Abstract: A method of displaying an elastic image according to the present invention includes the steps of measuring ultrasound cross-section data of a cross-section region of a subject while applying compression to the subject 1 (2, 3, 4), determining distortion of tissue in the cross-section region on the basis of the ultrasound cross-section data, generating an elastic image of the cross-section region on the basis of the distortion, displaying the elastic image on a display device (7), setting a plurality of ROIs on the elastic image displayed on the display device, converting the distortion of each ROI into an index value (12), and displays the index value on the display device (8). In this way, the method enables quantitative evaluation of the hardness of body tissue of a region to be diagnosed.

Abstract: An elastic image suitable for diagnosis is easily acquired without depending on the examiner's pressure technique. The displacement of tissue in a tomographic portion of an object is measured on the basis of a pair of RF signal frame data items regarding the tomographic portion, which are obtained at different times by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from the object (b). The average displacement of each beam line (d0 to dn) of an ultrasonic wave is calculated (c), and a displacement gradient (50) in the scanning direction of an ultrasonic probe is calculated on the basis of the displacement average (d). A correction coefficient (52) with respect to the displacement of each beam line is calculated on the basis of the calculated displacement gradient (e), and the displacement distribution measured on the basis of the calculated correction coefficient is corrected (f).

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasound diagnostic device and an image display method, with which a luminosity correction of a cross-section image is carried out in a superimposed region of the cross-section image and an elastic image. An ultrasound diagnostic device comprises: an ultrasound probe (12); a cross-section image configuration unit (20) which configures a cross-section image which is configured by a reflected echo signal which is received via the ultrasound probe (12); an elastic image configuration unit (34) which configures an elastic image on the basis of elasticity information which is computed from the reflected echo signal; and an image display unit (26) which displays a superimposed image from the cross-section image and the elastic image. The ultrasound diagnostic device further comprises: a cross-section image correction unit (40) which corrects the brightness of the cross-section image in a superimposed region of the cross-section image and the elastic image.

Abstract: Even when a region of interest (ROI) is changed on a frozen image, an elasticity image of ROI after the change can be displayed without executing re-measurement. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 has a control unit 110 having a first ROI setting unit 38 and a second ROI setting unit 39. When ROI is set by the first ROI setting unit 38 of the control unit 110, an elasticity information calculating unit 32 sets an area larger than ROI as a calculation area, calculates distortion, elasticity modulus, etc. of a tissue corresponding to each measurement point on a tomographic image of the calculation area, generates elasticity information based on the distortion, the elasticity modulus, etc., and outputs the elasticity information to an elasticity information storing unit 33. The control unit 110 changes the position/size of ROI by the second ROI setting unit 39 under a state that the frozen image is displayed.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that constructs and displays a 3-dimensional elastic image showing the hardness or softness of a biological tissue in an object to be examined, and a method of displaying an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with an RF signal frame data storing unit (20) that stores a predetermined range of RF signal frame data based on the reflected echo signals received by the reception unit (4), an RF signal frame data selecting unit (21) that selects the RF signal frame data in the predetermined range stored in the RF signal frame data storing unit (20), an elasticity information calculating unit (23) that calculates strain or elastic modulus from the RF signal frame data in the predetermined range, and a 3-dimensional elastic image constructing unit (28) that constructs a 3-dimensional elastic image on the basis of the calculated strain or elasticity modulus.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including: a two-dimensional elasticity image forming unit that calculates elasticity frame data indicating the elasticity distribution measured by scanning an object in a three-dimensional manner using an ultrasonic wave; an elasticity volume data generation unit that generates elasticity volume data by collecting the plurality of elasticity frame data items; a three-dimensional elasticity image forming unit that forms a three-dimensional elasticity image by performing volume rendering of the elasticity volume data; and a quality calculation unit that calculates a volume evaluation value indicating the quality of the elasticity volume data on the basis of an autocorrelation value between a pair of tomographic frame data items, which are a basis for calculating the elasticity frame data, and a frame evaluation value indicating the quality of the elasticity frame data.

