Abstract: In a communication type navigation system, a center apparatus receives a present position and destination from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus and thereby calculates a route by searching map data, which is constantly updated. The in-vehicle navigation apparatus receives the calculated route with course information from the center apparatus. When approaching a passing point included in the route, the navigation apparatus displays the course information in the travel direction in superimposition on a forward image around the passing point. The route guide can be thus appropriately performed to follow an actual road state. The above configuration of the system helps prevent problems in costs and workloads resulting from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus holding map data therein.

Abstract: There is a need for providing a navigation system that enhances the freedom of settling time points to determine a destination. The system prompts a user to input only information needed for determining a target region (e.g., a region including several tourist spots or a region including several ski resorts) at a departure time. The system prompts a user to input information needed for determining a specific destination (e.g., a specific tourist spot, or a specific ski resort) halfway through the target region. Accordingly, the user need not determine a specific destination at the departure time.

Abstract: In a communication type navigation system, a center apparatus receives a present position and destination from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus and thereby calculates a route by searching map data, which is constantly updated. The in-vehicle navigation apparatus receives the calculated route with course information from the center apparatus. When approaching a passing point included in the route, the navigation apparatus displays the course information in the travel direction in superimposition on a forward image around the passing point. The route guide can be thus appropriately performed to follow an actual road state. The above configuration of the system helps prevent problems in costs and workloads resulting from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus holding map data therein.

Abstract: There is a need for providing a navigation system that enhances the freedom of settling time points to determine a destination. The system prompts a user to input only information needed for determining a target region (e.g., a region including several tourist spots or a region including several ski resorts) at a departure time. The system prompts a user to input information needed for determining a specific destination (e.g., a specific tourist spot, or a specific ski resort) halfway through the target region. Accordingly, the user need not determine a specific destination at the departure time.

Abstract: In a car development system, a control specification development computer transmits Excel-format matching data of a car manufacturer to an XML database computer of an ECU supplier. The XML database computer converts the Excel-format data to XML-format data, and stores the data into an XML database. A software development computer of the ECU supplier requests text-format matching data, and the XML database computer extracts the matching data from the XML database, converts the data to text-format data and then transmits the data to the software development computer. A matching computer of the car manufacturer can likewise store ASAP2-format data into the XML database computer or extract the data from the XML database computer.

Abstract: In a car development system, a control specification development computer transmits Excel-format matching data of a car manufacturer to an XML database computer of an ECU supplier. The XML database computer converts the Excel-format data to XML-format data, and stores the data into an XML database. A software development computer of the ECU supplier requests text-format matching data, and the XML database computer extracts the matching data from the XML database, converts the data to text-format data and then transmits the data to the software development computer. A matching computer of the car manufacturer can likewise store ASAP2-format data into the XML database computer or extract the data from the XML database computer.

Abstract: A stent having long-term antithrombogenicity and radiopacity whose location and geometry can be radiographically confirmed is provided. The production method is also provided. The stent of the invention has an antithrombogenic agent covalently bonded on it surface, and the antithrombogenic agent is immobilized onto the stent surface through coupling agent having at least two amino groups and a crosslinking agent having at least two aldehyde and/or epoxy groups. The stent of the invention also has a radiopaque metal plated on at least a part thereof.

Abstract: The blood flow channel sections of an oxygenator and a blood resevoir are hydrophilized by treatment with an acid, an albumin solution, polyhydroxy methacrylate, corona discharge, plasma or ozone, so that it has highly improved weltability by the priming liquid and the blood to prevent blood foaming. The blood flow channel sections of a medical instrument may be additionally hydrophilized by treatment with a polymer containing hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate or in addition thereto a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block polymer.

Abstract: The blood flow channel sections of an oxygenator and a blood resevoir are hydrophilized by treatment with an acid, an albumin solution, polyhydroxy methacrylate, corona discharge, plasma or ozone, so that it has highly improved wettability by the priming liquid and the blood to prevent blood foaming. The blood flow channel sections of a medical instrument may be additionally hydrophilized by treatment with a polymer containing hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate or in addition thereto a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block polymer.

