Ultrasound diagnostic device and program

Abstract

To enable the use of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without reduction in the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.SOLUTION: Image data acquired with transmission / reception of an ultrasonic wave is stored in a storage device 22. A control unit 26 controls efficiency improvement processing of the image data stored in the storage device 22 on the basis of the residual capacity of the storage device 22 and the performance of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus being the own apparatus. The efficiency improvement processing is, for example, the processing of changing arrangement on the storage device 22 of the image data stored in the storage device 22 or the processing of deleting the image data from the storage device 22. The control unit 26 may urge a user to execute the efficiency improvement processing or may execute the efficiency improvement processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Image data acquired by an imaging diagnostic device such as an ultrasound diagnostic device may be stored in a storage device of the imaging diagnostic device. When the remaining capacity of the storage device of the imaging diagnostic device becomes low, the performance of the imaging diagnostic device may be degraded. To avoid this, tasks or processes may be performed to increase the remaining capacity of the storage device. For example, after an examination is completed, image data that has been transferred to an external device such as a server may be automatically deleted from the storage device, or image data may be automatically deleted from the storage device at regular intervals. Furthermore, when image data is stored in the storage device of the imaging diagnostic device for a certain period of time, a user may manually delete the image data from the storage device.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an imaging diagnostic device that, when it is determined that some or all of a group of files stored in a main memory device should be backed up to an auxiliary memory device, transmits some or all of a group of image files stored in the main memory device to the auxiliary memory device and records them there, and then deletes the image files recorded in the auxiliary memory device from the main memory device.

[0004] Patent document 2 describes a log management system that generates operation logs related to medical devices, stores them in a storage device, reads out the stored operation logs, and combines the operation logs with information that is missing from the audit log to generate an audit log. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-326209 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-50177 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to enable the use of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without degrading the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an ultrasound diagnostic device comprising: a storage means for storing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves; and a control means for controlling the efficiency processing of the image data stored in the storage means based on the remaining capacity of the storage means and the performance of the device itself.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the efficiency improvement process is controlled based on the remaining capacity of the storage means and the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device. For example, the control means may prompt the user to execute the efficiency improvement process, or may execute the efficiency improvement process with or without receiving an instruction from the user, as the control of the efficiency improvement process. The performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device depends on, for example, the time required to store image data in the storage means, the time required to read image data from the storage means, the time required to start up or shut down the ultrasound diagnostic device, and the time required to analyze the image data. The control means may prompt the user to execute the efficiency improvement process when the remaining capacity of the storage means is equal to or less than a first threshold, or may prompt the user to execute the efficiency improvement process when the remaining capacity of the storage means is equal to or less than the first threshold and the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device is equal to or less than a second threshold. Of course, the control means may automatically execute the efficiency improvement process in these cases. The image data may be data before signal processing is applied, data after signal processing is applied, or data after analysis.

[0009] The efficiency improvement process may be a process of changing the arrangement of image data stored in the storage means.

[0010] An example of the process of changing the arrangement of image data is defragmentation. For example, if the storage means is configured with a hard disk drive and fragmentation occurs on the hard disk drive, defragmentation can be performed to eliminate the fragmentation. As a result, it is possible to suppress the degradation of performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device due to fragmentation.

[0011] The efficiency improvement process may be a process of deleting image data from the storage means.

[0012] By deleting image data from the storage means, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus due to the remaining capacity of the storage means.

[0013] The efficiency improvement process may be a process of deleting image data that is not suitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination.

[0014] For example, the purpose of the ultrasound examination is determined for each body part, each patient, each symptom, or each disease, and image data that does not fit the purpose is deleted. Image data may be deleted automatically, or may be deleted according to a user's instruction. A list of image data that does not fit the purpose of the ultrasound examination may be displayed, and image data selected by the user from the list may be deleted.

[0015] The ultrasound diagnostic device may further include an analysis means for analyzing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves, and the control means may determine whether or not to perform efficiency improvement processing before the analysis based on the content of the analysis by the analysis means, and may prompt the user to perform the efficiency improvement processing based on the result of the determination.

[0016] For example, if an analysis is scheduled that is predicted to place a load on the ultrasound diagnostic device that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the control means prompts the user to perform an efficiency improvement process before executing the analysis. This allows the efficiency improvement process to be executed before the analysis that is predicted to place a load on the ultrasound diagnostic device that is greater than or equal to the threshold is executed. As a result, it becomes possible to execute the analysis while suppressing degradation of the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0017] The control means may further cause the display means to display a screen showing information about the patient who is the subject of the ultrasound examination before and after the ultrasound examination is performed, and the control means may further not display an image on the screen that allows the user to instruct the user to check the performance of the device before the ultrasound examination is performed, but may display the image on the screen after the ultrasound examination is performed.

[0018] Since the image is not displayed before the ultrasound examination is performed, it is possible to prevent the process of checking the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device before the ultrasound examination is performed from being performed.

[0019] The control means may prompt the user to perform the efficiency improvement processing based on the relationship between the time required for the efficiency improvement processing and the time between when the ultrasound examination is performed and when the ultrasound examination is performed on the next patient.

