Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of systems and methods of imaging using photoacoustic computed tomography through an ergodic relay having an integrated single-element ultrasonic transducer.

An image generating apparatus of the present invention has a determination unit that sets a target area in a part of an area inside a subject, executes processing to adjust a phase of each detection signal based on a distance from each detection element to a target area and a tentative velocity, and calculate dispersion of intensities of a plurality of detection signals of which phases are adjusted, for a plurality of tentative velocities, and determines a velocity for which dispersion of intensities is minimum, out of the plurality of tentative velocities, as a propagation velocity.

An ultrasonic probe includes a light source that irradiates a subject with emitted light, an acoustic wave reception unit that receives an acoustic wave generated by the irradiation of the subject with the light and converts the acoustic wave into an electrical signal, an analog-to-digital conversion unit that digitizes the electrical signal, a communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate the digitized electrical signal, and a synchronization control unit that controls time in which the light source emits the light and time in which the communication unit performs the wireless communication, wherein the synchronization control unit controls the light source and the communication unit such that the time in which the light source emits the light and the time in which the communication unit performs the wireless communication do not overlap with each other.

An ultrasonic apparatus includes an ultrasonic reception unit configured to receive an ultrasonic wave generated from a subject and output a reception signal, an amplifier configured to amplify an intensity of the reception signal, a transmission unit configured to transmit an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the reception signal, an attenuator configured to output an attenuation signal obtained by attenuating an intensity of the transmitted amplification signal, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information regarding the subject at least based on the attenuation signal.

Various embodiments include methods and systems structured to transmit data from downhole sensors to the surface at a well site. The transmission can be implemented to overcome downhole connections that can act as obstructions to direct electrical and optical communication in a wellbore. Electrical signals from one or more sensors in a sensor unit, located on a side of a downhole connection in a wellbore opposite the surface of the wellbore, can be used to drive an acoustic transmitter to transmit an acoustic signal via a production string or casing or fluid in the production string or casing across the downhole connection, where the acoustic signal is received on the surface side of the downhole connection. Data correlated to the received acoustic signal can be provided to a surface location of the wellbore. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods can be implemented in a variety of applications.

An image generating apparatus of the present invention has a determination unit that sets a target area in a part of an area inside a subject, executes processing to adjust a phase of each detection signal based on a distance from each detection element to a target area and a tentative velocity, and calculate dispersion of intensities of a plurality of detection signals of which phases are adjusted, for a plurality of tentative velocities, and determines a velocity for which dispersion of intensities is minimum, out of the plurality of tentative velocities, as a propagation velocity.

An information processing apparatus, comprises a first acquiring unit that acquires a photoacoustic image generated base d on an acoustic wave which is generated by light irradiation; a second acquiring unit that acquires an ultrasonic image generated based on a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave transmitted to the object; a determining unit that determines a high accuracy region that is a region in which information is acquired with at least a predetermined accuracy in the photoacoustic image; an input unit that accepts a specification of a region of interest (ROI) on the ultrasonic image; and a displaying unit that displays the ultrasonic image and the photoacoustic image corresponding to the ROI, wherein when the inputting unit accepts the specification of the ROI, the displaying unit displays the position of the high accuracy region on the ultrasonic image in a superimposed state.

An apparatus for imaging a target and a process of making the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a housing and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an acoustic subarray on a first substrate configured to transmit acoustic signals toward the target. The distal portion includes an optical subarray on a second substrate, configured to detect acoustic signals from the target. The distal portion includes an input/output (I/O) region including one or more optical I/O channels. The one or more optical I/O channels is configured to bend optical signals between the optical subarray and the one or more optical I/O channels.

An acoustic wave measuring apparatus generates a characteristics information distribution of the inside of an object by using an acoustic wave propagating from the object, and includes a receiving unit that receives the acoustic wave, a first imaging unit that images a first area of the object from a first direction, and acquires an image of the first area, a second imaging unit that images a second area smaller than the first area of the object from a second direction different from the first direction, and acquires a local image, a designating unit that receives, from a user, designation of a position where the imaging is performed by the second imaging unit in the image of the first area captured by the first imaging unit.

An ultrasonic probe includes an element configured to include a diaphragm unit for at least receiving or transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a chassis configured to extend in a direction vertical to a diaphragm plane included in the diaphragm unit and hold the element. A center of the diaphragm plane of the element in an in-plane direction is arranged to be offset from a center of the chassis.