Abstract: A thermal formation sintering compound containing a binder, a sinterable powder material and a pore formation material, for formation into a predetermined shape in a thermal formation step, removal of the binder in a degreasing step, and sintering of the powder material in a sintering step is provided. The binder contains a low-temperature draining component which melts in the thermal formation step, begins draining at a temperature lower than a draining temperature of the pore formation material, and drains at a temperature lower than a temperature at which the pore formation material drains; and a high-temperature draining component which melts in the thermal formation step, begins draining after the pore formation material begins draining, and drains at a temperature higher than does the pore formation material.

Abstract: A method of making a porous sintered body includes a formation step S102 where a sintering compound which contains a binder and a sinterable powder material is into a predetermined shape; a degreasing steps S103, S104 and S105 where the binder is removed from a formed body obtained in the formation step; and a sintering step S108 where a degreased body after the degreasing step is sintered into a sintered body. The binder contains a component which drains at a temperature higher than a draining temperature of the pore formation material drains. The pore formation material is drained in the degreasing step, with part of the binder remaining un-drained. The present invention enables to manufacture porous sintered bodies which are highly porous, and highly accurate in shape and dimensions. The present invention also enables to manufacture porous sintered bodies which offer functionalities not available before.

Abstract: A slip ring mechanism for a medical manipulator, the slip ring mechanism including: a rotating rod that rotates together with a drive shaft; rotating terminals that are positioned so as to be coaxial to the rotating rod; conductive members that contact the rotating terminals and are electrically connected to an end effector; holding members that hold the conductive members such that the conductive members are sandwiched between the holding members and the rotating terminals; and contact terminals that contact the rotating terminals so as to be capable of rotating and sliding relative thereto.

Abstract: A switch mechanism for a medical manipulator, the switch mechanism including a moveable switching operation part, moving-side contacts provided to the switching operation part, and fixed-side contacts capable of contacting the moving-side contacts. At least the electrical-contact sections of the moving-side contacts and of the fixed-side contacts are formed from a corrosion-resistant material.

Abstract: A medical manipulator includes: a manipulator body that has a handle; a drive unit that can be detachably attached to the handle and has a drive source; a guide mechanism that guides the movement of the drive unit when the drive unit is attached to or detached from the handle; a motive force-transmitting coupling that has a driving member and a driven member, and transmits the drive force from the drive source to the handle side; and an electrical connection mechanism that electrically connects the handle and the drive unit when the drive unit is mounted to the handle.

Abstract: A medical manipulator wherein a first section provided with a driven coupling is detachably attached to a second section provided with a driving coupling that includes a drive source and is driven by the drive source. The driving coupling and the driven coupling are fitted to each other to transmit the drive force from the drive source to a tip-end operation part. In at least one coupling among the driving coupling and the driven coupling, tooth ends on the side where the fitting of the driving coupling and the driven coupling begins when the first section and the second section are connected become thinner towards the axial-direction end surface.

Abstract: A medical manipulator includes: a manipulator body that has a handle; a drive unit that can be detachably attached to the handle; and an attachment limiting mechanism that is provided to the handle. When the number of times that the drive unit has been attached to and detached from the handle reaches a set number, the attachment limiting mechanism prevents the mounting of the drive unit to the handle. The attachment limiting mechanism has a counting mechanism and a stopper. The counting mechanism counts the number of times that the drive unit is attached and detached. When the count reaches a set number, the stopper is made to protrude into a mounting hole in the handle so as to prevent the insertion of the drive unit into the mounting hole.

Abstract: A suturing and ligating method includes a needle piercing step of inserting a needle of a suture-needle assembly through a tissue in a body cavity, a needle gripping step of gripping the needle with a first gripper, a winding step of winding a suture strand of the suture-needle assembly in at least one turn around a first distal-end working unit by rolling the first distal-end working unit in at least one revolution, a transferring step of transferring the suture-needle assembly from the first gripper to a second gripper, a suture strand gripping step of gripping a portion of the suture strand that has not passed through the tissue, with the first gripper, a pulling step of pulling the first distal-end working unit out of a loop of the suture strand, and a tightening step of forming a knot of the suture strand.

Abstract: A medical manipulator is provided with a brake mechanism. The brake mechanism is provided with a brake rotor and a brake shoe which can contact the outer periphery of the brake rotor. On the outer periphery of the brake rotor, a first gear is provided along the circumference. On the portion of the brake shoe which is opposite of the outer periphery of the brake rotor, a second gear is provided which can mesh with the first gear.

Abstract: A medical manipulator is provided with a brake release mechanism. The brake release mechanism is provided with a release button which is provided on a tilt wheel, and a lever mechanism which has at least one portion arranged on the inside of the tilt wheel and which is pressed when the release button moves inwards. By the action of the lever mechanism when the release button is operated, braking by a brake mechanism is released.

Abstract: This manipulator is provided with: a shaft; a tip operation section having a gripper; and a handle that causes the operation of the gripper. The tip operation section is provided with: a bowing section that is provided between the gripper and the shaft and that causes the tip operation section to bow in a direction differing from the axial direction of the shaft by means of a bending-direction operating force transmitted from the handle; and a hollow tube that is provided to a position overlapping the bowing section, can bow following the bowing section, and transmits to the gripper operating force transmitted from the handle in the rotational direction rotating centered on the axis of the gripper, thus being able to unlimitedly rotate the gripper.

Abstract: This medical manipulator is provided with: an opening/closing drive transmission unit that transmits driving force for an opening/closing operation to a tip operation section from a handle side; and a rotary driving transmission unit that transmits rotary force for a rolling operation to the tip operation section from the handle. The rotary driving transmission unit has: a rolling drive transmission tube disposed rotatably within a shaft; a bevel gear provided to the joint between the shaft and the tip operation section; and a rotating sleeve that meshes with the bevel gear. A pull-wire having flexibility and configuring a portion of the opening/closing drive transmission unit extends through the inside of the joint to the inside of the tip operation section.

Abstract: A carbon-containing modified polystyrene type resin particle of the present invention includes: a carbon-containing polypropylene type resin, and a polystyrene type resin in an amount of not less than 100 parts by weight but less than 400 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the carbon-containing polypropylene type resin, wherein the polystyrene type resin ratio at the central part of the particle is at least 1.2 times the polystyrene type resin ratio of the overall particle, the polystyrene type resin ratio being calculated by using the ratio (D698/D1376) of absorbances at 698 cm?1 and 1376 cm?1 which are obtained by infrared absorption spectra measured by ATR infrared spectroscopic analysis.

Abstract: A medical manipulator has a distal-end working unit including an end effector. The distal-end working unit has a rotor having a hollow tube rotatable in unison with the end effector and a rotational support tube having a posture variable with respect to the shaft. The rotor is rotatably supported by an inner circumferential surface of the rotational support tube. Engaging members that are disposed in side holes formed in the rotational support tube have inner ends inserted in an annular groove.

Abstract: A medical manipulator includes a surgical tool that has an end effector at a distal end and a drive unit that is detachable from a handle of the surgical tool. In a state where the drive unit is mounted on the handle, when a manipulation lever is manipulated, a driving force of a motor is transmitted to the handle, and the end effector is operated. Even in a state where the drive unit is detached from the handle, the surgical tool can be independently used by a manual manipulation.

Abstract: A suturing and ligating method includes a needle piercing step of inserting a needle of a suture-needle assembly through a tissue in a body cavity, a needle gripping step of gripping the needle with a first gripper, a winding step of winding a suture strand of the suture-needle assembly in at least one turn around a first distal-end working unit by rolling the first distal-end working unit in at least one revolution, a transferring step of transferring the suture-needle assembly from the first gripper to a second gripper, a suture strand gripping step of gripping a portion of the suture strand that has not passed through the tissue, with the first gripper, a pulling step of pulling the first distal-end working unit out of a loop of the suture strand, and a tightening step of forming a knot of the suture strand.

Abstract: A holding jig including, a tilt angle with respect to a plane of a holding surface of a holding target defined as a holding tilt angle: a first holding portion having a holding tilt face with the holding tilt angle; a second holding portion connected to the first holding portion so as to slide toward the holding tilt face along a plane substantially parallel to the holding surface; and an elastic holding portion provided at a position of the second holding portion facing the holding tilt face that is elastically deformed towards the holding surface by the holding tilt face while being abutted to the holding tilt face, when the second holding portion slides toward the holding tilt face, to press and hold the holding target.

Abstract: A method of reducing an odor of composite resin particles comprising the step of: fluidizing the composite resin particles, which contain a polyolefin-based resin and a polystyrene-based resin and which are used for producing an expanded molded article, in a container with a gas that is blown thereinto from its bottom and that has a temperature of (T?40)° C. to (T?10)° C. (T is a softening temperature of the composite resin particles), to reduce the odor generated from a raw material of the composite resin particles and generated according to a method of the composite resin particles, wherein the composite resin particles whose odor is reduced are impregnated with a blowing agent; and the resultant is pre-expanded and then subject to an in-mold forming to make the expanded molded article have an odor strength of 3 or less in average value in odor test in which odor of an isovaleric acid diluted 100000 times is defined as 3, which means a reference odor, within 0 to 5 levels of the odor strength.

Abstract: A method of reducing a volatile organic compound of composite resin particles comprising the step of: blowing a gas from a bottom part of a container in order to fluidize composite resin particles containing a polyolefin-based resin and a polystyrene-based resin in the container until an amount of volatile organic compounds contained in the whole composite resin particles becomes 50 ppm or less, wherein the gas has a temperature of (T?40) to (T?10)° C. when a softening temperature of the composite resin particles is defined as T° C.

Abstract: A styrene-modified polypropylene type resin particle of the present invention includes: a polypropylene type resin and a polystyrene type resin, wherein the polystyrene type resin is included at 30 parts by weight or more but less than 600 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polypropylene type resin, and polystyrene type resin particles having a longitudinal diameter of 5 ?m or less are dispersed in the polypropylene type resin.