WO2022264805A1

WO2022264805A1 - Ultrasonic diagnostic device, ultrasonic system, and method for controlling ultrasonic diagnostic device

Info

Publication number: WO2022264805A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/022247
Authority: WO
Inventors: りか田代
Original assignee: 富士フイルム株式会社
Priority date: 2021-06-14
Filing date: 2022-06-01
Publication date: 2022-12-22

Abstract

This ultrasonic diagnostic device (2) is provided with: an application-switching part (26) for switching the test application for performing an ultrasound test on a patient, who has symptoms that progress in multiple stages, to the test application corresponding to the current stage of the patient on the basis of information for determining the current stage of the patient; and a device control part (29) for executing the test application switched to by the application-switching part (26).

Description

ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used by a patient, an ultrasonic system including the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a control method for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Conventionally, a user such as a doctor who has undergone specialized training uses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to capture an ultrasonic image representing a tomogram of the subject, thereby performing an ultrasound examination of the subject. For example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been developed so that a user such as a doctor can easily perform ultrasonic examination for a desired purpose. In Patent Document 1, a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of uses are displayed on a monitor, and when one of the plurality of icons is selected by the user, an ultrasonic examination for the use corresponding to the selected icon is performed. is disclosed to be performed.

JP 2010-063757 A

By the way, in recent years, there has been a demand for patients to perform their own ultrasound examinations at home as a measure against infectious diseases. However, in most cases, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is usually assumed to be used by a user such as a doctor who has undergone specialized training. Therefore, even if multiple icons corresponding to multiple applications of ultrasound examination are displayed on the monitor, as disclosed in US Pat. It was sometimes difficult to select the appropriate icon to perform an ultrasound examination.

The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that enables a patient to appropriately perform an ultrasonic examination, an ultrasonic system equipped with the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and An object of the present invention is to provide a control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

According to the following configuration, the above object can be achieved.
[1] For a patient with symptoms that progress along multiple stages, an examination application for performing an ultrasound examination of the patient based on judgment information for judging the current stage of the patient an application switching unit for switching to an inspection application corresponding to the stage of
and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an apparatus control section that executes an examination application corresponding to the patient's current stage switched by the application switching section.
[2] The judgment information is information for judging the stage of pregnancy of the patient,
Based on the determination information, the application switching unit selects, based on the determination information, an examination application for performing an ultrasonic examination of the patient, at least an examination application for measuring follicles, an examination application for observing the uterus, and an examination application for observing the fetus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to [1], which switches to one of examination applications.
[3] at least one ultrasonic probe;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to [1] or [2], comprising at least an application switching unit and an apparatus control unit, and an apparatus body connected to at least one ultrasonic probe.
[4] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to [3], wherein the apparatus main body includes an examination condition setting section for setting the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching section.
[5] The main body of the device has an input device for performing an input operation from the outside,
The device control unit authenticates the doctor who inputs the judgment information via the input device,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to [3] or [4], wherein judgment information is inputted by a doctor who has been authenticated by the apparatus control section.
[6] The device main body has a patient information memory for storing judgment information,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of [3] to [5], wherein the application switching unit automatically switches the examination application by reading the determination information from the patient information memory.
[7] The main body of the device is
a monitor;
comprising a menu display unit for displaying a menu screen display including a plurality of icons on a monitor, and for arranging an icon corresponding to an inspection application switched by the application switching unit at a predetermined position in the menu screen display [3]- The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of [6].
[8] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of [3] to [7], wherein the apparatus main body includes a notification unit that notifies the patient that the examination application has been switched by the application switching unit.
[9] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to [8], wherein the notification unit notifies the patient of the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching unit.
[10] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to [8] or [9], wherein the notification unit guides the patient to operate the ultrasonic probe corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching unit.
[11] Any of [8] to [10], wherein, when the ultrasonic probe connected to the device main body is not compatible with the examination application switched by the application switching unit, the notification unit notifies the patient to that effect. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the above.
[12] When the ultrasonic probe connected to the device main body is not compatible with the inspection application switched by the application switching unit, the device control unit controls transmission of ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe connected to the device main body. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of [3] to [10], which stops the
[13] The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of [1] to [12];
Equipped with an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an external terminal device connected via a network and operated by a doctor,
An ultrasound system in which determination information is input by a doctor via an external terminal device and transmitted from the external terminal device to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus via a network.
[14] For a patient with a condition that progresses along multiple stages, an examination application for performing an ultrasound examination of the patient based on judgment information for judging the current stage of the patient, switch to the inspection application corresponding to the stage of
A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that executes a switched examination application.

According to the present invention, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performs an ultrasonic examination of a patient having symptoms progressing along a plurality of stages based on judgment information for judging the current stage of the patient. an application switching unit for switching the examination application for the patient to an examination application corresponding to the patient's current stage; and an apparatus control unit for executing the examination application switched by the application switching unit. can be done.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasound system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a transmission/reception circuit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data generator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. It is an example of a menu screen display in which icons corresponding to the follicle measurement application are arranged according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is an example of a menu screen display on which icons corresponding to a uterine observation application are arranged according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is an example of a menu screen display on which icons corresponding to fetal observation applications are arranged according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an external terminal device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; It is an example of a menu screen display on which icons corresponding to the follicle measurement application are arranged according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The description of the constituent elements described below is based on representative 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 before and after "-" as lower and upper limits.
As used herein, the terms "same" and "same" shall include the margin of error generally accepted in the technical field.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an ultrasound system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. An ultrasound system 1 includes an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 2 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and an external terminal device 3 connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 2 via a network NW. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 is used by a patient, for example, and the external terminal device 3 is used by a doctor, for example.

The configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 is shown in FIG. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 includes an ultrasonic probe 4 and an apparatus main body 5 connected to the ultrasonic probe 4 by wireless communication.

The ultrasonic probe 4 includes a transducer array 11, to which a transmission/reception circuit 12 and a wireless communication circuit 13 are connected in sequence. A probe controller 14 is connected to the transmitter/receiver circuit 12 and the wireless communication circuit 13 . Although not shown, the probe controller 14 constitutes a probe processor. The ultrasonic probe 4 also includes a battery (not shown).

The device main body 5 includes a wireless communication circuit 21, to which a data generation unit 22, a display control unit 23 and a monitor 24 are connected in order. A speaker 32 and a data memory 33 are connected to the data generator 22 . A display control unit 23 and a patient information memory 25 are also connected to the wireless communication circuit 21 . An application switching unit 26 is also connected to the patient information memory 25 . Also, an inspection condition setting unit 27 and a menu display unit 28 are connected to the application switching unit 26 . The menu display section 28 is connected to the display control section 23 .

In addition, the wireless communication circuit 21, the data generation unit 22, the display control unit 23, the patient information memory 25, the application switching unit 26, the examination condition setting unit 27, the menu display unit 28, the speaker 32 and the data memory 33, the device control unit 29 is connected. An input device 30 is connected to the device control section 29 .
A main processor 31 is composed of the data generator 22 , the display controller 23 , the application switching unit 26 , the inspection condition setting unit 27 , the menu display unit 28 and the device controller 29 .

