Disclosed herein is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image processing method. A relatively smaller set of registers is contained in a relatively faster higher level register bank, and a larger, more complete set of the registers is contained in a relatively slower lower level register bank. An output stage connected with the second node is operative to generate an output signal which is indicative of a logical state of the input signal. The metallic particles are more ductile than the matrix, and have a composition containing silver and optionally tin.