There is provided a method for producing a hyperbranched polymer. A method for producing a hyperbranched polymer comprising polymerizing a dithiocarbamate compound of Formula (1):

Hyperbranched polymers are classified as dendritic polymers together with dendrimers. While related-art polymers generally have a string form, these dendritic polymers have a highly branched structure. Accordingly, expectations lie in practical application utilizing various characteristics in a respect of having a specific structure, a respect of having a nanometer size, a respect of being capable of forming surfaces retaining many functional groups, a respect of being capable of having a low viscosity compared with linear polymers, a respect of exhibiting a behavior like fine particles with little entanglement of molecules, and a respect of being capable of becoming amorphous to control their solubility in a solvent.
Hyperbranched polymers contain a mixture of linear and completely branched repeating units. On the contrary, idealized dendrimers do not have any linear repeating units, but only contain completely branched repeating units.
An advantage of the hyperbranched polymer over the dendrimer is in its simplicity for synthesis, which is advantageous particularly in industrial production. Generally, while the dendrimer is synthesized by repeating protection and deprotection, the hyperbranched polymer is synthesized by a one-step polymerization of a so-called ABX type monomer having in one molecule thereof, three or more substituents of two types.
As a method for producing the hyperbranched polymer, the method by photopolymerization of a compound having a dithiocarbamate group with a photopolymerization initiating ability and having a styryl group and/or an acryl group has been known.
For example, a method for synthesizing a hyperbranched polymer by a photopolymerization of a styrene compound having a dithiocarbamate group (see Non-Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3), a method for synthesizing a hyperbranched polymer having a dithiocarbamate group by a photopolymerization of an acryl compound having a dithiocarbamate group (see Non-Patent Documents 4, 5 and 6) and a method for synthesizing a hyperbranched polymer having a dithiocarbamate group at a terminal of a molecule in which acid anhydrides are introduced in the main chain thereof by a photopolymerization of a styrene compound having a dithiocarbamate group and maleic anhydride that are coexisting (see Non-Patent Document 7) has been known.
In such a method for producing a hyperbranched polymer by a photopolymerization, expensive and special reaction facilities are required because a light source such as a high-pressure mercury lamp is used.
In addition, a problem of generating a large amount of a gelation product nearby a high-pressure mercury lamp occurs in such a photopolymerization. Therefore, only about 40% of the hyperbranched polymer can be obtained because the polymerization can be performed at a conversion ratio of only about 50% and purification by reprecipitation is repeated due to the large amount of remaining monomers. In addition, a cumbersome operation of removing a gelation product is also required.
Moreover, the photopolymerization also has a problem in which it is difficult to produce a hyperbranched polymer having the same molecular weight and the same degree of branching because the condition setting of the photoreaction is difficult when scaling up the reaction.
As described above, the method for producing a hyperbranched polymer by photopolymerization is difficult to perform in industry. Therefore, an excellent industrial production method has been desired.
Meanwhile, a method for polymerizing monomers having a styryl group and/or an acryl group by heating in the presence of a radical initiator such as a compound having a dithiocarbamate group and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) has been known (see Patent Documents 1, 2, 3 and 4).
In this method, a linear polymer is obtained because the polymerization proceeds at a position of double bond of a styryl group and/or an acryl group.
In addition, an example of polymerization of 4-vinylbenzyl N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate that is a compound in which a dithiocarbamate group and a styryl group coexist in a molecule thereof by heating in the presence of AIBN, similar to the method as described above, has been known (see Non-Patent Document 8).
In this method, a linear polymer is obtained because the polymerization proceeds at a position of double bond of a styryl group.
In addition, Non-Patent Document 8 discloses an example of heating 4-vinylbenzyl N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate at 30° C. in the absence of AIBN. However, almost no reaction proceeds in this example (yield 0.8%).
As described above, there is no example of report in which a hyperbranched polymer is obtained by polymerizing a compound containing a dithiocarbamate group and a polymerizable unsaturated bond group such as a styryl group and/or an acryl group by heating.
Non-Patent Document 1
Koji Ishizu, Akihide Mori, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 21, 665-668 (2000)
Non-Patent Document 2
Koji Ishizu, Akihide Mori, Polymer International 50, 906-910 (2001)
Non-Patent Document 3
Koji Ishizu, Yoshihiro Ohta, Susumu Kawauchi, Macromolecules Vol. 35, No. 9, 3781-3784 (2002)
Non-Patent Document 4
Koji Ishizu, Takeshi Shibuya, Akihide Mori, Polymer International 51, 424-428 (2002)
Non-Patent Document 5
Koji Ishizu, Takeshi Shibuya, Susumu Kawauchi, Macromolecules Vol. 36, No. 10, 3505-3510 (2002)
Non-Patent Document 6
Koji Ishizu, Takeshi Shibuya, Jaebum Park, Satoshi Uchida, Polymer International 53, 259-265 (2004)
Non-Patent Document 7
Koji Ishizu, Akihide Mori, Takeshi Shibuya, Polymer Vol. 42, 7911-7914 (2001)
Non-Patent Document 8
Takayuki Otsu, Keiji Yamashita, Kazuichi Tsuda, Macromolecules Vol. 19, No. 2, 287-290 (1986)
Patent Document 1
Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2002-508409
Patent Document 2
Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2002-500251
Patent Document 3
Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2004-509181
Patent Document 4
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-5-188658

Method for producing hyperbranched polymer

Abstract: wherein R1 is H or CH3; R2 and R3 are individually a C1-5 alkyl group, etc., A1 is Formula (2) and/or Formula (3):

Abstract: wherein A2 is a linear, branched or cyclic C1-30 alkylene group that optionally contains an ether bond or an ester bond and X1, X2, X3 and X4 are each independently H, a C1-20 alkyl group, etc., by heating at 50 to 250° C.


The present invention provides a wound core having a low core loss and not susceptible to a disappearance of the core loss lowering effect due to a magnetic domain refining even when stress-relief annealing is conducted after fabrication of a steel strip into a wound core, through a process which comprises, fabricating a very thin silicon steel strip comprising by 6.5% weight or less of silicon with the balance consisting essentially of iron and having a sheet thickness of 100 .mu.m or less and a magnetic flux density (B.sub.8 value) of 1.80T or more into a wound core, subjecting the wound core to stress-relief annealing, unwinding the very thin silicon steel strip from the core, introducing into the very thin silicon steel strip a linear or dotted local strain in a direction at an angle of 45.degree. to 90.degree. to the rolling direction of the thin strip, and rewinding the thin strip onto the core.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a wound core having a very low core loss, through the use of a very thin silicon steel strip having an axis of easy magnetization in the direction of rolling.
2. Description of the Related Art
The fundamental magnetic concept of an oriented silicon steel derives from the discovery of a crystal magnetic anisotropy of a single crystal of iron in 1926 (see K. Honda and S. Kaya, Sci. Reps, Tohoku Imp. Univ. 15, 1926, 721). The magnetic characteristics of silicon steel have been remarkably improved by significant advances in the development of a cube-on-edge structure by Goss (N.P. Goss, U.S. Pat. No. 1965,559), and currently, the oriented silicon steel is still considered one of the most useful magnetic materials, due to its low energy loss, high magnetic flux density in a low magnetizing force, and very low cost.
Nevertheless, this steel has significant core loss under a high frequency magnetization, and the magnetic permeability is lowered when the sheet thickness is large (0.20 mm or more as an industrial product), and accordingly, the above-described magnetic materials can be utilized only for a magnetization at 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
In 1949, M. F. Littmann disclosed a process for developing a high magnetic permeability and a low core loss in a very thin silicon steel (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,473,156). In the invention of M. F. Littmann, the starting material has a (110)[001]orientation (B.sub.8 =1.74T) and a satisfactory large grain diameter (grain diameter: 0.05 to 10 mm), and is cold-rolled and recrystallized. The above-described silicon steel has characteristics such that, at a sheet thickness of 1 to
5 mils (25.4 to 127 .mu.m), the magnetic flux density (B.sub.8 value) and the core loss at 10 kGs in 60 Hz are 1.60 to 1.71T and 0.26 to 0.53 W/lb (0.44 to 0.90 W/kg), respectively. Nevertheless the above-described material (silicon steel) has a magnetic flux density as low as 1 74T at a maximum, in terms of the B.sub.8 value, which makes it impossible to increase the required magnetic flux density, and thus the size of power source units in electrical machinery and apparatuses cannot be reduced. Further, since the orientation of the grain frequently deviates from the (110)[001] orientation, a generation and extinction of an auxiliary magnetic domain occur, particularly at an excitation of 1.5T or more, and thus the core loss becomes unfavorably very large.
To solve the above-described problems, the present inventors proposed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-322030, a very thin silicon steel strip having a very high magnetic flux density and a low core loss at a high excitation. This proposal, however, has a serious problem of how to achieve a lowering of the core loss through a subdivision of the width of a magnetic domain (domain refining treatment), where a wound core is prepared by using a very thin silicon steel strip. For example, even when the core loss of the silicon steel sheet is reduced through the magnetic domain refining disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 53-137016 and No. 55-18566, in the case of a wound core, the stress relieving annealing of the steel sheet is conducted after fabrication into a core, which causes the local strain introduced into the steel sheet for the magnetic domain refining to disappear, and accordingly, the core loss lowering effect by the magnetic domain refining is also lost.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 60-255926 and 61-117218 disclose a technique for controlling the magnetic domain wherein the core loss lowering effect due to the magnetic domain refining is not lost even when a stress-relief annealing is conducted after fabrication of the steel sheet into a core, but when the thickness of the product is as thin as 100 .mu.m or less, it is very difficult to apply the above-described techniques. Therefore, a novel technique for controlling a magnetic domain applicable to the production of a wound core through the use of a very thin silicon steel strip, wherein the core loss lowering effect due to the magnetic domain width subdivision is not lost even when stress-relief annealing is conducted after fabrication of a steel strip into a core, is urgently required.

