Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a connection member of a shaft or weight connected to an element end surface of the piezoelectric element, the other one of the shaft and weight connected to a first end surface constituting an end surface opposing to the element end surface of the piezoelectric element, a wiring portion, and a resin portion. The piezoelectric element forms external electrodes on surfaces thereof, alternately laminates internal electrode layers with piezoelectric layers therebetween, and provides part of the external electrodes on the element end surface. The wiring portion has conductive portions corresponding to the external electrodes. The resin portion fixes the piezoelectric element, the connection member, and the wiring portion so that the element end surface opposes to the connection member with the wiring portion therebetween and that the conductive portions are electrically connected to the external electrodes.

Abstract: In object to provide a unit of piezoelectric element having a preferable bending strength and preferably used as a part of a driving unit, a unit of piezoelectric element comprising: a multilayer piezoelectric element, having internal electrodes laminated having a piezoelectric body layer in-between and a pair of external electrodes formed on side surfaces extending along laminating direction and electrically connected to the internal electrodes, a wiring part connected to the external electrodes via a solder part, wherein a solder is solidified, a resin part, joining one end surface in the laminating direction of the multilayer piezoelectric element and a mounting surface of a connection member placed to face the one end surface, wherein the resin part is continuous from the one end surface and the mounting surface to the solder part; and the resin part covers the solder part, is provided.

Abstract: There are provided a light source device, which is more compact and inexpensive than a known light source device, and an endoscope system having a compact and inexpensive light source device. In a light source device, a light source unit includes a first light source that emits blue light, a second light source that emits broadband green light including not only a green component but also a red component, and an optical filter that adjusts the amount of broadband green light for each wavelength. The optical filter has a characteristic in which the reflectance of the green component is smaller than the reflectance of the red component in the case of reflecting the broadband green light or a characteristic in which the transmittance of the green component is smaller than the transmittance of the red component in the case of transmitting the broadband green light.

Abstract: A band limiter comprises an optical filter, which has first and second filter sections, and a filter moving mechanism for moving the optical filter to place the first or second filter section in a light path of blue light. A passband where transmittance of the first filter section is greater than or equal to half a peak value thereof is defined as a first transmission band. The first transmission band includes a peak wavelength, at which an absorption coefficient of hemoglobin is at its peak. A passband where transmittance of the second filter section is greater than or equal to half a peak value thereof is defined as a second transmission band. The second transmission band does not include an isosbestic wavelength (in the order of 450 nm), at which an absorption coefficient of oxyhemoglobin equals or crosses an absorption coefficient of deoxyhemoglobin.

Abstract: A band limiter comprises an optical filter, which has first and second filter sections, and a filter moving mechanism for moving the optical filter. The first filter section reduces intensity of blue light, which is emitted from a B-LED, in a wavelength range of greater than or equal to a peak wavelength of the blue light to generate first blue light. The second filter section reduces intensity of the blue light in a wavelength range of less than or equal to the peak wavelength of the blue light to generate second blue light. A light source controller places the first filter section in a light path of the blue light in a normal mode to generate the first blue light, and places the second filter section in the light path of the blue light in an oxygen saturation mode to generate the second blue light.

Abstract: A fluorescent type of green light source of a semiconductor in a light source apparatus for an endoscope includes a blue excitation light source device and green emitting phosphor. The blue excitation light source device emits blue excitation light. The green emitting phosphor is excited by the blue excitation light, and emits green fluorescence. A dichroic filter in a dichroic mirror cuts off the blue excitation light from an emission spectrum of mixed light of the blue excitation light and green fluorescence from the fluorescent type of green light source. Thus, illumination light with the emission spectrum of a target can be stably supplied without influence of the blue excitation light to a light amount of blue light from a blue light source of a semiconductor.

Abstract: Provided are an endoscope system and a method of operating the same capable of assisting in capturing an image defined by guidelines. In order to obtain a reference-equivalent image equivalent to a predetermined reference image for each examination region, an examination image is acquired by imaging an examination region. An at-examination imaging condition acquisition unit acquires an at-examination imaging condition obtained at an acquisition timing of an examination image. A still image saving request signal output unit outputs a still image saving request signal for requesting saving of a still image of the examination image in a case where an at-examination imaging condition satisfies a reference imaging condition for obtaining a predetermined reference image for each examination region.

Abstract: The separation between an ion concentration measuring time period and an information read/write time period is not considered in existing devices. Therefore, in the present invention, the time period for retrieving information from a semiconductor memory mounted in a cartridge and the time period for measuring the concentration of ions are controlled so as not to overlap each other.

Abstract: Cleansing composition comprising the following components (A), (B), and (C): (A) 0.02% by mass or larger and 10% by mass or smaller of a polymer comprising 85 to 100% by mass as constitutional units of a1: a constitutional unit represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 each represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and optionally having a hydroxy group, or a hydrogen atom, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and a2: a constitutional unit represented by the formula (2): wherein R4 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; (B) 0.5% by mass or larger and 40% by mass or smaller of an anionic surfactant; and (C) water.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a light source unit, a band limiting unit, a light source control unit, an imaging sensor, an imaging control unit, and an oxygen saturation image generation unit. The light source unit includes a V-LED that emits violet light, a B-LED that emits blue light, a G-LED that emits green light, and an R-LED that emits red light. The band limiting unit generates measurement light having a specific wavelength band for measuring the oxygen saturation from the blue light. The light source control unit switches the control of the light source unit between a first light emission mode, in which the observation target is irradiated with the violet light, the measurement light, the green light, and the red light, and a second light emission mode, in which the observation target is irradiated with the measurement light.

