Abstract: A guide wire includes a distal core member made of a ferrous alloy which has shape memory properties and superelasticity. The ferrous alloy preferably includes substantially two phases, and has a difference of 100° C. or less between an Af point and an Ms point in a thermal hysteresis of martensitic transformation and reverse transformation. The guide wire may include a proximal core member made of an iron-containing alloy and having a higher modulus of elasticity than the distal core member. The two core members may be joined together by welding to form a core of the guide wire.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tubular structure is implemented by housing a tubular base, which has a side circumference surface formed in a bellows-like shape, in a polishing container, causing magnetic particles to flow along a circumferential direction of the tubular base due to action of magnetic poles, and supplying abrasive particles to the polishing container so that the abrasive particles flow along an axial direction of the tubular base, thereby polishing a surface of the tubular base. The method includes: a first polishing step of polishing an exposed surface of the tubular base by causing the magnetic particles and the abrasive particles to flow while an inner surface of the tubular base remains covered; and a second polishing step of polishing an exposed surface of the tubular base by causing the magnetic particles and the abrasive particles to flow while an outer surface of the tubular base remains covered.

Abstract: A guide wire includes a distal core member made of a ferrous alloy which has shape memory properties and superelasticity. The ferrous alloy preferably includes substantially two phases, and has a difference of 100° C. or less between an Af point and an Ms point in a thermal hysteresis of martensitic transformation and reverse transformation. The guide wire may include a proximal core member made of an iron-containing alloy and having a higher modulus of elasticity than the distal core member. The two core members may be joined together by welding to form a core of the guide wire.

Abstract: A Co-based alloy having a fundamental composition of Co—Al system containing 3-15% Al and having lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure ?-phase and ?(B2)-phase are superimposed on each other in layers, and the Co-based alloy is modified so as to have a porous surface layer region effective for chemical retaining capability, sustained release, biocompatibility, etc. through selective removal of either the ?-phase or the ?-phase from the surface layer. As a third component, at least one member selected from among Ni, Fe, Mn, Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be contained in a total amount of 0.001 to 60%.

Abstract: A Co-based alloy having a fundamental composition of Co—Al binary system containing 3-15% Al and having lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure ?-phase and ?(B2)-phase are superimposed on each other in layers, which Co-based alloy is modified so as to have a porous surface layer region effective for chemical retaining capability, sustained release, biocompatibility, etc. through selective removal of either the ?-phase or the ?-phase from the surface layer. As a third component, at least one member selected from among Ni, Fe, Mn, Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be contained in a total amount of 0.001 to 60%.

Abstract: An elastic metal strip 10 aligning the longitudinal direction with the rolling direction of a cold-rolled plate is collected and processed to a shape comprising a correction plate 16 with the longitudinal direction of the elastic metal 10 as the width direction of nail and a plurality of tongue strips 11 protruded from the edge of the correction plate 16 near the nail tip. The tongue strip 11 is folded and bent to form a hooked claw 17 with a double structure of a folding part 18 and a bending part 19. A nail tip 21 of a deformed nail 20 is inserted between the hooked claw 17 and the correction plate 16 to apply a restoring force of elasticity in the correction plate to the deformed nail 20 as correction ability for deformed nails. A wrought wire rod can be used instead of a cold-rolled plate and a Cu—Al—Mn type shape-memory alloy may further be used as a raw material.

Abstract: A balloon expandable superelastic stent is made of a Ti—Ni—Nb (the content of Nb being at least 3 at %) shape memory alloy. A shape recovery temperature of the stent is lower than a living body temperature in an unloaded state after shape memory treatment. The shape recovery temperature exceeds the living body temperature after the stent is mounted to a catheter and released from the catheter in a living body.

Abstract: A method for producing a reduced keratin solution, a powder of reduced keratin, a reduced cuticle protein dispersion, an aqueous medium dispersion containing reduced keratin and reduced cuticle protein, or a mixed powder of reduced keratin and reduced cuticle protein, comprising the extraction step of dipping and heating a keratin-containing substance in an aqueous medium containing a reducing agent and a surface active agent, without using a protein denaturing agent, such as urea, to extract the water-soluble component contained in the keratin-containing substance into the aqueous medium.

Abstract: A laser module includes a stem provided with a device mounting structure; a light emitting device mounted onto the stem by use of the device mounting structure a tubular cap fixed to the stem in the state of surrounding the light emitting diode and provided with an aperture through which to pass laser light emitted by the light emitting device; and a light transmitting plate fixed, by use of a bonding material, to an inside surface of the cap in the state of closing the aperture. An annular projection projecting to the inside of the cap in the optical axis direction of the laser light is provided at a peripheral edge part of the aperture of the cap, and the light transmitting plate is fixed to the inside surface of the cap inclusive of the projection by use of the bonding material.

