Abstract: A muscle relaxation monitoring apparatus includes a calibration processing section. The calibration processing section is configured to: set an initial stimulation current value as a starting stimulation current value; determine, as a current value variable process, one of a first and a second current value variable process; detect, as a first peak value and a second peak value, amplitude peak values of an electric signal; and detect a stimulation current value of a maximal stimulation of a subject, based on a result of a comparison of the first peak value and the second peak value, and acquires a stimulation current value that is obtained by adding a step current value to the stimulation current value, as the stimulation current value of a supramaximal stimulation of the subject.

Abstract: A stimulation current value that causes the supramaximal stimulation according to a subject in the muscle relaxation state is detected. A muscle relaxation monitoring apparatus includes a calibration processing section 4 for performing a calibration process that electrically stimulates a nerve which is an observation portion of a subject, by a predetermined stimulation current value at a predetermined stimulation timing, and that acquires a stimulation current value of a supramaximal stimulation exceeding a maximal stimulation of the subject, based on an amplitude peak value of an electric signal that is based on a stimulation response of a muscle due to the electrical stimulation.

Abstract: A muscle relaxation monitoring apparatus includes: a stimulating circuit that stimulates a nerve of a living body; a signal detecting circuit that detects an electric signal generated by a muscle reacting to the stimulation performed by the stimulating circuit; a reaction time calculating circuit that calculates a reaction time which elapses from the stimulation of the nerve by the stimulating circuit until the electric signal is detected by the signal detecting circuit; and a relaxation degree determining circuit that determines a muscle relaxation degree of the living body based on the length of the reaction time calculated by the reaction time calculating circuit.

Abstract: A joint structure for joining a ceramic member to a metallic member where the two members have substantially cylindrical end portions. The end portions are place in an abutting relationship and joining member adherent to both connect the two members. A sleeve member covers the joint and is affixed at least to the surface of the end portion of the device having a composition most like the sleeve member. Where the sleeve member is metallic, the surface of the sleeve member is affixed to the metallic portion of the device.

Abstract: A joint for joining a ceramic shaft to a metal sleeve includes a gap separating the outer surface of the ceramic shaft from the inner surface of an overlapping portion of a metal sleeve. A brazing filler material is provided in only the portion of the gap proximate the end of the ceramic shaft to accommodate stresses caused by the different thermal characteristics of the metal sleeve and the ceramic shaft.

Abstract: The bond strength between a silicon carbide substrate and a metal layer comprised of a series of metal films is improved without detrimentally affecting other properties of such a device by interposing a layer of silicon, Si.sub.2 Mo or mixtures thereof between the substrate and the first metal film in the layer which is preferably Ti, Zr or Hf.

Abstract: Sintered alumina product comprising 90 to 98 wt % of alumina as the main component, and which further contains as auxiliary components not more than 1 wt % of BaO and 1 to 10 wt % of a composite oxide having the composition included within the hexagon ABCDEF (except for the line AF) in an SiO.sub.2 -CaO-MgO phase diagram, the respective apexes having the following definitions:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 CaO MgO ______________________________________ A 60 40 0 B 60 25 15 C 45 25 30 D 40 30 30 E 40 55 5 F 45 55 0.

Abstract: An electrical self-purification ignition plug comprising a porcelain insulator ignition leg provided at its end surface opposed to a grounded electrode with a conical depression, and a center electrode exposed to the base surface of said conical depression and made integral with said porcelain insulator.

Abstract: A spark plug with a spark electrode prepared by mixing at least a matrix material of a titanium compound (e.g., TiO.sub.2, TiC, TiN, etc.) with an electrical conductivity-imparting substance (e.g., Pt and Pd, or a mixture of Pt, Pd and a noble metal, e.g., Au, Ru, Ag, Rh, etc.) and sintering the resulting mixture.

Abstract: A sparkplug having an improved antifouling performance and in which a decrease in insulation resistance is prevented, even if an electrically conductive material is deposited on the firing surface of the insulator of the sparkplug. In accordance with the invention, a coating of flourine oil containing elemental flourine or elemental fluorine plus elemental silicone is formed on at least the surface of the base of the firing leg of the porcelain insulator of the sparkplug surrounded by the inner surface of the combustion chamber side of the metal casing. Further, paraffin may be added to the solution of the coating. The coating may also be formed on the inner surface of the metal casing.

