Author: claimsbot

1. A sintered body for thermistor elements comprising Sr, Y, Mn, Al, Fe, and O, wherein crystal phases of a perovskite type oxide, a garnet type oxide, and at least one of a Sr\u2014Al based oxide and a Sr\u2014Fe based oxide are present, and wherein FeYO3 andor AlYO3 is selected as said perovskite type oxide, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Y3Al5O12, Al2Fe3Y3O12, and Al3Fe3Y3O12 is selected as said garnet type oxide, respectively by powder X-ray diffraction analysis.
2. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 1, wherein in said perovskite type oxide andor said garnet type oxide, there is Sr solid solution in the Y site, Mn andor Fe solid solution in the Al site, and Al andor Mn solid solution in the Fe site.
3. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 1, wherein when the mole number of Sr is defined as x, the mole number of Y is defined as (1\u2212x), the mole number of Mn is defined as y, the mole number of Al is defined as z, and the mole number of Fe is defined as (1\u2212y\u2212z), wherein x, y, and z have the relationship of 0.090\u2266x\u2266s 0.178, 0.090\u2266y\u22660.178, z\u22670.275, and (1\u2212y\u2212z)\u22670.025.
4. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 1, further comprising Si.
5. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 4, wherein FeYO3 andor AlYO3 is defined as said perovskite type oxide, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Y3Al5O12, Al2Fe3Y3O12, and Al3Fe3Y3O12 is selected as said garnet type oxide, by power X-ray diffraction analysis.
6. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 4, wherein in said perovskite type oxide andor said garnet type oxide, there is Sr solid solution in the Y site, Mn andor Fe solid solution in the Al site, and Al andor Mn solid solution in the Fe site.
7. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 4, wherein when the mole number of Sr is defined as x, the mole number of Y is defined as (1\u2212x), the mole number of Mn is defined as y, the mole number of Al is defined as z, and the mole number of Fe is defined as (1\u2212y\u2212z), wherein x, y and z have the relationship of 0.090\u2266x\u2266s 0.178, 0.090\u2266y\u22660.178, z\u22670.275, and (1\u2212y\u2212z)\u22670.025.
8. A process for producing a sintered body for thermistor elements, comprising mixing respective raw material powders containing elemental Sr, Y, Mn, Al, and Fe and calcining the mixture to form a calcined powder; subsequently molding a thermistor forming powder comprising a mixture of the calcined powder with a sintering assistant containing at least elemental Si; and then calcining the resulting molded compact to obtain a sintered body for thermistor element, wherein the sintered body comprises crystal phases of a perovskite type oxide, a garnet type oxide, and at least one of a Sr\u2014Al based oxide and a Sr\u2014Fe based oxide, and
wherein FeYO3 andor AlYO3 is selected as said perovskite type oxide, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Y3Al5O12, and Al3Fe3Y3Ol2 is selected as said garnet type oxide, respectively by powder X-ray diffraction analysis.
9. A process for producing a sintered body for thermistor elements, comprising mixing respective raw material powders substantially free from elemental Si and containing elemental Sr, Y, Mn, Al, and Fe, and calcining the mixture to form a calcined powder; subsequently molding the thermistor forming powder obtained by pulverizing the calcined powder; and then calcining the resulting molded compact to obtain a sintered body for thermistor elements, wherein the sintered body comprises crystal phases of a perovskite type oxide, a garnet type oxide, and at least one of a Sr\u2014Al based oxide and a Sr\u2014Fe based oxide, and substantially free from Si, and
wherein FeYO3 andor AlYO3 is selected as said perovskite type oxide, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Y3Al5O12, Al2Fe3Y3O12, and Al3Fe3Y3O12 is selected as said garnet type oxide, respectively by powder X-ray diffraction analysis.
10. A thermistor element, which is characterized by using a sintered body for thermistor elements comprising Sr, Y, Mn, Al, Fe, and O, wherein crystal phases of a perovskite type oxide, a garnet type oxide, and at least one of a Sr\u2014Al based oxide and a Sr\u2014Fe based oxide are present, and wherein FeYO3 andor AlYO3 is selected as said perovskite type oxide, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Y3Al5O12, Al2Fe3Y3O12, and Al3Fe3Y3O12 is selected as said garnet type oxide, respectively by powder X-ray diffraction analysis.
