Patent Description:
Ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses transmit an ultrasound signal generated by a transducer of a probe to an object and receive information about a signal reflected from the object, thereby obtaining an image of an internal part of the object (e.g., soft tissue or blood flow) in a non-invasive manner.

Because ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses are compact, affordable, display images in real-time, and are highly safe for a fetus due to lack of radiation exposure compared to other types of imaging diagnosis apparatuses such as an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a computerized tomography (CT) scanner, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus, etc., such ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses have been widely used for medical diagnosis. <CIT> discloses an integrated chair unit for ultrasound diagnosis of obstetrics and gynecology, a diagnosis portion is arranged in side of chair portion in second direction intersecting first direction. <CIT>discloses a dental care unit and a patient chair arranged in the immediate vicinity of each other, and to which is structurally connected a treatment arm for dental care instruments and/or an arm for some other appliance or device used in dental environment.

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a medical chair unit on which a probe and an object can be positioned. In obstetrical and gynecological diagnosis during which ultrasound probes are widely used, an external condition of a pregnant woman corresponding to an object rapidly changes, and according to a change in a diagnostic posture of the pregnant woman due to changes in an external appearance of the pregnant woman and diagnostic items, relative positions of a medical chair on which the pregnant woman is seated for obstetrical or gynecological examination, a probe holder for holding probes, and a diagnosis part also need to be changed.

Provided is a medical diagnosis apparatus including an accessory unit of which a position and a form automatically or manually change according to body information of an object and medical information of the object.

Provided is also a medical diagnosis apparatus including an accessory unit of which a position is automatically controlled such that interference with an object may not occur according to a diagnostic mode for the object.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a medical diagnosis apparatus may include: a main body; a chair unit movably supported by the main body and on which an object is positioned; a diagnosis part that is movably connected to the main body and is spaced apart from the chair unit by a preset first distance in one plane; a controller configured to generate a control signal for moving the diagnosis part according to preset information; and a first driving device configured to generate a driving force for moving the diagnosis part according to the control signal.

The chair unit and the diagnosis part may be spaced apart from each other by a preset first height along a direction perpendicular to the one plane.

The medical diagnosis apparatus may further include: a first sensor configured to detect a position of the diagnosis part, which varies depending on the driving force generated by the first driving device; and a first limit switch configured to stop the first driving device as the diagnosis part and the chair unit are arranged adjacent to each other with a distance or height therebetween that is less than or equal to the preset first distance or the preset first height.

The first distance that is a distance between a center line in a longitudinal direction of the chair unit and a center line of the diagnosis part extending in a direction parallel to the center line may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The chair unit may include an upper body support, a seat, and a leg rest sequentially arranged in one direction and connected to one another, and the first height between the seat and a lower end of the diagnosis part may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The medical diagnosis apparatus may further include a storage storing first body information of the object and an input interface configured to input identification information of the object, the first body information of the object may be identified by the identification information of the object, and the identification information of the object may be at least one of name information of the object, fingerprint information of the object, face information of the object, and an identification code corresponding to the object.

When the medical diagnosis apparatus is an obstetrical and gynecological diagnosis apparatus, the first body information of the object may be at least one of a gestational age, the number of fetuses, a fetal position, a weight, a height, a body temperature, an examination history, and a medical history.

The medical diagnosis apparatus may further include a first connector that connects the diagnosis part to the main body and is configured such that the diagnosis part is movable with respect to the main body, and the first connector may include: a first engaging member rotatably coupled to the main body; a first arm that extends in one direction and is hinged with the first engaging member; a second engaging member rotatably coupled to the first arm; a second arm that extends in one direction and is hinged with the second engaging member; and a connection member having one end coupled to the diagnosis part and the other end hinged to the second arm.

The first driving device may be a traction motor, and the first sensor may include an encoder configured to detect a driving state of the traction motor.

The medical diagnosis apparatus may further include: an ultrasound diagnosis device including at least one ultrasound probe and a probe holder that is movably connected to the main body; and a second driving device configured to generate a driving force for moving the ultrasound diagnosis device, and the ultrasound diagnosis device may be spaced apart from the chair unit by a preset second distance in one plane, and the controller may generate a control signal for moving the ultrasound diagnosis device according to preset information.

The chair unit and the ultrasound diagnosis device may be spaced apart from each other by a preset second height along a direction perpendicular to the one plane.

The medical diagnosis apparatus may further include: a second sensor configured to detect a position of the ultrasound diagnosis device, which varies depending on the driving force generated by the second driving device; and a second limit switch configured to stop the second driving device as the diagnosis part and the chair unit are arranged adjacent to each other with a distance or a height therebetween that is less than or equal to the preset second distance or the preset second height.

