Abstract: A method of producing an article with a foamed surface which includes: a step 1 of forming small pores in a surface of a base made of a plastic to produce a base with small pores; a step 2 of immersing the base with small pores, obtained in step 1, in a solution including a foaming agent to prepare a foaming agent-including base; a step 3 of immersing the foaming agent-including base, obtained in step 2, in a foaming solution that makes the plastic swell and the foaming agent foam to prepare a foamed base; and a step 4 of immersing the foamed base, obtained in step 3, in a coagulating solution that coagulates the swollen plastic.

Abstract: Provided is a biological implant which exhibits high binding ability to a biological tissue after having been embedded in a living organism, which secures an appropriate strength depending on a site to which the implant is applied, and in which a micropore structural portion is less likely to be removed from a macropore structural portion. The biological implant includes a macropore structural portion which defines macropores of the biological implant, and a micropore structural portion which has micropores therein, the micropores having a pore size smaller than that of the macropores, the biological implant being characterized in that the macropore structural portion has substantially no pores therein; the micropore structural portion is provided on the surface of the macropore structural portion; the macropore structural portion and the micropore structural portion are formed of the same engineering plastic material; and the macropore structural portion is formed of a single material.

Abstract: A method of producing an article with a foamed surface which includes: a step 1 of forming small pores in a surface of a base made of a plastic to produce a base with small pores; a step 2 of immersing the base with small pores, obtained in step 1, in a solution including a foaming agent to prepare a foaming agent-including base; a step 3 of immersing the foaming agent-including base, obtained in step 2, in a foaming solution that makes the plastic swell and the foaming agent foam to prepare a foamed base; and a step 4 of immersing the foamed base, obtained in step 3, in a coagulating solution that coagulates the swollen plastic.

Abstract: The objection of this invention is to provide an article with a foamed surface having a porous structure in the surface of a plastic base, an implant and a method of producing them. The article has a body and a superficial layer formed in a surface of the body, the layer including small-diameter and large-diameter pores, wherein part of the small-diameter and large-diameter pores are open pores which are open at the surface of the layer; the open pores have small open pores with an average diameter of 5 ?m or less and large open pores with an average diameter from 10 to 200 ?m; and the large open pores have an inner wall with passages connected with the small-diameter large-diameter pores. The implant is the article itself or the article with a bioactive substance in the layer thereof. The method provides an example of producing the article and implant.

Abstract: Provided is a biological implant which exhibits high binding ability to a biological tissue after having been embedded in a living organism, which secures an appropriate strength depending on a site to which the implant is applied, and in which a micropore structural portion is less likely to be removed from a macropore structural portion. The biological implant includes a macropore structural portion which defines macropores of the biological implant, and a micropore structural portion which has micropores therein, the micropores having a pore size smaller than that of the macropores, the biological implant being characterized in that the macropore structural portion has substantially no pores therein; the micropore structural portion is provided on the surface of the macropore structural portion; the macropore structural portion and the micropore structural portion are formed of the same engineering plastic material; and the macropore structural portion is formed of a single material.

Abstract: An alumina sintered body contains alumina as a main component and titanium. The alumina sintered body further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, neodymium, and cerium. Aluminum is contained in the alumina sintered body in an amount such that a ratio of aluminum oxide to total oxides in the alumina sintered body becomes 93.00 to 99.85% by weight where the total oxides are defined as a total amount of all oxides contained in the alumina sintered body. Titanium is contained in an amount such that a ratio of titanium oxide to the total oxides becomes 0.10 to 2.00% by weight. Lanthanum, neodymium, and cerium are contained in a combined amount such that a ratio of the combined amount to the total oxides becomes 0.05 to 5.00% by weight. Volume resistivity is 1×105 to 1×1012 ?·cm at room temperature.

Abstract: An alumina sintered body contains alumina as a main component and titanium. The alumina sintered body further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, neodymium, and cerium. Aluminum is contained in the alumina sintered body in an amount such that a ratio of aluminum oxide to total oxides in the alumina sintered body becomes 93.00 to 99.85% by weight where the total oxides are defined as a total amount of all oxides contained in the alumina sintered body. Titanium is contained in an amount such that a ratio of titanium oxide to the total oxides becomes 0.10 to 2.00% by weight. Lanthanum, neodymium, and cerium are contained in a combined amount such that a ratio of the combined amount to the total oxides becomes 0.05 to 5.00% by weight. Volume resistivity is 1×105 to 1×1012 ?·cm at room temperature.

