Abstract: A latch needle is provided and includes a working needle having a needle head with a hook and a latch and a body portion having a connecting projection extending outwardly therefrom, and a butt needle having a connecting indentation therein which receives the connecting projection to connect the working needle and butt needle together and a butt thereon between the needle head of the working needle and the connecting projection and the connecting indentations. The latch needle also includes reinforcement of the connection between the working needle and the butt needle in the form of a fastening projection and a fastening indentation located between the needle head and the butt on the butt needle.

Abstract: A virus-removing filter using, as a virus-capturing body, at least one kind of sialic acid, a sialic acid derivative, and sugars, glycoproteins and glycolipids containing sialic acid and/or the sialic acid derivative.

Abstract: Needles for knitting machines are disclosed which are effective in preventing damage to the head and abrasion loss of the butt. In a needle having a bridge, stem and/or guide piece, the width of the bridge, stem and/or the guide piece is wider at the side which is nearer to the butt, than at the side which is farther from the butt. When such a needle has more than one bridge, more than one stem, and/or more than one guide piece, the width of at least one bridge, stem and/or guide piece which is nearer to the butt is wider than that of the bridge, stem and/or guide piece which is farther from the butt.

Abstract: Damages to the butt of a needle having bridges used in a raceway circular knitting machine, an eight-lock circular knitting machine or an interlock circular knitting machine can be prevented by using a combination of at least two kinds of needles with different butt positions in the same knitting machine. The butt of a needle is positioned right next to a bridge of the adjacent needle.