The second distance that is a distance between the center line in the longitudinal direction of the chair unit and a center line of the probe holder extending in a direction parallel to the center line may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The chair unit may include an upper body support, a seat, and a leg rest sequentially arranged in one direction and connected to one another, and the second height between the seat and a lower end of the probe holder may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The medical diagnosis apparatus may further include a probe sensor configured to detect a state in which the at least one ultrasound probe has been held on the probe holder.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a medical diagnosis method may include: acquiring first body information of an object; generating a control signal for a chair unit, an ultrasound diagnosis device, and a diagnosis part based on the first body information of the object; changing, according to the control signal, the chair unit, the ultrasound diagnosis device, and the diagnosis part from an initial state to a diagnostic state; receiving diagnosis completion information; and changing the chair unit, the ultrasound diagnosis device, and the diagnosis part from the diagnostic state to the initial state.

The medical diagnosis method may further include: detecting positions of the ultrasound diagnosis device and the diagnosis part that vary depending on driving forces generated by first and second driving devices; and stopping driving by the first and second driving devices when a distance or height between the chair unit and either the ultrasound diagnosis device or the diagnosis part is in a range that is less than or equal to a predetermined range.

The medical diagnosis method may further include inputting identification information of the object, the first body information of the object may be acquired based on the identification information of the object, and the identification information of the object may be at least one of name information of the object, fingerprint information of the object, face information of the object, and an identification code corresponding to the object.

When the medical diagnosis method is an obstetrical and gynecological diagnosis method, the first body information of the object may be at least one of a gestational age, the number of fetuses, a weight, a height, a body temperature, a medical history, and a fetal position.

When at least one ultrasound probe included in the ultrasound diagnosis device, is held on a probe holder for a certain period of time, the diagnosis completion information may be input.

According to an embodiment, a medical diagnosis apparatus allows a form of an accessory unit to automatically change according to body information and medical information of an object, thereby increasing user convenience and minimizing diagnosis time.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, a medical diagnosis apparatus allows a position of an accessory unit to be automatically controlled such that interference with an object may not occur according to a diagnostic mode for the object, thereby improving safety of the object and user convenience and preventing damage to the medical diagnosis apparatus.

These and/or other aspects will become more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which reference numerals denote structural elements.

The present specification describes principles of the present disclosure and sets forth embodiments thereof to clarify the scope of the present disclosure and to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to implement the embodiments. The present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.

The present specification does not describe all components in the embodiments, and common knowledge in the art or the same descriptions of the embodiments will be omitted below. The term "part" or "portion" used herein may be implemented using hardware or software, and according to embodiments, a plurality of "parts" or "portions" may be formed as a single unit or element, or one "part" or "portion" may include a plurality of units or elements. Hereinafter, the operating principles and embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Furthermore, in the present specification, an "object" may be a target to be imaged and include a patient, a pregnant woman, a fetus, or a part thereof. For example, the object may include a part of an organ in a pregnant woman's body, a fetus, or a phantom.

Throughout the specification, a "user" may be, but is not limited to, a medical expert, e.g., a medical doctor, a nurse, a medical laboratory technologist, a medical imaging expert, etc..

Throughout the specification, an "ultrasound image" refers to an image of an object, which is formed by processing ultrasound signals transmitted to and reflected from the object.

Embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a configuration of a medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view of a medical diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> according to the embodiment may include an ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, a main body <NUM>, a diagnosis part <NUM> that may be used by a user to manipulate the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> for diagnosing an object, and a chair part <NUM> in which the object may be positioned. Hereinafter, while an obstetrical and gynecological diagnosis apparatus has been described as an example of the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the technical idea of the present specification may be applied to another medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> including the diagnosis part <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the chair part <NUM> that are arranged to be separated from one another.

According to an embodiment, the diagnosis part <NUM> may include an image processor <NUM> for processing a received signal into an image, a display <NUM> for outputting the image, a storage <NUM>, a communicator <NUM>, and an input interface <NUM>.

The image processor <NUM> generates an ultrasound image by using ultrasound data generated by an ultrasound receiver <NUM>.

The display <NUM> may display a generated ultrasound image and various pieces of information processed by the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>. The display <NUM> may include one or a plurality of displays, e.g., a first display for a user and a second display for an object, according to its implemented configuration. In this case, the display may be combined with a touch panel to form a touch screen.

The storage <NUM> may store various data or programs for driving and controlling the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>, input and/or output ultrasound data, obtained ultrasound images, identification (ID) information and body information of an object, ID information and body information of a user, etc..

In the present specification, ID information of an object or user means at least one of all types of information used to identify the object or individual user, such as a name, a resident registration number, a birth date, a personal ID number, a personal ID code, and biometric recognition information such as a face, an iris, a fingerprint, etc. Furthermore, in the present specification, body information of an object means all pieces of body information of the object for medical treatment, such as a pregnant woman's gestational age, the number of fetuses, a fetal position, a pregnant woman's weight, stature, body temperature, examination history, medical history, etc. Furthermore, in the present specification, a user's body information means all pieces of user's body information needed during diagnosis, such as an operator's operating posture, stature (a height and a sitting height), arm length, gaze position, etc..

According to an embodiment, the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> may include the communicator <NUM> and may be connected to external apparatuses (e.g., central servers, medical apparatuses, portable devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, wearable devices, etc.) via the communicator <NUM>.

