Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus having a transmission circuit which generates a transmission signal is provided. The transmission signal corresponds to a combined waveform of a trapezoidal waveform and an impulse-shaped waveform (impulse portion). In an example transmission signal, a front slope portion, a flat portion, and a rear slope portion exist in a positive polarity side. The impulse portion has a shape which protrudes from an offset level over a base line into an opposite polarity side. Because the center frequency of the trapezoidal wave form is near the DC component, the trapezoidal wave form can substantially be ignored. The impulse portion has a large amplitude, but because the impulse portion exists over both polarities, there is no need to apply a special high voltage countermeasure for each polarity in designing the transmission circuit. A trapezoidal wave form of an opposite polarity may be added in front of the trapezoidal waveform.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus which performs ultrasonic diagnosis with respect of a fetal heart. An area change measurement section calculates an area of a specific heart chamber (left ventricle) in the fetal heart in frame units. Further, the area change measurement section generates a graph representing the area which is calculated in frame units. The maximum value and the minimum value are specified in the graph to thereby specify end-diastole and end-systole. Based on this information, a heart rate and a cardiac cycle with regard to the fetal heart are calculated. Further, an ejection fraction is also calculated from an end-diastolic area and an end-systolic area.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe including the steps of forming a plurality of first slits on a layered assembly having a first imner electrode member and a second inner electrode member through a top surface of the layered assembly and forming a plurality of second slits through a bottom surface of the layered assembly, forming a first vertical electrode layer on each side surface within each of the first slits, forming a second vertical electrode layer on each side surface within each one of the second slits and forming a plurality of separating slits on the layered assembly to divide the layered assembly into a plurality of transducer elements.

Abstract: A direction finding radiation detector for detecting the direction of incidence of radioactive rays, comprising: a plurality of scintillators (41, 42, 43) (101, 102, 103) made of the same material, being arranged to overlap circumferentially at least in part so that they are shadowed by each other from radioactive rays incident in circumferential directions and so that light emitted from one of the scintillators is not incident on the other scintillators; and photoreceptor devices (51, 52, 53) (111, 112, 113) having light receiving surfaces optically coupled to the respective scintillators, wherein a combination of proportions of radioactive rays incident directly on the respective scintillators and radioactive rays incident indirectly thereon, being shadowed by the other scintillators, varies with the direction of incidence circumferentially.

Abstract: A computational efficient algorithm for compression analysis of free-hand static elasticity imaging performed using medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging equipment offers tissue compression quality and quantity feedback to the operator. The algorithm includes a criterion for automatic selection of the most advantageous pre- and post-compression frame pairs delivering elasticity images of optimal dynamic ranges (DR) and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). The use of the algorithm in real time eases operator training and reduces significantly the amount of artifact in the elasticity images while lowering the computational burden.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of forming a three-dimensional ultrasonic image, an entire cavity portion of an organ can be displayed without any part being invisible. Three-dimensional ultrasonic image data obtained based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted and received with respect to an object organ is stored in a memory 20. With regard to the stored data, a brightness value of each voxel is binarized in a binarization processing section 24 using a predetermined threshold value. Then, the binarized brightness value is further inverted in a brightness value inverting section 26. Consequently, the cavity portion of the organ which has low brightness before inversion has high brightness, and the wall portion of the organ which has high brightness before inversion and which obstruct observation of the inner cavity portion has now low brightness. Thus, solid representation of the cavity portion to be observed can be obtained, thereby facilitating observation.

Abstract: A plurality of 2D sub arrays are defined on a 2D array transducer for effecting transmission and reception of ultrasound. For each sub array, a plurality of groups are set. More specifically, a plurality of (16, for example) transducer elements forming a sub array are grouped or divided into a plurality of (4, for example) groups. A multiplexer sums a plurality of receiving signals output from the plurality of transducer elements for each group, and generates a group receiving signal. A plurality of group receiving signals thus generated are then subjected to a sub phase adjusting and summing process to form a sub phase adjusted and summed signal. A plurality of sub phase adjusted and summed signals corresponding to the plurality of sub arrays are then subjected to a main phase adjusting and summing process. A sub phase adjusting and summing processing section is provided within a probe head, a cable connector, or an apparatus body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for use in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for a living body comprises an array transducer made up of a plurality of layered transducer elements. A specified structure (face-to-face structure) is created across two adjacent transducer elements. In each transducer element, a first vertical electrode layer for ground is connected with a top electrode layer and an inner electrode layer, and a second vertical electrode layer for signal is connected with a bottom electrode layer and an inner electrode layer. When creating the specified structure, steps including formation of slits in a layered assembly and filling of the slits or the like are repeated. By finally forming a plurality of separating slits, the layered assembly is divided into a plurality of transducer elements. On the other hand, each transducer element is compounded in the horizontal direction. The compounding is performed at any stage of before, during or after formation of the specified structure.

Abstract: A sample pretreatment system is equipped with a label sticking apparatus for sticking labels on containers. In this system, a manipulator 72 grasps and holds a container before label sticking from the pipetting apparatus to convey it to a receiving position on the line L—L along with the raising/lowering path of a container holding device 82. The container holding device 82 is raised by the raising/lowering mechanism 86 to be positioned at a receiving position in a complexly opened state. After receiving the container, the container holding device 82 is lowered, and then the container holding device 82 carries out the closing operation according to the lowering motion, thereby enabling to hold the container reliably irrespective of the diameter of the container. At the label sticking position which is set at a lower position, a label is stuck to the container.

Abstract: An ellipsoidal axes setting unit sets major and minor axis of an ellipsoid based on cross sectional position information and ellipsoidal parameters input by a user while viewing a display. A major axis end detector unit, a front view minor axis end detector unit, and a side view minor axis end detector unit detect ends of the major and minor axes based on the major and minor axes set at the ellipsoidal axes setting unit and a target tissue surface image for each time phase output from an edge extractor unit. A major/minor axes setting unit selects appropriate lengths of the major and minor axes from the input ends of the major and minor axes and outputs the selected lengths to a region-of-interest generator unit where a three-dimensional region of interest is generated.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus forms a three-dimensional echo data acquisition space. A beam address array is composed of a plurality of ultrasonic beam addresses constituting a three-dimensional echo data acquisition space. The beam address array is divided into a plurality of address groups, and address scanning is repeated twice for each of the address groups. Thus, when a differential operation or the like of two data items obtained at the same beam position is performed, the time interval between acquisition of the two data pieces becomes short. The existence or behavior of an ultrasonic contrast agent within tissue of a living body is displayed as a three-dimensional differential image.

Abstract: A cap opening system which can handle various containers having caps and container bodies of different sizes is disclosed. In this system, when a cap of a container is to be opened, a container body of the container is gripped by a container body holding apparatus to raise the container body upward. A top surface of the cap is detected as a reference surface when the cap interrupts an optical beam. Based on the height of the reference surface, the cap is positioned with respect to the cap handling apparatus. Alternatively, a cap receiving member is provided underneath the cap handling apparatus to perform positioning of the cap with respect to the cap handling apparatus.

Abstract: In an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, a plurality of sub arrays are defined on a 2D array transducer. The sub array shape pattern of each sub array is adaptively changed in accordance with the beam scanning direction. Each sub array is composed of a plurality of groups, each of which is composed of a plurality of transducer elements. With the change of sub array shape pattern in accordance with a beam scanning direction, the group shape pattern of each group also changes. The sub array shape changes for each sub array, and a variable region is determined by the largest outer edge of the shape changed. The variable regions partially overlap with each other among a plurality of sub arrays. On a 2D array transducer, a plurality of sub arrays are always closely coupled with each other even when each sub array shape is changed.

Abstract: A plurality of 2D sub arrays are defined on a 2D array transducer for effecting transmission and reception of ultrasound. For each sub array, a plurality of groups are set. More specifically, a plurality of (16, for example) transducer elements forming a sub array are grouped or divided into a plurality of (4, for example) groups. A multiplexer sums a plurality of receiving signals output from the plurality of transducer elements for each group, and generates a group receiving signal. A plurality of group receiving signals thus generated are then subjected to a sub phase adjusting and summing process to form a sub phase adjusted and summed signal. A plurality of sub phase adjusted and summed signals corresponding to the plurality of sub arrays are then subjected to a main phase adjusting and summing process. A sub phase adjusting and summing processing section is provided within a probe head, a cable connector, or an apparatus body.

Abstract: A sample pretreatment system is provided with a pipettig table. On the pipetting table, there are provided on its front side a normal area 57 in which a plurality of normal secondary sample racks 56 are placed and on its back side an urgent area 76 in which a plurality of urgent secondary sample racks 77 are placed. Each of the normal secondary sample racks 56 holds a plurality of normal secondary sample containers 60 and each of the urgent secondary sample rack 77 holds a plurality of urgent secondary sample containers 79. In a normal pipetting mode, a sample is pipetted from a normal source sample container to the normal secondary sample containers 60, and in an urgent mode, a sample is pipetted from a source sample container to the urgent secondary sample containers 79. The urgent secondary sample rack 77 is formed into a portable type and has a size smaller than the normal secondary sample rack 56.

Abstract: A system for connecting an transducer matrix array to a beamformer via a multiplexer where the multiplexer includes a plurality of numbered switches, the array including a plurality of rows and columns where the rows include plural center rows the elements of which are uniquely associated with a numbered switch portion and a top row associated with first and second numbered switches offset by L in first and second differing directions with respect to one of the center row elements, and a bottom row associated with third and fourth numbered switches offset by L in first and second differing directions with respect to the one of the center row elements.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method for reducing noise in ultrasound images comprising the steps of transmitting and receiving from an ultrasound transducer comprising a plurality of apexes a plurality of ultrasound beams from a first apex to form a first sector image comprising a plurality of image intensities, transmitting and receiving from at least one other apex of the transducer a plurality of ultrasound beams to form at least one other sector image comprising a plurality of image intensities overlapping a portion of the first sector image to form an overlap region, and combining the first sector image and the at least one other sector image to produce a compound image.

Abstract: A specific cavity extractor extracts an isolated group corresponding to a left ventricle from among a plurality of isolated groups to which numbers are attached in a labeling section. A major axis slope calculator section sets, as a left ventricle major axis, a straight line passing through a center of mass calculated in a center-of-mass detector section and a major-axis end point detected in a major-axis end detector section. A cavity cross sectional area calculator section calculates a cross sectional area of four cavities for each of a plurality of cutting planes including the left ventricle major-axis. An optimum cross section setter sets, as a four-cavity cross section, a cutting plane in which the cross sectional area of the four cavities becomes maximum.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 12 outputs echo data to a host controller 20. In the host controller 20, a tissue coordinate operation unit 48 computes coordinate information of a tumor 30 using a three dimensional probe 10 as an origin; a probe coordinate operation unit 52 computes coordinate information of the three dimensional probe 10 using, as its origin, an X-ray source apparatus 18 which functions as a reference position; and a combined tissue coordinate operation unit 54 uses the coordinate information of the tumor using the three dimensional probe 10 as its origin and the coordinate information of the three dimensional probe 10 using the X-ray source apparatus 18 as its origin to compute coordinate information of the tumor 30 using the X-ray source apparatus as its origin, and outputs the computed coordinate information to the X-ray source apparatus 18.

Abstract: An ellipsoidal axes setting unit sets major and minor axis of an ellipsoid based on cross sectional position information and ellipsoidal parameters input by a user while viewing a display. A major axis end detector unit, a front view minor axis end detector unit, and a side view minor axis end detector unit detect ends of the major and minor axes based on the major and minor axes set at the ellipsoidal axes setting unit and a target tissue surface image for each time phase output from an edge extractor unit. A major/minor axes setting unit selects appropriate lengths of the major and minor axes from the input ends of the major and minor axes and outputs the selected lengths to a region-of-interest generator unit where a three-dimensional region of interest is generated.