Abstract: A capacitive ultrasonic transducer (c-MUT) comprising a silicon substrate and a transducer element which comprises transducer cells, each of which is constituted by a first electrode equipped on the top surface of the silicon substrate, a second electrode placed opposite to the first electrode with a predetermined gap therefrom and a membrane for supporting the second electrode, wherein a trench is equipped between the adjacent transducers and a conductive film is formed in the trench.

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 diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer unit having inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged in layer form and organic piezoelectric elements arranged in layer form, the inorganic piezoelectric elements and the organic piezoelectric elements being stacked on each other with a first acoustic matching layer provided therebetween, a transmission circuit for transmitting ultrasound from the inorganic piezoelectric elements through the organic piezoelectric elements serving as a second acoustic matching layer, a reception circuit for using the organic piezoelectric elements as non-resonant reception devices to receive an ultrasonic echo and thereby obtain reception signals and processing the reception signals so as to generate sample data, and an image generating unit for generating an ultrasound image based on the sample data generated by the reception circuit.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording medium comprising: a support including a base paper, a first polyolefin resin layer disposed on one side of the base paper, and a second polyolefin resin layer disposed on the other side of the base paper, and an ink receiving layer including inorganic particles and a water-soluble resin, the ink receiving layer being disposed on one side of the support, wherein a first surface of the support at a side that is opposite to a side at which the ink receiving layer is disposed has a centerline average roughness (Ra) of from 0.5 ?m to 1.0 ?m when measured in accordance with JIS-B-0601 with a cutoff value of 0.8 mm, and an average surface roughness (Sra) of 0.3 ?m or less when a cutoff value is from 1 ?m to 25 ?m.

Abstract: In an examination section of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic transducer (UT) unit, a shape measurement unit, and a belt conveyor for moving the UT unit and the shape measurement unit parallel to an object to be viewed are provided. The UT unit has an UT array constituted of five ultrasonic transducers UTa to UTe arranged on a curved convex surface. The UT unit performs ultrasonic scanning of the object C to be viewed. The shape measurement unit has a laser light source and a light receiver, and measures a shape of the object C to be viewed. Based on the result of the shape measurement, a main controller of a processor selectively drives the UT, which could apply the ultrasonic wave vertically to the object C to be viewed, among the UTa to UTe, according to the moved position of the UT unit.

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: 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 ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer unit having inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged in layer form and organic piezoelectric elements arranged in layer form, the inorganic piezoelectric elements and the organic piezoelectric elements being stacked on each other with a first acoustic matching layer provided therebetween, a transmission circuit for transmitting ultrasound from the inorganic piezoelectric elements through the organic piezoelectric elements serving as a second acoustic matching layer, a reception circuit for using the organic piezoelectric elements as non-resonant reception devices to receive an ultrasonic echo and thereby obtain reception signals and processing the reception signals so as to generate sample data, and an image generating unit for generating an ultrasound image based on the sample data generated by the reception circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope in which the temperature rise can be suppressed with a reduced diameter. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part including plural ultrasonic transducers; an exterior member for accommodating the ultrasonic transducer part; and a heat conducting part provided inside of the exterior member and respectively connected to the ultrasonic transducer part and an inner surface of the exterior member. It is preferable that the heat conducting part has a coefficient of thermal conductivity equal to or more than 10 W/(m·K). Further, it is preferable that one of the heat conducting member and the exterior member has an electric insulation property.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a light irradiator for irradiating a lattice point set in the region to be imaged with light converging to the lattice point, so as to impart heat locally to the point; an image for distortion amount calculation-generating section for generating an ultrasound image for distortion amount calculation based on a reception signal of ultrasound generated; and a distortion amount calculating section for calculating the difference between the position of the lattice point on an ultrasound image for distortion amount calculation and the absolute coordinates of the lattice point as the distortion amount. Such apparatus allows precise sound speed values in the living body to be obtained and, accordingly, an ultrasound image of high accuracy to be taken. In consequence, a more accurate diagnosis is conducted on the region to be diagnosed in a subject.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording medium comprising: a support including a base paper, a first polyolefin resin layer disposed on one side of the base paper, and a second polyolefin resin layer disposed on the other side of the base paper, and an ink receiving layer including inorganic particles and a water-soluble resin, the ink receiving layer being disposed on one side of the support, wherein a first surface of the support at a side that is opposite to a side at which the ink receiving layer is disposed has a centerline average roughness (Ra) of from 0.5 ?m to 1.0 ?m when measured in accordance with JIS-B-0601 with a cutoff value of 0.8 mm, and an average surface roughness (Sra) of 0.3 ?m or less when a cutoff value is from 1 ?m to 25 ?m.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a high-speed supply system having a relatively small opening for ejecting a processing liquid through the relatively small opening to supply the processing liquid into a processing bath, and a low-speed supply system having a relatively large opening for ejecting the processing liquid through the relatively large opening to supply the processing liquid into the processing bath. While an etching process is in progress, the processing liquid is supplied through the high-speed supply system. This decreases a difference in concentration of a liquid chemical component in the processing liquid within the processing bath to improve the uniformity of the etching process. While the etching process is not in progress, on the other hand, the processing liquid is supplied through the low-speed supply system. This improves the efficiency of the replacement of the processing liquid within the processing bath.

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: In a multilayered piezoelectric element, a side insulating film is accurately formed even on a thin multilayered structure. The element includes: a multilayered structure having a step formed on a side surface of the multilayered structure such that an end of an internal electrode is located on a projecting portion of either side surface; a side insulating film for covering the end of the internal electrode on the projecting portion of the side surface; a first flat electrode formed on one principal surface of the multilayered structure; a second flat electrode formed on the other principal surface of the multilayered structure; a first side electrode formed on a first side surface of the multilayered structure and connected to a first group of electrodes; and a second side electrode formed on a second side surface of the multilayered structure and connected to a second group of electrodes.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus discharges a hydrofluoric acid solution from discharge nozzles toward grooves formed in side walls of an inner bath. The hydrofluoric acid solution discharged from the discharge nozzles impinges upon the grooves to diffuse, thereby moving toward a top portion of the inner bath in the form of low-speed uniform liquid flows. Thus, a metal component and foreign substances generated in the inner bath float up toward the top portion of the inner bath without being agitated within the inner bath, and are rapidly drained to an outer bath together with the hydrofluoric acid solution.

Abstract: In an examination section of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic transducer (UT) unit, a shape measurement unit, and a belt conveyor for moving the UT unit and the shape measurement unit parallel to an object to be viewed are provided. The UT unit has an UT array constituted of five ultrasonic transducers UTa to UTe arranged on a curved convex surface. The UT unit performs ultrasonic scanning of the object C to be viewed. The shape measurement unit has a laser light source and a light receiver, and measures a shape of the object C to be viewed. Based on the result of the shape measurement, a main controller of a processor selectively drives the UT, which could apply the ultrasonic wave vertically to the object C to be viewed, among the UTa to UTe, according to the moved position of the UT unit.

Abstract: A capacitive ultrasonic transducer (c-MUT) comprising a silicon substrate and a transducer element which comprises transducer cells, each of which is constituted by a first electrode equipped on the top surface of the silicon substrate, a second electrode placed opposite to the first electrode with a predetermined gap therefrom and a membrane for supporting the second electrode, wherein a trench is equipped between the adjacent transducers and a conductive film is formed in the trench.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe has transmitting ultrasonic transducers and receiving ultrasonic transducers. The transmitting ultrasonic transducer is composed of a multilayer piezoelectric element, and the receiving ultrasonic transducer is composed of a single-layer piezoelectric element. The transmitting and receiving ultrasonic transducers are alternately arranged in an azimuth direction to form a piezoelectric element line. The single transmitting ultrasonic transducer and the single receiving ultrasonic transducer that adjoin to each other compose a single channel to transmit ultrasonic waves and receive echoes. The transmitting ultrasonic transducer is connected to a transmission circuit board on which a pulser is implemented, and the receiving ultrasonic transducer is connected to a reception circuit board on which an amplifier is implemented. The receiving ultrasonic transducer is directly connected to the amplifier without passing through a capacitance transmission line.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (UTs). Each UT transmits ultrasonic waves and receives echo waves. In a B/A coefficient acquisition mode, every time a transmission of the ultrasonic waves and reception of echo waves takes place, ultrasonic waves for heating are transmitted to heat an object of interest. An HI processor calculates a non-linear B/A coefficient based on a harmonic component of a detection signal from the UT. The HI processor acquires information of changes in the B/A coefficient while the object of interest is heated with the ultrasonic waves for heating. A DSC displays the information of the B/A coefficient together with an ultrasonic image on a monitor.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic transducer array, a plurality of vibrators arranged in an array is bonded to a base plate by bond material. The bond material bonds the bottom of the each vibrator to the base plate in a manner to surround lower part of the side face of the vibrator. A filling material is filled in between the vibrators. The filling material has a multi-layer structure of different rigidity. In a double layer structure of the filling material, it is preferable that thickness ratio of layer of filling material at the base plate side (lower side) to the other layer of the filling material is 1:1 to 1:3. Preferably, a beam is provided for connecting the side faces of the adjacent vibrators.