A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

There is provided a photoacoustic measurement apparatus including a laser light source unit that has a flash lamp for emitting excitation light and a laser rod for emitting laser light in response to incidence of the excitation light, an excitation light source power supply unit that has a capacitor bank for supplying a voltage to the flash lamp, an IGBT for controlling an output of the voltage charged in the capacitor bank to the flash lamp, a discharge control circuit for generating a driving pulse for driving the IGBT, and a pulse width limiting circuit for limiting a pulse width of the driving pulse output from the discharge control circuit, the pulse width limiting circuit being formed of a passive element, and a photoacoustic wave detection unit that detects photoacoustic waves generated inside a subject by emission of light emitted from the laser light source unit to the subject.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

Provided is a device that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from an entire periphery of a specimen while preventing a movement of the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmission and reception device includes: an oscillator array that is arrayed with an oscillator, the oscillator transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a fixing tool that is disposed between the oscillator array and the specimen and retains the specimen; and a drive mechanism that presses at least a part of the fixing tool against the specimen as to retain the specimen. An ultrasonic wave transmitted by the oscillator array passes through the fixing tool and irradiates on the specimen, and as for the oscillator array, the oscillator array and the fixing tool are disposed in a positional relationship such that the ultrasonic wave reflected by and/or passing through by the specimen and passing through the fixing tool is received.

A Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) apparatus and CAD method for detection of ROIs based on an ROI size transition model. The CAD apparatus includes: an image receiver configured to sequentially receive images; a region of interest (ROI) acquirer configured to acquire an ROI from a current image based on an ROI size transition model; and an ROI output configured to output visual information indicating the acquired ROI.

A Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) apparatus and CAD method for detection of ROIs based on an ROI size transition model. The CAD apparatus includes: an image receiver configured to sequentially receive images; a region of interest (ROI) acquirer configured to acquire an ROI from a current image based on an ROI size transition model; and an ROI output configured to output visual information indicating the acquired ROI.

A light emitting unit irradiates a measurement site of a measurement subject with a light beam having a wavelength that is absorbed by a measurement target substance. A detection unit detects a photoacoustic signal generated in the measurement site irradiated with the light beam emitted from the light emitting unit. A resonator is arranged so as to clamp the measurement site, and causes the above-described photoacoustic signal to resonate. The resonator is constituted by a first reflection unit and a second reflection unit. The first reflection unit is arranged between the light irradiation unit and the measurement site. Also, the light beam passes through the first reflection unit. The second reflection unit is arranged between the detection unit and the measurement site.

An imaging medical device includes a shaft main body portion having an image acquiring lumen and a guide wire lumen. The shaft main body portion includes a first shaft proximal portion in which the image acquiring lumen is disposed, and a second shaft proximal portion in which the guide wire lumen is disposed, with the two being bifurcated. First and second hub portions are interlocked with the first and second shaft proximal portions respectively, and a transducer unit is fixed to a drive shaft. Reference line X represents the axis line of the shaft main body portion, θ1 represents the inclination of the central axis of the first hub portion relative to the reference line, θ2 represents the inclination of the central axis of the second hub portion relative to the reference line, and the relationship of |θ1|>|θ2| is satisfied.