PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which allows a user to use the apparatus continuously by stopping a part of operations (degraded operation) when there is no alternative apparatus nearby.SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a cooling mechanism for cooling an ultrasonic vibrator by circulating a cooling medium through a cable of an ultrasonic probe containing the ultrasonic vibrator, an abnormal cooling detecting means for detecting an abnormal condition in the cooling mechanism, and an operating means that, when an abnormal condition of the cooling mechanism is detected by the abnormal cooling detecting means, carries out degraded operation in which transmission condition of the ultrasonic vibrators is changed in accordance with the detected abnormal condition.COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT【課題】代替機が近くにない場合に、一部の運転を停止した運転(縮退運転)をしても継続使用を可能とする超音波診断装置を提供すること。【解決手段】本発明の一態様の超音波診断装置によれば、超音波振動子が設けられた超音波プローブのケーブル内に冷媒を循環させることによって前記超音波振動子を冷却する冷却機構と、この冷却機構における異常状態を検出する冷却異常検出手段と、この冷却異常検出手段により前記冷却機構の前記異常状態が検出されたとき、この検出された異常状態に応じて前記超音波振動子の送受信条件を変更する縮退運転を行う運転手段と、を備える。【選択図】図2
