Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus having comprising:

• an ultrasonic probe configured to apply a first ultrasonic beam to a first region of a three-dimensional region of a subject with a contrast agent administered thereto and to acquire three-dimensional tomographic image information for the first region;
• a region setting device configured to set a second region for applying a second ultrasonic beam whose sound pressure is higher than that of the first ultrasonic beam for not destroying the contrast agent, in the three-dimensional region;
• and
• a controller configured to enable the second ultrasonic beam to exceed sound pressure for destroying the contrast agent only in the second region and to control the irradiation of the second ultrasonic beam by said ultrasonic probe in the course of acquisition of the three-dimensional tomographic image information in the first region by the first ultrasonic beam.