Abstract: Neo-cartilage constructs suitable for implantation into a joint cartilage lesion in situ and a method for repair and restoration of function of injured, traumatized, aged or diseased cartilage. The construct comprises at least chondrocytes incorporated into a support matrix processed according to the algorithm comprising variable hydrostatic or atmospheric pressure or non-pressure conditions, variable rate of perfusion, variable medium composition, variable temperature, variable cell density and variable time to which the chondrocytes are subjected.

Abstract: A method for cultivating a culture of a cell, tissue, etc. There is provided a method of cultivating a culture including a cell or tissue (cell construct), imparting bending motion to the culture. By virtue of applying bending force to a culture of a cell, tissue, etc. (cell construct) to thereby curve the culture, continuous compression and extension in a direction of thickness from a concave portion toward a convex portion thereof are induced. The physical stimulation and deformation not attained by conventional pressurization, shear and tension, then can be loaded on the culture to thereby realize the culture appropriate for restoration of tissue at a region accompanied by bending.

Abstract: A hot water supply system including a water heater that includes a storage unit storing at least device information of another water heater, and performs hot water supply control by which the water heater cooperates with the other water heater, these water heaters being able to supply hot water according to a hot water supply request; one or a plurality of the other water heater that is connected to the water heater in parallel, and supplies hot water according to the hot water supply control by the water heater; communication connection means that communicably connects the water heater and the other water heater; water supply means that supplies water to the water heater and the other water heater; and hot water supply means that supplies hot water heated by the water heater and the other water heater to a hot water supply destination.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus. Combustion means (burner) generates flame by combustion. Air supply means (intake fan) supplies air to the combustion means. Flame current detecting means (FRB) is set at a certain detection position and detects a flame current value included in the flame which is generated by the combustion means. Determination means (control device) determines a distribution where the flame current value that is detected is included for the flame current detecting means. Control means (control device), when the flame current value is not included in a distribution, which is set as normal values, outputs a control command of increasing or decreasing at least one of the supply of the air by the air supply means and the supply of fuel based on a determination result by the determination means.

Abstract: A water heater includes combustion means (burner) that combusts fuel and generates exhaust; heat exchange means (primary heat exchanger and secondary heat exchanger) that exchanges heat of the exhaust for supplied water; bypassing means (bypass pipe) that makes the supplied water flow to an outlet of the heat exchange means; exchanged heat temperature detection means (exchanged heat temperature sensor) that detects temperature of the supplied water after heat exchange; flow rate adjustment means (bypass valve) that adjusts a volume of the supplied water flowing into the bypassing means and the heat exchange means; and a control unit that controls the flow rate adjustment means so as to make a predetermined volume of the supplied water or over flow to the heat exchange means.

Abstract: A water heater includes one or a plurality of heat pumps that heat tap water or return water from a hot water supply part, a circulation line that supplies hot water heated in the heat pumps to the hot water supply part, and introduces the return water from the hot water supply part to the heat pumps, an incoming water pipe that joins to between the hot water supply part in the circulation line and the heat pumps and supplies the tap water, a circulation pump that returns the return water to the heat pumps and circulates the return water through the circulation line, and a control unit that controls operation or stop of the circulation pump according to driving operation time or elapsed stop time by linking a combustion process of the heat pumps.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus includes combustion means generating combustion exhaust by combustion of fuel, heat exchange means exchanging heat of the combustion exhaust, and exhaust dilution unit supplying dilution air after the heat exchange by the heat exchange means and diluting the combustion exhaust after the heat exchange, and controls a temperature of the combustion exhaust after the heat exchange below a predetermined temperature by dilution by air supply.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus (water heater) includes a combustion means (burner) combusting fuel, at least two flame detecting means (flame rods) detecting whether there is a flame or not in the combustion means, a determination unit (control device) determining whether or not to be a misfire based on detected results of the flame detecting means, and a control unit (control device) stopping supply of the fuel to the combustion means in response to a determined result of the determination unit.

Abstract: A hot water supply apparatus using a heat medium provides a heat medium circulation path that circulates the heat medium, a heat medium pump that pumps the heat medium into the heat medium circulation path, a heat source that generates heat heating the heat medium, a heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat generated by the heat source for the heat medium, a hot water supply heat exchanger that exchanges heat of the heat medium circulating in the heat medium circulation path for clean water, and a control unit that sets the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path in a predetermined temperature and controls the rotating speed of the heat medium pump and the combustion amount of the heat source according to a heat requirement.

