Abstract: Provided is a hydrophobic silica powder that can be obtained by the sol-gel process, and that is excellent in charge properties. The hydrophobic silica powder has a hydrophobicity of 50% or more, a saturated water content of 4% or less, and a nitrogen content of 0.05% or more.

Abstract: Provided is a hydrophobic silica powder that can be obtained by the sol-gel process, and that is excellent in charge properties. The hydrophobic silica powder has a hydrophobicity of 50% or more, a saturated water content of 4% or less, and a nitrogen content of 0.05% or more.

Abstract: A hydrophobic silica powder is disclosed that exhibits reduced desorption of a charge control agent, on the charge-controllable surface, and that is capable of imparting charge properties within a suitable range to toner resin particles to which the hydrophobic silica particles are externally added. A hydrophobic silica powder is characterized in that (1) the hydrophobic silica powder has a hydrophobicity of 50% or more; (2) an amount X is 0.1 mass % or more, the amount X being an amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium ion, a mono-azo complex, and a mineral acid ion extracted with a mixture solvent of methanol and a ethanesulfonic acid aqueous solution: and (3) the amount X and an amount Y satisfy the following formula (I): Y/X<0.15??(I), the amount Y being an amount of the at least one compound extracted with water.

Abstract: A blood-vessel optical device is provided with: a sheath provided with a lumen penetrating therethrough, and a dovetail groove disposed so as to be parallel to the lumen; and an optical member accommodated in the lumen and including at least one of an illuminating portion guiding illumination light to an imaging subject and a light detecting portion guiding return light from the imaging subject, wherein the groove has a cross-sectional shape configured to accommodate an elongated member so as to be movable, and has an opening that has a width smaller than a diameter of the elongated member and from which a portion of the accommodated elongated member protrudes to the outside, and wherein the sheath is configured such that an external dimension in a direction orthogonal to an arrangement direction in which the lumen and the groove are arranged is smaller than an external dimension in the arrangement direction.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner of the present invention includes: an optical fiber; a vibration device that vibrates the optical fiber; and a fixturethat fixes the optical fiber. The vibration device includes: a piezoelectric element; and an elastic member thattransmits the vibration of the piezoelectric element to the optical fiber. The piezoelectric element includes: first and second piezoelectrically active region; and a piezoelectrically inactive region arranged so as to fill a space between the adjacent end surfaces of these active regions. The second moments of area of a transverse shape formed of the piezoelectric element, the optical fiber, and the elastic member in two axial directions that are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber and that are orthogonal to each other are same at the position of the vibration device.

Abstract: The technology is directed to an optical fiber scanner configured to be used in an observation device. The optical fiber scanner comprises an optical fiber guiding light therethrough. A vibration transmitting member is configured to transmit vibrations to the optical fiber. The vibration transmitting member includes a through hole defined therein through which the optical fiber extends. At least one piezoelectric element is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the vibration transmitting member and vibrating a distal end portion of the optical fiber via the vibration transmitting member. A fixing member is disposed on a proximal end side of the vibration transmitting member. A tubular wire holding member includes a plurality of wires integrally attached for supplying a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The tubular wire holding member has a contact portion securing the plurality of wires to an outer peripheral surface of the piezoelectric element in contact therewith.

Abstract: Provided is an optical-fiber scanner including: an optical fiber; a body fitted on a basal-end side of the optical fiber; piezoelectric elements secured to the body and causing the optical fiber to vibrate; and a securing portion to which the body is fitted at a position that is farther on a basal-end side away from the piezoelectric elements, wherein the body has a columnar portion that is formed of an elastic material to which the piezoelectric elements are attached and that has a through-hole into which the optical fiber can be inserted, and a distal-end portion that is disposed at a distal end of the columnar portion, that supports the optical fiber in a fitted state, and that has a rotator shape in which a cross-sectional area thereof in a radial direction gradually decreases toward a distal end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Provided is an optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides light from a side of a proximal-end portion to a side of a distal-end portion along a longitudinal axis, the optical fiber emitting the light from the distal-end portion; a piezoelectric element that is secured to an outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber, the piezoelectric element, as a result of an alternating voltage being applied thereto, generating stretching vibrations in a direction along the longitudinal axis; and a pressing portion that, of an outer surface of the piezoelectric element positioned on the radially outer side of the optical fiber, presses down, radially inward, a portion corresponding to an antinode of the stretching vibrations in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber configured to emit, from a distal end thereof, illumination light guided from a light source; and at least three flat-plate-shaped piezoelectric elements that are disposed at positions spaced apart from the distal end that are closer to a proximal end of the optical fiber in the longitudinal axis direction and configured to vibrate the distal end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the piezoelectric elements has chamfered sections on both widthwise ends along at least a portion thereof in a longitudinal direction, and the piezoelectric elements adjacent in a circumferential direction are assembled into a tubular shape that surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber in a close contact manner in a state where the chamfered sections are brought into close contact with one another.