The transducer array 11 of the ultrasonic probe 4 has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally. These ultrasonic transducers each transmit ultrasonic waves in accordance with drive signals supplied from the transmission/reception circuit 12, receive ultrasonic echoes from the subject, and output signals based on the ultrasonic echoes. Each ultrasonic transducer includes, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic typified by PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate), a polymer piezoelectric element typified by PVDF (Poly Vinylidene Di Fluoride), and a PMN- It is constructed by forming electrodes on both ends of a piezoelectric body made of a piezoelectric single crystal or the like, typified by PT (Lead Magnesium Niobate-Lead Titanate).

The transmission/reception circuit 12 transmits ultrasonic waves from the transducer array 11 and processes signals acquired by the transducer array 11 under the control of the probe control unit 14 . As shown in FIG. 3, the transmitting/receiving circuit 12 includes a pulser 41 connected to the transducer array 11, an amplifier 42 sequentially connected in series from the transducer array 11, an AD (Analog Digital) converter 43, and a beam It has a former 44 .

The pulsar 41 includes, for example, a plurality of pulse generators, and based on a transmission delay pattern selected according to a control signal from the probe control unit 14, the ultrasonic transducers of the transducer array 11 transmit Each driving signal is supplied to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers by adjusting the delay amount so that the ultrasonic waves generated form ultrasonic beams. In this way, when a pulse-like or continuous-wave voltage is applied to the electrodes of the ultrasonic transducers of the transducer array 11, the piezoelectric body expands and contracts, and pulse-like or continuous-wave ultrasonic waves are generated from the respective ultrasonic transducers. are generated, and an ultrasonic beam is formed from the composite wave of these ultrasonic waves.

The transmitted ultrasonic beams are reflected by an object such as a site of the subject and propagate toward the transducer array 11 of the ultrasonic probe 4 . The ultrasonic echoes propagating toward the transducer array 11 in this manner are received by the respective ultrasonic transducers forming the transducer array 11 . At this time, each ultrasonic transducer that constitutes the transducer array 11 expands and contracts by receiving a propagating ultrasonic echo, generates a received signal that is an electric signal, and these received signals are amplified by an amplifier. 42.

The amplification unit 42 amplifies the signal input from each ultrasonic transducer that constitutes the transducer array 11 and transmits the amplified signal to the AD conversion unit 43 . The AD converter 43 converts the signal transmitted from the amplifier 42 into a digital format. The beamformer 44 performs so-called reception focusing processing by giving respective delays to the digital received signals received from the AD converter 43 and adding them. By this reception focusing process, each reception signal converted by the AD converter 43 is phased and added, and a reception signal in which the focus of the ultrasonic echo is narrowed is acquired.

The wireless communication circuit 13 of the ultrasonic probe 4 includes an antenna and the like for transmitting and receiving radio waves. It receives control information and the like for controlling the sonic probe 4 from the device main body 5 .

For example, when transmitting a received signal to the device body 5, the wireless communication circuit 13 modulates the carrier based on the received signal to generate a transmission signal. The wireless communication circuit 13 supplies the transmission signal thus generated to the antenna, and transmits radio waves from the antenna, thereby sequentially wirelessly transmitting the received signal to the device body 5 . Examples of carrier modulation schemes include ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying), PSK (Phase Shift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), or 16QAM. (16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), etc. are used. Also, the wireless communication circuit 13 restores data such as control information from the transmission signal received from the device body 5 and sends the restored data to the probe control unit 14 .

The probe control section 14 controls each section of the ultrasonic probe 4 according to the control information received from the device main body 5 via the wireless communication circuit 13, pre-recorded programs, and the like.

A probe processor (not shown) is configured by the probe control unit 14 . The probe processor consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a control program for causing the CPU to perform various types of processing. FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array: feed programmable gate array), DSP ( Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and other ICs (Integrated Circuit) may be used, or may be configured by combining them.

The ultrasonic probe 4 also includes a battery (not shown) for supplying power to each part of the ultrasonic probe 4 .

The device main body 5 can be composed of handheld devices such as so-called tablet computers and smartphones, or devices that can be easily carried by the patient, such as laptop personal computers.

The wireless communication circuit 21 of the device main body 5 includes an antenna and the like for transmitting and receiving radio waves. Control information and the like for controlling the ultrasonic probe 4 are transmitted to the wireless communication circuit 13 of the ultrasonic probe 4 . Further, as will be described later, the wireless communication circuit 21 transmits ultrasound images and the like to the external terminal device 3 via the network NW by wireless communication, and transmits information representing comments and the like from the doctor via the network NW. It is received from the external terminal device 3 .

When transmitting data to the wireless communication circuit 13 of the ultrasonic probe 4 and when transmitting data to the external terminal device 3 via the network NW, the wireless communication circuit 21 modulates the carrier based on the data to be transmitted. to generate the transmission signal. The wireless communication circuit 21 supplies the transmission signal thus generated to the antenna and transmits radio waves from the antenna, thereby wirelessly transmitting data to the wireless communication circuit 13 of the ultrasonic probe 4 and the network NW. do. For example, ASK, PSK, QPSK, 16QAM, or the like is used as a carrier modulation method. Further, the wireless communication circuit 21 restores the transmission signal received from the wireless communication circuit 13 of the ultrasonic probe 4 and the transmission signal received from the external terminal device 3 via the network NW to the original data, and restores the restored data. It is sent to the display control section 23 and the patient information memory 25 .

The data generation unit 22 generates a B-mode image representing a tomographic plane to be scanned when scanning is performed in an imaging mode called a so-called B (Brightness) mode, in a so-called PW (Pulsed Wave) mode. When scanning is performed in an imaging mode called , Doppler data representing temporal changes in blood flow velocity in the scanning target is generated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the data generator 22 includes a signal processor 45 connected to the wireless communication circuit 21. The signal processor 45 includes a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 46 and an image processor 47 They are connected in series. The data generation unit 22 includes a quadrature detection unit 48 connected to the wireless communication circuit 21 in parallel with the signal processing unit 45. The quadrature detection unit 48 includes a high-pass filter 49, a fast Fourier transform unit 50, and a Doppler processing unit. 51 are sequentially connected in series. Image processing unit 47 is connected to wireless communication circuit 21 , display control unit 23 and data memory 33 . The Doppler processing unit 51 is also connected to the wireless communication circuit 21 , the speaker 32 and the data memory 33 .

Under the control of device control section 29, signal processing section 45, DSC 46 and image processing section 47 are used when scanning is performed in B mode, quadrature detection section 48, high pass filter 49, fast Fourier transform section 50 and The Doppler processor 51 is used when scanning is performed in PW mode.

The signal processing unit 45 corrects the attenuation due to the distance according to the depth of the reflection position of the ultrasonic wave using the sound velocity value set by the device control unit 29 for the received signal sent from the wireless communication circuit 21. Thereafter, envelope detection processing is performed to generate a B-mode image signal, which is tomographic image information regarding tissue within the subject.

The DSC 46 converts (raster-converts) the B-mode image signal generated by the signal processing unit 45 into an image signal conforming to the normal television signal scanning method.
The image processing unit 47 performs various necessary image processing such as gradation processing on the B-mode image signal input from the DSC 46 to generate a B-mode image. send to A B-mode image subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 47 is hereinafter referred to as an ultrasound image. The ultrasonic image generated by the image processing section 47 is sent to the display control section 23 , the data memory 33 and the wireless communication circuit 21 .

