Abstract: Provided is an in vivo movement tracking apparatus configured to track a portion of interest that moves in vivo, in which accuracy and robustness of tracking are improved. The apparatus is configured to determine an estimated position of ah organ in a biological image based on the past movement of the organ and search for contour points corresponding to a plurality of control points, respectively, representing a contour shape of the organ in a region corresponding to the estimated position, to thereby determine an estimated contour of the organ based on the contour points. The in vivo movement tracking apparatus is configured to determine a position of a portion of interest, which moves in association with the organ, based on the estimated contour with reference to previously acquired sample data regarding a positional relationship between a contour of the organ and the portion of interest.

Abstract: Provided is an in vivo movement tracking apparatus configured to track a portion of interest that moves in vivo, in which accuracy and robustness of tracking are improved. The apparatus is configured to determine an estimated position of ah organ in a biological image based on the past movement of the organ and search for contour points corresponding to a plurality of control points, respectively, representing a contour shape of the organ in a region corresponding to the estimated position, to thereby determine an estimated contour of the organ based on the contour points. The in vivo movement tracking apparatus is configured to determine a position of a portion of interest, which moves in association with the organ, based on the estimated contour with reference to previously acquired sample data regarding a positional relationship between a contour of the organ and the portion of interest.

Abstract: When an amount of visceral fat is measured using ultrasonic waves during medical examination of metabolic syndrome, three contact positions are defined on the surface of the abdominal region, and three distances inside the living body are measured by bringing a probe into contact with the surface of the abdominal region at the contact positions. Specifically, three measurement paths having a starting point at the center of the descending aorta are set, and the distances from the center to a surface of the fat layer adjacent to the surface of the body (inner surface of the subcutaneous layer) in the measurement paths are observed. An approximate area of a visceral fat region can be determined from the three distances and two angles defined by the three measurement paths, and an index value is calculated on the basis of the area. A probe holder having three holding portions is desirably used.

Abstract: A surgical assistance system for operating on biological tissue using a surgical tool attached to an arm of an automatically-controlled surgical instrument so that an optimal feed rate of the tool is calculated and outputted to the surgical instrument, the system including: a device for storing and voxelizing medical image data obtained from a biological tissue subject to surgery; a device for setting an operative location based on the shape of the biological tissue; a device for calculating a tool path along which the tool travels to perform surgery at an operative location; a device for determining the region of interference between the tool and the voxels; a device for determining the hardness of the biological tissue in the interference region; a device for calculating an optimal tool feed rate corresponding to the hardness; and a device for outputting the feed rate obtained by the calculations to the surgical instrument.

Abstract: Tow forces can be measured only by providing one force sensor in a device structure, and a drive system is driven so as to assist an external force by detecting it. A value at a force sensor (114) at the moment when a foot switch (121) is set as the original point (detection reference) of a force to be assisted. Variations of the force after the original point setting is measured by the force sensor (114) the difference between the measured value and the assist original point is obtained, and a force to be assisted is detected. Depending on the magnitude of the force to be assisted, assist operation is performed by causing a drive force to act on a foot such that the force to be assisted is reduced. When the force is assisted reaches zero, the assist operation is completed. Then, two forces, or “a force acting on a patient's foot” and “a force applied to the foot” from the outside, are detected by the one force sensor (114).

Abstract: A bending forceps 1 has at least three degrees of freedom including relative opening/closing of a pair of gripping members 11a, 11b, rotation of both the gripping members around a first axis 15 and rotation of both the gripping members around a second axis 42 existing on an imaginary plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis 15. A drive power from an actuator is converted to each motion of the opening/closing of the gripping members, rotation thereof around the first axis and rotation thereof around the second axis by first to third link mechanisms 5, 6 and 7. The present invention enables the durability and control accuracy to be raised by employing a link mechanism as a drive power transmitting means. Further, the present invention facilitates sterilization, cleaning and attachment/detachment to/from a driving means.

Abstract: A bending forceps 1 has at least three degrees of freedom including relative opening/closing of a pair of gripping members 11a, 11b, rotation of both the gripping members around a first axis 15 and rotation of both the gripping members around a second axis 42 existing on an imaginary plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis 15. A drive power from an actuator is converted to each motion of the opening/closing of the gripping members, rotation thereof around the first axis and rotation thereof around the second axis by first to third link mechanisms 5, 6 and 7. The present invention enables the durability and control accuracy to be raised by employing a link mechanism as a drive power transmitting means. Further, the present invention facilitates sterilization, cleaning and attachment/detachment to/from a driving means.

Abstract: Tow forces can be measured only by providing one force sensor in a device structure, and a drive system is driven so as to assist an external force by detecting it. A value at a force sensor (114) at the moment when a foot switch (121) is set as the original point (detection reference) of a force to be assisted. Variations of the force after the original point setting is measured by the force sensor (114) the difference between the measured value and the assist original point is obtained, and a force to be assisted is detected. Depending on the magnitude of the force to be assisted, assist operation is performed by causing a drive force to act on a foot such that the force to be assisted is reduced. When the force is assisted reaches zero, the assist operation is completed. Then, two forces, or “a force acting on a patient's foot” and “a force applied to the foot” from the outside, are detected by the one force sensor (114).

Abstract: The repositioning apparatus of the invention includes a supporting bed for supporting at least a lower body of a patient, who needs repositioning therapy on his/her leg, a lower leg supporting bed for supporting a lower leg of the patient, a first movable table for allowing the lower leg supporting bed to move about a substantially horizontal axis, a first drive unit for driving the first movable table, a second movable table for moving the lower leg supporting bed in the substantially horizontal direction, and a second drive unit for driving the second movable table. Accordingly, the repositioning apparatus can make the lower leg of the patient perform a twisting action and a bending and stretching action, which are inevitable action for repositioning the patient's lower leg.

Abstract: A curved surface machining method that performs finishing of the surface of a workpiece into a curved surface. The method includes the steps of: setting a workpiece in a rotating or stationary state in a water tank filled with an abrasive-containing solution into which an abrasive with a grain size of less than 1 ?m has been admixed; and spraying a high-speed fluid in the abrasive-containing solution while a position, direction, and angle thereof is controlled relative to the workpiece, thus grinding and finishing the surface of the workpiece to an intended surface roughness and profile accuracy.

Abstract: A curved surface machining method that performs finishing of the surface of a workpiece into a curved surface. The method includes the steps of: setting a workpiece in a rotating or stationary state in a water tank filled with an abrasive-containing solution into which an abrasive with a grain size of less than 1 ?m has been admixed; and spraying a high-speed fluid in the abrasive-containing solution while a position, direction, and angle thereof is controlled relative to the workpiece, thus grinding and finishing the surface of the workpiece to an intended surface roughness and profile accuracy.

Abstract: The repositioning apparatus of the invention includes a supporting bed for supporting at least a lower body of a patient, who needs repositioning therapy on his/her leg, a lower leg supporting bed for supporting a lower leg of the patient, a first movable table for allowing the lower leg supporting bed to move about a substantially horizontal axis, a first drive unit for driving the first movable table, a second movable table for moving the lower leg supporting bed in the substantially horizontal direction, and a second drive unit for driving the second movable table. Accordingly, the repositioning apparatus can make the lower leg of the patient perform a twisting action and a bending and stretching action, which are inevitable action for repositioning the patient's lower leg.