Support apparatus of ultrasound probe, handsfree ultrasound probe including the support apparatus, and method of operating the support apparatus

A support apparatus of an ultrasound probe, a handsfree ultrasound probe including the support apparatus, and a method of operating the support apparatus. The support apparatus includes: a housing including an accommodation unit capable of accommodating an ultrasound probe and an adhesion unit capable of contacting a target object; and a first control unit for controlling an adhesive force with respect to the target object of the adhesion unit according to whether a user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe and the housing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0134355, filed on Nov. 6, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a support apparatus of an ultrasound probe, a handsfree ultrasound probe including the support apparatus, and a method of operating the support apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

An ultrasound apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, an X-ray apparatus, etc. may be used as medical devices for obtaining a medical image of a body. By reason of a resolution of the medical image or a size of the medical device, these apparatuses may photograph a part of the body or an overall part of the body. The overall part of the body may be photographed at a time or the part of the body may be photographed in several times and then photographed images may be combined into one image to obtain a combined image of the whole part of the body.

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound, a signal processing apparatus that performs signal processing on the received ultrasound, and a display apparatus that displays an ultrasound image.

The ultrasound probe that a user who is a doctor is holding by his/her hand contacts a target object such as a patient body, transmits ultrasound to the target object, and receives an echo signal of the ultrasound. However, although a user needs to fix the ultrasound probe to the target object when more closely diagnosing a specific part of the target object, it is difficult to fix the ultrasound probe more than a predetermined period of time due to a weight of the ultrasound probe.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present invention include a support apparatus of an ultrasound probe that a user may not hold by his/her hand during a diagnosis, a handsfree ultrasound probe including the support apparatus, and a method of operating the support apparatus.

One or more embodiments of the present invention include a support apparatus of an ultrasound probe capable of remotely controlling a movement of the ultrasound probe, a handsfree ultrasound probe including the support apparatus, and a method of operating the support apparatus.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a support apparatus of an ultrasound acoustic probe, the support apparatus including: a housing including an accommodation unit capable of accommodating an ultrasound probe and an adhesion unit capable of contacting a target object; and a first control unit for controlling an adhesive force with respect to the target object of the adhesion unit according to whether a user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe and the housing.

The adhesive force when a user touch is detected may be smaller than that when the user touch is not detected.

The first control unit may control the adhesive force to be smaller than a first reference value if a user touch is detected, and control the adhesive force to be greater than the first reference value if the user touch is not detected.

The first control unit may be capable of adjusting an intensity of the adhesive force at steps.

The first control unit may control the adhesive force by using an amount of air between the adhesion unit and the target object.

The first control unit may include a vacuum pump that adjusts the amount of air.

The support apparatus may further include: a second control unit for controlling a movement of the ultrasound probe according to whether the user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe and the housing.

The second control unit may include an actuator that is capable of moving such that the actuator contacts the ultrasound probe or is spaced apart from the ultrasound probe.

The actuator may be spaced apart from the ultrasound probe such that the ultrasound probe moves if the user touch is detected, and fix the ultrasound probe if the user touch is not detected.

The actuator may move the ultrasound probe in correspondence to a user command used to move the ultrasound probe if the user touch is not detected, and the user command is input.

The actuator may move at a trace of a protocol that is previously stored in correspondence to the user command.

The user command may be remotely input.

The first control unit may receive whether the user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe and the housing from a sensor disposed in at least one of the ultrasound probe and the housing.

The sensor may include at least one of a touch sensor, a temperature sensor, a button sensor, a light sensor, and a pressure sensor.

The ultrasound probe may be detached from the accommodation unit.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a handsfree ultrasound probe including: an ultrasound probe for irradiating ultrasound to a target object and receiving an echo signal of the ultrasound; an accommodation unit for accommodating the ultrasound probe; and an adhesion unit for contacting the target object.

The handsfree ultrasound probe may further include: a first control unit for controlling an adhesive force with respect to the target object of the adhesion unit according to whether a user touches the handsfree ultrasound probe.

The first control unit may control the adhesive force when a user touch is not detected to be greater smaller than that when the user touch is detected.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a method of operating a handsfree ultrasound probe, the method including: detecting whether a user touches the handsfree ultrasound probe; and controlling an adhesive force of the handsfree ultrasound probe with respect to a target object to be smaller than a first reference value if it is detected that the user touches the handsfree ultrasound probe.

The method may further include: controlling the adhesive force of the handsfree ultrasound probe with respect to the target object to be greater than the first reference value if it is not detected that the user touches the handsfree ultrasound probe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the specification, a term ‘target object’ may include a person, animal, or a part of a person or animal. For example, the target object may include organs such as the liver, the heart, the womb, the brain, the breast, the abdominal region, etc., or a blood vessel. Throughout the specification, a “user” may be a medical expert including a doctor, a nurse, a medical laboratory technologist, a medical image expert, a technician repairing medical equipments, or the like.

FIG. 1is a schematic block diagram of a handsfree ultrasound probe100according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a block diagram of an ultrasound probe200shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a block diagram of a support apparatus300shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 4Aillustrates an external appearance of the support apparatus300shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 4Billustrates an internal appearance of the support apparatus300shown inFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 1, the handsfree ultrasound probe100includes the ultrasound probe200that photographs a target objet by using ultrasound to generate an ultrasound image and the support apparatus300that supports the ultrasound probe200to contact the target object.

The ultrasound probe200transmits ultrasound to the target object and receives an echo signal of the ultrasound from the target object. The ultrasound probe200may include a transmission unit220, a transducer240, and a receiving unit260as shown inFIG. 2.

The transmission unit220provides the transducer240with a driving signal. The transmission unit220may include a pulse generation unit222, a transmission delay unit224, and a pulser226.

The pulse generation unit222generates rate pulses for forming transmission ultrasound according to a predetermined pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The transmission delay unit224applies delay time to the rate pulses generated by the pulse generation unit222to determine a transmission directionality. The rate pulses to which the delay time is applied respectively correspond to a plurality of unit devices included in the transducer240. The pulser226applies the driving signal (or a driving pulse) to the transducer240at timing corresponding to each of the rate pulses to which the delay time is applied. The unit devices may be in a one-dimensional array or a two-dimensional array.

The transducer240sends the ultrasound to the target object according to the driving signal provided by the transmission unit220and receives the echo signal of the ultrasound reflected from the target object. The transducer240may include a plurality of unit devices that convert an electrical signal into acoustic energy (or vice versa). The unit devices may be in a one-dimensional array or a two-dimensional array.

The transducer240may be implemented as a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic (pMUT) that inter-converts the ultrasound and the electrical signal by using a change in pressure while vibrating, a capacitive MUT (cMUT) that inter-converts the ultrasound and the electrical signal by using a change in capacitance, a magnetic MUT (mMUT) that inter-converts the ultrasound and the electrical signal by using a change in a magnetic field, an optical ultrasound detector that inter-converts the ultrasound and the electrical signal by using a change in an optical characteristic, etc.

The receiving unit260may generate ultrasound data by processing signals received from the transducer240, and include an amplifier262, an analogue digital converter (ADC)264, a receiving delay unit266, and a summing unit268.

The amplifier262amplifies the signals received from the transducer240. The ADC264AD-converts the amplified signals. The receiving delay unit266applies a delay time used to determine a reception directionality to the digitally converted signals. The summing unit268generates the ultrasound data by summing signals processed by the receiving delay unit266. A reflective component may be emphasized from a direction determined by the reception directionality according to the summing performed by the summing unit268.

Although the ultrasound probe200necessarily includes the transducer240, some elements of the transmission unit220and the receiving unit260may be included in another apparatus. For example, the ultrasound probe200may not include the summing unit268of the receiving unit260.

The support apparatus300may include a housing310that forms an external appearance thereof and a first control unit320that controls an adhesive force with respect to a target object of the housing310according to whether the user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe200and the housing310.

The housing310may include an accommodation unit312that is capable of accommodating the ultrasound probe200and an adhesion unit314that is capable of being adhered to the target object. The ultrasound probe200may be detachable from the accommodation unit312. The accommodation unit312may be formed as a hole that passes through the housing310so that the ultrasound probe200may contact the target object but is not limited thereto. The accommodation unit312may be a groove formed inside the housing310or may be a space between a coverer316and the adhesion unit314of the housing310.

The adhesion unit314may be a floor surface of the housing310to contact the target object. When the accommodation unit312is formed as the hole or the groove, the adhesion unit314may be disposed to surround the accommodation unit312. When the accommodation unit312is a space inside the housing310, the adhesion unit314may be the whole floor surface of the housing310. The adhesion unit314may be formed of an elastic material. A shape of the adhesion unit314may be slightly changed according to an adhesive force with respect to the target object.

