Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma separation filter capable of easily, speedily and safely separating plasma from a small quantity of blood without damaging blood cell components in the blood. The plasma retains the same protein concentration as in the blood. The present invention also provides a method using such a filter and an apparatus comprising such a filter. The filter of the present invention comprises a micro fiber medium formed of micro fibers with an average hydraulic radius of 0.5 &mgr;m to 3.0 &mgr;m. Such a micro fiber medium is placed in a container having an inlet and an outlet so that a ratio (L/D) of a blood flow passage length (L) to a blood flow passage diameter (D) is 0.15 to 6. The present invention provides such a filter, a plasma separation method using the filter, and a plasma separation apparatus comprising the filter. The present invention can significantly contribute to promote the automation and enhance speediness and safety in clinical tests.

Abstract: A blood purification membrane having a membrane thickness of 10 to 35 .mu.m, an inner diameter of 100 to 300 .mu.m, a porosity of 50 to 85%, a water permeability (ultrafiltration rate) at 37.degree. C. of not less than 20 ml/m.sup.2 .multidot.Hr.multidot.mmHg and a sieving coefficient of albumin of not more than 0.01, a substantially homogeneous interior structure, and a smooth surface structure. A process for producing the membrane and a module are also provided.

Abstract: A diazo type recording material, which has a substantially unstained background, a superior preservability, and is capable of producing images of high density, wherein the diazo recording material comprises a support having thereon a recording layer comprising a photosensitive diazo compound, a hydroxyphenylsulfone derivative and a coupling component which forms a color by reacting with the diazo compound, with the diazo compound being enclosed in microcapsules.

Abstract: A recording material comprising a support coated with a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive diazo compound enclosed in microcapsules and a coupling component. The microcapsules are produced by forming an organic solution containing the diazo compound and a wall monomer, and emulsifying the organic solution in an aqueous solution containing an anionic surface-active agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone to produce oil droplets containing the wall monomer. The wall monomer is polymerized to form a wall around the oil droplets. When heat is applied to the photosensitive layer under alkaline conditions, the coupling component reacts with the diazo compound to form a color.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane made of a cellulose ester having a membrane thickness of not more than 75 .mu.m, and having void volume (x, % by volume) of the membrane and a rate of ultrafiltration (y, ml/m.sup.2.hr.mmHg) satisfying the following formula:55x-2500.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.48x+600wherein x.gtoreq.60,and further has a .beta.-lipoprotein sieving coefficient (sc) of not less than 0.95, and preferably having further not more than 2% of change ratio in the axial direction and in the radial direction when dipped freely in water at 121.degree. C. for 20 minutes. Said hollow fiber membrane is useful for the medical use, such as the exchange of plasma in patients, collection of plasma from healthy donors, the pre-treatment of plasma for the collection and purification of valuable materials contained in plasma.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane made of a cellulose ester having a membrane thickness of not more than 75 .mu.m, and having void volume (x, % by volume) of the membrane and a rate of ultrafiltration (y, ml/m.sup.2.hr.mmHg) satisfying the following formula:55x-2500.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.48x+600wherein x.gtoreq.60,and further has a .beta.-lipoprotein sieving coefficient (sc) of not less than 0.95, and preferably having further not more than 2% of change ratio in the axial direction and in the radial direction when dipped freely in water at 121.degree. C. for 20 minutes. Said hollow fiber membrane is useful for the medical use, such as the exchange of plasma in patients, collection of plasma from healthy donor, the pre-treatment of plasma for the collection and purification of valuable materials contained in plasma.

Abstract: A multi-piston swash plate type compressor with an internal lubricating arrangement for an air conditioning system used in a vehicle such as an automobile comprises a cylinder block body having a swash plate chamber formed therein for receiving a swash plate, and cylinder bores formed therein for receiving pistons. The compressor has a suction chamber which is fed with a refrigerant including a lubrication oil from an evaporator of the air conditioning system, and a discharge chamber which feeds the compressed refrigerant to a condenser of the air conditioning system. The suction and discharge chambers are communicated with each of the cylinder bores through valves. Passages are formed in the cylinder block body for feeding the refrigerant from the swash plate member to the suction chamber in such a manner that the refrigerant flow is guided to positively lubricate movable parts included in the cylinder block body as a component element of the compressor.

