PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by which a three-dimensional image with a high image quality can be obtained while suppressing the inside temperature rise in an ultrasound probe.SOLUTION: A usual scanning A in which the transceiving of an ultrasound beam is carried out over the whole area of an observation space area similarly in a going route and in a returning route a reciprocating movement of an oscillator array is carried out in the case the inside temperature Tp of the ultrasound probe detected by a temperature sensor is lower than a first set value T1, a temperature rise suppressing type scanning B1 in which the transceiving of the ultrasound beam is stopped to one area other than an area of interest in the mechanical scanning direction of an oscillator array is carried out in the going route of the reciprocating movement of the oscillator array and a temperature rise suppressing type scanning B2 in which the transceiving the ultrasound beam is stopped to the other area other than the area of interest in the mechanical scanning direction of the oscillator array is carried out in the returning route when the inside temperature Tp of the ultrasound probe becomes not less than the first set temperature T1.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】超音波プローブの内部温度の上昇を抑制しながらも高画質の3次元超音波画像を得ることができる超音波診断装置を提供する。【解決手段】温度センサで検出された超音波プローブの内部温度Tpが第1の設定値T1未満の場合は、振動子アレイの往復動の往路も復路も同様に観察空間領域の全域にわたって超音波ビームの送受信が行われる通常走査Aを行い、超音波プローブの内部温度Tpが第1の設定値T1以上になると、振動子アレイの往復動の往路では、振動子アレイの機械的な走査方向における関心領域以外の一方の領域に対して超音波ビームの送受信が休止される温度上昇抑制型走査B1を行い、復路では、振動子アレイの機械的な走査方向における関心領域以外の他方の領域に対して超音波ビームの送受信が休止される温度上昇抑制型走査B2を行う。【選択図】図4