Abstract: In order to improve the continuity of the image qualities in the minor-axis direction of plural sets of elastic frame data that constitute elastic volume data and generate a high-quality 3-dimensional elastic image, regarding each elastic frame data constituting elastic volume data, a noise frame interpolation unit subjects plural sets of elastic frame data including said elastic frame data and adjacent in a swing direction to synthesis processing, generates the elastic volume data from the synthesized plural sets of elastic frame data, and volume renders the elastic volume data to generate a 3-dimensional elastic image. The noise frame interpolation unit stores plural sets of elastic volume data, subjects plural sets of elastic frame data at corresponding swing angle positions among the stored plural sets of elastic volume data to synthesis processing to generate synthetic elastic frame data and elastic volume data from the synthesized plural sets of elastic frame data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic transmission/reception method that can acquire high-definition 3D elastic images and are very easy to use. A transmission/reception unit can switch between first transmission/reception condition, under which elasticity frame data is acquired at a first definition, and second transmission/reception condition, under which elasticity frame data is acquired at a second definition which is higher than the first definition. A switching unit detects variations in the elasticity values in the elasticity frame data and switches the aforementioned transmission/reception conditions from the first to the second on the basis of the stability of said variations.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an operation unit that arbitrarily specifies a cross-section; a specified cross-section tomographic image constructing unit that cuts and constructs a tomographic image of the specified cross-section from tomographic volume data that is stored in the volume data storing unit; a specified cross-section elastic image constructing unit that cuts and constructs an elastic image of the specified cross-section from elastic volume data that is stored in the volume data storing unit; and a display unit that displays in parallel the tomographic image and the elastic image that are constructed by the specified cross-section tomographic image constructing unit and the specified cross-section elastic image constructing unit.

Abstract: In order to three-dimensionally quantify the elastic information indicating the hardness or softness of tissue of an object with a simple operation, two three-dimensional regions of interest are set on a displayed elastic rendering image. A three-dimensional distortion ratio measuring unit 52 calculates a ratio between elastic information in the set first three-dimensional region of interest and elastic information in the set second three-dimensional region of interest and displays the ratio on an image display device 13.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes: an ultrasonic probe which transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from an object; a phasing addition means that generates RF signal frame data of a sectional part of the object on the basis of a reflected echo signal measured by the ultrasonic probe; a displacement measurement means that generates displacement frame data by measuring displacement of tissue of the sectional part on the basis of a pair of RF signal frame data items acquired at different times; an elastic information calculation means that generates elastic frame data by calculating elastic information, which indicates hardness or softness of tissue of the sectional part, on the basis of the generated displacement frame data; an elastic image configuration means that generates an elastic image on the basis of the elastic frame data; an image display device which displays the elastic image; and a memory in which the elastic image is stored.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with: an ultrasonic probe which transmits/receives ultrasonic waves to/from an object while being in contact with the object; a transmission/reception unit which, in a process in which pressing force applied to the object by the ultrasonic probe is changed and the tomographic position at which the ultrasonic waves are transmitted/received to/from the object is moved in a short axis direction, periodically transmits/receives the ultrasonic waves to/from the object, performs reception processing on a reflection echo signal from the object, and measures RF signal frame data at the tomographic position; a displacement measurement unit which, on the basis of two pieces of RF signal frame data, between which the difference in measurement time falls within a set range, selected from among multiple pieces of RF signal frame data sequentially measured by the transmission/reception unit, finds the displacement of a living tissue at the tomographic position and se

Abstract: An elastic image suitable for diagnosis is easily acquired without depending on the examiner's pressure technique. The displacement of tissue in a tomographic portion of an object is measured on the basis of a pair of RF signal frame data items regarding the tomographic portion, which are obtained at different times by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from the object (b). The average displacement of each beam line (d0 to dn) of an ultrasonic wave is calculated (c), and a displacement gradient (50) in the scanning direction of an ultrasonic probe is calculated on the basis of the displacement average (d). A correction coefficient (52) with respect to the displacement of each beam line is calculated on the basis of the calculated displacement gradient (e), and the displacement distribution measured on the basis of the calculated correction coefficient is corrected (f).

