Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for a compact, inexpensive ultrasound system using an off-the-shelf personal digital assistant (PDA) device interfacing to a hand-held probe assembly through a standard digital interface. The hand-held probe assembly comprises a detachable transducer head attached to a beamforming module that performs digital beamforming. The PDA runs Windows applications and displays menus and images to a user. The PDA also runs ultrasound data processing software to support a plurality of imaging modes. An internal battery is provided in the PDA to power the system. The transducer head is detachable from the beamforming module.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic signals toward a subject, receiving signals reflected from the subject in response to the transmitted ultrasonic signals, and producing a tomographic image of the subject based on the received signals, includes: transmitting/receiving device having a plurality of channels for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic signals via the channels; and a linear or convex probe in which transducers in a number larger than the number of channels are arranged in one direction, in which probe, the transducers are connected to the channels inconsecutively in the arrangement direction, and the number of transducers in an aperture area from one end to the other of transducers that are connected to the channels is set to be larger than the number of channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a desired ultrasonic beam even when an acoustic line is directed obliquely with respect to an axis of symmetry of a transducer in-aperture array, when an acoustic line is directed obliquely to one side with respect to an axis of symmetry of a transducer in-aperture array, a weight assigned to the transducers is set to be asymmetric with respect to the axis of symmetry.

Abstract: In order to perform precise time-gain control using a small manual setting device, one of two-dimensional coordinates of a position on a surface of a tablet pointer 215 which an external object touches is defined as a coordinate on a time axis, and the other as a coordinate on a gain axis; and the time gain is controlled based on the two-dimensional coordinates. In order to provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that responds to the requirement for both portability and versatility, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises a portable imaging apparatus 100 comprising ultrasonic imaging means, and a support apparatus 500 which comprises supporting means for supporting extension of functions of the imaging apparatus, and which is electrically connected to and mechanically joined to the imaging apparatus so that it can be removably combined with the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic signals toward a subject, receiving signals reflected from the subject in response to the transmitted ultrasonic signals, and producing a tomographic image of the subject based on the received signals, comprises: transmitting/receiving device having a plurality of channels for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic signals via the channels; and a linear or convex probe in which transducers in a number larger than the number of channels are arranged in one direction, in which probe, the transducers are connected to the channels inconsecutively in the arrangement direction, and the number of transducers in an aperture area from one end to the other of transducers that are connected to the channels is set to be larger than the number of channels.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for a compact, inexpensive ultrasound system using an off-the-shelf personal digital assistant (PDA) device interfacing to a hand-held probe assembly through a standard digital interface. The hand-held probe assembly comprises a detachable transducer head attached to a beamforming module that performs digital beamforming. The PDA runs Windows applications and displays menus and images to a user. The PDA also runs ultrasound data processing software to support a plurality of imaging modes. An internal battery is provided in the PDA to power the system. The transducer head is detachable from the beamforming module.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for continuously transmitting ultrasonic signal toward a subject, continuously receiving signals reflected from the subject in response to the transmitted ultrasonic signals, and producing a tomographic image of a subject based on the received signals, comprises transmitting/receiving means for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic signals via a plurality of channels, and a sector probe having transducers connectable to the channels via switches, the transducers being in a number larger than the number of the channels and arranged in one direction, in which probe, ones among said transducers arranged in one direction that are spaced at intervals of a predetermined number of said transducers are connected to channels for transmitting ultrasonic signals.

Abstract: A method of ultrasound imaging is provided. The method includes coupling a first ultrasound probe to a portable ultrasound-imaging device, the probe configured to provide a first predetermined set of functions, scanning a volume of interest using the portable ultrasound-imaging device at a first transmit power level capability to acquire ultrasound image data, coupling the portable ultrasound-imaging device to a resource extension device, processing at least a portion of the ultrasound image data using a ultrasound-imaging device processor, and processing at least a portion of the ultrasound image data using a resource extension device processor.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing the load on hardware for driving a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe having a multiplicity of transducers, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes programmable gain amplifiers a00-a99 for amplifying signal voltages e00-e99 from transducers in a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe, voltage-to-current converters h00-h99 for converting the voltages into current signals i00-i99, a matrix switch M for outputting additive current signals I0-I9 obtained by dividing the current signals i00-i99 into groups and adding current signals in respective groups, current-to-voltage converters H0-H9 for converting the currents into voltage signals, programmable gain amplifiers A0-A9, A-D converters C0-C9, and a digital beamformer unit B for conducting reception beamforming using digital signals D0-D9 and outputting an acoustic line signal W.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic system, which is intended to perform the wireless communication of ultrasonic diagnostic information within the speed range of general-purpose data communication standards, is arranged in a first and second units. The first unit includes ultrasonic wave transmit/receive means which transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives the echo of the wave, data generation means which produces digital diagnostic data based on the received echo, data compression means which compresses the digital data, and data communication means which sends out the compressed data in wireless manner. The second unit includes data communication means which receives the transmitted data, data expansion means which expands the received data, and information generation means which produces display information from the expanded data.

