Ultrasonic image generating apparatus and ultrasonic image generating method

• US 6,755,785 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Omiya, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/299,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/490-441, 600/443, 600/447, 600/453-456
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence

Abstract

The ultrasonic image generating system has an ultrasonic beam output device which outputs a beam to a predetermined subject area, a receiving device which receives the reflected wave from the area, an image generating device which generates an image from the reflected wave and a beam output direction controller which performs control of changing the outgoing direction of the beam to the subject area based upon analysis of the image in order to reduce the area where the ultrasonic wave is shielded by an imaging target.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic image generating apparatus comprising:

ultrasonic beam outputting means of outputting an ultrasonic beam to a predetermined subject area;

ultrasonic beam receiving means of receiving a reflected ultrasonic beam which is a reflected wave of said ultrasonic beam obtained from said subject area;

image generating means of generating an image based on the reflected ultrasonic beam received by said ultrasonic beam receiving means;

image analyzing means of analyzing the image generated by said image generating means; and

ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means of performing control of changing an outgoing direction of the ultrasonic beam of said ultrasonic beam outputting means to said subject area;

wherein the ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means controls said change based on analysis results of said image analyzing means;

wherein said image analyzing means analyzes whether or not there is a predetermined imaging target in said subject area, and in the case where there is said imaging target, analyzes whether or not there is a shielded area in which said ultrasonic beam is shielded by said imaging target in said subject area, and

in the case where there is said shielded area, said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means controls said change so that the area to be passed through by the ultrasonic beam emitted from said ultrasonic beam outputting means includes a part of said shielded area.

2. The ultrasonic image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means electrically controls said change.

3. A medium having a program of causing a computer to function as the image analyzing means of analyzing the image generated by said image generating means of the ultrasonic image generating apparatus according to claim 1 and the ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means of controlling said change based on the analysis results of said image analyzing means, and said program processable by a computer.

4. An ultrasonic image generating apparatus comprising:

ultrasonic beam outputting means of outputting an ultrasonic beam to a predetermined subject area;

ultrasonic beam receiving means of receiving a reflected ultrasonic beam which is a reflected wave of said ultrasonic beam obtained from said subject area;

image generating means of generating an image based on the reflected ultrasonic beam received by said ultrasonic beam receiving means;

reflected ultrasonic beam analyzing means of analyzing the reflected ultrasonic beam received by said ultrasonic beam receiving means; and

ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means of performing control of changing an outgoing direction of the ultrasonic beam of said ultrasonic beam outputting means to said subject area;

wherein said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means controls said change based on alaysis results of said reflected ultrasonic beam analyzing means;

wherein said reflected ultrasonic beam analyzing means analyzes whether or not there is a non-detected area in which no reflected ultrasonic beam is detected in said subject area, and

in the case where there is said non-detected area, said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means controls said change so that the area to be passed through by the ultrasonic beam emitted from said ultrasonic beam outputting means next includes a part of said non-detected area.

5. The ultrasonic image generating apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said subject area is determined to be within a distance capable of detecting said reflected ultrasonic beam at a predetermined intensity.

6. A medium having a program of causing a computer to function as the reflected ultrasonic beam analyzing means of analyzing the reflected ultrasonic beam received by said ultrasonic beam receiving means of the ultrasonic image generating apparatus according to claim 4 and the ultrasonic beam output direction controlling means of controlling said change based on the analysis results of said reflected ultrasonic beam analyzing means, and said program processable by a computer.

7. An ultrasonic image generating method comprising:

an ultrasonic beam outputting step of outputting an ultrasonic beam to a predetermined subject area;

an ultrasonic beam receiving step of receiving a reflected ultrasonic beam which is a reflected wave of said ultrasonic beam obtained from said subject area;

an image generating step of generating an image based on the reflected ultrasonic beam received by said ultrasonic beam receiving step;

an image analyzing step of analyzing the image generated by said image generating step, and wherein the ultrasonic beam output direction controlling step controls said change based on analysis results thereof; and

an ultrasonic beam output direction controlling step of performing control of changing an outgoing direction of the ultrasonic beam of said ultrasonic beam outputting step to said subject area;

wherein said image analyzing step analyzes whether or not there is a predetermined imaging target in said subject area, and in the case where there is said imaging target, analyzes whether or not there is a shielded area in which said ultrasonic beam is shielded by said imaging target in said subject area, and

in the case where there is said shielded area, said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling step controls said change so that the area to be passed through by the ultrasonic beam emitted from said ultrasonic beam outputting step includes a part of said shielded area.

8. The ultrasonic image generating method according to claim 7,

wherein said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling step electrically controls said change.

9. An ultrasonic image generating method comprising:

an ultrasonic beam outputting step of outputting an ultrasonic beam to a predetermined subject area;

an ultrasonic beam receiving step of receiving a reflected ultrasonic beam which is a reflected wave of said ultrasonic beam obtained from said subject area;

an image generating step of generating an image based on the reflected ultrasonic beam received by said ultrasonic beam receiving step;

a reflected ultrasonic beam analyzing step of analyzing the reflected ultrasonic beam received by said ultrasonic beam receiving step, and wherein said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling step controls said change based on analysis results thereof; and

an ultrasonic beam output direction controlling step of performing control of changing an outgoing direction of the ultrasonic beam of said ultrasonic beam outputting step to said subject area;

wherein said reflected ultrasonic beam analyzing step analyzes whether or not there is a non-detected area in which no reflected ultrasonic beam is detected in said subject area, and

in the case where there is said non-detected area, said ultrasonic beam output direction controlling step controls said change so that the area to be passed through by the ultrasonic beam emitted from said ultrasonic beam outputting step next includes a part of said non-detected area.