Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, including an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic vibration element configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave in a scanning direction in an object in which a contrast media has been injected; a transmission unit configured to apply successive drive pulses to the probe so as to transmit respective ultrasonic signals in respective rate sections; a reception unit configured to receive reflected ultrasonic signals, including first reflected ultrasonic signals produced by a first drive pulse in a first rate section and reflected back to the probe in the first rate section and in a second rate section subsequent to the first rate section; an operation unit configured to perform an operation including at least one of addition and subtraction of at least two of the first ultrasonic signals received during different rate sections; and a signal processor configured to produce image data based on the result of the operation performed by the operation unit.

Abstract: When displaying a plurality of images in different conformations in relation to information of a tissue motion typified by a heart wall motion, support information which is used to rapidly and easily visually confirm a relative positional correspondence relationship between an MPR image, a polar mapping image, and a three-dimensional image is generated and displayed. A marker indicative of a desired local position is set and displayed as required. Further, a position corresponding to the set or changed marker may not be present on the MPR image. In such a case, the MPR image always including a position corresponding to the set or changed marker is generated and displayed by automatically adjusting a position of an MPR cross section.

Abstract: A plurality of strain gauges defined by gauge endpoints are set in each time phase using motion vector information of tissue, and a three-dimensional strain gauge image in which each strain gauge is disposed at a three-dimensional position corresponding to, for example, an ultrasonic image in each time phase is generated and displayed. Moreover, an MPR image is set on volume data and is displayed in a predetermined form in a state where gauge coordinates are projected thereon.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed herein comprises an ultrasonic probe which generates an ultrasonic beam, a volume data set collecting unit which collects a plurality of volume data sets corresponding to a plurality of three-dimensional scan ranges via the ultrasonic probe, the plurality of three-dimensional scan ranges partly overlapping one another, a region of interest setting unit which sets, in accordance with a user instruction, a region of interest on a first tomogram generated from particular one of the plurality of volume data sets, a tomogram generating unit which generates the first tomogram from the particular volume data set and also generates a second tomogram associated with a section including the region of interest from another volume data set corresponding to the three-dimensional scan range including the region of interest, and a display unit which displays the first tomogram and the second tomogram.

Abstract: In time phases except a first time phase, a contour tracking part tracks the position of a region of interest based on image data acquired in each of the time phases. A re-tracking part receives correction of the position of the region of interest in a second time phase, and obtains the position of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase based on the image data acquired in and after the second time phase. From position information of the region of interest in and before the second time phase and position information of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase, a position calculator obtains position information of the region of interest in all the time phases. A computing part obtains motion information of a tissue within the region of interest based on the position information of the region of interest.

Abstract: After the establishment of the saturation state of a contrast medium which has flowed into a subject for scanning inside a patient given the contrast medium, scan is performed under a high acoustic pressure adapted to break the bubbles of the contrast medium, so as to refresh the section for the scanning, and to acquire the maximum value of echo signal intensities. Subsequently, scans by ultrasounds under a low acoustic pressure or a medium acoustic pressure which does not break the contrast medium are carried out a plurality of times at different timings, thereby to execute a scan sequence for acquiring in-vivo information necessary for a TIC analysis. Data obtained by the scans are analyzed in a blood-flow-index estimation unit, and are displayed in a predetermined scheme.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image creating unit configured to create an image of an affected area and an image of a puncture needle inserted into a subject by means of an ultrasonic scanning operation, and a monitor configured to display the image of the affected area and the image of the puncture needle created by the image creating unit, wherein the image creating unit displays a tissue expected to be extracted from the affected area as an image on the monitor before the puncture needle is inserted into the affected area.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of measuring a three-dimensional motion of a biological tissue in a short time. An image processor creates volume data based on image data of a B-mode image of a biological tissue and creates image data of a series of tomographic images in time series for the respective two or more sectional positions based on the volume data. A controller displays one tomographic image for each sectional position on a display part. A user operates an operation part to designate a measurement image region on the displayed tomographic image. A displacement calculating part calculates a displacement in time series of the designated measurement image region for each sectional position. A motion information calculating part calculates motion information of the biological tissue based on the displacement of the measurement image region calculated for each sectional position.

Abstract: A motion parameter measuring unit two-dimensionally measures a motion parameter of a myocardial tissue by a tracking process on time-series ultrasonic image data acquired by transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves to and from a sample. On the other hand, a time phase setting unit adds a diastolic heartbeat time phase, which is set on the basis of a systole end specified by a time phase where a cardiac cavity area of the ultrasonic image data is the smallest and a diastole end specified by an R wave in an electrocardiographic waveform of the sample, relative to the systole end to time-series parameter image data generated by a parameter image data generating unit on the basis of the motion parameter. An image data extracting unit extracts parameter image data to which the diastolic heartbeat time phase closest to a desired diastolic heartbeat time phase set by an input unit is added and displays the extracted parameter image data on a display unit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a displacement measuring unit, a motor information measuring unit, a comparison parameter calculation unit and a parameter image data generating unit. The displacement measuring unit two-dimensionally measures displacements of a myocardial tissue in pieces of ultrasonic image data adjacent in time direction. The motor information measuring unit measures strains and strain rates of the myocardial tissue based on the displacements as motor information. The comparison parameter calculation unit calculates comparison parameters based on the strain rates, or the strains and strain rates. The parameter image data generating unit generates parameter image data using the comparison parameters.

