JP6997681B2 - Ultrasound imager - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging device that reduces speckle noise.

The spatial compound method is used as an effective method for reducing speckle noise in ultrasonic images. In this method, a multi-look process is performed in which a plurality of transmissions / receptions are performed by changing the angle of the ultrasonic beam with respect to the image pickup target, and a brightness image is obtained for each of the plurality of transmissions / receptions having different angles of the ultrasonic beam, and then the obtained brightness is obtained. Combine images. The speckle noise pattern of the luminance image obtained by each transmission and reception is slightly different because the angle of the ultrasonic beam is different, and the speckle noise pattern can be reduced by synthesizing the luminance image, and an image with high contrast is created. be able to.

Specifically, for example, in the spatial compound method disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, the transmission / reception aperture of the probe is divided into a plurality of transmission openings, and an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from each transmission opening to the imaging point. Multiple transmission beams with different incident angles are transmitted.

On the other hand, in the spatial compound method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the ultrasonic beams are transmitted and received a plurality of times, the long-axis opening of the probe is not changed at the time of reception, and the ultrasonic beam is in the short-axis direction (elevation direction). By reducing (changing) the reception aperture to a plurality of types, the reception beam is angled and multi-look processing is performed.

In Patent Document 2, multi-look processing is performed by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic beams from a plurality of different positions to a predetermined three-dimensional region while moving the probe in the elevation direction with high accuracy, and performing transmission aperture synthesis and space. It is disclosed to make a compound.

1998 IEEE Ultrasonic Symposium Proceedings PP. 1623-1626

U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,638 JP-A-2017-159028

In the spatial compound method of Non-Patent Document 1, the opening is divided and reduced in order to change the position of the opening of the probe used for transmission / reception. When the aperture width becomes smaller, the intensity of the ultrasonic beam that can be transmitted / received decreases as compared with the case where the ultrasonic beam is transmitted / received from all the openings, so that the SN of the received signal decreases. In addition, the characteristics of the ultrasonic beam transmitted and received are also deteriorated, so that the spatial resolution of the generated luminance image is deteriorated.

In the spatial compound method of Patent Document 1, since the long-axis aperture of the probe is not changed, the spatial resolution does not deteriorate when the long-axis direction is the imaging cross section, but the speckle noise pattern is reduced by the multi-look. In order to obtain the full effect, it is necessary to narrow the reception opening in the short axis direction by about half. Therefore, it is inevitable that the SN of the received signal will decrease.

In the technique of Patent Document 2, since multi-look processing is performed by moving the probe, transmission / reception can be performed from the entire opening of the probe, but a robot arm for moving the probe with high accuracy and a probe are used. A device for accurately grasping the position of the device is required, and the device configuration becomes large and complicated.

An object of the present invention is to generate a high-contrast image without deteriorating SN or spatial resolution while using an ultrasonic probe having a finite aperture width.

According to the present invention, the following ultrasonic image pickup apparatus is provided. That is, the ultrasonic image pickup device of the present invention includes a transmission unit that transmits two or more ultrasonic transmission beams from a plurality of vibrators of a stationary ultrasonic probe to a predetermined irradiation range of a subject. , Multiple oscillators receive and output the echo generated in the subject for each transmission of the transmission beam, and receive the reception signal for each echo generation, and a plurality of reception signals on one or more predetermined reception scanning lines. A receiver that forms one or more receive beams for each echo received by receiving beam forming for the receive focus, and two or more brightness images for the same imaging cross section within the irradiation range using the signal of the receive beam. It has a brightness image generation unit for generating the above, and a brightness image synthesis unit for synthesizing two or more generated brightness images. Both of the two or more transmission beams are transmitted from the oscillator in the same transmission aperture of the ultrasonic probe, and the echo generated for each transmission is in the same reception aperture for each reception of the ultrasonic probe. Received on the oscillator. At least one of the beam pattern of the transmitted beam and the position of the received scan line on which the received beam is formed is different for each transmission of the transmitted beam.

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to divide the transmission aperture or the reception aperture while using an ultrasonic probe having a finite aperture width, so that an image having high contrast can be generated without deteriorating the SN or spatial resolution. Can be done.

