Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media that support private querying and exchanging of domain information, such as Domain Name System (DNS) information, between multiple devices. To illustrate, two devices may generate and exchange a list domain information queries and a list of domain information items, respectively. The lists may be encrypted by respective private keys of the devices. Each device may double-encrypt the respective received list using the respective private key, reorder the double-encrypted list, and transmit the reordered double-encrypted list to the other device. The reordered double-encrypted list of domain information items may be compared to the double-encrypted list of domain information queries to identify indices of domain information queries that match domain information items while maintaining privacy of the domain information queries and domain information items at the devices.

Technology advancements have resulted in increased use of the Internet in the average person's daily life. For example, the Internet may be used to exchange messages, e-mails, music, video content, and social media content between people in diverse geographic locations. A backbone of the Internet is the Domain Name System ("DNS"), a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network. To access content hosted on the Internet, many computers or other electronic devices perform DNS resolutions. A DNS resolution refers to the process for translating a domain name, such as www.example.com, into an Internet protocol (IP) address that is accessible to a computer or other electronic device. For example, DNS resolutions may be triggered by anything that uses a domain name, such as sending an email, visiting a website, using an internet application, or sending a network command to a domain name. These DNS resolutions may be used to identify address records of Internet and network resources in order to enable the computer or other electronic device to connect to them. While DNS resolutions are designed to be efficient, transparent, and easy to use, DNS resolutions are not designed to be secure or private.
DNS resolutions may occur between a client and a DNS registry (or other device, such as a DNS ROOT or a centralized zone data service (CZDS)). When the client (e.g., a computer or other electronic device) performs a DNS query for a particular domain name with the registry, the registry responds with one of three typical types of response code: a response code that indicates the DNS query is successfully completed (i.e., "[0]NOERROR"); a response code that indicates there is an error or DNS failure with the DNS query (i.e., "[1]FORMERROR", "[2]SERVFAIL", or "[5]REFUSED"); or a response code that indicates that the domain name does not exist (e.g., no one else has been allocated the domain name) (i.e., "[3]NXDOMAIN", also referred to as "NXD"). Because of the DNS resolutions are designed to be transparent, a DNS resolution may include both a queried domain name and the associated response code, which indicates whether the query resulted in an existing domain name or that the domain name does not exist.
Issues may arise from the lack of security provided by DNS resolutions. As a particular example, a client may want to purchase the rights to a particular domain name. In such an example, the client may perform a DNS query for the particular domain name with a registry responsible for registering and allocating domain names. If the DNS query for the particular domain name returns a NXDOMAIN response, the client is made aware that the particular domain name is available. However, some intervening parties may attempt to take advantage of the lack of security associated with DNS resolutions to harm the client. For example, an intervening device operated by a malicious actor may intercept the DNS query and the response code before the response code reaches the client. Because the DNS query and the response code are not private, the malicious actor can see the NXDOMAIN response code and the particular domain name, which may enable the malicious actor to purchase the client's requested domain name before the client can make the purchase. The malicious actor is then able to take advantage of the client by either buying and holding the desired domain name or buying and attempting to sell the desired domain name to the client at a high price. Additionally, if the registry knows the client's desired domain name, the registry can increase the price of the client's desired domain name.
Another potential issue caused by the lack of security and privacy associated with the DNS resolution process is that a client may be exposed to a man-in-the middle attack. For example, NXDOMAIN responses can be intercepted by an intervening device and replaced with poisoned or hijacked DNS responses in order to attack, censor, or track the client on the Internet. Another potential issue is that a client may be subject to extortion due to the lack of privacy and security within the DNS resolution process. For example, DNS queries and DNS responses may be intercepted to generate logs of what DNS queries and responses have been communicated, when the DNS queries and responses have been communicated, and to which individuals or organizations the DNS queries and responses have been communicated. These logs can be used to reveal private information about the client that has made the DNS query or received a DNS response, which can be used for extortion or coercion. To address these security issues, the client may encrypt a DNS query. However, in order for the registry to process the encrypted DNS query, the registry must have access to an encryption key used to encrypt the DNS query. Communicating the encryption key is associated with risks that the encryption key may be intercepted by an unintended party. Additionally, such encryption does not prevent the registry from performing undesired actions, such as increasing the price of a client's desired domain address.

Systems, devices, and methods for private query and exchange of domain information


A branch is produced by means of an additive 3D production process for producing a metal part, which comprises at least two parts, namely a support section and a functional section. The metal part is a single-pieced part, in which the support section and the functional section are seamlessly interconnected by means of corresponding connecting webs. After the material is applied, the connecting webs are removed.

Document EP 2 554 132 discloses an instrument for the coagulation of biological tissue between two branches of a tool of a surgical instrument. Each branch comprises an electrode support, which is connected to a thin, plate-shaped electrode via a plurality of punctiform welded connections. The electrode support can have a plastic housing.
Furthermore, US 2011/0073246 A1 discloses an instrument having branches comprising a plastic-metal composite part. This is formed by an electrode plate having a U-bent edge, which has circumferential recesses or holes. Plastic is injected beneath the electrode plate and extends over the edge of the electrode plate.
Furthermore, WO 02/080785 A1 relates to the anchoring of electrode plates in an electrically insulating substrate for branches of a medical instrument. The electrode plate can have an offset edge, which is in form-locked engagement with the plastic substrate.
When designing medical instruments for coagulating tissue, it should be ensured that the tongs-like tool is precisely designed and can apply relatively high pressure on biological tissue. Additional restrictions, such as sterility, sterilizability, heat resistance, electrical insulation of the electrode plates, thermal insulation of the electrode plates with respect to the surrounding tissue, etc., must also be taken into consideration.

Method for producing a branch and surgical instrument comprising a tool having a branch


Method and apparatus are utilized in a system for distributing digital contents from a central server to a plurality of endpoint servers for further distribution to end users for automatically managing the digital assets of the endpoint servers. Each endpoint server is connected to a plurality of users over a communications network and operable to deliver digital information content to users on demand. Using a master content stored at the central server, the digital content of each endpoint is periodically and automatically refreshed based on an aggregate profile that reflects the preferences of the end-user population served by the endpoint server. The aggregate profile is generated from information received from the end users, including information submitted by the users or automatically generated feedback information relating to the users' on-line activities.

Broadband communication technologies have made it practical to deliver full motion video and other programming services to individual users on demand. The term "broadband" describes a service or system having a transmission speed of 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) or greater. It also refers to the characteristics of any network technology that multiplexes multiple, independent network carriers onto a single cable, usually using frequency division multiplexing. The broadband platforms that are currently available, either on a commercial scale or on an experimental basis, include upgraded cable systems using cable modems, upgraded telephone delivery systems using the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology, and satellite delivery systems that allow interactive communication.
A cable modem is a modem device that connects a personal computer (PC) to a coaxial or fiber optic cable that transmits television signals. Communication via a cable modem system is interactive. In an upgraded cable system, the bandwidth of the cable is typically divided into a relatively wide bandwidth for downstream data transmission (i.e. from the network to the PCs in the households) and a relatively narrow bandwidth for upstream signaling and telephony. A cable modem incorporates a tuner that separates data signals, broadcast streams and telephony signals. A cable modem may also include network management software by which the cable company can monitor the operation of the modem, as well as encryption devices.
Digital subscriber lines (DSL) technologies have been developed to provide broadband data communication over the existing copper wire twisted-pair telephone networks. Among the DSL technologies, asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSL) technology takes advantage of the asymmetrical nature of interactive multimedia communication. ADSL transmits downstream data through a high-speed channel to a subscriber's computer and upstream signals through a lower-speed channel to the network, while simultaneously providing "Plain Old Telephone Service" (POTS). This makes it possible to transmit full motion video over a standard telephone line.
Direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems that are currently used for broadcast video transmission may also be used to provide broadband interactive data transmission. In a DBS system, data is typically transmitted from a geosynchronous communications satellite directly to a dish antenna attached to a personal computer. To return data, the subscriber may dial up a local service such as an Internet service provider (ISP) over a standard analog modem. A network of low orbit geosynchronous communications satellites has also been proposed to create a digital network around the globe.


A hydrating cosmetic composition for keratinous substrates that includes a stabilized anhydrous balm that includes at least one glycol humectant dispersed in a stabilized anhydrous fatty phase that includes at least one plant derived butter, a blend of structuring waxes, and a blend of fatty compounds and a surfactant.

Topical formulations for keratinous substrates, for example skin, can include high amounts of fatty emollients that provide a protective occlusive effect as a barrier that prevents water loss and incursion of irritants and contaminants. Such formulations can have aesthetic and tactile drawbacks of being too soft and loose on pickup, and melting too readily upon application, such as, to the skin, resulting in a thin and oily feeling. In addition, because of the high amount of oils, dispersion of humectants such as glycols can be difficult, which limits the ability to provide moisturizing benefits.
There is a need for a composition that overcomes one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks. Such a composition would provide one or more of good spreadability, and tactile and aesthetic properties that include a rich, buttery texture on pickup and pleasant feel on skin, and deliver the moisturizing benefits of included humectants.

Moisturizing anhydrous butter balm composition and method


A DRAM performs data writing if a column activation signal ZCOLRE is activated with changing of an internal address Add and then an internal write control signal WDRV is activated by generation of a write signal WE from an outside. However, in order to solve a problem that data writing does not performed in some cases when the data writing is performed at optional timing, a semiconductor memory device according to the present invention includes a delay unit, thereby delaying an output of the internal write control signal WDRV until the column activation signal ZCOLRE is activated, even when the write signal WE is generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to internal timing of a data write to a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) writing to a memory cell at an arbitrary timing as in SRAM may cause a data write error to occur.
In this type of memory device, as shown in FIG. 7, when a chip enable signal M-CE# is at an xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d level, when a change occurs in address signal Add, which is an external address, the memory device is actuated relative to the change. Thus, an external write signal WE# (# is indicative of being an L level and active) is activated in the latter half of a cycle of address signal Add. Relative to the change of address signal Add, address transition detection signal ATD is generated, and thereafter, in accordance with a fall of address transition detection signal ATD, row activation signal INTZPAS, word activation signal RXT, sense amplifier activation signal SO and column activation signal ZCOLRE are activated in succession.
As shown in FIG. 7, when external write signal WE# is generated in the latter half of a cycle of address signal Add, in accordance with generation of external write signal WE#, internal write signal INTWE is activated. After a predetermined time elapses from the activation, internal write control signal WDRV is activated. At the point of time when the WDRV signal is activated, column activation signal ZCOLRE is already activated. Therefore, write of data DQ is carried out according to the internal write control signal WDRV, and no related data write error occurs.
FIG. 8 illustrates a timing diagram when the external write signal WE# is activated in the first half of a cycle of address signal Add. In this case, as in the case represented by FIG. 7, relative to the change of the address signal Add, address transition detection signal ATD, row activation signal INTZPAS, word activation signal RXT, sense amplifier activation signal SO and column activation signal ZCOLRE are activated in succession.
In accordance with the generation of the external write signal WE#, internal write signal INTWE is activated. After a predetermined time elapses from this activation, internal write control signal WDRV is activated. However, because at the point of time when the WDRV signal is activated, the column activation signal ZCOLRE is not activated, the write of data DQ is not carried out according to the internal write control signal WDRV, and a related data write error occurs.
FIG. 9 illustrates a DRAM operating in a short cycle, shorter than a normal cycle. The short cycle is not conformable to the standard design. Therefore, no write is carried out. As shown, the external write signal WE# is generated for the period of the short cycle, and thereafter, a normal read cycle is carried out.
In the short cycle, internal write control signal WDRV is activated in accordance with the generation of the external write signal WE#. For this reason, when column activation signal ZCOLRE is activated (as shown by a dotted line) in the short cycle. Unnecessary, write is carried out and an error write is generated.
Usually, a design is made so that the write failure and error write are not generated. The inventor found that in the case when an internal write is carried out based on external write timing, a write failure and error write may occur depending on write timing.
An object of the present invention is to provide a memory device, which can carry out a normal write in a normal cycle without generating error write in various write timings.
In DRAM, data write is carried out when a column activation signal ZCOLRE is activated with a change of an internal address Add and an internal write control signal WDRV is activated by a generation of an external write signal WE. However, when the data write is carried out at an arbitrary timing, no data write is carried out in some cases.
In order to solve the above problem, according to an aspect of the disclosed concepts, a semiconductor memory device includes a delay circuit for delaying an output of the internal write control signal WDRV until the column activation signal ZCOLRE is activated even if the write signal WE is generated.
Moreover, in the case where the external write signal WE# is generated under a short cycle, when the column activation signal ZCOLRE is activated in the prior cycle, a problem arises such that error write is generated.
In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the disclosed concepts, a semiconductor memory device includes a non-activation circuit for prohibiting activation of the internal write control signal WDRV by a change of the address signal of the next cycle when the external write signal WE# is inputted under a short cycle in which the external address signal is inputted in a short period shorter than a predetermined period.


An authoring file, readable by DVD-Video authoring program, defines the playback structure of the DVD-Video material residing in a given disc's “DVD-Video zone” (VIDEO_TS directory) and also defines the location of the assets that make up the disc—s DVD-Video “presentation data.” The efficiency with which a DVD-Video title stored on a rewritable disc (e.g. DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, or CD-RW) that has been revised in a compatible software applicaiton may be written back to that same disc is optimized. The minimum amount of file rewriting required to effect the desired revisions to the project, in particular avoiding the rewriting of large VOB files, is determined.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the development of interactive visual media, and, more specifically, to improvements in systems used in the development ("authoring") of media content for delivery in the DVD-Video, Video CD, and similar formats.
2. Background Information
The DVD-Video format is one of a number of formats, both standardized and proprietary, within the general category of interactive multimedia. These formats are capable of presenting motion or still images to an end-user (viewer) on a display such as a television screen or a computer monitor, along with accompanying sound. The media are referred to as "interactive" because they allow the timing, order, and conditions governing presentation to vary depending on input from the end-user.
In a typical DVD-Video playback setting, user input is communicated to the playback device via either a remote control (for a set-top DVD-Video player) or a computer mouse and keyboard (for a DVD-ROM drive connected to a computer). The user responds to onscreen prompts or menus (lists of possible options) by pressing keys or clicking the mouse. The playback path through the material available to be played is altered according to the choices or "navigation" of the user.
When presenting DVD-Video program material, a DVD playback device works with two basic categories of data to create the experience of the end-user, presentation data and logical data. Presentation data is the data that is actually seen or heard: the video, audio, graphics and text. The basic unit of presentation data in DVD is a Video Object (VOB), stored in a VOB file. Logical data is information about the order and conditions under which presentation data is presented. Logical data defines the way the content is organized, and also the way in which user input will affect the navigational flow through the presentation data. The basic unit of logical data in DVD is the Program Chain (PGC), defined in an IFO file. The presentation data seen (and heard) by the end-user results from the player following the instructions of the logical data (as well as user input from the remote control). Together, the presentation data and logical data for a given selection on the disc (i.e. a feature film, short film, or music video, as well as associated menus) are stored on the DVD in a set of files referred to as a Video Title Set (VTS). The VOBs used in each VTS are collectively contained in that VTS's Video Object Set (VOBS). The details of the various aspects of the DVD storage means and protocol are described more fully in "DVD specification for Read-Only Disc, Physical, File Format and Video Specifications", DVD Consortium, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The process of creating interactive multimedia is generally referred to as "authoring." Authoring is usually accomplished using one or more software applications running on a computer. In DVD-Video authoring, a disc or collection of discs that are created to be a single unit is commonly referred to as a "DVD title." The authoring work in progress on a given title is commonly referred to as a "project."
The heart of authoring is the defining of the logical data used to structure the playback of presentation data, such as defining the "user interface" (e.g. menus) used to navigate the program, the choices offered to users during playback, and the response of the playback device to user input. During this process, the project's presentation data is normally stored on a hard-drive where it is accessible—locally or via a network—to the authoring system. This allows the author to review the effects of authoring decisions on the way in which the program material is presented.
During the process of defining a project's logical data, the presentation data to which the logical data refers may be in any file format supported by the authoring software, and may be stored at any accessible location. In a project using multiple video clips, for instance, the source file for one clip might be an AVI file stored on the authoring system's internal hard-drive, for another it might be an MPEG-2 file on an external hard-drive, and for a third it might be a QuickTime file accessed from a server over a network.
Each authoring program has its own method of keeping track of the location and format of the presentation files used in a given project, and also keeping track of the logical data decisions that are made during authoring. One such approach is AuthorScript, developed by Sonic Solutions and used in several of its authoring programs. Other approaches are described, for example, in International Patent Application WO 99/38098, published Jul. 29, 1999, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,713, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In the AuthorScript approach, an AuthorScript (.AS) file is created by the authoring program to store both "structure" information related to a project's logical data, and "asset" information about a project's presentation data. Further aspects relating to the production of interactive optical media are described, for example, in International Patent Application WO 96/15500, May 23, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
When an existing project is "opened" in an AuthorScript-based authoring program, the AS file is read and the asset information in it is used to locate the source files of the presentation data. The structure data, meanwhile, is used to restore the project's logical state. As the project is edited, changes are stored in the .AS file, making an up-to-date record of the author's progress on the project.
At the end of the authoring process, when all the decisions regarding logical data are finalized, the project is formatted for delivery on a DVD. The formatting software reads the .AS file, evaluates the information therein, and carries out a series of operations that convert the project's current state into a form that is playable from a DVD-Video playback device.
In terms of presentation data, the process first involves locating the various source files referenced in the .AS file and, where necessary, converting those files to "elemental streams," which are files in the formats used by DVD-Video for the various types of presentation media (e.g. video source files that are not already in the MPEG-2 video format are converted to that format). This may involve "transcoding" of one or more video files (e.g. a complete feature film) from one format to another. In some cases, it may also involve "compositing" several distinct components found in separate files into a unified whole. Compositing is particularly common in the case of menus, which often involve a number of visual elements that reside in different files during the authoring process.
Once the elemental streams exist in the appropriate file formats for use in DVD, they can then be multiplexed together into the Video Object (.VOB) files that are used by a DVD playback device. The logical data created in authoring is also organized into a set of files (.IFO) that can be read and interpreted by a playback device designed to play back discs in the DVD-Video format. Then a "disc image" is written that embodies the entire directory structure and data files that will appear on the final disc, with the logical and presentation files all residing in a VIDEO_TS directory (the "DVD-Video zone"), from which they can be read by a DVD-Video playback device.
A disc image is the source for all the DVDs that are made of a given title, whether replicated in a DVD plant or recorded onto a recordable DVD medium. However, the disc image itself cannot be opened as a project in a DVD-Video authoring program. A DVD-Video disc, therefore, is not functionally equivalent to the project from which it was made. However, AuthorScript incorporates a set of "OpenDVD" functionalities that allow revisions to a DVD title to be accomplished entirley with materials stored on the DVD itself, as is described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/123,816, filed Apr. 15, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by this reference. This means that the files (the .AS file and the source assets) originally used to create a disc image need not be available when revising the title. Once a DVD title has been revised, the project may be written back to the disc. However, due to the size of VOB files, a simple transfer of all the material to the hard-drive of the system running the authoring software and then back to the rewritable disc requires significant space on the hard-drive and is generally very time-consuming.

Optimizing the recording on a rewritable interactive medium of revisions to an existing project on that medium


It is an object of the present invention to provide a lead-free piezoelectric film including a lead-free ferroelectric material and having low dielectric loss and high piezoelectric performance comparable to that of PZT, and a method of manufacturing the lead-free piezoelectric film.

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT: Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3, 0≦x≦1) is a typical ferroelectric material capable of storing a large amount of electric charge, and used in capacitors and film memories. PZT has pyroelectricity and piezoelectricity based on the ferroelectricity thereof. PZT has high piezoelectric performance, and its mechanical quality factor Qm can be controlled easily by adjusting the composition or adding an element thereto. This allows PZT to be applied to sensors, actuators, ultrasonic motors, filter circuits, and oscillators.
PZT, however, contains a large amount of lead. In recent years, there has been a growing concern that lead leached from waste may cause serious damage to the ecosystem and the environment. Accordingly, there has been an international movement toward restricting the use of lead. For this reason, non-lead-containing (that is, lead-free) ferroelectric materials, unlike PZT, have been in demand.
One of the lead-free ferroelectric materials that are currently under development is, for example, a perovskite-type composite oxide [(Bi0.5Na0.5)1-yBay]TiO3 made of bismuth (Bi), sodium (Na), barium (Ba), and titanium (Ti). Patent Literature 1 and Non Patent Literature 1 disclose that this ferroelectric material exhibits high piezoelectric performance of about 125 pC/N in terms of a piezoelectric constant d33, when the [(Bi0.5Na0.5)1-yBay]TiO3 has composition around the Morphotropic Phase Boundary with the content of barium y(=[Ba/(Bi+Na+Ba)]) is 5 to 10%. The piezoelectric performance of the ferroelectric material is, however, lower than that of PZT.
Patent Literature 2, Non Patent Literature 2, and Non Patent Literature 3 disclose that a (Bi,Na,Ba)TiO3 layer that is oriented in a specific direction is fabricated.
The non-obviousness from Patent Literature 3 in view of Patent Literature 4 is described later.

Piezoelectric film and method of manufacturing the same, ink jet head, method of forming image by the ink jet head, angular velocity sensor, method of measuring angular velocity by the angular velocity sensor, piezoelectric generating element, and method of generating electric power using the piezoelectric generating element

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a piezoelectric film comprising a (NaxBiy)TiO0.5x+1.5y+2—BaTiO3 layer with a (111) orientation, where 0.30≦x≦0.46 and 0.51≦y≦0.62.


An electronic product can be configured by a method that includes attaching a machine-readable identification (ID) tag containing an ID code to a hardware unit of the electronic product. The ID code is associated with a particular configuration of the electronic product, and can be read or scanned with a mobile device configured to send the ID code to a provider server device. In response to receiving the ID code, the provider server device can send product configuration instructions and a product configuration application to the mobile device. The product configuration instructions can guide a user through a customized series of electronic product configuration operations. The product configuration application can assist the user in performing configuration operations, can provide customized configuration help, and can establish a wireless link between the mobile device and the electronic product, allowing the user to interact with the electronic product.

The present disclosure generally relates to configuring an electronic product. In particular, this disclosure relates to providing a customized electronic product configuration through the use of a mobile device and a provider server device.
A Quick Response (QR) code is a type of machine-readable optical label in the form of a matrix or two-dimensional barcode that can contain information about an item to which it is attached. A QR code can efficiently store data by using any of four standardized encoding modes including numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary and kanji. In certain applications, extensions to the encoding modes can be used. A QR code image consists of black modules or square dots, arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be captured by an imaging device such as a camera, scanner, or cell phone. The captured image can be processed using a Reed-Solomon error correction algorithm until the image can be appropriately interpreted. The encoded data can then be extracted from patterns present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image.
The QR code system can have the advantages of faster readability and greater data storage capacity, when compared to standard Universal Product Code (UPC) barcodes. Applications for QR codes can include, but are not limited to, product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document management and general marketing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Customized electronic product configuration

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrical connector with a threaded shell which screws on to a threaded connector body, and including an O-ring disposed between the shell and body. The O-ring is made of an elastic material and is placed over the threaded portion and against a shoulder of the connector body so that when the shell is screwed onto the threaded portion of the connector body the O-ring is compressed between the end of the shell and the body shoulder, thereby providing increased friction between the shell and connector body to resist unscrewing of the shell from the body by vibrations and similar random forces.

In prior art electrical connectors, a shell is placed over an connector body to provide electrically insulative shielding or mechanical integrity around the connection between the connector body and an attached electrical wire.
Some prior art electrical connectors mold the shell onto the connector body. Some cylindrical prior art shells screw onto cylindrical connector bodies. Screw on shells allow for the splicing of an electrical connector at the end of a conducting wire. A problem with the prior art shells that screw onto connector bodies is that they can easily become loosened and become unscrewed from the connector bodies by vibrations or other actions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shell that is screwed onto an connector body that does not easily become unscrewed from the connector body when the electrical connector is subjected to vibrations or other forces.


An electrophoresis container apparatus having (1) a primary container tray made from a UV light transmitting materials, (2) a UV light transmitting gel contained in the primary container tray, and (3) a removable top sheet for covering the gel. The removable top sheet may also be UV light transmitting. The apparatus optionally comes with a handle having pincers for grasping the primary container and permitting easy movement of the apparatus from location to location. Because the apparatus transmits UV light, the gel can be used and analyzed while it is still in the tray. This eliminates the need to remove the gel before analysis and reduces the chances that the gel will be damaged during handling. Similarly, because the apparatus has an optional handle, the user can move the apparatus form location to location without touching the apparatus and exposing the user to dangerous chemicals, e.g., those often used in staining procedures.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for conducting gel electrophoresis. In particular, the present invention relates to ultraviolet light transparent apparatuses for holding electrophoresis gels and to methods for using such apparatuses to simply and safely process electrophoresis gels.
2. Background of the Invention
Gel electrophoresis is widely used in the molecular biology and biotechnology fields. Initially all laboratories made their own electrophoresis gels and apparatuses for containing such gels. Subsequently, as such gels became popular they were prefabricated and sold to laboratories in compact and easy to use apparatuses. However, prefabricated electrophoresis gels for are fragile and are subject to drying. Thus, these gels must be handled carefully.
Agarose gels has also been widely used in the molecular biology and biotechnology fields. Typical procedures include preparing the agarose gel, loading samples, running the electrophoresis, staining the samples with fluorescent dyes, and photographing the gels. The use of precast or prefabricated gels eliminates the time required for gel preparation and greatly minimizes potential human contact with highly toxic fluorescent dye stains.
One known electrophoresis gel container for packaging prefabricated electrophoresis gels or to be cast electrophoresis gels is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,704, entitled "Electrophoresis Gel Container Assemblies." The device of the '704 patent has a number of drawbacks. For example, it is not transparent to sufficient ultraviolet ("UV") light to illuminate ethidium bromide-stained DNA bands. Therefore, visualization of stained bands of DNA fragments cannot be made with the '704 device while the gel is still within the gel container. With the '704 device, the user is required to remove the gel from the cassette and place the gel directly onto the ultraviolet light source (e.g., transilluminator) for viewing or photography (i.e., photographing to keep a record of the results). In contrast, according to one aspect of the invention discussed below, one can place the entire apparatus with the gel contained therein directly onto a transilluminator for direct viewing or photography.
The '704 device also does not provide an immediate means of handling the gel without user contact with various solutions used in staining and destaining. In contrast, according to another aspect of the present invention as discussed below, handles are provided that allow the user to transfer the gel and container from place to place and from solution to solution without contacting the gel. This aspect of the invention minimizes the likelihood of contamination and prevents the user from contacting dangerous solutions commonly used in staining, e.g., ethidium bromide (a mutagen used in DNA and RNA staining).

Electrophoresis gel container apparatus and method of use thereof


A mechanism is disclosed for selectively providing mount information to processes running within operating system partitions. In one implementation, a non-global operating system partition is created within a global operating system environment. A file system is maintained for this non-global partition. This file system comprises zero or more mounts, and may be part of a larger, overall file system. When a process running within the non-global partition requests information pertaining to mounts, a determination is made as to which partition the process is running in. Because the process is running within the non-global partition, only selected information is provided to the process. More specifically, only information pertaining to the mounts that are within the file system maintained for the non-global partition is provided to the process. By doing so, the process is limited to viewing only those mounts that are part of the non-global partition's file system.

In a typical computer, an operating system executing on the computer maintains an overall file system. This overall file system provides the infrastructure needed to enable items, such as directories and files, to be created, stored, and accessed in an organized manner.
In addition to having directories and files, the overall file system may also comprise one or more mounts. These mounts enable devices, other file systems, and other entities to be "mounted" onto particular mount points of the overall file system to enable them to be accessed in the same manner as directories and files. For example, a floppy disk drive, a hard drive, a CDROM drive, etc., may be mounted onto a particular mount point of the overall file system. Similarly, a file system such as a process file system (ProcFS) or a network file system (NFS) may be mounted onto a particular mount point of the overall file system. Once mounted, these entities (referred to herein as "mounted entities") may be accessed in the same manner (from the standpoint of a user) as any other directory or file. Thus, they are in effect incorporated into the overall file system.
The mounted entities may be accessed by processes running on the computer. To access a mounted entity, a process may submit a request to the operating system for a list of all of the mounts in the overall file system. When the operating system returns the requested list, the process may select one of the mounts, and submit a request to the operating system to access the mounted entity on that mount. Barring some problem or error, the operating system will grant the request; thus, the process is able to access the mounted entity. Such an access mechanism works well when all processes are allowed to have knowledge of and hence, access to, all mounts in the overall file system. In some implementations, however, it may not be desirable to allow all processes to have knowledge of, and access to, all mounts. In such implementations, the above access mechanism cannot be used effectively.

Mechanism for selectively providing mount information to processes running within operating system partitions


A process for alumina and carbonate production from aluminium rich materials with integrated CO2 utilization, comprising: comminuting and leaching Al-rich materials in concentrated HCl; separating unreacted material from metal chloride solution; separating Al3+ from solution by crystallization of AlCl3.6H2O; calcination of AlCl3.6H2O with HCl recovery; precipitation of metal carbonates from CO2; regeneration of HCl and extractive amines; the Al3+ separation the facilitated by increasing HCl concentration; the calcination being performed in two steps, one in the range 400 and 600° C. to generate a HCl-rich gas and one above 600° C. to produce Al2O3; for precipitating metal carbonates, mixing the metal chloride solution with an organic solution containing a selected amine and contacting the mixture with a CO2-containing gas, thereby also extracting HCl by formation of an ammonium chloride salt complex; processing thermally or chemically the organic solution to regenerate the amine for recirculation.

Alumina (Al2O3) for production of aluminum is largely produced from bauxite (more than 95 wt %). However, in recent years, the availability of good grade bauxite has diminished and the price has correspondingly increased. The bauxite processing generates environmental problems (e.g. red mud) particularly when processing lower grade bauxite. For these reasons, considerable interest has been put on production of alumina from aluminum rich silicate rocks, such as anorthosites, nepheline syenites and feldspar/feldspathoid minerals derived from such rocks, as it is known that these rocks and minerals can be dissolved directly in strong mineral acids, without any costly pretreatment step, such as high temperature roasting.
Particularly anorthosites, with high anorthite content have received much attention, an example being Norwegian patent No. 323417 (Eriksen et al.). Lately sedimentary rocks, such as argillite (clay/mudstone) have also received considerable interest. 'Anorthosite' is a collective term for igneous rocks characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar (90-100%), and a minimal mafic component (0-10%). The plagioclase feldspar series contains a variety of Na—Ca—Al silicates between the two end members albite (NaAlSi3O8) and anorthite (CaAl2Si2Og). Norway has abundant occurrences of anorthosite, some with high anorthite content (70 to 80%) located at the western coast. Due to the high alumina content (Al2O3>30%) in the Gudvangen deposit (estimated at >500 M Tonnes of anorthosite) located in Sogn og Fjordane, recovery of alumina from Norwegian anorthosite has been subject to extensive studies.
One of the largest research efforts was invested into the Anortal project (1976-1987), a process to produce alumina from anorthosite, based on leaching or dissolving the mineral with a mineral acid and the subsequent precipitation of aluminium trichloride hexahydrate (AlCl36H2O) from the acid phase. A technological path for a nitric acid route was patented (U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,399 A) by the Institutt for Atomenergi (now IFE). The technological concept was later developed and patented by Eriksen et al. as Norwegian patent No. 323417. The process according to this patent relies on leaching with nitric acid followed by subsequent solvent extraction of unwanted species (Fe, Ca) and partial acid recovery. Worldwide, other attempts have been made to obtain alumina by alternative process different from Bayern:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,399 (Gaudernack et al., 1978) shows a process for extraction of alumina from Al containing silicates involving leaching with sulphuric acid, extraction of iron into an organic phase while leaving Al ions in the aqueous phase, precipitation of Al as aluminium chloride hexahydrate and subsequent calcining.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,215 claims the production of silica with controlled properties by acid leaching of silicates, but limits the scope to the silica product and with no technological solutions for alumina or carbonates production, acid recovery, iron separation, etc.
CA patent No. 2,711,013 Al proposes an invention for the obtaining of Al from aluminous ores, by initial dissolution of the ore with acid, but focusing on the later separation of aluminium and iron ions to produce iron-rich concentrate and the later extraction of aluminium by organic extraction. Therefore, neither a sparging step for the initial aluminium separation, nor the CO2 use for carbonates precipitation and nor the acid recovery by amines thermal treatment are considered in that process.
U.S. Patent application No. 2009/022640A1 proposes a process where sulfuric acid is used for leaching the aluminium-containing solid and the later use of hydrochloric acid during the sparging step is done at a temperature under 20° C. U.S. patent application No. 2012/0237418 A1 (Boudreault, Alex and Biasotto) describes a process to obtain aluminium by leaching with hydrochloric acid (the pressure is not specified) and the later separation of iron from aluminium by several pH-controlled stages by using organic extractants, therefore focused in high iron content aluminium ores (e.g. argi!!ite, nepheline). The aluminium and iron separation follow different methods and the use of CO2 and carbonate production nor the acid regeneration are mentioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,042 proposes the dissolution of the Al-rich mineral with a leaching liqueur containing chloride, calcium and fluoride ions, this last used as reaction catalyst (in the form of H2SiF6 and in a quantity of 1-20 gms/liter). When applied to a Ca-rich rock (anorthosite), they propose the precipitation and separation of part of the CaCl2 and the combination of this CaCl2 with silica at high temperature (1100° C.) to recover part of the HCl. This sub-process for acid recovery is very energy demanding, with a highly negative impact on the possible profitability of the process.
For the separation of Al from the leaching liqueur, John E. Deutchman and Francoise Tahiani (U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,361, 1984) reported a method to separate Al and Na from a starting solid mixture of AlCl3 and NaCl (coming from a quantitative precipitation by a first sparging) applying a selective redissolution of the AlCl3 in water, to produce an aqueous AlCl3 solution with a reduced Na concentration, and a solid NaCl product that can be separated by filtration. A second sparging with HCl gas is used to re-precipitate AlCl3 from the aqueous solution. After separation of the AlCl3 (i.e. ACH), the concentrated HCl solution is recirculated to the process in the first sparging step, while the solid ACH is sent to the calcination process step.
For the separation of iron, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,080, a method for recovering metal chlorides from silicon and ferrosilicon is described. In that work, TBP was applied for iron chloride extraction, directly after the leaching of the material, from the acid solution containing high AlCl3 and CaCl2concentrations, followed by sparging of HCl gas to recover aluminium chloride. After removal of FeCl3, the leachate consists of a concentrated HCl solution with metal chlorides such as CaCl3, MgCl2, NaCl.
Regarding the recovery of the process acid, several patents present the possibility of using organic extraction (with different amines) to extract free HCl from diluted solutions and for the later recovery of concentrated HCl by stripping of the amine (Baniel and Jansen, U.S. patent application No. 2012/0134912; Baniel and Eyal, U.S. patent application No. 2010/0093995, U.S. patent application No. 2011/0028710 and EP 2 321 218 Al; Baniel, Eyal and Jansen, WO 2010/064229 A2; Coenen, Kosswig, Hentschel and Ziebarth, U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,681; Willi Ziegenbein, Ferdinand von Praun, U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,502 A; DeVries, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,831). These publications are applicable for the recovery of free HCl in solution, but not for recovering Cl″ ions from metal chlorides with precipitation of the corresponding metal carbonate. Other authors have proposed the CO2 utilization for the precipitation of sodium bicarbonate (Hentschel, Coenen, Kosswig, von Praun and Ziebarth U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,234; Coenen, Laach, Kosswig, von Praun and Hans Regner U.S. Pat. No. 4,321, 247 A; Hentschel, Jurgen, Coenen, Kosswig, Ferdinand von Praun U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,106A), and for the production of ammonia from ammonium chloride (Coenen, Laach, Kosswig Dieter U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,917), but not tackling the later acid recovery from the amine.
The most recent patent application related to alumina production—WO 2013/037054 Al is based on the well-known generation of dissolved metal chlorides by the leaching of an aluminium-rich material with HCl, and the later re-precipitation of the metal chlorides by sparging with HCl. Then, the acid recovery is achieved only by the calcination of the diverse metal chlorides obtained along the process (AlCl3-6H2O, FeCl3-xH2O, MgCl2-xH2O, etc.) to evolve the HCl as a gas and produce metal oxides. However, low total HCl recovery can be expected if this process is applied to any Al-containing materials that have a high Ca-content since the hydro-pyrolysis of CaCl2 is difficult due to its low melting point and the high decomposition temperature of CaCl2-2H2O. Additionally, no technological solution is given for the efficient separation of sodium if the ore contains this element, which would precipitate as NaCl together with the aluminium chloride during the sparging step. This means that applying this method to e.g. anorthosite, would be doubtfully economic, due to its considerable calcium and sodium content. So technically, several Al-rich could be treated following WO 2013/037054 Al steps, but obviously only some minerals—especially those rich in iron and magnesium—are the most appropriate raw materials that could bring a competitive process. As in the previous alumina production patented alternatives, the use of CO2 and the recovery of extra HCl while producing carbonates from the remaining chlorides in solution is not mentioned.
Therefore, although some of the alternative process concepts succeeded with respect to product recovery, either the economic viability of those technologies proved unfavorable in comparison to the already well-established bauxite Bayer process and/or focused on only parts of the process or did not tackle acid recovery as to make it applicable for varied aluminium sources.

Alumina and carbonate production method from AI-rich materials with integrated CO2 utilization


A sports wave bag consists of an open bag formed by the overlayment and stitching of two pieces of cloth around three edges thereof. The pieces of cloth are selectively of the team colors of a sports team. At one end of the bag is a pair of handles and at the other end is an opening through which a fan may pass his head. The sports fan may be seated with his hands received in the bag and gripping the handles at the far end thereof, exposing a first color of the sports team. In executing “the wave,” the fan stands to his feet and, while doing so, lifts his arms above his head to expose the other piece of cloth of the second team color. The effect is adding vibrancy of color and color change to the motion of “the wave” when performed at sporting events.

Those who attend sporting events held in a seated venue, such as an arena, stadium or the like, often engage in what is known as "the wave." During "the wave," seated fans in the arena or stadium progressively and sequentially rise to their feet, stand for but a few seconds, and re-seat themselves, with that exercise proceeding uniformly about the arena or stadium giving the appearance of a three-dimensional wave progressing about the venue. The activity is typically enhanced by the fans raising their arms as they stand, and lowering their arms as they re-seat themselves, adding to the replication of a wave. "The wave" is best effected when the fans stand and re-seat themselves in alignment and sequentially about a substantial portion of the venue, if not its entirety.
While "the wave" is, by itself, quite compelling and awe-inspiring, it is possible, within the confines of the instant invention, to enhance its appearance and effectiveness. Presently, the impact of "the wave" comes from its motion alone, but there is little vibrancy given to it by means of color. While fans often wear a color or some memorabilia representing the team they support, there is rarely any uniformity of color present in the stands. This is understandable since team colors generally comprise two distinct colors and the shirts, jackets, hats and the like that fans typically wear often include other colors, as well. Moreover, "the wave" is not given to a change of color during "the wave" process.
It is most desirable to provide a uniform wearing apparel particularly adapted for wearing during "the wave" to effect a visual appearance enhanced by color, and changing color, rather than motion alone.


A self-contained multi-function system for preparing mail items, the system comprising a general-purpose computer for preparing a document to be sent and for preparing secure postage metering or xe2x80x9cfrankingxe2x80x9d information, a digital imaging device connected to the general-purpose computer so as to print both the document to be sent, and at least a destination address for the document but not the postage imprint on an envelope that is to receive the document, and a folder/inserter connected both to the digital imaging device and to the general-purpose computer so as to receive and fold the printed document, and, once the document has been inserted in the envelope, so as to affix the postage imprint selectively by performing a write operation in a writable microcircuit of an electronic tag carried by the envelope or by the document. The digital imaging device may further include an optical read module for making it possible to digitize documents inserted directly into the digital imaging device, and a fax-sending module for enabling documents that have been previously digitized by the optical read module to be transmitted directly over a communications network.

The present invention relates to the field of mail handling, and more particularly to apparatus for preparing a mail item fully, ready for posting, from creating the document to printing the postage on or xe2x80x9cfrankingxe2x80x9d the envelope into which the document is inserted.
The market currently offers no system in an office environment that is completely self-contained and that prepares mail items fully, ready for posting.
The Applicant""s European Patent Application EP 0 612 036 proposes a mail-handling system that folds documents delivered directly by a word-processing system and inserts them into envelopes. However, it is possible to send the resulting mail item only if the envelope bears the destination address and the right amount of postage, which means that, at the very least, a postage meter must be added to the system.
European Patent Application EP 0 265 192 discloses a mail-handling system associating the following around a central computer (system controller): firstly a laser printer followed by a folder/inserter for folding documents and inserting them into envelopes, and secondly an ink jet printer for printing the destination addresses on the envelopes. It should be noted that such a system does not print postage amounts on the resulting mail items. Furthermore, printing addresses directly on envelopes containing documents suffers from drawbacks (with respect to printing quality) due to the different thicknesses of the envelopes.
The problem of printing quality is solved in Patent Application EP 0 745 435 by printing the envelopes before the documents are inserted into them. The empty envelopes are printed by an ink jet printer, with the documents being printed independently by a laser printer. However, the system for preparing mail items described in that document remains complex, in particular with respect to the paths followed by the mail items, and it requires a number of components such that it cannot be used in practice in an office environment in which inevitably only a small amount of space is available.
Those are the main reasons that led the Applicant to file Patent Application No. 97 11798 which describes a system enabling a mail item to be handled fully and implementing a single digital printer for printing both the document and the envelope, including printing of the postage imprint. Unfortunately, while being generally satisfactory, that system suffers from two drawbacks. The first drawback comes from the fact that the encoding of the postage imprint, which is necessary to guarantee the security of the metering data and which busies the single printer for a length of time that can be long (e.g. when a two-dimensional bar code is displayed), results in a reduction in the maximum handling speed of the system as whole. In addition, in the event of a document jam in the folding and insertion module, the recording of the metering characteristics that has been performed in parallel with the prior printing of the postage imprint at the print module of the printer must then be cancelled in order to prevent erroneous accounting of the mail items actually posted. The postal authorities have no way of verifying that the cancelled mail item has not been sent fraudulently, except by insisting that one of their employees intervene for each incident.
The present invention proposes a system that is fully self-contained, that is very simple to use in a conventional office environment, and that is designed to handle a mail item fully, from compiling the individual documents forming the mail item to sealing the mail item so that it can be posted, and including folding documents and inserting them into an envelope, printing all of the appropriate information on the envelope, in particular the destination address, and affixing the postage imprint. An object of the invention is to provide a system that enables high handling rates to be achieved. Another object of the invention is to propose a system which limits the possibilities of fraud when a mail item is incompletely, e.g. when there is a document jam.
These objects are achieved by a self-contained multi-function system for preparing mail items, the system comprising a general-purpose computer for preparing a document to be sent and for preparing secure postage metering or xe2x80x9cfrankingxe2x80x9d information, a digital imaging device connected to the general-purpose computer so as to print both the document to be sent, and at least a destination address for the document but not the postage imprint on an envelope that is to receive the document, and a folder/inserter connected both to the digital imaging device and to the general-purpose computer so as to receive and fold the printed document, and, once said document has been inserted in the envelope, so as to affix the postage imprint selectively by performing a write operation in a writable microcircuit of an electronic tag carried by the envelope or by the document.
Thus, with the structure of the invention, all of the functions required for preparing a mail item are performed very simply by means of a conventional imaging device associated with a computer and with a folder/inserter. In addition, since the postage imprint is affixed by electronic marking at the end of the cycle only, it is possible to avoid fraud on the postage amounts which are thus recorded only once the mail item has been fully formed.
The imaging device includes envelope feed means, unprinted document feed means, a print module connected either to the envelope feed means or to the document feed means so as to print successively the envelope and the documents, and a document outlet connected to the print module so as to deliver the printed envelopes and the printed documents to the folder/inserter, a control module also being provided for controlling printing of and synchronizing conveying of the envelopes and documents as a function, in particular, of instructions received from the general-purpose computer.
The folder/inserter includes an accumulator module connected to a document inlet designed to co-operate with the document outlet of said digital imaging device so as to store, when necessary, the various documents corresponding to a given envelope, a fold module connected either to the document inlet or to the accumulator module to fold the documents before they are inserted into the envelope, a turn-around module connected to the document inlet so as to receive and position the envelope so that the documents can be inserted therein, an inserter module connected to the fold module and to the turn-around module so as to insert the documents into the corresponding envelope, and an electronic marking module disposed at the outlet of the inserter module so as to perform the write operation in the writable microcircuit of the electronic tag carried by the envelope or by the documents, before ejecting the resulting mail item to a document outlet, a control module also being provided for controlling and synchronizing the various modules as a function, in particular, of instructions received from the general-purpose computer.
Preferably, the digital imaging device further includes an optical read module for making it possible to digitize documents inserted directly into said device, and a fax-sending module for enabling documents that have been previously digitized by said optical read module to be transmitted directly over a communications network.
Advantageously, a first document-receiving tray may be provided at the outlet of the print module so as to receive printed documents that are not to be sent.
The print module of said digital imaging device may include one of the following two elements: a laser print drum or an ink jet print head.
Advantageously, the folder/inserter may further include an additional feed module for feeding in advertising leaflets.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the digital imaging device and the folder/inserter form a common assembly.

Self-contained multi-function system for preparing mail


Methods and apparatus for delivering prostheses to body lumens, such as stents and grafts to blood vessels, utilize a delivery device which carries one or more linearized elements. The linearized elements assume non-linear configurations, particularly helical configurations, when advanced and released from the delivery device. By selectively controlling the length and/or number of elements delivered from the delivery device, extended and disseminated disease within the body lumens may be effectively treated.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for independently delivering a plurality of luminal prostheses within a body lumen, such as a blood vessel.
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death and morbidity in the United States and Western society. In particular, atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries can cause myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack, which can be immediately fatal or even if survived, cause damage to the heart which can incapacitate the patient.
While coronary artery bypass surgery can be an effective treatment for stenosed arteries resulting from atherosclerosis or other causes, it is a highly invasive, costly procedure, which typically requires substantial hospital and recovery time. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, commonly referred to as balloon angioplasty, is less invasive, less traumatic, and significantly less expensive than bypass surgery. Heretofore, however, balloon angioplasty has not been considered as effective a treatment as bypass surgery. The effectiveness of balloon angioplasty, however, has improved significantly with the introduction of stenting, which involves the placement of a scaffold structure within the artery which has been treated by balloon angioplasty. The stent inhibits abrupt reclosure of the artery and has some benefit in inhibiting subsequent restenosis resulting from hyperplasia. Recently, experimental trials have demonstrated that coating stents with anti-proliferative drugs, such as paclitaxel, can significantly reduce the occurrence of hyperplasia in angioplasty treated coronary arteries which have been stented with the coated stents.
While the combination of balloon angioplasty with drug-coated stents holds great promise, significant challenges still remain. Of particular interest to the present invention, the treatment of extended or disseminated disease within an artery remains problematic. Most stents have a fixed length, typically in the range from 10 mm to 30 mm, and the placement of multiple stents to treat disease over a longer length requires the successive use of multiple balloon stent delivery catheters. Moreover, it can be difficult to stent an angioplasty-treated region of a blood vessel with the optimum stent length.
For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide improved stents, stent delivery systems, stenting methods, and the like, for the treatment of patients having coronary artery disease, as well as other occlusive diseases of the vasculature. In particular, it would be desirable to provide stents, delivery systems, and methods for the treatment of disseminated and variable length stenotic regions within the vasculature. For example, it would be desirable to provide methods which permit a physician to optimize the length of the treated vessel which is stented according to the nature of the disease, either by adjusting the stent length in situ or by placing multiple stents of the same or different lengths over the treatment region. At least some of these objectives will be met by the inventions described hereinafter.
2. Description of the Background Art.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,402B1, describes a self-forming vascular implant. U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,117, describes a multiple section stent structure; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,398, describes a clot retrieval device having a deployable helical clot snare.

Apparatus and methods for delivering coiled prostheses


This invention relates to pulse simulation units for use in patient simulators, where the device comprises a base body, an upper actuator body located in parallel above the base body, one leaver body at each longitudinal end of the base body, which in their lower portion is pivotally attached to the base body and in their upper portion is pivotally attached to the actuator body, and at least one shape memory alloy wire attached in one end to the lower portion of each leaver body below the pivotally attachment to the base body and in the other end to the base body, and where the length of the shape memory alloy actuator wire is adjusted such that when no electric pulse is delivered, the length of the wire(s) allow the leaver bodies to be more or less folded in towards the base body and hold the actuator body to form a compressed position at a first distance above the base body, and such that when the actuator wire(s) contract due to exposure to an electric pulse they will rotate the lever bodies some degrees and thus cause the actuator body to be lifted to an expanded position at a second distance>the first distance above the base body.

According to Asgaut Viste at Department of Surgical Studies at the University in Bergen, medical mistreatment causes more deaths than deaths from AIDS, traffic accidents, and breast cancer [1]. There are serious ethical aspects involved in making errors causing severe pain and/or losses for the patients and their relatives. Another aspect is that there are huge economical and capacity savings at hospitals/-medical institutions involved by preventing medical mistreatment from happening, as compared to costs associated with treating/alleviating the damage caused by erroneous medical treatment.
Training personnel to handle emergency situations have long been mandatory in safety critical applications such as aviation, shipping, process industry etc. by use of simulating potential accidents/incidents. The workplace environment in such places is often technologically complex and there may be short time margins between occurrence of an incident and the required correct response to avoid severe consequences. There are also typically considerable risks involved in misjudgements, placing a high stress on the operator(s) taking care of the incident. Simulation of potential incidents and drilling the employees to respond to them is known to be an effective tool for reducing the risks for making misjudgements and thus erroneous responses in such cases.
In health services, the use of patient simulators has been found effective in maintaining skills, training and education of personnel which is expected to encounter medical emergency situations and to practice life saving skills. A patient simulator is a realistic, interactive human resembling training manikin which may be given a range of clinical functionalities and which may respond to clinical intervention, instructor control and/or pre-programmed scenarios. Examples of clinical functionalities may be spontaneous breathing patterns with varying depths and rates, voice sounds, realistic normal and abnormal heart, breath and bowel sounds, cardiac rhythms with synchronized pulses, changeable anatomy to represent conditions such as tongue edema, pharyngeal swelling and laryngospasm, adjustable fontanel, blood pressure synchronized with cardiac rate rhythms, bleeding control modules etc.
Patient simulators should be made to feel and look as human as possible in order to provide simulations as realistic as possible of real life incidents. One aspect in providing this illusion of reality is to provide the patient simulator with a pulse beat that feels like the pulse beat of a live human. The pulse beat of the patient simulator should be able to mimic any normal and abnormal cardiac rhythm in order to possible medical conditions, and these different cardiac rhythms should feel similar on the skin of the patient simulator as they would do in a real human patient.


A connector, for example an electrical connector, comprises first and second slidably engaging portions (12) (14) having a lock (16) distributed therebetween. The lock (16) comprises a locking tongue (18) having a fixed end (20) attached to the first portion, and a free end (22) extending therefrom. First and second spaced apart side walls (28, 30) are positioned adjacent the free end. A keeper (24) is formed on the second portion, and has a roof (31 ) and first and second spaced apart side walls (34, 36), and a depending lug (38) on the interior of the keeper roof. The free end (22) of the tongue (18) is formed to engage the lug (38) on the keeper roof. A lock disabler (26) having two operative positions with respect to the locking tongue is provided. A first position allows disengagement of the free end of the locking tongue from the keeper and a second position prevents disengagement of the free end of said locking tongue from the keeper.

It is occasionally desired, particularly in the field of electrical connectors, to provide a positive structure for maintaining the parts of a connector in a mated condition. One prevalent method has involved the use of threaded bolts and nuts fitted through an appropriate section of the connectors. Other systems have relied on friction fit to hold the connector parts together; and others have employed various forms of locking tongues such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,015,199; 4,959,023; 4,938,710; 4,655,527; 4,370,013; and British Pat. No. 1,163,085.
While all of the prior art systems have provided some advantages, there are problems with many of them in certain instances. For example, while the bolt and nut approach is very secure, it is very time consuming and can be awkward if space is limited, such as in the engine compartment of an automobile. Under similar circumstances it would also be possible for friction-fit connectors to vibrate loose and, in the case of locking tongue connectors, it is sometimes difficult to tell when they are properly seated. Also, they are subject to unwanted disconnection in the event an operator inadvertently depresses the locking tongue.

Locking connector exhibiting audio-tactile didacticism