Abstract: A grasping forceps for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises a flexible insertion section, an operating wire passing through said insertion section and adapted to be advanced and retreated in accordance with an operation of an operating section connected to a hand side end of the operating wire, and an elastic grasping section arranged in the leading end portion of said operating wire and composed of at least four elastic grasping members different in length having a habit of so flexing that leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outwards from a center axis of said insertion section, wherein the leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of the plurality of elastic grasping members different in length are spread in a spiral arrangement at the time of spreading of the elastic grasping section.

Abstract: A method for simulating noise in a digital circuit allows a quick simulation using an ordinary personal computer installed with reasonably-priced software. When the program is activated, a screen appears on a display to permit settings to be inputted to specify a circuit to be simulated. The input screen has an input signal specifying section, a transmitter IC specifying section, a filter specifying section, a transmission line specifying section, and a receiver IC specifying section, whereby the transfer function of the simulated circuit is obtained. An input signal is Fourier-expanded, and a frequency-domain output spectrum is obtained from the transfer function and the Fourier-expanded input signal. Then, the frequency-domain output spectrum is inversely Fourier-expanded to obtain a time-domain output waveform.

Abstract: A basket type grasping tool of the present invention is equipped with a basket including a plurality of groups of elastic wires. The elastic wires in the respective elastic wire groups have a branch point at the same distance position in an intermediate position from a forward end tip to a rear end tip. Since the elastic wires in the respective elastic wire groups are expanded from the branch point in a spread-apart way, a stable basket shape is maintained, so that a stone can be positively grasped in the basket.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoscope having an opening of a channel tube retracted from a distal end face having an observation window of the insert therein toward a proximal end side. When a plurality of polyps are removed, a picked-up polyp is moved back from the distal end face of the insert toward the proximal side of the insert in order for the picked-up polyp not to interfere with observation by the endoscope and operation by a cutting tool extending through the endoscope channel.

Abstract: A conductive wire 3 is inserted into a flexible sheath 2 with a wiring portion thereof exposed at a distal end portion of the sheath. Upon the pull of the wire 3, the distal end portion is curved and the exposed wire portion is pull taut to provide a wire portion for incision. A restricting member 5 is provided within the sheath 2 to restrict the direction in which the distal end portion of the sheath 2 is curved. As viewed from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the sheath 2, the wire portion 6 is located within an angle range of 0.degree. to 90.degree. leftwise from the aforementioned direction in a manner to diagonally follow the outer surface of the sheath 2 in a counterclockwise direction to the longitudinal axis of the sheath. An affected region in the body cavity of a human being is incised with a high-frequency current carried through the conductive wire.

Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment system for conducting treatment by converging ultrasonic waves which are generated outside of a body to a part to be treated in the body comprising an ultrasonic wave generator for generating the ultrasonic waves to be converged to the part to be treated; and an insertion tube connected to the ultrasonic wave generator for guiding an instrument, such as a syringe, employed to introduce and/or return a treatment material to the body.

Abstract: A treating device is inserted into the body cavity of a subject through a sheath by freely moving an operation wire in a forward/backward direction. A treating unit is connected to the forward end of the operation wire and includes a plurality of elastic wires extending from the forward end to the back end, a tip cap for holding the forward ends of the elastic wires, and a holding member for holding the back ends of the elastic wires. The respective elastic wires have first to fifth bent points in a position from the forward end to the back end thereof. The first and fifth bent points are projected inwardly relative to the center of the treating unit and second to fourth bent points are projected outwardly away from the center of the treating unit. All sections or sides each defined between the adjacent corresponding bent points of elastic wires are inclined at given angles to the center axis of the treating unit when they are spread out from the distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: A hyperthermal apparatus comprises a hollow tube insertable into a body cavity. The tube has a body liquid draining path, and is formed of a heat generating substance or a substance generating heat by absorbing an electromagnetic energy fed from outside the body. The tube is detainable in a position likely to be closed.

Abstract: A method of purifying a polypeptide having a physiological activity such as one having interferon activities from a culture mixture of a microorganism obtained by a recombinant DNA technique and capable of producing the polypeptide is disclosed. The method comprises subjecting the cultured cells to extraction and purification in the presence of a salt of zinc or copper and polyethyleneimine thereby inhibiting decomposition and denaturation of the polypeptide. The extracted polypeptide can be further purified by column chromatographies using a column containing an anion exchange resin, column containing a cation exchange resin and column containing a gel filtration resin.

Abstract: A calculus crushing apparatus includes a flexible sheath for insertion into a body cavity and an operation wire slidably inserted in the sheath. A basket for holding a calculus is fixed to the distal end of the operation wire. The basket is formed of a plurality of elastic wires. A connecting rod is connected to the proximal end of the operation wire. By moving the connecting rod by an operation mechanism, the operation wire slides in the sheath, so that the basket is projected from or retracted in the sheath. The connecting rod has a disconnecting portion which is weaker than the elastic wires and operation wire against tension.

Abstract: A crushing apparatus has a flexible sheath which is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity with the aid of an endoscope. An operating wire longer than the sheath is slidably inserted into the sheath. A collapsible basket for seizing a calculus produced in a body cavity is coupled to the distal end of the operation wire and extends from the sheath. The proximal end of the sheath is connected to an operating section for sliding the operating wire to extend or contract the basket. The operating section includes a rack coupled to the operating wire and an operating handle connected to the rack through a speed reduction mechanism. The reduction mechanism decelerates and transmits an operative force, which is supplied to the handle, to the rack, thereby sliding the operating wire.

Abstract: A high-frequency incision tool has a flexible sheath which is adapted to be inserted into the body cavity along with an endoscope. A suction port is formed at the distal end of the sheath. A wire is inserted into the sheath and a part of the wire is exposed from the sheath to form an incision section. The wire is pushed and pulled by an operating section which is provided at the proximal end of the sheath. A suction mouthpiece is formed at the operating section to communicate with the suction port through the inside passage of the sheath. A reinforcing wire is disposed in the distal end portion of the sheath to reinforce the portion.

Abstract: A snare assembly is disclosed which is inserted into a region of interest of a human body through a channel of an endoscope. The snare assembly comprises at least one flexible tube, a folded snare which is so inserted into the flexible tube as to be movable back and forth and having a folded end portion and a relatively short snare section, a slide means attached to a base end portion of the short snare section, and a stopper movable back and forth and, upon the forward movement of the slide means, abutting against the slide means to restrict an extension length of the short snare section. A fixing means is provided on the base end portion of the tube and stopper, whereby after a relative position between the tube and the stopper is adjusted the stopper and tube can be fixed at that relative position.

Abstract: A calculus crushing apparatus includes a flexible sheath to be inserted into the body cavity. An operating wire is slidably inserted into the sheath, and a basket for seizing and crushing the calculus is coupled to the distal end of the wire. The sheath has a first sheath having a predetermined strength and a second sheath which is weaker but more flexible than the first sheath. The first sheath is movably inserted into the second sheath. The flexible sheath is inserted into the body cavity while the second sheath projects sufficiently beyond the distal end of the first sheath. After the first sheath is moved to a position where the distal end of the first sheath extends beyond that of the second sheath, the operation wire is pulled to retract the basket, thereby crushing the calculus seized by the basket.

Abstract: A high-frequency incising and excising instrument for use in a body passage, the instrument having a wire loop for projection from the distal end of a tubular sheath and manipulated from the proximal end of the tube for hooking a phyma, polyp, growth, or the like, to be excised and for excising the phyma, polyp, growth, or the like, by applying high-frequency electric current to the wire loop. The instrument has a crescent wire loop formed by a wire bent at a bending portion. A slider, secured to the end portion of one side of the wire, is pressed in the advancing operation of the wire and moved sidewards in the sheath to engage a guide on the inner wall of the sheath and to prevent rearward movement of the wire end so that pulling the bent side of the wire into the tubular sheath tightly binds the phyma, polyp, growth, or the like, to be incised and, upon completion of the incising, the wire can be drawn back into the tubular sheath.

Abstract: A high frequency instrument for incision and excision of the tissue of an affected part by a semi-circular loop formed by the distal end of a wire electrode upon passage of high frequency current therethrough is disclosed. The wire electrode is disposed within an electrically insulating sheath so as to be movable therein, and may be advanced or retracted by operating a proximate and operating unit. Only the advancing and retracting movement of the operating unit and the operating pipe are transmitted to the wire electrode while rotation of the operating unit and the operating pipe is not transmitted to the semi-circular loop of the wire electrode, thus preventing the loop from becoming entangled with the tissue of an affected part.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for guiding a prosthesis utilizing a flexible sheath in combination with a guide member is taught. Basket forceps assembly which is known in the art is utilized to fracture a calculus located within a coeloma is coupled to the guide member. The guide member carrying the basket is inserted into the coeloma so as to allow it to move past a restriction within the coeloma and without injuring the walls of the coeloma. The guide member, once moved past the restriction, is used as a guide to dispose a prosthesis passed over the guide member at a given location in a smooth manner.

Abstract: A piezoelectric tuning fork vibrator used as an oscillator or a detection element in various electronic circuits, which is provided at a vibrator body with a slit to form tuning fork legs at both sides, one leg at the vibrator having at the outside surface a piezoelectric thin film and an electrode thereon, so that the one leg including the piezoelectric thin film and electrode, is made equal in width to the other leg.Hence, the both side tuning fork legs equal in width become equal in the resonance frequency and avoids leakage of vibration energy, whereby this piezoelectric vibrator is free from characteristic variation and has a high accuracy.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for assaying fatty acids in a system containing albumin together with the fatty acids using acyl-CoA synthetase, characterized by performing the assay in the presence of a water-soluble salt of a dibasic fatty acid having 10 to 18 carbon atoms or a benzenesulfonate optionally having one or more C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 side chains.

Abstract: 3-(5,7-Dimethyl-2-hydroxy-4-oxo-6,8-decadienyl)-glutarimide is prepared by cultivating Streptomyces pluricolorescens var. yamashitaensis (S-885) ATCC No. 21956 in an aqueous nutrient broth containing a carbohydrate and a source of organic nitrogen until said broth achieves substantial antiviral activity, and recovering said antibiotic from said culture broth. This antibiotic is effective against the viruses of polio and A-type influenza.