Abstract: A catheter of the invention includes an elongated flexible tubular main body; a plurality of manipulation wires inserted through the tubular main body and having tips connected to a distal part of the tubular main body; a manipulation-part main body provided at a base end of the tubular main body; and a bending manipulation part. The bending manipulation part has an engagement part engaging with base ends of the manipulation wires, and individually applies pulling force to the plurality of manipulation wires through pulling operations so as to bend the distal part of the tubular main body. The bending manipulation part is provided so as to be movable with respect to the manipulation-part main body. The path lengths of the plurality of manipulation wires from the tips thereof to the engagement part are simultaneously increased or decreased when the bending manipulation part and the manipulation-part main body move relative to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheath for gastrostoma (1), a sheathed dilator, a gastrostomy catheter kit and a method of splitting a sheath for gastrostoma. The sheath for gastrostoma (1) includes a sheath body (11) in which a gastrostomy catheter (2) is inserted and a handle (12). The sheath for gastrostoma (1) lowers the insertion resistance of a gastrostomy catheter when inserted in a fistula before insertion of the gastrostomy catheter in the fistula for replacement in the patient's body. According to the invention, a sheath for gastrostoma, a sheathed dilator, a sheath for gastrostoma with insertion aid, a gastrostomy catheter kit and a method of splitting a sheath for gastrostoma which can lower the insertion resistance during placement of a catheter in the patient's body, facilitate air supply control of an endoscope and stabilize endoscopic visual field during surgery are provided.

Abstract: A catheter of the invention includes an elongated flexible tubular main body; a plurality of manipulation wires inserted through the tubular main body and having tips connected to a distal part of the tubular main body; a manipulation-part main body provided at a base end of the tubular main body; and a bending manipulation part. The bending manipulation part has an engagement part engaging with base ends of the manipulation wires, and individually applies pulling force to the plurality of manipulation wires through pulling operations so as to bend the distal part of the tubular main body. The bending manipulation part is provided so as to be movable with respect to the manipulation-part main body. The path lengths of the plurality of manipulation wires from the tips thereof to the engagement part are simultaneously increased or decreased when the bending manipulation part and the manipulation-part main body move relative to each other.

Abstract: An electroconductive composition including a mixture of a copper powder having an averaged particle size between 0.3 and 20 ?m and a copper fine powder having an averaged particle size between 1 and 50 nm; a solvent comprising a multivalent alcohol, such as ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol, having two or more OH groups; and an additive comprising a compound such as malic acid or citric acid having two or more COOH groups and one or more OH groups where the number of COOH groups is equal to or greater than the number of OH groups.

Abstract: It is aimed at providing: an electroconductive composition that can be fired at a low temperature not only in an inert atmosphere but also in the atmospheric air, that is capable of preventing oxidation of copper particles, that exhibits an excellent electroconductivity, and that is inexpensive; and a method for forming an electroconductive film in an inert atmosphere or in the atmospheric air by adopting such an electroconductive composition. An electroconductive composition including copper as a filler, in which the electroconductive composition includes: a metal powder comprising a mixture of a copper powder having an averaged particle size between 0.

Abstract: A method of preparing a magnetostrictive material, including the steps of: (a) forming a melt of metals having a composition corresponding to the magnetostrictive material; (b) subjecting the melt to a micro-gravity environment; and (c) cooling the melt in the micro-gravity environment at a rate of at least 50° C. per second, while applying a magnetic field to the melt, to solidity the melt.

Abstract: A method of preparing a magnetostrictive material, including the steps of: