Ultrasonic diagnostic device and recording medium

Abstract

The present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic device and a recording medium. Image data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is stored in a storage device (22). A control unit (26) controls the efficient processing of the image data stored in the storage device (22) based on the remaining capacity of the storage device (22) and the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device as the device. The efficient processing is, for example, a process of changing the configuration of the storage device (22) of the image data stored in the storage device (22), or a process of deleting the image data from the storage device (22). The control unit (26) can urge the user to perform the efficient processing, or can perform the efficient processing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a recording medium. Background Art

[0002] Image data acquired by an imaging diagnostic device, such as an ultrasonic diagnostic device, may be stored in the device's storage device. If the remaining capacity of the device's storage device decreases, the device's performance may be reduced. To avoid this, operations or processes may be performed to increase the remaining capacity of the storage device. For example, after the examination is completed, image data that has been transferred to an external device such as a server may be automatically deleted from the storage device, or image data may be automatically deleted from the storage device at regular intervals. Furthermore, for a certain period of time, when performing operations that pre-store image data in the device's storage device, a user may manually delete image data from the storage device.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-326209 describes an image diagnostic device that, when determining that a portion or all of a file group stored in a primary storage device should be backed up in a secondary storage device, transmits a portion or all of an image file group stored in the primary storage device to the secondary storage device for recording, and deletes the image files recorded in the secondary storage device from the primary storage device.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-50177 describes a log management system that generates an operation log related to a medical device and stores it in a storage device, reads the stored operation log, and combines information that is insufficient as an audit log with the operation log to generate an audit log.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to enable use of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without degrading its performance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One embodiment of the present disclosure is an ultrasonic diagnostic device, characterized in that it includes: a storage device that stores image data obtained by sending and receiving ultrasonic waves; and a control device that controls the efficient processing of the image data stored in the storage device based on the remaining capacity of the storage device and the performance of the device.

[0007] According to the above structure, the efficiency improvement process is controlled based on the remaining capacity of the storage device and the performance of the present device. For example, as a control of the efficiency improvement process, the control device can urge the user to perform the efficiency improvement process, or can accept or not accept instructions from the user to perform the efficiency improvement process. The performance of the present device depends on, for example, the time required to store the image data in the storage device, the time required to read the image data from the storage device, the time required to start and shut down the ultrasonic diagnostic device, and the time required to analyze the image data. The control device can urge the user to perform the efficiency improvement process when the remaining capacity of the storage device is below a first threshold, or can urge the user to perform the efficiency improvement process when the remaining capacity of the storage device is below the first threshold and the performance of the present device is below a second threshold. Of course, the control device can also automatically perform the efficiency improvement process in these situations. The image data can be data before signal processing is applied, data after signal processing is applied, or data after analysis is performed.

[0008] The efficiency improvement process may be a process of changing the arrangement of the image data stored in the storage device.

[0009] An example of a process that changes the configuration of image data is defragmentation. For example, if the storage device is a hard disk drive and the hard disk becomes fragmented, defragmentation can be performed to eliminate the fragmentation. This can suppress degradation of the ultrasonic diagnostic device's performance caused by fragmentation.

[0010] The efficiency improvement process may be a process of deleting image data from the storage device.

[0011] By deleting the image data from the storage device, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus due to the remaining capacity of the storage device.

[0012] The efficiency improvement process may be a process of deleting image data that is not suitable for the purpose of ultrasonic examination.

[0013] For example, the purpose of an ultrasound examination can be determined for each body part, each patient, each symptom, or each disease, and image data that is not suitable for that purpose can be deleted. Image data can be deleted automatically or in response to user instructions. Alternatively, a list of image data that is not suitable for the purpose of an ultrasound examination can be displayed, and image data selected by the user can be deleted from the list.

[0014] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further includes an analysis unit that analyzes image data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The control device determines whether to perform efficiency improvement processing before analysis based on the analysis content of the analysis unit, and urges the user to perform efficiency improvement processing based on the determination result.

[0015] For example, if an analysis is predicted to place a load on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control device prompts the user to perform efficiency improvement processing before the analysis is performed. This allows the efficiency improvement processing to be performed before the analysis is predicted to place a load exceeding the threshold on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. As a result, the analysis can be performed while minimizing degradation in the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0016] The control device can also cause the display to display a screen showing information about the patient who is the subject of the ultrasonic examination before and after the ultrasonic examination. The control device can also not display an image for indicating the user's confirmation of the performance of the device on the screen before the ultrasonic examination, and display the image on the screen after the ultrasonic examination.

[0017] Since the image is not displayed before the ultrasonic examination is performed, it is possible to prevent the need to perform a process of confirming the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus before the ultrasonic examination is performed.

[0018] The control device may urge the user to execute the efficiency improvement process based on the relationship between the time required for the efficiency improvement process and the time from when the ultrasound examination is performed to when the next ultrasound examination of the patient is performed.

[0019] For example, if the time required for the efficiency improvement process is shorter than the time between the ultrasound examination and the next ultrasound examination, the control device prompts the user to perform the efficiency improvement process. Otherwise, the control device does not prompt the user to perform the efficiency improvement process. Thus, even if the efficiency improvement process is performed, it can be completed between the ultrasound examination and the next ultrasound examination. For example, if an examination is registered today, the control device can also predict the next examination time.

