Patent ID: 8924164

Claim:
A three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional array ultrasonic sensor composed of a plurality of piezoelectric elements; pulsers configured to transmit a transmit signal to each piezoelectric element of the array ultrasonic sensor; receivers configured to receive a receive signal; delay control means configured to perform time control for the transmit and receive signals by varying a delay time for each piezoelectric element; data storage means configured to store ultrasonic waveforms as waveform data transmitted and received by the array ultrasonic sensor; sensor moving means configured to feed the array ultrasonic sensor, and scanning control means configured to control the sensor moving means; displacement detection means configured to measure the displacement of the array ultrasonic sensor; a computer configured to convert the stored waveform data to a plurality of pieces of three-dimensional testing data having a voxel format, and combine the plurality of pieces of three-dimensional testing data while making a shift by the displacement of the array ultrasonic sensor measured by the displacement detection means; and display means configured to display the combined testing data, wherein the display means includes data processing switching means configured to switch between testing data obtained by ordinary testing and testing data obtained by combining processing; wherein, in ordinary testing, a maximum value out of testing data sequentially obtained by moving the array ultrasonic sensor is handled as testing data.