Patent ID: 6755785
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
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.