Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement apparatus includes a lens, an ultrasonic measuring section, an ultrasonic determining section, and a lens moving section. The lens receives an ultrasonic wave output from a measuring target. The ultrasonic measuring section measures the ultrasonic wave received by the lens in relation to time. The ultrasonic determining section determines whether or not the ultrasonic wave is included in a result of measurement by the ultrasonic measuring section at an elapsed time point when the time required for the ultrasonic wave to travel a focal distance of the lens has elapsed after the ultrasonic wave is output from the measuring target. The lens moving section moves the lens such that it is determined that the ultrasonic wave is included in the result of measurement by the ultrasonic measuring section.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an optical ultrasonic wave measuring apparatus includes an ultrasonic pulse output section, a light pulse output section, a reflected wave measuring section, an optoacoustic wave measuring section, an exceeding time point acquiring section, and a measurement result shifting section. The reflected wave measuring section measures, in correspondence to time, a reflected wave as a result of reflection of the ultrasonic pulse at a measuring target. The optoacoustic wave measuring section measures, in correspondence to time, an optoacoustic wave generated by the light pulse at the measuring target. The exceeding time point acquiring section acquires an exceeding time point at which a measurement result of the reflected wave exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The measurement result shifting section shifts a measurement result of the optoacoustic wave by a first shift time toward the time point of output of the light pulse.

Abstract: To measure the content percentage of fat in a liver without increasing hardware size, provided is a measurement apparatus that supplies an ultrasonic signal to a body part and receives a response signal that has passed through an inner portion of the body part, the measurement apparatus including an ultrasonic signal generating section that generates the ultrasonic signal according to a control signal; a loop control section that supplies the control signal to the ultrasonic signal generating section in response to receiving the response signal that has passed through the body part; and a frequency measuring section that measures a repeating frequency of the control signal repeatedly supplied by the loop control section.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes: (a) a pulsed-light outputter that outputs a pulsed light; (b) an arrangement member disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; and (c) a photoacoustic wave detector that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and that converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal, the photoacoustic wave measurement device being adapted to receive the electric signal from a photoacoustic wave sensor in which the photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes a pulsed-light outputter, an arrangement member and a photoacoustic wave detector. The pulsed-light outputter outputs a pulsed light. The arrangement member is disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough. The photoacoustic wave detector receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal. The photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. The arrangement member has such a sufficient thickness that noise to be detected by the photoacoustic wave detector after a start time of detection of the photoacoustic wave starts to be detected after an end time of the detection of the photoacoustic wave.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement instrument includes a light output unit, a photoacoustic wave detection unit and a photoacoustic wave generation member. The light output unit outputs light. The photoacoustic wave detection unit receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the light in a measurement object, and converts the light into an electric signal. The photoacoustic wave generation member is arranged between an light output end of the light output unit and the measurement object, receives the light, and generates a known photoacoustic wave.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device according to the present invention includes: an optical fiber that outputs pulsed light; an external spacer that is disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the optical fiber and a measurement object, and which is adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; a piezoelectric element that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the pulsed light from the measurement object and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal; and a spacer that is disposed between the external spacer and the piezoelectric element, and which is adapted to allow the photoacoustic wave to pass therethrough. The piezoelectric element is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. A part of the optical fiber is disposed within the spacer.

Abstract: To measure the content percentage of fat in a liver without increasing hardware size, provided is a measurement method and a measurement apparatus including a touching unit that supplies an ultrasonic signal to a body part and receives a response signal that has passed through an inner portion of the body part; a measuring unit that is connected to the touching unit and measures a characteristic of the body part based on the response signal received by the touching unit; and a switching section that switches between connecting the touching unit to the measuring unit and connecting the touching unit to an image generation apparatus that generates an image of a region including the body part in response to the touching unit scanning the region.

Abstract: To measure the content percentage of fat in a liver without increasing hardware size, provided is a measurement apparatus that supplies an ultrasonic signal to a body part and receives a response signal that has passed through an inner portion of the body part, the measurement apparatus including an ultrasonic signal generating section that generates the ultrasonic signal according to a control signal; a loop control section that supplies the control signal to the ultrasonic signal generating section in response to receiving the response signal that has passed through the body part; and a frequency measuring section that measures a repeating frequency of the control signal repeatedly supplied by the loop control section.

Abstract: A body fat diagnostic apparatus with which fat can be diagnosed safely is provided even in the case where a deep portion of the living body is diagnosed or there are bone tissues outside the measurement region. The body fat diagnostic apparatus is formed of: a probe 2 for emitting ultrasonic waves both for applying heat and for diagnosis; and an ultrasonic wave velocity change analyzing unit 15 for calculating the change in the velocity of ultrasonic waves in the measurement region on the basis of the ultrasonic wave echo signals acquired from the region before and after the application of heat using the probe 2, so that fat is diagnosed on the basis of the calculated change in the velocity of ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device according to the present invention includes: an optical fiber that outputs pulsed light; an external spacer that is disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the optical fiber and a measurement object, and which is adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; a piezoelectric element that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the pulsed light from the measurement object and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal; and a spacer that is disposed between the external spacer and the piezoelectric element, and which is adapted to allow the photoacoustic wave to pass therethrough. The piezoelectric element is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. A part of the optical fiber is disposed within the spacer.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes a pulsed-light outputter, an arrangement member and a photoacoustic wave detector. The pulsed-light outputter outputs a pulsed light. The arrangement member is disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough. The photoacoustic wave detector receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal. The photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. The arrangement member has such a sufficient thickness that noise to be detected by the photoacoustic wave detector after a start time of detection of the photoacoustic wave starts to be detected after an end time of the detection of the photoacoustic wave.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes: (a) a pulsed-light outputter that outputs a pulsed light; (b) an arrangement member disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; and (c) a photoacoustic wave detector that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and that converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal, the photoacoustic wave measurement device being adapted to receive the electric signal from a photoacoustic wave sensor in which the photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end.

Abstract: A photoacoustic diagnosis device that diagnoses a state of a skin of a human body, includes a pulsed light source, an electric signal converter, a blood distribution obtaining section, and a diagnosis section. The pulsed light source generates a pulsed light. The electric signal converter receives a photoacoustic wave generated at the skin by the pulsed light and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal. The blood distribution obtaining section obtains distribution of blood in the skin based on the electric signal. The diagnosis section diagnoses a state of the skin based on a result obtained by the blood distribution obtaining section.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement instrument includes a light output unit, a photoacoustic wave detection unit and a photoacoustic wave generation member. The light output unit outputs light. The photoacoustic wave detection unit receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the light in a measurement object, and converts the light into an electric signal. The photoacoustic wave generation member is arranged between an light output end of the light output unit and the measurement object, receives the light, and generates a known photoacoustic wave.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement instrument include a light output unit and at least three photoacoustic wave detection units. The light output unit outputs light. The at least three photoacoustic wave detection units respectively receive photoacoustic waves generated by the light in a measurement object, and convert the photoacoustic wave into electric signals. At least two of the photoacoustic wave detection units have extension directions parallel with or intersecting with each other. At least one of the photoacoustic wave detection units other than the at least two photoacoustic wave detection units has an extension direction intersecting with the extension directions of the at least two photoacoustic wave detection units.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device receives electric signals from a photoacoustic wave measurement instrument including a light output unit for outputting light, and a plurality of photoacoustic wave detection units each for receiving a photoacoustic wave generated by the light in a measurement object, and converting the photoacoustic wave into the electric signal. The photoacoustic wave measurement device includes a time deviation determination unit that determines whether time deviations among the electric signals output from the respective photoacoustic wave detection units are in a predetermined range; and a position measurement unit that measures a position of a photoacoustic wave generation part of the measurement object which generates the photoacoustic wave if the time deviation determination unit determines that the time deviations among the electric signals are in the predetermined range.

Abstract: Provided is a converter that converts sound waves into electrical signals, comprising a piezoelectric section including a plurality of piezoelectric elements that each convert a sound wave detected by a detection surface into one of the electrical signals; and a multilayer substrate to which the piezoelectric section is fixed. The multilayer substrate includes a plurality of signal wires that correspond respectively to the piezoelectric elements and each transmit the electrical signal output by the corresponding piezoelectric element; and a shield portion that electromagnetically shields at least a portion of the signal wires. The piezoelectric section is fixed to the multilayer substrate such that a surface of the multilayer substrate on which the piezoelectric elements are fixed is inclined with respect to the detection surfaces of the piezoelectric elements.