Ultrasonic contrast imaging method and ultrasonic imaging apparatus

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a probe;
• a transmit circuit configured to excite the probe to emit ultrasonic waves to a target object;
• a receive circuit configured to receive ultrasonic echoes from the target object through the probe to obtain ultrasonic echo signals;
• a processor configured to process the ultrasonic echo signals to obtain an ultrasonic image of the target object;
• and
• a display configured to display the ultrasonic image;
• wherein the processor is further configured for:
• in response to an instruction to enter a variable frame rate imaging mode, entering the variable frame rate imaging mode that is preconfigured at least with a first imaging frame rate and a second imaging frame rate that are each preconfigured with corresponding imaging parameters, with the second imaging frame rate being greater than the first imaging frame rate;
• and under the variable frame rate imaging mode:
• when a contrast agent is injected into a target object, according to the imaging parameters preconfigured for the first imaging frame rate, emitting ultrasonic waves to a region of interest of the target object and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target object to obtain ultrasonic data with the first imaging frame rate;
• after the contrast agent is injected and a first predefined condition is met, according to the imaging parameters preconfigured for the second imaging frame rate, emitting ultrasonic waves to the region of interest of the target object and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target object to obtain ultrasonic data with the second imaging frame rate;
• and
• generating a contrast image based on the ultrasonic data with the first imaging frame rate and the ultrasonic data with the second imaging frame rate, wherein the contrast image has at least the first imaging frame rate and the second imaging frame rate.