Process for preparing wound core having low core loss


A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head comprising a laser operable to heat the disk while writing data to the disk, and a fly height actuator (FHA) operable to actuate the head vertically over the disk. A laser power applied to the laser during a write operation is calibrated, and a FHA write setting is generated for the FHA as a function of the calibrated laser power.

Disk drives comprise a disk and a head connected to a distal end of an actuator arm which is rotated about a pivot by a voice coil motor (VCM) to position the head radially over the disk. The disk comprises a plurality of radially spaced, concentric tracks for recording user data sectors and embedded servo sectors. The embedded servo sectors comprise head positioning information (e.g., a track address) which is read by the head and processed by a servo controller to control the velocity of the actuator arm as it seeks from track to track.
Data is typically written to the disk by modulating a write current in an inductive coil to record magnetic transitions onto the disk surface in a process referred to as saturation recording. During readback, the magnetic transitions are sensed by a read element (e.g., a magnetoresistive element) and the resulting read signal demodulated by a suitable read channel. Heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) is a recent development that improves the quality of written data by heating the disk surface with a laser during write operations in order to decrease the coercivity of the magnetic medium, thereby enabling the magnetic field generated by the write coil to more readily magnetize the disk surface.
Since the quality of the write/read signal depends on the fly height of the head, conventional heads may comprise an actuator for controlling the fly height. Any suitable dynamic fly height (DFH) actuator may be employed, such as a heater which controls fly height through thermal expansion, or a piezoelectric (PZT) actuator. It is desirable to determine the appropriate DFH setting (e.g., appropriate current applied to a heater) that achieves the target fly height for the head.

Disk drive calibrating fly height actuator and laser power for heat assisted magnetic recording


A removing member which rotates while being in contact with the periphery of a rotating member for conveying a sheet of paper that rotates while being in contact with a printed side of a sheet of paper is provided. When undried ink on the printed side is transferred to the periphery of the rotating member at the time of conveying the printed sheet, the undried ink is thinly spread in a part where the periphery of the rotating member and the periphery of the removing member come into contact with each other and therefore dried quicker. The removing member removes a part of the ink from the periphery of the rotating member. Consequently, the printed sheet is prevented from being smudged by the re-transfer. Since double-side printing or multicolor printing can be started before the ink on the printed side of the printed sheet of paper is completely dried, the work efficiency of the double-side printing or multicolor printing is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer for carrying a sheet of paper at least one side of which is printed and performing printing again on the sheet such as double-side printing for printing the other side of the printed side or multicolor printing for printing the printed side in ink of a different color.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, double-side printing and multicolor printing by a printer having a single cylindrical print drum is widely performed. According to the double-side printing, a sheet of paper of which one side has been printed is set on a paper supply tray or the like and conveyed, and the other side is printed in the paper conveying process. According to the multicolor printing, a sheet of paper of which one side has been printed in ink of a certain color is set on a paper supply tray or the like and conveyed, and the printed side is printed in ink of another color during the paper conveying process.
In the case of performing the double-side printing or the multicolor printing, what is called a re-transferred smudge (roller track smudge) occurs on the printed sheet as follows. When a rotating member (such as pick-up roller, separation roller, resist roller, or press roller) for conveying the printed sheet comes into contact with undried ink on the printed side of the printed sheet, the undried ink is transferred to the periphery of the rotating member and the undried ink transferred to the rotating member is transferred again to the printed side of the printed sheet.
In order to prevent the occurrence of the retransfer smudge, the double-side printing or multicolor printing is performed after sufficiently drying the ink on the printed side of the printed sheet.
When the double-side printing or multicolor printing is performed after the ink on the printed side of the printed sheet is sufficiently dried, the waiting time is long and it causes a problem such that the efficiency of the double-side printing and the multicolor printing deteriorates.
It is an object of the present invention to prevent a smudge occurring when a printed sheet of paper at least whose one side has been printed is conveyed and printed again for double-side printing or multicolor printing.
Another object of the present invention is to improve work efficiency of a case where a printed sheet of paper at least whose one side has been printed is conveyed and printed again for double-side printing or multicolor printing.
According to a printer of the present invention, each of rotating members for feeding a sheet of paper which are disposed along a guide path including a printing unit with a removing member which rotates while being in contact with the periphery of the rotating member so as to spread ink passed on the rotating member, so that the removing member removes a part of the ink from the rotating member.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the periphery of one of the rotating members is made of a material to which ink is not easily adhered. The rotating members are disposed via a guide path and rotate, so that the rotating members contribute to convey a sheet of paper. The guide path includes a printing unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a pair of first and second resist rollers disposed upstream of the printing unit via a guide path are provided. The periphery of the first resist roller is made of a material to which ink is not easily adhered and the periphery of the second resist roller is made of a material having elasticity to assure a paper conveying force. Another pair of first and second resist rollers disposed upstream of the printing unit via the guide path are also provided. The periphery of the first resist roller is made of a material to which ink is not easily adhered and the periphery of the second resist roller is made of a material having elasticity to assure a paper conveying force. The disposing positions of the first and second resist rollers with respect to the guide path as a center are opposite to those of the foregoing pair of resist rollers. The first and second resist rollers in either one of the pairs of resist rollers are allowed to be in contact with each other. The first and second resist rollers in the other pair of resist rollers are allowed to be apart from each other.
According to further aspect of the present invention, a pair of first and second resist rollers disposed upstream of the printing unit in the guide path of a sheet of paper are provided via the guide path. The periphery of the first resist roller is made of a material to which ink is not easily adhered and the periphery of the second resist roller is made of a material having elasticity to assure a paper conveying force. The positions of the first and second resist rollers with respect to the guide path as a center are reversed as appropriate.


A method for and wireless communications unit adapted for measuring transmission performance for a signal emanating from an antenna is discussed. The wireless communications unit includes a receiver for receiving the signal in a first and a second time interval to provide, respectively, a first and a second signal; and a channel processor for assessing a relative channel metric corresponding to the first and second signal, the relative channel metric indicative of the transmission performance of a transmission mode. A corresponding method and base transmitter is also arranged and adapted for adjusting a transmission mode based on measured transmission performance and includes a transmitter for sending the signal in the first and second time interval and a base channel processor for determining a channel metric corresponding to the first and second signal, the channel metric indicative of the transmission performance; the transmitter further sending a control signal corresponding to the transmission mode adjusted according to the transmission performance.

This invention relates in general to communication systems, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for assessing transmission performance and using the performance to select a transmission mode.
A frequent goal in designing wireless communications systems is to increase the number of users that may be simultaneously served by the communications system. This may be referred to as increasing system capacity. In multiple access communications systems, including code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communications systems, the use of adaptive antenna arrays at the base transceiver has been proposed as a method of increasing system capacity.
An adaptive array antenna includes two or more radiating elements with dimensions, spacing, orientation, and an illumination sequence that produce a field from a combination of fields emitted from individual elements that has greater intensities in some directions and lesser field intensities in other directions. An adaptive array antenna assists in increasing system capacity because this field pattern or radiation pattern of the adaptive array antenna, which includes multiple beams or lobes, may be configured such that signals intended for a selected user are in higher-gain antenna lobes pointed in the direction of a selected user, while nulls in the antenna pattern are likely directed to other users. Thus, signals intended for other users in the selected user""s antenna null are not adversely affected by the power intended for the selected user. This increases capacity because one user""s signals are not transmitted with a higher antenna gain to all the other users in the sector or cell where it would degrade all other users"" signals. Other transmission modes such as higher data rates, for increasing system capacity have also been considered.
Unfortunately these various transmission modes or techniques have limitations reflected in varying levels of transmission performance. These limitations and resultant transmission performance are typically related to and can be modeled as functions of channel quality and reliability. For example, a wireless channel can vary dramatically from location to location and will depend on whether the source and target are in relative motion each to the other. Most adaptive array antenna systems and transmission modes using adaptive arrays utilize some form of algorithm, often mobile assisted, to quasi-continually adapt the array to current channel conditions e.g. mobile or portable subscriber position and relative motion in order to maintain or optimize transmission performance. Similarly higher data rate systems tend to be adaptive and require some form of adaptation to current channel conditions. However, the ability of these systems to adapt to changing channel conditions is limited by transport and processing times as well as bandwidth devoted to the adaptation of the system and once this limit is exceeded the systems tend to perform very poorly.
Thus, it should be apparent that a need exists for a method and apparatus for measuring transmission performance and using such measurements for such activities as selecting appropriate transmission modes.

