A versatile Citizen Alert System is connected to Internet and private databases to acquire real time information useful for subscribed users. During registration, users are required to provide multimedia contact information, including telephone numbers, cell phone numbers, pager information, Blackberry or PDA information, e-mail address, and physical address, along with user defined sensitivities to alerts, including sensitivities to natural emergencies, man made emergencies and professional requirements. The system has a local or remote administrator that constantly analyzes the acquired data in accordance with requirements of each and every user, orders the data to generate alert information specific to a user, and communicates the alert to each and every user using multiple delivery platforms. A user specific, secured web page providing details of alert and hyperlinks constitutes an additional information source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to emergency warning systems; and, more particularly, to a system for immediately alerting citizens within a targeted geographical area to a crisis, emergency or important event by broadcasting alert information over multiple delivery platforms.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Emergency warning systems that provide alert information to users have been proposed by prior art workers. These systems typically facilitate mass distribution of warning alerts that notify the public of severe weather conditions, chemical emergencies, traffic hazards, earthquakes, fires, explosions and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,748 to Leichner discloses a disaster alert by telephone system. Local telephone exchanges in a threatened geographical area connect to their subscribers and transmit a recorded warning message. This is accomplished in response to transmission of threat data communicated from one of several remote computer terminals to a central computer. The central computer has a data storage device upon which is stored a local exchange database and preferably recorded warning messages. Upon receipt of the threat data from the remote computer terminal, the central computer is connected in communication with the local exchanges in the threatened geographical area and instructs the local exchanges to connect to its subscribers and provides instructions or a warning message to be played to the subscribers who go off-hook. This system provides machine generated voice messages. There is no administrator screening disaster alert data with regard to relevance to individual users. The disaster alert is only delivered by telephone and is unavailable to a person not adjacent to a telephone.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,904 to Lamb discloses an apparatus and method for providing weather and other alerts. This apparatus includes a digital broadcasting unit that broadcasts short digital pulses using a wireless network representing an alert code that is specific to a particular region. The digital alert code is received by a powered receiver with a microprocessor that interprets the received alert code of level 1, level 2 type and displays alerts in a variety of output devices. The broadcasting unit communicates only with the digital receiver by a special digital code and does not provide alert to cell phones by text messages, to pagers or by e-mail. The alert message is not screened by an administrator. The broadcasting unit communicates with all digital receivers without reference to a specific user list.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,265 to Saylor et al. discloses a system and method for monitoring security systems by using video images. The system wirelessly monitors images of personal properties and individuals within a user location and compares changes in images to determine if an alarm event has occurred. The central system may communicate the alarm event to the user or authorities or persons in a contact list. The system may also receive manually triggered alarms initiated by a user using wireless transmission. This system does not communicate to the user an alarm event for a particular location created by authorities including police, weather related events or catastrophic events. In the primary mode of the disclosure, the system only uses images and looks for changes in images which is generally insufficient to detect an alarm event.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,665 to Tarlton et al discloses a method and apparatus for sending a weather condition alert. This weather alert station uses standard broadcast weather alert warnings by government agencies including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and NOAA sub-organizations, including the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other federal agencies, parses the alert data to user specific location and risk tolerance and passively sends alert signals via pager to subscribed users. The weather alert does not respond to any alert situation other than weather related alerts. It communicates only through a pager and does not use multiple means of alerting the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,340 to Saylor et al. discloses a system and method for connecting security systems to a wireless device. This patent disclosure is very similar to U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,265 to Saylor et al. discussed above. The only difference is several sensors are wirelessly connected to the central security network, not just image processing sensors. These user-provided security devices may be video security monitors, intrusion alarms, personal panic devices and the like as long as they are set to wirelessly communicate with the central security network. This communication requirement imposes a serious limitation on the type of wireless sensors and devices. In addition, for the central security system to recognize a particular type of alarm, these user-provided security devices must provide additional information, such as type of alarm and the like, which is generally not permitted by the software requirements of the central security system. As a result, any old user-provided security or alert system may not communicate properly with the central security system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,557 to Petite et al. (hereinafter, "the '557 patent") discloses a system and method for signaling a weather alert condition to a residential environment. A severe weather alert system is provided for communicating weather conditions to remote locations, such as inside of residential homes, offices, or businesses. A modified smoke detector is provided with an integrated RF receiver for receiving message packets containing information that may be conveyed through its speaker, buzzer, or other sound-emanating device. This system detects only severe weather conditions and does not detect other emergency situations. The RF transmitters only communicate with modified smoke detectors and do not communicate to the user by any other communication channels.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,914,525 to Rao et al. discloses an alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters utilizing a telecommunications network. The system uses a number of wireless sensor modules that communicate wirelessly with a control center. The wireless sensor modules use photo interrupters, proximity switches, sliding switches, mercury switches, ultrasonic sensors and strain gauges to detect water level, earth movement, position shifts, vibration and acceleration and analyze geographic or natural disaster potential in the monitored area and issue alerts for imminent geographic or natural disasters. The system only collects events as they occur such as earth movement, floods etc. It does not collect data of potential disasters from any sources other than installed sensors. The system is only sensitive to geographic or natural disasters that are detectable by installed sensors, which are water level, earth movement as manifested by earth displacement, velocity of movement and acceleration of movement.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0075155 to Guillory discloses a system for selective notification of severe weather events. This system sends an effective warning signal to receivers in a predetermined area. The system uses one or more control stations, which transmit digitally alerts for severe weather events. The digital code includes an activation code for receivers in selected sectors. The digital code activates these receivers in the target sectors sounding the severe weather alert alarm. This is an alert transmission system that controls the issue of alert warnings to target sectors. This system does not alert individual subscribed users of alerts, but rather activates receiver boxes. The alert information is not communicated to users by multiple modes of communications. The system is only sensitive to weather alerts as determined by authorities.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0145514 to Dawson discloses an emergency call system using wireless, direct connect and telephone subsystems providing integration into a single head-end platform at least one of direct connect (hard-wired), wireless and telephone subsystems. The system uses wireless, hard wired and telephone connected alert generating subsystems that communicate with a single head end platform through a data bus, which generates alert signals. The alert signal is displayed in an LCD enunciator, and the system uses paging output, Internet generated e-mail and voice mail communicating with the user of the alert signal. This system does not collect emergency situations other than that generated by the wireless, hard wired or telephone devices connected to the system. There is no administrator within the system and the alert signal is not tailored according to the subscribed user preferences.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0069002 to Hunter et al. discloses a system and method for emergency notification content delivery. This method is for the dissemination of emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. A number of emergency notification originating sources communicate with an emergency notification delivery system. These notification sources include emergency notification sources and remotely located sensors. These sensor devices may include GPS location providers, detectors for hazardous chemicals, radiation sources, toxic chemicals and gases, biohazard, shock from blast, tornado or earthquake. The emergency notification is delivered to a user device selected from a user database that lists user contact information including pager, PDA, cellular or conventional telephony. These devices do not provide an acknowledgement of the receipt the emergency notification content. The emergency notification content delivery system only receives emergency notification content from emergency originating sources, not from all sources available. It does not tailor the emergency notification according to the preferences of a subscribed user since the user database does not contain all the emergency preferences and sensitivities of the user.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0202663 to Hollis et al. discloses a system and method for secure message-oriented network communications. This message-oriented middleware solution is for securely transmitting messages and files across public networks unencumbered by intervening network barriers implemented as security measures. It also provides a dynamic, dedicated, application level Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution that is facilitated by the message-oriented middleware. Standard encryption algorithms are used to minimize the threat of eavesdropping and an Open-Pull Protocol (OPP) that allows target nodes to pull and verify the credentials of requesters prior to the passing of any data by using key authority which comprises generating a set of public-private key pairs and a uniform resource identifier. The security network provides a dynamic, private transport for sensitive data over existing non-secure networks without the overhead and limited security associated with traditional VPN solutions. The system uses open pull protocol and verification key pairs to enable encrypted information transfer between nodes. This system provides a secure communication protocol and does not collect and distribute alert notifications.