A magnetic latch for industrial environments includes fixed magnetic pole pieces that may be sealed within a housing to resist environmental contamination and which provide for perpendicular engagement faces for use with gates having a rolling or swinging configuration. An RFID tag reader may be incorporated into the magnet assembly of the latch for reading a specially encoded RFID tag in a keeper portion of the magnetic latch.

A door opening preventing apparatus for a vehicle includes an outer door handle mounted on an outer surface of a door panel, a door opening lever mounted on an interior of the door panel to angularly rotate and interlocking with the outer door handle when the outer door handle is opened, and a latch cable connected to the door opening lever, wherein a separate balance weight is disposed at an upper end of the door opening lever to contact the door opening lever, and the door opening lever is pushed by the balance weight outward due to a forward inertial force during a side collision of a vehicle, and only the balance weight is angularly rotated inward by a reverse inertial force.

A push/pull operating device includes first and second operational devices mounted to two sides of a door. The first operating device includes a first bracket having a plurality of non-circular mounting holes. Two engaging rods extend through two of the mounting holes of the first bracket, the door, and a latch device mounted in the door. Each engaging rod has a limiting portion fixedly received in one of the mounting holes. A head of each engaging rod presses against the first bracket. The second operational device includes a second bracket having a plurality of non-circular mounting holes. A bolt is extended through one of the mounting holes of the second bracket and the door and engaged with one of the engaging rods. A head of each bolt presses against the second bracket. Thus, the first and second brackets are securely fixed to the sides of the door.

Gear processing machine (4), such as a gear cutting or grinding machine, wherein a chamfering and/or deburring apparatus (2) and auxiliary spindle (10) are included on the same machine. A transfer mechanism (8) loads, unloads and transfers workpieces between a machining spindle (6) and the auxiliary spindle (10) thereby enabling simultaneous cutting and chamfering and/or deburring processes to be carried out. Via the auxiliary spindle, completed workpieces may be removed from the machine and blank workpieces may be loaded into the machine while another gear is being processed on the machine spindle thereby enhancing machine output and creating a more efficient operation.

A path display apparatus includes a first position command acquiring unit that acquires first position command for motors, a first position feedback acquiring unit that acquires first position feedback of each of the motors, a correction data acquiring unit that acquires correction data generated for each of the motors, a second position command calculating unit that subtracts the correction data from the first position command to calculate a second position command, a second position feedback calculating unit that subtracts the correction data from the first position feedback to calculate second position feedback, a command path display unit that displays a command path of the tip point of the tool, based on the second position command; and a feedback path display unit that displays a feedback path of the tip point of the tool, based on the second position feedback.

The face miller is equipped with a plurality of plate-shaped hard material cutting inserts that are distributed over the circumference. The hard material cutting inserts are located on a graduated circle in pockets of a blade carrier and have a main cutting edge, which is adjusted at a cutting edge angle smaller than 90° relative to the working plane of the miller. In order to ensure maximum machining performance at a good service life, the cutting edge angle is selected to range between 10° and 30°, wherein the main cutting edge at the same time has a slightly convex design. The main cutting edge transitions into the secondary cutting edge via a transition radius having a value that ranges between 0.5 and 1.5 mm. The axial rake angle ranges between 20 and 30°. According to an advantageous further development, the radial rake angle ranges between −6° and −10°.

A method of chip-removal machining a tooth gap of a work piece includes executing a first substantially linear plunging movement of the cutting tool along a first plunge vector and machining a region of the work piece near a tooth head of a first tooth flank of the tooth. A substantially transverse movement of the tool along a transverse vector is then executed to machine a region of the work piece near a tooth head of the second tooth flank of the tooth. A second plunging movement of the cutting tool along a vector path is then executed, to an end point of the second plunging movement that lies at a position of the work piece corresponding to the slot depth of the tooth gap to be fabricated. The cutting tool is rotated about an axis of rotation thereof during execution of these steps.

A rotary joint device includes attachment grooves formed at positions in an outer peripheral surface of an outer cylinder, each attachment groove being formed so as to straddle a pair of adjacent cylindrical blocks and so as to be exposed from the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, each attachment groove having a bottom surface that is machined to form a flat surface in a state in which the cylindrical blocks are combined, and positioning blocks corresponding to the attachment grooves on a one-to-one basis and each having an attachment phase that is uniquely set to a corresponding one of the attachment grooves in the axial direction and in a circumferential direction of the outer cylinder, each positioning block having an attachment surface corresponding to the bottom surface of a corresponding one of the attachment grooves, the attachment surface being machined so as to form a flat surface.