The ultrasound image sent to the display control unit 23 is displayed on the monitor 24 after being subjected to predetermined processing. The ultrasound image sent to the data memory 33 is stored in the data memory 33 . The ultrasonic image transmitted to the wireless communication circuit 21 is transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 to the external terminal device 3 via the network NW and displayed on the external terminal device 3 .

The quadrature detection unit 48 mixes the received signal sent from the radio communication circuit 21 with a carrier signal of a reference frequency to quadrature-detect the received signal and convert it into complex data.
The high-pass filter 49 functions as a so-called wall filter, and removes frequency components derived from the movement of tissue within the patient from the complex data generated by the quadrature detection section 48 .
The fast Fourier transform unit 50 performs frequency analysis by Fourier transforming complex data of a plurality of sample points, obtains blood flow velocity, and generates a spectrum signal.

The Doppler processing unit 51 arranges the spectral signals generated by the fast Fourier transform unit 50 in chronological order on the time axis, thereby generating Doppler data representing changes in blood flow velocity over time. Doppler data generated by the Doppler processing unit 51 is sent to the speaker 32 , data memory 33 and wireless communication circuit 21 .

The Doppler data sent to the speaker 32 is reproduced by the speaker 32 as a sound representing the time change of the blood flow velocity. When the Doppler data is reproduced as sound by the speaker 32, for example, the height of the blood flow velocity can be expressed by the pitch of the sound. The Doppler data sent to the data memory 33 are stored in the data memory 33 .

The Doppler data transmitted to the wireless communication circuit 21 is transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 to the external terminal device 3 via the network NW, and displayed on the external terminal device 3 as a Doppler waveform image representing the time change of the blood flow velocity. obtain. In the Doppler waveform image, the horizontal axis indicates the time axis, the vertical axis indicates the Doppler shift frequency, that is, the blood flow velocity, and the brightness of the waveform indicates the power of each frequency component.

For example, when PW mode imaging is performed on a fetus, the Doppler waveform image corresponds to a graph representing the heartbeat of the fetus. Also, in this case, the sound reproduced by the speaker 32 based on the Doppler data corresponds to the heartbeat of the fetus.

The patient information memory 25 stores judgment information for judging the patient's current stage for patients with symptoms that progress along multiple stages. The judgment information includes, for example, information for judging the stage of the patient's pregnancy, information for judging the stage of excretory ability of the patient who is bedridden, and for judging the stage of the disease such as pressure ulcer and cancer. information, etc.

The patient information memory 25 stores, for example, so-called LMP (Last Menstrual Period), EDD (Expected Date of Delivery) or EDC (Expected Date of Delivery) as information for determining the pregnancy stage of the patient. of Confinement: expected delivery date), EGA (End Gestational Age: estimated gestational age), GA (Gestational Age: number of weeks of pregnancy), and BBT (Based on Basal Body Temperature: estimated date of ovulation), etc. can be saved.

Such determination information is input by a doctor via the input device 30, for example, before the patient uses the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and when the patient brings the apparatus main body 5 to be examined by a doctor. It can be stored in patient information memory 25 . At this time, the device control unit 29 can authenticate the doctor who inputs the determination information by, for example, having the doctor input an ID (Identifier) or the like via the input device 30 .

Further, the determination information is used by a doctor when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 is located away from a hospital or the like where a doctor is present, for example, so that the patient can use the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 at home. The information may be input via the external terminal device 3 , received by the wireless communication circuit 21 of the device main body 5 via the network NW, and the received information may be stored in the patient information memory 25 .

In addition, as the patient information memory 25, for example, recording media such as SSD (Solid State Drive), SD card (Secure Digital card), USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory) can be used.

The application switching unit 26 stores in advance a plurality of examination applications corresponding to a plurality of stages of the patient. Selecting the examination application corresponding to the stage and setting it as an available examination application switches the already set examination application to the examination application corresponding to the current stage of the patient.

For example, when information for judging the patient's pregnancy stage is used as the judgment information, the application switching unit 26 switches between an examination application for measuring the patient's follicles and an examination application for observing the patient's uterus. and pre-stored examination applications for observing the fetus. Further, the application switching unit 26 divides the observation period of the fetus into three, for example, as an examination application for observing the fetus. Applications and test applications for observing late fetuses can be stored.

The period for observing the fetus in the early stage is, for example, 15 weeks of pregnancy when the so-called early pregnancy period ends after the embryo is confirmed. Weeks to gestational week 27, the period for confirming a late fetus can be set, for example, in the period from gestational week 28 to delivery, which is called the so-called third trimester.

In the following, the inspection application for measuring the patient's follicles is called the follicle measurement inspection application, the inspection application for observing the patient's uterus is called the uterus observation inspection application, and the inspection application for observing the early fetus is called the early fetus. The inspection application for observation, the inspection application for observing the fetus in the middle period is also called the inspection application for observing the fetus in the middle period, and the inspection application for observing the fetus in the later period is also called the inspection application for observing the fetus in the late period.

The examination condition setting unit 27 sets the type of ultrasonic probe and the scanning conditions corresponding to the examination application corresponding to the current stage of the patient, switched by the switching process of the application switching unit 26 . Scanning conditions include imaging modes such as B mode and PW mode, image storage methods such as whether to store ultrasound images as still images or moving images, imaging parameters such as depth, gain, dynamic range and brightness, and Including inspection time limits, etc.

Here, storing an ultrasound image as a still image means storing one frame of the ultrasound image among the ultrasound images continuously generated by the data generation unit 22 as a still image in the data memory 33. . At this time, the patient pauses, that is, freezes and displays on the monitor 24 the ultrasonic images that are continuously generated and sequentially displayed on the monitor 24 by, for example, an input operation via the input device 30 . One frame of the ultrasound image thus obtained can be stored in the data memory 33 .

Also, saving an ultrasonic image as a moving image means saving in the data memory 33 a moving image composed of a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images continuously generated by the data generation unit 22 . At this time, the patient can, for example, perform an input operation via the input device 30 to save multiple frames of ultrasound images captured during a specific period during the examination in the data memory 33 as moving images.

The inspection condition setting unit 27 includes, for example, an inspection application for follicle measurement, an inspection application for uterine observation, an inspection application for early fetal observation, an inspection application for mid-term fetal observation, and an inspection application for late fetal observation, which correspond to the stages of pregnancy of the patient. , the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions shown in Table 1 below can be set.

Here, in the follicle measurement test application, the uterus observation test application, and the early fetus observation test application, a transvaginal probe or a transabdominal probe is set as a usable ultrasonic probe. Before using the diagnostic apparatus 2, a specialist such as a doctor can set which of the transvaginal probe and the transabdominal probe the examination condition setting unit 27 will select based on the aptitude of the patient.

The menu display unit 28 displays on the monitor 24 a menu screen display including a plurality of icons that can be selected by the patient to operate the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2, and displays icons corresponding to the examination applications switched by the application switching unit 26. is placed at a predetermined position on the menu screen display. Here, the examination application switched by the application switching unit 26 refers to an examination application corresponding to the current stage of the patient, to which the already set examination application is switched.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a menu screen display M1 displayed on the monitor 24 when the application switching unit 26 switches the inspection application to the follicle measurement inspection application. The menu screen display M1 includes five icons J1 to J5.

