Abstract: In one embodiment, a contact-surface determination apparatus includes processing circuitry. This processing circuitry acquires an image depicting a contact surface of a ultrasonic probe, and determines a state of the contact surface of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of the acquired image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe and a a main body. The ultrasonic probe includes at least a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in an array and an ultrasonic lens. The main body inspects the ultrasonic probe by using a reflected signal from an interface between the ultrasonic lens and air, and includes inspection processing circuitry. The inspection processing circuitry is configured to: sequentially select an ultrasonic transducer to be inspected from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers one by one in such a manner that any two ultrasonic transducers being continuously selected are not spatially adjacent but are separated by a predetermined separation distance; cause the selected ultrasonic transducer to transmit an ultrasonic pulse; and sequentially inspect each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers by acquiring a reflected signal responding to transmission of the ultrasonic pulse from the interface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe and processing circuitry. The ultrasonic probe is configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire an optical image of a subject housed in a housing unit containing a medium. The processing circuitry is configured to estimate state information of the subject from the optical image. The processing circuitry is configured to set a scan condition of ultrasonic scanning for the subject based on the state information.