JP2005125082A - Ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus capable of providing more image information on living tissues by utilizing attenuation information of ultrasonic waves at plurality of frequencies as information on tissues within an object to be inspected. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus includes: separating units 30a, 30b, ... for separating frequency components of a signal obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves to the subject and receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected by the subject or transmitted through the subject, into frequency components at different frequencies or in different frequency bands to obtain a plurality of frequency components; calculating units 32, 33 for obtaining relative relationships between intensity of the plurality of frequency components obtained by the separating units at different points of time to obtain changes in the relative relationships between intensity; and an image data generating unit 34 for generating image data on the subject based on the changes in the relative relationships between intensity obtained by the calculating unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs imaging of an organ or bone in a living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to generate an ultrasonic image used for diagnosis.

  In an ultrasonic imaging apparatus used for medical use, an ultrasonic probe (probe) including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers having an ultrasonic transmission / reception function is usually used. Using such an ultrasonic probe, the object is scanned with an ultrasonic beam formed by synthesizing ultrasonic waves transmitted from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and the ultrasonic wave reflected inside the object is scanned. By receiving the acoustic echo, image information about the subject is obtained based on the intensity of the ultrasonic echo. Furthermore, based on this image information, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image relating to the subject is reproduced.

  By the way, the human body includes various tissues such as soft tissue such as muscle and hard tissue such as bone. In ultrasonic imaging, it is conceivable to use a plurality of frequency components included in an ultrasonic echo as information for distinguishing these tissues.

  As a related technique, the following Patent Document 1 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can reduce speckle components generated as a result of adding and interfering with a large number of weak echoes to obtain a high-quality ultrasonic image. In this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a plurality of transmission signals corresponding to different transmission frequencies are transmitted for each ultrasonic raster, and each reception signal reflected from the subject is filtered in a frequency band corresponding to the transmission signal. Thereby, since the interference between the ultrasonic rasters is different, there is no correlation between the ultrasonic rasters. As a result, there is no speckle correlation between the ultrasonic rasters, and speckle can be reduced. However, there is a problem that the frame rate is lowered by transmitting a plurality of transmission signals corresponding to different transmission frequencies. Further, there is no suggestion regarding the use of a plurality of frequency components in each ultrasonic raster.

Patent Document 2 below discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that reduces the degradation of spatial resolution in the distance direction when speckle reduction is performed according to a frequency compound method. In this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a plurality of narrowband signal components are extracted from received signals by different narrowband pass filters, and a wideband signal component is extracted by a wideband pass filter, and these signal components are weighted and added. The In addition to a plurality of narrow bands, a wide band that includes them is set, so that it is possible to cope with a decrease in spatial resolution in the distance direction. However, there is no suggestion regarding the use of ultrasonic attenuation information at a plurality of frequencies as information on the tissue in the subject.
JP-A-2-206446 (page 2-3, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-170049 (first page, FIG. 1)

  Therefore, in view of the above points, the present invention uses ultrasound attenuation information at a plurality of frequencies as information about a tissue in a subject, and thus can obtain more image information about a living tissue. An object is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problem, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is a frequency component of a signal obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receiving an ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject or transmitted through the subject. Separating the frequency components in different frequencies or frequency bands to obtain a plurality of frequency components, and obtaining a relative relationship between the strengths of the plurality of frequency components obtained by the separating device at a plurality of different time points. Computation / separation means for obtaining a change in relative relationship, and image data generation / separation means for producing image data relating to the subject based on the change in relative relation of intensity obtained by the computation means.

  According to the present invention, the frequency components of a signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves are separated into frequency components in different frequencies or frequency bands, and the relative relationships of the intensity of the obtained multiple frequency components are obtained at a plurality of different time points. By generating image data based on the obtained relative change in intensity, the ultrasonic attenuation information at a plurality of frequencies is used as information on the tissue in the subject, and more biological tissue is obtained. Image information can be obtained.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 10, a scanning control unit 11, a transmission delay pattern storage unit 12, a transmission control unit 13, and a drive signal generation unit 14. .

