DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND SYSTEM USING HARMONIC ECHO IMAGING

In performing harmonic echo imaging, the necessity of changing modes is obviated, maneuverability is improved, and diagnostic information of the kinetics of a blood flow is provided with high reliability. A diagnostic ultrasound system provides, by scanning a cross section of an object with an ultrasonic beam signal, a normal B-mode image (the first tomographic image) of a tissue and a harmonic-mode image (the second tomographic image) of distribution information of an ultrasonic contrast medium injected into the object. The distribution information is obtained based on a non-fundamental frequency component (e.g., second harmonics) other than a fundamental frequency component of the ultrasonic beam signal. The system comprises a unit for scanning an ultrasonic beam signal along the cross section to acquire an echo. The scanning unit controls the scan so that the beam signal is scanned automatically and alternately for each raster in both the normal B-mode and the harmonic-mode. Preferably, the scan in the harmonic-mode precedes that of the normal B-mode. Image data of the first and second tomographic images are visualized on the basis of the echo.