Probe adapter, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

1. A probe adapter comprising:

a holder configured to be detachably attached to an ultrasonic probe;

a marker disposed at a predetermined position on the ultrasonic probe in an array direction in which transducers are arrayed, the marker being configured to mark a surface of an object which the ultrasonic probe is brought into contact with, under a state where the holder is attached to the ultrasonic probe; and

a wiper configured to remove an ultrasonic medium coated on the surface of the object, wherein

the wiper includes an angle adjuster configured to adjust an angle between the ultrasonic probe and the marker in such a manner that the wiper is kept in contact with the surface of the object.

2. The probe adapter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the marker is configured to be equipped with a button and mark the surface of the object in accordance with pressing-down of the button.

3. The probe adapter according to claim 1 , further comprising an adjuster configured to

adjust a position of the marker by bringing a tip of the marker into contact with the surface of the object when marking is performed by the marker, and

adjust a position of the marker by separating the tip of the marker from the surface of the object when marking is not performed by the marker.

4. The probe adapter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the wiper is configured to

be slidably provided with respect to the holder,

slide toward a side of the surface of the object when marking is performed, and

slide in a direction away from the surface of the object when marking is not performed.

5. The probe adapter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the marker is configured to mark the surface of the object with at least one of ink, a marking pen, and an ink head.

6. The probe adapter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the marker is configured to be mounted on the holder such that the marker is slidable in parallel with the surface of the object when the surface of the object is scanned by the ultrasonic probe with the holder attached to the ultrasonic probe.

7. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

(a) an ultrasonic probe;

(b) the probe adapter as recited in claim 1 ;

(c) processing circuitry configured to generate an ultrasonic image based on a reception signal outputted from the ultrasonic probe;

(d) memory circuitry configured to store a marking position on the surface of the object to be marked by the marker; and

(e) a monitor configured to superimpose and display the marking position on the ultrasonic image.

8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 , the processing circuitry configured to

determine presence/absence of a target structure at the marking position based on a part of a reflected wave from the object, the reflected wave being detected by the ultrasonic probe, and

determine whether marking is performed on the surface of the object or not, in accordance with a determination result of the presence/absence of a target structure at the marking position.

9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the marker to move in parallel with the surface of the object to a position where the target structure exists, when the target structure does not exist at the marking position.

10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the target structure includes a blood vessel, a tumor, or an organ.

11. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether marking is performed on the surface of the object or not, based on an ink-output request signal from the marker.

12. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the ultrasonic probe is equipped with a magnetic sensor;

the marker is equipped with a magnet; and

the magnetic sensor is configured to detect a position of the magnet and detect the marking position based on the position of the magnet.

13. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the ultrasonic probe is equipped with a magnetic sensor;

the marker is equipped with a magnet; and

the magnetic sensor is configured to detect a position of the magnet and detect the marking position based on the position of the magnet.

14. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the ultrasonic probe is equipped with a magnetic sensor;

the marker is equipped with a magnet; and

the magnetic sensor is configured to detect a position of the magnet and detect the marking position based on the position of the magnet.

15. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the ultrasonic probe further includes a magnetic position sensor configured to detect a detection position of the ultrasonic probe; and

the processing circuitry is configured to

align an ultrasonic image acquired at the detection position of the ultrasonic probe and a medical image generated by another modality,

determine presence/absence of the target structure at the marking position based on the medical image which is aligned with the ultrasonic image, and

determine whether marking is performed on the surface of the object or not, in accordance with a determination result of the presence/absence of the target structure at the marking position.

16. A probe adapter comprising:

a holder configured to be detachably attached to an ultrasonic probe;

a marker disposed at a predetermined position on the ultrasonic probe in an array direction in which transducers are arrayed, the marker being configured to mark a surface of an object which the ultrasonic probe is brought into contact with, under a state where the holder is attached to the ultrasonic probe; and

a wiper configured to remove an ultrasonic medium coated on the surface of the object, wherein

the wiper is configured to

be slidably provided with respect to the holder,

slide toward a side of the surface of the object when marking is performed, and

slide in a direction away from the surface of the object when marking is not performed.

17. The probe adapter according to claim 16 ,

wherein the marker is configured to be equipped with a button and mark the surface of the object in accordance with pressing-down of the button.

18. The probe adapter according to claim 16 , further comprising an adjuster configured to

adjust a position of the marker by bringing a tip of the marker into contact with the surface of the object when marking is perfonned by the marker, and

adjust a position of the marker by separating the tip of the marker from the surface of the object when marking is not performed by the marker.

19. The probe adapter according to claim 16 ,

wherein the marker is configured to mark the surface of the object with at least one of ink, a marking pen, and an ink head.

20. The probe adapter according to claim 16 ,

wherein the marker is configured to be mounted on the holder such that the marker is slidable in parallel with the surface of the object when the surface of the object is scanned by the ultrasonic probe with the holder attached to the ultrasonic probe.