Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a stack including a connecting conductor having conductive patterns and a piezoelectric plate disposed on the connecting conductor. The stack has first dividing slits at predetermined intervals. The first dividing slits divide the stack into transducers separate from one another and arrayed in the scanning direction. The conductive patterns are electrically connected to the transducers. Each of the transducers has a second dividing slit parallel to the first dividing slits. The second dividing slit divides each of the transducers into subelements. The first dividing slits extend through the connecting conductor. The second dividing slits are shallower than the first dividing slits and have bottoms apart from the connecting conductor.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a stack including a connecting conductor having conductive patterns and a piezoelectric plate disposed on the connecting conductor. The stack has first dividing slits at predetermined intervals. The first dividing slits divide the stack into transducers separate from one another and arrayed in the scanning direction. The conductive patterns are electrically connected to the transducers. Each of the transducers has a second dividing slit parallel to the first dividing slits. The second dividing slit divides each of the transducers into subelements. The first dividing slits extend through the connecting conductor. The second dividing slits are shallower than the first dividing slits and have bottoms apart from the connecting conductor.

Abstract: A biopsy guide mounting structure mounts a biopsy guide to guide and hold a biopsy needle to an ultrasonic probe. The biopsy guide mounting structure includes a guide mounting portion provided at a side face of an end portion of the ultrasonic probe. The end portion has an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface. The biopsy guide is attached to the guide mounting portion detachably.

Abstract: In order to facilitate recognition of the correct orientation of a connector, the rear portion of a connector 24 is configured to form an elevation angle when the front portion of the connector can be correctly inserted into a receptacle 500 in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: In order for an operator to perceive a lock completion of the mechanical connection between a connector of an ultrasonic probe and a socket of an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment main body, the following structure is provided. In the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, the ultrasonic probe includes a connector portion having a lock mechanism (a cam shaft penetrating a connector, a conductive movable contact/lock pin projecting from the cam shaft, and a connector lock releasing handle), and an ultrasonic probe main body. The ultrasonic diagnostic equipment main body includes a socket having connection hole H for connecting the connector, a locking confirming contact points for conducting by being in contact with the movable contact/lock pin as the connection with the connector being mechanically locked, LED for illuminating under conduction, and a safety circuit for allowing for starting scanning when conducting.

Abstract: In order to prevent a troublesome result if a wrong operation button is pressed by mistake, a signal is transmitted from a “New Patient” button 6a to a control section 7′ when a normal/lock switching switch 6b′ is in a normal mode. When the normal/lock switching switch 6b′ is in a lock mode, no signal is transmitted from the “New Patient” button 6a to the control section 7′, and an LED 8 is lit.

Abstract: In order to facilitate recognition of the correct orientation of a connector, the rear portion of a connector 24 is configured to form an elevation angle when the front portion of the connector can be correctly inserted into a receptacle 500 in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: In order for an operator to perceive a lock completion of the mechanical connection between a connector of an ultrasonic probe and a socket of an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment main body, the following structure is provided. In the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, the ultrasonic probe includes a connector portion having a lock mechanism (a cam shaft penetrating a connector, a conductive movable contact/lock pin projecting from the cam shaft, and a connector lock releasing handle), and an ultrasonic probe main body. The ultrasonic diagnostic equipment main body includes a socket having connection hole H for connecting the connector, a locking confirming contact points for conducting by being in contact with the movable contact/lock pin as the connection with the connector being mechanically locked, LED for illuminating under conduction, and a safety circuit for allowing for starting scanning when conducting.

Abstract: In order to prevent a troublesome result if a wrong operation button is pressed by mistake, a signal is transmitted from a “New Patient” button 6a to a control section 7′ when a normal/lock switching switch 6b′ is in a normal mode. When the normal/lock switching switch 6b′ is in a lock mode, no signal is transmitted from the “New Patient” button 6a to the control section 7′, and an LED 8 is lit.

Abstract: A real-time endoscopic image processing system for removing a net pattern from an image has an image processing section (1000) which includes a first controlling circuit (400) for receiving a video signal (S2) from one of a video signal S1 output from a television camera (14) and a VTR, or the like. A horizontal sample-hold circuit (500) generates a horizontal peak sample-hold signal (S5) by continuously sampling and holding the peak value of a sinusoidal video signal voltage from the video signal output (S2) which corresponds to the bright and dark portions of an image. A second controlling circuit (600) delays the horizontal peak sample-hold signal (S5) and compares a delay signal (S5D) with the horizontal peak sample-hold signal (S5) to detect the peak value of the original voltage which varies in a sinusoidal form with respect to the vertical scanning direction, and outputting a vertical peak sampling controlling signal (S6).