Abstract: A non-invasive imaging system, including an imaging scanner suitable to generate an imaging signal from a tissue region of a subject under observation, the tissue region having at least one anatomical substructure and more than one constituent tissue type; a signal processing system in communication with the imaging scanner to receive the imaging signal from the imaging scanner; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit is configured to store a parcellation atlas comprising spatial information of the at least one substructure in the tissue region, wherein the signal processing system is adapted to: reconstruct an image of the tissue region based on the imaging signal; parcellate, based on the parcellation atlas, the at least one anatomical substructure in the image; segment the more than one constituent tissue types in the image; and automatically identify, in the image, a portion of the at least one anatomical substructure that correspond to one

Abstract: A housing includes a pump chamber, which rotatably receives an inner rotor and an outer rotor that define a pressure chamber therebetween. An inlet port of the housing is communicated with the pressure chamber to supply fluid into the pressure chamber. An outlet port of the housing is communicated with the pressure chamber to discharge the fluid from the pressure chamber. An axial size of an axial clearance, which is formed between an axial end surface of the pump chamber and an axial end surface of the inner rotor, differs from an axial size of an axial clearance, which is formed between the axial end surface of the pump chamber and an axial end surface of the outer rotor.

Abstract: An electric pump includes a stator, a rotor, a shaft, a bearing part, and a pump unit. The stator has a magnetic part, and the stator forms a rotation magnetic field when a coil of the stator is energized. The bearing part has a longitudinal central position that is positioned on an imaginary plane perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotor. The imaginary plane is positioned within an inner range defined between longitudinal end portions of the magnetic part of the stator.

Abstract: A shift-by-wire control system includes a parking lock device that brings an output shaft of an automatic transmission device to a lock state when a range switching unit switches to the P-range. The parking lock device brings the output shaft to a lock-release state when the range switching unit switches to another shift range. An electric motor actuates the range switching unit and the parking lock device in accordance with an instruction of an operator. A manual device transmits manual operation force of the operator to the parking lock device when the electric motor stops. The manual device includes a one-way transmission unit permitting transmission of the manual operation force in a direction toward the lock state, and prohibiting transmission of the manual operation force in a direction toward the lock-release state.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging scanner configured to generate a plurality of signals for forming at least one magnetic resonance image of a soft tissue region from a subject under observation, wherein the at least one magnetic resonance image provides at least one integrating feature to facilitate automatic segmentation; a signal processing system in communication with the magnetic resonance imaging scanner to receive the plurality of signals; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit contains at least one template corresponding to the soft tissue region, wherein the signal processing system is adapted to process the plurality of signals received from the magnetic resonance imaging scanner to automatically perform segmentation for the soft tissue region of the subject under observation by utilizing the at least one template and the at least one integrating feature.

Abstract: A linear solenoid is disclosed that includes a coil that generates magnetic force due to transmission of current therethrough. The linear solenoid also includes a plunger with an end face, a stator that movably supports the plunger, and a yoke including a bottom face. Furthermore, a biasing member is included that biases the plunger in a first direction along the axis. The stator magnetically attracts the plunger when current is transmitted through the coil so as to move the plunger in a second direction along the axis opposite to the first direction. Also, when current transmission through the coil is stopped, the biasing member biases the plunger to abut the bottom face of the yoke at least one abutted portion. Also a non-contact portion is included between the abutted portions where the plunger and the stator are spaced away from each other in the direction of the axis.

Abstract: A spring seat, which contacts a spool, is provided between a compression coil spring and the spool. The spring seat is shaped into a cup-shaped body, which includes a cup tubular section, a cup flange section and a cup bottom section and is fitted to a distal end shaft portion of the spool. A spring load of the spring, which is received by the cup flange section, is conducted to a distal end of the distal end shaft portion through the cup tubular section and the cup bottom section. An outer land diameter of each land of the spool is made smaller than a spring diameter of the spring.

