JP2009279355A - Ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which adopts a diagnostic support using temperature. <P>SOLUTION: An ultrasonic wave is transmitted/received in a subject 3 to/from an ultrasonic probe 2. When a tomographic image is reconstituted based on the reflection echo and displayed, the same region of the subject 3 is continuously irradiated with the ultrasonic wave over a prescribed time even after the photographing of the tomographic image, thereby allowing the temperature distribution of respective points on the tomographic image during the irradiation to be measured by a temperature sensor 11 and a temperature measuring part 12, and to be stored in a frame memory 13. Then, an operation part 14 compares the measurement results, so as to obtain a temperature rise rate, i.e., the distribution of rise degrees. A changeover addition part 16 performs superimposition or changeover with color, etc., concerning the tomographic image such as a B-mode monochromatic image. An image display part 10 displays the image. Thus, the segmentation of an organism tissue is made to be clear by commonly using the temperature distribution in addition to the ultrasonic wave, so that an affected region 3a is correctly diagnosed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus for obtaining a tomographic image of a diagnostic region of a subject using ultrasonic waves.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an apparatus that obtains an internal tomographic image of a subject without invasiveness. In a general configuration, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe to a subject and receives reflected echoes. Using the signal, tomographic image data in the subject including the moving tissue is repeatedly obtained at a predetermined cycle, and displayed as, for example, a B-mode image. By the way, in recent years, not only such tomographic images but also those displaying additional information have appeared. For example, in a technique called ultrasonic elastography, in this method, pressure is applied to the subject, the amount of movement of each tissue is calculated between two tomographic images before and after the subject, and this difference image is calculated for each part. It is synthesized and displayed as an index of hardness. This has helped to discover microcalcification lesions.

On the other hand, as a method used for diagnosis of breast cancer, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a method in which a minute change in temperature of the body is applied to the diagnosis. The prior art is a technique for comparing and observing body surface temperatures because specific changes in skin temperature suggest the presence of breast cancer. Non-Patent Document 1 states that thermography suggests breast cancer by observing differential images comparing the process of lowering body surface temperature and increasing body temperature. Similarly, in Patent Document 2, the body surface is actively heated by far-infrared (FIR) radiation heating, and biological information based on the difference in heat conduction, heat capacity, and specific heat of tissues near the body surface is imaged. Thus, an inspection apparatus for detecting a malignant tumor has been proposed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,166 JP 2007-215809 A Akihiko Ohashi et al. “Discussion on Thermographic Diagnosis in Non-tactile Breast Cancer” (Biological Thermology, 17 (2): 130-132, 1998.

  Therefore, it seems effective to use temperature for diagnosis. However, each of the above-described prior arts observes the temperature of the living body surface by thermography, and it is difficult to consider a combination with an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that obtains an internal tomographic image.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus that can incorporate diagnostic support based on temperature.

  The ultrasonic diagnostic method of the present invention is an ultrasonic diagnostic method in which an ultrasonic wave is incident into a subject and a tomographic image of the subject is reconstructed from reflected waves, and the ultrasonic wave is incident for a predetermined time. A step, a step of measuring a temperature distribution in the subject at two timings within the predetermined time, and a step of calculating a temperature rise rate distribution from the measurement results of the temperature distribution at the two timings. Adding the temperature rise rate distribution to the tomographic image or displaying the distribution of the temperature rise rate in place of the tomographic image.

  In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, an ultrasonic wave is incident on a subject from an ultrasonic probe, and an image processing unit reconstructs a tomographic image based on the received signal (reflection echo), and a display unit In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to be displayed on the subject, the control unit that causes the ultrasonic probe to transmit the ultrasonic wave over a predetermined time, and the subject at two timings within the predetermined time. A temperature sensor and a frame memory for measuring or estimating the temperature distribution in the memory, and a calculation unit for calculating a temperature rise rate distribution from the measurement results of the temperature distribution at two timings stored in the frame memory; An addition unit that adds the calculated distribution of the temperature increase rate to the tomographic image or gives the display unit instead of the tomographic image.

