Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. P2004-208125, filed on Jul. 15, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including a main unit and an ultrasound probe, which is connectable to the main unit.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Background  
         [0005]     Ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses are generally used in a medical field. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus transmits ultrasound signals from its ultrasound probe towards a patient and receives echo signals resulting from the ultrasound signals from the patient so that ultrasound image data can be prepared based on the echo signals. Doctors diagnose ultrasound images displayed based on the ultrasound image data with respect to the patient. There are many types of ultrasound probes according to diagnostic purposes, such as, for example, which part to diagnose and in what condition the patient is. One of the ultrasound probes which is appropriate for a specific purpose may selectively be used by switching the ultrasound probes connected to a main unit of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus. Each ultrasound probe is detachable from the main unit through connectors. For example, when three ultrasound probes are connected to the main unit, one desired from the three ultrasound probes is made usable by the doctor&#39;s operating one or more switches provided in the main unit.  
         [0006]     An ultrasound probe electrically connected to the main unit may be called an active ultrasound probe. An ultrasound probe which is not electrically connected to the main unit but ready for use may be called a standby ultrasound probe. An ultrasound probe which may not be used relatively so often can be the standby ultrasound probe and be replaced with the active ultrasound probe, if necessary.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  is an illustration showing a front view of the first conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus.  FIG. 1B  is an illustration showing a side view of the first conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus. Similarly,  FIG. 2A  is an illustration showing a front view of the second conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus.  FIG. 2B  is an illustration showing a side view of the second conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus. The difference between the first and second conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses is an arrangement of connectors for ultrasound probes as will be described below.  
         [0008]     An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1  includes casters  2 , a main unit  3 , an ultrasound probe  4  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), an operation panel  5 , a display unit  6 , and a cable hanger  7 . The main unit  3  is allowed to move with the casters  2 . The main unit  3  receives echo signals from the ultrasound probe  4  and processes the echo signals so as to obtain ultrasound images. The main unit  3  has a plurality of main unit connector  3   a  (e.g. three main unit connectors  3   a ) along a horizontal direction of the main unit  3  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  or along a vertical direction of the main unit  3  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The three main unit connectors  3   a  are electrically connected to a circuitry board provided in the main unit  3 . There is a plurality of the ultrasound probe  4  (e.g. three ultrasound probes  4 ). When the three ultrasound probes  4  are connected to the three main unit connectors  3   a,  one of the three ultrasound probes  4  can selectively be activated through the circuitry board and one of the main unit connectors  3   a.    
         [0009]     Each ultrasound probe  4  can be used to transmit ultrasound signals and receive echo signals resulting from the ultrasound signals. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ultrasound probe  4  includes an ultrasound probe head  4   a,  an ultrasound probe connector  4   b,  a cable  4   c,  a connector fixing tab  4   d,  and a connection pin  4   e.  The ultrasound probe head  4   a  includes a plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit ultrasound signals (or ultrasound pulses). The ultrasound transducers are also used to receive echo signals resulting from the ultrasound signals. The ultrasound probe head  4   a  is connected to the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  through the cable  4   c.  The ultrasound probe connector  4   b  can be connected to the main unit connector  3   a  provided in the main unit  3  when the ultrasound probe  4  is used as an active ultrasound probe. The connector fixing tab  4   d  is used to fix the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  to the main unit connector  3   a  when the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is connected to the main unit connector  3   a.  The connection pin  4   e  is inserted into a connection hole provided in the main unit connector  3   a  when the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is connected to the main unit connector  3   a.    
         [0010]     The operation panel  5  is provided at the upper part of the main unit  3  and used to input information, instructions, and the like. The operation panel  5  has a probe head holder  5   a  to hold the ultrasound probe head  4   a.  The display unit  6  is provided on the top of the main unit  3  and used to display ultrasound images. The cable hanger  7  is provided to hang a part of the cable  4   c  at a higher position than the probe head holder  5   a.  The cable hanger  7  can be inflected or bended so as to hang the cable  4   c  at a desired height. In  FIGS. 1A  to  2 B, the cable hanger  7  hangs the cables  4   c  of the three ultrasound probes  4 . There may be one or more standby ultrasound probes which may be placed at other position than the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1 .  
