PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect, in ultrasonic imaging, a periodic shape change of a biological tissue and accurately measure speed information on fluid flowing in the biological tissue and pressure fluctuation and absolute pressure in the biological tissue from information of the change.SOLUTION: A signal processing unit of an ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: an elliptical shape detection section detecting detection data of an elliptical shape contained in a test object； and an elliptical shape calculation section executing calculation based on the elliptical shape. The elliptical shape detection section analyzes the elliptical shape on the basis of time sequence imaging data in which an oblique cross section of a biological tissue such as a vessel is imaged and the biological tissue is drawn in the elliptical shape, and calculates a time change of the long and short axes of the elliptical shape or a time change of aspect ratio, and a time change of vessel cross section area, etc. The elliptical calculation section calculates pulse wave speed propagated in the vessel, change of arterial pressure, and arterial pressure by using the time change of the elliptical shape and correction information from the outside according to the necessity, and displays the calculated results on a display section as further processed diagnostic information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5【課題】超音波撮像において、生体組織の周期的な形状変化を検出し、その変化の情報から生体組織を流れる流体に関する速度情報及び生体組織内の圧変動や絶対圧を精度よく計測する。【解決手段】超音波診断装置の信号処理部は、検査対象に含まれる楕円形状の検出データを検出する楕円形状検出部と、楕円形状に基づいて演算を行う楕円形状演算部とを備える。楕円形状検出部は、生体組織例えば血管の斜めの断面を撮像し生体組織が楕円形状と描出される時系列撮像データをもとに、楕円形状を解析し、その長軸と短軸の時間変化或いはアスペクト比の時間変化、血管断面積の時間変化などを算出する。楕円形状演算部は、これら楕円形状の時間変化や必要に応じて外部からの補正情報を用いて、血管を伝搬する脈波の速度、動脈圧の変化、動脈圧を算出し、それらをさらに加工した診断情報として表示部に表示させる。【選択図】図５
