Abstract: Disclosed is an optical dental caries diagnostic device and an optical diagnostic device for periodontal diseases that can quantitatively diagnose progression of dental caries or periodontal diseases, and an optical diagnostic method including the same. Also disclosed is a diagnostic system including such diagnostic devices. The optical dental caries diagnostic device (1) has a probe (30) having optical transparency and a taper shape with an end portion to be in contact with a tooth, a light source (20) emitting light to the probe (30), and a light receiving element (40) receiving light from the end portion of the probe (30).

Abstract: The present invention includes: a front-side positive trace (2P) disposed on a flexible substrate (5); a positive external connection line (12P) connected to the front-side positive trace (2P) to supply electric power; and LED chips (4) provided to the flexible substrate (5) and connected to the front-side positive trace (2P), wherein an electric resistance between the positive external connection line (12P) and one of the LED chips (4) which is farthest from the positive external connection line (12P) is less than an internal resistance of the one of the LED chips (4).

Abstract: The present invention includes: a front-side positive trace (2P) disposed on a flexible substrate (5); a positive external connection line (12P) connected to the front-side positive trace (2P) to supply electric power; and LED chips (4) provided to the flexible substrate (5) and connected to the front-side positive trace (2P), wherein an electric resistance between the positive external connection line (12P) and one of the LED chips (4) which is farthest from the positive external connection line (12P) is less than an internal resistance of the one of the LED chips (4).

Abstract: A dental therapy apparatus which enables a dental therapy more surely and less invasively is provided. A dental therapy apparatus (10A) comprises a laser light source (11) emitting laser light (L) having a wavelength within a wavelength region of 5.7 to 6.6 ?m; a controller (12) pulse-driving the laser light source and controlling at least one of pulse width and repetition frequency of pulsed laser light emitted from the laser light source; and an irradiation optical system for irradiating a tooth (20) including a carious part (21) with the light emitted from the laser light source. In this dental therapy apparatus, the controller controls at least one of the pulse width and repetition frequency of the pulsed light, so as to selectively cut the carious part (21).

Abstract: A dental therapy apparatus which enables a dental therapy more surely and less invasively is provided. A dental therapy apparatus (10A) comprises a laser light source (11) emitting laser light (L) having a wavelength within a wavelength region of 5.7 to 6.6 ?m; a controller (12) pulse-driving the laser light source and controlling at least one of pulse width and repetition frequency of pulsed laser light emitted from the laser light source; and an irradiation optical system for irradiating a tooth (20) including a carious part (21) with the light emitted from the laser light source. In this dental therapy apparatus, the controller controls at least one of the pulse width and repetition frequency of the pulsed light, so as to selectively cut the carious part (21).

Abstract: To provide an analyzer configured to enable to determine whether or not phosphoric acid is bound to a peptide or protein in a short time according to a simple procedure, and to provide a program for use in the analyzer, and a recording medium for storing the program. A spectrum of a peptide or protein in the infrared region is determined so as to specify the type of a phosphorylated amino acid in the peptide or protein based on a peak position in a region of 1,000 to 1,100 [cm?1] of the spectrum.

Abstract: The invention offers a technique that selectively differentiation-induces mesenchymal stem cells, which can differentiate to cells that constitute various tissues and organs, to osteoblasts. In addition, the invention offers a technique that differentiation-induces mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts with a simple operation that needs only short time and that is noninvasive. The inventors have found that the switch for the differentiation induction to osteoblasts is turned on by translocating biological clock-relevant factors existing in mesenchymal stem cells from the cells' cytoplasm to the cells' nucleus. The inventors have also found that the switch can be turned on by irradiating the cells for a short time with a lightwave having a specific wavelength that is noninvasive.

Abstract: To provide an analyzer configured to enable to determine whether or not phosphoric acid is bound to a peptide or protein in a short time according to a simple procedure, and to provide a program for use in the analyzer, and a recording medium for storing the program. A spectrum of a peptide or protein in the infrared region is determined so as to specify the type of a phosphorylated amino acid in the peptide or protein based on a peak position in a region of 1,000 to 1,100 [cm?1] of the spectrum.

Abstract: The invention offers a technique that selectively differentiation-induces mesenchymal stem cells, which can differentiate to cells that constitute various tissues and organs, to osteoblasts. In addition, the invention offers a technique that differentiation-induces mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts with a simple operation that needs only short time and that is noninvasive. The inventors have found that the switch for the differentiation induction to osteoblasts is turned on by translocating biological clock-relevant factors existing in mesenchymal stem cells from the cells' cytoplasm to the cells' nucleus. The inventors have also found that the switch can be turned on by irradiating the cells for a short time with a lightwave having a specific wavelength that is noninvasive.

