Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an ultrasonic CT device in which a reflected signal or the like from an object disposed close to transducers is received, and a reception signal thereof can be received by a receiver while transceivers whose number is smaller than the number of the transducers are used. The ultrasonic CT device includes: a transducer array in which a plurality of transducers are arranged; transceivers whose number is smaller than the number of the transducers; and a transmission transducer selector and a reception transducer selector disposed for each of the transceivers. While a transmitter included in the transceiver is selectively connected to any of the transducers in the transducer array by the transmission transducer selector, a receiver included in the transceiver is selectively connected to any of the transducers in the transducer array by the reception transducer selector.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic CT device for breast examination, unevenness of an ultrasonic image due to a distribution of inclination angles of a breast is reduced. The distribution of the inclination angles of a surface of a subject in a contour of the subject is obtained from a tomographic image, and a signal level of a reception signal or a pixel value of the tomographic image is corrected using the distribution of the inclination angles.

Abstract: Provided is a device that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from an entire periphery of a specimen while preventing a movement of the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmission and reception device includes: an oscillator array that is arrayed with an oscillator, the oscillator transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a fixing tool that is disposed between the oscillator array and the specimen and retains the specimen; and a drive mechanism that presses at least a part of the fixing tool against the specimen as to retain the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmitted by the oscillator array passes through the fixing tool and irradiates on the specimen, and as for the oscillator array, the oscillator array and the fixing tool are disposed in a positional relationship such that the ultrasonic wave reflected by and/or passing through by the specimen and passing through the fixing tool is received.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic CT device capable of shaping a measurement part such as a breast of a measurement target into a shape suitable for measurement and reducing burden on the measurement target. The ultrasonic CT device includes a tubular measurement container, and a transducer array configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to a measurement target inserted in the measurement container and receive ultrasonic waves from the measurement target. Gel is disposed in the measurement container, and a surface of the gel is inclose contact with at least a surface of the measurement target to which the ultrasonic waves are transmitted. The ultrasonic waves transmitted from the transducer array pass through the gel and are emitted to the measurement target from the surface in close contact with the measurement target.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an ultrasonic CT device in which a reflected signal or the like from an object disposed close to transducers is received, and a reception signal thereof can be received by a receiver while transceivers whose number is smaller than the number of the transducers are used. The ultrasonic CT device includes: a transducer array in which a plurality of transducers are arranged; transceivers whose number is smaller than the number of the transducers; and a transmission transducer selector and a reception transducer selector disposed for each of the transceivers. While a transmitter included in the transceiver is selectively connected to any of the transducers in the transducer array by the transmission transducer selector, a receiver included in the transceiver is selectively connected to any of the transducers in the transducer array by the reception transducer selector.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic CT device for breast examination, unevenness of an ultrasonic image due to a distribution of inclination angles of a breast is reduced. The distribution of the inclination angles of a surface of a subject in a contour of the subject is obtained from a tomographic image, and a signal level of a reception signal or a pixel value of the tomographic image is corrected using the distribution of the inclination angles.

Abstract: A sinogram is corrected in a form that can use a straight-ray type reconstruction method while considering trajectory of refracted waves. Specifically, based on the sequentially estimated path information of the virtual waves, an arrival time difference sinogram is corrected by a difference or a ratio between “shortest arrival time of wave” and “arrival time of the wave through the shortest path” to each detection element.

Abstract: Provided is a device that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from an entire periphery of a specimen while preventing a movement of the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmission and reception device includes: an oscillator array that is arrayed with an oscillator, the oscillator transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a fixing tool that is disposed between the oscillator array and the specimen and retains the specimen; and a drive mechanism that presses at least a part of the fixing tool against the specimen as to retain the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmitted by the oscillator array passes through the fixing tool and irradiates on the specimen, and as for the oscillator array, the oscillator array and the fixing tool are disposed in a positional relationship such that the ultrasonic wave reflected by and/or passing through by the specimen and passing through the fixing tool is received.

Abstract: A sinogram is corrected in a form that can use a straight-ray type reconstruction method while considering trajectory of refracted waves. Specifically, based on the sequentially estimated path information of the virtual waves, an arrival time difference sinogram is corrected by a difference or a ratio between “shortest arrival time of wave” and “arrival time of the wave through the shortest path” to each detection element.

Abstract: An error in a physical property value due to refraction of an ultrasonic wave is reduced, and thus the physical property value is calculated with high accuracy. A transducer of a transducer array transmits an ultrasonic beam to a subject placed in a predetermined imaging space, the transducer receives a transmission of the ultrasonic beam transmitted through the subject, and an image generating unit generates a transmission image based on the reception signal. The controller includes a focal length adjusting unit that adjusts a length between a focal position of the ultrasonic beam and the center of an imaging space to adjust a divergence angle of the ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic signal processing apparatus in which the amount of an ultrasonic propagation material in a measurement unit that stores a transducer array is reduced while the transducer array and a target are separated from each other, and thus maintenance of the ultrasonic propagation material is easily managed. The ultrasonic signal processing apparatus includes a water tank having an opening portion, a measurement unit, and a moving unit. The measurement unit which is disposed on an outside of the water tank, includes a transducer array that transmits and receives an ultrasonic signal, and a space which is filled with a material for propagating the ultrasonic signal, and measures the ultrasonic signal. The moving unit is connected to the measurement unit, and moves the measurement unit between the opening portion and the bottom portion of the water tank, along a side wall thereof.