JP4220875B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that determines a probe to be used from among a plurality of ultrasonic probes in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which a plurality of ultrasonic probes are connected.

  An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured to contact an ultrasonic probe or an ultrasonic probe called simply a probe on a living body surface or insert it into a body cavity, transmit an ultrasonic pulse and receive an echo, In this device, various probes are used according to the object to be diagnosed. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 shows a scanning method of an ultrasonic beam and the type of probe used therefor, and an electronic scanning probe has a shape that can be easily scanned, such as a cardiovascular examination. Sector electronic scan probes are used for subjects, etc., linear electronic scan probes are used to obtain a wide field of view at a short distance as in general abdominal examinations, and convex electronic scan probes are used for pressure examinations in general abdominal examinations. Is used.

  Therefore, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is convenient to provide a connection connector so that a plurality of ultrasonic probes can be connected, and to select a probe suitable for a diagnosis target from among the plurality of probes. Has been put to practical use.

Koshi Noto, “Ultrasound Basics and Equipment”, Vector Core Co., Ltd., December 24, 1999, Rev. 1st edition, p49

  In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which a plurality of probes are connected, it is necessary to connect a probe to be used to a control unit or the like of the apparatus body according to which probe is selected and used from among the plurality of probes. This probe selection / connection can be performed by displaying a selection menu on the display of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. Alternatively, a selector switch may be provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, and probe selection / connection may be performed by switch operation.

  However, these conventional probe selection / connection methods are inconvenient because it is necessary to perform an operation on the display or a switch on the panel from the viewpoint of the operator. Moreover, when it sees from the time of the whole test | inspection, it will take time for it. Further, for example, when an operation on the display is performed with the probe held, both hands must be used, and work efficiency is reduced.

  Thus, in the prior art, selecting and connecting a probe to be used from a plurality of probes requires inconvenient operations and operations, which hinders shortening of inspection time and concentrating on inspection. ing.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that solves the problems of the prior art and can reduce the operation of selecting and connecting a probe to be used from a plurality of probes.

  When an ultrasonic probe is used, a jelly-like acoustic matching agent is first applied to the living body pressure contact surface of the ultrasonic probe. The concept of the present invention focuses on this, and when a transmission signal is further supplied to the ultrasonic probe, the received signal received from the ultrasonic probe coated with the jelly-like acoustic matching agent and the jelly-like acoustic matching agent are Based on the fact that there is a difference in the received signals received from the ultrasonic probe that is not coated and the ultrasonic pulse is emitted into the air, this is used to determine whether or not the ultrasonic probe is used.

  That is, if a transmission signal is supplied to each of a plurality of ultrasonic probes connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a reception signal is received and compared from each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, the operator is going to use the ultrasonic signal. Since the ultrasonic probe is coated with a new and sufficient amount of a jelly-like acoustic matching agent as compared with other ultrasonic probes, the intensity of the received signal is higher than that of the other ultrasonic probes. By using this difference, it is possible to identify the ultrasonic probe that the operator intends to use.

Therefore, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is transmitted to each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes as compared to a diagnostic transmission signal in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which a plurality of ultrasonic probes are connected. A test in which power is limited by controlling at least one of a decrease in the repetition frequency of the ultrasonic pulse, a decrease in the burst wave number of the ultrasonic pulse, and a narrowing of the scanning range of the ultrasonic beam formed by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave. Supplying a transmission signal, receiving a reception signal from each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, a test transmission control means for performing a test transmission to each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, and based on those reception signals, Determining means for determining a probe to be used among the plurality of ultrasonic probes, and supplying a diagnostic transmission signal to the probe to be used. To.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said determination means determines the said use probe based on the signal strength of these received signals. Further, the test transmission control means transmits a test transmission signal in which the same power restriction is applied to each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, and the determination means performs mutual comparison of signal strengths of the plurality of reception signals. It is preferable to determine the probe to be used based on this.

  Further, the test transmission control means supplies the test transmission signal by distributing supply positions of the test transmission signal to an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of vibration elements among the plurality of ultrasonic probes. It is preferable.

  The test transmission control means supplies the plurality of test transmission signals to each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, and the determination means responds to the plurality of test transmissions. The probe to be used is preferably determined based on reception signals received from each of the probes a plurality of times.

  When one probe is to be used from among a plurality of probes, simply by supplying a test transmission signal, the probe to be used is automatically determined by the above configuration, and the determined probe to be used is determined. A diagnostic transmission signal is supplied. That is, the operator only needs to instruct the probe to be used to apply a jelly-like acoustic matching agent and supply a test transmission signal, and particularly requires the probe selection / connection operation of which probe is to be used. do not do. That is, it is possible to reduce the operation of selecting and connecting a probe to be used from a plurality of probes.

