An image processing apparatus includes a reading part configured to optically read skew amount measurement patterns and opposite ends of a paper sheet; an image skew amount detecting part configured to detect skew amounts on a color basis based on the skew amount measurement patterns; a paper sheet skew amount detecting part configured to detect a skew amount of the paper sheet based on a displacement between the opposite ends of the paper sheet; a skew correction amount calculating part configured to calculate skew correction amounts of the respective colors based on the skew amounts; and a skew correcting part configured to shift the images to correct the skews by recording input image data in plural lines of a line memory, dividing the input image data into plural areas in a main scanning direction, and setting line delay amounts on an area basis based on the skew correction amounts.

In the field of color image forming apparatuses, a technique for registration between the respective colors is important. Misregistration may occur due to misregistrations and distortions of f-theta lenses or reflective mirrors in the case of LD (Laser Diode) raster systems, and distortions and installation errors of LEDA heads in the case of LEDA (Light Emitting Diode Array) writing. With respect to misregistrations with a bending and a skew in a sub-scanning direction, among misregistrations, there are a mechanical correcting way and a correcting way based on the image processing. According to the mechanical correcting way, the correction is implemented by providing an adjustment mechanism for displacing the mirror in the writing unit. An actuator such as a motor is utilized to automate the adjustment.
According to the correcting way based on the image processing, parts of the image data are accumulated in a line memory, and the lines of the line memory from which the data is to be read are switched according to the writing positions, thereby shifting the image in the sub-scanning direction and thus correcting the skew between colors. In this case, it is known that the skew may be preferably reduced by adding a line memory in the image processing part according to a range to be corrected.
The way of reducing the skew is known from Patent Document 1, for example. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of correcting an offset and a skew in a printer device which includes a detecting part configured to detect a status of a paper sheet supplied between a waiting roller for supplying the paper sheet and a photosensitive drum; and a controlling part configured to receive the detection signal from the detecting part, perform the correction and output a control signal of an optical system and a driving signal of a motor for adjustment of the optical system. According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a print start position and print start timing are corrected based on an offset which is detected based on the detection signal from the detecting part, a skew angle is calculated based on the detection signal, and the position of the optical system is adjusted such that the skew angle is corrected.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 04-189239
However, with the correcting method according to the related art, even if the skew amounts between the colors are corrected, there is a problem that the start positions of writing of the image are not parallel with a horizontal (main) scanning direction if the paper sheet is skewed. Further, with a line memory control for the skew correction, there is a problem that the lack of the capacity of the line memory may occur, and thus the correction method not be performed correctly when the correction of the skew amounts between colors and the correction of skew between the paper sheet and the image are performed in combination.
The configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot solve these problems.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the skew amount between the paper sheet and the image even with the line memory.

Image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an image processing method and a recording medium


A system for coupling a plurality of solar powered bubble pumps in series is described. By controlling the boiling temperature of the circulating fluid contained in the system, the flow of liquid between the units of the series can be balanced and the pressure differential between the first and last units can be used to convert heat energy into kinetic energy by use of an external turbine or electrical generator.

Solar bubble pumps have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,552,208 issued Nov. 12, 1985 and 4,607,688 issued Aug. 26, 1986 to Sorensen. Using the bubble pump principle hot liquid can be transferred from one elevation to a lower elevation without the need for an externally powered pump. Another design is described in Haines et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,211 which shows a system in which hot liquid is tranferred from a higher level to a lower level and in which the vapor from the bubble is injected into the gas space above the liquid in the riser tubes. Heretofore, however, bubble pumps have not been used in series to amplify the pressure gradient therebetween in such a way that useful kinetic energy can be derived therefrom. It is believed that heretofore it has not been possible to control the boiling temperature in the bubble pump so that balance between a series of bubble pumps could be achieved. Unless the pumps are balanced, some will become flooded and some will become underfilled resulting in a decreased pressure differential across the system.


Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, devices, and the like for segmentation of the processor architecture platform. In one embodiment, a system and method are introduced which enable the use of a segmented platform in an extended network. The segmented platform is introduced for processing using standardized plugins enabling the use of processing and services available at the segmented network. In another embodiment, processing on the segmented platform can include the integration of microservices for the completion of the transaction.

In the advent of technology, industry has moved to the use of electronic devices and communications for processing transactions. As such, users are placing heavy reliance on the use of such devices for payment processing, item purchases, service requests, online browsing, money transfers, and the like. Conventionally, the processing of such transactions requires the download and integration of an application for each activity. For example, if a user wants to purchase an item online, an account with a first entity is needed. As another example, if the same user later wants to send money to family internationally, yet another account with another entity is needed. Unfortunately, such need for multiple accounts can be frustrating and time consuming for a user. Additionally, if the entity is interested in adding the money transfers capability to an existing purchasing platform, implementation and integration of a new platform would be needed, a process that can include many redundancies and require the use of many resources and funding. As such, it would be beneficial to create a system with the capacity to work as a plugin segmented platform for use in an extended network.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, whereas showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

System and method for the segmentation of a processor architecture platform solution


A heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins extending along upper and lower directions, and a flat tube extending crosswise to the plurality of fins. Each of the plurality of fins has a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion, the first side edge portion and the second side edge portion extending along the upper and lower directions. The flat tube has end portions in the longitudinal axis direction of the flat tube, the end portions including a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is positioned closer to the first side edge portion than the second end portion is to the first side edge portion. Each of the plurality of fins includes at least one water guide portion formed at at least one of a position between the first side edge portion and the first end portion, and a position between the second side edge portion and the second end portion, the water guide portion extending in the upper and lower directions, a lower edge portion positioned below the flat tube in the upper and lower directions, and a protruding edge portion positioned below the water guide portion and protruding downwardly relative to the lower edge portion.

A parallel-flow heat exchanger is disclosed by Patent Literature 1. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of fins. The lower edge of each of the fins includes an oblique part descending from the windward side toward the leeward side, and a peak part at the lowest point of the oblique part. According to Patent Literature 1, dew water or defrosting water deposited on the fin runs down to the lower edge of the fin by gravity and then drops from the peak part.

Heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle apparatus


Components of an application that may be requested by a user in the future are identified and adapted for operation with a device of the user in response to a request for a component of the application by the user. Optionally, only the requested and identified components are adapted for operation with the requesting device, which may enable component adaptation within a specified maximum time period. A reachability analysis may be performed to identify components reachable from the requested component and components that are within a specified distance of the requested component may be identified or selected. The identified components may further be selected or identified based on historical request patterns relating to the application.