[0020] For example, if the time required for the efficiency improvement process is shorter than the time between when the ultrasound examination is performed and when the ultrasound examination for the next patient is performed, the control means prompts the user to perform the efficiency improvement process. Otherwise, the control means does not prompt the user to perform the efficiency improvement process. This allows the efficiency improvement process to be completed between when the ultrasound examination is performed and when the ultrasound examination for the next patient is performed, even if the efficiency improvement process is performed. For example, if an examination is registered on the same day, the control means may predict the time for the next examination.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer mounted on an ultrasound diagnostic device to function as control means for storing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves in a storage device, and controlling efficient processing of the image data in the storage device based on the remaining capacity of the storage device and the processing capacity of the ultrasound diagnostic device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to use an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without degrading the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of an efficiency improvement process. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an ID screen before an ultrasound examination. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 shows an ID screen after an ultrasound examination. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen displaying a list of image data. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for selecting an efficiency improvement process. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for selecting an efficiency improvement process. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen displaying candidates for images to be deleted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] An imaging diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment will be described below. Although an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus will be described below as an example of an imaging diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is merely an example of an imaging diagnostic apparatus, and the imaging diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment is not limited to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, but may be an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, or other diagnostic apparatus.

[0025] The configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment is shown in Figure 1. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a device that generates image data representing tissues within a living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

[0026] The probe 10 is a transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. The probe 10 has, for example, a 1D array transducer. The 1D array transducer is formed by arranging multiple transducer elements one-dimensionally. An ultrasonic beam is formed by the 1D array transducer, and the ultrasonic beam is repeatedly electronically scanned. As a result, a scan plane is formed within the living body for each electronic scan. The scan plane corresponds to a two-dimensional echo data acquisition space. The probe 10 may have, instead of a 1D array transducer, a 2D array transducer formed by arranging multiple transducer elements two-dimensionally. When an ultrasonic beam is formed by the 2D array transducer and the ultrasonic beam is repeatedly electronically scanned, a scan plane is formed as a two-dimensional echo data acquisition space for each electronic scan. When the ultrasonic beam is scanned two-dimensionally, a three-dimensional space is formed as a three-dimensional echo data acquisition space. As a scanning method, sector scanning, linear scanning, convex scanning, or the like is used.

[0027] The transceiver 12 functions as a transmit beamformer and a receive beamformer. During transmission, the transceiver 12 supplies multiple transmit signals with a certain delay relationship to multiple transducer elements included in the probe 10. This forms an ultrasonic transmit beam. During reception, reflected waves from within the living body are received by the probe 10, which in turn outputs multiple receive signals to the transceiver 12. The transceiver 12 forms a receive beam by applying a delay-and-sum process to the multiple receive signals. This beam data is output to the signal processing unit 14. That is, the transceiver 12 applies delay processing to the receive signals obtained from each transducer element according to the delay processing conditions for each transducer element, and then adds up the multiple receive signals obtained from the multiple transducer elements to form a receive beam. The delay processing conditions are specified by receive delay data indicating the delay time. A receive delay data set (i.e., a set of delay times) corresponding to the multiple transducer elements is supplied from the control unit 26.

[0028] The operation of the transmitter / receiver 12 electronically scans the ultrasonic beams (i.e., the transmission beams and reception beams), thereby forming a scan plane. The scan plane corresponds to a plurality of beam data, which constitute reception frame data (specifically, RF signal frame data). Each beam data is made up of a plurality of echo data aligned in the depth direction. By repeating the electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beams, a plurality of reception frame data aligned on the time axis is output from the transmitter / receiver 12. These constitute a reception frame sequence.

[0029] When the ultrasonic beam is electronically scanned two-dimensionally by the operation of the transmitter / receiver 12, a three-dimensional echo data acquisition space is formed, and volume data as an echo data set is acquired from the three-dimensional echo data acquisition space. By repeating the electronic scanning of the ultrasonic beam, multiple volume data arranged on the time axis are output from the transmitter / receiver 12. These constitute a volume data string.

[0030] The signal processing unit 14 is a module that applies signal processing such as detection and logarithmic compression to the beam data output from the transmitting / receiving unit 12 .

[0031] The DSC (digital scan converter) 16 is a module equipped with conversion functions (i.e., coordinate conversion functions, interpolation processing functions, etc.), and generates a tissue display frame sequence based on the received frame sequence output from the signal processing unit 14. Each tissue display frame is data of a B-mode tomographic image. The tissue display frame sequence is displayed on a display unit 20 such as a monitor via a display processing unit 18. This allows the B-mode tomographic images to be displayed as moving images in real time.

[0032] The display processing unit 18 overlays the graphic data onto the tomographic image etc. to generate a display image. The display image data is output to the display unit 20, and one or more images are displayed side by side in a display format according to the display mode.

[0033] The display unit 20 is, for example, a display such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display, etc. The display unit 20 may be configured with a plurality of displays.

[0034] The storage device 22 is a device that constitutes a storage area for storing data, and is, for example, a memory (e.g., RAM, DRAM, ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an optical disk, etc. The storage device 22 is an example of a storage means.

[0035] The storage device 22 may store beam data (e.g., RF signal frame data or volume data) before signal processing by the signal processing unit 14 is applied, or may store beam data output from the signal processing unit 14, or may store tissue display frames (i.e., B-mode tomographic image data) output from the DSC 16. For example, the beam data before signal processing by the signal processing unit 14 is applied may be read out, processing by the signal processing unit 14 may be applied, and then a tissue display frame may be generated by processing by the DSC 16. Furthermore, the display processing unit 18 may read out the tissue display frames stored in the storage device 22 and display them on the display unit 20.