Abstract: The transmitter/receiver for a convex probe and linear probe are used to drive a sector probe. Usually, when an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus using a convex probe and linear probe uses a sector probe, it selects vibration elements of N in number, which is equal to the number of channels of the sector probe, out of vibration elements of L in number (N is smaller than L), so that the selected elements are distributed at a virtually constant pitch in the alignment of vibration elements, and turns on only high voltage switches which are connected with the selected vibration elements to implement the sector scanning with the transmitter/receiver. It becomes possible to implement the sector scanning by using the transmitter/receiver having channels less than the number of vibration elements of the sector probe.

Abstract: In order to allow operation of key switches without awkwardly bending the elbow or wrist, and arranging key switches aesthetically in the appearance design while preventing confusion in operation and eliminating dead space within the area occupied by the key switches, key switches 1-1-1-6 are arranged horizontally in a row slantingly with respect to the horizontal and vertical directions of an operation panel 101.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing the size and power consumption of a power source in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, charge pump circuits 50 and 60 are connected to a transmitter power source 14. A regulator in the transmitter power source 14 drives the charge pump circuit 50 to generate a positive bias voltage +HV2 higher than a positive voltage +HV1 generated by the transmitter power source 14. The regulator in the transmitter power source 14 also drives the charge pump circuit 60 to generate a negative bias voltage −HV2 lower than a negative voltage −HV1 generated by the transmitter power source 14.

Abstract: In order to reduce the number of components to achieve size reduction of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 101 is provided with a power supply section 3 comprised of a bias power supply 4 for generating a bias voltage and a driving power supply 5 for generating a driving voltage using the bias voltage. The bias voltage is higher than the driving voltage. Since the driving power supply 5 merely generates a lower voltage based upon a higher voltage, it is simpler in configuration and smaller in size than the conventional type that independently generates the voltages.

Abstract: In order to arrange continuous wave signal paths using fewer switches, a plurality of amplifying circuits 602 for respectively amplifying a plurality of continuous wave input signals, and outputting each respective pair of amplified signals that have mutually opposite phases for each continuous wave input signal; a plurality of selecting circuits 604, each of which selects one signal of the pair of amplified signals from each of the plurality of amplifying circuits; and a matrix switch 608 employing the output signals from the plurality of selecting circuits as input signals are provided.

Abstract: For the purpose of eliminating a problem that a good harmonic image cannot be obtained due to the tail of a fundamental component of previous received data intruding into a fundamental component of current received data; in the operation in a harmonic mode according to a phase inversion technique, a first ultrasonic pulse is sequentially transmitted to a plurality of foci on the same acoustic line, and a second ultrasonic pulse of a phase opposite to that of the first ultrasonic pulse is sequentially transmitted to the plurality of foci on the same acoustic line.

Abstract: For the purpose of removing an effect of window processing in window-processing time-domain Doppler signals, translating them to a frequency domain, and then translating them back to the time domain, when cutting signals of a predetermined length from a time-domain Doppler signal; performing window processing on the cut signals; transforming the window-processed signals into frequency-domain signals by Fourier transformation; inversely transforming the frequency-domain signals by inverse Fourier transformation into a time-domain signal after performing predefined processing on the signals; and outputting the time-domain signal as an acoustic signal, the window processing is performed using a window having a profile with a flat top; and the cutting from the Doppler signal is performed such that a former cut signal and a latter cut signal overlap in a portion corresponding to the flat portion of the window.

Abstract: In order to provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that responds to the requirement for both portability and versatility, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a portable imaging apparatus 100 comprising ultrasonic imaging means, and a support apparatus 500 which comprises supporting means for supporting extension of functions of the imaging apparatus, and which is electrically connected to and mechanically joined to the imaging apparatus so that it can be removably combined with the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: In order to provide an electronic device permitting a reduction in size or an expansion of its internal space while maintaining its mechanical strength, a structure having mechanical strength is integrally formed with hinges for fitting a lid-shaped display unit to a box-shaped body and a carrying handle projecting outward from the box-shaped body.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing the load on hardware for driving a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe having a multiplicity of transducers, the present invention comprises programmable gain amplifiers a00-a99 for amplifying signal voltages e00-e99 from transducers in a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe, voltage-to-current converters h00-h99 for converting the voltages into current signals i00-i99, a matrix switch M for outputting additive current signals I0-I9 obtained by dividing the current signals i00-i99 into groups and adding current signals in respective groups, current-to-voltage converters H0-H9 for converting the currents into voltage signals, programmable gain amplifiers A0-A9, A-D converters C0-C9, and a digital beamformer unit B for conducting reception beamforming using digital signals D0-D9 and outputting an acoustic line signal W.