# US 10,765,407 B2 · Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,407 B2 - Document ID: US10765407B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/662,469 - Filed: 2015-03-19 - Published: 2015-08-06 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-04 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Hitoshi Yamagata; Yasuhiko Abe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765407B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/5223: {for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data (for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012)} - A61B 8/06: Measuring blood flow - A61B 8/065: {to determine blood output from the heart} - A61B 8/08: Clinical applications (A61B8/02, A61B8/04, A61B8/06 take precedence) - A61B 8/0883: {for diagnosis of the heart} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/145: {characterised by scanning multiple planes} - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements} - A61B 8/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 8/466: {adapted to display 3D data} - A61B 8/488: {involving Doppler signals} - A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image} - A61B 8/5292: {using additional data, e.g. patient information, image labeling, acquisition parameters} - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - A61B 8/543: {involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal} - G16H 50/30: for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment - A61B 8/483: {involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer, an evaluation value acquisition unit, a determination unit, and an output unit. The evaluation value acquisition unit obtains an evaluation value for evaluating the function of tissue including a predetermined site based on biological information acquired for a predetermined period of time by the ultrasound transducer. The determination unit determines whether the function of the tissue is abnormal based on the evaluation value. The output unit outputs information based on a result of determination by the determination unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, comprising: an ultrasound transducer configured to transmit and receive ultrasound waves while being placed in an esophagus of a subject, to sequentially acquire cardiac function information of a heart of the subject; and processing circuitry configured to generate an image group over time based on the cardiac function information sequentially acquired; obtain an evaluation value for evaluating a function of tissue including the predetermined site based on the generated image group; determine whether the function of the tissue is abnormal, based on the evaluation value; and output information based on a result of the determination, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to obtain, for the subject, a first image of a normal condition, obtain, for the subject, a reference evaluation value based on the first image of a normal condition, obtain, for the subject, a second image acquired after the first image, obtain, for the subject, a new evaluation value as a second evaluation value based on the second image, compare, for the subject, the second evaluation value with the reference evaluation value to determine whether the function of the tissue corresponding to the second evaluation value of the second image is abnormal, and repeat the obtaining of the second image, the obtaining of the second evaluation value, and the comparing of the second evaluation value to the reference evaluation value, for a sequence of second images. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether a difference between the second evaluation value and the reference evaluation value is within a predetermined range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each image is an anatomical image and the processing circuitry is further configured to obtain the reference evaluation value and the second evaluation values based on an anatomical evaluation of each anatomical image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each image is an anatomical image and the processing circuitry is further configured to obtain the reference evaluation value and the second evaluation values based on a functional evaluation of the tissue in each anatomical image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to obtain the evaluation value from a Doppler waveform based on the cardiac function information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a generator configured to generate a Doppler waveform group over time based on the biological information sequentially acquired, wherein the Doppler waveform group includes a reference Doppler waveform, and compared Doppler waveforms acquired after the reference Doppler waveform, and the processing circuitry is further configured to obtain the reference evaluation value based on the reference Doppler waveform, and sequentially obtain the second evaluation values each based on one of the compared Doppler waveforms generated over time, and compare each one of the second evaluation values with the reference evaluation value to determine whether the function corresponding to the one of the second evaluation values is abnormal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether a difference between each of the second evaluation values and the reference evaluation value is within a predetermined range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to switch at least one of a transmission method of the ultrasound waves by the ultrasound transducer, a type of image to be generated, and an evaluation method used, to measure a plurality of types of functions of the tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to be included in a container in a capsule form, and the container further includes an interface configured to transmit and receive signals between the ultrasound transducer and a main body that is an external device with respect to the container; and a power supply line configured to supply power to at least the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a container in a capsule form, the container including: the ultrasound transducer; an interface configured to transmit and receive signals between the ultrasound transducer and a main body; and a power supply line configured to supply power to at least the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the main body includes a signal processor connected to the interface and a power supply connected to the power supply line, and configured to perform signal processing on signals based on the cardiac function information received from the ultrasound transducer, and the container is configured to be connected to the main body by the interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the main body includes a signal processor connected to the interface and a power supply connected to the power supply line, and configured to perform signal processing on signals based on the cardiac function information received from the ultrasound transducer, and the container is configured to be connected to the main body by the interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the container is configured to be placed in the esophagus of the subject. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the container is configured to be placed in the tissue esophagus of the subject.