PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide estimating means (40) for adaptive sound pressure of a medical ultrasonic wave.SOLUTION: A plurality of responses (linear response and nonlinear response) of tissue are acquired at a plurality of frequencies to a plurality of positions (30), and sound pressure is estimated depending on a plurality of obtained responses (38). By measurement on a specific patient, an estimated amount is adapted to the patient. The transmission output is set to a desired level such as a level which is limited so as not to destroy a contrast medium while a high signal noise ratio SNR is obtained in a contrast medium imaging, and a level where a desired heat application amount or sound pressure is obtained in ultrasonic therapy, so that sound pressure to a desired position can be obtained (38).COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】医療超音波の適応的音圧推定(40)の手段を提供する。【解決手段】複数の位置に対して複数の周波数で組織の複数の応答(線形応答及び非線形応答)が取得され(30)、求められた複数の応答に依存して音圧が推定される(38)。特定の患者での測定によって推定量が当該患者へ適合化される。送信出力を所望のレベル、例えば、造影剤イメージングでは高い信号雑音比SNRが得られるにもかかわらず造影剤が破壊されない程度に制限されたレベル、また、超音波治療では所望の熱印加量もしくは音圧が得られるレベルに設定するために、所望の位置に対する音圧が求められる(38)。【選択図】図1
