Abstract: An oxygen sensor is disposed downstream from a catalyst for purifying exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and which can suppress an influence of unburnt hydrocarbon on an output voltage. After forming a platinum thin film on the outer periphery of a zirconia ceramic body, only a detection electrode of the ceramic body is dipped in a silver nitrate aqueous solution of 0.1 mol/l, and the silver nitrate is pyrolyzed through a heat treatment. Subsequently, a platinum reference electrode is formed on the inner periphery of the ceramic body. To protect the silver-doped detection electrode, a protective layer is formed on the surface of the detection electrode. By the exposure to combustion gas and through aging, a detection element is formed, and set into a metal case together with a cylindrical heater, to complete an oxygen sensor to be disposed downstream from a CNG engine catalyst.

Abstract: A reference frame adapted to be fitted to a subject of medical treatment and provided with markers for determining the position or the orientation of the subject comprises fitting section for fitting the reference frame with the subject at least three spots (tops of the left and right ears and the nasal projection) along the undulations of the surface thereof and three or more than three markers detectable at least ether in an X-ray image or in an MRI image of the reference frame, the markers being to be arranged at predetermined positions not connectable by a straight line. A surgical operation navigating system determines the coordinates of the markers in a coordinate system defined for the image taken for the purpose of medical examination of the subject who is carrying the reference frame on the basis of the obtained image.

Abstract: An inputting/designating section inputs a multimedia object or designates a multimedia object previously stored in a database. A feature-value-determining section determines the feature value of the input or designated multimedia object. A weighting-factor-determining section determines the determined feature-value weighting factor of the multimedia object. A similarity-retrieval section retrieves the similarity of the multimedia object previously stored in the database by using the determined feature value and the determined feature-value weighting factor. A displaying section displays a multimedia object similar to the multimedia object designated by the inputting/designating section in accordance with the result of similarity retrieval. A similarity-ranking-changing section changes similarity rankings of the displayed multimedia object.

Abstract: A feature values definition input section inputs a feature values definition of object data used for retrieving. A feature values calculation section calculates feature values of object data previously stored in a database by using the feature values definition input by the feature values definition input section. An object data input/selection section inputs object data or previously selects object data from the database in which the object data is stored. A retrieval section retrieves similar object data from object data previously stored in the database by using the feature values of the object data input/selected by the object data input/selection section and the object data calculated by the feature values calculating section.

Abstract: The present invention writes the obtained two-dimensional image data of a body including a diseased portion in a computer or the like, and displays a three-dimensional image of the body including the diseased portion and the related data in the same monitor. The diseased portion data is then converted into a three-dimensional construction with use of a three-dimensional construction reconstructing section. The geometrical center of the three-dimensional constructed image is calculated by a geometrical center calculation section, and a plurality of linear lines or one linear line having the shortest distance directing from the geometrical center to the outside of the body is then calculated. The calculated line/lines is/are displayed to be overlapped on an image of the body including the diseased portion. In this manner, the present invention provides a stereotaxy operation route searching apparatus for showing a guideline of a low-invasive operation strategy to an operator, and the searching method.

Abstract: An object retrieval method used is characterized as follows. When a user selects objects, the dispersion between the objects is found with respect to each of a plurality of feature quantities. Within a retrieval range of objects, the dispersion between the objects is found with respect to each of a plurality of feature quantities. Both dispersions are compared for each feature quantity. As a result of the comparison, there may be a feature quantity which causes more converged dispersion in the selected objects. This feature quantity is provided with a weight larger than any other feature quantities to weight each feature quantity. An object is retrieved from the retrieval range based on the weighted feature quantities.

Abstract: A feature quantity calculation device to calculate a feature quantity for a 3-D object from 3-D object data contained in the 3-D object includes a 3-D object data input module to input the 3-D object data, a 3-D object data analysis module to analyze the input 3-D object data, a volume data conversion module to convert the analyzed 3-D object data to volume data, and a feature quantity calculation module to calculate a feature quantity from the converted volume data.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus comprises a navigation-related information generating section and a display section. The navigation-related information generating section measures the position and orientation of an object and a target in a three-dimensional space and generate navigation-related information to be used for navigating the object toward the target. The display section displays the navigation-related information generated by the navigation-related information generating section in any of different modes depending on the relationship of the position and orientation of the object and that of the target. A surgical operation image acquisition/display apparatus comprises an observation section, an image display section and a specifying section. The observation section includes a plurality of observation sections whose position and orientation is modifiable.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus comprises a navigation-related information generating section and a display section. The navigation-related information generating section measures the position and orientation of an object and a target in a three-dimensional space and generate navigation-related information to be used for navigating the object toward the target. The display section displays the navigation-related information generated by the navigation-related information generating section in any of different modes depending on the relationship of the position and orientation of the object and that of the target. A surgical operation image acquisition/display apparatus comprises an observation section, an image display section and a specifying section. The observation section includes a plurality of observation sections whose position and orientation is modifiable.

Abstract: A medical image display apparatus includes a first image output unit which outputs a real image of a subject that is grabbed by an image input unit. A three-dimensional position posture detection unit detects a position and posture of each of the image input unit and the subject and outputs position posture information. A second image output unit generates a data image of the subject based on prerecorded data of the subject using the position posture information and outputs the data image. An image display unit superposes the real image of the subject and the data image of the subject on each other and displays a superposed image. The display area of the data image of the subject output from the second image output unit is larger than that of the real image of the subject output from the first image output unit.

