Ultrasonic imaging device and ultrasonic imaging method using ultrasonic imaging device

An ultrasonic imaging device comprising:

• a transducer array in which a plurality of transducers transmitting and receiving an ultrasound wave are arrayed;
• a transmitter which transmits an electric signal to at least one of the plurality of transducers, such that the transmitted electric signal is converted into an ultrasound wave and the ultrasound wave is transmitted to a target;
• a receiver which receives a received signal that is an electric signal output by each of the plurality of transducers having received a reflected wave and a transmitted wave of the ultrasound wave of the target;
• and
• a processor programmed to individually generate a reflected wave image of a cross section of the target using the reflected wave and a transmitted wave image of the cross section of the target using the transmitted wave,
• wherein the processor detects a boundary of the target in the reflected wave image, and the processor generates the transmitted wave image such that a boundary in the transmitted wave image corresponding to the boundary detected in the reflected wave image is emphasized,
• wherein the transmitter transmits the ultrasound wave having a predetermined spreading angle a plurality of times while changing a position of the transducer for transmitting the ultrasound wave so as to change an incident angle of the ultrasound wave on the target,
• wherein the receiver receives the transmitted wave of the ultrasound wave of the target every time when the ultrasound wave is transmitted,
• wherein the processor is programed to perform back projection of the received signal output by the plurality of transducers in a space where the target is disposed every time the ultrasound wave is transmitted and reconstruct the transmitted wave image, and perform processing of the received signal and emphasize an image of the boundary in the reconstructed transmitted wave image,
• wherein the processor is programmed to generate a template corresponding to a shape of the boundary in the reconstructed transmitted wave image,
• wherein the processor is programmed to generate an artificial phantom having a shape of the template in the transducer array and obtain a range of the transducer for receiving a transmitted wave which has penetrated the artificial phantom in a case where an ultrasound wave is artificially transmitted to the artificial phantom under the same condition as when the received signal for generating the transmitted wave image is received,
• wherein the processor is programmed to adjust the received signal such that a spreading width of the received signal in an array direction of the transducers obtained from the template corresponding to the shape of the boundary is set equal to the range of the transducer,
• wherein the processor adjusts a sinogram of the received signal such that the spreading width of the received signal in the array direction of the transducers is set equal to the range of the transducer for receiving the transmitted wave which has penetrated the artificial phantom, wherein a first axis of the sinogram is the array direction of the transducers and a second axis of the sinogram is the incident angle of the ultrasound wave on the target at the time of transmission, and
• wherein the processor performs the back projection of the received signal after being adjusted and reconstructs a post-adjustment transmitted wave image.