Transmission performance measurement and use thereof


A cargo bar including first and second bars extending from opposite sides of a grip housing, with distal ends thereof defining a cargo bar length. An advancement pawl moves the first bar away from the second bar to increase the cargo bar length. A holding pawl prevents the first bar from moving back toward the second bar to decrease the cargo bar length. First and second handles are rotatably attached to the housing between folded positions proximate to the housing and operating positions extending away from the housing. The first handle has an engagement portion that engages with and operates the advancement pawl as the first and second handles are squeezed together. The holding pawl includes a release tab that extends from the housing that when pressed, causes the holding pawl to release the first bar and allow it to move to decrease the cargo bar length.

The present invention relates to cargo restraint, and more particularly to cargo bars used to prevent cargo from shifting in truck bodies and trailers during transit.
Various cargo restraint systems for restraining cargo loads in trucks and trailers are well known in the art. One such device is commonly known as a cargo bar, which typically includes a pair of telescoping bars with ends that bear against opposing truck walls (or opposing truck floor and ceiling) with sufficient tension to hold the cargo bar (and therefore any abutting cargo load) in place. Cargo bars are advantageous over other cargo restraining systems because no other mounting devices or tracks need be mounted to the truck walls. Thus, cargo bars can be quickly positioned and affixed between any opposing fixed surfaces, and later removed without any mounting devices or holes left behind.
Cargo bars usually employ a ratchet device to lengthen the bar and create the tension that wedges the cargo bar in place. The ratchet device includes teeth and/or engagement pawls to advance and hold one of the telescoping bars relative to the other (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,186,715 and 6,368,037). The ratchet is operated by reciprocating a lever to lengthen the bar and create the desired tension between the truck walls, and by moving the lever to a release position that releases the cargo bar""s tension and allows the shortening of the bar""s length.
Prior art cargo bars have several drawbacks. First, once the cargo bar is wedged in place, the lever is left either partially or fully protruding from the ratchet housing, which can be a hazard to any nearby people or cargo. Second, the lever often operates not only the tensioning of the cargo bar, but also the release of its tension, thus increasing the risk of operator error that could accidental release of the cargo bar tension. Moreover, anything or anyone accidentally bumping into a partially or filly protruding lever after the cargo bar is wedged in place may inadvertently release the cargo bar tension. Third, the cargo bar lever is operated in a reciprocating motion that is largely lateral to the length of the bar, meaning that the operator must hold the bar in place to counteract the lateral forces exerted on the bar while the lever is operated.
There is a need for a cargo bar design that is simple in design, easy to operate with a single hand, and does not employ a lever that protrudes from the ratchet mechanism after the cargo bar in wedged in place.
The present invention is a cargo bar that includes a housing, first and second bars extending from the housing in opposite directions with distal ends thereof defining a cargo bar length, an advancement pawl disposed in the housing for moving the first bar relative to the second bar to increase the cargo bar length, a holding pawl disposed in the housing for selectively holding the first bar to prevent movement thereof relative to the second bar that decreases the cargo bar length, and first and second handles extending from the housing. The first handle has an engagement portion that engages with and operates the advancement pawl as the first and second handles are squeezed together.
In another aspect of the present invention, a grip assembly for a rigid bar includes a housing through which a portion of the rigid bar extends, an advancement pawl disposed in the housing for moving the bar relative to the housing in a first direction, a holding pawl disposed in the housing for selectively holding the bar to prevent movement thereof relative to the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and first and second handles extending from the housing. The first handle has an engagement portion that engages with and operates the advancement pawl as the first and second handles are squeezed together.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a cargo bar includes first and second bars having proximate ends that slide relative to each other in a telescopic manner, wherein distal ends of the first and second bars define a cargo bar length, a housing disposed at an intersection between the first and second bars, wherein the second bar is affixed to the housing and the first bar slides through the housing and inside the second bar, an advancement pawl disposed in the housing for moving the first bar relative to the second bar in a first direction that increases the cargo bar length, a holding pawl disposed in the housing for selectively holding the first bar to prevent movement thereof relative to the second bar in a second direction that decreases the cargo bar length, and first and second handles extending from the housing. The first handle has an engagement portion that engages with and operates the advancement pawl as the first and second handles are squeezed together.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent by a review of the specification, claims and appended figures.


A high performance, low power analog to digital converter is designed in BIFET technology utilizing the high gain, high performance of a bipolar comparator and the low power of a CMOS latch and CMOS encoding logic circuits. Using a FET dynamic latch, metastability is avoided, significantly reducing soft error rate.

Japanese application, Ser. No. 54-92061 published Feb. 17, 1981, describes an ADC comprising a bipolar transistor in combination with CMOS field effect transistors (FET) to provide high performance and low power consumption. More specifically, the output from a bipolar comparator is supplied by way of a single static latch and a two-input AND gate to the CMOS FET. This ADC does not address or improve soft error rate or metastability or provide protection against errors due to noise or propagation delays.

BiCMOS analog-to-digital converter with minimized metastability

International Business Machines Corporation


A modulation device includes a signal input for receiving a data stream to be modulated and a first and a second signal output. At least one first complex component is derived from the data stream in a coding device. A first and a second high-frequency signal are output via the signal outputs. The first and second high-frequency signals are derived from the at least one first complex component and are distinguished by the fact that the second high-frequency signal has a phase shift of substantially 90° with respect to the first high-frequency signal.

The amount of power that is allowed to be radiated is stipulated for many transmission systems, in particular in the field of mobile radio. This requirement imposed on the total radiated power (TRP) permits only slight deviations.
The high-frequency signals to be emitted are generally transmitted using lines which lead to a transmitting antenna, for example. If these lines are not terminated with the requisite line impedance, standing waves may propagate on them. In this case, a wave running on the line is reflected at the end of the line. The returning wave can then impair the wave running on the line. In the case of extreme mismatches, this may completely obliterate the wave running on the line. However, the extent to which the wave is obliterated also depends on the phase angle of the signal which is transmitted using the line and is intended to be emitted using an antenna, for example. Fluctuations in the radiated power may thus arise even if a constant power level has been set in a transmission path or an amplifier, for example. In order to make it possible to accurately set the power in a transmission path, the influence of the phenomena which obliterate signals which are intended to be emitted should be reduced and the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) should thus be improved.
One approach to this is to use a special power amplifier having a split signal path. The power of a high-frequency signal which is intended to be emitted could be split into two signal parts using a hybrid coupler. One part of the signal can be amplified by a respective amplifier without a phase shift, and a second part of the signal can be amplified by a respective amplifier after having been phase-shifted through 90° by the hybrid coupler. The power of the amplified signals is combined by a further hybrid coupler and is output to an antenna in the form of a transmission signal. However, the hybrid couplers in the power amplifier require a relatively large amount of space and, in addition, have an attenuating behavior which can be compensated for only by means of a higher gain and thus a greater amount of requisite power.

Modulation device for a transmission path, method for signal processing in a transmission path, and transmission path having the modulation device


A method for establishing a connection across resource domains comprises determining source and destination end-points for the connection; determining, by a service agent, a chain of adjacent service elements suitable for joining the source and destination end-points based on the identified edges; requesting, by the service agent, a first service provider associated to a service element in the chain to select a first connection segment embodying the service element; receiving, by the service agent, an inter-carrier communication resource identifier from the first service provider, the inter-carrier communication resource identifier indicating communication resources at an inter-carrier interface between an end point of the first connection segment and a resource domain associated to an adjacent service element in the chain; and transferring, by the service agent, the inter-carrier communication resource identifier to a second service provider associated to the adjacent service element.

Telecommunication service providers are able to provide data services across their networks. For example, data services include multimedia connection services, synchronization distribution and signalling. In order to increase the area over which data may be transmitted, service providers can contract data transport services from other service providers. For example, a service provider who wishes to provide global IP virtual private network (VPN) services might contract transport services from access providers to reach enterprise sites that are not directly connected to the service provider's domain.
With an increased need for fast service delivery, service providers have an incentive to establish a cross-provider service layer that allows them to interact and buy each other's services through an automated process. An implementation of such service layer among an alliance of service providers has been proposed for example by Douville et al. in "A Service Plane over the PCE Architecture for Automating Multidomain Connection-Oriented Services", IEEE Communications Magazine, June 2008, pp 94-102.

Traffic-engineered connection establishment across resource domains for data transport


The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser. The laser comprises an extracavity collimating lens arranged outside a laser cavity, and a laser output mirror, a laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator and a tunable optical filter all arranged sequentially inside the laser cavity. The laser further comprises an active polarization rotator arranged behind the tunable optical filter, a polarization beam splitter arranged behind the active polarization rotator, a first etalon and a first total reflection mirror arranged in the direction vertical to the optic axis of a laser cavity output lens, a second etalon and a second total reflection mirror arranged in the direction of the optic axis of the laser cavity output lens, and a laser drive and control circuit. The invention is compact with high performance and low cost for volume production and easy installation, achieves high spectral density, narrow spectral bandwidth and tunable stable laser output within a wide spectrum range, and significantly reduces the difficulty in manufacturing the tunable optical filter and the etalons.

