Abstract: A guiding apparatus for guiding an insertable body within an inspected object is provided with an insertable body to be inserted into an inspected object, a guided part provided in at least a part of the insertable body and to be magnetically guided and a guiding device provided outside the inspected object and to magnetically guide the guided part. The guiding device includes a guiding part for guiding the guided part and a driving device for moving the guiding part at least two-dimensionally, the guided part and guiding part are to generate a magnetic force acting between them and the guiding part is to guide the guided part with the magnetic force.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom manipulator includes a flexible tube having a plurality of flex portions provided therealong, a plurality of actuators made of shape memory alloy and respectively provided near the flex portions to correspond to the flex portions, for flexing the flex portions, two common energy transmission paths, extending along the flexible tube, for transmitting an energy to the actuators, and selective energy supply members, provided between the common energy transmission paths and the actuators in series, for controlling the energy supplied from the common energy transmission path to the actuators, thereby respectively independently driving the actuators to bend the flexible tube.

Abstract: A polyetheresteramide having good heat resistance, permanent antistatic property and superior compatibility with thermoplastic resins and a resin composition containing of the polyetheresteramide are disclosed, wherein the polyetherester-amide consists essentially of a polyamide oligomer with carboxylic chain ends having a number average molecular weight between 200 and 5,000 and a bisphenol compound with oxyalkylene units having a number average molecular weight between 300 and 3,000. Antistatic resin compositions with good antistatic property and heat resistance are obtained from compositions comprising 3 to 40% by weight of the polyetheresteramide and 60 to 97% by weight of thermoplastic resins. The antistatic resin compositions can contain as compatibilizers vinyl polymers having functional groups such as carboxyl and epoxy groups or block polymers containing polyolefin blocks and aromatic vinyl polymer blocks.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom manipulator includes a flexible tube having a plurality of flex portions provided therealong, a plurality of actuators made of shape memory alloy and respectively provided near the flex portions to correspond to the flex portions, for flexing the flex portions, two common energy transmission paths, extending along the flexible tube, for transmitting an energy to the actuators, and selective energy supply members, provided between the common energy transmission paths and the actuators in series, for controlling the energy supplied from the common energy transmission path to the actuators, thereby respectively independently driving the actuators to bend the flexible tube.

Abstract: A polyetheresteramide having good heat resistance, permanent antistatic property and superior compatibility with thermoplastic resins and a resin composition containing the polyetheresteramide are disclosed, wherein the polyetherester-amide consists essentially of a polyamide oligomer with carboxylic chain ends having a number average molecular weight between 200 and 5,000 and a bisphenol compound with oxyalkylene units having a number average molecular weight between 300 and 3,000. Antistatic resin compositions with good antistatic property and heat resistance are obtained from compositions comprising 3 to 40% by weight of the polyetheresteramide and 60 to 97% by weight of thermoplastic resins. The antistatic resin compositions can contain as compatibilizers vinyl polymers having functional groups such as carboxyl and epoxy groups or block polymers containing polyolefin blocks and aromatic vinyl polymer blocks.

Abstract: A bending drive member to bend a bending member is arranged to extend in the direction of length of an elongate tube having flexibility, and attached to near the distal end of the tube with the distal end of the bending drive member being restricted in its position. The bending member drive member comprises a shape memory member formed by bundling together a plurality of wire-like shape memory materials each having a length, that spans from the position of one end to the other end, reversibly changed upon heating/cooling. The length of the shape memory member is changed dependent on a drive signal from a unit with a capability of heating. A non-compressive coil sheath through which the bending drive member extends is fixed at a distal end thereof to the elongate tube while the proximal end of the coil sheath is a free end with respect to the elongate tube.

Abstract: An actuator apparatus for driving a focus adjusting lens of a focus adjusting mechanism of an endoscope comprises a moving member put in slidable frictional engagement with a base of the endoscope, the moving member having coupling means for coupling with the movable portion within the endoscope, a piezoelectric element coupled to the moving member, the piezoelectric element and the moving member alone constituting a body of the actuator apparatus, and actuator control circuit for causing quick deformation in the piezoelectric element, enabling the piezoelectric element to apply an impulse force to the moving member, thereby moving the moving member against a frictional engagement force acting between the base and the moving member.

Abstract: Provided on the side of a distal end of an insertion part are an observation ultrasonic transducer for acquiring an ultrasonic image and a therapeutic ultrasonic transducer for outputting a therapeutic ultrasonic wave so as to be focused. Positioning or the like between the observation ultrasonic transducer and the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer is so conducted that a focusing point at which the therapeutic ultrasonic wave is focused is locked to a predetermined position within a scanning range of the observation ultrasonic wave. If the position of the focusing point is locked whereby a lesion part to be treated is set to a predetermined position on an ultrasonic image, it is necessarily possible to conduct the position setting to the focusing point. It is also made possible to confirm the position of the lesion part and to acoustically observe a state of the lesion part during irradiation of the therapeutic ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: A treating instrument for medical treatment, comprises an insertion section to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient, biopsying forceps provided at a distal end of the insertion section, a pair of cups provided at the forceps, a grip member connected to an operator-end side of the insertion section; a drive unit provided on the distal end of the insertion section and generating a drive force for the cups, a conduction circuit for carrying electric current through the drive unit, and an operation switch interposed at lead wires of the conduction circuit.

Abstract: A reduced pressure processing apparatus includes a processing vessel for performing predetermined processing to an object to be processed in a reduced pressure atmosphere, an exhaust mechanism, including a main exhaust system having a relatively high exhaust pressure and a sub-exhaust system having a relatively low exhaust pressure, for evacuating the processing vessel, and an oxygen gas concentration sensor for detecting an oxygen gas concentration in the processing vessel during exhaust performed by the sub-exhaust system. The oxygen gas concentration in the processing vessel is detected while the processing vessel is evacuated with a relatively low exhaust pressure. It is determined whether leakage is present or absent by confirming a detection value is a predetermined value or less within a predetermined period of time. When leakage is absent, the processing vessel is evacuated with the relatively high exhaust pressure.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an insertion section, and this insertion section has a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a bendable portion located between the distal and proximal end portions. A fluid-pressure actuator is coupled to the insertion section, so as to bend the bendable portion. The fluid-pressure actuator is made up of an extensible body and an expansion-restricting member. The extensible body defines an internal space and has an extension axis along which it extends or contracts. The expansion-restricting member causes the extensible body to extend in the direction of the extension axis when a fluid is supplied into the internal space, and causes the extensible body to contract in the direction of the extensible axis when the fluid is discharged from the internal space. The bendable portion of the insertion section is bent in accordance with the extension or contraction of the extensible body.

Abstract: An intra-tube traveling apparatus includes a moving unit to which an endoscope is held and which is self-driven to travel in a pipe path, and a movement control section for controlling movement of the moving unit. The moving unit includes an elastic actuator which is extended/contracted in the radial direction and axial directions of the pipe path upon reception of the pressurized fluid, balloons attached to the front and rear ends of the elastic actuator. Each of the balloons is radially expanded/deformed upon reception of the pressurized fluid therein to be locked to the inner surface of the pipe path.

Abstract: A borescope apparatus comprising a flexible insertion section, a jet port formed at the insertion section, a moving device for supplying a compressed fluid to the jet port, whereby the insertion section is moved by an impellent force of the fluid ejected from the jet port, and a stabilizing device for steadily maintaining the position of the insertion section.

Abstract: A pipe-inspecting apparatus having a self-propelled unit. The self-propelled unit comprises an elastic tube which has forward and rear ends, and into which a fluid is supplied and from which the fluid is discharged, a restriction member mounted on the elastic tube, for restricting an axial expansion of the elastic tube, a bias member for biasing the elastic tube in the axial direction thereof, first and second holding members coupled to the ends of the elastic tube, respectively, for holding the ends of the elastic tube to the inner periphery of a pipe being inspected, while the fluid is being supplied into the holding members, and releasing the ends of the elastic tube from the inner periphery of the pipe, while the fluid is being discharged from the holding members. An observation device is coupled to the self-propelled unit. A display device is connected to the observation device, for displaying the image scanned by the observation device.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus comprises an elongate insert section including an observation window in the distal end portion and inserted into an object to be observed; an observation device for producing an endoscope image, the observation device including a focusing optical system which receives an incident light from the object through the observation window to focus the endoscope image; and a vibration device for vibrating at least a part of the insert section in a direction crossing the axial direction of the insert section, the vibration device including a vibration unit capable of vibrating in itself to vibrate at least the part of the insert section even under a condition that the insert section is not contact with the object.

Abstract: A borescope apparatus comprises an insertion section having a bending portion and a flexible portion, a bending mechanism for bending the bending portion under the pressure of supplied fluid, a pressurized fluid supplying unit for supplying the fluid to the jet port and the bending mechanism and a flow control unit for controlling the fluid supplied to jet ports which are provided in the distal end of either the bending portion or flexible portion and the bending mechanism.

Abstract: This endoscope apparatus adapted to meter NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) is provided with an endoscope having a channel and an NMR metering probe insertable through the channel. The endoscope has an elongate insertable part having an observing window and illuminating window in the tip part, an observing system for observing an object to be imaged by receiving a light from the object entering through the observing window, an illuminating light output system emitting an illuminating light through the illuminating window and a hollow channel formed within the insertable part and opening in the tip part. Preferably, at least the tip side of the insertable part if formed of a non-ferromagnetic characteristic material.

Abstract: A hyperthermia apparatus for effecting the thermotherapy by heating a cancer locally including two outside-body electrodes to be arranged on an outer surface of a patient's body, an inside-body electrode to be inserted into a cavity of the patient's body, a high frequency power supply circuit for generating a high frequency power, and a switch connected between the high frequency power supply circuit and the electrodes for selectively supplying the high frequency power to two electrodes so that the cancer can be locally heated to a desired high temperature. At each electrode there are provided balloons through which temperature controlled liquid mediums are circulated to prevent portions of the body near the electrodes from being heated to undesired high temperatures. The liquid mediums circulated through the balloons are electrically isolated from each other completely.

Abstract: A borescope apparatus having a borescope and a pressurized fluid supply device. The borescope has an operation unit and an insertion unit. The insertion unit comprises a bending tube portion, a jet port member coupled to a proximal end of the bending tube portion, and a flexible tube portion. The bending tube portion can be bent by operating the operation unit. The jet port member has a jet port. A pressuring fluid is supplied from the fluid supply unit to the jet port member, and is ejected through the jet port. The flexible tube portion can be bent by a jet of the fluid from through the jet port independently of the bending tube portion.

Abstract: A medical treatment device for resecting, e.g., a prostate or breaking a bladder stone, which includes a vibrator for generating ultrasonic vibrations, a horn connected to the vibrator, a casing for accommodating the vibrator and the horn, a probe connected to the front portion of the horn to transmit ultrasonic vibrations generated by the vibrator, and a power source unit for supplying a drive voltage to the vibrator, the power source unit having an oscillator for producing a wave having a frequency for vibrating the probe and a frequency switching circuit for selecting an oscillating frequency at which the distal end of the probe serves as a loop of vibration or a frequency at which the distal end of the probe serves as a node of vibration.