  According to the above configuration, ultrasound is transmitted and received from the ultrasound probe into the subject, and the image processing unit reconstructs the tomographic image based on the received signal (reflection echo) and displays the tomographic image on the display unit. In the ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus described above, when a desired tomographic image is usually taken, the ultrasonic probe is moved away from the subject or changed in direction to the next site or angle. In the present invention, ultrasonic waves are applied to the same part of the subject over a predetermined time continuously (or even intermittently). Due to the irradiation of ultrasonic waves over a predetermined time, the temperature of the subject increases as in the case of irradiation with infrared rays, and the degree of increase differs depending on biological tissues such as bones, muscles, and organs. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the temperature distribution at each point on the tomographic image is measured by a temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor at the predetermined time, that is, at any two timings within the heating period, and is stored in the frame memory for calculation. The unit compares the measurement results to obtain the temperature rise rate, that is, the distribution of the degree of rise, and the adder superimposes or switches, for example, in color on the tomographic image such as a B-mode monochrome image. Display on the screen.

  Therefore, only the ultrasonic reception signal (reflection echo) causes the back of a highly reflective tissue such as a bone to be crushed black and cannot be identified on the screen, whereas the infrared ray has a large reflection. By surrounding the tissue and clarifying the tissue behind it, by incorporating diagnostic support based on temperature in this way and using the temperature distribution in combination with ultrasound, the division of the biological tissue is clarified and the lesion site is more An accurate diagnosis can be made.

  Furthermore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the temperature sensor includes a plurality of infrared detection units, and each of the infrared detection units individually corresponds to a plurality of piezoelectric elements constituting the ultrasonic probe. Are adjacent to each other.

  According to the above configuration, in the ultrasonic probe including a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array, the resolution of the temperature sensor increases as the number of elements increases. Infrared detectors are provided, and each infrared detector is arranged adjacent to each piezoelectric element so as to correspond individually.

  Accordingly, it is possible to create the piezoelectric element and the infrared detection unit as an integrated configuration with high resolution.

  Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, each of the infrared detection units includes an infrared lens that is in close contact with the subject, and a switch that switches whether to pass or block the infrared rays, and the temperature The sensor further includes a light guide member formed so as to communicate with a bottom surface of each switch, and an infrared detector provided on a proximal end side of the light guide member.

  According to the above configuration, even if an infrared detector is provided corresponding to each piezoelectric element as described above, infrared rays detected by the infrared detector are sequentially passed through the switches one by one. By guiding to the light guide member, the infrared level can be detected by one infrared detector.

  Furthermore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a heat insulating partition is further provided between the piezoelectric element and the infrared detector.

  According to said structure, it can prevent that the heat | fever which a piezoelectric element self generate | occur | produces by piezoelectric vibration wraps around directly to the infrared detection part arrange | positioned adjacently as mentioned above.

  As described above, the ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus of the present invention transmits and receives ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe into the subject, and the image processing unit reconstructs the tomographic image based on the received signal (reflection echo). In an ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus configured and displayed on a display unit, usually when a desired tomographic image is taken, the ultrasonic probe is moved away from the subject or directed to the next site or angle. In contrast, in the present invention, ultrasonic waves are radiated to the same part of the subject over a predetermined time continuously (or even intermittently), and the tomographic image of the subject during that time. The distribution of the temperature rise rate at each of the above points is obtained, and in the adding unit, the tomographic image such as a B-mode monochrome image is superimposed or switched, for example, in color and displayed on the display unit.

