Abstract: A balloon coating method and apparatus are disclosed which can perform coating while freely controlling, for example, the thickness of a coating layer and/or the morphological form of a drug. The method includes pulling a distal tip of the balloon in an axial direction of the balloon to straighten a bend of the balloon; rotating the balloon about an axis of the balloon; and coating the outer surface of the balloon with a coating liquid.

Abstract: A balloon wrapping apparatus and a balloon wrapping method are disclosed by which a balloon can be accurately positioned in relation to a pleating section and to a folding section. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon of a balloon catheter provided with the balloon at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section having a plurality of blades aligned with space parts therebetween in a circumferential direction, and forms the balloon with wing shapes projecting in radial directions by clamping the balloon in the space parts by moving rotationally the blades; and a folding section having a plurality of blades aligned in a circumferential direction, and that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon in the circumferential direction by moving rotationally the blades; and a support base that supports a part of the shaft which part is on a proximal side of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon wrapping apparatus and a balloon wrapping method are disclosed by which a balloon can be wrapped appropriately. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon of a balloon catheter provided with the balloon at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section that forms the balloon with wing shapes projecting in radial directions; a folding section that includes a plurality of blades aligned in a circumferential direction, and that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon along the circumferential direction by moving rotationally the blades; and a rotational support portion that supports a portion of the shaft which portion is on a proximal side of the balloon, and that rotates the shaft in a direction opposite to a rotary movement direction of the blades in a state in which the balloon is positioned in relation to the folding section.

Abstract: A balloon wrapping apparatus is disclosed by which a balloon can be accurately positioned and inserted in relation to a pleating section. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon provided at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section that forms the balloon with wing shapes; a folding section that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon along a circumferential direction; a support base that supports a portion other than the distal portion of the shaft, and that makes the distal portion of the shaft insertable into the pleating section and the folding section; and a core metal member to be inserted in the shaft. The core metal member is inserted in the shaft from a distal end position of the balloon to at least the proximal side of a proximal end position of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon coating method and apparatus are disclosed which can perform coating while freely controlling, for example, the thickness of a coating layer and/or the morphological form of a drug. The balloon coating method and the balloon coating apparatus are for forming a coating layer on a surface of a balloon. The balloon coating method includes a pulling step of pulling the balloon in the direction of an axis of the balloon to thereby straighten a bend of the balloon, and a coating step of rotating the balloon about the axis of the balloon, with the balloon maintained in the bend-straightened state, and coating an outer surface of the balloon with a coating liquid containing a drug.

Abstract: A drug coating layer on a non-porous nylon elastomer balloon substrate surface comprising a plurality of elongated bodies with long axes wherein each elongated body is formed of a crystal of a water-insoluble drug and is independently formed on the substrate surface, wherein the long axes of the elongated bodies are substantially linear in shape, and the long axes of the elongated bodies form an angle in a predetermined range with respect to a substrate plane with which the long axis of the elongated body intersects. The drug coating layer can provide low toxicity and a high intravascular stenosis inhibitory effect.

Abstract: A balloon coating method is disclosed for forming a coating layer on an outer surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter. The method includes an application step where a vertically extending dispensing tube for supplying a coating solution containing the water-insoluble drug and a solvent is formed at its end portion with an opening portion for discharging the coating solution therethrough and when an opening portion-formed end portion side of the dispensing tube is kept in contact with the outer surface of the balloon in such a manner as to be oriented to a rotating direction of the balloon while the balloon is rotated about an axis of the balloon, the coating solution is discharged through the opening portion and applied to the outer surface of the balloon while the dispensing tube is moved relative to the balloon in an axial direction of the balloon.

Abstract: An Ag alloy film used for a reflecting electrode or an interconnection electrode, the Ag alloy film exhibiting low electrical resistivity and high reflectivity and having exceptional oxidation resistance under cleaning treatments such as an O2 plasma treatment or UV irradiation, wherein the Ag alloy film contains either In in an amount of larger than 2.0 atomic % to 2.7 atomic % or smaller; or Zn in an amount of larger than 2.0 atomic % to 3.5 atomic % or smaller; or both. The Ag alloy film may further contain Bi in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0 atomic %.

Abstract: A balloon coating method for forming a coating layer containing a water-insoluble drug on the outer surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter. The method includes applying a first rotation force to the balloon catheter proximal to the balloon of the balloon catheter and applying a second rotation force to the balloon catheter distal to the balloon of the balloon catheter. The first rotation speed is the same as the second rotation speed. The method includes applying a coating solution containing the drug to the outer surface of the balloon from a dispensing tube while gradually moving the dispensing tube in the axial direction and simultaneously applying the first and second rotation forces to rotate the balloon catheter around the longitudinal axis of the balloon catheter.

Abstract: A balloon coating method for forming a coating layer containing a water-insoluble drug on an outer surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter. The method includes moving a drive shaft relative to at least one of a hub of the balloon catheter and an interlocking member. The drive shaft is configured to rotate the balloon catheter about an axis of the balloon. The method fixing the drive shaft to the proximal end of the hub or to the opening of the interlocking member by frictional force, and applying a coating solution containing the drug to the outer surface of the balloon from a dispensing tube while gradually moving the dispensing tube in the axial direction and simultaneously rotating the drive shaft to rotate the balloon catheter around the axis of the balloon catheter.

