Ultrasound diagnostic equipment

Abstract

The result is the suppression of noise generation in ultrasound images. [Solution] The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment includes: a reception unit that receives the selection of an ultrasound probe or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe; a determination unit that determines whether or not to stabilize the CPU load when the reception unit receives the selection of the ultrasound probe or the selection of an operating mode; and a process execution unit that executes a stabilization process to stabilize the CPU load when it is determined that the CPU load should be stabilized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings relate to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits ultrasonic waves in a plurality of directions from an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic probe connected to the apparatus main body into a subject (e.g., a living body), receives minute reflected waves reflected inside the subject as reflected wave signals by the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe, and images the result of signal processing of the received reflected wave signals, so that an operator can grasp the state inside the subject and diagnose the subject. Such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes, for example, an ultrasonic probe, a signal processing unit, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) unit, a display, an input device, a power supply unit, etc.

[0003] Conventionally, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with a CPU unit including a high-performance CPU, when diagnosing a subject using an ultrasonic probe with high sensitivity and a small number of elements, or an operation mode in which transmission / reception processing and image display processing are not complicated, there may be a significant difference in the load on the CPU in the unit between the state where various processes such as transmission / reception processing and image display processing are being performed and the state where no processing such as between frames is being performed. When such a significant difference occurs in the load on the CPU, the fluctuation in the current consumption of the CPU becomes large, so there are cases where noise occurs in an ultrasonic image generated from a very minute signal. In particular, when using a single-element high-sensitivity ultrasonic probe or when using a mode for displaying blood flow, etc., a significant difference in the load on the CPU is likely to occur, so the ultrasonic image is likely to be affected by noise, and a slight fluctuation in the current consumption may be displayed as noise in the ultrasonic image.

[0004] In recent years, CPU performance has become increasingly high, increasing the number of processes that can be executed and processed simultaneously. As each process can be executed in parallel and in a short amount of time, the difference between dense and sparse processing states in the CPU tends to widen, making it easy for noise to appear in ultrasound images. For this reason, even when ultrasound diagnostic equipment is equipped with a CPU unit containing a high-performance CPU, it is desirable to suppress the generation of noise in ultrasound images without requiring additional circuits. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-050414 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-019617 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-094913 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-241395 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] One of the problems that the embodiments disclosed herein and in the drawings aim to solve is the suppression of noise generation in ultrasound images. However, the problems that the embodiments disclosed herein and in the drawings aim to solve are not limited to the above problem. Problems corresponding to the effects of each configuration shown in the embodiments described later can also be positioned as other problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment includes: a reception unit that receives the selection of an ultrasound probe or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe; a determination unit that determines whether or not to stabilize the CPU load when the reception unit receives the selection of the ultrasound probe or the selection of an operating mode; and a process execution unit that executes a stabilization process for stabilizing the CPU load when it is determined that the CPU load should be stabilized. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the fluctuations in CPU process processing and CPU current consumption when the CPU has a large amount of processing load. [Figure 4] (A) A graph showing the fluctuation in current consumption when the CPU processing load is high. (B) A diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image displayed on a screen when the CPU processing load is high. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the fluctuations in CPU process processing and CPU current consumption when the CPU's processing load is low. [Figure 6] (A) A graph showing the fluctuation in current consumption when the CPU processing load is low. (B) A diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image displayed on the screen when the CPU processing load is low. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart illustrating the additional process execution procedures performed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of the CPU's process processing and the fluctuation in the CPU's current consumption when an additional process is executed, according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9]It is a flowchart for explaining the restriction process execution processing executed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] In the second embodiment, it is a diagram showing an example of the processing of the CPU process and the fluctuation of the power consumption of the CPU current during the execution of the restriction process. [Figure 11] It is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart for explaining the additional process execution processing executed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13] In the third embodiment, it is a diagram showing an example of the processing of the CPU process and the fluctuation of the power consumption of the CPU current during the execution of the additional process. [Figure 14] It is a flowchart for explaining the restriction process execution processing executed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Modification 1. [Figure 15] In Modification 1, it is a diagram showing an example of the processing of the CPU process and the fluctuation of the power consumption of the CPU current during the execution of the restriction process. [Figure 16] It is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] It is a flowchart for explaining the additional process execution processing executed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] It is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 19] It is a flowchart for explaining the additional process execution processing executed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same functions and configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be made only when necessary.

[0010] 〔First Embodiment〕 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 includes an ultrasonic probe 11, a device main body 13, a display 15, and an input device 17.

[0011] The ultrasonic probe 11 has, for example, a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators. These plurality of piezoelectric vibrators generate ultrasonic waves based on a drive signal supplied from a transmission / reception circuit 131 included in the device main body 13. Further, the ultrasonic probe 11 receives a reflected wave from the subject P and converts it into an electrical signal. Also, the ultrasonic probe 11 has, for example, a matching layer provided on the piezoelectric vibrator, a backing material that prevents the propagation of ultrasonic waves backward from the piezoelectric vibrator, and the like.

[0012] When ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 11 to the subject P, the transmitted ultrasonic waves are successively reflected at the discontinuous surfaces of the acoustic impedance in the body tissues of the subject P, and are received by the plurality of piezoelectric vibrators included in the ultrasonic probe 11 as reflected wave signals. The amplitude of the received reflected wave signal depends on the difference in acoustic impedance at the discontinuous surface where the ultrasonic waves are reflected. Note that when the transmitted ultrasonic pulse is reflected at the surface of a moving blood flow, a heart wall, or the like, the reflected wave signal undergoes a frequency shift depending on the velocity component of the moving object with respect to the ultrasonic transmission direction due to the Doppler effect.

[0013] The ultrasonic probe 11 is detachably connected to the main unit 13 of the device. When scanning a two-dimensional area within the subject P (two-dimensional scanning), the user connects a 1D array probe, for example, in which multiple piezoelectric transducers are arranged in a row, to the main unit 13 as the ultrasonic probe 11. 1D array probes include linear probes, convex probes, sector probes, etc. When scanning a three-dimensional area within the subject P (three-dimensional scanning), the user connects a mechanical 4D probe or a 2D array probe to the main unit 13 as the ultrasonic probe 11. A mechanical 4D probe can perform two-dimensional scanning using multiple piezoelectric transducers arranged in a row, similar to a 1D array probe, and can also perform three-dimensional scanning by oscillating the multiple piezoelectric transducers at a predetermined angle (oscillation angle). A 2D array probe can perform three-dimensional scanning using multiple piezoelectric transducers arranged in a matrix, and can also perform two-dimensional scanning by focusing and transmitting ultrasound. Furthermore, 2D array probes can simultaneously perform 2D scanning of multiple cross-sections.

[0014] Furthermore, when measuring only blood flow information within the subject P, the user connects a pencil probe, for example, consisting of one piezoelectric transducer for transmitting and one piezoelectric transducer for receiving placed side by side, to the main unit 13 as an ultrasonic probe 11. This pencil probe transmits continuous wave ultrasound into the subject P from one piezoelectric transducer, and measures the Doppler frequency deviation of the received ultrasound with the other piezoelectric transducer to measure blood flow information. Blood flow information refers to information about blood flow, such as blood flow velocity. Note that linear probes, convex probes, sector probes, etc., other than the pencil probe may also be used to measure blood flow information within the subject P.

[0015] The device body 13 generates an ultrasound image based on the reflected wave signal received by the ultrasound probe 11. Specifically, the device body 13 can generate a two-dimensional ultrasound image based on the reflected wave signal corresponding to the two-dimensional region of the subject P received by the ultrasound probe 11. The device body 13 can also generate a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the reflected wave signal corresponding to the three-dimensional region of the subject P received by the ultrasound probe 11. Furthermore, the device body 13 can generate a Doppler image based on the Doppler frequency deviation of the ultrasound received by the ultrasound probe 11. As shown in Figure 1, the device body 13 includes a transmit / receive circuit 131, a B-mode processing circuit 132, a Doppler processing circuit 133, a storage circuit 134, a power supply unit 135, and a processing circuit 140.