Currently, most of the modern communication systems are based on fiber communication network, and fiber network has offered unprecedented huge capacity and installation flexibility and is able to support a variety of broadband applications that are under ceaseless development. Broadband and multi-channel tunable laser could help utilize the present fiber network redevices more efficiently. Data flow can be transferred from a congested channel to an unused channel by means of dynamic provision of broadband, thus Internet requirements are met. Use of a tunable laser makes rapid establishment or change of a light path easier, and it has become one of the important devices for implementing a dynamic fiber network.
In view of these applications, an ideal tunable laser shall have the following properties: wide tunable range covering C band and/or L band(approximately 1520 nanometers to 1620 nanometers), small size, fast tuning speed (sub-millisecond level) between the frequency intervals of any two international Telecommunication Unions (ITU) grid, excellent long-term working stability (service time over 25 years), high reliability under extreme environmental conditions, low power consumption and easy manufacturing and low cost.
With the successful development of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexers (DWDM) and other high spectrum density related devices, the modern optical DWDM system has been developed with a frequency interval of 100 GHz, 50 GHz or 25 GHz and even higher density from the previous system with a frequency interval of 400 GHz and 200 GHz, Meanwhile, the transmission rate of an optical communication system has been increased to 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps or 100 Gbps from 2.5 Gbps in the past. This resulted in corresponding requirements on the small-size tunable laser for the optical communication system, and in particular, the stringent requirement on the optical frequency tuning interval and bandwidth of the tunable laser output. An external cavity tunable laser with high finesse etalons can reach the aforementioned requirements and accordingly becomes a good option for the new generation dynamic fiber optical communication system with high transmission rate and high spectrum density.
In an external cavity tunable laser, especially the lasers for fiber optical communication, the use of a high finesse etalon and a tunable narrow band optical filter will help to compress the laser output bandwidth and regulate the optical frequency tuning interval. If the frequency interval of laser output light is required to be Δf, the filtering bandwidth of the optical filter shall not exceed twice of this frequency interval, i.e. <2Δf, to avoid the laser working in a multi-mode state and therefore improve the working stability of the laser. If the frequency interval of laser output is required to be 50 GHz, the filtering bandwidth of the optical filter shall be less than 100 GHz; if the frequency interval of laser output light is required to be 25 GHz, the filtering bandwidth of the optical filter shall be less than 50 GHz. An optical filter such as a conventional optical grating filter or an acousto-optic filter with narrow bandwidth means higher manufacturing difficulty and higher cost, similarly, an etalon with narrow transmission spectrum interval means larger size, high manufacturing difficulty and cost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A clamp including a first bracket having a first base plate with a first mating surface and a first curved edge, a first channel and a second channel; a second bracket having a second base plate with a second mating surface and a second curved edge, a third channel and a fourth channel; wherein the first base plate is clamped to the second base plate such that the first and third channels engage the first pipe section and such that the second and fourth channels engage the second pipe section; and wherein the first curved edge aligns with the second curved edge to form a joint line that is configured to extend in continuous abutment with a continuously curved pipe edge.

The present invention relates to the field of pipe couplings, and specifically to techniques for preventing pipe failure during application of torque to a pipe coupling.
Pipe couplings commonly include the use of a pipe and a pipe coupler. A pipe and an additional pipe or additional structure are connected together and tightened with a nut to prevent leakage and to provide a firm seal. Often, one pipe includes a bent portion located proximate the nut.
To facilitate coupling between the pipe and the additional pipe or additional structure, the nut is rotated by a tool such as a torque wrench. The nut is tightened by the tool. Torque is applied on the nut by rotation of the tool. Torque is then transferred into the pipe including the area of the bent portion of the pipe. The torque transferred into the bent portion of the pipe frequently leads to crimping, bending, or a deformation of the bent portion of the pipe.
There is a long felt need to reduce the likelihood of crimping, bending, or a deformation of a pipe during application of torque.


A system for electronic transmission of electronic medical records includes an object model derived from a messaging protocol, the object model configured to generate metadata for electronic medical records provided through a user-specified form. The system also includes a database configured according to the object model, the database physically stores the metadata generated by the object model. A data bridge/data set pair transforms the metadata from a first format utilized by the database to a second format utilized by a recipient institution and a messaging module transmits the electronic medical records in the second format to the recipient institution.

Health Level 7 ("HL7") is a healthcare information technology ("IT") standards body that is responsible for establishing the messaging protocols for the electronic transmission of information among IT systems used in the healthcare industry. The HL7 communications protocols allow IT systems offered by different solutions providers (and even different systems offered by the same solutions provider) to communicate with each other in a standardized fashion. Laboratory Information Systems ("LIS"), Hospital Information Systems ("HIS"), Electronic Medical Records systems ("EMR") and specialized systems that facilitate Computerized Physician Order Entry ("CPOE") are among the types of systems used by healthcare providers that typically support HL7 messaging as a standard method for communication. When information originated by one system must be shared with others, those systems are likely to require a specialized interface to do so. This is almost always true when the communication is between unrelated healthcare institutions, but it can also occur when systems within the same institution need to communicate.
The LIS, HIS and other healthcare IT systems produce information that is important to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. At times, this information is important to public health officials; most of the information that public health officials act upon in investigating incidents of communicable disease comes from reports of diagnostic test results confirming the incidence of infectious disease in a patient. As a result, electronic communication between LIS, HIS and other healthcare IT systems and the systems used by public health officials is important. For example, if a laboratory receives a diagnostic test result indicating that a patient may have a communicable disease, the laboratory is usually required by law to notify designated public health officials of the existence of the condition. Depending upon the circumstances, the physician who has ordered the test may also be required to report the positive test result to the public health department. While this type of reporting has traditionally been handled using manual processes such as telephonic reporting and/or mail or fax transmission of paper forms, the transmission of this information can be (and increasingly is being) handled in an automated fashion, using system-to-system communications often employing point-to-point interfaces. In situations where one or more steps in the notification process are handled electronically, the HL7 protocol has been the typical method of transmission. For reasons stated below, it is now the method mandated by the federal government.
As a result of a federal government initiative under the direction and control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta ("CDC"), a framework of coordinated standards and specifications, called the Public Health Information Network ("PHIN"), is now being advanced to facilitate the electronic transmission of information about communicable disease incidents from local public health departments to the CDC. PHIN will also perhaps facilitate the sharing of information among public health departments nationally. While the system was originally conceived as a disease surveillance network, in recent years its mandate has been expanded to include detection of incidents or outbreaks events that may indicate a bio-terrorist attack has occurred or is taking place. The CDC's vision for this network depends upon communication among healthcare providers, local, state and public health officials. The CDC might have mandated that all of these potential participants in the network use the same IT system to communicate. Instead, it chose to delegate responsibility for the deployment of IT systems to the participants themselves, leaving each free to adapt existing systems, build or buy new ones, so long as these systems were "interoperable" based upon criteria established by the CDC. One of the primary criteria for determining "interoperability" is the capability of each system to transmit messages using a standard format and structure. The CDC has adopted HL7 as the standard protocol for the format and structure of the data components of messages to be communicated across the Network.
While HL7 is widely used in the healthcare industry, it is not without its deficiencies. For example, the HL7 version 2 protocol is "flat". That is, it is not capable of sending nested information. Additionally, sometimes it is necessary to describe new events that are not part of the standard HL7 version 2 codes. As a result, new terms are implemented in free form or free text segments (so called "Z" segments). The problem with Z segments is that, by their nature, they hold information that (i) is unique to a particular institution and unlikely to be readily understood by other institutions, (ii) is of a type that cannot be accommodated in any other HL7 segment, and (iii) is in a format that is far more difficult to standardize. As a result, this dependence on the Z segment for the communication of important information undermines the utility of the HL7 "standard".
To overcome these deficiencies, HL7 conceived the version 3 Reference Information Model ("RIM"). The RIM is a static model of health and health care information as viewed within the scope of HL7 standards development activities. The formal representation of the RIM in messages employs the extensible markup language ("XML"). The RIM was designed in part to offer a more robust message structure that could accommodate the types of information traditionally communicated in Z segments. The CDC has specified that PHIN compliant systems should use both HL7 v2.x and HL7 v3.0 RIM messages.
In attempting to achieve interoperability for systems communicating across the Public Health Information Network, the CDC has had to deal with more than a standard messaging protocol. It has identified a wide variety of functions and specifications for "PHIN-compliant" systems. For example, the effort to ensure that all PHIN systems are capable of transmitting, receiving, storing and retrieving relevant information has led it to consider the optimal structure for the database within each system. By dictating the model that each system's database must follow, the CDC apparently has tried to ensure that PHIN-compliant systems will be able to handle the widest possible spectrum of data—including data about known diseases and typical incidents, as well as diseases that are as yet undiscovered, incidents never before observed, etc. The CDC has decided that the HL7 RIM—the model for the version 3.0 messaging structure, which is designed to allow for communication of a wide variety of "non-standard" information—should serve as the model for storage and retrieval of information communicated over the PHIN. That is, the CDC is requiring that data communicated using the HL7 RIM-based messaging standard should also be the schema for a database, the model for which is "derived from or directly mappable to the RIM". While this may seem logical to the layperson, structuring a database on a model behind a communications protocol is atypical, as the requirements that must be supported by a messaging standard are far different from those that would need to be addressed when designing an efficient, scalable database. Developing a RIM-based database that can perform up to the expectations of typical users of software solutions has proven challenging.
While PHIN-compliance is a major factor driving the need to overcome this challenge the RIM's usefulness goes beyond this regulatory impetus. A database modeled on the RIM would offer greater extensibility allowing RIM-based IT systems to better adapt to the ever-changing requirements of medical informatics necessitated by advances in medical science.
Existing healthcare IT systems (including those employed by public health officials) are likely to support communication using HL7 standards. In addition, many support HL7 v.2.x messages. However, these systems generally do not employ databases derived from or directly mappable to the RIM. The issue is further compounded in that each health institution will typically need to identify its existing data requirements, including (for example) the vocabularies it uses to label data elements, before communicating or writing that data to a database modeled on the RIM. As a result, unique implementations will be required to map each Network participant's data to a PHIN-compliant database.
In view of the foregoing, it may be useful to provide methods and systems that facilitate the mapping and storage of various disparate health-related data records to a RIM-compliant database.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.