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0222777 to Sweatt discloses an emergency warning network. A base station broadcasts a waning signal to an earth orbiting satellite which extends the warning signal to a first substation adapted to broadcast the received warning signal to portable receivers. The satellite also sends the warning signal to a second substation which, in turn, broadcasts the warning signal to a second earth orbiting satellite, adapted to broadcast the warning signal to a third substation that services additional portable receivers. This emergency warning network broadcasts the same warning signal to a large geographical area. Hence, the warning signal cannot satisfy any local emergency need and is at best a general warning. The use of earth orbiting satellites requires sufficient communication power from all the substations used, and therefore is inaccessible to remote areas. Moreover, the portable receivers have to be in close proximity with the substations, with the result that the system cannot service remote areas. The system does not provide emergency alerts according to the preferences of the user. Alerts messages are not communicated to a user using multiple platforms; but rather are communicated only through a portable receiver.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0103158 to Vella et al. discloses a cellular messaging alert method and system. This system utilizes existing wireless communication devices and networks, such as cellular phones and carriers, as an underlying infrastructure in providing emergency information to a targeted percentage of the population in a specified geographical location, without requiring individuals to subscribe to an alerting service and without using information solicited from or provided by the intended recipients of the alert. The alert message is created when an Internet user, or originator, whose authority is first verified, communicates with a web-based server. The system accesses cell phone databases to determine the number of cell phones present within the target area. The system sends SMS messages to each of the cell phones in the target area notifying them of the alert situation without being initially prompted by the cell phone user. This alert message is delivered to all users as an unsolicited broadcast. The alert message may not meet any of the user's emergency alert preference requirements. The alert message is initiated and provided by the originator, a person of authority, and may not always protect the cell phone user as alert recommendations change and develop radically as a function of time. The system informs the originator via email that the alert message has been delivered.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0152493 to Phillips et al. discloses methods, systems and apparatus for selectively distributing urgent public information. The method comprises maintaining a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways. The distribution address for a particular alert gateway can provide sufficient identifying information about the alert gateway to allow an alert to be transmitted to the alert gateway. The method further includes associating at least one gateway characteristic for a particular alert gateway with the distribution address for that particular alert gateway. In some cases, the method will include receiving an alert. The alert can have associated information about the alert, for example, information about the urgency of the alert, the applicable time and/or date for the alert, and the like. The information about the alert can include geographic information about a geographic area to which the alert pertains such that subscribers outside the geographic area would be relatively unlikely to be interested in receiving the alert. Since each gateway pertains to one specific characteristic of the user, the combination of characteristics, typically required by the user is not readily accessed. The system does not gather alerts pertinent to the preferences of a user, but focuses instead on geographical locations. It merely creates distribution address lists for each of the gateways.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0027741, 2005/0027742 to Eichstaedt et al. discloses a method and system for alert delivery architecture. This alert delivery system polls source contents including a variety of content information such as personal advertisements, shopping prices, news articles, and the like. It also accesses stock quotes, auction bids, and the like that may already be provided as an alert from a topical service. The second patent application uses a multiple number of pollers to validate data and updates the data (if the data content needs to be updated) prior to the delivery of the alert. This alert system does not facilitate collection of alerts that pose imminent emergency situations. There is no administrator within the system architecture that prioritizes gathered information according to user's preferences. The system is not connected to the Internet or to private intranets.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0030977 to Casey et al. discloses alert gateway, systems and methods. These alert gateway, systems and methods distribute urgent public information. The alert gateway device receives urgent public information, such as an alert message from an external alert source including Emergency Alert System transmission, an Amber Alert, a severe weather notification, and a Homeland Security Advisory notification. The alert gateway device is incorporated within a network interface device and the alert message may then be distributed to a subscriber in any of a variety of ways, including by POTS (plain old telephone system) telephone, by data message (e.g., to a computer), by video message (e.g., via a television), by display on an alert notification device. The alert gateway device may comprise one or more external interfaces, which may be configured to communicate with at least one alert source. The alert gateway device may also comprise one or more internal interfaces, a processor in communication with the external interface(s) and internal interface(s) and/or a storage medium in communication with the processor. The storage medium may comprise instructions executable by the processor to receive an alert message, which can comprise an alert, via the external interface(s). The instructions may be further executable to interpret the alert message, determine how to provide the alert to the subscriber, format the alert in such a way as to facilitate the provision of the alert in a determined manner and/or, using the internal interface, provide the alert to the subscriber, perhaps according to the determination of how to provide the alert to the subscriber. The subscriber devices may acknowledge the receipt of the alert. The alert system only distributes alert messages from authorities but does not collect user specific alert information.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0031095 to Pietrowicz discloses a dial-out voice notification system. This dial-out voice notification system broadcasts messages that contain relatively large amount of content to a plurality of customer premises devices. The dial-out voice server initiates a plurality of telephone calls to a plurality of telephone numbers associated with customer premises alerting devices. The dial-out server also transmits a control data signal to the alerting devices, which indicates an incoming voice message to the alerting devices. When an alert message is received this voice notification system initiates a plurality of telephone calls to cell phones and regular telephone and customer premises devices notifying the users of the alert. The dial-out notification voice message may include control data signals that enable special features of customer premise devices. This system does not collect imminent emergency situation data. There is no administrator provided within the system that evaluates the alert messages received according to the needs and preferences of a subscribed user. The system merely dials out voice notifications to telephones and cell phones and does not communicate alerts using multiple platforms. No provision is made for a customized user specific web page that documents the alert.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0031096 to Postrel discloses a command synchronization method and system. The command synchronization is a method of operating a notification and response system. A user using a toll free number accesses this universal communication system to register the user and use the system. The user can send alerts to other users connected to the universal communication system using various features and parameters available within the system. The system does not collect data on imminent emergency situations. It merely provides users with alert and other information.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0197775 to Smith discloses user-centric event reporting. The system and method is for receiving hazard and event information in a mobile unit and using that information to warn a user of an event or future hazard with reference to the mobile unit's location and/or intended direction of travel. The system uses mobile units with GPS or user input location data. The system receives hazard and event information and provides a warning based on location and movement of the user. A hazard location algorithm compares a forecast location of each mobile unit with a forecast hazard and transmits a warning to each mobile unit that is predicted to encounter the hazard. As the mobile unit moves, its actual position is updated in an event center, and a revised warning is transmitted to the mobile unit as applicable. The system does not take into account the user's imminent emergency alert situation needs. No disclosure is contained within the '776 published patent application concerning a system administrator that tailors the issued alert according to the needs of the user.
Foreign Patent Application No. JP 03201758 to Marufuji et al. discloses urgent simultaneous notice equipment by telephone network. A subscriber line of a subscriber telephone network is installed over a wide area. An urgent notice is transmitted through simultaneous sounding from plural speakers connected by multiple connection function of a digital telephone exchange. A telephone-based system uses multiple speakers to announce an alert. The system disclosed by Marufuji et al. does not collect imminent emergency situations and does not deliver alerts to subscribed users using multiple platforms.
Foreign Patent Application No. JP 2003242580 to Yunoki discloses an emergency information notification system, an information terminal used therewith, and an emergency information notification service method. An emergency information notification device communicates the emergency information and a Java program to a base station. A cell phone terminal downloads the Java application and uses the program to determine the location of the emergency information device, which prepares evacuation map routes and delivers the map to the cell phone. The Yunoki system merely relays the emergency alert. It does not collect imminent emergency situations. Emergency information is not delivered according to the preferences of the user.
Foreign Patent Application No. EP 1209886 to Stevens discloses a system, controller and method for alerting mobile subscribers about emergency situations. This wireless system, controller and method alert a mobile subscriber about an emergency situation including, for example, a weather alert, a hostage situation or a hazardous material leak. An emergency warning system generates information identifying a geographic area in which there is an emergency situation. The system includes a controller capable of receiving information identifying the troubled geographic area. The controller requests and receives from a wireless communications network a list of the mobile subscribers currently located within the troubled geographic area. Thereafter, the controller initiates an emergency notification message that is sent to at least one of the mobile subscribers based on special instructions provided by the user stored in a subscriber profile. The emergency notification message can be in the form of a page, a voice message or a short text message. Emergency situation alerts are thereby delivered according to special instructions provided by the users of the system. The Stevens system does not actively acquire hazard and imminent emergency alert situations. It only alerts mobile cell phone subscribers, and does not communicate inminent emergency alerts to the users using multiple platforms.
There remains a need in the art for a Citizen Alert System, which acquires alert preferences such as emergency preferences, operational preferences, and medical preferences of the users; collects appropriate alerts using a variety of means; and delivers the alerts to the user through a multitude of platforms, including a customized user web page so that the user is always provided with current alert information.