Abstract: To provide a Ti—Ni—Nb alloy device which is a shape memory device excellent in response characteristics. The Ti—Ni—Nb alloy device is made of a Ti—Ni—Nb alloy which finishes transformation at a temperature lower than 10° C. after start of reverse transformation.

Abstract: To provide a stent which holds various performances such as deliverability, prevention of restenosis, flexible shape conformability, and so on and is therefore adaptable not only to a bile duct but also to a blood vessel system such as a tortuous coronary artery substantially without causing restenosis. A stent with an autonomic function is made of a Ti—Ni based shape memory alloy and has a maximum expanding force at a center portion in its lengthwise direction.

Abstract: A fluoropolymer comprising: (A) repeating unit derived from an S-sulfate monomer having an —S—SO3— group and carbon to carbon double bond; and (B) repeating unit derived from a fluoromonomer having a fluorine atom and carbon to carbon double bond. This fluoropolymer can be a constituent of water/oil repellent agent having excellent water/oil repelling capability, and is stable in air and permits an arbitrary control of crosslinking.

Abstract: A guide wire includes a distal core member made of a ferrous alloy which has shape memory properties and superelasticity. The ferrous alloy preferably includes substantially two phases, and has a difference of 100° C or less between an Af point and an Ms point in a thermal hysteresis of martensitic transformation and reverse transformation. The guide wire may include a proximal core member made of an iron-containing alloy and having a higher modulus of elasticity than the distal core member. The two core members may be joined together by welding to form a core of the guide wire.

Abstract: An optical power measuring apparatus for measuring a power level of an optical signal comprised of a light intensity modulated signal, received by a light receiving element is provided. In the apparatus, a first signal path including a first voltage detection circuit and a first amplifier circuit supplies a processor with a first signal having a voltage proportional to a current flowing through a light receiving element (PD), and a second path including a TIA, a DC detection circuit and a second amplifier circuit supply the processor with a second signal. The second signal corresponding to an envelope of a voltage from the TIA.

Abstract: An imaging device with a solid-states image sensor includes a recording/playback section that records a captured image signal on a recording medium and reads the recorded signal, a recording/playback control section that controls recording and playback operations of the recording/playback section, a monitor image processing section that generates a display image signal for monitor displaying on the basis of the captured image signal, a power supply section having power supply circuits for at least the above three sections, and a system control section that controls a power supply condition by selecting one of operation modes including a power save mode in which power is not supplied to the recording/playback section and the recording/playback control section performs minimum processing necessary for a recovery operation of the recording/playback section, while power is supplied to the monitor image processing section to generate the display image signal.

Abstract: To provide a method for simply and easily causing only IGSCC to initiate and grow in a specimen, which can retain corrosion resistance through passivation, under atmospheric pressure in a short time, an aqueous solution of potassium tetrathionate is brought into contact with the specimen capable of retaining corrosion resistance through passivation. The potassium tetrathionate concentration, temperature and pH value of the aqueous solution are from 0.3 to 6 wt. %, from 5 to 60° C., and from 3 to 6, respectively.

Abstract: A Co-based alloy being useful as a spiral spring, common spring, wire, cable guide, steel belt, build-up material, guide wire, stent, catheter, etc. There is provided a Co-based alloy having a composition of Co—Al binary system containing 3-13% Al loaded with at least one workability enhancing element selected from among 001 to 50% Ni, 0.01 to 40% Fe and 0.01 to 30% Mn and having a lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure ?-phase and ?(B2)-phase are repeated in layers. The lamellar structure is so regulated that the occupancy ratio of the whole structure is 30 vol. % or above and the layer spacing is 100 ?m or less. The Co-based alloy may contain at least one optional component selected from among Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be added in a total amount of 0.01 to 60%.

Abstract: An integrated optical device allowing for higher flexibility in designing its outer shape and securing hermetic sealing is provided, which includes a ceramic substrate mounting a light source, a covering member fixed to the substrate for covering the light source, and a resin mold package for attaching the substrate, wherein a metal joint portion on the substrate and a metal joint portion on the covering member are joined, as well as a through-hole in the substrate or in covering member is sealed with a transparent material for hermetic sealing of the light source.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element; a wiring board including a connection terminal to be electrically connected to the semiconductor element; and a metal plate disposed between the semiconductor element and the wiring board; wherein the metal plate is provided with an opening for exposing the connection terminal to the semiconductor element.

Abstract: An article of Ti-based shape memory alloy is made of a Ti-based alloy containing, by atomic percentage, 4 to 10 at % Mo, at least one of 3 to 10 at % Sn and 1 to 10 at % Sc, and the balance Ti and unavoidable impurities, or a Ti-based alloy containing 15 to 30 at % Nb, 1 or more at % Sc, and the balance Ti and unavoidable impurities.