A resource consumption system can include a plurality of resources positioned within at least one rack and at least one sensor configured to detect removal of an amount of the plurality of resources from the respective rack. The resource consumption system can include at least one transmitter configured to transmit a notification based on the at least one sensor detecting the removal of the amount of resources, wherein the notification comprises a resource identifier, an entity identifier, and the amount of the plurality of resources. The resource consumption system can include at least one computing device configured to compute an amount based on the resource identifier and the amount of resources, generate a request based on the notification, and transmit the request to an entity associated with the entity identifier, wherein the request comprises the resource identifier, the entity identifier, and the amount.

Large complexes, such as distribution hubs, may require local repositories of service resources, such as soaps and other cleaning resources. The service resources are typically organized in bulk containers, such as pallets. The large complexes typically do not tabulate consumption or availability of the service resource on a case-by-case or unit-by-unit manner, resulting in wasteful over-ordering of the resources due to a lack of tabulation and consumption data. Thus, there is a long-felt, but unmet need for a system or process for automatic tabulation and tracking of service resource availability and consumption in large complexes.
The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope described herein, as other equally effective embodiments are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions may be exaggerated to help visually convey certain principles. In the drawings, similar reference numerals between figures designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily the same, elements.


Preparations for percutaneous absorption comprising a basic drug or its salt dissolved in a liquid component and having an enhanced percutaneous absorbability and a safety to the skin, i.e., the administration site. The preparations for percutaneous absorption, preferably patches, contain a basic drug or its salt, an organic acid or its salt and a liquid component having a solubility parameter of from 7 to 13 (cal/cm3)1/2 and a have a very excellent skin permeability of the drug.

With regard to methods for administration of drugs, oral administration, rectal administration, percutaneous administration and intravenous administration have known. Among them, oral administration is widely used. In case of oral administration, however, administered drug has disadvantages to receive the first-pass effect after absorption and to show a temporally excessive over blood concentration after administration. Further, in oral administration, many adverse effects such as gastrointestinal trouble, vomiting sensation and anorexia have reported. In addition, in the recent aging society, numbers of patients with dysphagia are increased, and easily ingestible preparations are required from the clinical standpoint.
As a result, development of preparations for percutaneous administration has positively promoted for the purpose of solving such disadvantages of oral administration and obtaining easily ingestible preparations for patients with safety and repeatedly, and such the improved preparations are launched in the market.
However, percutaneous absorbability of drug in such preparations for percutaneous absorption is still insufficient. In addition, since many drugs have low percutaneous absorbability, development of the preparations for percutaneous absorption is difficult and the objectives for absorption have not successful. Namely, since the normal skin has barrier function for protecting infiltration of foreign matters into the body, base ingredients used in the conventional preparations for percutaneous absorption can not reveal sufficient percutaneous absorption of the combined active ingredient.
For that solution, a contrivance for increasing percutaneous absorption of drug through the stratum corneum of skin is required, and in general so called a promoter for percutaneous absorption is combined with the base ingredient. For example, a combination of absorption promoter of lower alkylamide such as dimethyl acetamide and ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or isopropyl palmitate (U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,931); a combination of 2-pyrrolidone and proper oil or that of straight chain fatty acid and alcohol ester (U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,641); and a combination of lower alcohol and C7-20 alcohol, C5-30 aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbon, C19-26 aliphatic carboxylic acid alcohol ester, C10-24 mono- or di-ether or C11-15 ketone and water (JP-A-61-249934) have proposed. However, these conventional absorption promoters and the composition of absorption promoter are not sufficiently safe on the skin. Further, in case of the preparations for percutaneous absorption containing salt of basic drug, its effect can not be expected.
Examples of preparations for percutaneous administration such as a combination of drug and organic acid have reported. For example, tapes combining betamethasone valerate and organic acid in natural rubber adhesives (JP-B-63-45368), tapes combining steroid antiinflammatory agent and organic acid in acrylic adhesives (JP-B-7-47535), and cataplasms combining methyl salicylate as an active ingredient, emulsifier, organic acid, plasticizer, adhesive resin and water in polymer of styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (JP-B-3-31685) have proposed. Objectives of these organic acids are, however, improvement of stability, improvement of solubility and pH adjuster. Further, since these drugs are acidic or neutral, objectives of these preparations are not to improve skin permeability of bioactive substance through formation of ion pair, which is an object to use organic acids in the present invention.
Means for improving skin permeability of basic bioactive substances are known. For example, tapes combining citric acid and isoproterenol hydrochloride in acrylic adhesives (JP-A-63-79820), and tapes combining organic acid and vinpocetine in acrylic adhesives (JP-A-5-25039) have reported. These preparations have problems such as irritation in detaching and no sufficient effect for treatment in release of drugs.
Means for combining drug and organic acid have reported as preparations for percutaneous administration. For example, a preparation containing organic acid and glycol in nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent (JP-A-62-181226), and a patch containing alkaline metal salt of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent and free nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent as well as stronger organic acid (JP-B-7-47535) have reported. These inventions relate to acidic drugs and not to basic drugs. Examples of combination of basic drug or its salt, C2-5 alcohol, C2-5 organic acid and C16-20 carboxylic acid ester have known, but no use of organic acid salt is described. In WO 96/16642, patch preparation with a salt of basic drug containing organic acid salt is disclosed, but the fact that organic acid salt increases solubility of basic drug salt in the liquid component having specific solubility parameter ranging from 7 to 13 (cal/cm3)1/2 is not disclosed. In the prior known inventions, preparations for percutaneous absorption, in which basic drug in the form of salt is dissolved in a liquid component to achieve percutaneous absorption of drug, have not known.


A method and apparatus for providing assistance to a patient's heart using a surgically prepared skeletal muscle. A skeletal muscle, such as the latissimus dorsi, is carefully separated from the skeletal structure leaving enervation and vascularization in tact. The muscle tissue is then separated into two independent contractile masses. Alternatively, two separate skeletal muscles may be used. The first of these is wrapped about the atria. The second is wrapped about the ventricles. Each muscle mass is individually stimulated using an implantable pulse generator. Stimulation to the muscle mass is synchronized to the naturally or artificially paced contractions of the heart to provide the maximum in assistance. During each complete heart cycle, the muscle mass assisting the ventricles is stimulated at the same time as contraction of the ventricular myocardium. The muscle mass assisting the atria is then stimulated at the same time as contraction of the atrial myocardium. Various sensing and stimulating modes may be used to optimize cardiac assistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to implantable cardiac assist systems, and more particularly, relates to implantable cardiac assist systems which are powered by a skeletal muscle of the patient.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The earliest cardiac assist systems were mechanical devices which move blood using an artificially powered pump. The two greatest disadvantages of such mechanical pumps relate to materials and energy sources. Material problems arise when artificial materials which are foreign to the body cause thrombosis after coming in contact with the blood. Much research is currently ongoing in an attempt to find materials which are more compatible with the blood. Yet the use of thrombogenic materials remains a major disadvantage of cardiac assist systems using mechanical pumps.
A second major disadvantage of mechanical pumps resides in the energy systems. Current energy storage systems in the form of batteries are simply not practical. With present day technology, the energy density and the capacity of implantable batteries limits the useful life of the battery. With percutaneous or radio frequency recharge, the energy stored corresponds to a few hours up to a day. However, this ordinarily leads to undue risk of infection.
The most promising solution to the energy aspect is to use a biochemical power source such as a muscle. Wrapping the skeletal muscle around the heart seems to resolve the issues around the materials problems. Because the blood touches only naturally endothelialized tissue, thrombogenic problems are eliminated. Because the vascularization of the skeletal muscle is preserved, power is derived from normal biological oxidation reactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,268 issued to Cox and U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,952 issued to Khalafalla, both of which are incorporated herein by reference, teach skeletal muscle powered cardiac assist systems. Even though such cardiac assist systems are known in the art, the prior art systems do not specifically provide atrio-ventricular synchrony (i.e., either natural or stimulated synchrony with a skeletal muscle boost).