A machining apparatus for grinding, milling, polishing or the like of a dental workpiece. The machining apparatus contains a machining tool, a housing to which the machining tool is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation relative to the housing, and a holding device to which the housing is fixed. The housing is mounted yieldingly movably to the holding device in dependence on forces exerted on the machining tool.

In a machine tool having a rotary shaft for use in rotating a tool or a workpiece, a plurality of stable rotation speeds at which the chatter vibrations are expected to be suppressed, and at least one switching rotation speed across which a dynamic characteristic of a rotary shaft system changes are stored. The plurality of stable rotation speeds may be determined from chatter vibrations detected using a vibration detection unit. Optimum rotation speed that is a rotation speed to which a rotation speed of the rotary shaft is changeable without crossing the switching rotation speed is selected from the plurality of stable rotation speeds, and the rotation speed of the rotary shaft is changed to the optimum rotation speed. Thus, chatter vibrations generated during rotation of the rotary shaft can be suppressed effectively.

A ram guiding apparatus 1 of a machine tool is incorporated in a portal type machine tool 2 and provided with a cross saddle 5 that is cross-like in shape, as seen in a side view of the machine tool 2, provided so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction along a horizontal cross beam 4. The cross saddle 5 has a box 18, both upper and lower faces thereof being open, in a front side of a horizontal part, wherein a first linear guide 21, a second linear guide 22, and a third linear guide 23, respectively serving as linear guides in the box 18 for a ram vertical movement, guide the ram 9 so as to be freely movable only in the vertical direction.

An apparatus for forming a bend in a composite panel is provided. An angle and a radius bend are identified for a bend. A location of the bend in the composite panel is identified. A slot is cut having a curved flange in the composite panel at the identified location in a single pass through the composite panel with a tool, wherein the curved flange has a shape with a bend allowance width and a bend slot width. The bend allowance width is BA=2π*A/360, wherein BA is the bend allowance width, R is a corner radius, and A is a bend angle. The bend slot width is BS=BA−2K(R−T), wherein K is Tan(A/2) and T is a thickness of the composite panel.

A translocation-simulating loading apparatus for the gear grinding machine with the shaped grinding wheel is provided. The apparatus includes a load-receiving test piece disposed on the gear grinding machine with the shaped grinding wheel and a load-exerting component for use in loading simulation. The gear grinding machine enables linear movements along the X, Y, and Z axes, a rotary movement around the Y axis, a rotary movement C around the Z axis, and a rotary movement A around the X axis. An angle α is formed between the axis L of a ball seat of the load-exerting component and the X axis direction of a Y axis component and an angle formed between the normal line of a load receiving face a and the X direction of the coordinate system of the machine tool is α. A detection method for static stiffness distribution is provided.

A cooling assembly for a machine tool including at least first and second nozzle rings mounted on the spindle housing, respectively defining first and second coolant conduits and respectively including first and second pluralities of nozzles in fluid communication with the respective conduit. Each first nozzle is oriented with an outlet thereof directed toward a first machining zone containing cutting edges of at last one tool having a first length. Each second nozzle is oriented with an outlet thereof directed toward a second machining zone different from the first machining zone and containing the cutting edges of at least one tool having a second length.

Apparatus, systems and methods of 50 CFM exhaust and ventilation fans for bathrooms with grill covers having removable light lens covers, and flaps/ears that allow the housings to mount directly to joists and/or other structural members inside of a ceiling or inside of a wall. The housing can include a mounting plate having a motor with attached impeller thereon, wherein the mounting plate with motor and attached impeller and electrical connectors can be removed as a single unit from the housing for accessing and inspecting interior wire connections during inspection and for ease in replacing parts such as burned out motors overtime.

A control apparatus C of a horizontal axis wind turbine apparatus WTG calculates the value en of a pitch angle command for each blade based on the rate of change ΨD of the azimuth angle Ψ of a Nacelle N and the rotor azimuth angle of the blades B1, B2 and B3, causes the rotor R to generated torque around the yaw axis by periodically controlling the angle change of the pitch angle of the blades B1, B2 and B3, and using that torque, controls the rate of change of the azimuth angle of the nacelle N. The value of that angle change is calculated as a value that increases as the inputted value of the rate of the change ΨD increases.

A propulsion device using fluid flow quickly discharges the vortex flow generated on an upper surface of the propulsion device to the outside to improve the propulsion and thrust of transportation means provided with the propulsion device. For this purpose, the propulsion device includes a fluid storage unit in which a downwardly curved fluid storage surface is formed between a first inlet line and a first outlet line such that a fluid storage space is formed on the fluid storage surface. A fluid flow unit in which a downwardly curved fluid flow surface is formed between a second inlet line and a second outlet line which are outwardly and backwardly inclined such that a fluid flow space is formed on the fluid flow surface. The-fluid flow surface adjacent to the second outlet line becomes gradually flattened as it extends outwardly.

A gas turbine engine component, including: a pressure side (12) having an interior surface (34); a suction side (14) having an interior surface (36); a trailing edge portion (30); and a plurality of suction side and pressure side impingement orifices (24) disposed in the trailing edge portion (30). Each suction side impingement orifice is configured to direct an impingement jet (48) at an acute angle (52) onto a target area (60) that encompasses a tip (140) of a chevron (122) within a chevron arrangement (120) formed in the suction side interior surface. Each pressure side impingement orifice is configured to direct an impingement jet at an acute angle onto an elongated target area that encompasses a tip of a chevron within a chevron arrangement formed in the pressure side interior surface.

Chemical liquid injector 100 includes two piston driving mechanisms 130 each moving a piston of a syringe forward, main injection condition determining section 171 determining injection conditions for a chemical liquid in main injection, test injection condition determining section 172 determining injection conditions for the chemical liquid in test injection performed prior to the main injection to inject a smaller injection amount of the chemical liquid than that in the main injection, and control section 161 creating an injection protocol in accordance with the injection conditions determined by test injection condition determining section 171 and main injection condition determining section 172 such that the chemical liquid is injected in a series of operations in which the test injection is performed, then a preset injection suspension time is present, and subsequently the main injection is performed, and further controlling operation of piston driving mechanisms 130 in accordance with the injection protocol.

A mirror for the EUV wavelength range (1) having a layer arrangement (P) applied on a substrate (S), the layer arrangement having a periodic sequence of individual layers, where the periodic sequence has at least two individual layers—forming a period—composed respectively of silicon (Si) and ruthenium (Ru). Also disclosed are a projection objective for microlithography (2) including such a mirror, and a projection exposure apparatus for microlithography having such a projection objective (2).

An X-ray arrangement is suitable to record absorption, phase contrast, and dark field images of an object. The visibility of low absorbing specimens is improved and required radiation dose is reduced. The assembly includes an X-ray source; two or more gratings; a position-sensitive detector with spatially modulated detection sensitivity; a recorder for recording the images; an evaluator for evaluating the intensities for each pixel to identify the characteristic of the object for each individual pixel as an absorption and/or a differential phase contrast and/or an x-ray scattering dominated pixel. Images are collected by rotating from 0 to n or 2n either the sample or the assembly. The gratings are produced with planar geometry. The X-rays pass through the gratings parallel to the substrate. The grating structures extend along the X-ray path which determines the phase shift. The attenuation of the X-rays caused by the grating structures is no longer given by the thickness, but by the length of the grating structures.

A press plate that includes: a plate shaped press portion that is capable of resilient deformation; a first slit that is provided to a first wall portion of a support body with length direction along a first edge portion of the press portion, and that penetrates the first wall portion; second slits that are provided to a second wall portions of the support body with length direction along second edge portions of the press portion, and that penetrate the second wall portions; and a first corner portion slit that is provided straddling a corner portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion and penetrating the corner portion, that is connected to the first slit, and that is disposed at a separation to the second slit.

An X-ray photography apparatus including: a turning arm that supports an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector which are opposed to each other so that the head of a patient can be interposed therebetween, and a moving mechanism that includes a turning part and a moving part. The turning part turns the turning arm about a turning axis with respect to the head. The moving part moves the turning arm relative to the head in a direction perpendicular to the turning axis. The X-ray photography apparatus also includes: an image processor that generates an X-ray image, a photographic region designation part that designates part of a row of teeth along a dental arch as a pseudo intraoral radiography region, and an X-ray forming mechanism that changes the irradiation direction in which the head is irradiated with an X-ray relative to the axial direction of the body axis of the patient.

An X-ray photography apparatus including: a turning arm that supports an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector while the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector are opposed to each other so that a head of a patient can be interposed therebetween; and a moving mechanism that turns the turning arm about a turning axis with respect to the head and moves the turning arm in a direction perpendicular to the turning axis with respect to the head. The X-ray photography apparatus further includes: an image processor that generates an X-ray image based on an electric signal output from the X-ray detector; and a photographic region designation receiving part that designates part of a row of teeth along a dental arch as a pseudo intraoral radiography region. The image processor generates plural tomographic images by applying convolution and filtered back projection to X-ray image data obtained by pseudo intraoral radiography.

A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an imaging unit configured to image an affected area in two directions using X-rays; a fluoroscopic image generating unit configured to generate two X-ray fluoroscopic images corresponding to the two directions, on a basis of imaging signals outputted from the imaging unit; a rendering image generating unit configured to project the affected area contained in three-dimensional image data acquired in advance, in two directions according to a same X-ray geometry as that used for imaging the X-ray fluoroscopic images, to thereby generate two affected area rendering images; and an image combining unit configured to combine the X-ray fluoroscopic images with the affected area rendering images for each corresponding direction, to thereby generate combined parallax images in two parallax directions corresponding to the two directions, and to output the two generated combined parallax images to a 3D display apparatus.

A power converter is configured to include an inverter which converts a DC output into an AC voltage of a predetermined frequency, and a high voltage generator which receives an output from output terminals of the inverter and boosts the output to a desired high DC voltage. The high voltage generator includes a transformer, and the primary windings of the transformer are connected to the output terminals of the inverter in parallel by conductive wires connected to both ends of each primary winding. Further, a current sensor is provided to detect a current flowing through each of the primary windings, and a control unit determines abnormalities of a path of the inverter and the primary windings on the basis of a value of the current sensor.

In a high-voltage apparatus according to this invention, a predetermined voltage is applied to a rotating anode after waiting until the number of rotations increases to such an extent that the rotating anode is not damaged. That is, X-rays of desired intensity are already outputted from a point of time when the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. Therefore, diagnosis can be performed immediately after the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. That is, unlike the prior art, there is no need to wait until X-ray intensity becomes suitable for diagnosis after X-ray emission is started, and there is no need to irradiate the patient with unnecessary X-rays. Therefore, the patient can be inhibited from being irradiated with excessive X-rays (with an improvement made in a response from when the operator gives instructions for starting fluoroscopy until emission of X-rays suitable for diagnosis).

In a construction having a radiation tube in an envelope filled with an insulating liquid, a radiation generating apparatus which realizes a miniaturization of the apparatus, an improvement of a withstanding voltage between the envelope and the radiation tube, and a decrease in attenuation amount of the radiation and a radiation imaging apparatus using the radiation generating apparatus are provided. The radiation generating apparatus has an envelope 12 having a first window 27 for transmitting the radiation, a radiation tube 14 enclosed in the envelope 12 and having a second window 19 for transmitting the radiation at a position in opposition to the first window 27, and an insulating liquid 13 filled between the envelope 12 and the radiation tube 14. A solid-state insulating member 28 is placed between the first window 27 and its periphery and the second window 19 and its periphery.

An adjusting method of an X-ray apparatus has a reflection structure, wherein assuming that one end plane of the reflection structure is an inlet port of the X-ray and the other end plane is an outlet port of the X-ray, a pitch of the reflection substrates at the outlet port is wider than that at the inlet port. When the X-ray source exists at a position where a glancing angle at the time when the X-ray enters the inlet port exceeds a critical angle, an intensity of the X-ray emitted from each passage is detected. On the basis of the detected X-ray intensity, a relative position of the X-ray source and the reflection structure is adjusted.

A method for obtaining multi-material decomposition images of an object is presented. The method includes acquiring an image pair from a dual energy computed tomography scan of the imaged object. The method then includes selecting a material basis for multi-material decomposition of the image pair. The method further includes applying a physicochemical model for the material basis. Also, the method includes performing multi-material decomposition using at least one constraint imposed by the physicochemical model.

A method is provided. The method includes acquiring a first dataset at a first energy spectrum and a second dataset at a second energy spectrum. The method also includes extracting a metal artifact correction signal using the first dataset and the second dataset or using a first reconstructed image and a second reconstructed image generated respectively from the first and the second datasets. The method further includes performing metal artifact correction on the first reconstructed image using the metal artifact correction signal to generate a first corrected image.

An imaging apparatus having a ring-shaped gantry is provided. The gantry has a rotor arrangement rotating therein and a radiation source as well as at least one radiation detector. The gantry has at least one gantry segment which can be detached from the ring shape to allow the gantry to be opened laterally. The gantry is arranged on a supporting structure so as to be movable in space. The supporting structure is a ceiling-mounted stand having at least two degrees of freedom of movement. The gantry has at least two radiation sources disposed offset by an angle on the rotor arrangement and associated with each of which is at least one radiation detector.

A method for producing an X-ray projection image of a body region of a patient using a desired spatial location of a central ray, includes positioning a pointing element relative to the patient indicating a location of a pointing line and causing the location of the pointing line to coincide with the desired central ray location. A pointing line location and a central ray location currently set on an X-ray machine are recorded. A measure for deviation between the pointing line and the currently set central ray location is determined and used to set the desired central ray location. A medical apparatus includes an X-ray machine taking an X-ray projection image along a central ray, a pointing element indicating a pointing line, an acquisition unit detecting the pointing line location and the currently set central ray location, and a control and evaluation unit implementing software carrying out the method.

Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques are described for dynamically adjusting, in a fan-angle direction, attenuation of radiation during an examination of an object such that portions of the object that are not represented in resulting (tilted/targeted) images of the object are exposed to less radiation than portions of the object that are represented in resulting (tilted/targeted) images of the object. As a rotating gantry is rotated, blades of a pre-object collimator are dynamically repositioned to selectively attenuate emitted radiation. A collimator adjustment component may be configured to determine how to reposition the blades based at least in part upon at least one of a desired tilt of the resulting (tilted) image(s), a translational position of the object, and a gantry rotation angle, for example.

To provide an X-ray imaging apparatus capable of easily adjusting the sensitivity or capable of easily extracting the amount of refraction of X-rays. An X-ray imaging apparatus irradiating an object to be measured with an X-ray beam from an X-ray source that generates X-rays of a first energy and X-rays of a second energy different from the first energy to measure an image of the object to be measured includes an attenuator and a detector. The attenuator attenuates the X-ray beam transmitted through the object to be measured and is configured so as to vary the amount of attenuation of the X-rays depending on a position on which the X-ray beam is incident. The detector detects the X-ray beam transmitted through the attenuator and is configured so as to detect the X-rays of the first energy and the second energy.

A method for asynchronous operation of a rotary anode of an x-ray emitter, where a torque is exerted onto the rotary anode by an electromagnetic alternating field of a stator with a first frequency is provided. The method includes increasing the first frequency to a second frequency. The second frequency is a whole number multiple of an x-ray trigger frequency. The method also includes simultaneously changing an output of the alternating field such that a rotational frequency of the rotary anode remains unchanged.

The present disclosure relates to an electric field emission x-ray tube apparatus equipped with a built-in getter, and more particularly, to an electric field emission x-ray tube apparatus equipped with a built-in getter that makes it possible to reduce the size of an x-ray tube by forming a stacked structure, with electric insulation and predetermined gaps maintained for each electrode, by manufacturing an x-ray tube having a stacked structure by inserting insulating spacers (for example, ceramic) between an exhausting port, a cathode, a gate, a focusing electrode, and an anode and bonding them with an adhesive substance, and then inserting a spacer between a field emitter on a cathode substrate and a gate hole connected with a gate electrode.

Method for limiting an X-ray beam, wherein the X-ray beam is limited by a limiting unit comprising a couple of blades approaching each other or moving away from each other to adjust the width of a space between the blades the two blades being driven by an actuator (12) linked to both blades. The position of a symmetry axis (S) of the space between the blades is set in a shifting step by changing the distance between the blades and by impeding the motion of one blade in comparison with the motion of the other blade resulting in an asymmetric motion of the blades with respect to an initial position of the symmetry axis (S). The desired width (W) of the space between the blades is set in an adjustment step by an unimpeded symmetric motion of the blades with respect to the position of the symmetry axis (S) set in the shifting step.

A tridimensional modeling apparatus, system and kit is for representing an exploration network. The apparatus, system and kit include a transparent hollow cube with six plane surfaces for representing an enclosed volume, a plurality of perforations on at least two of the six plane surfaces and indicia around each opening for marking polar coordinates and orientation. The apparatus, system and kit further include a plurality of transparent rods for representing exploration channels. The plurality of perforations on the cube are arranged for receiving rods for tridimensional modeling of the exploration network and each rod is inserted into an opening with an angle and a depth, thereby resulting in a visual representation of the exploration network within the represented volume.

A user interface system including a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a first level fluid vessel arranged at a first level within the sheet and a second level fluid vessel arranged at a second level within the sheet, wherein both the first and second level fluid vessels are arranged underneath the surface; a first volume of fluid contained within the first level fluid vessel; a second volume of fluid contained within the second level fluid vessel; and a displacement device coupled to the first and second level fluid vessels that selectively manipulates the first and second volumes of fluid, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface to a first and second stage, respectively or deforming a first particular region and a second particular region of the surface, respectively.

A cognitive disorder diagnostic system that employs cognitive cubes, gameplay associate with the cognitive cubes, and a data gathering as statistical analysis base device that may be a computer, that communicates the gathered data to a web server host according to a unique ID associated with particular cognitive cubes and further associated with a particular player. Using the statistical data gathered using the gameplay, various cognitive disorders may be successfully diagnosed and treated with higher reliability.

A method for selectively applying a reflectance modifying agent (RMA) to an area of skin, the method comprising receiving an image of the area of skin, identifying, using the image, a nominated point within the area of skin, determining an actual reflectance of the nominated point, applying an edge protection technique based on the image to generate one or more outputs, determining a desired reflectance of the nominated point based on the one or more outputs, calculating an amount of RMA to be applied based on the output, and determining whether to apply the RMA to the area of skin based on the amount of RMA.

Models, kits and methods useful in the demonstration of sialendoscopy devices and techniques are described. An exemplary demonstration apparatus comprises a support structure, an insert structure contacting the support structure, and a duct structure contacting the insert structure. The insert structure has a top surface defining a first opening and a bottom surface defining a second opening, and defines a channel with a first end in communication with the first opening and a second end in communication with the second opening. The duct structure comprises an elongate tubular member and has a first end in fluid communication with the first opening of the insert member, a second end, and defines a lumen extending from the first end to the second end. A portion of the duct structure is releasably disposed within the channel defined by the insert structure.

Information technology tools can be provided to manage access by a plurality of attendees through a network to a presentation. Each of the attendees is registered with an associated content access status, and presentation data for the presentation is provided to a registered attendee based on the particular content access status of the registered attendee.

A system and method are disclosed for correlating an electronic book with a narration. A correlation is determined between a first portion of the narration and a first segment of the text within the electronic book. The correlation is stored as instructions to present the first segment of the text with emphasis simultaneously with playback of the first the portion of the narration. A determination is made that a second portion of the audio recording, immediately following the first portion, does not match a second segment of the text that immediately follows the first segment. A correlation between the second portion and a component of the electronic book is determined and stored as instructions to present the component with emphasis simultaneously with playback of the second portion of the narration.

Various embodiments described herein facilitate multi-lingual communications. The systems and methods of some embodiments enable multi-lingual communications through different modes of communication including, for example, Internet-based chat, e-mail, text-based mobile phone communications, postings to online forums, postings to online social media services, and the like. Certain embodiments implement communication systems and methods that translate text between two or more languages. Users of the systems and methods may be incentivized to submit corrections for inaccurate or erroneous translations, and may receive a reward for these submissions. Systems and methods for assessing the accuracy of translations are described.

A training device for sclerotherapy. The device includes at least one artificial venous structure adapted to contain a fluid, a reservoir, and a fluid path connecting the artificial venous structure to the reservoir.

An image display apparatus includes a communication unit to communicate with information processing apparatuses; an image synthesizing unit to synthesize a multi-segmented screen image composed of screen images of the information processing apparatuses; a projection unit to project the multi-segmented screen image onto a screen; a functional mode management unit to control switching between a normal projection mode and a multi-segmented screen operation mode; an image capture device to capture the multi-segmented screen image and a hand movement of an operator when switched to the multi-segmented screen operation mode; a designated screen image recognition unit to detect a hand movement of the operator based on the image captured by the image capture device, and to recognize a screen image designated as an active-target image; and a signal control unit to transmit a request of image data transmission to an information processing apparatus corresponding to the designated active-target image.

A method of providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience includes equipping the user with an underwater breathing apparatus, having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user, and while the user occupies the underwater environment, using a computer-implemented virtual reality system to present to the user a virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting. The virtual reality system inhibits visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment so that the user experiences the virtual reality environment under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment. The buoyancy condition enhances the experience of the virtual reality environment.

An educational apparatus for educating, testing and entertaining individuals includes a rotatable spherical element, a planar support structure and a plurality of rollers for supporting the spherical element for rotational movement. The planar support structure defines an elevated planar surface with a circular opening therein. The rotatable rollers are hingedly mounted to the planar support structure around the opening for supporting the spherical element with a majority of the spherical element above the level of the planar support structure. A fixed element is fixed to the spherical element and a magnetic complimentary element is disposed adjacent the spherical element for contact by the fixed element.