Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic three-dimensional image of a living body including an ultrasonic vibrating element arranged at a distal end of an ultrasonic probe rotatably and linearly movable, a motor for rotating the ultrasonic vibrating element to perform a radial scan on a first cross section, and a stepping motor for linearly moving the ultrasonic vibrating element along a longitudinal axis of the probe to perform a linear scan. By performing the radial scan and linear scan, echo data of a three-dimensional region is picked-up. Prior to picking-up the echo data, the ultrasonic vibrating element is rotated to effect only the radial scan at a cross sectional position at a middle point between a linear scan range, so that a B-mode ultrasonic image is displayed on a monitor. Prior to the picking-up of the echo data, a cross sectional position is set, and during the picking-up of the echo data, the echo data is processed in accordance with the previously set cross sectional position. A marker may be displayed in superimposition upon the B-mode ultrasonic image, so that an operator can confirm whether or not a region of interest can be contained in the displayed three-dimensional image easily and promptly.

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First Claim