PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which detects bending of a puncture needle and prevents the positional relationship between the puncture needle and an organ from becoming obscure in a direction intersecting a scanning surface.SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a phase difference acquiring section 61 for acquiring, by a correlation operation, a phase difference between receiving signals of a pair of vibration elements positioned symmetrically about a center of vibration elements aligned in a direction intersecting an advancing direction of the puncture needle N, a delay amount adjusting section 62 for adjusting a delay amount at a delay circuit 21 in order to compensate the phase difference, and a bending informing section 63 for informing an operator of bending of the puncture needle N. With such a configuration, bending of the puncture needle N is detected. In addition, the apparatus prevents the positional relationship between the puncture needle N and an organ from becoming obscure in the direction perpendicular to the scanning surface 10. Furthermore, the puncture needle N is prevented from becoming invisible due to bending of the puncture needle N.COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT【課題】穿刺針の曲がりを検知する。走査面に交差する方向についての穿刺針と臓器の位置関係が不明確になることを防止する。【解決手段】穿刺針Nの進行方向と交差する方向に並ぶ振動素子の中心について対称な振動素子の一方の受信信号と他方の受信信号の位相差を相関演算により算出する位相差取得部61と、位相差を補償するように遅延回路21での遅延量を調整する遅延量調整部62と、穿刺針Nの曲がりを操作者に報知する曲がり報知部63とを具備する。【効果】穿刺針Nの曲がりを検知できる。走査面10に交差する方向についての穿刺針Nと臓器の位置関係が不明確になることを防止できる。穿刺針Nの曲がりにより穿刺針Nが見えなくなることを防止できる。【選択図】図1