Abstract: A scanner unit includes: a tubular elastic part provided with marks outside a prescribed bonding region set on an outer surface thereof and; and a piezoelectric element that is bonded to the bonding region. The piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric body having two mutually opposing electrode faces; and marks that are different from each other, respectively provided on the two electrode faces. The mark provided on one electrode face has a shape that matches the mark provided outside the bonding region when the piezoelectric body is bonded to the bonding region so that the other electrode face contacts the outer surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner includes an optical fiber and a fixed member that is fixed to the outer periphery of the optical fiber. The fixed member is provided with: two vibration parts that are adjacent to the optical fiber in radial directions of the optical fiber that intersect with each other and that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber; and a connector that connects the two vibration parts. The two vibration parts respectively have inner surfaces that abut against the outer periphery of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an elongated optical fiber that guides light; a vibration transferring member that has a through-hole through which the optical fiber is made to pass; piezoelectric elements bonded to the outer surfaces of the vibration transferring member and that perform stretching vibrations in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber when alternating voltages at a predetermined frequency are applied thereto, thus causing the optical fiber to generate bending vibrations in directions intersecting the longitudinal direction; and a fixing part that fixes the vibration transferring member. The vibration transferring member is provided with: holding surfaces formed of flat surfaces to which the piezoelectric elements are bonded; and contact surfaces formed of flat surfaces parallel to the holding surfaces, that are provided at least partially on the inner surfaces of the through-hole, and with which the outer surface of the optical fiber is brought into contact.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides illumination light; a piezoelectric element that is disposed at an intermediate position on the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces, due to a bending vibration, an emission end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the long axis; a wiring part that is electrically bonded to the piezoelectric element at a location between the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; a tube-shaped electrically conductive frame that has an inner hole for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; and a holding section that fixes the frame and the piezoelectric element and that conducts electricity between the frame and the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: This optical fiber scanner has an elongated optical fiber, a vibration transmission member which has a column-like shape and has a penetrating hole through which the optical fiber penetrates, and a piezoelectric element provided on an outer surface of the vibration transmission member, wherein the penetrating hole is a fitted hole which is formed from a proximal end of the vibration transmission member to a middle of the vibration transmission member and the optical fiber is fitted, and the penetrating hole is an accommodation hole which is formed from the middle to a distal end of the vibration transmission member, which has a large inner diameter than an outer diameter of the optical fiber, and which accommodates a distal end portion of the optical fiber with a gap between the optical fiber and the accommodation hole.

Abstract: Provided is an optical fiber scanner including: an illumination optical fiber that optically guides illumination light and outputs the light from a distal end thereof; an elastic section that engages with a base side of the illumination optical fiber relative to the distal end thereof and that is formed of an elastic material; piezoelectric elements fixed to a side surface of the elastic section, each piezoelectric element being polarized in a radial direction of the illumination optical fiber and receiving an alternating-current voltage in a polarization direction so as to cause the illumination optical fiber to vibrate via the elastic section; and a stationary section that has an engagement hole engaging with the elastic section at a position away from the piezoelectric elements toward the base side and that supports the illumination optical fiber in a cantilevered manner via the elastic section engaged with the engagement hole.

Abstract: Provided is an optical-fiber scanner including: an optical fiber; a body fitted on a basal-end side of the optical fiber; piezoelectric elements secured to the body and causing the optical fiber to vibrate; and a securing portion to which the body is fitted at a position that is farther on a basal-end side away from the piezoelectric elements, wherein the body has a columnar portion that is formed of an elastic material to which the piezoelectric elements are attached and that has a through-hole into which the optical fiber can be inserted, and a distal-end portion that is disposed at a distal end of the columnar portion, that supports the optical fiber in a fitted state, and that has a rotator shape in which a cross-sectional area thereof in a radial direction gradually decreases toward a distal end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Provided is an optical fiber scanner including: an illumination optical fiber; an annular elastic member formed of an elastic material having an engagement hole that engages with the illumination optical fiber; and a plurality of piezoelectric elements fixed to the annular elastic member, each piezoelectric element being polarized in a radial direction of the illumination optical fiber and applied an alternating voltage in a polarization direction so as to cause the illumination optical fiber to vibrate. The annular elastic member has a vibration transmitting section to a side of which the plurality of piezoelectric elements are bonded and transmits vibrations to the illumination optical fiber, and a fiber support section that is integrally molded together with the vibration transmitting section and that is capable of supporting the illumination optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides light produced by a light source; an actuator that is fixed at an intermediate position of the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces a distal end of the optical fiber through a bending vibration; and an electrically conductive detection wire member that extends in a state in which it is attached to the outer periphery of the optical fiber at least between the actuator and the distal end of the optical fiber, over a predetermined range in the long-axis direction.

Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides illumination light; a piezoelectric element that is disposed at an intermediate position on the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces, due to a bending vibration, an emission end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the long axis; a wiring part that is electrically bonded to the piezoelectric element at a location between the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; a tube-shaped electrically conductive frame that has an inner hole for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; and a holding section that fixes the frame and the piezoelectric element and that conducts electricity between the frame and the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A scanner unit includes: a tubular elastic part provided with marks outside a prescribed bonding region set on an outer surface thereof and; and a piezoelectric element that is bonded to the bonding region. The piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric body having two mutually opposing electrode faces; and marks that are different from each other, respectively provided on the two electrode faces. The mark provided on one electrode face has a shape that matches the mark provided outside the bonding region when the piezoelectric body is bonded to the bonding region so that the other electrode face contacts the outer surface.