[0036] The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment may have a function for acquiring Doppler data. For example, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment performs a Doppler method such as an ultrasound pulse Doppler method to generate Doppler data (e.g., a Doppler waveform). Specifically, according to the ultrasound pulse Doppler method, ultrasound waves are repeatedly transmitted and received in a specific Doppler beam direction, and the resulting received signals are output to a gate circuit. The gate circuit extracts a partial signal corresponding to a sample gate set in the Doppler beam direction and outputs it to a Doppler waveform generator. The Doppler waveform generator includes circuits such as a quadrature detection circuit and a frequency analysis circuit (FFT analyzer), and extracts Doppler information (e.g., Doppler shift frequency components) from the input signal and expands the Doppler information on the frequency axis. As a result of the frequency analysis, a velocity spectrum (i.e., blood flow velocity information) consisting of power for each frequency (i.e., velocity) is obtained. Angle correction may be applied to the velocity spectrum. A Doppler waveform is generated based on the velocity spectrum. For example, the horizontal axis of the Doppler waveform is the time axis, and the vertical axis represents a value corresponding to blood flow velocity. The Doppler waveform is displayed on the display unit 20 via the display processing unit 18. The Doppler data may be stored in the storage device 22. The display processing unit 18 may combine multiple images. For example, when a color blood flow image is acquired, the display processing unit 18 may combine the color blood flow image of a certain cross section onto a tomographic image of the cross section.

[0037] The concept of "image data" described below includes beam data (e.g., RF signal frame data or volume data) before signal processing by the signal processing unit 14 is applied, beam data output from the signal processing unit 14 (i.e., beam data after signal processing by the signal processing unit 14 is applied), tissue display frames output from the DSC 16 (i.e., B-mode tomographic image data), and Doppler data.

[0038] The analysis unit 24 analyzes the image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The analysis unit 24 is an example of an analysis means.

[0039] Examples of image data analysis include a process for detecting tissue boundaries and regions from tissue display frame data, a process for detecting regions by template matching or the like, a process for measuring the size of the detected regions, a process for tracking the detected regions in chronological order for a plurality of tissue display frame data, a process for emphasizing the detected boundaries, a process for applying a filter to image data, a process for setting a mask on image data, a process for searching for paths of tissues such as blood vessels shown in the image data, and a process for coloring tissue display frame data, etc. Of course, the analysis of image data is not limited to these, and other analyses may also be performed.

[0040] The analysis unit 24 may read and analyze image data stored in the storage device 22, may directly receive and analyze image data output from the DSC 16 or the like, or may obtain and analyze image data from an external device (e.g., a storage device or a server) installed outside the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0041] The control unit 26 controls the operation of each component of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and is an example of a control means.

[0042] An operation unit 28 is connected to the control unit 26. The operation unit 28 is an operation device such as a trackball, a keyboard, a mouse, buttons, knobs, or an operation panel. A touch panel that combines the display unit 20 and the operation unit 28 may be included in the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0043] The control unit 26 controls the efficiency processing of the image data stored in the storage device 22 based on the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 and the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device itself.

[0044] The remaining capacity of the storage device 22 refers to the free space of the storage device 22, and for example, if the storage device 22 is a hard disk drive, it refers to the free space of the hard disk drive.

[0045] The concept of the performance of an ultrasound diagnostic device includes performance related to the process of storing image data in the storage device 22, performance related to the process of reading image data from the storage device 22, performance related to the startup of the ultrasound diagnostic device, performance related to the shutdown of the ultrasound diagnostic device, and performance related to the analysis of image data by the analysis unit 24. For example, the time required for each process varies depending on the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0046] For example, the time required to store image data in the storage device 22 varies depending on the performance of the process for storing the image data in the storage device 22. Specifically, the lower the performance of the process for storing image data in the storage device 22, the longer the time required to store the image data in the storage device 22. In such cases, the time can be reduced by performing an efficiency improvement process (e.g., defragmentation, etc.) described below.

[0047] The time required to read image data from the storage device 22 varies depending on the performance of the process of reading image data from the storage device 22. Specifically, the lower the performance of the process of reading image data from the storage device 22, the longer the time required to read image data from the storage device 22.

[0048] The time required for the startup of an ultrasound diagnostic device to be completed varies depending on the startup performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device. Specifically, the lower the startup performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device, the longer the time required for the startup of the ultrasound diagnostic device to be completed.

[0049] The time required to complete the shutdown of an ultrasound diagnostic device varies depending on the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device with regard to the shutdown. Specifically, the lower the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device with regard to the shutdown, the longer the time required to complete the shutdown of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0050] The time required to complete the analysis of image data varies depending on the performance related to the analysis of image data. Specifically, the lower the performance related to the analysis of image data, the longer the time required to complete the analysis of image data.

[0051] Generally, the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device may decrease when the remaining capacity (i.e., free space) of the storage device 22 becomes low. The control unit 26 determines whether or not efficiency processing of the image data is necessary based on the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 and the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device itself, and controls the efficiency processing based on the result of the determination.

[0052] The efficiency improvement process is, for example, defragmentation, a process of changing the arrangement of image data stored in the storage device 22. For example, if the storage device 22 is a hard disk drive (HDD), fragmentation may occur, whereby areas occupied by image data are scattered across the storage device 22. In this case, access to the image data slows down, and the time required to store the image data in the storage device 22 and the time required to read the image data from the storage device 22 increases. Defragmentation eliminates fragmentation, thereby suppressing a decrease in performance related to the process of storing image data in the storage device 22 and the process of reading the image data from the storage device 22. In other words, a decrease in performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is suppressed. Furthermore, if image data needs to be read from the storage device 22 when analyzing the image data, the occurrence of fragmentation may increase the time required to analyze the image data. Eliminating fragmentation can suppress an increase in the time required to analyze the image data and a decrease in performance related to the analysis of the image data.

