Abstract: Disclosed is a material for sustained chemical-release in vivo, which comprises a hydroxyapatite/collagen (HAp/Col) nanocomposite formed as a coprecipitate, and a chemical consisting at least one of a drug and a bioactive substance including a growth factor and a DNA enzyme. The hydroxyapatite (HAp) has a specific surface area in the range of 50 to 300 m2/g. The hydroxyapatite (HAp) and the collagen (Col) are combined in such a manner that the crystals of the hydroxyapatite (HAp) are oriented in the C-axis direction around the fibers of the collagen (Col). The chemical is carried on the surface of the hydroxyapatite (HAp), the surface of the collagen (Col) and in a hydrated water of the hydroxyapatite (HAp) and the collagen (Col). The sustained chemical-release material can be prepared in the form of a bioabsorbable capsule, or in the form of allowing in vivo administration by injection and in-vivo gelation after said administration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing porous and composite materials comprising steps of: freezing a complex containing at least one calcium salt selected from calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite and collagen, at least a part of which is gelatinized; and then lyophilizing the resultant. The porous and composite materials obtained by the method of the present invention have large pore diameters, high porosities, and adequate mechanical strengths and biodegradability. Thus, they are suitable for implants such as bone fillers, drug carriers for sustained-release, and the like.

Abstract: The locking structure includes a locking part configured to lock with mating members defining locking holes. The locking part includes at least two insertion parts. The insertion parts include pairs of guide walls defining insertion channels extending in respective directions for inserting and supporting mating members. The insertion parts include locking protrusions between guide walls for engaging with the locking holes of the mating members.

Abstract: Disclosed is an artificial vertebra having a bone-marrow regenerating function, comprising a hydroxyapatite (HAp)/collagen (Col) composite body formed by pressure-dehydrating a coprecipitate of hydroxyapatite and collagen to have a nanocomposite structure in which HAp particles are conjugated along a Col fiber while aligned each of the c-axes of the HAp particles along the Col fiber. The HAp/Col composite body is formed with a perforated aperture for allowing a blood vessel and an osteogenic cell to intrude thereinto. The present invention also provides a biodecomposable/bioabsorbable support for fixing an artificial vertebra, comprising a polylactic acid plate prepared by injection-molding molten polylactic acid and then extrusion-molding the injection-molded polylactic acid in such a manner that it is draw-oriented in a uniaxial direction. The plate has four corner regions each formed with a screw hole for fixing the plate to vertebral bodies.

Abstract: Connector assembly (2, 3) includes internal and external connector housings (7, 15) matable with each other. The assembly includes a cam projection (3A) provided to one of the internal and external connector housings. The assembly includes a lever (8) provided rotatably to another one of the internal and external connector housings. The lever defines a cam channel (13) for guiding the cam projection therein to mate the internal and external connector housings with each other. The assembly includes a false-assembly preventing structure (3Ba, 3Bb S1, S2) operative to prevent false-assembly of the internal and external connector housings at an initial mating. The lever is rotatable to push the cam projection to space the internal and external connector housings off.

Abstract: Connector assembly (2, 3) includes internal and external connector housings (7, 15) matable with each other. The assembly includes a cam projection (3A) provided to one of the internal and external connector housings. The assembly includes a lever (8) provided rotatably to another one of the internal and external connector housings. The lever defines a cam channel (13) for guiding the cam projection therein to mate the internal and external connector housings with each other. The assembly includes a false-assembly preventing structure (3Ba, 3Bb S1, S2) operative to prevent false-assembly of the internal and external connector housings at an initial mating. The lever is rotatable to push the cam projection to space the internal and external connector housings off.

Abstract: The locking structure includes a locking part configured to lock with mating members defining locking holes. The locking part includes at least two insertion parts. The insertion parts include pairs of guide walls defining insertion channels extending in respective directions for inserting and supporting mating members. The insertion parts include locking protrusions between guide walls for engaging with the locking holes of the mating members.