Abstract: A balloon coating method is disclosed, which includes an application step in which, where a flexible dispensing tube for supplying a coating solution containing the water-insoluble drug and a solvent is formed at its end portion with an opening portion for discharging the coating solution therethrough and when the opening portion-formed end portion side of the dispensing tube is kept in contact with the outer surface of the balloon in such a manner as to be oriented in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the balloon while the balloon is rotated about an axis of the balloon, the coating solution is discharged through the opening portion and applied to the outer surface of the balloon while the dispensing tube is moved relative to the balloon in an axial direction X of the balloon.

Abstract: A drug coating layer which is a drug coating layer having a morphological form including a plurality of elongated bodies having long axes that each crystal of a water-insoluble drug independently has on a substrate surface, in which the long axes of the elongated bodies are nearly linear in shape, and the long axes of the elongated bodies form an angle in a predetermined range with respect to a substrate plane with which the long axis of the elongated body intersects. The drug coating layer can provide low toxicity and a high intravascular stenosis inhibitory effect.

Abstract: Provided are: a novel electrode which is suitable for use in an input device as typified by a capacitive touch panel sensor, and which has low electrical resistivity and low reflectance; and a method for producing this electrode. This electrode has a multilayer structure comprising a first layer that is formed of an Al film or an Al alloy film and a second layer that is partially nitrided and is formed of an Al alloy containing Al and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cu, Ti and Ta.

Abstract: An Ag alloy film used for a reflecting electrode or an interconnection electrode, the Ag alloy film exhibiting low electrical resistivity and high reflectivity and having exceptional oxidation resistance under cleaning treatments such as an O2 plasma treatment or UV irradiation, wherein the Ag alloy film contains either In in an amount of larger than 2.0 atomic % to 2.7 atomic % or smaller; or Zn in an amount of larger than 2.0 atomic % to 3.5 atomic % or smaller; or both. The Ag alloy film may further contain Bi in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0 atomic %.

Abstract: A balloon catheter that includes an elongated main body, a balloon connected to the elongated main body, and a base layer on the outer surface of the balloon. The base layer includes a water-soluble low-molecular weight compound. The balloon catheter also includes a plurality of elongate bodies extending radially away from the outer surface of the balloon. The elongate bodies are crystals of a water-insoluble drug. The elongate bodies each possesses an independent longitudinal axis. At least part of at least some of the elongate bodies are located in the interior of the base layer on the outer surface of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes an elongated main body extending in an axial direction and a balloon connected to the elongated main body. The balloon is inflatable and deflatable in the radial direction. The outer surface of the balloon includes a plurality of recesses that are spaced apart from one another. The balloon catheter also includes a plurality of elongate bodies on the outer surface of the balloon. The elongate bodies are crystals of a water-insoluble drug extending in the radial direction of the balloon away from the interior of the balloon. The elongate bodies each possess an independent long axis. At least two elongate bodies of the elongate bodies are positioned in one of the recesses in the outer surface of the balloon. These two elongate bodies extend from within the recess to a surrounding environment in the radial direction of the balloon.

Abstract: A fastener stringer includes a row of elements on which cured coating film is formed at sites where it is difficult to be coated by a roll coating method, preferably over the entire exposed surface, without incorporating any conductive wire in a fastener tape. A fastener stringer includes a row of elements and a fastener tape, at least one side edge of the fastener tape having insulation properties, the row of the elements being attached to the one side edge of the fastener tape, wherein each element includes a pair of leg portions and a head portion, the head portion having an engaging region for engaging with an opposing element when constructing a fastener chain, and wherein cured coating film is formed at least at a center portion in a front and back direction of the fastener tape on an end surface of the head portions.

Abstract: A safety cabinet has a second operation chamber in a first operation chamber and into which clean air is supplied, a second suction opening for sucking in air in the second operation chamber and a portion of the air in the first operation chamber, and a second operation opening part that is provided facing a first operation opening part and communicates the second operation chamber with the first operation chamber. Airflow containment (air barrier) is doubled with respect to the outside of a safety cabinet. In cases where decontamination and disinfection operations are carried out according to the changeover procedures, intensive decontamination and disinfection of the second operation chamber is sufficient, and decontamination and disinfection of the first operation chamber is hardly required. Decontamination and disinfection operations in the changeover procedures and the like can be carried out in a greatly reduced time.

Abstract: This thin film transistor has a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor thin film, an etch stop layer for protecting the oxide semiconductor thin film, a source and drain electrodes, and a passivation film in this order on a substrate. The oxide semiconductor thin film is formed of an oxide configured from In, Ga and Sn as metal elements, and O, and has an amorphous structure, and the etch stop layer and/or the passivation film includes SiNx. The thin film transistor has an extremely high mobility of approximately 40 cm2/Vs or more.

Abstract: This thin film transistor comprises, on a substrate, at least a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor layer, a source-drain electrode, and two or more protective films. The oxide semiconductor layer comprises Sn, O and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of In, Ga and Zn. In addition, the two or more protective films are composed of at least a first protective film that is in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, and one or more second protective films other than the first protective film. The first protective film is a SiOx film having a hydrogen concentration of 3.5 atomic % or lower.