1. An in-vehicle information processor comprising:
a traffic signal information acquisition unit that acquires traffic signal information regarding a lighting state of a traffic signal; and
an information providing unit that provides information based on the traffic signal information acquired by the traffic signal information acquisition unit, wherein
the information providing unit starts providing the information based on the traffic signal information in response to detecting that a speed of a vehicle approaching the traffic signal is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value that is a non-zero speed.
2. The in-vehicle information processor according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit ends the providing of the information based on the traffic signal information when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold value while the information based on the traffic signal information is being provided.
3. The in-vehicle information processor according to claim 2, wherein after ending the providing of the information based on the traffic signal information when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the information providing unit resumes the providing of the information based on the traffic signal information when the speed of the vehicle becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value and predetermined conditions excluding the speed of the vehicle are satisfied.
4. The in-vehicle information processor according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined conditions refer to that another vehicle exists in front of the vehicle.
5. The in-vehicle information processor according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined conditions refer to that another vehicle exists in front of the vehicle and another vehicle is performing either a right turn or a left turn.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A surgical device for correction of spinal deformity, comprising twisting means which twists the vertebra around the axis of the spine, and compressing means which compresses the vertebra in a direction reducing the scoliosis.
2. The surgical device for correction of spinal deformity according to claim 1, wherein said twisting means comprises a fixture to be fixed to the vertebra, a shaft detachably connected to said fixture and projecting outside the body, and lateral input means which pulls the portion of the shaft projecting outside the body in the lateral direction of the spine to apply a twisting force to the vertebra.
3. The surgical device for correction of spinal deformity according to claim 1, wherein said compressing means comprises a fixture to be fixed to the vertebra, a shaft detachably connected to said fixture and projecting outside the body, and longitudinal input means which pulls the portion of the shaft projecting outside the body in the longitudinal direction of the spine to compress the vertebra.
4. The surgical device for correction of spinal deformity according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a rod having a shape following the corrected spine, wherein connecting means to said rod is provided on the fixture.
5. A method for using a surgical device for correction of spinal deformity, comprising the step of alternately twisting the vertebra around the axis of the spine, and compressing the vertebra in a direction reducing scoliosis by compressing means.
6. A method for using a surgical device for correction of spinal deformity, comprising the step of conducting any one of operations of twisting the vertebra around the axis of the spine by twisting means and compressing the vertebra in a direction reducing scoliosis by compressing means after the completion of the other operation.
7. A surgical device for correction of spinal deformity, comprising a fixture to be fixed to the vertebra, a rod having a shape following the corrected spine, rotating means for rotating the rod around the axis thereof on the fixture, and connecting means which, upon rotating the rod by said rotating means, loosely connecting the rod to the fixture, and after rotating the rod to the correcting position, fixes the rod to the fixture.
8. The surgical device for correction of spinal deformity according to claim 7, wherein the rotating means is a connecting section formed on the rod, with which a ratchet tool engages.
9. The surgical device for correction of spinal deformity according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a shaft detachably connected to the fixture and projecting outside the body.
10. A surgical device for correction of spinal deformity, comprising a fixture to be fixed to the vertebra, a rod having a shape following the corrected spine, a shaft detachably connected to the fixture and projecting outside the body, and connecting means which loosely connects the rod to the fixture when rotating the rod by inclining the shaft toward a desired direction, and fixes the rod to the fixture after rotating the rod to the correcting position.
11. A method for using a surgical device for correction of spinal deformity, comprising the steps of fixing a fixture to the vertebra; loosely connecting a rod having a shape following the corrected spine by connecting means to the fixture; rotating the rod by rotating means to a correcting position; and then, fixing the rod by the connecting means to the fixture.
12. A method for using a surgical device for correction of spinal deformity, comprising the steps of fixing a fixture to the vertebra; loosely connecting a rod having a shape following the corrected spine by connecting means to the fixture; inclining a shaft connected to the fixture and projecting outside the body toward a desired direction and rotating the rod to a correcting position; and then, fixing the rod to the fixture by connecting means.
13. A spinal deformity correcting rod formed in to a curved shape following a corrected spine, wherein a connecting section of rotating means is formed at a desired position.
14. The surgical device for correction of spinal deformity according to claim 7, wherein the rotating means is a lever member connected to both ends or an end of the rod.
15. The surgical device for correction of spinal deformity according to claim 7, wherein the rotating means is a lever member connected to the center portion of the rod.
16. A method for correcting a spinal deformity comprising a step of inserting a fixture into the body through a desired one selected from a plurality of ports or small incision provided on the axillary line of patient’s chest wall and fixing the same to the vertebra of the thoracic spine; a step of inserting a rod having a shape following the corrected thoracic spine through a desired port or small incision into patient’s body and loosely connecting the same by connecting means to said fixture; a step of rotating the rod through a desired port or small incision from outside patient’s body so as to reach a correcting position; and a step of fixing said rod by said connecting means to said fixture.
17. The method for correcting a spinal deformity according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of inserting a bar-shaped tool through a desired port or small incision into patient’s body and engaging the tip thereof with the lever member attached to the rod; and rotating the rod to the correcting position by pushing from outside the body a bar-shaped tool.
18. The method for correcting a spinal deformity according to claim 16, wherein the shaft is inserted through said port or said small incision into patient’s body and the tip thereof is connected to said fixture; and the rod is rotated to the correcting position by inclining the shaft outside the body toward a desired direction.
19. The method for correcting a spinal deformity according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the steps are carried out under an endoscope.