The communicator <NUM> may include at least one element capable of communicating with the external apparatuses, for example, at least one of a local area communication module, a wired communication module, and a wireless communication module.

For example, the communicator <NUM> may transmit ID information of an object and a user to an external apparatus such as a central server, and the external apparatus may transmit data related to body information of the object and the user, corresponding to the received ID information of the object and the user, to the controller <NUM> so that the controller <NUM> may control the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> according to the received data related to body information of the object and the user. The external apparatus may include a recording medium having recorded thereon the data related to body information of the object and the user.

The input interface <NUM> may receive a user input for controlling the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>. For example, the user may input to the input interface <NUM> ID information of the object, ID information of the user, or a manipulation signal for adjusting a position of the chair part <NUM> that will be described below. In this case, the user input may include, but is not limited to, an input of manipulating a button, a key pad, a mouse, a trackball, a jog switch, a knob, etc., an input of touching a touch pad or touch screen, a voice input, a motion input, an input of biometric information, etc..

According to an embodiment, the main body <NUM> may include the controller <NUM> for controlling the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> and support the diagnosis part <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the chair part <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control all operations of the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> and flow of signals between the internal components of the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may include a memory storing data or programs for performing functions of the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> and a processor processing the programs or data. Furthermore, the controller <NUM> may control an operation of the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> by receiving a control signal from the input interface <NUM> or an external apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may include an ultrasound probe <NUM> and an ultrasound transceiver <NUM> for transmitting or receiving ultrasound waves. The ultrasound probe <NUM> may include a plurality of transducers. The plurality of transducers may transmit ultrasound signals to an object in response to transmitting signals applied by a transmitter <NUM> included in the ultrasound transceiver <NUM>. The plurality of transducers may receive ultrasound signals reflected from the object to generate reception signals. In this case, the ultrasound probe <NUM> may be formed integrally with the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>, or may be separate from the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> but be connected thereto by wire or wirelessly. In addition, the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> may include one or a plurality of ultrasound probes <NUM> according to its implemented configuration.

According to an embodiment, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may further include a probe holder <NUM> for holding the ultrasound probe <NUM> in addition to the ultrasound probe <NUM> and the ultrasound transceiver <NUM>. The user may use the ultrasound probe <NUM> to diagnose an object and place the ultrasound probe <NUM> on the probe holder <NUM> after diagnosis is stopped or completed.

The probe holder <NUM> may further include a probe detector <NUM> for detecting whether the ultrasound probe <NUM> has been held on the probe holder <NUM>. The probe detector <NUM> may be located on at least one inner wall of the probe detector <NUM>, but is not limited thereto. For example, the probe detector <NUM> may be a weight sensor for sensing a weight of the ultrasound probe <NUM>, a micro switch or piezoelectric sensor pressed by the ultrasound probe <NUM>, an optical sensor, or the like. For example, when the probe detector <NUM> detects that the ultrasound probe <NUM> has been held on the probe holder <NUM> for a certain period of time, e. , for sixty (<NUM>) seconds or more, it may be recognized that diagnosis with regard to the object is completed.

According to an embodiment, the chair part <NUM> may include a chair unit <NUM> in which the object may be positioned and one or more object sensors <NUM> capable of acquiring body information of the object. The chair unit <NUM> is sufficiently long so that the object may be positioned therein. A length direction of the chair unit <NUM> is parallel to a length direction or height direction of the object. The chair unit <NUM> may be supported to be fixed to the floor or be movable. For example, the chair unit <NUM> may move vertically to allow the object to ascend or descend or may be inclined to adjust a diagnosis angle with respect to the object.

According to an embodiment, the chair unit <NUM> may include a seat <NUM> and an upper body support <NUM> with a slope adjustable with respect to the seat <NUM>. The seat <NUM> may support a lower body of the object while the upper body support <NUM> supports an upper body of the object. The upper body support <NUM> may include a head support <NUM>-<NUM> for supporting a head of the object. The head support <NUM>-<NUM> may be detachably fixed to the upper body support <NUM>, and may be detached from the upper body support <NUM> according to a diagnostic state. The chair unit <NUM> may further include a leg rest <NUM> on which legs of the object rest. According to an embodiment, the leg rest <NUM> may include a first rest <NUM> and a second rest <NUM> capable of respectively supporting the right and left legs. However, the chair unit <NUM> is not limited thereto, and may also be applied to a support capable of supporting an object, such as a chair having a different shape or a bed.

According to an embodiment, the user may adjust, according to a diagnostic state of the object, an angle of the upper body support <NUM> with respect to the seat <NUM> or an angle of the leg rest <NUM> with respect to the seat <NUM>. Furthermore, the first and second rests <NUM> and <NUM> included in the leg rest <NUM> may be adjusted at various angles to be separated from each other according to a diagnostic state of the object.