A container and method for preventing leakage therefrom through isolating deformation in the container caused by external forces. The container comprises a container wall having an opening therein, the opening capable of receiving a closure bushing with a sealing member wedged between the closure bushing and the container wall, and a weakened portion of the container wall not in wedged engagement with the sealing member capable of bending in response to an external force so as not to deform the portion of the container wall in wedged engagement with the sealing member.

The present invention relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to a container and method for preventing leakage therefrom through isolating deformation in the container.
It is known in the art to provide containers for storing and transporting all types of materials. Such containers are typically in the shape of drums, but any number of configurations could be used so long as a reliable and resealable opening to the interior of the container is provided for filling and emptying the contents therein. Containers that hold liquids are particularly troublesome in that openings must be reliably mounted and sealed to the container to prevent leakage therebetween during transport and especially after being subjected to some type of external force applied to the container opening.
Conventional containers of this type typically include a sheet metal wall having a bunghole or opening for emptying or filling the container. The opening is usually defined by a closure bushing having an internally-threaded neck that can received an externally-threaded plug for sealing the opening and thus the contents of the container. The container wall typically includes an upwardly extending collar which surrounds the closure bushing.
When the closure bushing is fitted within the container wall collar, the closure bushing base flange is firmly pressed against the interior of the container wall collar with a sealing member compressed or wedged therebetween to provide the required seal. A second closure bushing flange is then flanged over the collar of the container opening so that the sealing ring can be held firmly wedged with pre-tension in this position. Therefore, when the closure bushing is secured within the container wall collar, the sealing member is wedged between the two parts and deformed, and because the sealing member material, such as rubber, retains its resiliency, the sealing member will insure a permanent seal.
The required closure seal is maintained so long as the sealing member is held firmly wedged between the closure bushing and container wall collar. However, as soon as the wedging reduces, the risk of leakage occurs between the container wall collar and the closure bushing. Such a reduction of the wedging can occur if the drum falls from a certain height onto a hard surface with the closure down. The closure bushing and upwardly extending container wall collar, which project upwardly relative to the rest of the container wall, may be pressed inwardly or bent in this case and could result in the closure bushing and the container wall collar being forced apart. Further, because containers are typically made of sheet metal, any bending or deformation of the container wall or upstanding container wall collar could result in the closure bushing and the container wall or container wall collar being forced apart permanently, thereby permitting leakage of liquid therebetween.
As a result, if the container wall or container wall collar is deformed to the extent that proper wedging is reduced, the seal cannot be maintained and leakage will likely occur. Currently, the prior art has attempted to solve this problem by reinforcing the seal between the closure bushing and the container wall collar. One such reference is U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,100 issued to Kars that discloses a drum with drum closure method that attempts to prevent leaking due to the deformation or compromise of the first seal by providing a second seal between the collar and the closure bushing or insert. As a result of the position of the additional seal between the collar and the insert, the ""100 patent attempts to ensure that a proper seal is maintained even if the insert is pressed inwards relative to the collar as the result of a fall.
However, because the nature and extent of damage caused by external forces is unpredictable, utilizing a second seal will not likely prevent leakage in all cases, particularly when the external force impacts the closure bushing and container wall collar at an angle. In such a case, the container wall or container wall collar may be deformed to such an extent that both seals are compromised. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a container and container closure assembly that will maintain its seal wedge during the application of an external force that could cause container wall or container wall collar deformation.
This object is achieved through permitting the container wall or portion of the container wall collar to deform in a predetermined portion thereof in response to an external force in order to maintain proper sealing wedge.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for preventing leakage from a container closure assembly by providing a weakened portion in the container wall or portion of the container wall collar to deform in a predetermined manner in response to an external force in order to maintain proper sealing wedge.
The forgoing and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a container comprising a container wall having an opening therein, the opening capable of receiving a closure bushing with a sealing member wedged between the closure bushing and the container wall, and a means for permitting a portion of the container wall not in wedged engagement with the sealing member to bend in response to an external force so as not to deform the portion of the container wall in wedged engagement with the sealing member. The means for permitting the container wall to bend in response to an external force may be accomplished by providing the container wall with a weakened portion that is more susceptible to deformation caused by external forces and therefore can absorb deformation which may have effected the sealing wedge. The weakened portion may be annular in shape so as to absorb external forces applied to the container wall or container wall collar from any angle. Such weakened portion could comprise a portion of prior stressed or bent container wall as well as a notch formed in the container wall.
The present invention will be more fully described in the following written description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Container and method for preventing leakage therefrom through isolating deformation in the container


The present invention is a rotatable cam lift. The distal end of the rotatable cam lift has a plurality of cam lift lobes and nesting surfaces that allow an expandable bone cage to be expanded with maximum control and predictability of expansion and which hold the bone cage firmly in position when expanded. Cam lift edges prevent over-rotation of the cam lift.

Spinal fusion surgery for degenerative disc disease involves removing the damaged disc and replacing it with bone grafted from another site on the patient's body, bone from a donor, or artificial or synthetic bone graft material that stimulates bone growth to fuse, or join, the two vertebrae together to stabilize the spine. In all spinal interbody fusion surgeries, disc material is removed. A spacer, referred to as a "cage" is then inserted into the disc space. It is critical that the cage placed in the space formerly occupied by the disc has effective contact with the endplates of the vertebrae in order for the surgery to promote the fusion of the vertebrae and to avoid fracture of the endplates.
There are many versions of bone cages known in the art, and many attempts have been made to solve the problem of stable placement of bone cages with the optimum and controlled contact with the vertebral endplates. However, devices known in the art are associated with problems due to incomplete or uncontrolled contact between the endplates of the vertebral bodies and the upper and lower surfaces of the cage. Many attempts have been made in the art to create a bone cage which can be adjusted or positioned to account for physiological differences in patients and achieve pressure reduction.
Expandable bone cages are known in the art. An expandable bone cage may be expanded after it is inserted, allowing the surgeon to adjust the height of the bone cage to fit each specific patient. One example of an expandable bone cage is the VBoss Implant by Stryker. The VBoss Implant has an expandable column with modular end caps that are available in 5 diameters with 0, 5, or 10 degree angles to enhance restoration of lordsis. The XPand® by Globus Medical is an expandable cage that comes in a variety of footprints, heights, and lordotic angles. Both of these devices can be expanded vertically; however, these cages are indicated in cases to replace the whole vertebra body after the entire vertebral bone is removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,129 (Gerbec '129) teaches a wedge-shaped bone fusion implant with expandable sidewalls that allows the height of the implant to be adjusted when a component is inserted for expansion. This design requires that the physician manually control expansion and determine the position of the plates of the device without mechanical guidance or physical precision. In addition, the flattened and rectangular plates of the device do not accomplish effective contact with the endplates, and this leaves a gap between the surfaces of the device and the endplates.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,606 (Michelson '606) teaches an adjustable "push in" implant by which the "front, back or both" of the implants are raised by "the same or various amounts." The implant taught by Michelson '606 is expandable; however, placement of the Michelson '606 device requires a rectangular "blocker" component to keep the ends apart and the expansion is not effectively controlled. The lack of controlled expansion of the device may result in substantial risk to a patient because the bone cage may pack or break through the bone of the vertebral bodies if expanded too far. In addition, this device has only two positions: open and closed.
It is desirable to have a component for a bone cage which allows the bone cage to be expanded with maximum control and predictability of expansion.
It is desirable to have a reliable means for expanding a bone cage device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rotatable cam lift for an expandable bone cage


Provided herein are pyrimidinyl and 1,3,5-triazinyl benzimidazole sulfonamides, e.g., compounds of Formulae IA, IB, and IC, and their pharmaceutical compositions, preparation, and use as agents or drugs for cancer therapy, either alone or in combination with radiation and/or other anticancer drugs.

Phosphoinositide-3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a group of lipid kinases, which phosphorylate the 3-hydroxyl of phosphoinositides. They are classified into at least three classes (Classes I, II, and III) and play an important role in cellular signaling (Stephens et al., Curr. Opin. Pharmacol. 2005, 5, 357). Class I enzymes are further classified into Classes Ia and Ib based on their mechanism of activation; Class Ia PI3Ks are heterodimeric structures consisting of a catalytic subunit (p110α, p100β, or p110δ) in complex with a regulatory p85 subunit, while the class-Ib PI3K (p110γ) is structurally similar but lacks the p85 regulatory subunit, and instead is activated by βγ subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins (Walker et al., Mol. Cell. 2000, 6, 909). The human protein sequence of the p110α isoform is described in Volina et al., Genomics 1994, 24, 472; and Stirdivant et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 1997, 5, 65.
PI3Ks play a variety of roles in normal tissue physiology (Foukas & Shepherd, Biochem. Soc. Trans. 2004, 32, 330; Shepherd, Acta Physiol. Scand. 2005, 183, 3), with p110α having a specific role in cancer growth, p110β in thrombus formation mediated by integrin αIIβ3 (Jackson et al., Nat. Med. 2005, 11, 507), and p110γ in inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis (Camps et al., Nat. Med. 2005, 11, 936) and other chronic inflammation states (Barber et al., Nat. Med. 2005, 11, 933). The PI3K enzymes produce phosphoinositide 3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) from the corresponding diphosphate (PIP2), thus recruiting AKT (protein kinase B) through its Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain to the plasma membrane. Once bound, AKT is phosphorylated and activated by other membrane bound kinases and is central to a cascade of events that lead to inhibition of apoptosis (Berrie, Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs 2001, 10, 1085).
The p110α isoform is selectively amplified and activated in a number of cancer types (Stephens et al., Curr. Opin. Pharmacol. 2005, 5, 357; Stauffer et al., Curr. Med. Chem.—Anti-Cancer Agents 2005, 5, 449). In addition, there is a high frequency of non-random mutations in specific sites, primarily in the C2 domain and or the activation loop, of the kinase in several human cancer cell lines, including colon, brain, breast, and stomach (Samuels et al., Science 2004, 304, 554). This results in a constitutively active enzyme (Ikenoue et al., Cancer Res. 2005, 65, 4562; Kang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2005, 102, 802), making p110α one of the most highly mutated oncogenes found in human tumors. Structural studies have shown that many of the mutations occur at residues lying at the interfaces between p110α and p85α or between the kinase domain of p110α and other domains within the catalytic subunit (Miled et al., Science 2007, 317, 239; Huang et al., Science 2007, 318, 1744).
While PI3K isoenzymes play important roles in many cellular processes, published experimental studies in mice with human tumor xenografts show that the pan-PI3K inhibitor LY294002 is well-tolerated, reduces signaling through the PI3K pathway, causes reduction of tumor volume, and is more active in cell lines over-expressing mutant forms of p110α than parental control cells (Semba et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2002, 8, 1957; Hu et al., Cancer Res. 2002, 62, 1087).
Thus, PI3K, especially the p110α isoform, is an interesting target for drug intervention. Several classes of compounds have been identified as reversible inhibitors; for example, LY 294002 (non-selective) (Walker et al., Mol. Cell. 2000, 6, 909), PI103 (slightly α-selective) (Knight et al., Cell 2006, 125, 733; Hayakawa et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2007, 17, 2438; Raynaud et al., Cancer Res. 2007, 67, 5840), ZSTK474 (non-selective) (Yaguchi et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2006, 98, 545; Kong et al., Cancer Sci. 2007, 98, 1639), TGX221 (β-selective) (Jackson et al., Nat. Med. 2005, 11, 507), oxazines (γ-selective) (Lanni et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2007, 17, 756), IC87114 (δ-selective) (Sadhu et al. WO 2001/81346; Billottet et al., Oncogene 2006, 25, 6648), AS605240 (γ-selective) (Camps et al., Nat. Med. 2005, 11, 936), the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines (α-selective) (Hayakawa et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2007, 15, 403; Hayakawa et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2007, 15, 5837), and the imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline NVP-BEZ235 (Garcia-Echeverria, et al., WO 2006/122806).