         [0011]     Another ultrasound diagnosis apparatus has been introduced as described in Japanese patent application publication No. 2003-339702 which may correspond to U.S. patent application publication No. 2003/0217600. In this ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, a main unit connector to be connected to an ultrasound probe connector is provided at a position between a main unit and a display unit.  
         [0012]     The conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses have the following problems or defects.  
         [0013]     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus has been required to improve image resolution. To meet this requirement, the ultrasound probe head  4   a  has more and more channels, that is, a number of ultrasound transducers provided in the ultrasound probe head  4   a  including, for example, piezoelectric transducers. The number of channels affects the number of signal pins provided at a face of the ultrasound probe head  4   a  where the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is connected to the main unit connector  3   a.  Therefore, the more the number of channels increases, the larger the ultrasound probe head  4   a  becomes. Further, a three-dimensional ultrasound scan has been introduced recently, which is accomplished by an ultrasound probe having ultrasound transducers two-dimensionally arrayed at an ultrasound probe head. In such an ultrasound probe, the number of channels significantly increases, compared to an ultrasound probe including one-dimensionally arrayed ultrasound transducers. Therefore, the ultrasound probe connector becomes larger and a cable connected to the ultrasound probe connector becomes thicker.  
         [0014]     Meanwhile, the main unit  3  has recently been required to be more compact and lighter-weight so as to be easily moved and to occupy less space. This requirement limits the number of main unit connectors  3   a  and flexibility of a layout of the main unit connectors  3   a.  Particularly, this is a problem when the ultrasound probe  4  has a larger size of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.  In other words, it is hard to make the main unit  3  compact if the desired number of ultrasound probe connectors  3   a  are provided in the main unit  3  and/or the ultrasound probe head  4   a  has more channels.  
         [0015]     Further, when the standby ultrasound probe is placed at other position than the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1 , it is not easy to immediately replace the active ultrasound probe with the standby ultrasound probe, which results in a waste of time in an ultrasound imaging examination.  
         [0016]     When the ultrasound probe connectors  4   b  are connected to the main unit connectors  3   a  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A , the cables  4   c  may be lead out from the ultrasound probe connectors  4   b  to be pulled towards the cable hanger  7  at about right angle particularly when the cables  4   c  are thick and rigid like the ultrasound probe including the two-dimensionally arrayed ultrasound transducers. Alternatively, the cables  4   c  may sag a little and be pulled towards the cable hanger  7 . In either way, the cables  4   c  are given a strong effort in the vicinity of the ultrasound probe connectors  4   b,  which may lead to a wire break in the cables  4   c.  Particularly, when the cables  4   c  are thick and rigid, the moment of force given to the cables  4   c  in the vicinity of the ultrasound probe connectors  4   b  may become too large so that the cables  4   c  may be damaged. In addition, when the doctor brings the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  so as to connect it to the main unit connector  3   a,  the strong tension of the cable  4  is effected to the doctor&#39;s hand and arm. This may result in deteriorating the operationality of connecting the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.    
         [0017]     Still further, when the circuitry board is provided in parallel with the three main unit connectors  3   a,  the signal transmission distance between the circuitry board and the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  connected to the main unit connector  3   a  differs among the main unit connectors  3   a.  This may cause the echo signals received from the ultrasound probe  4  to be different in their characteristics.  
         [0018]     Further, the circuitry board is typically provided in the middle of or in the lower part of the main unit  3 . Therefore, when it is the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus described in the above-mentioned Japanese patent application publication, the signal transmission distance between the circuitry board and the main unit connector is so long that noise signals may be generated in the echo signals received from the ultrasound probe  4  and deteriorate ultrasound image quality. In addition, since the main unit connector is provided at a rather high position of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, dragging about the cable may disturb the doctor&#39;s operation of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including an ultrasound probe and a main unit. The ultrasound probe includes a cable, a probe head coupled to one end of the cable, and a connector coupled to the other end of the cable. The probe head has an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound probe is configured to transmit an ultrasound signal and receive an echo signal resulting from the ultrasound signal. The main unit has a concave portion into which the connector is inserted. The main unit is configured to receive the echo signal from the ultrasound probe and to process the echo signal so as to obtain an ultrasound image. The concave portion is slanted on a side surface of the main unit.  
