JP2010154980A - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method of forming ultrasonic beam - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by which ultrasonic diagnosis of a subject is appropriately executed using a convex probe. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 includes the convex probe 20 with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 21 disposed in a fan shape. A control device 11 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 brings the convex probe 20 into contact with the subject, and adjusts the opening width of the respective ultrasonic transducers 21 for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to the width corresponding to the contact range of the subject. The control device 11 acquires ultrasonic signals while steering ultrasonic beams so that the sound rays of the ultrasonic beams output from the respective ultrasonic transducers 21 are turned in the same direction by using the ultrasonic transducers 21 corresponding to the opening width. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that displays an ultrasonic image using a convex probe having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a fan shape, and an ultrasonic beam forming method in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  Conventionally, in the medical field, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for inspecting and diagnosing a disease using ultrasonic waves has been put into practical use. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is a device that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from an organism using an ultrasound probe to display an ultrasound image (for example, a B-mode tomographic image), and observes the movement of an affected area or fetus in real time. Can do.

In this type of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a plurality of types of ultrasonic probes corresponding to the diagnostic region are prepared in order to appropriately perform examination and diagnosis. For example, a convex probe is used for abdominal examination, a linear probe is used for examination of superficial tissues (thyroid gland and carotid artery), and a phased array probe is used for examination of the heart. Thus, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which a plurality of types of ultrasonic probes are configured to be detachable is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like.
JP 2001-104304 A

  By the way, in a simple ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus used for animals, there are cases where a plurality of types of ultrasonic probes cannot be prepared due to problems such as cost. In addition, there is a case where there is no time for properly using the ultrasonic probe in lifesaving emergency. In such a case, when performing inspection and diagnosis using a convex probe, the convex probe expands the sound ray interval of the ultrasonic beam output from each ultrasonic transducer in a fan shape. The sound ray density decreases as the distance increases. For this reason, when superficial tissue or the like is viewed using a convex probe, an ultrasonic image with low resolution is generated due to a decrease in sound ray density. Further, since the convex probe has a curved surface shape at the tip, the entire tip surface may not contact depending on the diagnostic site. In this case, since ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received even in the non-contact portion, useless power is consumed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can appropriately perform ultrasonic diagnosis of an object to be inspected using a convex probe. Another object is to provide an ultrasonic beam forming method capable of appropriately performing ultrasonic diagnosis of an object to be inspected by outputting an ultrasonic beam having a high sound ray density using a convex probe. is there.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in means 1 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using a convex probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a fan shape, and an ultrasonic image based on the obtained ultrasonic signals. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for displaying the ultrasonic probe, wherein the convex probe is brought into contact with an object to be inspected, and an opening width of each ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave is adjusted to a width corresponding to a contact range of the object to be inspected The aperture width adjusting means and the ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the aperture width are used, and the ultrasonic beam output from each ultrasonic transducer is steered so that the sound rays of the ultrasonic beam are directed in the same direction. The gist of the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising ultrasonic signal acquisition means for acquiring a sound wave signal.

  Therefore, according to the invention described in the means 1, the ultrasonic beams propagating into the body to be inspected have equal intervals without spreading the sound ray intervals in a fan shape. A linear density can be secured. Further, since ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received with an opening width corresponding to the contact range of the object to be inspected, unnecessary reflected waves from the non-contact range can be limited. Therefore, an ultrasonic image with high resolution can be displayed based on an ultrasonic signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

  The invention described in means 2 is the means 1, wherein the opening width adjusting means is based on the signal intensity of each reflected wave obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from all ultrasonic transducers during the initial operation. The gist is to have a function of determining the contact range of the object to be inspected and setting the opening width.

  According to the invention described in Means 2, in the initial operation, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received from all the ultrasonic transducers arranged in the convex probe by the opening width adjusting means. Here, since the ultrasonic wave propagates in the inspected body at the part where the inspected object is in contact, the signal intensity of the reflected wave is reduced. On the other hand, since air exists in the part where the object to be inspected is not in contact, the ultrasonic wave is almost totally reflected and the signal intensity of the reflected wave is increased. Therefore, the contact range of the object to be inspected can be easily determined based on the signal intensity of each reflected wave obtained, and the opening width of each ultrasonic transducer is adjusted to correspond to the contact range. In this way, the opening width of each ultrasonic transducer can be set automatically, and the setting time can be shortened compared to the case where the opening width is set manually.

  According to the invention described in means 3, in the means 2, each ultrasonic transducer arranged outside the contact range of the object to be inspected is determined, and the ultrasonic wave generated by each ultrasonic transducer arranged outside the contact range is used. The gist of this is to stop transmission / reception.

  Therefore, according to the invention described in the means 3, since unnecessary ultrasonic transmission / reception outside the contact range of the object to be inspected is not performed, power consumption can be suppressed.

  The invention described in the means 4 is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using a convex probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a fan shape, and displays an ultrasonic image based on the obtained ultrasonic signals. In the ultrasonic beam forming method, the convex probe is brought into contact with an object to be inspected, and the opening width of each ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves is adjusted to a width corresponding to the contact range of the object to be inspected. And using each ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the opening width, outputting the ultrasonic beam while performing beam steering so that sound rays of the ultrasonic beam output from each ultrasonic transducer are directed in the same direction The gist of the method is an ultrasonic beam forming method including the steps.

  According to the invention described in the means 4, since the ultrasonic beam propagating into the body to be inspected has an equal interval without spreading the fan in a fan shape, even if a convex probe is used, the sound ray density equivalent to that of the linear probe is obtained. Can be secured. Further, since the ultrasonic beam is output with the opening width corresponding to the contact range of the object to be inspected, unnecessary reflected waves from the non-contact range can be limited. Therefore, an ultrasonic image with high resolution can be displayed based on the ultrasonic signal obtained by the output of the ultrasonic beam.

  As described above in detail, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately perform ultrasonic diagnosis of an object to be inspected using a convex probe.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 18 having a control device 11, a pulse generation circuit 12, a transmission circuit 13, a reception circuit 14, an image processing circuit 15, an input device 16, a display device 17, and the like. And a convex probe 20 connected to the apparatus main body 18 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

  The surface shape of the tip portion of the convex probe 20 is curved, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 21 are arranged in a fan shape at the tip portion. Each ultrasonic transducer 21 of the convex probe 20 is electrically connected to the transmission circuit 13 and the reception circuit 14 of the apparatus body 18.

  The control device 11 includes a well-known CPU 23, a memory 24, and the like. The control device 11 executes a control program using the memory 24 and controls the entire device in an integrated manner.

  The pulse generation circuit 12 operates in response to a control signal from the control device 11 and generates and outputs a pulse signal corresponding to each ultrasonic transducer 21 in the convex probe 20. The transmission circuit 13 outputs a drive pulse delayed according to each ultrasonic transducer 21 based on the pulse signal output from the pulse generation circuit 12. And each ultrasonic transducer | vibrator 21 is driven with a drive pulse, and an ultrasonic wave is output so that it may focus on a predetermined irradiation point.

  The reception circuit 14 includes a signal amplification circuit, an A / D conversion circuit, a delay circuit, a phasing addition circuit, a logarithmic conversion circuit, an envelope detection circuit, and the like (not shown). In this receiving circuit 14, each reflected wave signal received by each ultrasonic transducer 21 in the convex probe 20 is amplified and A / D converted, and a delay time considering reception directivity is converted into each reflected wave signal. After being added, it is phased and added. By this addition, the phase difference between the reception signals of the ultrasonic transducers 21 is adjusted. Further, the receiving circuit 14 performs signal processing such as logarithmic conversion and envelope detection, and then outputs a reflected wave signal converted into a digital signal to the image processing circuit 15.

  The image processing circuit 15 performs image processing based on the digital signal output from the receiving circuit 14 to generate image data of an ultrasonic image (B mode image). Specifically, the image processing circuit 15 generates image data with luminance corresponding to the amplitude (signal intensity) of the reflected wave signal. The image data generated by the image processing circuit 15 is transferred to the control device 11 and stored in the memory 24. Then, based on the image data for one frame stored in the memory 24, an ultrasonic image of the object to be inspected is displayed on the display device 17 with black and white shading.