Despite the advances in developing PI3K inhibitors, there is a need for PI3K inhibitors for treatment of cancer.

Pyrimidinyl and 1,3,5-triazinyl benzimidazole sulfonamides and their use in cancer therapy


An optically emissive material and, in particular, materials for use in single photon generation technologies, have multiple excited energy states that have different decay rates and can emit photons with different properties. A primary excitation radiation source is configured to apply primary radiation to an optically emissive material to excite the optically emissive material into a primary excited state. A secondary excitation radiation source is configured to apply secondary radiation to a thermal contribution material to generate thermal energy in the thermal contribution material. The thermal contribution material is physically configured to transfer thermal energy to the optically emissive material and excite the optically emissive material from the primary excited state to a secondary excited state for dynamic control of the emission rate, or emitted photon properties, of the optically emissive material.

Light emission and the generation of photons is essential to the operation of many current and prospective technologies, in particular those which rely upon single-photon emission processes. Single-photon sources are central for many fields including quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum imaging and detection, and quantum cryptography to name a few. There are currently many forms of single-photon sources such as attenuated laser sources, quantum dots, and entangled photon sources. One type of single-photon source relies on radiative relaxation of an excited phosphor to emit a single photon at a time.
Photon sources dependent on photon emission from a phosphor are fundamentally limited by the rate at which the phosphor emits photons. The duty cycle of a phosphor-based single-photon source depends on the time it takes for a phosphor excitation to be generated and for the relaxation of the phosphor excitation to the ground state via photon emission. Generation of an excited single-photon emitting phosphor depends on the mechanism of excitation, but is typically rapid compared to the time-scale of relaxation and, consequently, photon emission. For example, when optical excitation of a phosphor is employed, excitation generation is approximately instantaneous with a speed controlled by the pulse time of the laser (e.g., tens of femtoseconds). Photon emission from an excited phosphor depends on the electronic structure of the phosphor, which is chiefly determined by the composition and structure of the material. Most phosphors have many energetically close excited electronic states that potentially emit photons with distinct properties, such photon polarization.
Many single-photon sources that rely on de-excitation of a phosphor have slow emission rates due to long relaxation times. For example, a cadmium selenide quantum dot emission time can be as much as 1 microsecond long under single-photon operating conditions. Systems that rely on single-photon sources suffer from slow photon emission rates which may result in low image resolutions and low communication and/or data rate bandwidths among other mal-effects.

Method for dynamic control of light emission from phosphors with heat excitations


The present invention prevents a lock pin from coming out of a lock hole even if a fuel lid locked in a bolted manner by intrusion of the lock pin into the lock hole is pushed toward a vehicle body. A second lock hole is formed in an inner peripheral wall of the lock hole and a protruding portion formed on the lock pin is engaged in the second lock hole when the fuel lid is pushed toward the vehicle body.

A recessed fuel filler box is formed in an outer panel of a vehicle body around a filler opening and a fuel lid is coupled to the fuel filler box by a hinge so as to be able to open and close the fuel filler box. The fuel lid can be in a closed position for closing the fuel filler box and an open position for opening the fuel filler box. In the open position, refueling through the filler opening can be carried out. In the closed position, a surface of the fuel lid and a surface of the vehicle body form a continuous surface design to thereby improve appearance quality. In the closed position, a lock pin protruding from the vehicle body is intruded into a lock hole in a lock portion formed on a back face side of the fuel lid to be locked in a closed state.
However, in a simple bolt lock, when a wire or a plate-shaped member is inserted through a gap between a fuel lid and an outer panel of a vehicle body to push a tip end of a lock pin, the lock pin may come out of a lock hole to bring the fuel lid into an open state in some cases. Therefore, as proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-063388 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-240581, there is a fuel lid structure in which a periphery of a tip end of a lock pin protruding from a lock hole is shielded. In this way, it is possible to avoid the above-described problem to thereby prevent fuel theft.
On the other hand, as proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-210562, there is a fuel lid structure having a mechanism in which a fuel lid moves to an open side as a lock pin moves in a direction to release the lock. In this way, it is possible to open the fuel lid even when the fuel lid is frozen.


A control device includes a control unit that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a second cursor which changes continuously on a display screen.

The present technology relates to a control device, a control method, a program, and an electronic apparatus, and particularly to a control device, a control method, a program, and an electronic apparatus in which a cursor can be easily operated, for example, by a remote controller and the like on which sensors such as a touchpad, a joystick, a gyro, and the like are mounted.
Regarding a remote controller that remotely controls, for example, a television receiver (TV), a technology is proposed in which a user can easily recognize functions assigned to each button of the remote controller (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-223265)

Control device, control method, and electronic apparatus to control movement of a cursor


An exercise device for providing exercise for a user may include a substantially vertical chimney frame member, a substantially horizontal chimney frame member connected to the substantially vertical chimney frame member, and a slack adjuster frame member to provide a plurality of exercise modes. The slack adjuster frame member may include a top slack adjuster frame member, and the slack adjuster frame member may include a bottom slack adjuster frame member. The plurality of operating modes may include at least one operating mode from the group of a bench press to perform bench press exercises, a decline press to perform decline press exercises, a preacher curls to perform preacher curls exercises, a military press to perform military press exercises, and an incline press to perform incline press exercises.

Many different types of exercise machines have been developed for strengthening a user's muscles. Multi-station, or so called "universal", exercise machines are very popular for home use since many different exercises can be performed on a single apparatus. Machines of this type generally have a single weight slack that may be coupled to the various exercise stations by means of a cable/pulley system.


The present invention pertains to acridone and acridine compounds of formula (I), wherein either: (a) K is ═O, L is —H, alpha is a single bond, beta is a double bond, gamma is a single bond (acridones); or, (b) K is a 9-substituent, L is absent, alpha is a double bond, beta is a single bond, gamma is a double bond (acridines); and wherein: J1 is a 2- or 3-substituent; J2 is a 6- or 7-substituent; J1 and J2 are each independently a group of the formula —NHCO(CH2)nNR1R2, wherein: n is an integer from 1 to 5; and, R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, C1-7alkyl, C3-20heterocyclyl, or C5-20aryl, or R1 and R2, taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic ring having from 3 to 8 ring atoms; and wherein, when K is a 9-substituent, K is a group of the formula —N(RN)Q, wherein: RN is an amino substituent and is hydrogen, C1-7alkyl, C3-20heterocyclyl, or C5-20aryl; and, Q is C1-7alkyl, C3-20heterocyclyl, or C5-20aryl, and is optionally substituted; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides, solvates, hydrates and protected forms thereof. The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to inhibit telomerase, to regulate cell proliferation, and in the treatment of proliferative conditions, such as cancer.

