Portable ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus

A portable ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a first housing including an upper face, a lower face opposite the upper face along a first direction, and plural side faces, the upper, lower, and side faces of the first housing having a fixed positional relationship with respect to each other, and the lower face of the first housing opposing a surface on which the portable ultrasound apparatus is placed during use;
• a second housing including a display panel, the display panel including a touch panel;
• a single sliding groove along which the second housing is slidable with respect to the first housing across the upper face of the first housing;
• an ultrasound probe which comprises a cable and which transmits and receives ultrasound;
• a connector comprising a hinge mechanism having a horizontal axis, the connector connecting the first housing and a lower portion of the second housing, and the connector being provided on the upper face of the first housing at a position such that the horizontal axis of the hinge mechanism is forward of a center of the upper face of the first housing in a direction toward a front side of the first housing, the upper face of the first housing including a first portion provided between the connector and a rear side of the first housing;
• and
• a terminal to which the ultrasound probe is connectable via the cable, the terminal being provided on the first housing,
• wherein:
• the hinge mechanism is attached to a sliding base of the single sliding groove;
• the connector connects the first housing and the lower portion of the second housing such that the second housing is rotatable about the horizontal axis of the hinge mechanism within an entirety of a range from (i) a first position at which an angle between the first portion of the upper face of the first housing and the second housing is substantially 0 degrees, to (ii) a second position at which the angle between the first portion of the upper face of the first housing and the second housing is substantially 90 degrees, the second housing being put in a closed state from an opened state by rotating the second housing towards the rear side of the first housing until the second housing is in the first position,
• an operating region provided with at least one operating member which is operable by a user is provided in the first housing, the operating region being provided between the connector and the front side of the first housing,
• when the second housing is in the closed state, an entirety of an area of the second housing that opposes the display panel (i) also opposes the first portion of the upper face of the first housing along the first direction, and (ii) does not oppose the operating region along the first direction,
• the operating region and the display panel are exposed when the second housing is in the closed state, and
• the terminal is provided on one face from among the plural side faces of the first housing at a position that is closer to the rear side of the first housing than to the front side of the first housing.

A portable ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a first housing including an upper face, a lower face opposite the upper face along a first direction, and plural side faces, a wall portion being provided at a rear side of the first housing on the upper face of the first housing, the upper, lower, and side faces of the first housing having a fixed positional relationship with respect to each other, and the lower face of the first housing opposing a surface on which the portable ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus is placed during use;
• a second housing including a display panel, the display panel including a touch panel;
• a single sliding groove along which the second housing is slidable with respect to the first housing across the upper face of the first housing;
• an ultrasound probe which comprises a cable and which transmits and receives ultrasound;
• a connector comprising a hinge mechanism having a horizontal axis, the connector connecting the first housing and a lower portion of the second housing, and the connector being provided on the upper face of the first housing at a position such that the horizontal axis of the hinge mechanism is forward of a center of the upper face of the first housing in a direction toward a front side of the first housing, the upper face of the first housing including a first portion provided between the connector and a rear side of the first housing;
• and
• a terminal to which the ultrasound probe is connectable via the cable, the terminal being provided on the first housing,
• wherein:
• the hinge mechanism is attached to a sliding base of the single sliding groove;
• the connector connects the first housing and the lower portion of the second housing such that the second housing is rotatable about the horizontal axis of the hinge mechanism within an entirety of a range from (i) a first position at which an angle between the first portion of the upper face of the first housing and the second housing is substantially 0 degrees, to (ii) a second position at which the angle between the first portion of the upper face of the first housing and the second housing is substantially 90 degrees, the second housing being put in a closed state from an open state by rotating the second housing towards the rear side of the first housing until the second housing is in the first position,
• when the second housing is in the closed state, an entirety of the display panel is located between the hinge mechanism and the wall portion on the upper face of the first housing,
• when the second housing is in the closed state, an entirety of an area of the second housing that opposes the display panel (i) also opposes the first portion of the upper face of the first housing along the first direction, and (ii) does not oppose an operating region along the first direction,
• the display panel is capable of being exposed when the second housing is in the closed state, and
• the terminal is provided on one face from among the plural side faces of the first housing at a position that is closer to the rear side of the first housing than to the front side of the first housing.