         [0020]     According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including an ultrasound probe and a main unit. The ultrasound probe includes a cable, a probe head coupled to one end of the cable, and a connector coupled to the other end of the cable. The probe head has an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound probe is configured to transmit an ultrasound signal and receive an echo signal resulting from the ultrasound signal. T main unit has a concave portion into which the connector is inserted. The main unit is configured to receive the echo signal from the ultrasound probe and to process the echo signal so as to obtain an ultrasound image. One end of the concave portion is shallower than an opposite end of the concave portion.  
         [0021]     According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including an ultrasound probe and a main unit. The ultrasound probe includes a cable, a probe head coupled to one end of the cable, and a connector coupled to the other end of the cable. The probe head has an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound probe is configured to transmit an ultrasound signal and receive an echo signal resulting from the ultrasound signal. The main unit has a concave portion into which the connector is inserted. The main unit is configured to receive the echo signal from the ultrasound probe and to process the echo signal so as to obtain an ultrasound image. The concave portion is provided so that the other end of the cable is lead out from the connector at an upward angle with respect to a horizontal direction when the connector is inserted in the concave portion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     A more complete appreciation of embodiments of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be readily obtained by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  is an illustration showing a front view of the first conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus;  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  is an illustration showing a side view of the first conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration showing a front view of the second conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration showing a side view of the second conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatus;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an illustration showing an example of a conventional ultrasound probe;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the first embodiment;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4B  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the first embodiment;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of a main unit of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the first embodiment;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5B  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along a line A-A;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5C  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along a line B-B;  
         [0033]      FIG. 5D  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along a line B-B when an ultrasound probe is inserted in the main unit;  
         [0034]      FIG. 5E  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along a line C-C;  
         [0035]      FIG. 5F  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line C-C when an ultrasound probe is inserted in the main unit;  
         [0036]      FIG. 6A  is an illustration showing another exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line A-A;  
         [0037]      FIG. 6B  is an illustration showing another exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line B-B;  
         [0038]      FIG. 6C  is an illustration showing another exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line B-B when the ultrasound probe is inserted in the main unit;  
         [0039]      FIG. 6D  is an illustration showing another exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line C-C;  
         [0040]      FIG. 6E  is an illustration showing another exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line C-C when the ultrasound probe is inserted in the main unit;  
         [0041]      FIG. 7A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the second embodiment;  
         [0042]      FIG. 7B  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the second embodiment;  
         [0043]      FIG. 8A  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line C-C according to the second embodiment;  
         [0044]      FIG. 8B  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line C-C when an ultrasound probe is inserted in the main unit according to the second embodiment;  
         [0045]      FIG. 8C  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the main unit according to the second embodiment;  
         [0046]      FIG. 9A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the main unit according to the third embodiment;  
         [0047]      FIG. 9B  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along a line A-A;  
         [0048]      FIG. 9C  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along a line B-B;  
         [0049]      FIG. 9D  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line B-B when an ultrasound probe is inserted in the main unit;  
         [0050]      FIG. 9E  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along a line C-C;  
         [0051]      FIG. 9F  is an illustration showing an exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit along the line C-C when an ultrasound probe is inserted in the main unit;  
         [0052]      FIG. 10A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the fourth embodiment;  
         [0053]      FIG. 10B  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the fourth embodiment; and  
         [0054]      FIG. 11  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the main unit according to the fifth embodiment. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0055]     Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The reference numbers used in FIGS.  1  to  3  are still used to show similar components shown in the drawings to be referred to in the following description. Detailed explanation will be omitted for such components.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0056]      FIG. 4A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the first embodiment. Also,  FIG. 4B  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 4A , three ultrasound probes  4   b  may be placed as active ultrasound probes and two ultrasound probes  4  as standby ultrasound probes on the front face of the main unit  3  while the main unit  3  is still kept compact in size.  
