Abstract: A biochemical analysis cartridge stores a plurality of dry analysis elements corresponding to a plurality of measurement items necessary for measurement of samples and supplies the dry analysis elements to a biochemical analysis apparatus. The biochemical analysis cartridge is equipped with a memory element that stores calibration curve data for all dry analysis elements which are within their effective lifetimes at the time of manufacture or shipment of the biochemical analysis cartridge.

Abstract: A method is provided which is capable of efficiently taking most of a precious sample into an extraction vessel without wasting when the sample is extracted from a collection section of a sampling rod. The method includes the steps of collecting a sample using a sampling rod formed of a rod body and a collection section attached to the rod body, inserting the sampling rod into the extraction vessel, placing the rod body in a gap formed in a grappling hook section which is disposed in an insertion path of the sampling rod, the gap having a width smaller than a diameter of the collection section and being capable of receiving the rod body, withdrawing the rod body with the rod body being placed in the gap and detaching the collection section from the rod body by hooking the collection section to the grappling hook section.

Abstract: A method is provided which is capable of efficiently taking most of a precious sample into an extraction vessel without wasting when the sample is extracted from a collection section of a sampling rod. The method includes the steps of collecting a sample using a sampling rod formed of a rod body and a collection section attached to the rod body, inserting the sampling rod into the extraction vessel, placing the rod body in a gap formed in a grappling hook section which is disposed in an insertion path of the sampling rod, the gap having a width smaller than a diameter of the collection section and being capable of receiving the rod body, withdrawing the rod body with the rod body being placed in the gap and detaching the collection section from the rod body by hooking the collection section to the grappling hook section.

Abstract: A second support post supporting a main unit is swingably held by a vibration isolation mechanism on a first support post which is fixedly mounted in a compartment of a vehicle. The second support post supports thereon a first lock for engaging a bracket mounted on a wall of the vehicle to prevent the second support post and the main unit from being swingably displaced. A joint casing on the first support post houses therein a second lock for fixing the second support post to the first support post. When the vehicle is stopped for the main unit to capture an image of a subject, the first and second locks fix the main unit to the vehicle.

Abstract: When cassettes are placed on a conveyor disposed in a cassette loader and detectors disposed on a support plate on the conveyor detect information of identification strips on side walls of the cassettes, the cassettes are judged as being loaded properly in the cassette loader. When the detectors fail to detect the identification strips, the cassettes are judged as not being loaded in a desired state in the cassette loader.

Abstract: A cassette is delivered from a cassette loader through a stock unit to a releasing unit. After a stimulable phosphor panel is supplied from the cassette to a reading unit by an unlocking mechanism and a panel ejecting mechanism, the cassette is fed to a position below an erasing unit so as to wait for the stimulable phosphor panel. After recorded radiation image information is read from the stimulable phosphor panel by the reading unit, the stimulable phosphor panel is fed to the erasing unit, which erases remaining radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor panel. Thereafter, the stimulable phosphor panel is stored back into the waiting cassette, which is delivered to a cassette discharger.

Abstract: A cassette processing apparatus has a plurality of stack units for holding respective cassettes in an array, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the cassettes held by the respective stack units at respective different angles depending on the types of the cassettes. The tilting mechanism has a rotatable shaft connected to a rotary actuator, and a plurality of eccentric cams held in respective angular positions by the rotatable shaft to adjust the angles at which the stack units are tilted thereby to set angles at which the cassettes are titled.

Abstract: After a main unit has captured an image of a subject, the main unit is detached from a support post fixedly mounted in a compartment of a vehicle through a mounting/dismounting mechanism, and stored in a storage case disposed in the compartment of the vehicle. The storage case, which can be closed by a lid, incorporates therein first and second thermal insulating members made of a thermal insulating material, and first and second damping members disposed respectively in the first and second thermal insulating members for absorbing vibrations from the vehicle.

Abstract: A radiation image recording apparatus comprises: a carrier holding section having a holding frame consisting of two or more frame members that are adjustable in intervals, the holding frame holding a recording carrier, which is to be used, of recording carriers shaped as a flat plate having two or more sizes on which a radiation image is accumulated and recorded, and a first moving mechanism that moves the holding frame in an in-plane direction in which the recording carrier extends; a second moving mechanism that moves the holding frame in the in-plane direction; a first control section that controls the first moving mechanism so that the recording carrier is disposed in a predetermined position on the carrier holding section; and a second control section that controls the second moving mechanism so that radiation emitted from a radiation projection apparatus is projected to the recording carrier.

Abstract: A plurality of stacked cassettes are loaded into a cassette loader, and the cassettes loaded in the cassette loader are changed in attitude and stocked in an erected state in a stock unit. After the cassettes are processed, they are discharged in an erected state into a cassette discharger.

