Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device and a control method of the ultrasonic diagnostic device which allow a user to accurately observe a target portion regardless of the level of skill of the user even when gas accumulates in an intestine of a subject.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic diagnostic device (1) comprises: an ultrasonic probe (2); an image acquisition unit which acquires a plurality of frames of temporally-continuous ultrasonic images in which a lower abdominal part of a subject is imaged by performing transmission / reception of an ultrasonic beam by using the ultrasonic probe (2); a gas specification unit (35) which specifies the state of a gas region or gas on the basis of the ultrasonic image; a gas change measurement unit (37) which measures a change in the state of the gas region or gas specified by the gas specification unit (35) when the ultrasonic probe (2) is pressed against the subject; and an imaging guide unit (38) which performs a guide of ultrasonic imaging on the basis of the change in the state of the gas region or gas measured by the gas change measurement unit (37).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a control method for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which are used when performing an ultrasonic examination while pressing an ultrasonic probe against a subject.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an ultrasonic image representing a tomogram in a subject has been acquired using a so-called ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the subject has been examined by checking the acquired ultrasonic image. By the way, in the ultrasonic image, for example, gas accumulated in the intestine of the subject appears in the ultrasonic image as a so-called artifact, and the region in the subject that the user wants to observe may be blocked by this artifact, so that the user may not be able to sufficiently observe the region.

[0003] When gas accumulated in the intestine of the subject appears in the ultrasonic image as an artifact, it is known that, for example, the user can expel the gas from the region in the subject that the user wants to observe by pressing an ultrasonic probe against the subject. As described above, since the countermeasure method differs depending on the type of artifact, in order for the user to perform an accurate countermeasure method, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that recognizes the type of artifact in the ultrasonic image and presents the recognition result to the user has been developed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when the target site cannot be clearly confirmed by the normal observation method due to the gas accumulated in the intestine of the subject, even if an artifact caused by the gas can be recognized by the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, a skilled user can sufficiently remove the gas from the region in the subject to be observed, such as by pressing an ultrasonic probe against the subject, and can often accurately observe the target site. However, if the user is not skilled, the gas cannot be sufficiently removed, and the target site may not be accurately observed.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a control method for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can accurately observe a target site regardless of the skill level of the user even when gas is accumulated in the intestine of the subject.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe, an image acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of temporally continuous ultrasonic images by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic beams using the ultrasonic probe and photographing the lower abdomen of the subject, a gas identification unit that identifies a gas region or a gas state based on the ultrasonic images, a gas change measurement unit that measures a change in the gas region or the gas state identified by the gas identification unit when the ultrasonic probe is pressed against the subject, and a photographing guide unit that guides ultrasonic image photographing based on the change in the gas region or the gas state measured by the gas change measurement unit.

[0008] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a compression period setting unit that sets a compression period for pressing the ultrasonic probe, and the gas change measurement unit can measure a change in the gas region or the gas state during the compression period set by the compression period setting unit. The gas change measurement unit can measure a change rate of the gas region or the gas state during the compression period set by the compression period setting unit.

[0009] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a compression operation determination unit that determines a compression operation of the ultrasonic probe against the subject based on the movement of the ultrasonic probe. When the compression of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit, the gas change measurement unit can measure a change in the gas region or the state of the gas.

[0010] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a motion sensor that detects the movement of the ultrasonic probe. The compression operation determination unit can determine a compression operation based on the movement of the ultrasonic probe detected by the motion sensor. In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an optical camera that acquires an optical image including at least the ultrasonic probe. The compression operation determination unit can also determine a compression operation by analyzing the optical image acquired by the optical camera. At this time, the compression operation determination unit can determine the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe using a learned determination model that has learned the movement of the ultrasonic probe in the optical image in which the ultrasonic probe is photographed.

[0011] The compression operation determination unit determines the start of compression and the end of compression of the ultrasonic probe as compression operations. The compression period setting unit can set, as the compression period, the period from when the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit until the end of compression of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit. In addition, the compression operation determination unit determines the start of compression and the stillness during compression of the ultrasonic probe as compression operations. The compression period setting unit can also set, as the compression period, the period from when the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit until a predetermined time has elapsed after the stillness of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit.

[0012] The gas identification unit can identify the gas region or the state of the gas by calculating the area of a region having a luminance equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold in the ultrasonic image. In addition, the gas identification unit can also identify the gas region or the state of the gas based on the image quality of a site shown deeper than the intestinal tract of the subject in the ultrasonic image. In addition, the gas identification unit can also identify the gas region or the state of the gas by using a learned determination model that has learned the gas region or the state of the gas in an ultrasonic image in which at least the lower abdomen has been photographed.

[0013] When the area of the gas region measured by the gas change measurement unit decreases or the state of the gas improves, the imaging guide unit can provide guidance for taking an ultrasonic image while continuing to compress the ultrasonic probe. In addition, when the area of the gas region or the state of the gas measured by the gas change measurement unit does not change, the imaging guide unit can also provide guidance for interrupting the compression of the ultrasonic probe, changing the position of the subject, and taking an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can include a monitor for displaying the ultrasonic image.

[0014] The control method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam using an ultrasonic probe to obtain a plurality of temporally continuous frames of ultrasonic images of the lower abdomen of the subject, identifying a gas region or the state of the gas based on the ultrasonic images, measuring the change in the gas region or the state of the gas identified when the ultrasonic probe is pressed against the subject, and providing guidance for ultrasonic image imaging based on the measured change in the gas region or the state of the gas.

Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an image acquisition unit that transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam using the ultrasonic probe to capture the lower abdomen of a subject and acquire a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images that are temporally continuous, a gas identification unit that identifies a gas region or the state of gas based on the ultrasonic images, a gas change measurement unit that measures a change in the gas region or the state of gas identified by the gas identification unit when the ultrasonic probe is pressed against the subject, and an imaging guide unit that guides ultrasonic image imaging based on the change in the gas region or the state of gas measured by the gas change measurement unit. Therefore, even when gas accumulates in the intestine of the subject, the target site can be accurately observed regardless of the proficiency of the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. The description of the constituent elements described below is made based on typical embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. In this specification, a numerical range represented by "~" means a range including the numerical values described before and after "~" as the lower limit value and the upper limit value. In this specification, "identical" and "the same" shall include the error ranges generally acceptable in the technical field.

[0018] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes an ultrasonic probe 2 and an apparatus main body 3 connected to the ultrasonic probe 2. The ultrasonic probe 2 includes a transducer array 21, and a transmission / reception circuit 22 is connected to the transducer array 21.

[0019] The apparatus main body 3 includes an image generation unit 31 connected to the transmission / reception circuit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 2. The transmission / reception circuit 22 and the image generation unit 31 constitute an image acquisition unit (not shown). Further, a display control unit 32 and a monitor 33 are sequentially connected to the image generation unit 31. An image memory 34 is connected to the image generation unit 31. A gas identification unit 35 is connected to the image memory 34. Further, the apparatus main body 3 includes a compression period setting unit 36. A gas change measurement unit 37 is connected to the gas identification unit 35 and the compression period setting unit 36. A shooting guide unit 38 is connected to the gas change measurement unit 37. The shooting guide unit 38 is connected to the display control unit 32.

[0020] Further, the main body control unit 39 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 22, the image generation unit 31, the display control unit 32, the image memory 34, the gas identification unit 35, the compression period setting unit 36, the gas change measurement unit 37, and the imaging guide unit 38. An input device 40 is connected to the main body control unit 39. Further, the image generation unit 31, the display control unit 32, the gas identification unit 35, the compression period setting unit 36, the gas change measurement unit 37, the imaging guide unit 38, and the main body control unit 39 constitute a processor 41 for the apparatus main body 3.

[0021] The transducer array 21 of the ultrasonic probe 2 has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in one dimension or two dimensions. These ultrasonic transducers transmit ultrasonic waves according to drive signals supplied from the transmission / reception circuit 22, receive ultrasonic echoes from the subject, and output signals based on the ultrasonic echoes. Each ultrasonic transducer is configured, for example, by forming electrodes at both ends of a piezoelectric body made of a piezoelectric ceramic typified by PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate), a polymer piezoelectric element typified by PVDF (Poly Vinylidene Di Fluoride), a piezoelectric single crystal typified by PMN-PT (Lead Magnesium Niobate-Lead Titanate solid solution), or the like.

[0022] Under the control of the main body control unit 39, the transmission / reception circuit 22 transmits ultrasonic waves from the transducer array 21 and generates a beam signal based on the reception signal acquired by the transducer array 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission / reception circuit 22 has a pulsar 23 connected to the transducer array 21, an amplification unit 24, an AD (Analog to Digital) conversion unit 25, and a beam former 26 that are sequentially connected in series from the transducer array 21.

[0023] The pulsar 23 includes, for example, a plurality of pulse generators, and supplies drive signals to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers of the transducer array 21 while adjusting the delay amount so that ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers of the transducer array 21 form an ultrasonic beam based on a transmission delay pattern selected according to a control signal from the main body control unit 39. In this way, when a pulsed or continuous-wave voltage is applied to the electrodes of the ultrasonic transducers of the transducer array 21, the piezoelectric body expands and contracts, and pulsed or continuous-wave ultrasonic waves are generated from the respective ultrasonic transducers, and an ultrasonic beam is formed from the combined wave of these ultrasonic waves.

[0024] The transmitted ultrasonic beam is reflected, for example, by an object such as a part of a subject and propagates toward the transducer array 21 of the ultrasonic probe 2. The ultrasonic echo propagating toward the transducer array 21 in this way is received by each ultrasonic transducer constituting the transducer array 21. At this time, each ultrasonic transducer constituting the transducer array 21 expands and contracts by receiving the propagating ultrasonic echo, generates a received signal which is an electrical signal, and outputs these received signals to the amplifier unit 24.

[0025] The amplifier unit 24 amplifies the signals input from the respective ultrasonic transducers constituting the transducer array 21 and transmits the amplified signals to the AD conversion unit 25. The AD conversion unit 25 converts the signals transmitted from the amplifier unit 24 into digital reception data. The beamformer 26 performs so-called reception focusing processing by giving respective delays to and adding the respective reception data received from the AD conversion unit 25. By this reception focusing processing, the respective reception data converted by the AD conversion unit 25 are coherently added, and a beam signal with the focus of the ultrasonic echo narrowed down is obtained.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the image generation unit 31 has a configuration in which a signal processing unit 51, a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 52, and an image processing unit 53 are sequentially connected in series.

