Abstract: The disclosure improves the quality of seams in sewing using a sewing machine, and includes: a holder holding fabric; a driver being detachable from a bed of a sewing machine and driving the holder along an upper surface of the bed; a position detector detecting a position of a sewing needle of the sewing machine in an up-down direction; and a controller controlling driving of the holder, which is performed by the driver, based on a detection result of the position detector.

Abstract: A sewing machine external unit includes: a holder holding fabric; a driver being detachable from a bed of a sewing machine and driving the holder along an upper surface of the bed; a pressing member moving in an up-down direction according to movement of a sewing needle in the up-down direction, pressing the fabric while the sewing needle is stuck in the fabric, and rising together with the sewing needle in response to the sewing needle coming out of the fabric and rising; a position detector detecting a position of the pressing member in the up-down direction; a signal output part outputting a signal to the sewing machine; and a controller outputting a needle drive signal for driving the sewing needle from the signal output part to the sewing machine, and controlling driving of the holder and/or the sewing needle based on a detection result of the position detector.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can be disinfected or sterilized, and has a rechargeable secondary battery incorporated therein. A distal treatment section of the surgical instrument is ultrasonically oscillated using the secondary battery as a driving power source and used to perform surgery on a living tissue. Electromagnetic energy generated by an energy generation unit located outside the surgical instrument is received by a reception coil incorporated in the surgical instrument with the surgical instrument held in noncontact with the energy generation unit. The electromagnetic energy is then converted into charging power with which the secondary battery is recharged. Thus, the surgical instrument can be readily recharged while left clean.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can be disinfected or sterilized, and has a rechargeable secondary battery incorporated therein. A distal treatment section of the surgical instrument is ultrasonically oscillated or otherwise activated using the secondary battery as a driving power source to perform surgery on a living tissue. Electromagnetic energy generated by an energy generation unit located outside the surgical instrument is received by a reception coil incorporated in the surgical instrument with the surgical instrument by induction from the energy generation unit. The electromagnetic energy is then converted into charging power with which the secondary battery is recharged. Thus, the surgical instrument can be readily recharged without compromising sterility.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of problems trouble attributable to exhaustion of a battery has an endoscope and a battery-powered light source. The endoscope has a light guide fiber bundle over which illumination light is propagated. The battery-powered light source is freely detachably attached to the endoscope, and includes an illumination lamp and a battery. The illumination lamp supplies illumination light to the incidence end of the light guide fiber bundle on which illumination light falls. The battery serves as a power supply causing the illumination lamp to light. At least one of the endoscope and battery-powered light source has an indication unit for notifying a user of the amount of electrical energy contained in the battery.

Abstract: A device for use in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which generates a static magnetic field and detects magnetic resonances in a living body is placed in the static magnetic field, includes a distal end portion and another portion having an end connected to the distal end portion. The distal end portion has a magnetic permeability of such a value that diagnosis and treatment are not influenced by magnetic resonance image distortions due to a disturbance in a uniformity of the static magnetic field generated by the apparatus. The device includes other portions which have a magnetic permeability which is higher than that of the distal end portion and have a value so that the other portions are prevented from being attracted to the static magnetic field. The device does not adversely influence magnetic resonance images since the device is not attracted to a magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, thereby increasing an accuracy in diagnosis and treatment.