This invention is based on the observed oxidative stress and increased risk on cardiovascular diseases in subjects with increased lipid peroxidation, in particular with women using oral contraceptives and in hormone replacement therapies. The invention provides compositions and combinations, particularly useful in preventing and or reducing the increased lipid peroxidation in subjects in need thereof. These compositions are based on the synergistic combination of zinc and/or a hydroxyl radical scavenger in reducing lipid peroxidation.

Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between antioxidant and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in favour of the latter. ROS, which include free radicals, are continuously produced in the body and play an important physiological role at low concentrations. They act as second messengers capable of modulating the expression of various genes involved in immune response. Various conditions, e.g. sun exposure, intense exercise, smoking habits, chronic inflammation, metal poisoning, mitochondrial dysfunction, or hyperglycaemia can, however, lead to a non-physiological production of ROS and will cause irreversible cell lesions that are linked to the development of several human pathologies including, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes complications, muscular degeneration and arthritis.
Since the discovery that oral progestational 19-nor steroids could inhibit ovulation (Chang et al, Science 1956 124; 890-891), several million woman have used different types of synthetic estrogens and progestins to prevent conception. In post-menopausal women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is based on the intake of different types of hormones involving estrogens (namely estradiol and conjugated estrogens) and natural progesterone or synthetic progestins in order to replace the failing ovarian secretion.
Apart from their gynaecologic influence, the hormones have been shown to affect a number of metabolic and nutritional processes, some advantageously and others disadvantageously. Their relationship with oxidative stress has been a matter of ongoing discussion. Estrogens are recognized to be beneficial in the prevention of atherosclerosis although they are capable of inducing oxidative stress, which is involved in the development of the same atherosclerosis. A recent study (Pincemail et al., Human Reproduction 2007; 2335-2343), indicates that the intake of estrogens is associated with a significantly altered Oxidative Stress among women aged 40-48 years.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a therapy to reduce the oxidative stress induced pathologies, hereinafter also referred to as ROS induced pathologies, which for example results in a increased lipid peroxidation, in subjects in need thereof; in particular to reduce ROS induced pathologies in women using oral contraceptives and in hormone replacement therapy. An improvement of oxidative stress status in said subjects can be assessed using the parameters mentioned in the clinical study hereinafter and typically include a significant reduction of the lipidic peroxides, oxidized LDL or both parameters in said subjects, preferably with a normalization of the Cu/Zn ratio.
Clinical studies as to the antioxidant effect of zinc in a variety of disease states and patient populations demonstrate that there is no uniform response throughout the different disease states and patient populations with sometimes even contradictory effects. A study to the effect of zinc supplementation on the occurrence of infections of healthy elderly people (Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007, 85 (3):837-44) found that the incidence of infection was significantly lower in the zinc supplemented group with a reduction in oxidative stress markers including a significant diminution of lipid peroxides. This in contrast to a more recent study as to the beneficial effects of zinc supplementation on oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defences in middle-aged and elderly people (J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2008, 27 (4):463-9). Contrary to the previous study, zinc supplementation did not alter oxidative stress markers and had no effect on the oxidative stress status of said individuals. Similar results were found in a study to the effects of zinc supplementation on in vitro copper-induced oxidation of LDL in healthy French subjects aged 55-70 years (Br. J. Nutr., 2006, 95 (6):1134-42). Again no effects of zinc supplementation on Cu-induced LDL oxidation were found.
Even in study populations known to experience oxidative stress, such as for example in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypobaric hypoxia, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and sickle cell disease patients; there is no uniform effect of zinc supplementation on oxidative stress markers and in particular on lipid peroxidation products. In the hypobaric hypoxia studies (Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 2004, 75 (10):881-8; Wilderness Eniron. Med. 1999, 10 (2):66-74) and the COPD study (Respir. Med. 2008, 102 (6):840-4) no effects were found for zinc supplementation on the oxidative stress markers in said subjects. This in contrast to the studies in T2DM (J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2003, 22 (4):316-21) and sickle cell disease (Transl. Res. 2008, 152 (2):67-80) which suggest that zinc supplementation may be beneficial in said patients.
Despite the generally accepted fact that hydroxyl radical scavengers like flavonoids, and in particular quercetin, are potent antioxidants in vitro, with quercetin being the most effective inhibitor of oxidative damage to LDL in vitro, numerous studies indicate that this effect is absent in vivo. See for example the study on the effects of a high flavonoid diet in healthy volunteers (Free Radic. Res. 2000, 33 (4):419-426) where no significant difference was found in the Cu2+ ion-stimulated lag-time of LDL oxidation between the high and low flavonoid dietary treatments. In another study in normocholesterolaemic female volunteers (Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000, 54 (10):774-82), a 6 week rutin supplementation significantly elevated the levels of three plasma flavonoids but had no effect on plasma antioxidant status. Even in study populations with oxidative damage/stress, such as for example in athletes with exercise-induced damage and inflammation (Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2008, 33 (2):254-62) or in hypertensive subjects, including both men and women (J. Nutr. 2007, 137 (11):2405-2411), quercetin supplementation does not exert protection from oxidative stress induced damage, and does not result in a reduction of systemic markers of oxidative stress in said studies. This different behaviour of hydroxyl radical scavengers like flavonoids, and in particular quercetin, in an in vivo environment vis-à-vis an ex vivo (in vitro) environment was also found in a study to investigate whether in vivo supplementation with red wine extracts and quercetin can have an effect on the oxidative resistance of LDL (Clin. Chem. 2000, 46 (8 Pt1):1162-70). In this study no effects were found for the parameters directly assessed in the plasma of said patients, but only for an ex vivo determination of the LDL oxidizability.

Composition for the treatment of oxidative stress


An improved method for production of a rotor (10) of a centrifugal compressor, wherein the rotor (10) is produced from a monolithic disc; this disc is worked in a radial direction by at least one tool (20) of a numerical control machine, such as to remove shavings, so as to produce radial cavities (12) in the rotor (10).

The present invention relates to an improved method for production of a rotor of a centrifugal compressor.
The term centrifugal compressor normally defines a machine which returns a compressible fluid at a pressure which is greater than that at which it received the fluid, by imparting to the fluid the energy necessary for the change of pressure, by means of use of one or a plurality of rotors or impellers.
Each rotor comprises a certain number of blades, which are disposed radially such as to form a certain number of passages which converge towards the centre of the rotor.
Centrifugal compressors, particularly those of the high-pressure type, are normally equipped with rotors which are tested three-dimensionally in a known manner.
More particularly, the main parts of these rotors for centrifugal compressors are the hub, the shroud and the blades.
Owing to the high density of the gases, a truly critical problem in the technical field of compressors, in particular those of the high-pressure type, is that of guaranteeing the stability of the rotor.
Combined forces, which are proportional to the density of the gas and are induced by the gas labyrinth, can cause unacceptable subsynchronous vibrations, which have detrimental effects on the said rotor.
In fact, the sensitivity of the rotor to these forces increases more or less proportionally, together with the flexibility of the rotor.
In addition, the entire dynamic performance of the rotor is particularly critical for this type of application, and the simplest means for increasing the rigidity of the rotor in the same operative conditions (i.e. with the same bearings, same temperature, same pressure of the gas, etc.), is that of using shafts which have large diameters.
The diameters both of the shafts and of the hubs have therefore been increased in the known art, such as to increase the rigidity and insensitivity to external disturbances, and thus such as to improve the characteristic rotodynamic performance of the centrifugal compressors at high pressure.
The spacers have therefore been eliminated, and the aerodynamic path is obtained directly on the shaft.
More specifically, two rings maintain the axial position: a front ring is in two pieces and a rear ring is in a single piece. In addition, a covering of material with a high level of hardness protects the shaft.
These characteristics ensure that the aerodynamic path does not change, and mean that this configuration is particularly efficient in increasing the rigidity of the shaft: however, these changes mean that a different technology must be taken into consideration for production of these rotors for centrifugal compressors.
With particular reference to the known art, it should be noted that the blades are traditionally obtained by means of milling of the hub, and subsequently welding is carried out from the interior of the opening in order to join the parts.
Another technique is used for rotors with a low flow coefficient, wherein the openings are too narrow to make it possible to carry out the welding from the interior. In this technique, the two parts are welded from the shroud.
Thus, after having carried out the welding, it is also necessary to carry out the heat treatment, which, it will be appreciated, is used to reduce the residual tensions which have formed.

Method for production of a rotor of a centrifugal compressor


According to this invention, the image attribute is determined by determining whether the image of each color component of color image data having undergone a screen process is a continuous tone image, and whether the image of each color component is a pattern image. Whether to perform an interpolation process is determined for each color component based on the attribute determination result of each color component. If it is determined that the images of all the color components are pattern images, interpolation determination results do not coincide with each other, and there is a color component determined to represent a continuous tone image, the interpolation determination result of this color component is overwritten with the interpolation determination result of the remaining color components. The interpolation process is executed in accordance with the interpolation determination result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus and color image forming method and, more particularly, to a tandem type electrophotographic color image forming apparatus having independent image forming units for respective color components, and a color image forming method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a kind of color image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine, there is known a tandem type color image forming apparatus which comprises electrophotographic image forming units equal in number to color components and sequentially transfers toner images of respective color components onto a print medium by the image forming units. The image forming unit of each color includes a developing unit and photosensitive drum. It is known that the tandem type color image forming apparatus has a plurality of factors which cause a positional error (to be referred to as a registration error) between images of respective color components.
These factors include the unevenness and attaching positional error of the lens of a deflecting scanning unit including the optical system of a polygon mirror, fθ lens, and the like, and the mounting positional error of the deflecting scanning unit to the image forming apparatus main body. Owing to these positional errors, the scan line does not become a straight line parallel to the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum, and inclines or skews. If the degree of inclination or skew of the scan line (to be referred to as the profile or shape of the scan line hereinafter) is different between colors, a registration error occurs.
The profile has different characteristics for respective image forming apparatuses, that is, printing engines, and for deflecting scanning units of respective colors. FIGS. 6A to 6D show examples of the profile. In FIGS. 6A to 6D, the abscissa axis represents a position in the main scanning direction in the image forming apparatus. A line 600 expressed as a straight line in the main scanning direction represents the characteristic (profile) of an ideal scan line free from a skew. Curves 601, 602, 603, and 604 represent the profiles of respective colors, and show examples of the profiles of scan lines for cyan (to be referred to as C hereafter), magenta (to be referred to as M hereafter), yellow (to be referred to as Y hereafter), and black (to be referred to as K hereafter), respectively. The ordinate axis represents a shift amount in the sub-scanning direction from an ideal characteristic. As is apparent from FIGS. 6A to 6D, the curve of the profile is different between colors. When electrostatic latent images are formed on the photosensitive drums of image forming units corresponding to the respective colors, the profile difference appears as the registration error between image data of the respective colors.
As a measure against the registration error, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-116394 discloses a method of measuring the degree of skew of a scan line using an optical sensor in the process of assembling a deflecting scanning device, mechanically rotating the lens to adjust the skew of the scan line, and fixing the lens with an adhesive.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-241131 discloses a method of measuring the inclination of a scan line using an optical sensor in the process of mounting a deflecting scanning device into a color image forming apparatus main body, mechanically tilting the deflecting scanning device to adjust the inclination of the scan line, and then mounting the deflecting scanning device into the color image forming apparatus main body.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-170755 discloses a method of measuring the inclination and skew of a scan line using an optical sensor, correcting bitmap image data to cancel them, and forming the corrected image. That is, a shift of an actual scan line from an ideal scan line which is a straight line parallel on the surface of the photosensitive drum to the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum is canceled by shifting image data by the same amount in an opposite direction. This method corrects image data, and thus does not require a mechanical adjustment member or adjustment step in assembly. This method can downsize a color image forming apparatus, and deal with a registration error at a lower cost than those by methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2002-116394 and 2003-241131. The electrical registration error correction is divided into correction of one pixel and that of less than one pixel. In correction of one pixel, pixels are shifted (offset) one by one in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with the inclination and skew correction amounts, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C. In the following description, a position where the pixel is offset will be called a scan line changing point, and the process to offset a pixel will be called a scan line changing process. In FIGS. 15A to 15C, P1 to P5 are scan line changing points.
In FIG. 15A, a profile 1501 of a scan line is corrected. The profile 1501 may also be expressed by an array of the coordinate values of pixels on a scan line, but in FIG. 15A, is expressed by approximate straight lines divided for respective areas. The scan line changing point is a position in the main scanning direction where the profile is scanned in the main scanning direction and shifts by one pixel in the sub-scanning direction. In FIG. 15A, P1 to P5 are scan line changing points. At a scan line changing point serving as a boundary, dots after the scan line changing point are shifted by one line in a direction opposite to the shift of the profile in the sub-scanning direction. This process is executed by paying attention to each line. FIG. 15B shows an example of image data shifted in the sub-scanning direction at each scan line changing point. In FIG. 15B, each hatched portion 1511 is one line before the scan line changing process, that is, one line in original image data. As a result of the scan line changing process, each line shifts in a direction in which the shift of the profile in the sub-scanning direction is canceled. FIG. 15C shows an example of image data obtained in this manner. Each hatched portion is one line before correction. In image formation, corrected image data is formed for each line. For example, normal image formation proceeds in the order of a line 1521, line 1522, . . . . After image formation, a hatched portion which forms one line in image data before correction is formed on an ideal scan line which should be originally formed. However, the scan line changing process is done for each pixel, so a shift of less than one pixel still remains in the sub-scanning direction.
A shift of less than one pixel that cannot be completely corrected by the scan line changing process is corrected by adjusting the tone value of bitmap image data by preceding and succeeding pixels in the sub-scanning direction. More specifically, when the characteristic of the profile represents an upward inclination in the scanning direction, bitmap image data before tone correction is corrected to a pixel array inclined in a direction (downward in this example) opposite to the inclination of the profile. In order to make image data close to ideal image data after correction, tone correction is executed near a scan line changing point to smooth a step at the scan line changing point. The smoothing can be achieved using the width and intensity of a laser pulse. Tone correction performed for smoothing after the scan line changing process will be called an interpolation process.
Depending on the properties of an image, there are image data which preferably undergoes the interpolation process, and image data whose image quality is degraded by the interpolation process. For example, a repetitive pattern (to be referred to as a pattern image) with the same design, a character, a thin line, and the like which can be rendered by office document creation software can be smoothed by the interpolation process, improving the visibility of information. To the contrary, if the interpolation process is performed near a scan line changing point for a continuous tone image having undergone a screen process, the density becomes uneven only near the scan line changing point, degrading the image quality. This is because, when a line growth screen is used, the interpolation process changes the thickness of a line of a screen at a scan line changing point, and the density macroscopically seems to change. If the interpolation process is done for an add-on image such as a copy forgery-inhibited pattern, the effect of the add-on image may be lost, so the interpolation process is not suitable.
Whether or not to apply the interpolation process needs to be determined in accordance with the attribute of target image data. For this purpose, there is proposed a method using continuous tone image determining units 1119 and 1121 and pattern image determining units 1120 and 1122 for respective color planes, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. According to this method, decoders 1106 and 1115 combine the determination results of these units, finally deriving the interpolation determination result. The continuous tone image determining units 1119 and 1121 can determine an image for which interpolation is set off (no interpolation is executed). The pattern image determining units 1120 and 1122 can determine an image for which interpolation is set on (interpolation is executed).
When determining whether to apply the interpolation determination process, the determination result may become different between color planes. Assume that a pattern image which is formed in cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) and matches a cyan screen pattern is input. Whether the input image is a continuous tone image is determined based on the fact that image data after the screen process contains a screen pattern. Since this pattern image has a pattern matching the cyan screen pattern, it is determined that this pattern image is a continuous tone image. At the same time, it is also determined that this input image is a pattern image having a pattern matching a predetermined pattern. It is desirable not to perform the interpolation process for a continuous tone image, and perform the interpolation process for a pattern image. If these determination results are derived, the determination result of whether or not to execute the interpolation process for this image data becomes ambiguous. Since the screen angle is generally different between colors, the input image does not match the color screen patterns of the remaining color planes, and it is determined that the input image is not a continuous tone image. Even with these remaining color planes, it is determined that the input image is a pattern image, and thus a definite determination result that interpolation is set ON can be obtained. Hence, the result of interpolation determination (called an interpolation determination result) becomes different between the cyan plane and the remaining color planes.
The pattern image should be formed with the color planes of color components used as long as it is reproduced in a combination color of color components. The interpolation determination result for a pattern image should be the same between all color planes. However, when the interpolation determination result of a given color plane becomes different from those of the remaining color planes, like the above-described example, the given color plane which forms one pattern undergoes the interpolation process, and the remaining color planes do not undergo it. A small difference between color planes may appear as an abnormal image such as a stripe or color moiré in the pattern image formed from a composition of the color planes.