  An ultrasonic probe 10 used in contact with a subject includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10a arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional manner to constitute a transducer array. These ultrasonic transducers 10a transmit an ultrasonic beam based on an applied drive signal, receive an ultrasonic echo from within the subject, and output a detection signal.

  Each of the ultrasonic transducers 10a includes, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic represented by PZT (Pb (lead) zirconate titanate) or a polymer piezoelectric element represented by PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride). It is comprised with the vibrator | oscillator which formed the electrode in the both ends of materials (piezoelectric element) which have piezoelectricity, such as. When a pulsed electric signal or a continuous wave electric signal is applied to the electrodes of such a vibrator to apply a voltage, the piezoelectric element expands and contracts. By this expansion and contraction, pulsed ultrasonic waves or continuous wave ultrasonic waves are generated from the respective vibrators, and an ultrasonic beam is formed by synthesizing these ultrasonic waves. Each transducer expands and contracts by receiving an ultrasonic echo from within the subject and generates an electrical signal. These electrical signals are output as ultrasonic echo detection signals.

  Alternatively, a plurality of types of elements having different conversion methods may be used as the ultrasonic transducer 10a. For example, the above-described vibrator is used as an element that transmits ultrasonic waves, and a photodetection type ultrasonic transducer is used as an element that receives ultrasonic waves. The photodetection type ultrasonic transducer converts an ultrasonic signal into an optical signal and detects it, and is constituted by, for example, a Fabry-Perot resonator or a fiber Bragg grating.

  The scanning control unit 11 sequentially sets the transmission direction of the ultrasonic beam and the reception direction of the ultrasonic echo. The transmission delay pattern storage unit 12 stores a plurality of transmission delay patterns used when forming an ultrasonic beam. The transmission control unit 13 selects a predetermined pattern from a plurality of delay patterns stored in the transmission delay pattern storage unit 12 according to the transmission direction set in the scanning control unit 11, and based on the pattern The delay time of the drive signal given to each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10a is set.

  The drive signal generation unit 14 generates a signal having a plurality of frequency components such as a burst signal and a frequency multiplexed signal, and gives a desired delay to the signal generated by the signal generation circuit, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers And a plurality of drive circuits that respectively generate a plurality of drive signals supplied to 10a. These drive circuits delay the signal generated by the signal generation circuit based on the delay time set in the transmission control unit 13.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an operation console 15, a control unit 16 configured by a CPU, and a recording unit 17 such as a hard disk. The control unit 16 controls the scanning control unit 11, the drive signal generation unit 14, and the image selection unit 35 based on an operator's operation using the console 15. The recording unit 17 records a program for causing the CPU constituting the control unit 16 to execute various operations, and frequency characteristics in transmission / reception of the ultrasonic transducer 10a.

  Furthermore, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a preamplifier 21, a TGC (time gain compensation) amplifier 22, an A / D (analog / digital) converter 23, and a primary storage. Unit 24, reception delay pattern storage unit 25, reception control unit 26, wideband filter unit 27, envelope detection processing unit 28, B-mode image data generation unit 29, narrowband filter units 30a, 30b,. ..., peak detectors 31a, 31b, ..., difference calculator 32, attenuation factor calculator 33, frequency image data generator 34, image selector 35, secondary storage 36, An image processing unit 37 and a display unit 38 are included.

  The ultrasonic echo detection signal output from each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10a is amplified by the preamplifier 21, and the TGC amplifier 22 corrects the attenuation of the ultrasonic wave according to the distance that the ultrasonic wave has reached within the subject. Is done.

  The analog detection signal output from the TGC amplifier 22 is converted into a digital detection signal by the A / D converter 23. The sampling frequency of the A / D converter 23 needs to be at least about 10 times the frequency of the ultrasonic wave, and is preferably a frequency that is 16 times or more the frequency of the ultrasonic wave. The resolution of the A / D converter 23 is preferably 10 bits or more. The primary storage unit 24 stores the digital detection signal output from the A / D converter 23 in time series for each ultrasonic transducer 10a.

  The reception delay pattern storage unit 25 stores a plurality of reception delay patterns used when performing reception focus processing on a plurality of detection signals output from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 10a. The reception control unit 26 selects a predetermined pattern from a plurality of reception delay patterns stored in the reception delay pattern storage unit 25 based on the reception direction set in the scanning control unit 11, and based on the pattern. The reception focus processing is performed by adding a delay to the plurality of detection signals. By this reception focus processing, sound ray data representing the sound ray signal in which the focus of the ultrasonic echo is narrowed is formed. Note that the reception focus process may be performed before A / D conversion of the detection signal by the A / D converter 23 or before correction of the detection signal by the TGC amplifier 22.

  The wideband filter unit 27 performs a wideband bandpass filter process on the sound ray data output from the reception control unit 26. The envelope detection processing unit 28 performs envelope detection processing on the sound ray data subjected to the wideband filter processing, and obtains envelope data representing the envelope of the sound ray signal. The B-mode image data generation unit 29 generates B-mode image data based on the envelope data of the sound ray signal. Note that the broadband filter unit 27 is omitted, and data in which a plurality of frequency components obtained by the narrowband bandpass filter processing by the narrowband filter units 30a, 30b,. Mode image data may be generated.

  The narrowband filter sections 30a, 30b,... Perform a plurality of narrowband bandpass filter processes having different passbands on the sound ray data output from the reception control section 26, thereby A frequency component is separated into frequency components in different frequencies or frequency bands to obtain a plurality of frequency components. The peak detectors 31a, 31b,... Detect peaks of a plurality of frequency components output from the respective narrowband filter units 30a, 30b,. Find the value.

  The difference calculation unit 32 calculates a difference between peak values of a plurality of frequency components at each time point, thereby obtaining a difference between these peak values. Furthermore, the attenuation rate calculation unit 33 calculates the amount of change in the difference between the peak values at a plurality of points in time, thereby obtaining ultrasonic attenuation information between the plurality of frequencies. In this manner, ultrasonic attenuation information between a plurality of frequencies is obtained based on a change in the relative relationship of the intensity of the plurality of frequency components of the sound ray signal included in the sound ray data. The ultrasonic attenuation information is used as information related to the tissue in the subject.

FIG. 2 shows the frequency characteristics of sound ray signals obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic burst signals and measured for a plurality of different tissues at different times, and FIG. 3 includes these sound ray signals. 2 shows waveforms of two frequency components. As shown in FIG. 2, the sound ray signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic burst signal has a wide frequency component, among which the low frequency component of the frequency f _L and the frequency f _H Pay attention to the high-frequency component.

As shown in FIG. 3, and a strong ultrasonic wave echo at time t ₁ and time t ₂ is observed, these portions, the boundary between the subject soft tissue (muscle, etc.) and hard portions tissue (such as bone) This shows that the ultrasonic wave is reflected in the portion where the ultrasonic wave reflectance is large. The attenuation characteristics of the ultrasound in the tissue in the subject sandwiched between the two boundaries are the frequency components of the sound ray signal obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic burst signal (frequency f _L). it is separated into high-frequency components) of the low-frequency component and the frequency f _H of the can be determined by measuring the intensity of a plurality of frequency components separated.

2 and 3, the intensities of the low-frequency component and the high-frequency component at time t ₁ are P _1L and P _1H , respectively, and the intensities of the low-frequency component and the high-frequency component at time t ₂ are P _2L and P 1, respectively. _2H . In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment, the intensity of a plurality of separated frequency components is obtained as a peak value, but the intensity of the separated plurality of frequency components is expressed as a PV value (peak-to-valley value), You may obtain | require as an effective value or an integral value.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the strengths P _2L and P _{2H at} the time point t ₂ are smaller than the strengths P _1L and P _1H at the time point t ₁ for both the low frequency component and the high frequency component. This does not immediately correspond to the attenuation of the ultrasonic wave, but the frequency characteristic in the attenuation of the ultrasonic wave can be obtained by calculating the change in the intensity difference of the plurality of frequency components.

