Abstract: Provided are a resin composition for an acoustic wave probe including, a polymer which has a structural unit having a siloxane bond and a structural unit having a urea bond, an acoustic lens using the same, the acoustic wave probe, acoustic wave measurement apparatus, ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus, and ultrasound endoscope.

Abstract: Provided is a composition for an acoustic wave probe including a polysiloxane mixture containing polysiloxane and silica particles of which an average primary particle diameter exceeds 16 nm and less than 100 nm and which are subjected to surface treatment, and organic peroxide, and a silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe, the acoustic wave probe, an ultrasound probe, an acoustic wave measurement apparatus, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, a photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus, and an ultrasound endoscope using the composition for an acoustic wave probe.

Abstract: Provided is a composition for an acoustic wave probe including a polysiloxane mixture containing polysiloxane having a vinyl group, polysiloxane having two or more Si—H groups in a molecular chain, and silica particles of which an average primary particle diameter exceeds 16 nm and less than 100 nm and which are subjected to surface treatment, a silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe, the acoustic wave probe, an acoustic wave measurement apparatus, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasound probe, a photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus, and an ultrasound endoscope.

Abstract: In a photoacoustic measurement probe including an acoustic wave detector and an amplifier for amplifying a detection signal of a photoacoustic wave and a probe unit and a photoacoustic measurement apparatus having such a probe, heat is efficiently dissipated from the probe. In a probe having an acoustic wave detector and an amplifier, there are provided a first heat conductive member that is in contact with a part of a side plate of a housing and the amplifier to transfer heat generated by the amplifier to the side plate and a second heat conductive member that is in contact with a part different from the part of the side plate and the acoustic wave detector to transfer heat generated by the acoustic wave detector to the side plate.

Abstract: An acoustic wave detector detects photoacoustic waves generated by absorbing measurement light emitted toward a subject, and reflected acoustic waves with respect to acoustic waves transmitted toward the subject. A preamplifier amplifies a detection signal output by the acoustic wave detector. A bypass unit is intended to output the detection signal without passing through the preamplifier. Controller causes the preamplifier to enter an operating state and selects a first path along which the detection signal is amplified by the preamplifier and then is input to the reception circuit as a signal path in a case where the photoacoustic waves are detected. The controller stops an amplification operation in the preamplifier and selects a second path along which the detection signal is input to the reception circuit via a bypass uni as the signal path in a case where reflected acoustic waves are detected.

Abstract: A photoacoustic measurement device reducing artifacts caused by photoacoustic waves generated at a surface portion of a subject on which measurement light is incident, and a signal processing method thereof are obtained. A photoacoustic measurement device includes region discrimination unit that discriminates an artifact generation region and an artifact non-generation region in a photoacoustic image on the basis of a positional relationship between a light emitting portion and an acoustic wave detection portion, and filter unit that performs a first filtering process on a first photoacoustic wave detection signal corresponding to a photoacoustic image of the artifact non-generation region and performs a second filtering process on a second photoacoustic wave detection signal corresponding to a photoacoustic image of the artifact generation region.

Abstract: Provided is a composition for an acoustic wave probe including a polysiloxane mixture containing at least polysiloxane having a vinyl group and a phenyl group, polysiloxane having two or more Si—H groups in a molecular chain, and zinc oxide, a silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe, the acoustic wave probe, an acoustic wave measurement apparatus, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasound probe, a photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus, and an ultrasound endoscope.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasound probe capable of efficiently discharging heat generated in a plurality of piezoelectric elements to the outside. A heat collecting portion that includes at least one heat conducting path and is formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than a backing member collects heat from a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a heat exhausting portion connected to the heat collecting portion discharges the heat collected in the heat collecting portion to the outside. The heat conducting path extends in a thickness direction within the backing member and has a distal end exposed from the top surface of the backing member facing the bottom surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A photoacoustic measurement probe and a probe unit capable of preventing generation of artifacts in a photoacoustic measurement apparatus are obtained. In a photoacoustic measurement probe having a light emitting unit that emits measurement light toward a subject, an acoustic wave detection element that detects an acoustic wave emitted from a portion of the subject that has received the measurement light, and a housing which has a surface facing the subject at the time of use and in which the light emitting unit and the acoustic wave detection element are housed, at least one slit that is opened to the housing surface and that extends from the housing surface toward the inside of the housing is provided between the light emitting unit and the acoustic wave detection element.

