Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to: provide an agent that effectively suppresses inhibition of antigen-antibody reaction in an immunoassay using a sample containing a body fluid, in particular, a component derived from a biological mucosal membrane, such as saliva; and to suppress false positive and false negative results in the immunoassay. The present invention provides an agent for suppressing inhibition of immune reaction, characterized in that the agent comprises a compound of the following (1) or (2): (1) Sulfonic acid compound of the formula R1—SO3H or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R1 is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; a straight-chain C1-C30 alkyl group substituted with an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; and an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group); and (2) Quaternary ammonium ion of the formula N+—R2R3R4R5 or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to: provide an agent that effectively suppresses inhibition of antigen-antibody reaction in an immunoassay using a sample containing a body fluid, in particular, a component derived from a biological mucosal membrane, such as saliva; and to suppress false positive and false negative results in the immunoassay. The present invention provides an agent for suppressing inhibition of immune reaction, characterized in that the agent comprises a compound of the following (1) or (2): (1) Sulfonic acid compound of the formula R1—SO3H or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R1 is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; a straight-chain C1-C30 alkyl group substituted with an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; and an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group.); and (2) Quaternary ammonium ion of the formula N+—R2R3R4R5 or a salt thereof.

Abstract: Viscoelastic characteristics in a subject are imaged by a simple method. A viscoelasticity measurement reference layer whose elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient are known is included between an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving probe and the subject and distributions of elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient inside the subject are calculated from a change over time of strain generated in the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer and the subject according to a pressure applied to the subject which changes over time and known elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient of the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer.

Abstract: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic method capable of conducting ultrasonic diagnosis using acoustic radiation pressure, without causing an increase in the temperature of an ultrasound-exposed portion. A push pulse transmitter outputs a coded pressurization pulse signal. A track pulse transmitter outputs a measurement pulse signal for measurement. An ultrasound probe outputs an ultrasonic wave for generating a shear wave in a target object on the basis of the pressurization pulse signal, and an ultrasonic wave for measurement on the basis of the measurement pulse signal. An echo receiver receives an echo of the ultrasonic wave for measurement, and outputs an electric signal. An elastic modulus estimator decodes the electric signal output by the echo receiver, and estimates an elastic modulus of the target object on the basis of the decoded signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to formation of an image indicating viscoelastic characteristics in a specimen by a simple method. Stepwise pressurization in which, after pressure is instantaneously increased to a certain pressure value, the certain pressure value is kept for a certain time period is performed to measure the variation with time of strain distribution in the specimen and to calculate a stress from strain distribution at a saturation measurement time when the effect of the viscosity of a viscoelasticity measurement reference layer is saturated, thereby evaluating the modulus of elasticity and the coefficient of viscosity of a body tissue.

Abstract: Viscoelastic characteristics in a subject are imaged by a simple method. A viscoelasticity measurement reference layer whose elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient are known is included between an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving probe and the subject and distributions of elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient inside the subject are calculated from a change over time of strain generated in the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer and the subject according to a pressure applied to the subject which changes over time and known elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient of the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer.

Abstract: Viscoelastic characteristics in a subject are imaged by a simple method. A viscoelasticity measurement reference layer whose elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient are known is included between an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving probe and the subject and distributions of elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient inside the subject are calculated from a change over time of strain generated in the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer and the subject according to a pressure applied to the subject which changes over time and known elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient of the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that transmits an elastic wave to an object and receives a reflected wave, this apparatus including: a transmitting and receiving unit having elements for converting an elastic wave to an electric signal, and being arranged at least in one direction; an element controlling unit that inputs an electric signal to the element and causes the element to transmit an elastic wave; and a detecting unit that detects a reflected wave to be received by the element, wherein the electric signal to be inputted to the element is an encoded pulse signal encoded among the elements, and the detecting unit decodes the reflected wave and executes at different time points aperture synthesis processing of synthesizing the decoded reflected wave with respect to the intersections of two axes at different time points.

Abstract: A subject information acquiring apparatus includes a light source configured to radiate optical pulses coded by a predetermined number of pulse streams to a subject, a probe having a converting element configured to receive photoacoustic waves occurring from the subject, and configured to convert the received photoacoustic waves to electrical signals, and an information acquiring unit configured to decode a predetermined number of signals of the electrical signals output from the converting element and acquire characteristic information on the subject based on the decoded electrical signals, wherein the relative positions of the converting element included in the probe and the subject are changed before the radiation of the predetermined number of optical pulse streams completes, and the electrical signals to be decoded are partially redundant before and after the change of the relative positions of the converting element and the subject.

Abstract: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic method capable of conducting ultrasonic diagnosis using acoustic radiation pressure, without causing an increase in the temperature of an ultrasound-exposed portion. A push pulse transmitter outputs a coded pressurization pulse signal. A track pulse transmitter outputs a measurement pulse signal for measurement. An ultrasound probe outputs an ultrasonic wave for generating a shear wave in a target object on the basis of the pressurization pulse signal, and an ultrasonic wave for measurement on the basis of the measurement pulse signal. An echo receiver receives an echo of the ultrasonic wave for measurement, and outputs an electric signal. An elastic modulus estimator decodes the electric signal output by the echo receiver, and estimates an elastic modulus of the target object on the basis of the decoded signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that transmits an elastic wave to an object and receives a reflected wave, this apparatus including: a transmitting and receiving unit having elements for converting an elastic wave to an electric signal, and being arranged at least in one direction; an element controlling unit that inputs an electric signal to the element and causes the element to transmit an elastic wave; and a detecting unit that detects a reflected wave to be received by the element, wherein the electric signal to be inputted to the element is an encoded pulse signal encoded among the elements, and the detecting unit decodes the reflected wave and executes at different time points aperture synthesis processing of synthesizing the decoded reflected wave with respect to the intersections of two axes at different time points.