[0020] Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a recording medium having a computer-readable program recorded thereon, the program causing a computer mounted on an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to function as a control unit that stores image data acquired through transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves in a storage device and controls efficient processing of the image data in the storage device based on the remaining capacity of the storage device and the processing capability of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0021] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to use the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without degrading the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a flowchart showing the flow of efficiency improvement processing.

[0024] Figure 3 This figure shows the ID screen before ultrasonic examination.

[0025] Figure 4 This figure shows the ID screen after ultrasonic examination.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing a screen displaying a list of image data.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing a screen for selecting efficiency improvement processing.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing a screen for selecting efficiency improvement processing.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing a screen displaying candidates for images to be deleted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following describes an imaging diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiments. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used as an example of an imaging diagnostic apparatus. However, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is merely one example of an imaging diagnostic apparatus, and the imaging diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiments is not limited to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, or other diagnostic apparatus may also be used.

[0031] exist Figure 1 The configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment is shown in FIG. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an apparatus that generates image data representing tissues in a living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

[0032] The probe 10 is a transceiver that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. The probe 10 has, for example, a 1D array transducer. The 1D array transducer is formed by arranging a plurality of vibration elements in one dimension. An ultrasonic beam is formed by the 1D array transducer, and electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam is repeated. As a result, a scanning surface is formed in the living body during each electronic scan. The scanning surface is equivalent to a two-dimensional echo data input space. The probe 10 may also be a 2D array transducer formed by arranging a plurality of vibration elements in two dimensions instead of a 1D array transducer. If an ultrasonic beam is formed by a 2D array transducer, and electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam is repeated, a scanning surface as a two-dimensional echo data input space is formed in each electronic scan. When the ultrasonic beam is scanned two-dimensionally, a three-dimensional space as a three-dimensional echo data input space is formed. As a scanning method, sector scanning, linear scanning, or convex scanning is used.

[0033] The transmitting and receiving unit 12 functions as a transmitting beamformer and a receiving beamformer. During transmission, the transmitting and receiving unit 12 supplies multiple transmission signals having a certain delay relationship to the multiple vibration elements included in the probe 10. This forms an ultrasonic transmission beam. During reception, the reflected waves from the biological body are received by the probe 10, and multiple reception signals are output from the probe 10 to the transmitting and receiving unit 12. The transmitting and receiving unit 12 forms a receiving beam by applying a phase adjustment and addition process to the multiple reception signals. This beam data is output to the signal processing unit 14. In other words, the transmitting and receiving unit 12 performs delay processing on the reception signals obtained from each vibration element according to the delay processing conditions for each vibration element, and performs addition processing on the multiple reception signals obtained from the multiple vibration elements, thereby forming a receiving beam. The delay processing conditions are specified by reception delay data representing the delay time. The reception delay data set corresponding to the multiple vibration elements (in other words, a set of delay times) is supplied by the control unit 26.

[0034] The transceiver 12 electronically scans the ultrasonic beam (in other words, the transmit and receive beams), thereby forming a scan plane. The scan plane corresponds to multiple beam data sets, which constitute received frame data (specifically, RF signal frame data). Furthermore, each beam data set consists of multiple echo data sets arranged in the depth direction. Repeated electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam outputs multiple received frame data sets arranged on the time axis from the transceiver 12. These frames constitute a received frame train.

[0035] Furthermore, when the ultrasonic beam is electronically scanned two-dimensionally by the transceiver 12, a three-dimensional echo data acquisition space is formed. Volume data (volume data) is acquired from this three-dimensional echo data acquisition space as a collection of echo data. Repeated electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam outputs multiple volumes of volume data arranged along the time axis from the transceiver 12. These volumes constitute a volume data sequence.

[0036] The signal processing unit 14 is a module that applies signal processing such as detection and logarithmic compression to the beam data output from the transmission / reception unit 12 .

[0037] The DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 16 is a module with conversion functions (in other words, coordinate transformation and interpolation processing functions). It generates a tissue display frame sequence based on the received frame sequence output from the signal processing unit 14. Each tissue display frame is data for a B-mode tomographic image. The tissue display frame sequence is displayed on a display unit 20, such as a monitor, via the display processing unit 18. This allows the B-mode tomographic image to be displayed as a dynamic image in real time.

[0038] The display processing unit 18 generates a display image by superimposing the graphic data on the tomographic image, etc. The display image data is output to the display unit 20, where one or more images are displayed in an array in accordance with the display mode.

[0039] The display unit 20 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like. The display unit 20 may be composed of a plurality of displays.

[0040] The storage device 22 is a device constituting a storage area for storing data, and is, for example, a memory (eg, RAM, DRAM, ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), or an optical disk, etc. The storage device 22 is an example of a storage unit.

[0041] The storage device 22 can store beam data (e.g., RF signal frame data, volume data) prior to signal processing by the signal processing unit 14, beam data output from the signal processing unit 14, and tissue display frames (in other words, B-mode tomographic image data) output from the DSC 16. For example, the storage device 22 can read beam data prior to signal processing by the signal processing unit 14, apply processing by the signal processing unit 14, and then generate tissue display frames through processing by the DSC 16. Furthermore, the display processing unit 18 can read tissue display frames stored in the storage device 22 and display them on the display unit 20.

[0042] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiments may also have the function of acquiring Doppler data. For example, Doppler data (e.g., a Doppler waveform) may be generated by executing a Doppler method such as the ultrasonic pulse Doppler method using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiments. Specifically, according to the ultrasonic pulse Doppler method, ultrasonic waves are repeatedly transmitted and received in a specific Doppler beam orientation, and the resulting received signal is output to a gate circuit. The gate circuit extracts the portion of the signal corresponding to the sample gate set at the Doppler beam orientation and outputs it to a Doppler waveform generator. The Doppler waveform generator includes circuits such as a quadrature detection circuit and a frequency analysis circuit (FFT analyzer). It extracts Doppler information (e.g., Doppler shift frequency components) from the input signal and expands this Doppler information on the frequency axis. As a result of the frequency analysis, a velocity spectrum (e.g., blood flow velocity information) is obtained, which is composed of the power at each frequency (e.g., velocity). Angle correction may also be applied to the velocity spectrum. The Doppler waveform is generated based on the velocity spectrum. For example, the horizontal axis of the Doppler waveform represents time, while the vertical axis represents a value corresponding to blood flow velocity. The Doppler waveform is displayed on the display unit 20 via the display processing unit 18. Doppler data may also be stored in the storage device 22. Furthermore, the display processing unit 18 may synthesize multiple images. For example, if a color blood flow image is obtained, the display processing unit 18 may synthesize the color blood flow image of a certain cross-section onto the tomographic image of that cross-section.

[0043] The concept of "image data" described below includes beam data before signal processing by the signal processing unit 14 (for example, RF signal frame data, volume data), beam data output from the signal processing unit 14 (in other words, beam data after signal processing by the signal processing unit 14), tissue display frames output from the DSC 16 (in other words, data of B-mode tomographic images), and Doppler data.

[0044] The analyzing unit 24 analyzes image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The analyzing unit 24 is an example of an analyzing means.

[0045] Examples of image data analysis include detecting tissue boundaries and regions from tissue display frame data, detecting regions using template matching or other methods, measuring the size of the detected regions, tracking the detected regions in a time series across multiple tissue display frame data, emphasizing the detected boundaries, applying filters to image data, applying masks to image data, searching for paths for tissue such as blood vessels shown in the image data, and applying color to tissue display frame data. Of course, image data analysis is not limited to these methods, and other analyses may also be performed.

[0046] The analyzing unit 24 can read and analyze image data stored in the storage device 22, directly receive and analyze image data output from the DSC 16, etc., or obtain and analyze image data from an external device (e.g., a storage device or a server) outside the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0047] The control unit 26 controls the operation of each component of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and is an example of a control unit.

[0048] The control unit 26 is connected to an operating unit 28. The operating unit 28 is an operating device such as a trackball, keyboard, mouse, button, knob, or operating panel. A touch panel that serves as both the display unit 20 and the operating unit 28 may also be included in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0049] The control unit 26 controls the efficiency improvement processing of the image data stored in the storage device 22 based on the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 and the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as its own apparatus.

[0050] The remaining capacity of the storage device 22 is the free capacity of the storage device 22 . For example, if the storage device 22 is a hard disk drive, it is the free capacity of the hard disk drive.

[0051] The concept of the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes performance related to the process of storing image data in the storage device 22, performance related to the process of reading image data from the storage device 22, performance related to starting up the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, performance related to shutting down the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and performance related to image data analysis by the analysis unit 24. For example, the time required for each process varies depending on the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0052] For example, the time required for the storage device 22 to store image data varies depending on the performance of the process for storing image data in the storage device 22. Specifically, the lower the performance of the process for storing image data in the storage device 22, the longer it takes to store the image data in the storage device 22. In such cases, this time can be shortened by performing the efficiency improvement process described later (e.g., defragmentation).

[0053] The time required to read image data from storage device 22 varies depending on the performance of the process of reading image data from storage device 22. Specifically, the lower the performance of the process of reading image data from storage device 22, the longer the time required to read image data from storage device 22.

[0054] The time required to complete the activation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus varies depending on the performance associated with the activation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Specifically, the lower the performance associated with the activation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the longer the time required to complete the activation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0055] The time required to complete the shutdown of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus changes depending on the performance related to the shutdown of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Specifically, the lower the performance related to the shutdown of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the longer the time required to complete the shutdown of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0056] The time required to complete the image data analysis varies depending on the performance related to the image data analysis. Specifically, the lower the performance related to the image data analysis, the longer the time required to complete the image data analysis.

[0057] Generally speaking, if the remaining capacity (in other words, free space) of the storage device 22 decreases, the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may deteriorate. The control unit 26 determines whether image data efficiency enhancement processing is necessary based on the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 and the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus itself, and controls the efficiency enhancement processing based on this determination.

[0058] For example, efficiency improvement processing involves changing the arrangement of image data stored in the storage device 22 within the storage device 22, in other words, defragmentation. For example, if the storage device 22 is a hard disk drive (HDD), the area occupied by image data may become scattered within the storage device 22, in other words, fragmented. In this case, access to image data slows down, increasing the time required to store image data in the storage device 22 and the time required to read image data from the storage device 22. By performing defragmentation to eliminate fragmentation, it is possible to suppress performance degradation associated with storing image data in the storage device 22 and reading image data from the storage device 22. In other words, it is possible to suppress performance degradation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Furthermore, when analyzing image data, if image data needs to be read from the storage device 22, it is believed that fragmentation will increase the time required for image data analysis. Eliminating fragmentation can suppress increases in the time required for image data analysis and performance degradation associated with image data analysis.

[0059] When the storage device 22 is a solid-state drive (SSD), the efficiency improvement process is a trim process for optimizing the SSD (in other words, a process for internally deleting unused areas of the SSD).