Computer software applications may be accessed by a variety of devices remotely via a network. Generally, such applications require adaptation for operation with the particular devices requesting or accessing the application. Adaptation is typically performed either when designing/implementing or deploying an application. However, an application may be adapted for a particular requesting device "on demand" (i.e., at the time of the actual request). Furthermore, the type of accessing device may be known or unknown to the application, at the time of a request.
For the case of a known type of requesting device, the current approach is to adapt and store the entire application prior to access, which disadvantageously results in significant resource utilization such as processing time and memory.
For the case of unknown device types, the current approach is also to adapt the entire application. In addition to the aforementioned disadvantages associated with known device types, other disadvantages such as an increased response time (user waiting time) and an increased difficulty to support in terms of Quality of Service (QoS) also exist in relation to unknown device types.
U.S. patent application No. 2001/0049286A1, entitled "Device registry server for automatic connection and data exchange between pervasive devices and backend systems" was published on Dec. 6, 2001 in the name of Hansmann, et al. and is assigned to International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation. The specification relates to communication improvements between a mobile device and backend system applications. However, a backend application that has already been customised for use with the mobile device is assumed.
A paper by Indulska et al., entitled "Vertical handover based adaption for multimedia applications in pervasive systems", is included in the Proceedings of the Joint International Workshop on Interactive Distributed Multimedia Systems and Protocols for Multimedia Systems (IDMS/PROMS 2002). However, the form of adaptation described is context-based and uses context information relating to user devices, user location, application requirements and network environment.
A need exists for incremental adaptation of computer software applications in response to user requests.

On-demand and incremental application adaptation

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of operating a telecommunications system (20) comprises a radio access network node (34) offering plural parameter configurations to a wireless terminal (30) over a radio interface (32) and the wireless terminal (30) choosing a preferred parameter configuration from among the plural parameter configurations offered by the radio access network node. In an example embodiment and mode, the method further comprises the radio access network node (34) offering the plural parameter configurations as a list of discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration information elements, each discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration information element comprising one parameter value for each of the one or more corresponding discontinuous reception parameters defined for the configuration information element.

In a typical cellular radio system, wireless terminals (also known as mobile stations and/or user equipments (UEs)) communicate via a radio access network (RAN) to one or more core networks. The wireless terminals can be mobile stations or user equipments (UE) such as mobile telephones ("cellular" telephones) and laptops with wireless capability (e.g., mobile termination), and thus can be, for example, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or car-mounted mobile devices which communicate voice and/or data via radio access network.
The radio access network (RAN) covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a base station, e.g., a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks is also called "NodeB" or "eNodeB". A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio base station equipment at a base station site. Each cell is identified by an identity within the local radio area, which is broadcast in the cell. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the user equipments (UE) within range of the base stations.
In some versions (particularly earlier versions) of the radio access network, several base stations are typically connected (e.g., by landlines or microwave) to a radio network controller (RNC). The radio network controller, also sometimes termed a base station controller (BSC), supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. The radio network controllers are typically connected to one or more core networks.
The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation mobile communication system, which evolved from the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and is intended to provide improved mobile communication services based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) access technology. UTRAN is essentially a radio access network using wideband code division multiple access for user equipments (UEs). The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has undertaken to evolve further the UTRAN and GSM based radio access network technologies.
Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a variant of a 3GPP radio access technology wherein the radio base station nodes are connected directly to a core network rather than to radio network controller (RNC) nodes. In general, in LTE the functions of a radio network controller (RNC) node are performed by the radio base station nodes. As such, the radio access network (RAN) of an LTE system has an essentially "flat" architecture comprising radio base station nodes without reporting to radio network controller (RNC) nodes.
In LTE the radio network configures the wireless terminal, e.g., the UE, according to the RRC protocol specification (3GPP TS 36.331), incorporated herein by reference. It is up to the network to choose suitable parameter values in order to reach the desired performance, network capacity or coverage. For many of those parameters the network is able to choose a reasonable value without additional information from the UE. For other parameters or decision the UE provides the network with explicit information such as radio measurements which allows the network to decide, e.g., on whether to perform a handover, to configure another transmission mode, or to add a secondary serving cell.
Recently it has been discussed whether the UE shall be allowed/enabled not only to provide measurements, but also to suggest explicit parameter values. UE-provisioned/suggested parameter configurations were supported in earlier versions of the UMTS standard, e.g., for requesting certain QoS handling. But the existing RRC protocol defined in 3GPP TS 36.331 does not allow the UE to suggest or recommend radio parameters to the network. In certain cases (e.g. for the discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration) this may result in inferior performance or too high battery consumption.
Protocols by which the UE could request certain parameter configurations did exist for earlier protocol versions, e.g., in UMTS. However, the drawback of those solutions was that a large number of parameter combinations could be requested, of which most were not supported or at least not properly tested. Even if they were tested, the network had no means to verify that they were allowed/appropriate for this particular UE. Therefore, the concept of a UE requesting parameters to be configured did not work properly and network implementations previously ignored any such requests.

Terminal-based selection of radio parameters among a parameter subset offered by the network


To provide braking-force control capable of suppressing a wheelie of a two-wheeled vehicle by changing braking-force distribution.

The invention relates to a brake device for a two-wheeled vehicle and, in particular, to a method for controlling a braking force and a device for controlling the braking force in a combined brake system in which front and rear brake devices are operated in an interlocking manner.
As a brake device for a two-wheeled vehicle, a brake device called a combined brake system has conventionally been available. In this combined brake system, when one of front and rear brake devices is operated, a braking force is also generated in the other brake device in an interlocking manner. This combined brake system is available in a mechanical type (CBS) and an electronically controlled type (eCBS). In the combined brake system of the mechanical type, the front and rear brake devices are connected by a hydraulic circuit and a mechanical element. A pressure of brake fluid is set such that the braking force is distributed to the front and rear brake devices at a specified ratio (for example, front 6:rear 4) when a braking operation is performed on the combined brake system of the mechanical type.
Meanwhile, in a case of the combined brake system of the electronically controlled type, the front and rear brake devices are not connected by the hydraulic circuit or the mechanical element. The front and rear brake devices are operated in the interlocking manner by electronic control. Accordingly, braking-force distribution to the front and rear brake devices can flexibly be changed in accordance with a switching operation by a rider or a speed of the two-wheeled vehicle.
As an example of the combined brake system of the mechanical type, one as will be described below exists (see). This is a brake device capable of increasing the braking-force distribution to a rear wheel during an operation of a brake pedal. More specifically, a first master cylinder that is actuated by a brake lever is connected to a brake caliper of a front wheel, a mechanical servomechanism that generates a brake hydraulic pressure by actuation of the brake caliper is connected to a brake caliper of the rear wheel via a pressure control valve that decreases a braking force on the rear wheel in a manner to follow a braking-force distribution characteristic of the front and rear wheels. In addition, a brake hydraulic pressure from a second master cylinder that is actuated by the brake pedal is transmitted to the brake caliper of the rear wheel via the mechanical servomechanism and the pressure control valve and, at the same time, increases a maximum braking force on the rear wheel by changing a pressure decreasing characteristic of the pressure control valve.