Abstract: Viscoelastic characteristics in a subject are imaged by a simple method. A viscoelasticity measurement reference layer whose elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient are known is included between an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving probe and the subject and distributions of elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient inside the subject are calculated from a change over time of strain generated in the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer and the subject according to a pressure applied to the subject which changes over time and known elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient of the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to formation of an image indicating viscoelastic characteristics in a specimen by a simple method. Stepwise pressurization in which, after pressure is instantaneously increased to a certain pressure value, the certain pressure value is kept for a certain time period is performed to measure the variation with time of strain distribution in the specimen and to calculate a stress from strain distribution at a saturation measurement time when the effect of the viscosity of a viscoelasticity measurement reference layer is saturated, thereby evaluating the modulus of elasticity and the coefficient of viscosity of a body tissue.

Abstract: A method of displaying an elastic image according to the present invention includes the steps of measuring ultrasound cross-section data of a cross-section region of a subject while applying compression to the subject 1 (2, 3, 4), determining distortion of tissue in the cross-section region on the basis of the ultrasound cross-section data, generating an elastic image of the cross-section region on the basis of the distortion, displaying the elastic image on a display device (7), setting a plurality of ROIs on the elastic image displayed on the display device, converting the distortion of each ROI into an index value (12), and displays the index value on the display device (8). In this way, the method enables quantitative evaluation of the hardness of body tissue of a region to be diagnosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method utilizing an ultrasonic probe for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals to/from a subject, a storage arrangement for storing the properties of signals detected with the ultrasonic probe, a correlation computer for calculating a correlation coefficient between the properties with and without pressure applied to the subject, and a phase difference between the received signals with and without application of pressure, based upon the properties stored in the storage arrangement with and without pressure applied to the subject, a computer for calculating a displacement of each measurement point, and a strain distribution of tissue of the subject due to application of pressure, based upon the correlation coefficient and phase difference calculated by the correlation computer, and a display for displaying the strain distribution.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method utilizing an ultrasonic probe for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals to/from a subject, a storage arrangement for storing the properties of signals detected with the ultrasonic probe, a correlation computer for calculating a correlation coefficient between the properties with and without pressure applied to the subject, and a phase difference between the received signals with and without application of pressure, based upon the properties stored in the storage arrangement with and without pressure applied to the subject, a computer for calculating a displacement of each measurement point, and a strain distribution of tissue of the subject due to application of pressure, based upon the correlation coefficient and phase difference calculated by the correlation computer, and a display for displaying the strain distribution.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method utilizing an ultrasonic probe for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals to/from a subject, a storage arrangement for storing the properties of signals detected with the ultrasonic probe, a correlation computer for calculating a correlation coefficient between the properties with and without pressure applied to the subject, and a phase difference between the received signals with and without application of pressure, based upon the properties stored in the storage arrangement with and without pressure applied to the subject, a computer for calculating a displacement of each measurement point, and a strain distribution of tissue of the subject due to application of pressure, based upon the correlation coefficient and phase difference calculated by the correlation computer, and a display for displaying the strain distribution.

Abstract: In a game device (200) that executes a game in virtual space where a plurality of players exist, a storage unit (201) stores parameters assigned to each of player characters and other characters indicating the mutual relationship between them. In a case where a plurality of characters utters sounds in the virtual space, a relationship degree calculating unit (203) calculates the mixing ratio of each of the sounds to be uttered based on a parameter stored in the storage unit (201). A sound output unit (202) mixes each of the respective sounds according to the obtained mixing ratio, so as to be appropriate for the mutual relationship between the characters and outputs the mixed sound.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for collecting correct strain information irrespective of the depth of an object. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from an object, pressing means for pressing biological tissues of the object, transmission means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the biological tissues via the ultrasonic probe, reception means for receiving the reflected echo signals generated from the object via the ultrasonic probe, strain information calculating means for calculating the strain distribution of the biological tissues on the basis of the data on a pair of frames at different acquisition times received by the reception means, strain image construction means for constructing the strain image according to the strain distribution determined by the strain information calculating means, and display means for displaying the strain image.

Abstract: A method of displaying an elastic image according to the present invention includes the steps of measuring ultrasound cross-section data of a cross-section region of a subject while applying compression to the subject 1 (2, 3, 4), determining distortion of tissue in the cross-section region on the basis of the ultrasound cross-section data, generating an elastic image of the cross-section region on the basis of the distortion, displaying the elastic image on a display device (7), setting a plurality of ROIs on the elastic image displayed on the display device, converting the distortion of each ROI into an index value (12), and displays the index value on the display device (8). In this way, the method enables quantitative evaluation of the hardness of body tissue of a region to be diagnosed.