Patent ID: 8167806

Claim:
An ultrasonograph for obtaining an image of an inside of a subject comprising: a transducer array configured to transmit/receive an ultrasonic pulse to/from the subject, the transducer array having a plurality of elements constituting a transmit aperture of a selected size; a transmit focus delay data selector configured to determine only one transmission delay time respectively for each element of the plurality of elements calculated from a respective plurality of transmission delay times for the element, each of the respective plurality of transmission delay times for each element corresponding to a transmission pulse wave being focused on a respective focal point of a plurality of focal points in a propagation direction of the ultrasonic pulse for the element; and a driver unit configured to provide each element with a respective input at a timing controlled based on the one transmission delay time respectively calculated for the element so as to transmit the ultrasonic pulse according to the one delay time respectively calculated for each of the elements.