The icon J1 is an icon corresponding to the follicle measurement inspection application. The icon J2 is an icon corresponding to the function of viewing ultrasonic images captured in the past by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and stored in the data memory 33 . The icon J3 is an icon corresponding to the function of browsing the instruction manual of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 . The icon J4 is an icon corresponding to the function of ending the use of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 . The icon J5 is an icon corresponding to the communication function of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and the function of changing settings such as the brightness of the monitor 24 .

FIG. 6 shows an example of the menu screen display M2 when the application switching unit 26 switches the examination application to the examination application for uterine observation. The menu screen display M2 is obtained by arranging an icon J6 corresponding to the uterus observation examination application instead of the icon J1 corresponding to the follicle measurement examination application in the menu screen display M1.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the menu screen display M3 when the application switching unit 26 switches the inspection application to the fetal observation inspection application. The menu screen display M3 is obtained by arranging an icon J7 corresponding to the fetal observation examination application instead of the icon J1 corresponding to the follicle measurement examination application in the menu screen display M1.

In this way, the icons J1, J6, and J7 corresponding to the inspection applications switched by the application switching unit 26 are arranged at predetermined positions even when the menu screen displays M1, M2, and M3 are switched to each other.

The device control section 29 controls each section of the device main body 5 according to a pre-recorded program or the like. In addition, the device control unit 29 executes the examination application corresponding to the current stage of the patient, switched by the application switching unit 26 . In addition, the device control unit 29 generates control information for controlling the ultrasonic probe 4 based on information input via the input device 30, and transmits the generated control information from the wireless communication circuit 21 to ultrasonic waves. It is transmitted to the wireless communication circuit 13 of the probe 4 .

Under the control of the device control unit 29 , the display control unit 23 performs predetermined processing on the ultrasound image and the like generated by the image processing unit 47 of the data generation unit 22 and displays the processed image on the monitor 24 .
The monitor 24 performs various displays under the control of the display control section 23 . The monitor 24 includes, for example, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL display (Organic Electroluminescence Display).
The speaker 32 emits sound based on the Doppler data generated by the Doppler processor 51 of the data generator 22 .

The input device 30 is for users such as patients and doctors to perform input operations. The input device 30 is configured by, for example, devices such as buttons, switches, touch pads, and touch panels for users to perform input operations.

The data memory 33 is a memory that stores the ultrasound image generated by the data generation unit 22 as a still image or moving image, and stores the Doppler data generated by the data generation unit 22 . As the data memory 33, for example, recording media such as an SSD, an SD card, and a USB memory can be used.

The main processor 31 having the data generation unit 22, the display control unit 23, the application switching unit 26, the inspection condition setting unit 27, the menu display unit 28 and the device control unit 29 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), And, it consists of a control program for causing the CPU to perform various processes, including FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit : Application Specific Integrated Circuit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), other ICs (Integrated Circuits), or a combination thereof.

In addition, the data generation unit 22, the display control unit 23, the application switching unit 26, the inspection condition setting unit 27, the menu display unit 28, and the device control unit 29 of the main processor 31 can be partially or wholly integrated into one CPU or the like. It can also be configured by integrating.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the external terminal device 3 according to the first embodiment. The external terminal device 3 includes a communication circuit 61 connected to the wireless communication circuit 21 of the device main body 5 via the network NW. A display control unit 62 and a monitor 63 are connected to the communication circuit 61 in sequence. there is A terminal controller 64 is connected to the communication circuit 61 and the display controller 62 . An input device 65 is connected to the terminal control section 64 . A terminal processor 66 is configured by the display control unit 62 and the terminal control unit 64 .

The communication circuit 61 includes an antenna or the like for transmitting or receiving radio waves, and connects to the network NW through wireless or wired communication. The communication circuit 61 can receive ultrasound images from the wireless communication circuit 21 of the device body 5 via the network NW. In addition, the communication circuit 61 can transmit the information about the symptoms of the patient input by the input device 65 to the wireless communication circuit 21 of the device main body 5 via the network NW.

The terminal control section 64 controls each section of the external terminal device 3 according to a prerecorded program or the like.
Under the control of the terminal control unit 64 , the display control unit 62 performs predetermined processing on the ultrasound image or the like received by the communication circuit 61 and displays the processed image on the monitor 63 .
The monitor 63 performs various displays under the control of the display control section 62 . The monitor 63 includes, for example, a display device such as an LCD or an organic EL display.
The input device 65 is for a doctor who operates the external terminal device 3 to perform an input operation. The input device 65 is configured by devices such as a keyboard, mouse, trackball, touch pad, and touch panel, for example.

The terminal processor 66 having the display control unit 62 and the terminal control unit 64 is composed of a CPU and a control program for causing the CPU to perform various processes. It may be configured using other ICs, or may be configured by combining them. Also, the display control unit 62 and the terminal control unit 64 of the terminal processor 66 can be partially or wholly integrated into one CPU or the like.

Next, using the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as time progresses, the already set examination application is changed to the examination corresponding to each stage of the patient. The operation of sequentially switching to the application will be described. In this description of operation, an example is shown in which the test application is sequentially switched according to the patient's pregnancy stage by using information for determining the patient's pregnancy stage as determination information. Further, the application switching unit 26 selects a follicle measurement test application, a uterine observation test application, an early fetal observation test application, a mid-term fetal observation test application, and a late fetal test application as test applications corresponding to a plurality of stages of the patient's pregnancy. It stores 5 test applications of the observation test application.

In addition, it is assumed that the patient has received guidance from an expert such as a doctor on how to operate the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and how to perform an ultrasonic examination before using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 .
Also, which of the transvaginal probe and the transabdominal probe is selected as the usable ultrasound probe by the inspection condition setting unit 27 for the follicle measurement inspection application, the uterus observation inspection application, and the early fetus observation inspection application. is set by the doctor before the patient uses the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 .

First, in step S1, the application switching unit 26 sets the examination application for follicle measurement as an examination application that can be used by the patient.

As a result, the inspection condition setting unit 27 sets the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the inspection application of follicle measurement, as shown in Table 1. Further, the menu display unit 28 causes the monitor 24 of the apparatus main body 5 to display a menu screen display M1 including an icon J1 corresponding to an inspection application for measuring follicles, as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

The patient can select the icon J1 on the menu screen display M1 to cause the device control unit 29 to execute the examination application for follicle measurement. Thereby, the patient can use the transvaginal probe or the transabdominal probe as the ultrasonic probe set by the examination condition setting unit 27 to perform an ultrasonic examination of himself. Also, in this inspection, B-mode imaging is performed at a depth of 8 cm according to the scanning conditions set by the inspection condition setting unit 27 . Ultrasound images obtained by the examination are stored in the data memory 33 as still images and displayed on the monitor 24 of the apparatus main body 5. In addition, they are transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 via the network NW to an external terminal device operated by a doctor. 3. Ultrasound examinations are also performed under a time limit of 5 minutes per day.

In step S2, the application switching unit 26 searches for LMP information in the patient information memory 25 to determine whether LMP has been input. At this time, the application switching unit 26 can, for example, determine that the LMP has been input when the LMP information can be read from the patient information memory 25, and can determine that the LMP has been input when the LMP information cannot be read from the patient information memory 25. It can be determined that no input has been made.

Here, the LMP is input by the doctor and stored in the patient information memory 25. A doctor can input the LMP via the input device 30 of the device main body 5, for example, when a patient brings the device main body 5 to a doctor's examination. The input LMP information is stored in the patient information memory 25 . In addition, the device control unit 29 can authenticate the doctor who inputs the judgment information by having the doctor enter the ID and the like so that the judgment information is inputted only by the doctor instead of the patient. This prevents the patient from inputting erroneous judgment information and performing an ultrasound examination inappropriate for the current stage of pregnancy.

In addition, for example, when a patient uses the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 at home and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 is located away from the doctor's hospital or the like, the doctor may use the external terminal device 3. An LMP can also be entered via the input device 65 . The LMP information input from the input device 65 is transmitted to the apparatus body 5 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 via the network NW and stored in the patient information memory 25 . In this case, in addition to the LMP information, authentication information such as an ID for authenticating the doctor who has input the LMP can also be sent to the apparatus main body 5 via the network NW. The device control unit 29 can authenticate the doctor who has entered the LMP based on the authentication information transmitted from the external terminal device 3 .

Such authentication of the doctor by the device control unit 29 can be performed each time judgment information is input to the device main body 5 .

As long as it is determined in step S2 that LMP has not been input, the process of step S2 is repeated.
If it is determined in step S2 that LMP has been input, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the application switching unit 26 determines whether or not the first period has passed since the patient's last menstrual period started, based on the LMP input by the doctor in step S2. Here, the first period means a period estimated as a period from the day when the patient's last menstrual period starts to the day when the patient ovulates and fertilizes. For example, if the patient's menstrual cycle is 28 days, the first period can be set to 14 days.

As long as it is determined in step S3 that the first period has not elapsed since the date when the patient's last menstrual period started, the process of step S3 is repeated.
If it is determined in step S3 that the first period has passed since the day when the patient's last menstrual period started, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the application switching unit 26 switches the follicle measurement examination application to the uterus observation examination application as an examination application that can be used by the patient.

As a result, the inspection condition setting unit 27 sets the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the inspection application for uterine observation, as shown in Table 1. Further, the menu display unit 28 causes the monitor 24 of the device main body 5 to display a menu screen display M2 including an icon J6 corresponding to an examination application for uterus observation, as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

The patient can select the icon J6 on the menu screen display M2 to cause the device control unit 29 to execute the examination application for uterine observation. Thereby, the patient can use the transvaginal probe or the transabdominal probe as the ultrasonic probe set by the examination condition setting unit 27 to perform an ultrasonic examination of himself. Also, in this inspection, B-mode imaging is performed with a depth of 6 cm in accordance with the scanning conditions set by the inspection condition setting unit 27 . Ultrasound images obtained by the examination are stored in the data memory 33 as still images and displayed on the monitor 24 of the apparatus main body 5. In addition, they are transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 via the network NW to an external terminal device operated by a doctor. 3. Ultrasound examinations are also performed under a time limit of 5 minutes per day.

In subsequent step S5, the application switching unit 26 determines whether or not the second period has passed since the day when the follicle measurement inspection application was switched to the uterus observation inspection application in step S4. The second period can be set as a period longer than the estimated period until the fertilized embryo develops into an embryo. For example, two weeks are set as the second period.

If it is determined in step S5 that the second period has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S6.
In step S6, the application switching unit 26 searches the patient information memory 25 for EDD or EGA information to determine whether EDD or EGA has been input. At this time, the application switching unit 26 can determine that EDD or EGA is input when, for example, EDD or EGA information can be read from the patient information memory 25, and the EDD or EGA information is read from the patient information memory 25. If not, it can be determined that EDD or EGA has not been input.

Here, EDD or EGA is input by a doctor and stored in the patient information memory 25, for example, after the doctor confirms that the embryo has grown into an embryo. A doctor can input EDD or EGA, for example, via the input device 30 of the device body 5 or via the input device 65 of the external terminal device 3 .

When the doctor inputs EDD or EGA in this manner, the application switching unit 26 determines that EDD or EGA has been input.
If it is determined in step S6 that EDD or EGA has not been input, the process returns to step S5 to determine again whether or not the second period has elapsed.

As long as it is determined in step S6 that EDD or EGA has not been input, the processes of steps S5 and S6 are repeated. has not grown into an embryo, the process returns to step S1, and the application switching unit 26 switches the uterus observation inspection application to the follicle measurement inspection application as available inspection applications.
If it is determined in step S6 that EDD or EGA has been input, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the application switching unit 26 switches the examination application for uterus observation to the examination application for early fetus observation as an examination application that can be used by the patient.

As a result, the inspection condition setting unit 27 sets the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the inspection application for early fetal observation, as shown in Table 1. Further, the menu display unit 28 causes the monitor 24 of the device main body 5 to display a menu screen display M3 including an icon J7 corresponding to an examination application for early fetal observation, as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

The patient can select the icon J7 in the menu screen display M3 to cause the device control unit 29 to execute an examination application for early fetal observation. Thereby, the patient can use the transvaginal probe or the transabdominal probe as the ultrasonic probe set by the examination condition setting unit 27 to perform an ultrasonic examination of himself. Also, in this inspection, B-mode imaging is performed at a depth of 10 cm according to the scanning conditions set by the inspection condition setting unit 27 . Ultrasound images obtained in examinations are stored in the data memory 33 as still images and moving images, displayed on the monitor 24 of the apparatus main body 5, and transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 via the network NW to an external device operated by a doctor. It is transmitted to the terminal device 3 . Ultrasound examinations are also performed under a time limit of 3 minutes per week.

In the subsequent step S8, the application switching unit 26 determines whether or not the third period has passed since the date when EDD or EGA was input in step S6. The third period can be set to the period from the day when the embryo is confirmed by the doctor in step S6 to the 15th week of pregnancy when the so-called early pregnancy period ends.

As long as it is determined in step S8 that the third period has not elapsed, the process of step S8 is repeated.
If it is determined in step S8 that the third period has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the application switching unit 26 switches the examination application for early fetal observation to the examination application for midterm fetal observation as an examination application that can be used by the patient.

As a result, the inspection condition setting unit 27 sets the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the inspection application for observing the mid-term fetus, as shown in Table 1. Further, although not shown, the menu display unit 28 causes the monitor 24 of the apparatus main body 5 to display a menu screen display including icons corresponding to the examination application for observing the mid-term fetus.

The patient can select an icon corresponding to the mid-term fetal observation test application on the menu screen display, and cause the device control unit 29 to execute the mid-term fetal observation test application. As a result, the patient can use the transabdominal probe as the ultrasonic probe set by the examination condition setting unit 27 to perform an ultrasonic examination of himself. Also, in this inspection, B-mode imaging is performed at a depth of 13 cm according to the scanning conditions set by the inspection condition setting unit 27 . Ultrasound images obtained in examinations are stored in the data memory 33 as still images and moving images, displayed on the monitor 24 of the apparatus main body 5, and transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 via the network NW to an external device operated by a doctor. It is transmitted to the terminal device 3 . Ultrasound examinations are also performed under a time limit of 10 minutes per week.

