Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging arrangement performs tentative scanning of ultrasound to the inside of a living body with delay time corresponding to average sonic velocity, calculates delay time error in a delay time error detecting circuit by using received signals from each channel to which delay control has been performed in a digital delay circuit, compares in a delay time comparing unit the calculated data with a plurality of delay time error data corresponding to various sonic velocities using sound velocity as the parameter stored before hand in a sound velocity-derived delay time error storing unit, selects among those sonic velocities the one matching the delay time error data with a sonic velocity selecting unit, and calculates the sonic velocity within the living body. The calculated sonic velocity is fed back to CPU, and the delay data on the delay applied in the ultrasonic scanning is provided to a delay circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe having two-dimensionally arranged transducer elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to an object, a transducer element selector for selecting transducer elements used in transmission and reception, a signal processing unit for applying a delay to a signal received by a selected transducer element, an image processing unit for generating an image based on the output signal of the signal processing unit, and an image display unit. The image processing unit stores a first ultrasound image obtained by a scan of a first transducer arrangement selected by the transducer element selector and a second ultrasound image obtained by a scan of a second transducer arrangement selected by the transducer element selector so as to irradiate an ultrasound beam in a different direction than the beam direction of the first transducer arrangement, and combines the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus acquires images different in a frequency. The invention is composed of a transducer including plural elements for sending an ultrasonic wave and receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave, analog to digital converters that digitize plural received signals, first mixers that respectively multiply a signal from the converter and a first digital reference signal, first filters that respectively extract a signal having a predetermined center frequency from a signal from each first mixer, digital delay units that respectively delay a signal from each first filter, an adder that adds plural signals from the digital delay units, and a second mixer that multiplies a signal from the adder and a second digital reference signal. An envelope detector detects a signal from the second mixer, and a scan converter converts a signal from the detector to a picture signal for display, so the pass band of the filter is not required to be changed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasonic beam into an object to be examined using a multi-ring arrangement formed with transducer elements arrayed two-dimensionally in concentric rings and receives an echo so as to create a tomogram or a three-dimensional image of the object. To correct for focusing error due to the difference in length of ultrasound propagating paths, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus groups the transducer elements so as to form a multi-ring arrangement, transmits/receives ultrasonic beams with a delay to each ring of the multi-ring arrangement and scans the ultrasonic beam so as to create an ultrasonic image, measures delay error due to presence of a sound speed non-uniformity portion of the object and changes either the coupling of the multi-ring or the delay time based on the measurement error.

Abstract: An ultrasonographic apparatus in which the S/N ratio of a compound image is improved operates by combining a plurality of reception beam signals from probes arranged at different positions relative to a sample, converting the combined ultrasonic beam into a luminance signal, and displaying the luminance signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe in which two-dimensional array transducer elements are arrayed convexly both in one direction of the two-dimensional array and in the direction perpendicular to the former direction relative to the direction where an ultrasonic wave is transmitted. By switching a transducer element selecting switch circuit provided near the transducer elements, the shape of the diameter of the probe for transmitting and receiving of ultrasound and the position of the diameter are arbitrarily determined.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus having a depth range setter 28 for setting a threshold value of detection level for a Doppler signal in an ultrasonic circuit unit 2, a unit for extracting a time at which the Doppler signal exceeds the set detection level and a signal level in excess of the set detection level, and a ROI depth data generator 29 for determining, for an adaptive phase controller 3, a ROI depth range for correction necessary to make echo signals of neighboring channels be in phase by using the extracted time and signal level, whereby the focal point can follow the ROI region in an object to be inspected by correcting echo signals from the region where the intensity of the Doppler signal reaches the detection level or its neighboring region so as to make them be in phase between adjacent transducers.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology that freely changes the frequency of a reference signal in a digital ultrasonic diagnosis device and makes it possible to conduct various high-quality or high-speed imaging. Reception signals obtained by an ultrasonic element group disposed in an array are digitized in a sampling cycle higher than a Nyquist frequency of the reception signals, and are mixed with reference signal. The mixed signals are then accumulated in a sampling direction, a number of the mixed signals accumulated being equal to a number of a plurality of samples, and are delayed and added by wave reception focusing means. The reference signal serially read out and used from memory means in such a manner as to correspond to the sampling number of the reception signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the distortion of the received wave signal due to the ununiformity of the interior of an human body can be reduced accurately with a small circuit scale and an ultrasonic image of high resolution can be produced. The apparatus comprises a probe including an arrangement of elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pulses to and from the interior of a subject, delay means for delaying the wave signal received from each element of the probe, and a plurality of adder means connected in series to the output of the delay means for adding the output signal of the preceding stages thereby to form an ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for acquiring images different in a frequency, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the invention is composed of a transducer including plural elements for sending an ultrasonic wave and receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave, analog to digital converters that digitize plural received signals, first mixers that respectively multiply a signal output from the analog to digital converter and a first digital reference signal, first filters that respectively extract a signal having a predetermined center frequency from a signal output from each first mixer, digital delay units that respectively delay a signal output from each first filter, an adder that adds plural signals output from the digital delay units, a second mixer that multiplies a signal output from the adder and a second digital reference signal, an envelope detector that detects a signal output from the second mixer, a scan converter that converts a signal output from the envel

Abstract: This invention provides a technology that freely changes the frequency of a reference signal in a digital ultrasonic diagnosis device and makes it possible to conduct various high-quality or high-speed imaging. Reception signals obtained by an ultrasonic element group disposed in an array are digitized in a sampling cycle higher than a Nyquist frequency of the reception signals, and are mixed with reference signal. The mixed signals are then accumulated in a sampling direction, a number of the mixed signals accumulated being equal to a number of a plurality of samples, and are delayed and added by wave reception focusing means. The reference signal serially read out and used from memory means in such a manner as to correspond to the sampling number of the reception signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present invention performs a tentative scanning of ultrasound to the inside of a living body with delay time corresponding to average sonic velocity, calculates delay time error in a delay time error detecting circuit, by using received signals from each channel to which delay control has been performed in a digital delay circuit, compares in a delay time comparing unit said calculated data with a plurality of delay time error data corresponding to various sonic velocities using sound velocity as the parameter stored beforehand in a sound velocity-derived delay time error storing unit, selects among those sonic velocities the one matching the delay time error data with a sonic velocity selecting unit, and calculates the sonic velocity within the living body. Then, said calculated sonic velocity is fed back to CPU, and the delay data on the delay applied in the ultrasonic scanning is provided to a delay circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasound therapy apparatus delivers focused ultrasound for therapeutical purposes which can be correctly targeted to a target region, and also, a positional shift from the target region under irradiation of ultrasound can be effectively avoided. An ultrasound transducer is inside an applicator with an imaging ultrasonic probe. Another ultrasound transducer monitors a position of a target and a positional shift is inside a catheter which is inserted into a urethral tube. An imaging system drives the ultrasound probe to display an ultrasound tomographic image of a region in the vicinity of a target region. The ultrasound transducer is driven in a pulse-shaped mode at the same frequency as the imaging ultrasound and also at such timing when the imaging ultrasound is reached. As a result, a point-shaped sound source image is superimposed and displayed on an ultrasound tomographic image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the distortion of the received wave signal due to the ununiformity of the interior of an human body can be reduced accurately with a small circuit scale and an ultrasonic image of high resolution can be produced. The apparatus comprises a probe including an arrangement of elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pulses to and from the interior of a subject, delay means for delaying the wave signal received from each element of the probe, and a plurality of adder means connected in series to the output of the delay means for adding the output signal of the preceding stages thereby to form an ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology that freely changes the frequency of a reference signal in a digital ultrasonic diagnosis device and makes it possible to conduct various high-quality or high-speed imaging.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology that freely changes the frequency of a reference signal in a digital ultrasonic diagnosis device and makes it possible to conduct various high-quality or high-speed imaging.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the distortion of the received wave signal due to the ununiformity of the interior of an human body can be reduced accurately with a small circuit scale and an ultrasonic image of high resolution can be produced. The apparatus comprises a probe including an arrangement of elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pulses to and from the interior of a subject, delay means for delaying the wave signal received from each element of the probe, and a plurality of adder means connected in series to the output of the delay means for adding the output signal of the preceding stages thereby to form an ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology that freely changes the frequency of a reference signal in a digital ultrasonic diagnosis device and makes it possible to conduct various high-quality or high-speed imaging. Reception signals obtained by an ultrasonic element group disposed in an array are digitized in a sampling cycle higher than a Nyquist frequency of the reception signals, and are mixed with reference signal. The mixed signals are then accumulated in a sampling direction, a number of the mixed signals accumulated being equal to a number of a plurality of samples, and are delayed and added by wave reception focusing means. The reference signal serially read out and used from memory means in such a manner as to correspond to the sampling number of the reception signals.

Abstract: A biomagnetic field measurement apparatus includes a bed which holds a subject to be inspected in a shielded room. A cryostat holds a plurality of SQUID magnetometers at low temperature. The cryostat is arranged in the shielded room and the plurality of SQUID magnetometers detect a magnetic field generated from the subject. A driving and detecting circuit drives the plurality of SQUID magnetometers and detects signals therefrom that are processed by a computer. A display that is arranged in the shielded room displays data for viewing by an operator.

Abstract: A high frequency continuous wave capable of achieving sufficient lateral resolution is produced by a wave transmitting device (20) to constitute a transmitted ultrasonic wave. A frequency of the continuous wave is alternated in a rectangular wave manner by a frequency modulator (15) so as to be frequency-modulated. An alternating time period of the frequency modulation is set to such time two times longer than such delay time which is defined from a time instant when a signal voltage is applied to a piezoelectric transducer element (1) up to another time instant when an ultrasonic wave originated from the piezoelectric transducer is reflected from a focal point 5 and then is reached to the piezoelectric transducer element. In a delay circuit (35), a delay equal to the delay time is applied to the transmitted ultrasonic wave so as to be used as a reference signal.