Abstract: Provided is a vinyl polymer of a sulfonated monomer having a basic skeleton represented by the following formula (1), wherein x is 1 to 20 and n is 10 to 10,000. Also provided is a novel hydrocarbon vinyl polymer aimed at providing a hydrocarbon solid polymer electrolyte which can become a substitute for a fluorine electrolyte, and which has chemical and physical properties sufficient for practical use, yet can be produced at a low cost. Additionally, provided is a polymer electrolyte membrane suitable as the ion-exchange membrane of a solid polymer fuel cell by employing the polymer of a sulfonated vinyl monomer which has excellent film-forming properties and a large ion-exchange capacity (EW).

Abstract: An embolectomy catheter containing a lumen for the introduction of a liquid substance and provided in the distal end thereof with spinning means for extruding said liquid substance in the form of a filamentous embolic material.

Abstract: A patch for preventing carburization, nitriding or oxidation comprises:a film comprising a heat-fusible or heat-meltable particulate material having an anti-carburizing, anti-nitriding or anti-oxidizing effect and a heat-decomposable resin as a binder; anda heat-resistant silicone pressure sensitive adhesive, which is decomposed at a carburizing, nitriding or oxidizing temperature, provided on one side of the film.

Abstract: A balloon catheter assembly including a balloon and a catheter. The catheter has a chuck and a multi-tube unit including at least an inner tube and an outer tube arranged slidably and coaxially with the inner tube. The balloon is removably fixed to the distal portion of the inner tube by the chuck which is pulled into the outer tube to be closed, and which is extended from the outer tube to be opened. The catheter is introduced to a required dwelling portion in a blood vessel by a tubular guide sheath having an inner diameter such that the guide sheath admits the catheter, and the expanded balloon is left in the dwelling portion to occlude the blood vessel.

Abstract: There is provided a balloon catheter comprising a tubular body including at least one lumen, and a foldable balloon provided at a predetermined distal portion on the outer surface of said tubular body so that the balloon communicates with at least one lumen in said tubular body, wherein reinforcement is provided at a predetermined portion on the outer surface of said tubular body surrounded by said balloon. The reinforcement is preferably formed on an X-ray opague material and in the form of a coil.

Abstract: A guide wire for a catheter having a body portion comparatively high in rigidity and a distal end portion comparatively flexible.At least portions of the body portion and the distal end portion are formed of a super-elastic metallic member. At least portions of inner core portions on the body portion's side and on the distal end portion's side, both of which are coated by a plastic, are formed of the super-elastic metallic member, and at least a portion of the inner core portion on the distal end portion's side is made smaller in cross-section than the inner core portion on the body portion's side.In consequence, the catheter can be reliably and readily introduced to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprises a substrate which has at least on its surface a reactive functional group covalently bonded with a water-soluble polymer or derivative thereof, whereby said surface has lubricity when wetted. The water-soluble polymer is a cellulosic polymer, maleic anhydride polymer, polyacrylamide or water-soluble nylon.The medical instrument is prepared by treating a substrate with a solution of a compound having a reactive functional group to form an undercoat so that the reactive functional group is present at least on the substrate surface, and then treating the substrate with a water-soluble polymer or derivative thereof to covalently bond the reactive functional group with the water-soluble polymer to thereby form a coat of the water-soluble polymer on the undercoat and optionally, contacting the treated substrate with water.

Abstract: In a catheter comprising a proximal inner tube having a reinforcing layer applied thereto and a distal inner tube made of a material having different physical properties from those of the proximal inner tube, the proximal and distal inner tubes are axially integrally connected such that the outer surface of the proximal inner tube is substantially smooth and continuous to that of the distal inner tube, and a sheath continuously covers the proximal and distal inner tubes. The catheter is produced by axially integrally joining proximal and distal inner tubes and continuously covering the interconnected tubes with a sheath.

Abstract: A catheter introduced into the pulmonary artery for use in measuring cardiac output or blood flow velocity includes temperature sensing device including a temperature sensing element for sensing the temperature of blood in the pulmonary artery diluted by an indicator liquid infused for measurement of cardiac output based on a thermodilution method, and a self-heating thermistor for sensing a signal relating to blood flow velocity near the temperature sensing element, the signal being an equilibrium temperature sensed by the thermistor. The catheter is connected to a cardiac output measurement system adapted to measure cardiac output on the basis of the thermodilution method, measure the blood flow velocity which prevails when the cardiac output is measured, and obtain a parameter which links this blood flow velocity to the cardiac output measured in accordance with the thermodilution method.

Abstract: A catheter having a curved distal end portion or a flexible distal end portion able to bend when being used, which comprises at least one radio opaque ring member provided on the circumference of the catheter, for indicating the direction of the end portion. The radio opaque ring member has an outer diameter approximately equal to that of the catheter, and a width (or a length along the axial direction of the catheter) L which satisfies the following relationship with the magnitude of the inner diameter D of the ring members: L.ltoreq.Dtan(.pi./8).

Abstract: A catheter for the repair of an injured blood vessel, characterized by comprising a multiple-lumen type catheter tube having at least two tubular cavities, at least one dilating member disposed in the distal portion of said catheter tube and adapted to communicate with one of said tubular cavities, a lateral hole for the injection of a blood coagulation accelerant disposed on said catheter tube at the proximal side than said dilating member side and adapted to communicate with the other tubular cavity, and a hub having a plurality of flow conduit communicating severally with said tubular cavities of said catheter tube and adapted to communicate with the proximal portion of said catheter tube.

Abstract: A nutritive catheter is assembled by attaching a head to the distal end of a main tubing having a duct therethrough, the head being formed from a composition comprising a flexible synthetic resin and a finely divided metal material in a ratio by volume of resin to metal material of at least 2 and having a specific gravity of at least 2. An opening is provided in the head in communication with the tubing duct.

Abstract: A material for making a pattern used in the investment casting, the material including wax and starch between 2% by weight and 70% by weight.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring cardiac output includes a first system for obtaining cardiac output based on a thermal attenuation method and a second system for obtaining blood flow velocity based on a thermal-type flowrate measurement. A constituent value is obtained from the cardiac output and blood flow velocity, and the constituent value is held. The apparatus also includes a computing unit for computing cardiac output from the already obtained constituent value and a blood flow velocity obtained at the time of measurement. The constituent value can be updated by re-starting the first system.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter, comprising a hub having at least one branched tube mounted thereto apart from each other in the axial direction of the hub, a flexible double-walled tube having an inwardly tapered tip portion and consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube coaxial with the inner tube, providing an annular passageway between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the outer tube and a needle removably inserted into the inner tube of the double walled tube. Further, the inner passageway has an opening at the tapered tip of the double-walled tube and the forward end of the annular passageway communicates with a bore or bores provided at the forward end portion of the outer tube excluding an upper portion thereof as defined by 20 in FIG. 6.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter, comprising a hub having a pair of branched tubes mounted thereto apart from each other in the axial direction of the hub, a flexible double-walled tube having an inwardly tapered tip portion and consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube coaxial with the inner tube, and a needle removably inserted into the inner tube of the double walled tube. The base edge of the inner tube is located at an intermediate portion between the positions from which the pair of the branched tubes extend outward so as to enable the inner passageway formed in the inner tube to communicate with one of the branched tubes. The base edge of the outer tube is fixed to the tip of the hub so as to enable the annular passageway formed between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the outer tube to communicate with the other branched tube.