Abstract: A contour specifying part receives volume data representing a subject acquired by transmission of ultrasonic waves to the subject, and specifies a 3-dimensional contour of a myocardium based on the volume data. A forming part sets a reference point on the contour of the myocardium, and forms an image generation plane including a plane substantially orthogonal to the contour of the myocardium at the reference point. An image generator generates image data on the image generation plane based on the volume data. A display controller controls a display to display an image based on the image data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit and an image generating unit. The ultrasonic transmission/reception unit transmits a first ultrasonic pulse having a maximum amplitude in a positive pressure, a second ultrasonic pulse having a maximum amplitude in a negative pressure and a third ultrasonic pulse derived by compounding the first ultrasonic pulse with the second ultrasonic pulse into an object in which a contrast medium is injected and obtains first, second and third reception echoes corresponding to the first, second and third ultrasonic pulses respectively. The image generating unit generates a compounded signal which is a nonlinear component from the contrast medium by a linear calculation of the first, second and third reception echoes and generates image data of the object by using the compounded signal.

Abstract: Obtains the position of each of points composing the contour of a specific tissue shown in ultrasonic image data having been acquired at each time phase by pattern matching for each time phase. Obtains motion information of each of parts composing the specific tissue based on the position of each of the points composing the contour. For each time phase, obtain the differential value of the motion information of each of the parts by differentiating the motion information of each of the parts by time, and normalizes the differential value of the motion information. Assigns a color corresponding to the magnitude of the normalized differential value of the motion information to each of the parts displays an ultrasonic image at each time phase and furthermore display each of the parts of the specific tissue shown in the ultrasonic image of each time phase in the assign color.

Abstract: Three slices, i.e., Basal, Mid, and Apical slices, which correspond to clinically useful ASE segmentation are designated, and the positions of the three slices are tracked through at least one cardiac cycle by performing three-dimensional speckle tracking in the remaining time phases. Three C-mode projection images concerning the tracked positions are reconstructed. In addition, arbitrary myocardial wall motion parameters at the tracked positions are computed and displayed upon being superimposed on C-mode images or projected/displayed on a polar map. As a C-mode projection image method, one of the following techniques can be used detecting and projecting only movement components perpendicular to slices determined in an initial time phase, detecting and projecting average movement components of the respective walls, and tracking and projecting each myocardial position. The obtained C-mode images are simultaneously displayed together with markers indicating the positions of long-axis images and C-mode images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates volume data by performing three-dimensional scan of a three-dimensional region with an ultrasonic wave. An input unit sets or changes at least one of a plurality of correlated scan conditions for the three-dimensional scan. A determination unit determines the other scan conditions of the plurality of scan conditions on the basis of at least one scan condition that is set or changed. A display unit displays at least one of the set or changed scan condition and the determined scan conditions.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 comprises an ultrasonic probe 2 for transmitting the ultrasound while three-dimensionally scanning, and receiving ultrasound reflected from biological tissue, an image processor 5 (and a signal processor 4) for generating image data for an MPR image based on results received thereof, an information memory 6 for storing cross-sectional-position information D showing a cross-section of this MPR image, a display part 81, and a controller 9. The image processor 5 generates image data for the new MPR image for the relevant cross-sectional position, based on the cross-sectional position shown in the cross-sectional-position information D1 obtained when the MPR image was obtained in the past and the received results obtained by the new three-dimensional scan performed with the ultrasonic probe 2. The controller 9 causes the display part 81 to display the new MPR image.

Abstract: The difference frequency component between a first fundamental wave of frequency f and a second fundamental wave of frequency f2 is caused to interact with a second harmonic wave, thereby to attain the enhancement of a second harmonic signal, etc., whereby a reflected wave component to be imaged is extracted at a high S/N ratio. By way of example, in a case where the difference frequency component is to appear on the lower frequency side of the second harmonic wave of the first fundamental wave so as to be superposed on this second harmonic wave, the frequencies are set at f2=2.8 f or so. Besides, in a case where the difference frequency component is to appear on the higher frequency side of the second harmonic wave of the first fundamental wave so as to be superposed on this second harmonic wave, the frequencies are set at f2=3.2 f or so.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a Doppler velocity information acquiring unit, a region-of-interest-setting unit and an instantaneous flow calculating unit. The Doppler velocity information acquiring unit is configured to acquire three-dimensional Doppler velocity information from an object by a three-dimensional scan with transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave. The region-of-interest-setting unit is configured to set a region of interest spatially. The instantaneous flow calculating unit is configured to calculate an instantaneous blood flow in the region of interest with using the three-dimensional Doppler velocity information.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic wave diagnosis instrument. The ultrasonic wave Doppler diagnosis instrument transmits an ultrasonic continuous wave in a range direction and receives a reflective wave of the ultrasonic continuous wave. The ultrasonic wave Doppler diagnosis instrument includes: a modulation unit that subjects the ultrasonic continuous wave to frequency modulation such that a phase is varied in accordance with the distance of the range direction; a demodulation unit that demodulates the reflective wave for each range of the range direction while interlocking with the frequency modulation, and generates a reception signal in the range in a separated state; and a presentation unit that presents information by using a signal of a Doppler component based on the reception signal.

Abstract: The difference frequency component between a first fundamental wave of frequency f and a second fundamental wave of frequency f2 is caused to interact with a second harmonic wave, thereby to attain the enhancement of a second harmonic signal, etc., whereby a reflected wave component to be imaged is extracted at a high S/N ratio. By way of example, in a case where the difference frequency component is to appear on the lower frequency side of the second harmonic wave of the first fundamental wave so as to be superposed on this second harmonic wave, the frequencies are set at f2=2.8f or so. Besides, in a case where the difference frequency component is to appear on the higher frequency side of the second harmonic wave of the first fundamental wave so as to be superposed on this second harmonic wave, the frequencies are set at f2=3.2f or so.