Method for controlling braking force of brake devices for two-wheeled vehicle, and device for controlling braking force

Abstract: In a method for controlling a braking force of a combined brake system for the two-wheeled vehicle, a lean angle of a two-wheeled vehicle 1 is detected or computed, and, in the case where the lean angle exceeds a specified value, braking-force distribution to front and rear brake devices 11f, 11r is changed.


An ear worn device includes an optical source, an optical detector, and a housing supporting the optical source and optical detector. The housing is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject and includes a first light guide in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide in optical communication with the optical detector. A distal end of the first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into the ear, and a distal end of the second light guide is configured to collect light from the ear and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that are outwardly diverging such that light rays directed into the ear via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide.

There is growing market demand for personal health and environmental monitors, for example, for gauging overall health and metabolism during exercise, athletic training, dieting, daily life activities, sickness, and physical therapy. However, traditional health monitors and environmental monitors may be bulky, rigid, and uncomfortable—generally not suitable for use during daily physical activity.
Sensors for detecting biometric signals, such as vital signs and other physiological information, are configured to isolate the biometric signals from other spurious signals and deliver biometric readings, such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, etc., to the user. Unfortunately, spurious signals that may be difficult to isolate from a biometric signal are associated with physical movement (e.g., physical exercise, such as walking, running, daily activities, etc.) of a sensor relative to the user or the environment of the user (e.g., sunlight, room light, humidity, ambient acoustical or electromagnetic noise, temperature extremes or changes in temperature, etc.).
For example, referring to FIG. 1, a conventional photoplethysmography (PPG) optical sensor 10 is illustrated that includes an optical source 14, and an optical detector 16. The optical sensor 10 is desirably positioned directly against the body B (i.e., the skin) of a subject wearing the optical sensor such that light L1 from the optical source 14 is directed into the body B and is subsequently detected by the optical detector 16. However, movement of the user can cause the sensor 10 to move relative to the body B such that light L2 can take a direct path from the optical source 14 into the optical detector 16 (for example by reflection off of the body, i.e., the skin, of the user), which increases spurious signals. Moreover, motion artifacts may cause the distance between the sensor 10 and body B to change in time, thereby modulating L1 and L2 in time, leading to motion artifact noise on the signal generated by the detector 16.
Previous ways of isolating heart rate signals from other signals include the use of passive and active signal processing algorithms, increasing optical sensor output and displacing the optical source from the photodetector, and pushing the sensor more firmly against the user so as to limit the effects of physical movement on the heart rate signal.

Optical physiological monitoring devices


The present invention relates to a method and system for providing hemofiltration for reducing inflammatory mediator related diseases. In one form, a hemofiltration system for treating inflammatory mediator related diseases is disclosed. The system includes a hemofilter to receive blood from a specimen, the hemofilter removing selective inflammatory mediators from the blood and at least one therapeutic agent used in association with the hemofilter, the therapeutic agent to reduce adverse inflammatory mediator effects.

