Abstract: An inclined PET device is provided in which the cut plane of a detector ring upon which a plurality of PET detectors are disposed is inclined so that it does not intersect perpendicularly with the long axis of a bed that carries a subject to be examined and in which an open space that passes through the bed in a direction perpendicular to the long axis thereof is formed, in order to enable access to the subject to be examined. The PET detectors are disposed and stacked in a direction parallel to the long axis of the bed. Thereby, the number of PET detectors is reduced and device cost is reduced, while the detector ring as well as the device can be miniaturized. At the same time, the open space that passes through the bed in a direction perpendicular to the long axis can be preserved.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming a complex comprising an analyte (or an analyte analogue) from a blood-derived sample and labeling substances, and separating the complex from excess labeling substances and coexisting substances from the blood-derived sample, in a rapid, simple, convenient, and highly precise isotachophoresis (ITP) process by adding 2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonate (MES) salt and/or glutamate salt to the ITP sample. Methods are also provided for measuring the analyte in blood-derived samples with high precision and high sensitivity, based on the amount of the complex separated or the amount of uncomplexed labeling substance-containing molecules.

Abstract: A reagent container having a plurality of open holding sections, each holding a reagent and into which a probe is inserted to suck the reagent. An opening of each of the holding sections is sealed with at least one sheet-like seal member. The reagent container includes a container body and a lid having a plurality of hollow piercing sections, formed on a lower surface of the lid, protruding downward for piercing the seal member at each of the openings, and openings, formed in an upper surface of the lid, communicating with piercing sections respectively to allow the probe to be inserted therethrough or withdrawn therefrom.

Abstract: In the integrated PET/MRI scanner provided with an RF coil for MRI and a plurality of PET detectors in the measuring port of the MRI scanner, the PET detectors are disposed with spaces therebetween and at least the transmitting coil elements of the RF coil for MRI are disposed between adjacent PET detectors. Here, the PET detectors are disposed in the circumferential direction of the measuring port with spaces therebetween and the transmitting coil elements are disposed in the axial direction of the measuring port. Alternatively, at least some of the PET detectors are disposed in the axial direction of the measuring port with spaces therebetween and the transmitting coil elements are disposed between adjacent PET detectors. The PET detectors can be DOI-type detectors capable of detecting position in the depth direction.

Abstract: A three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector is provided which has a three-dimensional array of photodetectors disposed on the surface of a scintillator block and which is capable of three-dimensionally identifying the position of light emission at which radiation has been detected within the detector. The three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector includes: a scintillator block including a central portion which restricts the direction of diffusion of light so as to direct the light in three axial directions and which has an optically discontinuous region, and an outer portion which is disposed on the outside of the central portion and which does not restrict the direction of diffusion of light; and photodetectors disposed on at least two outer circumferential surfaces of the scintillator block.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a first RF tag which performs communication using electromagnetic waves in a first frequency band; a second RF tag which performs communication using electromagnetic waves in a second frequency band different from those in the first frequency band; a storage unit having a shared area accessible from the respective RF tags; and a power controller which generates power for driving the first RF tag and the storage unit using the first frequency band electromagnetic waves and supplies the generated power to the first RF tag and the storage unit, and which generates power for driving the second RF tag and the storage unit using the second frequency band electromagnetic waves and supplies the generated power to the second RF tag and the storage unit.

Abstract: A checkout system performs checkout of articles. The checkout system includes an LCD touch screen 11 for specifying a second article different from a first article having data on the article registered as first article data, a barcode scanner 12 for recognizing a presented article which is the first article presented, and a control unit 314 that determines whether the presented article specified as the second article by the LCD touch screen 11 is not the second article.

Abstract: Measuring apparatus comprises a rotating plate 17, a torque detection plate 18 disposed on a same axis parallel to the plate 17 with a given gap, a torque sensor about the plate 18 through the specimen held between two plates. The plate 18 is a total reflection prism which is made from a material that has a greater refractive index than the specimen and transmits UV and infrared light. An ultraviolet beam is directed onto the specimen through the prism. An infrared beam is directed into the prism. The infrared beam emerging from the prism after total reflection from the interface between the prism and the specimen is detected. A signal processor analyzes the infrared absorption spectrum of the specimen on the basis of the infrared beam. While the viscosity of the specimen in the curing process is measured, the signal processor simultaneously measures the infrared absorption spectrum.

Abstract: A Ni-free stainless steel product excellent in workability and corrosion resistance and a method for manufacturing such stainless steel product. A ferritic stainless steel product containing 18 to 24% by mass of Cr and 0 to 4% by mass of Mo is brought into contact with an inert gas containing a nitrogen gas at 800 degrees C. or above to subject it to nitrogen absorption treatment so that the product is austenitized partially or wholly to obtain such nickel-free product.

