Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and driving method therefor

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic signals toward a subject, receiving signals reflected from said subject in response to the transmitted ultrasonic signals, and producing a tomographic image of said subject based on the received signals, said apparatus comprising:

• a transmitting/receiving device for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic signals via a plurality of channels;
• and
• a probe in which transducers in a number larger than the number of said channels are arranged in a two-dimensional manner,
• in which probe, said transducers are connected to said channels inconsecutively with respect to one of the arrangement directions so that a connection pattern of said transducers with said channels in each row is different from that in an adjacent transducer row.

A driving method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a transmitting/receiving device for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic signals via a plurality of channels, and a linear or convex probe in which transducers connectable to said channels via switches in a number larger than the number of said channels are arranged in one direction, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting transducers to be connected to said channels in said transmitting/receiving device, connecting said selected transducers to said channels, transmitting ultrasonic signals toward a subject, and receiving signals reflected in response to the transmitted ultrasonic signals;
• and
• producing a tomographic image of said subject based on the received signals,
• wherein said transmitting/receiving step comprises selecting said transducers to be connected to said channels inconsecutively in the arrangement direction so that the number of said transducers in an aperture area from one end to the other of transducers that are connected to said channels is larger than the number of said channels.