The diagnostic application of ultrasound in clinical medicine advanced uniquely in the field of cardiology. The cardiovascular system is a most suitable organ for the application of ultrasound for use in obtaining information regarding structure and function, which are difficult to obtain using other diagnostic methods and which are indispensable for accurate diagnosis of diseases.

However, because of the complicated structure and characteristics of the functioning of the heart, unique and creative technologies had to be developed for practical applications.

In this paper, perspectives of the historical development of ultrasonic diagnostic technology, which originated as key elements for improving clinical cardiology and which developed in our laboratory, are systematically presented. First, as the most important affair in the first step of clinical application of ultrasound, the introduction and establishment of the practical use of the focused ultrasound to the ultrasonic pulse reflection method are described. Next, we address two-dimensional echocardiography and its related technology such as tomo-kymography, combination of M-mode method, Doppler method, and tomography etc. Then we discuss ultrasonic tissue characterization in cardiology by echo method and the development and application of ultrasonic microscopy for biomedical use. We address modulated ultrasonic Doppler method including the two-dimensional Doppler method. Finally, after introducing the data processing technique, we conclude with new technology for deducing the functional information on cardiovascular function, such as contractility of the local myocardium, local flow volume, and local pressure in the heart chambers and their two-dimensional distribution, which are very important for accurate estimation of the heart function.