Abstract: The present invention provides: an MRI contrast agent for detecting cartilage damage, which comprises 17O-labeled water; and a method and a program for detecting cartilage damage using the contrast agent. According to the present invention, it becomes possible to detect a damage in a cartilage, particularly a minor damage in the surface layer of a cartilage which has been difficult to detect so far, by using 17O-labeled water as a contrast agent.

Abstract: A bus bar holding member comprises a plurality of bus bars arranged to connect terminals of respective batteries in each battery array group in parallel, and a resin support member comprising a resin stacking section which is stacked on a surface of the plurality of bus bars and a resin intervening section which intervenes between the plurality of bus bars to electrically insulate the plurality of bus bars from each other. The bus bar comprises a base plate on which the resin stacking section is stacked, and a jagged edge formed along an edge of the base plate. The jagged edge is formed in a wavy shape crossing a reference line, which is a straight line along an array direction of the batteries in each battery array group between an adjacent pair of the battery array groups.

Abstract: A battery holder includes restriction members protruded from a holding base plate in an axial direction of batteries to be located in spaces between the batteries. Each of the restriction members has: a tapered surface which is inclined to the axial direction and is in line contact with an outer periphery of the end face of the battery when the restriction member is inserted into the space, so as to apply a force to move the battery in a radial direction of the battery; and a support surface which supports a side face of the battery that is not in contact with the tapered surface, by surface contact. The support surface receives a moving force in the radial direction from the tapered surface and supports the side face of the battery by a reactive force.

Abstract: A battery pack comprises: a battery holding member provided to have battery holding holes and configured to bind a plurality of batteries; a first bus bar arranged to electrically connect with terminals on the first side of the respective batteries; a second bus bar arranged to electrically connect with terminals on a second side in the axial direction of the respective batteries; a bus bar holding member configured to hold the second bus bar and constitute a wall surface on the second side of the casing; and a sealing sheet member configured to have a plurality of terminal exposing holes formed corresponding to the respective batteries and cause peripheries of the respective terminal exposing holes to come into contact with the end faces of the respective batteries, so as to prevent leakage of a gas from inside of the casing toward the second bus bar. The sealing sheet member has a deformation dividing part provided around at least part of the plurality of terminal exposing holes.

Abstract: A resistance connecting device includes a case inside of which a chamber is formed. The chamber includes inside an activating unit, a gas generating unit, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extend from the inside to the outside of the case in a mutually separated state and are exposed in the chamber. The activating unit is held at a first position that does not cause contact with either of the connecting portions when the gas generating unit has not been activated and moves up to a second position to cause contact with both of the connecting portions as a result of activation of the gas generating unit. The activating unit, at the second position, functions as a resistor having a predetermined electrical resistance, and connects the connecting portions to one another.

Abstract: A conduction breaking device is provided that uses gas from a gas generator to move a cutter block in the thickness direction of a cuttable portion, thereby cutting the cuttable portion between the moving cutter block and a cutting edge portion of a cutting chamber. The cutter block is attached to the cuttable portion such that, before generation of gas by the gas generator, a part of the cutter block is located in the cutting chamber and at a position close to the cutting edge portion in a direction along the surface of the cuttable portion.

Abstract: A battery pack comprises: a battery holding member provided to have battery holding holes and configured to bind a plurality of batteries; a first bus bar arranged to electrically connect with terminals on the first side of the respective batteries; a second bus bar arranged to electrically connect with terminals on a second side in the axial direction of the respective batteries; a bus bar holding member configured to hold the second bus bar and constitute a wall surface on the second side of the casing; and a sealing sheet member configured to have a plurality of terminal exposing holes formed corresponding to the respective batteries and cause peripheries of the respective terminal exposing holes to come into contact with the end faces of the respective batteries, so as to prevent leakage of a gas from inside of the casing toward the second bus bar. The sealing sheet member has a deformation dividing part provided around at least part of the plurality of terminal exposing holes.

Abstract: A bus bar holding member comprises a plurality of bus bars arranged to connect terminals of respective batteries in each battery array group in parallel, and a resin support member comprising a resin stacking section which is stacked on a surface of the plurality of bus bars and a resin intervening section which intervenes between the plurality of bus bars to electrically insulate the plurality of bus bars from each other. The bus bar comprises a base plate on which the resin stacking section is stacked, and a jagged edge formed along an edge of the base plate. The jagged edge is formed in a wavy shape crossing a reference line, which is a straight line along an array direction of the batteries in each battery array group between an adjacent pair of the battery array groups.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is equipped with a non-recovering safety valve comprising a valve, which ruptures when the valve opens, and a valve surrounding part that surrounds the valve. The safety valve is further disposed in the valve surrounding part, and has an anti-scattering means that prevents shards, which are produced by the valve rupturing when the valve opens, from scattering outside the battery. The anti-scattering means constitutes an anti-fragmentation part of a form that prevents shards from fragmenting from the valve surrounding part.

Abstract: A battery device includes a bus bar having a coupling bus bars, a positive electrode bus bar and a negative electrode bus bar. The coupling bus bar includes: a positive electrode connection member arranged to sequentially connect positive electrode terminals of the respective batteries included in one battery array group; and a negative electrode connection member arranged to sequentially connect negative electrode surfaces of the respective batteries included in another battery array group. The positive electrode connection member is electrically connected with the negative electrode connection member. The positive electrode bus bar is arranged to sequentially connect specific positive electrode terminals in a specific battery array group, which are not connected by the coupling bus bar. The negative electrode bus bar is arranged to sequentially connect specific negative electrode terminals in a specific battery array group, which are not connected by the coupling bus bar.