[0027] The signal processing unit 51 corrects the attenuation due to distance according to the depth of the reflection position of the ultrasonic wave using the sound velocity value set by the main body control unit 39 for the sound beam signal received from the transmission / reception circuit 22, and then performs envelope detection processing to generate a B-mode image signal, which is tomographic image information regarding the tissue in the subject body.

[0028] The DSC 52 converts (raster-converts) the B-mode image signal generated by the signal processing unit 51 into an image signal conforming to the scanning method of a normal television signal. The image processing unit 53 performs various necessary image processes such as gradation processing on the B-mode image signal input from the DSC 52, and then sends the B-mode image signal to the display control unit 32 and the image memory 34. Hereinafter, the B-mode image signal subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 53 is referred to as an ultrasonic image.

[0029] The main body control unit 39 controls the transmission / reception circuit 22 of the ultrasonic probe 2 and each part of the apparatus main body 3 according to a program recorded in advance and the like. The display control unit 32 performs predetermined processing on the ultrasonic image and the like generated by the image generation unit 31 under the control of the main body control unit 39, and displays it on the monitor 33.

[0030] The monitor 33 performs various displays under the control of the display control unit 32. The monitor 33 includes, for example, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL display (Organic Electroluminescence Display).

[0031] The input device 40 is for the user to perform input operations. The input device 40 is constituted by, for example, a device for the user to perform input operations such as a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a touch pad, and a touch panel.

[0032] The image memory 34 stores the ultrasonic image generated by the image generation unit 31 under the control of the main body control unit 39, and sends the stored ultrasonic image to the gas identification unit 35. As the image memory 34, for example, recording media such as flash memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), FD (Flexible Disk), MO disk (Magneto-Optical disk), MT (Magnetic Tape), RAM (Random Access Memory), CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), SD card (Secure Digital card), USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory), etc. can be used.

[0033] Here, when performing an ultrasonic examination on the lower abdomen of the subject, there are cases where the part to be examined cannot be clearly observed due to the gas accumulated in the subject's intestine. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, since the gas in the subject's intestine is difficult to pass through ultrasonic waves, it may be depicted as a gas region R1, which is a region with low luminance called a so-called artifact in the ultrasonic image U. The ultrasonic image U shown in FIG. 4 includes the subject's kidney A1 and liver A2. However, since the gas region R1 overlaps a part of the liver A2, it is difficult for the user to accurately observe the liver A2.

[0034] In addition, depending on the state of the gas in the intestine of the subject, such as the density, composition, and pressure of the gas, the brightness and contrast of the target site in the ultrasonic image may decrease, that is, the image quality may decrease, and the site may be depicted unclearly. Such a decrease in image quality is likely to occur in a site that appears deeper than the intestinal tract. FIG. 5 shows an example of an ultrasonic image U including the bladder A3 of the subject and the uterus A4 that appears deeper than the intestinal tract. In this example, the region of the bladder A3 of the subject is clearly depicted because the gas state is good, while the region of the uterus A4 is unclearly depicted because the gas state is bad. Here, a good gas state means, for example, that the gas is in a state where it easily transmits ultrasonic waves due to a low gas density, a gas composition consisting of components that easily transmit ultrasonic waves, or a low gas pressure. In addition, a bad gas state means, for example, that the gas is in a state where it hardly transmits ultrasonic waves due to a high gas density, a gas composition consisting of components that hardly transmit ultrasonic waves, or a high gas pressure.

[0035] The gas specifying unit 35 specifies the gas region R1 or the gas state based on the ultrasonic image U generated by the image generation unit 31. At this time, the gas specifying unit 35 can specify the gas region R1 or the gas state by calculating the area of the region having a brightness equal to or lower than the threshold value determined in the ultrasonic image U. Note that the larger the calculated area, the larger the area of the gas region R1, it can be determined that the amount of gas in the intestine of the subject is large and the gas state is bad, and the smaller the calculated area, the smaller the area of the gas region R1, it can be determined that the amount of gas in the intestine of the subject is small and the gas state is good.

[0036] In addition, the gas identification unit 35 can also identify the gas region R1 or the state of the gas based on the image quality of the region shown deeper than the subject's intestinal tract in the ultrasonic image U. Here, the image quality of the region refers to the degree to which the region representing that region is clearly shown in the ultrasonic image U. Good image quality of the region means that the region is clearly shown in the ultrasonic image U, and poor image quality of the region means that the region is unclear in the ultrasonic image U. The gas identification unit 35 can calculate the image quality of the region based on, for example, the luminance, contrast, and sharpness of the edges of the region shown deeper than the subject's intestinal tract. Note that it can be determined that the worse the image quality of the region shown deeper than the subject's intestinal tract, the more the gas region R1 blocks the observation range and the worse the state of the gas, and the better the image quality of the region shown deeper than the subject's intestinal tract, the less the gas region R1 blocks the observation range and the better the state of the gas.

[0037] In addition, the gas identification unit 35 can also identify the gas region R1 or the state of the gas by using a learned determination model that has learned the gas region R1 or the state of the gas in at least the ultrasonic image U in which the lower abdomen of the subject is photographed. The learned determination model outputs the identification result of the gas region R1 or the state of the gas in the ultrasonic image U when the ultrasonic image U is input.