Abstract: A culture chamber which cultivates a culture object by using a culture liquid has a culture space part which houses the culture object together with the culture liquid, an introducing part (an introducing port) which introduces the culture liquid into the culture space part, a discharging part (a discharging port) which discharges the culture liquid from the culture space part, and a flow arrangement part (a vertical wall, a small space part). The flow arrangement part is formed in a side of the introducing part of the culture space part, and causes a liquid flow, which reaches to the discharging part, to the culture liquid introduced into the culture space part from the introducing part by diffusing from inner wall surfaces of the culture space part toward a direction which intersects a virtual line connecting the introducing part and the discharging part.

Abstract: A bottom face of a cylinder head (3) defining a combustion chamber (1) is formed substantially in a shape of a spherical shell, and ignition points (21) are arranged in three or more on a concentric circle of 55 to 70% of a diameter of a cylinder block (30) or the vicinity thereof, and combustion is performed with an air excess ratio of the combustion chamber (1) of 1.5 or more.

Abstract: A first heat medium is circulated in a first circulating path (engine cooling circuit) of a heat source (engine) to cool the heat source down by the first heat medium, and exhaust heat from the heat source is absorbed by the first heat medium. A second heat medium is circulated in a second circulating path (exhaust heat recovering circuit) to exchange heat of exhaust air with the second heat medium, and heat of the first heat medium is exchanged with the second heat medium circulating in the second circulation path. The heat of the second medium to which heat is applied due to these heat exchanges is stored in heat storage means (heat storage tank).

Abstract: A method for cultivating a culture of a cell, tissue, etc. There is provided a method of cultivating a culture including a cell or tissue (cell construct), imparting bending motion to the culture. By virtue of applying bending force to a culture of a cell, tissue, etc. (cell construct) to thereby curve the culture, continuous compression and extension in a direction of thickness from a concave portion toward a convex portion thereof are induced. The physical stimulation and deformation not attained by conventional pressurization, shear and tension, then can be loaded on the culture to thereby realize the culture appropriate for restoration of tissue at a region accompanied by bending.

Abstract: A cultivation apparatus and a cultivation method of a culture such as a cell or tissue. Provided are an incubator unit for accommodating a culture and a lever that penetrates through the incubator unit and can move in circular arc around a fulcrum as a center, the fulcrum being set at a wall of the incubator unit or in the vicinity thereof, then displacement is imparted to the culture by operating the lever. Bending force can be acted on the culture (cell construct) such as a cell or tissue, so that without any increase or decrease of a culture fluid in the incubator unit, namely, without any increase or decrease of pressure to the culture fluid, displacement required for cultivation can be imparted to the culture in the incubator unit. By curving, continuous compression and extension are generated in a direction of thickness from a concave portion to a convex portion of the curving.

Abstract: A cell/tissue culture apparatus for applying a desired tensile stress to a material to be cultivated such as a cell or tissue as a physical stimulation, thereby enhancing acceleration of culture of the material to be cultivated. The cell/tissue culture apparatus comprises a chamber (a culture chamber 8) for circulating a culture fluid (24), a material to be cultivated (a matrix 32) that is placed and cultivated in the chamber, stress generation means (an electromagnetic stretcher 38, an actuator 56) for causing a tensile stress to act on the material to be cultivated from an outside of the chamber, and control means (controllers 50, 60) for causing the tensile stress generated by the stress generation means to intermit as well as undergo gradual increase or gradual decrease. The material to be cultivated can be caused to undergo expansion or contraction by applying and relieving the tensile stress, thereby applying a physical stimulation necessary for the proliferation to the material to be cultivated.

Abstract: A cell/tissue culture apparatus is suitable for a culture of a cultivated object of a cell or tissue adapted for a prescribed portion of a living body of a breast and so on, a culture chamber (18, a culture vessel 10) which accommodates a cell or tissue to be cultivated and also makes a culture fluid (34) circulate is formed by a flexible material (flexible films 12, 14), and the culture chamber is immersed in a fluid (water 8). A pressure or an oscillation is given to the culture chamber installed in the fluid, and a physical stimulation due to the pressure from the fluid or the oscillation of the fluid is given to a cell or tissue under a culture.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell/tissue culture apparatus capable of applying an optional physical stimulation to a material to be cultivated serving as a cell or tissue to be cultivated and of protecting the material to be cultivated from contamination of various bacteria and so forth.