| CPC A61B 8/54 (2013.01) [A61B 8/485 (2013.01); A61B 8/488 (2013.01); A61B 8/5207 (2013.01); G01S 7/52042 (2013.01); A61B 8/461 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
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1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
an ultrasonic probe; and
a processor, said processor being adapted to:
control said ultrasonic probe to transmit first ultrasonic pulses at a first pulse repetition frequency to a patient and to receive first echo signals from the patient, wherein a vibrator provides first mechanical vibrations to the patient during the process of transmitting the first ultrasonic pulses and receiving the first echo signals;
create data for an image based on the first echo signals from said first ultrasonic pulses transmitted at said first pulse repetition frequency;
calculate, based on said data for the image, at least one frequency component of said first mechanical vibrations applied to the patient to generate first shear waves;
calculate a second pulse repetition frequency, different from the first pulse repetition frequency, based on the at least one frequency component of the first mechanical vibrations;
control the ultrasonic probe to transmit second ultrasonic pulses at the second pulse repetition frequency to the patient and to receive second echo signals from the patient, wherein the vibrator provides second mechanical vibrations to the patient during the process of transmitting the second ultrasonic pluses and receiving the second echo signals, wherein the second mechanical vibrations and the first mechanical vibrations share the at least one frequency component;
calculate at least one velocity of propagation of second shear waves based on the second echo signals from the second ultrasonic pulses transmitted at the second pulse repetition frequency.
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