  Also, by making the test transmission signal different from the diagnostic transmission signal, it is possible to prevent heat generation of the ultrasonic probe and progression of characteristic deterioration. Further, by supplying a test transmission signal with the same power limitation to each ultrasonic probe, it is possible to determine the probe to be used by a simpler method of mutual comparison of received signal strengths.

  In addition, for ultrasonic probes including a plurality of vibration elements, the supply positions of the test transmission signals are dispersed so that the supply of the test transmission signals is not biased to specific vibration elements. Thus, it is possible to prevent the characteristic deterioration of the specific vibration element.

  The test transmission signal is supplied to each ultrasonic probe a plurality of times, and a probe to be used is determined based on a plurality of reception signals corresponding to the plurality of test transmissions. This can prevent erroneous determination of the probe used due to accidental variation in data.

  As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the operation of selecting and connecting a probe to be used from among a plurality of probes.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, it is assumed that three ultrasonic probes are connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the three are described as a convex electronic scan probe, a sector electronic scan probe, and a linear electronic scan probe. The number of probes may be plural, and may be other than three. The type of the ultrasonic probe to be connected is not limited to this, and may be a mechanical ultrasonic probe, for example. Further, the types of ultrasonic probes to be connected are not different from each other, and the same type, for example, all may be linear electronic scan probes.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the entire ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 includes a control panel 20 that houses circuit parts such as a control unit, a display unit 40, and a panel input unit 50. Three probes 60, 62, and 64 have connectors 80, 82, and 84, respectively. To the control panel 20. The three ultrasonic probes are a convex electronic scan probe 60 as the probe I, a sector electronic scan probe 62 as the probe II, and a linear electronic scan probe 64 as the probe III. Hooks 70, 72, and 74 for holding the three probes 60, 62, and 64 are provided on the side surface of the control panel 20 or the panel input unit 50. Probes that are not used are, for example, hooks with the biological contact surface facing upward. 70, 72, 74. In FIG. 1, the operator 2 tries to use the sector electronic scan probe 62 among the three probes, removes it from the hook 72, and picks it up to obtain a new sufficient amount of jelly-like acoustic matching on the living body contact surface. A state in which the agent 76 is applied is shown.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10. The three probes 60, 62, and 64 are ultrasonic probes that transmit ultrasonic pulses and receive echoes, respectively. Each of these probes 60, 62, 64 has an array transducer composed of a plurality of transducer elements each configured in accordance with its intended use. The array transducer is subjected to electronic scanning control peculiar to each probe and scanned with an ultrasonic beam, thereby forming a two-dimensional data capturing area peculiar to each probe. Each echo data in the two-dimensional data capture area is output as a reception signal from each probe to the transmission / reception circuit 24 via the probe selection unit 22.

  As described above, the convex electronic scan probe 60, the sector electronic scan probe 62, and the linear electronic scan probe 64 have a specific shape and internal structure depending on the purpose of use. For example, the convex electronic scan probe 60 has a convex biological contact surface that can be scanned in a wide field of view and is suitable for compression testing, and the linear electronic scan probe 64 has a flat and elongated biological contact surface suitable for linear scanning, The sector electronic scan probe 62 has a compact living body contact surface because the beam can be scanned in a fan shape.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, one end of each probe 60, 62, 64 is led to the probe selection unit 22 of the control panel 20 via the connectors 80, 82, 84, respectively. That is, the probe I is connected to the first connector 80, the probe II is connected to the second connector 82, and the probe III is connected to the third connector 84. When it is desired to change the ultrasonic probe to something other than the above, for example, a mechanical probe, these connectors 80, 82 and 84 may be used to replace the ultrasonic probe with a desired one. One end of each of the first to third connectors 80, 82, 84 is connected to the probe selection unit 22.

  The probe selection unit 22 is a selector having a function of selecting a probe to be used by the operator and connecting it to the transmission / reception circuit 24 under the control of the control unit 30. Specifically, one end of one connector selected from the first to third connectors 80, 82, 84 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 24. As the probe selection unit 22, a multiplexer or the like composed of a plurality of switches can be used. How to determine and select a probe to be used by the operator will be described in detail in the operation of the control unit 30.

  The transmission / reception circuit 24 includes a transmission circuit that supplies a transmission signal to the array transducer included in the selected probe, and a reception circuit that executes predetermined processing on the reception signal from the probe. . Transmission / reception control is performed under the instruction of the control unit 30 in accordance with each scan parameter of the scanning method of the selected probe.