[0016] The transmitting and receiving circuit 131 includes a pulse generator, a transmission delay unit, a pulser, etc., and supplies a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe 11. The pulse generator repeatedly generates rate pulses at a predetermined rate frequency to form the transmitted ultrasonic waves. The transmission delay unit provides a delay time for each piezoelectric transducer necessary to focus the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic probe 11 into a beam and determine the transmission directivity, to each rate pulse generated by the pulse generator. The pulser applies a drive signal (drive pulse) to the ultrasonic probe 11 at a timing based on the rate pulse. In other words, the transmission delay unit arbitrarily adjusts the transmission direction of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the piezoelectric transducer surface by changing the delay time provided for each rate pulse.

[0017] Furthermore, the transmitting / receiving circuit 131 has the function of instantaneously changing the transmission frequency, transmission drive voltage, etc., in order to execute a predetermined scan sequence based on instructions from the processing circuit 140, which will be described later. In particular, the change in the transmission drive voltage is achieved by a linear amplifier type oscillator circuit that can switch its value instantaneously, or by a mechanism that electrically switches multiple power supply units.

[0018] The transmitting / receiving circuit 131 also includes a preamplifier, an A / D (Analog / Digital) converter, a quadrature detection circuit, etc., and performs various processing on the reflected wave signal received by the ultrasonic probe 11 to generate reflected wave data. The transmitting / receiving circuit 131 then outputs the generated reflected wave data to the B-mode processing circuit 132 and the Doppler processing circuit 133. The preamplifier amplifies the reflected wave signal for each channel and performs gain adjustment (gain correction). The A / D converter converts the gain-corrected reflected wave signal into a digital signal by A / D conversion. The quadrature detection circuit converts the A / D-converted reflected wave signal into a baseband in-phase signal (I signal, I: In-phase) and a quadrature signal (Q signal, Q: Quadrature-phase). The quadrature detection circuit then outputs the I signal and Q signal as reflected wave data. Hereinafter, the I signal and Q signal will be collectively referred to as the IQ signal. Also, since the IQ signal is A / D-converted digital data, it will also be called IQ data.

[0019] The B-mode processing circuit 132 receives reflected wave data from the transmitting / receiving circuit 131 and performs logarithmic amplification, envelope detection, etc., to generate data (B-mode data) in which the signal strength is expressed as brightness.

[0020] The Doppler processing circuit 133 performs frequency analysis on velocity information from the reflected wave data received from the transmitting / receiving circuit 131, extracts blood flow, tissue, and contrast agent echo components due to the Doppler effect, and generates data (Doppler data) with moving object information such as velocity, dispersion, and power extracted for multiple points. Here, moving objects include, for example, blood flow, tissue of organs that move periodically such as the heart wall, and contrast agents.

[0021] The B-mode processing circuit 132 and the Doppler processing circuit 133 are capable of processing both two-dimensional and three-dimensional reflected wave data. Specifically, the B-mode processing circuit 132 generates two-dimensional B-mode data from two-dimensional reflected wave data and three-dimensional B-mode data from three-dimensional reflected wave data. Similarly, the Doppler processing circuit 133 generates two-dimensional Doppler data from two-dimensional reflected wave data and three-dimensional Doppler data from three-dimensional reflected wave data.

[0022] Furthermore, the B-mode processing circuit 132 can synthesize multiple 2D reflected wave data to generate 3D reflected wave data, and then generate 3D B-mode data from the generated 3D reflected wave data. Similarly, the Doppler processing circuit 133 can synthesize multiple 2D reflected wave data to generate 3D reflected wave data, and then generate 3D Doppler data from the generated 3D reflected wave data. In the following description, when the B-mode processing circuit 132 and the Doppler processing circuit 133 are described without distinction, they will be referred to as the signal processing unit.

[0023] The processing circuit 140 is a control circuit that performs overall control of the ultrasound diagnostic device 10. The processing circuit 140 is also an arithmetic circuit that performs various calculations. As shown in Figure 1, the processing circuit 140 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 141 and a CPU memory 142. Specifically, the processing circuit 140 reads the program stored in the memory circuit 134, loads it onto the CPU memory 142, and implements various functions according to the loaded program. Hereinafter, the processing circuit 140 will also be referred to as the CPU unit.

[0024] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit 140 in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the processing circuit 140 in this embodiment has a system control function 1401, an image generation function 1402, a display control function 1403, a reception function 1404, a determination function 1405, and a process execution function 1406. The system control function 1401 corresponds to the system control unit in this embodiment, the image generation function 1402 corresponds to the image generation unit in this embodiment, the display control function 1403 corresponds to the display control unit in this embodiment, the reception function 1404 corresponds to the reception unit in this embodiment, the determination function 1405 corresponds to the determination unit in this embodiment, and the process execution function 1406 corresponds to the process execution unit in this embodiment.

[0025] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, each processing function performed by the system control function 1401, image generation function 1402, display control function 1403, reception function 1404, judgment function 1405, and process execution function 1406 is stored in the memory circuit 134 in the form of a program that can be executed by a computer. The processing circuit 140 is a processor that reads the program from the memory circuit 134 and executes it to realize the function corresponding to each program. In other words, the processing circuit 140 in the state in which each program has been read will have the functions shown in the processing circuit 140 of Figure 2. In Figure 2, the system control function 1401, image generation function 1402, display control function 1403, reception function 1404, judgment function 1405, and process execution function 1406 are realized by a single processing circuit 140, but these functions may also be realized by combining multiple independent processors to form the processing circuit 140, with each processor executing a program.

[0026] The system control function 1401 is a function that comprehensively controls the operation of the entire ultrasound diagnostic device 10. For example, the system control function 1401 controls the transmit / receive circuit 131 to perform an ultrasound scan based on the transmit / receive conditions stored in the memory circuit 134.

[0027] The image generation function 1402 generates diagnostic images from the data generated by the B-mode processing circuit 132 and the Doppler processing circuit 133. Specifically, the image generation function 1402 generates an ultrasound image (hereinafter also referred to as a B-mode image) in which the intensity of reflected waves is represented by brightness, from the two-dimensional B-mode data generated by the B-mode processing circuit 132.

[0028] Furthermore, the image generation function 1402 generates an ultrasound image (hereinafter also referred to as a Doppler image) representing moving object information from the two-dimensional Doppler data generated by the Doppler processing circuit 133. The Doppler image is, for example, velocity image data, dispersion image data, power image data, or image data combining these. The Doppler image also includes a Doppler waveform, which is a waveform representation of the blood flow velocity at the position of the Doppler cursor.

[0029] Here, the image generation function 1402 generally converts the scan line signal sequence of the ultrasonic scan into a scan line signal sequence of a video format, such as that used in televisions (scan conversion), and generates an ultrasonic image for display. Specifically, the image generation function 1402 generates an ultrasonic image for display by performing a coordinate transformation according to the ultrasonic scanning pattern of the ultrasonic probe 11.

[0030] In addition to scan conversion, the image generation function 1402 performs various image processing tasks, such as regenerating an average brightness image using multiple image frames after scan conversion (smoothing process), and using a differential filter within the image (edge ​​enhancement process). Furthermore, the image generation function 1402 synthesizes various parameter text information, scales, body marks, etc., onto the ultrasound image.

[0031] Furthermore, the image generation function 1402 generates a three-dimensional ultrasound image (hereinafter also referred to as a B-mode image) by performing a coordinate transformation on the three-dimensional B-mode data generated by the B-mode processing circuit 132. In addition, the image generation function 1402 generates a three-dimensional ultrasound image (hereinafter also referred to as a Doppler image) by performing a coordinate transformation on the three-dimensional Doppler data generated by the Doppler processing circuit 133.

[0032] Furthermore, the image generation function 1402 can perform rendering on the volume data in order to generate various two-dimensional images for displaying these three-dimensional image data (volume data) on the display 15.

[0033] The display control function 1403 is a function that displays the ultrasound images generated by the image generation function 1402 on the display 15. Specifically, for example, the display control function 1403 controls the display of ultrasound images such as B-mode images and Doppler images generated by the image generation function 1402.

[0034] The reception function 1404 accepts the selection of an ultrasonic probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasonic probe 11. Specifically, the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 to be used by the user from among the ultrasonic probes 11 connected to the main unit 13 via the input device 17. In addition, the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of an operating mode to be used by the user from among operating modes such as B mode, M mode, color Doppler mode, power Doppler mode, PW mode, and CW mode via the input device 17.

[0035] The judgment function 1405 determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 when the reception function 1404 receives a selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode. This load on the CPU 141 refers to, for example, fluctuations in the current consumption of the CPU 141. For example, the judgment function 1405 determines to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 when the reception function 1404 receives a selection of a pencil probe for measuring blood flow information within the subject P as the selection of the ultrasound probe 11. Also, for example, the judgment function 1405 determines to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 when the reception function 1404 receives a selection of Doppler mode for measuring blood flow information within the subject P as the selection of an operating mode. In other words, in these cases, the correspondence table stored in the memory circuit 134 has registered that stabilization is necessary when the pencil probe is selected and that stabilization is necessary when the Doppler mode is selected. Therefore, the determination function 1405 determines to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 by referring to the correspondence table stored in the memory circuit 134.

[0036] The process execution function 1406 executes a stabilization process to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 when necessary. Specifically, the process execution function 1406 executes additional processes to add processes to be executed by the CPU 141, or limits the number of processes that the CPU 141 can run simultaneously, as part of its stabilization process. In the following description, the process execution function 1406 executes additional processes to add processes to be executed by the CPU 141 as part of its stabilization process.

[0037] The memory circuit 134 is implemented by a semiconductor memory element such as flash memory, a hard disk, or an optical disk. This memory circuit 134 stores the ultrasound images for display generated by the processing circuit 140. The memory circuit 134 can also store B-mode data generated by the B-mode processing circuit 132 and Doppler data generated by the Doppler processing circuit 133. Furthermore, the memory circuit 134 stores control programs and various conditions for transmission / reception processing and image display processing, as well as various data such as diagnostic information (for example, patient ID, physician's findings, etc.), diagnostic protocols, and various body marks.

[0038] Furthermore, the memory circuit 134 stores programs for executing stabilization processes such as additional processes and limiting processes. The memory circuit 134 also stores setting information related to the settings of the stabilization processes. This setting information includes values ​​related to the execution of stabilization processes, such as the number of additional processes to be executed by the CPU 141 in the additional processes and the number of processes to be limited to the CPU 141 in the limiting processes. In addition, for example, the memory circuit 134 stores a correspondence table that associates the necessity of stabilization with each ultrasonic probe 11 or each operating mode.

[0039] The power supply unit 135 is a device that supplies power to various parts inside the main body 13 of the device.

[0040] The display 15 shown in Figure 1 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for the user of the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 to input various setting requests using the input device 17, and also displays ultrasound images generated by the device body 13. The display 15 also displays various messages to notify the user of the processing status of the device body 13. The display 15 also has a speaker and can output sound. For example, the speaker of the display 15 outputs predetermined sounds such as beeps to notify the user of the processing status of the device body 13. This display 15 corresponds to the display unit in this embodiment.

[0041] The input device 17 includes a mouse, keyboard, buttons, panel switches, touch command screen, wheel, dial, foot switch, trackball, joystick, etc., and receives various setting requests from the user of the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 and forwards the received setting requests to the main unit 13 of the device.

[0042] Next, using Figures 3 to 6, we will explain the fluctuations in the load of the CPU 141 in the CPU unit when the CPU 141 executes processes associated with transmission and reception processing of different amounts of processing. In Figures 3 to 6, as an example of the fluctuations in the load of the CPU 141 when executing processes associated with transmission and reception processing of different amounts of processing, we will explain the fluctuations in the current consumption of the CPU 141 when executing processes associated with transmission and reception processing of different amounts of processing. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the processing of the CPU 141 process and the fluctuations in the current consumption of the CPU 141 when the processing load of the CPU 141 is high. Figure 4(A) is a graph showing the fluctuations in current consumption when the processing load of the CPU 141 is high. Figure 4(B) is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image displayed on the display 15 when the processing load of the CPU 141 is high. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the processing of the CPU 141 process and the fluctuations in the current consumption of the CPU 141 when the processing load of the CPU 141 is low. Figure 6(A) is a graph showing the fluctuations in current consumption when the processing load of the CPU 141 is low. Figure 6(B) shows an example of an ultrasound image displayed on the display 15 when the processing load of the CPU 141 is low.

[0043] In the example shown in Figure 3, the vertical axis of the graph represents the number of concurrently running processes N, and the horizontal axis represents time t. In the example shown in Figure 3, the maximum value of the number of concurrently running processes N is, for example, the maximum number of processes that the CPU 141 can execute simultaneously. This maximum value of the number of concurrently running processes N may be equal to the number of cores that the CPU 141 has. In the example shown in Figure 3, the CPU 141 can execute 8 processes simultaneously, so the maximum value of the number of concurrently running processes N is 8. Also in the example shown in Figure 3, the CPU 141 simultaneously executes a process SP that is executed regularly and a process NP1 that occurs periodically in conjunction with transmission and reception processing. This regularly executed process SP is, for example, a process related to the operating system of the ultrasound diagnostic device 10. In the example shown in Figure 3, 2 of the 8 concurrently running processes are used for the regularly executed process SP. Also in the example shown in Figure 3, 6 of the 8 concurrently running processes are used for the process NP1 that occurs periodically in conjunction with transmission and reception processing. As shown in Figure 3, in the operation mode where the transmission and reception process is complex, the processing load of process NP1 associated with the transmission and reception process increases, and the time spent executing process NP1 in the CPU 141 also increases. Therefore, the fluctuation LF1 of the current consumption of the CPU 141, shown by the dashed line superimposed on the graph in Figure 3, becomes a gradual fluctuation. In this case, as shown in Figure 4(A), the fluctuation range h1 of the fluctuation LF1 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 becomes small, and because the fluctuation LF1 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 becomes a gradual fluctuation, the generation of noise in the ultrasonic image displayed on the display 15 is suppressed, as shown in Figure 4(B).

[0044] On the other hand, in the example shown in Figure 5, the CPU 141 simultaneously executes the process SP, which is executed steadily, and the process NP2, which is associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing. As shown in Figure 5, in operating modes where the transmission and reception processing is not complex, such as the mode for displaying Doppler waveforms, the processing load of the process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing decreases, and the time during which the CPU 141 executes the process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing decreases. Therefore, the fluctuation LF2 of the current consumption of the CPU 141, shown by the dashed line superimposed on the graph in Figure 5, becomes periodically steeper compared to the fluctuation LF1 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 in Figure 3. At this time, as shown in Figure 6(A), the fluctuation range h2 of the fluctuation LF2 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 is larger than the fluctuation range h1 of the fluctuation LF1 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 shown in Figure 4(A). As a result, the fluctuation LF2 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 becomes periodically steeper, and as shown in Figure 6(B), fixed-period noise FFN is generated in the ultrasonic image displayed on the display 15.

[0045] Here, fixed-period noise FFN is noise that occurs in ultrasound images due to a fixed frequency, for example, the band-shaped noise that appears on the ultrasound image in Figure 6(B). When this fixed-period noise FFN shown in Figure 6(B) occurs, for example, when displaying a Doppler waveform as an ultrasound image, the Doppler waveform will contain noise, making it difficult to distinguish between the Doppler waveform and the noise. For this reason, if the processing load of the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 is small compared to the performance of the CPU 141, it is necessary to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 as a noise countermeasure, and a stabilization process must be executed.

[0046] In the explanations of Figures 3 to 6, it was stated that fixed-period noise FFN occurs in the ultrasonic image displayed on the display 15 when the operation mode is not complex relative to the performance of the CPU 141, i.e., when the amount of processing involved in the transmission and reception is small. However, this is not the only case. For example, even when using a highly sensitive ultrasonic probe 11 with a small number of elements, or when using an operation mode with simple image display processing, fixed-period noise FFN may occur in the ultrasonic image displayed on the display 15, similar to the operation mode with simple transmission and reception processing.

[0047] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the additional process execution process performed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. In this additional process execution process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 accepts the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode, determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary, executes an additional process, accepts a change in the ultrasound probe 11 or the change in the operating mode, or stops the additional process. For example, the additional process execution process is executed when the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode is accepted.

[0048] As shown in Figure 7, first, the reception function 1404 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether or not it has received a selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode (step S11). Specifically, the reception function 1404 determines whether or not it has received a selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode from the user via the input device 17. If, in step S11, the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode has not been received (step S11: No), the process in step S11 is repeated and the system waits until the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode is received.

[0049] On the other hand, if the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode is accepted in step S11 (step S11: Yes), the determination function 1405 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether or not noise countermeasures are necessary (step S13). Specifically, the determination function 1405 determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 as a noise countermeasure, based on the ultrasonic probe 11 or operating mode selected by the reception function 1404 in step S11. More specifically, the determination function 1405 determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 by referring to the correspondence table stored in the memory circuit 134, based on the ultrasonic probe 11 or operating mode selected by the reception function 1404.

[0050] Then, in step S13, if it is determined that noise countermeasures are necessary, that is, that the load on the CPU 141 needs to be stabilized (step S13: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 executes an additional process as a stabilization process, which adds a process to be executed by the CPU 141 (step S15). Specifically, the process execution function 1406 executes an additional process based on the configuration information.

[0051] Figure 8 shows an example of the process processing of the CPU 141 and the fluctuation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 during the execution of an additional process in the first embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 8, the CPU 141 simultaneously executes the process SP which is executed on a steady basis, the process NP2 which is associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing, and the additional process AP executed by the process execution function 1406. The processing amount of the process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing shown in Figure 8 is the same as the processing amount of the process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing shown in Figure 5. In the example shown in Figure 8, two of the eight concurrently executing processes are used for the steadily executing process SP, and two of the eight concurrently executing processes are used for the additional process AP. Therefore, four of the eight concurrently executing processes are used for the process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing. In other words, as shown in Figure 8, the CPU 141 can reduce the number of concurrently executing processes used for the process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing by executing the additional process AP. This increases the processing load of process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing relative to the number of concurrently running processes, that is, it expands the processing time in CPU 141 required for process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing in the time axis direction. Compared to the case shown in Figure 5, the time spent by CPU 141 executing process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing becomes longer. Consequently, the fluctuation range of the fluctuation LF3 of CPU 141's current consumption, shown by the dashed line superimposed on the graph in Figure 8, becomes smaller, and the fluctuation LF3 of CPU 141's current consumption becomes a gradual fluctuation, thereby suppressing the generation of fixed-period noise FFN in ultrasound images.

[0052] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that noise countermeasures are not necessary, that is, that the load on the CPU 141 does not need to be stabilized (step S13: No), or if, after processing in step S15, the reception function 1404 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether or not it has received a request to change the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode (step S17). Specifically, the reception function 1404 determines, via the input device 17, whether or not it has received a request from the user to change the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode, that is, whether or not it has received a request to select a different ultrasonic probe 11 from the ultrasonic probe 11 that the reception function 1404 accepted in step S11, or a request to select a different operating mode from the operating mode that the reception function 1404 accepted in step S11. If, in step S11, it has not received a request to change the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode (step S17: No), it waits by repeating the processing in step S17 until it receives a request to change the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode.

[0053] On the other hand, if step S17 accepts a change in the ultrasonic probe 11 or a change in the operating mode, that is, if the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of a different ultrasonic probe 11 from the ultrasonic probe 11 selected in step S11, or if the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of a different operating mode from the operating mode selected in step S11 (step S17: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether or not the additional process AP is currently running (step S19). If it is determined in step S19 that the additional process AP is currently running (step S19: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 stops the running additional process AP (step S21).

[0054] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S19 that the additional process AP is not currently running (step S19: No), or after the processing in step S21, the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 returns to step S13 as described above, and the determination function 1405 determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary for the ultrasound probe 11 or operating mode selected in step S17, and the processing from step S13 is repeated. The additional process execution process shown in Figure 7 is then repeatedly executed while the user is using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 and terminates when the user finishes using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10.

[0055] As described above, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the system accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe 11, and when the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode is accepted, it determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141, and if the load on the CPU 141 is to be stabilized, an additional process AP is executed, thereby suppressing the generation of noise in the ultrasound image.

[0056] Furthermore, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the additional process AP can be executed without adding hardware circuits, thus reducing the cost increase of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10.

[0057] [Second Embodiment] In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment described above, the process execution function 1406 executes an additional process AP as a stabilization process, which adds processes to be executed by the CPU 141. However, the stabilization processes executed by the process execution function 1406 are not limited to this. In the second embodiment, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 is described in which the process execution function 1406 executes a limiting process as a stabilization process, which limits the number of processes that the CPU 141 can execute simultaneously. Note that the configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment and the functions realized by the processing circuit 140 are the same as those in Figures 1 and 2, so their description is omitted.

[0058] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the limitation process execution process performed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 7. In this limitation process execution process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 accepts the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode, determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary, executes the limitation process, accepts a change in the ultrasound probe 11 or the change in the operating mode, and stops the limitation process. For example, the limitation process execution process is executed when the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode is accepted. Note that the processes in steps S11 and S13 are equivalent to those in Figure 7, so their explanation is omitted.

[0059] Then, in step S13, if it is determined that noise countermeasures are necessary, that is, that the load on the CPU 141 needs to be stabilized (step S13: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 executes a limiting process as a stabilization process, which limits the number of processes that the CPU 141 can run simultaneously (step S15a). Specifically, the process execution function 1406 executes a limiting process based on the setting information.

[0060] Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the process processing of the CPU 141 and the fluctuation of the current consumption of the CPU 141 during the execution of a restricted process in the second embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 8. In the example shown in Figure 10, the CPU 141 simultaneously executes the regularly executed process SP, the process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing, and the restricted process RP executed by the process execution function 1406. The processing amount of the process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing shown in Figure 10 is the same as the processing amount of the process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing shown in Figure 5. In the example shown in Figure 10, the CPU 141 can execute 6 processes simultaneously by executing the restricted process RP. In other words, the maximum number of concurrently executed processes N, which was 8 before the execution of the restricted process RP, is limited to 6 concurrently executed processes N1. As shown in Figure 10, 2 of the 6 concurrently executed processes N1 are used for the regularly executed process SP. Therefore, 4 of the 6 concurrently executed processes N1 are used for the process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing. In other words, as shown in Figure 10, the CPU 141 can reduce the number of concurrently running processes that can be used for the process NP2 associated with the transmit / receive processing by executing the limiting process RP. This increases the processing load of the process NP2 associated with the transmit / receive processing relative to the number of concurrently running processes, that is, it expands the processing time in the CPU 141 required for the process NP2 associated with the transmit / receive processing in the time axis direction, and the time that the CPU 141 spends executing the process NP2 associated with the transmit / receive processing becomes longer compared to the case shown in Figure 5. Therefore, the fluctuation range of the fluctuation LF4 of the current consumption of the CPU 141, shown by the dashed line superimposed on the graph in Figure 10, becomes smaller, and the fluctuation LF4 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 becomes a gradual fluctuation, thus suppressing the generation of fixed-period noise FFN. Note that the processing in step S17 after step S15 is equivalent to that in Figure 7, so the explanation is omitted.

[0061] On the other hand, if step S17 accepts a change in the ultrasonic probe 11 or a change in the operating mode, that is, if the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of a different ultrasonic probe 11 from the ultrasonic probe 11 selected in step S11, or if the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of a different operating mode from the operating mode selected in step S11 (step S17: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether or not the limiting process RP is currently running (step S19a). If it is determined in step S19a that the limiting process RP is currently running (step S19a: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 stops the running limiting process RP (step S21a).

[0062] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S19a that the limiting process RP is not currently running (step S19a: No), or after processing in step S21a, the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 returns to step S13 as described above, and the determination function 1405 determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary for the ultrasound probe 11 or operating mode selected in step S17, and the processing from step S13 is repeatedly executed. The limiting process execution process shown in Figure 9 is then repeatedly executed while the user is using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 and terminates when the user finishes using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10.

[0063] As described above, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment, the system accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe 11, and when the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode is accepted, it determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141, and when it decides to stabilize the load on the CPU 141, it executes a limiting process RP. Therefore, as in the first embodiment described above, the generation of noise in the ultrasound image can be suppressed.

[0064] Furthermore, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment, the limiting process RP can be executed without adding hardware circuits, similar to the first embodiment described above, thus suppressing an increase in the cost of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10.

[0065] [Third Embodiment] In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment described above, when the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode is received, the reception function 1404 determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary based on the selected ultrasound probe 11 or operating mode, but it is not limited to this. In the third embodiment, there is a monitoring function that monitors the load state, and the determination function 1405 may determine whether noise countermeasures are necessary based on the load state monitoring results when the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode is received. When this modification is applied to the first embodiment described above, the differences from the first embodiment described above will be described as the third embodiment. Note that the configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as that in Figure 1, so the description will be omitted.

[0066] Figure 11 is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit 140 in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 11, the processing circuit 140 is configured by adding a monitoring function 1407 to the processing circuit 140 according to the first embodiment. In addition, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, the determination function of the processing circuit 140 is different from that of the first embodiment described above, so it will be referred to as the determination function 1405a. Note that the functions of the processing circuit 140 other than the determination function 1405a and the monitoring function 1407 are the same as those in Figure 2, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0067] The monitoring function 1407 monitors the load status of the CPU 141. Specifically, the monitoring function 1407 monitors at least one of the following as the load status of the CPU 141: the fluctuation range, which is the difference between the upper and lower limits of the peak fluctuations in the current consumption of the power supply for the CPU unit in the power supply unit 135, i.e., the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuations; the average current per unit time; and the fluctuation amount of current consumption per unit time.

[0068] When the reception function 1404 receives a selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or an operating mode, the determination function 1405a determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407.

[0069] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating the additional process execution process performed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 7. In this additional process execution process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 accepts the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode, monitors the load status of the CPU 141, determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary, executes the additional process AP, accepts a change in the ultrasound probe 11 or the operating mode, and stops the additional process AP. For example, the additional process execution process is executed when the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode is accepted. Note that the process in step S11 shown in Figure 12 is equivalent to that in Figure 7, so its explanation is omitted.

[0070] On the other hand, if the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode is accepted in step S11 (step S11: Yes), the monitoring function 1407 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 monitors the load state of the CPU 141 (step S31). Specifically, the monitoring function 1407 monitors the fluctuation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 after the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode, as the load state of the CPU 141. In step S31, the monitoring function 1407 monitors the load state of the CPU 141 and, for example, acquires monitoring results for a predetermined time period after the reception function 1404 accepts the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode in step S11.

[0071] Next, as shown in Figure 12, the determination function 1405a in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether or not noise countermeasures are necessary (step S13a). Specifically, the determination function 1405a determines whether or not to stabilize the load of the CPU 141 as a noise countermeasure, based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407. More specifically, the determination function 1405a determines whether or not to stabilize the load of the CPU 141 by determining whether or not the fluctuation range of the fluctuation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 exceeds a predetermined range, based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407.

[0072] Then, in step S13a, if it is determined that noise countermeasures are necessary, that is, that the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load has exceeded a predetermined range, and therefore it is determined that the load of the CPU 141 should be stabilized (step S13a: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 executes an additional process AP as a stabilization process (step S15). Specifically, the process execution function 1406 executes an additional process AP based on the setting information.

[0073] Figure 13 is a diagram showing an example of the process processing of the CPU 141 and the fluctuation of the CPU 141's current consumption during the execution of an additional process in the third embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 8. As shown in Figure 13, first, the reception function 1404 receives a selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode from the user at time T1. Upon receiving the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode from the user, the monitoring function 1407 starts monitoring the fluctuation of the CPU 141's current consumption as the load state of the CPU 141. As the processing amount of process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing decreases, the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuation LF5 increases, and the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuation LF5 becomes a steep fluctuation. The monitoring function 1407 acquires the fluctuation of current consumption within a predetermined period, including this steep fluctuation of the CPU 141's current consumption, as a monitoring result.

[0074] Then, in the example shown in Figure 13, the determination function 1405a determines at time T2 whether or not to execute the additional process AP based on the monitoring result of the monitoring function 1407. In the example shown in Figure 13, the determination function 1405a determined that the additional process AP should be executed because the fluctuation range of the fluctuation LF5 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 exceeded a predetermined threshold, so at time T3, the process execution function 1406 executes the additional process AP. This increases the processing amount of process NP2 associated with the transmission and reception processing relative to the number of concurrently running processes, that is, it is possible to expand the processing time on the CPU 141 required for process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing in the time axis direction, and the time on which process NP2 associated with transmission and reception processing is executed on the CPU 141 becomes longer compared to the case shown in Figure 5. Therefore, after time T3 when the additional process AP is executed, the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuation LF5, shown by the dashed line superimposed on the graph in Figure 13, becomes smaller, and the fluctuation of the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuation LF5 becomes gradual, thus suppressing the generation of fixed-period noise FFN in the ultrasound image.

[0075] Note that the processing from step S17 to step S21 after step S15 is equivalent to that shown in Figure 7, so its explanation is omitted. The additional process execution shown in Figure 12 is repeatedly executed while the user is using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10, and terminates when the user finishes using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10.

[0076] As described above, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment, the system accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe 11. When the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode is accepted, the system determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 based on the monitoring result of the monitoring function 1407. If the load on the CPU 141 is to be stabilized, the system executes an additional process AP. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of noise in ultrasound images.

[0077] Furthermore, in the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 according to the third embodiment, the determination of whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 is made based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407, so that the additional process AP can be executed in a more appropriate situation.

[0078] [Variation 1] In the third embodiment described above, the process execution function 1406 can also execute the limiting process RP instead of the additional process AP. Hereinafter, the difference from the first to third embodiments described above will be explained, with the application of this modification to the third embodiment referred to as Modification 1. Note that the configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 is the same as that shown in Figure 1, so its explanation will be omitted. Also, the functions realized by the processing circuit 140 of the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 are the same as those shown in Figure 11, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0079] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating the limiting process performed in the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 according to Modification 1, and corresponds to Figure 9. In this limiting process, the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 accepts the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode, monitors the load status of the CPU 141, determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary, executes the limiting process RP, accepts a change in the ultrasound probe 11 or the operating mode, and stops the limiting process RP. For example, the limiting process execution process is executed when the selection of the ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of the operating mode is accepted. Note that the process in step S11 shown in Figure 14 is equivalent to that in Figure 7, so its explanation is omitted. Also, the process in step S31 shown in Figure 14 is equivalent to that in Figure 12, so its explanation is omitted.

[0080] Next, as shown in Figure 14, the determination function 1405a in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether or not noise countermeasures are necessary (step S13b). Specifically, the determination function 1405a determines whether or not to stabilize the load of the CPU 141 as a noise countermeasure, based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407. More specifically, the determination function 1405a determines whether or not to stabilize the load of the CPU 141 by determining whether or not the fluctuation range of the current consumption of the CPU 141 exceeds a predetermined range, based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407.

[0081] Then, in step S13b, if it is determined that noise countermeasures are necessary, that is, that the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load has exceeded a predetermined range, and therefore it is determined that the load of the CPU 141 should be stabilized (step S13b: Yes), the process execution function 1406 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 executes a limiting process RP as a stabilization process (step S15b). Specifically, the process execution function 1406 executes a limiting process RP based on the setting information.

[0082] Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of the process processing of the CPU 141 and the fluctuation of the CPU 141's current consumption during the execution of a limited process in Modification 1, and corresponds to Figure 10. As shown in Figure 15, first, the reception function 1404 receives a selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode from the user at time T1. Upon receiving the selection of the ultrasonic probe 11 or the operating mode from the user, the monitoring function 1407 starts monitoring the fluctuation LF6 of the CPU 141's current consumption as the load state of the CPU 141. As the processing amount of process NP2 associated with periodically occurring transmission and reception processing decreases, the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuation LF6 increases, and the fluctuation LF6 of the CPU 141's current consumption becomes a steep fluctuation. The monitoring function 1407 acquires the fluctuation LF6 of current consumption within a predetermined period, including this steep fluctuation in current consumption, as the monitoring result.

[0083] Then, in the example shown in Figure 15, the determination function 1405a determines at time T2 whether or not to execute the restricted process RP based on the monitoring result of the monitoring function 1407. In the example shown in Figure 15, the determination function 1405 determined that the restricted process RP should be executed because the fluctuation range of the fluctuation LF6 of the current consumption of the CPU 141 exceeded a predetermined threshold, so at time T3, the process execution function 1406 executes the restricted process RP. In other words, the maximum number of concurrently running processes N0, which was 8 before the execution of the restricted process RP, is limited to 6 concurrently running processes N1. This increases the processing amount of the process NP2 associated with the transmission and reception processing relative to the number of concurrently running processes, that is, it expands the processing time in the CPU 141 required for the process NP2 associated with the transmission and reception processing in the time axis direction, and the time in which the process NP2 associated with the transmission and reception processing is executed in the CPU 141 is longer compared to the case shown in Figure 5. Therefore, after time T3 when the limiting process RP is executed, the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuation LF6, shown by the dashed line superimposed on the graph in Figure 15, becomes smaller, and the fluctuation of the CPU 141's current consumption fluctuation LF6 becomes gradual, thus suppressing the generation of fixed-period noise FFN in the ultrasound image.

[0084] Note that the processes in steps S17, S19a, and S21a, which follow step S15, are equivalent to those in Figure 10, so their explanation is omitted. The restriction process execution shown in Figure 15 is repeatedly executed while the user is using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10, and terminates when the user finishes using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10.

[0085] As described above, in the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 according to Modification 1, similar to the third embodiment described above, the device accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe 11. When the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode is accepted, the device determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 based on the monitoring result of the monitoring function 1407. If the load on the CPU 141 is to be stabilized, the device executes the limiting process RP. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of noise in the ultrasound image.

[0086] Furthermore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic device 10 according to Modification 1, similar to the third embodiment described above, the determination of whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141 is made based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407, so that the restricted process RP can be executed in a more appropriate situation.

[0087] [Fourth Embodiment] In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the first to third embodiments described above, the number of additional processes to be executed in the additional process AP and the number of processes to be limited in the limiting process RP were fixed, but this is not limited to this. In the fourth embodiment, the load on the CPU 141 may be adjusted by adjusting the number of additional processes to be executed in the additional process AP and the number of processes to be limited in the limiting process. In the following, the case in which this modification is applied to the first embodiment will be described as the fourth embodiment, but this modification is also applicable to the second and third embodiments described above. Note that the configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 is the same as that in Figure 1, so its description will be omitted.

[0088] Figure 16 is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit 140 in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 16, the processing circuit 140 is configured by adding a monitoring function 1407a to the processing circuit 140 according to the first embodiment. In addition, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, the process execution function is different from that of the first embodiment described above, so it will be referred to as the process execution function 1406a. Note that the functions of the processing circuit 140 other than the process execution function 1406a and the monitoring function 1407a are the same as those in Figure 2, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0089] The process execution function 1406a executes an adjustment process to stabilize the load on the CPU 141. Furthermore, the process execution function 1406a executes an additional process AP based on the adjustment results of the adjustment process. The program for executing this adjustment process is stored, for example, in the memory circuit 134.

[0090] The monitoring function 1407a monitors the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption, which is the difference between the upper and lower limits of the peak current consumption of the power supply for the CPU unit in the power supply unit 135, as the load state of the CPU 141.

[0091] Figure 17 is a flowchart illustrating the additional process execution process performed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 7. In this additional process execution process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode, monitors the load status of the CPU 141, determines whether the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range, executes an adjustment process, executes an additional process AP, accepts a change in the ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode, and stops the additional process AP. For example, the additional process execution process is executed when the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode is accepted. Note that the process of step S11 shown in Figure 17 is equivalent to that in Figure 7, so its explanation is omitted.

[0092] Next, the monitoring function 1407a in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 monitors the load state (step S31a). Specifically, the monitoring function 1407a monitors the range of fluctuations in the current consumption of the CPU 141 as the load state of the CPU 141.

[0093] Next, the determination function 1405 in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 determines whether the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range (step S13c). Specifically, the determination function 1405 determines whether or not to stabilize the load of the CPU 141 by determining whether or not the fluctuation range of the fluctuation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 exceeds a predetermined range stored in the memory circuit 134.

[0094] Then, in step S13c, if the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range (step S13c: Yes), the process execution function 1406a in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 executes an adjustment process (step S41). Specifically, the process execution function 1406a executes an adjustment process to adjust the load on the CPU 141, adjusting the load on the CPU 141 so that the fluctuation range of the current consumption of the CPU 141 becomes smaller.

[0095] The following describes how to adjust the load on the CPU 141 through the adjustment process in step S41.

[0096] In step S41, the process execution function 1406a first selects a pattern to increase the processing load of the CPU 141 relative to the number of concurrently running processes N. Specifically, the memory circuit 134 stores several patterns for increasing the processing load of the CPU 141 relative to the number of concurrently running processes N, and the process execution function 1406a selects one pattern from the multiple patterns and executes the selected pattern. More specifically, in order for the process execution function 1406a to execute additional processes AP in step S15b described later, the memory circuit 134 stores multiple patterns for the number of processes to be additionally executed by the CPU 141, and the process execution function 1406a selects one pattern from the multiple patterns and has the CPU 141 execute the number of processes in the selected pattern.

[0097] Next, in step S41, the process execution function 1406a checks the range of variation in the current consumption of the CPU 141. Specifically, the process execution function 1406a checks the range of variation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 after executing the selected pattern. More specifically, the process execution function 1406a checks the range of variation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 after additionally executing the number of processes in the selected pattern on the CPU 141.

[0098] Next, in step S41, the process execution function 1406a determines whether the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range. Specifically, the process execution function 1406a determines whether the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption after executing the selected pattern exceeds a predetermined range stored in the memory circuit 134.

[0099] Furthermore, if the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption does not exceed a predetermined range, that is, if the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption is within a predetermined range, the process execution function 1406a determines whether the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's load is smaller than the fluctuation range included in the setting information. Specifically, the process execution function 1406a determines whether the fluctuation range after executing the selected pattern is smaller than the fluctuation range included in the setting information. In other words, the setting information according to this embodiment associates, for example, a value related to the execution of a stabilization process with the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption when the stabilization process is executed. Note that the information included in the setting information is not limited to a value related to the execution of a stabilization process and the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption when the stabilization process is executed. For example, the setting information according to this embodiment may associate the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption when the stabilization process is executed with identification information for identifying a pattern.

[0100] Then, if the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load after executing the selected pattern is smaller than the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption included in the configuration information, the process execution function 1406a updates the configuration information. Specifically, the process execution function 1406a updates the value related to the execution of the stabilization process in the configuration information to the value related to the execution of the stabilization process in the selected pattern. More specifically, the process execution function 1406a updates the number of processes to be executed additionally by the CPU 141 in the additional process AP in the configuration information to the number of processes to be executed additionally by the CPU 141 in the additional process AP in the selected pattern. Note that if the configuration information associates the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption when the stabilization process is executed with information for identifying the pattern, the pattern identification information in the configuration information may be updated to the identification information for the selected pattern.

[0101] On the other hand, if the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range, if the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption is greater than the fluctuation range included in the setting information, or after updating the setting information, the process execution function 1406a determines whether the CPU 141 load adjustment is complete. Specifically, the process execution function 1406a determines whether the load adjustment is complete by determining whether there is a pattern among the multiple patterns stored in the memory circuit 134 for which the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption has not been checked. If the load adjustment is not complete, the process execution function 1406a changes the pattern, that is, selects another pattern, and repeats each process from checking the fluctuation range of the CPU 141's current consumption for all patterns.

[0102] On the other hand, if load adjustment is complete, the execution of the adjustment process in step S41 is terminated. In the adjustment process described above, the range of variation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 is checked for all patterns. However, if the range of variation in the current consumption of the CPU 141 does not exceed a predetermined range, the execution of the adjustment process in step S41 may be terminated.

[0103] Next, as shown in Figure 17, the process execution function 1406a in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 executes an additional process AP (step S15b). Specifically, the process execution function 1406a executes the additional process AP based on the adjustment results of the adjustment function 1408. More specifically, the process execution function 1406a executes the additional process AP based on the setting information after the adjustment process has been executed.

[0104] The processing from step S15b onward through steps S17 to S21 is equivalent to that shown in Figure 7, so its explanation is omitted. The additional process execution shown in Figure 17 is repeatedly executed while the user is using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10, and terminates when the user finishes using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10.

[0105] As described above, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment described above, the system accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe 11. When the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode is accepted, the system monitors the load status of the CPU 141, determines whether the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range, and executes an adjustment process and an additional process AP if the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of noise in ultrasound images.

[0106] Furthermore, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fourth embodiment, an adjustment process is performed, which makes it possible to suppress the generation of noise in the ultrasound image under an optimal load state.

[0107] [Fifth Embodiment] In the fourth embodiment described above, the adjustment process is executed when the fluctuation range of the CPU 141 load exceeds a predetermined range, but it is not limited to this. In the fifth embodiment, when noise countermeasures are necessary, the load state of the CPU 141 is monitored, and the adjustment process is executed to derive the optimal load of the CPU 141 based on the monitoring results of the CPU 141 load state. The fifth embodiment will be described when this modification is applied to the first embodiment described above, but this modification is also applicable to the second and third embodiments. Note that the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment is the same as that in Figure 1, so its description is omitted.

[0108] Figure 18 is a block diagram showing the functions realized by the processing circuit 140 in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 18, the processing circuit 140 is configured by adding a monitoring function 1407 to the processing circuit 140 according to the first embodiment. In addition, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, the determination function of the processing circuit 140 is different from that of the first embodiment described above, so it is referred to as the process execution function 1406b. Note that the functions of the processing circuit 140 other than the process execution function 1406b and the monitoring function 1407 are the same as those in Figure 2, so their explanation is omitted. Also, the function of the monitoring function 1407 is the same as that in Figure 11, so its explanation is omitted.

[0109] The process execution function 1406b executes an adjustment process to determine the optimal load for CPU 141 when stabilizing the load on CPU 141. Furthermore, the process execution function 1406b executes additional process APs based on the adjustment results of the adjustment process.

[0110] Figure 19 is a flowchart illustrating the additional process execution process performed in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment, and corresponds to Figure 7. In this additional process execution process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode, determines whether noise countermeasures are necessary, monitors the load status of the CPU 141, executes an adjustment process to derive the optimal CPU 141 load, executes an additional process AP, accepts a change in the ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode, and stops the additional process AP. For example, the additional process execution process is executed when the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode is accepted. Note that the processes of steps S11, S13, and S31 shown in Figure 19 are equivalent to those in Figure 7, so their explanation is omitted.

[0111] Next, as shown in Figure 19, the process execution function 1406b in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 of the device executes an adjustment process (step S41a). Specifically, the process execution function 1406b executes an adjustment process to adjust the load of the CPU 141 in order to derive the optimal CPU load for the CPU 141.

[0112] The following describes how to adjust the load on the CPU 141 through the adjustment process in step S41a.

[0113] In step S41a, first, the process execution function 1406b obtains a first value to increase the processing amount of a process relative to the number of concurrently running processes N on the CPU 141. Specifically, the memory circuit 134 stores a first value to increase the processing amount of a process relative to the number of concurrently running processes on the CPU 141, and the process execution function 1406b causes the CPU 141 to execute a process based on the first value. More specifically, in order for the process execution function 1406b to execute an additional process AP in step S15c, which will be described later, the memory circuit 134 stores a first number of processes to be additionally executed by the CPU 141 as a first value, and the process execution function 1406b causes the CPU 141 to additionally execute the first number of processes.

[0114] Next, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b compares the load on the CPU 141 after process execution based on the first value with a preset threshold for the CPU 141 load. The process execution function 1406b then stores the comparison result between the CPU 141 load after process execution based on the first value and the preset threshold for the CPU 141 load in the memory circuit 134, associating it with the first value. This comparison result is, for example, the difference between the CPU 141 load and the threshold. This load threshold is the optimal CPU 141 load threshold set by the user and is stored in the memory circuit 134. Specifically, the process execution function 1406b checks the load on the CPU 141 after the additional execution of a first number of processes and compares the CPU 141 load after the additional execution of a first number of processes with a preset threshold. The process execution function 1406b then stores the result of comparing the CPU load after the additional execution of the first number of processes with a preset threshold, in the memory circuit 134, associating it with the first number of processes.

[0115] Next, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b causes the CPU 141 to execute a process based on a second value which is an increase of a predetermined value from the first value. Specifically, the process execution function 1406b causes the CPU 141 to execute an additional number of processes, which is a second number which is an increase of a predetermined value from the first number of processes.

[0116] Next, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b compares the load on the CPU 141 after process execution based on the second value with a pre-set threshold for the CPU 141 load. The process execution function 1406b then stores the comparison result between the CPU 141 load after process execution based on the second value and the pre-set threshold for the CPU 141 load in the memory circuit 134, associating it with the second value. Specifically, the process execution function 1406b checks the load on the CPU 141 after the additional execution of a second number of processes and compares the CPU 141 load after the additional execution of a second number of processes with a pre-set threshold. The process execution function 1406b then stores the comparison result between the CPU 141 load after process execution based on the second number of processes and the pre-set threshold in the memory circuit 134, associating it with the second number of processes.

[0117] Next, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b determines whether the value has increased by a predetermined number of times from the first value. Specifically, the process execution function 1406b determines whether the value has increased by a predetermined number of times by determining whether the number of times the value has increased from the first value has reached a predetermined number. This predetermined number is set in advance.

[0118] If the number of processes has not increased by a predetermined number of times, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b causes the CPU 141 to execute a process based on a third value which is an increase of a predetermined amount from the second value. Specifically, the process execution function 1406b causes the CPU 141 to execute an additional number of processes, which is a third number which is an increase of a predetermined amount from the second number of processes.

