Ultrasound endoscope system and communication method of the ultrasound endoscope system

An ultrasound endoscope system comprising:

• an ultrasound endoscope that is capable of performing optical observation;
• a video processor for optical observation which is connected to the ultrasound endoscope through a wire;
• and an ultrasound observation apparatus for ultrasound observation,
• the ultrasound endoscope comprising:
• an image pickup section that obtains an optical image from a subject;
• an ultrasound transducer that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from the subject;
• and
• a communication section for endoscope that wirelessly transmits and receives an ultrasound signal obtained from the ultrasound received by the ultrasound transducer and endoscope state information as endoscope-specific information,
• the video processor comprising:
• an image output section that performs image signal processing on the optical image obtained by the image pickup section;
• and
• a first read-out section that reads out the endoscope state information of the ultrasound endoscope, and
• the ultrasound observation apparatus comprising:
• a transmission/reception section that is capable of transmitting and receiving the ultrasound signal;
• a communication section for observation apparatus that wirelessly communicates with the communication section for endoscope, and transmits and receives the ultrasound signal and the endoscope state information;
• an ultrasound image processing section that generates an ultrasound image based on the ultrasound signal obtained by the communication section for observation apparatus;
• and
• a second read-out section that reads out the endoscope state information obtained by the communication section for ultrasound observation apparatus,
• the ultrasound endoscope system further comprising, a control section that compares the endoscope state information obtained by the first read-out section in the video processor and the endoscope state information obtained by the second read-out section in the ultrasound observation apparatus, and causes sharing of information related to the subject to be started between the video processor and the ultrasound observation apparatus only when the endoscope state information obtained by the first read-out section and the endoscope state information obtained by the second read-out section match with each other.