Color image forming apparatus and color image forming method for correcting scan-line position error with interpolation


A pipetting device comprises a retaining cone for holding a slip-on pipette tip and a piston chamber, which communicates with a passage of the retaining cone and contains a reciprocable piston, which acts on the pipette tip that has been fitted on the retaining cone. A filter is provided in the assembly and consists of an aerosol-retaining filter that is detachably mounted in a region which includes the lower end of the pipetting device (1), including the retaining cone (8), as well as the upper end portion of the pipette tip (10) below the retaining cone. The filter may be designed in various ways and may have a progressive filter action. The filter may be arranged in the lower end portion of the retaining cone (8) or in the pipette tip (10) or in an interposed member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pipetting device comprising a retaining cone for holding a slip-on pipette tip and having a piston chamber, which communicates with a passage of the retaining cone and permits a piston to reciprocate in said chamber, also comprising a pipette tip and a filter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In chemistry and bacteriology it is known to use pipetting means in order to prevent a contact of the mouth of the operator with a liquid which is sucked by the mouth. It is known to provide a separate plug, which is fitted and has capillary through passages for separating cells in liquids
It is also known to provide particularly for use with sedimentation measuring tubes a pipetting device which comprises an insert, which is slidably inserted into the top end of a capillary formed in the pipette. That insert opposes the sucking of liquid as far as to a predetermined height and subsequently opposes the further sucking and the return flow of the column of liquid. Plugs made of cotton wool have been used for that purpose and have been inserted into the top end of a pipette in a complicated manner. Because the dimensional stability is low, the length and height of the liquid column cannot be exactly predetermined in that way and it is difficult to remove the plug from the pipette if the latter consists of glass.
German Patent Specification No. 21 55 566 proposes to avoid said disadvantages in that the insert consists of a capillary tube, which fits into the capillary passage of the pipette. The capillary tube has an enlarged head portion, which at its top end contains a filter plug, which presents a high resistance to the flow of liquid but it highly permeable to air. That plug consists of felt, filter material, woven fabric or foam so that it can easily be handled and can be inserted with high accuracy.
German Utility Model No. 1,978,016 proposes that pre-formed filter plugs contained in a magazine can be inserted by means of a push rod into a mouthpiece that is integrally formed on the pipette.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,020 discloses filters for use with plastic tips of micropipettes. The filters are made of porous plastic or metal and may be engaged with the pipette tip as the liquid sample is taken so that the latter is filtered at the same time. That filter is only for liquid and is removed when the sample is taken and the filtered liquid is to be dispensed. It has been stated that tips which differ in size and shape may be used. The filter device consists of a holder, which is adapted to be slipped on the pipette tip and contains a filter and has a passage which is cylindrical or conical at the slip-on end so that an adaptation to pipette tips differing in shape is permitted. The porous filter for liquid is aligned with the flow passage and is contained in a filter chamber that is enlarged relative to the flow passage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,328 discloses a pipetting device that comprises one or more pipette tubes, to which a hydrophobic filter paper is secured. That paper restricts the rise of an aqueous liquid in each tube so that a predetermined quantity of liquid may be held in each tube. In a multiple pipette, said filter means permits an exactly predetermined quantity of liquid to be sucked into each pipette tube by the operation of a simple piston means.
Hydrophobic filters used for that purpose are freely permeable to air or other gases but require a relatively high pressure to be applied for a flow of an aqueous liquid into and through the filter. It is also known to use such filters for a filtration of air or for a passage of air from a liquid mass.
Hydrophobic filters may consist of paper or plastic and have porelike passages, which act as capillaries. Typical plastics consist of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylchloride and halogenated fluoroalkali. In the known design the filter is mainly used to restrict the quantity of liquid which can be sucked into pipette tubes whereas a flow of air or other gases for permitting a taking or dispensing of liquid is permitted. The pipetting device specifically consists of a trough, which is provided with a plurality of pipette tubes, on which a common filter sheet is disposed.
In connection with the use with pipettes which are operable by suction, it is also known to protect the operator of the pipette by the provision of an adapter, which is interposed between the pipette and the mouthpiece and has an interior space, which contains a filter membrane having pores which are so small that a passage of bacteria will be prevented.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,496 discloses for use with pipettes a mouth-protecting device consisting of a plastic tube, which contains compressed fibers, which constitute a liquid barrier. In contact with a liquid said fibers will expand so that the flow of liquid through the device will be prevented when said liquid is incidentally sucked beyond the end of the pipette. The fibers consist preferably of cotton.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,825 discloses a pipette which serves to handle a plasma that has been formed from centrifuged blood. The pipette contains a filter for liquid, which is permeable only to plasma and is impermeable to blood cells.
British Patent Specification No. 1,592,855 discloses a different pipette, which is used, e.g., for handling blood and has a parallel bored passage which contains a porous plug that constitutes a liquid barrier for limiting the sample volume and for moistening the sample in the passage with liquid so that the sample will be maintained in a liquid state. The plug is a dimensionally stable body, which has open pores and which is conical at least before it is inserted into the passage so that its insertion will be facilitated. The plug preferably consists of sintered polyethylene and owing to its conicity is mechanically held in the bore. That design is intended to avoid problems which have arisen with cotton plugs.

Pipetting device comprising a retaining cone for holding a slip-on pipette tip and pipette tip for such pipetting device


An earpiece bracket that conveniently attaches to a cap worn by a user with length adjustment such that the distance between the cap to the earpiece is adjustable in the bracket. The attachment is pivotable so the bracket may swing the earpiece into and out of its operational position. In use, the earpiece depends in the bracket from the cap into an operational position with the speaker portion of the earpiece urged against the user's ear at the external auditory meatus. The earpiece swings into place during use and away from the ear when not use. The earpiece speaker portion is held against ear at the external auditory meatus under spring bias in the attachment of the bracket to the cap.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to cell phone earpieces and more specifically to a bracket for suspending an earpiece from a cap instead of from an auricle of an ear.
2. Prior Art
Ear pieces that work in coordination with a cell phone are now becoming common, allowing hands free cell phone use, both for convenience and for operation of a vehicle. The operation of the ear piece depends on maintaining placement of the speaker portion of the ear piece at the external auditory meatus so very little volume is required and external noise is minimized. Typically, an ear piece is sold with a mount that has a C-shaped portion that wraps around and behind a user's auricle. The ear piece in the mount is then adjusted with its speaker portion at the acoustic meatus where it is partially held in place by the tragus in combination with the C-shaped portion of the mount.
The ear piece mount is uncomfortable and unsightly. Because it is sometimes offensive to a user, it is often separated from the earpiece and the earpiece is used without the mount, in which case the earpiece is held to the ear only by placing the speaker portion inside the tragus. This is less than a stable mount but still sometimes preferable to using the C-shaped portion of the mount. A mount that is comfortable and still effective is still needed.
While the earpiece is not in use, it is typical to keep the earpiece in the tragus. This can be off-putting to those attempting to have a conversation in person because it is unclear who the earpiece user is talking to; a person on the phone or the person in front of them. Also, it has become gauche in society to walk around with an earpiece in the ear.
It is then an object of the present invention to provide an ear piece mounting bracket that is comfortable to use even for extended periods of time. It is a further object that earpiece not be forced into the auditory meatus by the bracket but instead to be positioned over the ear canal so the user can urge it into the ear at their discretion. It is another object that the bracket holds the ear piece to the external auditory meatus independent of the user's auricle. It is a still further object that the ear piece be conveniently movable away from the auricle and external auditory meatus when not in use so it does not become an irritant to the user and still quickly returned to its operational position when needed for use.

Bracket for suspending a wireless cell phone ear piece from a cap


There is provided a liquid processing apparatus capable of preventing an atmospheric air of a lower surface side of a substrate, to which a processing liquid is supplied, from circulating and being introduced into an upper surface side of the substrate, to which the processing liquid is not supplied, and capable of decreasing a fuzzy gas consumption supplied to separate the atmospheres between the lower and upper surface sides from each other. An upper plate 5 is disposed at an opposite side to the upper surface of the substrate maintained horizontally and a gas supplier 53, 531 supplies a pressurized gas into a space formed between the upper plate and the substrate. Also, due to a negative pressure built in a space formed between the upper plate and the substrate, an atmospheric gas outside the space is introduced into the space via a gas inlet port.

A thermal processing system, for example, of hot wall type, may employ a film forming process such as CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, in which a plurality of wafers held on a wafer boat as substrates, are carried into a reaction tube, and a processing gas is supplied under a reduced pressure. Films are then formed on the wafers by heating the wafers or the processing gas by means of a heater placed at the circumference of the reaction tube.
The wafers carried into the reaction tube are maintained in parallel on the wafer boat to have a gap between each other. Thus, films may be formed by the processing gas not only on the front surfaces of the wafers on which semiconductor devices are formed, but also on the back surfaces of the wafers. The films formed on the back surfaces of the wafers need to be removed because they may cause a deformation of the wafers in a thermal processing.
There has been a conventionally known method that removes particles adhered to a back surface of a wafer, by supplying an organic solvent to the back surface of the wafer rotating about its vertical axis, while the wafer is gripped at the peripheral end and held substantially horizontally to expose its back surface. See, for example, page 2, right column, line 4 from the bottom to page 3, left column, line 15, and FIGS. 1 and 2, of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 03-030426. In the following description, a front surface and a back surface of a wafer will be referred to as an upper surface and a lower surface of the wafer, respectively.
In the conventional method as mentioned above, upon supplying a chemical liquid to the lower surface of the wafer, the chemical liquid may spread throughout the lower surface of the wafer due to the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the wafer. Then, the chemical liquid is dispersed from the periphery of the wafer after it reaches the distal end of the wafer, and discharged out. However, there is concern that some of the chemical liquid, dispersed away from the periphery of the wafer, may be vaporized to be gas or mist, which rises up and circulates to turn back and adhere to the upper surface of the wafer. As a result, there is a problem that the film formed on the upper surface of the wafer may be partially etched out to damage the semiconductor device thereon.