Abstract: A silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body in accordance with the invention includes silicon nitride and a melilite Me2Si3O3N4, where Me denotes a metal element combining with silicon nitride to generate the melilite. The silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body contains Si in a range of 41 to 83 mole percent in Si3N4 equivalent and Me in a range of 13 to 50 mole percent in oxide equivalent. The silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body has an average thermal expansion coefficient that is arbitrarily adjustable in a range of 2 to 6 ppm/K at temperatures of 23 to 150° C. The silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body has a high Young's modulus, a high mechanical strength, and excellent sintering performance. A device used for inspection of semiconductor in accordance with the invention utilizes such a silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body.

Abstract: The objection of this invention is to provide an article with a foamed surface having a porous structure in the surface of a plastic base, an implant and a method of producing them. The article has a body and a superficial layer formed in a surface of the body, the layer including small-diameter and large-diameter pores, wherein part of the small-diameter and large-diameter pores are open pores which are open at the surface of the layer; the open pores have small open pores with an average diameter of 5 ?m or less and large open pores with an average diameter from 10 to 200 ?m; and the large open pores have an inner wall with passages connected with the small-diameter large-diameter pores. The implant is the article itself or the article with a bioactive substance in the layer thereof. The method provides an example of producing the article and implant.

Abstract: A silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body in accordance with the invention includes silicon nitride and a melilite Me2Si3O3N4, where Me denotes a metal element combining with silicon nitride to generate the melilite. The silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body contains Si in a range of 41 to 83 mole percent in Si3N4 equivalent and Me in a range of 13 to 50 mole percent in oxide equivalent. The silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body has an average thermal expansion coefficient that is arbitrarily adjustable in a range of 2 to 6 ppm/K at temperatures of 23 to 150° C. The silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body has a high Young's modulus, a high mechanical strength, and excellent sintering performance. A device used for inspection of semiconductor in accordance with the invention utilizes such a silicon nitride-melilite composite sintered body.

Abstract: An assisting tool for pressing a piston while fixing in place a syringe or a similar instrument which contains a highly viscous chemical agent, so as to extrude the chemical agent, as well as a method for extruding a chemical agent using the same. The chemical-agent extrusion assisting-tool includes a tool body in the form of a cylindrical body having a space formed therein for accommodating a tubular container, such as a syringe, which contains a highly viscous chemical, such as calcium-phosphate-based cement formed by kneading a calcium phosphate powder and a kneading liquid composed of a polysaccharide-containing aqueous solution, and an outlet formed at its bottom end. The cylindrical body has a cylindrical space formed therein so as to open at an upper end surface thereof.

Abstract: A kneading device adapted for preparing calcium phosphate-based cement and for applying the cement directly to a required site which comprises a cylinder 1 which includes a hollow cylindrical body portion 11 and a nozzle 12 formed at the distal end of the cylindrical body portion; a plug 2 having an axial through-hole 21 slidably disposed within the proximal end of the cylindrical body portion; a piston assembly 3 which includes a shaft 31 extending through the through-hole 21 of the plug 2 for axial and rotatable movement, a kneading element 32 at the distal end of the shaft 31 within the cylindrical body portion, and a handle 34 formed at the proximal end of the shaft 31 external of the cylindrical body portion; a cover member 4 attached to and forming a closure for the nozzle 12; and a stop member 5 for locating the plug 2 in position at the proximal end of the cylindrical body portion.

Abstract: An assisting tool for pressing a piston while fixing in place a syringe or a similar instrument which contains a highly viscous chemical agent, so as to extrude the chemical agent, as well as a method for extruding a chemical agent using the same. The chemical-agent extrusion assisting-tool includes a tool body in the form of a cylindrical body having a space formed therein for accommodating a tubular container, such as a syringe, which contains a highly viscous chemical, such as calcium-phosphate-based cement formed by kneading a calcium phosphate powder and a kneading liquid composed of a polysaccharide-containing aqueous solution, and an outlet formed at its bottom end. The cylindrical body has a cylindrical space formed therein so as to open at an upper end surface thereof.