The present invention relates generally to systems, methods, and devices used for hemofiltration. More specifically, the present invention relates to hemofiltration for reducing inflammatory mediator-related diseases (IMRD), which include systemic inflammatory response syndrome (xe2x80x9cSIRSxe2x80x9d), multiorgan system dysfunction syndrome (xe2x80x9cMODSxe2x80x9d), multiorgan system failure (xe2x80x9cMOSFxe2x80x9d),and compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS).
Patients with life threatening illness are cared for in hospitals in the intensive care unit (xe2x80x9cICUxe2x80x9d). These patients may be seriously injured from automobile accidents, etc., have had major surgery, have suffered a heart attack, or may be under treatment for serious infection, cancer, or other major disease. While medical care for these primary conditions is sophisticated and usually effective, a significant number of patients in the ICU will not die of their primary disease. Rather, a significant number of patients in the ICU die from a secondary complication known commonly as xe2x80x9csepsisxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cseptic shockxe2x80x9d. Once again, the proper medical terms for sepsis and septic shock are systemic inflammatory response syndrome (xe2x80x9cSIRSxe2x80x9d), multiorgan system dysfunction syndrome 25 (xe2x80x9cMODSxe2x80x9d), multiorgan system failure (xe2x80x9cMOSFxe2x80x9d),and compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS).
In short, medical illness, trauma, complication of surgery, and, for that matter, any human disease state, if sufficiently injurious to the patient, may elicit SIRS/MODS/MOSF or CARS. The systemic inflammatory response within certain physiologic limits is beneficial. As part of the immune system, the systemic inflammatory response promotes the removal of dead tissue, healing of injured tissue, detection and destruction of cancerous cells as they form, and mobilization of host defenses to resist or to combat infection. If the stimulus to the systemic inflammatory response is too potent, such as massive tissue injury or major microbial infection, however, then the systemic inflammatory response may cause symptoms which include fever, increased heart rate, and increased respiratory rate. This symptomatic response constitutes systemic inflammatory response syndrome (xe2x80x9cSIRSxe2x80x9d). If the inflammatory response is excessive, then injury or destruction to vital organ tissue may result in vital organ dysfunction, which is manifested in many ways, including a drop in blood pressure, deterioration in lung function, reduced kidney function, and other vital organ malfunction. This condition is known as multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (xe2x80x9cMODSxe2x80x9d). With very severe or life threatening injury or infection, the inflammatory response is extreme and can cause extensive tissue damage with vital organ damage and failure. These patients will usually die promptly without the use of ventilators to maintain lung ventilation, drugs to maintain blood pressure and strengthen the heart, and, in certain circumstances, artificial support for the liver, kidneys, coagulation, brain and other vital systems. This condition is known as multiorgan system failure syndrome (xe2x80x9cMOSF). These support measures partially compensate for damaged and failed organs, they do not cure the injury or infection or control the extreme inflammatory response which causes vital organ failures.
In recent years, it is increasingly recognized that SIRS/MODS/MOSF exists in phases. In particular, an early pro-inflammatory phase, which is recognized as SIRS, usually occurring within hours or a very few days of significant injury or infection; and a later compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS) which occurs later (5-10 days). SIRS and CARS also appear in repeating and alternate cycles, or concurrently.
A s noted previously, the pro-inflammatory response is critical to host recovery and survival (by healing injury and eliminating infection), but when extreme this response causes vital organ dysfunction or failure. In biology, it is common for one response to be counter balanced by another response; these compensatory responses or systems allow restoration of balance and return the organism (e.g., the patient) to homeostasis. CARS is associated with the abatement of the excess IM characteristic of SIRS, however CARS itself is often extreme and results in immune suppression. SIRS and CARS are each associated with respective characteristic IM. The immune suppression of CARS is very commonly associated with secondary infection. This secondary infection then elicits another SIRS, often worse and more destructive than the first. In patients, it is commonly this second episode of SIRS which is lethal.
Both SIRS and CARS are mediated by excesses of either pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, respectively. Hemofiltration should be as beneficial to CARS as to SIRS. However, in SIRS the improvement should be affirmatively observed by improvement in pulmonary and cardio-circulatory function and survival, whilst in CARS it will be observed negatively, by non-occurrence of secondary infection and secondary SIRS. Both SIRS and CARS may be monitored in a limited way, by monitoring their respective IM in blood, lung or other body fluid.
Hemofiltration with a 100 to 150 kD filter is anticipated to remove the excess circulating IM which respectively characterize SIRS/MODS/MOSF, or CARS. During either condition, it may be desirable to actually supplement IM or provide some other therapeutic agent to augment the system in abatement. In particular, during SIRS/MODS/MOSF when pro-inflammatory IM are in excess, in addition to performance of hemofiltration to remove excess pro-inflammatory IM, the administration of anti-inflammatory IM or therapeutic agents may be useful to additionally abate or otherwise modulate the pro-inflammatory systemic inflammatory response. Similarly, during CARS hemofiltration is expected to remove excess anti-inflammatory IM which should ameliorate immune suppression, in addition, administration of pro-inflammatory IM or other therapeutic agent to promote immune responsiveness, should ameliorate immune suppression of CARS. What is sought is therapeutic synergy between large pore hemofiltration and administration of appropriate therapeutic agents.
In the United States of America each year, SIRS/MODS/MOSF afflicts approximately 400,000-600,000 patients and results in about 150,000 deaths. Overall, depending on the number of organ systems failing, the mortality rate of MOSF ranges generally from 40 to 100%. For instance, if three (3) or more vital organs fail, death results in more the 90% of cases. SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS are the most common cause of death in intensive care units and is the thirteenth most common cause of death in the United States of America. SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS cost about $5 to $10 billion yearly for supportive care. In addition, the incidence of SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS are on the rise; reported cases increased about 139% between 1979 and 1987. This increase is due to an aging population, increased utilization of invasive medical procedures, immuno-suppressive therapies (e.g. cancer chemotherapy) and transplantation procedures. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1990; Detailed Diagnoses and Procedures, National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1993, from CDC/National 5 Center for Health Statistics, October/1995.)
The detrimental mechanism of SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS is the excessive activation of the inflammatory response. The inflammatory response consists of the interaction of various cell systems (e.g., monocyte/macrophage, neutrophil, and lymphocytes) and various humoral systems e.g., cytokine, coagulation, complement, and kallikrein/kinin). Each component of each system may function as an effector (e.g., killing pathogens, destroying tissue, etc.), a signal (e.g., most cytokines), or both. Humoral elements of the inflammatory response were known as toxic mediators, but are now known collectively as inflammatory mediators (xe2x80x9cIMxe2x80x9d). IM include various cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor (xe2x80x9cTNFxe2x80x9d); the interleukins; interferon, etc.), various prostaglandins, various clotting factors (e.g., platelet activating factor (xe2x80x9cPAFxe2x80x9d), various peptidases, reactive oxygen metabolites, and various poorly understood peptides which cause organ dysfunction (myocardial depressant factor (xe2x80x9cMDFxe2x80x9d). These compounds interact as a network with the characteristics of network preservation and self amplification. Some of these compounds, such as MDF and peptidases, are directly injurious to tissue; other compounds, such as cytokines, coordinate destructive inflammation. Infection (e.g., abscesses and sepsis) is a common complication of critical illness. Certain bacterial exotoxins, endotoxins or enterotoxins are extremely potent stimuli to SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS. The development and use of effective antibiotics and other supportive measures have not had a significant effect on the death rate from MOSF. The systemic inflammatory response with its network of systems (e.g., monocyte/macrophage, complement, antibody production, coagulation, kallikrein, neutrophil activation, etc.) is initiated and regulated through the cytokine (xe2x80x9cCKxe2x80x9d) system and IM""s. The CK system consists of more than thirty known molecules each of which activates or suppresses one or more components of the immune system and one or more CK in the network. The CK network is the dominant control system of the immune response. The sources of CK""s are monocyte/macrophages and endothelial cells and they are produced in every tissue in the body. Key characteristics of the CK system are as follows: (i) CK are chemical signals coordinating immune system and associated system activities; (ii) commonly, two or more CK will trigger the same action providing a xe2x80x9cfail safexe2x80x9d response to a wide variety of different stimuli (the systemic inflammatory response is critical to an individual""s survival; these redundant control signals assure a system response which does not falter.); (iii) CK and IM concentrations (usually measured in blood) therefore increase in order to stimulate, control, and maintain the inflammatory response proportionally to the severity of the injury or infection; and (iv) as severity of injury or infection increases, the cytodestructive activity of the system increases resulting in MODS/MOSF. Therefore, high concentrations of CK and IM measured in the patient""s blood, which are sustained over time, correlate with the patients risk of death.
Major research efforts by the biotechnology industry have sought cures for SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS, but none to date have been licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (xe2x80x9cFDAxe2x80x9d) for use in humans. There is currently no definitive therapy for SIRS/MODS/MOSF or CARS(Dellinger, 1997; Natanson, 1994), even though a great deal of research funds have been spent on failed therapies for sepsis (Knaus, 1997). Critical care medicine techniques available to manage SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS are generally supportive in that they do not cure SIRS/MODS/MOSF. The biotechnology industry, however, has developed a number of prospective treatments for SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS. The general strategy of these prospective treatments is to identify what is conceived-to be a key or pivotal single CK or IM. This single target CK or IM is then inactivated in an attempt to abate the inflammatory response. The most widely applied technologies used to inactivate CK or IM is binding with monoclonal antibodies (xe2x80x9cMoAbxe2x80x9d) or specific antagonists (xe2x80x9cSAxe2x80x9d). MoAb""s and SA""s are used because they effectively bind the target CK or IM, or its receptor, usually in an xe2x80x9call or nonexe2x80x9d blockade. This strategy is problematic for two (2) reasons. First, the CK system is essential to mobilize the inflammatory response, and through it, the host immune response. If the CK system were blocked, death would ensue from unhealed injury or infection. Second, the CK and IM signals which make up the control network of the immune response consist of many redundant control loops to assure the xe2x80x9cfail safexe2x80x9d initiation and continuation of this critical response. In the field of engineering, control theory indicates that a redundant, self amplifying system will not be effectively controlled by blocking one point, such as one CK or IM (Mohler, 1995).