The object sensor <NUM> is a sensing device capable of detecting a state of the object positioned on the chair unit <NUM>. For example, the object sensor <NUM> may include a weight sensor capable of measuring in real-time measurement information of the object, such as a weight of the object, a temperature sensor capable of detecting a change in a temperature of the object, a time sensor capable of detecting and calculating a sitting duration of time, or an operation sensor capable of detecting a sudden change in a sitting state of the object. Accordingly, the object sensor <NUM> may detect measurement information of the object and a sudden change in a sitting state of the object, which occurs during a diagnostic process, and transmit the measurement information of the object, position movement information of the object, etc. to the controller <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, according to an embodiment, a driver <NUM> may generate a driving force capable of moving and changing the shapes of the diagnosis part <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the chair part <NUM> according to a control signal from the controller <NUM>. When the object is a pregnant woman carrying a fetus, her external appearance rapidly changes according to the growth of the fetus, and diagnostic items also change according to the growth of the fetus. When a diagnostic posture of the pregnant woman changes due to the changes in the external appearance of the pregnant woman and diagnostic items, a shape of the chair part <NUM> in which the pregnant woman is positioned to receive an obstetric or gynecological diagnosis has to be changed, and positions of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> need to be changed to provide the user with usage convenience. Generation of a control signal for controlling the driver <NUM> according to the body information of the object and the body information of the user and automatic movement of the diagnosis part <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the chair part <NUM> according to a diagnostic state of the object based on the control signal will be described in more detail below.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a configuration of a driver and a controller according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a plan view of a medical diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a side view of a medical diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment.

According to an embodiment, the user may perform diagnosis using the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> by being located adjacent to the upper or lower body of the object according to preset information such as body information of the object, a diagnostic state of the object, a user input, and preset state information. Thus, to improve usage convenience of the user, positions of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> used by the user need to be changed according to preset information.

According to an embodiment, when the object, the diagnosis part <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> are arranged within a predetermined range such that they interfere with one another, this arrangement may cause damage to the object. Thus, when the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> are arranged within a predetermined range from the object, it is needed to physically or controllably stop movement of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>. An embodiment to be described below presents the technical idea in which when the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> are arranged adjacent to the object positioned on the chair unit <NUM>, operations of a first driving device <NUM> and a second driving device <NUM> configured to generate driving forces for respectively driving the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be stopped controllably or physically by using first and second limit switches <NUM> and <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, according to an embodiment, the driver <NUM> may include a first driving unit <NUM> for moving the diagnosis part <NUM>, a second driving unit <NUM> for moving the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and a third driving unit <NUM> for moving the chair part <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the first driving unit <NUM> may include the first driving device <NUM> that is positioned between the diagnosis part <NUM> and the main body <NUM> to transmit a driving force to a first connector <NUM> connecting between the diagnosis part <NUM> and the main body <NUM>, a first sensor <NUM> capable of detecting a position of the diagnosis part <NUM> by sensing a driving state of the first driving device <NUM>, and the first limit switch <NUM> capable of stopping driving by the first driving device <NUM> in a critical condition.

The first driving device <NUM> is a driving motor capable of generating a driving force that is transmitted to the first connector <NUM>. For example, the first driving device <NUM> may be a traction motor including a stator and a rotor located at a central part of the stator. When the first driving device <NUM> is a traction motor, it is possible to continuously check a driving force that is provided to the first connector <NUM> by detecting a position of a magnet included in a rotor and the number of rotations of a rotor core in the rotor via the first sensor <NUM> as described below. However, in the present specification, the first driving device <NUM> is not limited to a traction motor and may be any driving device capable of transmitting a driving force to the first connector <NUM> while continuously checking the driving force that is transmitted to the first connector <NUM>.

The first sensor <NUM> is a position sensor capable of detecting a position of the diagnosis part <NUM>, which varies depending on a driving force generated by the first driving device <NUM>. For example, the first sensor <NUM> may include an optical encoder consisting of a light source such as light emitting diode (LED) and a light-receiver such as a photo diode, a photo transistor or a photo resistor, or may include a magnetic encoder consisting of a permanent magnet and a magnetic field sensor such as a hall sensor or magneto resistive (MR) sensor. When the first sensor <NUM> includes an encoder, the first sensor <NUM> may detect a change in the position of the diagnosis part <NUM> due to the first driving device <NUM> by sensing a driving state of the first driving device <NUM>, which is transmitted to the first connector <NUM>, and transmitting the driving state to the controller <NUM>. However, in the specification, the first sensor <NUM> is not limited to an optical or magnetic encoder, and may be any sensor capable of continuously identifying the position of the diagnosis part <NUM> that varies depending on a driving force generated by the first driving device <NUM>.