A display device includes a main display unit for displaying main images by processing main image data in response to main gate signals, a sub display unit for displaying sub images by processing sub image data in response to sub gate signals, a connection part for connecting the main and sub display units, a driver for providing the main image data and the main gate signals to the main display unit and the sub image data and the sub gate signals to the sub display unit, first connection lines disposed between the driver and the sub display unit to transfer the sub gate signals to the sub display unit, second connection lines disposed between the driver and the sub display unit to transfer the sub image data to the sub display unit, and a dummy line disposed between the first connection lines and an image display region of the main display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device for display images, and more particularly to a display device having multiple display regions each displaying corresponding images, in which the multiple display regions are driven by a single driver.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are various kinds of electronic goods and appliances employing a display device for displaying images. Of such electronic goods and appliances, small-sized and/or portable electronic products also employ a display device that is designed to be smaller and lighter apt for the small-sized and/or portable products. Also, the display devices are designed to each have a structure fit to the use of each product.
For example, cellular phones generally have two types, flip type and folder type. A flip type cellular phone has a display device (e.g., a liquid crystal display panel) exposed outside, and a folder type cellular phone has a display device facing a keypad with data input keys. In the folder type cellular phones, the display device and the keypad are usually connected using a hinge.
The folder type cellular phones are further classified into a single panel type and a dual panel type. A single panel type cellular phone has a display device with a single display panel, and a dual panel type cellular phone has a display device with two display panels. A dual type cellular phone usually includes a main display panel for displaying main images and a sub display panel for displaying stand-by images such as time, date, etc. In the folder type cellular phone, the main display panel is not exposed outside when a display portion having the display device is folded. In contrast, the sub display panel is exposed to display the stand-by images even when the display portion is folded.
Generally, the main display panel includes data lines and gate lines. The data lines and the gate lines are formed on a display region of the main display panel. The main display panel also includes a data driver chip and a gate driver chip, which are disposed at a peripheral region. The data driver chip provides the data lines with a data signal, and the gate driver chip provides the gate lines with a gate signal to drive the main display panel.
The sub display panel also includes data line and gate lines, which are formed on a display region of the sub display panel, and a data driver chip and a gate driver chip, which are disposed at a peripheral region. The data driver chip provides the data lines with a data signal, and the gate driver chip provides the gate lines with a gate signal to drive the sub display panel.
In a dual panel type cellular phone, since the main and sub display panels each have its own data and gate driver chips, the overall size of the cellular phone is inevitably increased. Further, since the multiple chips are mounted on the main and sub display panels, the manufacturing time and cost increase so that its productivity decreases.
Therefore, a need exists for a display device which provides dual type display panels and has a smaller size and improved productivity.

Display device having multiple image display units


The present invention relates to an antibody comprising a GlcNAc-S(A)x substituent, wherein S(A)x is a sugar derivative comprising x functional groups A wherein A is independently selected from the group consisting of an azido group, a keto group and an alkynyl group and x is 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said GlcNAc-S(A)x substituent is bonded to the antibody via CI of the N-acetylglucosamine of said GlcNAc-S(A)x substituent, and wherein said N-acetylglucosamine is optionally fucosylated. The invention also relates to an antibody-conjugate, in particular to an antibody-conjugate according to the Formula (20) or (20b), wherein AB is an antibody, S is a sugar or a sugar derivative, D is a molecule of interest, and wherein said N-acetylglucosamine is optionally fucosylated (b is 0 or 1). The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of a modified antibody, to a process for the preparation of an antibody-conjugate, and to said antibody-conjugate for use as a medicament. In addition, the invention relates to a kit of parts comprising an azide-modified antibody and a linker-conjugate, wherein said linker-conjugate comprises a (hetero)cycloalkynyl group and one or more molecules of interest.