[0053] If the storage device 22 is a solid state drive (SSD), the efficiency improvement process is a Trim process that optimizes the SSD (that is, a process for internally erasing unused areas of the SSD).

[0054] Another example of the efficiency improvement process is a process of deleting image data from the storage device 22. For example, a process of deleting image data transferred from an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to an external device (e.g., a storage device, a server, etc.) from the storage device 22 corresponds to an example of the efficiency improvement process. As will be described later, image data may be deleted for other reasons.

[0055] Controlling the efficiency improvement process includes, for example, (1-1) checking the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device, (1-2) prompting the user to check the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device (for example, displaying a message or image prompting the user on the display unit 20), (1-3) displaying information (for example, an image such as a button) on the display unit 20 for the user to instruct the user to check the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device, (2-1) executing the efficiency improvement process, (2-2) prompting the user to execute the efficiency improvement process (for example, displaying a message or image prompting the user on the display unit 20), or (2-3) displaying information (for example, an image representing a button) on the display unit 20 for the user to instruct the user to execute the efficiency improvement process. The control unit 26 executes any of the processes (1-1) to (2-3). The process to be executed may be set in advance or may be set by the user.

[0056] For example, when the remaining capacity of storage device 22 is equal to or less than a first threshold value, which is a capacity threshold, and the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device itself is equal to or less than a second threshold value, which is a performance threshold, control unit 26 may cause display unit 20 to display an image (e.g., an icon representing a button) for the user to instruct the execution of efficiency improvement processing, or may prompt the user to execute efficiency improvement processing, or may automatically execute efficiency improvement processing without the user instructing execution of efficiency improvement processing. When the user presses the image on the screen of display unit 20, control unit 26 executes efficiency improvement processing.

[0057] The control unit 26 may display an image (e.g., an icon representing a button) on the display unit 20 to instruct the user to check the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device. When the user presses the image on the display unit 20, the control unit 26 checks the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device. Of course, the control unit 26 may automatically check the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device without the user issuing an instruction to check the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0058] The performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device may be confirmed using known techniques, or may be confirmed using the execution history of each process or the remaining capacity of the storage device 22. Information indicating the execution history of each process is stored in the storage device 22. For example, information indicating the time required to complete a process is stored in the storage device 22 as information indicating the history.

[0059] For example, the control unit 26 uses known techniques and history to predict the time required to complete each process of the ultrasonic diagnostic device, and determines the predicted time as the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device at the time of prediction (i.e., the time when the performance is confirmed). The performance corresponds to the processing capacity of the ultrasonic diagnostic device at the time when the performance is confirmed.

[0060] For example, information indicating the history of the process of storing image data in the storage device 22 is stored in the storage device 22, and the control unit 26 uses the history and known techniques to predict the time required to store the image data in the storage device 22 at the time when the performance has been confirmed. The control unit 26 similarly predicts the time required to complete other processes. The control unit 26 determines the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device based on the predicted time.

[0061] If the predicted time is long, the control unit 26 determines that the performance has deteriorated, and if the predicted time is short, the control unit 26 determines that the performance has not deteriorated.

[0062] The above-described method for checking the performance of an ultrasonic diagnostic device is merely an example, and the performance of an ultrasonic diagnostic device may be checked by other methods.

[0063] In the above-described ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, components other than the probe 10 can be realized using hardware resources such as a processor and electronic circuits, and devices such as a memory may be used as needed for realization. Furthermore, components other than the probe 10 may be realized by, for example, a computer. That is, all or part of the components other than the probe 10 may be realized by cooperation between hardware resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) and memory provided in a computer and software (program) that defines the operation of the CPU, etc. The program is stored in the storage device 22 or another storage device via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication path such as a network. As another example, components other than the probe 10 may be realized by a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like. Of course, a graphics processing unit (GPU), etc. may also be used.

[0064] The flow of the efficiency improvement process will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the efficiency improvement process.

[0065] First, patient information is input into the ultrasound diagnostic device (S01) and stored in the storage device 22 (S02). For example, a patient information database (DB) is constructed in the storage device 22, and the input patient information is registered in the DB. The patient information includes information for identifying the patient. For example, the patient information includes information indicating the patient's name, ID, age, sex, date of birth, etc. Of course, information other than these may also be included in the patient information. The patient information may be input into the ultrasound diagnostic device by a user, or may be transmitted to the ultrasound diagnostic device from an external device such as a server.

[0066] If the patient information is registered in the DB (S02, Yes), the ultrasound diagnostic device transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from the imaging target of the patient, who is the subject, in accordance with a user's instruction to start imaging, thereby generating image data. The generated image data is stored in the storage device 22 (S03). If the patient information is not registered in the DB (S02, No), the process returns to step S01.

[0067] If the image data is stored in the storage device 22 (S04, Yes), the examination ends (S05). If the image data is not stored in the storage device 22 (S04, No), the process returns to step S01.

[0068] After the examination is completed, the user gives an instruction to check the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device (S06). For example, the control unit 26 displays an image (e.g., an icon representing a performance check button) for the user to give the instruction on the display unit 20. When the user presses the image on the screen of the display unit 20, the control unit 26 checks the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0069] If the result of the performance check of the ultrasound diagnostic device reaches a level that recommends execution of the efficiency improvement process (S07, Yes), one of the processes in steps S08 to S10 is executed. If the result of the performance check does not reach the level (S07, No), the process proceeds to step S01.

