Abstract: A puncture assistance system provides information on a collapse state of a blood vessel to be punctured, caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe, when ultrasonic images of the blood vessel are acquired. A puncture assistance system 10 includes: vascular diameter detecting means 18 for detecting a vascular diameter during acquisition of the ultrasonic images from an ultrasonic diagnostic device 11; puncture assistance information generating means 12 for generating puncture assistance information for determination of whether or not puncture is allowed to be performed based on a collapse state of a blood vessel B caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe 15 against skin S by comparing a current vascular diameter detected by the vascular diameter detecting means 18 with a standard vascular diameter stored in advance; and a monitor 19 that presents the puncture assistance information.

Abstract: A puncture assistance system provides information on a collapse state of a blood vessel to be punctured, caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe, when ultrasonic images of the blood vessel are acquired. A puncture assistance system 10 includes: vascular diameter detecting means 18 for detecting a vascular diameter during acquisition of the ultrasonic images from an ultrasonic diagnostic device 11; puncture assistance information generating means 12 for generating puncture assistance information for determination of whether or not puncture is allowed to be performed based on a collapse state of a blood vessel B caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe 15 against skin S by comparing a current vascular diameter detected by the vascular diameter detecting means 18 with a standard vascular diameter stored in advance; and a monitor 19 that presents the puncture assistance information.

Abstract: An image completion system includes a first endoscope for obtaining an operating field image, a second endoscope for imaging the object space in a line-of-sight direction different from that of the first endoscope to obtain a completing image, a first device for measuring separating distances between a reference point and a large number of set points that are set in the object space, a second device for measuring three-dimensional positions of the endoscopes, and an image processing device for obtaining, image information on cutoff regions in the object space that are hidden on the depth sides of surgical instruments by imaging the surgical instruments in the operating field image together with the object space, and for replacing image information on the surgical instruments S in the operating field image with the obtained image information or superimposing the obtained image information onto the image information on the surgical instruments.

Abstract: [Problem] Provided is a gait training device allowing those who have lost muscle strength to support the upper bodies with severe gait disorder caused by accidents or operations etc. to perform gait training, producing good rehabilitation effect, and moving in a room without any difficulty. [Solution] The gait training device comprises a seat (1) set at the height allowing a user (R) to sit with his feet on the ground, a support member (2) to support said seat, and omnidirectional mobile members (3) attached to said support member (2).

Abstract: Sensing of the pressing force of a balloon against internal body tissues is made possible using the balloon inserted into a gap in the body and pressing the internal body tissues around that gap without inserting a sensor, or the like, separately into the gap. A sensing system comprises an surgical assist manipulator provided to be able to travel by a reaction produced while it pressure-displaces the internal body tissues, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of fluid used to operate the surgical assist manipulator, and a pressing force measuring device for determining a pressing force applied to the internal body tissues by the surgical assist manipulator based on the measurement by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A medical manipulator (10), comprising a plurality of manipulator formed bodies (14) to (18) longitudinally connected to each other so as be displaced relative to each other. The manipulator formed bodies (14) to (18) further comprise bases (20) and balloon bodies (21) installed on the bases (20) and providing pressing forces to structures in a living body. The balloon bodies (21) further comprise spaces (48) capable of storing normal saline solution supplied from a device body (12), and installed so that the pressing forces can be controlled by controlling internal pressures in the spaces (48). The manipulator (10) is so formed as to be autonomously moved forward in the living body by the control of the pressing force while the manipulator formed bodies (14) to (18) are displaced relative to each other by a reaction from the structures in the living body.

Abstract: A medical treatment apparatus capable of performing exact medical treatment is provided. The medical treatment apparatus includes detection means for detecting the condition of a human body to be treated, medical treatment means for treating said human body, and display means for displaying results of computing by computing means for computing a plan for said medical treatment on the basis of detection results from said detection means.

Abstract: A master-slave manipulator apparatus and a control method therefor, in which a movement which an operator does not intend is prevented, thereby reflecting the operator's intention accurately and correctly, includes a master manipulator for conducting an operation input therewith, a controller for processing the operation input, and a slave manipulator for operating upon drive instruction from the controller, wherein the master manipulator includes a plurality of force detectors, and the controller decides a driver shaft, by comparing an output from a pattern producing means for producing a generation pattern of the outputs of the plurality of force detectors to a pattern stored in a memory means in advance, thereby removing the operation input which is caused unconsciously in the operation input of the master manipulator.

