Abstract: This invention provides a monitor device capable of detecting possible abnormalities in body fluid withdrawal by a body fluid sampler and variations in the dilution when a withdrawn body fluid is diluted, and a living organism-measuring device with this monitor device. The former device includes a first optical sensor disposed on a diluent channel through which a diluent is introduced into a body fluid sampler for withdrawing a body fluid; a second optical sensor disposed on a diluted body fluid channel through which the diluted body fluid is transferred to a living organism-measuring sensor, and close to the first optical sensor; and a controlling unit for judging whether variations in a dilution to which the body fluid is diluted are within predetermined limits, from data outputted by the first optical sensor and data outputted by the second optical sensor. The latter device has the monitor device incorporated thereto.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit having arterial and venous blood circuits, a blood pump, a blood purifying device, an indicator applying device that applies a predetermined indicator to the blood flowing extracorporeally through the blood circuit, a detecting device that detects the indicator applied by the indicator applying device, an arithmetic device that calculates, based on the indicator detected by the detecting device, a recirculation rate, and a calculating device that calculates an ideal extracorporeally circulating blood flow that results in the recirculation rate being no more than a predetermined value when the recirculation rate calculated by the arithmetic device is greater than the predetermined value. The recirculation rate is a proportion of a recirculated blood flow, which is reintroduced to the patient from the venous blood circuit and directed again to the arterial blood circuit, relative to an extracorporeally circulating blood flow.

Abstract: This invention provides a mixer without a rotational or similar structure, capable of mixing quickly several liquids including at least one liquid being prone to gel or solidify, a mixing device with the mixer incorporated, and a medical component-measuring unit capable of reducing the formation of thrombi and accurately measuring the concentration of glucose, and with a small time constant, which unit can be incorporated into medical support devices, such as artificial endocrine pancreas devices. The mixer has an air bubble-trapping structure for temporarily trapping air bubbles supplied to a surface of a mixing channel through which liquids to be mixed flow. The mixing device has the mixer, an air bubble supplier or generator to make air bubbles exist in the mixing channel, and a liquid supplier for supplying liquids to be mixed to a liquid inlet. The medical component-measuring unit has the mixer or the mixing device.

Abstract: A production amount and a yield in a carbon nanotube producing device are improved. Inside a reaction pipe (20) heated so as to become a circumference heating body, a plurality of nozzles (26) for injecting a material and carrier gas into the reactor pipe and at least one internal heating source (24) are arranged. By arranging a plurality of the nozzles, the production amount is increased. The nozzles are arranged so as to be sandwiched by two heating sources (circumference heating element, internal heating source) and a distance to the closest two heating source peripheral walls is “a”. Also, a distance between the adjacent nozzles is “b” (?2a). Flows of the material and the carrier gas injected by the nozzles do not interfere with each other or the heating source wall, and the yield is increased.

Abstract: This invention provides a biological component-measuring device, enabling the operator to easily calibrate the entire device and capable of measuring biological components accurately, and a method for calibrating the device. The device measures a sample including a body fluid taken through a body fluid sampler by sending it with a pump through a sample channel to a sensor. The device further includes a calibrating liquid channel through which a calibrating liquid can be supplied to the sensor via the sample channel by a switching of a first flow path changeover valve placed in the sample channel at a location upstream of the pump and connected to the channel. The method includes introducing the calibrating liquid in the calibrating liquid channel, via other channels, into the sensor by switching the valve.

Abstract: This invention provides a biological component-measuring device, enabling the operator to easily calibrate the entire device and capable of measuring biological components accurately, and a method for calibrating the device. The device measures a sample including a body fluid taken through a body fluid sampler by sending it with a pump through a sample channel to a sensor. The device further includes a calibrating liquid channel through which a calibrating liquid can be supplied to the sensor via the sample channel by a switching of a first flow path changeover valve placed in the sample channel at a location upstream of the pump and connected to the channel. The method includes introducing the calibrating liquid in the calibrating liquid channel, via other channels, into the sensor by switching the valve.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the conductivity of various conductive polymer products, such as a conductive polymer product obtained by polymerizing 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene in an aqueous solution of polystyrenesulfonic acid. The method of enhancing the conductivity of a conductive polymer product includes placing a conductive polymer product, water, an organic solvent compatible with the conductive polymer product, and carbon dioxide gas in a pressure vessel; and applying heat and pressure to an interior of the pressure vessel to bring the carbon dioxide into a supercritical state.

Abstract: A discharge gas containing carbon nanotubes and discharged from a reactor unit (12) is led to a filter (26) through a discharge pipe (24). A blower (28) is disposed downstream from the filter (26). The blower (28) is used to such the discharged gas in the discharge pipe (24). Thus, even when the filter has begun to clog, the pressure inside the discharge pipe on the side upstream from the filter is prevented from increasing.

Abstract: Provided is a steam characteristics automatic measuring device capable of automatically, ideally also continuously measuring the characteristics of steam taken from a production well, without being affected by interfering components, such as hydrogen sulfide gas and carbon dioxide gas contained in large quantities in steam taken from under the ground, which enables the operator to continuously understand the characteristics of steam and support a smooth operation of a geothermal power plant. The device has a silica monitor for measuring a concentration of silica included in a condensate obtained by cooling steam taken from under the ground; an electrical conductivity meter for automatically measuring the electrical conductivity thereof; a pH meter for automatically measuring the pH value thereof; and a data processing transmitter for automatically transmitting data measured by each of the monitor and meters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood purification apparatus for extracorporeally circulating the blood of a patient so as to purify the blood for medical treatment incorporating a dialyzer and a method for priming the blood purification apparatus, wherein the present invention provides a blood purification apparatus and its priming method which can simply and easily automate the priming operation and also can surely and smoothly perform the bubble purging of the dialyzer.

