Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus

1. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, comprising:

a scanner configured to conduct an ultrasound segment scan by alternating a B-mode scan and a Doppler-mode scan;

an input unit configured to receive, as input, an instruction;

a display controller configured to cause a display unit to display a selectable condition map, wherein the instruction is a selection of one of predetermined points in the displayed selectable condition map; and

a change unit configured to change a first period of the B-mode scan and a second period of the Doppler-mode scan in accordance with the instruction, the change unit further configured to change at least one of a scan-line density, a sampling number, an upper limit of a pulse repetition frequency, and a number of parallel receiving echo signals with respect to the B-mode scan, the echo signals resulting from ultrasound signals generated in the first period, in accordance with the received instruction.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit is configured to display at least one of the B-mode image and the Doppler-mode image in a predetermined style, wherein the predetermined style is changed in conjunction with the instruction for changing the first period of the B-mode scan and the second period of the Doppler-mode scan.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit is configured to display at least one of the B-mode image and the Doppler-mode image in a predetermined style, wherein at least one of the first period and the second period is changed in conjunction with the predetermined style, the echo signals resulting from ultrasound signals generated in the first period.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit displays the selectable condition map in which each of the predetermined points corresponds to a different set of parameters to determine an image quality of the B-mode image, an image quality of the Doppler-mode image, and a frame rate of the ultrasound segment scan, the parameters including the first period and the second period.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a processor configured to calculate parameters to determine an image quality of the B-mode image, an image quality of the Doppler-mode image, and a frame rate of the ultrasound segment scan based on a point in the selectable condition map, the parameters including information of the first period and the second period.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the instruction includes information to prioritize one of an image quality of the B-mode image, an image quality of the Doppler-mode image, and a frame rate of the ultrasound segment scan.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the change unit is further configured to change the first period of the B-mode scan and the second period of the Doppler-mode scan in accordance with the instruction by designating a desired condition among Doppler image quality based on the Doppler-mode scan, B-mode image quality based on the B-mode scan, and a frame rate for the B-color mode scan.

8. A method of preparing a B-mode image and a Doppler-mode image using an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction into an input unit of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus;

displaying a selectable condition map, wherein the instruction is a selection of one of predetermined points in the selectable condition map; and

changing at least one of a scan-line density, a sampling number, an upper limit of a pulse repetition frequency, and a number of echo signals to receive in parallel, with respect to the B-mode scan, the echo signals resulting from ultrasound signals generated in a first period in accordance with the instruction.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising displaying at least one of the B-mode image and the Doppler-mode image in a predetermined style, wherein the predetermined style is changed in conjunction with the instruction for changing the first period of the B-mode scan and the second period of the Doppler-mode scan.

10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising displaying at least one of the B-mode image and the Doppler-mode image in a predetermined style, wherein at least one of the first period and the second period is changed in conjunction with the predetermined style.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein each of the predetermined points corresponds to a different set of parameters to determine an image quality of the B-mode image, an image quality of the Doppler-mode image, and a frame rate of the ultrasound segment scan, the parameters including the first period and the second period.

12. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising calculating parameters to determine an image quality of the B-mode image, an image quality of the Doppler-mode image, and a frame rate of the ultrasound segment scan based on a point in the selectable condition map, the parameters including information of the first period and the second period.

13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the instruction includes information to prioritize one of an image quality of the B-mode image, an image quality of the Doppler-mode image, and a frame rate of the ultrasound segment scan.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the selectable condition map, wherein the selectable condition map includes the predetermined points that show a relationship among Doppler-mode image quality, B-mode image quality, and frame rate of the B-mode scan.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiving step comprises selecting, by a user, one of the predetermined points in the selectable condition map, the selected point representing a preference of the user regarding a tradeoff among Doppler-mode image quality, B-mode image quality, and frame rate of the B-mode scan.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiving step comprises selecting, by a user using a point device, one of the predetermined points in the selectable condition map.