The first limit switch <NUM> is a control device capable of outputting a control signal corresponding to on/off states of the first driving device <NUM> according to a position of the diagnosis part <NUM> detected by the first sensor <NUM>. For example, when the first sensor <NUM> is implemented as a traction motor, the first sensor <NUM> may detect a position of a magnet included in a rotor and the number of rotations of a rotor core in the rotor. In this case, for example, a threshold position of the magnet in the rotor and a threshold rotation number of the rotor core therein may be preset in the first limit switch <NUM>. When the first sensor <NUM> detects that the position of the magnet in the rotor and the number of rotations of the rotor core therein respectively reach their threshold values, the first limit switch <NUM> may forcibly stop an operation of the first driving device <NUM>. Accordingly, generation of a driving force by the first driving device <NUM> may be stopped, movement of the first connector <NUM> that receives a driving force from the first driving device <NUM> may be stopped, and relative positions of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the main body <NUM> connected by the first connector <NUM> may be fixed.

According to an embodiment, the second driving unit <NUM> may include a second driving device <NUM> that is positioned between the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> and the main body <NUM> to transmit a driving force to a second connector <NUM> connecting between the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> and the main body <NUM>, a second sensor <NUM> capable of detecting a change in a position of the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> due to a driving force generated by the second driving device <NUM>, and a second limit switch <NUM> capable of stopping driving by the second driving device <NUM> in a critical condition. Because the second driving unit <NUM> has substantially the same configuration as the first driving unit <NUM>, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here for convenience.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be arranged in different directions with respect to the chair unit <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be arranged in the same direction with respect to the chair unit <NUM> or may be formed integrally with each other. For example, a probe holder may be provided on one side <NUM> of the diagnosis part <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and accordingly, the ultrasound probe <NUM> may also be placed on the one side <NUM> of the diagnosis part <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the diagnosis part <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the chair unit <NUM> may move to specific positions where user convenience may be provided according to a diagnostic mode, as described below with reference to <FIG>. In this case, when the diagnosis part <NUM> or the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> interfere with a body of the object positioned on the chair unit <NUM> for examination, such interference may unintentionally cause damage to the body of the object and the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>. Thus, the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be arranged to be spaced apart from the chair unit <NUM> by more than a predetermined range such that they may not interfere with the body of the object.

For example, when the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> are arranged in different directions with respect to the chair unit <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the diagnosis part <NUM> may be spaced apart from a center line O along a length direction of the chair unit <NUM> by a first distance T<NUM> between the center line O and a center line M<NUM> of the diagnosis part <NUM> extending along a direction parallel to the center line O, e. , by a distance of <NUM> to <NUM>, according to a diagnostic state of the object. For example, in this case, a width W<NUM> of the diagnosis part <NUM> perpendicular to the center line O may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>, while a width W<NUM> of the chair unit <NUM> perpendicular to the center line O may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. Although <FIG> shows the width W<NUM> of the chair unit <NUM> measured with respect to the seat <NUM>, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the width W<NUM> of the chair unit <NUM> may be a distance between two ends of the first and second rests <NUM> and <NUM> according to positions of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, which vary depending on a diagnostic state of the object. The probe holder <NUM> included in the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may also be spaced apart from the center line O along the length direction of the chair unit <NUM> by a second distance T<NUM> between the center line O and a center line M<NUM> of the probe holder <NUM> extending along a direction parallel to the center line O, e. , by a distance of <NUM> to <NUM>, according to a diagnostic state of the object. For example, in this case, a width W<NUM> of the probe holder <NUM> perpendicular to the center line O may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>, while the width W<NUM> of the chair unit <NUM> perpendicular to the center line O may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

Furthermore, as shown in <FIG>, the diagnosis part <NUM> may be arranged such that a lower end of the diagnosis part <NUM> is spaced apart from the seat <NUM> included in the chair unit <NUM> by a first height h<NUM> in a Z-axis direction, e.g., by a height of <NUM> to <NUM>, according to a diagnostic state of the object. The probe holder <NUM> included in the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may also be arranged such that a lower end of the probe holder <NUM> is spaced apart from the seat <NUM> included in the chair unit <NUM> by a second height h<NUM> in the Z-axis direction, e. , by a height of <NUM> to <NUM>, according to a diagnostic state of the object.

According to an embodiment, the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may receive driving forces respectively from the first and second driving device <NUM> and <NUM> shown in <FIG> so as to move. Thus, states in which the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM> generate driving forces may respectively be set to correspond to ranges of the predetermined distances T<NUM> and T<NUM> and predetermined heights h<NUM> and h<NUM> such that the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may not interfere with the chair unit <NUM> and the body of the object. When the first and second sensors <NUM> and <NUM> detect that positions of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> respectively deviate from the ranges of the predetermined distances T<NUM> and T<NUM> and predetermined heights h<NUM> and h<NUM>, which are set such that the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may not interfere with the chair unit <NUM> and the body of the object, the first and second limit switches <NUM> and <NUM> may respectively forcibly stop driving operations by the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>, and accordingly, may prevent damage to the body of the object and the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM> due to interference between the object and the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a first connector according to an embodiment. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the first connector according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a rotation axis and a limit switch according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a plan view of a first connector according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a side view of a first connector according to an embodiment.

