PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To utilize without uselessness, a transmitting part and a receiving part that form a transceiver section even if operating by a mode using a continuous wave, to drive ultrasonic transducers of the number more than the number of the transceiver section, thereby forming a large opening.SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: two or more ultrasonic transducers a transceiver section an image generating section and a switching unit. The transceiver section includes: a transmitting part that transmits a drive signal to an ultrasonic transducer and a receiver part that receives an echo signal from the ultrasonic transducer. Moreover, the number of transceiver section is less than the number of the ultrasonic transducer. The image generating section generates an ultrasonic image based on the echo signal received by the receiver part. The switching unit switches: a first mode that connects the transmitting part and the receiver part of one transceiver section with the same ultrasonic transducer to be operated and a second mode that connects the transmitting part and the receiver part of one transceiver section with a mutually different ultrasonic transducer section to be operated.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】連続波を用いたモードで動作する場合においても、送受信部を形成する送信部及び受信部を無駄なく活用し、送受信部の数よりも多くの数の超音波振動子を駆動させることで大きな開口の形成を可能とする。【解決手段】複数の超音波振動子と、送受信部と、画像生成部と、切替ユニットと、を備えた超音波診断装置である。送受信部は、超音波振動子に駆動信号を送信する送信部と、超音波振動子からのエコー信号を受信する受信部とを備えている。また、送受信部の数は、超音波振動子の数より少ない。画像生成部は、受信部で受けたエコー信号に基づき超音波画像を生成する。切替ユニットは、一の送受信部の送信部及び受信部を同じ超音波振動子に接続させて動作させる第1のモードと、一の送受信部の送信部及び受信部を互いに異なる超音波振動子に接続させて動作させる第2のモードとを切替える。【選択図】図2
