The diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for performing specified measurements on the carotid artery is provided with: a transmitter for generating a transmission signal for transmitting ultrasonic waves from the ultrasound probe to a subject a receiver for acquiring multiple received signals corresponding to a single image frame on the basis of echo signals received by the ultrasound probe a blood vessel candidate position-selecting section for selecting, on the basis of the signal strengths of signals received at various positions in the depth direction, the position seeming most like a blood vessel as a first blood vessel candidate position and selecting a position deeper than the first blood vessel candidate position that seems most like a blood vessel as a second blood vessel candidate position a blood vessel position-determining section for assessing whether or not the tissue corresponding to the second blood vessel candidate position is a blood vessel on the basis of the signal strengths at the first blood vessel candidate position and the second blood vessel candidate position and determining which is the position of the carotid artery on the basis of the results of said assessment and information relating to the positional relationship of the carotid artery and the jugular vein in the depth direction and a measurement area-determining section for setting, on the basis of the determined position of the carotid artery, the measurement area for performing a specified measurement.La présente invention concerne un appareil de diagnostic à ultrasons destiné à effectuer des mesures spécifiées sur lartère carotide, et qui est équipé : dun émetteur destiné à générer un signal démission en vue démettre des ondes ultrasonores à partir de la sonde ultrasonore vers un sujet dun récepteur destiné à acquérir des signaux reçus multiples correspondant à une seule trame dimage sur la base de signaux décho reçus au moyen de la sonde ultrasonore dune section de sélection de posit