[0038] Here, the gas identification unit 35 can construct a learned determination model by applying, for example, a machine learning method described in Csurka et al.: Visual Categorization with Bags of Keypoints, Proc. of ECCV Workshop on Statistical Learning in Computer Vision, pp.59-74 (2004), or a general image recognition method using deep learning or so-called convolutional neural network (CNN) described in Krizhevsk et al.: ImageNet Classification with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 25, pp.1106-1114 (2012).

[0039] In addition, when the learned determination model is input with, for example, the ultrasonic image U, as a specific result of the gas region R1 or the gas state output, it can output the gas coverage or gas benignity representing the degree to which the gas region R1 covers the observation range. The larger the gas coverage, the more it can be determined that the gas region R1 blocks the observation range, and the smaller the gas coverage, the more it can be determined that the gas region R1 does not block the observation range. Also, the larger the gas benignity, the better the gas state can be determined, and the smaller the gas benignity, the worse the gas state can be determined. Further, the learned determination model can also output, for example, the area of a region having a luminance equal to or lower than a threshold value defined in the ultrasonic image U or the image quality of a site shown deeper than the intestinal tract of the subject in the ultrasonic image U.

[0040] In addition, the gas identification unit 35 identifies the gas region R1 and the gas state for each of a plurality of temporally consecutive frames of the ultrasonic image U generated by the image generation unit 31, and sends the identification result to the gas change measurement unit 37.

[0041] Incidentally, when performing an ultrasonic examination on the lower abdomen of a subject, if the target site of the examination cannot be clearly observed due to gas accumulated in the subject's intestine, for example, there is a technique of excluding gas from the region within the subject that the user wants to observe and observing the target site by pressing an ultrasonic probe against the subject. Here, generally, an ultrasonic probe is provided with a so-called acoustic lens in order to focus ultrasonic waves transmitted from a transducer array or ultrasonic echoes reflected and propagated from within the subject, and ultrasonic imaging is performed while bringing the acoustic lens into contact with the body surface of the subject. Pressing the ultrasonic probe against the subject means strongly pressing the acoustic lens against the subject with a pressure greater than the pressure for bringing the acoustic lens into contact with the subject in a normal examination.

[0042] The compression period setting unit 36 sets the compression period for pressing the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject. The compression period setting unit 36 can, for example, store a predetermined time in advance and set the stored time as the compression period. Also, the compression period setting unit 36 can set the time input by the user via the input device 40 as the compression period.

[0043] The gas change measurement unit 37 measures the change in the gas region R1 specified by the gas specifying unit 35 or the change in the state of the gas when the ultrasonic probe 2 is pressed against the subject. At this time, the gas change measurement unit 37 can measure, for example, the change rate of the gas region R1 or the state of the gas during the compression period set by the compression period setting unit 36. At this time, as the change rate of the gas region R1 or the state of the gas, the gas change measurement unit 37 can measure, for example, the change rate of the area of a region having a luminance equal to or lower than a threshold value determined in the ultrasonic image U, the change rate of the image quality of a site shown deeper than the intestinal tract of the subject in the ultrasonic image U, the change rate of the coverage of the gas, or the change rate of the benignity of the gas.

[0044] The imaging guide unit 38 guides the user in ultrasonic imaging based on the gas region R1 measured by the gas change measurement unit 37 or the change in the state of the gas. For example, when the area of the gas region R1 measured by the gas change measurement unit 37 decreases or the state of the gas improves, the imaging guide unit 38 determines that the current compression method of the ultrasonic probe 2 by the user is effective for removing the gas in the subject's intestine, and guides the user to take the ultrasonic image U while continuing to compress the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject. At this time, the gas change measurement unit 37 can provide guidance by displaying, for example, a message M1 "Please continue compression" on the monitor 33 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0045] Further, for example, when the area of the gas region R1 measured by the gas change measurement unit 37 or the state of the gas does not change, the imaging guide unit 38 determines that the current compression method of the ultrasonic probe 2 by the user is not effective for removing the gas in the subject's intestine, interrupts the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2, and guides the user to change the position of the subject and take the ultrasonic image U. At this time, the gas change measurement unit 37 can provide guidance by displaying, for example, a message M2 "Stop compression and change the position for imaging" on the monitor 33 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0046] Here, the fact that the area of the gas region R1 or the state of the gas does not change means that the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas measured by the gas change measurement unit 37 is within a certain range. For example, when the change rate of the gas region R1 or the state of the gas is measured by the gas change measurement unit 37, the fact that the area of the gas region R1 or the state of the gas does not change can be defined as having a value within a defined range including 0.

[0047] Note that the processor 41 having the image generation unit 31, the display control unit 32, the gas identification unit 35, the compression period setting unit 36, the gas change measurement unit 37, the imaging guide unit 38, and the main body control unit 39 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a control program for causing the CPU to perform various processes. However, it may be configured using an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or other IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be configured by combining them.

[0048] Further, the image generation unit 31, the display control unit 32, the gas identification unit 35, the compression period setting unit 36, the gas change measurement unit 37, the imaging guide unit 38, and the main body control unit 39 of the processor 41 can also be configured by being partially or entirely integrated into one CPU or the like.

[0049] Next, the basic operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 8.