A block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment. Figures (a) and (d) illustrating the concept of the spatial arrangement and wavefront of the transmitted beam, (b) and (e) the received beam when the transmitted beam pattern is changed in the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment. A diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of the received scanning lines, (c) and (f) a diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of the transmitting beam and the received scanning lines, and (g) a diagram illustrating the image composition. Figures (a) and (d) illustrating the concept of spatial arrangement and wavefront of transmitted beams when the position of the received scanning line is changed in the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment, (b) and (e) reception. A diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of the received scanning lines of the beam, (c) and (f) a diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of the transmitting beam and the received scanning lines, and (g) a diagram illustrating the image composition. A flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment. Perspective view showing the irradiation range, the imaging cross section, and the transmission beams t1 and t2 of the ultrasonic probe of the second embodiment. In the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment, (a) and (d) a diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of the transmitted beam and the concept of the wavefront, and (b) and (e) the spatial arrangement of the received scanning lines of the received beam. A diagram illustrating (c) and (f) a diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of transmitted beams and received scanning lines, (g) a diagram illustrating image composition. (A) A perspective view showing the irradiation range of the ultrasonic probe of the second embodiment, the imaged cross section, and the set of the transmission beam t1, and (b) the irradiation range, the imaged cross section, and the transmission beam of the ultrasonic probe of the second embodiment. Perspective showing a set of t2 A flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment. The figure explaining an example of the spatial arrangement of the transmission beam and the reception beam at the time of performing aperture synthesis as a modification of Embodiment 2. A block diagram showing a part of an ultrasonic imaging device for aperture synthesis of a modified example of the second embodiment. A flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus for the aperture synthesis of the modified example of the second embodiment. (A) A diagram illustrating an example of spatial arrangement of a transmission beam and a reception beam when the arrival positions of two sets of transmission beams of the modified example of the second embodiment are shifted in the x direction, (b) and (c) embodiments. The figure explaining an example of the spatial arrangement of the transmission beam and the reception beam at the time of shifting the arrival position of 3 sets of transmission beams of 2 modification in the x direction. (A) A diagram illustrating an example in which the arrival positions of a plurality of transmission beams constituting the transmission beam set of the second embodiment are arranged in parallel in the x direction, and (b) a plurality of transmission beams constituting the transmission beam set of the third embodiment. A diagram illustrating an example in which the arrival positions of the transmission beams are deviated in the y direction, and (c) an example in which the arrival positions of a plurality of transmission beams constituting the set of transmission beams according to the third embodiment are a predetermined pattern will be described. figure A flowchart showing an example of the operation of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus when the transmission beam is transmitted by the pattern of FIG. 13 (c). The figure explaining the example of the arrival position of the transmission beam and the position of the reception scan line of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of Embodiment 4. (A) and (b) The figure explaining the arrival position of the transmission beam and the position of the reception scan line of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of Embodiment 4, and an example of composition of a luminance image. A flowchart showing an example of the operation of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus in the case of transmitting and receiving shown in FIGS. 16A or 16B. Figures (a) and (d) illustrating the concept of spatial arrangement and wavefront of transmitted beams when the position of the received scanning line is changed in the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the sixth embodiment, (b) and (e) reception. A diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of the received scanning lines of the beam, (c) and (f) a diagram illustrating the spatial arrangement of the transmitting beam and the received scanning lines, and (g) a diagram illustrating the image composition. Explanatory drawing which shows the position of the opening changed for each reception of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of Embodiment 6. A flowchart showing an example of the operation of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus when transmitting and receiving shown in the sixth embodiment.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<< Embodiment 1 >>
The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus 100 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an example in which the beam pattern of the transmission beam differs depending on the luminance image, and FIG. 3 is an example in which the position of the reception scanning line of the reception beam differs depending on the luminance image. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus 100 of the first embodiment includes a transmission unit 102, a reception unit 104, a luminance image generation unit 30, and a luminance image composition unit 40. Further, a transmission / reception switching unit 101 for switching the transmission / reception of a signal to the ultrasonic probe 108 is connected to the transmission unit 102 and the reception unit 104. Further, the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus 100 is provided with a control unit 106 that controls the whole. An ultrasonic probe 108 is connected to the transmission / reception switching unit 101 of the ultrasonic image pickup device 100, and a display unit 122 is connected to the luminance image composition unit 40.

The configuration and operation of each part will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The operation of the entire device of the ultrasonic image pickup device 100 is controlled by the control unit 106, so that the flow of FIG. 4 is realized. Further, each part of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 100, including the control unit 106, may be configured by a CPU and a memory which are computer systems, and the functions of each part may be realized by hardware, or a part thereof. Alternatively, all of them may be configured by hardware such as a custom IC such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a programmable IC such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) to realize the function.

The transmission unit 102 outputs transmission signals to a plurality of vibrators arranged in the ultrasonic probe 108 in a stationary state, and ultrasonic waves are generated from the plurality of vibrators with respect to a predetermined irradiation range 11 of the subject 120. The transmission beams t1 and t2 of FIG. 2 are transmitted in the order of 2 or more (see steps 401 and 404 of FIGS. 2A and 2D).

An echo is generated in the subject 120 for each transmission of the transmission beams t1 and t2. The echo is received by a plurality of oscillators of the ultrasonic probe 108. The receiving unit 104 receives received signals from a plurality of oscillators each time an echo is generated, and receives beamforming so as to focus on a plurality of receiving focal points on one or more predetermined receiving scanning lines. One or more received beams are formed for each echo received. Specifically, the receiving unit 104 forms a receiving beam along one or more reception scanning lines r1 and the like for the received signal of the echo generated by the transmitting beam t1 (steps 2 and 4). 402) For the received signal of the echo generated by the transmitted beam t2, a received beam is formed along the received scanning line r2 and the like (step 405 of FIG. 2 (e) and FIG. 4).

The luminance image generation unit 30 uses the signals of the received beams r1 and r2, respectively, to generate two or more luminance images A and B for the same imaged cross section of the subject 120 (FIG. 2 (g)). For example, the luminance image generation unit 30 generates a luminance image A using one or more received beams obtained by forming the received signal of the echo of the transmitted beam t1 with respect to the received scanning line r1 or the like (step 403), and the luminance image generation unit 30 generates the luminance image A (step 403). The received signal of the echo of the above is received beam formed with respect to the received scanning line r2 and the like, and a luminance image B is generated using one or more received beams (step 406).

The luminance image compositing unit 40 performs a compositing process of adding and averaging two or more luminance images A and B (spatial compound), and displays the generated composite image on the display unit 122 (FIG. 2 (g) and step 407). ..

At this time, in the first embodiment, the two or more transmission beams t1 and t2 are all transmitted from the oscillators in the same transmission opening of the ultrasonic probe, and the echo generated for each transmission is an ultrasonic probe. It is received by the oscillator in the same reception opening of the tentacle. Therefore, it is not necessary to divide the aperture of the ultrasonic probe having a finite aperture width, and the entire aperture can be used as the transmission aperture and the reception aperture. The oscillator can receive the echo. As a result, it is possible to generate a luminance image in which the decrease in SN of the received signal is minimized and the deterioration of spatial resolution is suppressed.

