Abstract: A gel for an ultrasonic phantom is provided which has satisfactory ultrasonic characteristics, does not fluctuate in ultrasonic characteristics over long, and is free from germ multiplication, alteration, putrefaction, etc. The gel is a gel for ultrasonic phantoms which comprises: a segmented polyurethane gel having alkylene oxide segments which are mostly or wholly liquid at ordinary temperature; and a nonvolatile organic gel-swelling medium not participating in a urethane-forming reaction, the medium being contained in the segmented polyurethane gel. Due to the nonvolatile organic gel-swelling medium, the liquid segments and the like are kept in an extended state and the distance between the segments is increased. The gel hence has satisfactory ultrasonic characteristics concerning ultrasonic attenuation rate, propagation velocity, etc. The gel does not change in swelling-medium content with time and hence retains the satisfactory ultrasonic characteristics over long.

Abstract: Subjects are to provide a stand-alone artificial intervertebral disk which has flexible, nearly ideal, mechanical deformation properties and durability and is capable of being bonded and fixed to vertebral bodies at a high force and to provide an artificial-intervertebral-disk insertion jig with which the artificial intervertebral disk can be easily inserted and disposed between vertebrae without fail. The artificial intervertebral disk has a constitution comprising: a core material comprising a structure which is either a multiaxis three-dimensional woven structure or knit structure made of organic fibers arranged along three or more axes or a structure comprising a combination of the woven structure and the knit structure; and plates superposed respectively on the upper and lower sides of the core material, the plates being made of a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer containing bioactive bioceramic particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cosmetic patch which can contain therein either one of a water soluble vitamin and a fat soluble vitamin, particularly when the vitamin is vitamin C, can contain and retain vitamin C stably while avoiding its deterioration due to oxidation or hydrolysis and not causing deterioration of the gel, and is equipped with a desired level of adhesive force; a using method of a cosmetic patch capable of effectively transferring vitamin C into the skin from the cosmetic patch; and a cosmetic patch package for storing the cosmetic patch therein. The present invention relates to a cosmetic patch obtained by incorporating a vitamin in an adhesive polyurethane gel which has hydrophilic alkylene oxide segments and hydrophobic alkylene oxide segments and has most or all of these segments in liquid form at normal temperature.

Abstract: Biodegradable and resorbable surgical materials of molded articles of poly(lactic acid) or copolymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid, characterized in that the articles are molecular-orientated, and having a bending strength of 1.6.times.10.sup.33 to 2.5.times.10.sup.3 kg/cm.sup.2, a bending modulus of 5.5.times.10.sup.2 to 24.0.times.10.sup.2 kg/cm.sup.2, a crystallinity, determined by density measurement, of 10 to 60%, and a viscosity average molecular weight measured after melt processing of not less than 200,000, and in that at least 80% of initial strength of the articles is maintained after dipping in a saline at 37.degree. C. for three months.

Abstract: A one-component system polyurethane gel and a coupler for ultrasonic diagnostic probes comprising the same are disclosed. The gel is obtained by reacting a polyol having a room temperature liquid alkylene oxide chain and/or a polyurethane polyol prepolymer having a room temperature liquid alkylene oxide chain with a polyurethane polyisocyanate prepolymer having a room temperature liquid alkylene oxide chain. The gel causes no bleeding or evaporation of a dispersion medium and is therefore excellent in safety to the human body and preservation stability.

Abstract: A one-component system polyurethane gel and a coupler for ultrasonic diagnostic probes comprising the same are disclosed. The gel is obtained by reacting a polyol having a room temperature liquid alkylene oxide chain and/or a polyurethane polyol prepolymer having a room temperature liquid alkylene oxide chain with a polyurethane polyisocyanate prepolymer having a room temperature liquid alkylene oxide chain. The gel causes no bleeding or evaporation of a dispersion medium and is therefore excellent in safety to the human body and preservation stability.