Abstract:
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe; a transceiver device which drives said ultrasound probe to scan a subject with an ultrasound beam; an image generating device which generates an ultrasound image on the basis of received signals obtained by said scanning; a display device which displays said ultrasound image; a first operation device and a second operation device to enable an operator to input instructions; and a control device which accepts instructions inputted from said first operation device and instructions inputted from said second operation device and controls said transceiver device, said image generating device and said display device in accordance with the instructions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-218372 filed Aug. 24, 2007, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that allows a plurality of operators to operate a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. 
         [0003]    Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus each of which allows the body unit of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be operated from an operation unit by radio communication are known (see for instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-085405 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-153903). 
         [0004]    For instance when a medical doctor is to train a sonographer (person whose task is to scan a subject with an ultrasound wave) on the job, it is preferable for the sonographer positioned near the patient and the doctor positioned somewhat away to be able to operate the same ultrasound diagnostic apparatus substantially at the same time. 
         [0005]    However, as the operation unit and the body unit of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus are in a one-to-one relationship in the conventional ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, there is a problem that the above-stated requirement cannot be met. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is desirable that the problem described previously is solved. 
         [0007]    The invention in its first aspect provides an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasound probe, a transceiver device which drives the ultrasound probe to scan a subject with an ultrasound beam, an image generating device which generates an ultrasound image on the basis of received signals obtained by the scanning, a display device which displays the ultrasound image, a first operation device and a second operation device to enable an operator to input instructions, and a control device which accepts instructions inputted from the first operation device and instructions inputted from the second operation device and controls the transceiver device, the image generating device and the display device in accordance with the instructions. 
         [0008]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect enables a first operator to operate the first operation device and a second operator to operate the second operation device and thereby to make a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus operable by a plurality of operators. Therefore, for instance, a sonographer positioned near the patient and a doctor positioned somewhat away are enabled to operate the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus substantially at the same time. 
         [0009]    Incidentally, an i-th (i≧3) operation device may be provided as well. 
         [0010]    The invention in its second aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are the same as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device. 
         [0011]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the second aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are the same as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device, is suitable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by a plurality of operators of the same occupational function (e.g. two doctors). 
         [0012]    The invention in its third aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect wherein only some of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device are permitted as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device. 
         [0013]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device and the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device can be differentiated from each other, is suitable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by a plurality of operators of different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0014]    The invention in its fourth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are switchable between the same as and some of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device. 
         [0015]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device are switchable between the same as and some of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device, is suitable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus both by a plurality of operators of the same occupational function (e.g. two doctors) and by a plurality of operators of different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0016]    The invention in its fifth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to any of the first through fourth aspects wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are selectable. 
         [0017]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the fifth aspect allows presetting of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device by selecting the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device. 
         [0018]    The invention in its sixth aspect provides an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasound probe, a transceiver device which drives the ultrasound probe to scan a subject with an ultrasound beam, an image generating device which generates an ultrasound image on the basis of received signals obtained by the scanning, a first display device and a second display device which display the ultrasound image, a first operation device and a second operation device to enable an operator to input instructions, and a control device which accepts instructions inputted from the first operation device and instructions inputted from the second operation device and controls the transceiver device, the image generating device, the first display device and the second display device in accordance with the instructions. 
         [0019]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth aspect enables a plurality of operators to operate a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by having a first operator operate the first operation device while watching the first display device and having a second operator operate the second operation device while watching the second display device. Therefore, for instance, a sonographer positioned near the patient and a doctor positioned somewhat away can operate the same ultrasound diagnostic apparatus substantially at the same time. 
         [0020]    Incidentally, an i-th (i≧3) display device and an i-th (i≧3) operation device may be provided as well. 
         [0021]    The invention in its seventh aspect provides a ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth aspect wherein inputting from the second operation device to the first display device is impossible. 
         [0022]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the seventh aspect, as the functions of the first display device cannot be altered from the second operation device, can assign the first display device for exclusive use by the first operation device. 
         [0023]    The invention in its eighth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect wherein inputting from the first operation device to the second display device is impossible. 
         [0024]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the eighth aspect, as the functions of the second display device cannot be altered from the first operation device, can assign the second display device for exclusive use by the second operation device. 
         [0025]    The invention in its ninth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to any of the sixth through eighth aspects wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device do not include some of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device. 
         [0026]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the ninth aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device are differentiated from the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device, is suitable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by a plurality of operators different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0027]    The invention in its tenth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the ninth aspect wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are selectable. 
         [0028]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the tenth aspect allows presetting of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device by selecting the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device. 
         [0029]    The invention in its eleventh aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the tenth aspect wherein some of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device cannot be selected as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device. 
         [0030]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device can be differentiated from the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device, is suitable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by a plurality of operators different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0031]    The invention in its twelfth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth aspect wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device include all of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device. 
         [0032]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device are the same as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device, is suitable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by a plurality of operators of the same occupational function (e.g. two doctors). 
         [0033]    The invention in its thirteenth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the sixth aspect wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are switchable between all and not all of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device. 
         [0034]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device are switchable between the same as and different ones from the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device, is adaptable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus both by a plurality of operators of the same occupational function (e.g. two doctors) and by a plurality of operators of different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0035]    The invention in its fourteenth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are selectable. 
         [0036]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect allows presetting of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device by selecting the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device. 
         [0037]    The invention in its fifteenth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect wherein the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are selectable out of all of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device. 
         [0038]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device are switchable between the same as and different ones from the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device, is adaptable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus both by a plurality of operators of the same occupational function (e.g. two doctors) and by a plurality of operators of different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0039]    The invention in its sixteenth aspect provides the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect wherein, when the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device are to be selected in a state in which the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device have been so switched as not to include some of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device, some of the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device cannot be selected. 
         [0040]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the sixteenth aspect, as the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operation device can be differentiated from the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operation device, is suitable for operation, for example, of a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by a plurality of operators different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0041]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the invention enables a plurality of operators to operate a single ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. 
         [0042]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the invention can be utilized in a case where doctor is to train a sonographer on the job or where a plurality of doctors make an ultrasound diagnosis of a single patient. 
         [0043]    Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0044]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 1. 
           [0045]      FIG. 2  is a layout diagram showing the arrangement of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 1. 
           [0046]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of an example of setting screen of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 1. 
           [0047]      FIG. 4  shows a diagram of an example of setting screen of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 2. 
           [0048]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 3. 
           [0049]      FIG. 6  is a layout diagram showing the arrangement of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 3. 
           [0050]      FIG. 7  shows a diagram of an example of setting screen of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 3. 
           [0051]      FIG. 8  shows a diagram of an example of setting screen of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to Embodiment 4. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0052]    The invention will be described in further detail below with reference to modes for implementation thereof illustrated in the drawings. The invention should not be limited to the following modes. 
         [0053]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100 . 
         [0054]    This ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100  is provided with an ultrasound probe  1 , a transceiver unit  2  which drives the ultrasound probe  1  to scan the inside of a subject with an ultrasound beam, a display unit  3  which displays ultrasound images and the like, a first operating unit  41  and a second operating unit  42  which enable the operator to input instructions and data, and a control unit  5  which exercises overall control. 
         [0055]    The control unit  5  is provided with an operation control unit  5   a  for controlling operation-related functions including acceptance of inputs from the first operating unit  41  and the second operating unit  42 , a scanning control unit  5   c  for controlling scanning-related functions including alteration of the mode (e.g. into B mode, CFM and so on) and alteration of scanning parameters, a signal processing unit  5   d  which performs processing of echo signals obtained by the ultrasound probe  1 , generation of ultrasound images and the like, a display control unit  5   e  for controlling display-related functions including displaying of ultrasound images and messages on the display unit  3 , and a recording unit  5   f  for recording ultrasound images and the like. 
         [0056]    The operation control unit  5   a  includes an operational function filter  5   b  that limits the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operating unit  42 . Thus, while the first operating unit  41  can input all types of instructions to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100 , the second operating unit  42  can input only the types of instructions other than the instructions forbidden by the operational function filter  5   b.    
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ultrasound probe  1 , the transceiver unit  2  and the first operating unit  41  are arranged to match the position of a sonographer S near a bed (i.e. a patient). The second operating unit  42  is arranged to match the position of a doctor D somewhat away. The display unit  3  is so arranged to be visible by both the sonographer S and the doctor D. 
         [0058]    The sonographer S scans the subject by using the ultrasound probe  1 , the transceiver unit  2  and the first operating unit  41 . Data obtained by scanning are sent from the transceiver unit  2  to the control unit  5 . The control unit  5  generates an ultrasound image or the like on the basis of the data that have been sent, and sends it to the display unit  3 . 
         [0059]    The doctor D diagnoses the subject by using the display unit  3  and the second operating unit  42 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 3  shows a screen on which the types of instructions forbidden by the operational function filter  5   b  are preset. 
         [0061]    Since instructions for the checked functions are forbidden, they cannot be inputted from the second operating unit  42 . On the other hand, instructions not checked can be inputted from the second operating unit  42 . 
         [0062]    When an “All operations released from forbid” button is pressed, all the checks are undone, and therefore the first operating unit  41  and the second operating unit  42  become the same, and all the instructions for the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100  can be inputted from the second operating unit  42  as well. 
         [0063]    When an “All operations forbidden” button is pressed, all the functions are checked, and therefore the second operating unit  42  is made ineffective. 
