Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method of producing ultrasound image

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• an ultrasound probe which has a one-dimensional array-type transducer array and an array moving unit moving the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array;
• a transmission and reception circuit which electronically scans with the transducer array, and transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam toward a subject to acquire two-dimensional image data;
• an image producer which produces a three-dimensional ultrasound image using two-dimensional image data acquired by the transmission and reception circuit while mechanically scanning with the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array by the array moving unit;
• a region of interest setter which sets a region of interest in an imaging region;
• a temperature sensor which detects an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• a controller which, when the internal temperature of the ultrasound probe detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a first set value, controls the transmission and reception circuit such that the transmission and reception or the reception of an ultrasonic beam for at least a part of a region other than the region of interest set by the region of interest setter is intermittently performed.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• an ultrasound probe which has a one-dimensional array-type transducer array and an array moving unit moving the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array;
• a transmission and reception circuit which electronically scans with the transducer array, and transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam toward a subject to acquire two-dimensional image data;
• an image producer which produces a three-dimensional ultrasound image using two-dimensional image data acquired by the transmission and reception circuit while mechanically scanning with the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array by the array moving unit;
• a region of interest setter which sets a region of interest in an imaging region;
• a temperature sensor which detects an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• a controller which, when the internal temperature of the ultrasound probe detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a first set value, controls the transmission and reception circuit such that the transmission and reception or the reception of an ultrasonic beam for at least a part of a region other than the region of interest set by the region of interest setter is performed with decreased spatial resolution.

A method of producing an ultrasound image, the method comprising the steps of:

• electronically scanning with a one-dimensional array-type transducer array of an ultrasound probe by a transmission and reception circuit and transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam toward a subject to acquire two-dimensional image data, and mechanically scanning with the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array to acquire a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image data;
• producing a three-dimensional ultrasound image using a plurality of pieces of acquired two-dimensional image data;
• setting a region of interest in an imaging region;
• detecting an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• when the detected internal temperature of the ultrasound probe is equal to or higher than a first set value, controlling the transmission and reception circuit such that the transmission and reception or the reception of an ultrasonic beam for at least a part of a region other than the region of interest is paused.

A method of producing an ultrasound image, the method comprising the steps of:

• electronically scanning with a one-dimensional array-type transducer array of an ultrasound probe by a transmission and reception circuit and transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam toward a subject to acquire two-dimensional image data, and mechanically scanning with the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array to acquire a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image data;
• producing a three-dimensional ultrasound image using a plurality of pieces of acquired two-dimensional image data;
• setting a region of interest in an imaging region;
• detecting an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• when the detected internal temperature of the ultrasound probe is equal to or higher than a first set value, controlling the transmission and reception circuit such that the transmission and reception or the reception of an ultrasonic beam for at least a part of a region other than the region of interest is intermittently performed.

A method of producing an ultrasound image, the method comprising the steps of:

• electronically scanning with a one-dimensional array-type transducer array of an ultrasound probe by a transmission and reception circuit and transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam toward a subject to acquire two-dimensional image data, and mechanically scanning with the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array to acquire a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image data;
• producing a three-dimensional ultrasound image using a plurality of pieces of acquired two-dimensional image data;
• setting a region of interest in an imaging region;
• detecting an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• when the detected internal temperature of the ultrasound probe is equal to or higher than a first set value, controlling the transmission and reception circuit such that the transmission and reception or the reception of an ultrasonic beam for at least a part of a region other than the region of interest is performed with decreased spatial resolution.