Abstract: A vibration isolation structure for an image-forming apparatus includes an exposure unit disposed in a vehicle compartment, for applying radiation to a subject and capturing a radiation image of the subject; a support post fixedly mounted in the compartment of the vehicle; a holder for holding the exposure unit; and a vibration-suppressing mechanism for connecting the support post and the holder to each other to suppress vibrations transmitted from the vehicle through the support post to the holder. The vibration-suppressing mechanism may include a resilient member disposed between the support post and the holder, holding the holder swingably with respect to the support post. The resilient member may include a helical spring or a plurality of resilient components. The resilient member may have characteristics established depending on the weight and position of the center of gravity of the holder or exposure unit, or conditions in which the vehicle is driven.

Abstract: After a housing of a cassette is opened by a suction cup, then a stimulable phosphor sheet is removed from the cassette by a shiftable roller and then fed in an auxiliary scanning direction by a feed mechanism. While being fed in the auxiliary scanning direction, the stimulable phosphor sheet is irradiated with a laser beam emitted from a stimulating optical system. Light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the laser beam is guided through a light guide to a photoelectric transducer. After the recorded radiation image information is read from the stimulable phosphor sheet, the stimulable phosphor sheet is stored back into the cassette, and erasing light from erasing light sources is applied to the stimulable phosphor sheet in the cassette to erase remaining radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A cassette processing apparatus has a plurality of stack units for holding respective cassettes in an array, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the cassettes held by the respective stack units at respective different angles depending on the types of the cassettes. The tilting mechanism has a rotatable shaft connected to a rotary actuator, and a plurality of eccentric cams held in respective angular positions by the rotatable shaft to adjust the angles at which the stack units are tilted thereby to set angles at which the cassettes are titled.

Abstract: A cassette is delivered from a cassette loader through a stock unit to a releasing unit. After a stimulable phosphor panel is supplied from the cassette to a reading unit by an unlocking mechanism and a panel ejecting mechanism, the cassette is fed to a position below an erasing unit so as to wait for the stimulable phosphor panel. After recorded radiation image information is read from the stimulable phosphor panel by the reading unit, the stimulable phosphor panel is fed to the erasing unit, which erases remaining radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor panel. Thereafter, the stimulable phosphor panel is stored back into the waiting cassette, which is delivered to a cassette discharger.

Abstract: A plurality of stacked cassettes are loaded into a cassette loader, and the cassettes loaded in the cassette loader are changed in attitude and stocked in an erected state in a stock unit. After the cassettes are processed, they are discharged in an erected state into a cassette discharger.

Abstract: When cassettes are placed on a conveyor disposed in a cassette loader and detectors disposed on a support plate on the conveyor detect information of identification strips on side walls of the cassettes, the cassettes are judged as being loaded properly in the cassette loader. When the detectors fail to detect the identification strips, the cassettes are judged as not being loaded in a desired state in the cassette loader.

Abstract: A second support post supporting a main unit is swingably held by a vibration isolation mechanism on a first support post which is fixedly mounted in a compartment of a vehicle. The second support post supports thereon a first lock for engaging a bracket mounted on a wall of the vehicle to prevent the second support post and the main unit from being swingably displaced. A joint casing on the first support post houses therein a second lock for fixing the second support post to the first support post. When the vehicle is stopped for the main unit to capture an image of a subject, the first and second locks fix the main unit to the vehicle.

Abstract: After a main unit has captured an image of a subject, the main unit is detached from a support post fixedly mounted in a compartment of a vehicle through a mounting/dismounting mechanism, and stored in a storage case disposed in the compartment of the vehicle. The storage case, which can be closed by a lid, incorporates therein first and second thermal insulating members made of a thermal insulating material, and first and second damping members disposed respectively in the first and second thermal insulating members for absorbing vibrations from the vehicle.

Abstract: A second support post is coupled by a vibration isolation mechanism to an upper end of a first support post fixedly mounted in a compartment of a vehicle. Vibrations transmitted from the vehicle while the vehicle is being driven are dampened by a spring of the vibration isolation mechanism, and prevented from being transmitted from the first support post to the second support post. A main unit supported on the second support post for capturing an image of a subject is protected from vibrations from the vehicle. When the vehicle is stopped, the main unit is fixed to the first support post and the vehicle to capture an image of the subject.

Abstract: After a housing of a cassette is opened by a suction cup, then a stimulable phosphor sheet is removed from the cassette by a shiftable roller and then fed in an auxiliary scanning direction by a feed mechanism. While being fed in the auxiliary scanning direction, the stimulable phosphor sheet is irradiated with a laser beam emitted from a stimulating optical system. Light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the laser beam is guided through a light guide to a photoelectric transducer. After the recorded radiation image information is read from the stimulable phosphor sheet, the stimulable phosphor sheet is stored back into the cassette, and erasing light from erasing light sources is applied to the stimulable phosphor sheet in the cassette to erase remaining radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet.