Abstract: A beamforming apparatus obtains the beamforming parameters that realize arbitrary desirable PSF by using optimization theories. The apparatus uses at least one of the beamforming parameters such as the intensities, frequencies, bandwidths and shapes of the signals transmitted by the transmitting unit, the filtering of noises, amplifications (gains) and shapes of the signals received by the receiving unit, delays of the directions of propagation and array used by the delay units, apodization functions of the directions of propagation and array used by the apodization units, the number of the additions of the signals by the addition unit, array element parameters such as element size or shape and how to implement the elements in transducers (e.g., connections by leads between the elements and with the surroundings), which are determined by the specified optimization process to realize the desirable PSF.

Abstract: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even if there exist another mechanical sources and uncontrollable mechanical sources in the object. The elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus is equipped with means of data storing 2 (storage of deformation data measured in the ROI 7 etc.) and means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants 1 (calculator of shear modulus etc. at arbitrary point in the ROI from measured strain tensor data etc.), the means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants numerically determines elastic constants etc. from the first order partial differential equations relating elastic constants etc. and strain tensor etc.

Abstract: A thermal property measurement apparatus capable of directly measuring thermal conductivity distribution in a ROI within a target only by measuring the temperature distribution that already exists in the ROI without generating other temperature fields artificially. The thermal property measurement apparatus includes a temperature detector for measuring temperatures at plural positions in the ROI, a distance controller for controlling a distance between the temperature detector and the target, a scanner for changing a relative position therebetween, a stage for putting the object thereon, a recorder for recording measured temperature data, position data and time data, a determination unit for determining whether at least one of thermal conductive phenomena and convection phenomena is dealt with or not, a processor for calculating thermal conductivity distribution in the ROI from the recorded data and temporal changeable references of the thermal conductivity in the ROI, and a controller.

Abstract: A beamforming apparatus obtains the beamforming parameters that realize arbitrary desirable PSF by using optimization theories. The apparatus uses at least one of the beamforming parameters such as the intensities, frequencies, bandwidths and shapes of the signals transmitted by the transmitting unit, the filtering of noises, amplifications (gains) and shapes of the signals received by the receiving unit, delays of the directions of propagation and array used by the delay units, apodization functions of the directions of propagation and array used by the apodization units, the number of the additions of the signals by the addition unit, array element parameters such as element size or shape and how to implement the elements in transducers (e.g., connections by leads between the elements and with the surroundings), which are determined by the specified optimization process to realize the desirable PSF.

Abstract: A thermal property measurement apparatus capable of directly measuring thermal conductivity distribution in a ROI within a target only by measuring the temperature distribution that already exists in the ROI without generating other temperature fields artificially. The thermal property measurement apparatus includes a temperature detector for measuring temperatures at plural positions in the ROI, a distance controller for controlling a distance between the temperature detector and the target, a scanner for changing a relative position therebetween, a stage for putting the object thereon, a recorder for recording measured temperature data, position data and time data, a determination unit for determining whether at least one of thermal conductive phenomena and convection phenomena is dealt with or not, a processor for calculating thermal conductivity distribution in the ROI from the recorded data and temporal changeable references of the thermal conductivity in the ROI, and a controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even if there exist another mechanical sources and uncontrollable mechanical sources in the object. The elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus is equipped with means of data storing 2 (storage of deformation data measured in the ROI 7 etc.) and means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants 1 (calculator of shear modulus etc. at arbitrary point in the ROI from measured strain tensor data etc.), the means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants numerically determines elastic constants etc. from the first order partial differential equations relating elastic constants etc. and strain tensor etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even if there exist another mechanical sources and uncontrollable mechanical sources in the object. The elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus is equipped with means of data storing 2 (storage of deformation data measured in the ROI 7 etc.) and means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants 1 (calculator of shear modulus etc. at arbitrary point in the ROI from measured strain tensor data etc.), the means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants numerically determines elastic constants etc. from the first order partial differential equations relating elastic constants etc. and strain tensor etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even if there exist another mechanical sources and uncontrollable mechanical sources in the object. The elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus is equipped with means of data storing 2 (storage of deformation data measured in the ROI 7 etc.) and means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants 1 (calculator of shear modulus etc. at arbitrary point in the ROI from measured strain tensor data etc.), the means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants numerically determines elastic constants etc. from the first order partial differential equations relating elastic constants etc. and strain tensor etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even if there exist another mechanical sources and uncontrollable mechanical sources in the object. The elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus is equipped with means of data storing 2 (storage of deformation data measured in the ROI 7 etc.) and means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants 1 (calculator of shear modulus etc. at arbitrary point in the ROI from measured strain tensor data etc.), the means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants numerically determines elastic constants etc. from the first order partial differential equations relating elastic constants etc. and strain tensor etc.

Abstract: There are provided an elasticity measuring method of measuring an elastic constant of elasticity of an elastic body, for example, an elastic rubber, an organism or a living body, etc., which is soft and rather incompressible, by means of measuring an internal strain using energy such as ultrasounds, an X-ray, and magnetism, where the elastic constant includes, for example, typically shear modulus, Young's modulus, etc.; and an elasticity measuring apparatus adapted to practice such an elasticity measuring method. According to such method and apparatus, the elastic constant distribution within the subject is detected only through measuring the strain distribution within the subject, without measuring the stress distribution.