Abstract: The present invention provides a neurite outgrowth promoter for promoting neurite growth on nerve cells of a postnatal mammalian individual for use in a condition in which an effective amount of a glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is not present, the neurite outgrowth promoter containing at least one protein selected from the group consisting of: GDNF family receptor ?1 (GFR?1): GFR?1 mutants having an amino acid sequence that has at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of GFR?1, the GFR?1 mutants having neurite outgrowth activity; fusion proteins that have neurite outgrowth activity and that are obtained by fusing GFR?1 or a GFR?1 mutant with another peptide; and chemically modified proteins that have neurite outgrowth activity and that are obtained by chemically modifying one or a plurality of amino acid residues in GFR?1, a GFR?1 mutant, or a fusion protein. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition for inducing nerve regeneration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an actuator and a prosthesis that can propose an actuator and a prosthesis that can downsize a device. An actuator includes: a leaf spring that includes a bent portion bent in a U shape and a first extending portion extending from the bent portion, a first one end portion that is an end portion of the first extending portion on a side of the bent portion being cantilevered, the first extending portion being bendable and deformable in a plate thickness direction according to torque by transmitting the torque; and a first support member that supports a part of the first extending portion on a bending direction side in a case where torque transmitted in a first direction by the first extending portion is larger than a predetermined value. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a prosthesis.

Abstract: A lens unit includes a positive lens element provided with a convex surface on an incident surface and/or an exit surface; and a lens frame supporting the lens element and being provided with a projection that projects in an inner radial direction from inside the lens frame. The lens frame supports the lens element with the projection fixedly fitted into an outer peripheral portion of the lens element. The projection is provided, on an inner peripheral portion thereof, with a first surface positioned on an incident side in an optical axis direction, a second surface positioned on an exit side in the optical axis direction, and a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first, second and third surfaces are tapered surfaces that are respectively inclined relative to the optical axis direction. A method of manufacturing the lens unit is also provided.

Abstract: A lens unit includes a positive lens element provided with a convex surface on an incident surface and/or an exit surface; and a lens frame supporting the lens element and being provided with a projection that projects in an inner radial direction from inside the lens frame. The lens frame supports the lens element with the projection fixedly fitted into an outer peripheral portion of the lens element. The projection is provided, on an inner peripheral portion thereof, with a first surface positioned on an incident side in an optical axis direction, a second surface positioned on an exit side in the optical axis direction, and a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first, second and third surfaces are tapered surfaces that are respectively inclined relative to the optical axis direction. A method of manufacturing the lens unit is also provided.

Abstract: Artificial limbs and joints that behave like biological limbs and joints employ a synthetic actuator which consumes negligible power when exerting zero force, consumes negligible power when outputting force at constant length (isometric) and while performing dissipative, nonconservative work, is capable of independently engaging flexion and extension tendon-like, series springs, is capable of independently varying joint position and stiffness, and exploits series elasticity for mechanical power amplification.

Abstract: A prosthetic leg and a prosthetic leg connector are provided, which are capable of enhancing the strength of a plate spring while reducing the weight thereof, as well as adjusting an attachment position of a socket with respect to the plate spring. The prosthetic leg comprises a connector and a plate spring. The plate spring includes a grounding portion coming into contact with the ground, a connecting portion connected to the connector, and a curved portion curving between the grounding portion and the connecting portion. The curved portion curves in only one direction, the grounding portion is formed at one end of the curved portion, and the connecting portion is formed at another end of the curved portion, and includes a connecting surface formed on an inside of a curve of the curved portion. The connector includes an attachment surface that is connected to the socket.

Abstract: To propose a novel and improved actuator and artificial leg capable of miniaturizing an apparatus. An actuator (320) includes: a leaf spring (322) whose one end (322a) is cantilevered, the leaf spring being capable of deflection deformation in a plate thickness direction in accordance with torque by transmitting the torque; and a support member (324) configured to support a part of the leaf spring on a deflection direction side in a case where the torque transmitted by the leaf spring is greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A lens unit includes a positive lens element provided with a convex surface on an incident surface and/or an exit surface; and a lens frame supporting the lens element and being provided with a projection that projects in an inner radial direction from inside the lens frame. The lens frame supports the lens element with the projection fixedly fitted into an outer peripheral portion of the lens element. The projection is provided, on an inner peripheral portion thereof, with a first surface positioned on an incident side in an optical axis direction, a second surface positioned on an exit side in the optical axis direction, and a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first, second and third surfaces are tapered surfaces that are respectively inclined relative to the optical axis direction. A method of manufacturing the lens unit is also provided.

Abstract: A nonwoven sound absorbing material according to the present invention includes a nonwoven laminate formed of a stack of a plurality of sheets of a filament nonwoven fabric having a plurality of drawn filaments arranged and oriented in one direction, and the mode value of the diameter distribution of the plurality of drawn filaments is 1 to 4 ?m. The nonwoven sound absorbing material according to the present invention has improved sound absorption performance in a relatively low frequency band as compared to a conventional one.

