The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for inverse geometry volume computed tomography medical imaging of a human patient. A plurality of stationary x-ray sources for producing x-ray radiation are used. A rotating collimator located between the plurality of x-ray sources and the human patient is also used. A rotating detector can also be used.

Modern computed tomography (CT) scanners have the goal of covering a large volume of the patient in a single rotation at very fast rotation speeds. This objective is driven by demands of cardiac CT to cover the entire organ in less than a heartbeat. Impressive results have been achieved with the current generation of CT scanners. However, the downside of this development is the increased dose to the patient, the increase in scatter, and the degradation of image quality in the outer slices due to cone beam artifacts. In particular, the increased dose in medical imaging has come under scrutiny, with several published studies documenting the elevated risk of cancer resulting from the radiation involved in medical imaging.
The manufacturers of CT scanners are attempting to address dosage concerns with new developments. One common avenue being pursued is the use of photon counting detectors. Photon counting detectors have intrinsically higher detective quantum efficiency (DQE) than integrating detectors and have a bias towards lower photon energies. These qualities lead to increased image contrast, resulting in lower dose while maintaining image quality. Even more contrast enhancement and dose reduction can be achieved with the use of energy-resolving detectors. However, photon counting and energy resolving detectors are significantly more expensive than integrating detectors. This increased cost is particularly challenging for conventional CT scanners that rely on detectors with very large areas.
CT manufacturers are exploring a variety of other methods to reduce this dose while maintaining image quality. However, these improvements are expected to be minor compared to that which may be gained by an alternative CT system concept, inverse-geometry CT (IGCT). Conventional CT utilizes a single focal spot X-ray source and a large-area detector, whereas IGCT utilizes a large-area, multi-focal spot X-ray source and a small-area detector. IGCT offers higher dose efficiency and faster acquisition times than state-of-the-art conventional CT systems. Thus, IGCT has the potential to overcome disadvantages with conventional CT and significantly out-perform conventional CT scanners.
In conventional CT scanners, each projection is of the entire field of view and is obtained with a single focal-spot X-ray source and a large detector. By contrast, inverse geometry systems utilize a large-area scanned X-ray source and a field-of-view projection is composed of many narrower projections each acquired with a different detector location. The detector in an IGCT system is quite small compared to that in a conventional CT system. Thus, it is economically feasible to implement advanced yet more expensive detector technologies in IGCT. However, IGCT as currently realized in prototypes faces difficulties in implementation due to a large source array to be rotated at high speeds and significant challenges from high power and cooling requirements of the source.
What is needed is a CT imaging system capable of producing rapid high quality images. Furthermore, the CT imaging system should provide low radiation imaging.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Inverse geometry volume computed tomography systems


An edible matrix composition that has a chewable texture and that contains at least one encapsulated component is obtained by admixing at least one plasticizer, and a ground, free-flowing particulate mixture which comprises at least one fat, at least one starch, and at least one sugar which have been mixed and heated without substanitially gelatinizing the starch. A chewable texture is obtained rather than a hard, glassy matrix because the starch is substantially ungelatinized. However, a flavorful product is obtained without destroying a heat sensitive encapsulant because the starch is admixed with ingredients comprising fat or oil and sugar and the mixture is heated to develop flavor at high temperatures prior to admixing with the heat sensitive encapsulant. The encapsulated component may be at least one biologically active component, pharmaceutical component, nutraceutical component, or microorganism. In preferred embodiments, the free-flowing mixture is obtained by grinding cookies. The free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies and the plasticizer, such as oil and water are mixed with an encapsulant to obtain a formable dough or crumbly mass. The formable dough is shaped or formed into pieces or pellets and dried to a shelf-stable moisture content

The present invention relates to compositions, the use and the manufacturing of edible products, that contain encapsulated or embedded components, such as nutraceutical components, pharmaceuticals, biologically active components, and/or live microorganisms. The products according to this invention are intended to be consumed either directly as a food or they may be used as additions to food, such as topical applications or in beverages. They are not intended to undergo additional severe processing that might thermally or mechanically destroy the encapsulant. The products made according to this invention exhibit eating qualities, such as a chewable texture, as it occurs in for example streusel or chewable vitamin pills, and a cookie-like taste.
Encapsulation of food components is described in Encapsulation and Controlled Release of Food Ingredients, edited by S. J. Risch and G. A. Reineccius, ACS Symposium Series 590 (1995). U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,690 to Carr, et. al. describes a continuous extrusion process using starch-based material to encapsulate components. The resulting products are in the form of particulates, which have gelatinized starch as a continuous domain, in which discontinuous domains of biologically active core material is entrapped.
Encapsulation of heat sensitive components, for example nutraceutical components, such as for example microorganisms, into matrixes that are edible, is generally difficult for a number of reasons. First, conventional encapsulation processes which expose matrix material and encapsulants to high temperatures, causes thermal destruction or loss of encapsulant. Thus, either large overdoses of encapsulant, which would be very expensive, would be required, or the encapsulant would not sustain the encapsulation process at all. Second, if the encapsulant can be encapsulated into a matrix under sufficiently low temperatures, the resulting product is a solid, that is characterized as substantially hard and glass-like. The hardness and glassiness is caused by cooking a starch-based material with a sufficient amount of water to gelatinize the starch and subsequently separating the starch-based materials into discrete particles and drying them so that the water content of the starchy mass is sufficiently low. However, the temperature at which the particles are consumed, or the eating temperature, is generally lower than 50xc2x0 C., which is far below the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the cooked, dried starch. Therefore, products of this kind exhibit a dense and glassy, very hard texture, that may be very suitable to encapsulate components. However, when chewed they cause severe problems, because they are not chewable and exhibit a texture similar to that of uncooked rice or pasta. They can therefore be only swallowed as microtablets without chewing. They could also be used as dense pellets for a variety of processing applications, where a controlled release of the heat sensitive encapsulant is desired. The physical hardness of the products and their mechanical stability are advantageous for many processing applications. However, chewing or masticating of these products would be very unpleasant and their incorporation into other food products is not practical.
The present invention provides an edible product, that is chewable, has a pleasant taste and texture and contains encapsulated components, particularly nutraceutical, pharmaceutical or biologically active components. The chewable product can be used either as a food product itself, or as part of a food product, i.e. as an ingredient or as a topping, that may be applied to surfaces of food. A main physical characteristic of the product made according to the present invention is that the product is substantially less hard than foods products such as uncooked rice and raw pasta. The chewable, flavorful product can be eaten either alone as a food itself, or for example as medical food, as food having a pharmaceutical effect, as a dietary supplement, or in combination with other foods, such as a topping or in pasty foods or beverages.
The present invention provides a product that contains an encapsulated nutraceutical component, pharmaceutical component, biologically active component, or live microorganisms, or a combination thereof. In preferred embodiments, the product contains an encapsulated microorganism. The products of the present invention contain the one or more encapsulants in a pleasantly tasting and chewable surrounding matrix.
The matrix composition of the present invention comprises a plasticizer, such as oil and/or water, and a substantial amount of a free flowing mixture of at least one fat, one starch and one sugar, that are preprocessed, i.e. mixed and heat treated so as to substantially prevent gelatinization of starch and to provide a pleasantly tasting product. An example of the free flowing mixture is fine ground-up cookies having a particle size of 100% smaller than about 1 mm.
The mixture may contain additional components to enhance preprocessing or to improve sensory attributes, such as flavor, sodium chloride, nonfat dry milk, whey protein, high fructose corn syrup, dextrins, and leavening agents, as well as other components known to those skilled in the art of producing pleasantly tasting cookie type products.
The matrix may further comprise components that either facilitate processing, or mask the unpleasant taste of the encapsulants, or prevent exposure to oxygen or air, or which enhance the sensory attributes of the final product. These components include, for example, lipids, such as oils or fats, chocolate liquor, chocolate, cocoa powder, compound coatings, flavors, concentrated fruit juice, or particulates, such, as for example ground nuts or almonds. The water may be pH adjusted to obtain a good tasting product.
A chewable texture is obtained rather than a hard, glassy matrix because the starch is substantially ungelatinized. However, a flavorful product is obtained without destroying a heat sensitive encapsulant because the starch is admixed with ingredients comprising fat or oil and sugar and the mixture is heated to develop flavor at high temperatures prior to admixing with the heat sensitive encapsulant.
In accordance with the method of the present invention, a product containing a substantial amount of a free-flowing material in which the starch component is substantially ungelatinized may be obtained by grinding a baked product, such as cookies or cookie-type products, to obtain a free-flowing particulate mixture or flour. The reduced particle size facilitates the formation of a dough or crumbly mass upon mixing of the free-flowing mixture with a plasticizer such as water and/or oil. In embodiments of the invention, the particle size of a cookie-type product or cookies may be reduced to obtain a dry, free-flowing particulate mixture having a particle size of about 100% smaller that 1 mm.
Admixing of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground-up cookie flour, with at least one plasticizer such as water and/or oil and the encapsulant with the other components to obtain a dough or crumbly mass may be performed continuously using an extruder or continuous mixer. The dough or crumbly mass may be formed or pressed into discrete particles. Moisture may be removed from the particles to an amount sufficiently low so as to obtain a sufficient shelf life. The products made according to the invention exhibit a granular, crumbly structure having a pleasant taste and are chewable.
An edible, starch-based matrix composition that contains at least one encapsulated component and that is chewable, rather than hard and glassy is obtained from a ground pre-processed, free-flowing particulate mixture and at least one plasticizer without substantially gelatinizing the starch. The free-flowing mixture may be obtained by admixing and heating at least one fat, at least one starch, and at least one sugar without substantially gelatinizing the starch. The encapsulated component may be one or more biologically active components, pharmaceutical components, nutraceutical components, microorganisms, or mixtures thereof. In embodiments of the invention, the free-flowing mixture may be obtained by baking a mixture of said at least one fat, at least one starch, and at least one sugar without substantially gelatinizing said at least one starch to obtain a baked product and then grinding the baked product to obtain the free-flowing mixture. In preferred embodiments, the free-flowing mixture is at least substantially ground cookies or a flour obtained by grinding cookies.
A key requirement of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground-up cookie flour or ground-up cracker flour is that its starch component, which may originate from grain sources such as wheat, oats, barley, corn, rye, or other grains or potatoes or other roots, is substantially not gelatinized. Production of a free-flowing mixture without substantially gelatinizing starch can be accomplished in known manner by any one ordinarily skilled in the art of making cookies or cookie-type products. If the free-flowing mixture contained substantial amounts of gelatinized starches, the process would result in products that after drying exhibit substantial glassiness, hardness and thus a mechanical stability that is undesirable. The substantially gelatinized, glassy, hard products would not exhibit desirable sensory attributes.
If the matrix composition was made from a pasta flour, such as for example semolina, the mechanical characteristics of the final product would be similar to commonly known uncooked pasta and would be undesirably hard for direct consumption. Products made from soft wheat flour that has not been cooked or processed into a cookie-type product, would exhibit inferior taste and would be undesirable for direct consumption.
A cookie-type product for use in the present invention may be made by known conventional cookie production processes. As is well known, cookie production comprises admixing of at least fat and sugar, and adding flour to the premixed sugar/fat mix to obtain a cookie dough. Optionally, minor ingredients and water can be added to facilitate machining of the dough, and to obtain a typical texture and taste of the final cookie. The cookie dough is formed into individual pieces and baked under conventional baking conditions. The baking is generally performed above the gelatinization temperature of starch, but the starch is not substantially gelatinized because sufficient amounts of water are not accessible to the starch at the elevated temperatures. However, the baking helps to develop flavor, through Maillard reactions for example, and develops a leavened, crumb structure.
Conventional or commercially available cookie or other baked good formulations and ingredients may be used to produce the free-flowing mixtures employed in the present invention. Examples of cookies and cookie-like products which may be ground for use in the present invention are butter cookies, sugar cookies, graham crackers, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, sugar wafers, almond cookies, chocolate cookies, vanilla wafers, mixtures thereof, and the like.
Exemplary amounts of ingredients which may be used to obtain a free-flowing mixture are: from about 10% by weight to about 40% by weight fat, from about 20% by weight to about 40% by weight sugar, and from about 45% by weight to about 75% by weight flour, preferably wheat flour, based upon the total weight of the fat, sugar and flour in the free-flowing mixture.
Conventional minor and other conventional cookie ingredients, which may be included in the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies, are for example, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrins, corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, modified or unmodified starches, eggs, leavening agents such as sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate baking soda, and calcium phosphate, non-fat dry milk, full-fat dry milk, whey proteins, gluten, natural or artificial flavors, insoluble and soluble fibers, such as inulin, hydrocolloids, such as guar gum or gum arabic, dry eggs, salt, nutrients, and emulsifiers such as mono- and diglycerides.
In embodiments of the invention, ground cookies employed as a free-flowing mixture in the present invention may comprise from about 8% by weight to about 40% by weight shortening or fat, from about 15% by weight to about 40% by weight sugar, and from about 20% by weight to about 75% by weight flour, based upon the weight of the ground cookies.
In embodiments of the invention, after baking and cooling, a cookie product or a commercially available cookie may be ground up into a flour or powder or meal using a conventional mill or other grinding apparatus. The particle size distribution may preferably be similar to that of a flour. The ground flour has a preferred particle size of 100% smaller than 1 mm to form a continuous dough phase. In embodiments of the invention, the ground, particulate free-flowing mixture may have a particle size distribution of 100% less than 10 mm. However, with a much coarser particle size, (for example if the majority of the particles were 5 mm) the ground product would not yield a uniform dough and would produce a granular, nonhomogeneous phase. Much finer powders, for example 100% less than 50 micron would create processing difficulties, such as feeding problems, dusting, and caking to processing surfaces. In preferred embodiments at least a substantial portion of the ground, free-flowing particulate mixture has a particle size distribution of from about 50 microns to about 1 mm.
Another requirement of the free-flowing mixture such as ground cookies is that its starch component is substantially ungelatinized. This may be accomplished, during the process of cookie making for example, by mixing and/or coating the starch-containing components with fat before adding optional moisture. Another possibility is to entrap added moisture in fat and prevent moisture access to the starch in the flour. At least substantially ungelatinized starch in the final ground cookie or other free-flowing mixture tends to resist subsequent gelatinization when mixed with water. In embodiments of the invention the starch in the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies, and in the matrix compositions of the present invention has a degree of starch gelatinization of less than about 50%, preferably less than about 30%, preferably less than about 15%, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
The free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies is used in an effective encapsulating amount. In embodiments of the present invention, the free-flowing mixture content, such as the cookie or cracker flour content of the particles may be at least about 10% by weight, generally at least about 30% by weight, for example from about 60% by weight to about 95% by weight, based upon the weight of the edible, chewable matrix composition. The amount of free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies employed may depend upon the desired texture and the plasticizer employed. For example, if water is employed as the plasticizer, generally the free-flowing mixture content of the chewable matrix composition is higher, for example, at least about 40% by weight, because water is removed during drying to obtain a shelf stable product. If the plasticizer employed does not have to be removed to obtain a shelf-stable product, the free-flowing mixture content may be lower. For example, if the plasticizer is a fat which is at least substantially solid at room temperature, the free-flowing mixture content may be at least about 10% by weight, based upon the weight of the edible, chewable matrix composition.
Plasticizers employed in the present invention may be any edible or consumable liquid which enables the formation of a substantially homogeneous cohesive, plasticized, viscoelastic, formable mixture, dough or crumbly mass. Exemplary of plasticizers which may be used are water, an aqueous-based composition such as a sugar solution, juice, alcohol, glycerol, and sorbitol, oils, melted shortenings or fat, and mixtures thereof.
