Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a random processing device which adds independent random components to a pixel value of a pixel point on each actual frame corresponding to a given time and a pixel value of a pixel point on each actual frame corresponding to a time subsequent to the time respectively thereby to obtain random-processed pixel values and a weighting/adding device which weights/adds the random-processed pixel values thereby to obtain a pixel value of a pixel point on each interpolation frame corresponding to an intermediate time.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: an image acquisition unit which acquires B-mode image information on an imaging region lying within a subject; a display unit which displays the B-mode image information thereon; a contrast agent inflow start detecting device which detects an inflow timing at which a contrast agent administered to the subject starts to flow in the imaging region, using the B-mode image information; and a post-processing starting device which starts up post-processing conducted after the contrast agent has started to flow in the imaging region, in sync with the inflow timing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a first ultrasonic probe; a first transmitting/receiving device which drives the first ultrasonic probe to perform scan with an ultrasonic beam; an ultrasonic image generating device which generates an ultrasonic image, based on a signal obtained by the first transmitting/receiving device; an image displaying device which displays the ultrasonic image thereon; a contrast timer which starts clocking in response to a start signal; a second ultrasonic probe; a second transmitting/receiving device which drives the second ultrasonic probe; and a determining device which determines based on a signal obtained by the second transmitting/receiving device whether a contrast agent has flowed in or not, and transmits the start signal to the contrast timer when the contrast agent has flowed in.

Abstract: In executing projection processing for the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of diagnosis, if a threshold is reached again after a specific value of a pixel reaches the threshold in the x direction in which tomographic planes are arrayed, the execution of the projection processing is ended, and a projected image is generated. Then, in generating that projected image by executing projection processing, tomograms are so synthesized with the projected image that the positions of the pixels projected in the x direction and the pixels of the tomograms generated in the x direction match each other in the scanned three-dimensional area of the subject, and the synthesized images are thereby generated.

Abstract: A system for improving the display of ultrasound imaging of tissue structures. A set of N image frames is used to produce a peak image display. Multiple peak image displays are produced by discarding the oldest image frame in the set of N image frames and replacing the discarded image frame with another more recent image frame. The more recent image frame is added to the set of image frames to produce a new set of N image frames. The new set of N image frames is used to produce another peak display image. If there is an undesirable amount of distortion or blur in the peak display images due to tissue motion, then the number of image frames in the set of N image frames can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus either for displaying three-dimensional ultrasonic images allowing an operator to become aware of the distance of a target object from an ultrasonic probe, or for displaying practical three-dimensional ultrasonic images while being simply structured and taking a short time to perform necessary operations.