Abstract: Artificial limbs and joints that behave like biological limbs and joints employ a synthetic actuator which consumes negligible power when exerting zero force, consumes negligible power when outputting force at constant length (isometric) and while performing dissipative, nonconservative work, is capable of independently engaging flexion and extension tendon-like, series springs, is capable of independently varying joint position and stiffness, and exploits series elasticity for mechanical power amplification.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric for sound absorbing application according to the present invention includes a plurality of drawn filaments arranged and oriented in one direction, and the mode value of the diameter distribution of the plurality of drawn filaments is 1 to 4 ?m. When laminated on a porous sound absorbing material, the nonwoven fabric for sound absorbing application according to the present invention constitutes a sound absorbing material with the porous sound absorbing material, and the resultant laminated sound absorbing material has improved sound absorption performance in the frequency band of 1000 to 10000 Hz as compared to the porous sound absorbing material alone.

Abstract: To propose a novel and improved actuator and artificial leg capable of miniaturizing an apparatus. An actuator (320) includes: a leaf spring (322) whose one end (322a) is cantilevered, the leaf spring being capable of deflection deformation in a plate thickness direction in accordance with torque by transmitting the torque; and a support member (324) configured to support a part of the leaf spring on a deflection direction side in a case where the torque transmitted by the leaf spring is greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A neuromuscular model-based controller for a robotic limb having at least one joint includes a neuromuscular model having a muscle model, muscle geometry and reflex feedback loop to determine at least one torque or impedance command to be sent to the robotic limb. One or more parameters that determine relation between feedback data and activation of the muscle model are adjusted consequent to sensory data from at least one of an intrinsic sensor and an extrinsic sensor. A controller in communication with the neuromuscular model is configured to receive the at least one torque or impedance command and controls at least one of position, torque and impedance of the robotic limb joint.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a chassis, in which a recess is formed; the recess including at least one pair of inner wall surfaces which face each other; an imaging unit positioned in the recess; an intermediate frame which is interposed between the recess and the imaging unit, the intermediate frame including a pair of support walls which correspond to the pair of inner wall surfaces of the recess; a first cushioning member which is interposed between one of the pair of support walls of the intermediate frame and an adjacent outer wall surface of the imaging unit; and a second cushioning member which is interposed between the other of the pair of support walls of the intermediate frame and an adjacent inner wall surface of the pair of inner wall surfaces of the recess.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a chassis, in which a recess is formed; the recess including at least one pair of inner wall surfaces which face each other; an imaging unit positioned in the recess; an intermediate frame which is interposed between the recess and the imaging unit, the intermediate frame including a pair of support walls which correspond to the pair of inner wall surfaces of the recess; a first cushioning member which is interposed between one of the pair of support walls of the intermediate frame and an adjacent outer wall surface of the imaging unit; and a second cushioning member which is interposed between the other of the pair of support walls of the intermediate frame and an adjacent inner wall surface of the pair of inner wall surfaces of the recess.

Abstract: There is provided a movement support apparatus including a lower limb coupling portion configured to be coupled to a lower limb, an elastic member, a ground contact unit configured to include a ground contact plate coming into contact with a surface and a transmission portion transmitting force generated by the elastic member, and an ankle portion configured to be installed between the lower limb coupling portion and the ground contact unit. The ground contact unit is installed to be displaceable between a position at which the transmission portion comes into contact with the ankle portion and a position at which the transmission portion is uncoupled from the ankle portion.

Abstract: A neuromuscular model-based controller for a robotic limb having at least one joint includes a neuromuscular model having a muscle model, muscle geometry and reflex feedback loop to determine at least one torque or impedance command to be sent to the robotic limb. One or more parameters that determine relation between feedback data and activation of the muscle model are adjusted consequent to sensory data from at least one of an intrinsic sensor and an extrinsic sensor. A controller in communication with the neuromuscular model is configured to receive the at least one torque or impedance command and controls at least one of position, torque and impedance of the robotic limb joint.

Abstract: A neuromuscular model-based controller for a robotic limb having at least one joint includes a neuromuscular model having a muscle model, muscle geometry and reflex feedback loop to determine at least one torque or impedance command to be sent to the robotic limb. One or more parameters that determine relation between feedback data and activation of the muscle model are adjusted consequent to sensory data from at least one of an intrinsic sensor and an extrinsic sensor. A controller in communication with the neuromuscular model is configured to receive the at least one torque or impedance command and controls at least one of position, torque and impedance of the robotic limb joint.

Abstract: There is provided a movement support apparatus including a lower limb coupling portion configured to be coupled to a lower limb, an elastic member, a ground contact unit configured to include a ground contact plate coming into contact with a surface and a transmission portion transmitting force generated by the elastic member, and an ankle portion configured to be installed between the lower limb coupling portion and the ground contact unit. The ground contact unit is installed to be displaceable between a position at which the transmission portion comes into contact with the ankle portion and a position at which the transmission portion is uncoupled from the ankle portion.