The gain until the intensity at the reflection point of the ultrasonic wave is converted into the intensity of the sound ray signal is G ₁ for the sound ray signal measured at time t ₁ , and G ₂ for the sound ray signal measured at time t ₂ . When the frequency characteristic of the ultrasonic attenuation per unit time in the time Δt from the time t ₁ to time t ₂ is expressed by the following equation (1).
_{{(P 2H / G 2 -P} 1H / G 1) - (P 2L / G 2 -P 1L / G 1)} / Δt
_{= {(P 2H -P 2L)} / G 2 - (P 1H -P 1L) / G 1} / Δt ··· (1)

Here, when the gain until the intensity at the reflection point of the ultrasonic wave is converted into the intensity of the sound ray signal is constant, the following equation (2) can be used instead of the equation (1).
_{{(P 2H -P 2L) -} (P 1H -P 1L)} / Δt ··· (2)
Further, when P _1H = P _1L , the following formula (3) can be used instead of the formula (2). In this case, the intensity difference (P _2H −P _2L ) between the low frequency component and the high frequency component at the time point t ₂ of the sound ray signal represents the frequency characteristic in the attenuation of the ultrasonic wave.
(P _2H −P _2L ) / Δt (3)

  In the above description, the example in which the intensity difference between the plurality of frequency components is obtained as the relative relationship between the intensity of the plurality of frequency components of the sound ray signal has been described. However, the intensity ratio of the plurality of frequency components may be obtained. Since the reflectance of the ultrasound in the tissue in the subject is considered to be less dependent on the frequency, if the attenuation characteristic is calculated by the equation (1) or the like, the ultrasound reflection that varies depending on the difference in the adjacent tissue in the subject. There is an advantage that it is not easily affected by the rate.

Further, as shown in the equation (1), when correcting the gains G ₁ and G ₂ , the control signal used for correcting the attenuation in the TGC amplifier 22 shown in FIG. Values corresponding to the gains G ₁ and G ₂ can be obtained. Furthermore, if the frequency characteristic in transmission / reception of the ultrasonic transducer 10a is recorded in the recording unit 17, and the intensity of a plurality of frequency components of the sound ray signal is corrected in accordance with the frequency characteristic of the ultrasonic transducer 10a, More accurate attenuation characteristics can be calculated.

  In this way, the difference calculation unit 33 and the attenuation rate calculation unit 33 are based on a plurality of frequency components having different ultrasonic attenuation characteristics in the tissue to be imaged, the difference between the soft tissue and the hard tissue, or the soft tissue. Information about the tissue in the subject, such as the difference between tendons and muscles, can be obtained. Based on this information, the frequency image data generation unit 34 generates frequency image data (spectral image data).

  The image selection unit 35 synthesizes the B-mode image data generated by the B-mode image data generation unit 29 and the frequency image data generated by the frequency image data generation unit 34 or one of them. Select and output. The secondary storage unit 36 stores the image data output from the image selection unit 35. The image processing unit 37 performs various types of image processing on the image data stored in the secondary storage unit 36. The display unit 38 includes, for example, a display device such as a CRT or LCD, and displays an ultrasonic image based on the image data subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 37.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of an ultrasonic image displayed in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a B-mode image, where the inside of the hard tissue (bone) is almost unknown, but the soft tissue (muscle) existing outside the hard tissue (bone) is represented. An ultrasonic image is generated. On the other hand, FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a frequency image. By extracting an appropriate frequency component, the inside of the hard tissue (bone) can be emphasized and displayed. In addition, the separation between the hard tissue (bone) and the soft tissue (muscle) is clearly shown, and it is possible to image from the bone to the epidermis. FIG. 4C shows a composite image of the B-mode image and the frequency image. For example, the image selection unit 35 (see FIG. 1) displays the B-mode image data generated by the B-mode image data generation unit 29. A luminance signal (or chromaticity signal) may be output based on the mode image data, and a chromaticity signal (or luminance signal) may be output based on the frequency image data generated by the frequency image data generation unit 34. . Moreover, you may enable it to designate the region of interest which displays attenuation rate information on a display screen.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the drive signal generation unit 14 generates a drive signal having a plurality of frequency components, so that the tomographic image information and the attenuation rate information are transmitted and received in a single transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave. Both are obtained simultaneously, but when the drive signal generator 14 generates drive signals having different frequencies for each sound ray, the attenuation rate information for one frame is obtained while obtaining tomographic image information for a plurality of frames. You may make it ask. Further, without correcting the gain using the control signal used in the TGC amplifier 22, only the relative value of the attenuation characteristic may be displayed, or only the positive / negative of the attenuation characteristic may be determined.