The amount of liquid plasticizer, such as water and/or oil, should generally be sufficient to obtain a formable mixture or dough at a sufficiently low temperature and under sufficiently low shear conditions so as to avoid substantial mechanical or thermal destruction of the free-flowing mixture or encapsulant. Exemplary total amounts of plasticizer, such as oil and/or water, used to form a dough or crumbly mass may range up to about 90% by weight, generally from about 10% by weight to about 70% by weight, for example from about 20% by weight to about 45% by weight, based upon the total weight of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies, and the added plasticizer used to form the dough or crumbly mass.
If water is employed as a plasticizer, it may generally be used in an amount of less than or equal to about 25% by weight, based upon the total weight of the free-flowing mixture and added water to obtain a formable, extrudable dough. Higher amounts are less desirable, because more drying may be needed to obtain a shelf-stable product. When an edible oil, shortening or fat is employed as a plasticizer, it may generally be used in an amount of up to about 90% by weight, preferably up to about 20% by weight, most preferably up to about 10% by weight, based upon the total weight of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies and the oil, shortening or fat.
Generally, higher amounts of the encapsulant component may be encapsulated in the matrix composition when an oil, shortening or fat is used as a plasticizer because generally higher amounts of oil may be employed compared to the amount of water which may be employed. Use of an oil or fat as a plasticizer in place of or in addition to water is advantageous because the oil or fat in addition to facilitating extrusion, also serves as a preencapsulation medium. The oil or fat provides a protective coating on the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies, and on the encapsulant. Also, the need for drying of the dough to obtain a shelf-stable moisture content is substantially reduced or eliminated when oil or fat is employed as a plasticizer. The addition of vegetable oil during mixing has been proven useful to obtain a smooth continuous dough phase and it facilitates forming of the dough into discrete particles.
Edible oils, shortenings or and fats which may be employed include those derived from plant, animal, and marine sources such as vegetable shortening or oils, which include corn oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and cotton seed oil, which may be hydrogenated, as well as edible fat substitutes. In embodiments of the invention, particularly where high levels of oil or fat are employed, the melting point of the oil, shortening or fat should be sufficiently high so as to avoid separation of oil during extrusion. For example, the melting point of the oil, shortening or fat may be at least about 30xc2x0 C., preferably at least about 37xc2x0 C., most preferably at least about 40xc2x0 C.
In embodiments of the invention, the formable mixture or dough may have a total plasticizer content, such as water and/or oil, of up to about 90% by weight, generally from about 10% by weight to about 50% by weight, for example about 15% by weight to about 25% by weight. The total plasticizer content may include water supplied by any liquid encapsulant component and additional plasticizer, such as added water, glycerol, sorbitol or a combination thereof or any other liquids, such as fruit juice, that enables the formation of a dough. When water or low melting point oils are employed at high levels, for example a moisture content well above 50%, a thin, low viscosity dough may result. The low viscosity dough may either not be formable or the drying efforts would be unnecessarily high. Substantially lower moisture contents, such as well below 5% may result in a dry product, which would be too fragile after forming and would fall apart. It may also generate frictional heat during extrusion forming which would be detrimental to the heat sensitive encapsulant. The water may be mixed with organic acids or fruit juice to adjust pH and to obtain a pleasant flavor in the final product.
In embodiments of the invention, where for example, removal of plasticizer is not needed to obtain a shelf-stable matrix composition, the plasticizer content of the edible, chewable matrix composition may be at least substantially the same as the plasticizer content of the formable mixture, dough or crumbly mass. For example, in embodiments of the invention when an oil, shortening or fat is employed as a plasticizer, the plasticizer content of the edible, chewable matrix composition may be up to about 90% by weight, for example from about 10% by weight to about 50% by weight, based upon the weight of the matrix composition.
The liquid plasticizer content of any liquid encapsulant component utilized may be at least about 35% by weight, generally at least about 50% by weight, for example from about 65% by weight to about 90% by weight, based upon the weight of the liquid encapsulant component.
For example, an aqueous dispersion of Lactobacillus acidophilus may have a moisture content of about 70% by weight and an encapsulant content (Lactobacillus acidophilus) of about 30% by weight. The 70% moisture content stemming from the acidophilus dispersion may be used as a plasticizer. The ratio of the free-flowing mixture to moisture stemming from the aqueous encapsulant liquid may be about 3:1 to enable the formation of a homogeneous dough. Vegetable oil may be added to delay penetration of water into the matrix and delay the release of the microorganism. The encapsulation of sensitive liquid components into a matrix to obtain discrete shelf-stable particles is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/233,443 filed Jan. 20, 1999 in the name of Bernhard H. van Lengerich for xe2x80x9cEncapsulation of Sensitive Liquid Components into a Matrix to Obtain Discrete Shelf-stable Particles,xe2x80x9d the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Edible, plasticizable matrix components which form a glassy matrix, such as gelatinized starches, and other ingredients may be included in the chewable, matrix compositions of the present invention provided they do not adversely affect the chewable texture of the matrix composition. Gelatinized starches may, for example, be included in an amount up to about 30% by weight of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies.
Examples of optional, edible, plasticizable matrix materials which are plasticizable at low temperatures by the plasticizer component may be a plasticizable biopolymer such as a carbohydrate, such as a starch or cyclodextrin, polyethylene glycol, pentosans, hydrocolloids such as carragenan, alginates, or gum arabic, wheat gluten, such as vital wheat gluten or isolated gluten, and mixtures thereof. Exemplary starches which may be used are native or modified starches or pregelatinized starches derived from corn, wheat, rice, potato, tapioca, or high amylose starch. Sources of starch which may be used also include flours from grains such as corn, wheat, durum wheat, rice, barley, oat, or rye, and mixtures thereof. In preferred embodiments, finely ground or powdered cookies or crackers, or ground cookie-like or cracker-like products are employed with substantially no additional, plasticizable, gelatinized matrix materials.
Additional matrix components which may be used include solid components which are substantially non-plasticizable at temperatures lower than the decomposition temperature of the heat sensitive encapsulant. Exemplary of such optional, substantially non-plasticizable matrix components are at least substantially non-gelatinized starch, carbohydrates which have a lower molecular weight than starches, fiber, or other inert materials, such as cellulose, or hemi-cellulose. The lower molecular weight matrix components tend to dissolve more readily than does starch and increase the penetrability or porosity of the matrix. As a result, access by the dissolution medium, such as water or acid, to the encapsulant is increased thereby permitting quicker release of the encapsulant from the matrix material. Examples of carbohydrates other than starch which may be used are sugars, such as mono- and di-saccharides, and starch hydrolyzate products such as dextrins or syrups with dextrose equivalent values (DE values) ranging from about 2 to about 99, or from about 5 to 98, and mixtures thereof
Additional ingredients which may be used to control the release properties of the final product may be a hydrophobic agent for slowing down the rate of release of the encapsulant. Exemplary of components which may be added to affect the hydrophobicity of the matrix composition include fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, emulsifiers, such as mono- or di-glycerides, modified starches from plant sources that possess hydrophobic properties that are obtained via either physical or chemical modification, and mixtures of hydrophobic components. Plant lipids or synthetic lipids with melting points up to about 65xc2x0 C. may, for example, be employed as a hydrophobic agent. The hydrophobic components increase the hydrophobicity of the matrix and help to prevent or delay penetration of water or gastric juice into the matrix by repelling water or aqueous acids, thereby delaying the release of the encapsulant into the surrounding media.
Additional components which may be used to delay or prevent a fast release of the encapsulant from the matrix are components or agents which have a high water binding capacity. The agents may have a water binding capacity or water holding capacity which is greater than the water binding capacity of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies. The high water binding capacity component may bind water which penetrates the particles, or prevent the water from dissolving the matrix, thereby preventing or delaying the release of the encapsulant from the matrix. Exemplary of high water binding capacity agents which may be used in the present invention are protein from animal sources such as gelatin, casein, and protein from sources such as wheat, soy, corn, or other grains, and hydrocolloids such as carrageenans, alginates, xanthan gum, gum arabic, guar flour or guar gum, agar, tragacanth, karaya, locust bean gum, pectin, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber and the like. Exemplary proteins from grains which may be used are gluten, vital wheat gluten, zein, and soy protein concentrate. The proteins from plant sources may also be used to increase the tolerable addition of lipids within the matrix composition and thereby indirectly increase the hydrophobicity of the matrix. The high water binding capacity components may be used alone or mixtures thereof may be employed.
Process compatible additional components to facilitate processing, or to improve sensory attributes such as the taste, texture, aroma, color, appearance, or hydration behavior of the final pellets which may be employed include: flavors, sodium chloride, nonfat dry milk, whey protein, high fructose corn syrup, leavening agents, lipids, such as oils or fats, chocolate liquor, chocolate, cocoa powder, compound coatings, concentrated fruit Juice, or particulates, such as ground nuts or almonds. The water may be pH adjusted to obtain a good tasting product. The addition of vegetable oil during mixing has been found useful to obtain a smooth continuous dough phase and it facilitates forming of the dough and cutting into discrete particles without sticking.
The additional components or ingredients, such as those used to control the rate of release of the encapsulant may be used in amounts up to about 70% by weight, preferably from about 5% by weight to about 50% by weight, most preferably from about 10% by weight to about 35% by weight, based upon the weight of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground-up cookies.
The encapsulant may be in solid or liquid form for inclusion in the matrix compositions and encapsulated products of the present invention. Active components which may be encapsulated or embedded in the matrixes in accordance with the present invention include pharmaceutical compositions or compounds, nutraceutical compositions or compounds, nutritional components, or biologically active components, flavorants, and fragrances.
The pharmaceutical compounds or compositions and biologically active compositions may, for example, include antibiotics, analgesics, vaccines, antiinflammatory agents, antidepressants, anti-viral agents, anti-tumor agents, enzyme inhibitors, formulations containing zidovudine, macromolecular polypeptides, aromatic nitro and nitroso compounds and their metabolites useful as anti-viral and anti-tumor agents, HIV protease inhibitors, viruses, and steroids, compositions to promote growth such as hormones, or other growth stimulating agents, mixtures thereof, and the like.
Nutraceutical components may include components which promote health or prevent disease or enhance well-being such as antioxidants, phytochemicals, hormones, vitamins such as Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, pantothenate, folic acid, pro-vitamins, minerals such as calcium, selenium, magnesium salts, available iron, and iron salts, microorganisms such as bacteria, such as live lactobacilli, fungi, and yeast, prebiotics, probiotics, trace elements, essential and/or highly unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 fatty acids, and mid-chain triglycerides, nutritional supplements, enzymes such as amylases, proteases, lipases, pectinases, cellulases, hemicellulases, pentosanases, and phytases, pigments, oligopeptides, dipeptides, and amino acids, and mixtures thereof.
