Abstract: An ultrasound probe according to one embodiment includes a plurality of ultrasound vibrators, a switching part, and an amplification part. The ultrasound vibrator transmits ultrasound and receives ultrasound echoes reflected within a subject. The switching part is configured to cause aperture movement of ultrasound beams by selectively switching signals from two or more of the ultrasound vibrators. The amplification part is configured to amplify signals from the switching part. The ultrasound probe receives signals from the plurality of ultrasound vibrators in a time-division manner by controlling the switching part. In addition, the ultrasound probe further comprises an impedance transforming part. The impedance transforming part is configured to be interposed between the ultrasound vibrator and the switching part, receive signals from the ultrasound vibrator at high impedance, and output such to the switching part at low impedance.

Abstract: When ultrasonic pulses are transmitted to the inside of an examined subject by driving transducer elements of which the quantity is Mx and that are arranged in a two-dimensional array within an ultrasonic probe, a signal selecting unit included in the probe selects, for each of the transducer elements, two adjacent driving signals each having a time delay closest to an accurate time delay (an ideal time delay) required to drive the transducer element, out of driving signals in as many channels as Mo (Mo<<Mx) supplied from a transmitting and receiving unit in an apparatus main body while time delays thereof are quantized by ??. Subsequently, a weighting unit weights each of the selected adjacent driving signals by employing a variable capacity device. A synthesizing and separating unit generates a synthesized driving signal having the ideal time delay, by performing an additive synthesis process on the weighted adjacent driving signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe has a plurality of modules joined at least along the elevation direction. The module has a plurality of first piezoelectric transducers having a first width with respect to the elevation direction. The module has at least one second piezoelectric transducer having a second width narrower than the first width with respect to the elevation direction. The second piezoelectric transducer is arranged at the module ends with respect to the elevation direction. The module is arranged in such a manner that the second piezoelectric transducer faces the second piezoelectric transducer of the adjacent module.

Abstract: A Doppler sensitivity measuring unit measures the Doppler sensitivity of Doppler spectrum data obtained by ultrasonic wave transmission/reception with respect to a predetermined region of an object to be examined. A spectrum shape model generating unit generates a spectrum shape model on the basis of a window function used when the above Doppler spectrum data is generated. A threshold setting unit sets a threshold range in which trace waveform data displaces by a predetermined amount in the frequency axis direction on the basis of the spectrum shape model and the Doppler sensitivity, and sets a predetermined number of thresholds at almost equal intervals in the threshold range. A trace data generating unit selects a threshold for the acquisition of desired trace waveform data by generating trace waveform data while sequentially updating the plurality of set thresholds.

Abstract: A three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a cross-sectional image generating unit, a region-of-interest setting unit, a three-dimensional image generating unit and a display unit. The cross-sectional image generating unit generates a cross-sectional image corresponding to a desired cross-sectional plane by performing a two-dimensionally scan on the cross-sectional plane within a three-dimensional scannable region. The region-of-interest setting unit sets a second region of interest for a three dimensional image within a three-dimensional region based upon a first region of interest in the cross-sectional image. The three-dimensional image generating unit performs a three-dimensionally scan on the three-dimensional region including the second region of interest, sets a view point based upon the second region of interest, and generates the three dimensional image, including the second region of interest, in a line of sight from the view point. The display unit displays the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe comprises: an internal power source configured to be capable of supplying electrical power to the inside in a state in which the ultrasonic probe is detached from an ultrasonic diagnostic device; and a state-management part configured to be fed with power from the internal power source and manage the state of an ultrasonic probe's main body. Consequently, it becomes possible to manage in real time the state of the ultrasonic probe in non-use. The state management in non-use allows for the factors behind abnormality occurrences to be specified and for secure storage management to be accomplished.

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: A spatial position x? of each ultrasonic transducer is accurately obtained for each probe in consideration of each edge transducer gap, and a delay time T(x?(n)) and a weighting coefficient W(x?(n)) are calculated on the basis of the position of each ultrasonic transducer. A control unit executes ultrasonic transmission/reception by using the calculated delay times and weighting coefficients to realize a suitable acoustic field with high deflection angle accuracy, small sidelobes, and the like as compared with the prior art.

Abstract: A Doppler sensitivity measuring unit measures the Doppler sensitivity of Doppler spectrum data obtained by ultrasonic wave transmission/reception with respect to a predetermined region of an object to be examined. A spectrum shape model generating unit generates a spectrum shape model on the basis of a window function used when the above Doppler spectrum data is generated. A threshold setting unit sets a threshold range in which trace waveform data displaces by a predetermined amount in the frequency axis direction on the basis of the spectrum shape model and the Doppler sensitivity, and sets a predetermined number of thresholds at almost equal intervals in the threshold range. A trace data generating unit selects a threshold for the acquisition of desired trace waveform data by generating trace waveform data while sequentially updating the plurality of set thresholds.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes first and second probes. The inside of an object to be examined is scanned with a first ultrasound beam through the first probe to acquire first ultrasound image data associated with the object. The inside of the object is scanned with a second ultrasound beam through the second probe to acquire second ultrasound image data associated with the object. The second ultrasound image data is synthesized with the first ultrasound image data on the basis of the position of the first probe relative to the second probe, which is detected by a position detector.

Abstract: A medical imaging diagnostic apparatus is maintained by means of a remote computer connected to a communication line. This maintenance includes: generating log data concerning a use state of a medical imaging diagnostic apparatus; transmitting the thus generated log data to the remote computer via the communication line; storing the thus transmitted log data as data that configures a database on the remote computer; and analyzing the use state of the medical imaging diagnostic apparatus so that the use state can be displayed based on the stored log data.

Abstract: A medical imaging diagnostic apparatus is maintained by means of a remote computer connected to a communication line. This maintenance includes: generating log data concerning a use state of a medical imaging diagnostic apparatus; transmitting the thus generated log data to the remote computer via the communication line; storing the thus transmitted log data as data that configures a database on the remote computer; and analyzing the use state of the medical imaging diagnostic apparatus so that the use state can be displayed based on the stored log data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes first and second probes. The inside of an object to be examined is scanned with a first ultrasound beam through the first probe to acquire first ultrasound image data associated with the object. The inside of the object is scanned with a second ultrasound beam through the second probe to acquire second ultrasound image data associated with the object. The second ultrasound image data is synthesized with the first ultrasound image data on the basis of the position of the first probe relative to the second probe, which is detected by a position detector.

Abstract: A color Doppler-type ultrasonic apparatus is provided in which an ultrasonic pulse beam is transmitted, from a transducer, along a tomographic plane to be scanned toward an object containing a moving target. A Doppler shift frequency is detected on the basis of an echoed ultrasonic pulse beam for every sampling volume of the tomographic plane, and an image of the tomographic plane is displayed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic blood flow imaging apparatus of this invention includes an ultrasonic probe, a transmission system, a reception system, a B mode processing system, a CFM processing system, an FFT processing system, a video system, and a control system. The CFM processing system includes a new discriminating means. The discriminating means receives power, average blood flow velocity, and variance data output from an auto-correlation circuit. The discriminating means can discriminate Doppler shift signals (blood flow signals), noise signals, and clutter signals from each other with high precision on the basis of a relationship in combination of two or more received factors, i.e., the power, average blood flow velocity, and variance data. With such discrimination processing, only necessary blood flow signals can be extracted, and hence high-precision blood flow information can be obtained.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer for emitting an ultrasonic beam onto an interest region of a living body containing a blood flow and outputting an echo signal, a correlation circuit for determining a correlation of the signals obtained from the ultrasonic transducer and a velocity calculation circuit for calculating the velocity of the blood flow from the correlation data obtained by the correlation circuit. A zero shift process circuit zero-shifts the velocity data obtained from the velocity calculation circuit and compresses the zero-shifted velocity data in correspondance with an amount of zero shift. The zero-shifted flow velocity data is displayed within a possible display range.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave into a subject under examination, thereby obtaining a tomogram and blood flow information of the subject. This ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus is equipped with an ultrasonic probe provided with a transducer array, in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements are arranged, and a Doppler transducer independent of this transducer array, and switching devices for switching the operation mode of a transmitter/receiver system of the transducer array of this ultrasonic probe. The transducer array is used for transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave when obtaining a tomogram and is used for either the transmission or reception of a continuous ultrasonic wave when obtaining blood flow information. The Doppler transducer is used for either the transmission or reception of the continuous ultrasonic wave only when obtaining the blood flow information.