An interface system is described herein for attaching one or more objects to a truck bedside includes a top plate integrated with a top portion of the truck bedside, a plurality of female connector tubes attached to the top plate and extending into a volume between the top portion of the truck bedside and a wheel well of the truck bed, and a locking bar assembly. A plurality of male connector tubes attached to the one or more objects can be inserted into the female connector tubes and secured to the female connector tubes using the locking bar assembly that can be locked in a locked position by a locking mechanism.

Truck racks, or truck rail systems, are often homemade consisting of bars or boards attached to posts that fit into the sockets provided in certain truck beds. When not used the racks are removed from the sockets and stored. Such racks are typically very heavy making them difficult for a single person to install.
Certain prior art permanently arranged truck racks have hinged posts which can be either folded inwardly to reduce the size of the rack by disposing the inner portion of the rack inside a truck bed such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,224,126, or folded outwardly to provide a lateral platform such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,856,225, where the racks remain visible.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,864 discloses a collapsible truck rack including a series of sets of parallel bars, connected together by a parallel motion mechanism in the form of pivotable links and mounted in a series of vertical posts which are hinged so that in a collapsed condition the posts fold longitudinally over the collapsed set of bars. The collapsible truck rack and its many moveable parts are subject to erosion due to water, dirt, and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,792 describe a removable rack system that includes a plurality of vertical support poles that fit into the sockets of truck beds and numerous parts that must be removably secured to the support poles and to each other. The system is generally unsightly and not easily convertible.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,637 discloses a rack for securing cargo to a vehicle that includes first and second base rails attached to the top of the sides of the bed of a truck and first and second collapsible posts having first and second hinged ends and first and second slide ends where the base rails fold together when the rack is not in use but can be raised within seconds to convert to a cargo carrying position. The rack and its moveable parts are subject to erosion due to water, dirt, and the like and the rack remains visible when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,689 discloses retractable truck cargo support walls having horizontal members having hollow interior spaces to receive vertical members and other horizontal members to stack the horizontal members with a low profile on the sides of the truck in a retracted position. The rack and its moveable parts are subject to erosion due to water, dirt, and the like and the rack remains visible when not in use.
There is a need for an improved truck rail system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System for attachment to a truck bedside


A composition useful as a substitute for table salt is disclosed. The salt substitute contains calcium chloride, a potassium salt, citric acid, rice flour, ginger oil and one or more flavorants.

The present invention relates to low-sodium or sodium-free compositions, which can take the place of table salt.
Many attempts have been made to produce reduced-sodium or sodium-free compositions for use as food seasonings. However, such compositions often lack palatability, reducing their commercial utility.
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a composition which comprises calcium chloride, an acceptable potassium salt, citric acid, rice flour, ginger oil and a flavorant.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a composition which comprises calcium chloride, an acceptable potassium salt, sodium chloride, citric acid, rice flour, ginger oil and a flavorant.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for imparting a salty taste to a food substance, which comprises adding any of the foregoing compositions to a food substance.
Accordingly, a composition useful as a substitute for table salt is provided, which comprises about 5 wt % to about 30 wt % of calcium chloride, about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % of potassium salt, about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % of citric acid, about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % of rice flour, about 1 wt % to about 15 wt % of ginger oil and about 1 wt % to about 15 wt % of one or more flavorants. The salt substitute composition may further comprise about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % of sodium chloride, with a proportionate reduction in the wt % amounts of the other ingredients of the composition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the potassium salt is potassium chloride, potassium citrate, or a combination thereof. Moreover, the one or more flavorants is selected from the group consisting of garlic powder, dehydrated parsley, onion powder, celery powder, and the like.
Consistent with the objectives of the present invention, the salt substitute may also be described as a low salt substitute of table salt in which the composition further comprises about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % of sodium chloride, with a proportionate reduction in the wt % amounts of the other ingredients of the composition.


Method and water submerged device for generating a force under water. The device includes a low pressure recipient configured to contain a volume of a first fluid at a low pressure volume, an inlet connected to the low pressure recipient and configured to exchange a second fluid with an external enclosure, and a valve connected to the external enclosure and the inlet and configured to separate a pressure source in the external enclosure from the low pressure recipient. When the valve is open, such that there is a flow communication between the external enclosure and the low pressure recipient, a pressure imbalance occurs in the external enclosure which generates the force and the second fluid from the external enclosure enters the low pressure recipient and compresses the first fluid.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein generally relate to methods and systems and, more particularly, to mechanisms and techniques for generating a subsea force.
2. Discussion of the Background
During the past years, with the increase in price of fossil fuels, the interest in developing new production fields has dramatically increased. However, the availability of land-based production fields is limited. Thus, the industry has now extended drilling to offshore locations, which appear to hold a vast amount of fossil fuel.
The existing technologies for extracting the fossil fuel from offshore fields use a system 10 as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, the system 10 includes a vessel 12 having a reel 14 that supplies power/communication cords 16 to a controller 18. A Mux Reel may be used to transmit power and communication. Some systems have hose reels to transmit fluid under pressure or hard pipe (rigid conduit) to transmit the fluid under pressure or both. Other systems may have a hose with communication or lines (pilot) to supply and operate functions subsea. However, a common feature of these systems is their limited operation depth. The controller 18, which will be discussed later, is disposed undersea, close to or on the seabed 20. In this respect, it is noted that the elements shown in FIG. 1 are not drawn to scale and no dimensions should be inferred from FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 also shows a wellhead 22 of the subsea well and a production tubing 24 that enters the subsea well. At the end of the production tubing 24 there is a drill (not shown). Various mechanisms, also not shown, are employed to rotate the production tubing 24, and implicitly the drill, to extend the subsea well.
However, during normal drilling operation, unexpected events may occur that could damage the well and/or the equipment used for drilling. One such event is the uncontrolled flow of gas, oil or other well fluids from an underground formation into the well. Such event is sometimes referred to a "kick" or a "blowout" and may occur when formation pressure exceeds the pressure applied to it by the column of drilling fluid. This event is unforeseeable and if no measures are taken to prevent it, the well and/or the associated equipment may be damaged.
Another event that may damage the well and/or the associated equipment is a hurricane or an earthquake. Both of these natural phenomena may damage the integrity of the well and the associated equipment. For example, due to the high winds produced by a hurricane at the surface of the sea, the vessel or the rig that powers the undersea equipment starts to drift resulting in breaking the power/communication cords or other elements that connect the well to the vessel or rig. Other events that may damage the integrity of the well and/or associated equipment are possible as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Thus, a blowout preventer (BOP) might be installed on top of the well to seal it in case that one of the above events is threatening the integrity of the well. The BOP is conventionally implemented as a valve to prevent the release of pressure either in the annular space between the casing and the drill pipe or in the open hole (i.e., hole with no drill pipe) during drilling or completion operations. FIG. 1 shows BOPs 26 or 28 that are controlled by the controller 18, commonly known as a POD. The blowout preventer controller 18 controls an accumulator 30 to close or open BOPs 26 and 28. More specifically, the controller 18 controls a system of valves for opening and closing the BOPs. Hydraulic fluid, which is used to open and close the valves, is commonly pressurized by equipment on the surface. The pressurized fluid is stored in accumulators on the surface and subsea to operate the BOPs. The fluid stored subsea in accumulators may also be used to autoshear and/or for deadman functions when the control of the well is lost. The accumulator 30 may include containers (canisters) that store the hydraulic fluid under pressure and provide the necessary pressure to open and close the BOPs. The pressure from the accumulator 30 is carried by pipe or hose 32 to BOPs 26 and 28.
As understood by those of ordinary skill, in deep-sea drilling, in order to overcome the high hydrostatic pressures generated by the seawater at the depth of operation of the BOPs, the accumulator 30 has to be initially charged to a pressure above the ambient subsea pressure. Typical accumulators are charged with nitrogen but as precharge pressures increase, the efficiency of nitrogen decreases which adds additional cost and weight because more accumulators are required subsea to perform the same operation on the surface. For example, a 60-liter (L) accumulator on the surface may have a useable volume of 24 L on the surface but at 3000 m of water depth the usable volume is less than 4 L. To provide that additional pressure deep undersea is expensive, the equipment for providing the high pressure is bulky, as the size of the canisters that are part of the accumulator 30 is large, and the range of operation of the BOPs is limited by the initial pressure difference between the charge pressure and the hydrostatic pressure at the depth of operation.
In this regard, FIG. 2 shows the accumulator 30 connected via valve 34 to a cylinder 36. The cylinder 36 may include a piston (not shown) that moves when a first pressure on one side of the piston is higher than a second pressure on the other side of the piston. The first pressure may be the hydrostatic pressure plus the pressure released by the accumulator 30 while the second pressure may be the hydrostatic pressure. Therefore, the use of pressured canisters to store high-pressure fluids to operate a BOP make the operation of the offshore rig expensive and require the manipulation of large parts.
Still with regard to FIG. 2, the valve 34 may be provided between the accumulator 30 and the cylinder 36 in order to control the timing for applying the supplemental pressure from the accumulator 30. The supplemental pressure may be generated by the accumulator 30, according to an exemplary embodiment, by providing, for example, 16 300-L bottles, each carrying nitrogen under pressure. FIG. 3 shows such an example of a bottle 50. FIG. 3 shows that a bottle 50 has a first chamber 52 that includes nitrogen under pressure and a second chamber 54, separated by a bladder or piston 56 from the first chamber 52. The second chamber 54 is connected to the pipe 32 and includes hydraulic fluid. When the controller 18 instructs the accumulator 30 to release its pressure, each bottle 50 uses the nitrogen pressure to move the bladder 56 towards the pipe 32 such that the supplemental pressure is provided via pipe 32 to the cylinder 36.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods that avoid the afore-described problems and drawbacks, i.e., low efficiency, safety issues related to the surface high precharge pressures, large size and weight of the accumulator, etc.