Abstract: Problems to be Solved There is provided a method for separating the complex containing the analyte (or the analogue) in the blood-derived sample and the labeling substances, etc., and coexisting substances in a blood-derived sample, rapidly, simply and conveniently and in high precision by a isotachophoresis (ITP); and a measuring method for the analyte in said sample in high precision and in high sensitivity, based on amount of the complex separated or amount of the free labeling substance-containing molecules, which were not involved in formation of said complex.

Abstract: A reagent container having a plurality of open holding sections, each holding a reagent and into which a probe is inserted to suck the reagent. An opening of each of the holding sections is sealed with at least one sheet-like seal member. The reagent container includes a container body and a lid having a plurality of hollow piercing sections, formed on a lower surface of the lid, protruding downward for piercing the seal member at each of the openings, and openings, formed in an upper surface of the lid, communicating with piercing sections respectively to allow the probe to be inserted therethrough or withdrawn therefrom.

Abstract: A numerical control device includes a storage unit that stores therein attached tool information; a creating unit that creates, in controlling a processing device by using a processing program, tool-use-information; a comparing unit that compares, before controlling the processing device by using the processing program, the tool-use-information with the attached tool information, and extracts difference in the tool and the tool holder as differential information; and a setup-instruction creating unit creates setup-instruction information for instructing a setup operation for attaching a tool to a tool holder of the processing device based on the differential information, and outputs the setup-instruction information to an external device.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a first RF tag which performs communication using electromagnetic waves in a first frequency band; a second RF tag which performs communication using electromagnetic waves in a second frequency band different from those in the first frequency band; a storage unit having a shared area accessible from the respective RF tags; and a power controller which generates power for driving the first RF tag and the storage unit using the first frequency band electromagnetic waves and supplies the generated power to the first RF tag and the storage unit, and which generates power for driving the second RF tag and the storage unit using the second frequency band electromagnetic waves and supplies the generated power to the second RF tag and the storage unit.

Abstract: To enable reuse of expensive microchips in a clinical analysis apparatus, while constantly and efficiently obtaining accurate analysis results. A clinical apparatus employs microchips to analyze substances, which are contained in samples and are targets of measurement. The clinical analysis apparatus is equipped with: a stocking section; a dispensing mechanism, for dispensing reagents stocked in the stocking section and samples to the microchips; and a measuring section, for measuring the measurement target substance within the samples. The measuring section includes: a dispensing station, at which the microchips are provided; a detecting station, for detecting the measurement target substance; and a cleansing station, at which microchips are cleansed following detection of the measurement target substance. The dispensing station, the detecting station, and the cleansing station are provided at a predetermined pitch from upstream to downstream positions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes a housing, formed of a polyamide-series thermoplastic resin, and a semiconductor package sealed in the housing, which is formed of a thermosetting epoxy resin. The surface of the package is modified by UV-irradiation to have adhesive properties to polyamide. A plurality of connector terminals extend from the package and housing in parallel. A portion of the terminals is also sealed in the housing together with the package. Thus, the device is easily produced by insert molding and has excellent moisture resistance.

Abstract: A checkout system performs checkout of articles. The checkout system includes an LCD touch screen 11 for specifying a second article different from a first article having data on the article registered as first article data, a barcode scanner 12 for recognizing a presented article which is the first article presented, and a control unit 314 that determines whether the presented article specified as the second article by the LCD touch screen 11 is not the second article.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes a housing, formed of a polyamide-series thermoplastic resin, and a semiconductor package sealed in the housing, which is formed of a thermosetting epoxy resin. The surface of the package is modified by UV-irradiation to have adhesive properties to polyamide. A plurality of connector terminals extend from the package and housing in parallel. A portion of the terminals is also sealed in the housing together with the package. Thus, the device is easily produced by insert molding and has excellent moisture resistance.

Abstract: A plurality of bar-code candidate areas are calculated from scan data that is acquired by scanning a bar code. Feature data, which represents a specific feature, is calculated for each of the bar-code candidate areas. The bar-code candidate areas are evaluated based on their feature data to thereby determine a bar-code candidate area that has the highest probability of being a bar code. The specific feature includes any one or more of length of a differential waveform, average energy, and number of peaks in the differential waveform.

Abstract: A thin-film slicer is disclosed that comprises a base; a sample holder; a cutting blade; and a feeder, wherein the sample holder and the cutting blade are placed at predetermined angles with respect to the base; the sample holder sandwiches the sample surfaces of the thin film at a portion other than a portion to be cut; the cutting blade is provided movably in a straight line in a direction that forms the predetermined angle with respect to the direction of the sample surfaces of the thin film, and cuts the thin film held by the sample holder from a sample-surface side; and the feeder feeds the cutting blade in a straight line in the direction that forms the predetermined angle with respect to the sample surfaces of the thin film held by the sample holder.

Abstract: A bar code reader includes a first circuit board on which a photodiode, which receives light reflected from a bar code, is installed and a second circuit board on which a processing unit that processes a signal output from the photodiode. The position at which the first circuit board is placed can be decided irrespective of the position at which the second circuit board is placed. The first circuit board is placed at a position that is most suitable for receiving light reflected from the bar code.