Abstract: An intrathoracic pressure sensor includes: a first tube that is adapted to be inserted into a trachea of a patient to define a first gas passage configured to communicate with the trachea; a first cuff disposed in a portion of the first tube which is to be placed in the trachea, the first cuff being inflatable and deflatable; a second tube that defines a second gas passage configured to communicate with an interior of the first cuff; and a transducer configured to output a signal corresponding to a pressure in the second gas passage.

Abstract: A hydraulic assembly for a hydraulic disc brake system that includes a housing defining a cylinder, a piston received in and moveable within the cylinder, a first lever operatively associated with one of the piston or the cylinder, and a second lever operatively associated with the other of the piston or the cylinder. Moving the first lever pushes one of the piston or the cylinder in a first direction, and moving the second lever pulls the other of the cylinder or the piston in a second direction. In a preferred embodiment, the piston has a non-actuated position and a fully actuated position, and the piston is biased towards the non-actuated position, and wherein the cylinder has a non-actuated and a fully-actuated position, and the cylinder is biased towards the non-actuated position.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur includes a mounting member, at least one linkage member, a movable chain guide and a chain guide tensioning mechanism. The mounting member is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame. The linkage member is supported to the mounting member. The movable member is movably coupled to the mounting member via the linkage member. The chain guide is pivotally connected to the movable member to pivot about a pivot axis that extends through the movable member. The chain guide also supports a guide pulley and a tension pulley. The chain guide tensioning mechanism is supported to the movable member at a point spaced apart from the pivot axis configured to bias the chain guide in a direction about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur includes a mounting member, at least one linkage member, a movable chain guide and a chain guide tensioning mechanism. The mounting member is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame. The linkage member is supported to the mounting member. The movable member is movably coupled to the mounting member via the linkage member. The chain guide is pivotally connected to the movable member to pivot about a pivot axis that extends through the movable member. The chain guide also supports a guide pulley and a tension pulley. The chain guide tensioning mechanism is supported to the movable member at a point spaced apart from the pivot axis configured to bias the chain guide in a direction about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A hydraulic assembly for a hydraulic disc brake system that includes a housing defining a cylinder, a piston received in and moveable within the cylinder, a first lever operatively associated with one of the piston or the cylinder, and a second lever operatively associated with the other of the piston or the cylinder. Moving the first lever pushes one of the piston or the cylinder in a first direction, and moving the second lever pulls the other of the cylinder or the piston in a second direction. In a preferred embodiment, the piston has a non-actuated position and a fully actuated position, and the piston is biased towards the non-actuated position, and wherein the cylinder has a non-actuated and a fully-actuated position, and the cylinder is biased towards the non-actuated position.

Abstract: A novel batch-type kiln and a method of use thereof are provided. The kiln comprises a kiln body and a heating chamber disposed within the kiln body, which has a heater disposed therein. A table is disposed at the bottom of the heating chamber, the table having a peripheral portion and an upper surface for supporting an object to be treated. The peripheral portion of the table and a portion of the kiln body define a gap therebetween. This gap forms a gas-introducing path for introducing a gas into the heating chamber. The batch-type kiln is capable of preventing accumulation of a binder component in the gap between the table and the kiln wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial respiration apparatus 12 of a high oscillation type, in which oxygen supply to a patient P and exhaled gas discharge are urged by an oscillating gas having a higher frequency than the cycle of the patient respiration. The apparatus includes a discharge direction regulating mechanism 7 for regulating the exhaled gas to flow only in the discharge direction.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling the termination of the inhalation phase in a pressure support ventilation system is disclosed, in which an expiratory trigger sensitivity, or ratio of inspiratory flow rate to peak inspiratory flow rate at which the inspiration phase is terminated, is varied in proportion to variations in a calculated respiratory time constant. The system includes sensors for monitoring pressure and flow of gas during each breath, and, based on the sensor outputs, calculates the respiratory time constant for one breath or a series of breaths. The expiratory trigger sensitivity is automatically increased with increasing patient respiratory time constant, providing a closed loop control of expiratory trigger sensitivity. The expiratory trigger sensitivity may also be varied in response to changes in supra-plateau pressure.