Moreover, in the first embodiment, at least one of the beam pattern of the transmission beam and the position of the reception scanning line on which the reception beam is formed is set to be different for each transmission of the transmission beam. Here, the beam pattern of the transmission beam refers to the beam shape of the transmission beam due to the transmission direction of the transmission beam. The fact that the beam pattern of the transmission beam is different for each transmission of the transmission beam means that the shape of the transmission beam is different for each transmission beam. Further, the shape of the transmission beam differs not only depending on whether it is a focused beam or a focused beam, but also on the position of the transmission focal point and the range of the transmission aperture. As specific examples, FIGS. 2 (a), (b), (d), and (e) show the positions of the transmitted beam and the received scanning line, and FIGS. 2 (c) and 2 (f) show the transmitted beam in the deepest part of the irradiation range. And the position of the received beam are shown respectively. When the transmission directions of the transmission beams t1 and t2 are different from each other as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F, the positions of the reception scanning lines r1 and r2 on which the reception beam is formed may be the same.

Further, as another specific example, the positions of the transmission beam and the reception scanning line are shown in FIGS. 3 (a), (b), (d), and (e), and the irradiation range 11 is shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (f). The directions of the transmitting beam and the receiving beam at the deepest part are shown. The beam patterns (transmission direction and beam shape) of the transmission beams t1 and t2 may be the same as in FIGS. 3A to 3F. In this case, the positions of the reception scanning lines r1 and r2 on which the reception beam is formed are set to be different.

<Principle of speckle noise pattern reduction >>
The principle of reducing the speckle noise pattern in the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of this embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, since either the beam pattern of the transmission beam or the position of the reception scan line of the reception beam is set to be different for each transmission of the transmission beam, the reception scan in which the reception beam r1 is formed is formed. The wavefront of the transmission beam t1 reaching each of the plurality of reception focal points on the line has a shape different from the shape of the wavefront of the transmission beam t2 reaching the focal point on the reception scanning line on which the reception beam r2 is formed.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the transmission beam t1 focused on the transmission focal point ft1 is transmitted in a certain direction at a depth in the middle of the irradiation range 11, the left-right direction of the irradiation range 11 The wavefront 12 reaches the reception focal point fs at a certain depth of the reception scanning line r1 set in the center of. On the other hand, when the transmission beam t2 having the same depth and different transmission directions is transmitted to the transmission beam t1 as shown in FIG. 2D, the reception focus fs of the reception scanning line r2 (= r1) is set to The wavefront 13 of the transmission beam t2 arrives. Therefore, the wavefront 12 of the transmission beam t1 reaching the reception focus fs and the wavefront 13 of the transmission beam t2 have different shapes.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2 have the same beam shape and the same transmission direction, but the positions of the reception beams r1 and r2 are different, so that the reception scanning lines of the reception beams r1 and r2 are the same. The wavefront 14 of the transmission beam t1 reaching the reception focal points ft and fu at the depth and the wavefront 15 of the transmission beam have different wavefront shapes.

Speckle noise is noise generated by the innumerable reflectors in the subject 120 that generate ultrasonic scattered waves, which interfere with each other and return to the ultrasonic probe 120. It occurs as a point group. When the shape of the wavefront of the transmission beam at the position of the reception focus (imaging point) of the reception scan line is different, the direction and phase of scattering caused by the reflector existing at the reception focus are also different, so that the speckle at the reception focus of the reception scan line is different. The signal strength of noise is also different. Therefore, the pattern of speckle noise generated in the luminance image whose pixel value is the signal intensity of each reception focus is also different.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the beam pattern of the transmission beam and the position of the reception scanning line on which the reception beam is formed are different for each transmission of the transmission beam, so that the wavefront reaching the reception focus is different. The shape can be different. As a result, the speckle noise patterns of the two or more luminance images A and B are different, and by synthesizing the luminance images A and B, the speckle noise patterns can be averaged and the noise can be reduced.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment, the luminance images A and B on the image pickup cross section are transmitted from the same transmission aperture and receive signals received using the same reception aperture. Therefore, it is not necessary to divide the opening of the ultrasonic probe having a finite width, and the entire opening can be used as a transmission opening and a reception opening. Therefore, it is possible to obtain luminance images A and B in which the decrease in SN of the received signal is suppressed to the minimum and the deterioration of the spatial resolution is suppressed. Moreover, since the speckle noise patterns of the luminance image A and the luminance image B are different from each other, the speckle noise pattern can be reduced by synthesizing them.

In the above description, it has been described that the reception beam r1 or the like is formed for one or more reception scanning lines from the reception signal obtained by the transmission of the transmission beam t1, but in order to generate the luminance image A, the entire imaging range is described. It is necessary to set a plurality of received scan lines and generate a received beam for each of them. Therefore, it is possible to form a received beam of a plurality of received scanning lines required for generating a luminance image at a time by parallel beamforming using the received signal obtained by one transmission of the transmitted beam t1. .. Further, a plurality of received beams necessary for generating a luminance image may be formed by transmitting the transmitted beam a plurality of times and repeating the operation of forming one or several received beams each time.

<< Embodiment 2 >>
The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment will be described below.

The structure of the ultrasonic image pickup device of the second embodiment is that the ultrasonic probe 108 in which the vibrators are arranged two-dimensionally is used and the ultrasonic irradiation range 11 is a three-dimensional space. different. Since the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, different configurations will be mainly described below.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment, the vibrators are arranged two-dimensionally in the x-direction and the y-direction, and the ultrasonic probe 108 is used. The depth direction is the z direction, and the irradiation range 11 of the ultrasonic wave to the subject 120 by the ultrasonic probe 108 is a three-dimensional space in the xyz direction. The ultrasonic probe 108 can transmit the transmitted beam of the focused beam in a desired direction within the irradiation range 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the image pickup cross section 21 is an xz plane (y = 0).

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the two or more transmission beams are transmitted from the oscillators in the same transmission opening of the ultrasonic probe, and the echo generated for each transmission is the ultrasonic probe. It is received by the oscillator in the same reception opening of the tentacle.