As described above, according to an embodiment, the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may move to specific positions according to diagnostic states. The driver <NUM> shown in <FIG> may generate driving forces according to a control signal received from the controller <NUM> and respectively transmit the driving forces to the first and second connectors <NUM> and <NUM>, each being implemented as a plurality of link parts, such that the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be automatically arranged at predetermined diagnostic positions corresponding to each diagnostic state.

According to an embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first connector <NUM> may include a first engaging member <NUM> coupled to the main body <NUM> to be rotatable around a first rotation axis <NUM> and a first arm <NUM> hinged with the first engaging member <NUM>, a second engaging member <NUM> coupled to one end of the first arm <NUM> to be rotatable around a second rotation axis <NUM> and a second arm <NUM> hinged with the second engaging member <NUM>, and a connection member <NUM> having one end coupled to the diagnosis part <NUM> and the other end hinged to one end of the second arm <NUM> and connecting the diagnosis part <NUM> to the second arm <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the diagnosis part <NUM> may be connected to the main body <NUM> by the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, the first arm <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM> due to the first rotation axis <NUM>, and thus, may move in an XY plane to be rotatable about the first rotation axis <NUM> with respect to the main body <NUM>. Furthermore, the second arm <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the first arm <NUM> due to the second rotation axis <NUM>, and thus, may move in the XY plane to be rotatable about the second rotation axis <NUM> with respect to the first arm <NUM>. Accordingly, the diagnosis part <NUM> connected to the main body <NUM> by the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM> may move freely with respect to the main body <NUM> in one plane (the XY plane).

According to an embodiment, the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM> may each receive a driving force from the first driving device <NUM> of <FIG> for rotational movement. In this case, when the first sensor <NUM> detects that a position of the diagnosis part <NUM> connected to the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM> deviates from a range of the predetermined distance T<NUM> from the chair unit <NUM>, the first limit switch <NUM> may forcibly stop driving by the first driving device <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, driving by the first driving device <NUM> may be forcibly stopped by the first limit switch <NUM> capable of limiting rotation of the second rotation axis <NUM>. According to an embodiment, one or a plurality of first limit switches <NUM> may be arranged on a path of rotation of the second rotation axis <NUM> in order to limit a range of rotation of the second rotation axis <NUM>, and may contact a damper fixedly attached to the second rotation axis <NUM> to limit rotation of the second rotation axis <NUM> and thus rotation of the second arm <NUM> connected to the second rotation axis <NUM>, thereby preventing interference between the diagnosis part <NUM> and the object. However, a configuration of a limit switch is not limited thereto, and the limit switch may be implemented as a control member capable of limiting rotations of the first and second rotation axes <NUM> and <NUM> with respect to the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM> when the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM> move beyond their movable ranges.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, according to an embodiment, the diagnosis part <NUM> may be connected to the main body <NUM> by the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM> and the connection member <NUM>. For example, the first arm <NUM> may be hinged to the main body <NUM>, and the second arm <NUM> may be hinged to the first arm <NUM> and the connection member <NUM>. Accordingly, the second arm <NUM> may move up and down with respect to the first arm <NUM> along the Z-axis direction. Thus, the diagnosis part <NUM> connected to the main body <NUM> by the first and second arms <NUM> and <NUM> and the connection member <NUM> may move up and down with respect to the main body <NUM> along the Z-axis direction. In this case, when the second arm <NUM> rotates such that the diagnosis part <NUM> moves up and down outside a range of the predetermined first height h<NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the first limit switch <NUM> may forcibly stop driving by the first driving device <NUM> to thereby prevent interference between the object and the diagnosis part <NUM>. Because the second connector <NUM> for connecting the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> to the main body <NUM> has substantially the same configuration as the first connector <NUM>, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here for convenience.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a diagnosis method using a medical diagnosis apparatus, according to an embodiment. <FIG> are respectively a perspective view, a side view, and a plan view of a medical diagnosis apparatus that is in an initial state, according to an embodiment. <FIG> are respectively a perspective view, a side view, and a plan view of a medical diagnosis apparatus that is in a first diagnostic state, according to an embodiment. <FIG> and <FIG> are respectively a perspective view and a plan view of a medical diagnosis apparatus that is in a second diagnostic state, according to an embodiment. <FIG> are respectively a perspective view, a side view, and a plan view of a medical diagnosis apparatus that is in a third diagnostic state, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S110, ID information of an object is input via the input interface <NUM> included in the diagnosis part <NUM>. For example, as described above ID information of the object means at least one of all types of information used to identify the object, such as a name, a resident registration number, a birth date, a personal ID number, a personal ID code, and biometric recognition information such as a face, an iris, a fingerprint, etc..

In operation S120, first body information of the object is acquired using the ID information of the object input via the input interface <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may acquire first body information of the object corresponding to the ID information of the object and which is stored in the storage <NUM> or an external apparatus by using the ID information of the object input via the input interface <NUM>. In this case, the first body information of the object may be stored in the storage <NUM> included in the diagnosis part <NUM> or the external apparatus capable of performing communication via the communicator <NUM>. In this case, the first body information of the object means all pieces of prestorable body information of the object for obstetrical and gynecological treatment, such as a pregnant woman's gestational age, the number of fetuses, a fetal position, a pregnant woman's weight, stature, body temperature, examination history, medical history, etc..

