| 摘要 |
An apparatus has: an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from a subject and has an ultrasound transmission/reception surface; an acoustic coupler that has a different shape for each type and is attachable and detachable so as to cover the ultrasound transmission/reception surface; a generator that, based on the ultrasound waves received by the ultrasound probe, generates an image expanding in a depth direction from the ultrasound transmission/reception surface; and an analyzer that, based on presence/absence and shape of an acoustic coupler region within the image generated by the generator, identifies presence/absence of mounting of the acoustic coupler and a type of the mounted acoustic coupler. Consequently, the apparatus is capable of identifying the acoustic coupler though the ultrasound probe and the acoustic coupler are not provided with special structures. |