Antibody-conjugates, i.e. antibodies conjugated to a molecule of interest via a linker, are known in the art. There is great interest in antibody-conjugates wherein the molecule of interest is a drug, for example a cytotoxic chemical. Antibody-drug-conjugates are known in the art, and consist of a recombinant antibody covalently bound to a cytotoxic chemical via a synthetic linker (S. C. Alley et al, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2010, 14, 529-537, incorporated by reference). The main objective of an antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC), also called immunotoxin, is to combine the high specificity of a monoclonal antibody for a tumor-associated antigen with the pharmacological potency of a "small" cytotoxic drug (typically 300 to 1,000 Da). Examples of ADCs include gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg; anti-CD33 mAb conjugated to calicheamycin, Pfizer/Wyeth); brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35, Adcetris, a CD30-targeting ADC consisting of brentuximab, covalently linked to MMAE (monomethylauristatin), Seattle Genetics); trastuzumab-DM1 conjugate (T-DM1).
One advance in the field includes the emergence of extremely potent toxins, in particular taxanes, calicheamycins, maytansins, pyrrolobenzodiazepines, duocarmycins and auristatins. The low nanomolar to picomolar toxicity of these substances is a principal driver improvement over the earlier applied toxins. Another important technological advance involves the use of optimized linkers that are hydrolysable in the cytoplasm, resistant or susceptible to proteases, or resistant to multi-drug resistance efflux pumps that are associated with highly cytotoxic drugs.
ADCs known from the prior art are commonly prepared by conjugation of the linker-toxin to the side chain of antibody amino acid lysine or cysteine, by acylation or alkylation, respectively.
For lysines, conjugation takes place preferentially at lysine side chains with highest steric accessibility, the lowest pKa, or a combination thereof. Disadvantage of this method is that site-control of conjugation is low.
Better control of site-specificity is obtained by alkylation of cysteines, based on the fact that typically no free cysteines are present in an antibody, thereby offering the option of alkylating only those cysteines that are selectively liberated by a reductive step or specifically engineered into the antibody as free cysteines (as in so-called Thiomabs). Selective cysteine liberation by reduction is typically performed by treatment of whole antibody with a reducing agent (e.g. TCEP or DTT), leading to conversion of a disulfide bond into two free thiols (mostly in the antibody's hinge region). The liberated thiols are then alkylated with an electrophilic reagent, typically based on a maleimide attached to a linker-toxin, which generally proceeds fast and with high selectivity. With respect to engineering of an additional (free) cysteine into an antibody, enhanced site-control is attained with respect to the location of the added cysteine(s) and no reductive step is required, thereby ideally avoiding multiple disulfide bond cleavages and multiple alkylation. Also in this strategy alkylation of free cysteines is effected with maleimide chemistry, but full homogeneity is not attained.
At the same time, a disadvantage of ADCs obtained via alkylation with maleimides is that in general the resulting conjugates are unstable due to the reverse of alkylation, i.e. a retro-Michael reaction, thereby leading to release of linker-toxin from the antibody. Conjugation based on cysteine-maleimide alkylation is clearly not an ideal technology for developments of ADCs that preferably should not show premature release of toxin.
It is known in the art that azides (N3 groups, also referred to as azido groups) can undergo selective cycloaddition with terminal alkynes (copper-catalyzed) or with cyclic alkynes (by virtue of ring strain). The triazoles resulting from reaction with alkynes are not susceptible to hydrolysis or other degradation pathways. It is also known in the art that ketones can undergo selective conjugation with hydroxylamines or hydrazines, resulting in respectively oximes or hydrazones. Oximes and hydrazones are also relatively inert at neutral conditions but may undergo hydrolysis at lower pH.
Several methods for the introduction of an azide into a protein have been reviewed recently by van Delft et al., ChemBioChem. 2011, 12, 1309 (incorporated by reference): (a) chemoselective diazo transfer reaction, (b) enzymatic conversion, (c) expression in auxotrophic bacteria and (d) genetic encoding. Chemoselective diazo transfer reactions (a) have limited applicability for antibodies since these typically take place on a protein's N-terminus, whereas in an antibody the N-termini of both heavy and light chain are in the binding region of the antibody. Expression in auxotrophic bacteria (c) and genetic encoding (d) are, albeit powerful, very complex strategies for non-specialized laboratories and furthermore cannot be used for straightforward post-modification of existing recombinant antibodies and are therefore not generally applicable.
With respect to enzymatic conversion of proteins (b), several enzymes have been reported over the years capable of achieving such transformation with unnatural, azide-containing substrates, e.g. transglutaminase, lipoic acid ligase, sortase, FGE and others (reviewed in Bertozzi et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 6974, incorporated by reference). Without exception, however, these enzymes require specific recognition sequences in the protein, which need to be specifically engineered, and conjugation may be restricted to the protein's termini.
A potentially versatile strategy that may be generally applicable to all monoclonal antibodies involves the specific enzymatic conjugation to the Fc-attached glycan, which is naturally present in all antibodies expressed in mammalian (or yeast) cell cultures. Several strategies based on this concept are known in the art, such as via oxidation of the terminal galactose or via transfer of (unnatural) sialic acid to the same galactose moiety. However, for ADC purpose such a strategy is suboptimal because glycans are always formed as a complex mixture of isoforms, which may contain different levels of galactosylation (G0, G1, G2) and therefore would afford ADCs with poor control of drug-antibody ratio (DAR, see below).
FIG. 1 shows an antibody comprising a glycan on each heavy chain. These glycans are present in different isoforms with respect to galactosylation (G0, G1 and G2) and fucosylation (G0F, G1F and G2F).
In WO 2007/133855 (University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute), incorporated by reference herein, a chemoenzymatic method for the preparation of a homogeneous glycoprotein or glycopeptide is disclosed, involving a two-stage strategy entailing first trimming of the near-complete glycan tree (under the action of endo A or endo H) leaving only the core N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moiety (the so-called GlcNAc-protein), followed by a reglycosylation event wherein, in the presence of a catalyst comprising endoglycosidase (ENGase), an oligosaccharide moiety is transferred to the GlcNAc-protein to yield a homogeneous glycoprotein or glycopeptide. A strategy for azide-functionalized glycoproteins is disclosed, wherein a GlcNAc-protein is reacted in the presence of ENGase with a tetrasaccharide oxazoline containing two 6-azidomannose moieties, thereby introducing two azides simultaneously in the glycan. The azide-functionalized glycoprotein may then be catalytically reacted in a "click chemistry" cycloaddition reaction, in the presence of a catalyst (e.g. a Cu(I) catalyst) with a terminal alkyne bearing a functional moiety X of interest. No actual examples of said click chemistry are disclosed.
In J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 13790, incorporated by reference herein, Wang et al. disclose an efficient double attachment of a terminal alkyne-modified trisaccharide to bis-azidomodified ribonuclease B by copper-catalyzed click chemistry.
In J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 8030, incorporated by reference herein, Davis et al. disclose the transfer of oligosaccharide oxazolines on a core-fucosylated as well as nonfucosylated core-GlcNAc-Fc domain of intact antibodies, in the presence of glycosynthase EndoS.
In J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 12308, incorporated by reference herein, Wang et al. disclose the transfer of a tetrasaccharide oxazoline containing two 6-azidomannose moieties on core-fucosylated as well as nonfucosylated core-GlcNAc-Fc domain of intact antibodies (Rituximab) in the presence of glycosynthase mutants EndoS-D233A and EndoS-D233Q. This process is shown schematically in FIG. 2, and results in an antibody comprising four azido groups. The subsequent conjugation of the azido-modified IgG with click chemistry is mentioned but not disclosed.
However, a disadvantage of the glycosynthase strategies disclosed in WO 2007/133855, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 8030 and J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 12308 is the lengthy and complex synthesis of the required azido-containing oligosaccharide oxazolines. In addition, the azido-containing oligosaccharide oxazolines comprise two azido groups. To date, it has not been shown whether this process may be suitable for the introduction of only one azido group on an antibody glycan.
Qasba et al. disclose in J. Biol. Chem. 2002, 277, 20833, incorporated by reference herein, that mutant galactosyltransferases GalT(Y289L), GalT(Y289I) and GalT(Y289N) can enzymatically attach GalNAc to a non-reducing GlcNAc sugar (β-benzyl-GlcNAc).
WO 2004/063344 (National Institutes of Health), incorporated by reference herein, discloses mutant galactosyltransferases GalT(Y289L), GalT(Y289I) and GalT(Y289N). A process is disclosed wherein complex glycans such as those on monoclonal antibodies (Rituxan, Remicade, Herceptin) are first converted into G0 glycans on antibodies by treatment with galactosidase, in order to remove all chain-terminal galactose. These G0 antibodies are subsequently subjected to GalNAc-UDP in the presence of GalT(Y289L), leading to antibodies with significantly more homogeneous glycan structures.
Qasba et al. disclose in Bioconjugate Chem. 2009, 20, 1228, incorporated by reference herein, that the process disclosed in WO 2004/063344 also proceeds for non-natural GalNAc-UDP variants substituted on the N-acetyl group. β-Galactosidase treated monoclonal antibodies having a G0 glycoform are fully galactosylated to the G2 glycoform after transfer of a galactose moiety comprising a C2-substituted azidoacetamido moiety (GalNAz) to the terminal GlcNAc residues of the glycan, leading to tetraazido-substituted antibodies, i.e. two GalNAz moieties per heavy chain. This process is shown schematically in FIG. 3. The conjugation of said tetraazido-substituted antibodies to a molecule of interest was not disclosed. The transfer of a galactose moiety comprising a C2-substituted keto group (C2-keto-Gal) to the terminal GlcNAc residues of a G0 glycoform glycan, as well as the linking of C2-keto-Gal to aminooxy biotin, is also disclosed. In all cases, GalT(Y289L) mutant is used for the transfer of GalNAc-UDP (or GalNAz-UDP) to the antibodies, but the use of mutants GalT(Y289N) or GalT(Y289I) is not disclosed.
A disadvantage of the method disclosed in WO 2004/063344 and Bioconjugate Chem. 2009, 20, 1228 is that conjugation of the tetraazido-substituted antibodies to a molecule of interest would lead to an antibody-conjugate with typically two molecules of interest per glycan (provided that said conjugation would proceed with complete conversion). In some cases, for example when the molecule of interest is a lipophilic toxin, the presence of too many molecules of interest per antibody is undesired since this may lead to aggregate formation (BioProcess International 2006, 4, 42-43, incorporated by reference).
WO 2007/095506 and WO 2008/029281 (Invitrogen Corporation), incorporated by reference herein, disclose a method of forming a glycoprotein conjugate wherein the glycoprotein is contacted with UDP-GalNAz in the presence of GalT(Y289L) mutant, leading to the incorporation of GalNAz at a terminal non-reducing GlcNAc of an antibody carbohydrate. Subsequent copper-catalyzed click chemistry with a terminal alkyne or Staudinger ligation can then be used to conjugate a reporter molecule, solid support or carrier molecule to the attached azide moiety. WO 2007/095506 and WO 2008/029281 further disclose that if no terminal GlcNAc sugars are present on the antibody, Endo H, Endo A or Endo M enzyme may be used to generate a truncated chain which terminates with one N-acetylglucosamine residue.
Antibody-conjugates known in the art generally suffer from several disadvantages. For antibody drug-conjugates, a measure for the loading of the antibody with a toxin is given by the drug-antibody ratio (DAR), which gives the average number of active substance molecules per antibody. However, the DAR does not give any indication regarding the homogeneity of such ADC.
Processes for the preparation of an antibody-conjugate known from the prior art generally result in a product with a DAR between 1.5 and 4, but in fact such a product comprises a mixture of antibody-conjugates with a number of molecules of interest varying from 0 to 8 or higher. In other words, antibody-conjugates known from the prior art generally are formed with a DAR with high standard deviation.
For example, gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a heterogeneous mixture of 50% conjugates (0 to 8 calicheamycin moieties per IgG molecules with an average of 2 or 3, randomly linked to solvent exposed lysyl residues of the antibody) and 50% unconjugated antibody (Bross et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2001, 7, 1490; Labrijn et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 2009 27, 767, both incorporated by reference). But also for brentuximab vedotin, T-DM1, and other ADCs in the clinic, it is still uncontrollable exactly how many drugs are attaching to any given antibody (drug-antibody ratio, DAR) and the ADC is obtained as a statistical distribution of conjugates. Whether the optimal number of drugs per antibody is for example two, four or more, attaching them in a predictable number and in predictable locations through site-specific conjugation with a narrow standard deviation is still problematic.

Modified antibody, antibody-conjugate and process for the preparation thereof


A breakaway coupling, a conduit system utilizing the coupling and methods of making the same are provided, the breakaway coupling being adapted to be incorporated into a conduit system and comprising a pair of tubular coupling members each having opposed ends one of which is adapted to be interconnected to a part of the conduit system and the other of which is held in sealing and coupling engagement with the other end of the other coupling member until uncoupled therefrom by a certain axial force being created therebetween, each of the coupling members having a fixed valve seat and a movable valve member for opening and closing its respective valve seat whereby the valve seats of the coupling members must both be open before a fluid flow can pass through the coupling members, each of the coupling members having a spring operatively associated with its respective valve member to tend to move that valve member to its closed position, each of the coupling members having an abutment for engaging the valve member of the other coupling member and moving the same to its open position in opposition to its respective spring as the coupling members are being disposed in their coupling engagement, the fixed valve seat of one of the coupling members comprising a cup-shaped member having a closed end interconnected by a sidewall to an open end disposed in fluid communication with the one opposed end of that one coupling member, the sidewall having an opening therethrough, the valve member of the one coupling member comprising an annular slide member telescopically receiving the cup-shaped member therein so as to slide on the sidewall thereof and tend to be urged to a position thereon by its spring to close the opening thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new breakaway coupling for incorporation into a conduit system, a conduit system utilizing the breakaway coupling and to new methods of making the same.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide a breakaway coupling for incorporation into a conduit system and comprising a pair of tubular coupling members each having opposed end means one of which is adapted to be interconnected to a part of the conduit system and the other of which is held in sealing and coupling engagement with the other end means of the other coupling member until uncoupled therefrom by a certain axial force means being created therebetween, each of the coupling members having a fixed valve seat means and a movable valve member for opening and closing its respective valve seat means whereby the valve seat means of the coupling members must both be open before a fluid flow can pass through the coupling members, each of the coupling members having spring means operatively associated with its respective valve member to tend to move that valve member to its closed position, each of the coupling members having abutment means for engaging the valve member of the other coupling member and moving the same to its open position in opposition to its respective spring means as the coupling members are being disposed in their coupling engagement. For example, see the U.S. patent to Spinosa et al, No. 4,506,862; the U.S. patent to King et al, No. 4,614,201 and the U.S. patent to Rabushka et al, No. 4,691,941.

