Abstract: An ultrasonic array probe is fixed to a rotational shaft at a predetermined angle, and thus a mechanical structure is made simple. An ultrasonic beam is electronically controlled so that an ultrasonic transmission/reception direction may become substantially perpendicular to the surface of the mamma. Thereby, data on the entire mamma including a C? region can be collected only by the rotation of the probe. In addition, a membrane which is interposed between the probe and the mamma is formed to have a mesh-like structure, thereby reducing multiple reflection. Moreover, a B mode image and a C mode image are displayed at the same time, and thereby an accurate diagnosis can be performed in a short time.

Abstract: The gantry of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a static magnetic field magnet, a gradient coil, a high-frequency coil, and a sealed vessel housing the gradient coil. The sealed vessel is made of a nonconductive material. Even if a gradient magnetic field is switched at high speed, no eddy current flows in the sealed vessel. Therefore, the sealed vessel does not vibrate.

Abstract: A parenchymatous tissue image and a blood vessel image are synthesized as follows. First, a tomographic image of a specific cross section of the parenchymatous tissue image is synthesized with the blood vessel image closer to the viewpoint along the Z-axis than the tomographic image. Then, the resulting image is displayed. Thereafter, the operator inputs specific data from operation unit including a mouse and a keyboard, thereby changing the position of a displayed tomographic image along the Z-axis. This enables the operator to sequentially display two-dimensional tomographic images (B-mode images) constituting a three-dimensional parenchymatous tissue image as if to turn over the pages of a book.

Abstract: Solid-borne vibrations and airborne vibrations from a gradient coil unit in an MRI gantry environment are markedly reduced thereby reducing ambient noise occurring due to the vibrations. Support assemblies retain the gradient coil unit in a mechanically-uncoupled or substantially-uncoupled state relative to the magnet by supporting the coil unit at separate positions on the floor (e.g., with anchor bolts rigidly coupling coil support assemblies to the floor). Moreover, the gradient coil unit and at least parts of the support assemblies may be retained in a vacuum space.

Abstract: An ultrasonic image processing for accurately detecting the annulus portion from the ultrasonic image of the long axis view of a heart. A heart wall contour is extracted from the ultrasonic image, and a center of gravity of the heart wall contour is determined. Then, for an image imaged from an apex portion side, the annulus portion is detected from points on the heart wall contour located at positions deeper than the center of gravity, whereas for an image imaged by a transesophageal echocardlography, the annulus portion is detected from points on the heart wall contour located at positions shallower than the center of gravity.

Abstract: An ultrasound beam is repeatedly transmitted and received to and from an object, so that an echo signal is repeatedly obtained. A velocity of each of a plurality of portions on the ultrasound beam is calculated based on the echo signal. A position of at least one specific portion of the plurality of portions is tracked in as it changes with the passage of time based on the velocity to obtain a path where the specific portion moves. Conventionally the change of brightness of the M-mode image was tracked to obtain the path. According to the present invention, since the path is obtained based on the velocity having high resolution, the accuracy of track can be improved.

Abstract: A probe set in contact with a subject under examination emits ultrasonic waves, scanning a sectional plane of the subject. The probe receives the waves reflected from the sectional plane, thereby acquiring tomography data and velocity data. Frames of tomography data and frames of velocity data are stored. After completion of the scanning, a tomography image of the sectional plane is reproduced from the tomography data and is displayed. An operator sets a region of interest (ROI) on the tomography image displayed. A blood flow velocity distribution, a blood stream volume or a tissue velocity distribution is calculated from the velocity data corresponding to the ROI. That is, the operator can devote himself to an operation of fitting the scanning plane of the probe to an optimum sectional plane of the body during a scan and to an operation of setting the ROI in an optimum position while tomography images are being reproduced.

Abstract: The minimum amount of data regarding cardiac function required for evaluation is measured non-invasively and various cardiac function parameters are computed (estimated) based on the measured values, and the results are displayed in an optimal form for evaluation. A cardiac function examination system comprises a device for measuring the amount of blood ejected from the ventricle to the aorta based on reflected ultrasonic pulses, a device for measuring the aorta or thick artery diameter based on reflected ultrasonic pulses, a device for inputting at least one of maximum and minimum blood pressure values, a device for computing a maximum ventricular volume or an ejection fraction, and a device for acquiring parameters such as cardiac volume or aorta pressure parameter regarding cardiac function based on the measured values of the ejection amount, the blood vessel diameter, and the ejection fraction, or any one of these, and the input pressure values.

Abstract: An acoustic medical treatment apparatus using electroacoustic transducer elements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, in which an ultrasonic image of a diagnostic region of an object having flows of blood is formed, utilizes a Doppler shift for calculating a blood flow amount. For example, first, a plurality of ultrasonic beams are trasnmitted for the diagnostic region and echo signals of the beams are received for forming the ultrasonic image and obtaining Doppler shifts. A measuring line intersecting the flows of blood is delineated on the ultrasonic image. The measuring line orthogonal with the blood flows is preferred. For example, Doppler shift frequancies of the blood flows at measuring points designated on the measuring line are inferred on the basis of the echo signals of Doppler shift already obtaind and memorized. The measuring points are imaginary points in such a case. Using the Doppler shift frequencies of the blood flows, a total amount of blood flows is calculated.