Abstract: A swash plate type compressor having combined cylinder blocks closed, at both axial ends thereof, by front and rear housings, each having a radially inner suction chamber and an outer exhaust chamber isolated from the suction chamber, valve plates and disks interposed between the axial ends of the combined cylinder blocks and each of the front and rear housings, a plurality of long screw bolts axially and hermetically combining the cylinder blocks, the front and rear housings, and the valve plates and disks, and an internal sealing unit arranged in the radially inner suction chambers of the front and rear housings for rigidly holding the valve plates and disks against a high pressure of a refrigerant after compression, to reinforce the hermetic seal between the axial ends of the cylinder blocks and the valve plates and disks.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane of a cellulose ester for dialysis of body liquids, such as blood, and a method are described. The membrane, which has a membrane thickness of less than 20.mu., and a yield strength S.sub.b (g/filament) after heat-treatment at 80.degree. C. for 20 hours satisfies the following formula (I):0.90.ltoreq.S.sub.b /S.sub.a .ltoreq.1.10 (I)wherein S.sub.a represents the yield strength (g/filament) of the hollow fiber membrane which is measured before heat treatment. The membrane has excellent dialysis performance while keeping excellent storage stability and excellent UFR retention during storage and during hemodialysis. A spinning solution of a cellulose ester is extruded through cyclic slits around an inner tube of a spinneret while a core solution is simultaneously extruded through the inner tube of the spinneret.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane of a cellulose ester for dialysis which has a membrane thickness of less than 20.mu., and a yield strength S.sub.b (g/filament) after heat-treatment at 80.degree. C. for 20 hours satisfying the following formula (I):0.90.ltoreq.S.sub.b /S.sub.a .ltoreq.1.10 (I)wherein S.sub.a represents the yield strength (g/filament) of the hollow fiber membrane which is measured before heat treatment, which is suitable for dialysis of body liquids, particularly for dialysis of blood, because it has excellent dialysis performance while keeping excellent storage stability and excellent UFR retention during storage and during the hemodialysis.

Abstract: A variable-delivery compressor of a swashplate type having compression chambers wherein compression is effected by reciprocating movements of double-headed pistons slidably engaging a rotating swashplate in a cylinder block. The cylinder block defines compression chambers in cooperation with front and rear valve plates which have discharge ports communicating with front and rear discharge chambers one of which serves as delivery-adjusting discharge chamber. Delivery-adjusting discharge valves are disposed in the delivery-adjusting discharge chamber and carried by an actuator member which is movable between operative and inoperative positions at which the delivery-adjusting valves are operative and inoperative to close and open the discharge ports in the corresponding valve plate. The corresponding valve plate comprises a portion defining a recess opposite to each delivery-adjusting discharge valve.

Abstract: A piston for a swash plate type compressor is disclosed in which a plurality of similar pistons are reciprocated to provide a compressing operation by means of a swash plate which is mounted on the drive shaft and rotated in the compressor cylinder. The piston comprises a piston main body or blank made of aluminium or aluminium alloy, and a coating layer applied to the overall surface of the piston blank except central portions of both outer end faces of the blank, said coating layer being of ethylene fluoride or a copolymer of ethylene fluoride and a vinyl compound, the heat conductivity of which is lower than that of the piston blank.

Abstract: A variable delivery compressor having therein a plurality of compression chambers is adapted for compressing a refrigerant gas of a cooling circuit. The compressor has a first delivery chamber communicating with the compression chambers by way of a fixedly arranged valve and a second delivery chamber communicating with the compression chambers by way of a movably arranged delivery valve. This movable valve is formed to include a base portion, a plurality of reed portions formed to radially extend from the outer circumference of the base portion and arranged to face delivery ports, and at least one protrusion formed to radially extend from the outer circumference of the base portion for suppressing the warp of the base portion.