Abstract: This invention provides a biological component-measuring device, enabling the operator to easily calibrate the entire device and capable of measuring biological components accurately, and a method for calibrating the device. The device measures a sample including a body fluid taken through a body fluid sampler by sending it with a pump through a sample channel to a sensor. The device further includes a calibrating liquid channel through which a calibrating liquid can be supplied to the sensor via the sample channel by a switching of a first flow path changeover valve placed in the sample channel at a location upstream of the pump and connected to the channel. The method includes introducing the calibrating liquid in the calibrating liquid channel, via other channels, into the sensor by switching the valve.

Abstract: A blood purification instrument for extracorporeally circulating a patient's blood and a concentration detector detects a concentration of liquid during blood purification wherein the concentration detector has a light emitter irradiating light onto the liquid, a light receiver receives the light as transmitted through the liquid, a reference light receiver receives reference light branched from the light emitter without transmission through the liquid, and a detector detecting the light intensity respectively of the transmitted light and the reference light received by the light receiver and the reference light receiver, respectively.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus includes a blood purification instrument for extracorporeally circulating blood of a patient and a concentration detector detecting a concentration of liquid flowing during blood purification. The concentration detector has a light emitter irradiating light onto said liquid, a light receiver receiving light from the light emitter transmitted through said liquid, and a detector detecting the received light intensity received by the light receiver. The concentration detector detects the concentration of the liquid based on the received light intensity and can be calibrated by adjusting an amount of irradiation by the light emitter so that the received light intensity has a predetermined value.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method of atomizing a substance poorly soluble in carbon dioxide in a supercritical state. The present invention relates to a method of atomization comprising: introducing a substance which is difficult to be atomized by use of only carbon dioxide in a supercritical state, water and carbon dioxide into a pressure vessel; applying heat and pressure to an interior of the pressure vessel to bring the carbon dioxide into a supercritical state; and returning a pressure of the interior to normal pressure.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a blood purifying device, a driving device, an air bubble detection device, and a connection condition evaluation device. The blood circuit is provided with arterial and venous blood circuits, to which needles are attached at ends thereof. The blood purifying device is connected between the arterial and venous circuits. In a blood purifying treatment after a priming operation, the driving device drives the blood in the arterial blood circuit in a forward direction, and drives the blood in the venous blood circuit in a reverse direction. The air bubble detection device detects air bubbles in a liquid flowing in the arterial and venous blood circuits. The connection condition evaluation device evaluates connection conditions of the needles to the ends of the arterial and venous blood circuits based on the detection by the air bubble detection device.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a blood purifying device, a first valve, a discharge line, a second valve, and a detection device. The blood circuit has an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit. The first valve opens and closes the venous blood circuit. The second valve opens and closes the discharge line. The detection device detects whether a priming solution is replaced with blood in an end portion of the venous blood circuit at an upstream side from the first valve. The blood purification apparatus automatically turns the first valve from a closed position to an open position and the second valve from an open position to a closed position, respectively, when the detection device detects the priming solution being replaced with the blood.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus that can make the specific peak to be imparted to the blood more distinct, and therefore can detect blood recirculation reliably and precisely, is presented. It contains a blood circuit route, a blood pump, a dialyzer, dialysate introduction and discharge lines, a duplex pump, a pressurizing pump, a blood concentration means, and detection means that detect the specific peak imparted by the blood concentration means. The blood concentration means is configured to have an atmosphere release line, the tip of which is open to the atmosphere, that extends from between the pressurizing pump and the duplex pump in the dialysate discharge line, and to have an electromagnetic valve that can open or close the atmosphere release line. The electromagnetic valve opens the atmosphere release line to impart the specific peak by rapidly concentrating the blood flowing in the dialyzer for a short period of time.

Abstract: A hemodialysis apparatus includes a dialyzing device, a measuring device and a calculation device. The dialyzing device dialyzes and ultrafiltrates blood of a patient circulating extracorporeally to perform hemodialysis treatment. The measuring device measures a variation rate of a body weight of the patient and a variation rate of a predetermined blood benchmark during the hemodialysis treatment using the dialyzing device. The calculation device calculates, during the hemodialysis treatment, a parameter relating the variation rate of the body weight and the variation rate of the predetermined blood benchmark to each other, and correlating to a dry weight of the patient.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the conductivity of various conductive polymer products, such as a conductive polymer product obtained by polymerizing 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene in an aqueous solution of polystyrenesulfonic acid. The method of enhancing the conductivity of a conductive polymer product includes placing a conductive polymer product, water, an organic solvent compatible with the conductive polymer product, and carbon dioxide gas in a pressure vessel; and applying heat and pressure to an interior of the pressure vessel to bring the carbon dioxide into a supercritical state.

Abstract: An adsorbent for the removal of blood cells, which is formed from a hydrophobic polymer resin and has a surface center line average roughness of 5 to 100 nm. The hydrophobic polymer resin is preferably a polyarylate resin (PAR), polyethersulfone resin (PES), polysulfone resin (PSF), or a polymer alloy consisting of two or more of these resins. The adsorbent for the removal of blood cells can take the form of beads, hollow fibers, or solid fibers.