  Therefore, with the ultrasonic signal alone (reflection echo), the back of a highly reflective tissue such as bone is crushed black and cannot be identified on the screen. By encircling a large tissue, the background tissue can be clarified. In this way, by incorporating diagnosis support based on temperature, and using a temperature distribution in combination with ultrasound, the division of the living tissue is clarified, and the lesion site is identified. A more accurate diagnosis can be made.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is received by an ultrasonic probe 2, a transmission circuit 4 that causes an ultrasonic signal to enter the subject 3 from the ultrasonic probe 2, and the ultrasonic probe 2. A receiving circuit 5 for processing the received signal (reflection echo), a transmission / reception control circuit 6 for controlling the transmitting circuit 4 and the receiving circuit 5, a phasing addition circuit 7 for phasing and adding signals from the receiving circuit 5, A signal processing unit 8 that reconstructs a tomographic image from the phasing and addition signals, a black and white scanning conversion unit 9 that converts the obtained image signal into black and white scanning (B mode image), and an image that displays the B mode image In addition to the configuration of the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured to include the display unit 10, the ultrasonic probe 2 is further provided with a temperature sensor 11 for measuring the temperature distribution of the subject 3, From the detection output of the temperature sensor 11, the ultrasonic sound of the subject 3 is obtained. A temperature measurement unit 12 that measures the temperature distribution in the body direction at the irradiation position, a frame memory 13 that stores a frame image at a predetermined timing in the temperature measurement unit 12, and a timing interval between two timings stored in the frame memory 13 A temperature change calculation unit 14 for calculating a temperature change distribution of the image, a color scanning conversion unit 15 for converting the temperature change distribution obtained by the temperature change calculation unit 14 into a color image, and the obtained color image as the monochrome image. (B mode) A switching adder 16 is provided which is combined with or switched to an image and applied to the image display unit 10.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 mechanically or electronically performs beam scanning to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to the subject 3. Although not shown, the ultrasonic probe 2 is a source of ultrasonic waves. A transducer that receives the reflected echo is built-in. The transmission circuit 4 generates a transmission pulse for driving the ultrasonic probe 2 to generate an ultrasonic wave, and determines a convergence point of the transmitted ultrasonic wave by a built-in transmission phasing and adding circuit. It is set to a certain depth. The receiving circuit 5 amplifies the reflected echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe 2 with a predetermined gain. The phasing / adding circuit 7 inputs the received signal amplified by the receiving circuit 5 and controls the phase thereof to form an ultrasonic beam at one point or a plurality of convergence points. Further, the signal processing unit 8 receives the received signal from the phasing addition circuit 7 and performs signal processing such as gain correction, log compression, detection, contour enhancement, and filter processing. The transmission circuit 4, the reception circuit 5, the phasing addition circuit 7, and the signal processing unit 8 constitute an image processing unit, and an ultrasonic probe 2 is added to constitute an ultrasonic transmission / reception means. The tomographic image is obtained by causing the ultrasonic probe 2 to scan an ultrasonic beam in a certain direction within the body of the subject 3.

  The black-and-white scanning conversion unit 9 obtains tomographic image data in a subject including a moving tissue at an ultrasonic wave transmission period by using a reflected echo signal output from the signal processing unit 8 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception means, and obtains this data. A tomographic scanning means for reading out in synchronism with the television for display on the image display section 10 and a means for controlling the system, which converts the reflected echo signal from the signal processing section 8 into a digital signal A The A / D converter, a plurality of frame memories for storing the tomographic image data digitized by the A / D converter in time series, a controller for controlling these operations, and the like. The image display unit 10 serves as means for displaying time-series tomographic image data obtained by the black and white scan conversion unit 9 and is output from the black and white scan conversion unit 9 and input via the switching adder 16. It comprises a D / A converter that converts the image data into an analog signal, and a color television monitor that receives the analog video signal from the D / A converter and displays it as an image.

  The temperature sensor 11 is a means for measuring or estimating a temperature change in the body cavity of the diagnosis site of the subject 3 indirectly using an infrared gland (IR) together with the temperature measurement unit 12. The temperature distribution in the body can be measured to a depth of about 3 cm necessary for diagnosis of breast cancer and thyroid cancer. The temperature change calculation unit 14 calculates the distribution of minute temperature changes from the temperature distribution between two timings measured by the temperature measurement unit 12 and stored in the frame memory 13, and the obtained data is The color scanning conversion unit 15 converts the color image to be combined with the tomographic image. For example, a pixel having a large temperature change rate is converted into a red code, and a pixel having a small or low temperature change rate is converted into a blue code. The switching adder 16 inputs black and white tomographic image data (B-mode image) from the black and white scanning conversion unit 9 and image data of a color minute temperature change rate distribution from the color scanning conversion unit 15; Either one of them can be output, or both image data can be added and combined to select an output.

