In a tire the strength of steel cord and the resilience of rubber are a successful combination. However, in some specific areas of a tire, more elongation is expected from the steel cord, while still a sufficient degree of stiffness is expected. A steel cord is presented that has these properties. The steel cord comprises two or more steel elements that are twisted together. The steel elements comprise one or more steel filaments. In total the steel cord comprises N filaments, each with a cross sectional area A. When the steel elements are individualised out of the steel cord they show a helix pitch length of L.sub.o, while a single pitch has a centre line length of S. The inventive steel cord shows a P value of at least 50 newton, wherein P=NE (A/S).sup.2. Further methods are presented to produce this steel cord.

A patient lifting device includes an infection control lift strap with an inner core and an outer plastic layer that can be easily and effectively cleaned with standard disinfectant. The lift strap includes a waterproof sealed belt clamp assembly. A winch assembly includes a motor and high-efficiency gear assembly that lifts and lowers the strap with a spool assembly including an eccentric cylindrical spool. The eccentric cylindrical spool eliminates inconsistent performance of the lifting device as the strap drapes and coils onto the spool without raised attachment points. The strap includes top and bottom layers with different coefficients of friction to prevent slipping and self-tightening of the strap on the spool. The lifting device includes a thickness roller, a strap guard, and an electro-mechanical brake that locks the motor and prevents back driving. The gear assembly provides back driving when power is removed and the brake is released.

A patient lifting device includes an infection control lift strap with an inner core and an outer plastic layer that can be easily and effectively cleaned with standard disinfectant. The lift strap includes a waterproof sealed belt clamp assembly. A winch assembly includes a motor and high-efficiency gear assembly that lifts and lowers the strap with a spool assembly including an eccentric cylindrical spool. The eccentric cylindrical spool eliminates inconsistent performance of the lifting device as the strap drapes and coils onto the spool without raised attachment points. The strap includes top and bottom layers with different coefficients of friction to prevent slipping and self-tightening of the strap on the spool. The lifting device includes a thickness roller, a strap guard, and an electro-mechanical brake that locks the motor and prevents back driving. The gear assembly provides back driving when power is removed and the brake is released.

[Object] A hollow stranded wire line, for manipulation, having an excellent torque transmittability is provided.

[Solution] A hollow stranded wire line 2 for manipulation is a hollow stranded wire line 2 that is advantageously used as a stranded wire line for manipulation in a medical instrument, and a side wire 4 or a side strand which is an outermost layer has a forming rate that is greater than 100% and not greater than 110%. The side wire 4 or the side strand having been formed has a spiral shape in which a flatness that is an aspect ratio obtained by a major axis being divided by a minor axis is preferably not less than 1.01 and preferably not greater than 1.10.

[Object] A hollow stranded wire line, for manipulation, having an excellent torque transmittability is provided.

[Solution] A hollow stranded wire line 2 for manipulation is a hollow stranded wire line 2 that is advantageously used as a stranded wire line for manipulation in a medical instrument, and a side wire 4 or a side strand which is an outermost layer has a forming rate that is greater than 100% and not greater than 110%. The side wire 4 or the side strand having been formed has a spiral shape in which a flatness that is an aspect ratio obtained by a major axis being divided by a minor axis is preferably not less than 1.01 and preferably not greater than 1.10.

[Object] A manipulation rope having an excellent torque transmittability is provided.

[Solution] A manipulation rope 2 is a rope 2 that is advantageously used as a manipulation rope for a medical instrument, and includes a side wire 6 or a side strand which is an outermost layer, the side wire 6 or the side strand having a spiral shape in which a flatness that is an aspect ratio obtained by a major axis being divided by a minor axis is greater than 1.00 and not greater than 1.10. An elongation of the rope at a time when a tensile load that is 1.0% of a breaking load is applied, is preferably not less than 0.04% and preferably not greater than 0.10%.

[Object] A manipulation rope having an excellent torque transmittability is provided.

[Solution] A manipulation rope 2 is a rope 2 that is advantageously used as a manipulation rope for a medical instrument, and includes a side wire 6 or a side strand which is an outermost layer, the side wire 6 or the side strand having a spiral shape in which a flatness that is an aspect ratio obtained by a major axis being divided by a minor axis is greater than 1.00 and not greater than 1.10. An elongation of the rope at a time when a tensile load that is 1.0% of a breaking load is applied, is preferably not less than 0.04% and preferably not greater than 0.10%.

[Object] A manipulation rope having an excellent torque transmittability is provided.

[Solution] A manipulation rope 2 is a rope 2 that is advantageously used as a manipulation rope for a medical instrument, and includes a side wire 6 or a side strand which is an outermost layer, the side wire 6 or the side strand having a forming rate that is greater than 100% and not greater than 110%. The side wire or the side strand having been formed has a spiral shape in which a flatness that is an aspect ratio obtained by a major axis being divided by a minor axis is preferably not less than 1.01 and preferably not greater than 1.10. Further, an elongation of the rope at a time when a tensile load that is 1.0% of a breaking load is applied, is preferably not less than 0.04% and preferably not greater than 0.10%.

[Object] A manipulation rope having an excellent torque transmittability is provided.

[Solution] A manipulation rope 2 is a rope 2 that is advantageously used as a manipulation rope for a medical instrument, and includes a side wire 6 or a side strand which is an outermost layer, the side wire 6 or the side strand having a forming rate that is greater than 100% and not greater than 110%. The side wire or the side strand having been formed has a spiral shape in which a flatness that is an aspect ratio obtained by a major axis being divided by a minor axis is preferably not less than 1.01 and preferably not greater than 1.10. Further, an elongation of the rope at a time when a tensile load that is 1.0% of a breaking load is applied, is preferably not less than 0.04% and preferably not greater than 0.10%.

A steel wire has a microstructure that is completely ferritic, a mixture of ferrite and cementite or a mixture of ferrite and pearlite and has a weight content of carbon C such that C<0.05% and a weight content of chromium Cr such that Cr<12%. The process for drawing the wire comprises: at least one first uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire from a diameter D to a diameter d, at least one second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire of diameter d to a diameter d, and one or more intermediate steps between the first and second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire, the wire having a temperature less than or equal to 300 C. during the or each intermediate step.