Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for utilizing ultrasonic beams to scan different shape sections of an object, comprising: ultrasonic transducer means for transmitting a series of ultrasonic pulses in the form of a sequence of beams directed toward said object, for collectively defining a particular shape section into which said beams pass, and for receiving echoes of said pulses reflected from said section of said object to produce echo signals; means for converting said echo signals into a train of digital data; first memory means having memory pixels arranged in a matrix array of columns and rows for storing said digital data; second memory means; means for generating a plurality of different sets of vector data defining the paths of said beams with each set corresponding to the paths of beams in a different shape section; means for writing in said second memory means, prior to transmittal of said pulses, the set of said vector data corresponding to the shape section to be scanned; writing means, responsive to said vector data, for writing said digital data into respective pixels of said first memory means with the loction of said respective pixels corresponding to the location in said section from which said digital data was obtained; and reading means for reading said digital data from said first memory means in a television format to display a tomogram of said section of said object.

Claim 2

An apparatus for utilizing ultrasonic beams to scan different shape sections of an object, comprising: ultrasonic transducer means for transmitting a series of ultrasonic pulses in the form of a sequence of beams directed toward said object, for collectively defining a particular shape section into which said beams pass, and for receiving echoes of said pulses reflected from said section of said object to produce echo signals; means for converting said echo signals into a train of digital data; first memory means having memory pixels arranged in a matrix array of columns and rows for storing said digital data; second memory means; means for generating a plurality of different sets of vector data defining the paths of said beams with each set corresponding to the paths of beams in a different shape section; means for writing in said second memory means, prior to transmittal of said pulses, the set of said vector data corresponding to the shape section to be scanned; writing means, responsive to said vector data, for writing said digital data into respective pixels of said first memory means with the loction of said respective pixels corresponding to the location in said section from which said digital data was obtained; and reading means for reading said digital data from said first memory means in a television format to display a tomogram of said section of said object.

Claim 5

An apparatus for utilizing ultrasonic beams to scan different shape sections of an object, comprising: ultrasonic transducer means for transmitting a series of ultrasonic pulses in the form of a sequence of beams directed toward said object, for collectively defining a particular shape section into which said beams pass, and for receiving echos of said pulses reflected from said section of said object to produce echo signals; means for converting said echo signals into a train of digital data; first memory means, having memory pixels arranged in a matrix array of columns and rows, for storing said digital data; second memory means for storing a plurality of sets of vector data defining the paths of said beams with each set corresponding to the paths of beams in a different shape section; means for selecting one set of said vector data in said second memory means which corresponds to the shape section to be scanned prior to transmittal of said pulses; writing means, responsive to said vector data, for writing said digital data into respective pixels of said first memory means with the location of said respective pixels corresponding to the location in said section from which said digital data was obtained; and reading means for reading said digital data from said first memory means in a television format to display a tomogram of said section of said object.

Claim 6

An apparatus for utilizing ultrasonic beams to scan different shape sections of an object, comprising: ultrasonic transducer means for transmitting a series of ultrasonic pulses in the form of a sequence of beams directed toward said object, for collectively defining a particular shape section into which said beams pass, and for receiving echos of said pulses reflected from said section of said object to produce echo signals; means for converting said echo signals into a train of digital data; first memory means, having memory pixels arranged in a matrix array of columns and rows, for storing said digital data; second memory means for storing a plurality of sets of vector data defining the paths of said beams with each set corresponding to the paths of beams in a different shape section; means for selecting one set of said vector data in said second memory means which corresponds to the shape section to be scanned prior to transmittal of said pulses; writing means, responsive to said vector data, for writing said digital data into respective pixels of said first memory means with the location of said respective pixels corresponding to the location in said section from which said digital data was obtained; and reading means for reading said digital data from said first memory means in a television format to display a tomogram of said section of said object.