Exemplary of the active components which may be encapsulated or embedded in accordance with the present invention are: acepromazine, acetaminophen, acetohexamide, acetohydroxamic acid, acetylcholine, acetylcysteine acyclovir, albendazole, alclometasone dipropionate, allopurinol, alprazolam, alprostadil, amcinoide, amantadine, amdinocillin, amikacin amiloride, aminocaproic acid, aminophylline, aminosalicylate, aminosalicylic acid, amitriptyline hydrochloride, ammonium chloride, amobarbital, amodiaquine hydrochloride, amoxapine, amoxicillin, amphetamine sulfate, amphotericin, ampicillin amprolium, acetazolamide acetyldigoxin, acetylsalicylic acid, anileridine, anthralin, antipyrine, antivenin, apomorphine, apraclonidine, ascorbic acid, aspirin, acromycin atropine, amoxycillin anipamil, azaperone azatadine maleate, azathioprine, azithromycin, aztreonam, bacampicillin, bacitracin, baclofen, barium salts, beclomethasone diproionate, belladonna extract, bendroflumethiazide, benoxinate hydrochloride, benzethonium chloride, benzocaine, benzonatate benzthiazide, benztropine mesylate, betaine, betamethasone, betaxolol, betanechol chloride, biotin, biperiden, bisacodyl, bismuth, botulism antitoxin, bromocriptine mesylate, bromodiphenhydramine hydrochloride, bumetanide, bupivacaine, busulfan butabarbital sodium, butalbital, combinations of butalbital, caffeine and aspirin and codeine, beta-carotene, calcifediol, calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium salts, candicidin, captopril, carbachol, carbamazepine, carbenicillin indanyl sodium, carbidopa, carbinoxamine maleate, carboprost tromethamine, carboxymethyl cellulose, carisoprodol, casanthranol, cascara, castor oil, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefamandole nafate, cefazolin, cefixime, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefprozil, ceftazidime, cefuroxime axetil, cephalexin, cephradine, chlorambucil, chloramphenicol, chlordiazepoxide, chloroquine phosphate, chlormadinone acetate, chlorothiazide, chlorpheniramine maleate, chloroxylenol, chlorpromazin, chlorpropamide, chlorprothixene, chlorprothixene, chlortetracycline bisulfate, chlortetracycline hydrochloride, chlorthalidone, chlorzoxazone, cholecalciferol, cholera vaccine, chromic chloride, chymotrypsin, cimetidine, cinoxazin, cinoxate, ciprofloxacin, cisplatin, clarithromycin, clavulanate potassium, clemastine fumarate, clidinium bromide, clindamycin hydrochloride, -palmitate and -phosphate, clioquinol, clofazimine, clofibrate, clomriphene citrate, clonazepam, cinnarizine, clonidine hydrochloride, clorsulon, clotrimazole, cloxacillin sodium, cyanocobalamin, cocaine, coccidioidin, cod liver oil, codeine, colchicine, colestipol, corticotropin, corisone acetate, cyclacillin, cyclizine hydrochloride, cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, cycloserine, cyclosporine, cyproheptadine hydrochloride, cysteine hydrochloride, danazol, dapsone, dehydrocholic acid, demeclocycline, desipramine, desoximetasone, desoxycorticosterone acetate, dexamethasone, dexchlorpheniramine maleate, dexpanthenol, dextroamphetamine, dextromethorphan, diazepam, diazoxide, dibucaine, dichlorphenamide, dicloxacillin sodium, dicyclomine, dienestrol, diethylpropion hydrochlorid, diethylstilbestrol, diflunisal, digitalis, dicoumarol, digitoxin, digoxin, dihydroergotamine, dihydrostreptomycin, dihydrotachysterol, dihydroxyaluminium amino acetate, dihydroxyaluminium sodium carbonate, diltiazem hydrochloride, dimenhydrinate, dimercaprol, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, diphenoxylate hydrochloride, diphteria antitoxin, dipyridamole, disopyramide phosphate, disulfiram, dobutamine hydrochloride, docusate calcium, docusate sodium, dopamine hydrochloride, doxepin hydrochloride, doxycycline, doxycycline hyclate, doxylamine cuccinate, dronabinol, droperidol, drotaverine, dydrogesterone, dyphylline, guaifenesin, enalapril maleate, analaprilat, ephedrine, epinephrine, equilin, ergocalciferol, ergoloid mesylates, ergonovine maleate, ergotamine tartrate, erythrityl tetranitrate, erythromycin, estradiol, estriol, estrogene, estrone, estropipate, ethcrynic acid, ethambutol hydrochloride, ethchlorvynol, ethinyl estradiol, ethionamide, ethopropazine hydrochloride, ethotoin, ethynodiol diacetate, etidronate disodium, etoposide, eugenol, famotidine, fenoprofen, ferrous fumatate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate, flucytosine, fludrocortisone acetate, flunisolide, fluocinolone acetonide, fluocinonide, fluorescein sodium, fluorometolone, fluorouracil, fluoxymesterone, fluphenazine, flurandrenolide, flurazpam, flurbiprofen, folic acid, furazolidone, flunitrazepam, furosemide, gemfibrozil, gentamicin, gentian violet, glutarate, glutethimide, glycopyrrolate, chorionic gonadotropin, gramicidin, griseofulvin, guaifenesin, guanabenz, guanadrelsulfate, halazone, haloperidol, haloprogin, halothane, heparin calcium, hepatitis virus vaccine, hetacillin potassium, hexylresorcinol, histamine phosphate, histidine, homatropine, histoplasmin, hydralazine hydrochloride, hydrochlorothiazide, hydrocodone bitartrate, hydrocortisone, hexobarbital, hydroflumethiazide, hydromorphone hydrochloride, hydroquinone, hydroxocobalamin, hydroxyamphetamine, hydroxychloroquine sulfate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, hydroxyurea, hydroxine hydrochloride, hydroxine pamoate, hyoscyamine, hyoscyamine sulfate, ibuprofen, ifosfamide, imipramide, imipramide hydrochloride, indapamide, indomethacin, insulin, inulin, iocetamid, iodoquinol, iohexol, iopamidol, ipecac, ipodate calcium, ipodate sodium, isocarboxacid, isoetharine hydrochloride, isoflurane, isoniacid, isopropamide iodine, isoproterenol hydrochloride, isosorbide dinitrate, isotretenoin, isoxsuprine hydrochloride, kanamycin sulfate, ketoprofen, ketoconazole, labetalol hydrochloride, lanolin, leucine, leucovorin calcium, levamisole hydrochloride, levocarnithine, levodopa, levonorgestrel, levorphanol tartrate, levothyroxine sodium, lidocaine, lincomycin hydrochloride, lindane, liothyronine sodium, liotrix, lisinopril, lithium carbonate, loperamide hydrochloride, loracarbef, lonetil, lorazepam, lovastatin, loxapine, lysine, mafenide acetate, magaldrte, magnesium carbonate, magnesiumchloride, magnesium gluconate, magnesium oxide, other magnesium salts, malathinon, manganese salts, manganese, maprotiline hydrochloride, mazindol, measle virus vaccine, mebendazole, mebrofenin, mecamylamine hydrochloride, meclizine hydrochloride, meclocycline, meclofenamate sodium, medroxyprogesterone acetate, mefenamic acid, megestrol acetate, meglumine, melphalan, menadiol sodium diphosphate, menadione, menotropine, meperidine, mephenytoin, mephobarbital, meprednisone, meprobamate, mercaptopurine, mesoridazine besylate, mestranol, metaproterenol sulfate, metaraminol bitartrate, methacycline hydrochloride, methadone hydrochloride, methamphetamine hydrochloride, methazolamide, methdilazine, methenamine, methicillin sodium, methimazole, methionine, methocarbamol, methotrexate, methoxsalen, methoxyflurane, methsuximide, methyclothiazide, methylbenzethonium chloride, methyldopa, methylergonovine maleate, methylphenidate hydrochloride, methylprednisolone, methyltestosterone, methysergide maleate, metoclopramide, metolazone, meoprolol tartrate, metronidazole, metyrapone, metyrosine, mexiletine hydrochloride, mexiletine hydrochloride, miconazole, minocycline hydrochloride, minoxidil, mitomycin, mitotane, molindone hydrochloride, monobenzone, morphine sulfate, mupirocin, medazepam, mefruside, methandrostenolone, methylsulfadiazine, nadolol, nafcillin, nafcillin sodium, nalidixic acid, nalorphine, naloxone, nandrolone decanoate, nandrolone phenpropionate, naproxen, natamycin, neomycin, neomycin sulfate, neostimine bromide, niacin, nitrofurantoin, nalidixic acid, nifedipine, nitrazepam, nitrofurantoin, nitroglycerine, nitromerson, nizatidine, nonoxynol 9, norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, norfloxacin, norgestrel, nortriptyline hydrochloride, noscapine, novobiocin sodium, nystatin, opium, oxacillin sodium, oxamniquine, oxandrolone, oxazepam, oxprenolol hydrochloride, oxtriphylline, oxybenzone, oxybutynin chloride, oxycodone hydrochloride, oxycodone, oxymetazoline hydrochloride, oxymetholone, oxymorphone hydrochloride, oxyphenbutazone, oxytetracycline, padimate, panreatin, pancrelipase, papain, panthenol, papaverin hydrochloride, parachlorophenol, paramethasone acetate, paregoric, paromomycin sulfate, penicillamine, penicillin, penicillin derivatives, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, pentazocine, pentazocine hydrochloride, pentazocine salts, pentobarbital sodium, perphenazine, pertussis, phenacemide, phenazopyridine hydrochloride, phendimetrazine tartrate, phenelzine sulfate, phenmetrazine hydrochloride, phenobarbital, phenophtalein, phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride, phentermine hydrochloride, phenylalanine, phenylbutazone, phenylephrine hydrochloride, phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride, physostigmine, phytonadione, pilocarpine, pimozide, pindolol, piperazine, piroxicam plicamycin, poliovirus vaccine inactivated, polycarbophil, polymycin b sulfate, polythiazide, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium cluconate, potassium iodine, potassium sodium tartrate, povidone iodine, pralidoxime chloride, pramoxine hydrochloride, pramezam, prazepam, praziquantel, prazosin hydrochloride, prazosin hydrochloride, prednisolone, prilocaine, primaquine, primidone, probenecid, probucol, procainamide hydrochiorid, procaine hydrochloride, procarbacine hydrochloride, prochlorperazine, prochlorperazine maleate, procyclidine hydrochloride, progesterone, proline, promazine, promazine hydrochloride, promazine, promethazine, promethazine hydrochloride, propafenone hydrochloride, propantheline, proparacaine hydrochloride, propoxycaine hydrochloride, propoxyphene hydrochloride, propoxyphene napsylate, propanolol hydrochloride, propyliodone, propylthiouracil, propylthiouracil, protriptyline hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, pumice, pyrantel pamoate, pyrazinamide, pyrethrum extract, pyridostigmine bromide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyrilamine maleate, pyrimethamnine, pyroxylin, pyrvinium pamoate, phenacetin, phenytoin, prednisone, uinidine gluconate, quinidine sulfate, rabies vaccine, racepinephrine ranitidine, rauwolfia serpentina, resorcinol, ribavirin, riboflavin, rifampin, ritodrine, rubella virus vaccine, saccharin, saccharin sodium, salicylamide, salicylic acid, salsalata, scopolamine, secobarbital sodium, selenius acid, selenium sulfate, sennasenrne, simethicone, sodium ascorbate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium fluoride, sodium gluconate, sodium iodide, sodium lactate, sodium nitrite, sodium ditroprusside, sodium salicylate, spironolactone, stannozolol, streptomycin, sucralfate, sulfacetamide, sulfadiazine, reserpine, sulfadioxine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, sulfamethizole, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethoxydiazine, sulfapyridin, sulfasalazine, sulfaperin, sulfathiazole, sulfisoxazole, sulfinpyrazone, sulindac, suprofen, stilains, tamoxifen citrate, temacepam, terbutaline sulfate, terfenadine, terpin, testolacton, testosterone, tolazamide, tolbutamide, tetracaine, tetracycline, tetrahydrocycline, theophylline, thiabendazole, thiamine hydrochloride, thiamin, thiamylal, thiethylperazine thimerosal, thioguanine, thioridazine hydrochloride, thistrepton, thiotepa, thiothixene, threonine, thyroid, ticarcillin, timolol, tioconazole, titaniumdioxide, tolazamide, tolbutamide, tolmetin, tolnaftate, trazodone hydrochloride, tretinoin, triacetin, triamcinolone, triamterene, triazolam, trichorfon, trichlormethiazide, trientine hydrochloride, trifluoperazine hydrochloride, triflupromazine, trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride, trimeprazine tartrate, trimethadione, trimethobenzamide hydrochloride, trimethoprim, trioxsalen, tripelennamine, triprolidine, trisulfapyrimidine, tropicamide, trypsin, tryptohan, tuberculin, tyloxapol, tyropanoate sodium, tyrosine, tyrothricin, thyrothricin bethamethasone, thiotic acid, sotalol, salbutamol, norfenefiine, silymarin, dihydroergotamine, buflomedil, etofibrate, indometacin, urea, valine, valproic acid, vancomycin hydrochloride, vasopressin, verapramil, vidarabine, vinblastine, vincristine, vitamins, warfarin, yellow fever vaccine, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc chloride, zinc gluconate, beta acetyl digoxin, piroxicam, haloperidol, ISMN, amitriptylin, diclofenac, nifedipine, verapamil, pyritinol, nitrendipin, doxycycline, bromhexine, methylprdnisolone, clonidine, fenofibrate, allopurinol, pirenyepine, levothyroxin, tamoxifen, metildigoxin, o-(beta-hydroxyethyl)rutoside, propicillin, aciclovir mononitrate, paracetamol, naftidrofuryl, pentoxiflline, propafenone, acebutolol, L-thyroxin, tramadol, bromocriptine, loperamide, ketotifen, fenoterol, cadobelisate, propanolol, enalaprilhydrogen maleate, bezafebrate, ISDN, gallopamil, xantinol nicotinate, digitoxin, flunitrazepam, bencyclane, dexapanthenol, pindolol, lorazepam, diltiazem, piracetam, phenoxymethylpenicillin, furosemide, bromazepam, flunarizin, erythromycin, metoclopramide, acemetacin, ranitidin, biperiden, metamizole, doxepin, dipotassium chloroazepate, tetrazepam, estramustine phosphate, terbutaline, captopril, maprotiline, prazosin, atenolol, glibenclamide, cefaclor, etilfrine, cimetidine, theophylline, hydromorphone, ibuprofen, pnimidone, clobazam, oxaceprol, medroxyprogesterone, flecainid, pyridoxal 5 phosphate glutaminate, hymechromone, etofylline clofibrate, vincamine, cinnarizine, diazepam, ketoprofen, flupentixol, molsimine, glibornuride, dimetinden, melperone, soquinolol, dihydrocodeine, clomethiazole, clemastine, glisoxepide, kallidinogenase, oxyfedrine, baclofen, carboxymethylcysteine, thioridazine, betahistine, L-tryptophan, murtol, bromelaine, prenylamine, salazosulfapyridine, astemizol, sulpiride, benzerazide, dibenzepine, acetylsalicylic acid, miconazol, nystatin, ketoconazole, sodium picosulfate, coltyramine, gemfibrocil, rifampicin, fluocortolone, mexiletin, amoxicillin, terfenadrin, mucopolysaccharide polysulfade, triazolam, mianserin, tiaprofenic acid, amezinium metilsulfate, mefloquine, probucol, quinidine, carbamazepine, L-aspartate, penbutolol, piretanide, aescin amitriptyline, cyproterone, sodium valproinate, mebeverine, bisacodyl, 5-aminosalicylic acid, dihydralazine, magaldrate, phenprocoumon, amantadine, naproxen, carteolol, famotidine, methyldopa, auranofine, estriol, nadolol, levomepromazine, doxorubicin, medofenoxate, azathioprine, flutamide, norfloxacin, fendiline, prajmalium bitartrate, lipid derivatives of phosphonatides, amphiphilic polymers, adenosine derivatives, sulfated tannins, monoclonal antibodies, and metal complexes of water soluble texathyrin.
The amount of the active component or encapsulant which is incorporated into the products of the present invention may be such so as to provide or deliver an effective amount, such as a pharmaceutically effective amount or a nutraceutically effective amount of the active component at its intended location, such as the small intestine. Exemplary amounts of the active component or encapsulant which may be encapsulated or embedded into the matrix may be from about 1% by weight to about 85% by weight, preferably from about 3% by weight to about 50% by weight, most preferably from about 5% by weight to about 30% by weight, based upon the weight of the free-flowing mixture, such as ground cookies. In embodiments of the invention, the amount of the active component or encapsulant may be up to about 80% by weight, preferably up to about 50% by weight, most preferably up to about 20% by weight of the plasticizer, such as oil.
In embodiments of the invention, the encapsulants and/or the edible, chewable matrix composition may be coated to provide additional protection against oxygen, to provide mechanical stability against abrasion, or to control release of the encapsulant without negatively influencing the chewable texture of the matrix composition. Film-building or film-forming substances which may be used to coat encapsulants prior to admixing with the free-flowing mixture and prior to incorporation into the matrix include commonly used coating materials. Exemplary of coating materials which may be employed are zein, pectin, shellac, gelatin, gluten, fats, oils, waxes, emulsifiers, native or modified starch, chitosan, chitin, and mixtures thereof These film-building or film-forming substances may also be used to coat the extruded, particulate chewable product. Pretreatment of the encapsulant by coating it with a film forming substance such as a high melting fat or wax, or with an emulsifier such as glycerin monostearate, or the like, tends to prevent unwanted interaction between an encapsulant and the matrix. The encapsulants and the extrudate particles may be coated with film-forming amounts of the substances in aqueous or alcoholic solutions, or oleaginous compositions. The encapsulants may be pre-encapsulated or pre-coated using any conventional encapsulation or coating method which does not thermally destroy the encapsulant.
In embodiments of the invention pellets may be coated in a two step coating process. After discrete particles have been cut at an extrusion die, the substantially undried pellets may be coated with a first component of a composite coat, such as an acetic-acid-chitosan-solution. After this step a second coat may be applied using a gel forming counter ion, such as a polyphosphate solution, that causes the chitosan to gel and form a chitin coat. The second ion may also be provided by a pectin and the resulting composite coat may then be a pectin-chitin coacervate.
