An ultrasonic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transmission and reception unit including a plurality of ultrasonic elements configured to transmit ultrasonic waves, receive the ultrasonic waves reflected inside an object and output a reception signal, the plurality of ultrasonic elements being arranged in an array; a determination unit configured to determine whether a position of the ultrasonic transmission and reception unit with respect to the object is appropriate based on the reception signal output from each of the ultrasonic elements when the plurality of ultrasonic elements receive the ultrasonic waves; and a notification unit configured to notify a user of a position change of the ultrasonic transmission and reception unit when the determination unit determines that the position of the ultrasonic transmission and reception unit with respect to the object is inappropriate.

Behind an electronic circuit, a thermally anisotropic main backing is provided. The main backing has two outer surfaces (low thermal conductivity surfaces) perpendicular to an X direction. In a first gap located adjacent to one of the outer surfaces, an FPC and a first group of electric components are arranged. In a second gap located adjacent to the other one of the outer surfaces, the FPC and a second group of electric components are arranged.

A coating film is provided in a cable, a medical hollow tube, a molded article and a hollow tube. The coating film is formed from a rubber composition including a rubber component and fine particles. A static friction coefficient on a surface of the coating film is 0.5 or less. When the coating film is subjected to a testing such that a long fiber non-woven fabric including cotton linters including an alcohol for disinfection with a length of 50 mm along a wiping direction is brought contiguous to the surface of the coating film at a shearing stress of 210.sup.3 MPa to 410.sup.3 MPa, followed by wiping off the surface of the coating film at a speed of 80 times/min to 120 times/min and 20,000 repetitions thereof for a wiping direction length of 150 mm, a difference (an absolute value of a difference) between the static friction coefficients of the coating film before and after the testing is not greater than 0.1.

In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes transmitting a first set of ultrasound waves to determine whether there is fluid flow at a target area. The first set of ultrasound waves are transmitted at a first pulse repetition frequency. The method also includes determining whether there is fluid flow in a second area based on the first set of ultrasound waves. The second area is between the target area and an ultrasound probe. The method further includes transmitting a second set of ultrasound waves to detect fluid flow at the target area in response to determining that there is fluid flow in the second area between the target area and the ultrasound probe. The second set of ultrasound waves are directed towards the target area. The second set of ultrasound waves are transmitted at a second pulse repetition frequency.

An elliptical exercise device includes a pedal assembly, the pedal assembly including at least one pedal member configured to receive a force exerted thereon by a user, the at least one pedal member configured to rotate in an elliptical pedal path when the force is exerted thereon; a drivetrain assembly operatively coupled to the pedal assembly; and a resistance assembly operatively coupled to the drivetrain assembly, the drivetrain assembly configured to transfer the motive power generated by the user from the pedal assembly to the resistance assembly, and the resistance assembly configured to provide a resistance force to oppose a rotational movement of one or more components of the resistance assembly. In some embodiments, the elliptical exercise device is configured to accommodate a user in a generally supine position, and the device is configured to be utilized with a medical imaging device.

According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an imaging system, a biological signal receiving system and a biological signal acquisition apparatus. The imaging system is configured to acquire ultrasonic image data by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from an object. The biological signal receiving system is configured to wirelessly transmit a transmission request of a biological signal of the object, receive the biological signal of the object wirelessly transmitted as a response to the transmission request, and output the received biological signal to an output unit. The transmission request is transmitted to a biological signal acquisition apparatus. The biological signal acquisition apparatus control system is configured to wirelessly transmit information according to an operating condition of at least one of the imaging system and the biological signal receiving system. The information is transmitted to the biological signal acquisition apparatus.

A transducer cover for use in an ultrasonic medical instrument having a transducer is disclosed. The transducer cover includes a vibration absorbing layer of a generally cylindrical form made of a synthetic resin having a vibration absorbing property, and a chemical blocking layer of a generally cylindrical form made of a synthetic resin which is impermeable to water and chemicals. The vibration absorbing layer and the chemical blocking layer are coaxially laminated, and capable of sealing arrangement over and around the transducer. Also disclosed is an ultrasonic medical instrument having an ultrasonic transducer and the transducer cover, and a method for forming the transducer cover over and around an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic medical instrument.

Exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods for portable medical ultrasound imaging. Preferred embodiments utilize a hand portable, battery powered system having a display and a user interface operative to control imaging and display operations. A keyboard control panel can be used alone or in combination with touchscreen controls to actuate a graphical user interface. Exemplary embodiments also provide an ultrasound engine circuit board including one or more multi-chip modules, and a portable medical ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound engine circuit board.

Ultrasound devices and systems are disclosed in which cooling of an active acoustic element of an ultrasound transducer is achieved via an electrically conductive member that extends beyond a proximal side of the active acoustic element to contact a heat exchanger. The electrically conductive member delivers electrical driving signals to the active acoustic element while conducting heat to the heat exchanger. A region of the proximal surface of the active acoustic element that is free from contact with the electrically conductive member may also absent from contact with a liquid or a solid, thereby facilitating reflection of ultrasound energy. The heat exchanger may include an electrically insulating fluid that contacts the electrically conductive member to remove the heat conducted through the electrically conductive member. The active acoustic element may be a multilayer lateral mode element, and the electrically conductive member may form an electrode of the lateral mode element.

Parametric model based computer implemented methods for determining the stiffness of a bone, systems for estimating h the stiffness of a bone in vivo, and methods for determining the stiffness of a bone. The computer implemented methods include determining a complex compliance frequency response function Y(f) and an associated complex stiffness frequency response function H(f) and independently fitting a parametric mathematical model to Y(f) and to H(f), and using a first measure of conformity and a second measure of conformity of the collected data to determine accuracy and repeatability of measurements. The systems include a device for measuring the stiffness of the bone in vivo and a data analyzer to determine a complex compliance frequency response function Y(f) and an associated complex stiffness frequency response function H(f).