Abstract: A compound ultrasonic scan of an object is effected with a pair of transducers mounted adjacent to the object but spaced apart from each other. Each transducer is operated as a "wobbler" transducer. That is, the transducer transmits pulses of ultrasonic energy into the object and receives echoes from acoustic discontinuities in the object while the transducer is oscillated mechanically, through a predetermined angle, about an axis which passes through the transducer.

Abstract: In megahertz ultrasonic echoscopy of objects, echoscopes having a time gain compensation facility are often used. To ensure that a uniform ultrasonic echo signal is obtained at a predetermined depth (5) within an object, the present invention varies the sensitivity of the time gain compensation for each pulse of ultrasonic energy (8) used to obtain an echogram of the object. The present invention may include means to vary the slope of the time gain compensation so that at other predetermined depths (6) within the object, echo signals of respective intensities are received, thus overcoming problems due to shadowing by ultrasonically highly absorbing regions of the object. The main application of the invention is in medical diagnosis.

Abstract: Apparatus for the ultrasonic examination of an object comprises:means for transmitting pulses of ultrasonic energy along a plurality of beams into the object and receiving echoes of the pulses reflected along the beams by acoustic impedance discontinuities within the object, the means directing the beams from a plurality of spaced positions in a single plane relative to the object and along a plurality of beam directions in the single plane at each spaced position;means for forming a first display of information representative of the position of acoustic impedance discontinuities within the object from the echoes received along the plurality of beams;means for selecting a point or region within the object intersected by at least one beam direction from different ones of the spaced positions; andmeans for determining the shift of echoes from the selected point or region received along the beam in each beam direction caused by divergences of the velocity of propagation of ultrasonic energy through the object in

Abstract: An apparatus for pulse-echo ultrasonic examination, particularly in medical diagnostic examination comprised of one or more transducer elements for transmitting divergent pulses of ultrasonic energy into the object under examination and a greater number of transducer elements providing a plurality of received beams for each pulse transmitted.

Abstract: A method of displaying information obtained by pulse-echo ultrasonic examination of an object, particularly in medical diagnostic examination, comprises forming a first display representing the positions of acoustic impedance discontinuities within the object and simultaneously incorporating in the display other parameters relating to the object.