Ultrasonic diagnostic multiple-sector image display system

An ultrasonic multiple-sector imaging system, comprising:

• an ultrasonic probe having means for generating a beam of acoustic burst energy along each of a plurality of angulated paths with respect to a reference line to provide a sector scan on each of a plurality of angulated planes and for receiving echo signals and a position sensing means for generating a position signal representative of an angular position of each of said paths with respect to said reference line;
• means for sampling said received echo signals at constant time intervals to generate echo samples;
• a buffer memory means for storing said echo samples;
• first read-out means responsive to said position signal for reading echo samples from said buffer memory means at constant time intervals;
• a main memory means having a matrix array of cells arranged in rows and columns;
• area defining means for defining in said main memory means a plurality of storage areas associated respectively with said angulated planes;
• write-in means responsive to said position signal for successively addressing cells of one of said storage areas in synchronism with said first read-out means in directions of the rows and columns so that successively addressed cells are spaced apart in the direction of rows by constant intervals and in the direction of columns by intervals variable as a function of an angle of deflection of each of said paths with respect to said reference line,
• said write-in means further operable for storing echo samples from said buffer memory means into said successively addressed cells so that the stored echo samples describe a sector in each of said defined areas;
• second read-out means for reading echo samples from said main memory means at constant time intervals in the directions of rows and columns;
• and
• display means for providing display of said echo samples read out of said main memory means in a raster scan field.