Abstract: An ultrasonic cross-sectional image measuring device has: a living body compressing device including an annular compression band wrapped around a portion of the living body, an ultrasonic transmission plate material allowing transmission of ultrasonic waves, disposed on a portion of the compression band, and brought into close contact with the portion of the living body, and an actuator adjusting a tension of the compression band to change a compression pressure of the ultrasonic transmission plate material to the living body; a container including an opening closed by the ultrasonic transmission plate material and filled with a liquid; an ultrasonic probe housed in the container and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves through the ultrasonic transmission plate material to and from the portion of the living body; and a control device generating an ultrasonic cross-sectional image based on an ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: A pressure vessel is provided with an annular inflation bag and an annular inflation bag for sealing the pressure vessel at intermediate positions of brachium and antebrachium of the live body in longitudinal direction of the arms of the live body, and is configured to permit a change of an internal pressure therein over a pressure range a lower limit of which is a negative value, while a portion of the brachium and antebrachium between first and second positions in the longitudinal direction is accommodated in the pressure vessel, so that the pressure vessel can be comparatively small-sized even where arterial vessel (luminal part) of a comparatively large diameter is accommodated in the pressure vessel, whereby the physical and mental burden on the subject person can be reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a short-axis image of a blood vessel under a skin of a living being, the apparatus including an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic array which has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in one direction in an emission surface and which emits, from the emission surface, an ultrasonic beam toward the blood vessel, the ultrasonic probe additionally including a main frame which is adapted to be placed on the skin of the living being, an x-axis supporting device which is supported by the main frame and which supports the ultrasonic array such that the ultrasonic array is rotatable about an x axis parallel to the direction of arrangement of the ultrasonic transducers in the emission surface, and an x-axis control device which controls a posture of the ultrasonic array supported by the x-axis supporting device such that in a y-z plane, the emission surface of the ultrasonic array is parallel to the blood vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a sensor such that the sensor touches an object at an arbitrary position in a three-dimensional space, the apparatus including a base member; a rotatable member which is rotatable relative to the base member about a vertical axis line; a first link device including a first stationary link, a first movable link, and two first pivotable links which are pivotably connected to the first stationary link and the first movable link, such that the first stationary link, the first movable link, and the two first pivotable links cooperate with each other to define a quadrilateral, wherein the first stationary link is fixed to the rotatable member such that the first movable link is movable in a plane containing the axis line; a second link device including two second pivotable links, and a second stationary link and a second movable link which are pivotably connected to the two second pivotable links, such that the two second pivotable links, the second stationary link, and the second movable l

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a function of an endothelium of a blood vessel of a living being, by stopping, using an inflatable cuff wound around a forearm of the living being, a flow of blood in a blood vessel of the forearm, subsequently ending the stopping of the flow of blood, and causing an ultrasonic probe placed on a skin of an upper arm of the living being to emit, from an emission surface thereof, an ultrasonic wave toward a blood vessel under the skin, the apparatus including an elbow-portion support member which supports an elbow portion of the living being; and a hand-dorsal-portion support member which supports a dorsal portion of a hand of the living being and which cooperates with the elbow-portion support member to keep, in a space, the inflatable cuff wound around the forearm of the living being.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a short-axis image of a blood vessel under a skin of a living being, the apparatus including an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic array which has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in one direction in an emission surface and which emits, from the emission surface, an ultrasonic beam toward the blood vessel, the ultrasonic probe additionally including a main frame which is adapted to be placed on the skin of the living being, an x-axis supporting device which is supported by the main frame and which supports the ultrasonic array such that the ultrasonic array is rotatable about an x axis parallel to the direction of arrangement of the ultrasonic transducers in the emission surface, and an x-axis control device which controls a posture of the ultrasonic array supported by the x-axis supporting device such that in a y-z plane, the emission surface of the ultrasonic array is parallel to the blood vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a sensor such that the sensor touches an object at an arbitrary position in a three-dimensional space, the apparatus including a base member; a rotatable member which is rotatable relative to the base member about a vertical axis line; a first link device including a first stationary link, a first movable link, and two first pivotable links which are pivotably connected to the first stationary link and the first movable link, such that the first stationary link, the first movable link, and the two first pivotable links cooperate with each other to define a quadrilateral, wherein the first stationary link is fixed to the rotatable member such that the first movable link is movable in a plane containing the axis line; a second link device including two second pivotable links, and a second stationary link and a second movable link which are pivotably connected to the two second pivotable links, such that the two second pivotable links, the second stationary link, and the second movable l