At this time, in the two or more transmission beams (transmission beam t1 and transmission beam t2), the in-plane components of the imaging cross section 21 in the transmission direction coincide with each other, and the in-plane components of the surface 22 perpendicular to the imaging cross section 21 match. It's different. This will be explained in more detail. 6 (a) and 6 (d) are examples of transmitting a predetermined number of sets of transmission beams as transmission beams t1 and t2, respectively. As is clear from comparing FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (d), in the transmission beam t1, the in-plane component t1x of the imaging cross section (xz plane) 21 is the in-plane component of the imaging cross section 21 of the transmission beam t2. It matches with t2x. On the other hand, the in-plane component t1y of the plane (yz plane) 22 perpendicular to the imaging cross section 21 of the transmission beam t1 is different from the in-plane component t2y of the vertical plane 22 of the transmission beam.

The positional relationship between the set of the transmission beam t1 and the set of the transmission beam t2 is shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) in a perspective view. As is clear from FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the second embodiment, the transmission directions of the two transmission beams t1 and t2 are transmitted so as to be different in the plane of the plane 22 perpendicular to the imaging cross section 21. do. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6E, the received scanning lines r1 and r2 (= r1) are in the plane of the imaging cross section 21, and the plane of the imaging cross section 21 of the transmission beams t1 and t2. Even when the positions overlap with the internal components t1x and t2x, the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2 have different in-plane components t1y and t2y on the vertical plane 22 in the transmission direction. The wavefront that reaches the reception focal point (imaging point) at the same position of r2 (= r1) can be made different between the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2. As a result, the speckle noise pattern is different between the luminance image A generated from the received beam along the plurality of received scanning lines r1 and the luminance image B generated from the received beam along the received scanning line r2. By synthesizing the luminance images A and B as shown in FIG. 6 (g), it is possible to generate a composite image in which the speckle noise pattern is reduced.

Further, FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (f) show the positions of the transmitted beam and the received scanning line in the deepest part of the irradiation range 11. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment. The imaging procedure of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 801 the transmission unit 102 transmits a transmission beam t1-n constituting a set of transmission beams t1, and each time the transmission unit 104 transmits, the reception unit 104 in-plane of the imaging cross section 21 in the transmission direction in step 802. A received scanning line r1-n corresponding to the component t1x is set to generate a received beam. This is repeated until a predetermined number of received scanning lines required for generating the luminance image A are generated (steps 803 and 804). The luminance image generation unit 30 generates a luminance image A using the received data of the obtained received beam (step 805). The same applies to the transmission beam t2. The transmission unit 102 transmits the transmission beam t2-m constituting the set of the transmission beam t2, and each time the transmission unit 104 transmits, the reception unit 104 receives the imaging cross section 21 in the transmission direction in step 802. A reception scanning line r2-m corresponding to the in-plane component t1x of the above is set to generate a reception beam. This is repeated until a predetermined number of received scanning lines required for generating the luminance image B are generated. The luminance image generation unit 30 generates a luminance image B using the received data of the obtained received beam (steps 806 to 810). The luminance image compositing unit 40 synthesizes the luminance images A and B to generate and display a composite image (step 811).

The present embodiment is not limited to the imaging procedure shown in FIG. 8, and a plurality of reception scanning lines may be set by parallel beamforming for one transmission of the transmission beam. This makes it possible to reduce the number of transmissions required to generate one luminance image.

<Variation example of Embodiment 2 Aperture synthesis>
In the example shown in FIG. 8, each time a transmission beam is transmitted, a reception beam is obtained for one reception scanning line, but the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of reception scanning lines may be set for one transmission of the transmission beam. At this time, a part of the received scan lines may be set so as to overlap with the received scan lines set in the transmission of another transmission beam. In this case, aperture synthesis can be performed by coherently adding the received beam data generated for each of the overlapped received scanning lines. Coherent addition refers to superimposing each other while maintaining the phase information of the received data to be added. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 9, among the set of the transmission beam t1, the reception scan lines r1-1, r1-2, and r1-3 are set for the transmission beam t1-1, and the reception beam t1-2 receives the reception. Scanning lines r1-1 to r1-4 are set, and reception scanning lines r1-3 to r1-5 are set in the transmission beam t1-5. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 9, the reception beams of the reception scan lines r1-1, r1-2, and r1-4 are generated twice, and the reception beam of the reception scan line r1-3 is generated at least three times. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10 and a block diagram of a part of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment and a flowchart in FIG. 11, in steps 1002 and 1007, the receiving unit 104 generates the receiving beam data, and the luminance image is obtained. The generation unit 30 temporarily stores the data of the received beam in the memory 20. In steps 1005 and 1009, if there are received beams generated multiple times for the same received scanning line, the luminance image generation unit 30 performs aperture synthesis by coherently adding them, and then produces the received beam after aperture synthesis. Use to generate a luminance image. That is, coherent addition is performed using received beams obtained from different x directions obtained by transmission of t1x-1 to t1x-7 shown in FIG. 6, data of the imaging cross section 21 is generated, and they are converted into a luminance image. Convert. This makes it possible to generate a high-resolution luminance image having a large signal-to-noise ratio. In step 811, the luminance image compositing unit 40 combines the luminance image A obtained by setting the transmission beam t1 and the luminance image B obtained by setting the transmission beam t2 to reduce the speckle noise pattern. To get. That is, among the received data obtained by transmission in a plurality of directions, data different in the x direction is coherently added, and data different in the y direction is combined as a luminance image. In the flow of FIG. 11, steps other than those described above are the same as the flow of FIG. 8, and the description thereof will be omitted.

<Example of modification of Embodiment 2 Example of shifting the positions of the transmission beams t1 and t2>
In FIG. 6 described above, the components t1x-1, t1x-2, ..., The components t1x-1, t1x-2, ... ..., T1x-7 and transmission beams t2-1, t2-2, ..., T2x-1, t2x-2, ... ..., Although an example in which t2x-7 is the same is shown, the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration. As shown in FIG. 12A, the components t1x-1, t1x-2, ..., T1x-7 of the transmission beam constituting the set of the transmission beam t1 are the components of the transmission beam constituting the set of the transmission beam t2. It may be deviated in the x direction with respect to t2x-1, t2x-2, ..., T2x-7. However, the components t1x-1, t1x-2, ..., T1x-7 of the transmission beam constituting the set of the transmission beam t1 have the interval L1 of which the component t2x- of the transmission beam constituting the set of the transmission beam t2. It is desirable that the intervals L2 are the same as those of 1, t2x-2, ..., T2x-7. Further, the components t1y-1 to t1y-7 in the plane of the plane 22 perpendicular to the imaging cross section 21 of the transmission beam constituting the set of the transmission beam t1 are the components t2y-1 of the transmission beam constituting the set of the transmission beam t2. Set so that it is different from ~ t2y-7.

In FIG. 12A, the reception scanning line r-1 set by the reception unit 104 for each transmission of the transmission beams t1-1, t1-2, ..., T1-7 constituting the set of transmission beams t1. , R-2, ..., R-7 are receptions set by the receiving unit 104 for each transmission of the transmission beams t2-1, t2-2, ..., T2-7 constituting the set of transmission beams t2. It may be aligned with the scanning line or may be deviated in the x direction.

Further, in FIGS. 6A to 6G described above, two sets of transmission beams t1 and t2 are transmitted, luminance images A and B are obtained for the imaging cross section 21, and one composite image is obtained. However, it is of course possible to transmit three or more sets of transmitted beams. For example, as shown in FIGS. 12 (b) and 12 (c), the arrival position of the deepest portion (z = z _max ) of the irradiation range 11 of a plurality of transmitted beams constituting the set of transmitted beams t1, t2, and t3 is set. Each is transmitted so as to be arranged in parallel in the x direction and deviated in the y direction. The luminance image generation unit 30 generates a luminance image of the imaging cross section 21 using the received signals obtained for each set of the transmission beams t1, t2, and t3, and the luminance image compositing unit 40 synthesizes them into one composite. Get an image. The positions of the received scanning lines r-1, r-2, ..., R-7 may be the same between the sets of transmitted beams as shown in FIGS. 12 (b) and 12 (c). It may be displaced in the x direction.

<< Embodiment 3 >>
The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of Embodiment 3 will be described.

In the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment, an example in which the arrival positions at the deepest part of the irradiation range 21 of a plurality of transmission beams constituting the set of transmission beams are arranged in a row parallel to the x direction has been described. In the third embodiment, FIGS. 13 (b) and 13 (c) show an example in which the arrival positions of a plurality of transmitted beams constituting the set of transmitted beams are not arranged in a row parallel to the x direction but are displaced in the y direction and are located in a zigzag manner. ) Will be explained.

FIG. 13A is an example similar to the second embodiment, in which a plurality of transmission beams t1-1 to t1-5 constituting a set of transmission beams t1 and a plurality of transmission beams constituting a set of transmission beams t2 are shown. The positions of arrival at the deepest part of the irradiation range 11 of t2-1 to t2-5 are transmitted so as to be arranged in parallel in the x direction.

FIG. 13B is an example of a set of transmission beams t1 and t2 of the third embodiment, and a plurality of transmission beams t1-1, t1-2, t1-3, t1-4 constituting the set of transmission beams t1 are shown in FIG. , T1-5 and a plurality of transmission beams t2-1, t2-2, t2-3, t2-4, t2-5 constituting a set of transmission beams t2 alternately reach different positions in the y direction. Located (in a jumble). That is, among the transmission beams t1 and t2, the transmission beams t1-1, t2-2, t1-3, t2-4, and t1-5 are arranged in a row parallel to the x direction, and the transmission beams t2-1 and t1- 2, t2-3, t1-4, and t2-5 are transmitted by the transmission unit 102 so as to be arranged in a line parallel to the x direction.

The luminance image generation unit 30 generates a luminance image A using the received signals obtained by the transmission of the transmission beams t1-1, t1-2, t1-3, t1-4, and t1-5, respectively, and the luminance image generation unit 30 generates the luminance image t2. The luminance image B is generated using the received signals obtained by the transmissions of -1, t2-2, t2-3, t2-4, and t2-5, respectively. The luminance image synthesizing unit 40 obtains a composite image by synthesizing the luminance image A and the luminance image B.

As described above, in the set of the transmission beams t1 and t2 in FIG. 13B, the arrival positions of the transmission beams constituting them are alternately located at different positions in the y direction, so that the set of the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam are located alternately. In the set of t2, the components in the in-plane direction of the plane perpendicular to the imaging cross section 21 of the plurality of transmission beams constituting these are different for each transmission. Therefore, since the luminance image A and the luminance image B have different speckle noise patterns, it is possible to obtain a composite image in which the speckle noise patterns are averaged and reduced by synthesizing the luminance image A and the luminance image B. ..

The reception scanning lines r-1, r-2, ..., R-7 may be set at the same position with respect to the set of transmission beams t1 and t2 as shown in FIG. 13 (b). If it is located within the imaging cross section 21, it may be displaced in the x-axis direction.

Further, in the example of FIG. 12B, the transmission unit 102 comprises a plurality of transmission beams t1-1, t1-2, t1-3, t1-4, t1-5, which constitute a set of transmission beams t1, and a transmission beam. The order of transmitting the plurality of transmission beams t2-1, t2-2, t2-3, t2-4, t2-5 constituting the set of t2 is the transmission beams t1-1, t1-2, t1-3, t1. -4, t1-5 may be transmitted in sequence, and then the transmission beams t2-1, t2-2, t2-3, t2-4, and t2-5 may be transmitted in sequence. Further, not limited to this order, after transmitting the transmission beams t1-1, t2-2, t1-3, t2-4, and t1-5 in sequence, the transmission beams t2-1, t1-2, t2-3, and t1 -4, t2-5 may be transmitted in sequence. That is, in the latter case, the position where the transmitted beam is sequentially transmitted is the same as in the case of FIG. 13A, but the received data for the received scanning line obtained by the transmission is obtained by the luminance image generation unit 30. Once stored in the memory 20, the luminance image generation unit 30 receives the transmission beams t1-1, t1-2, t1-3, t1-4, and t1-5 shown in FIG. 9B. The data may be read from the memory 20 and used to generate the luminance image A. Further, when the luminance image B is generated, the received data obtained by the transmission of the transmission beams t2-1, t2-2, t2-3, t2-4, and t2-5 is read from the memory 20 and used.