Abstract: A sparkplug having an improved antifouling performance and in which a decrease in insulation resistance is prevented, even if an electrically conductive material is deposited on the firing surface of the insulator of the sparkplug. In accordance with the invention, a coating of a solution of silicone and paraffin is formed on at least the portion of the firing surface of the porcelain insulator which is surrounded by the inner surface of the combustion chamber side of the metal casing of the sparkplug. Preferably, the coating is also formed on the inner surface of the metal casing.

Abstract: A spark plug with a rivet-like tip center discharge electrode is obtained by melting powdery metal essentially consisting of noble metal Au, Ag and/or alloys thereof with Pd or the like charged in a small end bore formed at a discharge end bottom of a ceramic insulator then allowing to cool. Sealing and/or resistor incorporation together with setting (sealing) of a terminal rod may be done one-stepwise with the center electrode formation or two-stepwise after the center electrode formation. A resultant space in the center bore may be utilized for various purposes.

Abstract: A spark plug including an insulator body provided with a center bore and a bottom end defining a discharge end of the insulator body and a discharge center electrode formed in a region of the discharge end of the insulator body; a spark plug including thermal conductivity-controling material comprising spherical metal powder as an essential element thereof in the center bore providing function to control thermal conductivity of the spark plug. The conductivity controling material further comprises refractory powder and glass powder. The controling material is also composed of spherical metal powder coated with a ceramic layer of a mixture thereof with the spherical metal powder. The spark plug with the controling material permits an increasing conductance according to temperature rise to provide a thermally wide-ranged spark plug.

Abstract: A spark plug with a sphere-like center discharge electrode is obtained by pressing a sphere-like metal essentially consisting of noble metal Au, Ag and/or alloys thereof with Pd or the like set on a small end bore formed at a discharge end bottom of a ceramic insulator. Sealing of a sealing material and/or resistor material together with setting (sealing) of a terminal body may be done simultaneously with the pressing of the sphere-like metal on the small end bore by means of hot-pressing applied on the terminal rod head.

Abstract: An ignition plug insulator provided at its front end with a closed ignition portion. The closed front end of the ignition portion is impregnated with an electric conductivity imparting material to form a ceramic electrode. Alternatively, the ceramic electrode may be incorporated in the closed front end of the ignition portion or filled in an axial bore provided in the insulation.

Abstract: A spark plug incorporating a winding type inductor has a low noise level from a low frequency range to a high frequency range. The spark plug comprises a ceramic insulator having a bore, a metal fitting surrounding the insulator, a center electrode, a terminal electrode and a noise-attenuation element arranged in the bore of the ceramic insulator and sealed to the center and terminal electrodes through glass, said noise-attenuation element consisting of an inductance component alone or a combination of an inductance component and a resistance component, and said inductance component being arranged extending to both sides of a sealed level for the noise-attenuation element formed by an end of the metal fitting which is connected to the insulator.

Abstract: A resistor composition for use in producing a resistor used in a spark plug comprising(1) 100 parts by weight of(a) a glass; and(b) an inorganic filler;with the glass (a) being present in a proportion of about 30 to about 70% by weight and the inorganic filler (b) being present in a proportion of about 70% to about 30% by weight;and wherein at least about 0.1% by weight of the inorganic filler (b) is replaced by at least one non-oxide compound;(2) about 0.5 to about 7 parts by weight of carbon; and(3) 0 to about 20 parts by weight of at least one of a metal oxide, a transition metal carbide, SiC having a low electrical resistivity and B.sub.4 C.

Abstract: A spark plug is disclosed which is used for an internal combustion engine such as an automobile. The spark plug has a carbonaceous resistance sandwiched between its spark rod electrode and its terminal rod in the central through hole of an elongated hollow cylindrical ceramic insulator. The spark electrode is made of a heat and spark resisting semiconductive resistance material, is sealed integrally with the carbonaceous resistance in the central through hole of the insulator, and produces a spark discharge between a grounded electrode spaced therefrom by a predetermined gap. The spark plug of the above-mentioned construction enables the intensity of a noise wave produced upon the spark discharge to be suppressed to the lowest possible level.