Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus having a rack and pinion movement converting mechanism for converting rotation movement of a steering wheel into linear movement by engagement between a pinion shaft and a rack shaft. A motor for assisting a driver's steering force asserted on the steering wheel is provided along with the rack and pinion movement converting mechanism and, an elastic body is inserted in a mechanism passage from the pinion shaft to an output shaft of the motor to produce system with low load exerted on the steering mechanism and with reduced rattle and reduced influence from frictional force of a power assisting motor.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the subject, the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject are received to obtain received signals, and an image is produced in accordance with the received signals thus obtained, and particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of guiding a puncture needle to be introduced into the subject. Of a scanning area formed with a number of scanning lines scanned by ultrasonic waves, within the subject, a first area including a part or a whole of a passage of a puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, of said scanning area. The ultrosound transmit-receive portion sets up the first area based on the location of the puncture needle tip as sensed by received vibrations therefrom.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the subject, the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject are received to obtain received signals, and an image is produced in accordance with the received signals thus obtained, and particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of guiding a puncture needle to be introduced into the subject. Of a scanning area formed with a number of scanning lines scanned by ultrasonic waves, within the subject, a first area including a part or a whole of a passage of a puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, of said scanning area. A sensor which measures the tip length of the puncture needle is used to set up the first area.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the subject, the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject are received to obtain received signals, and an image is produced in accordance with the received signals thus obtained, and particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of guiding a puncture needle to be introduced into the subject. Of a scanning area formed with a number of scanning lines scanned by ultrasonic waves, within the subject, a first area including a part or a whole of a passage of a puncture needle is scanned with a scanning density higher than that of a second area, excepting the first area, of said scanning area.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an ultrasonic coupler to a specified configuration such that the ultrasonic coupler is fabricated by freezing and defrosting an aqueous solution containing a polymer. A surface of the fabricated ultrasonic coupler is made to be smooth. The ultrasonic coupler is fabricated using an ultrasonic coupler fabricating die including members each made of silicone rubber which varies in compliance with the expansion and the contraction of the aqueous solution. To fabricate the ultrasonic coupler, the aqueous solution containing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is poured into the die. Then, the die is subjected to the process of cooling to below the freezing point and the process of recovery to room temperature so as to progress a bridging of the PVA, thereby progressing a gelling of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe having a first ultrasonic transmitter-receiver head having a plurality of first ultrasonic transducers carrying transmission and reception of ultrasounds, the plurality of first ultrasonic transducers being arranged in a predetermined first direction. The ultrasonic probe also has a second ultrasonic transmitter-receiver head, detachably loaded onto the first ultrasonic transmitter-receiver head, having a plurality of second ultrasonic transducers carrying transmission and reception of ultrasounds, the plurality of second ultrasonic transducers being arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction when loaded. The second ultrasonic transmitter-receiver head monitors a state that a puncture needle to be punctured inside a subject is inserted into the inside of the subject. According to the present invention it is possible to implement an ultrasonic probe suitable for both use of a normal diagnosis and a puncture and is capable of contributing to a reduction of the cost.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic system in which an ultrasonic probe is detachably connected thereto, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic probe into the subject to obtain received signals through receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, thereby displaying for a diagnosis an image carrying information based on the received signals, and is also provided an ultrasonic module including a processing circuit for the received signals, the ultrasonic module being used in the ultrasonic diagnostic system. The diagnotics system and the diagnostic module according to the present invention permit the more extensive patients to have an ultrasonic diagnosis, and also permit the operator to have a higher level of computer support. The ultrasonic module is connected through a general-purpose interface to a computer system. An ultrasonic module, which has, as a main element, an analog unit for performing an analog signal processing, is connected to another computer system.

Abstract: In order to provide an electric power steering apparatus which can be made compact as well as reduced in cost and can be improved in reliability, a control circuit and a drive circuit are provided on a deformable flexible circuit substrate. The circuit substrate is provided on the housing of a reduction gear mechanism while being deformed so as to cover a portion of the outer surface of the housing along the shape of the outer surface.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which ultrasonic waves are transmitted into a subject. The ultrasonic waves are reflected within the subject. The reflected waves are received and an image based on the reflected waves is displayed. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a resonance frequency and/or a Q value of a resonance circuit are altered in accordance with conditions and/or an operation of a handler. Thus, it is possible to adapt to various uses with few probes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic coupler to be arranged between an ultrasonic probe and a patient to be examined using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided. A method of producing the ultrasonic coupler is also provided. The ultrasonic coupler is made of a gel material having no tackiness. According to the present invention, an ultrasonic coupler includes the gel material which contains polyvinyl alcohol in the range of 3 weight % to 6 weight %. The polyvinyl alcohol is at least 98.0 mole % in the degree of saponification, and the gel material has a hardness in the range of 0.5.times.10.sup.4 dyne/cm.sup.2 to 2.times.10.sup.4 dyne/cm.sup.2. A coupling member for holding the ultrasonic coupler in contact with the ultrasonic probe is fixed to the gel material. The method of producing the ultrasonic coupler includes a step of providing a mold having an interior chamber. A coupling member projects into the interior chamber, and has an attachment portion inserted into the mold.

Abstract: An acoustic coupler, combined with an ultrasound probe, is made of a gel a part of which is hardened for providing holding means for holding the probe for lifting up the probe with the coupler and another part of which is used to form an acoustically transparent path between the probe and a surface of an object to be acoustically inspected. Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) is a typical material for the gel, and the coupler is fabricated by molding a PVA solution by partially increasing concentration of PVA and/or a repeating frequency of refrigerating and thawing the PVA solution, compared with those for the transparent path, in a molding process of the coupler.

Abstract: The applicator according to the present invention applies an ultrasonic gel to an ultrasonic wave radiating surface of a probe. The applicator includes a container containing the ultrasonic gel, a belt partly immersed in the ultrasonic gel in the container and partly protruding therefrom and exposed to the outside, and a belt drive unit driven by rollers for drawing up the ultrasonic gel in the container to an exposed position outside of the container.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a housing, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements radially arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is inserted into a hollow portion to be scanned. The ultrasonic probe also includes an electrical part for carrying electricity to the piezoelectric elements to thereby cause the piezoelectric elements to emit ultrasonic waves and for carrying, to an external device, electric signals generated from the ultrasonic waves reflected by the hollow portion and received by the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a housing, a piezoelectric element provided in the housing, the piezoelectric element emitting an ultrasonic beam, and a refracting member rotatably provided in the housing. The refracting member has a first surface opposite to the piezoelectric element and a second surface at which the ultrasonic beam emitted from the piezoelectric element and passing through the first surface is deflected in a state where a deflection angle between an axis perpendicular to a surface of the piezoelectric element and a deflected ultrasonic beam changes as the refracting member rotates.