Also, of interest, note the existing technique of hemofiltration (xe2x80x9cHFxe2x80x9d), which was developed as a technique to control over hydration and acute renal failure in unstable ICU patients. Existing HF techniques may use a hemofilter of some sort, which consists of cellulose derivatives or a synthetic membrane (e.g., polysulfone, polyamide, etc.) fabricated as either a parallel plate or hollow fiber filtering surface. Since the blood path to, through, and from the membrane is low resistance, the patient""s own blood pressure drives blood through the filter circuit. In these HF applications, the hemofilter is part of a blood circuit. In passive flow HF, arterial blood flows through a large bore cannula, into plastic tubing leading to the filter; blood returns from the filter through plastic tubing to a vein. This is known as arteriovenous HF. Alternately, a blood pump is used, so that blood is pumped from either an artery or a vein to the filter and returned to a vein. This is known as arterio-venous HF or pumped veno-venous HF. Ultrafiltrate collects in the filter jacket and is drained through the ultrafiltrate line and discarded. Ultrafiltrate flow rates are usually 250 ml-2000 ml/hour. In order to prevent lethal volume depletion, a physiologic and isotonic replacement fluid is infused into the patient concurrently with HF at a flow rate equal to or less than the ultrafiltrate flow rate. The balance of replacement fluid and ultrafiltrate is determined by the fluid status of the patient.
The pores of most filter membranes allow passage of molecules up to 30,000 Daltons with very few membranes allowing passage of molecules up to 50,000 Daltons. The membranes used to treat renal failure were generally designed to achieve the following specific goals: (i) to permit high conductance of the aqueous phase of blood plasma water needed to permit the formation of ultrafiltrate at a fairly low transmembrane pressure (typically 20-40 mmHg), which requires a relatively large pore size that incidentally passes molecules of up to 30,000 to 50,000 Daltons; and ii) to avoid passage of albumin (e.g., 68,000 Daltons). Note that with these existing hemofilters used to treat renal failure, the ultrafiltrate contains electrolytes and small molecules (e.g., urea, creatinine, and uric acid), but no cells and only peptides and proteins smaller than the membrane pore size. The composition of the ultrafiltrate is very similar to plasma water. Loss of albumin, and subsequently, oncotic pressure, could cause or aggravate tissue edema and organ dysfunction (e.g., pulmonary edema), so hemofilters are designed to avoid this by having molecular weight exclusion limits well below the molecular weight of albumin (e.g., 68,000 Daltons).
During filtration of protein containing solutions, colloids or suspensions, or blood, the accumulation of protein as a gel or polarization layer occurs on the membrane surface. This gel layer typically reduces effective pore size, reducing the filterable molecular weights by roughly 10-40%. Therefore, pore sizes selected are somewhat larger than needed, anticipating a reduction in effective size. Thus, present membranes allow filtration and removal of excess water, electrolytes, small molecules and nitrogenous waste while avoiding any loss of albumin or larger proteins. These membranes are well-suited to their accepted uses, that is, treatment of over hydration and acute renal failure in unstable ICU patients.
Uncontrolled observations in ICU patients indicate that HF, in addition to controlling over hydration and acute renal failure, is associated with improvements in lung function and cardiovascular function. None of these improvements has been associated with a shortened course of ventilator therapy, a shortened ICU stay, or improved survival. The usual amount of ultrafiltrate removed in the treatment of over hydration and acute renal failure is 250 to 2000 ml/hour, 24 hours a day. A few published observations have suggested that higher amounts of ultrafiltrate brought about greater improvements in pulmonary and cardiovascular status; these have resulted in the development of a technique known as high volume HF (xe2x80x9cHVHF). In HVHF, from 2 to 9 liters/hour of ultrafiltrate are taken for periods of from 4 to 24 hours or more. Furthermore, preliminary uncontrolled or poorly controlled studies suggest that HVHF improves survival in patients with SIRS/MODS/MOSF or CARS; there is growing interest in the use of HVHF in SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS. There is however great hesitance to use HVHF for the following reasons: (i) the high volumes (currently 24-144 liters/day) of ultrafiltrate require equally high volumes of sterile, pharmaceutical grade replacement fluid; at these high volumes, errors in measuring ultrafiltrate coming out and replacement fluid flowing into the patient could cause injurious or lethal fluid overload or volume depletion; (ii) the high volume of ultrafiltrate removed could filter out of the blood desirable compounds from the patient resulting in dangerous deficiencies; this is currently theoretical, but should be taken seriously; (iii) large volumes of warm (body temperature) ultrafiltrate flowing out of the patient, and large volumes of cool (room temperature) replacement fluid flowing into the patient can cause thermal stress or hypothermia; and (iv) high volumes of replacement fluid add considerable expense to the therapy.
HVHF, as currently practiced, uses conventional hemofilters with pore sizes which provide a molecular weight cutoff of 30,000 Daltons and occasionally of 50,000 Daltons.
The device and process described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,418 generally contemplates the use of large pore hemofiltration membranes with pore sizes to provide molecular weight exclusion limits of 100,000 to 150,000 Daltons. With these higher molecular weight cutoffs, these membranes are designed to remove a wider range of different IM""s; these large pore membranes should remove excess amounts of all known IM""s. These large pore hemofiltration membranes have been demonstrated in animal studies to be superior to conventional hemofilter membranes in improving survival time in a swine model of lethal Staphylococcus aureus infection (Lee, P A et al. Critical Care Medicine, April 1998). It is anticipated that they will be superior to conventional membranes in SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS. However, it may be anticipated that in HVHF, the large pore membranes may also remove more desirable compounds thus increasing the risk of the negative side effects of HVHF.
Other techniques used in the past to treat acute renal failure and/or SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS include hemodialysis and plasmapheresis. Hemodialysis is well suited to fluid and small solute (less than 10,000 Daltons) removal. However hemodialysis membranes remove very few IM (only those smaller than 5000 to 10,000 Daltons) and so have been ineffective in improving a patient""s condition in SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS. In the unstable ICU patient, hemodialysis commonly results in rapid deterioration of cardiovascular function and pulmonary function requiring premature termination of the dialysis procedure. Hemodialysis has also been associated with increasing the occurrence of chronic renal failure in survivors of SIRS/MODS/MOSF or CARS. HF was specifically developed (Kramer, 1997) to avoid these complications of hemodialysis and has been very successful in doing so.
Plasmapheresis can be done with both membrane based and centrifugation based techniques. Plasmapheresis separates plasma and all that plasma contains from blood, leaving only formed elements. The removed plasma is usually replaced by either albumin solution or fresh frozen plasma. The removed plasma would contain all IM""s. Studies of plasmapheresis in animal models of SIRS/MODS/MOSF and CARS have shown increased mortality with plasmapheresis compared to untreated control animals. No controlled study of plasmapheresis in humans with SIRS/MODS/MOSF or CARS has ever been done. The expense of albumin and fresh frozen plasma, and the risk of transmission of serious or deadly viral disease with fresh frozen plasma are serious draw backs to the use of plasmapheresis in SIRS/MODS/MOSF or CARS.
Consequently, the prior art remains deficient in the lack of effective methods of treating IM related disease (e.g., SIRS/MODS/MOSF), which is safe. Furthermore, while high volume hemofiltration holds some promises, it is unworkable in its present form and is overly dangerous. Additionally, control theory suggests the concept that inhibiting a single immune mediator(IM) will not succeed in controlling SIRS/MODS/MOSF or CARS. The present invention fulfills this longstanding need and desire in this art.
In accordance with teachings of the present invention a method and system for providing therapeutic agents with hemofiltration for reducing inflammatory mediator related diseases is disclosed. The present invention is particularly beneficial when used in large pore hemofiltration systems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a hemofiltration system for treating inflammatory mediator related diseases is disclosed. The system includes a hemofilter to receive blood from a specimen and remove selective inflammatory mediators from the blood. The system further includes at least one therapeutic agent used in association with the hemofilter to reduce adverse inflammatory mediator effects.
In a particularized form the system further includes a 100 to 150 kiloDalton hemofilter.
In a further particularized form the system includes an adsorption device associated with the hemofilter.
In another particularized form, the system includes a selective biological agent to reduce adverse inflammatory mediator effects.
In a further particularized form, the system includes a selective pharmaceutical agent to reduce adverse inflammatory mediator effects.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for treating inflammatory mediator related diseases is disclosed. The method includes receiving blood from a specimen, filtering the blood using a hemofilter wherein the hemofilter removes selective inflammatory mediators from the blood. The method further includes providing at least one therapeutic agent wherein the therapeutic agent reduces adverse inflammatory mediator effects.
In a particularized form, the therapeutic agent includes a biological agent.
In another particularized form, the therapeutic agent include a pharmaceutical agent.
In a further particularized form, the hemofilter is configured as a 100 to 150 kiloDalton hemofilter.
In another particularized form, an adsorptive device associated with the hemofilter is provided.
One technical advantage of the present invention includes providing rapid stabilization of the septic shock to increase survival rate of a specimen or patient.
Another technical advantage of the present invention includes abating excessive and destructive inflammatory activity which characterizes septic shock.
A further technical advantage includes increasing the effectiveness of therapeutic agents as adjunctive therapy to hemofiltration.