Abstract: A surgical operation navigation apparatus comprises a medical image storage section that stores three-dimensional information of a subject measured by a medical image diagnosis unit. A modification information storage section modifies and stores the three-dimensional information of the subject based on predicted modification of the subject. A morphological shape measuring instrument measures a three-dimensional morphological shape of the subject. A morphological shape information storage section compares a three-dimensional morphological shape of a subject with three-dimensional information, and selects and outputs three-dimensional information of the subject that is the most analogous to the morphological shape of the subject. A data image generating section generates data image from the selected, outputted three-dimensional information of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention writes the obtained two-dimensional image data of a body including a diseased portion in a computer or the like, and displays a three-dimensional image of the body including the diseased portion and the related data in the same monitor. The diseased portion data is then converted into a three-dimensional construction with use of a three-dimensional construction reconstructing section. The geometrical center of the three-dimensional constructed image is calculated by a geometrical center calculation section, and a plurality of linear lines or one linear line having the shortest distance directing from the geometrical center to the outside of the body is then calculated. The calculated line/lines is/are displayed to be overlapped on an image of the body including the diseased portion. In this manner, the present invention provides a stereotaxy operation route searching apparatus for showing a guideline of a low-invasive operation strategy to an operator, and the searching method.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus comprises a navigation-related information generating section and a display section. The navigation-related information generating section measures the position and orientation of an object and a target in a three-dimensional space and generate navigation-related information to be used for navigating the object toward the target. The display section displays the navigation-related information generated by the navigation-related information generating section in any of different modes depending on the relationship of the position and orientation of the object and that of the target. A surgical operation image acquisition/display apparatus comprises an observation section, an image display section and a specifying section. The observation section includes a plurality of observation sections whose position and orientation is modifiable.

Abstract: A medical operation simulator includes a three-dimensional image reconstruction section, an instrument-image forming section, and an approach data presenting section. The three-dimensional image reconstructing section processes data representing slice images, thereby generating three-dimensional image data. The three-dimensional image data is supplied to a display device. The instrument-image forming section forms an image of a medical instrument. The image moves in the same way that a medical instrument provided on an operation input device is manipulated by an operator. The instrument-image forming section supplies data representing the image of the instrument to the display device. The display device displays the image of the instrument together with a three-dimensional image represented by the three-dimensional image data generated by the three-dimensional image reconstructing means.

Abstract: A laminated structure (1) has a heat sealant layer (2), an antistatic layer (3) of a bisammonium organic sulfur semiconductor formed on one surface of the heat sealant layer (2). An oriented resin layer (14) is formed on the other surface of the heat sealant layer (2). The laminated structure (1) is adhered to a container with a side thereof on the side of the antistatic layer (3) to the container.

Abstract: A laser beam type distance measuring device comprising a laser beam emitter; a laser beam receiver having a going laser beam sensor and a returning laser beam sensor; an electrical signal processing circuit connected to the going and returning laser beam sensors; a returning laser beam guide way leading to the returning laser beam sensor; a polygon mirror for reflecting a going laser beam from the laser beam emitter toward a remote object and reflecting a returning laser beam from the object toward the returning laser beam guide way along which the returning laser beam travels to the returning laser beam sensor; and a reference optical track having one end directed to the laser beam emitter and the other end directed to the going laser beam sensor, so that a first part of the going laser beam from the laser beam emitter travels to the going laser beam sensor through the reference optical track.

Abstract: In a hydraulic control system including a valve device B for controlling a hydraulic fluid supplied from a hydraulic pump A to a hydraulic cylinder C, the valve device comprises a spool 16 slidably fitted into a valve body 1, and a non-leak valve 27 for controlling communication of an actuator passage 19. The non-leak valve comprises a main valve section 40 including a seat valve 41 provided in the valve body, and a pilot control section 60 including a pilot poppet valve 61 provided in an end cover 31. The seat valve is controlled in proportion to an opening of the pilot poppet valve, and a relief valve 55 for preventing the hydraulic cylinder from being subject to an overload is built in the seat valve. The non-leak valve thus fulfills a load holding function and an overload relief function. By arranging the non-leak valve and the spool in two lines, the valve device can be made more compact.

Abstract: A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor of the present invention consisting of an illuminating device for projecting light beams, which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object, an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and which have been projected from the illuminating device, a two-dimensional image sensor mounted on an image-formation plane of the image-formation optical system, a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on an electrode terminal, which is operative to determine the sensitivity of the two-dimensional image sensor at the frequency, and a reading means for reading a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated in each of picture elements of the image sensors.

Abstract: A laser beam type distance measuring device comprises a laser beam emitter; a returning laser beam detector; a polygon mirror rotated about a first axis for reflecting a going laser beam from the laser beam emitter toward a remote object and reflecting a returning laser beam from the object toward a given optical track along which the returning laser beam travels to the returning laser beam detector; and a nodding mechanism for pivoting the polygon mirror about a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. These parts are housed in a case which has a window opening through which the going and returning laser beams pass. An outwardly swelled transparent cover covers the window opening in such a manner that a depressed inner surface thereof faces toward the polygon mirror in the case. A shielding plate is installed in the case near the polygon mirror to prevent the going laser beam from entering the given optical track.

Abstract: A ceramic composition for thermistor exhibiting stable resistance values over a wide temperature range and capable of being used for a prolonged time. The composition is represented by (M.sup.1 M.sup.2 O.sub.3).sub.1-x .multidot.(M.sup.1 AlO.sub.3).sub.x, wherein M.sup.1 is an element selected from the elements of the group 3A excluding La and M.sup.2 is an element of the groups 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A and 8, and wherein the mixing ratio between an electrically conductive substance stable at elevated temperatures and an insulating substance stable at elevated temperatures, may be adjusted. A thermistor formed of the composition is superior in high-temperature stability and can be used over a broad temperature range because its resistance value can be selected to an optimum value.