Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, and a first memory. The intermediate transfer belt is positioned above of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main body casing. The drum frame includes a first end and a second end being apart from the first end in an up-down direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at the first end. The first memory is positioned at the second end.

Abstract: A medical tube is disclosed, which is configured to have an elongated implant inserted in the medical tube. The medical tube includes a tube having a proximal end opening where the tube is open at a proximal end of the tube. The tube can include a bent region where an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the tube is bent and where a bent state is maintained, and a connection portion which is provided near the proximal end opening and to which a puncture needle having a sharp needle tip at a distal end of the puncture needle is connected from a needle tip side.

Abstract: A medical tube is disclosed, which includes a tubular main body curved in a circular arc shape. The main body has a flat shape as a cross-sectional shape at a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. The main body has a flat shape including a minor axis and a major axis as a cross-sectional shape at the central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. The angle formed between the minor axis and a plane containing both a center point of the circular arc in the central portion and a center point of the cross-sectional shape with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body is an acute angle. The angle is preferably 20° to 60°. The medical tube thus configured is for use in treatment of a disorder in a pelvic organ, by indwelling an implant between a urethral lumen and a vaginal cavity.

Abstract: A puncture needle assembly is disclosed, which includes a puncture needle adapted to puncture biological tissue; and a connector adapted to connect an elongated body insertable in a living body to a needle tip section of the puncture needle, the connector having a dissecting section adapted to dissect biological tissue by moving in a direction opposite to a direction in which the puncture needle punctures the biological tissue. The puncture needle assembly further includes a connection mechanism capable of connecting the puncture needle and the connector to each other; and a rotation restricting mechanism adapted to restrict rotation about an axis of the connector in relation to the puncture needle.

Abstract: A puncture device is disclosed, which can include a puncture needle curved in an arc, turnably supported around an axis (J1) as a turning center, and having a needle tip which punctures a living body when the puncture needle is turned; a urethral insertion member having a urethral insertion portion of a linear shape which is inserted into the urethra; and a frame capable of connecting the puncture needle and the urethral insertion member to each other, the frame turnably supporting the puncture needle. When the puncture needle is turned, the needle tip of the puncture needle has a locus (plane f9), which is inclined by an inclination angle (?2) of 20 to 60 degrees with respect to a plane (f2) orthogonal to the urethral insertion portion.

Abstract: A medical tube is disclosed, which can include a main body in which a distal portion of a tubular proximal separable piece is detachably connected to a proximal portion of a tubular distal separable piece; and a state maintaining mechanism for maintaining a connected state of the distal separable piece and the proximal separable piece. In addition, the main body is inserted into a body starting from the distal separable piece side, and is disposed inside the body in a state in which a distal end and a proximal end thereof are exposed outside of the body. In addition, the state maintaining mechanism can include a string which is disposed inside the main body and interlocks the distal separable piece and the proximal separable piece, and the connected state can be released by cutting the string.

Abstract: A medical device is disclosed, which includes a urethral insertion member and a vaginal insertion member which are inserted into the urethra and the vagina positioned adjacent each other, respectively, with a biological tissue interposed therebetween, a puncture needle disposed for movement for passing the biological tissue between the urethra and the vagina, a supporting member which supports the puncture needle for movement and supports the urethral insertion member and the vaginal insertion member thereon, a dissection portion which dissects, when the puncture needle moves, the biological tissue in accordance with the movement, and a restriction mechanism which restricts the dissection portion such that the direction in which the dissection portion dissects the biological tissue is fixed with respect to the urethral insertion portion and the vaginal insertion portion.

Abstract: A method of placing an implant indwelling in a living body is disclosed. The method can include forming an insertion hole in the living body, the insertion hole extending from a living body surface and passing an obturator foramen on one side and an obturator foramen on the other side, the insertion hole having its end portion on the one side opened in the living body surface and its end portion on the other side closed in relation to the living body surface; inserting a medical tube that permits the implant to be inserted into the medical tube, prior to insertion of the implant; inserting the implant into the medical tube inserted in the insertion hole; and pulling the medical tube out of the insertion hole so that the implant is placed indwelling in the living body.

Abstract: A puncture apparatus includes a puncture member rotatable about a rotation center and having a needle tip which rotates together with the puncture member and is configured to puncture living body tissue. The puncture apparatus is also provided with at least one of: i) a vaginal-insertion member insertable into a vagina of a living body and including a vacuum area connected to a suction port; and ii) a urethra insertion member insertable into a urethra of the living body and including a vacuum area connected to a suction port. A cover covers the vacuum area so that the vacuum area does not contact and damage a vaginal wall of the vagina. The cover is movable relative to the vacuum area to expose the vacuum area.

Abstract: A puncture device is disclosed, which can include a puncture needle curved in an arc, turnably supported around an axis (J1) as a turning center, and having a needle tip which punctures a living body when the puncture needle is turned; a urethral insertion member having a urethral insertion portion of a linear shape which is inserted into the urethra; and a frame capable of connecting the puncture needle and the urethral insertion member to each other, the frame turnably supporting the puncture needle. When the puncture needle is turned, the needle tip of the puncture needle has a locus (plane f9), which is inclined by an inclination angle (?2) of 20 to 60 degrees with respect to a plane (f2) orthogonal to the urethral insertion portion.

Abstract: An insertion tool is disclosed, which includes a urethral insertion portion of a longitudinal shape configured to be inserted into a urethra, and a vaginal insertion portion of a longitudinal shape configured to be inserted into a vagina. A distal end portion of the vaginal insertion portion is inclined with respect to the urethral insertion portion in a direction in which the distal end portion of the vaginal insertion portion is spaced away from the urethral insertion portion.

Abstract: A medical tube is disclosed, which includes a tubular main body curved in a circular arc shape. The main body has a flat shape as a cross-sectional shape at a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. The main body has a flat shape including a minor axis and a major axis as a cross-sectional shape at the central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. The angle formed between the minor axis and a plane containing both a center point of the circular arc in the central portion and a center point of the cross-sectional shape with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body is an acute angle. The angle is preferably 20° to 60°. The medical tube thus configured is for use in treatment of a disorder in a pelvic organ, by indwelling an implant between a urethral lumen and a vaginal cavity.

Abstract: A medical tube is disclosed, which can include a main body in which a distal portion of a tubular proximal separable piece is detachably connected to a proximal portion of a tubular distal separable piece; and a state maintaining mechanism for maintaining a connected state of the distal separable piece and the proximal separable piece. In addition, the main body is inserted into a body starting from the distal separable piece side, and is disposed inside the body in a state in which a distal end and a proximal end thereof are exposed outside of the body. In addition, the state maintaining mechanism can include a string which is disposed inside the main body and interlocks the distal separable piece and the proximal separable piece, and the connected state can be released by cutting the string.

Abstract: An insertion tool is disclosed, which includes an elongate vaginal insertion portion configured to be inserted into a vagina; an elongate urethral insertion portion configured to be inserted into a urethra; and a supporting portion configured to support the vaginal insertion portion and the urethral insertion portion thereon. In a mounted state of the insertion tool in which the vaginal insertion portion is inserted in the vagina and the urethral insertion portion is inserted in the urethra, a puncture needle can puncture a vaginal wall from an outside of a body through a space defined by the vaginal insertion portion, the urethral insertion portion and the supporting portion.

Abstract: A medical device and method are disclosed to be used when indwelling a belt-shaped flexible implant into a living body. The medical device includes: an elongated puncture needle which, by piercing the living body, forms a primary insertion hole in the living body; and a sheath into and out of which the puncture needle can be inserted and removed and which, by passing through the primary insertion hole in an assembled state with the puncture needle inserted therein, makes the primary insertion hole into a secondary insertion hole so as to permit the implant to be inserted in and passed through the secondary insertion hole. The puncture needle has a puncture needle-side expanding section which, when forming the primary insertion hole, expands the primary insertion hole to the same degree as the width of the implant.

Abstract: A puncture needle assembly is disclosed, which includes a puncture needle adapted to puncture biological tissue; and a connector adapted to connect an elongated body insertable in a living body to a needle tip section of the puncture needle, the connector having a dissecting section adapted to dissect biological tissue by moving in a direction opposite to a direction in which the puncture needle punctures the biological tissue. The puncture needle assembly further includes a connection mechanism capable of connecting the puncture needle and the connector to each other; and a rotation restricting mechanism adapted to restrict rotation about an axis of the connector in relation to the puncture needle.

Abstract: A medical device is disclosed, which includes a urethral insertion member and a vaginal insertion member which are inserted into the urethra and the vagina positioned adjacent each other, respectively, with a biological tissue interposed therebetween, a puncture needle disposed for movement for passing the biological tissue between the urethra and the vagina, a supporting member which supports the puncture needle for movement and supports the urethral insertion member and the vaginal insertion member thereon, a dissection portion which dissects, when the puncture needle moves, the biological tissue in accordance with the movement, and a restriction mechanism which restricts the dissection portion such that the direction in which the dissection portion dissects the biological tissue is fixed with respect to the urethral insertion portion and the vaginal insertion portion.

Abstract: A puncture assembly is disclosed, which includes a sheath and an insertion portion. The sheath includes a main body to guide a sling, and a puncture portion disposed at a distal end of the main body, the puncture portion including a position-control portion at the distal end of the main body and a dissecting portion, wherein the puncture portion is configured to rotate in an extended curved line of the main body together with the main body to create a through hole from an outside a living body through obturator foramens of the living body. The insertion portion is configured to be inserted into a hollow lumen of the sheath and has an arcuate shape corresponding to a shape of the sheath.

Abstract: A puncture needle guiding device is disclosed, which can include a casing; an ultrasound transmission-reception unit which is disposed inside the casing and which transmits and receives ultrasound; and a guide groove which is provided in the casing and which guides a curved puncture needle adapted to puncture a subject body.

Abstract: A tube assembly is disclosed which includes an elongated medical tube and a medical elongated body insertable in the medical tube and higher than the medical tube in rigidity and which is used in an assembled state with the medical elongated body inserted in the medical tube to be assembled together. The tube assembly further includes a puncturing section adapted to puncture a living body; a dissecting section adapted to dissect the living body as the puncturing section punctures the living body; and a rotation restraining section adapted to restrain the medical tube from rotating about its axis in relation to the medical elongated body in the assembled state.