| 摘要 |
A technique of improving usability by simplifying an operation related to the detection of absolute pressure applied by an ultrasonic probe to a test object. The fact that an elastic coupler is attached to an ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver surface, and the fact that the elastic coupler is in an initial, pressure-less state are detected (S2, S5). The initial thickness of the elastic coupler in the initial state is calculated (S6). The fact that the elastic coupler is in a pressurized state is detected based on the disappearance of multiple echo included in a RF signal. The disappearance is attributable to the elastic coupler. With the elastic coupler in the pressurized state, a boundary between the elastic coupler and the test object is detected to calculate the thickness of the elastic coupler in the pressurized state, and a change in thickness of the elastic coupler is calculated based on the pressurized-state thickness and the initial thickness (S7). The absolute pressure applied to the test object is evaluated based on the change in thickness and a predetermined elastic property of the elastic coupler (S8). |