On the other hand, the example of FIG. 13C is an example of transmitting three sets of transmission beams t1, t2, and t3. As shown in FIG. 13 (c), in the set of the transmission beams t1, t2, and t3, the arrival positions of the transmission beams constituting them are any of two positions in which the arrival positions of the transmission beams are different in the y direction in a predetermined pattern for each transmission beam. Reach selectively. The pattern is predetermined to be different for each set of transmission beams t1, t2, and t3.

Further, the sets of the three transmission beams t1, t2, and t3 are set so that the positions of the plurality of transmission beams constituting them overlap each other as shown in FIG. 13 (c). For example, the transmission beams t1-1 to t1-7 constituting the set of the transmission beam t1, the transmission beams t2-1 to t2-7 constituting the set of the transmission beam t2, and the transmission beam constituting the set of the transmission beam t3. Of t3-1 to t3-8, the transmission beam t1-1 and the transmission beam t2-1 have the same arrival position at the deepest part (z = z _max ) of the irradiation range 11. Similarly, the transmission beam t2-1 and the transmission beam t3-1 have the same arrival position. As shown in FIG. 13 (c), the other transmitted beams also have the same arrival position of the two transmitted beams.

In the example of FIG. 13 (c), since the arrival positions of the two transmission beams overlap each other, the transmission unit 102 transmits a plurality of transmission beams constituting a set of transmission beams t1, t2, and t3. It is only necessary to transmit the transmission beam once to the overlapping positions. An example of the imaging procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the transmission unit 102 sequentially transmits six transmission beams t1-1, t2-2, t1-4, t1-5, t2-6, and t3-8, and further six transmission beams t2-1 and t1. -2, t1-3, t2-4, t1-6, t1-7 are sequentially transmitted (step 1301). Each time the transmission beam is transmitted, the reception unit 104 generates a reception beam for a reception scan line at a predetermined position corresponding to the transmission beam. The luminance image generation unit 30 temporarily stores the reception data of the reception beam generated by the reception unit 104 in the memory 20 (step 1302). This is repeated until the transmission of all the transmission beams is completed (step 1303). Then, the luminance image generation unit 30 reads the received data obtained by the transmission of the transmission beams t1-1 to t1-7 used for generating the luminance image A from the memory 20 to generate the luminance image A (step 1304). .. Next, the luminance image generation unit 30 has transmitted beams t2-1, t2-2, t2-3 (= t1-3), t2-4, t2-5 (= t1-5), which are used to generate the luminance image B. The received data obtained by the transmission of t2-6 and t2-7 (= t1-7) is read from the memory 20 to generate the luminance image B (step 1305). Further, the luminance image generation unit 30 uses the transmitted beams t3-1 (= t2-1), t3-2 (= t1-2), t3-3 (= t2-2), and t3- to generate the luminance image C. Received data obtained by transmitting 4 (= t1-4), t3-5 (= t2-4), t3-6 (= t1-6), t3-7 (= t2-6), t3-8. It is read from the memory 20 to generate a luminance image C (step 1306). The luminance image compositing unit 40 synthesizes the luminance image A, the luminance image B, and the luminance image C to generate a composite image, and displays it on the display unit 122 (step 1307).

In this way, by temporarily storing the received data for the received scanning line in the memory 20, it is not necessary to transmit the transmission beams having overlapping arrival positions twice, so that the number of transmissions can be reduced and the frame rate can be improved. Can be done.

It should be noted that, without using the memory 20, the transmission beams constituting all the transmission beams t1, t2, and t3 are sequentially transmitted, the reception beam is generated each time, and the luminance images A, B, and C are sequentially generated. Of course it is possible.

<< Embodiment 4 >>
The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The basic structure of the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first to third embodiments, but in the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, in order to improve the frame rate, a one-frame luminance image is obtained. The number of transmit beams constituting the set of transmit beams to be transmitted to generate is reduced from the number of receive scan lines required to generate a luminance image. The receiving unit 104 generates a receiving beam for two or more received scanning lines for at least a part of the transmission of the plurality of transmitting beams constituting the set of the transmitting beams, so that the luminance image can be transmitted. Generate a receive beam for the number of receive scanlines required for generation. As a result, it is possible to generate a luminance image while reducing the number of transmitted beams, so that the frame rate can be improved. Further, the operation of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves may be performed for each luminance image as in the flow of FIG. 8, or is used for generating a luminance image after transmitting all the transmitted beams as in the flow of FIG. The received beam may be selected to generate an image. Further, aperture synthesis may be performed as in the flow of FIG.

At this time, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the plurality of transmission beams t1-1, t1-2, and t1-3 constituting the set of transmission beams t1 for generating one luminance image are The position of the in-plane component (x direction) of the imaged cross section is shifted in the x direction with respect to the plurality of transmission beams t2-1 and t2-2 constituting the set of transmission beams t2 for generating the next luminance image. Is set to. This makes it possible to more effectively suppress the speckle noise pattern when the luminance image A and the luminance image B are combined.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the arrival position of the transmission beam and the reception scanning line may be arranged, and transmission / reception may be performed according to the procedure shown in the flow of FIG. The transmission unit 102 and the reception unit 104 repeat the transmission of the transmission beam and the generation of one or more reception beams until the reception beams of all the reception scan lines required for generation in one luminance image are obtained (step 1601). ~ 1603), the luminance image generation unit 30 generates one luminance image (for example, A) and stores it in the memory 20 (step 1604). The luminance image generation unit 30 reads the luminance image (B) generated last time and stored in the memory 20 and combines it with the luminance image (A) generated this time to generate a composite image (step 1605). As a result, one composite image can be generated each time one luminance image is generated, so that the frame rate can be improved.