[0050] First, in step S1, the user of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 brings the ultrasonic probe 2 into contact with the body surface of the lower abdomen of the subject, and in this state, an ultrasonic image U is acquired. When the ultrasonic image U is acquired, the transmission / reception circuit 22 performs so-called reception focusing processing under the control of the main body control unit 39 to generate a beam signal. The beam signal generated by the transmission / reception circuit 22 is sent to the image generation unit 31. The image generation unit 31 generates the ultrasonic image U using the beam signal sent from the transmission / reception circuit 22. The ultrasonic image U thus acquired is sent to the display control unit 32 and displayed on the monitor 33. Also, the ultrasonic image U is stored in the image memory 34.

[0051] Next, in step S2, the main body control unit 39 determines whether or not the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject has started. At this time, for example, when an instruction to start the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 is input by the user via the input device 40, the main body control unit 39 can determine that the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 has started. Also, for example, when an instruction to start the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 is not input by the user via the input device 40, the main body control unit 39 can determine that the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 has not started.

[0052] If it is determined in step S2 that the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 has not started, the process returns to step S1, and a new ultrasonic image U is acquired. In this way, the processes of step S1 and step S2 are repeated until it is determined in step S2 that the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 has started. If it is determined in step S2 that the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 has started, the process proceeds to step S3. The user starts compressing the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject from this point on. Thereafter, the user continues to press the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject.

[0053] In step S3, the compression period setting unit 36 sets a compression period for compressing the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject. At this time, the compression period setting unit 36 can, for example, store a predetermined time in advance and set this time as the compression period. The time set as the compression period by the compression period setting unit 36 can also be preset by the user via the input device 40 before the examination of the subject is started.

[0054] In step S4, the gas identification unit 35 identifies the gas region R1 or the state of the gas based on the ultrasonic image U acquired in the latest step S1. At this time, the gas identification unit 35 can, for example, calculate the area of a region having a luminance equal to or less than a predetermined threshold in the ultrasonic image U, calculate the image quality of a part imaged deeper than the intestinal tract of the subject in the ultrasonic image U, or identify the gas region R1 or the state of the gas using a learned determination model that has learned the gas region R1 or the state of the gas in the ultrasonic image U in which at least the lower abdomen of the subject is imaged.

[0055] In step S5, the main body control unit 39 determines whether the compression period set in step S3 has elapsed. If it is determined in step S5 that the compression period has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S6.

[0056] In step S6, a new ultrasonic image U is acquired in the same manner as in step S1. When the process of step S6 is completed, the process returns to step S4. In this way, the processes of steps S4 to S6 are repeated until it is determined in step S5 that the compression period has elapsed. When it is determined in step S5 that the compression period has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S7.

[0057] In step S7, based on the specific results of the gas region R1 or the gas state obtained for a plurality of temporally continuous frames of the ultrasonic image U in the compression period set in step S3 by repeating steps S4 to S6, the gas change measurement unit 37 measures the change in the gas region R1 or the gas state while the ultrasonic probe 2 is compressing the subject. At this time, the gas change measurement unit 37 can measure, for example, the change rate of the area of the gas region R1 during the compression period, or the change rate of the gas region R1 or the gas state during the compression period.

[0058] Finally, in step S8, based on the change in the gas region R1 or the gas state measured in step S7, the imaging guide unit 38 guides the user for ultrasonic image imaging.

[0059] At this time, for example, when the area of the gas region R1 measured in step S7 decreases or the gas state improves, the imaging guide unit 38 determines that the current compression method of the ultrasonic probe 2 by the user is effective for removing the gas in the subject's intestine, and as shown in FIG. 6, by displaying a message M1 "Please continue compression" on the monitor 33, guidance can be provided. The user checks the message M1 and continues the examination while continuing to compress the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject.

[0060] Also, when the area of the gas region R1 or the gas state measured in step S7 does not change, the imaging guide unit 38 determines that the current compression method of the ultrasonic probe 2 by the user is not effective for removing the gas in the subject's intestine, and as shown in FIG. 7, by displaying a message M2 "Please stop compression and change the cross-section" on the monitor 33, guidance can be provided. The user checks the message M2, stops the compression, changes the placement position of the ultrasonic probe 2, and then performs the examination again while compressing the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject.

[0061] As described above, in step S8, based on the measurement result of the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas in step S7, an appropriate method for ultrasonic imaging is guided to the user. Therefore, even when gas accumulates in the intestine of the subject, the user can sufficiently remove the gas and accurately observe the target site regardless of their proficiency level by checking the guidance in step S8. When the process of step S8 is completed, the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the flowchart of FIG. 8 ends.

[0062] From the above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the gas identification unit 35 identifies the gas region R1 or the state of the gas based on the ultrasonic image U, the gas change measurement unit 37 automatically measures the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas when the ultrasonic probe 2 is pressed against the subject, and the imaging guide unit 38 guides the user to perform ultrasonic imaging based on the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas. Therefore, even when gas accumulates in the intestine of the subject, the target site can be accurately observed regardless of the user's proficiency level.

[0063] Although it has been described that the transmission / reception circuit 22 is provided in the ultrasonic probe 2, it can also be provided in the apparatus main body 3 instead of being provided in the ultrasonic probe 2. Also, although it has been described that the image generation unit 31 is provided in the apparatus main body 3, it may be provided in the ultrasonic probe 2 instead of being provided in the apparatus main body 3. Also, although it has been shown that the ultrasonic probe 2 and the apparatus main body 3 are connected by wire, they may be connected wirelessly.

[0064] Also, in the image generation unit 31, it has been described that the DSC 52 is connected to the signal processing unit 51 and the image processing unit 53 is connected to the DSC 52. However, the image processing unit 53 may be connected to the signal processing unit 51 and the DSC 52 may be connected to the image processing unit 53. In this case, after a predetermined process such as gradation processing is performed on the ultrasonic image U generated by the signal processing unit 51 by the image processing unit 53, the ultrasonic image U is raster-converted by the DSC 52. Thus, even when connected in the order of the signal processing unit 51, the image processing unit 53, and the DSC 52, the ultrasonic image U is generated in the image generation unit 31 in the same manner as when connected in the order of the signal processing unit 51, the DSC 52, and the image processing unit 53.

[0065] Also, it has been described that the gas change measurement unit 37 measures the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas specified by the gas specifying unit 35 during the compression period set by the compression period setting unit 36. However, the gas change measurement unit 37 can also measure the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas specified by the gas specifying unit 35 before and after the compression period during which the ultrasonic probe 2 is compressed. In this case, the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas measured by the gas change measurement unit 37 can be considered as an index indicating how much of the gas in the subject's intestine has been eliminated by the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 by the user during the compression period. Therefore, even in this case, the imaging guide unit 38 can determine whether the current compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 by the user is effective for gas elimination based on the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas measured by the gas change measurement unit 37, and guide the user for ultrasonic image imaging.

[0066] Embodiment 2 In Embodiment 1, the main body control unit 39 determines whether or not the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject has started based on a user's instruction. However, by detecting the movement of the ultrasonic probe 2, it is also possible to automatically determine whether or not the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject has started based on the detected movement of the ultrasonic probe 2. Further, in Embodiment 1, it is described that the compression period setting unit 36 sets a predetermined time as the compression period. However, the compression period can also be set based on the detected movement of the ultrasonic probe 2.

[0067] FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A according to Embodiment 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A includes an ultrasonic probe 2A instead of the ultrasonic probe 2 and a device main body 3A instead of the device main body 3 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0068] The ultrasonic probe 2A has a motion sensor 61 added to the ultrasonic probe 2 in Embodiment 1. Further, the device main body 3A has a compression operation determination unit 62 added to the device main body 3 in Embodiment 1 and includes a main body control unit 39A instead of the main body control unit 39. Further, an image generation unit 31, a display control unit 32, a gas identification unit 35, a compression period setting unit 36, a gas change measurement unit 37, a photographing guide unit 38, the main body control unit 39A, and the compression operation determination unit 62 constitute a processor 41A for the device main body 3A.

[0069] In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A, the motion sensor 61 is attached to the ultrasonic probe 2A. The main body control unit 39A and the compression operation determination unit 62 of the device main body 3A are connected to the motion sensor 61. Further, the compression period setting unit 36 and the main body control unit 39A are connected to the compression operation determination unit 62.

[0070] The motion sensor 61 detects the movement of the ultrasonic probe 2A. The motion sensor 61 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the three-dimensional movement of the ultrasonic probe 2A. For example, a three-axis motion sensor composed of a so-called three-axis acceleration sensor, a six-axis motion sensor composed of a combination of a three-axis acceleration sensor and a so-called three-axis gyro sensor, or a nine-axis motion sensor composed of a combination of a three-axis acceleration sensor, a three-axis gyro sensor, and a so-called three-axis geomagnetic sensor can be used.

[0071] The compression operation determination unit 62 determines the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A on the subject based on the movement of the ultrasonic probe 2A detected by the motion sensor 61. Here, the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A on the subject includes, for example, the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A, the still state during the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A, and the end of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A.

[0072] FIG. 10 shows an example of the relationship between the pressure applied to the subject by the ultrasonic probe 2A when the ultrasonic probe 2A is compressed against the subject and the elapsed time during the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A. In this example, in order to capture an ultrasonic image U representing a tomogram within the subject, the ultrasonic probe 2A is brought into contact with the body surface of the subject at time T0. At this time, a pressure P0 due to the weight of the ultrasonic probe 2A is applied to the body surface of the subject. At time T1, the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A against the subject is started. The pressure applied to the body surface of the subject gradually increases with time and saturates at pressure P1 at time T2. Thereafter, the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A continues at a constant pressure P1, and the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A ends at time T3. In this example, since the ultrasonic probe 2A leaves the body surface of the subject at time T3, the pressure at time T3 is 0.

[0073] At time T1, the ultrasonic probe 2A begins to displace in the direction (deep direction) toward the deep part of the subject. Therefore, for example, when the motion sensor 61 detects that the ultrasonic probe 2A has begun to displace in the deep direction, the compression operation determination unit 62 can determine the start of the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A.

[0074] Also, at time T2, the displacement of the ultrasonic probe 2A in the deep direction stops, and thereafter, the ultrasonic probe 2A does not displace in the depth direction until time T3. Therefore, for example, when the motion sensor 61 detects that the ultrasonic probe 2A, which has been displacing in the deep direction, has stopped displacing in the deep direction, the compression operation determination unit 62 can detect the still state during the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A. Also, for example, when the motion sensor 61 detects that the ultrasonic probe 2A, which has been displacing in the deep direction, has stopped displacing in the deep direction and the ultrasonic probe 2A has not displaced in the depth direction until a certain time has elapsed, the compression operation determination unit 62 can also detect the still state during the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A.

[0075] Also, at time T3, the ultrasonic probe 2A displaces in the direction opposite to the deep direction of the subject, that is, in the direction away from the body surface of the subject. Therefore, for example, when the motion sensor 61 detects that the ultrasonic probe 2A displaces in the direction away from the body surface of the subject, the compression operation determination unit 62 can determine the end of the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A.

[0076] When the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A, the main body control unit 39A determines that the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A against the subject has started, identifies the gas region R1 or the state of the gas in the ultrasonic image U, sets the compression period, measures the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas during the compression period, and automatically gives instructions to each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A so as to guide the user for ultrasonic imaging based on the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas. Thereby, since it is possible to save the labor of the user who operates the input device 40 to instruct the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A, the user can perform the examination smoothly.

[0077] Also, the compression period setting unit 36 can set the period from when the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A until the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the end of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A as the compression period. That is, the compression period setting unit 36 can set the period from time T1 to time T3 as the compression period in the example of FIG. 10, for example. The gas change measurement unit 37 measures the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas using the compression period set in this way. Thereby, since the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas during the period when the ultrasonic probe 2A is actually being compressed is surely measured, the measurement accuracy of the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas can be improved.

[0078] Also, the compression period setting unit 36 can set the period from when the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A until a predetermined time has elapsed after the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the stillness of the ultrasonic probe 2A as the compression period. That is, the compression period setting unit 36 can set the period from time T1 to time T4 as the compression period in the example of FIG. 10, for example, with the time when a predetermined time Q has elapsed from time T2 being time T4. Even in this case, since the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas during the period when the ultrasonic probe 2A is actually being compressed is surely measured, the measurement accuracy of the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas can be improved.

[0079] From the above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, based on the operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A detected by the motion sensor 61, the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A. When the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A, the main body control unit 39A determines that the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A against the subject has started, specifies the gas region R1 or the state of the gas in the ultrasonic image U, sets the compression period, measures the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas during the compression period, and automatically gives instructions to each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A so as to guide the user in taking an ultrasonic image based on the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas. Therefore, it is possible to save the labor of the user who operates the input device 40 to instruct the start of compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A, so that the user can smoothly perform the examination.

[0080] Also, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, based on the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A determined by the compression operation determination unit 62, the compression period setting unit 36 sets the compression period, and the gas change measurement unit 37 can surely measure the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas during the period when the ultrasonic probe 2A is actually being compressed, so that the measurement accuracy of the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas can be improved.

[0081] Note that the motion sensor 61 may be attached to the outside of a housing (not shown) of the ultrasonic probe 2A, or may be built in the ultrasonic probe 2A.

[0082] Also, although not shown, instead of the motion sensor 61, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure due to the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2A against the subject may be provided. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10 for example, the compression operation determination unit 62 can acquire the relationship between the pressure detected by the pressure sensor and the elapsed time, and determine the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A based on that relationship.

[0083] Embodiment 3 In Embodiment 2, it has been described that the compression operation determination unit 62 determines the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A based on the movement of the ultrasonic probe 2A detected by the motion sensor 61. However, the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2A can also be determined by analyzing an optical image including at least the ultrasonic probe 2A.

[0084] FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1B according to Embodiment 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1B is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A of Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 9, and includes the ultrasonic probe 2 in Embodiment 1 instead of the ultrasonic probe 2A, and includes the apparatus main body 3B instead of the apparatus main body 3A.

[0085] The apparatus main body 3B is the apparatus main body 3A in Embodiment 2, with an optical camera 63 added and including a main body control unit 39B instead of the main body control unit 39A. Further, the image generation unit 31, the display control unit 32, the gas identification unit 35, the compression period setting unit 36, the gas change measurement unit 37, the imaging guide unit 38, the main body control unit 39B, and the compression operation determination unit 62 constitute a processor 41B for the apparatus main body 3B.

[0086] In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1B, the optical camera 63 is attached to the apparatus main body 3B and is connected to the main body control unit 39B and the compression operation determination unit 62.

[0087] The optical camera 63 acquires an optical image including at least the ultrasonic probe 2 under the control of the main body control unit 39B. For example, when the apparatus main body 3B is configured by a portable small terminal device such as a so-called tablet computer or a so-called smartphone, during the examination of the subject, the user can hold the ultrasonic probe 2 with one hand and hold the apparatus main body 3B configured by the small terminal device with the other hand and direct the optical camera 63 toward the ultrasonic probe 2. The optical camera 63 can acquire an optical image including at least the ultrasonic probe 2 by, for example, taking an optical image in this state.

[0088] The compression operation determination unit 62 can determine the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2 by analyzing the optical image captured by the ultrasonic probe 2. At this time, the compression operation determination unit 62 can determine the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2, for example, using a learned determination model that has learned the movement of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the optical image captured by the ultrasonic probe 2. This learned determination model outputs the type of compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2 shown in the optical image when the optical image is input.

[0089] Here, the compression operation determination unit 62 can construct a learned determination model, for example, by applying a machine learning method described in Csurka et al.: Visual Categorization with Bags of Keypoints, Proc. of ECCV Workshop on Statistical Learning in Computer Vision, pp.59-74 (2004), or a general image recognition method using deep learning or so-called convolutional CNN etc. described in Krizhevsk et al.: ImageNet Classification with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 25, pp.1106-1114 (2012).

[0090] As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1B according to the third embodiment of the present invention, since the compression operation determination unit 62 can automatically determine the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2, similar to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the user's labor of operating the input device 40 to instruct the start of the compression of the ultrasonic probe 2 is saved, and the user can smoothly perform the examination. Further, based on the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe 2 determined by the compression operation determination unit 62, the compression period setting unit 36 sets the compression period, and the gas change measurement unit 37 can surely measure the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas during the period when the ultrasonic probe 2 is actually being compressed, so that the measurement accuracy of the change in the gas region R1 or the state of the gas can be improved.

[0091] Although it has been described that the apparatus main body 3B is constituted by a portable small terminal device such as a tablet-type computer or a smartphone, the form of the apparatus main body 3B is not particularly limited, and for example, a so-called stationary type may be used. In this case, the optical camera 63 can be attached to the apparatus main body 3B so as to be able to acquire an optical image including the ultrasonic probe 2, for example.

[0092] Also, the optical camera 63 does not have to be fixed to the apparatus main body 3B. The optical camera 63 may be, for example, wired-connected or wireless-connected to the apparatus main body 3B and independent of the apparatus main body 3B.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0093] 1, 1A, 1B ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, 2, 2A ultrasonic probe, 3, 3A, 3B apparatus main body, 21 transducer array, 22 transmission / reception circuit, 23 pulsar, 24 amplifier section, 25 AD conversion section, 26 beam former, 31 image generation section, 32 display control section, 33 monitor, 34 image memory, 35 gas identification section, 36 compression period setting section, 37 gas change measurement section, 38 imaging guide section, 39, 39A, 39B main body control section, 40 input device, 41, 41A, 41B processor, 51 signal processing section, 52 DSC, 53 image processing section, 61 motion sensor, 62 compression operation determination section, 63 optical camera, A1 kidney, A2 liver, A3 bladder, A4 uterus, M1, M2 message, P1, P2 pressure, Q1 period, R1 gas region, T1, T2, T3, T4 time, U ultrasonic image.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe, an image acquisition unit that transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam using the ultrasonic probe to capture the lower abdomen of a subject and acquire a plurality of temporally continuous frames of ultrasonic images, a gas identification unit that identifies a gas region or a state of gas based on the ultrasonic images, a gas change measurement unit that measures a change in the gas region or the state of gas identified by the gas identification unit when the ultrasonic probe compresses the subject, and an imaging guide unit that guides ultrasonic imaging based on the change in the gas region or the state of gas measured by the gas change measurement unit An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising the above components.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a compression period setting unit that sets a compression period for compressing the ultrasonic probe, wherein the gas change measurement unit measures the change in the gas region or the state of gas during the compression period set by the compression period setting unit.

3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gas change measurement unit measures a change rate of the gas region or the state of gas during the compression period set by the compression period setting unit.

4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a compression operation determination unit that determines a compression operation of the ultrasonic probe on the subject based on the movement of the ultrasonic probe, wherein the gas change measurement unit measures the change in the gas region or the state of gas when the compression of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit.

5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a motion sensor that detects the movement of the ultrasonic probe, wherein the compression operation determination unit determines the compression operation based on the movement of the ultrasonic probe detected by the motion sensor.

6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an optical camera that acquires an optical image including at least the ultrasonic probe, wherein the compression operation determination unit determines the compression operation by analyzing the optical image acquired by the optical camera.

7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the compression operation determination unit determines the compression operation of the ultrasonic probe using a learned determination model that has learned the movement of the ultrasonic probe in the optical image captured by the ultrasonic probe.

8. The compression operation determination unit determines, as the compression operation, the start of compression by the ultrasonic probe and the end of compression by the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the compression period setting unit sets, as the compression period, the period from when the start of compression by the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit until the end of compression by the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit.

9. The compression operation determination unit determines, as the compression operation, the start of compression by the ultrasonic probe and the still state during the compression by the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the compression period setting unit sets, as the compression period, the period from when the start of compression by the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit until a predetermined time has elapsed after the still state of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the compression operation determination unit.

10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gas specifying unit specifies the gas region or the state of the gas by calculating the area of a region having a luminance equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value in the ultrasonic image.

11. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gas specifying unit specifies the gas region or the state of the gas based on the image quality of a part imaged deeper than the intestinal tract of the subject in the ultrasonic image.

12. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gas specifying unit specifies the gas region or the state of the gas using a learned determination model that has learned the gas region or the state of the gas in an ultrasonic image in which at least the lower abdomen is imaged.

13. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the imaging guide unit guides the imaging of the ultrasonic image while continuing the compression by the ultrasonic probe when the area of the gas region measured by the gas change measurement unit decreases or the state of the gas improves.

14. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the imaging guide unit interrupts the compression by the ultrasonic probe and guides the imaging of the ultrasonic image by changing the position of the subject when the area of the gas region or the state of the gas measured by the gas change measurement unit does not change.

15. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a monitor for displaying the ultrasonic image.

16. By transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam using an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic image of a plurality of temporally consecutive frames is obtained by photographing the lower abdomen of a subject, Based on the ultrasonic image, a gas region or the state of the gas is specified, When the ultrasonic probe is pressed against the subject, a change in the gas region or the state of the gas specified is measured, Based on the measured change in the gas region or the state of the gas, guidance for ultrasonic image imaging is performed A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

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