Patent ID: 8926516
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. An ultrasound imaging apparatus, comprising: an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave; and a controller configured to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit a former ultrasonic wave whose ultrasonic pulse has a first sound pressure for imaging a contrast agent injected into an object and a latter ultrasonic wave whose ultrasonic pulse has a second sound pressure for Doppler imaging a tissue movement of the object in each of scan lines that form a scan region, wherein the first sound pressure and the second sound pressure are different and the second sound pressure is set so that most bubbles of the contrast agent injected into the object are not destroyed, wherein the controller is configured to control the ultrasonic probe to initially transmit the former ultrasonic wave to a first scan line of the scan lines, and transmit the latter ultrasonic wave to the first scan line at a predetermined timing that is after transmission of the former ultrasonic wave, before transmission of the former ultrasonic wave to each of the other scan lines, and before transmission of the latter ultrasonic wave to a second scan line of the scan lines, the second scan line being different from the first scan line.