Abstract: An flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a tubular insertion section including a bending portion and a flexible tube portion, variable stiffness sections to cause a change in a level of a bending stiffness of the flexible tube portion, a variable stiffness control section that controls the change in the bending stiffness by the variable stiffness sections; and a time setting section that sets a time period. The variable stiffness control section causes the bending stiffness of the variable stiffness sections to change in such a manner that the relationship of levels between the bending stiffness of adjacent variable stiffness sections is switched at the set time period when the variable stiffness control section determines that the flexible tube portion is passing through a flexure of the subject.

Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an insertion unit having segments continuously provided along an axial direction of the insertion unit and configured to be inserted into a lumen; a state quantity calculating unit configured to calculate a state quantity of each segment; variable rigidity portions provided for each segment to allow bending rigidity of each segment to be variable; an origin specifying unit configured to specify an origin segment among the segments in setting a segment range indicating which segment the bending rigidity is to be changed or in setting the bending rigidity, based on the state quantity of each segment; and an operation controller configured to: set the segment range or set the bending rigidity of each segment, based on the origin segment; and decrease bending rigidities of two or more continuously provided segments based on the set segment range or on the set bending rigidity.

Abstract: A deterioration state detection apparatus for detecting a deterioration state of capacity enabling charge or discharge of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a capacitance of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery: and a determination unit that determines the deterioration state of capacity enabling charge or discharge of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, from change of the acquired capacitance.

Abstract: A insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube, a detection section that detects state information of the tube, a calculation section that calculates, based on the state information, shape information of the tube, and an input section that inputs characteristic information of the tube. The apparatus also includes a calculation section that calculates, based on the characteristic information, an operation state of a distal end of the tube, an calculation section that calculates an insertion state of the tube at a specific point closer to a proximal end than the distal end, based on the shape information, characteristic information, and operation state, and a measurement section that measures an actual operation state of the tube at the specific point.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube segmented into segments aligned its central axis and to be inserted into a target body, a variable stiffness portion to vary a bending stiffness of the tube, a detection sensor to detect state information on the tube, a calculator to calculate shape information on the tube based on the state information, and a controller to control a change of the stiffness implemented by the variable stiffness portion. The controller controls the change of the stiffness to a segment corresponding to a displacement portion of an insertion path, in accordance with a displacement quantity of a second path of the tube based on the shape information calculated at a second time, with respect to a first path of the tube based on the shape information calculated at a first time.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube to be inserted into an insertion target body, a variable stiffness portion that changes a bending stiffness of the flexible tube, a state detection sensor that detects state information of the flexible tube. The apparatus also includes a shape calculator that calculates shape information regarding a shape of the flexible tube based on the state information, an external force calculator that calculates external force information including magnitude of an external force received by the flexible tube based on the state information, and a stiffness controller that controls the variable stiffness portion in accordance with the shape information so that the magnitude of the external force received by the flexible tube becomes smaller than a reference value.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a product comprised of a collagen gel to which recombinant human Amelotin (AMTN) protein is added. This AMTN-collagen gel is applied to one side of a physiologically acceptable scaffold that has first been impregnated with AMTN-free collagen gel. The resulting two-layer collagen membrane (layer 1 comprised of scaffold surrounded by collagen gel; layer 2 comprised of collagen gel containing AMTN) is applied to a mineralized tissue surface such as dentin and bone with the collagen gel containing AMTN of layer 2 facing this mineral surface. Upon immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), the presence of AMTN in layer 2 triggers the formation of hydroxyapatite mineral deposits that intimately connect with the existing mineral surface and thus provide physical attachment. A similar product is disclosed but in addition to AMTN, it contains the Odontogenic, Ameloblast-Associated (ODAM) protein as well with both proteins exhibiting a synergistic effect.

Abstract: An inspection processing system identifies a current position, obtains an inspection result of an inspection subject of a structure on the current position, and records the inspection result in association with the position of the inspection subject in a three-dimensional model of the structure. The inspection processing system further identifies a user who views the three-dimensional model and a current position, and outputs, to an output unit, an inspection result in which the user is recorded in an inspection information memory as a related person of the inspection subject. The inspection result is attached on a virtual image according to a three-dimensional model corresponding to the current position.

Abstract: An inspection processing system includes a control unit connected to a photographing unit and an output unit. The control unit includes circuitry. The inspection processing system identifies a current position, displays a virtual image of a three-dimensional model of a structure corresponding to the current position. The virtual image is superimposed on a structure image obtained from the photographing unit. The inspection processing system further obtains an evaluation result of an evaluation item of an inspection subject using the structure image on which the displayed virtual image is superimposed, and records the evaluation result in an inspection information memory in association with the position of the inspection subject in the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes an insertion section, a stiffness variable unit that changes a bending stiffness of the insertion section and a detection unit that detects an advance that is a movement toward a distal end of the insertion section and a retreat that is a movement toward a proximal end of the insertion section. A controller controls the stiffness variable unit to change the bending stiffness of the insertion section to a first bending stiffness when the detection unit has detected the advance of the insertion section, and that controls the stiffness variable unit to change the bending stiffness of the insertion section to a second bending stiffness higher than the first bending when the detection unit has detected the retreat of the insertion section.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes an insertion section inserted into a tube and a detection unit that detects states of the insertion section. The flexible tube insertion apparatus includes one or more vibrators that are arranged in the insertion section, generate vibration, and vibrate the insertion section by the generated vibration and a controller that calculates a magnitude of an external force applied to the insertion section from the tube based on the states of the insertion section detected by the detection unit, computes a resonance frequency of the vibration relative to the magnitude of the external force, and controls the vibrators in such a manner that the vibrators vibrate at the resonance frequency.

Abstract: An flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a tubular insertion section including a bending portion and a flexible tube portion, variable stiffness sections to cause a change in a level of a bending stiffness of the flexible tube portion, a variable stiffness control section that controls the change in the bending stiffness by the variable stiffness sections; and a time setting section that sets a time period. The variable stiffness control section causes the bending stiffness of the variable stiffness sections to change in such a manner that the relationship of levels between the bending stiffness of adjacent variable stiffness sections is switched at the set time period when the variable stiffness control section determines that the flexible tube portion is passing through a flexure of the subject.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an insertion section, a bending portion provided in the insertion section, including a distal side and a proximal side, and deformable into an arcuate shape by bending in at least one predetermined direction, a distal-side bending portion, a proximal-side bending portion, a first variable stiffness section provided in the distal-side bending portion and configured to change a stiffness of the distal-side bending portion, a second variable stiffness section provided in the proximal-side bending portion and configured to change a stiffness of the proximal-side bending portion, and a controller for performing control to make a stiffness of the first variable stiffness section higher than a stiffness of the second variable stiffness section.

Abstract: In the prior art, plural detectors are arranged in order to specify the incident direction of neutron, and in principle for specifying the incident direction, the positions for arranging the detectors are predetermined or restricted, so that there is no flexibility in the arrangement. This causes large restriction on the appearance or the shape of a detector in designing, and it is difficult to adopt such a technique particularly for a wearable detector requiring a sufficient flexibility in shape to cope with the change of appearance shape. By using plural neutron detection parts set to a moderator such as a human body, a water-containing substance, polyethylene or the like, and comparing the counts at the detection parts, the direction of a neutron radiation source can be specified.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a tubular insertion section, a variable stiffness section that causes change of bending stiffness of the insertion section, in regard to continuous segments defined in an axial direction of the insertion section, on a segment-by-segment basis, and a stiffness connecting portion. The stiffness connecting portion is arranged across at least a pair of adjacent segments of the segments. The stiffness connecting portion causes change of bending stiffness of a portion between the pair of segments in such a manner that the bending stiffness of the portion between the pair of segments is continuous with bending stiffness of the pair of segments, in accordance with change of the bending stiffness of the portion between the pair of segments by the variable stiffness section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition, preferably a cosmetic composition, comprising: (a) at least one oil; (b) at least one polyglyceryl fatty acid ester, preferably with a polyglyceryl moiety derived from 2 to 6 glycerins; (c) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of resorcinol and resorcinol derivatives; and (d) water. The composition according to the present invention can be in the form of a nano- or micro-emulsion, or can have a lamellar structure or a lamellar phase, with better transparency and stability.

Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an insertion unit having segments continuously provided along an axial direction of the insertion unit and configured to be inserted into a lumen; a state quantity calculating unit configured to calculate a state quantity of each segment; variable rigidity portions provided for each segment to allow bending rigidity of each segment to be variable; an origin specifying unit configured to specify an origin segment among the segments in setting a segment range indicating which segment the bending rigidity is to be changed or in setting the bending rigidity, based on the state quantity of each segment; and an operation controller configured to: set the segment range or set the bending rigidity of each segment, based on the origin segment; and decrease bending rigidities of two or more continuously provided segments based on the set segment range or on the set bending rigidity.

Abstract: An assembled-battery voltage detection device for detecting a voltage at an assembled-battery including a plurality of single batteries connected in series includes: single-battery voltage detection circuits detecting voltages at the respective single batteries; single-battery voltage detection terminals connected to ends of the single batteries; connectors connecting the single-battery voltage detection terminals and the single batteries; voltage detection terminals detecting a voltage at one of the single batteries located at one end in the assembled battery; an assembled-battery voltage detection circuit detecting a potential difference between the voltage detection terminals; a single-battery voltage sum calculator calculating a sum of the voltages detected by the single-battery voltage detection circuits; an end-battery voltage abnormality determination unit determining whether the voltage at the single battery located at the end is 0 V; and an abnormality output unit outputting an abnormality depending

Abstract: A deterioration state detection apparatus for detecting a deterioration state of capacity enabling charge or discharge of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a capacitance of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery: and a determination unit that determines the deterioration state of capacity enabling charge or discharge of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, from change of the acquired capacitance.

Abstract: A sapphire single crystal core having an r-axis direction, a length of 200 mm or more and a diameter of 150 mm or more and containing no air bubbles, and a method of producing the sapphire single crystal core, comprising the steps of: obtaining a sapphire ingot by growing a sapphire single crystal in an r-axis direction by the Czochralski method; and cutting out the core from the sapphire ingot, wherein when the shoulder part of the ingot was formed by the Czochralski method, the shoulder part forming speed is controlled to ensure that the length in the growth direction of an area where the angle with respect to the horizontal plane is 10 to 30° of the shoulder part becomes 10 mm or less.