11. A temperature sensor, which is characterized by using a sintered body for thermistor elements comprising Sr, Y, Mn, Al, Fe, and O, wherein respective crystal phases of a perovskite type oxide, a garnet type oxide, and at least one of a Sr\u2014Al based oxide and a Sr\u2014Fe based oxide are present, and
wherein FeYO3 andor AlYO3 is selected as said perovskite type oxide, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Y3Al5O12, Al2Fe3Y3O12, and Al3Fe3Y3O12 is selected as said garnet type oxide, respectively by powder X-ray diffraction analysis.
12. A sintered body for thermistor elements comprising Sr, Y, Mn, Al, Fe and O, wherein crystal phases of a perovskite type oxide, a garnet type oxide, and at least one of a Sr\u2014Al based oxide and a Se\u2014Fe based oide are present, and wherein when the mole number of Sr is defined as x, the mole number of Y is defined as (1\u2212x), the mole number of Mn is defined as y, the mole number of Al is defined as z, and the mole number of Fe is defined as (1\u2212y\u2212z), wherein x, y and z have the relationship of 0.120\u2266x\u22660.166, 0.120\u2266y\u22660.166, 0.494\u2266z\u22660.793, and (1\u2212y\u2212z)\u22670.080.
13. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 12, wherein in said perovskite type oxide andor said garnet type oxide, there is a Sr solid solution in the Y site, a Mn andor Fe solid solution in the Al site, and Al andor Mn solid solution in the Fe site.
14. The sintered body for thermistor elements according to claim 12, which further comprises Si.

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 controlling device for an engine, comprising:
an expansion-ratio adjuster configured to adjust an expansion ratio;
a load detector configured to detect an engine load; and
a controller configured to control the expansion-ratio adjuster on the basis of the engine load detected by the load detector in a manner such that the expansion ratio at the time when the load is below a predetermined load value is set lower than that at the time when the load is equal to the predetermined load value.
2. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the expansion-ratio adjuster in a manner such that the expansion ratio at the time when the load is below the predetermined load value becomes lower as the load decreases.
3. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined load value is a load value at which a pressure in a cylinder falls below the atmospheric pressure before an exhaust valve opens in a latter half of an expansion process.
4. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 1, wherein the expansion-ratio adjuster includes an exhaust valve opening-timing adjuster configured to adjust an opening timing of an exhaust valve, and
wherein when the load is below the predetermined load value, the controller advances the opening timing of the exhaust valve so as to reduce the expansion ratio.
5. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust valve opening-timing adjuster adjusts only the opening timing of the exhaust valve.
6. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust valve opening-timing adjuster advances a closing timing of the exhaust valve by the advanced amount of the opening timing of the exhaust valve.
7. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 6, wherein the expansion-ratio adjuster further includes an intake valve opening-timing adjuster configured to adjust an opening timing of an intake valve, and
wherein when the load is below the predetermined load value, the controller advances the opening timing of the intake valve together with advancing the opening and closing timings of the exhaust valve.
8. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 1, wherein the expansion-ratio adjuster includes a top-dead-center position adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a top-dead-center position of a piston, and
wherein when the load is below the predetermined load value, the controller lowers the top-dead-center position of the piston so as to reduce the expansion ratio.
9. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 8, wherein the top-dead-center position adjusting mechanism comprises a plurality of links that link the piston to a crankshaft, and
wherein the expansion ratio is reduced by regulating the movement of at least one of the links.
10. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of links comprises:
a first link connected to the piston by means of a piston pin;
a second link rockably connected to the first link and rotatably connected to the crankshaft; and
a third link which is rockably connected to the second link and regulates the rocking of the second link.
11. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 8, wherein the piston has stroke characteristics that are substantially a simple harmonic motion.
12. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 8, wherein a stroke amount of the piston is greater than the diameter of the piston.
13. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 4, wherein the expansion-ratio adjuster further includes an intake valve closing-timing adjuster configured to adjust a closing timing of an intake valve, and
wherein the controller sets a closing timing of the intake valve prior to a bottom dead center point and advances a closing timing of the intake valve as the load decreases.
14. The controlling device for the engine according to claim 1, wherein the expansion-ratio adjuster includes an exhaust-valve opening-timing adjuster configured to adjust an opening timing of an exhaust valve and a top-dead-center position adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a top-dead-center position of a piston, and
wherein when the load is below the predetermined load value, the controller reduces the expansion ratio by means of the exhaust valve opening-timing adjuster.
15. A method for controlling an engine, comprising the steps of:
detecting an engine load; and
controlling an expansion ratio of the engine on the basis of the detecting step in a manner setting lower the expansion ratio at the time when the load is below a predetermined load value than that at the time when the load is at least equal to the predetermined load value.

