Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonograph

US7474778B2 · kind B2 · utility

52Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 11, 2003
Grant dateJan 6, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S128/922
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe having two-dimensionally arranged transducer elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to an object, a transducer element selector for selecting transducer elements used in transmission and reception, a signal processing unit for applying a delay to a signal received by a selected transducer element, an image processing unit for generating an image based on the output signal of the signal processing unit, and an image display unit. The image processing unit stores a first ultrasound image obtained by a scan of a first transducer arrangement selected by the transducer element selector and a second ultrasound image obtained by a scan of a second transducer arrangement selected by the transducer element selector so as to irradiate an ultrasound beam in a different direction than the beam direction of the first transducer arrangement, and combines the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image.

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