The film-forming substances or coatings may also contain additional components that protect the particulates or pellets, or encapsulant, from the influence of light, such as titanium dioxide, or cocoa-based products. The coatings may also contain anti-oxidants to protect the pellets or encapsulants from the influence of oxygen or air.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the coating upon the encapsulant may be used to control the rate of release of encapsulant once the dissolving media, such as water, reaches the encapsulant. For example, increasing the thickness of the coating on the encapsulant slows its rate of release into the media. Also, increasing the thickness of the coating on the extrudate or pellet delays release of the encapsulant from the matrix material. In embodiments of the invention, the amount of coating may range from about 0.5% to about 50% by weight, based on weight of the total product, depending upon the desired release of the encapsulant.
In accordance with the method of the present invention, all of the ingredients may be admixed together at a temperature of about 5xc2x0 C. to about 50xc2x0 C., for example about 30xc2x0 C. to obtain a formable mixture or dough. Mixing or dough temperatures substantially higher than about 50xc2x0 C. are undesirable, because any fat or oil in the formula tends to separate, or the heat sensitive substances to be encapsulated and embedded would be destroyed. Temperatures much lower than room temperatures, such as for example 0xc2x0 C. are for most purposes impractical but may be employed in special applications. In embodiments of the invention, the temperature may be adjusted by external heating, below 50xc2x0 C. so as to facilitate forming and enable cutting without the material sticking to the cutter.
In embodiments of the present invention, external heating of the ingredients during their admixture is not required. For example, where ground cookies is used as the free-flowing matrix material, heating of the ground cookies and water to cook or gelatinize the starch is not needed to obtain a formable dough which when dried to a shelf-stable moisture content provides a chewable texture.
The admixing of the ingredients is conducted under low shear mixing conditions without substantially destroying or decomposing the matrix material or encapsulant. An overall quantitative measure of the shear used inside an extruder, for example, is the specific mechanical energy input. In embodiments of the present invention, the specific mechanical input during admixing of the ingredients to obtain a formable mixture or dough may be below about 150 Wh/kg, preferably below about 100 Wh/kg, and most preferably below about 50 Wh/kg.
In embodiments of the invention, the pressure under which the formable mixture or dough may be formed may range from about 1 bar to about 100 bars. It is preferably formed into individual shapes at pressures of about 5 bars to about 60 bars.
The optional one or more additional ingredient or component, such as the hydrophobic component, or high water binding capacity component for controlling the release properties of the final product, may be dry blended or preblended with the free-flowing matrix material such as ground cookies. In other embodiments of the invention, the additional component for controlling the release properties may be added separately.
The encapsulant may be added either during the dough mixing process or it may be added into the dough after it is produced. After addition and admixing of the encapsulant, the dough may be compressed and shaped into discrete shapes.
In embodiments of the invention, a dough comprising all ingredients may be made using conventional batch or continuous mixers. Subsequently, the dough, which may be a crumbly dough may be fed into a single screw extruder. The single screw extruder presses the dough against a die plate and plasticizes the crumbs into a continuous dough phase which may then be pressed through an extrusion die and subsequently cut into individual particulates.
In other embodiments of the invention, the dough can be made continuously and using a continuous mixer or extruder alone. Twin screw extruders or co-rotating twin screw mixers may be advantageously used which enable the steps of continuously mixing the dough and subsequently extruding the dough through an extrusion die plate. Co-rotating intermeshing twin screw extruders, such as those available from Buhler, Switzerland, Clextral France, Werner and Pfleiderer Germany, APV England or Wenger USA, or a Co-Kneader, available from Buss, Switzerland may be employed.
For feeding solid components to an extruder, conventional solids feeding devices such as a volumetric or gravimetric feeder may be used. Liquid injection nozzles may be used for injecting liquid active components or solutions, dispersions, emulsions or suspensions. In embodiments of the invention, a side feeder and liquid injection nozzles may be employed. If an injection nozzle is used, the pressure for injecting the liquid encapsulant should be sufficiently higher than the pressure in the extruder so that the encapsulant can be injected into the extruder barrel. For example, if the pressure of the plasticized mass inside the extruder is 10 bars, the injection pressure may be about 2 to about 5 bars higher, i.e. 12 to 15 bars.
In embodiments where an encapsulant is pre-coated with a film-building material or coating material, the coating material may be applied in conventional manner such as by spraying or enrobing using conventional coating equipment. Commercially available pre-coated active ingredients, such as precoated minerals or vitamins may be employed.
The admixing of the added active ingredients or encapsulants inside the extruder may be accomplished by using an appropriate extrusion screw configuration for achieving low shear mixing. For example, a combination of alternating small pitch conveying elements with distributive mixing elements, that are staggered at an angle to each other for providing axially oriented leakage flow inside the extruder barrel may be employed. The combination of alternating conveying elements with distributive mixing elements cause the material flow to be continuously interrupted without shearing of the mass thus resulting in mixing of the material at low mechanical energy input.
In other embodiments of the invention, other extruder screw configurations may be used that facilitate low shear distributive mixing, such as screw elements of the type ZME, TME, SME, and so-called IGEL elements commercially available from Werner and Pfleiderer.
The total length of the distributive mixing section may be about 3 to 12 l/d, preferably about 4 to 6 l/d to sufficiently admix and distribute and embed or encapsulate the added active components in the matrix.
The at least substantially homogeneous mixture of matrix material and added active ingredient or encapsulant may then be conveyed towards an extruder die plate. The conveying may be achieved by the use of low pitch extruder screw conveying elements which build up sufficient pressure prior to extruding the mix so that it can be forced through the apertures in the die plate. Another function of the low pitch elements is that they increase the degree of fill inside the last extruder barrel section. The increased degree of fill enables control of the temperature profile of the mix inside the extruder barrel for achieving optimum viscosity adjustment and extrusion through the subsequent die openings.
The dough or crumbly mass or mix may be extruded or pressed through extrusion dies having aperture diameters of from about 0.3 mm to about 5 mm, preferably from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm, for example from about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm. The diameter of the extrudate rope and product may be larger than the diameter of the die apertures due to deformation or swelling as the composition exits the die. The increase in diameter upon exiting the die may occur without substantial development of an expanded, puffed, foamy, or cellular structure. The extruded rope may have a cross-sectional diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 7 mm, preferably from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, most preferably from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm.
The extrudate rope may be cut at the die face using a rotating cutter, pelletizer, or rotating knives. In other embodiments, the extrudate rope may be cut away from the die using conventional cutting or forming means for producing pellets or tablets. The cut pieces, pellets, or tablets, may have a length:diameter ratio (l/d ratio) of about 0.5 to 10, preferably about 1.
In accordance with the process of the present invention, the particle size may be varied to control the surface to volume ratio of the pellets or pieces for achieving a desired controlled release of the encapsulant. The particle size may be varied, for example, by the use of different diameters for the extrusion die openings. Particle size may also be varied by the use of a variable speed cutter either at the die plate at the end of the extruder or away from the extruder after the ropes have been conveyed for a short distance. By varying the speed of the cutter, the size of the cut pieces may be varied for a given extruder throughput. The use of a variable cutter which is spaced a short distance from the die plate, for example, between about 0.5 meters to about 5 meters permits further surface cooling, further surface drying, and reduced stickiness to provide better cutting of the ropes into pellets.
In producing products for human or animal consumption, variation of particle size to control the surface to volume ratio of the pellets is critical for achieving a controlled release of the encapsulant during passage of the pellets or particles through the mouth, the stomach, and the intestine. Variation of particle size is also critical for controlling the residence time of the pellets inside the stomach. For example, particles smaller than 1 mm pass through the stomach or intestine faster than would particles larger than for example 2.5 mm.
After cutting, the resulting pieces or pellets may be dried to a sufficiently low moisture content which assures a sufficiently prolonged storage stability or shelf life. For example, the pellets may be dried to achieve a storage stability or shelf life of at least about six months, preferably at least about twelve months, most preferably at least about thirty-six months. In embodiments of the present invention, the drying may be performed using conventional drying equipment using drying temperatures which do not adversely affect the thermal stability of the encapsulants. Exemplary drying temperatures may range from about 10xc2x0 C. to about 50xc2x0 C., for example about 30xc2x0 C. The drying may be conducted to achieve a moisture content of less than about 30% by weight, preferably less than about 12% by weight, most preferably less than about 10% by weight, for example less than about 8% by weight.
The product may be dried using a conventional fluidized bed or other conventional drying means. The product may be optionally coated after drying using conventional coating equipment such as coating pans, coating drums, or spray devices.
In embodiments where film-building substances or coatings are applied to the particles or pellets, conventional spray nozzles may be located close to the die for spraying an aqueous or alcoholic solution of the film-building substances onto the cut pieces as they fall downwardly from the extruder die. In other embodiments, the film-building substances may be applied after drying of the pellets. For example, the film-building substances may be applied using spray nozzles, conventionally known fluid bed coating apparatus, or other conventional coating apparatus and methods. If the application of the film-building substances increases the moisture content above a shelf stable level, the water or other volatile media may be removed from the surface of the particles by additional drying.
In embodiments of the present invention, the extruded pieces or pellets may be compressed in conventional tablet presses to obtain compressed versions of the extruded pellets.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the mixture may be extruded or formed into bars or into a rope which may be cut into food bar-sized pieces. The mixture may also be extruded through a sheeting die into a sheet. The extruded sheet may then be cut or molded into individual pieces, such as bars, snack-sized pieces, tablets, or disks, using a rotary die or rotary cutter, or reciprocating cutter or counterrotating drums conventionally known as agglomeration drums or tableting drums.
The products of the present invention may possess a chewable texture, like that of streusel or chewable vitamin pills with a cookie-like taste. They may comprise food bar or snack-sized pieces, or they may comprise discrete particles which may be spherical, lens-shaped, or flat discs having diameters of from about 0.5 mm to about 7 mm, preferably from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, most preferably from about 1 mm to about 3 mm, exclusive of any optional exterior film-building substances or coatings. In embodiments of the invention, the particles of the invention may be in the form of tablets with diameters of up to about 10 mm. The length-to-diameter ratio (l/d) of the particles may be from about 0.1 to about 10, for example about 0.5 to about 2, preferably about 1. The particles are generally uniform in size, non-glassy, and granular to increase palatability to humans and animals in a substantially compact form that is easy to swallow with or without chewing. The products of the invention are non-expanded, generally not leavenable, and exhibit a non-puffed, substantially non-cellular, non-glassy structure. The starch component of the matrices may be substantially ungelatinized, and not substantially destructurized or dextrinized. Exemplary specific densities of the products of the present invention are between about 800 g/liter and about 1500 g/liter (about 0.8 to about 1.5 g/cm3).
The encapsulated products of the present invention may be incorporated with or without grinding into foods intended for human or animal consumption such as baked goods, for example, bread, wafers, cookies, crackers, pretzels, pizza, and rolls, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, hot cereals, pasta products, snacks such as fruit snacks, salty snacks, grain snacks, and microwave popcorn, dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese, and ice cream, sweet goods such as hard candy, soft candy, and chocolate, beverages, animal feed, pet foods such as dog food and cat food, aqua-culture foods such as fish food and shrimp feed, and special purpose foods such as baby food, infant formulas, hospital food, medical food, sports food, performance food or nutritional bars, or fortified foods, food preblends or mixes for home or food service use, such as preblends for soups or gravy, dessert mixes, dinner mixes, baking mixes such as bread mixes, and cake mixes, and baking flour.
In preferred embodiments, the active encapsulant is either a live microorganism, enzyme, micronutrient, trace element, nutraceutical component, biologically active material or a combination thereof The encapsulated product may be redispersed as a liquid, or as a solid for human food, animal feed, or pharmaceutical purposes. The products of the present invention may be used as or incorporated into foods for special purposes, such as performance foods, mood foods, medical foods, nutritional snacks or supplements, sport foods such as power bars, baby foods, toddler foods, infant foods, or foods for pharmaceutical purposes or other dietetic purposes. The discrete particulates or granules of the present invention may be used as a topping for breakfast cereals, snacks, soups, salad, cakes, cookies, crackers, puddings, desserts or ice cream. They may also be used as a granular ingredient for yogurts, desserts, puddings, custards, ice cream or other pasty or creamy foods. Regularly sized pieces may be individually packaged or used as nutritional snacks or, for example added to or formed into nutritional food in bar form.

