Patent ID: 6973831
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic waves in accordance with a plurality of drive signals to form at least one ultrasonic beam toward an object to be inspected and receiving ultrasonic echoes reflected from the object; signal processing means at transmitting-side for providing delays to the plurality of drive signals to be supplied to said ultrasonic probe so as to scan the object by using the at least one ultrasonic beam transmitted from said ultrasonic probe with a scanning line density; signal processing means at receiving-side for processing a plurality of electric signals obtained by receiving the ultrasonic echoes to obtain a plurality of detection signals representing ultrasonic information along a plurality of scanning lines respectively; determination means for determining continuity of a boundary of medium residing within the object on the basis of the plurality of detection signals obtained by said signal processing means at receiving-side; and control means for setting up, after setting up a first scanning line density, a second scanning line density higher than the first scanning line density for said signal processing means at transmitting-side on the basis of a determination result of said determination means.