The first control unit320controls the adhesive force with respect to the target object of the adhesion unit314according to whether the user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe200and the housing310. For example, if it is detected that the user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe200and the housing310, the first control unit320controls the adhesive force to be smaller than a first reference value, and, if it is not detected that the user touches at least one of the ultrasound probe200and the housing310, the first control unit320controls the adhesive force to be greater than the first reference value. That is, the adhesive force with respect to the target object when a user touch is detected is smaller than that when the user touch is not detected. When the user touches the ultrasound probe200or the housing310, since the adhesive force with respect to the target object is weak, the handsfree ultrasound probe100may freely move. When the user does not touch the ultrasound probe200or the housing310, since the adhesive force with respect to the target object is strong, the handsfree ultrasound probe100may contact the target object.

The first control unit30may control an intensity of the adhesive force by using an amount of air between the adhesion unit314and the target object. For example, the first control unit320may include a vacuum pump capable of adjusting the amount of air. That is, the first control unit320may control the adhesive force to be stronger by reducing the amount of air between the adhesion unit314and the target object and may control the adhesive force to be weaker by increasing the amount of air between the adhesion unit314and the target object. The first control unit320may be disposed inside the housing310but is not limited thereto. The first control unit320may be disposed on the cover316.

In addition, the first control unit320may adjust the intensity of the adhesive force at plural steps. For example, if the user touch is not detected, the first control unit320controls the adhesive force to be greater than the first reference value, and, if the user touch is detected, when an angle movement of the ultrasound probe200is detected, the first control unit320controls the adhesive force to be smaller than the first reference value and to be greater than a second reference value. When the user touch is detected, if a rectilinear movement (for example, a movement in a normal line direction or a tangent line direction with respect to the target object) of the ultrasound probe200is detected, the first control unit320controls the adhesive force to be smaller than the second reference value. The first control unit320may include elements in addition to the vacuum pump. For example, the first control unit320may be a motor that applies a pressure to contact the adhesion unit314to the target object or that separates the adhesion unit314from the target object.

Since the adhesive force with respect to the target object differs according to whether there is the user touch as described above, the user does not need to place the handsfree ultrasound probe100in a specific portion of the target object and hold the handsfree ultrasound probe100. Thus, a pain in an arm that is like to occur by operating the ultrasound probe200may be reduced. The user may operate another function of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus without using his/her hand to fix the ultrasound probe200, thereby conveniently operating the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus. Furthermore, the handsfree ultrasound probe100may photograph an image with respect to a specific region of the target object for a predetermined period of time without shaking, and thus the user may accurately diagnose the specific region.

FIG. 5is a schematic block diagram of the handsfree ultrasound probe100according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5, the handsfree ultrasound probe100may further include a sensor330that detects a user touch with respect to at least one of the ultrasound probe200and the housing310of the support apparatus300. The sensor330may be at least one of a touch sensor, a temperature sensor, a button sensor, a light sensor, and a pressure sensor. The sensor330may be disposed in the ultrasound probe200or in the housing310of the support apparatus300. If the sensor330is disposed in the ultrasound probe200, the sensor330may be electrically connected to the first control unit320when the ultrasound probe200is accommodated in the accommodation unit312of the support apparatus300. Thus, a detection result of the sensor330may be applied to the first control unit320.

FIG. 6is a block diagram of the support apparatus300of the ultrasound probe200according to another embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7illustrates an internal appearance of the support apparatus300shown inFIG. 6. Compared to the support apparatus300shown inFIG. 3, the support apparatus300shown inFIG. 6may further include a second control unit340that controls a movement of the ultrasound probe200according to whether a user touch is detected. The second control unit340may include an actuator that is capable of moving such that the actuator may contact the ultrasound probe200or may be spaced apart from the ultrasound probe200. The actuator may be spaced apart from the ultrasound probe200such that the ultrasound probe200may move if the user touch is detected. The actuator may contact and fix the ultrasound probe200if the user touch is not detected.

