Abstract: A guide wire having a flexible distal end portion, uniform outer diameter and no stepped difference in the external surface is provided. The guide wire comprises a core wire 1 having a core body portion 11 having a relatively large cross sectional area of wire and a distal end portion 12 provided at a distal end 111 of the core body portion 11 and having a relatively small cross sectional area of wire, and a resin layer 2 coated on the core wire 1. At least the distal end portion 12 comprises a sparse bundle of a plurality of slender wire filaments 121, and substantially no stepped difference is present between the distal end portion 12 and the core body portion 11. The core body portion 11 is a slender wire filament having a section formed in a circular shape or a bundle of slender wire filaments whose number is more than that of the distal end portion and when used for inserting a catheter for PTCA, the diameter (average) of the core body portion 11 is generally about 0.05 mm to 0.10 mm.

Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an X-ray tube configured to emit X-rays, an X-ray detector configured to detect X-rays passing through a subject in order to acquire projection data, a processor configured to reconstruct tomographic image data on the basis of the projection data, and an interlock unit configured to monitor generation of an arc in the X-ray tube. When an arc in the X-ray tube is detected, the interlock unit stops emitting X-ray emission from the X-ray tube. When a predetermined period of time elapse from the stop of X-ray emission, the interlock unit restarts X-ray emission from the X-ray tube.