Method and system for providing therapeutic agents with hemofiltration for reducing inflammatory mediator related diseases


A discectomy instrument for use with a cutting tool including a flexible shaft and an implement extending from the shaft generally includes a guard including a shaft and a foot extending therefrom, wherein the foot has a port and a plurality of teeth. The instrument also includes a guide including a rod, a finger extending from the rod, and an actuator operably connected to the finger such that the finger is adjustable via the actuator. The instrument further includes a sheath including at least one channel, wherein, when the guide and the sheath are coupled to the guard, the channel aligns with the port to permit insertion of the implement through the port via the channel.

The present disclosure relates generally to surgical instruments and, more particularly, to an instrument for use in performing a lumbar discectomy.
It can be time consuming and challenging to perform a discectomy using conventional instruments. For example, the thecal sac can obstruct the desired point of entry into the disc space between the vertebrae, and it can be difficult to move the thecal sac aside and then shield the thecal sac while cutting tools are inserted into the disc space. Additionally, conventional cutting tools can be difficult to maneuver when removing sections of the disc and/or abrading sections of its adjacent vertebrae.
It would be useful, therefore, to provide an improved instrument for performing a lumbar discectomy.


Drive system for a water pump unit (7, 8) driven by the shaft of a reversible motor (4) through a partition wall, about said shaft (5) being mounted a first sealing ring (14) fixed to said wall (13), and a second sealing ring (15) rotatably driven by the shaft and forming a rotatable water-tight sealing arrangement (6) with the first ring (14). The system includes control device (19, 22) capable of normally actuating the motor according to a preset program, and devices (19, 20, 26) to make the motor temporarily oscillate at a predetermined frequency (f), with a sequence of rotations in alternate directions, in case the two sealing rings (14, 15) are sticked together. The oscillation of the rotatable unit associated with the rotor (5) causes the two sealing rings to mutually separate.

The present invention relates to a drive system for at least a water pump driven by a reversible electric motor with the interposition of a rotatable sealing arrangement.
It is common practice, for example in dishwashing machines, to use at least one water pump driven by a reversible motor, preferably an asynchronous motor, whose drive shaft sealingly extends across the casing of the pump. In dishwashing machines, in particular, the water seal is usually formed by a ceramic ring which is, fixed on a partition wall between the pump and the motor, and a graphite ring which cooperates with the ceramic ring and is rotated by the drive shaft. More particularly, the graphite ring is mounted about the drive shaft on the side of the partition wall communicating with the pump, and is connected to the shaft through resilient biasing means which usually include a pressure spring and a shaped rubber ring, or the like. The pressure spring surrounds the rubber ring, that in turn is keyed about the drive shaft, and keeps the graphite ring axially pressed against the ceramic ring, and to which the rotational movement of the drive shaft is discharged due to the friction exerted by an embossed edge of the rubber ring which is interposed between the spring and the graphite ring. Basically, the rotatable water-tight seal is formed between the slidingly cooperating surfaces of the ceramic ring and the graphite ring, which to this aim are made with a high degree of finishing.
However, it is known that the two ceramic and graphite rings may easily "stick" together (that is, a high starting friction may occur between the mutually cooperating surfaces), sometimes to such an extent as to prevent rotation of the asynchronous motor, which can be damaged by overheating.
Such sticking may easily occur, mainly in a dishwasher, due to the following reasons:
deposit of dirt and/or limestone particles on the sealing rings; PA1 scaling of the sealing rings, caused by salt used for regeneration of the water softener; PA1 drying-up of the sealing rings after prolonged inoperative periods of the machine and; PA1 excessive axial pressure exerted by the spring.
Arrangements are known, as disclosed for instance in DE-B-1061425, to increase the starting torque of an electric motor. However, these arrangements relate to the use of a synchronous motor to rotationally drive a reduced load. More particularly, in order to compensate for the low starting torque of the synchronous motor, the driven shaft is coupled with the driving shaft by means of a transmission system which enables the driving shaft to idle by an angle which is smaller than 360.degree..
These prior art arrangements are, of course, substantially ineffective. For example when, as in the above-mentioned case, they are used in a dishwashing machine, wherein a remarkable starting torque may be required to enable the pump to start up correctly when sticking occurs in the rotatable sealing arrangement.