         [0064]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100  of Embodiment 1 enables the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100  to be worked by using the plurality of operating units  41  and  42 . Since it also enables the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operating unit  41  and the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operating unit  42  to be made either the same or different, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100  can be adapted to operation both by a plurality of operators of the same occupational function (e.g. two doctors) and by a plurality of operators of different occupational functions (e.g. the sonographer S and the doctor D). 
         [0065]    In an alternative embodiment, if checks for some of the functions are made irremovable out of all the instructions directed to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operating unit  41  and the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operating unit  42  can be differentiated. 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  illustrates the configuration of a second exemplary ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  200 . 
         [0067]    This ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  200  is provided with an ultrasound probe  1 , a transceiver unit  2  which drives the ultrasound probe  1  to scan the inside of a subject with an ultrasound beam, a first display unit  31  and a second display unit  32  which display ultrasound images and the like, a first operating unit  41  and a second operating unit  42  which enable the operator to input instructions and data, and a control unit  5  which exercises overall control. 
         [0068]    The control unit  5  is provided with an operation control unit  5   a  for controlling operation-related functions including acceptance of inputs from the first operating unit  41  and the second operating unit  42 , a scanning control unit  5   c  for controlling scanning-related functions including alteration of the mode (e.g. into B mode, CFM and so on) and alteration of scanning parameters, a signal processing unit  5   d  which performs processing of echo signals obtained by the ultrasound probe  1 , generation of ultrasound images and the like, a display control unit  5   e  for controlling display-related functions including displaying of ultrasound images and messages on the first display unit  31  and the second display unit  32 , and a recording unit  5   f  for recording ultrasound images and the like. 
         [0069]    The operation control unit  5   a  includes an operational function filter  5   b  that limits the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operating unit  42 . Thus, while the first operating unit  41  can input all types of instructions to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  100 , the second operating unit  42  can input only the types of instructions other than the instructions forbidden by the operational function filter  5   b.    
         [0070]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the ultrasound probe  1 , the transceiver unit  2 , the first display unit  31  and the first operating unit  41  are arranged to match the position of a doctor D 1  near a bed (i.e. a patient). The second display unit  32  and the second operating unit  42  are arranged to match the position of a doctor D 2  somewhat away. 
         [0071]    The doctor D 1  scans the subject by using the ultrasound probe  1 , the transceiver unit  2  and the first operating unit  41 . Data obtained by scanning are sent from the transceiver unit  2  to the control unit  5 . The control unit  5  generates an ultrasound image or the like on the basis of the data that have been sent, and sends it to the first display unit  31  and the second display unit  32 . The ultrasound image or the like that has been sent is displayed on the first display unit  31  and the second display unit  32 . 
         [0072]    The doctor D 1  diagnoses the subject by using the first display unit  31  and the first operating unit  41 . 
         [0073]    The doctor D 2  diagnoses the subject by using the second display unit  32  and the second operating unit  42 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 7  shows a screen on the types of instruction forbidden by the operational function filter  5   b  are preset. 
         [0075]    Since instructions for the checked functions are forbidden, they cannot be inputted from the second operating unit  42 . On the other hand, instructions not checked can be inputted from the second operating unit  42 . 
         [0076]    When an “All operations released from forbid” button is pressed, all the checks are undone, therefore the first operating unit  41  and the second operating unit  42  become the same, and all the instructions for the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  200  can be inputted from the second operating unit  42  as well. 
         [0077]    When an “All operations forbidden” button is pressed, all the functions are checked, and therefore the second operating unit  42  is made ineffective. 
         [0078]    The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  200  of Embodiment 3 enables the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  200  to be worked by using the plurality of display units  31  and  32  and the plurality of operating units  41  and  42 . Since it also enables the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operating unit  41  and the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operating unit  42  to be made either the same or different, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  200  can be adapted to operation both by a plurality of operators of the same occupational function (e.g. two doctors D 1  and D 2 ) and by a plurality of operators of different occupational functions (e.g. a sonographer and a doctor). 
         [0079]    In an alternative embodiment, if for some of the functions are made irremovable out of all the instructions directed to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus  200  as shown in  FIG. 8 , the types of instructions that can be inputted from the first operating unit  41  and the types of instructions that can be inputted from the second operating unit  42  can be differentiated. 
         [0080]    In one or more of the embodiments described above, it is possible to forbid instructions from the first operating unit  41  to the second display unit  32  and instructions from the second operating unit  42  to the first display unit  31 . 
         [0081]    It is also possible to assign the first display unit  31  for exclusive use by the first operating unit  41  and the second display unit  32  for exclusive use by the second operating unit  42 . 
         [0082]    Many widely different embodiments of the invention may be configured without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.