Abstract: A mold for forming a resin pattern using nanoimprint lithography according to the present invention comprises a main mold including a fine pattern of a protrusion and a depression intended to be transferred, and a spacer for forming a space between the protrusion of the fine pattern of the main mold and a transferred object during a transfer of the fine pattern, in which the spacer has a vent passage capable of flowing gas therethrough and has an elasticity against a pressing force during the transfer.

Abstract: An imprint device transfers a micropattern created on a stamper onto a material to be transferred, by bringing the stamper and the material to be transferred into contact with each other. The imprint device has a flow passage for discharging a fluid to a rear surface of the stamper or the material to be transferred, to thereby bend the stamper or the material to be transferred.

Abstract: A stamper and a transfer apparatus that utilizes the stamper, which is capable of accurately transferring its own pattern onto an article, such as a substrate, without being affected by any distribution of convex portions on the stamper surface or any contour of the substrate. The stamper has a fine concave-convex pattern on a surface thereof for forming a fine structure on a substrate using a pressing machine. The stamper is flexible and includes a buffer formed on an opposite side to the side on which the concave-convex pattern is formed. The buffer has a longitudinal distribution of moduli of elasticity.

Abstract: Provided is a nanoprint apparatus in which a substrate and a mold formed on its surface with fine concavities and convexities are heated and pressed with each other through the intermediary of a buffer member interposed therebetwen, including a mechanism for successively replacing the buffer member with new one at each time which the mold and the substate are heated and pressed, thereby it is possible to form a fine structure on the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a technology for simple three-dimensional culturing of cartilage cells. The technology includes a method for culturing cartilage cells which comprises seeding cartilage cells 1 on a plurality of projected portions 21 of a culturing substrate 2 having a culture surface on which the projected portions 21 having an equivalent diameter and an interval which are smaller than the equivalent diameter of the cartilage cells 1 to be cultured, placing the culture substrate 2 having the cartilage cells 1 in a culture vessel, and culturing the cartilage cells to form aggregates of cartilage cells.

Abstract: There is provided an imprint device for transferring a fine pattern to a material to form a patterned material. The device comprises a stamper having the fine pattern thereon, and a pressure distribution mechanism. The stamper is pressed against the material, and the pressure distribution mechanism provides a nonuniform pressure distribution in a patterned region of the patterned material, while the stamper is in contact with the material. There are provided an imprint device and a microstructure transfer method, by which it is possible to sufficiently spread a resin or other material for forming a pattern layer between a stamper and a patterned material with a lower pressure so as not to damage the stamper or the patterned material, and to form a pattern formation layer having the uniform thickness on the patterned material.

Abstract: In order to allow for aligning a relative position between a transferred object and a stamper with high accuracy without providing an alignment pattern in the transferred object, there are provided: a pattern transfer method, including: when adjusting the relative position between the stamper and the transferred object, a step of detecting at least two or more edge positions of the transferred object and calculating an arbitrary point from the detected edge positions; a step of detecting a position of the stamper from an edge of the stamper or an alignment mark formed in the stamper; and a step of adjusting the relative position between the transferred object and the stamper from the arbitrary point and the position of the stamper; and an imprint device using the same.

Abstract: In a mold in which a pattern is formed of a fine concavo-convex shape, two or more of alignment marks for determining a relative positional relation between a substrate and a mold are formed concentrically. Moreover, a damaged mark is identified from the positional information and shape of the respective marks, and an alignment between the mold and the substrate to which a resin film is applied is carried out excluding the damaged mark.

Abstract: A stamper includes a substrate and a plurality of protrusions of different heights formed on one of the surfaces of the substrate, the protrusions of larger height having a stack structure formed of at least two layers of at least two types of materials, thereby transferring a plurality of patterns at the same time.

Abstract: An image-quality control system including a terminal connected to medical diagnostic imaging apparatus and a service center system for transmitting a maintenance report of the medical diagnostic imaging apparatus to the terminal. The terminal includes a first receiving unit for receiving a report transmitted from the service center system and a first transmitting unit for transmitting an image or image-quality parameters of the image. The service center system includes a second receiving unit for receiving the image or image-quality parameters from the terminal, an image-quality parameter database for storing the image-quality parameters, a determination section for determining if the stored image-quality parameters correspond with specified reference values, a report generating section for generating a report including the determination of the image-quality parameters, and a second transmitting unit for transmitting the generated report.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes an amorphous semiconductor film forming treatment of supplying a starting material gas containing germanium to a semiconductor substrate, thereby forming an amorphous semiconductor film containing the germanium on the semiconductor substrate. Further, it also provides a semiconductor device of a novel structure manufactured by the manufacturing method.