Mammalian cells are normally subject to tight controls regulating replication in order to maintain organ structure and function. Conversely, the disease of cancer is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation. Compromise of any of the steps involved in cell cycle regulation could be involved in escape from regulatory mechanisms and therefore lead to neoplasia. However, even if a cell escapes proliferation suppression, there are limitations to the number of replicative cycles it can progress through before safety mechanisms cause cell cycle shutdown, and this restriction is thought to be a component of the process of organismal aging. Although aging is a complex process, a major candidate for the molecular signal for replicative senescence is that of telomere shortening. Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the ends of linear chromosomes consisting of DNA sequences arranged in tandemly repeated units which extend from less than 100 to several thousands of bases. In contrast to chromosome ends created by random breakage, telomeres are stable structures not prone to degradation or fusion with other chromosome ends and are not subject to DNA repair mechanisms.
During each round of cellular replication, both strands of DNA separate and daughter strands are synthesized in a slightly different manner on the leading and lagging strand. While the lead strand replicates in a continuous fashion using conventional DNA polymerase, the lagging strand replicates in a discontinuous fashion using Okazaki fragments. The gaps between individual Okazaki fragments are filled by the regular DNA polymerase. However, this sets the stage for a potential "end replication problem." This arises because Okazaki fragment priming will not necessarily start at the very end of the DNA and because the RNA primer, once removed, would result in a portion of unreplicated 3′-DNA (an unrepaired 3′-overhang). This can lead to a loss of 50-200 base pairs with every round of somatic cell division, with eventual shortening of telomeres to a length that coincides with the activation of an antiproliferative mechanism termed "mortality stage 1" (M1), and at this stage, senescence in somatic cells occurs. Thus, telomere shortening functions as a "mitotic clock" and limits division in somatic cells to about 50-70 times, thereby contributing to cell aging.
In some cells, due to various mechanisms, the M1 stage is bypassed and cells can continue to divide until telomeres become critically shortened ("mortality stage 2," M2). At this M2 stage, in many immortalized cells, a specialized DNA polymerase called "telomerase" appears and utilizes its internal RNA template to synthesize the telomeric sequence and compensate for the loss of telomeric DNA due to incomplete replication. This prevents further shortening of telomeres, and the resulting stabilization of their length contributes to immortalization.
Telomerase is not expressed, or if it is, its activity is repressed, in most normal mammalian somatic cells. Exceptions to this rule include male germ line cells and some epithelial stem cells (e.g., as in the intestinal crypts, the basal layer of the epidermis, and within human hair follicles).
Nonetheless, both telomerase activity and shortened but stabilized telomeres have been detected in the majority of tumours examined (and in over 90% of all human cancers examined), and consequently, telomeres and telomerase are recognized targets for anti-neoplastic (e.g., cancer) chemotherapy.
The absence of telomerase in most normal cells makes this enzyme a particularly attractive target, considering that its inhibition would probably cause minimal damage to the whole patient. The fact that tumour cells have shorter telomeres and higher proliferation rates than normal replicative cell populations suggests that a therapeutic telomerase inhibitor may cause tumour cell death well before damage to regenerative tissues occurs, thereby minimizing undesirable side-effects.
For a more detailed discussion of telomeres and telomerase, and their role as anti-proliferative targets, see, for example, Sharma et al., 1997; Urquidi et al., 1998; Perry et al., 1998c; Autexier, 1999; and Neidle et al., 1999, and references therein.
A number of polycyclic compounds, including polycyclic acridines, anthraquinones, and fluorenones have been shown to inhibit telomerase and/or to have anti-tumour effects in vitro. See, for example, Bostock-Smith et al., 1999; Gimenez-Arnau et al., 1998; Gimenez-Arnau et al., 1998;. Hagan et al., 1997; Hagan et al., 1998; Harrison et al., 1999; Julino et al., 1998; Perry et al., 1998a, 1998b, 1999a, 1999b; Sun et al., 1997.
Harrison et al., 1999, describe certain 3,6-disubstituted acridines which are shown to inhibit telomerase, and to inhibit cell growth in certain ovarian carcinoma cell lines.

Read et al., April 2001, describe certain 3,6,9-trisubstituted acridines (see compounds 3 and 4 in FIG. 1 therein), including BR-ACO-19 and BR-ACO-20 which are shown to have potent in vitro inhibitory activity against human telomerase.
Although many are known, there remains a great need for potent telomerase inhibitors and antitumour agents, particularly for such compounds which offer additional pharmacological advantages. For example, particularly preferred telomerase inhibitors are ones which are characterized by one or more of the following properties:                (a) no inhibition of Taq polymerase at 10-50 μM (in order to provide specificity and eliminate broad-spectrum polymerase inhibitors);        (b) cell free telomerase inhibition (at <1 μM) at concentrations more than 5 to 10-fold less than for concentrations for acute cytotoxicity;        (c) shortening of telomere length in tumour cells at concentrations 5 to 10-fold less than concentrations for acute cytotoxicity;        (d) telomere shortening in human tumour xenografts; and,        (e) oral bioavailability.

Therapeutic acridone and acridine compounds


Devices for launching objects have a bow structure including a first structural element having a handle and a pair of risers extending outwardly from the handle. A second structural element extends outwardly and away from the handle and has a support member positioned to rest against a forearm of a user. A pouch is movably attached to the bow and is configured to accommodate placement of a desired object to be launched therein. One or more elastomeric bands extend between the pouch and peripheral ends of the first and second risers and thereby attach the pouch to the bow and operate to provide an energizing force when stretched to launch an object within the pouch. In an example, the object to be launched is a water balloon that is at least about 50 percent disposed within the pouch when in a pre-launch state.

Conventionally, water balloons or water bombs are in the form of a latex rubber balloon filled with a sealed volume of water. A feature of such conventional water balloons is that once they hit a target the force of the impact causes the latex rubber body to break, thereby causing the volume of water to escape and to wet the target. As a result, the act involving the throwing of such water balloons at targets, which many times are people, results in wetting the target and is the source of entertainment and fun, and a field of such play has evolved around water balloons.
As noted, water balloons are typically thrown or lobbed by a user at an intended target. Because water balloons, by nature, have an amorphous and changing shape, it is often difficult to accurately aim and throw a water balloon a particular distance and actually hit an intended target. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that the act of throwing the water balloon alone can cause the latex rubber body or skin to break as a result of the force of acceleration by the throwing source, e.g., a person's hand. This effect, along with the unlikelihood of accurately aiming and launching the water balloon, is more likely to occur when the intended target is located a distance outside of one's throwing range.
Various devices have been developed to allow a user to lobby water balloons at greater distances and hit the intended target at greater accuracy. One such device is a water balloon sling shot, which typically comprises a soft pocket in which the water balloon is placed, and an elastomeric material on either sides of the pocket. The Y-shaped frame, typical of the traditional slingshots, is usually omitted so as to accommodate a variety of water balloon shapes and sizes. As a result, the operation of a water balloon slingshot may require up to three people to launch a balloon, with two people holding the two ends of the elastomeric material, and one person to retract the pocket and water balloon into a launching position.
Accordingly, there exists a need to develop a device capable of launching a water balloon that will avoid the undesired effects noted above, while also enabling operation by single person.


The thermally insulated vest for use with a modified bait storing bucket is an improvement over existing bait buckets in that it includes a thermally insulated vest that adorns an exterior surface of the bucket. The thermally insulated vest is comprised of a plurality of layers consisting of a plastic mesh, foil liner, insulation, and gel pack. At least two freezer packs adorn an exterior surface of the thermally insulated vest, and aid in cooling the contents of the bucket. The bucket includes a drain hole and plug to evacuate fluids from within. A lid having a lid vent rests atop the bucket, and is secured thereon via securing means. The thermally insulated vest has a height less than the height of the vest.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of bait buckets, more specifically, a bait bucket that has insulated vest encircling said bucket in order to keep the contents at a reduced temperature.
B. Discussion of the Prior Art
As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses a modified bait bucket specifically suited for storing live bait used in fishing at a reduced or cooled temperature; wherein the bucket includes a thermally insulated vest that encircles the exterior of the bucket; wherein the vest has a height less than the overall height of the bucket; wherein the thermally insulated vest includes removable freeze packs along an exterior that aid in cooling the interior of the bucket; of layers designed to insulate the bucket; wherein a lid is engaged atop said bucket and includes a vent and securing means.
The Farmer et al. Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0244271) discloses a bait bucket having an insulated lining that can be filled with liquid and frozen to keep the bait cool. However, the bait bucket is not a cylindrical bucket having an insulating vest encircling the exterior of said bucket and in which
The Hagen et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,765) discloses a bait bucket having a cooling chamber for receiving ice or the like. Again, the bait bucket is not a cylindrical bucket having a thermally insulated vest that encircles a portion of the exterior of the bucket.
The Slaughter et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,476) discloses a bait bucket having compartments for holding chilled gelatinous packs. Again, the bait bucket is not a cylindrical bucket that includes a thermally insulated vest encircling a lower portion of the exterior of the bucket and of which has removable freeze packs that aid in cooling the contents of the bucket.
The Stricker Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,114) discloses a night crawler container having an insulated cooling medium to maintain the bait at a desired temperature. However, the container does not teach a thermally insulated vest encircling a lower exterior of the bucket.
The Thomas Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,481) discloses a portable beverage cooler comprising a wrap-around having a cavity for receiving a flexible cold pack. However, the beverage cooler is not a modified bait bucket that has a thermally insulated vest encircling an exterior of the bucket.
The Greene Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,032) discloses a multi-walled cooler bag for maintaining a cool temperature within the bag. However, the cooler bag does not include a thermally insulating vest that encircles an exterior surface of a bucket, which is limited to a lower portion of the bucket.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a modified bait bucket specifically suited for storing live bait used in fishing at a reduced or cooled temperature; wherein the bucket includes a thermally insulated vest that encircles the exterior of the bucket; wherein the vest has a height less than the overall height of the bucket; wherein the thermally insulated vest includes removable freeze packs along an exterior that aid in cooling the interior of the bucket; wherein the thermally insulated vest is composed of a plurality of layers designed to insulate the bucket; wherein a lid is engaged atop said bucket and includes a vent and securing means. In this regard, the thermally insulated vest for use with modified bait storing bucket departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

Thermally insulated vest for use with modified bait storing bucket


Disclosed embodiments relate to an interconnect structure for coupling at least one electronic unit for outputting and/or receiving electric signals, and at least one optical unit for converting said electric signals into optical signals and/or vice versa, to a further electronic component. The interconnect structure comprises an electrically insulating substrate and a plurality of signal lead pairs to be coupled between said electronic unit and a front end contact region for electrically contacting said interconnect structure by said further electronic component. A ground plane layer is electrically insulated from said pairs of signal leads, wherein each pair of signal leads has a circuit connecting region for electrically contacting respective terminals of said at least one electronic unit, and wherein in a region adjacent to said terminals of said at least one electronic unit said ground plane layer has a plurality of clearances that are each allocated to one pair of signal leads and separated from a respective neighboring clearance.

In order to support the communication requirements of high-speed data w transmission applications of e.g. 25, 40 or 100 Gbps, optical links are used when links via an electrical wire have a too low bandwidth. When using such an optical link for transmitting a signal from a first electronic component to a second electronic component, the electrical signal to be transmitted is first converted into an optical signal, then the optical signal is coupled into an optical fiber via an optical transmitter and transmitted to the second electronic component via the optical fiber. At the second electronic component, the optical signal is received by means of an optical receiver and converted back into an electrical signal. This converted electrical signal is further processed in the second electronic component.
Optoelectronic components that perform the transduction between the optical and electrical signals are often referred to as transceivers, E/O engines or EOE engines.
As shown in FIG. 1, such a transceiver 100 which is used for converting an electric signal into an optical signal and vice versa, includes an electrically insulating substrate 102, for instance a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The transceiver 100 further comprises a plurality of signal input lines 104 which are arranged as differential signal pairs and end in a front end contact region for electrically contacting further electronic components, for instance via another printed circuit board.
The other peripheral end of the signal input lines being opposed to the front end contact region 106 is connected to an electronic transmission unit 108 in a circuit connecting region 110. The electronic transmission unit 108 comprises driver circuitry for driving optical senders, for instance an array of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) 112. The optical signal emitted by the laser diode array 112 is internally coupled to an optical conductor, for instance an optical fiber.
Furthermore, the transceiver unit 100 comprises a photo detector array 114, which comprises for instance photodiodes, such as so-called PIN diodes (p-intrinsic-n photodiodes). These PIN diodes are coupled to the optical fiber for receiving an optical signal and converting same into an electrical signal. The output of the PIN diodes 114 is coupled to an amplifier unit 116, which may comprise an array of transimpedance amplifiers (TIA) connected to respective outputs of the array of photodiodes 114.
A plurality of electrical signal output lines 120 are provided for connecting the front end contact region to the output terminals of the amplifier circuit 116. The signal output lines 120 are formed as differential lines analogously to the signal input lines 104.
A ground plane layer 118 is provided within the substrate 102 with a well-defined distance towards the input and output signal lines 104 and 120, respectively.
The laser diodes 112 and the driver circuit 108 as well as the PIN diodes 114 and the belonging amplifier unit 116 are all placed on the substrate 102 in a way that they are surrounded by the ground plane layer 118. As proposed in the international application PCT/EP2013/063694, the ground plane layer 118 is provided with openings 124 in the region of the front end contact region 106 in order to improve the signal quality at the transition point from the E/O engine 100 to e.g. a further printed circuit board (not shown in the figure).
Due to parasitic effects of the bond pads and ESD protection devices on the chip, the impedances of the front end of the transmission unit 108 as well as the transimpedance amplifier unit 116 exhibit a capacitive nature. Therefore, significant impedance drops in the area of the circuit connection region 110 of the electronic transmission unit 108 and of the amplifier unit 116 are observed. This impairs the performance of the optoelectronic unit and makes it difficult to meet the return loss specification.
The interconnection system preferably carries signals with minimal distortion. One type of distortion is called crosstalk. Crosstalk occurs when one signal creates an unwanted signal on another signal line. Generally, crosstalk is caused by electromagnetic coupling between signal lines and is therefore a particular problem for high-speed, high-density interconnection systems. Electromagnetic coupling increases when signal lines are closer together or when the signals they carry are of a higher frequency. Both of these conditions are present in a high-speed, high-density interconnection system.
FIG. 2 shows the result of a time-domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement at the circuit connecting region 110 obtained with 20 ps (20 to 80%) pulses without any impedance matching measures. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that a significant pulse is reflected back indicating an undesired disturbance in this region.

Interconnect structure for E/O engines having impedance compensation at the integrated circuits' front end


A controllable sheath for optimizing the control of surgical instruments at the operation site includes a flexible sheath surrounding an endoscope and including a lumen extending along the walls of the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope. The lumen permits the passage of surgical instruments from the proximal end of the endoscopic device to the operation site. The lumen extends beyond the distal end of the endoscope and deflects at the distal end as desired by the operator""s manipulation of a controller device. This distal end deflection may occur through various different techniques where the ability to deflect the lumen gives the operator increased control and maneuverability over the surgical implements located in the lumen. Depending upon the particular requirements of the surgical procedure, the controllable sheath may include any number of lumens capable of distal end deflection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to endoscopic devices, and, more particularly, to a sheath, external to an endoscope, that includes working channels capable of controllable deflection at their distal ends, and to a related method of using the sheath during an endoscopic operation.
2. Background of the Related Art
An endoscope is a flexible medical device for insertion into a body passageway or cavity that enables an operator, positioned at a remote external location, to perform certain surgical procedures at a site internal to the patient""s body. In general, an endoscope includes a long flexible tubular member equipped with, for example, a miniature viewing device, an illumination device, and working channels. The endoscope has a proximal end that remains external to the patient and a distal end having an endoscope tip for insertion into a body cavity of the patient.
A typical endoscope 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. An illumination device of endoscope 10 typically includes a lens 16 at an endoscope tip 14. Lens 16 is positioned proximate to a viewing device 17. Light emanates from lens 16 to enable viewing device 17 to capture images in the body cavity and electrically or optically transmit the images through a tubular body 13 of endoscope 10 for display at an external monitor. Once viewing the transmitted images, the endoscope operator may insert one or more surgical instruments through working channels 18, 20 to perform an endoscopic procedure at the internal body cavity site. These endoscopic procedures may include, for example, snare resections, injections, or biopsies of particular internal areas of the patient""s body.
Often, these endoscopic procedures require the use of multiple endoscopic instruments working in cooperation, where each instrument inserts through a separate working channel. Because these instruments work in cooperation, their maneuverability at the endoscope tip is critical to the success of the surgical procedure. But, this maneuverability is limited by the diameter constraints of the endoscope tip which, in turn, are dictated by the particular body cavity dimensions of the patient. Endoscope designs have evolved to minimize the diameter of the endoscope tip to limit the discomfort experienced by the patient. These designs, however, have failed to maximize the maneuverability of therapeutic devices at the endoscope tip. For example, the working channel of the conventional endoscope remains coexistent with the endoscope and offers no independent motion in relation to the endoscope. Such a limitation impedes the maneuverability of surgical instruments at the operation site since they are constrained to follow the movement of the endoscope.
With reference once again to FIG. 1, working channels 18, 20 of endoscope 10 are located internal to endoscope 10 positioned in close proximity to one another, and fixed in the endoscope with no independent mobility. In essence, working channels 18, 20 simply provide a passage for the surgical instruments to reach endoscope tip 14. Because working channels 18, 20 are fixed and located in such close proximity to one another, the endoscope operator has limited range of motion over the surgical instruments at the operation site. This limited mobility not only hinders the cooperation between the multiple surgical instruments but also inhibits the potential for advancement into more complex endoscopic procedures.
Consequently, there is a need for an endoscopic device with working channels that, in addition to providing a passage for the surgical instruments, optimizes the mobility of the surgical instruments at the operation site, while maintaining the required dimensional constraints to permit travel of the endoscopic device through the body cavities of the patient.
The advantages and purpose of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages and purpose of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To attain the advantages and in accordance with the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the controllable endoscopic sheath of the present invention includes a flexible elongated sheath for surrounding an endoscope. The flexible sheath contains a flexible working lumen extending within the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope so as to permit the lumen to move in relation to the endoscope and beyond a distal tip of the endoscope. The flexible working lumen includes a deflectable distal end. The endoscopic sheath also includes a controller device connected to the distal end of the lumen for controlling deflection of the distal end of the lumen.
According to an aspect of the invention, the controller device includes a wire member disposed on the lumen. The wire member possesses a naturally deflected state as well as an elastic memory and returns to its deflected elastic memory once the wire member extends beyond a distal tip of the endoscope. The distal end of the lumen deflects in response to the distal end deflection of the wire member.
In another aspect, the controller device includes a stiffening member disposed alongside the outside of the lumen and adjacent to the endoscope. The lumen further includes a deflectable lumen tip having a naturally deflected state and an elastic memory. The material of the stiffening member possesses sufficient rigidity to impede only the elastic memory of the lumen tip. The lumen tip, once extended beyond the stiffening member, returns to its original deflected position, thus, causing the distal end of the lumen to deflect.
In still another aspect of the invention, the controller device includes a flexible extension disposed on the lumen at a distal end. The flexible extension attaches to a flexible elongated member that extends along the lumen from the proximal to the distal end of the lumen. The elongated member eccentrically attaches to the flexible extension. The proximal pulling of the elongated member shortens the corresponding length of the elongated member eccentrically attached to the flexible extension and causes the flexible extension to deflect. In response to this deflection, the distal end of the lumen deflects.
The method for using the controllable endoscopic sheath of the present invention in an endoscopic procedure includes inserting an endoscopic device into a body cavity, the endoscopic device having an endoscope, a flexible elongated sheath surrounding the endoscope, and a flexible lumen extending with the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope for containing a surgical tool. Maneuvering the endoscopic device through the body cavity and proximate to an operation site. Once arriving proximate to the operation site, extending a distal end of the lumen beyond a distal tip of the endoscope. And deflecting the extended distal end of the lumen to maneuver the surgical tool.
According to an aspect of the invention, the endoscopic device further includes a wire member having a naturally deflected state as well as an elastic memory and disposed adjacent to the lumen. For such an endoscopic device, the deflecting step includes extending the wire member beyond the distal tip of the endoscope.
In another aspect, the endoscopic device includes a lumen having a naturally deflected state and elastic memory at the distal end. For such an endoscopic device, the deflecting step includes extending a stiffening member beyond the distal tip of the endoscope, where the stiffening member impedes the distal end of the lumen from retaining its naturally defected state.
In still another aspect of the invention, the endoscopic device includes an elongated member disposed on the lumen and eccentrically attached to a flexible extension. The elongated member extends from a proximal end of the lumen to a point proximate the distal end of the lumen and the flexible extension resides at the distal end of the lumen. For such an endoscopic device, the deflecting step includes retracting the elongated member from the proximal end to shorten the distal end of the elongated member and deflect the flexible extension.
Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

Controllable endoscopic sheath apparatus and related method of use


A device for the transportation of vehicles, at a prescribed maximum height of the system, transports an increased possible number of vehicles on a given surface area. The device is suitable for transportation by air, sea, and land. In this context, the vehicles are not unloaded from the device, even in the case of combined land, sea, or air transportation. The device consists of a lower pallet and an upper pallet. The upper pallet is supported on booms which, in turn, rest on the lower pallet. The booms are individually height-adjustable so that the upper pallet can be tilted relative to the lower pallet in the longitudinal direction. At the second end, there is a support element on which the device can be moved in the lengthwise direction, at least if it has been slightly lifted at the opposite first end.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,855 describes a device for the transportation of at least two vehicles one above the other, consisting of a lower pallet and an upper pallet, a front pair of columns and a rear pair of columns that are attached to the lower pallet by clamps and that serve to fasten the upper pallet. It is possible to change the inclination of the upper pallet relative to the lower pallet by adjusting the corresponding columns. Moreover, the device can be taken apart in order to allow a space-saving transportation of the empty device. For this purpose, the upper pallet is disassembled from the columns, the columns are disassembled from the lower pallet and laid onto the lower pallet, and the upper pallet is laid onto the columns that are lying on the lower pallet. In order to load two vehicles in the device, first the upper pallet is raised at an angle from one of the ends and secured so that the first vehicle can be driven onto it. Accordingly, the upper pallet is lifted by of an industrial floor truck and secured at a height that depends on the height of the second vehicle, and at a certain angle that, depends on the shape and height of the vehicles, before the second vehicle can be driven onto it. Before the second vehicle is loaded, the height of the upper pallet is determined. Also, how inclined the upper pallet is in order for the second vehicle to fit in the device without being damaged. This loading procedure is laborious. Moreover, even though the construction is stable, it contains many parts, particularly the cross braces for the columns, which make the device heavy. For this reason, this device is not suitable for transportation by airfreight.
Nowadays, vehicles, particularly motor vehicles, are transported in large numbers, at times over long distances. In this process, the vehicles are protected against damage. This may be the case when the vehicles are valuable, for instance, race cars, old-timers, prototypes, exhibition vehicles or other rare automobiles. More and more often, such vehicles are being transported by airfreight, whereby the airline company charges the commissioning party on the basis of the transportation surface area at a given maximum height of the freight. When such vehicles are transported by ship or road, they are often transported in containers, so that they can be protected against damage and so as to reduce the loading work. The height of such containers is also limited. If the vehicles are transported by combined transportation modalities, for example, by train to the harbor or airport, from where they then travel by ship or airplane, they are normally moved by their own driving power onto and off of the transportation trailer and are subsequently driven to a transshipment site. From there, they are usually driven onto airplane pallets in the case of airfreight operations. For sea freight operations, they are either driven into the above-mentioned containers or else into roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessels. The numerous engine starts used for this purpose and the subsequent short running times are undesired.
Containers of the above-mentioned type are known and standardized, for example, in ISO 668. These are so-called sea freight containers, available as 10-foot, 16-foot, 20-foot and 40-foot containers, which are suitable and used, for instance, for the transportation of motor vehicles. Such containers have a very sturdy construction which, however, translates into a high intrinsic weight. For this reason, such containers are not suitable for airfreight transportation.
P.C.T. Publication WO 96/26849 discloses a device for the transportation of motor vehicles that allows the motor vehicles to be transported one above the other, whereby the upper vehicles can be arranged at an angle above the lower vehicles. This makes it possible to minimize the total height of two motor vehicles that are to be transported one above the other. For this purpose, the device includes height-adjustable wheel carriers on which the wheels of the upper vehicle come to rest. Two of these wheel carriers are needed for each vehicle. The device has a removable or height-adjustable upper frame. The wheel carriers can be moved in a rail system axially with respect to the vehicle axle, so that they can be adjusted to different wheelbases of the vehicle to be transported, and the upper vehicles can be positioned beyond the lower vehicles so that individual vehicle axles can subsequently be lowered and the upper vehicles can be placed at an angle so that the recesses in the car body of the lower vehicles can be utilized, for example, for the trunk or above the engine hood, thus minimizing the total height of the two vehicles that are to be transported above each other. The system is permanently installed on a vehicle for the transportation of vehicles. Due to its intrinsic weight, it is not suitable for airfreight. If the transportation modality—rail, road, ship, aircraft—changes, the vehicles have to be unloaded and subsequently loaded onto the other transportation, in other words, the vehicles themselves have to be moved.
A similar system is disclosed in European patent application EP 0 274 882 A1. A system that is permanently installed on a truck trailer can lift vehicles onto wheel carriers that can be affixed at different heights and that themselves can be axially moved along the length of the trailer in the direction of the vehicle axis. This device entails the same drawbacks as the one mentioned above.
P.C.T. Publication WO 888/05001 proposes an intermodal container in which two vehicles can be transported above each other, whereby rails are affixed on the lengthwise sides of the inner walls of the container and wheel carriers run in these rails. The front and rear axles of a vehicle can stand in the wheel carriers at different heights, as a result of which the vehicle can likewise be placed at an angle, so that the recesses in the car body of the lower vehicles can be utilized for example, for the trunk or above the engine hood, thus minimizing the total height of the two vehicles that are to be transported above each other. Even though this system allows intermodal use, it is not useful at least for airfreight because of its intrinsic weight.
All of the devices known from the state of the art also have the disadvantage that they use the same transportation volume regardless of whether they are loaded or not.

Transport device and transport means therewith


A tuning device is provided. The sound to be tuned is inputted by an input means while a reference sound is produced by an output means. At least two pitches are detected independently from a mixture of the sound to be tuned and the reference sound by a pitch detection means. Based on pitch information of the reference sound acquired by an acquiring means, the pitch of the sound to be tuned is extracted by a pitch extraction means from the at least two pitches detected by the pitch detection means. Information about the pitch of the sound to be tuned is displayed by a display means under control of a display control means. Therefore, the user can easily perform tuning on the sound to be tuned, based on the pitch information displayed by the display means, while listening to the reference sound and producing the sound to be tuned.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tuning device and particularly relates to a tuning device that produces a sound (i.e. reference sound) of a pitch (i.e. reference pitch, which serves as the reference) of a reference pitch name as the tuning target and allows the user to check the pitch of a sound that is to be tuned from a mixture sound of the reference sound and the sound that is to be tuned.
2. Description of Related Art
A traditional tuning device cannot be used to carry out tuning for matching the pitch of the sound that is to be tuned, e.g. a vocal sound or a sound of a wind instrument such as a flute, while the reference sound is produced through a loudspeaker. The reason is that, when the loudspeaker outputs the reference sound, the tuning device may misidentify the reference sound it produces as the sound that is to be tuned and detect the wrong pitch, and as a result, fail to detect the pitch of the sound that is to be tuned. For this reason, the user first confines the reference sound produced via the loudspeaker by ear, and then stops the reference sound and inputs the sound that is to be tuned to the tuning device, so as to perform the tuning. However, for such a method, the user needs to listen to and remember the reference pitch so as to perform the tuning, which is rather difficult.
Regarding this, Patent Literature 1 discloses an electronic tuner that uses a mixture circuit to mix an audio signal of the sound that is to be tuned, which is inputted via an input terminal, with a reference sound signal (equivalent to the reference sound signal of Patent Literature 1), and outputs the mixture through headphones via an output terminal when the sound that is to be tuned, which is inputted via the input terminal, is inputted to a tuning circuit. With the electronic tuner of Patent Literature 1, the user can produce the sound that is to be tuned and perform the tuning while the user listens to the reference sound (equivalent to the reference sound of Patent Literature 1) through headphones to check the pitch of the reference sound.
In addition, Patent Literature 2 discloses a polyphonic tuner that has a pitch detector for simultaneously detecting several pitches.


An optical assembly is configured for use with an endotracheal tube insertion device and includes a flexible member with an elongated body having a substantially cylindrical shape, a distal end, and a proximal end. An endotracheal tube is carried by the flexible member, and an endotracheal tube retention tab extends outwardly from the flexible member and is configured to allow the endotracheal tube to be positioned and retained therein. The endotracheal tube retention tab has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, defines a longitudinally extending channel, and includes an elongated slot formed therein. The elongated slot is configured to provide access to the channel and to facilitate removal of the endotracheal tube.

This invention relates in general to a device for introducing an intubation device, such as an endotracheal tube, into a patient. In particular, this invention relates to an improved endotracheal tube insertion device that allows the user to simultaneously open the airway, view a patient's airway, accurately position an intubation device within the airway, and transmit a video image of the patient's airway to the operator and/or a medical professional located remotely from the patient.
Tracheal intubation typically includes placing a flexible plastic tube into the trachea or windpipe to maintain an open airway or to serve as a conduit through which to administer certain drugs. Tracheal intubation is frequently performed in critically injured, ill, or anesthetized patients to facilitate ventilation of the lungs, including mechanical ventilation, and to prevent the possibility of asphyxiation or airway obstruction. The most widely used method is orotracheal intubation, in which an endotracheal tube is passed through the mouth and vocal cords into the trachea.
Intubation is normally facilitated by using a conventional laryngoscope, a video laryngoscope, a flexible fiber-optic bronchoscope, or a flexible videoscope to identify the glottis and intubate the trachea of a patient, although other devices and techniques may be used. After the trachea has been intubated, a balloon cuff is typically inflated just above the far end of the tube to help secure the endotracheal tube in place, to prevent leakage of respiratory gases, and to protect the tracheobronchial tree from receiving undesirable material such as stomach acid. The endotracheal tube is then secured to the patient's face or neck and connected to a breathing device, such as a mechanical ventilator. Once there is no longer a need for ventilatory assistance and/or protection of the airway, the endotracheal tube is removed.
Many conventional tracheal intubations involve the use of a viewing instrument. For example, a conventional laryngoscope may consist of a handle containing batteries that power a light, and a set of interchangeable rigid blades, which are either straight or curved. This device is designed to allow the laryngoscopist to directly view the larynx.
Video laryngoscopes, flexible fiber-optic bronchoscopes, and flexible videoscopes have also become increasingly available. Video laryngoscopes are specialized rigid blade laryngoscopes that use a digital video camera sensor to allow the operator to view the glottis and larynx on a video monitor. In contrast to the conventional laryngoscope, a video laryngoscope allows the laryngoscopist to indirectly view the larynx. This provides a significant advantage in situations where the operator needs to see around an acute bend in order to see the glottis, and with otherwise difficult intubation procedures. Flexible videoscopes and fiber-optic bronchoscopes are not rigid instruments, and provide an even greater opportunity for visualizing the vocal cords due to their ability to fully manipulate the angle and position of the camera sensor and optics.
Successful endotracheal intubation requires adequate atraumatic laryngeal retraction, visualization of the vocal cords, positioning of the endotracheal tube, and a clear passage of the endotracheal tube into the trachea. Failure to adequately place the endotracheal tube within a few minutes often leads to permanent patient disability and even death. Currently available intubation instruments frequently lack the capability to meet one or more of these requirements.
Visualization of the vocal cords requires retraction of the tongue and laryngeal structures such as the epiglottis. Large tongues, excessive oropharyngeal soft tissue, stiff and immobile necks, and unique patient anatomy can make vocal cord visualization challenging. The ability to retract and physically align the oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures properly for direct or camera assisted viewing with a rigid blade may be difficult or impossible. Flexible videoscopes and fiber-optic bronchoscopes are not able to retract the tongue and laryngeal structures.
Direct rigid blade laryngoscopy allows for adequate retraction of laryngeal structures, but is often limited in providing vocal cord visualization in certain patient populations (e.g., thick, stiff, and/or immobile necks) and can be traumatic when trying to improve the view by manipulating the rigid blade between the teeth and stretching the laryngeal tissues.
Indirect rigid blade videoscopes improve the field of vision over direct rigid blades, but because the camera tip is permanently mounted on a singular site on the rigid blade, practitioners must still use rigid blade manipulation to further improve or achieve visualization of the vocal cords, often resulting in trauma as occurs with direct oral laryngoscopy. Despite manipulating the rigid blade videoscope and its fixed camera, the angle, curvature, and depth is often limited and visualization of the vocal cords may not be achieved.
Flexible videoscopes and fiber optic bronchoscopes provide for multiple angles and depths of view. Unfortunately, they do not provide a means to retract the tongue and laryngeal tissues that allow for visualization of the vocal cords. Instead, one must use a separate airway to retract the tongue and/or a second practitioner to manually retract or displace the tongue or the mandible. Although it is known to use flexible fiber-optic bronchoscopes or flexible videoscopes during intubation when the patient is under general anesthesia, the use of such devices has the disadvantage of typically requiring two skilled individuals to intubate the patient. It is difficult to manipulate soft tissue in the larynx with flexible fiber-optic bronchoscopes and flexible videoscopes, and despite these maneuvers for visualization, the passage, and the delivery of the endotracheal tube into the trachea is often inhibited by the laryngeal structures.
Despite proper tissue retraction and visualization of the vocal cords with currently available instruments such as a direct laryngoscope, indirect video laryngoscope, or a flexible videoscope, the delivery, placement, and passage of the endotracheal tube is often challenging. Stiff, rigid, and potentially traumatic stylets are frequently shaped and placed within the endotracheal tube, to give more control and guidance to the endotracheal tube tip in the direction of the visualized vocal cords. However, once the rigid stylet has been manually shaped, the user must work with that specific curvature and shape. If the curvature and shape is not satisfactory, the user must stop the laryngoscopy, remove all of the equipment, manually reshape the stylet, and start the procedure over from the beginning.
It is often the case with flexible videoscopes, flexible fiber-optic bronchoscopes, and rigid direct or indirect laryngoscopes, that visualization of the vocal cords may be achieved wherein placement of the endotracheal tube tip is at the vocal cords, or the flexible scope is within the trachea, but the passage of the endotracheal tube tip through the larynx between the vocal cords and into the trachea is obstructed. The leading edge of the endotracheal tube tip often collides with laryngeal structures, such as the arytenoids or the anterior wall of the trachea, preventing smooth passage of the endotracheal tube into the trachea.
In urgent and emergency situations, especially in locations remote from a hospital, the use of flexible video laryngoscopy or fiber-optic bronchoscopy may be limited, and personnel experienced in performing direct or indirect laryngoscopy are not always immediately available in settings that require emergency tracheal intubation.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved structure for a device for introducing an endotracheal tube into a patient, wherein such an improved device allows the user to simultaneously open the airway, view a patient's airway, accurately position an endotracheal tube or other intubation device within the airway, and if desired, transmit a video image of the patient's airway to the operator and/or a medical professional located remotely from the patient.