1. A control device configured to control a plurality of inverter-driven pumps disposed between a heat source device and an air-conditioner, the control device comprising:
a perceiving unit perceiving a cumulative operation time of each of the pumps and a rotation speed distribution during operation of each of the pumps;
a degradation degree derivation unit deriving a degradation degree of each of the pumps based on the cumulative operation time of each of the pumps and the rotation speed distribution during operation of each of the pumps; and
a determining unit determining the pump to be next operatedstopped based on the degradation degree of each of the pumps,
the degradation degree derivation unit further deriving an increased amount of the degradation degree of each of the pumps in a predetermined period, and
the determining unit determining the pump to be next operatedstopped based on the increased amount of the degradation degree of each of the pumps in the predetermined period.
2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising
a calculation unit calculating an operation time of each of the pumps in a low-speed rotation region and an operation time of each of the pumps in a high-speed rotation region based on the rotation speed distribution during operation of each of the pumps,
the degradation degree derivation unit deriving the degradation degree of each of the pumps based on the cumulative operation time of each of the pumps, the operation time of each of the pumps in the low-speed rotation region and the operation time of each of the pumps in the high-speed rotation region.
3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein
the perceiving unit further perceives a number of startstop cycles of each of the pumps, and
the degradation degree derivation unit further derives the degradation degree of each of the pumps further based on the number of startstop cycles of each of the pumps.
4. The control device according to claim 3, further comprising
a storage unit storing weighting values respectively corresponding to the cumulative operation time of the pumps, the operation time of the pumps in the low-speed rotation region and the operation time of the pumps in the high-speed rotation region, and the number of startstop cycles of the pumps,
the degradation degree derivation unit derives the degradation degree of each of the pumps further based on the weighting values respectively corresponding to the cumulative operation time of the pumps, the operation time of the pumps in the low-speed rotation region and the operation time of the pumps in the high-speed rotation region, and the number of startstop cycles of the pumps.
5. (canceled)

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 needle assembly for delivery of a treatment substance to a site within the body, the needle assembly comprising:
a delivery needle defining a delivery lumen and having a delivery needle wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, the delivery needle wall having one or more cut patterns to increase the flexibility of the delivery needle;
a plurality of internal needles, each internal needle defining an internal needle lumen and having an internal needle wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, the plurality of needles configured to transition between a contracted position and an expanded position; and
a treatment substance source in fluid communication with the internal needle lumens of the plurality of internal needles;
wherein each of the plurality of internal needles is configured to extend in a distal direction and flare outward from the distal end of the delivery needle when in the expanded position; and
wherein the plurality of internal needles are housed within the delivery lumen when in the contracted position.
2. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein an internal surface of the delivery needle wall is coated with a substance configured to reduce or eliminate the likelihood that the internal needles will stick to or catch on the delivery needle wall when the internal needles are transitioned between the contracted position and the expanded position.
3. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein the delivery needle is coated on an outside surface with quick clotting features, cauterizing features, or both.
4. The needle assembly claim 2, wherein the internal surface of the delivery needle wall includes one oe more cut features, the one or more cut features facilitating fluid communication between the internal needle lumen and an exterior of the internal needles.
5. The needle assembly of claim 4, wherein the needle assembly further comprises a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the flexible shaft coupled with the proximal ends of the internal needles.
6. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein the needle assembly comprises three internal needles.
7. The needle assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the internal needles has a distal aperture in fluid communication with the internal needle lumen.
8. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the distal ends of the internal needles are sharpened.
9. The needle assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the distal ends of the internal needles form a continuous beveled surface, wherein the angle changes continuously along the bevel.
10. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the delivery needle is sharpened.
11. The needle assembly of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the delivery needle forms a continuous beveled surface, wherein the angle changes continuously along the bevel.
12. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein the needle assembly further comprises a connection to a suction source, a steering mechanism, or both.
13. A multi-lumen catheter assembly, comprising:
a biopsy needle contained within one lumen;
an ultrasound probe contained within a second lumen; and
a mechanism for adjusting the angle of the distal tip of the biopsy needle, comprising one or more steering wires.
14. The needle assembly of claim 13, wherein the one or more steering wires is a bowden wire.
15. A method of obtaining a tissue sample, comprising:
inserting a needle assembly in a bronchoscope;
advancing a one or more flexible needles through a distal tip of the needle assembly;
visualizing the tip position with the aid of one or more signature markers; and
manipulating a position of the distal tip to optimally obtain the tissue sample.