In subsequent step S10, the application switching unit 26 determines whether or not the fourth period has elapsed since the end of the third period. The fourth period can be set to the period from the day when it is determined that the third period has ended in step S8 to the 27th week of pregnancy when the so-called mid-pregnancy period ends.

As long as it is determined in step S10 that the fourth period has not elapsed, the process of step S10 is repeated.
If it is determined in step S10 that the fourth period has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, the application switching unit 26 switches the examination application for observing the middle-term fetus to the examination application for observing the late-term fetus as an examination application that can be used by the patient.

As a result, the inspection condition setting unit 27 sets the type of ultrasonic probe and the scanning conditions corresponding to the inspection application for observing the late fetus, as shown in Table 1. Further, although not shown, the menu display unit 28 causes the monitor 24 of the apparatus main body 5 to display a menu screen display including icons corresponding to examination applications for late-term fetal observation.

The patient can select the icon corresponding to the examination application for late-stage fetal observation on the menu screen display, and cause the device control unit 29 to execute the examination application for late-stage fetal observation. As a result, the patient can use the transabdominal probe as the ultrasonic probe set by the examination condition setting unit 27 to perform an ultrasonic examination of himself. Also, in this inspection, B-mode and PW-mode imaging is performed at a depth of 16 cm according to the scanning conditions set by the inspection condition setting unit 27 .

An ultrasonic image obtained by B-mode imaging is stored in the data memory 33 as a still image and displayed on the monitor 24 of the apparatus body 5 . Also, the ultrasonic image is transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 to the external terminal device 3 operated by the doctor via the network NW.
Doppler data obtained by imaging in the PW mode are stored in the data memory 33 and sent to the speaker 32, where they are reproduced as sound. Also, the Doppler data is transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 to the external terminal device 3 via the network NW.
Ultrasound examinations are also performed under a time limit of 15 minutes per week.

In this way, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the application switching unit 26 determines the patient's pregnancy status based on the judgment information for judging the patient's pregnancy stage including LMP and EDD or EGA. The appropriate examination application for each stage is automatically switched so that the patient can properly perform his/her ultrasound examination using the appropriate examination application for the current stage.

In general, embryos and fetuses are actively undergoing cell division, and there are concerns about the effects of ultrasound. are required to avoid. In the operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the examination condition setting unit 27 sets appropriate scanning conditions, such as setting a time limit for ultrasonic examination according to the stage of pregnancy of the patient. , the patient can safely undergo an ultrasound examination.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 of Embodiment 1, the application switching unit 26 switches the examination application for performing the ultrasonic examination of the patient based on the determination information to correspond to the current stage of the patient. Since the examination application is switched to and the examination application corresponding to the patient's current stage is executed by the device control unit 29, the patient can appropriately perform the ultrasonic examination.

Although the ultrasonic probe 4 and the apparatus main body 5 are connected to each other by wireless communication, they can also be connected to each other by so-called wired communication.
Also, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 , the transmission/reception circuit 12 is included in the ultrasonic probe 4 , but may be included in the apparatus body 5 instead.

Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the application switching unit 26 performs inspections in the order of the measurement application for follicle measurement, the inspection application for uterus observation, the inspection application for early fetal observation, the inspection application for midterm fetal observation, and the inspection application for late fetal observation. Although the application has been switched, if information indicating that the patient's embryos have been cryopreserved in a hospital or the like is stored in the patient information memory 25, the application switching unit 26 changes the setting of the inspection application for follicle measurement. By omitting it, the examination application for uterine observation can be set. In this case, the processing of steps S1 to S3 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is omitted.
This allows the patient to properly perform ultrasound examinations even if the embryos in the patient have been cryopreserved.

Also, in step S2, if the LMP is not input after a certain period of time has passed, for example, the device control unit 29 may display an error message on the monitor 24. As a result, the patient is urged to seek the doctor's judgment regarding whether or not to input the LMP before the first period has passed since the LMP, and even if the first period has passed since the LMP, the test application for follicle measurement can be performed. is prevented from switching to the examination application of uterine observation, so that the patient can perform an ultrasound examination suitable for the actual stage of pregnancy.

Further, it is explained that the first period used in step S2 can be set to, for example, 14 days with the patient's menstrual cycle being 28 days. It can also be changed to a period estimated based on information on the average menstrual cycle. In this case, the doctor can change the first period via the input device 30 of the device body 5 or the input device 65 of the external terminal device 3 .
This allows a more accurate first period to be used, so that an appropriate ultrasound examination for the patient's stage of pregnancy can be performed.

Also, the second period used in step S5, the third period used in the determination in step S8, and the fourth period used in the determination in step S10 can be changed by the doctor based on the doctor's medical examination results for the patient.

Also, in step S3, the application switching unit 26 repeatedly determines whether or not the first period has elapsed, but this determination process can be performed every certain period of time, such as one day. Further, the process of determining whether the second period has elapsed in step S5, the process of determining whether the third period has elapsed in step S8, and the determination of whether the fourth period has elapsed in step S10. can be similarly performed for each fixed period such as one day.

Further, in steps S3 and S4, the application switching unit 26 automatically switches the examination application for follicle measurement to the examination application for uterus observation triggered by the passage of the first period. is input as a trigger to switch to the examination application for uterine observation.

Also, in step S5, the application switching unit 26 determines whether or not the second period has passed, but it does not have to determine whether or not the second period has passed. In this case, regardless of the time elapsed since the follicle measurement test application was switched to the uterus observation test application in step S4, if EDD or EGA is input by the doctor in step S6, the process proceeds to step S7. The examination application for uterus observation is switched to the examination application for early fetal observation.

In steps S8 and S9, the application switching unit 26 automatically switches the examination application for early fetal observation to the examination application for midterm fetal observation triggered by the passage of the third period. The inspection application for early fetal observation may be switched to the inspection application for midterm fetal observation using the input of information indicating that the stage of pregnancy has entered the second trimester.

Further, in steps S10 and S11, the application switching unit 26 automatically switches the examination application for observing the middle-term fetus to the examination application for observing the late-term fetus, triggered by the passage of the fourth period. The input of information indicating that the patient's pregnancy has entered the third trimester may be used as a trigger to switch the mid-term fetal observation test application to the late-term fetal observation test application.

In addition, based on the instruction information input by the doctor via the input device 30 of the device main body 5 or the input device 65 of the external terminal device 3, the device control unit 29 of the device main body 5 controls the functions of the ultrasonic diagnostic device 2. Each part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 can also be controlled in an additional manner.

For example, the device control unit 29 can cause the data generation unit 22 to generate a three-dimensional ultrasound image. Here, the three-dimensional ultrasonic image refers to a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images captured while the ultrasonic probe 4 has the same inclination angle and the ultrasonic probe 4 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the scanning plane, or , refers to a three-dimensional image of a scanning target constructed based on a plurality of frames of ultrasonic images captured while the position of the ultrasonic probe 4 is the same and the tilt angle of the ultrasonic probe 4 is changed. In this case, the device control unit 29, for example, instructs the patient to take a three-dimensional ultrasound image together with a normal two-dimensional ultrasound image, and instructs the patient to take a three-dimensional ultrasound image. It is also possible to display a message such as "please" on the monitor 24.