  2A and 2B are views showing the structure of the ultrasonic probe 2 including the temperature sensor 11, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the ultrasonic probe 2. (C) is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the temperature sensor 11. The temperature sensor 11 includes a plurality of infrared detection units 21, and each of the infrared detection units 21 is disposed adjacent to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 22 constituting the ultrasonic probe 2. In the example of FIG. 2, the piezoelectric elements 22 are indicated by 16 one-dimensional array arrangements in the x direction, but may be any number and may be a two-dimensional array arrangement. As a result, the resolution of the temperature sensor 11 increases as the number of elements increases, so that high resolution can be obtained, and each piezoelectric element 22 and the infrared detection unit 21 can be formed as an integrated configuration.

  Any ultrasonic probe 2 can be used. In the example of FIG. 2B, each piezoelectric element 22 includes a matching layer 22a, a piezoelectric element layer 22b, and a backing layer 22c. A signal electrode 22d passes through the center of the layer 22c. A ground electrode (GND) 22e is provided on the piezoelectric element layer 22b.

  On the other hand, each infrared detection unit 21 of the temperature sensor 11 shown in FIG. 2C is in close contact with the subject 3 and switches the infrared lens 21a that collects heat rays to pass or block the infrared ray. The temperature sensor 11 includes a light guide member 23 formed so as to communicate with the bottom surface of each switch 21b, and an infrared detector provided on the proximal end side of the light guide member 23. 24. By configuring in this way, even if the infrared detectors 21 are provided corresponding to the respective piezoelectric elements 22, the infrared rays detected by the infrared detectors 21 are sequentially switched through the switches 21b and passed one by one. Then, by guiding to the light guide member 23, the infrared level can be detected by one infrared detector 24.

  The switch 21b can be manufactured based on the principle of an optical switch by utilizing a micromachine technology that performs three-dimensional microfabrication by etching or the like on the basis of a thin film formation technology or a photolithography technology. The optical switch device is composed of, for example, a fixed structure and a movable reflecting structure. The reflection structure includes a movable member on which a mirror is formed and a support member that supports the movable member, and the movable member is connected to the support member by a spring member such as a torsion spring. The optical switch configured in this way performs a switching operation to switch the optical path by changing the posture of the movable part of the reflective structure by an attractive force or a repulsive force acting between the fixed structure and the reflective structure. Can do. For example, Pamela R. Patterson et al., “MOEMS ELECTROSTATIC SCANNING MICROMIRRORS DESIGN AND FABRICATION”, Electrochemical Society Proceedings, Volume 2002-4 (Volume 2002-4), ISBN 1-56777-370-9, p. Reference can be made to the non-patent literature of 369-380.

  On the other hand, when the piezoelectric element 22 generates heat due to piezoelectric vibration, the heat directly goes around to the infrared detectors 21 arranged adjacently as described above. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, a heat insulating partition wall 25 is provided between the piezoelectric element 22 and the infrared detection unit 21. Here, the temperature change of this Embodiment is detected as infrared rays. Infrared rays are electromagnetic waves of 0 nm to 1 mm, the depth of penetration varies depending on the wavelength range, and near infrared rays (wavelength: 760 to 2500 nm) are well transmitted through the skin. be able to. Further, intermediate infrared rays (wavelength: 2500 nm to 0.25 mm) or far infrared rays (wavelength: 0.25 mm or more) may be used as measurement heat rays. Therefore, as the heat insulating partition 25, a metal plate (for example, copper, silver, gold) having thermal conductivity, a heat conductive resin (graphite), or the like can be used.

  Further, a material containing an organic infrared absorbing material in the resin can also be used for the heat insulating partition 25. As the infrared absorbing material, a dye having a near infrared absorbing function having a maximum absorption wavelength of 750 nm to 1100 nm is preferable, and a metal complex compound, an aminium compound (aminium derivative), a phthalocyanine compound (phthalocyanine derivative), and a naphthalocyanine compound. Compounds (naphthalocyanine derivatives), diimonium compounds (diimonium derivatives), squalium compounds (squalium derivatives) and the like are particularly preferably used. The infrared absorbing material may be used alone, but a plurality of materials may be used in combination in order to increase the absorption efficiency in the infrared region. Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in particular in the shape of an infrared rays absorption material, Various things, such as a particulate form, a block form, a film form, an indeterminate form, and a fiber form, can be used. Among these, the particulate form is particularly preferable because of its features such as high infrared absorptivity and wide application range. There are no particular restrictions on the form of particles, but spheres, cubes, ellipsoids, spindles, polyhedrons, porous bodies, stars, needles, hollows, flakes, and the like can be applied. Moreover, the preferable size in the case of particle | grains is the range of 0.01 micrometer-500 micrometers in an average particle diameter, More preferably, it is the range of 0.05 micrometer-100 micrometers.

