Abstract: A channel unit for an endoscope includes a conduit, a mounting member and a connection member having one end connected to the mounting member and another end connected to a distal end of the conduit, the connection member having flexibility and a variable length in a longitudinal direction, and a proximal end side fixing portion of the connection member is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction with respect to a distal end side fixing portion of the connection member as the conduit moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A channel unit for an endoscope includes a conduit, a mounting member and a connection member having one end connected to the mounting member and another end connected to a distal end of the conduit, the connection member having flexibility and a variable length in a longitudinal direction, and a proximal end side fixing portion of the connection member is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction with respect to a distal end side fixing portion of the connection member as the conduit moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A medical simulator has a human body model that simulates a human-body external shape at least from a head to a neck, an oral cavity portion, a nasal cavity portion, a pharynx portion, a larynx portion, a trachea portion, and an esophagus portion, thereby enabling at least training of an intubation procedure to be done. The medical simulator includes: a neck supporting portion that serves as a framework of the neck of the human body model and is provided so as to extend to the head; and a simulated thyroid cartilage portion that is connected by a first spring member to the neck supporting portion and is disposed in the larynx portion of the human body model.

Abstract: Capsule-shaped polymer particles and a process for the production thereof are described. In one embodiment of the process, a polymerizable monomer component containing a cross-linkable monomer and a hydrophilic monomer, and an oily substance are finely dispersed in water to prepare an oil-in-water emulsion and then the polymerizable monomer component is polymerized, whereupon capsule-shaped polymer particles containing the oily substance as a core material are obtained. Upon removal of the oily substance in the particles, there are obtained capsule-shaped hollow polymer particles. These capsule-shaped polymer particles are excellent in such properties as mechanical strength and heat resistance, and thus can find many applications.

Abstract: Capsule-shaped polymer particles and a process for the production thereof are described. In one embodiment of the process, a polymerizable monomer component containing a cross-linkable monomer and a hydrophilic monomer, and an oily substance are finely dispersed in water to prepare an oil-in-water emulsion and then the polymerizable monomer component is polymerized, whereupon capsule-shaped polymer particles containing the oily substance as a core material are obtained. Upon removal of the oily substance in the particles, there are obtained capsule-shaped hollow polymer particles. These capsule-shaped polymer particle are excellent in such properties as mechanical strength and heat resistance, and thus can find many applications.

Abstract: A process for preparing large-sized polymer particles having a particle diameter in a range of 0.1 to 500 .mu.m by seeded polymerization is described, comprising:finely dispersing a polymerizable monomer in an aqueous medium to prepare a monomer dispersion in which a number average particle diameter of the resulting monomer droplets is not larger than that of seed particles, and a number average particle diameter in a semi-stable condition (Dm) of the monomer droplets satisfies, with a desired number average particle diameter of the final polymer particle as D, the following relation:0.5.times.D<Dm<3.5.times.Dcombining said monomer dispersion with a dispersion of seed particles to make the polymerizable monomer absorbed or adsorbed on the seed particles; andpolymerizing the polymerizable monomer in the presence of a polymerization initiator.