Next, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic transmission probe 101 that transmits ultrasonic waves, an ultrasonic reception probe 102 that receives ultrasonic waves, instead of the ultrasonic probe 10, and Transmitting ultrasonic probe that performs translational or rotational scanning while maintaining a state of being opposed to each other through the subject, and an ultrasonic transmission probe 101 and an ultrasonic reception probe controlled by the scanning control unit 11. And a drive unit 105 that translates or rotationally drives the touch element 102, and calculates and visualizes the distribution of the transmission frequency characteristic (difference value of the transmission frequency characteristic) within the cross section of the subject. 1 is different from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the scanning control unit 11 controls the drive unit 105 to drive the ultrasonic transmission probe 101 and the ultrasonic reception probe 102 in translation while performing ultrasonic transmission. The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the probe 101 and transmitted through the sample 120 in the water tank 121 is received by the ultrasonic wave receiving probe 102.

FIG. 6 shows the frequency characteristics of the received signal for the sample 120 measured at a plurality of different times obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic burst signal. When measurement is performed using a transmission ultrasonic probe, the intensity of the frequency component of the received signal represents the frequency characteristics of the transmittance at times t ₀ , t ₁ , t ₂ . Further, in the case where measurement is performed by translational scanning of the transmission ultrasonic probe, the times t ₀ , t ₁ , t ₂ ... Indicate the scanning position of the transmission ultrasonic probe. By mapping the relative relationship of the intensity of the frequency components of the transmittance in association with the scanning position, an image showing the difference in transmittance at each frequency can be obtained.

The image showing the difference in transmittance at each frequency obtained in this way is unique to the sample even if the sample has a different thickness compared to the image showing the intensity of the ultrasonic wave transmitted through the sample 120. The characteristics can be expressed. For example, the position of the transmission ultrasonic probe corresponding to time t ₀ is set so that the ultrasonic wave passes only water and does not pass through the sample 120, and corresponds to times t ₁ and t ₂ . When the position of the transmission ultrasonic probe is set so that the ultrasonic wave is transmitted through water and the sample 120, the frequency characteristics of the transmittance obtained at times t ₁ and t ₂ are the water and the probe. The frequency characteristic of the transmittance for the measurement system such as a touch element and the frequency characteristic of the transmittance for the sample 120 are included.

  In FIG. 5, a transmission ultrasonic probe that performs translational scanning is used. However, as shown in FIG. 7, an ultrasonic transmission probe 101 and an ultrasonic reception probe 102 are connected to a subject. A transmission type ultrasonic probe that rotates and scans the subject 122 while keeping the state facing each other via 122 may be used. Also in this case, the drive unit 105 is controlled by the scanning control unit 11 shown in FIG. 5 to drive the ultrasonic transmission probe 101 and the ultrasonic reception probe 102.

Here, the position of the transmission ultrasonic probe corresponding to the time t ₀ is set in a known muscle tissue portion, and the position of the transmission ultrasonic probe corresponding to the times t ₁ and t ₂ is determined. When the region including the unknown soft tissue 123 is set, the image showing the difference between the frequency characteristic of the transmittance obtained at time t ₀ and the frequency characteristic of the transmittance obtained at times t ₁ and t ₂ is the soft part with respect to the muscle tissue. Since the image shows the difference in the frequency characteristics of the transmittance in the tissue 123, the difference in the characteristics in the soft tissue becomes easy to see.