Drive system for a water pump with rotatable sealing arrangement


A transistor manufacturing method includes: forming a gate electrode above a substrate; forming a gate insulator above the gate electrode; forming source and drain electrodes above the gate insulator; forming a sacrificial layer above the source and drain electrodes; forming a partition wall layer above the sacrificial layer; forming an opening by patterning the partition wall layer to partly expose the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer to expose the source and drain electrodes; and forming an organic semiconductor layer to cover the source and drain electrodes and the gate insulator, wherein the source and drain electrodes occupy 50% or more of a surface area of the opening, and the source and drain electrodes are spaced apart at an interval smaller than an average granular diameter of crystals each of which is at least partly positioned above the source or drain electrode.

Conventionally, a liquid display device or a display device of an active matrix driving type such as an organic electro luminescence (EL) display device includes a thin-film transistor called a TFT.
In general, display device on the market includes thin-film transistors having semiconductor layers made of silicon. In recent years, organic thin-film transistors having semiconductor layers made of organic materials have been focused on. Organic materials have characteristics of being flexible because of molecular coupling by intermolecular attraction dissimilar to atomic coupling in the case of a silicon crystal. Accordingly, use of organic thin-film transistors makes it possible to realize electric devices which are lighter, thinner, and more flexible than electric devices including silicon thin-film transistors. For this reason, applications of organic thin-film transistors to next-generation display devices, electric paper, etc. have been proposed. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses organic thin-film transistors of a bottom gate type.
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a conventional organic thin-film transistor. As shown in FIG. 31, the conventional organic thin-film transistor 100 includes the following formed sequentially above a substrate 101: a gate electrode 102; a gate insulator 103; a pair of a source electrode 104S and a drain electrode 104D; a partition wall part (bank) 106 above the gate electrode 102; and an organic semiconductor layer 107 formed in an opening of the partition wall part 106 using an ink jet method. Furthermore, a protection film 108 is formed above the organic semiconductor layer 107, and an interlayer insulator 109 is formed to cover the protection film 108.

Organic thin-film transistor and method of manufacturing organic thin-film transistor


An aqueous, alcoholic or hydroalcholic composition containing one or more oligomers or prepolymers that are polymerized in-situ, while the oligomer(s) is in contact with the hair, for in-situ formation (polymerization) of a polymer. The oligomer compositions contain essentially no toxic, hazardous or harmful monomer(s), such as resorcinol. In-situ polymerization provides substantially increased body to the hair; provides better, more continuous films of polymer into and onto the hair; provides a polymer coating with less flaking; will provide a more complete bond to adjacent hair shafts and to each individual hair shaft; better protects the hair against uptake of humidity; strengthens damaged hair; resists removal through at least three shampoos; are useful together with permanent wave reducing and oxidizing agents to make permanent waves more durable; prevents leach out of hair colors; provides for higher loading of polymer into and onto the hair and, therefore, better set retention; and provides a more durable set retention that also protects the hair against thermal damage and better resists hair uptake of atmospheric contaminants. When the polymerization of the oligomer or prepolymer results in a thermoplastic polymer having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) less than about 120.degree. C., the polymer can be repeatedly heated and cooled to reset the hair many times to reconfigure the hair without degrading the polymer.