  The display device 17 is, for example, a display such as an LCD or a CRT, and is used to display an ultrasonic image of the object to be inspected and an input screen for various settings. The input device 16 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a keyboard, a trackball, a push button, or the like, and is used for inputting a request or instruction from a user or a parameter.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to switch an ultrasonic scanning mode between an abdominal examination and a superficial tissue examination. Specific scanning modes include a convex scanning mode (see FIG. 2 (a)) that outputs an ultrasonic beam 30 so that the interval between sound rays expands in a fan shape during an abdominal examination, and superficial tissue (for example, an arm A linear scanning mode (see FIG. 2B) for outputting the ultrasonic beam 30 so that the interval between the sound rays is constant during the (muscle) examination. In the present embodiment, a beam profile for convex scan mode and a beam profile for linear scan mode are designed in advance, and data of each beam profile is stored in the memory 24 of the control device 11. Here, the convex scanning data is design data normally used in the convex probe 20. Further, the data for linear scanning is created by adding delay profile data so that the ultrasonic beam 30 is tilted inward to the convex scanning data. Note that beam steering data for tilting the ultrasonic beam 30 is obtained by calculating a delay time using a general Pythagorean theorem.

  In addition, when the convex probe 20 is used in the linear scanning mode, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 opens each ultrasonic transducer 21 within the contact range of the subject 31 (for example, arm muscle) during the initial operation. It has a function of automatically adjusting so as to match the width W1 (see FIG. 3). Specifically, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received from all ultrasonic transducers 21 after the convex probe 20 is brought into contact with the inspection object 31. Here, since the ultrasonic wave propagates in the inspection object 31 at the part where the inspection object 31 is in contact, the signal intensity of the reflected wave becomes small. On the other hand, since air exists in the part which the to-be-inspected object 31 does not contact, an ultrasonic wave is substantially totally reflected and the signal strength of a reflected wave becomes large. Therefore, the contact range of the object to be inspected 31 is determined based on the obtained signal intensity of each reflected wave, and the opening width W1 of each ultrasonic transducer 21 is set so as to correspond to the contact range.

  Next, an example of processing for displaying an ultrasound image in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing in FIG. 4 is started when the operator touches the convex probe 20 against the object 31 and operates a start button (not shown) provided on the input device 16.

  First, the control device 11 causes the display device 17 to display a message for prompting mode setting and a mode selection button (step 100). Here, the operator confirms the screen of the display device 17 and operates the input device 16 so that either the convex scanning mode (abdominal examination mode) or the linear scanning mode (superficial tissue examination mode) is selected. Select the mode. Then, the control device 11 sets the scanning mode selected by the operator in the memory 24 based on the operation signal of the input device 16.

  The control device 11 determines whether the set scanning mode is a convex scanning mode or a linear scanning mode (step 110). Here, when it is determined that the convex scanning mode is set, the control device 11 reads the data of the beam profile for the convex scanning mode from the memory 24, and transmits / receives ultrasonic waves according to the data (step 120).

  That is, the control device 11 serving as an ultrasonic signal acquisition unit outputs a control signal to the pulse generation circuit 12 based on the beam profile data for the convex scanning mode. As a result, the pulse generation circuit 12 generates a pulse signal at a predetermined timing delayed according to each ultrasonic transducer 21 and outputs the pulse signal to the transmission circuit 13. In the transmission circuit 13, the drive pulse generated based on the pulse signal is output to each ultrasonic transducer 21. As a result, each ultrasonic transducer 21 of the convex probe 20 vibrates, and ultrasonic waves are irradiated from the ultrasonic transducers 21 to the inside of the inspected object 31 so that the sound ray interval of the ultrasonic beam 30 is widened. .

  The ultrasonic wave reflected in the inspected object 31 is received by the convex probe 20, and the reflected wave is converted into an electric signal (reflected wave signal) by each ultrasonic transducer 21. The reflected wave signal is amplified by the receiving circuit 14 and then input to the image processing circuit 15.

  The image processing circuit 15 performs image processing for generating image data of an ultrasonic image based on the reflected wave signal. The image processing circuit 15 acquires beam profile data from the control device 11, and generates image data for convex scanning based on the data. Then, the control device 11 temporarily stores the image data generated by the image processing circuit 15 in the memory 24 (step 130).

  The control device 11 determines whether or not image data for one frame is stored in the memory 24. When image data for one frame is stored in the memory 24, the control device 11 transmits the image data to the display device 17. Then, an ultrasonic image (fan-shaped cross-sectional image) in the convex scanning mode is displayed on the display device 17 (step 140).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the scanning mode set in step 110 is the linear scanning mode, the control device 11 as the aperture width adjusting unit adjusts the aperture width W1 of each ultrasonic transducer 21 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. Is performed (step 150). Specifically, based on a control signal from the control device 11, a pulse signal is generated by the pulse generation circuit 12 and output to the transmission circuit 13, and the transmission circuit 13 drives all the ultrasonic transducers 21. A pulse is supplied. As a result, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received in all the ultrasonic transducers 21. And the control apparatus 11 determines the contact range of the to-be-inspected object 31 based on the signal strength of each reflected wave signal obtained by the receiving circuit 14, and sets the opening width W1.

