Patent ID: 8808184
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasound probe having a plurality of ultrasound transducers arranged in an array; a diagnostic section which supplies analog drive signals to the plurality of ultrasound transducers of said ultrasound probe to transmit an ultrasonic beam toward a subject, and generates ultrasound images based on reception signals output from said plurality of ultrasound transducers which received ultrasonic echoes due to the subject; and a connection cable which connects said ultrasound probe and said diagnostic section, said ultrasound probe comprising: a plurality of receiving circuits, each including a preamp which amplifies the reception signal output from one of said plurality of ultrasound transducers and an analogue/digital converter which converts the reception signal amplified by said preamp to a digital signal; a plurality of transmission signal wires each arranged in parallel to each of said plurality of receiving circuits; a plurality of first switches, which selectively connect one end of the corresponding receiving circuit and one end of the corresponding transmission signal wire to one of said plurality of ultrasound transducers; a plurality of second switches, which selectively connect the other end of the corresponding receiving circuit and the other end of the corresponding transmission signal wire to said connection cable; a plurality of element data memories which correspond to said plurality of receiving circuits, each of said plurality of element data memories temporarily storing said reception signal converted to a digital signal by a corresponding one of said plurality of receiving circuits; and a controller which controls said plurality of first switches and said plurality of second switches to control output of said reception signal to said diagnostic section such that said drive signal supplied from said diagnostic section and said reception signal output to said diagnostic section after being converted to digital signal by each of said plurality of receiving circuits are mutually time-divided and sent via said connection cable, when each of said plurality of receiving circuits is connected to said connection cable by a corresponding one of said plurality of second switches, said reception signal having been temporarily stored in a corresponding one of said plurality of memories is sent to said diagnostic section via said connection cable.