Breakaway coupling, conduit system utilizing the coupling and methods of making the same


The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). An antenna for decreasing a signal loss caused by a dielectric loss in an antenna by decreasing a space of the antenna in a wireless device and improving performance of the antenna is provided. The antenna includes a first radiator, and a second radiator installed on a cover of the wireless device to radiate a radio signal radiated by the first radiator, the second radiator separate from and facing the first radiator.

To meet the demand for wireless data traffic having increased since deployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made to develop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5G or pre-5G communication system is also called a 'Beyond 4G Network' or a 'Post LTE System'.
The 5G communication system is considered to be implemented in higher frequency (mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands, so as to accomplish higher data rates. To decrease propagation loss of the radio waves and increase the transmission distance, the beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, an analog beam forming, large scale antenna techniques are discussed in 5G communication systems.
In addition, in 5G communication systems, development for system network improvement is under way based on advanced small cells, cloud Radio Access Networks (RANs), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D) communication, wireless backhaul, moving network, cooperative communication, Coordinated Multi-Points (COMP), reception-end interference cancellation and the like.
In the 5G system, Hybrid FSK and QAM Modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as an advanced access technology have been developed.
With the advancement of communication technologies in recent years, wireless devices have been gradually becoming smaller in size and lighter in weight. To cope with such a trend, a built-in antenna is implemented within a wireless device.
Meanwhile, an antenna of a wireless device supports various services (e.g., 4th generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE), global positioning system (GPS), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi, etc.). For this reason, there is research for decreasing a volume of an antenna to decrease size and weight. Further, there is research for improving antenna performance of the wireless device.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Antenna apparatus for use in wireless devices


A magazine well insert prevents contaminants from entering the magazine well of a pistol or a rifle. The magazine well insert provides a visual indication that the weapon does not have a magazine installed, thereby enhancing weapons safety. The magazine well insert of the present invention protects the weapon's magazine well from becoming contaminated with sand and other debris by sealing the magazine well with a block, for example, a plastic or metal block, that has an o-ring or other sealing device adapted to be positioned at the opening of the magazine well. The magazine well insert may be used in two different configurations, a first configuration that allow normal operation of the weapon's action or a second configuration that blocks the action of the weapon. The magazine well insert may be hollow with a removable sliding base to provide for storage in an interior portion thereof.

The present invention relates to weapon accessories and, more particularly, to a magazine well insert that prevents contaminants from entering the magazine well on semiautomatic and automatic pistols and rifles. The invention can also be rapidly configured into a weapon safety device by physically preventing the weapons firing pin from coming into contact with a chambered round.
Currently, military personnel deployed in a combat zone must carry a weapon at all times. There are times when military and contract personnel operating inside a secure base or forward operating base must carry a weapon in an unloaded condition with the magazine removed for safety concerns. When the weapons magazine is removed, contaminants, such as dust, sand and other debris, may enter the magazine well contaminating the weapons internal components. This contamination will cause the weapon to malfunction or render the weapon unusable until cleaned.
A common solution currently utilized by United States military personnel for keeping the magazine well on a weapon clean is to place a paper towel or rag in the magazine well. This method of placing a paper product or rag in the weapon's magazine well may allow sand and other debris to bypass the rag or paper product and contaminate the weapon. When deployed in a combat environment, a contaminated weapon may not function properly and could place military personnel in a very dangerous situation. This invention will also benefit all facets of law enforcement. Some police departments do not allow the storage of weapons with a magazine installed and like with the military this causes contamination issues.
Currently, there is an extreme need for a magazine well insert that will protect the weapon from sand, dust and other debris when the weapons magazine is removed from the weapon.


A method for operating a wind farm connected to a power grid that demands a reactive power requirement that varies with active power includes monitoring a wind speed at each of the plurality of wind turbines in the wind farm. When the wind speed is within a cut-in wind speed range, the method includes determining a reactive power margin of the wind farm based on the reactive power requirement at an active power output corresponding to the wind speed and a reactive power availability of each of the plurality of wind turbines at the wind speed. The method also includes determining a lowest possible cut-in rotor speed for each of the plurality of wind turbines that satisfies the reactive power margin. Further, the method includes commanding each of the plurality of wind turbines to cut-in and begin to produce power at the lowest possible cut-in rotor speed that satisfies the reactive power margin.

Generally, during operation of a wind turbine, wind impacts the rotor blades and the blades transform wind energy into a mechanical rotational torque that drives a low-speed shaft. The low-speed shaft drives a gearbox that subsequently steps up the low rotational speed of the low-speed shaft to drive a high-speed shaft at an increased rotational speed, wherein the high-speed shaft rotatably drives a generator rotor. In many conventional wind turbine configurations, the generator is electrically coupled to a bi-directional power converter that includes a rotor-side converter (RSC) joined to a line-side converter (LSC) via a regulated DC link. The LSC converts the DC power on the DC link into AC output power that is combined with the power from the generator stator to provide multi-phase power having a frequency maintained substantially at the frequency of the electrical grid bus (e.g. 50 HZ or 60 HZ).
The above system is generally referred to as a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) system, whose operating principles include that the rotor windings are connected to the grid via slip rings and the power converter controls rotor current and voltage. Control of rotor voltage and current enables the generator to remain synchronized with the grid frequency while the wind turbine speed varies (e.g., rotor frequency can differ from the grid frequency). Also, the primary source of reactive power from the DFIG system is from the RSC via the generator (generator stator-side reactive power) and the LSC (generator line-side reactive power). Use of the power converter, in particular the RSC, to control the rotor current/voltage makes it is possible to adjust the reactive power (and real power) fed to the grid from the RSC independently of the rotational speed of the generator. In addition, the generator is able to import or export reactive power, which allows the system to support the grid during extreme voltage fluctuations on the grid.
Typically, the amount of reactive power to be supplied by a wind farm to the grid during steady-state and transient states is established by a code requirement dictated by the grid operator, wherein a wind farm controller determines the reactive power demand made on each wind turbine within the wind farm. A local controller at each wind turbine receives and allocates the reactive power demand between the generator sources (e.g., between generator-side reactive power and line-side reactive power).
In general, the minimum speed (i.e. the cut-in speed) of the DFIG is decided based on the voltage limit imposed by the RSC (also referred to herein as the rotor voltage). Lowering or extending the minimum speed of the turbine increases the operating slip of the DFIG, which mandates the RSC to operate at a higher voltage. Therefore, the upper limit on the rotor voltage often determines the lowest possible rotor cut-in speed.
In addition to the minimum turbine speed, the reactive power requirement from the DFIG also effects the voltage at the terminals of the RSC. Further, as mentioned, most of the grid codes demand rated reactive power support during the entire operation of the wind turbine, i.e. from cut-in speed to rated speed. Providing the rated reactive power at the minimum turbine speed further forces the RSC to operate at a higher voltage.
One method of decreasing rotor voltage is to decrease the amount of over-excited (or capacitive) reactive power and, if possible, to increase the amount of under-excited (or inductive) reactive power produced by the generator. Further, most grid codes permit wind farms to produce less than full-load reactive power when the wind speeds are close to cut-in wind speed. For example, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) generally allows for zero reactive power capability when the farm is operating below 10% of its rated power output. In contrast, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requirements for the rest of the U.S. require reactive power capability only in proportion to the active power being produced by the wind farm.
Thus, an improved system and method for operating a wind turbine power system during low wind speeds to take advantage of the relaxation of the reactive power requirements at low wind speeds would be welcomed in the art. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a system and method for operating a wind turbine power system during low wind speeds, but which also meet reactive requirements set by the grid codes that that level of power output.

System and method for operating a wind farm during low wind speeds


A catheter for injecting and extracting fluids to interact with material at a treatment site in the body.

Fluid delivery and aspiration catheters are well known in the art. Catheter devices using the Coanda effect for various purposes are known as well. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,473 to Calabria and U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,395 to Whalen and Willard.
Specialized thrombectomy catheters, which rely on injected fluid to interact with occlusive material, are also know. U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,599 to Griep et al. appears to describe a device sold in the trade as the "Hydrolyzer." This device uses a "free" jet pointed in a retrograde direction to entrain ambient material in a blood vessel and to emulsify and propel this material out of the body.
Specialized distal protection devices are also known. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,991 to Ketan Muni, which describes the use of an occlusion device such as a balloon, to trap embolic particles released by a therapy such as angioplasty or the like. In operation the occlusion device is deployed proximal of a therapy device. After a therapy has been performed an aspiration catheter may be exchanged for the therapy catheter and debris removed from the location of the therapy by suction. It has also been suggested to use a rheolytic or Possis device with a balloon.
One problem with these prior art approaches is the inability to "see" the occlusion or treatment zone with contrast agent. The occlusion device prevents flow through the zone which forces the physician to work "blind" in the vessel.

Fluidic interventional device and method of distal protection