Hitachi Medical Corporation

Masa Yamamoto

Tetsuo Nakazawa

Naoko Ajiki

Masaru Suemune

Previously captured three-dimensional image data of a subject from which a reference image is extracted are provided in the form of time-series volume datacomposed of two-dimensional image data groups which are recorded over at least one period of a periodically moving organ of the subject, with time-phase information of a biological signal of the subject added thereto. Two-dimensional image data whose time-phase information is identical with the time-phase information of the biological signal of the subject at the time when an ultrasonic image is captured are extracted from the three-dimensional image data so as to provide the reference image.

Ultrasonic diagnosis arrangements for comparing same time phase images of a periodically moving target

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with the invention includes: an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to an object to be tested and receiving an ultrasonic wave from the object; an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver configured to provide a signal that causes the ultrasonic probe to transmit an ultrasonic wave and signal-processing a signal received from the object by the ultrasonic probe; an ultrasonic image constructor configured to construct an ultrasonic image from the signal-processed received signal; an image display for displaying the ultrasonic image; a controller configured to control the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver, the ultrasonic image constructor and the image display to work properly; and a temperature sensor, provided on the ultrasonic probe, configured to sense the temperature of the ultrasonic probe and outputting the sensed temperature to the controller. The controller obtains the temperature variation rate of the ultrasonic probe from the temperature sensor, determines a usage state of the ultrasonic probe based on the obtained temperature variation rate, and controls the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver based on the determined usage state of the ultrasonic probe.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

A Doppler sample point setting apparatus in a ultrasonic tomograph comprises a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object; a signal processing unit for causing the probe to transmit the ultrasonic waves, receiving and signal-processing ultrasonic reflected echo signals received by the probe, and outputting a ultrasonic tomogram, a bloodstream image and bloodstream information; a display unit for displaying the ultrasonic tomogram, the bloodstream image and the Doppler sample point; and a control unit for automatically setting the position of the Doppler sample point on the basis of the bloodstream information.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Masa Yamamoto