Abstract: A blood vessel imaging device obtains peak height information of a differential function F?(x) from an adjustment dial. The blood vessel imaging device, based on the peak height information and peak position information of the differential function F?(x), then defines the differential function F?(x). Subsequently, the blood vessel imaging device calculates an LUT function F(x) that indicates the shape of an LUT by integrating the defined differential function F?(x). The blood vessel imaging device generates an LUT based on the LUT function F(x). The blood vessel imaging device reads out a picked-up image stored in a picked-up image memory, converts a luminance value of the picked-up image being read using the LUT, and displays the image with the converted luminance value.

Abstract: An imaging device used for a blood vessel imaging apparatus includes: a housing; an image sensor mounted in the housing; a control circuit board fixedly held in the housing and provided with the image sensor; an illumination circuit board disposed in the housing so as to be opposed to the control circuit board, and having an opening in a position opposed to the image sensor; a tubular light intercepting member disposed so as to cover the periphery of the image sensor and protrude through the opening; and an optical part attached to the tubular light intercepting member.

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: An ultrasonic diagnostic probe includes: a swinging mechanism for swinging a piezoelectric vibrator provided in an accommodating part at an end of a tube-like shaft, around an axis parallel with an ultrasonic transmission and reception face; and a rotating mechanism for rotating the piezoelectric vibrator around an axis perpendicular to the ultrasonic transmission and reception face. The rotating mechanism includes: a pedestal provided with a semicylindrical part; a seat pedestal in which a concave part having a curvature that matches the semicylindrical part is formed so as to rotatably support the pedestal by the semicylindrical part being engaged with the concave part; and a swinging wire for urging the pedestal into a swinging motion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic probe comprising an inflatable balloon member attached to the free end of a tubular support member. An array of elongated piezoelectric elements is arranged in the balloon member. Space ensuring side walls are arranged in the balloon member between the balloon member and the array of piezoelectric elements for ensuring a space in which the array of piezoelectric elements can rotate irrespective of the shape balloon member. The balloon member can be inflated by introducing liquid therein. The balloon member is in a deflated condition when the probe is inserted in the esophagus, and can be inflated after the probe is inserted in the esophagus to allow the array of piezoelectric elements to be rotated. The space ensuring side walls are correspondingly deformed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis device comprising a probe having an ultrasonic sensor rotatable about a central axis thereof. The sensor is adapted to carry out ultrasonic sector scanning. The device also includes a display for producing a sectional image of a portion of a patient. A bright line corresponding to the central axis of the sensor is produced together with the sectional image on the display. A first sectional image is produced on the display when the sensor is in a first rotational position. The bright line is then produced over the sectional image, and the position of the sensor is adjusted so that the bright line passes through the center of an object in the image. The sensor is then moved to a second rotational position, and a second sectional image is produced on the display.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe has a case of a substantially cylinder shape having a first axis along longitudinal direction thereof. The case has a convex wall in the vicinity of a closed end of the case. The convex wall is transparent to an ultrasonic signal radiated from the ultrasonic probe. A support cylinder having a second axis is rotatably mounted in the case. The support cylinder and the convex wall are coaxial to the second axis. An ultrasonic transducer is fixed on a base of the support cylinder. A viscous resin fills a space between the convex wall and the ultrasonic transducer. Thus, a convex lens coaxial to the second axis is formed by the convex wall and the viscous resin. The angle of the axis of the convex wall to the first axis may be chosen between zero degree to approximately 90 degrees.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus protected from multi-reflection of sound echoes. Multi-reflection is avoided by eliminating the reflection from the surface of an electro-sound transducer. This invention eliminates the surface reflection of the transducer by following three methods:(a) changing a direction of each surface of an array of transducer elements to direct the reflected sound wave away from the main direction of the sound beam;(b) applying an acoustic matching layer to a surface of a piezo-electric device of the transducer to cancel out phases of sound waves reflected by the surfaces of the layer and the device; and(c) providing an acoustic matching surface on a front or back face of the piezo-electric device to cancel out phases of sound waves reflected by the surface of the device.