  Note that the distance between the ultrasound transmission probe 101 and the ultrasound reception probe 102 can be adjusted, and both may be pressed against the subject 122 for use.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs imaging of an organ or bone in a living body by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to generate an ultrasonic image used for diagnosis.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the frequency characteristic of the sound ray signal about the several different structure | tissue measured at several different time obtained by transmitting / receiving the ultrasonic burst signal. It is a figure which shows the waveform of two frequency components contained in the sound ray signal obtained by transmitting / receiving the ultrasonic burst signal. It is a figure which shows typically the example of the ultrasonic image displayed in the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the ultrasonic diagnosing device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the frequency characteristic of the received signal about the subject measured at several different time obtained by transmitting / receiving the ultrasonic burst signal. It is a figure which shows the transmission type ultrasonic probe which carries out rotation scanning of the subject.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ultrasonic probe 10a Ultrasonic transducer 11 Scan control part 12 Transmission delay pattern memory | storage part 13 Transmission control part 14 Drive signal generation part 15 Console 16 Control part 21 Preamplifier 22 TGC amplifier 23 A / D converter 24 Primary Storage unit 25 Reception delay pattern storage unit 26 Reception control unit 27 Wideband filter unit 28 Envelope detection processing unit 29 B-mode image data generation units 30a, 30b, ... Narrowband filter units 31a, 31b, ... Peak detection unit 32 Difference calculation unit 33 Attenuation rate calculation unit 34 Frequency image data generation unit 35 Image selection unit 36 Secondary storage unit 37 Image processing unit 38 Display unit 101 Probe for ultrasonic transmission 102 Probe for ultrasonic reception 105 Drive unit 120 Sample 121 Water tank 122 Subject 123 Soft tissue

Claims (10)

Multiple frequencies by separating the frequency components of signals obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from the subject or transmitted through the subject into frequency components in different frequencies or frequency bands Separation means for obtaining the components;
Calculating means for obtaining the relative relationship of the intensity of the plurality of frequency components obtained by the separating means at a plurality of different time points, and obtaining a change in the relative relation of the intensity;
Image data generating means for generating image data relating to a subject based on a change in the relative relationship of the intensity obtained by the calculating means;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit includes a difference calculation circuit that calculates a difference in intensity between a plurality of frequency components obtained by the separation unit. It further comprises correction means for correcting the intensity of the signal obtained by transmitting the ultrasonic wave to the subject and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject according to the distance reached by the ultrasonic wave in the subject. ,
The image data generation means corrects the change in the relative relationship of the intensity based on the information obtained by the correction means;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   A plurality of band-pass filter processes in which the separation means has different pass bands for signals obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves to the subject and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from the subject or transmitted through the subject The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image data generation unit generates the image data based on the signal that has been subjected to the narrowband bandpass filter processing by the separation unit. Other image data generating means for generating image data relating to the subject based on the intensity of the signal obtained by transmitting the ultrasonic wave to the subject and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject or transmitted through the subject When,
Image selection means for selecting at least one of the image data generated by the image data generation means and the image data generated by the other image data generation means;
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the other image data generation unit generates the image data based on the signal that has been subjected to the envelope detection processing after being subjected to the broadband band pass filter processing.   The image selection unit outputs a chromaticity signal based on the image data generated by the image data generation unit, and outputs a luminance signal based on the image data generated by the other image data generation unit. Item 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Item 6.   The image selection unit outputs a luminance signal based on the image data generated by the image data generation unit, and outputs a chromaticity signal based on the image data generated by the other image data generation unit. Item 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Item 6.   10. The relative relationship between the intensities of the plurality of frequency components is a relative relationship between a peak value, a peak-to-valley value, an effective value, or an integral value of the plurality of frequency components. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment.