All The Claims

1. A device for forming a visual representation of the quantity of solar exposure of a specific place, comprising:
a means reflecting an image of the surroundings;
an inscribed rigid transparent planar sheet means for forming a composite visual image of said inscription with said reflected image, the inscription including indications of the path of the sun’s travel during the course of a day; and
a means for leveling said sheet with respect to the horizontal.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said reflecting means comprises a convex mirrored surface.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said rigid transparent planar sheet is leveled by balancing it on said mirrored surface.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said inscription contains one or more arcurate lines indicating the path of the sun’s daily travel at a particular location and time of year.
5. The device of claim 4 with the addition of a sighting mark to assist the user in more accurate eye placement.
6. The device of claim 4 with the addition of an azimuthal indication allowing use without depending on a reflection of the sun for azimuthal orientation.
7. The device of claim 3 with additional inscribed labels, instructions, or advertising.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A biopsy instrument for extracting a segment from tissue, the biopsy instrument comprising:
a first part having an end with means for penetrating a tissue at the end, and a wall having an opening extending through the wall of the first part;
a second part adapted for being slidably disposed on the first part, excision means for separating a segment of the tissue penetrated by the first part provided on the second part such that sliding movement of the second part on the first part in one direction causes the excision means to pass through the opening in the wall of the first part thereby separating a segment of the tissue for extraction;
a spring exerting a force, the spring being arranged for displacing the first and second part in a distal direction; and
impact damping means to reduce the oscillation of the first part in relation to the second part at stoppage of the first part.
2. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, further comprising impact damping means designed to keep oscillation of the first part with respect to the second part within 0.4 mm.
3. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein the impact damping means comprise ABS or a polymer having physical properties similar to ABS.
4. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the spring is at least 35 N.
5. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the spring is at least 50 N.
6. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the spring is at least 65 N.
7. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein the damping means are capable of keeping the oscillations within 0.3 mm.
8. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein the sliding movement of the second part is caused by inertia.
9. The biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein the damping means are integral with means for stopping the movement of the first part.
10. A biopsy instrument, comprising:
a tubular canula having a canula bore and with a front end and an axial opening at the front end communicating with the canula bore, a wall of the canula having, in proximity of the front end, an opening extending through the wall;
a substantially cylindrical tube having a bore and with an axial front end and an opening at the front end communicating with the bore of the tube, the tube having a projection at the front end opening with an end section bent toward the axis of the tube,
wherein the canula is adapted for being disposed in the bore of the tube, and the end section of the tube is shaped for being inserted into the opening in the canula wall and is axially displaceable in a forward direction so as to be deflected towards the axis of the canula,
a spring exerting a force, and being arranged for displacing the canula and the cylindrical tube in a distal direction,
means for damping to reduce the oscillation of the canula and the tube relative to each other when displacement is stopped, so as to keep the oscillation of the canula with respect to the tube within 0.4 mm.
11. The biopsy instrument of claim 10, wherein the force exerted by the spring is at least about 35 N.
12. The biopsy instrument of claim 10, wherein the projection is structured and arranged for contacting an edge of the opening in the wall of the canula such that the end section is deflected towards the axis of the canula.
13. The biopsy instrument of claim 10, further comprising a second projection at the front end of the tube and a second opening in the canula wall.
14. The biopsy instrument of claim 10, further comprising a stylet inserted in the canula.
15. In combination, a holder and the biopsy instrument of claim 10, the canula and the tube including means for connecting them with the holder for axial forward displacement of the canula and the tube.
16. The holder of claim 15, wherein the spring is arranged for substantially consecutive axial displacement of the canula and tube in combination, and of the tube only.
17. The holder of claim 15, wherein the spring comprises a steel coil spring.
18. An impact damping element for a canula or a stylet of a biopsy instrument driven by a spring compressed to 35 N or more, the element being made of an ABS polymer having a yield tensile strength of 35 MPa or more and an Izod impact strength of 325 Jm or more, or another medical grade polymer meeting these requirements.
19. The element of claim 18 provided with recesses andor bores disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of impact.
20. The element of claim 18, wherein the recesses are disposed so as to provide for slight folding in the direction of impact.