  A signal obtained by performing predetermined processing on the received signal is output from the transmission / reception circuit 24 and input to the cine memory 26. The cine memory 26 is a storage device that temporarily stores input data. The image forming unit 28 has a function of performing signal processing and image processing using data in the cine memory 26 to form a two-dimensional tomographic image, and can be configured by a so-called digital scan converter (DSC) or the like. In the image formation, under the control of the control unit 30, an ultrasonic image such as a B-mode image, a D-mode image, and an M-mode image is formed in accordance with the scanning method of the selected probe.

  The display unit 40 is a display that displays the formed ultrasonic image and the like. The panel input unit 50 is a keyboard, a switch, or the like for inputting various parameters by an operator.

  The control unit 30 has a function of controlling each component of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 as a whole, and in particular, when the operator intends to use one of the probes I to III, determines the probe to be used. In accordance with the determined scanning method of the used probe, transmission / reception, storage of cine memory, image formation, and the like are controlled.

  Next, the operation of the control unit 30 in the above configuration, particularly the determination of the probe to be used by the operator will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When an operator intends to use a probe, it is first determined whether or not a plurality of probes are connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 (S10). Specifically, it is determined whether or not probes are connected to the three connectors 80, 82, and 84. This determination can be made visually by the operator, but may be made electrically. For example, using the fact that the output impedance seen from the connector is different between when the probe is connected to the connector and when it is not connected, a connection determination signal is sent to the probe selection unit 22 to determine the presence or absence of the probe connection. May be. When it is determined that a plurality of probes are not connected to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10, the process is terminated without performing the subsequent steps.

  If it is determined that a plurality of probes are connected, then a freeze release instruction is issued (S12). This step is a step of giving an instruction to supply a test transmission signal to each of the plurality of probes using the freeze release instruction. Specifically, the operator presses the freeze button 52 provided on the panel input unit 50 in FIG. 1 once or twice to release the freeze state. The freeze state is used in many ways, but here, it means a state in which no transmission signal is supplied to at least the probe. The freeze button 52 is a button having a function of alternately changing the state, such as setting the freeze state, releasing the freeze state, setting the freeze state, releasing the freeze state, and the like each time the button is pressed. .

Therefore, when the freeze signal is not supplied to any probe at present, the freeze button 52 is pressed once to release the freeze state. On the other hand, when the transmission signal is being supplied to any of the probes, the freeze button 52 is pressed twice. That is, the freeze state is temporarily set by the first push operation, and the freeze state is canceled by the next push operation. These signals are transmitted from the panel input unit 50 to the control unit 30. When recognizing that the freeze state has been newly released, the control unit 30 proceeds to the next first connector transmission / reception (S1 4 ) step as a test transmission signal supply instruction.

Note that, as a test transmission instruction, a dedicated test transmission button may be provided in the panel input unit 50 instead of the freeze button 52. For example, when the test transmission button is pressed and the control unit 30 recognizes this, it is possible to proceed to the next first connector transmission / reception (S1 4 ) step as a test transmission signal supply instruction.

  If the instruction to release the test transmission signal is given by a freeze release instruction or the like, next, transmission / reception toward the first connector is performed (S14). Specifically, this process is divided into two internal processes, a test transmission process and a test reception process. In the test transmission step, the control unit 30 gives instructions to the probe selection unit 22 and the transmission / reception circuit 24, supplies a test transmission signal to the probe I, and causes the probe I to perform test transmission. Specifically, an instruction is given to the probe selection unit 22, one end of the first connector 80 is connected to the input side of the transmission / reception circuit 24, and an instruction is given to the transmission / reception circuit 24 to send a test transmission signal to the first side. Output to one connector 80. In the configuration of FIG. 1, since the probe I is connected to the first connector 80, this is the same as supplying a test transmission signal to the probe I and causing the probe I to perform test transmission. If no probe is connected to the first connector 80, the test transmission signal is only supplied to the first connector 80, and the test transmission cannot be performed. In this way, when viewed from the control panel 20, since it seems that the transmission / reception control is performed for the first connector 80 to the third connector 84, the connector is mainly shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  The control of the test transmission is a transmission signal in which the power is limited as compared with the control of the diagnostic transmission. More specifically, the power can be limited by performing control to lower the transmission drive voltage of each ultrasonic wave. Moreover, you may perform control which makes the repetition frequency of the ultrasonic pulse transmitted low. Moreover, you may perform control which decreases the burst wave number of an ultrasonic pulse. Moreover, you may perform control which narrows the scanning range of the ultrasonic beam formed by transmission / reception of an ultrasonic wave. These controls may be combined. Further, it is preferable that the supply of the test transmission signal is distributed to a plurality of vibration elements constituting the array transducer. By controlling the test transmission in this way, excessive heat generation of the probe can be suppressed and deterioration of the array transducer can be suppressed.

  In the test reception step, the control unit 30 gives an instruction to the probe selection unit 22 and the transmission / reception circuit 24 and receives a reception signal from the probe I. Specifically, the signal from the connector 80 is output to the control unit 30 via the transmission / reception circuit 24 while maintaining the same connection relationship as in the test transmission step. In the configuration of FIG. 1, since the probe I is connected to the first connector 80, this is the same as receiving a reception signal from the probe I. As described above, if no probe is connected to the first connector 80, the reception signal from the probe is not received.

  Following the step of transmission / reception (S14) toward the first connector, the step of transmission / reception (S16) toward the second connector is performed. The contents are the same as the process of transmission / reception (S14) toward the first connector, except that the first connector is replaced with the second connector and the probe I is replaced with the probe II. A reception signal from the probe II is output to the control unit 30. Next, the process of transmission / reception (S18) toward the third connector is performed. The contents are the same as the process of transmission / reception (S14) toward the first connector, except that the first connector is replaced with the third connector and the probe I is replaced with the probe III. A reception signal from the probe III is output to the control unit 30.

  In this way, the test transmission signal is supplied to each of the probes I to III, the test transmission is performed by each of the probes I to III, and the reception signal is received from each of the probes I to III. Intensity comparison (S20) is performed.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the timing of the transmission signal for the probes I to III and the waveform of the reception signal received from each of the probes I to III corresponding thereto. The horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is voltage. As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission signals are repeatedly supplied in the order of probe I-probe II-probe III-probe I-probe II-probe III-. Here, as described in FIG. 1, the operator 2 applies a sufficient amount of a jelly-like acoustic matching agent 76 to the living body contact surface in an attempt to use the probe II. The other probes I and III remain hooked on the hooks 70 and 74, respectively. If another probe I or probe III was used before this, even if a jelly-like acoustic matching agent has been applied before, the probe is pressed against the living body for diagnosis and comes into contact with the living body surface. However, when moving, most of the jelly-like acoustic matching agent moves to the living body side. Accordingly, the amount of the jelly-like acoustic matching agent left on the biological contact surfaces of the probe I and the probe III after use is the amount of the jelly-like acoustic newly applied to the biological contact surface of the probe II to be used now. Compared to the amount of matching agent, it is much less.

  Therefore, comparing the waveforms of the received signals received from each of the probes I to III, as shown in FIG. 4, the received signals received from the probe II to which the jelly-like acoustic matching agent is sufficiently applied for the future use, as shown in FIG. The reflection intensity is significantly higher than the others. In this way, by comparing the signal strengths of the received signals received from the probes, it is possible to determine which probe is to be used.

  The reflection intensity of the received signal may be compared with the peak value or the maximum amplitude value of the received signal, or the waveform may be integrated and the integrated values may be compared.

  The transmission signal supplied to each probe is a test transmission signal subjected to power limit control as compared with normal transmission as described above. If a test transmission signal with the same power restriction is supplied to each probe, it becomes easier to compare the reflection intensity of the received signal. For example, when controlling to reduce the transmission drive voltage of ultrasonic waves, it is possible to easily determine which probe is used by supplying the same transmission drive voltage to each probe according to the magnitude of the reflection intensity of the received signal. .

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, test transmission may be repeatedly performed over probes I to III, and a received signal may be obtained a plurality of times in each probe, and the probe to be used may be determined based on the average processing or the like. In the case of FIG. 4, since transmission / reception is performed twice for each probe, the average values of the received signals received twice for each probe can be compared with each other. This eliminates the effects of accidental noise.

  Returning to FIG. 3 again, the result of the reflection intensity comparison (S20) is divided into three cases. That is, when the reflection intensity R1 of the received signal received from the probe I is higher than others (S22), it is determined that the probe used is the probe I connected to the first connector (S24). Similarly, when the reflection intensity R2 of the received signal received from the probe II is larger than others (S26), it is determined that the probe used is the probe II connected to the second connector (S28). When the reflection intensity R3 of the received signal received from the probe III is higher than others (S30), it is determined that the probe used is the probe III connected to the third connector (S32). The probe to be used is determined by dividing into these three cases. For example, in the case of FIG. 4, since the reflection intensity R2 of the probe II is larger than the reflection intensity R2 of the probe I and larger than the reflection intensity R3 of the probe III, the probe corresponding to S26 and connected to the second connector It is determined that II is a used probe (S28).