In operation S140, a control signal for moving the chair unit <NUM>, the diagnosis part <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> is generated based on the acquired first body information of the object. According to an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may identify a diagnostic state of the object and body information thereof by using the acquired first body information of the object. In this case, the chair unit <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the diagnosis part <NUM> may be changed according to a diagnostic state of the object and body information thereof, and the controller <NUM> generates a control signal that may be used to generate a driving force for changing the shapes of and moving the chair unit <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the diagnosis part <NUM>.

In operation S150, the chair unit <NUM>, the diagnosis part <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> are changed from an initial state to a diagnostic state based on a control signal generated by the controller <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the driver <NUM> may generate a driving force according to a control signal generated by the controller <NUM> to change the chair unit <NUM>, the diagnosis part <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> from an initial state to a diagnostic state. For example, the chair unit <NUM>, the diagnosis part <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be changed from an initial state to first through third diagnostic states according to body information of the object such as a gestational age.

According to an embodiment, in an initial state, the chair unit <NUM> may have a structure that makes it easy for the object to sit thereon as shown in <FIG>. For example, in the initial state, the upper body support <NUM> may be arranged to have a first angle α of <NUM>° to <NUM>° with respect to the seat <NUM> in a counterclockwise direction. Furthermore, in this case, the leg rest <NUM> may be arranged to have a second angle β of <NUM>° to <NUM>° with respect to the seat <NUM> in a clockwise direction. Furthermore, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> and the diagnosis part <NUM> may be each arranged adjacent to the seat <NUM> such that they do not interfere with the object while the object is sitting on the chair unit <NUM> due to operations of the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>. In this case, when the distances T<NUM> and T<NUM> or heights h<NUM> and h<NUM> between the chair unit <NUM> and either the diagnosis part <NUM> or the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> exceed a predetermined range indicated in <FIG> or <FIG>, the first or second limit switch <NUM> and <NUM> may stop driving by the first or second driving device <NUM> or <NUM>.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, in a first diagnostic state, when the object, i.e., a pregnant woman, is in an early stage (<NUM> weeks or less of pregnancy), the chair unit <NUM> may have a structure for diagnosing a lower body part of the object as shown in <FIG>. For example, in the first diagnostic state, the upper body support <NUM> may be tilted to lie flat with respect to the seat <NUM>, i.e., to have a first angle α of <NUM>° with respect to the seat <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the upper body support <NUM> may be tilted at a first angle α, e.g., at an angle of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, with respect to the seat <NUM> when needed during a diagnostic process. Furthermore, the leg rest <NUM> may be arranged to have a second angle β of <NUM>° to <NUM>° with respect to the seat <NUM> in a clockwise direction. Furthermore, the seat <NUM> may be tilted to have an angle of <NUM>° to <NUM>° with respect to the ground.

Furthermore, in this case, the chair unit <NUM> may be arranged to be raised from or lowered to the ground according to a user's height and a diagnosis type. Furthermore, for example, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> and the diagnosis part <NUM> may be raised from or lowered to the ground according to a user's height or a diagnosis type, and may be arranged adjacent to the leg rest <NUM> by moving away from the seat <NUM> based on a user's arm length and a diagnosis type, thereby maximizing usage convenience of the user. Furthermore, the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be each arranged adjacent to the leg rest <NUM> due to the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby providing user convenience in the first diagnostic state. In this case, when the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> are arranged adjacent to the chair unit <NUM> within a predetermined range, the first or second limit switch <NUM> or <NUM> may stop driving by the first or second driving device <NUM> or <NUM> in substantially the same manner as in the initial state, and thus, a description thereof will be omitted here.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, in a second diagnostic state, when the object, i.e., the pregnant woman, is in a middle stage (<NUM> to <NUM> weeks of pregnancy), the chair unit <NUM> may have a structure for diagnosing an abdominal part of the object as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. For example, in the second diagnostic state, the seat <NUM>, the upper body support <NUM>, and the leg rest <NUM> may be arranged in one plane. In other words, the upper body support <NUM> may be tilted to lie flat with respect to the seat <NUM>, i.e., to have a first angle α of <NUM>° with respect to the seat <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the upper body support <NUM> may be tilted at a first angle α, e. , at an angle of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, with respect to the seat <NUM> when needed during a diagnostic process. Because matters related to raising and lowering of the chair unit <NUM> and movements of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> based on a user's height and a diagnosis type are substantially the same as those in the first diagnostic state, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here. Furthermore, the diagnosis part <NUM> may be located adjacent to the seat <NUM> due to the first driving device <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be located adjacent to the leg rest <NUM> due to the second driving device <NUM>, thereby providing user convenience in the second diagnostic state. In this case, when the diagnosis part <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the chair unit <NUM> are arranged adjacent to one another within a predetermined range, the first or second limit switch <NUM> or <NUM> may stop driving by the first or second driving device <NUM> or <NUM> in substantially the same manner as in the initial state, and thus, descriptions thereof will be omitted here.