21. A loading assembly for a biopsy apparatus incorporating, in a housing, a biopsy instrument and a compression or tension spring, the assembly comprising a loading arm swivellingly attached at its one end to the housing, an intermediate arm swivellingly fixed at its one end to the loading arm and being connected to and in swivelling relationship to a catch releasably holding an element insertable into tissue, the element, on release of the catch, being displaced within the tissue by the action of the spring in a loaded state and being recoverable, in a released state, by the catch for loading by compressing or tensioning the spring.
22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the spring is loaded by displacing the free end of the loading arm towards the housing.
23. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the loading arm comprises a joint.
24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the loading arm is releasably attachable to the intermediate arm.
25. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the loading arm, the intermediate arm, and the catch are in a substantially parallel relationship when the spring is in a compressed or tensioned condition.
26. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the loading arm, the intermediate arm, and the catch are in a substantially triangular relationship when the spring is in an unloaded condition.
27. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the intermediate arm comprises a flexible section functioning as a joint.

1. A form sheet type determining method comprising the steps of:
extracting each character string on an input form sheet as a keyword, after performing character recognition on the each character string; and
collating the extracted keywords with a plurality of sets of keywords registered beforehand for each predetermined form sheet as one set of keywords in a keyword register, thereby to determine the type of said input form sheet,
wherein each keyword in each set of keywords registered beforehand is registered in said keyword register in association with a predetermined corresponding weight, and
wherein in said step of collating, each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet is given a weight; the degree of matching between said input form sheet and said predetermined form sheet types is evaluated for each predetermined form sheet type by using said weights of said extracted keywords and said predetermined weights of the keywords in each set of said form sheet types within said keyword register; and one of said predetermined form sheet types having the highest degree of matching is determined to be the type of the input form sheet.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined weight of each keyword of said sets of keywords registered beforehand is a keyword-specific weight.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the weights attached to each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet include at least a weight based on the type of characters forming the keyword and a weight based on the location of the keyword on said input form sheet.
4. A form sheet type determining method for determining to which of predetermined form sheet types an input form sheet corresponds, comprising the steps of:
registering a plurality of sets of keywords beforehand in a keyword register with one set of keywords for each of predetermined form sheet types;
reading image data of an input form sheet, extracting character strings from the read image data, and performing character recognition on each of the extracted character strings;
extracting each of said character-recognized character strings as a keyword;
collating said extracted keywords, for each of the form sheet types, with said plurality of sets of keywords registered in said register, thereby to determine the type of said input form sheet,
wherein in said keyword register, said each keyword in said sets of keywords is registered in association with a predetermined corresponding weight, and
wherein in said step of collating, each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet is attached with a weight; the degree of matching between said input form sheet and said predetermined form sheet types is evaluated for each predetermined form sheet type by using said weights of said extracted keywords and said predetermined weights of the keywords in each set of said form sheet types within said keyword register; and one of said predetermined form sheet types having the highest degree of matching is determined to be the type of the input form sheet.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the weight attached to each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet is a weight based on the type of characters forming the keyword.
6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the weight attached to each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet is a weight based on the location on said input form sheet.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the weight attached to each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet based on the location on said form sheet, is given a larger weight as the location of the keyword on the input form sheet approaches closer to the uppermost location.
8. A method according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined weight of each keyword of said registered set of keywords is a keyword-specific weight.
9. A method according to claim 4, wherein the weights attached to each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet include a weight based on the type of characters forming the keyword and a weight based on the location of the keyword on said input form sheet.
10. A form sheet type determining apparatus for determining to which of predetermined form sheet types an input form sheet corresponds, comprising:
a keyword register which stores therein a plurality of sets of keywords, one set for each of predetermined form sheet types;
a character recognition unit which reads image data of an input form sheet, extracts character strings from the read image data, and performs character recognition on each character string extracted;
a keyword extraction unit which extracts as a keyword each of the character strings character-recognized by the character recognition unit;
a collator which collates said extracted keywords, for each predetermined form sheet type, with each set of keywords of said plurality of sets of keywords registered in said keyword register to thereby determine the type of said input form sheet,
wherein in said collator each of said extracted keywords is given a weight based on a type of characters constituting the extracted keyword.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said type of characters distinguishes whether each of said extracted keywords is typed or handwritten.
12. A form sheet type determining apparatus for determining to which of predetermined form sheet types an input form sheet corresponds, comprising:
a keyword register which stores therein a plurality of sets of keywords one set for each of predetermined form sheet types;
a character recognition unit which reads image data of an input form sheet, extracts character strings from the read image data, and performs character recognition on each character string extracted;
a keyword extraction unit which extracts as a keyword each of the character strings character-recognized by the character recognition unit;
a collator which collates said extracted keywords, for each predetermined form sheet type, with each set of keywords of said plurality of sets of keywords registered in said keyword register to thereby determine the type of said input form sheet,
wherein in said collator each of said extracted keywords is given a weight in accordance with a location of the keyword on said input form sheet.
13. A form sheet type determining apparatus for determining to which of predetermined form sheet types an input form sheet corresponds, comprising:
a keyword register which stores therein a plurality of sets of keywords one set for each of predetermined form sheet types;
a character recognition unit which reads image data of an input form sheet, extracts character strings from the read image data, and performs character recognition on each character string extracted;
a keyword extraction unit which extracts as a keyword each of the character strings character-recognized by the character recognition unit;
a collator which collates said extracted keywords, for each predetermined form sheet type, with each set of keywords of said plurality of sets of keywords registered in said keyword register to thereby determine the type of said input form sheet,
wherein in said register each keyword in each set of keywords is registered in association with a corresponding keyword-specific weight for each form sheet type.
14. A form sheet type determining apparatus for determining to which of predetermined form sheet types an input form sheet corresponds, comprising:
a keyword register which stores therein a plurality of sets of keywords one set for each of predetermined form sheet types;
a character recognition unit which reads image data of an input form sheet, extracts character strings from the read image data, and performs character recognition on each character string extracted;
a keyword extraction unit which extracts as a keyword each of the character strings character-recognized by the character recognition unit;
a collator which collates said extracted keywords, for each predetermined form sheet type, with each set of keywords of said plurality of sets of keywords registered in said keyword register to thereby determine the type of said input form sheet,
wherein in said register each keyword in each set of keywords is registered in association with a predetermined weight, and
wherein in said collator, each of said extracted keywords is attached with a weight, and said collator evaluates, for each form sheet type, the degree of matching between said input form sheet and said predetermined form sheet types by using said weights of said extracted keywords and said predetermined weight of each keyword in each set of said keywords within said keyword register to thereby decide that a form sheet type having a highest degree of matching is the form sheet type of said input form sheet.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the weight given to each of said extracted keywords is a weight based on a type of characters constituting the keyword.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said type of characters distinguishes whether each said extracted keywords is typed or handwritten.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of said extracted keywords is given a weight larger than 0 when the keyword is typed, and given a weight of 0 when the keyword is handwritten, such that among said extracted keywords of said input form sheet, one or more handwritten keywords are eliminated from the determination of the form sheet type.
18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the weight attached to each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet is given a larger weight as the location of the keyword on the input form sheet approaches closer to the uppermost location.
19. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the weight given to each of said extracted keywords is a weight based on a location of the keyword on said input form sheet.
20. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined weight of each keyword in each set of keywords registered in said register is a keyword-specific weight.
21. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the weights attached to each of said extracted keywords of said input form sheet include a weight based on the type of characters forming the keyword and a weight based on the location of the keyword on said input form sheet.
22. A computer program product comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for determining whether an input form sheet is one of predetermined form sheet types, said computer readable program code means comprising:
means for registering a plurality of sets of keywords for each of predetermined form sheet types as a set of keywords beforehand in a keyword register;
means for reading image data of said input form sheet, extracting character strings from the read image data, and performing character recognition on each of the extracted character strings; and
collating means for collating, for each form sheet type, said extracted keywords with said sets of keywords registered in said keyword register, thereby to determine the type of said input form sheet,
wherein in said register means, each keyword in said sets of keywords is registered in association with a predetermined corresponding weight, and
said collating means evaluates, for each form sheet type, the degree of matching between said input form sheet and said predetermined form sheet types by using the weights given to each of said extracted keywords and said predetermined weights of the keywords in each set of said keywords within said keyword register to thereby decide that a form sheet type having a highest degree of matching is the form sheet type of said input form sheet.

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 calculus manipulation apparatus comprising:
first and second ultrasonic generator elements which generate ultrasonic vibration;
a first transmission probe having a proximal end portion connected to the first ultrasonic generator element and a hollow portion in the form of a through hole;
a tip manipulator element which is provided on the distal end portion of the first transmission probe and brought into contact with a calculus, the tip manipulator element receiving ultrasonic vibration from the ultrasonic generator elements through the probe; and
a second transmission probe capable of being passed through the hollow portion of the first transmission probe, the second probe having a piercer section on the distal end portion thereof to which ultrasonic vibration is transmitted from the second ultrasonic generator element and which is stabbed into the calculus and a calculus fixing section which fixes the calculus to the distal end portion.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculus fixing section has means which stops the second ultrasonic generator element with the piercer section in the calculus.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculus fixing section has a balloon fixed to the distal end of the second transmission probe.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second transmission probe has a hollow portion in the form of a through hole, the hollow portion being formed having a feed air channel for inflating the balloon.
5. A calculus manipulation apparatus which manipulates a calculus in a ureter, comprising:
an elongate sheath having a distal end portion to be inserted into the ureter;
a staple removably attached to the distal end portion of the sheath, the staple moving in the direction of insertion of the sheath to grasp the calculus;
control means on the hand side of the sheath which discharges the staple from the sheath; and
calculus removal means which hitches the staple to the calculus in the ureter and removes the calculus.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, which further comprises a wire having one end portion attached to the staple and the other end portion extending toward the control means, and calculus removal means which removes the calculus by pulling the wire with the staple hitched and coupled to the calculus.
7. A manipulation apparatus which manipulates a calculus in a ureter, comprising:
an elongate sheath having a distal end portion to be inserted into the ureter;
staple means removably attached to the distal end portion of the sheath, the staple means being movable in the direction of insertion of the sheath to be driven into the calculus;
means which drives the staple means into the calculus; and
calculus removal means which hitches the staple means to the calculus and removes the calculus.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the driving means has means which vibrates the staple means with shock waves.
9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the staple means has a screw-grooved rugged portion, and the driving means screws the screw-grooved rugged portion of the staple means into the calculus.
10. A manipulation apparatus which manipulates a calculus in a lumen, comprising:
a capture tool used in combination with a lithotripter which crushes a calculus and having a calculus capturing section capable of capturing the calculus as an object of manipulation on the distal end portion of an insert section to be inserted into the lumen.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the calculus capturing section has a helical member having an adjustable outside diameter.
12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the capture tool has regulating means which adjusts the outside diameter of the helical member so that the helical member is brought alternatively to an extended state in which the outside diameter of the helical member is larger than the diameter of the calculus as the object of manipulation or a contracted state in which the helical member can capture the calculus.
13. A calculus manipulation apparatus comprising:
lithotriptic means which is passed through an endoscope channel and crushes a calculus; and
fixing means which fixes the calculus in a position near the distal end of the endoscope channel.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the lithotriptic means has a lithotriptic probe, and the fixing means has a bundle of linear members, each of the linear members having a bent tip portion centripetally bent inward, the linear member bundle being movable in the axial direction of the endoscope channel with the linear members arranged in the shape of a cylinder in the endoscope channel, the lithotriptic probe being passed through the cylinder of the linear member bundle.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the linear members have an expanded shape such that at least the bent tip portions are spread to a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the endoscope channel when the linear members project outward from the endoscope channel.
16. A calculus manipulation apparatus comprising:
lithotriptic means which crushes a calculus through an endoscope channel;
a helical member having a variable diameter and situated on the distal side of the endoscope channel;
a control member having one end portion connected to at least one end of the helical member and the other end portion extending to the proximal end of the endoscope channel and capable of manipulating the helical member on the proximal side of the endoscope channel;
calculus holding means which operates the control means to hold the calculus in the helical member; and
means which causes the lithotriptic means to project from the distal end of the endoscope channel so as to run against the calculus, thereby crushing the calculus.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the helical member is loaded with a shape memory such that the helical member becomes helical when heated to a preset or higher temperature.