Subsea force generating device and method


The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention is equipped with a cell having an MEA having a hydrogen ion-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane and an anode and a cathode sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; a platelike anode-side separator positioned on one side of the MEA so that the front surface thereof contacts the anode, with fuel gas passages through which fuel gas flows being formed in the front surface; and a platelike cathode-side separator positioned on the other side of the MEA so that the front surface thereof contacts the cathode, with oxidizing gas passages through which oxidizing gas flows being formed in the front surface; a cell stack in which a plurality of said cells is stacked; and a cooling water flow passage, through which cooling water flows, formed on at least the rear surface of one from among the anode-side separator and the cathode-side separator of at least a prescribed cell in said cell stack; where said fuel gas, oxidizing gas, and cooling water flow through said fuel gas passage, oxidizing gas passage, and cooling water passage, respectively, in a manner not running counter to gravity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable power sources, power sources for electric automobiles, fuel cells for use in household cogeneration systems and the like, and in particular, to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell employing a polymer electrolyte.
2. Description of Related Technology
In fuel cells employing polymer electrolytes, a fuel gas containing hydrogen is electrochemically reacted with an oxidizing gas containing oxygen, such as air, to simultaneously generate power and heat. This fuel cell is basically comprised of a polymer electrolyte membrane selectively transferring hydrogen ions and a pair of electrodes formed on either side of the polymer electrolyte membrane, that is, an anode and a cathode. The electrodes are comprised of a catalyst layer, formed on the surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane, that is comprised chiefly of carbon powder supported on a platinum group metal catalyst, and a gas diffusion layer, having both gas permeability and electron-conducting capability, formed on the outer surface of the catalyst layer.
To prevent oxidizing gas and fuel gas fed to the electrodes from leaking to the exterior and to prevent mixing of the two gases, the electrodes are formed on the two surfaces of portions outside the rim portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane and gas seals and gaskets are positioned in a manner surrounding the electrodes on the rim portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane. These gas seals and gaskets are integrated and preassembled with the electrodes and polymer electrolyte membrane. This integrated and preassembly combination is hereinafter referred to as a membrane electrode assembly ("MEA"). The MEA is mechanically secured and electrically conductive separators for electrically connecting adjacent MEAs in series are provided on both sides thereof. Gas passages for feeding reaction gas to the electrode surface and carrying off water that is generated and excess gas are formed on the portions where the separators contact the MEA. The gas passages can be provided separately from the separators, but the method of forming grooves serving as gas passages on the outer surface of the separator is generally adopted.
The supplying of reaction gas to the gas passages and the discharging of water produced and reaction gas from the gas passages are conducted by providing a through-hole known as a manifold hole in the separator, connecting the gas passage inlet and outlet to the manifold hole, and distributing reaction gas to the various gas passages through the manifold hole. Since the fuel cell generates heat during operation, maintaining the cell at proper temperature requires cooling with a cooling fluid, such as cooling water, or the like. Normally, a cooling member through which cooling water flows is provided for every one to three cells. The MEA, separator, and cooling member are stacked in alternating fashion to achieve 10 to 200 cell layers, after which they are sandwiched between terminal plates through current collecting plates and insulating plates, and then secured at each end with fastening rods into a common stacked cell structure. While not wishing to be bound to a specific construction of a cell stack, a typical construction can be found in U.S. Published Application US 2002/01456601 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,664, both herein incorporated by reference.
Perfluorosulfonic acid-based materials have come to be used in the polymer electrolyte membranes of such cells. It is normally necessary to moisten the fuel gas and oxidizing gas and feed them to the cell for the polymer electrolyte membrane to develop ion conductivity in a moisture-comprising state. On the cathode side, water is generated in some reactions. Thus, when a gas that has been moistened to increase the dew point to above the working temperature of the cell is supplied, there is sometimes a problem in that condensation forms in the gas passages in the cell and within the electrodes and water blockage occurs, rendering cell performance unstable and decreasing performance. This phenomenon of decreased cell performance and unstable operation due to excessive wetting is generally called "flooding". Additionally, when the fuel cell is being used in a power generating system, it is necessary to systemize the wetting of feed gas and the like. To simplify the system and enhance system efficiency, it is desirable to at least slightly reduce the dew point of the wetted gas that is supplied.
From the perspectives of preventing flooding, enhancing system efficiency, and simplifying the system set forth above, the feed gas is usually moistened so that its dew point is slightly lower than the cell temperature before being supplied.
However, it is also necessary to increase the ion conductivity of the polymer electrolyte membrane to increase the performance of the cell. Thus, it is desirable to moisten the fuel gas and feed it at a relative humidity of near 100 percent, or even at 100 percent humidity and above. Further, from the perspective of the durability of the polymer electrolyte membrane, as well, the supplying of feed gas with a high moisture content is known to be desirable. However, when supplying moist gas at, or close to 100 percent relative humidity, the above-described flooding becomes a problem. That is, in operation of prior cells, the humidity of the feed gas cannot be adjusted accurately and precisely enough to inevitably prevent flooding.
A method of increasing the flow rate of feed gas through the separator passage portion to blow out water that has condensed is known to be an effective way to remove condensation to avoid flooding. However, it then becomes necessary to feed the gas at high pressure to increase the feed gas flow rate in order to blow out the condensed water, requiring an extreme increase in the auxiliary power of the blower or compressor supplying the gas when using the cells in a systemized environment thereby tending to result in deterioration of system efficiency. Further, when flooding occurs on the anode side, flow of fuel gas tends to be blocked or diminished, which ends up being fatal to the fuel cell. This is because load current is forcefully removed in a state where the flow of fuel gas is inadequate, and the carbon supporting the catalyst of the anode ends up reacting with water in the atmosphere to produce electrons and protons in a state without fuel. As a result, dissolution of carbon in the catalyst layer permanently damages the catalyst layer of the anode.
Furthermore, in systems in which stacked cells are mounted, commercial considerations dictate that the cell be able to operate not only under rated output conditions, but also operate under low loads when output is reduced based on power demand. Maintaining efficiency under low load operation requires that the use rates of fuel gas and oxidizing gas be made identical to rated operation conditions. That is, when the load is reduced by ½ relative to rated operation, for example, if the flow rates of the fuel gas and oxidizing gas are not decreased by about ½, excess fuel gas and oxidizing gas are consumed, causing power generation efficiency to drop. However, when the gas use rate is preset and low load operation is conducted, there are problems in that the gas flow rate in the gas passages decreases, condensation water and generated water cannot be discharged from the separator, the above-described flooding occurs, cell performance decreases, and performance becomes unstable.
It is also known that condensed water and generated water collect in portions of the gas passage where the flow runs against gravity if such portions are present, tending to cause flooding. As a countermeasure, methods of making the oxidizing gas or fuel gas flow in directions that do not run against gravity have been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. Hei 11-233126 and 2001-068131, both incorporated herein by reference). Based on these methods, the oxidizing gas or fuel gas is made to flow in directions that do not run counter to gravity, thereby permitting smooth discharge of condensed water and generated water and inhibiting flooding. However, this proposal does not address the drying out of the polymer electrolyte membrane necessary to develop ion conductivity.


A method for fabricating metallic conduit and the like having exterior surface details such as beads, bulges and flares by inelastic flow of the metal of an extruded blank which does not exhibit the detail. The process comprises the steps of placing a blank in a high pressure die, injecting oil or other incompressible pressure-transmitting fluid into the blank, and using advancing core punches, pressurizing the fluid to cause the metal of the blank to flow into detail cavities of the die.

Exterior details such as beads and ribs are commonly formed on fabricated metal products by a process known as swaging. This process typically involves a series of intermediate steps through which the desired end geometry is reached in a gradual fashion. An example is a refrigeration system component in the form of a metal tube having a continuous circumferential bead adjacent one or both ends of the tube to locate connector tubes and assist in the process of achieving a fluid tight seal between the original tube and the connector tubes by soldering, brazing, welding, or even adhesive bonding. As indicated above, the swaging operation is disadvantageous in that it requires several steps; i e., each step requires its own particular tooling and the performance of the step series is time consuming and often labor-intensive. In addition, swaging operations typically leave the part with detailed geometries which are not especially sharply defined. For example, in the case of an aluminum tube with a circumferential bead adjacent an end opening, it has been found that the swaging operation typically leaves a small radius between the raised bead and the adjacent unraised tubing surface. This radius is undesirable as it interferes with the mating of a connector tube which telescopically fits over the original tube and preferably slides into close adjacent and abutting relationship to the raised circumferential bead.

