hinge shaft88are shown, and other components are not shown.

As shown inFIG.7, the hinge part72has a pair of bases80facing each other in the up-down direction. The pair of bases80are connected by the arm part74. The fixed body34and the rotating body50are disposed between the pair of bases80. In addition, as shown inFIGS.6and7, a shaft recess84into which an end part of the hinge shaft88is fitted is formed in the base80. The rotating body50, the fixed body34, and the hinge part72of the movable arm70are connected via the hinge shaft88. Therefore, the hinge shaft88functions as an intermediate member interposed between the fixed body34and the movable arm70.

Here, the movable arm70is connected to the fixed body34via the hinge shaft88. A connecting force between the movable arm70and the fixed body34is smaller than a limit strength of the movable arm70. Therefore, in a case where a force in the opening direction, which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, is applied to the movable arm70, the movable arm70is separated from the fixed body34without being destroyed.

Specifically, as shown inFIG.7, the hinge shaft88is interposed between the pair of bases80. In other words, the hinge shaft88, which is the intermediate member, is fitted into the movable arm70. In addition, the base80is a cantilever-shaped portion of which only one end is connected to the arm part74. In a case where the movable arm70is strongly pulled in the opening direction, the pair of bases80is bent in a direction in which a distance between the pair of bases80increases. As a result, the hinge shaft88comes out of the shaft recess84, and the movable arm70is separated from the fixed body34.

As shown inFIG.6, an auxiliary groove85that extends from a peripheral edge of the shaft recess84in a direction approaching the attachment surface26is formed in the base80. By forming the auxiliary groove85, a depth of a portion of the shaft recess84that is close to the attachment surface26is shallower than a depth of a portion on the opposite side. As a result, the hinge shaft88can more easily come out of the shaft recess84.

The reason for making the movable arm70separable from the fixed body34in this manner is as follows. In a case where the maximum swing angle θ0of the movable arm70is excessively increased, the size of the hinge mechanism is likely to be increased. Therefore, the maximum swing angle θ0is suppressed to be small. However, in a case where the maximum swing angle θo is small, a large force is applied to the movable arm70in a case where the user strongly pulls the movable arm70, and thus the movable arm70may be easily damaged. Here, in a case where the movable arm70is separable from the fixed body34as in this example, even in a case where the user strongly pulls the movable arm70, the movable arm70is separated from the fixed body34without being destroyed. As a result, even in a case where the maximum swing angle θo is made small, the destruction of the movable arm70is effectively prevented. Therefore, in this example, the movable arm70is separable from the fixed body34.

Next, a condition of the dimension of the movable arm70will be described with reference toFIG.8.FIG.8is a schematic view of the movable arm70. In order to insert the probe cable19into the pass-through path32, an opening width Lo in a case where the movable arm70is opened up to the maximum swing angle θ0has to be equal to or greater than the maximum diameter Φ of the probe cable19. Here, in a case where the major axis direction dimension of the movable arm70is denoted by La, the opening width Lo is Lo=La×sin (θo). Therefore, the major axis direction dimension La and the maximum swing angle θ0of the movable arm70are set to values satisfying La×sin(θo)≥Φ.

Incidentally, as is clear from the above description, the cable hook30of this example maintains a substantially closed contour as long as a force in the opening direction is not received. As a result, the probe cable19inserted through the pass-through path32is effectively prevented from being detached to the outside of the pass-through path32against the user's will. As a result, with the cable hook30of this example, the probe cable19can be more appropriately held.

In addition, as is clear from the description so far, in this example, the cable hook30is attached to the side surface of the body part12. With such a configuration, the probe cable19is easily handled. That is, in this example, the probe holder20is provided at left and right end parts of the operation panel14, and the connection terminal28is provided on the front surface24of the body part12. In this case, the probe cable19passes near the side surface of the body part12in a process from the probe holder20to the connection terminal28. By attaching the cable hook30to this side surface, the probe cable19can be easily handled up to the cable hook30.

Further, in this example, the movable arm70is disposed in a posture parallel to the front-rear direction, and the hinge part72(by extension, the rotation axis Ra) is disposed near the front end of the movable arm70. With such a disposition, it is possible to effectively prevent the probe cable19from being detached from the cable hook30against the user's will. That is, in a case where the user uses the ultrasound probe18, the ultrasound probe18and, by extension, the probe cable19, are often pulled forward. In this case, the probe cable19in the pass-through path32presses the front end of the movable arm70forward, that is, in a direction of an arrow B inFIG.2. In a case where the hinge part72is provided at a rear end of the movable arm70, the movable arm70may swing and be opened in response to such a pressing force. In this case, the probe cable19is detached from the cable hook30against the user's will. On the other hand, in a case where the hinge part72is provided at the front end of the movable arm70as in this example, the movable arm70does not swing even in a case where the pressing force is received in the forward direction, so that the probe cable19is not detached from the cable hook30. As a result, according to this example, the probe cable19can be stably held by the cable hook30.

The configuration described so far is an example, and the other configurations may be appropriately changed as long as the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10has the configuration according to claim1. For example, in the above description, the pass-through path32is formed by one movable arm70, but the pass-through path32may be formed by combining a plurality of arms. For example, as shown inFIG.9, two movable arms70* may be disposed line-symmetrically, and the two movable arms70* may form the pass-through path32.

In addition, the disposition and the posture of the cable hook30may also be changed as appropriate. For example, the cable hook30may be disposed in a posture in which the hinge part72is located at the rear end of the movable arm70. With such a configuration, in a case where the probe cable19is strongly pulled forward, the movable arm70is easily opened. As a result, it is possible to prevent an excessive force from being applied to the probe cable19, thereby preventing damage to the probe cable19. In addition, as another aspect, the movable arm70may be disposed by being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction such that the front end of the movable arm70is located on the lower side in the direction of gravitational force with respect to the rear end. With such a configuration, the probe cable19hooked to the movable arm70slides along the movable arm70due to the gravity, and is likely to be collected on the front side and, by extension, on the rotation axis Ra side. As a result, the movable arm70is more effectively prevented from being opened against the user's will, and, furthermore, the probe cable19is more effectively prevented from being detached against user's will.

Further, the cable hook30may be attached to a location other than the side surface of the body part12as long as it is located on the outer surface of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus10. For example, the cable hook30may be attached to the front surface24of the body part12, a peripheral edge of the operation panel14, or the like. In addition, in a case where a surface (for example, the side surface or the upper surface of the body part12) that is stationary with respect to the connection terminal28is selected as the attachment surface26to which the cable hook30is attached, the entanglement of the probe cable19can be more effectively prevented.