Abstract: A medical device that includes a carrier member, one or more operative components disposed in the carrier member, an optical fiber at least partly disposed in the carrier member, and at least one fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor array associated with the optical fiber and disposed in the carrier member. The carrier member includes an insertion end and side walls that contact the subject's body during positioning of the carrier member in the subject's body. The at least one FBG sensor array measures contact forces at one or both of the insertion end and along the side walls of the carrier member during positioning of the carrier member in the subject's body. A multi-core optical fiber configured for use in a medical device for positioning in a subject's body is also provided. A system and method for guiding positioning of a medical device in a subject's body is also provided.

Abstract: In a force waveform of an assembled body having an elastic component assembled thereto, in order to specify a deformation start point or a deformation end point of the elastic component as easily as possible, an inspecting device includes: a force-waveform detection system that applies a load to a workpiece having an elastic component in the direction of action of the elastic component and acquires a force waveform; an inspection-parameter designation unit that acts as reception unit in order to receive an input of an arbitrary designated point during a process of deformation; and an inspection unit that calculates a local slope of the force waveform at the designated point, thereby specifying, on the basis of the local slope at the calculated designated point, a physical characteristic change point including the deformation start point or the deformation end point.

Abstract: An automatic wire connecting device includes a heating electrode that heats an electrode wire by applying a current to the electrode wire, a tension applying unit that applies a tension to the electrode wire to which the current is applied by the heating electrode, a tension control unit that controls the tension applied by the tension applying unit, and a power supply control unit that applies a heating current smaller than a preset annealing current to the electrode wire until a first set time elapses since the current starts to be applied and increases the current applied to the electrode wire to reach the annealing current during a second set time after the first set time elapses since the current starts to be applied.

Abstract: Values of a current and a voltage from a heating power supply device that supplies a current to a wire electrode and that heats the wire electrode are measured, a load resistance value is calculated by dividing the voltage value by the current value, a resistance increment of the wire electrode is calculated from an increased amount in the load resistance value with reference to the load resistance value and an estimated resistance value, a temperature rise value of the wire electrode is estimated based on a specific resistance of the wire electrode and a temperature coefficient of the specific resistance, and a state of carrying a current to the wire electrode is controlled based on the temperature rise value.

Abstract: In a force waveform of an assembled body having an elastic component assembled thereto, in order to specify a deformation start point or a deformation end point of the elastic component as easily as possible, an inspecting device includes: a force-waveform detection system that applies a load to a workpiece having an elastic component in the direction of action of the elastic component and acquires a force waveform; an inspection-parameter designation unit that acts as reception unit in order to receive an input of an arbitrary designated point during a process of deformation; and an inspection unit that calculates a local slope of the force waveform at the designated point, thereby specifying, on the basis of the local slope at the calculated designated point, a physical characteristic change point including the deformation start point or the deformation end point.

Abstract: Values of a current and a voltage from a heating power supply device that supplies a current to a wire electrode and that heats the wire electrode are measured, a load resistance value is calculated by dividing the voltage value by the current value, a resistance increment of the wire electrode is calculated from an increased amount in the load resistance value with reference to the load resistance value and an estimated resistance value, a temperature rise value of the wire electrode is estimated based on a specific resistance of the wire electrode and a temperature coefficient of the specific resistance, and a state of carrying a current to the wire electrode is controlled based on the temperature rise value.

Abstract: An automatic wire connecting device includes a heating electrode that heats an electrode wire by applying a current to the electrode wire, a tension applying unit that applies a tension to the electrode wire to which the current is applied by the heating electrode, a tension control unit that controls the tension applied by the tension applying unit, and a power supply control unit that applies a heating current smaller than a preset annealing current to the electrode wire until a first set time elapses since the current starts to be applied and increases the current applied to the electrode wire to reach the annealing current during a second set time after the first set time elapses since the current starts to be applied.