         [0057]     The main unit  3  has, for example, three main unit connectors  30  as an example of ‘concave portion’ below the operation panel  5 . The number of the main unit connectors  30  is not limited to three. The main unit connectors  30  are connected to a circuitry board provided in the main unit  3  and can be connected to active ultrasound probes. The main unit connectors  30  may be provided on the right side of the front face of the main unit  3 .  
         [0058]     The main unit connectors  30  are slanted on the front face of the main unit  3  towards an upper right direction of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle. The angle may preferably be around thirty degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. This is because it may become easy for the doctor to connect and disconnect the ultrasound probe  4  to and from the main unit  3  without unreasonable strain on a wrist of the doctor. In other words, the doctor may easily be able to insert the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  into the main unit connector  30  and pull it out of the main unit connector  30  without much stress on the wrist. In addition, it is possible to avoid the cable  4   c  from being given a strong effort in the vicinity of the ultrasound probe connectors  4   b  and being damaged. The cable  4   c  may be pulled towards the cable hanger  7  along one of side surfaces of the main unit  3 . The above-mentioned angle may be determined, considering the insertion direction of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  and/or the direction of the cable  4   c  led out from the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.  The three main unit connectors  30  may be arranged in parallel with one another so as not to unnecessarily occupy a wide space of the front face of the main unit  3 .  
         [0059]     After the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  has been inserted in the main unit connector  30 , the connector fixing tab  4   d  is winded to fix the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  to the main unit connector  30  so that the ultrasound probe  4  is fixed to the main unit  3 . The ultrasound probe head  4   a  is held by the probe head holder  5   a  which is provided on the right side of the operation panel  5 . The ultrasound probe head  4   a  is omitted in  FIG. 4A  to avoid the complication of the drawing.  
         [0060]     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the main unit  3  also has, for example, two holders  31  as another example of ‘concave portion’ below the operation panel  5 . The number of the holders  31  is not limited to two. The holders  31  are not connected to the circuitry board and can be connected to standby ultrasound probes. The holders  31  may be vertically provided on the left side of the main unit  3  along the horizontal direction. A connection surface of the holder  31  where a connection hole to insert the connection pin  4   e  is provided is slanted towards the upper inside of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle. The angle may preferably be around fifteen degrees with respect to the vertical direction. This is because it may become easy for the doctor to place the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  to the holder  31  and detach it from the holder  31 . In addition, it is possible to avoid the cable  4   c  from being given a strong effort in the vicinity of the ultrasound probe connectors  4   b  and being damaged. The above-mentioned angle may be determined, considering the placing direction of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  and/or the direction of the cable  4   c  led out from the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.  The two holders  31  may be arranged in parallel with each other so as not to unnecessarily occupy a wide space of the front face of the main unit  3 .  
         [0061]     After the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  has been placed to the holder  31 , the connector fixing tab  4   d  is winded to fix the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  to the holder  31  so that the ultrasound probe  4  is fixed to the main unit  3 . Since the holder  31  is not connected to the circuitry board, the fixation is not for the electrical connection but for the physical connection to avoid the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  from falling down from the holder  31 . The ultrasound probe head  4   a  of the standby ultrasound probe may also be held by another probe head holder which can be provided, for example, on the left side of the operation panel  5 . Accordingly, the use of the holders  31  (and another probe head holder) can make it possible to hold the standby ultrasound probes with the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1 . This is helpful for the doctor to use the standby ultrasound probe by immediately replacing the active ultrasound probe with the standby ultrasound probe. The doctor pulls out the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  of the active ultrasound probe from the main unit connector  30  and also detaches the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  of the standby ultrasound probe from the holder  31 . Then, the doctor can insert the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  of the standby ultrasound probe into the main unit connector  30  so as to use it as a new active ultrasound probe.  
         [0062]     Details of the main unit connectors  30 , the holders  31 , and their modified examples will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5A  to  6 E.  FIG. 5A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the main unit  3 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the main unit connectors  30  and the holders  31  are provided in the main unit  3 . Exemplary cross-sectional views of the main unit  3  along lines A-A and B-B are shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , respectively. The depth of each main unit connector  30  is even and each main unit connector  30  has a concave shape. The main unit connectors  30  are connected to a circuitry board  50  through electric wires  51 . When an ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the main unit connector  30 , the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is connected to the electric wires  51  as shown in  FIG. 5D .  
         [0063]     An exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit  3  along a line C-C is shown in  FIG. 5E . The depth of each holder  31  is not even since the connection surface of the holder  31  where a connection hole  52  to insert the connection pin  4   e  is provided is slanted towards the upper inside of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle. The holders  31  are not connected to the circuitry board  50 . When an ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the holder  31 , the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is not connected to the circuitry board  50  as shown in  FIG. 5F .  
         [0064]     Modified examples of the main unit connectors  30  and the holders  31  are shown as main unit connectors  32  and holders  33 . Exemplary cross-sectional views of the main unit  3  along lines A-A and B-B in  FIG. 5A  are shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , respectively. The depth of each main unit connector  32  is not even since a connection surface of the main unit connector  32  where a connection hole  53  to insert the connection pin  4   e  is provided is slanted towards the upper inside of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle. The main unit connectors  32  are connected to the circuitry board  50  through the electric wires  51 . When an ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the main unit connector  32 , the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is connected to the electric wires  51  as shown in  FIG. 6C .  
         [0065]     An exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit  3  along the line C-C in  FIG. 5A  is shown in  FIG. 6D . The depth of each holder  33  is even and each holder  33  has a concave shape. The holders  33  are not connected to the circuitry board  50 . When an ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the holder  33 , the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is not connected to the circuitry board  50  as shown in  FIG. 6E . In  FIG. 6E , the connector fixing tab  4   d  may not be used to fix the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  to the holder  33  if the depth of the holder  33  is deep enough to support the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.    
       Second Embodiment  
       [0066]      FIG. 7A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1  according to the second embodiment. Also,  FIG. 7B  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1  according to the second embodiment. The difference between the first and second embodiments is that the main unit  3  as shown in  FIG. 7B  has supporters  70  each of which for supporting at least a part of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  when the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the holder  31 . Components similar to those shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are given the same reference numbers and the detailed explanation of such components is omitted herein although the ultrasound probe head  4   a  and the cable  4   c  are omitted and not shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B .  
         [0067]     Details of the holder  31  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8A  to  8 D. An exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit  3  along the line C-C in  FIG. 5A  is shown in FIG. BA. The supporter  70  is provided at positions corresponding to the bottom and sides of the holder  31  so that the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  can be supported by the supporter  70  when the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the holder  31  as shown in  FIG. 8B .  FIG. 8C  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the main unit  3  according to the second embodiment. The supporter  70  may be more clearly understood by referring to  FIG. 8C . The supporter  70  is extended away from the front face of the main unit  3  so as to support the bottom and sides of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.  In  FIG. 8C , the supporter  70  may support only a part of each side of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.  The supporter  70 , however, may support a whole surface of either or both of the sides of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.    
         [0068]     According to the second embodiment, it may not be necessary to fix the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  to the holder  31  with the connector fixing tab  4   d  since the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is supported by the supporter  70 . Therefore, it may be possible to avoid the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  from falling down from the holder  31  without fixing with the connector fixing tab  4   d  even if the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1  is vibrated for some sort of reasons, for example, traveling of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1 . The position where the supporter  70  is provided and the shape of the supporter  70  are not limited to those shown in FIGS.  8 A to  8 C.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0069]     In the first embodiment, the slanted main unit connectors  30  have been used to electrically connect the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  to the circuitry board  50  while the vertically-provided holders  31  have not been connected to the circuitry board  50 . The third embodiment will describe the opposite case to the first embodiment. That is, as shown in  FIG. 9A , the slanted main unit connectors  30  are replaced with holders  34  which are slanted on the front face of the main unit  3  towards an upper right direction of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle while the vertically-provided holders  31  are replaced with main unit connectors  35  which are vertically provided on the front face of the main unit  3 .  
         [0070]     Details of the holders  34  and the main unit connectors  35  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9B  to  9 E. Exemplary cross-sectional views of the main unit  3  along the lines A-A and B-B are shown in  FIGS. 9B and 9C , respectively. The depth of each holder  34  is even and each holder  34  has a concave shape. Here, the holders  34  are not connected to the circuitry board  50 . When an ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the holder  34 , the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is not connected to the circuitry board  50  as shown in FIG.  9 D.  
         [0071]     An exemplary cross-sectional view of the main unit  3  along the line C-C is shown in  FIG. 9E . The depth of each main unit connector  35  is not even since the connection surface of the main unit connector  35  where a connection hole  54  to insert the connection pin  4   e  is provided is slanted towards the upper inside of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle. The main unit connectors  35  are connected to the circuitry board  50  through electric wires  55 . When an ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is inserted in the main unit connector  35 , the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  is connected to the electric wires  55  as shown in  FIG. 9F .  
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0072]     The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B .  FIG. 10A  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1  according to the fourth embodiment. Also,  FIG. 10B  is an illustration showing an exemplary side view of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  1  according to the fourth embodiment. The difference between the first and fourth embodiments is that the main unit  3  has main unit connectors  36  instead of the main unit connectors  3 . The main unit connectors  36  are slanted on the front face of the main unit  3  towards an upper right direction of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle. The angle may preferably be around thirty degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the doctor may easily be able to insert the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  into the main unit connector  36  and pull it out of the main unit connector  36  without much stress on the wrist. In addition, it is possible to avoid the cable  4   c  from being given a strong effort in the vicinity of the ultrasound probe connectors  4   b  and being damaged. The cable  4   c  may be pulled towards the cable hanger  7  along one or more side surfaces of the main unit  3 . The above-mentioned angle may be determined, considering the insertion direction of the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  and/or the direction of the cable  4   c  led out from the ultrasound probe connector  4   b.  The main unit connectors  36  may be provided along the horizontal direction and arranged in parallel with one another so as not to unnecessarily occupy a wide space of the front face of the main unit  3 .  
         [0073]     Components similar to those shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are given the same reference numbers and the detailed explanation of such components is omitted herein. The number of the main unit connectors  30  is not limited to three. In  FIG. 10A , the main unit  3  does not have any holder. If necessary, one or more holders may be provided under the arrangement of the main unit connectors  36 .  
       Fifth Embodiment  
       [0074]      FIG. 11  is an illustration showing an exemplary front view of the main unit  3  according to the fifth embodiment. The main unit  3  has main unit connectors  37  to  39 . As understood from  FIG. 11 , the main unit connectors  37  to  39  are not arranged in parallel with one another but at a different angle relative to each of the main unit connectors  37  to  39 . Particularly, the main unit connector  37  provided closer to the top of the main unit  3  is less slanted on the front face of the main unit  3  towards an upper right direction of the main unit  3 , compared to the main unit connectors  38  and  39  while the main unit connector  39  provided closer to the bottom of the main unit  3  is more slanted on the front face of the main unit  3  towards an upper right direction of the main unit  3 , compared to the main unit connectors  37  and  38 .  
         [0075]     This type of layout may require more space on the front face of the main unit  3  than the parallel layout and so may be implemented when the main unit  3  is not required to be so compact. This layout may make it easier for the doctor to insert the ultrasound probe connector  4   b  into the main unit connectors  37  to  39  and pull it out of the main unit connectors  37  to  39 .  
         [0076]     Any combination of two or more of the main unit connectors  30 ,  32 ,  35  to  39  and the holders  31 ,  33 , and  34  may be made as another embodiment or modification of the embodiments according to the necessity.  
         [0077]     The side surface of the main unit  3  where the main unit connectors and the holders are provided is not limited to the front face but may alternatively be other side surface of the main unit  3  such as, for example, a lateral face of the main unit  3 . Further, the main unit connectors and the holders may be provided in a plurality of side surface of the main unit  3 .  
         [0078]     The main unit connectors may alternatively be slanted towards an upper left direction of the main unit  3  at a predetermined angle, if necessary.  
         [0079]     The embodiments of the present invention described above are examples described only for making it easier to understand the present invention, and are not described for the limitation of the present invention. Consequently, each component and element disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be redesigned or modified to its equivalent within a scope of the present invention. Furthermore, any possible combination of such components and elements may be included in a scope of the present invention as long as an advantage similar to those obtained according to the above disclosure in the embodiments of the present invention is obtained.  
         [0080]     Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Technology Category: 1