Method of manufacturing a fluid conduit having exterior detail


A seat belt webbing enclosure for a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion. The enclosure includes a bracket attached to a frame of the seat back. A cover is coupled to the bracket and extends downwardly to the seat cushion to enclose a gap between the seat back the seat cushion. A seat belt web of the seat is substantially enclosed proximate the gap by the cover in cooperation with the seat cushion.

Vehicles typically include seat belts to help restrain occupants in the event of a sudden stop or accident. In some vehicles the seat belts are anchored to the frame independently of the seat such that forces exerted upon the belt by an occupant are transferred directly to the frame. In such configurations the seat can be relatively light-weight, since the seat is not required to function as an occupant restraint. Unfortunately, these designs can be impractical for use with adjustable seats, which can be moved forward and backward and reclined, as the seat belts must be likewise adjustable for the various seating positions while retaining their intended safety features. Seats with separately anchored restraint systems are also more difficult to incorporate into the cabins of a wide variety of vehicle types, as the floor and wall structures of the vehicle may not readily accommodate the necessary frame anchor points for lap and shoulder belts.
To overcome the aforementioned limitations of separately anchored seat belts vehicle designers are increasingly turning to configurations wherein the seat belts are integrated with the vehicle seats. In such configurations the seat belts are anchored to the seat frame which is in turn anchored to the vehicle frame. Accordingly, the seat belts can be located more optimally to accommodate variations in seat position and orientation. These configurations also have an advantage in that the seat assembly, together with the seat belt, can be installed as a single unit in the passenger compartment at the time of vehicle manufacture.
One important consideration when the safety restraint belt is integrated with the seat assembly is that the seat assembly must be designed to allow unrestricted movement of the seat belt webbing as it is extended and retracted so that the inertia reel retractor can function properly without causing discomfort to the occupants. Similarly, the seat belt webbing should be protected against abrasion or wear that could weaken the webbing. In addition, the seat assembly should protect the webbing against binding or damage caused by passengers and/or objects coming into contact with the seat belt.
Current integrated seat restraint systems often locate the seat belt retractor on the seat's frame, beneath the seat cushion, and route the seat belt webbing upwardly along a rear portion of the seat back. In these designs the portion of the path of the seat belt webbing, generally between the seat cushion and the seat back, may be exposed. Ideally this exposed region would be enclosed to protect the seat belt webbing potential restriction, wear and damage caused by occupants and/or objects coming into contact with it. However, enclosing the exposed region is problematic because doing so can hinder the range of motion of the seat back.
There is a need for a way to protect a vehicle seat belt web as it passes between a seat cushion and a seat back without hindering the range of motion of the seat back or impeding the operation of the seat belt.


A device is connected between an storage device controller and a storage device, providing data storage device protection in a manner transparent to the computing system and to the user of the computing system independent of operating system. The device protects the user from malicious code by preventing its execution and the unauthorized or unwanted user data modification by making the contents of one of the storage device read only. All the operations of the device are invisible to the computing system and to the user independent of installed operating system. The device can be disabled by a switch or by other means. When this happens the effect is the same as if the device were physically removed of the computing system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data protection device, data modification prevention device, data modification prevention methods and data protection methods independent of operating systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention addresses the need for data protection where data protection means that there is data that cannot be modified in accidental or non authorized way, and that there is data that cannot be accessed by other than the authorized operator of the computing system. This definition of data protection can be divided in two requirements of protection: Data modification prevention and extraneous code execution prevention. The present invention implements both methods in one data storage protection device without regard to and/or the need for installed operating systems. We start by describing the current state with the first requirement: normally when there is data in a computing system that needs to be protected from accidental or unauthorized modification, said data is marked as "read-only", and the operation on it is limited by this characteristic. But this "marking" can be un-done or simply ignored by software that does not conform to the operating system conventions or uses a different way of accessing this data on the data storage device used by said computing system. The solution to this would be to make the data storage device "read-only", in a manner similar to the working of a floppy disk, where a lever on its case allows or denies data modification on its magnetic surface. But this solution does work only for isolated data and it cannot be used when the data storage device also holds data that needs to be modified regularly, for example a directory index maintained by the operating system of the computing system. The second requirement, the extraneous code execution prevention, is currently addressed with a layer of software running as part of the operating system of the computing system, usually called "antivirus" and "firewall" software, depending on its operational and functional characteristics. This layer of software protects the data on a computing system by preventing execution of code that is not specifically part of the code that the user of said computing system is intending to use with its data. The problem with this approach to cover the second requirement is similar to what we specified for the first requirement: the software operation can be bypassed by software that operates not in conformance with operating system rules, or by software that operates using different access rules that the ones specified by the operating system. Well know examples of this are the "rootkits", pieces of software that operate in a lower level than the operating system, in a way that prevents its detection by the layer of software that implements the extraneous code execution prevention. A normal user is defenseless against this type of intrusion to the computing system.


A cap is attached to a mold core with a T-shaped connector instead of screws. The core cap has an air distribution channel and the core has cooling fluid distribution channels which are maximized by using the T-connector. The fluid distribution channels promote maximum cooling of the core, and, along with the air distribution channel, facilitates ejection of small articles from the mold.

In injection molding a cap is often attached to a mold core with either a fixed vent or a moveable vent which facilitates ejection of a molded plastic article from a mold with pressurized gas. Air ejection is commonly used in the high volume molding of plastic containers, especially food packaging, such as margarine tubs, for example. Air ejection is advantageous because it reduces mold cost and allows ejection of deep-walled containers that are not extractable by conventional means.
Ordinarily, the cap is attached to the mold core with screws or a threaded rod. A core cap fixedly attached by screws to a molding core for molding a workpiece is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,801 wherein there is a fluid channel formed at the interface of a core base and core sleeve for ejecting gaseous fluid to the peripheral surface of the mold core. Other types of molding cores, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,438,065 and 4,632,657, for example, have embodied additional pneumatic means to initiate ejection of the workpiece from the core. Screws and rods do not lend themselves to the molding of relatively small diameter containers, such as 35 mm film cans, for example, because there is not sufficient room for mold cooling channels. Also, screws can weaken the mold core substantially thus shortening mold life. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to attach a cap to a mold core without screws or rods.
It is possible to connect workpieces without conventional screws by using a T-shaped fastening device. U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,214 discloses T-shaped fastener which is a bolt having a top portion adapted to receive another member having a socket. The two members are fixedly attached by inserting a T-shaped key member into the two members and rotating the member to be joined relative to the bolt. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,129,395; 2,571,641; 2,140,132 and 847,253 disclose the use of T-shaped fastening devices. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to attach a cap to a mold core with a T-connector rather than screws or rods so that small diameter articles can be molded efficiently.

Apparatus and method for attaching a cap to a mold core


Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising at least one shaft. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is decelerating from full-speed-no-load (FSNL). Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine while the powerplant machine is accelerating to FSNL.

The present invention relates to a protection system of a powerplant machine; and more particularly to an automated overspeed protection system for the powerplant machine.
An overspeed condition occurs after the speed of a shaft on a powerplant machine exceeds a specified range. During the overspeed condition, a powerplant machine typically experiences severe mechanical and thermal stresses that can cause a catastrophic failure.
Generally, the powerplant machine is equipped with protection systems, which attempt to reduce the effects of an overspeed condition. A governor system generally serves as the primary line of protection. Upon detecting an overspeed condition, the governor attempts to decrease the speed of the shaft. There may also be a secondary, or independent line, of protection—an overspeed protection system. Typically, the overspeed protection system incorporates mechanical, electrical, and software components to safeguard the powerplant machine. An overspeed protection system protects the powerplant machine by initiating an emergency shutdown (commonly called a trip) during an overspeed event.
Powerplant operators periodically test the overspeed protection system to determine if the system is functioning properly. Prior to testing the overspeed protection system, the powerplant machine is customarily operating in a full-speed-no-load (FSNL) condition. FSNL is a condition when the powerplant machine is at a normal operating speed and is not exporting energy to a load. An overspeed test typically involves manually raising the speed of a shaft above the normal operating range. For example, but not limiting of, during an overspeed test operators may raise the speed of the shaft to 110% of the normal operating speed; thereafter the overspeed protection system should trip the powerplant machine.
There are a few problems with the current method of overspeed testing. Manually adjusting the shaft speed may introduce high thermal transients. A trip at a speed near or above the normal operating speed can introduce large mechanical, electrical, and thermal stresses on the components of the powerplant machine. These stresses decrease the maintenance interval. Moreover, after a trip, a re-start of the powerplant machine is required, which delays the exporting of energy. In addition, the current overspeed testing methods typically require that the powerplant machine operate at FSNL. This does not generate revenue but consumes fuel and electricity. These problems drive powerplant machine operators to avoid manual speed adjustments, trips, FSNL operation, and overspeed testing.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a method of testing an overspeed protection system that reduces the chance of a trip. The method should be adaptable to a wide variety powerplant machines, including those integrated with others powerplant machines. The method should allow for testing the overspeed protection system when the powerplant machine is accelerating from a start-up mode, or decelerating from FSNL.