In this case, it is of course possible to transmit a set of transmission beams composed of the same number of transmission beams as the reception scan lines as shown in FIG. 13 (a), but as shown in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), it is possible to transmit. The frame rate can be further improved by transmitting a set of transmitted beams in which the number of transmitted beams is smaller than the number of received scan lines.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the transmission beam for generating the previous luminance image (B) and the transmission beam for generating the current luminance image (A) are the imaged cross sections of the imaged cross section. By setting the position to shift in the in-plane component (x direction), the speckle noise pattern can be more effectively suppressed when the luminance image A and the luminance image B are combined.

<< Embodiment 5 >>
The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the fifth embodiment will be described.

In the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the fifth embodiment, the transmission beam t1 transmitted for generating the luminance image A changes the direction of the transmission beam with respect to the transmission beam t2 transmitted for generating the luminance image B. Transmission is performed so that the beam shape is different due to factors other than the above.

Specifically, the beam shapes can be made different by making the focus depths of the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2 different on at least one of the image pickup cross section and the plane orthogonal to the image pickup cross section. At this time, using the ultrasonic probe 108 in which the vibrators are arranged two-dimensionally (x-direction and y-direction), the transmission unit is connected to the row of the vibrators arranged in the x-direction and the row of the vibrators arranged in the y-axis direction. By adjusting the timing of the transmission signal (electric pulse) input by 102, it is possible to set the focus position on the xz plane and the focus position on the yz plane of the transmitted beam to different depths (z direction). be. Specifically, for example, in the case of an ultrasonic probe 108 in which N oscillators are arranged in the x direction and M oscillators are arranged in the y direction, N oscillators in the x direction having a focus point set at a certain depth d1 are used. The timing of the transmitted signal to be given is Tx1, Tx2, ... TxN, respectively. Further, when the focus point is set at a depth d2 different from d1, the timings of the transmission signals given to the M oscillators in the y direction are set to Ty1, Ty2, ... TyM, respectively. In this case, by setting the timing of the transmission signal given to the nth oscillator in the x direction and the mth oscillator in the y direction to Txn + Time, the focus position on the xz plane and the focus position on the yz plane of the transmitted beam are transmitted. Can be set to different depths (z direction).

Further, by setting the transmission beam direction in different y directions at the same time as setting the focus depth, the beam shapes of the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2 can be set differently, and the speckle noise pattern can be suppressed more effectively. be able to.

Further, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave may be changed between the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2. Similar to the above, different transmission beam directions may be set at the same time as different frequency settings.

Further, a weight distribution is set according to the position of the vibrator in the y-axis direction for the amplitude of the transmission signal input to the vibrators arranged in the y-axis direction (direction orthogonal to the imaging cross section) of the transmission aperture, and the weight distribution is distributed. The beam shape may be different by making the shape different between the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2. Further, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the transmission beam t1 and the transmission beam t2 may be oriented in different directions with the imaging cross section 21 interposed therebetween. In this case, the shape of the weight distribution of the amplitude of the transmission signal input to the vibrators arranged in the y-axis direction so that the sound pressures of the transmission beams t1 and t2 are concentrated on the imaging cross section (xz plane) 21. It is desirable to set each of the transmission beams t1 and t2, respectively.

Since the configurations of the transmission beams t1 and t2 other than the beam shapes are the same as those of the first to fourth embodiments, the description thereof will be omitted.

<< Embodiment 6 >>
The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the sixth embodiment will be described.

In the second to fifth embodiments, an example of changing the beam patterns of the transmitted beams t1 and t2 has been described, but instead of changing the beam patterns of the transmitted beams t1 and t2, or changing the beam patterns of the transmitted beams t1 and t2. In addition to the above, the position of the reception scanning line of the reception beam may be changed.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 18 (b), (c), (e), and (f), a reception scan line for generating a luminance image A and a reception scan line r1 and r2 for generating a luminance image B. The position of is shifted in the y direction. At this time, the reception scanning lines r1 and r2 may be parallel to each other on the yz plane, or may be inclined at different angles. As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the transmission beam may be the same as in the second embodiment, or the beam shape of the transmission beam may be different as in the fifth embodiment.

Further, in addition to changing the beam patterns of the transmission beams t1 and t2, the position of the reception opening 108a of the ultrasonic probe 108 that receives the echo is changed by the transmission beams t1, t2, and t3 as shown in FIG. By doing so, the shape of the sound pressure distribution of the received beam (the pattern of the received beam) may be changed. As a result, the speckle noise pattern changes depending on the luminance image.

Further, the receiving unit 104 is orthogonal to the image pickup cross section (xz plane) when forming a receiving beam by adding the received signals output by the two-dimensionally arranged oscillators for the receiving beam forming. The received signals output by the oscillators arranged in the y direction are weighted according to the position of the oscillators with respect to the imaging cross section and then added. At this time, the receiving unit 104 may be configured to make the distribution of the weights used for weighting different by echo (that is, by the luminance image using the received beam). As a result, the sound pressure distribution shape of the received beam changes depending on the luminance image, so that the speckle noise pattern changes.

In the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus of the sixth embodiment, the configurations other than those described above are the same as those of the second to fourth embodiments, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

In the sixth embodiment, when the beam patterns of the transmission beams t1 and t2 are changed and the position of the reception scanning line of the reception beam is changed, transmission / reception may be performed according to the procedure shown in the flow of FIG. That is, after the transmission unit 102 transmits the transmission beam, the reception unit 104 generates a plurality of sets of reception beams a plurality of times at different positions of the reception scanning lines (steps 1701 to 1702). As a result, the luminance image generation unit 30 generates a plurality of luminance images as many as the number of sets of received beams and stores them in the memory 20 (step 1703). These steps are performed for each preset transmission beam change until all luminance images required for compositing are stored (step 1704). The luminance image generation unit 30 reads out all the luminance images stored in the memory 20 and synthesizes them to generate a composite image (step 1705).

In this way, by combining the change of the beam pattern of the transmission beam and the change of the position of the reception scan line of the reception beam to generate more luminance images and synthesizing them, the specifications are created. The noise pattern can be suppressed more effectively.

20 Memory 30 Luminance image generator 40 Luminance image synthesizer 100 Ultrasonic imager 108 Ultrasonic probe 102 Transmitter 104 Receiver 120 Subject 122 Display unit

Claims (14)

A transmitter that transmits two or more ultrasonic transmission beams to a predetermined irradiation range of the subject from multiple oscillators of the ultrasonic probe in a stationary state.
The reception signals generated by the plurality of oscillators for each transmission of the transmission beam received and output by the plurality of oscillators are received for each generation of the echo, and are displayed on one or more predetermined reception scanning lines. A receiver that forms one or more receive beams for each reception of the echo by performing receive beamforming for a plurality of receive focal points.
A luminance image generator that uses the signal of the received beam to generate two or more luminance images for the same imaged cross section within the irradiation range.
It has a luminance image compositing unit that synthesizes two or more generated luminance images.
Both of the two or more transmission beams are transmitted from the oscillators in the same transmission aperture of the ultrasonic probe, and the echo generated for each transmission is the same for each reception of the ultrasonic probe. Received by the oscillator in the aperture
An ultrasonic image pickup apparatus characterized in that at least one of a beam pattern of the transmission beam and a position of the reception scanning line on which the reception beam is formed is different for each transmission of the transmission beam. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the beam pattern of the transmission beam is different for each transmission beam, that is, at least one of the transmission direction of the transmission beam and the shape of the transmission beam is different for each transmission beam. An ultrasonic imaging device characterized by being different. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission aperture and the reception aperture are both full openings of the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibrators are arranged two-dimensionally in the transmission opening and the reception opening of the ultrasonic probe, and the two or more transmission beams are in the transmission direction. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus, characterized in that the components in the in-plane direction of the image pickup cross section are the same, and the components in the in-plane direction of the plane perpendicular to the image pickup cross section are different. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits a predetermined number of sets of transmission beams to the irradiation range for each luminance image to be generated.
In the set of transmission beams, the components of the transmission direction of the transmission beam in the plane perpendicular to the imaging cross section differ between the sets of transmission beams, and the predetermined number of transmission beams in the plane of the imaging cross section An ultrasonic imaging device characterized in that the spacing is the same between sets of transmitted beams. In the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, the transmission directions of the plurality of transmission beams constituting the set of transmission beams differ among the plurality of transmission beams in a plane orthogonal to the imaging cross section. An ultrasonic imaging device characterized by this. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the transmission unit uses the number of transmission beams constituting the set of transmission beams to be transmitted to generate one luminance image in order to generate the luminance image. Less than the number of received scan lines required,
The receiving unit generates the received beams for two or more received scanning lines for at least a part of the transmitted beams constituting the set of transmitted beams, so that the receiving unit receives as many times as necessary for generating the luminance image. Generate a receive beam for the scan line
The plurality of transmitted beams constituting the set of transmitted beams are characterized in that the positions of the in-plane components of the imaged cross section are different from the set of transmitted beams for generating the next luminance image. Imaging device. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit forms a plurality of the received beams for one transmission of the transmitting beam, and is formed by transmitting the transmitting beam at another time. An ultrasonic image pickup apparatus characterized in that data of a received beam is coherently added to a point where a spatial position overlaps with the received beam. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a part of the plurality of transmitted beams constituting the set of transmitted beams for each luminance image has the same transmission direction between the luminance images. An ultrasonic imaging device that features it. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transmission unit transmits a set of three or more transmission beams.
The luminance image generation unit generates the luminance image from the received signals obtained by the transmission of a plurality of transmission beams constituting one set of the luminance images.
The luminance image synthesizing unit is characterized in that the luminance image generated by the luminance image generation unit is combined with a luminance image obtained by transmitting a plurality of transmission beams constituting another set of transmission beams immediately before the luminance image synthesizing unit. Ultrasonic image pickup device. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrators are arranged two-dimensionally in the ultrasonic probe.
The transmission unit is an ultrasonic image pickup apparatus characterized in that the focus depths of the two or more transmission beams are different on at least one of the image pickup cross section and a plane orthogonal to the image pickup cross section. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit outputs a transmission pulse signal to a two-dimensionally arranged vibrator in the transmission opening, whereby the transmission is transmitted from the ultrasonic probe. Send a beam,
The transmission unit weights and outputs the amplitude of the transmission pulse signal output to the vibrator in the transmission aperture with a weight distribution according to the position of the vibrator in the direction orthogonal to the imaging cross section. An ultrasonic imaging device characterized in that the weight distribution is different for each of the two or more transmission beams. In the ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, the direction of the reception scanning line set for each echo is deviated in the plane orthogonal to the image pickup cross section, and in the plane of the image pickup cross section. An ultrasonic imaging device characterized by matching. The ultrasonic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibrators of the ultrasonic probe are arranged two-dimensionally.
The receiving unit is configured to perform a process of adding the received signals output by the oscillators arranged in the two dimensions for receiving beamforming.
In the addition process, the receiving unit weights the received signals output by the oscillators arranged in the direction orthogonal to the imaging cross section according to the position of the oscillator with respect to the imaging cross section, and then adds the signals. ,
The receiving unit is an ultrasonic imaging device characterized in that the distribution of weights used for the weighting is different by the echo.

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