Abstract: An endoscope for intubating an endotracheal tube includes an elongated insertion portion including at least an image transmitting optical fiber bundle, an illumination light transmitting optical fiber bundle, and a bendable element, an operation portion connected to the proximal end portion of the insertion portion, a bending operation mechanism provided in the operation portion, an endotracheal tube connection section provided in the vicinity of a joint between the insertion portion and the operation portion; and a bendable element for bending the insertion portion provided so as to extend from the inside of the insertion portion to the bending operation mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a small-size, small-weight, low-cost artificial respiration apparatus which can easily be used in an ordinary hospital. The artificial respiration apparatus 10 includes: a positive blower 12p for generating a positive air pressure Ap; a negative blower 12n for generating a negative air pressure An; a rotary valve mechanism 54 for alternately selecting the positive pressure Ap generated by the positive blower 12p and the negative pressure An generated by the negative blower 12n and converting them into an oscillating air pressure Apn; and a diaphragm block 56 urged by the oscillating air pressure Apn from the rotary valve mechanism 54 to operate to supply air to a patient P. Use of the positive blower 12p and the negative blower 12n significantly reduces the load, enabling to use ones available on market, i.e., small-size, small-weight, low-consumption blowers.

Abstract: A novel batch-type kiln and a method of use thereof are provided. The kiln comprises a kiln body and a heating chamber disposed within the kiln body, which has a heater disposed therein. A table is disposed at the bottom of the heating chamber, the table having a peripheral portion and an upper surface for supporting an object to be treated. The peripheral portion of the table and a portion of the kiln body define a gap therebetween. This gap forms a gas-introducing path for introducing a gas into the heating chamber. The batch-type kiln is capable of preventing accumulation of a binder component in the gap between the table and the kiln wall.

Abstract: A fine powder heat treating apparatus which includes a container rotated by an electric motor, a quantity of rolling media disposed in the container and a heater provided for heating the container and the rolling media, wherein the rolling media are mixed with each other as the container is rotated and a finely powdered raw material in a fluid state containing fine powder and a liquid component is supplied from a raw material discharge pipe.

Abstract: A respiratory muscle activity monitoring apparatus is provided with a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in an air passage connecting a lung ventilator and the airway system of a patient and a flow rate sensor for detecting flow rate in the air passage. An arithmetic constant detecting unit detects resistance Rrs and elastance Ers of the respiratory system including the airway and thorax beforehand by using detection signals from the pressure sensor and the flow rate sensor while the lung ventilator is supplying air to the patient whose spontaneous breathing is temporarily stopped. Using airway opening pressure Paw detected by the pressure sensor and flow rate dV/dt detected by the flow rate sensor, a developed pressure calculating unit calculates pressure Pmus developed by the respiratory muscles during mechanical ventilation as well as during spontaneous breathing from the expression: Pmus=-Paw+Rrs(dV/dt)+Ers .intg.(dV/dt)dt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piperazine compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X stands for a hydrogen atom or a phenyl group, R.sup.1 stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R.sup.2 stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.These compounds are valuable as immunopotentiators, such as for the treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases accompanied by reduction or abnormal change of the immune function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel piperazine compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X stands for a hydrogen or halogen atom, an alkoxy, carboxy or alkoxycarbonyl group or a group R.sup.3 CO-- in which R.sup.3 stands for an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R.sup.2 stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.These compounds are valuable as immunopotentiators, such as for the treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases accompanied by reduction or abnormal change of the immune function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel piperazine compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R stands for an alkyl or phenyl group, and n is a number of 4 or 5.These compounds are valuable as an immunopotentiators, such as for the treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases accompanied by reduction or abnormal change of immune function.