A three-dimensional region of interest (ROI) is established with a high degree of accuracy, by a simple method without increasing a burden on the operator, in generating a three-dimensional projected image from medical volume data according to rendering, achieving more efficient interpretation of three-dimensional image and streamlining of diagnostic flow, with the use of the diagnostic image generation apparatus. An energy map is generated on a predetermined tomographic plane, assuming a preset start point as a reference and searching for a path that minimizes the energy, and then the path is set as a boundary of the three-dimensional ROI. The start point may be decided on the basis of the boundary inputted by a user, or the user may set the start point. The user may be allowed to adjust the boundary having been set. The boundary may also be determined on another plane orthogonal to the predetermined tomographic plane.

An ultrasonography generation device includes an ultrasonic wave transceiver (1002), a user inputter (1006) which inputs input by an operator, a monitor (1011) capable of displaying an image, an image processor (1005) which generates tomographic image data of a fetus and the placenta based on signals acquired from the ultrasonic wave transceiver and sets a region of interest including a region between the fetus and the placenta according to the input from the inputter when the tomographic image data is displayed on the display, a 3D-ROI corrector (1008) which corrects the region of interest using the region of interest set by the operator and the tomographic image data and determines validity of the corrected region of interest, and a presentation part (1012) which presents the determination result from 3D-ROI corrector. The ultrasonography generation device generates a 3D image of the fetus using the corrected region of interest.

An ultrasonography generation device includes an ultrasonic wave transceiver (1002), a user inputter (1006) which inputs input by an operator, a monitor (1011) capable of displaying an image, an image processor (1005) which generates tomographic image data of a fetus and the placenta based on signals acquired from the ultrasonic wave transceiver and sets a region of interest including a region between the fetus and the placenta according to the input from the inputter when the tomographic image data is displayed on the display, a 3D-ROI corrector (1008) which corrects the region of interest using the region of interest set by the operator and the tomographic image data and determines validity of the corrected region of interest, and a presentation part (1012) which presents the determination result from 3D-ROI corrector. The ultrasonography generation device generates a 3D image of the fetus using the corrected region of interest.

To provide a composition for an acoustic wave probe which can significantly improve the hardness and the mechanical strength (tensile strength at break, tensile elongation at break, tear strength, and abrasion resistance) of a silicone resin while maintaining a low acoustic attenuation, a silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe and the acoustic wave probe using the composition for an acoustic wave probe, an acoustic wave measurement apparatus, and an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

To provide an ultrasound probe in which cMUT is used as an ultrasonic diagnostic transducer, and the composition for an acoustic wave probe and the silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe which can improve the sensitivity of the photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus and the ultrasound endoscope.

Provided are a composition for an acoustic wave probe containing a polysiloxane mixture containing polysiloxane having a vinyl group, polysiloxane having two or more Si—H groups in a molecular chain, and one or more inorganic compound particles, in which the average primary particle diameter of the inorganic compound particles is less than 25 nm and the inorganic compound particles are selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, barium oxide, tin oxide, and ytterbium oxide; a silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe; an acoustic wave probe; an acoustic wave measurement apparatus; an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus; an ultrasound probe; a photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus; and an ultrasound endoscope.

An image information processing apparatus includes a photoacoustic image acquisition unit configured to acquire an photoacoustic image generated based on a photoacoustic wave by irradiating a subject and a marker with light, an optical image acquisition unit configured to acquire an optical image generated by optically capturing an image of the subject and the marker; and an image processing unit configured to generate a superimposed image in which the photoacoustic image and the optical image are superimposed and display the superimposed image on a display unit. The image processing unit generates the superimposed image based on the marker in the photoacoustic image and the marker in the optical image.

An image analyzer detects a lesion for each frame (tomographic image). When the lesion is detected, lesion information (detection flag, position information, and size information) is produced. An indication controller causes a mark surrounding the lesion to be displayed when it is judged that a mark display condition is satisfied, based on the lesion information or the like. The indication controller causes the mark to be deleted from a screen when detection of the lesion is continued and a mark display restriction condition is satisfied.

An image analyzer detects a lesion for each frame (tomographic image). When the lesion is detected, lesion information (detection flag, position information, and size information) is produced. An indication controller causes a mark surrounding the lesion to be displayed when it is judged that a mark display condition is satisfied, based on the lesion information or the like. The indication controller causes the mark to be deleted from a screen when detection of the lesion is continued and a mark display restriction condition is satisfied.

A signal processing device according to the present invention is a signal processing device that processes data of a detected ultrasound waveform representing a temporal change in the intensity of ultrasound generated at a measurement position in a specimen and includes: a comparison unit that compares a predetermined standard ultrasound waveform and the detected ultrasound waveform at the measurement position and that calculates a degree of similarity between the predetermined standard ultrasound waveform and the detected ultrasound waveform; and a discrimination unit for discriminating whether or not the measurement position corresponds to a predetermined examination subject on the basis of the degree of similarity.

A probe for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Systems and methods can include ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, delivering ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and/or monitoring the treatment area to assess the results and/or provide feedback. In an embodiment, a treatment system and method can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal or deep dermal components of tissue.

A probe for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Systems and methods can include ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, delivering ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and/or monitoring the treatment area to assess the results and/or provide feedback. In an embodiment, a treatment system and method can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal or deep dermal components of tissue.