Abstract: A phased-array ultrasonic probe transmits/receives ultrasonic beams to/from a subject to electronically scan a predetermined part of the subject. A calculation unit calculates cross-correlation function data between adjacent scanning lines obtained by the electronic scan. The cross-correlation function data is supplied to a DSC through a memory. The DSC superimposes organ outline data obtained based on the cross-correlation function data, upon a tomographic image, and an image obtained by the superimposition is displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: A plurality of semiconductor radiation detector elements are arranged in a matrix array. The same number of signal process circuits as the detector elements are exclusively connected to the respective detector elements. The detector signals derived from the individual detector elements are independently stored in predetermined memory cells of a frame memory. Further, a coding circuit is connected between the signal process circuits and the frame memory.

Abstract: A blood flow amount measuring apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer for steering a region of interest of a subject to be measured with an ultrasonic beam and receiving echoes from that region. A Doppler calculation section detects a Doppler signal on a line orthogonal with the steering lines from the echo signal. The speed v of a blood flow on that line at the region of interest is calculated from the Doppler signal and thus and an amount of blood flowing through the region of interest can be evaluated from that speed and area area of the section of that blood flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tissue characterization and imaging of nonlinear parameter data include an array of ultrasonic transducer elements to transmit ultrasonic pulses along a beam toward the tissue and to receive echoes of the ultrasonic pulses. The ultrasonic transducer elements are driven so that the ultrasonic pulses are transmitted at different power levels. The echoes of the ultrasonic pulses are analyzed at each of the different power levels to obtain the nonlinear parameter data along the beam. The beam is scanned in a two-dimensional plane of the tissue. The nonlinear parameter data is displayed according to the two-dimensional plane.

Abstract: Radiation images are stored in a storage medium such as a light-stimulable phosphor, so-called "imaging plate". The radiation images temporarily stored in the entire imaging plate are read out by irradiating the exciting light to each line of the imaging plate so as to emit the accelerated phosphorescence. The emitted accelerated phosphorescence is received by the line sensor.

Abstract: An X-ray image transmitted through a patient is radiated on a phosphor member having a wide field of view and dimensions of about 40 cm.times.40 cm, and is converted into an optical image. The optical image is radiated on a light detector through a light guide member at substantially the same magnification. The light detector has pixels arranged in a 2,000.times.2,000 two-dimensional matrix form. Each pixel has a photocell and a MOSFET connected to each photocell. The photocell is electrically equivalent to a parallel circuit consisting of a photosensitive portion and an electrode capacitor. An extra capacitor is parallel-connected to the parallel circuit and a switch can turn on/off a connection between the extra capacitor and the photocell. When the optical image is radiated on the photocells, each photocell generates charges corresponding to the light amount, and the light amount is recorded in the electrode capacitor or the electrode capacitor and the extra capacitor, as a charged electrical amount.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tissue characterization and imaging of nonlinear parameter data include an array of ultrasonic transducer elements to transmit ultrasonic pulses along a beam toward the tissue and to receive echoes of the ultrasonic pulses. The ultrasonic transducer elements are driven so that the ultrasonic pulses are transmitted at different power levels. The echoes of the ultrasonic pulses are analyzed at each of the different power levels to obtain the nonlinear parameter data along the beam. The beam is scanned in a two-dimensional plane of the tissue. The nonlinear parameter data is displayed according to the two-dimensional plane.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the sound velocity of the tissue within an object to be investigated. A pulse of ultrasonic energy is transmitted along a steered transmitting beam into the object by a first sub-array of transducer elements that are a distinct part of an array of transducer elements. The echoes of the pulses return to the array along a steered receiving beam activated by a second sub-array of transducer, and the system measures the propagation time for the pulse to leave and return to the array. The average sound velocity within the object can be determined from the measured propagation time and the known geometric characteristics of the array, sub-array, and steered angles. The system and method can also be modified to determine the sound velocity of an inner tissue body, such as a lever, within a larger object, such as a human body, being investigated.

Abstract: An apparatus for observing blood flow patterns by utilizing ultrasonic beams which includes at least a pulse generator, a transducer, first and second phase detectors, and a monitor. The ultrasonic beams are transmitted and received by the transducer to obtain echo signals reflected from the body. The echo signals are phase-detected by the first phase detector to derive pulsed Doppler signals. The pulsed Doppler signals are phase-detected by the second phase detector to derive phase difference signals between the sampled pulsed Doppler signals. The sampling periods are determined in accordance with a depth of the body along a travel path of the ultrasonic beams. The blood flow patterns of the blood cells of the body are displayed on the monitor by processing the phase difference signals.

Abstract: A pulsed ultrasound Doppler blood flow sensing device includes a band pass filter for extracting only the Doppler frequency shift signals from the sampled and held signals, the band pass filter having a band pass characteristic in which a variation of an attenuation degree is almost flat over at least a frequency band between -f.sub.r /2 and +f.sub.r /2 except for a region in proximity to frequency O. A display displays blood flow signals which represent the obtained Doppler frequency shifts and have frequencies at least between the frequencies -f.sub.r and +f.sub.r.