Abstract: A shift-by-wire control system includes a parking lock device that brings an output shaft of an automatic transmission device to a lock state when a range switching unit switches to the P-range. The parking lock device brings the output shaft to a lock-release state when the range switching unit switches to another shift range. An electric motor actuates the range switching unit and the parking lock device in accordance with an instruction of an operator. A manual device transmits manual operation force of the operator to the parking lock device when the electric motor stops. The manual device includes a one-way transmission unit permitting transmission of the manual operation force in a direction toward the lock state, and prohibiting transmission of the manual operation force in a direction toward the lock-release state.

Abstract: A linear solenoid is disclosed that includes a coil that generates magnetic force due to transmission of current therethrough. The linear solenoid also includes a plunger with an end face, a stator that movably supports the plunger, and a yoke including a bottom face. Furthermore, a biasing member is included that biases the plunger in a first direction along the axis. The stator magnetically attracts the plunger when current is transmitted through the coil so as to move the plunger in a second direction along the axis opposite to the first direction. Also, when current transmission through the coil is stopped, the biasing member biases the plunger to abut the bottom face of the yoke at least one abutted portion. Also a non-contact portion is included between the abutted portions where the plunger and the stator are spaced away from each other in the direction of the axis.

Abstract: A spring seat, which contacts a spool, is provided between a compression coil spring and the spool. The spring seat is shaped into a cup-shaped body, which includes a cup tubular section, a cup flange section and a cup bottom section and is fitted to a distal end shaft portion of the spool. A spring load of the spring, which is received by the cup flange section, is conducted to a distal end of the distal end shaft portion through the cup tubular section and the cup bottom section. An outer land diameter of each land of the spool is made smaller than a spring diameter of the spring.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive has a sliding portion and a stator, the stator forming a magnetic circuit in combination with the sliding portion. The stator has an accommodating portion for supporting the sliding portion so the sliding portion can reciprocate inside the accommodating portion. A magnetic attractive force is generated by a coil to attract the sliding portion in one of the reciprocating directions. The coil generates a magnetic attractive force when energized such that either one or both of at least an outer peripheral wall of the sliding portion and at least an inner peripheral wall of said accommodating portion forms a magnetic portion made of nickel phosphide. The phosphorus content of said magnetic portion is set within a range of 5% to 15% in mass percentage.

Abstract: Non-magnetic layers are formed on an inner circumferential wall of a housing portion 13 and an outer circumferential wall of a plunger 17, respectively. Assuming that the thickness of the non-magnetic layer of the housing portion is t0, the thickness of the non-magnetic layer of the plunger is t1, a magnetic gap formed in a radial direction between respective magnetic materials of the housing portion and the plunger which excludes the non-magnetic layers is d0, and an air gap formed in a radial direction between the non-magnetic layers when the plunger does not deviate from but remains coaxial with the housing portion is d1, the thickness are set so as to satisfy 40 &mgr;m≦t0+t1≦80 &mgr;m, d0≈100 &mgr;m. In addition, it is set such that the attracting portion becomes saturated magnetically when the value of electric current that is supplied to a coil increases to reach a predetermined value which falls between 40% or larger and 60% of smaller of a maximum value of the electric current.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic valve device having a valve housing, a valve member slidably accommodated in the valve housing to control oil communications among ports formed in the valve housing, a spring biasing the valve member, a stopper retaining the spring and an electromagnetic drive member for generating, when energized, a driving force to displace the valve member against a biasing force of the spring, the valve housing is provided at an axial end with a small diameter portion whose wall thickness is thinner and the stopper is press fitted substantially to an inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion so that radially outward resilient deformation of the small diameter portion is larger than radially inward resilient deformation of the stopper.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive has a sliding portion and a stator, the stator forming a magnetic circuit in combination with the sliding portion. The stator has an accommodating portion for supporting the sliding portion so the sliding portion can reciprocate inside the accommodating portion. A magnetic attractive force is generated by a coil to attract the sliding portion in one of the reciprocating directions. The coil generates a magnetic attractive force when energized such that either one or both of at least an outer peripheral wall of the sliding portion and at least an inner peripheral wall of said accommodating portion forms a magnetic portion made of nickel phosphide. The phosphorus content of said magnetic portion is set within a range of 5% to 15% in mass percentage.