  On the other hand, an epoxy resin can be used as the resin for dispersing infrared rays. Examples thereof include phenol novolac glycidyl ether, cresol novolac glycidyl ether, and naphthalene glycidyl ether. Of these, aromatic epoxy resins are preferred. In these cases, the mechanical strength and heat resistance are excellent, and the dispersibility of the infrared absorber is also excellent. As the resin, a commercially available product can be used as it is, and for example, “Epicoat EP-154” (phenol novolac epoxy resin, manufactured by Japan Epoxy Resin Co., Ltd., Mw650, epoxy equivalent 176) and the like can be used.

  In this embodiment, an aminium-based infrared absorber as an infrared absorber, specifically, Kayosorb IRG-002 manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., dispersed in 40% by mass in the above-mentioned Epicoat EP-154 resin, is coated on a copper foil. Thus, the heat insulating partition 25 was prepared.

  In the present embodiment, the infrared detector 24 is an infrared sensor manufactured by Wuhan Guide Electronic Industrial IR913 + (registered trademark). The sensitivity wavelength was 8-14 μm, the temperature resolution was 0.08 ° C., and the frequency was 50 Hz.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 configured as described above was prototyped by improving a commercially available product equipped with a high-density focal type probe. The frequency of ultrasonic transmission was adjusted to 7.5 MHz, the number of array elements was 128, and the output was adjusted to 0.1 W / sec · cm ² . Give the subject (subject 3) a rest time of 5 minutes, and after passing, pick up the ultrasonic wave and take a tomographic image, and connect the signal from the infrared sensor 11 to the thermo video camera serving as the temperature measuring unit 12 And the image of the temperature distribution of the 1st sheet was obtained. Thereafter, with the ultrasonic transmission continued, a second temperature distribution image was obtained 30 seconds later, and the color image was superimposed on the ultrasonic tomographic image as described above.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic wave starts to enter the subject 3 in step S1, and after setting the region of interest (ROI) in step S2, the object is reflected from the reflected wave in step S3. A tomographic image of the specimen 3 is obtained, and a first temperature distribution image is obtained by the temperature sensor 11 and the temperature measuring unit 12 and stored in the frame memory 13 in step S4. Thereafter, transmission of ultrasonic waves for heating is continued in step S5, and a second temperature distribution image is obtained in step S6 in the same manner as in step S4. Further, in step S7, the temperature change calculation unit 14 calculates the distribution of the temperature increase rate from the stored contents of the frame memory 13, and in step S8, the switching addition unit 16 synthesizes the tomogram or switches to the tomogram. And displayed on the image display unit 10.

Here, with reference to the literature values, the thermal conductivity is a blood vessel with a fat of 0.0005 cal / (s · cm ² · ° C.), a muscle of 0.001 cal / (s · cm ² · ° C.), and a diameter of 0.1 mm. Was set to 0.24 cal / (s · cm ² · ° C.) as an index for displaying the temperature distribution in the temperature change calculation unit 14 in color. Since blood vessels circulate, it is known that blood vessels have good heat conduction in order to keep the temperature of the living body constant. As a result, in the case of malignant tumors, the growth of nearby cancer cells increases the blood vessel density, causing the temperature to become cooler (blue), and because fat is less thermally conductive than blood vessels, red It was confirmed that it was displaced.