Abstract: The followings are disclosed herein: a biomaterial comprising calcium phosphate and a copolymer of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone; a biomaterial for the induction of osteoanagenesis, characterized in that a periosteum is attached to the biomaterial comprising calcium phosphate and a copolymer of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone; and a biomaterial for the prevention of adhesion comprising calcium phosphate and a copolymer of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone where the molar ratio of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone is within a range of 5-90:3-75:5-40.

Abstract: The invention encompases method and apparatus for manufacturing molded products from a material which comprises scraps of waste plastics products. The apparatus comprises a supply station 12 for supplying the material into a female mold 11, a heating station 13, a cooling station 14 and an intermittent transfer device 15 for intermittently transferring the female mold to the supply station, the heating station and the cooling station in a sequestial order. The heating station comprises a compression molding press having a heater-equipped holder 17 for vertically movably holding and heating a male mold 16 to be releasably fitted in the female mold and a heater-equipped lower support 18 for supporting and heating the female mold transferred thereto by the intermittent transfer device. The cooling station comprises a cooling press having an upper cold mold 19 to be releasably fitted in the female mold and a cooling device 20 for cooling the female mold, together with the upper cold mold fitted therein.

Abstract: A calcium phosphate porous sintered body which comprises spherical pores communicating with one another substantially throughout the body with a porosity of 55% or more and 90% or less, and has an average diameter of the inter-pore communicating parts of 50 &mgr;m or more, a pore diameter of 150 &mgr;m or more, and a three-point bending strength of 5 MPa or more, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbable barrier membrane for guided tissue regeneration which is useful for regeneration of animal tissues, including those of humans, the absorbable barrier membrane being superior in heat stability, processability, reproducibility, storage stability, bioabsorbablity, and tissue regeneration effects, and further provides a method for regeneration, using the absorbable barrier membrane, of a mandible, periodontal tissue, or defective tubulous bone, and particularly a defective tubulous bone which possesses a segmental bone defect in which both ends of the bone are in separate segments. The above objects are attained by an absorbable barrier membrane for use in guided tissue generation, comprising a lactic copolyester in which a polymerization catalyst is deactivated, as an essential component.

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing out a branch line is provided in a trunk line of an electric wire harness. The trunk line is covered with a protecting tube which has a slit for easily taking out the branch line at any place. Having a groove for inserting the slit, the apparatus is firmly fixed at a desired position. And the branch line is tightly bound on a pillar-shaped supporting member with a tape.

Abstract: A blow molding mold for making a hollow double-walled product includes male and female mold members movable toward and away from each other. The female mold member has a bottom and has first and second pairs of confronting peripheral wall segments, the wall segments of the second pair being pivotal relative to the bottom between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the peripheral wall segments of the first pair are fixedly coupled to the bottom. In a different embodiment, the wall segments of the first pair are also pivotal between open and closed positions, and have expansion prevention walls which project outwardly from opposite sides thereof and which, when the wall segments of the first and second pairs are in their closed positions, project outwardly beyond the peripheral wall segments of the second pair.

Abstract: A blow-molding apparatus for molding hollow articles is disclosed, which comprises a base member, and a platform mounted thereon. An extruder is provided which has a nozzle located above the platform. Bearings are attached to the upper surface of the platform, and support a shaft. A mold opening/closing device is pivotable mounted on the shaft, and comprises a main body, a pair of mold halves supported by the main body, and a mold-moving unit for moving the molds toward and away from each other. The apparatus further comprises a device for rotating the mold opening/closing device around the shaft, thereby to incline the device at an angle, within a predetermined range, to the horizontal plane. Thus, both mold halves can be inclined, thereby forming an inclined cavity when they are clamped together. A parison can be supplied smoothly from the nozzle into the inclined cavity, under its own weight.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an insulated-gate field effect transistor and a protection device coupled to either the source or drain of the transistor. The protection device includes a gate-controlled diode having a breakdown voltage that is less than the breakdown voltage of the drain of the field effect transistor.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a gate insulating film which has a relatively thin portion in the vicinity of one of the source and drain regions at which p-n junction breakdown is performed for carrier injection.