ULTRASONIC BLOOD VESSEL EXAMINATION APPARATUS

摘要

Provided is an ultrasonic blood vessel examination apparatus for obtaining a clear ultrasonic blood vessel image even if an unskilled operator operates the apparatus. A blood vessel cross-section image creating means (82) for sequentially creating longitudinal cross-sectional images of subepidermal blood vessels by using an ultrasonic probe (24) placed on the skin of an organism (14).  An index calculating means (84) calculates a front-wall image clarity index XCRF representing the clarity of the image showing the intima media complex in the front wall in the blood vessel longitudinal cross section image and a back-wall image clarity index XCRB representing the clarity of the image showing the intima media complex in the back wall in the blood vessel longitudinal cross section image.  Therefore, the operator can determine the position of the ultrasonic probe (24) so as to create clearer images showing the front and back walls in the blood vessel longitudinal cross section image according to the front-wall image clarity index XCRF and the back-wall image clarity index XCRB.  As a result, a clear blood vessel longitudinal cross section image can be obtained even if an unskilled operator operates the apparatus.