Ultrasonic observation apparatus, operation method of the same, and computer readable recording medium

A method comprising:

• setting a position, and length in a depth direction, of a region of interest in a specimen;
• dividing the region of interest into a plurality of partial regions of interest according to a number of focus points in the region of interest, wherein the number of focus points is a parameter associated with a length of the region of interest in a depth direction, and calculating one or more of the focus points in each of the partial regions of interest;
• determining a transmission timing according to the one or more of the focus points;
• performing transmission of a number of ultrasonic waves along a sound ray in the region of interest,
• wherein the number of ultrasonic waves correspond to the number of focus points, and
• wherein the transmitted ultrasonic waves are focused on corresponding the focus point;
• receiving a number of ultrasonic waves reflected from the region of interest, wherein the ultrasonic waves received from the region of interest correspond to the focus points;
• calculating frequency spectra by analyzing the received ultrasonic waves with reference to the focus points;
• extracting feature data of the frequency spectra by approximating the frequency spectra;
• and
• generating display image data based on the feature data,
• wherein the calculating of the focus point comprises:
• setting the one or more of the focus points for a B-mode image for displaying brightness converted from amplitude of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the specimen;
• and
• using the one or more of the focus points for the B-mode image in the partial regions of interest, and
• wherein the extracting the feature data comprises:
• approximating the frequency spectra with a linear equation by regression analysis;
• calculating, as pre-correction feature data for characterizing the linear equation:
• a gradient and an intercept of the linear equation, and
• intensity at a particular frequency within a frequency band in the frequency spectra;
• and
• performing an attenuation correction process on the pre-correction feature data to extract the feature data of the frequency spectra,
• wherein calculating the frequency spectra comprises acquiring a data group forming a part of a data array of the ultrasonic wave and performing fast Fourier transform on the data group, and
• wherein calculating the frequency spectra further comprises acquiring a multiple data groups for the sound ray, and calculating the frequency spectra using a data group of the multiple data groups which is closest to the one or more of the focus points.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having an executable program recorded thereon, the program instructing a processor to execute:

• setting a position, and length in a depth direction, of a region of interest in the specimen;
• dividing the region of interest into a plurality of partial regions of interest according to the number of focus points in the region of interest, the number of focus points being a parameter associated with a length of the region of interest in a depth direction, and calculating one or more of the focus points in each of the partial regions of interest;
• determining a transmission timing according to the one or more of the focus points;
• performing transmission of a number of ultrasonic waves along a sound ray in the region of interest,
• wherein the number of ultrasonic waves correspond to the number of focus points, and
• wherein the transmitted ultrasonic waves are focused on corresponding the focus point;
• receiving a number of ultrasonic waves reflected from the region of interest, wherein the ultrasonic waves received from the region of interest corresponds to the focus points;
• calculating frequency spectra by analyzing the received ultrasonic waves with reference to the focus points;
• extracting feature data of the frequency spectra by approximating the frequency spectra;
• and
• generating display image data based on the feature data,
• wherein the calculating of the focus point comprises:
• setting the one or more of the focus points for a B-mode image for displaying brightness converted from amplitude of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the specimen;
• and
• using the one or more of the focus points for the B-mode image in the partial regions of interest, and
• wherein the extracting the feature data comprises:
• approximating the frequency spectra with a linear equation by regression analysis;
• calculating, as pre-correction feature data for characterizing the linear equation:
• a gradient and an intercept of the linear equation, and
• intensity at a particular frequency within a frequency band in the frequency spectra;
• and
• performing an attenuation correction process on the pre-correction feature data to extract the feature data of the frequency spectra,
• wherein calculating the frequency spectra comprises acquiring a data group forming a part of a data array of the ultrasonic wave and performing fast Fourier transform on the data group, and
• wherein calculating the frequency spectra further comprises acquiring a multiple data groups for the sound ray, and calculating the frequency spectra using a data group of the multiple data groups which is closest to the one or more of the focus points.