Patients usually do not have specialized training in diagnosis using ultrasound images, and there is a risk that they may imagine incorrect diagnostic results by checking 3D ultrasound images. The obtained three-dimensional ultrasound image is not sent to the display control unit 23, but is sent from the wireless communication circuit 21 to the external terminal device 3 via the network NW, and can be confirmed only by the doctor.

Further, for example, as an additional function, the device control unit 29 causes so-called RAW data acquired by the transducer array 11 to be transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 4 to the device main body 5 via the wireless communication circuit 13, and the wireless communication circuit 21 It is also possible to transmit the received RAW data to the external terminal device 3 via the network NW. At this time, the device control unit 29 causes the transmitting/receiving circuit 12 to output so-called RAW data, and sends the wireless communication circuit 21 instruction information to transmit the output RAW data to the device main body 5 via the wireless communication circuit 13. The ultrasonic probe 4 can be controlled by transmitting to the ultrasonic probe 4 via. By providing the external terminal device 3 with a data generator (not shown) and the like, the doctor can use the external terminal device 3 to perform detailed analysis of the ultrasonic image or the Doppler waveform image.

Also, although it is described that one ultrasonic probe 4 is connected to the device body 5, a plurality of ultrasonic probes 4 may be connected. However, even in this case, the examination condition setting unit 27 selects the ultrasonic probe 4 of the type corresponding to the examination application switched by the switching processing of the application switching unit 26, so that the patient is at the current symptom stage. Any suitable ultrasound probe 4 can be used.

Further, when the ultrasonic probe 4 connected to the device main body 5 is not compatible with the inspection application switched by the application switching unit 26, the device control unit 29 controls the ultrasonic probe 4 connected to the device main body 5. You can stop the transmission of ultrasound from. In this case, the fact that the ultrasonic probe 4 is connected to the device main body 5 means that the device main body 5 and the ultrasonic probe 4 are electrically connected to each other and are in communication with each other. In addition, the fact that the ultrasonic probe 4 is not compatible with the inspection application switched by the application switching unit 26 means that the type of the ultrasonic probe 4 is the usable ultrasonic probe 4 set by the inspection condition setting unit 27. It means that it is other than the type of The device control unit 29 can store in advance the types of ultrasonic probes 4 that are not compatible with each inspection application.

As a result, the ultrasonic probe 4 that is incompatible with the examination application switched by the application switching unit 26 cannot be used, so that the patient may mistakenly use the ultrasonic probe 4 that is incompatible with the examination application. prevented.

The ultrasonic probe 4 can also have a lamp that lights up when it is electrically connected to the device body 5 and in a communication state. Furthermore, in this case, the device control unit 29 turns off the lamp of the ultrasonic probe 4 when the ultrasonic probe 4 connected to the device main body 5 is not compatible with the inspection application switched by the application switching unit 26. The lamp can be extinguished by transmitting instruction information to the effect that it is to be extinguished to the ultrasonic probe 4 . This allows the patient to easily grasp the available ultrasonic probes 4 .

In addition, comments directed to the patient can be input by the doctor via the input device 65 of the external terminal device 3. This comment can be transmitted from the communication circuit 61 to the wireless communication circuit 21 of the apparatus main body 5 via the network NW, further transmitted from the wireless communication circuit 21 to the display control section 23 and displayed on the monitor 24 . For example, comments such as “Would you like to visit the hospital?”, “Would you like to have an examination?” In this way, the doctor's comment is displayed on the monitor 24 to alert the patient, so that the patient can perform an appropriate ultrasound examination at an appropriate timing according to the stage of symptoms. .

Also, this comment can be sent from the wireless communication circuit 21 to the patient information memory 25 and stored in the patient information memory 25 . The comments stored in the patient information memory 25 can be read out from the patient information memory 25 and displayed on the monitor 24 by the patient's input operation via the input device 30 of the device body 5 .

Further, it is explained that the determination information is input by the doctor via the input device 30 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and input by the doctor via the network NW from the external terminal device 3. The method of inputting judgment information is not particularly limited to these methods. For example, when a patient visits a hospital for diagnosis by a doctor, the ultrasonic diagnostic device 2 brought by the patient is directly connected to the external terminal device 3 used by the doctor, and the doctor connects the external terminal device 3. Judgment information can be input to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 via. The connection method between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 and the external terminal device 3 in this case is not particularly limited, and for example, wireless connection or wired connection can be used as the connection method.

Also, as an example of judgment information, an example in which information for judging the stage of pregnancy of the patient is mainly stored in the patient information memory 25 has been described, but the judgment information is not limited to this. The judgment information includes information for judging the stage of excretory ability of a bedridden patient, information for judging the stage of a medical condition such as pressure ulcer and cancer, and the like.

As information for judging the stage of the patient's excretion ability, for example, the so-called long-term care certification certified in Japan, support level 1, support level 2, and long-term care level 1 to long-term care level 5 are used. obtain. When any of these pieces of information is input by the doctor, the examination application switching unit 26 switches the already set examination application to the examination application corresponding to each stage.

If the patient's stage is Assistance 1, Assistance 2, and Care 1, the patient can usually go to the bathroom by themselves. For example, urine volume measurement and rectal observation are possible at any timing. In addition, when the patient is in the level of care level 2, care is often required when excreting. Processing such as issuing an alarm so that volume measurement is performed and graphing the results of urine volume measurement performed before and after excretion may be performed.

In addition, the so-called ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) staging excretion or cognition grading may be used as information for judging the stage of the patient's excretion ability.

In addition, as information for judging the stage of a pressure ulcer, for example, DESIGN-R, which is a pressure ulcer evaluation scale developed by the Academic Board of Education of the Japanese Society of Pressure Ulcers, stages of pressure ulcers classified by depth, American Pressure Ulcer Advisory Committee ( Pressure ulcer stage classification by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) or pressure ulcer stage classification by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) can be used.

For example, an examination application corresponding to Stage I and Stage II classified by NPUAP captures an ultrasonic image and an optical image of the pressure ulcer portion of the subject. In addition to taking acoustic and optical images, preventive or treatment checklist entries may be made.

In addition, as information for judging the stage of cancer, for example, in the case of breast cancer, information representing the stage of follow-up of benign cancer, information representing the stage of drug therapy before surgery, and stage of chemotherapy after surgery and information representing the stage of hormone therapy can be used.

A test application corresponding to the follow-up stage of a benign cancer and the stage of drug therapy before surgery, for example, periodically observes the site to be tested and determines the size of the cancer at the site to be tested and the size of the cancer. Marginal follow-up and the like may be performed. In addition, examination applications corresponding to post-surgery chemotherapy stages, such as taking ultrasound images of the surgical site, taking ultrasound images of the whole breast, and ultrasound to check for metastasis or cancer recurrence Image capture and the like may be performed.

Embodiment 2
When the examination application is switched by the application switching unit 26, the patient may be notified to that effect.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2A according to the second embodiment. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2A according to the second embodiment includes an apparatus main body 5A instead of the apparatus main body 5 in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The device main body 5A is the same as the device main body 5 of the first embodiment, except that the notification section 71 is added, the device control section 29A is replaced with the device control section 29A, and the main body processor 31 is replaced with the main body processor 31A. be.