In addition, according to an embodiment, in a third diagnostic state, when the object, i.e., the pregnant woman, is in a late stage (<NUM> weeks or more of pregnancy), the chair unit <NUM> may have a structure for diagnosing an abdominal part of the object as shown in <FIG>. When the pregnant woman enters the late stage of pregnancy, it may be hard for her to lie flat on her back due to a fetal weight. Thus, the upper body support <NUM> needs to move relative to the seat <NUM> by taking into account diagnostic convenience for the object. For example, in the third diagnostic state, the upper body support <NUM> may be tilted to have a first angle α of <NUM>° to <NUM>° with respect to the seat <NUM> in a counterclockwise direction. Furthermore, the leg rest <NUM> may be arranged in the same plane as the seat <NUM>. Because matters related to raising and lowering of the chair unit <NUM> and movements of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> based on a user's height and a diagnosis type are substantially the same as those in the first diagnostic state, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here. Furthermore, the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> may be each arranged adjacent to the leg rest <NUM> due to the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby providing user convenience in the third diagnostic state. In this case, when the diagnosis part <NUM>, the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, and the chair unit <NUM> are arranged adjacent to one another within a predetermined range, the first or second limit switch <NUM> or <NUM> may stop driving by the first or second driving device <NUM> or <NUM> in substantially the same manner as in the initial state, and thus, descriptions thereof will be omitted here.

In operation S160, positions of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, which vary depending on driving forces generated by the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>, are detected. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first sensor <NUM> may detect a position of the diagnosis part <NUM>, which varies depending on a driving force generated by the first driving device <NUM>, and the second sensor <NUM> may detect a position of the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, which varies depending on a driving force generated by the second driving device <NUM>.

In operation S165, it may be determined, based on the detected positions of the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM>, whether a distance or height between the chair unit <NUM> and either the diagnosis part <NUM> or the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> is in a range that is less than or equal to a predetermined range. For example, when a distance or height between the chair unit <NUM> and either the diagnosis part <NUM> or the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> is in a range that is less than or equal to a predetermined range, interference may occur between the object and the diagnosis part <NUM> and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> and cause damage to the object and the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>. For example, to prevent such damage to the object and the medical diagnosis apparatus <NUM>, the first and second sensors <NUM> and <NUM> may continuously detect driving states of the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

In operation S167, when the distance or height between the chair unit <NUM> and either the diagnosis part <NUM> or the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> is in a range that is less than or equal to the predetermined range, driving by the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM> may be stopped. For example, when driving states of the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM> reach preset threshold values such that a range of a distance or height between the chair unit <NUM> and either the diagnosis part <NUM> or the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> is narrowed down to less than or equal to the predetermined range, the first and second limit switches <NUM> and <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be respectively used to forcibly stop driving by the first and second driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>.

In operation S170, when diagnosis of the object by a user is completed, diagnosis completion information is input. According to an embodiment, when diagnosis of the object by the user is completed, the user may hold the ultrasound probe <NUM> on the probe holder <NUM>. When the probe sensor <NUM> detects that the ultrasound probe <NUM> has been held on the probe holder <NUM> for a certain period of time, it may be recognized that the diagnosis of the object is completed, and diagnosis completion information indicating that the diagnosis of the object is completed may be input. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the diagnosis completion information may be directly input by the user via the input interface <NUM>.

In operation S180, when the diagnosis completion information is input, the chair unit <NUM>, the diagnosis part <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> are changed from a diagnostic state to an initial state based on a control signal generated by the controller <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the driver <NUM> may generate a driving force according to a control signal generated by the controller <NUM> to change the chair unit <NUM>, the diagnosis part <NUM>, and the ultrasound diagnosis device <NUM> from the diagnostic state to the initial state.

Claim 1:
An ultrasound medical diagnosis apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body (<NUM>);
a chair unit (<NUM>) movably supported by the main body and on which an object is positioned and comprising an upper body support (<NUM>), a seat (<NUM>), and a leg rest (<NUM>) sequentially arranged in one direction and connected to one another;
a diagnosis part (<NUM>) that is movably connected to the main body and is spaced apart from the chair unit by a preset first distance in one plane and may be used by a user to manipulate the medical diagnosis apparatus;
a controller (<NUM>) configured to generate control signals based on first body information of the subject, which is acquired based on input ID information, for moving the ultrasound diagnosis device, for moving the diagnosis part, and for changing the shapes of and moving the chair;
a first driving device (<NUM>) configured to generate a driving force for moving the diagnosis part according to the control signals;
a second driving device (<NUM>) configured to generate a driving force for moving the the ultrasound diagnosis device according to the control signals;
a third driving unit (<NUM>) for changing the shapes of and moving the chair unit according to the control signals;
wherein the shapes and position of the chair unit and the positions of the ultrasound diagnosis device and the diagnosis part are changed from an initial state to a diagnostic state according to the control signals.