Abstract: A membrane type oxygenator for effecting exchange of gases with a porous gas-exchange membrane possessing minute through pores forming a path for gas, which membrane type oxygenator is characterized by the fact that minute particles are retained in the minute pores of the porous gas-exchange membrane to permit a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the path for gas and as blood anticoagulant is retained in the minute particles or between the minute particles, and it is manufactured assembling a membrane type oxygenator containing a porous gas-exchange membrane possessing minute through pores forming a path for gas, then causing a dispersion of minute particles to flow through the interior of the membrane type oxygenator thereby allowing the minute pores to retain the minute particles and permitting a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the path for gas, removing the dispersion remaining within the membrane type oxygenator, and further causing a liquid containing a blood anticoagulant to flow through th

Abstract: The blood flow channel sections of an oxygenator and a blood reservoir are hydrophilized by treatment with an acid, an albumin solution, polyhydroxy methacrylate, corona discharge, plasma or ozone, so that it has highly improved wettability by the priming liquid and the blood to prevent blood foaming. The blood flow channel sections of a medical instrument may be additionally hydrophilized by treatment with a polymer containing hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate or in addition thereto a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block polymer.

Abstract: A housing accommodates a hollow fiber bundle such that a blood port zone is defined between an open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle and an inner wall surface of the housing. The blood port zone includes an increased distance space, which is formed annularly along an edge portion of the open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle and communicates with the blood port, and a small distance space, which communicates with the blood port and has an end wall surface substantially parallel to V, and at a small distance from V, the open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle. A movable member, such as a flexible membrane facing the end surface of the hollow fiber bundle, is provided for varying the volume of the blood port zone. A restriction is provided for restricting the movement of the movable member.

Abstract: Fluid in- and out-flow spaces are provided for fluid inlet and outlet of a fluid processor accommodated in housing. Further, pair wall means defining the fluid in- and out-flow spaces, a flexible member provided for deformation on at least one of the wall means, an operation chamber provided in correspondence to the flexible member, fluid pressure supply means for fluid pressure for reciprocating the flexible member and port on-off means for reverse flow prevention to direct flow of fluid from the fluid in-flow space to the fluid out-flow space are provided. Reciprocal operation of the flexible member generates fluid pressure variation in the fluid in- and out-flow spaces, thus causing flow of said fluid processor.

Abstract: A membrane type artificial lung uses a gas-exchange membrane having at least the surface thereof for exposure to blood or the minute pores therein coated or blocked with a vinyl type copolymer having as one of the components thereof a vinyl monomer possessing a perfluoroalkyl side chain. The gas-exchange membrane of the artificial lung is manufactured by a method which comprises bringing at least the surface of the gas-exchange membrane for exposure to blood into contact with a solution of the vinyl type copolymer and subsequently vaporizing the solvent in the solution.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type oxygenator is provided wherein a bundle of a plurality of hollow porous fibers presenting gas exchange membranes axially extends through a housing to define a first flow path for oxygen, a pair of partitions support the opposed open ends of the hollow fibers to isolate the open ends from the first flow path to define a second flow path through the fiber cavities for blood, and the micropores in the hollow fibers are filled with a silicone compound, for example, a RTV silicone rubber or a blend thereof with a silicone oil while the hollow fibers on their side wall are substantially free of a layer of the silicone compound. The oxygenator is manufactured by prefabricating an oxygenator module of the above-mentioned construction, impregnating the hollow fibers with a solution of the silicone compound, and passing a cleaning liquid to remove excessive silicone compound, thereby filling only the micropores with the silicone compound.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type artificial lung and a method for the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type oxygenator is provided wherein a bundle of a plurality of hollow porous fibers presenting gas exchange membranes axially extends through a housing to define a first flow path for oxygen, a pair of partitions support the opposed open ends of the hollow fibers to isolate the open ends from the first flow path to define a second flow path through the fiber cavities for blood, and the micropores in the hollow fibers are filled with a silicone compound, for exmaple, a RTV silicone rubber or a blend thereof with a silicone oil while the hollow fibers on their side wall are substantially free of a layer of the silicone compound. The oxygenator is manufactured by prefabricating an oxygenator module of the above-mentioned construction, impregnating the hollow fibers with a solution of the silicone compound, and passing a cleaning liquid to remove excessive silicone compound, thereby filling only the micropores with the silicone compound.

Abstract: In a membrane type artificial lung using as gas-exchange membranes porous hydrophobic membranes having a wall thickness in the range of 5 to 80 .mu.m, a porosity in the range of 20 to 80%, and a pore diameter in the range of 0.01 to 5 .mu.m, the minute pores of the membranes are blocked with minute particles of silica having a diameter smaller than the pore diameter and having a hydrophobic surface at least on the sides thereof intended for exposure to blood. Optionally, the gas-exchange membranes have the surfaces for exposure to blood coated with a biocompatible hydrophobic resin.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type artificial lung and a method for the manufacture thereof.