Encapsulation of components into edible products


A plurality of unit areas (bit) B are set on a base board. A liquid drop made of a liquid member is ejected to the unit area B from a liquid drop ejecting head so as to form a layer on the base board. A first pattern is formed by a first nozzle group Na in nozzles N which are formed in the liquid drop ejecting head. A second pattern is formed by a second nozzle group Nb which is different from the first nozzle group Na. By doing this, it is possible to maintain a stable ejection operation so as to form a pattern in preferable accuracy when patterns having different features are formed on the base board by using the liquid drop ejecting apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a layer forming method which uses a liquid drop ejecting device and a layer forming apparatus, device and manufacturing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a photo-lithography method has been commonly used for manufacturing a fine wiring pattern for a semiconductor-integrated-circuit. Recently, methods using a liquid drop ejecting method are disclosed. According to such a method, a liquid member which contains a pattern forming member is ejected to a base board from a liquid drop ejecting head; thus a wiring pattern is formed by disposing the pattern forming member on a pattern forming surface. It is understood that such technique is quite effective for multi-product production in a small volume (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. Hei 11-274671 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2000-216330 for reference).
Here, when a wiring pattern is formed on a device, there is a case in which, for example, a linear line pattern and an inclining line pattern which is diagonal to the linear line pattern exist together, or a wiring pattern has different line widths co-existing. However, when these different wiring patterns are formed by a liquid drop ejecting apparatus under a common ejection conditions, there have sometimes been cases in which a required accuracy cannot be obtained in the formed pattern.
For example, when a wiring pattern in which a liner line pattern and an inclining line pattern exist together is formed under common ejection conditions in which liquid drops having a common size are ejected, it occurs that intervals of the ejected liquid drops do not continue, particularly in an inclining line pattern; therefore, the obtained wiring pattern may have a conductivity defect. Thus, there is a concern that device quality may be degraded.

Layer forming method, layer forming apparatus, device, manufacturing method for device, and electronic apparatus


A support comprises a device mount adapted to be connected to a user device such as a monitor. The device mount is supported on a first pivot for rotational motion about a first axis of rotation. A slide assembly comprises a carriage where the carriage is mounted for translational movement and supports the first pivot such that the first axis of rotation may be moved transversely. The support may be mounted on a technology cart comprising an upright supported on wheels where the upright supports a movable work platform. The support may be located in front of and closely adjacent to the upright where the movement of the pivot allows the user device to be rotated without interference from the upright.

Supports for devices such as monitors, televisions, other information technology (IT) equipment or other similar devices are known and may comprise articulating arms. Technology carts that may typically comprise a rolling cart that includes IT technology such as a computer, CPU, monitor, keyboard, or other equipment or devices are also known. Technology carts are often found in healthcare environments such as hospitals where they may be moved between patient areas for use by a healthcare professional. Supports may be used to support a monitor on a technology cart and in environments and configurations other than technology carts such as wall mounted supports, cabinet mounted supports, table top supports or the like.