  After the opening width W1 of each ultrasonic transducer 21 is set, the control device 11 reads the beam profile data for the linear scanning mode from the memory 24 and transmits / receives ultrasonic waves according to the data (step 160). . Here, transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves is performed by the respective ultrasonic transducers 21 corresponding to the contact range of the inspection object 31, and transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves by the respective ultrasonic transducers 21 arranged outside the contact range is stopped. The

  Specifically, the control device 11 as an ultrasonic signal acquisition unit outputs a control signal to the pulse generation circuit 12 based on the beam profile data for the linear scanning mode. As a result, the pulse generation circuit 12 generates a pulse signal at a predetermined timing delayed according to each ultrasonic transducer 21 and outputs the pulse signal to the transmission circuit 13. In the transmission circuit 13, the drive pulse generated based on the pulse signal is output to each ultrasonic transducer 21. As a result, the ultrasonic transducers 21 within the contact range of the object to be inspected 31 vibrate in the convex probe 20, so that the sound ray interval of the ultrasonic beam 30 is constant from each ultrasonic transducer 21. The inside of 31 is irradiated with ultrasonic waves.

  The ultrasonic wave reflected in the inspection object 31 is received by the convex probe 20, and the reflected wave is converted into an electric signal (reflected wave signal) by each ultrasonic transducer 21 within the contact range of the inspection object 31. The reflected wave signal is amplified by the receiving circuit 14 and then input to the image processing circuit 15. The image processing circuit 15 performs image processing for generating image data of an ultrasonic image based on the reflected wave signal. The image processing circuit 15 acquires beam profile data from the control device 11 and generates image data for linear scanning based on the data. The control device 11 temporarily stores the image data generated by the image processing circuit 15 in the memory 24 (step 170).

  The control device 11 determines whether or not image data for one frame is stored in the memory 24. When image data for one frame is stored in the memory 24, the control device 11 transmits the image data to the display device 17. Then, an ultrasonic image (rectangular cross-sectional image) in the linear scanning mode is displayed on the display device 17 (step 180).

  After displaying the ultrasonic image on the display device 17, the control device 11 determines whether or not to end the ultrasonic image display processing (step 190). Here, when the end button (not shown) provided in the input device 16 is not operated, the control device 11 returns to the process of step 110 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps 110 to 190. If operated, the process of FIG. 4 is terminated.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when superficial tissue is inspected as the inspected object 31, the linear scanning mode is set, and the sound beam of the ultrasonic beam 30 is directed in the same direction. An ultrasonic signal is acquired while steering. In this case, the ultrasonic beams 30 propagating into the inspected object 31 are equally spaced without expanding the sound ray intervals in a fan shape, so that the sound ray density equivalent to that of the linear probe is ensured even if the convex probe 20 is used. can do. In addition, since ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received with the opening width W1 corresponding to the contact range of the inspection object 31, unnecessary reflected waves from the non-contact range can be limited. Therefore, an ultrasonic image with high resolution can be displayed based on the obtained ultrasonic signal, and ultrasonic diagnosis of superficial tissue can be performed appropriately.

  (2) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by all the ultrasonic transducers 21 arranged in the convex probe 20 during the initial operation in the linear scanning mode. Then, the contact range of the inspected object 31 can be easily determined based on the obtained signal intensity of each reflected wave, and the opening width W1 of each ultrasonic transducer 21 is adjusted so as to correspond to the contact range. Is done. In this way, the opening width W1 of each ultrasonic transducer 21 can be set automatically, and the setting time can be shortened compared to the case where the opening width W1 is set manually.

  (3) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves by the respective ultrasonic transducers 21 arranged outside the contact range of the test object 31 is stopped. Here, transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves outside the contact range of the inspection object 31 is not necessary for ultrasonic diagnosis of the inspection object 31. For this reason, the power consumption of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 can be kept low by stopping the transmission / reception of useless ultrasonic waves outside the contact range of the device under test 31.

