EP0119019A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Ultrasonic diagnosis system
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1984-02-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-02-14
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic diagnosis system transmits a pulse-like ultrasonic wave from elements (E k to E k+n-1 ) of a transducer array, elements (E j to E j+n-1, E k to E k+n-1 , E to E e+n-1 ) of which detect reflections of those pulses. A value of the acoustic velocity is assumed and this assumed velocity is varied and the degree of focus of the reflected image is investigated, with a display (V) showing the set acoustic velocity and another display (D) showing the reflected image. When the reflected image is in focus, the true acoustic velocity may be determined. In this way an accurate measurement may be obtained of the acoustic velocity inside a living organism.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinichiro Umemura
- 👤 Kageyoshi Katakura
- 👤 Toshio Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8918; G01S15/8927; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52046; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52065; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system including a transmitter (T r , E k to E k+n-1 ) for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and a receiver (R o , E k to E k+n-1 , R 1 , E j , to E j+n-1 , R 2 , E ℓ to E ℓ+n-1 ) for receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic signal, and means (Σ,D) for processing electric signals generated by reception elements (E k , to E k+n-l' E j to E j+n-l' E ℓ to E ℓ+n-1 ) of the receiver so as to form an ultrasonic image; characterised in that: the system includes variable set means for varying the acoustic velocity assumed in the formation of the ultrasonic image, and means (V) for displaying the acoustic velocity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system including a transmitter (T r , E k to E k+n-1 ) for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and a receiver (R o , E k to E k+n-1 , R 1 , E j , to E j+n-1 , R 2 , E ℓ to E ℓ+n-1 ) for receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic signal, and means (Σ,D) for processing electric signals generated by reception elements (E k , to E k+n-l' E j to E j+n-l' E ℓ to E ℓ+n-1 ) of the receiver so as to form an ultrasonic image; characterised in that: the system includes variable set means for varying the acoustic velocity assumed in the formation of the ultrasonic image, and means (V) for displaying the acoustic velocity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to Claim 1 which further includes control means for determining the degree of the electronic focusing of the reception elements (E k to F k+n-1 , E j to E j+n-1 , E ℓ to E ℓ+n-1 ) in accordance with the assumed acoustic velocity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to Claim 2, wherein the control means includes variable delay elements for delaying the detected signal of the reception elements (E k to E k+n-1 E j to E j+n-1 , E ℓ to F ℓ+n-1 ) and means for setting the delay time of the variable delay elements by the acoustic velocity which is made variable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 which further includes automatic focusing means consisting of self-running control means for sequentially changing and setting the degree of focusing, and peak value detecting means for stopping the self-running control means upon detection of focus from the amplitude of the reception signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the control means changes the degree of focusing with time from the start of transmission using the assumed acoustic velocity as a parameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are formed integrally as an acoustic wave transducer array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to Claim 6, wherein a greater number of elements of the transducer array are selected during reception and a smaller number of elements are selected during transmission so that the diameter used is changeable between transmission and reception.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to _Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein three groups of elements forming the transducer array are selected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to Claim 8, wherein the three groups of elements are respectively at the centre and each end of the transducer array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ultrasonic diagnosis system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the ultrasonic signal is a pulsed wave.
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