Abstract: A midsole structure for an athletic shoe includes an upper midsole (3) formed of a soft elastic material, a lower midsole (4) disposed under the upper midsole (3) and formed of a soft elastic material, and a wavy plate assembly (5) interposed between the upper midsole (3) and the lower midsole (4). The wavy plate assembly (5) includes a wavy board (50) and a pair of sidewall members (51) provided discretely from the wavy board (50) and disposed on opposite Bides of the wavy board (50). Each of the sidewall members (51) includes a wavy bottom portion (51b) overlapping the wavy board (50) and an upraised portion (51a) extending upwardly from the wavy bottom portion (51b) to face a side surface of the upper midsole (3). Provision of the wavy board (50) and the sidewall members (51) discretely from each other simplifies a layout of a mold for forming the wavy plate assembly (5), thereby reducing a manufacturing cost.

Abstract: In an imprint device and a microstructure transfer method, a fluid is ejected at the back of at least either a stamper or a transfer target body during pressurization of the stamper and the transfer target body. The fluid is ejected through plural holes formed in a stage disposed at the back of at least either the stamper or the transfer target body. The plural holes are connected to independent pressure regulating mechanisms, which can individually control the amount of fluid ejection, the timing of start of ejection, and so on. When the stamper is peeled from the transfer target body, the plural holes are evacuated to fix the stamper or the transfer target body to the stage by suction so as to peel the stamper.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture vessel which is simple in structure and easy to handle, and is capable of preventing damage to the cells when separated, promoting transport of nutrients and excretion of effete matter, and elevating the culturing efficiency improving effect by the structural features. In order to attain the above object, there is provided a cell culture vessel including a culture section provided with a plurality of projections having an equivalent diameter smaller than the cells to be cultured and the culture section side walls enclosing the culture section, wherein the distance between an arbitrary position on the culture section/side wall boundary line and the nearest projection is smaller than the diameter of the cells to be cultured. The effect of the projections in the vessel given to the cultured cells is enhanced.

Abstract: A sole structure is provided that can improve cushioning and bending properties of the sole heel portion. The sole assembly 1 is formed of an upper plate 2 disposed on the upper side of the heel portion H, a wavy lower plate 3 provided below the upper plate 2 in the heel portion H and having at least two convex portions 30, 31 that protrude downwardly and that are adapted to form voids C relative to the upper plate 2, and a plurality of outsole portions 51-55 that are divided in the longitudinal direction and that are attached to the lower surfaces of the convex portions 30, 31 of the lower plate 3.

Abstract: To provide a metal mold excellent in the mold-release characteristic and the transfer accuracy in a nano-imprint method. By controlling the thickness of a metal oxide film formed in the face of a release agent and a mold, the adhesive amount of the release agent layer formed in the outer layer thereof is adjusted, thereby forming a mold excellent in the mold-release characteristic. The present invention also relates to methods of fabricating molds for nano-imprint, and mold usage on nano-imprinting equipment.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling morphological growth of neurons by specifically controlling the surface configuration of a substrate. There is also provided a neuron culture substrate necessary for application of the method and neurons controlled in morphological growth. The method for culturing neurons include, providing a culture medium and neurons on a cell culture substrate 1 and culturing the neurons in corresponding culture conditions, wherein the culture surface of the cell culture substrate 1 has a plurality of protrusions 4, and the shape, interval or both is controlled to control morphological growth of the neurons.

Abstract: A stamper includes a substrate and a plurality of protrusions of different heights formed on one of the surfaces of the substrate, the protrusions of larger height having a stack structure formed of at least two layers of at least two types of materials, thereby transferring a plurality of patterns at the same time.

Abstract: A sole structure is provided that can improve bendability and cushioning ability of the sole forefoot portion. The sole assembly 1 is formed of an upper plate 2, and a lower plate 3 provided below the upper plate 2 and spaced apart from the upper plate 2 via a void S. The lower plate 3 has a plurality of protrusions 30 that protrude toward the upper plate 2. The longitudinal path length L1 of the lower plate 3 is longer than the longitudinal path length L2 of the upper plate 2. More specifically, the path length L1 of the lower plate 3 is 40-60% longer than the path length L2 of the upper plate 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell that has a minute projection cluster on one side or both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane. Further, the present invention provides a production method of an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, wherein a mold comprising convex portions having a fixed planar pattern is pressed on one side or both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane, then while concave portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane formed in the concave portions are being stretched, the mold is removed from the polymer electrolyte membrane for forming a minute projection cluster.