Abstract: A coating method includes supplying a film forming liquid onto a center of a front surface of a substrate from a nozzle in a state that a distance between the front surface and the nozzle is maintained at a coating distance; rotating the substrate at a first rotation speed in a period during which the film forming liquid is supplied onto the front surface, to allow the film forming liquid to be diffused toward an edge of the substrate from an outer periphery of the nozzle; and rotating the substrate at a second rotation speed after the supplying of the film forming liquid is stopped, to allow the film forming liquid to be further diffused. The coating distance is set to allow the film forming liquid to be kept between the nozzle and the front surface when a discharge of the film forming liquid is stopped.

Abstract: In the present invention, generation of occurrence of a wiring area is prevented, and a reflection by an inconsistency of a characteristic impedance of a high-speed signal line and a through hole connecting portion. By doing so, a conductor pattern of a raised shape is formed on each of front and back of a through hole, on a GND layer closest to the high-speed signal line in the vicinity of the connecting portion of the high-speed signal line and the through hole. Further, the conductor pattern is a trapezoidal shape, and is a shape which becomes wider as it becomes closer to the through hole.

Abstract: In the present invention, generation of occurrence of a wiring area is prevented, and a reflection by an inconsistency of a characteristic impedance of a high-speed signal line and a through hole connecting portion. By doing so, a conductor pattern of a raised shape is formed on each of front and back of a through hole, on a GND layer closest to the high-speed signal line in the vicinity of the connecting portion of the high-speed signal line and the through hole. Further, the conductor pattern is a trapezoidal shape, and is a shape which becomes wider as it becomes closer to the through hole.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic transducer for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a balloon support, having the ultrasonic transducer, for supporting a balloon mounted thereon to cover the ultrasonic transducer hermetically and removably. In an ultrasonic diagnosis system, the ultrasonic endoscope includes an inflation button adapted to inflating the balloon. A deflation button is adapted to deflating the balloon. Furthermore, a flow line extends to the balloon to pass water. A pump apparatus includes a rotary pump for drawing the water through the flow line, to cause the water to flow into and out of the balloon. A pump controller controls the rotary pump, inflates the balloon by supplying the water in response to an inflation signal from the inflation button, and deflates the balloon by discharging the water in response to a deflation signal from the deflation button.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a probe, the probe including at least one transducer that generates an ultrasonic wave, so as to form an ultrasonic tomographic image, wherein a plurality of transmission signals are generated to at least one of said at least one transducer in a common scan line period, said plurality of transmission signals including a first transmission signal and at least one second transmission signal subsequent to the first transmission signal, wherein said at least one second transmission signal is generated when a first ultrasonic wave resulting from the first transmission signal is generated, so as to form at least one second ultrasonic wave, and wherein the first ultrasonic wave and said at least one second ultrasonic wave are combined with each other, so as to form a synthesized ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: An ultrasound inspection apparatus detachably connected to an endoscope comprises an ultrasonic scanning portion in the front-end side having an ultrasound transducer for performing ultrasonic scanning by arranging a number of transducer chips in a rectangular arrangement. The ultrasonic scanning portion is detachably attached to a distal end portion of an insertion unit in the endoscope so as to protrude ahead the distal end portion by a predetermined length. In order to hold the ultrasonic scanning portion in a fixed state, an endoscope-placing portion for placing the distal end portion is connected to the base end of the ultrasonic scanning portion, and an endoscope-fixing portion for detachably fixing the distal end portion thereto is arranged with the endoscope-placing portion. A predetermined number of wires connected to each transducer chip is inserted into a signal cable from a base end position of the endoscope-placing portion so as to bundle the wires.

Abstract: A coupling adaptor for electrically and rotationally coupling a tail end connector of an endoscopically inserting ultrasound probe with a connector portion of a separate probe control unit. The coupling adaptor is intended for use with an endoscopically inserting ultrasound probe having a bulky ultrasound scanner assembly at the nose end of a flexible cord, and a thin and narrow tail end connector at the proximal end of the flexible cord for passage through a biopsy channel of an endoscope. The coupling adaptor is provided with, within a stationary housing, a pair of rotationally interconnected front and rear rotary members to be disconnectibly coupled with the tail end connector of the ultrasound probe and a rotational drive means on the probe control unit, respectively.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe coupler for electrically and rotationally coupling an ultrasound probe with a probe control unit of an ultrasound examination system. The probe coupler essentially includes a tail end connector provided at the tail end of a flexible cord to be connected to the probe control unit. The tail end connector is provided with a stationary ring which is fixedly connected to a tail end portion of the flexible cord, and a rotational coupler having a series of rotary rings, including at least one electrode ring, for coupling the flexible shaft with a rotational drive means and an electrode on the part of the probe control unit. The rotational coupler further includes a rotation transmission member detachably connected to one of the rotating electrode rings and projected radially outward of the inner periphery of the stationary ring for engagement with a rotational drive member on the part of the probe control unit.

Abstract: An ultrasound transmission medium feed device particularly for an endoscopically inserting ultrasound probe adapted to be introduced into a body cavity through and under the guidance of one of biopsy channels provided on an endoscope.

Abstract: A stopper mechanism for an endoscopically insertable ultrasound probe which is designed to be introduced into a body cavity through a biopsy channel provided internally of an insertion instrument of an endoscope and which is of the type having a bulky ultrasound scanner head at the distal end of an elongated thin flexible cord and being placed in the endoscopic biopsy channel except the bulky scanner head when in use. A stopper protuberance is projected radially outward from a connecting neck portion of the ultrasound probe immediately on the proximal side of the scanner head where the flexible cord of the ultrasound probe is connected to a connecting member axially extended from the ultrasound scanner head.