Abstract: An accommodating base material and an attracting base material are coaxially arranged, and are resin-insert-molded, thereby forming a bobbin base material. Next, inner peripheries of the accommodating base material, attracting base material and bobbin base material are cut, so that the accommodating base material, attracting base material and bobbin base material have same inner diameters. As a result of the cut-forming process, an accommodating member, an attracting member and a bobbin are formed. After insert-molding, the accommodating base material, attracting base material and bobbin base material are cut to have the same inner diameters. Thus, the accommodating member and the attracting member are accurately coaxially formed.

Abstract: A stator core integrally includes a container portion and an attracting portion. The container portion contains and supports a plunger to allow it to reciprocate thereinside. The attracting portion magnetically attracts the plunger. The plunger includes a moving core made of magnetic material, and a nonmagnetic cup fit to the moving core. The cup integrally includes a cylindrical wall covering the outside wall of the moving core, and a bottom covering the lower end of the moving core. Air gap between the moving core and the container portion can be reduced by making the thickness of the cup as thin as possible. Thus, an attracting force for attracting the plunger without increasing winding number of the coil.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic valve device having a valve housing, a valve member slidably accommodated in the valve housing to control oil communications among ports formed in the valve housing, a spring biasing the valve member, a stopper retaining the spring and an electromagnetic drive member for generating, when energized, a driving force to displace the valve member against a biasing force of the spring, the valve housing is provided at an axial end with a small diameter portion whose wall thickness is thinner and the stopper is press fitted substantially to an inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion so that radially outward resilient deformation of the small diameter portion is larger than radially inward resilient deformation of the stopper.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator has a stator core, an armature and a coil. The stator core is formed as a seamless cylindrical tube having a thin wall as a magnetic restrictor. The thin wall has a thickness sufficient to maintain a mechanical strength of the stator core. A permanent magnet is located on an outside of the thin wall to generate a magnetic flux passing through the thin wall in the same direction as a magnetic flux generated by the coil. The thin wall is magnetically saturated with the magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet. When the coil is energized, a magnetic flux generated by the coil gets around the saturated thin wall and passes through the armature.

Abstract: Non-magnetic layers are formed on an inner circumferential wall of a housing portion 13 and an outer circumferential wall of a plunger 17, respectively. Assuming that the thickness of the non-magnetic layer of the housing portion is t0, the thickness of the non-magnetic layer of the plunger is t1, a magnetic gap formed in a radial direction between respective magnetic materials of the housing portion and the plunger which excludes the non-magnetic layers is d0, and an air gap formed in a radial direction between the non-magnetic layers when the plunger does not deviate from but remains coaxial with the housing portion is d1, the thickness are set so as to satisfy 40 &mgr;m≦t0+t1≦80 &mgr;m, d0≈100 &mgr;m. In addition, it is set such that the attracting portion becomes saturated magnetically when the value of electric current that is supplied to a coil increases to reach a predetermined value which falls between 40% or larger and 60% of smaller of a maximum value of the electric current.

Abstract: An accommodating base material and an attracting base material are coaxially arranged, and are resin-insert-molded, thereby forming a bobbin base material. Next, inner peripheries of the accommodating base material, attracting base material and bobbin base material are cut, so that the accommodating base material, attracting base material and bobbin base material have same inner diameters. As a result of the cut-forming process, an accommodating member, an attracting member and a bobbin are formed. After insert-molding, the accommodating base material, attracting base material and bobbin base material are cut to have the same inner diameters. Thus, the accommodating member and the attracting member are accurately coaxially formed.