Array-type scanning acoustic tomograph and ultrasonic image display method

An array-type scanning acoustic tomograph for sequentially selecting a vibrator group including a predetermined number of continuous elements of an ultrasonic vibrator including a plurality of elements continuously arranged in an array, emitting ultrasonic beams, and receiving, by the vibrator group, reflected ultrasonic waves from a subject, the array-type scanning acoustic tomograph comprising:

• a signal processing unit to process reception signals of the reflected ultrasonic waves received by the vibrator group;
• a selection unit including multiplexers so as to select the elements constituting the vibrator group that connects vibrator drive signals and the reception signals;
• a control unit to
• divide the vibrator group into a first group that emits ultrasonic beams to a former half of an ultrasonic beam irradiation region and a second group that emits ultrasonic beams to a latter half of the ultrasonic beam irradiation region, and
• instruct the selection unit to select elements corresponding to the vibrator group of the first group to emit the ultrasonic beams, instruct the selection unit to select elements corresponding to the vibrator group of the second group to emit the ultrasonic beams, then instruct the selection unit to select the elements corresponding to the vibrator group of the first group to receive the reflected ultrasonic waves, and then instruct the selection unit to select the elements corresponding to the vibrator group of the second group to receive the reflected ultrasonic waves;
• and
• an image generation unit to display, on a display unit without overlapping the same waveform, a processing result of the reception signals obtained by the signal processing unit;
• wherein, for each subsequent selection of elements of the first group, the selection unit selects a different set of elements for each scan of the subject;
• wherein, for each subsequent selection of elements of the second group, the selection unit selects a different set of elements for each scan of the subject;
• and
• wherein the control unit performs each instruction to the selection unit to select the elements corresponding to the vibrator group of the second group to emit the ultrasonic beams such that a predetermined number of unused elements are disposed between the first group and the second group.