ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT

• Main Author: AKAHA MUTSUHIRO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.04.2008
• Subjects: ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PHYSICS; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; SURGERY; TESTING

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved art related to the scanning of ultrasonic beam attaining high spatial resolution and a high volume rate. SOLUTION: In a pattern (A) of a region 1-2, an area 1 is a high-density area where ultrasonic beams are scanned at high density, an area 2 is a low-density area where ultrasonic beams are scanned at low density, and an area 3 is a blank area where no ultrasonic beams are scanned. On the other hand, in a pattern (B) of a region 1-3, an area 1 is a high-density area, an area 2 is a blank area and an area 3 is a low-density area. The beam scanning patterns are alternately selected, and the scan control is performed according to each beam scanning pattern, so that the ultrasonic beams are scanned across the whole areas in the three-dimensional space including a space part corresponding to the blank area. The image formation process is performed based on a plurality of echo data acquired from the whole areas in the wave transmitting/receiving space. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT