Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having a continuous wave Doppler mode. A line switching section is provided between an array transducer and a unit which has a CW transmission section and a CW reception section, for changing a transmitting and receiving aperture pattern. When a first transmitting and receiving aperture pattern is set on the array transducer, a first aperture functions as a transmitting aperture and a second aperture functions as a receiving aperture. When a second transmitting and receiving aperture pattern is set on the array transducer, the second aperture functions as a transmitting aperture and a first aperture functions as a receiving aperture. The patterns are switched whenever predetermined amount of time has elapsed after a prescribed event such as a pattern change, resumption of continuous wave reception, and so on. As such, localized heat generation or deterioration on the array transducer can be prevented.

Abstract: In a medical ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, a reference image and a guidance display are provided as probe operation support information. The reference image contains a recorded probe mark generated based on coordinate data recorded during a past diagnosis and a current probe mark generated based on current coordinate data. A user adjusts a position and an orientation of a probe so that these marks match. The guidance display has a plurality of indicators provided corresponding to a plurality of coordinate components. Each indicator displays proximity and match for each coordinate component. With the probe operation support information, it is possible to quickly and easily match a current diagnosis part to a past diagnosis part.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprises a cine-memory for temporarily storing a frame line obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasound. In a stress echo test, the storage region of the cine-memory is divided into the same number of segments as the number of capturing processes (i.e. the number of scenes). Each segment is used as a ring-buffer, and one or a plurality of frame blocks (one or a plurality of moving images) are stored in the corresponding segment in each capturing process. Prior to execution of a plurality of capturing processes, the number of heart beats indicative of the data amount which can be stored in each segment is obtained and the information is then provided to a user.

Abstract: A ring buffer records image data output from an ultrasound diagnosis device in units of frames. A user identifies, on an image, occurrence of a target symptom while viewing a cross sectional image which is displayed in real time and inputs an end trigger immediately after the symptom occurs. When the end trigger is input, a system controller unit instructs a recording controller unit for recording of image data. The recording controller unit sets a recording start time from the time when the end trigger is input and extracts data corresponding to a period from the recording start time to the time when the end trigger is input from the ring buffer as data to be recorded. A data process is applied to the data to be recorded in a data processor unit and recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having a continuous wave Doppler mode. A line switching section is provided between an array transducer and a unit which has a CW transmission section and a CW reception section, for changing a transmitting and receiving aperture pattern. When a first transmitting and receiving aperture pattern is set on the array transducer, a first aperture functions as a transmitting aperture and a second aperture functions as a receiving aperture. When a second transmitting and receiving aperture pattern is set on the array transducer, the second aperture functions as a transmitting aperture and a first aperture functions as a receiving aperture. The patterns are switched whenever predetermined amount of time has elapsed after a prescribed event such as a pattern change, resumption of continuous wave reception, and so on. As such, localized heat generation or deterioration on the array transducer can be prevented.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprises a cine-memory for temporarily storing a frame line obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasound. In a stress echo test, the storage region of the cine-memory is divided into the same number of segments as the number of capturing processes (i.e. the number of scenes). Each segment is used as a ring-buffer, and one or a plurality of frame blocks (one or a plurality of moving images) are stored in the corresponding segment in each capturing process. Prior to execution of a plurality of capturing processes, the number of heart beats indicative of the data amount which can be stored in each segment is obtained and the information is then provided to a user.

Abstract: A ring buffer records image data output from an ultrasound diagnosis device in units of frames. A user identifies, on an image, occurrence of a target symptom while viewing a cross sectional image which is displayed in real time and inputs an end trigger immediately after the symptom occurs. When the end trigger is input, a system controller unit instructs a recording controller unit for recording of image data. The recording controller unit sets a recording start time from the time when the end trigger is input and extracts data corresponding to a period from the recording start time to the time when the end trigger is input from the ring buffer as data to be recorded. A data process is applied to the data to be recorded in a data processor unit and recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: In a medical ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, a reference image and a guidance display are provided as probe operation support information. The reference image contains a recorded probe mark generated based on coordinate data recorded during a past diagnosis and a current probe mark generated based on current coordinate data. A user adjusts a position and an orientation of a probe so that these marks match. The guidance display has a plurality of indicators provided corresponding to a plurality of coordinate components. Each indicator displays proximity and match for each coordinate component. With the probe operation support information, it is possible to quickly and easily match a current diagnosis part to a past diagnosis part.

Abstract: In a medical ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, a spatial position and orientation of a probe which transmits and receives an ultrasound are measured as coordinate data. Received data and measured data are correlated and stored in a storage unit. When received data is read from the storage unit, the coordinate data correlated to the received data is also read. When an ultrasound image based on the received data is replayed and displayed, a reference image based on the coordinate data is also displayed along with the ultrasound image. The reference image contains a body mark and a probe mark. A diagnosis situation during when the received data is obtained is schematically re-created by the reference image. That is, the diagnosed part and diagnosis direction are represented by a position and an orientation of the probe mark on the body mark.