A notification unit 71 is connected to the application switching unit 26 and the inspection condition setting unit 27 in the apparatus main body 5A. Also, the device control section 29A is connected to the notification section 71 .
Further, the main processor 31A is composed of the data generating section 22, the display control section 23, the application switching section 26, the inspection condition setting section 27, the menu display section 28, the device control section 29A and the notification section 71. FIG.

The notification unit 71 notifies the patient that the application switching unit 26 has switched the examination application to the examination application corresponding to the patient's current stage. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the notification unit 71 displays the application name N1 indicating that the inspection application has been switched to the follicle measurement inspection application in the menu screen display M1 displayed on the monitor 24 by the menu display unit 28. It can be displayed on the monitor 24 . In the example of FIG. 11, the characters "Follicles" representing follicles are displayed on the monitor 24 as the application name N1.

In addition, the notification unit 71 may notify the user of the currently set examination such as "the examination application for follicle measurement is set" when the apparatus main body 5 is activated, or when an examination application is activated, for example. It is also possible to display a message on the monitor 24 to notify the application.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2A of the second embodiment, the notification unit 71 notifies the patient that the application switching unit 26 has switched the examination application to the examination application corresponding to the patient's current stage. Therefore, the patient can easily grasp the type of examination application that is currently set, and can perform an ultrasound examination more appropriately.

Note that the notification unit 71 can also notify the patient of the type of the ultrasonic probe 4 and scanning conditions corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching unit 26 . Here, the type and scanning conditions of the ultrasonic probe 4 corresponding to the inspection application switched by the application switching unit 26 are the usable ultrasonic probes 4 set by the inspection condition setting unit 27 for the inspection application. type and scanning conditions. The notification unit 71 can also store in advance the type of the ultrasonic probe 4 and scanning conditions corresponding to each inspection application.

In this way, the notification unit 71 notifies the patient of the ultrasonic probe 4 and the scanning conditions corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching unit 26, so that the patient can use the currently available ultrasonic probe 4. type and scanning conditions can be easily grasped, and ultrasonic examination can be performed more appropriately.

The notification unit 71 can also guide the patient on how to operate the ultrasonic probe 4 corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching unit 26 . Here, the contents of the operation method of the ultrasonic probe 4 guided by the notification unit 71 include, for example, the method of using the ultrasonic probe 4, the arrangement position and inclination of the ultrasonic probe 4 during ultrasonic examination, and the imaging method. including examples of suitable ultrasound images to be used.
The patient can refer to the guidance from the notification unit 71 and perform the ultrasonic examination more appropriately.

In addition, when the ultrasonic probe 4 connected to the device main body 5A is not compatible with the examination application switched by the application switching unit 26, the notification unit 71 can notify the patient to that effect. Here, that the ultrasonic probe 4 is not compatible with the inspection application switched by the application switching unit 26 means that the type of the ultrasonic probe 4 is an available ultrasonic probe set by the inspection condition setting unit 27. It means that it is other than the 4 types. The notification unit 71 can store in advance the types of ultrasonic probes 4 that are not compatible with each inspection application.

As a result, the patient can easily understand that the ultrasonic probe 4 connected to the device main body 5A is not compatible with the currently set examination application, and can use the ultrasonic probe compatible with the examination application. 4 and ultrasound can be performed properly.

Also, although the notification unit 71 is described as notifying the patient using the monitor 24, the speaker 32 can also be used to notify the patient by voice. Even in this case, as in the case where the notification unit 71 notifies the patient using the monitor 24, the patient can easily grasp the currently set examination application type, and perform the ultrasonic examination more appropriately. be able to.

1 Ultrasound system, 2 Ultrasound diagnosis device, 3 External terminal device, 4 Ultrasound probe, 5, 5A Device body, 11 Transducer array, 12 Transmission/reception circuit, 13, 21 Wireless communication circuit, 14 Probe control unit, 22 Data Generation unit, 23, 62 Display control unit, 24, 63 Monitor, 25 Patient information memory, 26 Application switching unit, 27 Inspection condition setting unit, 28 Menu display unit, 29, 29A Device control unit, 30, 65 Input device, 31 , 31A Main processor, 32 Speaker, 33 Data memory, 41 Pulser, 42 Amplifier, 43 AD converter, 44 Beamformer, 45 Signal processor, 46 DSC, 47 Image processor, 48 Quadrature detector, 49 High pass filter, 50 Fast Fourier transform unit, 51 Doppler processing unit, 61 communication circuit, 64 terminal control unit, 71 notification unit, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, J7 icon, M1, M2, M3 menu screen display, N1 application Name, NW network.

Claims

For a patient with a condition that progresses along multiple stages, an examination application for performing an ultrasound examination of the patient based on judgment information for determining the current stage of the patient. an application switching unit for switching to an inspection application corresponding to the stage of
and an apparatus control section that executes an examination application corresponding to the current stage of the patient switched by the application switching section.
The judgment information is information for judging the stage of pregnancy of the patient,
The application switching unit selects, based on the determination information, an examination application for performing an ultrasonic examination of the patient, at least an examination application for measuring follicles, an examination application for observing a uterus, and an examination application for observing a fetus. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of claim 1, wherein switching to one of the examination applications for performing.
at least one ultrasound probe;
3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an apparatus body including at least the application switching section and the apparatus control section, and connected to the at least one ultrasonic probe.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus main body includes an examination condition setting section that sets the type of the ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching section.
The device main body includes an input device for performing an input operation from the outside,
The device control unit authenticates a doctor who inputs the judgment information via the input device,
4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said judgment information is input by a doctor who has been authenticated by said apparatus control section.
The device main body includes a patient information memory that stores the judgment information,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the application switching unit automatically switches the examination application by reading the determination information from the patient information memory.
The device main body is
a monitor;
a menu display unit that displays a menu screen display including a plurality of icons on the monitor, and arranges the icon corresponding to the inspection application switched by the application switching unit at a predetermined position on the menu screen display. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus body includes a notification unit that notifies the patient that the examination application has been switched by the application switching unit.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the notification unit notifies the patient of the type of ultrasonic probe and scanning conditions corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching unit.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the notification unit guides the patient to operate the ultrasonic probe corresponding to the examination application switched by the application switching unit.
9. The ultrasound system according to claim 8, wherein, when the ultrasound probe connected to the apparatus main body is not compatible with the examination application switched by the application switching unit, the notification unit notifies the patient to that effect. Sonic diagnostic equipment.
When the ultrasonic probe connected to the device main body is not compatible with the inspection application switched by the application switching unit, the device control unit transmits an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic probe connected to the device main body. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission of is stopped.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1;
An external terminal device connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus via a network and operated by a doctor,
The ultrasound system in which the determination information is input by the doctor via the external terminal device and transmitted from the external terminal device to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus via the network.
For a patient with a condition that progresses along multiple stages, an examination application for performing an ultrasound examination of the patient based on judgment information for determining the current stage of the patient. switch to the inspection application corresponding to the stage of
A control method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that executes a switched examination application.