Abstract: There is provided an ICG-loaded polymer nanoparticle that is dynamically stable, prevents the leakage of contained ICG and the resulting discoloration, and has a high molar absorbance coefficient. The particle contains a hydrophilic dye having a sulfonate group and a hydrophobic polymer, and the particle further contains at least one of a lipid having a positively charged region, a nicotinic acid derivative and a thiamine derivative.

Abstract: The present invention provides contrast agents for photoacoustic imaging which exhibit high degrees of accumulation in tumor and low degrees of retention in the blood and can be administered into the blood. The contrast agents for photoacoustic imaging include a conjugate of a dye and a polyethyleneglycol represented by Formula (1), (5), (6), or (7) and an additive represented by Formula (301).

Abstract: There is provided a composition used for contrast imaging, the composition containing an aqueous solution containing a J-aggregate of indocyanine green and at least one storage stabilizer selected from the group consisting of alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, and an ammonium ion.

Abstract: A conventional silicon naphthalocyanine-containing liposome is required to incorporate a dye dispersed therein for use in photodynamic therapy, and is thus low in dye content and also low in photoacoustic signal. According to a lipid particle containing a silicon naphthalocyanine analog, in which the ratio A/B of an absorption coefficient A at a first absorption local maximum to an absorption coefficient B at a second absorption local maximum in a range from 700 nm to 800 nm is 5.0 or less, the dye content in the lipid particle can be increased and the photoacoustic signal intensity can be improved.

Abstract: There is provided a fastener which can be brought into firm engagement with a mounting hole without being affected by a change in thickness of a member in which the mounting hole is provided or a larger or smaller inside diameter of the mounting hole. This fastener 1 includes a pin 10, a metal plate spring member 30 and a grommet 50. The plate spring member 30 has a base portion 31 and a pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 which are opened in their free state and which are closed when pressed against their elastic restoring force. The elastic engagement pieces 35 have engagement shoulder portions 37 which are brought into engagement with the mounting hole, and distal ends thereof are folded to constitute folded portions 40. The folded portions 40 are offset widthwise from each other, and engagement projecting pieces 43 are formed on inner sides thereof.

Abstract: Provided is the following indocyanine green (ICG)-containing particle to be used as, for example, a contrast agent for fluorescent imaging or photoacoustic imaging. The leakage of ICG from the particle in a serum is prevented and hence the particle can stably retain ICG. According to a particle characterized by having an aggregate of indocyanine green and a phospholipid, the leakage of ICG from the particle in a serum or the like is prevented and hence ICG can be stably retained in the particle.

Abstract: A planetary gear unit inside a case includes coaxial sun and ring gears, a planetary pinion gear that meshes with the sun and ring gears, and a carrier that holds the planetary pinion gear, the ring gear being fixed with respect to the case, and a flange disposed inward of the ring gear. The ring gear is fixed to a case wall, via the flange, the wall extending radially inward, and the flange being prevented from rotating with respect to the wall by a rotation prevention mechanism. The rotation prevention mechanism includes a plurality of case holes on the same circle in the wall, flange holes in the flange at positions corresponding to the case holes, and rotation prevention members fitted into the case and flange holes to prevent rotation of the flange with respect to the wall with the flange relatively movable axially with respect to the wall.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembling structure including: a mounting member having a mounting seat; and a clip having a head and a leg. The head includes: a neck portion; and first and second flanges outwardly protrudes therefrom to sandwich the mounting seat therebetween, wherein the mounting seat includes: a hole having a diameter larger than that of the neck portion; a groove formed to communicate the hole with outside the mounting seat; and a projection protruding from a peripheral edge of the hole, wherein the second flange includes: an inner face radially-outwardly extending therefrom to gradually come close to the first flange; a top portion; and an outer face further extending to gradually separate from the first flange, and wherein the inner face abuts the projection in an assembled state.

Abstract: There is provided an ICG-loaded polymer nanoparticle that is dynamically stable, prevents the leakage of contained ICG and the resulting discoloration, and has a high molar absorbance coefficient. The particle contains a hydrophilic dye having a sulfonate group and a hydrophobic polymer, and the particle further contains at least one of a lipid having a positively charged region, a nicotinic acid derivative and a thiamine derivative.

Abstract: A planetary gear unit inside a case includes coaxial sun and ring gears, a planetary pinion gear that meshes with the sun and ring gears, and a carrier that holds the planetary pinion gear, the ring gear being fixed with respect to the case, and a flange disposed inward of the ring gear. The ring gear is fixed to a case wall, via the flange, the wall extending radially inward, and the flange being prevented from rotating with respect to the wall by a rotation prevention mechanism. The rotation prevention mechanism includes a plurality of case holes on the same circle in the wall, flange holes in the flange at positions corresponding to the case holes, and rotation prevention members fitted into the case and flange holes to prevent rotation of the flange with respect to the wall with the flange relatively movable axially with respect to the wall.

Abstract: A compound represented by Formula (1) below, where n is 2 or 3; a is an integer of 1 to 4 and b is an integer of 3 and 5 to 10, or a is 5 and b is an integer of 1 to 10; R1 to R8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a sulfonate that is any one of sodium sulfonate, potassium sulfonate, ammonium sulfonate, triethylammonium sulfonate, pyridinium sulfonate, lysine sulfonate, and arginine sulfonate; and R9 to R12 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C3 alkyl group.

Abstract: Provided is a cell chip for exposing to a portion of each of cells microdroplets dispensed with an inkjet printer or the like in a screening test of the effect of a substance on cells by using an apparatus for introducing the substance into cells including: a cell-immobilizing support including a substrate having through-holes penetrating from one side to the other side of the substrate and including cells immobilized in the through-holes so as to block up the through-holes; a liquid phase region present in contact with one side of the support and including a medium of the cells; and a mechanism present so as to face the other side of the support and imparting a microdroplet to a portion of each of the cells exposed in the openings on the other side.

Abstract: There is provided a fastener which can be fixed in a mounting hole in an ensured fashion and which can be removed from the mounting hole in an easy and ensured fashion. This fastener 10 includes a main body 20 which is fixed in a mounting hole and a pin member for releasing the engagement of the main body 20 with the mounting hole. The main body 20 has a base portion 21 and a leg portion 30, a pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 are provided on the leg portion 30, and distal end portions 37 of the elastic engagement pieces 35 are extended towards an insertion opening 23 in the pin member 40. The pin member 40 has a head portion 41 and an insertion portion 43, and a pressing surface 48 is provided on the insertion portion 43 for pressing the distal end portions 37 so as to deflect the pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 inwards to such an extent that the elastic engagement pieces are not brought into engagement with the mounting hole when the pin member 40 is pushed in a predetermined distance.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a functional component mounting structure includes: a functional component having: a base body; a functional portion formed on a front surface of the base body; and a latching portion extending from a back surface of the base body; a component receiver having: a base portion having an opening into which the latching portion is inserted from a front surface side to a back surface side thereof; and a latch receiving portion on which the latching portion is latched; and a cover member pivotally fitted to the component receiver to open and close the opening.

Abstract: A fastening device for fixing a member to be fixed to a fixing member through a screw, the fastening device includes: a top plate portion; and a pair of leg piece portions respectively suspended from the two side edges of the top plate portion, wherein the top plate portion includes two pairs of first elastic securing pieces disposed opposed to each other for defining a first screw hole formed in the screw, and two pairs of regulating pieces respectively interposed between the first elastic securing pieces for defining a first guide hole having a diameter larger than the first screw hole.

Abstract: A composition including a hydrophilic dye having a sulfonate group and a hydrophobic solvent, wherein the composition includes at least one of a nicotinic acid derivative and a tiamine derivative, can form densely accumulated particles and the like since the composition includes a hydrophilic dye that is likely to dissolve in a hydrophobic solvent.

Abstract: A contrast agent for optical imaging is produced by preparing a composition containing a hydrophilic dye having a sulfonate group, a hydrophobic solvent, a lipid having a positively charged site, and a polymerizable monomer or a prepolymer, dispersing the composition into water, and polymerizing the polymerizable monomer or the prepolymer.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastener including: a fastener body including: a cylindrical portion having an insertion hole formed therethrough; and a locking portion protruding outward from the cylindrical portion; and an unlocking member inserted into the insertion hole, wherein the locking portion is inserted into an attachment hole of an attachment object from a front side thereof, and exposed from a rear side of the attachment hole, wherein the locking portion has an elastic claw locked to an edge of the attachment hole at the rear side, wherein the elastic claw is elastically reducible in diameter, wherein the unlocking member is movable in a position rearward of the elastic claw, and wherein the locking portion is reduced in diameter when the unlocking member is pushed.

Abstract: There is provided a fastener which can be brought into firm engagement with a mounting hole without being affected by a change in thickness of a member in which the mounting hole is provided or a larger or smaller inside diameter of the mounting hole. This fastener 1 includes a pin 10, a metal plate spring member 30 and a grommet 50. The plate spring member 30 has a base portion 31 and a pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 which are opened in their free state and which are closed when pressed against their elastic restoring force. The elastic engagement pieces 35 have engagement shoulder portions 37 which are brought into engagement with the mounting hole, and distal ends thereof are folded to constitute folded portions 40. The folded portions 40 are offset widthwise from each other, and engagement projecting pieces 43 are formed on inner sides thereof.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a functional component mounting structure includes: a functional component having: a base body; a functional portion formed on a front surface of the base body; and a latching portion extending from a back surface of the base body; a component receiver having: a base portion having an opening into which the latching portion is inserted from a front surface side to a back surface side thereof; and a latch receiving portion on which the latching portion is latched; and a cover member pivotally fitted to the component receiver to open and close the opening.