Abstract: Preventing blood flow artifacts from being increased in an imaging plane allows reduction of the blood flow artifacts in the cross section subsequently excited. In the imaging using a spin-echo (SE) pulse sequence, an excitation width of a 90° pulse is extended from an imaging plane to one side. This one side indicates a downstream side of the blood flow with respect to a vessel of interest. In imaging multiple slices, the order of measuring the multiple imaging slices is set along the direction in which the width is extended.

Abstract: A polyimide precursor having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1):

Abstract: In contrast-enhanced MRI, a visualization capability of a tissue which a contrast agent reaches is increased, and overall imaging time is shortened. An imaging unit of an MRI apparatus includes a gradient echo pulse sequence for acquiring a T1 weighted image including a fat saturation pulse, and a control unit performs control to generate images of a plurality of phases having different arrival positions of a contrast agent by repeating the pulse sequence for a predetermined time from administration of the contrast agent to the subject by the imaging unit. At this time, a preparation pulse that suppresses a signal from a contrast agent present outside a target tissue (cell) is added prior to a pulse sequence, in a phase immediately before reaching the target tissue.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus captures a morphology image and a function image that are captured with respect to an equal imaging region of an object under examination. Processing for deforming the morphology image is performed using a deformation parameter and moving positions of structural objects included in the morphology image to respective positions of structural objects of a previously determined standard morphology. Then, the function image is deformed using a value of the deformation parameter used in deforming the morphology image to cause a position of a region included in the function image to coincide with a position of a corresponding region of the standard morphology or by using the standard morphology in an opposite direction using the value of the deformation parameter to cause a position of a region of the structural object thereof to coincide with a position of a corresponding region included in the function image.

Abstract: In order to reduce inaccuracy of a hemodynamic visualization image acquired when a blood flow is labeled before blood flow visualization imaging, an MRI apparatus uses a blood flow velocity to control pulse sequences including a sequence of applying a high-frequency pulse for labeling the blood flow and imaging the subsequent blood flow or display of the hemodynamic visualization image. For example, the blood flow velocity is used for controlling application positions of one or more high-frequency pulses from among a plurality of the high-frequency pulses for labeling. The MRI apparatus controls time between labeling the blood flow and starting imaging and/or the application positions of high-frequency pulses for labeling the blood flow. A threshold value for color display of a blood flow visualization image is controlled.

Abstract: In the non-contrast 3D angiography, degradation of image quality caused by change of the cardiac cycle and degradation of image quality depending on the blood flow direction are prevented to provide an MRA image of favorable image quality, which is useful for diagnosis. A pulse sequence of the multi echo type for performing sampling of three-dimensional k-space data in a circular or elliptical shape is employed as the imaging sequence, and gated imaging based on body motion information is performed. Heart rate is monitored during the imaging, delay time DT from a gating signal and data acquisition time AT determined according to the cardiac cycle are calculated, and according to these imaging parameters, sampling trajectory and echo train number of the circular sampling are controlled.

Abstract: There is provided an MRI apparatus and a blood vessel image capturing method capable of improving the separability of an artery and a vein. In order to do so, using an imaging sequence obtained by combining a first sequence portion for measuring a first echo signal used for acquisition of a blood vessel image of a desired region of an object with a second sequence portion for measuring a second echo signal used for acquisition of blood flow information of the object, the object is imaged by one examination scan. In addition, blood flow information is acquired using the second echo signal, and at least one of an artery and a vein is extracted in an image, which is reconstructed using the first echo signal, using the acquired blood flow information.

Abstract: In the non-contrast 3D angiography, degradation of image quality caused by change of the cardiac cycle and degradation of image quality depending on the blood flow direction are prevented to provide an MRA image of favorable image quality, which is useful for diagnosis. A pulse sequence of the multi echo type for performing sampling of three-dimensional k-space data in a circular or elliptical shape is employed as the imaging sequence, and gated imaging based on body motion information is performed. Heart rate is monitored during the imaging, delay time DT from a gating signal and data acquisition time AT determined according to the cardiac cycle are calculated, and according to these imaging parameters, sampling trajectory and echo train number of the circular sampling are controlled.