[0070] The result of checking the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device indicates that the execution of efficiency improvement processing is recommended when, for example, (1) the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 is equal to or less than a first threshold value related to capacity and the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device is equal to or less than a second threshold value related to performance, (2) the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 is equal to or less than the first threshold value, or (3) the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device is equal to or less than the second threshold value. As another example, the execution of efficiency improvement processing may be recommended when the total usage rate of the storage device 22 is equal to or more than a threshold value (for example, 45%).

[0071] The process of step S08 is a process of transitioning the power mode of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to an energy saving mode. For example, when information (e.g., an image representing a button) for instructing the execution of the energy saving mode is displayed on the display unit 20 and the user instructs the execution of the energy saving mode, the control unit 26 transitions the power mode of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to the energy saving mode. Thereafter, the process transitions to step S01. In the energy saving mode, for example, the brightness of the display constituting the display unit 20 is set to a low value. The control unit 26 may automatically transition the mode to the energy saving mode without receiving an instruction from the user.

[0072] The process of step S09 is a process of performing defragmentation. For example, information for instructing the execution of defragmentation (for example, an image representing a button) is displayed on the display unit 20, and when the user instructs the execution of defragmentation, the control unit 26 performs defragmentation on the storage device 22 (S11). The control unit 26 may perform defragmentation without receiving an instruction from the user.

[0073] The process of step S10 is a process of continuing to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus as is without executing the efficiency improvement process. For example, when information (e.g., an image representing a button) for instructing to continue using the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus as is is displayed on the display unit 20 and the user instructs to continue using the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus as is, the control unit 26 does not execute the efficiency improvement process. The process proceeds to step S01.

[0074] Although not shown in Fig. 2, a process of deleting image data may be executed as an efficiency improvement process. For example, the control unit 26 displays a list of image data stored in the storage device 22 on the display unit 20. When the user selects image data to be deleted from the list, the control unit 26 deletes the image data selected by the user from the storage device 22. The control unit 26 may display all image data stored in the storage device 22 on the display unit 20 as candidates for deletion, or may display a list of image data transmitted from the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to an external device such as a server on the display unit 20 as candidates for deletion, or may display a list of image data that is not suitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination on the display unit 20 as candidates for deletion.

[0075] Specific examples of the embodiment will be described below.

[0076] The screen on which patient information is displayed will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows an ID screen 30. The ID screen 30 is an example of a screen on which patient information is displayed. For example, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display the ID screen 30 both before and after an ultrasound examination.

[0077] 3 shows an ID screen 30 that is displayed before an ultrasound examination. The ID screen 30 displays a patient information input field 32 and a start button 34.

[0078] Patient information is input into the input field 32. For example, patient information such as a patient ID, a patient name, a date of birth, an age, and a gender are input into the input field 32. For example, before an ultrasound examination, a user (e.g., an examiner) inputs information about the patient who is the subject of the ultrasound examination into the input field 32. As another example, patient information may be transmitted from an external device such as a server to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and the patient information may be displayed in the input field 32.

[0079] The start button 34 is an image (e.g., an icon) that allows the user to give an instruction to start an ultrasound examination. When the user presses the start button 34, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by the probe 10. Image data is generated by the transmitted and received ultrasonic waves and stored in the storage device 22. For example, when an examination end button is displayed on the display unit 20 and the user presses the examination end button, the transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves from the probe 10 ends, and the ultrasound examination ends.

[0080] 4 shows the ID screen 30a that is displayed after the ultrasound examination is completed. When the ultrasound examination is completed, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display the ID screen 30a. The ID screen 30a displays patient information in the same manner as the ID screen 30.

[0081] Also displayed on the ID screen 30a is a check button 36. The check button 36 is an example of the performance check button described above, and is a button for instructing a check of the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device itself. When the user presses the check button 36 on the ID screen 30a, the control unit 26 checks the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0082] As shown in Fig. 3, the control unit 26 does not display the check button 36 on the ID screen before an ultrasound examination is performed, and displays the check button 36 on the ID screen after an ultrasound examination is performed, as shown in Fig. 4. This prevents the user from pressing the check button 36 and checking the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device before an ultrasound examination is performed. Furthermore, the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device can be checked after an ultrasound examination is performed.

[0083] FIG. 5 shows another display example of the check button 36. FIG. 5 shows a screen 38 displaying a list of image data. A list 40 of image data generated by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is displayed on the screen 38. For example, the control unit 26 may cause the display unit 20 to display the screen 38 after an ultrasound examination is completed, or may cause the display unit 20 to display the screen 38 when an instruction to display the screen 38 is given on the ID screen 30a or another screen (e.g., a menu screen). The check button 36 is displayed on the screen 38. When the user presses the check button 36 on the screen 38, the control unit 26 checks the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0084] Displaying a list of image data may be a list of the image data itself, or may be a list of information for identifying the image data (for example, a list of image data IDs or file names). The same applies to the following description.

[0085] For example, the user may press the check button 36 if there is time before the ultrasound examination for the next patient (for example, if the user predicts that the efficiency processing will be completed before the ultrasound examination for the next patient), or after the end of the day's examinations.

[0086] 6 shows a screen 42 for selecting an efficiency improvement process. When the check button 36 on the ID screen 30a or the screen 38 is pressed to confirm the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display the screen 42.

[0087] The results of checking the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (the performance check results in FIG. 6) are displayed on the screen 42, as indicated by the reference numeral 44. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the remaining capacity of a hard disk drive (HDD), which is an example of the storage device 22, and a performance value are displayed on the screen 42.

[0088] The performance value is the result of checking the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device. As described above, the performance of the ultrasonic diagnostic device is checked based on the time required to store image data in the storage device 22, the time required to read image data from the storage device 22, etc., and the checking result is displayed on the screen 42 as a performance value.

[0089] Buttons 46, 48, and 50 are displayed on the screen 42. The button 46 is an image that instructs the user to continue using the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus without executing the efficiency improvement process. When the button 46 is pressed by the user, the control unit 26 does not execute the efficiency improvement process.

[0090] Buttons 48 and 50 are images that allow the user to instruct the execution of efficiency improvement processing. Button 48 is an image that allows the user to instruct the execution of defragmentation. Button 50 is an image that allows the user to instruct the execution of energy saving mode. When button 48 is pressed by the user, control unit 26 executes defragmentation of storage device 22. When button 50 is pressed by the user, control unit 26 transitions the power mode of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to energy saving mode.

[0091] Control unit 26 may cause display unit 20 to display screen 42a shown in Fig. 7 instead of screen 42 shown in Fig. 6. Screen 42a displays the results of the performance check, similar to screen 42. Screen 42a also displays button 52 in addition to buttons 46, 48, and 50.

[0092] Button 52 is an image that allows the user to instruct the deletion of image data. When the user presses button 52, control unit 26 deletes the image data from storage device 22. Deleting image data is an example of an efficiency improvement process. A specific example of deleting image data will be described below.

[0093] For example, when the user presses button 52, control unit 26 causes display unit 20 to display a list of image data stored in storage device 22. Control unit 26 may cause display unit 20 to display a list of image data for each patient, or may cause display unit 20 to display a list of image data in chronological order according to the date and time when the image data was acquired by ultrasound examination, or may cause display unit 20 to display a list of image data that has been transferred to an external device such as a server, or may cause display unit 20 to display a list of image data whose capacity is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold, or may cause display unit 20 to display a list of either moving image data or still image data, or may cause display unit 20 to display a list of image data according to other rules. When the user selects image data to be deleted from the list, control unit 26 deletes the selected image data from storage device 22. Before deleting the selected image data, control unit 26 may cause display unit 20 to display information (e.g., a warning) inquiring the user about whether or not to delete the selected image data, and then deletes the selected image data if the user instructs deletion.

[0094] The control unit 26 may delete image data that is not suitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination from the storage device 22, or may display a list of image data that is not suitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination on the display unit 20, and may also display information (e.g., a message) on the display unit 20 urging the user to delete image data that is not suitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination.

[0095] Information indicating the purpose of the ultrasound examination may be included in patient information and input to the ultrasound diagnostic device before the ultrasound examination begins, or may be included in information indicating the order of the ultrasound examination (e.g., information indicating an order determined for each patient) and input to the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0096] Generally, the purpose of an ultrasound examination varies depending on the body part, the patient, the symptoms, or the disease. For example, the purpose of an examination of the circulatory system differs from that of an examination of the abdomen, and the content of the ultrasound examination differs accordingly. Since the image data acquired varies depending on the purpose of the examination, it is difficult to generalize, but in examinations of moving organs or parts such as the heart and blood vessels, such as examinations of the circulatory system, moving image data may be acquired. On the other hand, in examinations of the abdomen, still image data may be acquired. Of course, these are merely examples, and various data may be acquired depending on the purpose of the examination.

[0097] For example, if the purpose of an ultrasound examination is to acquire image data of a region or organ for a predetermined period of time or longer, image data acquired for a period shorter than the predetermined period may be deemed inappropriate for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. In this case, the control unit 26 searches the storage device 22 for image data acquired for a period shorter than the predetermined period and displays a list of the retrieved image data on the display unit 20 as a list of image data inappropriate for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. In this manner, the control unit 26 prompts the user to delete image data inappropriate for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. When the user selects image data from the list, the control unit 26 deletes the selected image data from the storage device 22. Note that the control unit 26 may automatically delete the list of retrieved image data from the storage device 22 without receiving a deletion instruction from the user.

[0098] To explain this with a specific example, if the purpose of an ultrasound examination is to acquire image data of a region (e.g., the heart) over a period of at least a predetermined number of heartbeats (e.g., three heartbeats), image data acquired over a period of heartbeats less than the predetermined number (e.g., two heartbeats) may be evaluated as image data that does not conform to the purpose of the ultrasound examination. In this case, the control unit 26 causes the display unit 20 to display a list of image data acquired over a period of heartbeats less than the predetermined number. The control unit 26 may detect the heart rate by analyzing the image data to detect heartbeats, or may detect the heart rate using other methods. When the user selects image data from the list, the control unit 26 deletes the selected image data from the storage device 22.

[0099] FIG. 8 shows a screen 54 displaying candidate image data to be deleted. A list 56 of candidate image data to be deleted is displayed on the screen 54. The list 56 may be, for example, a list of image data stored in the storage device 22, or a list of image data stored in the storage device 22 that is not suitable for the purpose of ultrasound examination. Buttons 58 and 60 are displayed on the screen 54. The button 58 is a button used by the user to instruct the deletion of image data. The button 60 is a button used by the user to instruct the cancellation of the deletion of image data. When the user selects image data from the list 56 and presses the button 58, the control unit 26 deletes the image data selected by the user from the storage device 22. When the user presses the button 60, the efficiency improvement process for deleting image data ends.

[0100] The following describes modified examples.

[0101] The control unit 26 may determine whether or not to execute efficiency improvement processing before the analysis based on the content of the analysis by the analysis unit 24, and may prompt the user to execute efficiency improvement processing based on the result of the determination.