  (4) In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the linear scanning mode for outputting ultrasonic waves so that the sound ray intervals of the ultrasonic beams 30 are constant, and the sound ray intervals of the ultrasonic beams 30 are widened. It has a function of switching between a convex scanning mode for outputting ultrasonic waves. Then, for the linear scanning mode and the convex scanning mode, an ultrasonic image is displayed on the display device 17 in the display format of each mode. In this way, ultrasonic diagnosis can be appropriately performed in the scanning mode corresponding to the diagnosis part.

  In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.

  In the above embodiment, the aperture width W1 is set every time one frame of ultrasonic waves for displaying an ultrasonic image is transmitted / received. However, the aperture width W1 is set every several frames. You may comprise. Further, when the aperture width W1 is reset, the ultrasonic transducer 21 located outside the aperture width W1 may be used to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves and finely adjust the aperture width W1. Good.

  In the embodiment described above, the frame rate for scanning with ultrasonic waves may be changed based on the opening width W1 set corresponding to the contact range of the device under test 31. Specifically, for example, when the contact range of the inspected object 31 is wide and a wide opening width W1 is set accordingly, the frame rate for scanning ultrasonic waves is lowered, and conversely, the narrow opening width W1 is set. If so, increase the frame rate. That is, ultrasound scanning is performed so that the frame rate of the ultrasound image increases as the aperture width W1 decreases. In this way, the processing capacity of the control device 11 can be used effectively, which is practically preferable.

  In the above embodiment, the contact range of the inspected object 31 is determined by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a pressure sensor may be provided on the distal end surface of the convex probe 20, and the contact range may be determined according to the detection result of the pressure sensor. Further, the opening width W1 corresponding to the contact range may be manually set by operating a trackball or a keyboard of the input device 16.

  Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiments are listed below.

  (1) In any one of the means 1 to 3, a linear scanning mode for outputting an ultrasonic wave so that a sound ray interval of the ultrasonic beam is constant, and a convex scan for outputting an ultrasonic wave so that the sound ray interval is widened. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of switching between modes.

  (2) In the technical idea (1), the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further includes an image display device that displays an ultrasonic image in a display format of each mode for the linear scanning mode and the convex scanning mode. .

  (3) In any one of the means 1 to 3, the opening width adjusting means transmits an ultrasonic wave for displaying the ultrasonic image, and then transmits an ultrasonic transducer positioned outside the opening width. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of adjusting the opening width based on the signal intensity of each reflected wave obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

  (4) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the means 1 to 3, wherein ultrasonic scanning is performed so that the frame rate of the ultrasonic image is increased as the opening width is narrowed.

  (5) The means 1 includes an input operation unit that specifies a contact range of the object to be inspected, and the opening width adjusting unit is configured to open the opening based on the contact range of the object to be inspected specified by the input operation unit. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of setting a width.

  (6) The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to (1), further comprising a detection sensor for detecting a contact range of the object to be inspected.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment embodying the present invention. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows convex scanning mode, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows linear scanning mode. Explanatory drawing which shows the opening width of each ultrasonic transducer | vibrator. The flowchart which shows the display process of an ultrasonic image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 11 ... Control apparatus as opening width adjustment means and ultrasonic signal acquisition means 20 ... Convex probe 21 ... Ultrasonic transducer 30 ... Ultrasonic beam 31 ... Inspected object W1 ... Opening width

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using a convex probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are arranged in a fan shape, and displays an ultrasonic image based on the obtained ultrasonic signals,
An opening width adjusting means for bringing the convex probe into contact with an object to be inspected, and adjusting an opening width of each ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave to a width corresponding to a contact range of the object to be inspected;
Ultrasound that acquires the ultrasonic signal while performing beam steering so that the sound ray of the ultrasonic beam output from each ultrasonic transducer is directed in the same direction using each ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the opening width An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a signal acquisition unit.   The opening width adjusting means determines the contact range of the object to be inspected based on the signal intensity of each reflected wave obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from all ultrasonic transducers during the initial operation. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, which has a function of setting an opening width.   The ultrasonic transducer arranged outside the contact range of the object to be inspected is determined, and transmission / reception of the ultrasonic wave by each ultrasonic transducer arranged outside the contact range is stopped. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 2. An ultrasonic beam forming method in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using a convex probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a fan shape and displays an ultrasonic image based on the obtained ultrasonic signals. ,
Adjusting the opening width of each ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave to a width corresponding to a contact range of the test object;
Outputting the ultrasonic beam while performing beam steering so that the sound ray of the ultrasonic beam output from each ultrasonic transducer is directed in the same direction using each ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the opening width; An ultrasonic beam forming method.

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