Abstract: Information relevant to a state of a tissue in a subject (state information) is provided with technology reducing the amount of memory and computation necessary at the time of extracting the information. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted towards a subject, a transmission wave transmitted through the subject or a reflection wave reflected on the subject is received. A reception signal is generated on the basis of the transmission wave or the reflection wave. A tissue region candidate, of a region indicating a tissue of the subject, is set on the basis of the reception signal. State information, which is information relevant to a state of the tissue in the tissue region candidate, is calculated on the basis of the reception signal and the tissue region candidate. An ultrasonic image reflecting the state information is generated on the basis of the state information and displayed.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic coupler for ultrasound imaging that can detect a posture of an ultrasound probe from an image. An acoustic coupler includes: a first layer in contact with an ultrasound probe of an ultrasound imaging device; a second layer in contact with an imaging target; and an intermediate layer made of a material having a high elastic modulus between the first layer and the second layer. The intermediate layer includes a plurality of markers made of a material that reflects an ultrasound wave, at different positions in an ultrasound wave propagation direction, for example, near a boundary between two adjacent layers. The ultrasound imaging device detects the posture of the ultrasound probe based on images of the markers included in an ultrasound image.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array and a peripheral circuit disposed at least partially below the memory cell array. The peripheral circuit includes an RC circuit in which a resistive portion and a capacitive portion are electrically connected to each other in series. The resistive portion includes first and second lower conductors at a level that is below the memory cell array, an upper conductor at a level that is above the memory cell array, a first contact that connects the first lower conductor to the upper conductor, and a second contact that connects the upper conductor to the second lower conductor. The first lower conductor, the first contact, the upper conductor, the second contact, and the second lower conductor are electrically connected in series in this order and the first lower conductor is closest to the capacitive portion.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic CT device for breast examination, unevenness of an ultrasonic image due to a distribution of inclination angles of a breast is reduced. The distribution of the inclination angles of a surface of a subject in a contour of the subject is obtained from a tomographic image, and a signal level of a reception signal or a pixel value of the tomographic image is corrected using the distribution of the inclination angles.

Abstract: Provided is a device that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from an entire periphery of a specimen while preventing a movement of the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmission and reception device includes: an oscillator array that is arrayed with an oscillator, the oscillator transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a fixing tool that is disposed between the oscillator array and the specimen and retains the specimen; and a drive mechanism that presses at least a part of the fixing tool against the specimen as to retain the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmitted by the oscillator array passes through the fixing tool and irradiates on the specimen, and as for the oscillator array, the oscillator array and the fixing tool are disposed in a positional relationship such that the ultrasonic wave reflected by and/or passing through by the specimen and passing through the fixing tool is received.

Abstract: A sound wave is transmitted to a subject from one or more transducers in an transducer array in which a plurality of the transducers are arranged. A measured sound pressure measured by a plurality of transducers for the sound wave transmitted through an imaging region of the subject is received from the transducers. The measured sound pressure is processed to generate a transmitted wave image in the imaging region. A simulated sound wave having a sound pressure changing with time is generated from a simulated sound source, the sound pressure when the simulated sound wave is transmitted through the imaging region and reaches a plurality of simulated detectors is obtained by calculation as a calculated sound pressure, and the transmitted wave image is sequentially corrected using the calculated sound pressure with the transmitted wave image as an initial image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite magnetic powder that includes an iron-containing magnetic powder, and an insulating layer comprising a silicon oxide formed on a surface of the iron-containing magnetic powder. An O/Si ratio of the silicon oxide constituting the insulating layer is 2.1 or more and 2.2 or less.

Abstract: In a transcatheter treatment support technique using a combination of a guide wire equipped with a photoacoustic technique and an ultrasonic imaging device, the ultrasonic imaging device estimates a front edge position of the guide wire using a difference between arrival times of photoacoustic waves arriving at an array of elements configuring an ultrasonic probe or a change of an image of the photoacoustic generation source, which depends on a distance of the photoacoustic generation source from an imaging region, and grasps a relationship between an imaging position and the front edge position of the guide wire using the estimation result. This enables visually grasping a relationship between a region (imaging region) from which an image is able to be obtained with reflective waves from a biological body with use of the ultrasonic probe and an insertion object present outside the region, particularly, the front edge of the guide wire.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a clear transmitted wave image of a boundary of tissues is generated in a short time. An ultrasonic imaging device of the present invention includes a transducer array in which a plurality of transducers transmitting and receiving an ultrasound wave are arrayed; a transmission unit which delivers an electric signal to at least one of the plurality of transducers, such that the delivered electric signal is converted into an ultrasound wave, and transmits the ultrasound wave to a target; a reception unit which receives a received signal that is an electric signal output by each of the plurality of transducers having received a reflected wave and a transmitted wave of the ultrasound wave of the target; and an image generation unit which individually generates a reflected wave image of a cross section of the target using a received signal of the reflected wave and a transmitted wave image of the cross section of the target using a received signal of the transmitted wave.

Abstract: The invention is to provide an ultrasonic image with a clear tissue structure while reducing speckle noise of the ultrasonic image. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the transducer to the subject, and an echo generated in the subject is received. The first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image are generated using a reception signal. The second ultrasonic image is an image smoother than the first ultrasonic image. The image processing unit calculates filter coefficients using pixel values of corresponding pixels of the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image, and generates an output image by processing one of the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image using the filter coefficients.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic coupler capable of achieving both low elastic modulus and high deformability required for ultrasound imaging. The acoustic coupler is disposed between a probe for transmitting ultrasound waves and a subject, the acoustic coupler comprising a hydrogel including a copolymer that contains water. The copolymer comprises a monofunctional monomer having one ethylenically unsaturated group and a polyfunctional monomer having two to six ethylenically unsaturated groups. The molar ratio of the monofunctional monomer to the polyfunctional monomer is more than 90 and less than or equal to 3500.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic CT device capable of shaping a measurement part such as a breast of a measurement target into a shape suitable for measurement and reducing burden on the measurement target. The ultrasonic CT device includes a tubular measurement container, and a transducer array configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to a measurement target inserted in the measurement container and receive ultrasonic waves from the measurement target. Gel is disposed in the measurement container, and a surface of the gel is inclose contact with at least a surface of the measurement target to which the ultrasonic waves are transmitted. The ultrasonic waves transmitted from the transducer array pass through the gel and are emitted to the measurement target from the surface in close contact with the measurement target.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes, on a substrate, a memory region 600 and a peripheral circuit region 500 in which an MOS transistor 100 is formed. The MOS transistor 100 includes a drain region 120 and a source region 130 disposed in a first direction parallel to a surface of the substrate. On a surface of the drain region 120, a drain electrode 121 is formed to be connected with a contact plug 122. Further, on a surface of the source region 130, a source electrode 131 is formed to be connected with a contact plug 132. When viewed in the first direction, the drain electrode 121 has a region that does not overlap with the source electrode 131, and the source electrode 131 has a region that does not overlap with the drain electrode 121.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an ultrasonic CT device in which a reflected signal or the like from an object disposed close to transducers is received, and a reception signal thereof can be received by a receiver while transceivers whose number is smaller than the number of the transducers are used. The ultrasonic CT device includes: a transducer array in which a plurality of transducers are arranged; transceivers whose number is smaller than the number of the transducers; and a transmission transducer selector and a reception transducer selector disposed for each of the transceivers. While a transmitter included in the transceiver is selectively connected to any of the transducers in the transducer array by the transmission transducer selector, a receiver included in the transceiver is selectively connected to any of the transducers in the transducer array by the reception transducer selector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging device according to the present invention includes: a container provided with an opening for inserting a target region of a subject; and a transmission/reception unit that transmits ultrasound to the target region inserted into the container filled with a liquid and receives the ultrasound that penetrates the target region or is reflected from the target region. The container has a pressure reducing unit that holds the target region in the container by reducing a pressure in the container of which the opening is covered with the target region. According to the present invention, since it is possible to maintain a shape close to a predetermined shape when the target region of a breast or the like is inserted into a container filled with the liquid, it is possible to measure the target region with high accuracy by transmitting and receiving ultrasound.

Abstract: Provided herein is a phantom capable of mimicking both a dense breast and a fatty breast. A phantom for ultrasound measurement includes: a first member that mimics an object of interest for measurement; and a second member having provided therein the first member. The second member has the property to decrease its sound speed with a temperature increase brought by external temperature control. The sound speed of the second member at a predetermined temperature is equal to the sound speed of a third member surrounding the second member. The first member and the second member are immiscible with each other.

Abstract: The ultrasonic CT device includes: a first water tank configured such that an object is inserted therein, the first water tank being filled with a medium through which an ultrasonic wave passes; a ring array that irradiates an ultrasonic wave to the object and detects an ultrasonic wave reflected by the object while moving on an outer surface of the first water tank; and a signal processing unit that generates a tomographic image of the object based on a signal obtained by the ring array. The ultrasonic CT device further includes: a second water tank that houses the first water tank and the ring array; and a lid having a hole or a notch which is provided on a side of the object in the second water tank and which drains the medium.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic CT device for breast examination, unevenness of an ultrasonic image due to a distribution of inclination angles of a breast is reduced. The distribution of the inclination angles of a surface of a subject in a contour of the subject is obtained from a tomographic image, and a signal level of a reception signal or a pixel value of the tomographic image is corrected using the distribution of the inclination angles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite magnetic powder that includes an iron-containing magnetic powder and an insulating layer comprising a silicon oxide formed on a surface of the iron-containing magnetic powder. The insulating layer contains pores, and an area ratio of the pores in a cross section of the insulating layer is 5% or less.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite magnetic powder that includes an iron-containing magnetic powder, and an insulating layer comprising a silicon oxide formed on a surface of the iron-containing magnetic powder. An O/Si ratio of the silicon oxide constituting the insulating layer is 2.1 or more and 2.2 or less.