Hitachi Medical Corporation

Kazutaka Okada

Akira Sasaki

Hiroshi Kanda

Tsuyoshi Mitake

Minoru Yoshida

Toshio Ogawa

Tatsuya Hayashi

Toshio Kondo

Norio Yokozawa

Shinichi Kondo

Kazunari Ishida

Tsuyoshi Kimura

Takashi Ichikawa

Tsuyoshi Otake

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, a transmission unit for transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object to be examined via the ultrasound probe, a reception unit for processing a signal received by the ultrasound probe, and an image generating unit for generating an image on the basis of the received signal processed by the reception unit, wherein the transmission unit has a function of transmitting the ultrasound signals with varying frequency plural times in an identical direction at predetermined time intervals. The ultrasound signal transmitted plural times includes a first waveform in which the frequency increases and a second waveform in which the frequency decreases, and the reception unit has a function of phasing and adding received signals respectively corresponding to the first waveform and the second waveform, whereby, in tissue harmonic imaging, the penetration is improved, while the resolution is maintained.

Ultrasonograph

A probe having one vibrator element array containing at least two groups of vibrator elements. The number of vibrator elements belonging to each of the groups is an ordinary number. At least two probe-side connectors are provided correspondingly to the groups. A plurality of connectors capable of being connected to the probe-side connectors are provided in a diagnosis apparatus body. In the vibrator element array, not only ultrasonic transmission signals can be transmitted to arbitrary elements simultaneously but ultrasonic reception signals can be received from the arbitrary elements simultaneously. Accordingly, vibrator elements belonging to different groups in the probe connected to the body are activated substantially simultaneously.

Multichannel ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying a subject moving at high speed, in slow motion. The apparatus has a circuit for picking up an ultrasonic image signal at a frame rate higher than a display frame rate, a circuit for writing the picked-up image signal at a frame rate higher than the display frame rate, a circuit for reading the image signal from the memory at the display frame rate, and a device for displaying the read image signal.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having frame rate higher than TV frame

An ultrasonic diagnosis system includes a probe and a diagnosis processing apparatus. Ultrasonic transmission signal-transmission power characteristic intrinsic to the probe is previously measured and a transmission power identifying signal indicating the characteristic is imparted to the probe itself. Upon connection of the probe to the diagnosis processing apparatus, the transmission power identifying signal is inputted to a CPU of the diagnosis processing apparatus which includes a memory for storing correcting data corresponding to ranks of the characteristics. The CPU reads out from the memory the correcting data on the basis of the inputted transmission power identifying signal indicating the rank of the probe for thereby correcting the ultrasonic transmission signal. When the characteristic of the probe as connected is such that greater transmission power is outputted for the basic transmission signal when compared with the standardized or design level, amplitude of the ultrasonic transmission signal is corrected to be smaller so that the transmission power assumes the standard or design value. The power sent from the probe thus coincides with the design value regardless of variance in the characteristic of the probe.

Ultrasonic diagnosis system

A memory for temporarily storing a transmitting signal is provided in association with each channel i.e., each transducer of a probe, a transmitting signal for transmitting an ultrasonic wave of a desired waveform is formed through a computer processing, and the thus formed transmitting signal is stored in each memory. Transmitting signals are sent simultaneously to individual channels from individual memories. This ensures that a transmitting signal of a desired waveform can be applied to each channel and the transmission of an ultrasonic wave can be controlled desirably.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a probe having a plurality of channels, a receiving circuit for dividing receiving signals from the probe to deliver them in the form of 'K' (K being an integer which is 2 or more) blocks each having a predetermined number of channels, a selector circuit for selecting signals corresponding to respective ones of the blocks from output signals of the receiving circuit and delivering the selected signals, a signal distributor for selecting the output signals of the receiving circuit in the mode of single beam reception and selecting the output signals of the selector circuit in the mode of simultaneous parallel beam reception, 'K' delay circuits connected to outputs of the signal distributor and each having the predetermined channels, and a switch for switching the 'K' delay circuits to series connection in the mode of single beam reception and switching the 'K' delay circuits to parallel connection in the mode of simultaneous parallel beam reception.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of performing switching between

This invention provides a delay circuit capable of electrically varying the delay amount comprising a first transistor for receiving a signal to be delayed from the base connected to an input terminal and outputting a positive phase signal and a negative phase signal with respect to the signal from the input terminal, respectively from the emitter and the collector thereof; two variable capacity diodes with their terminals of the same polarity connected together and a specified control voltage applied to the point of said connection, one end of the connected diodes being connected to the emitter of said first transistor; a second transistor with the base grounded, the emitter connected to the collector of the above-mentioned first transistor, and the collector connected to one end of a specified resistance; and a delayed signal output terminal having connected thereto the other end of the two variable capacity diodes and the other end of the specified resistance. According to this invention, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus using this delay circuit is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Iwatsuki, Japan

Kazutaka Okada