[0060] Another example of efficiency-enhancing processing is deleting image data from the storage device 22. For example, deleting image data transmitted from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to an external device (e.g., a storage device, a server, etc.) from the storage device 22 is an example of efficiency-enhancing processing. As described later, image data may also be deleted for other reasons.

[0061] The control efficiency improvement process includes, for example: (1-1) confirming the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, (1-2) prompting the user to confirm the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (e.g., displaying a prompting message or image on the display unit 20), (1-3) displaying information (e.g., a button image, etc.) on the display unit 20 for the user to instruct the user to confirm the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, (2-1) executing the efficiency improvement process, (2-2) prompting the user to execute the efficiency improvement process (e.g., displaying a prompting message or image on the display unit 20), or (2-3) displaying information (e.g., a button image, etc.) on the display unit 20 for the user to instruct the user to execute the efficiency improvement process. The control unit 26 executes any one of the processes (1-1) to (2-3). The process to be executed may be preset or set by the user.

[0062] For example, when the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 is below a first threshold value related to capacity and the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as the device itself is below a second threshold value related to performance, the control unit 26 may cause the display unit 20 to display an image (e.g., an icon representing a button) for the user to instruct the execution of the efficiency improvement process, may prompt the user to execute the efficiency improvement process, or may automatically execute the efficiency improvement process even if the user does not instruct the execution of the efficiency improvement process. When the user presses this image on the screen of the display unit 20, the control unit 26 executes the efficiency improvement process.

[0063] The control unit 26 may also cause the display unit 20 to display an image (e.g., an icon representing a button) for the user to instruct the user to confirm the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. When the user presses this image on the display unit 20, the control unit 26 confirms the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. Of course, the control unit 26 may also automatically confirm the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without the user instructing the user to confirm the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0064] The performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can be confirmed using known techniques or by using the execution history of each process and the remaining capacity of the storage device 22. Information indicating the execution history of each process is stored in the storage device 22. For example, information indicating the time required for the completion of a process is stored in the storage device 22 as information indicating the history.

[0065] For example, the control unit 26 uses known techniques and history to predict the time required to complete each process of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and determines the predicted time as the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus at the predicted time (in other words, the time at which the performance was verified). This performance corresponds to the processing capacity of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus at the time at which the performance was verified.

[0066] For example, information indicating a history of processing for storing image data in storage device 22 is stored in storage device 22. Using this history and known techniques, control unit 26 predicts the time required to store the image data in storage device 22 at the time performance is confirmed. Control unit 26 similarly predicts the time required to complete other processing. Based on this predicted time, control unit 26 determines the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0067] If the predicted time is long, the control unit 26 determines that the performance has deteriorated, and if the predicted time is short, the control unit 26 determines that the performance has not deteriorated.

[0068] The above-described method of confirming the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is merely an example, and the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be confirmed by other methods.

[0069] In the above-mentioned ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the structure other than the probe 10 can be implemented using hardware resources such as a processor and an electronic circuit, and in this implementation, devices such as a memory can also be used as needed. In addition, the structure other than the probe 10 can also be implemented by a computer. In other words, all or part of the structure other than the probe 10 can also be implemented by the collaboration of hardware resources such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory possessed by the computer and software (program) that specifies the actions of the CPU, etc. The program is stored in the storage device 22 or other storage device via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication path such as a network. As another example, the structure other than the probe 10 can also be implemented by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. Of course, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or the like can also be used.

[0070] Below, refer to Figure 2 , explaining the process of efficient processing. Figure 2 This is a flowchart showing the flow of efficiency improvement processing.

[0071] First, patient information is input into the ultrasonic diagnostic device (S01) and stored in the storage device 22 (S02). For example, a database (DB) of patient information is constructed in the storage device 22, and the input patient information is registered in the DB. Patient information includes information used to identify the patient. For example, patient information includes information indicating the patient's name, ID, age, gender, and date of birth. Of course, other information may also be included in the patient information. In addition, patient information can be input into the ultrasonic diagnostic device by the user or sent to the ultrasonic diagnostic device from an external device such as a server.

[0072] If the patient information is registered in the database (S02, Yes), the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, in response to the user's instruction to start imaging, transmits and receives ultrasound waves to the patient, the subject, thereby generating image data. The generated image data is stored in the storage device 22 (S03). If the patient information is not registered in the database (S02, No), the process returns to step S01.

[0073] If the image data is stored in the storage device 22 (S04, Yes), the examination ends (S05). If the image data is not stored in the storage device 22 (S04, No), the process returns to step S01.

[0074] After the examination is complete, the user issues an instruction to verify the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (S06). For example, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display an image (e.g., an icon representing a performance verification button) for the user to provide this instruction. When the user presses this icon on the screen of the display unit 20, the control unit 26 verifies the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

[0075] If the performance verification result of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus reaches the level for which the efficiency improvement process is recommended (S07, Yes), one of steps S08 to S10 is executed. If the performance verification result does not reach the level (S07, No), the process proceeds to step S01.

[0076] The results of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performance check may indicate that the level at which execution of the efficiency improvement process is recommended is, for example, (1) when the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 is below a first threshold value related to capacity and the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is below a second threshold value related to performance, (2) when the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 is below the first threshold value, or (3) when the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is below the second threshold value. As another example, the level at which execution of the efficiency improvement process is recommended may be reached when the total usage rate of the storage device 22 is above a threshold value (e.g., 45%).

[0077] Step S08 is a process for shifting the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus's power-related mode to energy-saving mode. For example, information indicating the execution of energy-saving mode (e.g., an image representing a button) is displayed on the display unit 20. When the user instructs the execution of energy-saving mode, the control unit 26 shifts the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus's power-related mode to energy-saving mode. The process then shifts to step S01. In energy-saving mode, for example, the brightness of the display constituting the display unit 20 is set to a low value. The control unit 26 may also automatically shift the mode to energy-saving mode without receiving a user instruction.

[0078] The process of step S09 is to perform defragmentation. For example, when information indicating the execution of defragmentation (e.g., an image representing a button) is displayed on the display unit 20 and the user instructs the execution of defragmentation, the control unit 26 executes defragmentation on the storage device 22 (S11). The control unit 26 may also execute defragmentation without receiving the user's instruction.

[0079] Step S10 is a process for continuing to use the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without executing the efficiency improvement process. For example, if information (e.g., an image representing a button) indicating that the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus should continue to be used is displayed on the display unit 20 and the user instructs to continue to use the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the control unit 26 does not execute the efficiency improvement process. The process then proceeds to step S01.

[0080] Although Figure 2 Although not shown, image data deletion may also be performed as part of efficiency enhancement. For example, the control unit 26 displays a list of image data stored in the storage device 22 on the display unit 20. When a user selects image data to be deleted from this list, the control unit 26 deletes the selected image data from the storage device 22. The control unit 26 may display all image data stored in the storage device 22 on the display unit 20 as candidates for deletion, display a list of image data sent from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to an external device such as a server as candidates for deletion, or display a list of image data unsuitable for the purpose of ultrasonic examination as candidates for deletion.

[0081] Hereinafter, specific examples of the embodiments will be described.

[0082] Reference Figure 3 , explains the screen that displays patient information. Figure 3 3 shows an ID screen 30. The ID screen 30 is an example of a screen that displays patient information. For example, the control unit 26 displays the ID screen 30 on the display unit 20 before and after the ultrasound examination.

[0083] Figure 3The ID screen 30 shown is an ID screen displayed before an ultrasound examination. The ID screen 30 displays a patient information input field 32 and a start button 34.

[0084] Patient information is entered into input field 32. For example, patient ID, patient name, date of birth, age, and gender are entered into input field 32 as patient information. For example, before an ultrasound examination, a user (e.g., an examiner) enters information about the patient to be examined into input field 32. As another example, patient information may be transmitted from an external device such as a server to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and displayed in input field 32.

[0085] The start button 34 is an image (e.g., an icon) that allows the user to instruct the start of an ultrasonic examination. When the user presses the start button 34, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by the probe 10. This transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves generates image data and stores it in the storage device 22. For example, if an end-of-examination button is displayed on the display unit 20 and the user presses the end-of-examination button, the transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves from the probe 10 ends, and the ultrasonic examination concludes.

[0086] exist Figure 4 3 shows an ID screen 30a displayed after the ultrasonic examination is completed. When the ultrasonic examination is completed, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display the ID screen 30a. The ID screen 30a displays patient information in the same manner as the ID screen 30.

[0087] In addition, a verification button 36 is displayed on the ID screen 30a. Verification button 36 is an example of the aforementioned performance verification button and is used to instruct the user to verify the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device serving as the user's own device. When the user presses verification button 36 on the ID screen 30a, the control unit 26 verifies the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device.

[0088] like Figure 3 As shown, the control unit 26 does not display the verification button 36 on the ID screen before performing the ultrasonic examination. Figure 4 As shown, after the ultrasound examination is performed, the verification button 36 is displayed on the ID screen. This prevents the user from pressing the verification button 36 to verify the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus before performing the ultrasound examination. In addition, the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus can be verified after the ultrasound examination is performed.

[0089] Figure 5 Another display example of the verification button 36 is shown. Figure 53 shows a screen 38 displaying a list of image data. Screen 38 displays a list 40 of image data generated by the transmission and reception of ultrasound waves. For example, the control unit 26 may display screen 38 on the display unit 20 after the ultrasound examination is completed, or may display screen 38 on the display unit 20 when an instruction to display screen 38 is given on the ID screen 30a or another screen (e.g., a menu screen). A verification button 36 is displayed on screen 38. When the user presses the verification button 36 on screen 38, the control unit 26 confirms the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

[0090] The list of displayed image data may be a list of displayed image data itself, or information for identifying the image data (for example, a list of image data IDs and file names) may be displayed. This also applies to the following description.

[0091] For example, when there is time before the ultrasound examination of the next patient (for example, when the efficiency improvement process is expected to be completed before the ultrasound examination of the next patient), the user presses the verification button 36 after completing the examination for the day.

[0092] Figure 6 A screen 42 for selecting the efficiency improvement process is shown. When the verification button 36 is pressed on the ID screen 30 a or the screen 38 to confirm the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display the screen 42 .

[0093] In the screen 42, as indicated by symbol 44, the result of the confirmation of the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is displayed ( Figure 6 ). Figure 6 In the illustrated example, the remaining capacity and performance values ​​of a hard disk drive (HDD) as an example of the storage device 22 are displayed on the screen 42 .

[0094] The performance value is the result of checking the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. As described above, the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is checked based on, for example, the time required to store image data in the storage device 22 and the time required to read image data from the storage device 22. The result of this check is displayed on the screen 42 as the performance value.

[0095] Buttons 46, 48, and 50 are displayed on the screen 42. Button 46 is an image for the user to instruct the user not to execute the efficiency improvement process and to continue using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. When the user presses button 46, the control unit 26 does not execute the efficiency improvement process.

[0096] Buttons 48 and 50 are icons for the user to instruct the execution of efficiency-enhancing processing. Button 48 is an icon for the user to instruct the execution of defragmentation. Button 50 is an icon for the user to instruct the execution of energy-saving mode. When the user presses button 48, the control unit 26 executes defragmentation on the storage device 22. When the user presses button 50, the control unit 26 shifts the power mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to energy-saving mode.

[0097] The control unit 26 can also replace Figure 6 The screen 42 shown makes Figure 7 The screen 42a shown is displayed on the display unit 20. The screen 42a displays the results of the performance verification in the same manner as the screen 42. In addition to the buttons 46, 48, and 50, the screen 42a also displays a button 52.

[0098] Button 52 is an image for the user to instruct the execution of deleting image data. When the user presses button 52, control unit 26 deletes the image data from storage device 22. Deleting image data is an example of improving efficiency. A specific example of deleting image data is described below.

[0099] For example, when the user presses button 52, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display a list of image data stored in the storage device 22. The control unit 26 may display the list of image data on the display unit 20 for each patient, or may display the list of image data in chronological order based on the date and time the image data was acquired during an ultrasound examination. The control unit 26 may also cause the display unit 20 to display a list of image data that has been transferred to an external device such as a server. The control unit 26 may cause the display unit 20 to display a list of image data with a capacity exceeding a predetermined threshold. The control unit 26 may cause the display unit 20 to display either a list of moving image data or a list of still image data. The control unit 26 may also cause the display unit 20 to display a list of image data based on other rules. When the user selects image data to be deleted from the list, the control unit 26 deletes the selected image data from the storage device 22. Furthermore, before deleting the selected image data, the control unit 26 may display a message (e.g., a warning) on ​​the display unit 20 asking the user whether the selected image data can be deleted. If the user subsequently instructs to delete the selected image data, the control unit 26 deletes the selected image data.

[0100] The control unit 26 can delete image data that is not suitable for the purpose of ultrasonic examination from the storage device 22, or can cause the display unit 20 to display an overview of image data that does not meet the purpose of ultrasonic examination, and cause the display unit 20 to display information (such as a message, etc.) urging the user to delete image data that is not suitable for the purpose of ultrasonic examination.

[0101] Information indicating the purpose of the ultrasound examination can be included in the patient information and input into the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus before starting the ultrasound examination, or can be included in information indicating the order for the ultrasound examination (for example, information indicating an order determined for each patient) and input into the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

[0102] Generally speaking, the purpose of an ultrasound examination varies depending on the body part, patient, symptom, or disease. For example, the purpose of a circulatory system examination differs from that of an abdominal examination, and the content of the ultrasound examination differs accordingly. Since the image data acquired varies depending on the examination purpose, it cannot be generalized. However, for examinations of moving organs and parts such as the heart and blood vessels, as with examinations of the circulatory system, dynamic image data may be acquired. On the other hand, for abdominal examinations, static image data may be acquired. Of course, these are merely examples, and various data acquisition methods may be considered depending on the examination purpose.

[0103] For example, if the purpose of an ultrasound examination is to acquire image data of a region or organ for a period exceeding a predetermined period, image data acquired during a period that does not meet this predetermined period can be evaluated as image data unsuitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. In this case, the control unit 26 retrieves image data acquired during a period that does not meet this predetermined period from the storage device 22 and displays a list of the retrieved image data on the display unit 20 as a list of image data unsuitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. In this manner, the control unit 26 prompts the user to delete image data unsuitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. When the user selects image data from this list, the control unit 26 deletes the selected image data from the storage device 22. Alternatively, the control unit 26 may automatically delete the list of retrieved image data from the storage device 22 without receiving a deletion instruction from the user.

[0104] To illustrate this with a specific example, if the purpose of an ultrasound examination is to acquire image data of a region (e.g., the heart) at a predetermined heart rate (e.g., 3 heart rates) or higher, image data acquired at a heart rate that does not meet the predetermined heart rate (e.g., 2 heart rates) can be evaluated as image data unsuitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. In this case, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display a list of image data acquired at a heart rate that does not meet the predetermined heart rate. The control unit 26 can detect the heart rate by analyzing the image data to detect heart pulsation, or it can detect the heart rate using other methods. When the user selects image data from this list, the control unit 26 deletes the selected image data from the storage device 22.

[0105] exist Figure 8 , a screen 54 is shown showing candidates for image data to be deleted. Screen 54 displays a list 56 of candidate image data to be deleted. List 56 may be, for example, a list of image data stored in storage device 22, or a list of image data that is not suitable for ultrasonic examination purposes within a group of image data stored in storage device 22. Buttons 58 and 60 are displayed on screen 54. Button 58 is a button for the user to instruct the deletion of image data. Button 60 is a button for the user to instruct the cancellation of image data deletion. When the user selects image data from list 56 and presses button 58, control unit 26 deletes the user-selected image data from storage device 22. When the user presses button 60, the efficient image data deletion process is completed.

[0106] Modifications will be described below.

[0107] The control unit 26 may determine whether to execute the efficiency improvement process before the analysis based on the content of the analysis by the analysis unit 24 , and urge the user to execute the efficiency improvement process based on the determination result.

[0108] For example, information indicating the content of an analysis is included in information indicating an ultrasound examination order and is input to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. The control unit 26 extracts the information indicating the content of the analysis from the order information, determines the content of the analysis to be performed during the ultrasound examination, and determines the load imposed on the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus itself when the analysis is performed. For example, a load is predetermined for each analysis, and information indicating the load for each analysis is pre-stored in the storage device 22. The control unit 26 refers to this information to determine the load for the analysis included in the order.

[0109] To illustrate this with specific examples, analysis processes such as detecting parts and organ boundaries from image data, detecting parts and organ regions, and tracking boundaries and regions across multiple frames are examples of relatively high-load analysis processes. On the other hand, analysis processes that assign color to image data are examples of relatively low-load analysis processes. Furthermore, analysis processes targeting three-dimensional image data have a higher load than those targeting two-dimensional image data, and analysis processes targeting dynamic image data have a higher load than those targeting static image data.

[0110] If the analysis content included in an ultrasound inspection order involves a relatively heavy load, such as boundary detection analysis, detection area analysis, or tracking, the control unit 26 urges the user to perform efficiency enhancements before performing the analysis. For example, the control unit 26 may display a message on the display unit 20 stating, "Since this ultrasound inspection involves a heavy load analysis, please perform efficiency enhancements such as fragmentation processing." Furthermore, if the analysis target is three-dimensional image data, the control unit 26 may also urge the user to perform efficiency enhancements before performing the analysis.

[0111] When a relatively heavy load analysis is scheduled, the efficiency improvement process is performed before the analysis, thereby improving the performance of the device before the analysis. As a result, it is possible to suppress the performance degradation of the device during the analysis.

[0112] When the content of analysis included in the ultrasonic examination order is an analysis process with a relatively light load, such as a process of adding color to image data, the control unit 26 does not urge the user to execute efficiency improvement processing before performing the analysis.

[0113] The control unit 26 may also prompt the user to perform the efficiency improvement process based on the relationship between the time required for the efficiency improvement process and the time from the time an ultrasound examination is performed on a patient to the time an ultrasound examination is performed on the next patient. Hereinafter, the time from the time an ultrasound examination is performed on a patient to the time an ultrasound examination is performed on the next patient is referred to as "waiting time."

[0114] For example, the control unit 26 urges the user to execute defragmentation when it is predicted that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, and does not urge the user to execute defragmentation when it is predicted that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time.

[0115] Prompting the user to execute defragmentation may be, for example, causing the display unit 20 to display a message such as "Please execute defragmentation", or causing the display unit 20 to display a button for instructing the execution of defragmentation, or causing the user to press the button (in other words, making the pressing of the button effective), or displaying a Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 The verification button 36 shown may also be in a state where the user presses the verification button 36 .

[0116] If the user is not urged to execute the defragmentation, the above message is not displayed on the display unit 20. In addition, the button for instructing the execution of the defragmentation may not be displayed on the display unit 20, and even if the button is displayed, the user may not press the button (in other words, pressing the button may be ineffective). In addition, the display unit 20 may not display the button. Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 The verification button 36 is shown. Even when the verification button 36 is displayed, the user may not press the verification button 36.

[0117] The timing for urging the user to perform defragmentation is, for example, the time when an ultrasound examination of a patient is completed. Even after the ultrasound examination of the patient is completed, the control unit 26 can urge the user to perform defragmentation until the defragmentation start time, in other words, the latest start time predicted for defragmentation during the standby time.

[0118] For example, ultrasound examination schedules for each patient are managed by an external device such as a server. Specifically, schedule information indicating the scheduled start time (e.g., start date and time) for each patient's ultrasound examination, the length of time required for the ultrasound examination, and the scheduled end time (e.g., end date and time) for the ultrasound examination is pre-stored in an external device such as a server. Information indicating a patient's ultrasound examination order includes scheduled information regarding the ultrasound examination for that patient. Information indicating the ultrasound examination order for each patient is transmitted from the external device to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and the control unit 26 obtains the information indicating the ultrasound examination order for each patient. Thus, the control unit 26 obtains the scheduled information regarding each patient's ultrasound examination and determines the standby time between ultrasound examinations for each patient.

[0119] The time required to complete defragmentation depends on the total capacity and remaining capacity of the storage device 22 . The control unit 26 uses, for example, a known technique to predict the time required to complete defragmentation at the current time.

[0120] The control unit 26 predicts that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time if the time required to complete defragmentation is shorter than the waiting time, and predicts that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time if the time required to complete defragmentation is longer than the waiting time.

[0121] For example, in Figure 4 In the example shown, the control unit 26 displays the verification button 36 on the ID screen 30a when it is predicted that defragmentation will be completed during the standby time, and does not display the verification button 36 on the ID screen 30a when it is predicted that defragmentation will not be completed during the standby time.

[0122] As another example, the control unit 26 may accept the user's press of the verification button 36 as valid when the verification button 36 is displayed on the ID screen 30a and it is predicted that the defragmentation will be completed during the standby time, and may not accept the user's press of the verification button 36 as invalid when it is predicted that the defragmentation will not be completed during the standby time. The control unit 26 confirms the performance of the device if the press of the verification button 36 is valid, and does not confirm the performance of the device if the press of the verification button 36 is invalid.

