Diagnostic ultrasound imaging using contrast medium

A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into a subject to be diagnosed in a transmitting condition, an ultrasound contrast medium being injected into the subject, the apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting the ultrasound pulse signal a plurality of times, into the subject as the transmitting condition is controlled to have different amounts of transmission power;
• means for receiving, at each time of the transmission, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal;
• means for determining an optimum amount of the transmission power based on the reception signal produced at each time of the transmission;
• means for controlling the transmitting condition so as to raise an amount of the transmission power from the optimum amount and then to restore the raised amount to the optimum amount;
• and
• means for measuring data indicative of a time intensity curve (TIC) of the reception signal after the amount of the transmission power has been restored to the optimum amount.

A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into a subject to be diagnosed, comprising:

• means for transmitting the ultrasound pulse signal into a same portion of the subject at a transmission frame rate;
• means for changing the transmission frame rate time-sequentially in a same imaging mode;
• means for receiving, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal;
• and
• means for producing a plurality of frames of tomographic images for the same portion of the subject using the reception signal.

A method of diagnosing a subject using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into the subject under a transmitting condition, an ultrasound contrast medium being injected into the subject, wherein an echo component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal is received to produce a reception signal, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the reception signal as the transmitting condition is controlled to have different amounts of transmission power;
• determining an optimum amount of the transmission power defined by the transmitting condition on the obtained reception signal;
• controlling the transmitting condition so as to raise an amount of the transmission power from the optimum amount and then restore the raised amount to the optimum amount;
• obtaining the reception signal after the restoration of the transmission power to the optimum amount;
• and
• measuring data indicative of a time intensity curve (TIC) on the reception signal obtained after the restoration of the transmission power to the optimum amount.

A method of diagnosing a subject using an ultrasound pulse, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting the ultrasound pulse signal into a same portion of the subject at a transmission frame rate changed time-sequentially in a same imaging mode;
• receiving, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal;
• and
• producing a plurality of frames of tomographic images at the same portion of the subject using the reception signal.