Abstract: There are provided a light source device, which is more compact and inexpensive than a known light source device, and an endoscope system having a compact and inexpensive light source device. In a light source device, a light source unit includes a first light source that emits blue light, a second light source that emits broadband green light including not only a green component but also a red component, and an optical filter that adjusts the amount of broadband green light for each wavelength. The optical filter has a characteristic in which the reflectance of the green component is smaller than the reflectance of the red component in the case of reflecting the broadband green light or a characteristic in which the transmittance of the green component is smaller than the transmittance of the red component in the case of transmitting the broadband green light.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprising an image signal acquisition unit acquiring an image signal by imaging a subject, and an irregularity image generation unit generating an irregularity image by extracting information of irregularities on the subject, the irregularity image generation unit includes a microstructure image generation section generating a microstructure image as the irregularity image by extracting a microstructure of a body tissue surface layer from the image signal, the image signal including image signals of a plurality of colors having information of different wavelength components, the microstructure image generation section includes a first brightness signal generation section generating a brightness signal showing an average brightness of the subject based on the image signals of the plurality of colors, and a first image generation section generating the microstructure image by extracting a pixel region, in which a pixel value exceeds a fixed threshold value, of the brightness signal as a mic

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a connection member of a shaft or weight connected to an element end surface of the piezoelectric element, the other one of the shaft and weight connected to a first end surface constituting an end surface opposing to the element end surface of the piezoelectric element, a wiring portion, and a resin portion. The piezoelectric element forms external electrodes on surfaces thereof, alternately laminates internal electrode layers with piezoelectric layers therebetween, and provides part of the external electrodes on the element end surface. The wiring portion has conductive portions corresponding to the external electrodes. The resin portion fixes the piezoelectric element, the connection member, and the wiring portion so that the element end surface opposes to the connection member with the wiring portion therebetween and that the conductive portions are electrically connected to the external electrodes.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element unit comprises an element body having internal electrodes laminated with piezoelectric layers therebetween and a pair of external electrodes electrically connected to the internal electrodes and an electric connection part for connecting a wiring part to the external electrodes. The electric connection part is composed of a conductive resin adhesive part and the conductive resin adhesive part is covered by a resin part.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element unit comprises an element body having an active part and an inactive part; and a first resin part bonding one end surface in the laminating direction of the element body to a mounting surface of a joint member placed to face the one end surface. The first resin part covers the mounting surface up to an outer side surface of the element body corresponding to an interface between the active part and the inactive part, a second resin part covers an outer surface of the first resin part covering the outer side surface of the element body at a position corresponding to the interface between the active part and the inactive part, and the second resin part also integrally covers the outer side surface of the element body corresponding to the active part.

Abstract: In object to provide a unit of piezoelectric element having a preferable bending strength and preferably used as a part of a driving unit, a unit of piezoelectric element comprising: a multilayer piezoelectric element, having internal electrodes laminated having a piezoelectric body layer in-between and a pair of external electrodes formed on side surfaces extending along laminating direction and electrically connected to the internal electrodes, a wiring part connected to the external electrodes via a solder part, wherein a solder is solidified, a resin part, joining one end surface in the laminating direction of the multilayer piezoelectric element and a mounting surface of a connection member placed to face the one end surface, wherein the resin part is continuous from the one end surface and the mounting surface to the solder part; and the resin part covers the solder part, is provided.

Abstract: In object to provide a unit of piezoelectric element having a preferable bending strength and preferably used as a part of a driving unit, a unit of piezoelectric element comprising: a multilayer piezoelectric element, having internal electrodes laminated having a piezoelectric body layer in-between and a pair of external electrodes formed on side surfaces extending along laminating direction and electrically connected to the internal electrodes, a wiring part connected to the external electrodes via a solder part, wherein a solder is solidified, a resin part, joining one end surface in the laminating direction of the multilayer piezoelectric element and a mounting surface of a connection member placed to face the one end surface, wherein the resin part is continuous from the one end surface and the mounting surface to the solder part; and the resin part covers the solder part, is provided.

Abstract: A blue signal B, a green signal G, and a red signal R are obtained by imagining a subject illuminated with white light W using a color CCD 44. Based on these signals B, G, and R, a normal light image in which a wavelength component of a visible light region is included is generated. Based on the signals B, G, and R, a brightness signal I ((B+G+R)/3) showing the average brightness of the subject is generated. A pixel region exceeding the fixed threshold value Th1 of the brightness signal I is extracted as a superficial microstructure P, such as a pit pattern. A microstructure enhancement image 72 is generated by combining the normal light image with a superficial microstructure image 70 obtained by extracting the superficial microstructure P. The generated microstructure and blood vessel enhancement image 72 is displayed on a monitor 14.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for analyzing the characteristics of a biopolymer with excellent mechanical stability, high spatial resolution and sensitivity using a simple device construction. Specifically, the Raman scattered light of a biopolymer is measured and the properties of monomer units forming the biopolymer are analyzed by using a biopolymer property analysis chip (100a) characterized by comprising: a solid substrate (110); at least one nanopore (120) disposed in the solid substrate (110); and one or more electrically conductive thin films (130a, 130b) disposed on the solid substrate (110). The biopolymer property analysis chip (100a) is characterized in that the electrically conductive thin films (130a, 130b) are disposed partially on the solid substrate (110) where the nanopore (120) is formed and a biopolymer which has penetrated into the nanopore (120) is caused to generate Raman scattered light by means of irradiation with external light.