Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

US6866634B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
8References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 2001
Grant dateMar 15, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 9, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S128/916
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is capable of displaying a three-dimensional image by performing three-dimensional scanning in an object with ultrasonic beams at rapid speed. Small transducer blocks are formed through selective connection on a two-dimensional transducer array of an ultrasonic probe. Driving pulse signals are modulated and these driving pulse signals, each having respectively different frequencies, are simultaneously provided to the selected small transducer blocks, causing said small transducer blocks to transmit ultrasonic beams to the interior of the object. Waves reflected from the interior of the object are received by each small transducer block. After the echo signals received by each small transducer block are demodulated, these signals are input to a phasing circuit to generate a plurality of received beam signals. The selected position of the small transducer blocks is moved at each repetition of ultrasonic transmission/repetition. The received beam signals are then image-processed image data, and thus displayed on a display.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.