Method and system for testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine


To detect broken bars in the rotor of induction and synchronous motors, the current drawn by the motor during the transient startup period as the motor runs up to steady state speed is analyzed to identify any dip in the starting motor current amplitude occurring when the motor reaches approximately half-speed. The magnitude of any identified current dip is tested against threshold values to determine if the dip is characteristic of a broken rotor bar condition. Reliable broken rotor bar detection is achieved regardless of whether the motor is loaded or unloaded.

Both utility and industrial users of induction motors and synchronous motors equipped with starting/stabilization (amortisseur) cages have historically been concerned in finding reliable procedures for detecting rotor faults or "cage faults" before such faults exacerbate to the point of catastrophic motor failure. Obviously, such motor failures can force expensive shutdowns of factory production and in certain applications can have adverse safety implications.
Until recently, the detection of rotor faults in induction motors involved taking the motor out of service, disassembly and/or the application of special instrumentation internally and/or externally of the motor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,932 discloses a broken rotor bar detector which requires the installation of a flux coil wound on one of the stator teeth of an induction motor. Implementation of such a detector requires motor disassembly, unless the flux coil is installed at the time of manufacture or rewinding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,703 discloses a rotor fault detector based on motor current analysis, but requires the stationing of a flux coil at an appropriate external position proximate the induction motor to pick up stray axial flux in order to precisely determine motor speed. This approach does not require motor disassembly, or, in many cases, an interruption in service. However, in some motor applications it is not convenient from the standpoint of accessibility or there is no space available to station the flux coil in an appropriate external flux detection position. In applicants' copending application entitled "Spectral Analysis of Induction Motor Current to Detect Rotor Faults with Reduced False Alarms" Ser. No. 07/512,223 filed Apr. 20, 1990, rotor faults, such as broken bars, are detected exclusively by analysis of the motor current frequency spectrum.
To reliably detect rotor faults in accordance with the above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,703 and copending application, the induction motor being tested must be under steady state operating conditions, i.e., constant motor current and uniform loading. Unfortunately, in certain motor applications, steady state operating conditions do not exist or exist for such a short time period that reliable rotor fault detection by motor current spectral analysis is not possible. Specifically, the character of the motor service may be such that the motor operating cycle may be so short and/or the motor load so varied that a steady state operating condition is never achieved. An example of such service is induction motor driven valves widely utilized in utility power plants, wherein the complete operating cycle from start to stop may be only several seconds for the smaller valves and ten to fifteen seconds for the larger valves.
There are many occasions when it would be advantageous to rotor fault test an induction motor under no load conditions. For example, service shops would prefer to test an induction motor for cracked or broken rotor bars simply by energizing it and analyzing the motor current and/or axial flux without having to mechanically connect the motor to some sort of load or dynamometer. Unfortunately, reliable rotor fault detection pursuant to U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,703 and applicant's cited copending application requires the induction motor to be uniformly loaded during the data collection period.
Heretofore, there has been no reliable procedure for non-invasively testing the amortisseur of synchronous motors for broken bars. This is due to the fact that amortisseur bars carry appreciable current only during startup and little or no current under steady state operating conditions. Consequently, the perturbations of motor current and axial flux caused by cracked or broken amortisseur bars are too small under steady state operating conditions to provide a basis for rotor fault detection.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for practicing same to detect rotor faults in electric motors.
A further object is to provide a method and apparatus of the above-character for detecting rotor faults in electric motors under transient operating conditions.
Another object is to provide a method and apparatus of the above-character for detecting rotor faults in electric motors under no load conditions.
An additional object is to provide a rotor fault detection method and apparatus of the above-character, which rely solely on analysis of motor current and thus are totally non-invasive of the motor operating environment.
Yet another object is to provide a rotor fault detection method and apparatus of the above-character, which are capable of detecting broken or cracked rotor bars in synchronous as well as induction motors.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

Transient rotor fault detection in induction and synchronous motors


A magnetic recording medium is disclosed, which has excellent electro-magnetic conversion characteristics and is improved in drop-out. The magnetic recording medium comprises a non-magnetic support and a plurality of magnetic layers provided on the support, and the magnetic layer being provided farthest from said support among these magnetic layers comprises a magnetic powder and a carbon black in an amount of not more than 1 part per 100 parts by weight of said magnetic powder; and another magnetic layer comprising a magnetic powder has a thickness of not more than 2.5 .mu.m, and 900 nm light-transmittance of said magnetic medium is not more than 0.1%.

In recent years, there has been a growing tendency in magnetic recording media, especially in magnetic recording media for videorecorders required to record a short wave length signal, to use the magnetic powder having finer grain size and higher capability of magnetization.
However, when the grain size of magnetic powder is made finer and its BET value is increased, the light transmittance of the magnetic recording medium is increased and the efficiency to shield light is decreased. This causes a problem relating to the light-transmission of the recording medium. For example, in the case of a videotape, the end of the tape is detected by the variation of light transmittance. Especially in the case of VHS type videotape, the light transmittance of the videotape must be not more than 0.1%, at a wave length of 900 nm.
Recently, there has been a tendency to reduce the thickness of a videotape in order to make it possible to increase the recording time of a videotape. Accordingly, the thickness of the magnetic layer becomes thinner, which is why the magnetic layer is required to have its light-shielding power increased.
As a measure to increase the light-shielding power of a videotape, it is publicly known that carbon black is added to a magnetic layer. However, when too much carbon black is added to a magnetic layer, it causes a reduction of the dispersibility of the magnetic powder and carbon black in the paint, and furthermore it causes a reduction of the stability of the dispersion. Since the magnetic powder is reduced in quantity, the electro magnetic conversion characteristic and tape running durability are deteriorated.


A rapid tissue processing method and apparatus including the steps of fixation, dehydration, clearing, and impregnation. The preferred method is performed in a processing unit that employs alternating microwave and ohmic energy to heat the process solution and tissue sample. In one embodiment, the method employs environmentally friendly green chemicals to effectuate the processing.

