Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

Claim 2

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said transmit-receive unit has a first transmit-receive mode in which said scanning area is scanned with a predetermined scanning density, and a second transmit-receive mode in which, of said scanning area, a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, of said scanning area, and said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit sets up the first area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 3

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said transmit-receive unit has a first transmit-receive mode in which said scanning area is scanned with a predetermined scanning density, and a second transmit-receive mode in which, of said scanning area, a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of the first transmit-receive mode, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit sets up the first area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 4

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said transmit-receive unit has a first transmit-receive mode in which said scanning area is scanned with a predetermined scanning density, and a second transmit-receive mode in which, of said scanning area, a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of the first transmit-receive mode, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit sets up the first area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 5

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said transmit-receive unit has a first transmit-receive mode in which said scanning area is scanned with a predetermined scanning density, and a second transmit-receive mode in which, of said scanning area, a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, of said scanning area, wherein said image producing unit has a first image producing mode for producing a first image representative of the whole area of said scanning area, and a second image producing mode for producing a second image representative of an enlarged area consisting of a partial area including at least part of the passage of the puncture needle, of said scanning area, or an enlarged area consisting of the whole area of said scanning area, a size per unit area within the subject of the second image being enlarged more than the first image, and wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said image producing unit sets up the enlarged area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 6

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said transmit-receive unit has a first transmit-receive mode in which said scanning area is scanned with a predetermined scanning density, and a second transmit-receive mode in which, of said scanning area, a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, of said scanning area, wherein said image producing unit has a first image producing mode for producing a first image representative of the whole area of said scanning area, and a second image producing mode for producing a second image representative of an enlarged area consisting of a partial area including at least part of the passage of the puncture needle, of said scanning area, or an enlarged area consisting of the whole area of said scanning area, a size per unit area within the subject of the second image being enlarged more than the first image, and wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said image producing unit sets up the enlarged area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 7

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said transmit-receive unit has a first transmit-receive mode in which said scanning area is scanned with a predetermined scanning density, and a second transmit-receive mode in which, of said scanning area, a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of the first transmit-receive mode, wherein said image producing unit has a first image producing mode for producing a first image representative of the whole area of said scanning area, and a second image producing mode for producing a second image representative of an enlarged area consisting of a partial area including at least part of the passage of the puncture needle, of said scanning area, or an enlarged area consisting of the whole area of said scanning area, a size per unit area within the subject of the second image being enlarged more than the first image, and wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said image producing unit sets up the enlarged area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 8

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said transmit-receive unit has a first transmit-receive mode in which said scanning area is scanned with a predetermined scanning density, and a second transmit-receive mode in which, of said scanning area, a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of the first transmit-receive mode, wherein said image producing unit has a first image producing mode for producing a first image representative of the whole area of said scanning area, and a second image producing mode for producing a second image representative of an enlarged area consisting of a partial area including at least part of the passage of the puncture needle, of said scanning area, or an enlarged area consisting of the whole area of said scanning area, a size per unit area within the subject of the second image being enlarged more than the first image, and wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said image producing unit sets up the enlarged area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 9

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit drives said at least one ultrasonic transducer so as to form the ultrasonic beam having a frequency according to a length measured by said sensor.

Claim 10

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit drives said at least one ultrasonic transducer so as to form the ultrasonic beam having a frequency according to a length measured by said sensor.

Claim 11

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines arranged on a three-dimensional basis extending to the inside of the subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a three-dimensional scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning.

Claim 12

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit drives said at least one ultrasonic transducer so as to sequentially form ultrasonic beams with a period according to a length measured by said sensor.

Claim 13

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit drives said at least one ultrasonic transducer so as to sequentially form ultrasonic beams with a period according to a length measured by said sensor.

Claim 14

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines arranged on a three-dimensional basis extending to the inside of the subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a three-dimensional scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning.

Claim 15

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit drives said at least one ultrasonic transducer so as to vary a focal distance of the ultrasonic beam in accordance with a length measured by said sensor.

Claim 16

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines extending to an inside of a subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a main frame having at least one ultrasonic transducer put to the subject to perform transmission of ultrasonic waves into the subject and reception of ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, and a guide member for guiding a puncture needle introduced into the subject; a transmit-receive unit for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer to sequentially generate ultrasonic waves traveling along the plurality of scanning lines, and deriving received signals by receiving by said at least one ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject and returned to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an image producing unit for producing an image based on the received signal, wherein said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and said transmit-receive unit drives said at least one ultrasonic transducer so as to vary a focal distance of the ultrasonic beam in accordance with a length measured by said sensor.

Claim 17

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams along a plurality of scanning lines arranged on a three-dimensional basis extending to the inside of the subject are repeatedly performed to scan the inside of the subject, and an image on a three-dimensional scanning area defined by the plurality of scanning lines is produced in accordance with a received signal obtained by the scanning.

Claim 18

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to repeatedly scan inside of a subject, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves inside the subject and produce a signal in response to received ultrasonic waves; an image producing unit to produce an image based on the signal produced from said ultrasonic probe; and an oscillation mechanism for vibrating a tip of a puncture needle, wherein a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, and said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and sets up the first area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 19

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to repeatedly scan inside of a subject, said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves inside the subject and produce a signal in response to received ultrasonic waves; an image producing unit to produce an image based on the signal produced from said ultrasonic probe; and an oscillation mechanism for vibrating a tip of a puncture needle, wherein a predetermined first area including a part or a whole of a passage of the puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, and said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and sets up the first area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 20

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: an ultrasonic probe to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves; and an oscillation mechanism to vibrate a tip of a puncture needle within a subject, wherein a first area about the puncture needle is scanned with higher density than a second adjacent area, and said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and sets up the first area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.

Claim 21

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: an ultrasonic probe to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves; and an oscillation mechanism to vibrate a tip of a puncture needle within a subject, wherein a first area about the puncture needle is scanned with higher density than a second adjacent area, and said ultrasonic probe has a sensor for measuring a length of a portion of a tip end of the puncture needle passing through said guide member, and sets up the first area in accordance with the length measured by said sensor.