Abstract: A surgical operating apparatus which reduces an adverse influence caused by a diseased portion of a patient while a surgical operation is carried out by the surgical operating apparatus. The surgical operating apparatus includes a disease portion tissue manipulator for treating a treating subject portion of the patient in response to an entered control command, a manipulation inputting unit for inputting a manipulation command to the disease portion manipulating means, and a detector for detecting a repeated movement of a diseased portion of said patient. The surgical operating apparatus adjusts the movement of the disease portion manipulator in response to the detection output from the detector.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for automatically and dynamically changing the constitution of a system and the operation of respective elements. The surgical apparatus includes a plurality of devices respectively, a supervisory controller having a transmission path among the plurality of devices for supervisorily controlling the devices and an operational procedure description store for storing an operational procedure description describing operational procedures of the plurality of devices in which the supervisory controller includes a detector for detecting constitutions of the devices and for transmitting the operational procedure description necessary for the devices detected by the detector to the respective devices via the transmission path.

Abstract: A surgical operating apparatus capable of a high-precision surgical operation while observing a detailed image of an affected part to be subjected to surgical operation and capable of observing a related location of the affected part under surgical operation by means of an image obtained the imaging of a wider range is provided with an operating table provided in an area made an object of measurement by an MRI apparatus so that a surgical operation can be performed by operating an operating manipulator by an operation input device while monitoring a local image from an endoscope and/or a ultrasonic scanner and the observation of a range in the neighborhood of the affected part and wider than an observing area of the endoscope is enabled by the MRI apparatus under surgical operation, thereby providing a high-security surgical operating apparatus.

Abstract: A remote surgery supporting system and a method thereof produces a presentation of realism control data generated by realism control data generating means 101 from image data obtained from work environment data detecting means 104 and measurement data processing means 118 and from force and proximity data. While viewing this presentation, the surgical operator inputs actions through action command inputting means 114 and thereafter, diseased tissue manipulating means 102 executes a procedure on diseased part 125. The manipulation force of each surgical operator received from manipulation command generating means 103 and force reflection from the diseased part 125 are combined and presented to the action command inputting means 114. Thereby, a plurality of surgical operators can perform a surgerical operation while viewing the realism control data and sensing the manipulation force of other surgical operators and the force reflection from the diseased part.

Abstract: In processing topographical information necessary for the traveling of a robot or the like furnished with an automatic traveling function; topography is predicted from the topographical information previously given, so as to prepare a predictive image, a difference image between the predictive image and an actual image caught by a television camera installed on the robot or the like is obtained, and the obtained result if used for correcting the topographical information previously given.

Abstract: A gripping device for gripping an outer peripheral edge of an object to be grasped such as, for example, a semiconductor wafer, with the gripping device including a base, gripping members for gripping the object to be grasped, elastic members disposed between the base and the grip members so as to urge the respective grip members in an opening or closing direction. A driver for the grip members is provided, with the driver being fashioned as a linear or flat shape memory alloy member which is connected across the grip members.

Abstract: Tactile sensing apparatus for detecting a tactile sense with an object to-be-handled, comprising a plurality of pressure sensing devices, a processor which processes outputs of the pressure sensing devices, and a touch device which contacts with the respective pressure sensing devices in common, whereby information items on a pressure sense, a viscosity sense and a slip sense are simultaneously detected with the outputs of the pressure sensing devices which vary depending upon a direction and a magnitude of a force acting on the touch device.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus for guiding a mobile system along a predetermined path, an image obtained by measuring an actual environment is compared with a predicted image stored in advance, and a guidance signal is delivered to the mobile system on the basis of the comparison of the images.

Abstract: In a control apparatus for a multi-jointed arm mechanism having a plurality of arm elements in order to enhance the operating speed of each arm element, a true control error between a fore end of the arm element and a target position therefor, resulting from a movement of the arm element, and a predicted control error thereof have their difference evaluated, and the arm element is controlled so as to make the difference zero.

Abstract: An actuator including a plurality of shape memory materials used as a drive source. The plurality of the shape memory materials being arranged in parallel between a stationary member and a movable member so as to enable the actuator to operate at high speed.

Abstract: A picture processing apparatus for use in recognizing an ambient environment as a picture in accordance with the invention, includes a picture input for receiving a distorted picture of a wide angle of view, a picture processing unit which corrects the distorted picture of the wide angle of view from the picture input into an undistorted picture of the wide angle of view, and a display for displaying the undistorted picture of the wide angle of view produced by the picture processing unit.

Abstract: A line by image signal in a facsimile transmission is transmitted at a random time interval. A minimum time interval (highest record speed) is determined by a transmission ability of a transmission line. A paper feed drive motor requires a considerable time to accelerate from a stop state to the highest record speed. The image signal transmitted during the acceleration time is stored in a memory to prevent an error in the recording and the paper feed drive motor is controlled by a speed pattern determined by the number of lines stored in the memory. Thus, a response ability of the drive motor is compensated and a high response is attained. The memory needs only a capacity sufficient to store the data before the highest record speed is reached.