  As described above, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, ultrasound is transmitted and received from the ultrasound probe 2 into the subject 3 and a tomographic image is reconstructed based on the received signal (reflection echo). However, when displaying, usually, when a desired tomographic image is taken in step S4, the ultrasonic probe 2 is moved away from the subject 3 or the direction is changed to the next site or angle. On the other hand, in this embodiment, ultrasonic waves are irradiated to the same part of the subject 3 continuously (or even intermittently) for a predetermined time, and the temperature distribution of each point on the tomographic image during that time Is measured by the temperature sensor 11 and the temperature measurement unit 12 and stored in the frame memory 13, and the calculation unit 14 compares the measurement results to obtain the temperature increase rate, that is, the distribution of the increase degree, and the switching addition unit 16, B-mode monochrome image The tomographic image such as color is superimposed or switched in color, for example, and displayed on the image display unit 10, so that only the ultrasonic reception signal (reflection echo) is behind the highly reflective tissue such as bone on the screen. In contrast to being crushed black and becoming indistinguishable, the infrared rays or the like can circulate through the tissue having a large reflection to reveal the tissue behind it. Further, by using the temperature distribution together, it becomes possible to clarify the division of the living tissue and more accurately diagnose the lesion site 3a.

  By the way, the technology to image subtle changes in biological tissue, drug distribution, etc. by extracting and imaging the change in elastic constant due to temperature rise caused by light irradiation as a change in ultrasonic velocity, As disclosed in a research by Prof. Horinaka of Osaka Prefecture University, the present invention detects a temperature rise caused by ultrasonic irradiation by the temperature sensor 11, and in the region of interest (ROI), the blood flow and tissue of the living body The difference in temperature is directly captured as a change in temperature rise due to the absorption of a certain amount of ultrasonic energy, and the structure of the image is essentially different from the imaging of the change in sound speed due to the temperature rise in tissue caused by infrared irradiation. .

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of an ultrasonic probe provided with a temperature sensor. It is a figure which shows the structure of an ultrasonic probe provided with a temperature sensor. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the ultrasound diagnosing device of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Subject 3a Lesion site 4 Transmission circuit 5 Reception circuit 6 Transmission / reception control circuit 7 Phased addition circuit 8 Signal processing part 9 Black and white scanning conversion part 10 Image display part 11 Temperature sensor 12 Temperature Measurement unit 13 Frame memory 14 Temperature change calculation unit 15 Color scan conversion unit 16 Switching adder 21 Infrared detection unit 21a Infrared lens 21b Switch 22 Piezoelectric element 23 Light guide member 24 Infrared detector 25 Thermal insulation partition

Claims (5)

In an ultrasonic diagnostic method in which an ultrasonic wave is incident into a subject and a tomographic image of the subject is reconstructed from a reflected wave,
Injecting the ultrasonic wave for a predetermined time;
Measuring a temperature distribution in the subject at two timings within the predetermined time; and
A step of calculating a temperature rise rate distribution from the measurement result of the temperature distribution at the two timings;
Adding the temperature increase rate distribution to the tomographic image or displaying the distribution in place of the tomographic image. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which ultrasonic waves are incident on a subject from an ultrasonic probe, and an image processing unit reconstructs a tomographic image based on the received signal (reflection echo) and displays the tomographic image on the display unit ,
A control unit that causes the ultrasonic probe to transmit the ultrasonic wave over a predetermined time;
A temperature sensor and a frame memory for measuring or estimating a temperature distribution in the subject at two timings within the predetermined time, and storing the temperature distribution;
A calculation unit for calculating the distribution of the temperature increase rate from the measurement result of the temperature distribution at two timings stored in the frame memory;
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an addition unit that adds the calculated distribution of the temperature increase rate to the tomographic image or adds the distribution to the display unit instead of the tomographic image.   The temperature sensor includes a plurality of infrared detection units, and each of the infrared detection units is disposed adjacent to and individually corresponding to a plurality of piezoelectric elements constituting the ultrasonic probe. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to 2. Each of the infrared detection units includes an infrared lens that is in close contact with the subject, and a switch that switches whether to pass or block the infrared rays.
The said temperature sensor is further equipped with the light guide member formed so that the bottom face of each said switch may be connected, and the infrared detector provided in the base end side of the said light guide member, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a heat insulating partition between the piezoelectric element and the infrared detection unit.

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