The invention features methods for evaluating the conformation of a polymer, for example, for determining the conformational distribution of a plurality of polymers and to detect binding or denaturation events. The methods employ a nanopore which the polymer, e.g., a nucleic acid, traverses. As the polymer traverses the nanopore, measurements of transport properties of the nanopore yield data on the conformation of the polymer.

The invention relates to the field polymer characterization.
Probing, characterizing, and manipulating single polymers like DNA is often accomplished with the aid of optical methods, e.g., observing evanescent field fluorescence of dye molecules, deflecting light beams in atomic force microscopes, or trapping attached dielectric objects with optical tweezers. There has also been remarkable progress at the molecular level in the study of the electrical ionic conduction signals from voltage biased nanoscale biopores. More recently, a voltage bias on an alpha hemolysin biopore has been shown to induce charged single-stranded DNA and RNA molecules to translocate through the pore. Each translocating molecule blocks the open pore ionic current providing an electrical signal that depends on several characteristics of the molecule. This system has limits for studies of biological molecules: the pore is of a fixed size, and its stability and noise characteristics are restricted by chemical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal constraints.
Thus, there is a need for new apparatus and methods for studying polymer molecules.

Study of polymer molecules and conformations with a nanopore

President and Fellows of Harvard College


A pruning device is provided which includes an elongate support member having distal and proximal ends. A cutting mechanism is pivotably mounted on the distal end of the support member and includes a cutting member. An actuating mechanism including a motor and a drive member is provided for actuating the cutting member. The device further includes structure for mounting the actuating mechanism on the support member near the proximal end thereof and structure for coupling the drive member to the cutting member whereby rotational movement of the actuating mechanism pivots the cutting member from an inoperative position to an operative position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to tree pruning devices and, in particular, to tree pruning devices which are operated at ground level to cut individual, overhead tree or shrub limbs.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional tree pruning devices include a pole having a cutting member disposed at a distal end thereof. The cutting member includes a hook, having a counter cutting surface, which is positioned over the individual limb to be cut. A cutting blade is pivotably mounted with respect to the hook. The cutting blade is coupled to a rope through a series of pulleys. The rope extends the length of the pole so as to be grasped at ground level. Once the hook is placed over the limb, the rope is pulled downwardly, causing the cutting blade to pivot upwardly and cut the limb. The downward force exerted on the rope is amplified at cutting the blade by the effect of the pulleys. The larger the diameter of the tree limb(s) to be cut, the larger the manual pulling force on the rope required to sever the tree limb(s).
Thus, conventional pruning devices can require significant physical strength to operate. Further, physical endurance is also required if many tree limbs are to be pruned in a short period of time.
Devices have been developed to reduce the physical effort required to prune tree limbs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,612 discloses an electric tree pruning saw having a motor at one end of a pole. Rotation of the motor is converted to rectilinear motion of a saw blade for sawing the limb. Although this device works well in cutting large tree limbs, it may not be effective in sawing smaller diameter limbs. Indeed, small diameter limbs must be firmly grasped while being pruned to avoid deflection of the limb. Further, rectilinear cutting blades may slip and damage limbs which are not intended or desired to be pruned.

Rechargeable battery-powered tree pruning device


Embedded within at least some Real-Time Control Protocol (RTCP) messages sent from a media content source to a recipient is a session description message that describes a media presentation being streamed to the recipient. The session description message can be associated, for example, with one of a plurality of pieces of media content in a play list of media content being streamed from the device to the recipient. In accordance with certain aspects, an RTCP message that embeds a session description message includes at least three fields: a first field containing data identifying the RTCP message as being a type that embeds a session description message; a second field containing data that is the session description message for a media presentation; and a third field containing data identifying a length of the RTCP message, generated by summing the length of the first, second, and third fields.

Content streaming, such as the streaming of audio, video, and/or text is becoming increasingly popular. The term "streaming" is typically used to indicate that the data representing the content is provided over a network to a client computer on an as-needed basis rather than being pre-delivered in its entirety before playback. Thus, the client computer renders streaming content as it is received from a network server, rather than waiting for an entire "file" to be delivered.
The widespread availability of streaming multimedia content enables a variety of informational content that was not previously available over the Internet or other computer networks. Live content is one significant example of such content. Using streaming multimedia, audio, video, or audio/visual coverage of noteworthy events can be broadcast over the Internet as the events unfold. Similarly, television and radio stations can transmit their live content over the Internet.
The Session Description Protocol (SDP), Network Working Group Request for Comments (RFC) 2327, is a text-based format used to describe properties of a multimedia presentation, referred to as a "session", and properties of one or more media streams contained within the presentation. SDP has been developed as an application level protocol intended for describing multimedia sessions for the purposes of session announcement, session invitation, and other forms of multimedia session initiation. SDP can be used in accordance with other protocols, such as the Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) or the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), to describe and/or negotiate properties of a multimedia session used for delivery of streaming data.
However, in many situations it is difficult to get the SDP information from the network server to the client computer. For example, the network server may be streaming a series of multimedia presentations to the client computer, such as presentations listed in a play list. When the network server switches from streaming one presentation to the next, it is oftentimes difficult for the SDP information for the next presentation to be made available to the client computer. Thus, it would be beneficial to have an additional mechanism by which the SDP information can be made available to the client computer.

Embedding a session description message in a real-time control protocol (RTCP) message


A spray device and a method of using the spray device are provided. The spray device facilitates the application of a liquid such as a pretreatment liquid to an area of a fabric material. The spray device can be positioned on or adjacent portions of the fabric material and/or a substrate supporting the fabric material. The spray device can be activated to spray the pretreatment liquid and move the spray device on portions of the fabric material and/or the substrate supporting the fabric material.

Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing processes often require a pretreatment liquid to be applied to fabrics prior to use thereof. The pretreatment liquid is used to facilitate adherence of inks used in the DTG printing processes to the fabrics. In doing so, the pretreatment liquid provides a base that prevents the inks from soaking into the fabrics. The pretreatment liquid also provides increased wash durability for the inks applied to the fabrics by the DTG printing processes. Application of the pretreatment liquid has been accomplished using brushes, rollers, or sprayers. However, smooth, even, and uniform application of the pretreatment liquid to the fabrics is required to provide optimal printing surfaces for the DTG printing processes. Hand application using brushes, rollers, and hand sprayers typically fails to provide the desired smooth, even, and uniform application of the pretreatment liquid. Consequently, relatively large automated mechanical sprayers have been developed to apply the pretreatment liquid. Using these automated mechanical sprayers, either spray head(s) move relative to the fabric, or the fabric is provided over a substrate, and the substrate and the fabric are moved relative to spray head(s). The size and expense of these automated mechanical sprayers can preclude their use in at-home businesses. Therefore, there is a need for a compact spray device for that can be used to provide smooth, even, and uniform application of a pretreatment liquid to fabrics.


A calibration device 21 according to the present invention is a member used for white calibration of an optical characteristic measuring apparatus 1 for measuring an optical characteristic of a specimen arranged to close a measuring opening and is used together with a spacer 24. Accordingly, such a calibration device 21 can perform more accurate white calibration by preventing formation of an interference pattern by the spacer 24.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a calibration device used for white calibration of an optical characteristic system measuring apparatus and an optical characteristic measuring system including this calibration device and the optical characteristic measuring apparatus and particularly to various spectrophotometers and color-difference meters of, e.g. so-called top port type or handy type suitably used as the optical characteristic measuring apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
A conventional optical characteristic measuring apparatus is described below, taking an apparatus of the top port type as an example. A typical prior art of the above top port type optical characteristic measuring apparatus was proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2002-243550 (document D1). A structure of a present spectrophotometer 100 of the top port type which was improved based on technology disclosed in document D1 is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view of the spectrophotometer 100 and FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view thereof. This spectrophotometer 100 includes a measuring port (measuring opening) 103 which is so formed as to continuously extend through a ceiling plate 101a of a housing and a ceiling surface of an integrating sphere 102, and measures an optical characteristic such as color of a specimen 104 arranged to close the measuring port 103.
Thus, a xenon lamp 110 as a light source and an optical fiber 106 for measuring the light source are provided on one surface of the integrating sphere 102, a receiving optical system 108 is facing an opening 107 formed in one lateral surface, and a mirror 109 for forming an optical path between the measuring port 103 and the opening 107 is provided in a central part of the integrating sphere 102. Illumination light from the xenon lamp 110 is emitted into the integrating sphere 102 to be scattered in the integrating sphere 102 and illuminate the specimen 104 arranged on the measuring port 103. Reflected light from the illuminated specimen 104 is incident on the receiving optical system 108 through the opening 107 via the mirror 109, a reflected light intensity signal is obtained by a light receiver of the receiving optical system 108, and the color of the specimen 104 is measured by an arithmetic control unit based on the reflected light intensity signal. Further, the spectral intensity of the illumination light itself is obtained as a reference light intensity signal when the illumination light is incident on the receiving optical system 108 from the optical fiber 106 with the measuring port 103 closed.
Since being of the top port type, the spectrophotometer 100 constructed as described above can measure reflected light intensity by directly placing a specimen 104a such as a large fruit, which will substantially close the measuring port 103, on the measuring port 103 as shown in FIG. 17 and can measure reflected light intensities of specimens such as granules, powders and liquids using a transparent plate such as a dish 104c as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19A.
In the case of performing white calibration (calibration with an input of 100%) of such a spectrophotometer 100, a calibration device 111 shown in FIG. 20 has been conventionally used. As described above, since not only the specimen 104a is directly placed on the measuring port 103, but also the specimen 104b is indirectly placed thereon using the transparent plate such as the dish 104c, this calibration device 111 is composed of a white calibration plate 112 and a dummy transparent plate 113 formed to have the same material and thickness as the dish 104c.
Calibrations include zero calibration (calibration with an input of 0%) performed with a dark-room environment set in the integrating sphere 102. In this case, a cylindrical zero calibration box 141 as shown in FIG. 21 is used. This zero calibration box 141 includes a cylindrical portion 142, which will surround the measuring port 103, and a conical member 143 provided to close the leading end of the cylindrical portion 142, and inside of the zero calibration box 141 is black which absorbs the light. This zero calibration box 141 scatters light incident through the measuring port 103 by the conical member 143 and absorbs the light by the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 142 having a predetermined length. In the case of this zero calibration, after the dummy transparent plate 113 of the calibration device 111 is firstly placed on the measuring port 103, the zero calibration box 141 is mounted thereon as shown in FIG. 19B and zero calibration is performed.
In the above background art, white calibration is performed with the white calibration plate 112 placed on the dummy transparent plate 113 as shown in FIG. 19C following zero calibration. Thus, in the above background art, an interference pattern 115 as shown in FIG. 22 may be formed due to a difference in flatness between the dummy transparent plate 113 and the white calibration plate 112. This interference pattern 115 differs depending on how the white calibration plate 112 is placed on the dummy transparent plate 113 and adversely affects white calibration accuracy.
Such an inconvenience could occur not only in apparatuses of the top port type, but also in optical characteristic measuring apparatuses of other types. For example, there are cases where a transparent member is mounted to cover a measuring opening to prevent entrance of powder or the like through the measuring opening, for example, in the case of measuring the powder or the like in a handy type apparatus. In white calibration performed prior to a measurement of the powder or the like using the handy type apparatus, a transparent member of the handy type apparatus is placed on a white calibration plate. Thus, an interference pattern may be similarly formed due to a difference in flatness between the transparent member and the white calibration plate, which adversely affects white calibration accuracy.

