Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an operating device for an operator to input an instruction, an image display device for displaying an ultrasonic image, and a processing device that generates the ultrasonic image based on a reception signal resulting from transmission of an ultrasonic wave for display on the display device. The image display device is mounted removably through an arm, which has a movable portion and extends up to near a table for resting a subject thereon, to any of a ceiling, a wall, and a floor surface of an installation room, or to an image display device mounting member fixed within the installation room. The operating device is mounted removably to an operating device mounting member arranged near the table. The processing device is mounted removably to a processing device mounting member arranged near the table.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe in which a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor are located posterior to an oscillator; and a surface temperature calculation device for calculating a surface temperature of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of a first detection temperature Ta detected by the first temperature sensor and a second detection temperature Tb detected by the second temperature sensor. Also, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe in which a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor are embedded in a backing material; and a surface temperature calculation device for calculating a surface temperature Ts of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of a first detection temperature Ta detected by the first temperature sensor and a second detection temperature Tb detected by the second temperature sensor.

Abstract: An operation information input apparatus includes a button image display device which displays a button array image with a plurality of button images arranged therein, a touch panel device which is overlaid on a display surface of the button image display device and detects proximity position information indicative of each position in the display surface when an operator approaches the display surface, and a push button identifying unit which identifies each button image that the operator has approached, based on the proximity position information and button position information of the button array image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an operating device for an operator to input an instruction, an image display device for displaying an ultrasonic image, a processing device which controls producing the ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by sending and receiving a ultrasonic wave and displaying it, and a table on which a patient lies. Said operating device is provided separately from said image display device, said processing device, and said table. Said table, said image display device, and said processing device are integrally provided on the side where said operating device is not placed with respect to the table.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an operating unit for enabling the operator to input instructions, a signal processing unit which produces ultrasonic image data on the basis of echo signals obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic wave, and an image display unit on which an ultrasonic image based on the ultrasonic image data produced by the signal processing unit is displayed. Said operating unit is configured as a device separate at least from said image display unit, and said operating device is enabled to display an ultrasonic image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body having a console interface device that permits changeable connection of a plurality of consoles of different types, a console identifying device that identifies the type of the connected console and an operation mode control device that so performs control as to accomplish operation in the diagnostic mode corresponding to the identified console, and a console of at least one type of the plurality of consoles of different types.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a plurality of transmitter-receiver units each having a probe connector, a transmitter-receiver and a power supply; a plurality of display units each having an image display and a power supply; a plurality of operation units each having an operating part and a power supply; and a control unit. The plural transmitter-receiver units, the plural display units and the plural operation units can be connected to the control unit, and the control unit can control the thus-connected plural transmitter-receiver units, plural display units and plural operation units each independently.

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

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of transducers arranged and a plurality of temperature sensors located along a direction of arranging the transducers, and a temperature calculation device for obtaining a maximum temperature on the basis of the detected temperatures of the plurality of temperature sensors.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body unit includes: a main body wireless communication device for wireless communicating with separate operation units; and a main body control device which accepts operation instructions given from the plural operation units and activates the function of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with the operation instructions.

Abstract: A medical image file output apparatus includes: a second-image input device which inputs a second image obtained by adding personal information in a human-readable manner to a first image obtained by scanning a subject; a third-image generating device which converts an area in the second image where the personal information is added, into a human-unreadable manner to generate a third image; and an image file output device which prepares an image file in a general image file format from the third image for output.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to fully remove a carrier-frequency component despite a compact low-cost configuration. An A/D conversion circuit with a carrier frequency removing feature includes: an A/D converter including a voltage comparator that compares a first signal with a feedback signal and a voltage feedback circuit that produces the feedback signal; a one-input N-output demultiplexer that receives the feedback signal; N integrators that calculate the respective integrals of N output signals of the demultiplexer; an N-input one-output multiplexer that receives the outputs of the N respective integrators; a subtractor that produces a difference between an analog signal and the output signal of the multiplexer; an amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the subtractor to produce the first signal; and a switching control circuit that cyclically switches the input terminals of the multiplexer and the output terminals of the demultiplexer synchronously with a carrier wave.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an A/D converter making it possible to reduce the power consumption of an output interface. The A/D converter includes an output current value designation register that holds a value sent from an upper-level unit, and an output current value designation circuit that controls a constant current source, which supplies a constant current to a low-voltage differential signal output circuit, according to the value held in the output current value designation register so as to designate an output current value.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing the size and power consumption of a power source in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, charge pump circuits are connected to a transmitter power source. A regulator in the transmitter power source drives the charge pump circuit to generate a positive bias voltage +HV2 higher than a positive voltage +HV1 generated by the transmitter power source. The regulator in the transmitter power source also drives the charge pump circuit to generate a negative bias voltage ?HV2 lower than a negative voltage ?HV1 generated by the transmitter power source.

Abstract: With the aim of suppressing power consumption and reducing circuit size, a positive FET is turned on in accordance with a positive pulse signal and turned off when a return voltage rises up to a positive threshold. An active ground clamp circuit causes the output line to return to the ground voltage after the elapse of a predetermined period of time. A negative FET is turned on in accordance with a negative pulse signal and turned off when the return voltage falls down to a negative threshold. The active ground clamp circuit causes the output line to return to the ground voltage after the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: With the aim of quickly returning the voltage of an output line to an ultrasonic transducer from a positive voltage or a negative voltage to the ground voltage and reducing the circuit size, immediately after turning on and turning off of a positive FET in accordance with a positive pulse signal, a negative FET goes on for only a pull-back period allowing for the output line to return to the ground voltage. Also, immediately after turning on and turning off of the negative FET in accordance with a negative pulse signal, the positive FET goes on for only a pull-back period allowing for the output line to return to the ground voltage.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to fully remove a carrier-frequency component despite a compact low-cost configuration. An A/D conversion circuit with a carrier frequency removing feature includes: an A/D converter including a voltage comparator that compares a first signal with a feedback signal and a voltage feedback circuit that produces the feedback signal; a one-input N-output demultiplexer that receives the feedback signal; N integrators that calculate the respective integrals of N output signals of the demultiplexer; an N-input one-output multiplexer that receives the outputs of the N respective integrators; a subtractor that produces a difference between an analog signal and the output signal of the multiplexer; an amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the subtractor to produce the first signal; and a switching control circuit that cyclically switches the input terminals of the multiplexer and the output terminals of the demultiplexer synchronously with a carrier wave.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an A/D converter making it possible to reduce the power consumption of an output interface. The A/D converter includes an output current value designation register that holds a value sent from an upper-level unit, and an output current value designation circuit that controls a constant current source, which supplies a constant current to a low-voltage differential signal output circuit, according to the value held in the output current value designation register so as to designate an output current value.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a delay device having an analog delay line adaptable to a plurality of frequencies with a less number of taps. The analog delay line has a maximum delay amount equivalent to a wavelength from over a ? wavelength of a predetermined maximum wavelength of an input signal to under a 1 wavelength thereof. Tap intervals up to a delay point equivalent to ½ of a predetermined minimum wavelength of the input signal are different from tap intervals placed ahead of those. The maximum wavelength is a wavelength of a signal having a frequency of 2 MHz, for example, and the minimum wavelength is a wavelength of a signal having a frequency of 5 MHz, for example.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a battery-driven ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which the power consumption required for lighting keys little affects an operation time. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus with lit operation keys comprises a power supply unit that switches power to be supplied to the components of the apparatus between power fed from a battery and power fed from the mains, and a lighting adjustor that ceases or minimizes lighting of operation keys when a detected ambient brightness level exceeds a predetermined threshold.