Abstract: Disclosed is a nitric monoxide metabolite-polyoxyalkylene-hemoglobin complex having a molecular weight of from 100,000 to 2,000,000 daltons, in which a polyoxyalkylene derivative is bound to from 10 to 30% in total of bindable amino groups in hemoglobin and a nitric monoxide metabolite is bound to from 10 to 100% in total of thiol groups of cysteine residues.

Abstract: A body cavity-observing apparatus includes an endoscope with an imaging optical system on the front edge thereof, a prism movably mounted on the forefront of the imaging optical system, and an actuator to drive the prism on a given command signal. A different endoscope image is obtained by moving the prism, and thus, a wide range endoscope image can be easily obtained.

Abstract: A rapid vascular endothelium function examining method with improved reproducibility is provided. An apparatus for the method comprises systems for acquiring ultrasound images by an ultrasound probe, processing the acquired images and moving/rotating the ultrasound probe. The method comprises: a first step where the acquired image is processed so that the center of a blood vessel is laid on the center of the image; a second step where a series of operations for acquiring an image, processing the acquired image and moving the probe based on the processed result, are repeated so that the probe is moved in parallel to the blood vessel; a third step where the similar operations to the second step are executed so that the probe is moved in parallel to and immediately above the blood vessel; a fourth step for determining a blood vessel diameter from the finally acquired image at the third step.

Abstract: A rapid vascular endothelium function examining method with improved reproducibility is provided. An apparatus for the method comprises systems for acquiring ultrasound images by an ultrasound probe, processing the acquired images and moving/rotating the ultrasound probe. The method comprises: a first step where the acquired image is processed so that the center of a blood vessel is laid on the center of the image; a second step where a series of operations for acquiring an image, processing the acquired image and moving the probe based on the processed result, are repeated so that the probe is moved in parallel to the blood vessel; a third step where the similar operations to the second step are executed so that the probe is moved in parallel to and immediately above the blood vessel; a fourth step for determining a blood vessel diameter from the finally acquired image at the third step.

Abstract: A body cavity-observing apparatus has an endoscope with an imaging optical system on the front edge thereof, a prism movably mounted on the forefront of the imaging optical system, and an actuator to drive the prism on a given command signal. Then, a different endoscope image is obtained by moving the prism, and thus, a wide range endoscope image can be easily obtained.

Abstract: A library apparatus capable of directly entering a large number of recording medium cartridges all at once into a given cell column of a cell drum. The library apparatus includes a recording medium drive unit for writing and reading data to and from a recording medium cartridge; a cartridge entry unit for entering recording medium cartridges into the library apparatus; an automatic cartridge exit unit for automatically ejecting recording medium cartridges from inside the library apparatus; and an accessor for transporting recording medium cartridges through the cell drum, recording medium drive unit, cartridge entry unit and automatic cartridge exit unit. The library apparatus further includes a swinging door that opens and closes to allow recording medium cartridges to enter all at once into the cells of a given cell column in the cell unit, and a faulty cartridge entry detection mechanism for detecting any faulty entry of a recording medium cartridge into any cell of the cell column.

Abstract: A disk changer includes a plurality of carriages having a disk on each carriage, a tray accommodating the plurality of carriages, the tray being reciprocated between a disk take-out position and a disk accommodating position, a recording and reproducing unit for driving a disk at a disk driving position for recording data thereon and reproducing data therefrom, a disk setting mechanism for displacing the disk when the disk is at a driving position from a disk loading level to a disk non-loading level and vice versa, a carriage lifting mechanism for vertically moving the carriage, which is at the disk accommodating position, between the lowermost level thereof and a level above the lowermost level, and for vertically moving the carriage between the non-loading level and a level above the non-loading level, and a carriage moving mechanism for moving the carriage to a space formed at one of the disk accommodating position and the disk driving position in association with an operation of the carriage lifting mech

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump, used for heart-lung machines or the like, having at least one impeller, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, the casing formed to have a space for rotatably housing the at least one impeller and a magnetic drive disposed outside the casing. The impeller may have vanes attached thereto for forcing fluid through the casing. Further the vanes may have magnets imbedded therein. The magnetic drive and the imbedded magnets cooperate to rotate the impeller. The impeller may have pivots integrated at opposing ends for allowing the impeller to rotate about a horizontal axis. The pivots may be supported by pivot bearings disposed within the casing. The pivots and the pivot bearings may be made of a ceramic material.

Abstract: A mode switching transmitting mechanism for a tape player according to the present invention, in which a play mode and a fast forward/fast rewinding mode is switched by sliding a transmitting gear engaged with a driving gear in a direction of an axial line, makes it possible to construct a small and thin switching mechanism. According to the present invention a first gear having a greater diameter on the driving side and a first gear having a smaller diameter have a common shaft. A second gear having a greater diameter on the driven side and a second gear having a smaller diameter are supported slidably on a shaft on a pivoting arm side and held, energized towards one direction of an axial line by a spring. In order to realize the play mode, a lever is pushed. Then an operating lever is forwarded and a wedge portion thereof is engaged with a conical plateau portion formed in a wedge portion of the gear having a greater diameter.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump, used for heart-lung machines or the like, comprises an impeller, a casing having a suction inlet and a delivery outlet and being equipped with a space for rotatably accommodating the impeller, and a magnetic drive means disposed outside the casing. The impeller is of a rotationally symmetric shape and has a rotary vane section and a cylindrical section equipped with a magnet means. The magnet drive means for generating a rotating magnetic field coaxially encloses the magnet means of the above-mentioned cylindrical section and rotates the impeller in cooperation with the magnet means. At least the end section of the impeller's rotation center on the rotary vane section side is supported preferably by a pivot bearing. The pivot and the bearing thereof are preferably made of ceramics.

Abstract: A robot for surgical operation which comprises arm structure mounted at its one end of a vertical support and extending in a predetermined direction.The robot comprises a drive mechanism mounted on the other end of the arm structure and adapted to extend substantially horizontally further in said predetermined direction. A head or trepan is mounted at the extended end of and driven by said drive mechanism. Light transmissive fiber or the like mounted on the trepan takes an image of the patient and a controller process the image through video data processing for driving the arm structure, thereby controlling the position and tilt of the trepan with respect to the patient.