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that constructs and displays a 3-dimensional elastic image showing the hardness or softness of a biological tissue in an object to be examined, and a method of displaying an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with an RF signal frame data storing unit (20) that stores a predetermined range of RF signal frame data based on the reflected echo signals received by the reception unit (4), an RF signal frame data selecting unit (21) that selects the RF signal frame data in the predetermined range stored in the RF signal frame data storing unit (20), an elasticity information calculating unit (23) that calculates strain or elastic modulus from the RF signal frame data in the predetermined range, and a 3-dimensional elastic image constructing unit (28) that constructs a 3-dimensional elastic image on the basis of the calculated strain or elasticity modulus.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that constructs and displays a 3-dimensional elastic image showing the hardness or softness of a biological tissue of an object to be examined, and a method of displaying an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by being provided with an elastic image constructing unit (24) that constructs 2-dimensional elastic image data on the basis of the strain or elasticity modulus acquired by the elasticity information calculating unit (23), an elastic volume data creating unit (26) that creates elastic volume data from plural sets of the 2-dimensional elastic image data, and 3-dimensional elastic image constructing unit (28) that constructs a 3-dimensional elastic image from the elastic volume data.

Abstract: Even when a region of interest (ROI) is changed on a frozen image, an elasticity image of ROI after the change can be displayed without executing re-measurement. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 has a control unit 110 having a first ROI setting unit 38 and a second ROI setting unit 39. When ROI is set by the first ROI setting unit 38 of the control unit 110, an elasticity information calculating unit 32 sets an area larger than ROI as a calculation area, calculates distortion, elasticity modulus, etc. of a tissue corresponding to each measurement point on a tomographic image of the calculation area, generates elasticity information based on the distortion, the elasticity modulus, etc., and outputs the elasticity information to an elasticity information storing unit 33. The control unit 110 changes the position/size of ROI by the second ROI setting unit 39 under a state that the frozen image is displayed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of obtaining a tomographic image and an elastic image is adaptable to not only a close examination mode, but also a screening mode, and obtains an elastic image suitable for each examination purpose. Accordingly, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention comprises tomographic image acquisition means for transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a probe to a body being examined, and receiving a reflection echo signal corresponding to the transmission of the ultrasonic wave to obtain a tomographic image, elastic image acquisition means having a first acquisition mode for determining a tissue elasticity amount of a biomedical tissue of the body being examined on the basis of the reflection echo signal to obtain an elastic image, and display means for displaying at least the elastic image. The elastic image acquisition means has a second acquisition mode different from the first acquisition mode.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can display various information obtained by acquiring an elasticity image in association with the elasticity image or a biometric simulation image is implemented. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 of this invention generates an elasticity image representing hardness or softness of a tissue at a cross-sectional site on the basis of a pair of RF signal frame data which are obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic wave to/from an object 10 and different in acquisition time, and also generates a biometric simulation image 85 simulating the object.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a probe 102 that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to/from a subject, transmitting means 120 for supplying a drive signal to the probe 102 for transmitting ultrasound waves, receiving means 122 for receiving and processing a signal output from the probe 102, a displacement calculating unit 105 for measuring displacement of a tissue according to an output signal from an ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit 103, a color DSC 108 for reconstructuring an elasticity image on the basis of the displacement of the tissue, and an image display 112 for displaying the elasticity image. Further, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes setting means 113B for setting a displacement search direction that sets a search direction of the displacement to match a tissue displacement direction for displacing the tissue. The color DSC 108 constructures the elasticity image on the basis of the measurement value of the displacement search direction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of obtaining a tomographic image and an elastic image is adaptable to not only a close examination mode, but also a screening mode, and obtains an elastic image suitable for each examination purpose. Accordingly, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention comprises tomographic image acquisition means for transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a probe to a body being examined, and receiving a reflection echo signal corresponding to the transmission of the ultrasonic wave to obtain a tomographic image, elastic image acquisition means having a first acquisition mode for determining a tissue elasticity amount of a biomedical tissue of the body being examined on the basis of the reflection echo signal to obtain an elastic image, and display means for displaying at least the elastic image. The elastic image acquisition means has a second acquisition mode different from the first acquisition mode.