Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which a plurality of piezoelectric transducers are arranged in a predetermined direction so as to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to obtain a tomographic image on the inside of the subject. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus adopts such a scheme that a sector scan is electronically performed, and is capable of preventing deterioration of an image by reducing an influence of reflection of the ultrasonic waves from the ribs, and forming a good image improved in resolution. An intersection of scan lines at at least receiving end is set up between rib-to-rib which are located at the position deeper than the body surface of the subject. An aperture for transmitting and receiving of ultrasonic waves along the scan line of the central part of the sector configuration is wider than that along the scan line of the edge portion of the sector configuration.

Abstract: From a single material of unpolarized piezoelectric transducer, cut away are a piezoelectric transducer for fabrication of a probe and a piezoelectric transducer for observation of polarization states. Both the piezoelectric transducer for fabrication of a probe and the piezoelectric transducer for observation of polarization states are simultaneously subjected to the polarization processing (or depolarization processing) while observing polarization states of the piezoelectric transducer for observation of polarization states.

Abstract: The present invention realates to an ultrasonic transducer providing a plurality of arranged vibrators as the piezoelectric materials. The present invention easily provide the shading to the polarization in the elevation direction of the piezoelectric materials in order to narrow the beam transmitted from the transducer. For this purpose, a structure of the present invention provides for the polarization (V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.3) of piezoelectric material of arranged vibrators to be gradually reduced in mass like a staircase from the center of the arranged vibrators to both end portions in the direction orthogonally crossing the arrangment direction of a plurality of arranged vibrators.

Abstract: A process for producing an ethylenamine, which comprises reacting ammonia and/or an ethylenamine with an ethanolamine in the presence of hydrogen to obtain an ethylenamine having an increased number of ethylene chains over the ammonia and/or the ethylenamine used as the starting material, wherein a catalyst comprising Ni, X and M elements wherein X is Re, Ir, Pt or Pd, and when X is Re, Ir or Pb, M is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of scandium, yttrium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium, and when X is Pd, M is at least one member selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements is used for the reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer for controlling an ultrasonic beam with the vibrators arranged and particularly to an ultrasonic transducer having improved the ultrasonic beam characteristic in the short axis direction in order to realize a high image quality ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The present invention is aimed at improving the ultrasonic beam characteristic and therefore the present invention discloses an ultrasonic transducer for controlling ultrasonic beam using many vibrators arranged in the form of an array in which a composite piezoelectric element (1) is used as an electric-acoustic conversion element of the vibrator and the electrode (2) divided in the short axis direction orthogonally crossing the arrangement direction of many vibrators is also provided on the composite piezoelectric vibrator (1).

Abstract: A process for producing an ethylenamine, which comprises reacting ammonia and/or an ethylenamine with an ethanolamine in the presence of hydrogen to obtain an ethylenamine having an increased number of ethylene chains over the ammonia and/or the ethyelenamine used as the starting material, wherein a catalyst comprising Ni and M elements wherein M is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of scandium, yttrium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium, is used for the reaction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a housing, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements radially arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the ultrasonic probe is inserted into a hollow portion to be scanned. The ultrasonic probe also includes an electrical part for carrying electricity to the piezoelectric elements to thereby cause the piezoelectric elements to emit ultrasonic waves and for carrying, to an external device, electric signals generated from the ultrasonic waves reflected by the hollow portion and received by the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a housing, a piezoelectric element provided in the housing, the piezoelectric element emitting an ultrasonic beam, and a refracting member rotatably provided in the housing. The refracting member has a first surface opposite to the piezoelectric element and a second surface at which the ultrasonic beam emitted from the piezoelectric element and passing through the first surface is deflected in a state where a deflection angle between an axis perpendicular to a surface of the piezoelectric element and a deflected ultrasonic beam changes as the refracting member rotates.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylenamine, which comprises reacting ammonia and/or an alkylenamine with an alkanolamine in the presence of niobium oxide treated with an acid, to obtain an alkylenamine having an increased number of alkylene chains over the ammonia and/or the alkylenamine as starting material.

Abstract: A plurality of rectangular piezo-electric ultrasonic sector transducers are aligned to form an array, and each transducer has first and second electrodes on its radiating surface. The first electrode is located on a center line of the sector transducer's length, and has a first length in the longitudinal direction and a first width along the center line. Two of the second electrodes are arranged outside the first electrode, symmetrical to the center line. The two second electrodes have a second length in the longitudinal direction longer than the first length, and have a second width which is almost the same as the first width, along a line near the center line. Thus, diamond-shaped electrodes excellent for providing a beam narrow in the longitudinal direction can be employed as the first electrode, and the combination of the first and second electrodes can be connected to each other.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylenamine, which comprises reacting ammonia and/or a polyalkylene polyamine with an alkanolamine to obtain an alkylenamine having an increased number of alkylene chains over the ammonia and/or the alkylenamine as starting material, wherein a catalyst having a niobium-containing substance supported on a carrier is used for the reaction.

Abstract: A mixed oxide catalyst comprising niobium oxide and a member selected from the group consisting of titania, alumina, silica, zirconia and oxides of elements in Groups IIA, VA, VIA, IB, IIB, IIIB, VB, VIB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table. A process for producing an alkylenamine, which comprise reacting ammonia and/or an alkylenamine with an alkanolamine in the presence of such a mixed oxide.

Abstract: Ammonia and/or an alkyleneamine is reacted with an alkanolamine by using a miobium-containing substance as a catalyst to obtain an alkyleneamine having an increased number of alkylene units. The niobium-containing substance has a high activity and a high heat resistance, and is not or only slightly soluble in the water-containing reaction liquid.