The present invention relates to tissue processing, and more particularly it relates to a rapid tissue processing method and apparatus that uses ohmic energy and microwave energy to heat the process solution and tissue sample during processing. The present invention also relates to a tissue processing method that employs the use of environmentally friendly green chemicals.
A tissue sample must be processed before it can be analyzed for diagnostic or testing purposes. This processing acts to halt the degradation of cellular structure, and to stabilize the cellular characteristics, and to sufficiently harden the tissue so that extremely fine segments may be cut therefrom for purposes of analysis. Tissue processing is well known in the art of histology.
There are four general steps performed when processing a tissue sample: fixation, dehydration, clearing, and impregnation (sometimes herein also referred to as infiltration). These steps are generally effectuated by submerging the tissue sample in different solutions to produce chemical reactions. It is important that tissue samples be processed in a quality and uniform manner so that the analytical results and diagnosis are consistent and accurate. Some of the types of analysis that can be performed on tissue samples after the sample has been processed include visual analysis, gel electrophoresis, immunohistochemical stains, flow cytometry, and other genetic analysis. Physicians diagnose a variety of ailments and diseases based upon these analyses.
Fixation initiates preservation of the tissue specimen by cross linking proteins and halting cellular degradation. Without chemical fixation, endogenous enzymes will catabolize and lyse the cell, and the cellular microanatomy will be altered. Traditionally, fixatives have included ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, acetic acid, heavy metals, chromic acid, picric acid, or osmium tetroxide. Indications that fixation was inadequate can include disassociation of tissue structures, bubbles in tissue sections, poor and irregular staining, shrunken cells, clumping of cytoplasm, condensation and less distinct nuclear chromatin, and autolysisihemolysis of erythrocytes. A failure to preserve the micro-anatomical structure of the cellular specimen may adversely impact the analysis and lead to the potential for misdiagnosis.
Dehydration removes water from the tissue specimen to promote hardening. Specifically, the water molecules that reside in the space between the membranes of the cells making up the specimen are evacuated and replaced with molecules of the dehydrating agent. Replacement of this water in the tissue specimen with a dehydrating agent also facilitates subsequent replacement of the dehydrating agent with the solidifying material used in impregnation. This solution exchange is enhanced by using a volatile solvent for dehydration. The dehydrating agent may be low molecular weight alcohols, ketones, dioxane, alkylene glycols, or polyethylene glycols. Failure to dehydrate the specimen can lead to inadequate impregnation, poor ribbon formation during sectioning, clefts in tissue sections, dissociation of structures, water crystals in tissue sections, and poor staining.
Clearing is a process that enhances the ability to visualize the internal characteristics of cellular structure. The clearing step includes extracting dehydrating agent from the tissue specimen to reduce the tissue's opacity. Examples of clearants have traditionally included xylene, limonene, benzene, toluene, chloroform, petroleum ether, carbon bisulfide, carbon tetrachloride, dioxane, clove oil, or cedar oil.
Defatting of the tissue routinely occurs during the clearing operation, and is the process of removing fat (lipids) from the tissue specimen. If left in place, the fatty molecules would impair clearing and impregnation. Specifically, inadequate fat removal can result in spreading artifacts of tissue sections, wrinkling of tissue sections, and poor staining.
Once the tissue specimen is suitably fixed, dehydrated, and cleared, it is hardened by impregnation with a support medium such as wax, celloidin, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl alcohols, agar, gelatin, nitrocelluloses, methacrylate resins, epoxy resins, or other plastics. This step involves migration of the hardening agent into tissue cavities and cells that make up the tissue specimen. Appropriate hardening of the tissue specimen with adequate preservation of cellular morphology is required prior to placing the impregnated specimen in a block and obtaining thin sections. Preferred impregnation materials are commercial wax formulae, mixtures of waxes of different melting points (e.g., liquid mineral oil and solid paraffin), paraplast, bioloid, embedol, plastics and the like. Paraffin is often preferred because it is inexpensive, easy to handle, and ribbon sectioning is facilitated by the coherence of structures provided by this material.
It has long been a goal to decrease tissue processing times, thus allowing quicker analysis and diagnosis of the tissue sample. This is particularly important when tissue analysis is required as a part of a surgical procedure. However, in decreasing tissue processing times, the integrity of the tissue sample must remain high to facilitate accurate diagnosis. Many of the attempts to reduce the time of tissue processing have included the addition of heat energy during the processing steps so as to speed up the migration of process solution throughout the specimen and to facilitate chemical reactions occurring within the respective steps. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,656,047, 4,839,194, and 5,244,787 disclose the use of microwave energy; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,961,097 and 5,089,288 disclose the use of ultrasonic energy; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,187 disclose the use of infrared energy.
Many of these prior art methods are undesirable for a number of reasons. One reason is that cellular structures, especially DNA and RNA, degrade when exposed to heat for prolonged periods of time. Such degradation makes analysis and diagnosis difficult or even impossible, and increases the risks of a misdiagnosis.
Prior art tissue processing methods can be broken into two main groups: conventional processing and microwave heat processing. Conventional processing methods employ vacuum and pressure with the chemical processing steps discussed above. Conventional methods may or may not include the addition of heat energy; however, any heat used is not produced by microwave energy. Microwave processing methods employ heat, vacuum, and pressure wherein the heat is produced by microwave energy.
The problem with conventional (non-microwave) methods is three fold. First, conventional methods have traditionally used hazardous chemicals that are known carcinogens to effectuate the chemical reactions during processing. Second, all tissue types are lumped together during tissue processing so that both "bound water" and "free water" molecules are removed from the tissue sample during processing, which damages the tissue sample. The ultimate goal of processing is to infiltrate the specimen with a hardening agent that is not miscible with the fresh or fixed specimen. Tissue samples are filled with free water that simply occupies the spaces among the biological molecules of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and other compounds. This free water must be removed if the hardening agent is to enter.
There is a second type of water molecule in tissue specimen. This is referred to as bound water. Bound water is found surrounding nearly all macromolecules, being held to their surfaces by weak hydrogen bonds. It is not free to move around inside the tissue. It is not necessary to remove bound water in order to infiltrate the specimen with a hardening agent. Removal of bound water causes excessive hardening and shrinkage of the tissue sample. Also, bound water acts as a spacer among adjacent macromolecules, keeping them from coming close enough together to form hydrogen bonds between themselves. Once this insulating layer of bound water is removed, the tissue shrinks as macromolecules concentrate, and the specimen changes its cutting consistency as these molecules bind together. Fibrous tissue becomes tough and specimens comprised mostly of cells become crumbly. In conventional tissue processing, in the removal of free water from the larger, dense segments of the tissue specimen, bound water is also inadvertently removed from smaller, less dense segments, thus degrading those segments of the specimen. Third, for conventional processing methods processing times are usually in excess of 10 hours which means patients often have to wait until the following day for the tissue processing, analysis, and diagnosis. This relatively long time period can be detrimental and even life threatening for patients in situations where tissue analysis is urgently required. Because of this extended length of time, conventional tissue processing techniques may not be used for surgical analysis.
One problem with prior art microwave methods is that the heating of the tissue sample lacks uniformity. As is known in microwave technology, microwave energy produces hot spots and cold spots within the material being heated (target material). See Leong, Anthony S-Y, Microwave Technology for Morphological Analysis, Cell Vision, Vol. 1, No. 4 (1994). With only moderate success, attempts to reduce the occurrence of hot spots and cold spots have included fans inside the microwave chamber comprised of special material to disseminate the microwave energy, and rotating platforms to try to provide the target material uniform exposure to the microwave energy. The temperature within the hot spots can cause tissue destruction. Within the cold spots, the temperature may be inadequate to trigger or to complete the required chemical reactions. The result of the hot and cold spots is a lack of consistent processing of all of the cellular tissue comprising the specimen. Such a lack of consistency may result in poor or improper staining or analysis. The resulting potential for misdiagnosis may be dangerous and even life threatening for patients.
Another problem with microwave methods is that microwave energy may affect the bound water that physically separates macromolecules. Microwave energy is converted to kinetic and chemical energy. The kinetic energy results from the rapid oscillation of dipolar molecules causing internal heat. Although microwaves cannot ionize molecules and are too small to break molecular bonds, use of excessive microwave energy can redistribute the hydrogen bonds (chemical energy). Excessive microwave exposure also causes thinning of the bound water layers. This allows bound water layers to unwind and form new crosslinks, resulting in the formation of different configurations with a resultant potential for misdiagnosis.
Another problem with microwave energy in tissue processing is that microwave energy is only capable of penetrating the tissue to only a limited depth. See Kok L P, Visser P E, Histoprocessing with the Microwave Oven: An Update, Histochem J. 1988 Jun-Jul; 20 (6-7): 323-8. This means that in order to effectively use microwave energy for tissue processing, the tissue samples must be very thin. Thin samples are more difficult to handle and they can also be more difficult to obtain. If the sample is not sufficiently thin, then the cells comprising the outer portion of the tissue sample may process differently than the cells comprising the inner portion of the tissue sample. Attempts to overcome this limitation by increasing the amount of microwave energy to penetrate more deeply into the sample can damage the cell structure, DNA, and RNA, as discussed above.
Yet another problem with microwave energy in tissue processing is that microwave energy only affects molecules with an electric dipole. Molecules with an electric dipole are known as polar, while those with little or no electric dipole are known as nonpolar. Water is a polar molecule. A water molecule has a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other, and is therefore twisted to and fro as it tries to align itself with the alternating electric field induced by microwaves. This molecular movement creates heat. The different concentrations of free and bound water within the specimen means that some water molecules in the tissue will be heated more than other water molecules in the tissue, thus contributing to the inconsistent heating. Microwave heating is more efficient on liquid unbound water, and much less so on fats, sugars and the like. Microwave tissue processing involves a series of events in which a tissue specimen is sequentially processed through various chemicals ranging from polar to nonpolar. As dehydration occurs and free water is removed, bound water is left behind. This bound water is a highly polarized molecule, and, therefore, is the most affected by microwave energy. Over heating of this bound water can lead to tissue distortion causing a "cooked" tissue sample. This potential for tissue distortion after dehydration is exacerbated by the fact that most traditional processing chemicals are nonpolar. Thus, excessive microwave energy is required to build up enough heat to bring about the desired chemical reactions. To minimize tissue distortion there should be a gradual change in polarity of the processing solutions from highly polar aqueous fixatives to nonpolar hardening agents.
In addition to the above referenced problems that have been encountered using microwave energy in tissue processing, there have also been attempts to use more environmentally friendly and user friendly solvents in tissue processing. Traditional solvents used in tissue processing include xylene, limonene, benzene, toluene, chloroform, and petroleum ether. These solvents are harsh in that they can damage the tissue sample. These traditional solvents are generally capable of over-hardening and shrinking tissue. Increasing the exposure to these solvents may help the processing of fatty tissue but only at the expense of delicate small biopsies.
Tissue porosity has a major impact on processing. Porosity at an ultrastructural level is determined by the nature of the tissue and the effects of processing reagents to which the tissue are subjected. Tissue porosity is a function of the number and size of natural and artificial pores, and the swelling and shrinkage of the biopolymer matrix. Even after fixation, cell surfaces continue to act as osmotic membranes. Regardless of fixative process solution used, all tissue undergoes limited shrinkage and hardening during dehydration, clearing and infiltration. Hardening generally results from tissue shrinkage, accompanied in most cases by decreased porosity. Fatty tissue specimens usually require extended processing as lipids inhibit the diffusion of processing solution. This extended processing requirement has a tendency to decrease porosity, inhibiting the removal of lipids.
These traditional solvents also present a risk to the laboratory personnel. Further, they require careful disposal so as to not damage the environment. For all of the above reasons, it would be desirable to use solvents that are not so harsh to the tissue sample, to the user, or to the environment.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rapid, efficient, and high quality tissue processing method.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a tissue processing method that employs the benefits of ohmic heating.
It is further an object of the invention to use chemicals that provide superior processing attributes, are safer to handle, and are more environmentally friendly than current chemicals being used in tissue processing.

Rapid tissue processing method and apparatus