Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a transmission unit, a reception unit, a generator, and a display controller. The transmission unit causes an ultrasonic probe to transmit a displacement-producing ultrasonic wave and causes the probe to transmit a displacement-observing ultrasonic wave. The reception unit generates reflected-wave data based on a reflected wave received by the probe. The generator calculates displacement at each of a plurality of positions in the scan area over a plurality of time phases, based on the reflected-wave data, determines a time phase when the calculated displacement is substantially maximum, for each of the positions, and generates image data representing positions where the determined time phases are substantially the same as each other, among the positions. The display controller superimposes an image based on the image data on a medical image corresponding to an area including the scan area.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that can perform predetermined input operations without using an operation table or a remote controller. To realize improved ergonomics in an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, predetermined input operations, such as storing moving images or change of scanning mode, can be performed during examinations analyzing physical operations of an ultrasound probe from generated images. An image data analyzing unit acquires movement data of an ultrasound probe by analyzing image data generated by processing the received signals from the ultrasound probe. An operation converting unit converts the acquired movement data to a predetermined input operation data. A system control unit controls each of units in the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus based on the input operation data from the operation converting unit.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment, a direction determining unit determines a moving direction of an ultrasonic probe. A scanning control unit controls a transmitting and receiving unit so as to repeatedly perform first scanning for acquiring first image data by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal in a first direction and second scanning for acquiring second image data by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic signal in a second direction inclined toward the moving direction with respect to the first direction. An image superimposing unit generates panoramic image data by superimposing a plurality of pieces of first image data acquired through the first scanning. A display control unit displays the second image data together with the panoramic image data or the first image data on a display unit during scanning.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a position detection unit detects position information of an ultrasonic probe including ultrasonic transducers, with reference to a reference position. A transmission/reception unit supplies a driving signal to each transducer and generates a reception signal based on a reception echo signal generated by the transducer. Based on the reception signal, a three-dimensional data generation unit generates first three-dimensional data, in which a region corresponding to a living body tissue is specified by a specifying unit. A setting unit sets a first viewpoint based on the position information and specified region. An image generation unit generates a rendering image by rendering processing using the first viewpoint and first three-dimensional data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a transmitting and receiving unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound waves and from a plurality of planes of a subject by an ultrasonic probe, and an image signal generation unit configured to execute image processing on the basis of received signal from the transmitting and receiving unit and to generate image signals for ultrasound images indicating each of the planes, wherein the transmitting and receiving unit or the image signal generation unit as configured to execute transmitting and receiving or image processing with respect to one of the planes in a condition that is different with respect to another of the planes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe and a transmitter/receiver scan a 3D region using ultrasonic beams by raising the scanning line density of the transmission of ultrasonic beams for a region of interest compared to the scanning line density of the transmission of ultrasonic beams for regions other than the region of interest among the 3D regions. An image-generating part generates ultrasonic-image data of the 3D region, based on the received beams that have been obtained by the scan.

Abstract: Low-resolution image data for recognizing signal components macroscopically is generated, an effective diagnostic component and an ineffective diagnostic component are determined by using the low-resolution image data, and a correction coefficient is decided for every pixel such that the correction coefficient is set to 1 for the effective diagnostic component and the correction coefficient is set to equal to or larger than 0 and smaller than 1 for the ineffective diagnostic component. In addition, correction processing for raising the contrast between the effective diagnostic component and the ineffective diagnostic component by multiplying each pixel value of original image data by a corresponding correction coefficient is executed.

Abstract: An ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus that can display image data acquired at a plurality of measuring positions in panoramic image data and display measured results of diagnosis parameters for each of the measuring positions of the panoramic image data The panoramic image data is generated by combining a plurality of reference image data generated at a plurality of diagnosis target positions. The plurality of measuring positions is designated based on the latest reference image data composing the panoramic image data. Based on Doppler signals acquired through ultrasound transmissions and receptions to and from the plurality of measurement positions, image data is generated.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and method wherein both imaging of a contrast effect and imaging of a tissue appearance before and after inflow of a contrast medium can be realized on condition that low-power transmission and a high frame rate are maintained. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmission/reception unit for transmitting subject ultrasonic waves with a band substantially centered at a fundamental frequency and generating a received signal based on an ultrasonic echo from the subject, a harmonic unit for extracting a signal of a harmonic component of the fundamental frequency included in the received signal and extracting a signal of the fundamental component with the band substantially centered the fundamental frequency included in the received signal, and a display unit for generating a display image based on the extracted harmonic and fundamental components.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that can perform predetermined input operations without using an operation table or a remote controller. To realize improved ergonomics in an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, predetermined input operations, such as storing moving images or change of scanning mode, can be performed during examinations analyzing physical operations of an ultrasound probe from generated images. An image data analyzing unit acquires movement data of an ultrasound probe by analyzing image data generated by processing the received signals from the ultrasound probe. An operation converting unit converts the acquired movement data to a predetermined input operation data. A system control unit controls each of units in the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus based on the input operation data from the operation converting unit.

Abstract: A peripheral region is detected by using original image data acquired by ultrasound scan. Blend processing is executed in the peripheral region such that a rate of a smoothed image increases and a rate of an original image decreases as a distance from a blood flow region increases.

Abstract: Low-resolution image data for recognizing signal components macroscopically is generated, an effective diagnostic component and an ineffective diagnostic component are determined by using the low-resolution image data, and a correction coefficient is decided for every pixel such that the correction coefficient is set to 1 for the effective diagnostic component and the correction coefficient is set to equal to or larger than 0 and smaller than 1 for the ineffective diagnostic component. In addition, correction processing for raising the contrast between the effective diagnostic component and the ineffective diagnostic component by multiplying each pixel value of original image data by a corresponding correction coefficient is executed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe and a transmitter/receiver scan a 3D region using ultrasonic beams by raising the scanning line density of the transmission of ultrasonic beams for a region of interest compared to the scanning line density of the transmission of ultrasonic beams for regions other than the region of interest among the 3D regions. An image-generating part generates ultrasonic-image data of the 3D region, based on the received beams that have been obtained by the scan.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject to be examined and receives reflected waves from the subject to be examined. An image processor generates three-dimensional image data based on the reflected waves received by the ultrasonic probe. Moreover, the image processor displays a mark indicating the positional relationship between the three-dimensional image and the ultrasonic probe on a display, the mark overlapping the three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a transmitting and receiving unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound waves and from a plurality of planes of a subject by an ultrasonic probe, and an image signal generation unit configured to execute image processing on the basis of received signal from the transmitting and receiving unit and to generate image signals for ultrasound images indicating each of the planes, wherein the transmitting and receiving unit or the image signal generation unit as configured to execute transmitting and receiving or image processing with respect to one of the planes in a condition that is different with respect to another of the planes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and method wherein both imaging of a contrast effect and imaging of a tissue appearance before and after inflow of a contrast medium can be realized on condition that low-power transmission and a high frame rate are maintained. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmission/reception unit for transmitting subject ultrasonic waves with a band substantially centered at a fundamental frequency and generating a received signal based on an ultrasonic echo from the subject, a harmonic unit for extracting a signal of a harmonic component of the fundamental frequency included in the received signal and extracting a signal of the fundamental component with the band substantially centered the fundamental frequency included in the received signal, and a display unit for generating a display image based on the extracted harmonic and fundamental components.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and method wherein both imaging of a contrast effect and imaging of a tissue appearance before and after inflow of a contrast medium can be realized on condition that low-power transmission and a high frame rate are maintained. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmission/reception unit for transmitting subject ultrasonic waves with a band substantially centered at a fundamental frequency and generating a received signal based on an ultrasonic echo from the subject, a harmonic unit for extracting a signal of a harmonic component of the fundamental frequency included in the received signal and extracting a signal of the fundamental component with the band substantially centered the fundamental frequency included in the received signal, and a display unit for generating a display image based on the extracted harmonic and fundamental components.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and method wherein both imaging of a contrast effect and imaging of a tissue appearance before and after inflow of a contrast medium can be realized on condition that low-power transmission and a high frame rate are maintained. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmission/reception unit for transmitting subject ultrasonic waves with a band substantially centered at a fundamental frequency and generating a received signal based on an ultrasonic echo from the subject, a harmonic unit for extracting a signal of a harmonic component of the fundamental frequency included in the received signal and extracting a signal of the fundamental component with the band substantially centered the fundamental frequency included in the received signal, and a display unit for generating a display image based on the extracted harmonic and fundamental components.