Abstract: To provide a composition for an acoustic wave probe which can significantly improve the hardness and the mechanical strength (tensile strength at break, tensile elongation at break, tear strength, and abrasion resistance) of a silicone resin while maintaining a low acoustic attenuation, a silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe and the acoustic wave probe using the composition for an acoustic wave probe, an acoustic wave measurement apparatus, and an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. To provide an ultrasound probe in which cMUT is used as an ultrasonic diagnostic transducer, and the composition for an acoustic wave probe and the silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe which can improve the sensitivity of the photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus and the ultrasound endoscope.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe comprises: a backing material; a plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged on a top surface of the backing material; a first acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements; and a second acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the first acoustic matching layer, wherein the second acoustic matching layer comprises an upper organic layer constituting a plurality of organic piezoelectric elements, and a lower organic layer for performing, together with the upper organic layer, acoustic matching for the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe which transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject, receives ultrasonic echoes generated by reflection of the ultrasonic waves on the subject and outputs ultrasound image signals includes a case having a grip portion set therein and functional units disposed in the case. The functional units include an ultrasonic wave-generating unit, at least one integrated circuit board and a battery. The battery disposed in the case at a position corresponding to the grip portion ensures the safety of operators from heat generated in the at least one integrated circuit board and the like.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transducer array having a plurality of transducers arranged in an array, a transmission circuit which supplies an actuation signal to each transducer of the transducer array to transmit an ultrasonic wave toward a subject, a reception circuit which corrects a reception signal output from each transducer having received an ultrasonic echo from the subject in accordance with an angle between a reflection point in the subject and an acoustic radiation surface in each transducer to produce sample data, and an image producer which produces an ultrasound image on the basis of a sound ray signal obtained through phasing addition of sample data produced by the reception circuit.

Abstract: A composition for an acoustic-wave probe, containing a polysiloxane mixture, in which the polysiloxane mixture contains: a polysiloxane having a vinyl group; a polysiloxane having at least two Si—H groups in the molecular chain thereof; and silica particles having an average primary particle size of less than 12 nm.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe for a puncture needle and an ultrasound diagnostic device using the same are disclosed. The ultrasound probe for the puncture needle transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject from a transducer array which is arranged so as to be tilted at a predetermined array angle of inclination with respect to a subject contact surface, in a direction in which an angle of an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface with respect to a puncturing direction of the puncture needle punctured from a puncture position toward the front of the subject contact surface decreases, receives ultrasonic echoes, forms sound ray signals which are tilted to a side of the puncture needle, and generates a B mode image of a deep region of the subject from the sound ray signals.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasound probe capable of efficiently discharging heat generated in a plurality of piezoelectric elements to the outside. A heat collecting portion that includes at least one heat conducting path and is formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than a backing member collects heat from a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a heat exhausting portion connected to the heat collecting portion discharges the heat collected in the heat collecting portion to the outside. The heat conducting path extends in a thickness direction within the backing member and has a distal end exposed from the top surface of the backing member facing the bottom surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a backing member, inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged on a top surface of the backing member, an acoustic matching layer disposed on and extending over the inorganic piezoelectric elements, and organic piezoelectric elements arranged on the acoustic matching layer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe that can be relatively easily manufactured and has a desired ultrasonic radiation surface. The ultrasonic probe includes: plural supporting materials, each having a principal surface on which plural signal wires are formed, the plural supporting materials arranged such that the principal surfaces are oriented in different directions from one another; plural groups of ultrasonic transducers, plural ultrasonic transducers in each group having plural electrodes formed on side surfaces, the plural electrodes respectively joined to the plural signal wires formed on the principal surface of the respective one of the plural supporting materials.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in an array, a plurality of drawn-out signal lines drawn out from the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a print board on which a plurality of connection conductors are formed for connecting between a plurality of communication cables connected to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body and the plurality of drawn-out signal lines, respectively, connection-conductor insulation layers being formed on the printed board so as to cover respective outer peripheries of the plurality of connection conductors, and a connection-conductor ground conductive layer being formed on the printed board so as to cover individual outer peripheries of the connection-conductor insulation layers, whereby the plurality of connection conductors are shielded from one another.

Abstract: The ultrasound probe includes ultrasound transducers arranged in an array; transmission paths of the reception signals; impedance matching elements connected to the ultrasound transducers, respectively, each being disposed in each of the transmission paths of the reception signals, and each having a respective preset matching frequency. The impedance matching elements have a distribution in which a matching frequency of an impedance matching element becomes higher as an arrangement position of an ultrasound transducer corresponding to the impedance matching element in the array of the ultrasound transducers becomes closer to a center of the array, in order to reduce an influence of transmission/reception angles of ultrasonic waves due to the arrangement position of the corresponding ultrasound transducer in the array.