Abstract: A battery holder includes restriction members protruded from a holding base plate in an axial direction of batteries to be located in spaces between the batteries. Each of the restriction members has: a tapered surface which is inclined to the axial direction and is in line contact with an outer periphery of the end face of the battery when the restriction member is inserted into the space, so as to apply a force to move the battery in a radial direction of the battery; and a support surface which supports a side face of the battery that is not in contact with the tapered surface, by surface contact. The support surface is configured to receive a moving force in the radial direction from the tapered surface and support the side face of the battery by a reactive force.

Abstract: A battery holder holds a plurality of batteries by a simple structure. A battery holder 20 has a holder member 40 to hold batteries Bt. The holder member 40 includes a holder body 42 provided as a plate-like member, and holding holes 40S. The holding hole 40S is formed, such that a holding space 40Sa is secured between the inner wall of the holding hole 40S and the side face of the battery Bt. The holder member 40 has pressing projections 42a, each being formed by pressing and plastically deforming part of the holder body 42 toward an axial direction of the battery and formed by protruding part of the inner wall of the holding hole 40S toward the center of the battery. The pressing projections are arranged, such as to press the side face of the battery Bt and hold the battery Bt in the holder member 40.

Abstract: A battery cover member (10) of the present invention includes a metallic electrode terminal (40), a metallic cover member (30) having through holes (32), and an insulating resin member (50), in which the electrode terminals inserted into the through hole and the cover member are integrally bonded together by the insulating member, wherein at least a sealing area (70) of the electrode terminal that adheres to the insulating member is formed as a columnar shape or an elliptically columnar shape.

Abstract: An electric circuit breaking device includes a housing, which has an accommodating portion, and a bus bar, which extends through the accommodating portion. The housing has a receiving chamber, which has an opening that opens toward the bus bar. The housing also accommodates a cutting blade such that the cutting blade faces the receiving chamber with the bus bar in between. The cutting blade is moved toward the receiving chamber to apply a shearing force to the bus bar, thereby cutting the bus bar. A restraint position is defined in the vicinity of the cutting blade and in an area about the opening of the receiving chamber. The accommodating portion accommodates a block. At the restraint position, the block cooperates with the housing to hold the bus bar, thereby restraining movement of the bus bar.

Abstract: A resistance connecting device includes a case inside of which a chamber is formed. The chamber includes inside an activating unit, a gas generating unit, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extend from the inside to the outside of the case in a mutually separated state and are exposed in the chamber. The activating unit is held at a first position that does not cause contact with either of the connecting portions when the gas generating unit has not been activated and moves up to a second position to cause contact with both of the connecting portions as a result of activation of the gas generating unit. The activating unit, at the second position, functions as a resistor having a predetermined electrical resistance, and connects the connecting portions to one another.

Abstract: A conduction breaking device is provided that uses gas from a gas generator to move a cutter block in the thickness direction of a cuttable portion, thereby cutting the cuttable portion between the moving cutter block and a cutting edge portion of a cutting chamber. The cutter block is attached to the cuttable portion such that, before generation of gas by the gas generator, a part of the cutter block is located in the cutting chamber and at a position close to the cutting edge portion in a direction along the surface of the cuttable portion.

Abstract: A conduction breaking device includes a conductive body arranged between a pair of devices in an electric circuit, a gas generator, which is arranged away from the conductive body and generates gas, and a cutting member, which is arranged between the conductive body and the gas generator. The cutting member is moved due to gas from the gas generator to cut the conductive body, divides the conductive body into a first cut piece and a second cut piece, which have cut ends separated from each other, and breaks the conduction between the devices. The conduction breaking device includes an arc-extinguishing chamber. In the arc-extinguishing chamber, the conductive body is cut by the cutting member and an arc occurring between the cut end of the first cut piece and the cut end of the second cut piece is extinguished.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is equipped with a non-recovering safety valve comprising a valve, which ruptures when the valve opens, and a valve surrounding part that surrounds the valve. The safety valve is further disposed in the valve surrounding part, and has an anti-scattering means that prevents shards, which are produced by the valve rupturing when the valve opens, from scattering outside the battery. The anti-scattering means constitutes an anti-fragmentation part of a form that prevents shards from fragmenting from the valve surrounding part.

Abstract: A battery cover member (10) of the present invention includes a metallic electrode terminal (40), a metallic cover member (30) having through holes (32), and an insulating resin member (50), in which the electrode terminals inserted into the through hole and the cover member are integrally bonded together by the insulating member, wherein at least a sealing area (70) of the electrode terminal that adheres to the insulating member is formed as a columnar shape or an elliptically columnar shape.

Abstract: All of hydrolysis resistance, heat resistance and calcium chloride resistance as the characteristics required during use are satisfied and the moldability as the characteristic required during molding is also ensured. Further, corrugation moldability, pressure proofness, bendability and shape retainability are ensured while enabling to adopt a mono-layer structure. A water pipe for use in automobiles molded with a thermoplastic polymer composition mainly comprising a polyamide resin (I) and a polyolefin (II), in which the polyamide resin (I) is a specified polyamide 9T; the amount of terminal amino groups of the polyamide resin (I) is 60 ?mol/g or more and the amount of terminal carboxyl groups of the polyamide resin (I) is 10 ?mol/g or less; the polyolefin (II) contains an acid modified polyolefin and the not acid-modified polyolefin at a mass ratio of from 80:20 to 20:80 and, as a result, the amount of the acid modification is from 0.2 to 0.