Abstract: In order to acquire a non-contrast MRA image in which blurring of the blood vessel is suppressed to improve the visualization ability even if there is an influence of T2 attenuation in echo data, the imaging sequence for measuring the echo data along the measurement trajectories non-parallel to two directions perpendicular to the readout direction in the three-dimensional K space is executed in synchronization with the periodic body motion information of an object. In this case, the repetition time (TR) of the imaging sequence is set to be a plurality of periods of the periodic body motion information.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing an optical fiber having a core portion for waveguiding lights, and a plurality of holes arranged around the core portion, the optical fiber is manufactured by puncturing the holes in a glass rod that is to become the optical fiber, by using an ultrasonic drill, and then drawing the glass rod with the holes to form the optical fiber.

Abstract: A submarine, optical-fiber cable having a central metal wire, a slotted rod surrounding the wires, an absorbent sheath surrounding the slotted rod, a plurality of strength members helically wound around the absorbent sheath, a metal jacket surrounding the strength members, and a plastic sheath surrounding the metal jacket. The slotted rod includes peripheral helical slots, and each of the slots may receive at least one optical fiber or at least one optical ribbon. The optical ribbon includes at least two optical fibers. Each of the optical fibers has a tensile strain ranging from about 0.015 to 0.3% along its axis. The absorbent sheath includes a layer surrounding and contacting the slotted rod for absorbing water. The cable is suitable for operating in deep sea beds for a long period of time, for laying and recovering cables, and for quick repair. Modulated strain distribution in the optical fibers suppresses stimulated Brillouin scattering therein.

Abstract: In an auxiliary power unit for a vehicle which comprises a plug to be connected to a cigarette lighter socket provided on the vehicle, and sockets electrically connected to the plug to provide power sources for electrical devices on the vehicle. An overcurrent protective switch is turned off to interrupt the path of current to the sockets when overcurrent flows through the sockets, and a thermally operated member provided for each socket detects the temperature of the socket. When the temperature thus detected exceeds a predetermined upper limit value, the thermally operated member shunts the path of current from the socket, thereby to cause the overcurrent protective switch to operate.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a hermetically coated optical fiber having a single reaction chamber into which a fare fiber and raw gas are to be introduced for applying a hermetic coating to the bare fiber while the bare fiber passes through the reaction chamber is characterized by that the reaction chamber has a plurality of inlet tubes to introduce the raw gas, and the plurality of inlet tubes open to the reaction chamber at different positions from each other in a direction of movement of the bare fiber passing through said reaction chamber.

Abstract: A hermetic coated optical fiber is produced by preparing a bare optical fiber by melting and drawing an optical fiber preform in a fiber drawing furnace and introducing the bare optical fiber in a reactor in which a raw material gas is introduced and forming a hermetic coating film around a surface of the bare optical fiber by a chemical vapor deposition method or pyrolysis in the reactor, wherein a part of an inert gas for purging the fiber drawing furnace which has been heated by a heater equipped in the furnace is exhausted and a rest of the inert gas is introduced in the reactor for diluting the raw material gas.

Abstract: A hermetically coated optical fiber comprising a core made of glass, a cladding made of quartz glass surrounding the core the outermost layer of which glass contains fluorine, and a carbon layer surrounding the fluorine-containing glass layer, which optical fiber has good initial strength and fatigue characteristics.

Abstract: A hermetic coated optical fiber is produced by preparing a bare optical fiber by melting and drawing an optical fiber preform in a fiber drawing furnace and introducing the bare optical fiber in a reactor in which a raw material gas is introduced and forming a hermetic coating film around a surface of the bare optical fiber by a chemical vapor deposition method or pyrolysis in the reactor, wherein a part of an inert gas for purging the fiber drawing furnace which has been heated by a heater equipped in the furnace is exhausted and a rest of the inert gas is introduced in the reactor for diluting the raw material gas.

Abstract: A hermetically coated optical fiber comprising a core made of glass, a cladding made of quartz glass surrounding the core the outermost layer of which glass contains fluorine, and a carbon layer surrounding the fluorine-containing glass layer, which optical fiber has good initial strength and fatigue characteristics.

Abstract: An optical cable has a center member, around which a plurality of coated optical fibers are tightly stranded. Each optical fiber is given uneven strains in its longitudinal direction. Adhesive resin is applied to surround each of the coated optical fibers and binds each of them to the center member to make an integral optical unit when cured.

Abstract: A submarine optical fiber cable includes inner and outer dams at suitable intervals for limiting water flow in the cable. The outer dams are formed in a space between inner and outer metal tubes of a pressure resisting sheath of the cable, and the inner dams are formed in the inner tube in which an optical fiber unit is enclosed. Each dam is made of a sticky compound or a jelly of plastics resin which is loaded at the dam position. The cable is also provided with a scale which represents distance from one end of the cable.