[0123] As another example, in Figure 6 In the example shown, the control unit 26 displays a button 48 for instructing the execution of defragmentation on the screen 42 when it is predicted that the defragmentation is completed during the standby time, and does not need to display the button 48 on the screen 42 when it is predicted that the defragmentation is not completed during the standby time.

[0124] The control unit 26 may display a button 48 on the screen 42, and accept the user's pressing of the button 48 as valid if it is predicted that the defragmentation will be completed during the standby time, and accept the user's pressing of the button 48 as invalid if it is predicted that the defragmentation will not be completed during the standby time. The control unit 26 executes the defragmentation if the pressing of the button 48 is valid, and does not execute the defragmentation if the pressing of the button 48 is invalid.

[0125] If defragmentation is predicted to be completed within the waiting time, the user is urged to execute defragmentation. If defragmentation is predicted not to be completed within the waiting time, the user is not urged to execute defragmentation. This allows defragmentation to be completed without interfering with the next ultrasound examination of the patient.

[0126] Furthermore, the control unit 26 can also determine whether a day's examinations have concluded by referencing information indicating each patient's ultrasound examination order. For example, the control unit 26 may determine that the examinations for that day have concluded when the ultrasound examination for the last patient of that day has concluded. When the day's examinations have concluded, the control unit 26 can automatically verify the ultrasound device's performance and automatically perform efficiency enhancement processing, even without receiving user instructions.

[0127] According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the user is urged to execute the efficiency improvement process, or the efficiency improvement process is automatically executed, thereby enabling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to be used without degrading its performance.

[0128] For example, there are facilities (such as hospitals) where there is no server storing image data generated by an ultrasonic diagnostic device, or where the storage capacity of the server storing image data is relatively small. In such facilities, there are sometimes operations in which (1) image data generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic device is not transmitted to the server, (2) image data generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic device is transmitted to the server but the transmission frequency is low, or (3) small-capacity image data is transmitted to the server but large-capacity image data is not transmitted to the server but is stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic device. In such cases, the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 of the ultrasonic diagnostic device decreases, and as a result, the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device may be reduced. According to the embodiment, even in facilities where such operations are performed, the ultrasonic diagnostic device can be used while suppressing the reduction in performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device.

[0129] In addition, there is an operation in which the data before analysis is stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the data after analysis is transmitted to the server. In such a case, it is also possible to suppress the degradation of the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0130] As described above, it is possible to suppress degradation in the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, resulting in, for example, shortening the time required to retrieve image data stored in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The time required to retrieve image data depends largely on the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. For example, when a search keyword (e.g., a keyword) is input into the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the control unit 26 retrieves image data corresponding to the search keyword from the storage device 22 and causes the display unit 20 to display the search results. When a single-character keyword is input through the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the image data corresponding to the single character is retrieved and the search results are displayed. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having such a function, it is necessary to quickly retrieve and display image data, but if the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is reduced, the search speed becomes slow, and the function cannot be fully utilized. According to the embodiment, it is possible to suppress degradation in the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, so that such a search function can be fully utilized.

[0131] Furthermore, the control unit 26 may include the performance related to the search for image data (for example, the length of time required for the search) in the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to determine whether or not to perform the efficiency improvement process.

[0132] Furthermore, during the execution of defragmentation, the control unit 26 may also limit the functions and operations of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. For example, during the execution of defragmentation, the control unit 26 may not accept operations from the user via the operating unit 28. Even if it accepts an operation from the user, it may not execute the processing according to the operation, or it may prohibit the execution of functions other than defragmentation. Thus, defragmentation can function more effectively. In this case, after the defragmentation is completed, the control unit 26 may execute processing based on the operations received during the execution of the defragmentation, or it may execute processing for which execution instructions were received during the execution of the defragmentation. Of course, during the execution of the defragmentation, the control unit 26 may not limit the functions and operations of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic device, characterized in that include: a storage device for storing image data obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; as well as a control device for controlling efficient processing of image data stored in the storage device based on the remaining capacity of the storage device and the performance of the device itself; The control device prompts the user to execute the efficiency improvement process based on the relationship between the time required for the efficiency improvement process and the time from when the ultrasound examination is performed to when the next ultrasound examination of the patient is performed.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The efficiency improvement process is a process of changing the arrangement of the image data stored in the storage device.

3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The efficiency improvement process is a process of deleting image data from the storage device.

4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein The efficiency improvement process is a process of deleting image data that is not suitable for the purpose of ultrasonic examination.

5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein It also includes an analyzing unit that analyzes image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The control device determines whether to execute the efficiency improvement process before the analysis based on the content of the analysis by the analyzing unit, and urges the user to execute the efficiency improvement process based on the determination result.

6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The control device further causes the display to display a screen showing information of the patient to be examined by the ultrasound before and after the ultrasound examination. The control device further prevents the screen from displaying an image for the user to instruct the user to confirm the performance of the device before the ultrasonic examination is performed, and displays the image on the screen after the ultrasonic examination is performed.

7. A recording medium having a program recorded thereon and being readable by a computer, characterized in that: The program causes a computer mounted on the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to function as a control unit. The control unit stores image data obtained through the transmission and reception of ultrasound in a storage device, controls efficient processing of the image data in the storage device based on the remaining capacity of the storage device and the processing capability of the ultrasound diagnostic device, and urges the user to perform the efficient processing based on the relationship between the time required for the efficient processing and the time from the time when the ultrasound examination is performed to the time when the next ultrasound examination is performed on the patient.

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