[0102] For example, information indicating the content of the analysis is included in information indicating an order for an ultrasound examination and input to the ultrasound diagnostic device. The control unit 26 extracts information indicating the content of the analysis from the information indicating the order, identifies the content of the analysis to be performed in the ultrasound examination, and identifies the load on the ultrasound diagnostic device itself when the analysis is performed by the ultrasound diagnostic device itself. For example, a load is predetermined for each analysis, and information indicating the load for each analysis is pre-stored in the storage device 22. The control unit 26 refers to the information to identify the load due to the analysis included in the order.

[0103] To give specific examples, analytical processes that detect boundaries of parts or organs from image data, analytical processes that detect areas of parts or organs, and analytical processes that track boundaries or areas across multiple frames are relatively heavy analytical processes. On the other hand, analytical processes that color image data are relatively light analytical processes. Furthermore, the load of analytical processes that target three-dimensional image data is greater than the load of analytical processes that target two-dimensional image data, and the load of analytical processes that target moving image data is greater than the load of analytical processes that target still image data.

[0104] If the analysis content included in the ultrasound examination order is a relatively heavy-load analysis process, such as a boundary detection process, an area detection process, or a tracking process, the control unit 26 prompts the user to perform an efficiency improvement process before performing the analysis. For example, the control unit 26 displays a message on the display unit 20 such as, "A heavy-load analysis is scheduled to be performed in this ultrasound examination, so please perform an efficiency improvement process such as defragmentation." Furthermore, if the target of the analysis is three-dimensional image data, the control unit 26 may prompt the user to perform an efficiency improvement process before performing the analysis.

[0105] When a relatively heavy load analysis is scheduled to be performed, the performance of the device itself can be improved by performing an efficiency improvement process before the analysis, thereby preventing the device itself from deteriorating in performance when the analysis is being performed.

[0106] If the analysis content included in an ultrasound examination order is a relatively light-load analysis process, such as coloring image data, the control unit 26 does not prompt the user to perform efficiency processing before performing the analysis.

[0107] The control unit 26 may prompt the user to perform the efficiency improvement process based on the relationship between the time required for the efficiency improvement process and the time between when an ultrasound examination is performed on a patient and when an ultrasound examination is performed on the next patient. Hereinafter, the time between when an ultrasound examination is performed on a patient and when an ultrasound examination is performed on the next patient will be referred to as the "waiting time."

[0108] For example, if the control unit 26 predicts that the defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, it prompts the user to perform the defragmentation, and if it predicts that the defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time, it does not prompt the user to perform the defragmentation.

[0109] Prompting the user to perform defragmentation may be, for example, by displaying a message such as "Please perform defragmentation" on the display unit 20, by displaying a button on the display unit 20 to instruct the user to perform defragmentation, by making the button available for the user to press (i.e., by enabling the button to be pressed), by displaying the check button 36 shown in Figures 4 and 5, or by making the check button 36 available for the user to press.

[0110] If the user is not prompted to perform defragmentation, the above message is not displayed on the display unit 20. Also, a button for instructing the user to perform defragmentation may not be displayed on the display unit 20, or even if the button is displayed, the user may not be able to press the button (that is, pressing the button may be disabled). Also, the check button 36 shown in Figures 4 and 5 may not be displayed, or even if the check button 36 is displayed, the user may not be able to press the check button 36.

[0111] The timing for prompting the user to perform defragmentation is, for example, when an ultrasound examination for a certain patient is completed. Even after the ultrasound examination for the patient is completed, the control unit 26 may prompt the user to perform defragmentation up to the latest start time at which defragmentation is expected to be completed during the waiting time.

[0112] For example, an external device such as a server manages the schedule of ultrasound examinations for each patient. Specifically, schedule information indicating the scheduled start time (e.g., start date and time), the length of time required for the ultrasound examination, and the scheduled end time (e.g., end date and time) of the ultrasound examination for each patient is stored in advance in the external device such as a server. Information indicating the order of an ultrasound examination for each patient includes schedule information for the ultrasound examination for that patient. Information indicating the order of an ultrasound examination for each patient is transmitted from the external device to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and the control unit 26 acquires the information indicating the order of an ultrasound examination for each patient. As a result, the control unit 26 acquires the schedule information for the ultrasound examination for each patient and identifies the waiting time between ultrasound examinations for each patient.

[0113] The time required to complete defragmentation depends on the total capacity and remaining capacity of the storage device 22, and the control unit 26 uses, for example, a known technique to predict the time required to complete defragmentation at the current time.

[0114] If the time required to complete defragmentation is shorter than the waiting time, the control unit 26 predicts that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, and if the time required to complete defragmentation is equal to or longer than the waiting time, the control unit 26 predicts that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time.

[0115] For example, in the example shown in Figure 4, if the control unit 26 predicts that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, it displays the check button 36 on the ID screen 30a, and if it predicts that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time, it does not display the check button 36 on the ID screen 30a.

[0116] As another example, the control unit 26 may display the check button 36 on the ID screen 30a, and if it predicts that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, it may accept the user's pressing of the check button 36 as valid, and if it predicts that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time, it may invalidate and not accept the user's pressing of the check button 36. If the pressing of the check button 36 is valid, the control unit 26 checks the performance of its own device, and if the pressing of the check button 36 is invalid, it does not check the performance of its own device.

[0117] As yet another example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, if the control unit 26 predicts that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, it may display a button 48 on the screen 42 to instruct the execution of defragmentation, and if it predicts that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time, it may not be necessary to display the button 48 on the screen 42.

[0118] The control unit 26 may display a button 48 on the screen 42, and if it predicts that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, accept the user's pressing of the button 48 as valid, and if it predicts that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time, accept the user's pressing of the button 48 as invalid. If the pressing of the button 48 is valid, the control unit 26 executes defragmentation, and if the pressing of the button 48 is invalid, the control unit 26 does not execute defragmentation.

[0119] If it is predicted that defragmentation will be completed during the waiting time, the user is prompted to perform defragmentation, and if it is predicted that defragmentation will not be completed during the waiting time, the user is not prompted to perform defragmentation, thereby allowing defragmentation to be completed without interfering with the ultrasound examination of the next patient.

[0120] The control unit 26 may determine whether the examinations for a day have ended by referring to information indicating the ultrasound examination orders for each patient. For example, the control unit 26 determines that the examinations for that day have ended when the ultrasound examination for the last patient on a certain day has ended. When the examinations for a day have ended, the control unit 26 may automatically check the performance of the ultrasound device or automatically execute an efficiency improvement process without receiving an instruction from the user.

[0121] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus can be used without degrading its performance by prompting the user to perform efficiency improvement processing or by automatically performing efficiency improvement processing.

[0122] For example, there are facilities (e.g., hospitals) that do not have a server that stores image data generated by an ultrasound diagnostic device, or facilities that have a server with a relatively small storage capacity that stores image data. In such facilities, (1) the facility does not transfer image data generated by the ultrasound diagnostic device to the server, (2) the facility transfers image data generated by the ultrasound diagnostic device to the server but infrequently, or (3) the facility transfers small image data to the server but stores large image data in the ultrasound diagnostic device without transferring it to the server. In such cases, the remaining capacity of the storage device 22 of the ultrasound diagnostic device may become low, resulting in a degradation in the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device. According to the embodiment, even in facilities where such operations are performed, it is possible to use the ultrasound diagnostic device while suppressing degradation in the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0123] In addition, in some cases, data before analysis is stored in the ultrasound diagnostic device, and the analyzed data is transferred to a server. Even in such cases, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0124] As described above, it is possible to suppress the degradation of the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device, and as a result, for example, the time required to search for image data stored in the ultrasound diagnostic device can be shortened. The time required to search for image data largely depends on the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device. For example, when a search key (e.g., a keyword) is input into the ultrasound diagnostic device, the control unit 26 searches the storage device 22 for image data corresponding to the search key and displays the search results on the display unit 20. Some ultrasound diagnostic devices, when a one-character keyword is input, search for image data corresponding to that one character and display the search results. In an ultrasound diagnostic device with such functionality, it is necessary to quickly search and display image data. However, if the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device decreases, the search speed slows down, and the function cannot be fully utilized. According to the embodiment, it is possible to suppress the degradation of the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device, and such search function can be fully utilized.

[0125] The control unit 26 may determine whether or not to execute the efficiency improvement process by including the performance related to the search of image data (for example, the length of time required for the search) in the performance of the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0126] Note that while defragmentation is being performed, the control unit 26 may restrict the functions and operations of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. For example, while defragmentation is being performed, the control unit 26 may not accept operations from the user via the operation unit 28, or even if it accepts an operation from the user, it may not execute processing in accordance with the operation, or it may prohibit the execution of functions other than defragmentation. This allows defragmentation to function more effectively. In this case, after defragmentation is completed, the control unit 26 may execute processing in accordance with an operation accepted during defragmentation, or may execute processing instructed to be executed during defragmentation. Of course, the control unit 26 does not have to restrict the functions and operations of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus even while defragmentation is being performed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 10 probe, 20 display unit, 22 storage device, 24 analysis unit, 26 control unit.

Claims

1. a storage means for storing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; an analysis means for analyzing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a control means for controlling efficiency improvement processing of the image data stored in the storage means based on the remaining capacity of the storage means and the performance of the device itself, the control means determining whether or not to execute efficiency improvement processing before analysis based on the content of the analysis to be performed by the analysis means, and prompting a user to execute efficiency improvement processing based on the result of the determination; 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, the efficiency improvement process is a process of changing the arrangement of image data stored in the storage means; An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by:

3. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, the efficiency improvement process is a process of deleting image data from the storage means, An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by:

4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, The efficiency improvement process is a process of deleting image data that is not suitable for the purpose of the ultrasound examination. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by:

5. a storage means for storing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a control means for controlling an efficiency processing of the image data stored in the storage means based on the remaining capacity of the storage means and the performance of the device itself; Including, The control means further causes the display means to display a screen showing information about the patient who is the subject of the ultrasound examination before and after the ultrasound examination is performed; The control means further prevents an image for a user to instruct a user to check the performance of the device from being displayed on the screen before an ultrasound examination is performed, and displays the image on the screen after the ultrasound examination is performed. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by:

6. a storage means for storing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a control means for controlling an efficiency processing of the image data stored in the storage means based on the remaining capacity of the storage means and the performance of the device itself; Including, the control means prompts the user to execute the efficiency improvement process based on the relationship between the time required for the efficiency improvement process and the time from when the ultrasound examination is performed until the ultrasound examination for the next patient is performed. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by:

7. A computer installed in an ultrasound diagnostic device having a storage means for storing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves in a storage device, an analysis means for analyzing image data acquired by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a control means for controlling efficiency processing of image data in the storage device based on the remaining capacity of the storage device and the processing capacity of the ultrasonic diagnostic device, the control means determining whether or not to execute efficiency processing before analysis based on the content of the analysis to be performed by the analysis means, and prompting a user to execute efficiency processing based on the result of the determination; A program characterized by functioning as

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