Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for a compact, inexpensive ultrasound system using an off-the-shelf personal digital assistant (PDA) device interfacing to a hand-held probe assembly through a standard digital interface. The hand-held probe assembly comprises a detachable transducer head attached to a beamforming module that performs digital beamforming. The PDA runs Windows applications and displays menus and images to a user. The PDA also runs ultrasound data processing software to support a plurality of imaging modes. An internal battery is provided in the PDA to power the system. The transducer head is detachable from the beamforming module.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a detector is provided. The method includes using a removable double-faced adhesive film to bond a flat panel detector and a panel detector support.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a ceramic rotary valve for an anesthetic vaporizer, the valve body of the rotary valve comprising a ceramic material. Embodiments of the present invention also provide an anesthetic vaporizer comprising the ceramic rotary valve and an anesthesia machine comprising the anesthetic vaporizer. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of utilizing an anesthetic vaporizer comprising a ceramic rotary valve to control anesthetics concentration output by the anesthetic vaporizer.

Abstract: A detector module configured to be included in an array of a plurality of detector modules that form a radiation detector is provided. The detector module includes a light emitting element configured to emit fluorescence upon receiving radiation, a light receiving element configured to convert the fluorescence into an electrical signal, and at least one support member located on a side opposite from said light emitting element, said at least one support member configured to support a light shielding member which covers a gap formed between adjacent detector modules in the array.

Abstract: A switching DC converting device includes a switching DC converter and a synchronous clock circuit. The synchronous clock circuit is used to provide a wobbling synchronous clock input for the switching DC converter, and the central frequency of the wobbling synchronous clock avoids the operating frequency of a circuit powered by the switching DC converter.

Abstract: A method for implementing a switching between a body coil and a head coil in a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system comprising the body coil, the head coil and a power amplifier component, wherein the power amplifier component comprises sets of power amplifiers, each set of power amplifiers comprising channels of power amplifiers combined by a Wilkinson circuit, a combiner configured to combine signals from the sets of power amplifiers and to connect the sets of power amplifiers to the body coil, a first switching device comprising a first terminal configured to be grounded, a second switching device connected in series in a resistor branch of the Wilkinson circuit, and a ¼ wavelength transformation transmission line located between the second switching device and the head coil, the method comprising connecting the power amplifier component to the body coil or the head coil by setting states of both switching devices.

Abstract: A transmission/reception circuit for an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The transmission/reception circuit includes a first drive pulse generation unit configured to generate a first drive pulse for driving the ultrasonic transducer, a switch configured to turn on and off output of a second drive pulse for driving the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic transducer, the second drive pulse supplied from an ultrasonic image display apparatus body connected to the ultrasonic probe, and a delay unit configured to add a delay time to an echo signal of an ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A wall stand comprising a column, a detector box, a support arm configured to support the detector box, a rotary shaft mounted on the support arm, a rotary bracket attached to the detector box, wherein the rotary bracket is rotatable around the rotary shaft, and a drive mechanism configured to move the detector box on a plane supported by the rotary bracket in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A method for sorting CT image slices comprising, if no image slice comprises a target respiratory phase at a couch position, determining a target breathing feature value corresponding to the target respiratory phase based on a respiratory motion curve of a scanned patient, searching from a plurality of image slices at the couch position for one or more image slices comprising a breathing feature value close to the target breathing feature value to serve as candidate image slices, and selecting, based on a breathing feature value difference between the breathing feature value of each of the candidate image slices and the target breathing feature value and/or an image difference between each of the candidate image slices and at least one reference image slice, a single image slice from the candidate image slices for constructing the 3D CT image for the target respiratory phase.

Abstract: A blood flow dynamic analysis apparatus analyzes the kinetics of a blood flow in a subject by injecting a contrast medium into the subject. The apparatus includes a map generation device computing the value of a parameter related to time change in the concentration of the contrast medium injected into the subject and generating a map of the parameter, and a display condition determination device determining a display condition for the map based on a threshold value of the parameter for discriminating between a lesion region where a lesion exists and an unaffected region where no lesion exists in the map.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a fluid position detection unit configured to detect a position of fluid in a subject, a biopsy needle position detection unit configured to detect a position of a biopsy needle to be inserted into the subject, a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between the fluid and the biopsy needle, based on the detected position of the fluid and the detected position of the biopsy needle, and a notice unit configured to generate a warning when the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A median plane determination apparatus determines a median plane based on volume data of a brain of a subject. The median plane is determined based on voxel values of voxels which intersect with a reference surface cutting across the brain.

Abstract: A method for ultrasound volume image data processing comprising acquiring ultrasound volume image data in a scan volume in which a line-like object is located, locating a position of the line-like object based on the ultrasound volume image data, defining a slab boundary box surrounding the line-like object based on the position of the line-like object, and rendering a region surrounded by the slab boundary box.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits an ultrasound wave to a target object and receives the ultrasound wave as ultrasound data reflected from the target object including a long axis direction blood vessel. An image generation unit generates an ultrasound image as a sectional image of the blood vessel. A region of interest (ROI) setting unit sets a first ROI on a vertical straight line at a right angle to the long axis direction and a second ROI on a wall of the blood vessel displayed at a designated time. A tracing unit traces movement of tissue in the target object corresponding to the first and second ROIs from the designated time to sequentially following thereafter by a gradient method using a spatial brightness gradient. A second memory unit stores information of the movement of the tissue for a predetermined duration.

Abstract: A communication method is provided. The communication method includes generating a pseudo background sound signal based on a gradient pulse control signal, performing a computation of subtracting the pseudo background sound signal from an acoustic signal having a sound signal and a background sound signal including a gradient coil drive sound signal, the acoustic signal obtained by an input device configured to receive the voice of a subject, and outputting sound based on a result of the computation, wherein a parameter of generating the pseudo background sound signal is controlled to reduce the difference resulting from the subtraction.

Abstract: A radiation tomography system is provided. The radiation tomography system includes a radiation source configured to rotate around a subject and apply radiation to the subject, a plurality of radiation detecting elements disposed opposite the radiation source, a plurality of collimator plates partitioning the radiation detecting elements in a channel direction, the collimator plates erected such that plate surfaces of each of the plurality of collimator plates extend along a direction of radiation from the radiation source, and an aperture-width changing unit configured to change a width of each aperture formed by the plurality of collimator plates by moving a plurality of radiation absorbing members along respective end sides of the collimator plates close to the radiation source, the plurality of radiation absorbing members moveable between a first position at which the end sides are covered and a second position at which the end sides are exposed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus is provided. The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes a measuring unit configured to perform a measurement on an instructed part in at least one measurement ultrasonic image, a storing unit configured to store the at least one measurement ultrasonic image on which the measurement is performed, a statistical processing unit configured to perform a statistical process on results of measurements performed a plurality of times on the same object in the same subject by the measuring unit, and an image display control unit configured to read a display ultrasonic image stored in the storing unit and display the display ultrasonic image together with a statistical value obtained by the statistical processing unit.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a position of a medical instrument with respect to a patient's body, including a medical instrument, a reference mount attachable to the patient's body for movement with the patient's body, and an electromagnetic unit for association with the reference mount and the medical instrument for monitoring movement of the medical instrument relative to the reference mount. The electromagnetic unit includes a first member attachable to the patient's body and a second member attachable to the medical instrument. The first and second members communicate by electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A rotation mechanism for use with an x-ray wallstand housing includes a rotating shaft, a gas spring, a connecting rod, a ball screw nut seat, a ball screw base, a brake, a clutch, a motor, a conveyor belt, a ball screw and a damper disposed between said ball screw base and said ball screw nut seat.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device is provided. The ultrasonic diagnostic device includes an ultrasonic probe configured to send and receive ultrasonic waves to and from a test subject, a sensor provided in the ultrasonic probe and configured to detect a dynamic state of the ultrasonic probe, a dynamic analysis section configured to analyze the dynamic state of the ultrasonic probe based on a detection signal of the sensor, and a control section configured to perform a control operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic device corresponding to the dynamic state of the ultrasonic probe as identified from the analysis by the dynamic analysis section.