[0119] Next, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b compares the load on the CPU 141 after process execution based on the third value with a pre-set threshold for the CPU 141 load. The process execution function 1406b then stores the comparison result between the CPU 141 load after process execution based on the third value and the pre-set threshold for the CPU 141 load in the memory circuit 134, associating it with the third value. Specifically, the process execution function 1406b checks the load on the CPU 141 after the additional execution of the third number of processes and compares the CPU 141 load after the additional execution of the third number of processes with a pre-set threshold. The process execution function 1406b then stores the comparison result between the CPU 141 load after process execution based on the third number of processes and the pre-set threshold in the memory circuit 134, associating it with the third number of processes. In other words, if the value has not increased a predetermined number of times, the process execution function 1406b increases the value by a predetermined amount until the predetermined number of times is reached, compares the load on the CPU 141 after process execution based on the increased value with a pre-set threshold for the load on the CPU 141, and repeatedly stores the comparison result and the increased value in association.

[0120] On the other hand, if the load increases by a predetermined number of times, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b selects the CPU 141 load closest to a preset threshold in order to derive the optimal CPU 141 load. Specifically, the process execution function 1406b selects the CPU 141 load closest to a preset threshold in order to derive the optimal CPU 141 load based on the comparison result between the CPU 141 load after process execution and a preset threshold. More specifically, the process execution function 1406b selects the comparison result with the smallest difference between the CPU 141 load and the threshold from among the multiple comparison results stored in the memory circuit 134 as the CPU 141 load closest to the preset threshold.

[0121] Next, as shown in Figure 19, the process execution function 1406b in the processing circuit 140 of the main unit 13 executes an additional process AP (step S15c). Specifically, the process execution function 1406b executes the additional process AP based on the adjustment result of the adjustment function 1408. More specifically, the process execution function 1406b executes the additional process AP based on the value associated with the comparison result after the adjustment process execution. For example, if the comparison result associated with the first number of processes is selected, the process execution function 1406b executes the additional process AP based on the first number of processes. The processing after step S15c is equivalent to that in Figure 7, so its explanation is omitted. The additional process execution process shown in Figure 19 is repeatedly executed while the user is using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10 and terminates when the user finishes using the ultrasound diagnostic device 10.

[0122] As described above, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment described above, the system accepts the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or the selection of an operating mode for the ultrasound probe 11, and when the selection of an ultrasound probe 11 or an operating mode is accepted, it determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU 141, and when it decides to stabilize the load on the CPU 141, it executes an additional process AP, thereby suppressing the generation of noise in the ultrasound image.

[0123] Furthermore, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment described above, the load status of the CPU 141 during the execution of the additional process is monitored, the optimal load of the CPU 141 is calculated based on the monitoring results of the monitoring function 1407, an adjustment process is executed, and the additional process AP is executed based on the adjustment results of the adjustment process. As a result, the generation of noise in the ultrasound image can be further suppressed.

[0124] In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment described above, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b determines whether the value has increased by a predetermined number of times from the first value. However, it may also be determined whether the comparison result between the CPU load after process execution and a preset threshold value for the CPU load of the CPU 141 is less than or equal to a set value. Furthermore, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment described above, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b increases by a predetermined number of times from the first value. However, it may also be set to decrease by a predetermined number of times from the first value. In other words, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment described above, in step S41a, the process execution function 1406b only needs to increase or decrease (change) the value by a predetermined number of times from the first value.

[0125] [Other variations] In the third to fifth embodiments described above, only the load state of the CPU 141, such as fluctuations in the current consumption of the CPU 141, was monitored. However, the monitoring functions 1407 and 1407a may also monitor the noise generation state on the ultrasound image, either along with the load state of the CPU 141 or, instead of the load state of the CPU 141. In this case, the determination functions 1405 and 1405a determine whether or not to execute the stabilization process by determining whether or not the noise generation state on the ultrasound image exceeds a predetermined range.

[0126] In the first to fifth embodiments described above, a threshold for the load on the CPU 141 may be set, and the number of processes that the additional process AP has the CPU 141 execute, or the number of processes that the limiting process RP has the CPU 141 limit, may be increased or decreased according to the difference between this threshold and the actual load on the CPU 141. For example, when executing an additional process AP, the monitoring function 1407 monitors the amount of current fluctuation per unit time (degree of steepness) as the load state of the CPU 141, and if the amount of current fluctuation per unit time exceeds a threshold, the process execution functions 1406, 1406a, and 1406b may increase the number of processes that the additional process AP has the CPU 141 execute according to the amount that exceeds the threshold. If the amount of current fluctuation per unit time falls below the threshold, the number of processes that the additional process AP has the CPU 141 execute may be decreased according to the amount that falls below the threshold. This threshold for the load on the CPU 141 is set, for example, while the user is shown an ultrasonic image with noise, or at the time of product shipment.

[0127] In the above explanation, the term "processor" refers to circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or a programmable logic device (e.g., a Simple Programmable Logic Device (SPLD), a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)). The processor functions by reading and executing a program stored in the memory circuit 134. Alternatively, instead of storing the program in the memory circuit 134, the processor may be configured to directly incorporate the program into its circuitry. In this case, the processor functions by reading and executing the program incorporated into the circuitry. The processor is not limited to being configured as a single circuit; it may also be configured by combining multiple independent circuits to form a single processor and realize its functions. Furthermore, the multiple components shown in Figure 1 may be integrated into a single processor to realize its functions.

[0128] According to at least one embodiment described above, the generation of noise in ultrasound images can be suppressed.

[0129] Although several embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalent scope. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0130] 10... Ultrasound diagnostic device, 11... Ultrasound probe, 13... Main unit, 131... Transmit / receive circuit, 132... B-mode processing circuit, 133... Doppler processing circuit, 134... Memory circuit, 135... Power supply unit, 140... Processing circuit, 15... Display, 17... Input device, 141... CPU, 142... CPU memory, 1401... System control function, 1402... Image generation function, 1403... Display control function, 1404... Reception function, 1405... Judgment function, 1406, 1406a, 1406b... Process execution function, 1407... Monitoring function

Claims

1. A receiving unit that accepts the selection of an ultrasonic probe or the selection of the operating mode of the ultrasonic probe, When the receiving unit receives the selection of the ultrasonic probe or the selection of the operating mode, a determination unit determines whether or not to stabilize the CPU load, When stabilizing the load of the CPU, a process execution unit executes a stabilization process for stabilizing the load of the CPU, An ultrasound diagnostic device equipped with the following features.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU based on the ultrasonic probe or operating mode selected by the reception unit.

3. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process execution unit stops the stabilization process that is in progress when the receiving unit receives a selection of an ultrasound probe other than the ultrasound probe selected by the receiving unit, or a selection of an operating mode other than the operating mode selected by the receiving unit.

4. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process execution unit executes an additional process as the stabilization process, which adds a process executed by the CPU.

5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process execution unit executes a limiting process as the stabilization process, which limits the number of processes that the CPU can execute simultaneously.

6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring unit for monitoring the load status of the CPU.

7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not to stabilize the load on the CPU based on the monitoring results of the monitoring unit.

8. Based on the monitoring results of the monitoring unit, the determination unit determines whether or not to stabilize the CPU load by determining whether the fluctuation range of the CPU load exceeds a predetermined range. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an adjustment process is performed to adjust the CPU load when the fluctuation range of the CPU load exceeds a predetermined range.

9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the process execution unit executes the adjustment process to derive the optimal CPU load when stabilizing the CPU load.

10. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that the CPU load should be stabilized when the reception unit receives a selection of a pencil probe for measuring blood flow information within a subject as the ultrasound probe.

11. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that the CPU load should be stabilized when the reception unit receives a selection of a Doppler mode for measuring blood flow information within a subject as the selection of the operating mode.

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