Abstract: A structure for adjusting the positional relationship between an ultrasonic transducer and a blood vessel such that an acoustic line from the ultrasonic transducer passes the center of a cross-section of the blood vessel for measuring an elasticity characteristic is provided.—An ultrasonic probe includes a transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by a biological tissue; and a driving device for physically moving the transducer. For measuring the elasticity characteristic, the driving device moves the transducer based on a control signal to change at least one of a direction and a position at which the ultrasonic wave is to be transmitted. A determination section specifies a position of the transducer at which the reflection intensity is maximum based on intensity information representing an intensity of the reflected wave. A calculation section calculates the elasticity characteristic at the specified position.

Abstract: A novel recording material for the inkjet printing process has a substrate and an ink receiving layer which is applied on at least one side of the substrate, the ink receiving layer containing an inorganic pigment and an ink fixative comprising at least two substances. The first substance is a polyamine epichorohydrin and the second substance is a polyvalent metal salt. This recording material is characterized in that the first substance is a medium-molecular, branched polyamine epichlorohydrin condensation product, the ratio of the first substance to the second substance is between 3:1 and 16:1, the pigment makes up at least 80 percent by weight with a D50 particle size (Malvern) ranging from 4 ?m inclusive to 12 ?m inclusive, and the ratio of ink fixative to pigment ranges from 1:2 inclusive to 1:6 inclusive. The invention is further directed to a method for recording by the discontinuous inkjet printing process which uses the novel recording material.

Abstract: A printing medium for the inkjet printing method having a substrate and an ink acceptor layer, which is applied to at least one side of the substrate, wherein the ink acceptor layer includes an ink fixing agent and an inorganic pigment. The ink fixing agent includes a medium molecular weight branched amine-epichlorohydrin condensate which includes at least 70% by weight of the total quantity of the ink fixing agent in the ink accepting layer, the inorganic pigment is present at least 80% by weight with a particle size in a range between 6 and 12 ?m and the ink fixing agent to pigment ratio is in a range from 1:2 to 1:6.

Abstract: A novel recording material for the inkjet printing process has a substrate and an ink receiving layer which is applied on at least one side of the substrate, the ink receiving layer containing an inorganic pigment and an ink fixative comprising at least two substances. The first substance is a polyethylamine epichorohydrin and the second substance is a polyvalent metal salt. This recording material is characterized in that the first substance is a medium-molecular, branched polyamine epichlorohydrin condensation product, the ratio of the first substance to the second substance is between 3:1 and 16:1, the pigment makes up at least 80 percent by weight with a D50 particle size (Malvern) ranging from 4 &mgr;m inclusive to 12 &mgr;m inclusive, and the ratio of ink fixative to pigment ranges from 1:2 inclusive to 1:6 inclusive. The invention is further directed to a method for recording by the discontinuous inkjet printing process which uses the novel recording material.