Abstract: A kneading device adapted for preparing calcium phosphate-based cement and for applying the cement directly to a required site which comprises a cylinder 1 which includes a hollow cylindrical body portion 11 and a nozzle 12 formed at the distal end of the cylindrical body portion; a plug 2 having an axial through-hole 21 slidably disposed within the proximal end of the cylindrical body portion; a piston assembly 3 which includes a shaft 31 extending through the through-hole 21 of the plug 2 for axial and rotatable movement, a kneading element 32 at the distal end of the shaft 31 within the cylindrical body portion, and a handle 34 formed at the proximal end of the shaft 31 external of the cylindrical body portion; a cover member 4 attached to and forming a closure for the nozzle 12; and a stop member 5 for locating the plug 2 in position at the proximal end of the cylindrical body portion.

Abstract: An assisting tool for pressing a piston while fixing in place a syringe or a similar instrument which contains a highly viscous chemical agent, so as to extrude the chemical agent, as well as a method for extruding a chemical agent using the same. The chemical-agent extrusion assisting-tool includes a tool body in the form of a cylindrical body having a space formed therein for accommodating a tubular container, such as a syringe, which contains a highly viscous chemical, such as calcium-phosphate-based cement formed by kneading a calcium phosphate powder and a kneading liquid composed of a polysaccharide-containing aqueous solution, and an outlet formed at its bottom end. The cylindrical body has a cylindrical space formed therein so as to open at an upper end surface thereof.

Abstract: A kneading device adapted for preparing calcium phosphate-based cement and for applying the cement directly to a required site which comprises a cylinder 1 which includes a hollow cylindrical body portion 11 and a nozzle 12 formed at the distal end of the cylindrical body portion; a plug 2 having an axial through-hole 21 slidably disposed within the proximal end of the cylindrical body portion; a piston assembly 3 which includes a shaft 31 extending through the through-hole 21 of the plug 2 for axial and rotatable movement, a kneading element 32 at the distal end of the shaft 31 within the cylindrical body portion, and a handle 34 formed at the proximal end of the shaft 31 external of the cylindrical body portion; a cover member 4 attached to and forming a closure for the nozzle 12; and a stop member 5 for locating the plug 2 in position at the proximal end of the cylindrical body portion.

Abstract: A calcium phosphate cement or the like which shows a low viscosity and excellent handleability in the step of kneading and achieves a high strength of the hardened body even though a kneading liquid is used in a small amount. A calcium phosphate cement containing a polysaccharide powder and 0.05 to 5% by weight of an N-alkyl-D-glucamine such as N-methyl-D-glucamine; or a calcium phosphate cement containing a calcium phosphate powder and a specific alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine. A calcium phosphate cement composition containing a calcium phosphate powder and a kneading liquid comprising an aqueous solution containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of an N-alkyl-D-glucamine such as N-methyl-D-glucamine or a kneading liquid containing a definite amount of a specific alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine.

Abstract: A calcium phosphate cement and a calcium phosphate cement composition are disclosed. The calcium phosphate cement comprises a calcium phosphate powder having an average particle diameter of 20 .mu.m or smaller and a tap density of 35% or higher, and a polysaccharide. The polysaccharide is preferably a dextran sulfate (e.g., dextran sulfate sodium) having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 100 .mu.m. The calcium phosphate cement composition comprises the above specific calcium phosphate powder and a liquid for cement mixing comprising an aqueous solution containing 30 to 60 wt % dextran sulfate (e.g., dextran sulfate sodium or dextran sulfate potassium). The calcium phosphate powder preferably comprises a tetracalcium phosphate powder and an equimolar amount of a calcium hydrogen phosphate powder as main components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a setting solution for calcium phosphate cement as well as a calcium phosphate cement composition. The setting solution does not cause disintegration of the composition when the composition is used immediately after preparation. The content of the pectin in the setting solution is 0.5-10% by weight per 100% by weight of the solution. The setting solution has a pH of 3-5, and a viscosity of not more than 200 dPa.multidot.s. The calcium phosphate may be selected from the group consisting of tetracalcium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, tricalcium .alpha.-phosphate, tricalcium .beta.-phosphate, and hydroxyapatite.