Calibration device and optical characteristic measuring system using the same


A compact, small diameter, standing-wave linear accelerator structure suitable for industrial and medical applications is disclosed. The novel structure utilizes a new type of coupling cavity for Pi/2 mode, standing-wave operation. The coupling cavity fits into the webs between the accelerating cavities substantially within the diameter of the acclerating cavities. This is made possible by keeping the center section of the cavity thin to concentrate the electric field vector at the center of a section of the cavity and by enlarging the ends of a section of the coupling cavity to accommodate the magnetic field vector. This structure offers a significant reduction in overall diameter over the side-coupled, annular ring, and existing coaxial coupled structures, while maintaining a high shunt impedance and large nearest neighbor coupling (high group velocity). A prototype 4 MeV, 36 cm long, S-band accelerator incorporating the new structure has been built and tested.

Electron linear accelerators with energies up to 50 MeV have been widely used for radiation therapy and industrial radiography since early 1960. Currently an emphasis is being placed on more efficient, compact, and cost-effective designs. For standing-wave, Pi/2 mode linear accelerators, the coupling cavities allow for a flexibility of design, since they are unexcited in steady state operation. Existing standing-wave accelerator coupling cavities can be placed in four general design types: on-axis, coaxial, side cavity, and annular ring structures. These four structures are shown schematically in FIG. 1.
Since the side cavity structures are off-axis, they do not influence the design of the accelerating cells, enabling side coupled accelerators to attain high efficiencies. Side coupled structures, however, have the disadvantages of increasing the effective diameter of the accelerator guide and the number of machining and assembly steps required.
Cylindrically symmetric cavities, the on-axis, coaxial, and annular ring designs, have the advantage of being machined directly into the opposite side of an accelerating cell, thereby eliminating multipiece assembly and prebrazing. Construction costs can be substantially reduced. Existing designs, however, all have disadvantages. The radius of an on-axis coupling cavity is comparable to the radius of the accelerating cavity. The structure is susceptible, however, to the excitation of parasitic and beam blowup modes, which reduce the overall accelerator efficiency and beam stability. (See J. P. Labrie and J. McKeown, "The Coaxial Coupled Linac Structure", Nuclear Instruments and Methods, No. 193, pp. 437-444, 1982). On-axis structures are also sensitive to thermal detuning, a result of the thermal deformation of the web between the accelerating cells. (See: J. McKeown and J. P. Labrie, "Heat Transfer, Thermal Stress Analysis and the Dynamic Behavior of High Power RF Structures", IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. NS-30, No. 4, pp. 3593-3595, 1983).
Coaxial structures eliminate the direct interaction of the electron beam with the coupling cavity, but designs of the prior art increase the effective guide diameter 60% to 80%. Prior art designs consist of narrow cylindrical cavities sandwiched between accelerating cells, which operate at a coaxial TM.sub.010 -like mode. (See for example: C. Fuhrmann et al, "Characteristiques de Dispersion et Impedances Shunt de Trois Structures Biperiodiques Acceleratrices en Bande S", Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, No. 227, pp. 196-204, 1984 and R. M. Laszewski and R. A. Hoffswell, "Coaxial-Coupled Linac Structure for Low Gradient Applications", in Proceedings of the Linear Accelerator Conference 1984, pp. 177-179). Annular ring designs in the prior art have the same size disadvantage as the existing coaxial structures, along with increased machining complexity.

Small-diameter standing-wave linear accelerator structure


Disclosed is a novel ethylene copolymer by copolymerizing an ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from a compound represented by the formula H2C═CHR wherein R is an alkyl group or an aryl group, and a diene, by slurry polymerization process in the presence of a solid catalyst system comprising a support, a transition metal compound and an activator capable of converting the transition metal compound into a catalytically active transition metal complex.

The present invention relates to a novel ethylene copolymer and a method for producing the same. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a novel ethylene copolymer comprising a copolymer of ethylene with at least one comonomer selected from the group comprising compounds represented by the formula H2C═CHR wherein R represents a C1-C20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or a C6-C20 aryl group, and a C4-C20 linear, branched or cyclic diene, and having a specific density, and having not only a specific molecular weight distribution characteristic but also a specific comonomer content distribution characteristic.
The ethylene copolymer of the present invention has great advantages which have not been provided by conventional ethylene copolymers, i.e., it contains no impurities such as a wax, a gel and the like. In addition both the ethylene copolymer of the present invention and blend compositions therefrom also have excellent properties, such as high impact strength and excellent environmental stress cracking resistance, such that they can be advantageously used for the production of laminate films, blow-molded articles, pipes, coating materials for electric transmission cables, and the like.


A rolling bearing has races and a rolling element. At least one of the races and the rolling element is made of a carburized or carbonitrided alloy steel. The content of a fine carbide present in the surface layer of the one element of the rolling bearing is 20-50 vol %. The content of retained austenite in the surface layer is 10-25 vol %. The rolling bearing provides a long-life rolling bearing suitable for use in a transmission and engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rolling bearings used, for example, with automotive vehicles, agricultural machinery, construction machinery and iron-and-steel machinery and, more particularly, to long-lived rolling bearings required for use in a transmission and engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rolling bearing is in a severe use under high bearing loads so as to experience a repeated shearing stress. In order to endure the shearing stress and secure rolling contact fatigue life (hereinafter also referred to as rolling life or fatigue life), the rolling bearing which is made of high-carbon chromium steel (e.g., JIS-SUJ 2), then quenched and tempered so as to have a 58-64 H.sub.R C surface hardness, has been used. On the other hand, a case hardened steel rolling bearing has been made of a low-carbon case hardened steel of a good hardenability, e.g., JIS-SCR420H, -SCM420H, -SAE6820H or -SAE4320H, since a hardness curve of the case hardened steel rolling bearing must be determined in accordance with an internal shearing stress distribution created by a contact bearing. Then, this case hardened steel rolling bearing has been carburized or carbonitrided, quenched and tempered and thus has secured a required life so that the inner and outer races of the case hardened steel rolling bearing have 58-64 H.sub.R C surface hardnesses and 30-48 H.sub.R C core hardness.
However, since it is desirable that a rolling bearing have an increased fatigue life at the present time, a more severe condition, e.g., foreign matter entrained in a bearing lubricating oil, can damage the rolling element and the inner and outer races of the rolling bearing. Thus, a prior-art bearing hardness has been occasionally insufficient.
Thus, it is necessary that the surface hardness of a rolling bearing be increased. There is a prior-art process for increasing the surface hardness of a rolling bearing in which the rolling bearing is made of, e.g., a precipitation hardened tool steel (e.g., JIS-SKH or -SKD) including added carbide forming elements and precipitating a multitude of carbides (see pages 780-797 of Metal Manual, 3rd edition, edited by Japanese Metal Institute).
The rolling bearing made of the above precipitation hardened tool steel has advantages in that it has an increased rolling contact surface hardness and resists the occurrence of an impression caused by a foreign matter entrained in lubricating oil. On the other hand, it has a drawback in that a coarsening of a precipitating carbide which may be caused by the content of an alloying element to produce the carbide creates stress concentration in a part surrounding the carbide and propagates from this part into a flaking thereby reducing the fatigue life of the rolling bearing.
Limiting the content of the retained austenite in the surface layer of a rolling bearing within a predetermined range can moderate stress concentration at the edge of an impression by the foreign matter to increase the fatigue life of the rolling bearing (see Japanese patent application SHO 62-209167). However, an automotive rolling bearing used under a high bearing load, for example, is required to have a greater increase in its fatigue life.
In order to overcome these outstanding problems, the present invention has an object to provide a longer-lived rolling bearing than prior-art rolling bearings.


Compositions comprising emu oil as a vehicle for the delivery of other active ingredients for the treatment of cosmetic and other skin imperfections such as acne, wrinkles, and hair loss are disclosed. Methods of treating cosmetic and other skin imperfections using the compositions are also disclosed.

Emu oil has been used for hundreds of years by the native aborigines of Australia as a salve, because of its unique properties that allow it to deeply penetrate the epidermis. Studies have corroborated that Emu oil is non-comedogenic, has anti-inflammatory properties, is deeply moisturizing, and deeply penetrating.
A variety of topical agents are used to treat various disorders, such as acne, wrinkles, and alopecia. It would be advantageous to have compositions which increase the ability of these agents to penetrate the skin, so as to improve their activity. The present invention provides such compositions, and methods for their use.

EMU oil in combination with other active ingredients for treating skin imperfections