Abstract: An improved image reading apparatus suitable for use with an image scanner which can read a large number of paper sheets successively and rapidly and cope with various paper sizes from a small size to a large size. The image reading apparatus includes a paper supply mechanism, a paper transport mechanism, an optical image reading mechanism for optically reading information on a paper sheet being transported by the paper transport mechanism, and a paper stacking mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for continuously feeding sheets and transferring images thereon, includes an endless type rotatable image forming body, an image forming unit for forming an image on the image forming body, a transfer unit for transferring the image on the image forming body onto a sheet being fed, a feeding unit for feeding the sheet, a first position detector for detecting the sheet being fed at a first predetermined position in a feeding path of the sheet, and a second position detector, located on a side of the transfer unit at a second predetermined position, for detecting the sheet being fed. A control unit is provided for controlling a feeding speed of the feeding unit to compensate for a transfer position of the sheet, in accordance with a measured feeding time from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position based on outputs of the first and second position detectors.

Abstract: An inner diameter retaining instrument for holding a predetermined expansion state of the lumen of a tubular organ such as a blood vessel, a digestive tract, or a windpipe is disclosed. This instrument is formed into a cylindrical shape or substantially cylindrical shape by a unidirectional shape memory alloy. The outer diameter of the cylindrical body at its transformation temperature (e.g., a temperature higher than a body temperature) is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of a tubular organ in which the cylindrical body is introduced. The instrument can be deformed to be radially expanded at, e.g., the body temperature or lower. As a cylindrical shape, a coil-like shape, a shape having a spiral section, a shape having a slit in its longitudinal direction, or a mesh-like shape can be arbitrarily selected.

Abstract: A tubular-organ expansion unit has a cylindrical body made of a shape memory alloy which is capable of maintaining the inside diameter of a tubular body organ. The tubular-organ expansion unit includes an X-ray contrast enhancer for improving the X-ray contrast of the tubular-organ expansion unit relative to the X-ray contrast of the tubular-organ expansion unit before the X-ray enhancer was provided on the expansion unit. In a tubular-organ expansion apparatus and a method for indwelling the tubular-organ expansion unit into a lumen of a tubular body organ, the shape memory alloy of the tubular-organ expansion unit will change its radial dimension in response to changes in temperature. The shape memory alloy may be bidirectional.

Abstract: A catheter includes a cylindrical expansion holder detachable from its distal end portion to temporarily or permanently expand and hold an inner diameter of an internal cavity of a blood vessel or any other tubular organ. The outer diameter of the distal end portion of the catheter which supports the expansion holder is much smaller than that of other catheter portions. Even if the cylindrical expansion holder is supported on the small-diameter portion, the outer diameter of the expansion holder is equal to or smaller than that of other catheter portions. The expansion holder is made of a shape memory alloy which can radially expand or contract in accordance with changes in temperature. The expansion holder can expand or contract by supplying a warm or cool solution from side holes formed in the distal end portion of the catheter and bringing this solution into contact with the expansion holder.

Abstract: Disclosed are an instrument for expanding a tubular organ such as a blood vessel and for keeping the tubular organ expanded for a predetermined period of time, and a catheter for mounting said instrument at a desired position within the tubular organ, said catheter being capable of moving and recovering the instrument mounted within the tubular organ. The instrument is formed of a two-way shape memory alloy and expands or shrinks in the radial direction, in accordance with changes in temperature. At least one side hole is formed at the distal end portion of the catheter, on which the instrument is detachably mounted.