  Next, it is determined whether the determined used probe is different from the previous used probe, that is, considering the connector as a main component, whether or not the connector corresponding to the used probe has been changed (S34). When it is determined that the connector corresponding to the probe used has been changed, the connector is switched (S36). Specifically, the control unit 30 instructs the probe selection unit 22 to connect the transmission / reception circuit 24 to the connector corresponding to the probe used. In the example of FIG. 4, the second connector 82 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 24. If it is not determined that there is a connector change, it is determined that there is no connector switching (S38), and the control unit 30 gives an instruction to the probe selection unit 22 and corresponds to the probe in use before the freeze release instruction (S12). The transmission / reception circuit 24 is connected to the connector. In any case, the transmission / reception circuit 24 is connected to the connector corresponding to the probe determined to be the probe in use. In the example of FIG. 4, the second connector 82 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 24.

  When the connector corresponding to the used probe is specified, the control unit 30 determines the type of the used probe. Specifically, the control unit 30 accesses the specified connector and reads the identification code of the connected probe. The identification code of the probe may be read by providing an identification code pin in the connector pin of the probe, or a ROM incorporating the identification code may be provided in the probe, and the contents thereof may be read. If it is determined in the above example that the probe II connected to the second connector is a used probe, the control unit 30 accesses the second connector, reads the identification code of the connected probe II, and the probe II It is determined that it is a sector electronic scan probe. Then, the scan parameter corresponding to the determined used probe is read (S40), and the procedure relating to the determination of the used probe is completed. Thereafter, transmission / reception for diagnosis is performed under the control of the control unit 30 in accordance with the read scan parameter.

  According to the above procedure, the operator 2 picks up the probe he / she wants to use from among the plurality of probes hanging on the hooks 70 to 74, and he / she needs a new and sufficient living body contact surface for normal preparation for diagnosis. Apply an amount of jelly-like acoustic matching agent and press the freeze button 52. With this operation alone, the probe 30 used by the control unit 30 automatically uses the difference in the application of the jelly-like acoustic matching agent to automatically determine which probe the operator 2 has connected to the connector. The scanning parameters corresponding to the connector are automatically read, and transmission / reception of ultrasonic pulses for ultrasonic diagnosis is started.

  Similarly, when the operator 2 tries to change the probe to be used in the diagnosis, no special operation is required, and the probe selected by the operator is automatically determined next. That is, the operator 2 returns the probe used so far to the position of the original hook, picks up the probe to be newly used, and applies a new sufficient amount of a jelly-like acoustic matching agent to the living body contact surface. , And press the freeze button 52 twice. With this operation alone, the probe determination function of the control unit 30 automatically determines which probe is newly selected by the operator 2 and automatically reads a new scan parameter corresponding to the connector. The transmission / reception of the ultrasonic pulse according to is started.

It is a figure which shows a mode that the whole ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in embodiment which concerns on this invention, and an operator are picking up the probe. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in an embodiment according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of the determination procedure of the use probe in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the waveform of the received signal received from each of the probe I-III corresponding to the timing of the transmission signal with respect to the probe I-III corresponding to it.

Explanation of symbols

  2 operators, 10 ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, 20 control panel, 22 probe selection unit, 24 transmission / reception circuit, 26 cine memory, 28 image forming unit, 30 control unit, 40 display unit, 50 panel input unit, 52 freeze button, 60 , 62, 64 Probe, 70, 72, 74 hook, 76 Jelly-like acoustic matching agent, 80, 82, 84 connector.

Claims (5)

In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which a plurality of ultrasonic probes are connected,
Each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes is formed by lowering the repetition frequency of ultrasonic pulses to be transmitted, decreasing the burst wave number of ultrasonic pulses, and transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves , compared to a transmission signal for diagnosis. A test transmission control means for supplying a test transmission signal subjected to power limitation by controlling at least one of narrowing of the scanning range of the ultrasonic beam, and causing each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes to perform test transmission. ,
Determination means for receiving a reception signal from each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes, and determining a probe to be used among the plurality of ultrasonic probes based on the reception signals;
Including
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein a diagnostic transmission signal is supplied to the probe in use. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the probe to be used based on signal strengths of the plurality of reception signals. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2,
The test transmission control means transmits a test transmission signal in which the same power restriction is performed for each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the probe to be used based on mutual comparison of signal intensities of the plurality of reception signals. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The test transmission control means supplies the test transmission signal by distributing supply positions of the test transmission signal to an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of vibration elements among the plurality of ultrasonic probes. A characteristic ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The test transmission control means supplies the test transmission signal a plurality of times to each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes,
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the probe to be used based on reception signals received a plurality of times from each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes in response to the plurality of test transmissions.

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