Abstract: A cell microchip with which various measurements of the action of medicaments, etc. by the use of biological reaction using a small amount of cells can be accomplished simply within a brief period of time; and a method of assay with the use of the cell microchip. In particular, there are provided a cell microchip comprising plastic substrate (31) and, formed thereon, micro flow channel (32); a method of assay with the use of cells characterized in that use is made of the cell microchip; and a method of conducting biological inspection with the use of cells characterized in that use is made of the cell microchip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a minute molecular orientation controlling comprising the steps of specifically exciting the vibration energy level of an intramolecular chemical bond of a molecular material by using infrared light to locally and anisotropically heat the molecule and hence cause a thermal non-equilibrium state, and then selectively re-orienting in the specific direction of in-plane and out-of-plane directions with respect to a plane perpendicular to the incident axis dependent on the incident direction and polarization direction; and a device for controlling the process.

Abstract: A liver function testing apparatus, provides light signals (11, 12) exposing vital tissue (15) to a first light signal that is substantially absorbed by a specific dye dosed into the blood of the vital tissue. The dye is to be taken in and removed by the liver. A second light signal is substantially not absorbed by the specific dye. Optical pulses obtained from the vital tissue are received by a light receiving element (13), the output of which is sampled by an A-D converter (30) to provide digital output signals. On the basis of variable components in the blood, a CPU (34) determines a coefficient of a regression line expression between first and second photoelectric conversion signals, to perform a biocalibration.

Abstract: In a liver function testing apparatus, light sources (11, 12) expose vital tissue (15) to first light of a wavelength capable of being absorbed by a specific dye dosed into blood of the vital tissue to be taken in and removed by the liver, and second light of a wavelength not capable of being absorbed by the specific dye. Optical pulses obtained from the vital tissue are received by a light receiving element (13), the output of which is sampled by an A/D converter (30) for converting the analog output signals into digital signals. A biocalibration is preformed on the basis of variable components in the blood. For this purpose a CPU (34) determines coefficients for first and second regression line expressions before and after an injection of the specific dye. The coefficients are provided by first and second photoelectric conversion signals.

Abstract: A bio-photosensor used to examine the function of various organs of a human body or the like. It has a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) formed with an electric circuit, a light emitter and a light receptor mounted on the FPC and connected to an electric cable through the electric circuit, and a fixing tape adapted to be put on the FPC applied to a finger or the like to fix it in position. In order to support the emitter and the receptor, a strip of flexible film is used. It can be fitted on the finger comfortably. Pairs of sensors are provided around the light receptor to check if the receptor is put in an exactly opposite position to the emitter when the bio-photosensor is put on the finger. The FPC is provided with a mark at such a position that the emitter and the receptor will be opposed to each other when the bio-photosensor is applied to the finger with the mark in contact with the finger tip.

Abstract: In a liver function testing apparatus, light sources (11, 12) expose vital tissue (15) to a first light of a wavelength absorbed by specific dye dosed into blood of the vital tissue, whereby the dye is to be taken in and removed by a liver and a second light of a wavelength not absorbed by the dye. Optical pulses obtained from the vital tissue are received by a light receiving element (13) providing an output signal which is sampled by an A-D converter (30) for converting the output signal into digital sampling signals. Variable components in the blood represented by the sampling signals are determined as coefficients of linear functions, to perform a biocalibration.

Abstract: An optical cable of the present invention comprises: an optical fiber sensor, the optical fiber sensor having an optical fiber having an external circumferential wall portion and a flexible coating film covering the external circumferential wall portion; and a tube member with a good flexibility, the tube member having an axis and an internal circumferential wall portion and receiving the optical fiber sensor along the axis such that the coating film faces the internal circumferential wall portion of the tube member, the tube member having a portion where the axis is bent; wherein fluid is sealed in between the coating film and the internal circumferential wall portion of the tube member with its pressure being changeable.

Abstract: A fiberscope having a covering tube, an image fiber for transmitting picture images and equipped with an optical system at its tip end for focusing an image of an object to be observed, and light guides for transmitting light and placed along with said image fiber. The image fiber and the light guides are enclosed in said covering tube. A plastic body formed of substantially transparent material and convex shape is provided at front ends of the light guides. Liquid guide passages are also provided between an inner peripheral surface of the covering tube and outer peripheral surfaces of the image fiber and the light guides. Outlet ends of the light guides are arranged in positions substantially symmetrical with respect to an output end of the image fiber, and outlet ends of the liquid guide passages are arranged in positions substantially symmetrical with respect to the outlet end of the image fiber.