The second control unit340may control a movement of the ultrasound probe200according to a protocol that is previous stored.FIG. 8is a block diagram of the support apparatus300of the ultrasound probe200according to another embodiment of the present invention. Compared to the support apparatus300shown inFIG. 7, the support apparatus300shown inFIG. 8may further include a communication unit350that is capable of communicating with an external device. The external device may be a portable terminal as an apparatus capable of inputting a user command. If the ultrasound probe200is installed in the accommodation unit312, the first control unit320controls an adhesive force of the adhesion unit314to be smaller than a first reference value, and the second control unit340fixes the ultrasound probe200. If a user touch is not detected, the first control unit320controls the adhesive force of the adhesion unit314to be greater than the first reference value. In addition, if the user touch is not detected, and a user command used to move the ultrasound probe200is input through the communication unit350, the second control unit340may move the ultrasound probe200according to the user command. The user command may be remotely input. That is, the user command may be input via wireless communication. The second control unit340may move the ultrasound probe200at one or more degrees of freedom.

Furthermore, if the user command is a movement command according to a protocol that is previous stored. For example, a movement trace of the ultrasound probe200may be previously stored according to a type (liver, abdomen, etc.) of a target object that is to be photographed. If a user command used to select the type of the target object is input, the second control unit340may move the ultrasound probe200to a movement trace corresponding to a selected type of the target object. The communication unit350is disposed in the support apparatus300inFIG. 7but is not limited thereto. The communication unit350may be disposed in the ultrasound probe200, and, when the ultrasound probe200is accommodated in the accommodation unit312, may be electrically connected to the second control unit340.

FIGS. 9A through 9Cillustrate examples of a user command used to move the handsfree ultrasound probe100according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 9A, after contacting the handsfree ultrasound probe100to a target object, a user may move the ultrasound probe200at one or more degrees of freedom while holding the ultrasound probe200.

Alternatively, the user ends touching the handsfree ultrasound probe100while contacting the handsfree ultrasound probe100to the target object. Referring toFIG. 9B, a user control apparatus, for example, a portable terminal, may be used to control a movement of the ultrasound probe200. Since a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, etc, are embedded in the portable terminal, if the user moves the portable terminal at one or more degrees of freedom, a movement of the portable terminal is transmitted to the handsfree ultrasound probe100, and the ultrasound probe200may move in correspondence to the movement of the portable terminal.

Alternatively, referring toFIG. 9C, an icon910used to control a movement of the ultrasound probe200may be disposed in the user control apparatus. The user may control the movement of the ultrasound probe200by using the icon910.

FIG. 10illustrates an external appearance of the handsfree ultrasound probe100according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 10, the housing310of the support apparatus300may be configured as the adhesion unit314and the cover316, and the ultrasound probe200may be disposed in an inner space between the adhesion unit314and the cover316. The ultrasound probe200may further include a wireless communication unit (not shown) that is capable of communicating with an external device (for example, a signal processing apparatus). Thus, the wireless communication unit may communicate data according to the digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) standard.

FIG. 11is a flowchart of a method of operating the handsfree ultrasound probe100according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 11, the sensor330detects whether a user touches the handsfree ultrasound probe100(operation S1110). The sensor330may be disposed in the ultrasound probe200or in the support apparatus300. The sensor330may be a touch sensor that is capable of detecting a user touch but is not limited thereto. The sensor330may be one of a temperature sensor, a button sensor, a light sensor, and a pressure sensor.

If a user touch is detected (operation S1110—Y), the first control unit320may control an adhesive force of the handsfree ultrasound probe100with respect to a target object to be smaller than a first reference value (operation S1120). Thus, the user may separate the handsfree ultrasound probe100from the target object.

If the user touch is not detected (operation S1110—N), the first control unit320may control the adhesive force of the handsfree ultrasound probe100with respect to the target object to be greater than the first reference value (operation S1130). Thus, the user may fix the handsfree ultrasound probe100to the target object without touching the handsfree ultrasound probe100so that the handsfree ultrasound probe100may continuously irradiate ultrasound to a specific region of the target object. Alternatively, the user may remotely move the ultrasound probe200and photograph an ultrasound image while contacting the ultrasound probe200to the target object. For example, if the user touch is not detected, and a user command used to move the ultrasound probe200is input, the second control unit340may move the ultrasound probe200in correspondence to the user command.

As described above, according to the one or more of the above embodiments of the present invention, a user may not hold an ultrasound probe during a diagnosis, thereby increasing a user convenience.

The ultrasound probe moves according to a protocol that is previous stored, thereby more accurately photographing an ultrasound image.