Ultrasound observation apparatus, method for operating ultrasound observation apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium

A method for operating an ultrasound observation apparatus that transmits an ultrasound wave to a specimen and receives an ultrasound echo reflected from the specimen to convert the ultrasound echo into an electrical echo signal, the method comprising:

• analyzing, by a frequency analysis unit, a frequency of a signal generated based on the echo signal, using a parameter that differs depending on presence or absence of a contrast agent in the specimen to calculate a frequency spectrum;
• calculating, by a feature calculation unit, a feature of the frequency spectrum;
• generating, by a feature image data generating unit, feature image data for displaying visual information related to the feature in a display pattern that differs depending on the presence or absence of the contrast agent in the specimen;
• determining, by a determination unit, the presence or absence of the contrast agent using the frequency spectrum and reference spectrum information that is information on a known frequency spectrum in the presence of the contrast agent in the specimen;
• and
• changing, by a control unit, a setting of the parameter in accordance with a result of determining the presence or absence of the contrast agent.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, the program instructing an ultrasonic observation apparatus that transmits an ultrasound wave to a specimen and receives an ultrasound echo reflected from the specimen to convert the ultrasound echo into an electrical echo signal, to execute:

• analyzing, by a frequency analysis unit, a frequency of a signal generated based on the echo signal, using a parameter that differs depending on presence or absence of a contrast agent in the specimen to calculate a frequency spectrum;
• calculating, by a feature calculation unit, a feature of the frequency spectrum;
• generating, by a feature image data generating unit, feature image data for displaying visual information related to the feature in a display pattern that differs depending on the presence or absence of the contrast agent in the specimen;
• determining, by a determination unit, the presence or absence of the contrast agent using the frequency spectrum and reference spectrum information that is information on a known frequency spectrum in the presence of the contrast agent in the specimen;
• and
• changing, by a control unit, a setting of the parameter in accordance with a result of determining the presence or absence of the contrast agent.