Ultrasound observation device, method of operating ultrasound observation device, and computer readable recording medium

A method of operating an ultrasound observation device that generates ultrasound image data based on an ultrasound signal, the method comprising:

• setting, in a region of interest that is set in an ultrasound image corresponding to the ultrasound image data, a plurality of small regions by dividing the region of interest in accordance with a preset condition;
• generating a histogram of each of the small regions based on a preset physical quantity;
• calculating a determination value for each of the small regions based on the histogram, the determination value determining whether the physical quantity in each of the small regions is uniform;
• determining whether the physical quantity in each of the small regions is uniform based on the determination value and a preset threshold;
• changing, when the physical quantity in a determination target small region among the small regions is determined as not being uniform at the determining, the small region in accordance with a preset condition;
• setting, when the physical quantity in the determination target small region is determined as being uniform at the determining, the small region as an attenuation rate calculation target region;
• and
• setting an attenuation rate of the attenuation rate calculation target region.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a program for operating an ultrasound observation device that generates ultrasound image data based on an ultrasound signal is recorded, the program instructing a processor to execute:

• setting, in a region of interest that is set in an ultrasound image corresponding to the ultrasound image data, a plurality of small regions by dividing the region of interest in accordance with a preset condition;
• generating a histogram of each of the small regions based on a preset physical quantity;
• calculating a determination value for each of the small regions based on the histogram, the determination value determining whether the physical quantity in each of the small regions is uniform;
• determining whether the physical quantity in each of the small regions is uniform based on the determination value and a preset threshold;
• changing, when the physical quantity in a determination target small region among the small regions is determined as not being uniform at the determining, the small region in accordance with a preset condition;
• setting, when the physical quantity in the determination target small region is determined as being uniform at the determining, the small region as an attenuation rate calculation target region;
• and
• setting an attenuation rate of the attenuation rate calculation target region.