Normal hair can be so fine and limp, and so lacking in body that the hair does not hold a hair set well. Furthermore, the hair can become even less bodied and can be weakened further as a result of being subjected to chemically active hair treatments, such as permanent waves and tints. Additionally, hair can be weakened even further by other contributing factors, such as bleaching by sun exposure and/or chlorinated swimming pool water.
Hair setting is basically the process of shaping wet hair by the steps of stretching the hair by curling the hair, fixing the hair in place by drying, then combing to give the finishing touches to provide the desired hair style. In particular, the setting of wet hair can be accomplished by making flat curls from strands of hair and fixing the curls with hairpins to produce "pin curls". Similarly, the wet hair can be set by using any of a variety of rollers or curlers to mechanically fix the hair. In either case, the winding of the wet hair is followed by drying, either by ambient air drying, electric drying or hot air drying.
The inherent problem encountered in hair setting is the natural tendency of the hair to return to its natural shape. For example, the set hair returns to its natural shape almost immediately if moistened. Likewise, high humidity conditions accelerate the tendency of the hair to return to its natural shape. Therefore, intensive efforts have been directed toward providing a hair set with sufficient holding power to maintain the designed hair style until at least the next shampoo, and, therefore, giving the hair set a degree of permanency.
Therefore, investigators have sought to delay the combined action of natural forces and moisture that causes the hair to return to its original state by applying solutions containing naturally-occurring or synthetic polymers after the hair is shaped into a desired configuration. When applied to the shaped hair from aqueous or aqueous/alcoholic solutions (setting lotions), the polymers leave a film on the hair, after drying, to help maintain the hair in the previously shaped configuration. The polymeric film promotes cohesion and gives stability to the hair set to maintain the hold of the hair set. The principal objective of a setting lotion is to cover the previously styled hair with an invisible polymeric film that will give the styled hair a degree of rigidity and protect the hair style against wind and humidity.
Hair spray products act in a similar manner. The hair spray products are applied to wet and/or dry hair and contain a polymer, or mixtures of polymers, that remain fixed on the previously styled hair and affect the hair in various ways. For example, a "mechanical" effect is exerted on each individual hair. The film-forming polymers are used to provide a flexible sheath of polymeric film on the shaped hair after drying and, therefore, for mechanical reasons, retard the return of each individual hair to its natural shape. In addition, the polymeric film provides an overall stiffening of the hair and the hair strands are welded together, and the final hair style has better cohesion, therefore resisting the natural forces that return the hair to its natural shape. Finally, the polymeric film protects the hair from humidity. The ability of the polymeric film to attract and absorb water is preferably minimal, such that the polymeric film retards moisture uptake by hair and retards the return of the hair to the natural configuration.
The general principles of hair setting are thoroughly discussed by C. Zviak, in The Science of Hair Care, Marcel Dekker, pp. 149-181 (1986). Zviak reviews both the polymers used in hair setting products and the formulation principles used to produce a hair set product that provides such beneficial hair set properties as improved hair style hold, easy application and combing, quick drying and non-stickiness, good hair body and bounce, increased hair volume and gloss, and hydrophobicity.
The prior art reveals that nonionic, cationic and anionic polymers have been used in hair set products, with the anionic polymers providing the best hair set results. However, anionic polymers also have disadvantages, such as high water-solubility and, therefore, low hydrophobicity, and low substantivity to hair fibers, therefore, easy elimination from the hair by combing and brushing. As a result, investigators have continued to search for compounds and compositions that provide the primary benefit of an improved durability of the hair set. As previously mentioned, to overcome some of the inherent disadvantages of the polymers utilized to set the hair, hair set products are made available in diversified forms in an attempt to minimize the drawbacks of the particular polymer used in the formulation. For example, hair set products are available as plasticizing lotions, plasticizing gels, aerosol foams, all-purpose lotions, hair sprays, and holding lotions.
Others have attempted to polymerize monomers, in-situ, while in contact with hair, as discussed in "Polymerization Into Human Hair", Robbins, et al., Journal of Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Vol. 25, pp. 407-421, August, 1974; "Modification of Hair By Internal Deposition Of Polymers", Wolfram, Journal of Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Vol. 20, pp. 539-553, Aug. 19, 1969; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,472,604; 3,676,550; 3,634,022 and 4,588,760. The monomers have been problematic due to the tendency of the monomeric materials to be irritating and/or harmful to the hair and/or skin of the user, particularly absorption of harmful monomers into the skin of the user, and of the harsh feel left in the hair or hair discoloration. Further, the reduction of hair prior to treatment generally is necessary and causes additional damage to the hair.
A major deficiency in prior art polymer hair treatments is the lack of durability of these treatments, usually washing out after one or two shampoos. The in-situ polymerization in accordance with the present invention provides a desirable polymer that lasts at least through three shampoos. While other researchers have attempted to improve the durability of polymer treatments by forming the polymer in-situ, the main drawback to these previous treatments was that toxic and/or irritating monomeric species were used. One patent, Breuer U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,659 discloses the application of an oligomer formed by the condensation reaction of glyceraldehyde and resorcinol heated together in the presence of boric acid or silicic acid that only partially polymerizes the monomers. One of the problems with the application of the oligomeric composition disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,659 is that the pH of the composition must be at or below about 1.6 to achieve the polymerization of the monomers due to the necessity of the acid addition, requiring later alkali addition for raising the pH to an acceptable level before the composition can be safely applied to the hair. Another problem with the oligomeric composition disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,659 is that a substantial quantity of monomer that has not polymerized is left in the composition. Resorcinol becomes pink upon exposure to light and air and significant absorption into the skin through the scalp or hands can cause health problems, or even death. Accordingly, until the present invention, there has been no safe and effective oligomeric hair care composition or method of applying an oligomeric composition to hair and further polymerizing the oligomer while in contact with the hair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,612 discloses oligomers such as urethane-acrylates that are photoinitiated in the formation of artificial nails as long as positive benefits are conferred to the hair. Any of the oligomers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,612 are useful in accordance with the present invention so long as the monomer is not harmful to the skin and the U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,616 is hereby incorporated by reference.
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved aqueous, alcoholic or hydroalcoholic composition, or compositions containing other cosmetically acceptable solvents, and methods have been found wherein a safe polymerizable oligomer or prepolymer composition having essentially no irritating or harmful monomers and/or oligomeric materials, is applied to wet or dry hair and, thereafter, the hair is processed to polymerize the oligomer, in-situ, while in contact with the hair, to further polymerize the oligomer(s) or prepolymer(s). The oligomer(s) or prepolymer(s) are polymerized in-situ, e.g., with a thermal appliance, such as a blow dryer or a curling iron, and/or by including a polymerization accelerator or polymerization catalyst in the composition, or in a separate composition. Polymerization, in-situ, without the presence of toxic, hazardous or harmful monomer(s) or oligomer(s), has substantial advantages over application of a completely polymerized polymer or polymerization of an oligomer mixed with toxic or hazardous monomer(s) since in-situ polymerization enables the oligomer to be in contact with the hair during the various polymerization stages for better chemical attachment to the hair while minimizing the possibility of the absorption of harmful monomers into the user's skin. Further, in-situ polymerization provides substantially increased body to the hair; provides better uptake of polymer onto the hair; provides a polymer coating with less flaking; can provide a more complete attachment of the resulting polymer to the hair; better protects the hair against uptake of humidity; strengthens damaged hair; resists removal through at least three shampoos; are useful to make permanent waves more durable without reducing agent odor; prevents leach out of hair colors; can provide for higher loading of polymer into and onto the hair and, therefore, better set retention; protects the hair against thermal damage and better resists hair uptake of atmospheric contaminants.

In-situ polymerization of oligomers onto hair


A medical device for embolic protection within a patient's body vessel is provided. The device includes inner and outer tubular members each having proximal and distal ends and a lumen formed through the proximal and distal ends. A flexible everting filter portion includes a body having a first end attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member and a second end attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member. The inner and outer tubular members are movable relative to one another to position the filter portion within the body vessel. The filter portion is movable from a collapsed, everted delivery and removal configuration to an expanded, generally non-everted deployed configuration. The filter portion expands radially outward to engage the filter body with the body vessel. The filter portion allows the passage of blood cells and prevents the passage of emboli or thrombi through the body vessel.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to medical devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a medical device for embolic protection.
2. Background
With the continuing advance of medical techniques, interventional procedures are more commonly being used to actively treat stenosis, occlusions, lesions, or other defects within a patient's blood vessels. Often the treated regions are in the coronary, carotid, renal, peripheral, cerebral and other blood vessels. For example, atherectomy or thrombectomy devices can be used to remove atheroma or thrombus. Another procedure for treating an occluded or stenosed blood vessel is angioplasty. During angioplasty, an inflatable balloon is introduced into the occluded region. The balloon is inflated, pushing against the plaque or other material of the stenosed region and increasing the intralumenal diameter of the vessel. As the balloon presses against the material, portions of the material may inadvertently break free from the plaque deposit. These emboli may flow downstream where they may block more distal and smaller blood vessel restricting blood flow to a vital organ, such as the brain. Consequences of embolization include stroke, diminished renal function, and impairment of peripheral circulation possibly leading to pain and amputation.
To prevent the risk of damage from emboli, various filtering devices have been proposed. Such devices typically have elements that form legs or a mesh that would capture embolic material, but allow blood cells to flow between the elements. Capturing the emboli in the filter device prevents the material from being lodged downstream in a smaller blood vessel. The filter may then be removed along with the embolic material after the procedure has been performed and the risk from emboli has decreased.
Many challenges exist with filtering devices. Often it is desirable to deploy filter devices, from the proximal side of a stenosis. Therefore, the profile of the filtering device should be significantly smaller than the opening in the stenosed vessel. If the profile of the filtering device is not significantly smaller than the opening, there is an increased risk of dislodging emboli during insertion of the device. Further, if the filter portion is not held against the inside of the vessel wall, there is a risk that embolic material may pass between the filter and the vessel wall. In addition, if the filtering device becomes filled with particles blood flow through the filtering device may be compromised.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for an improved medical device for embolic protection.

Embolic protection device and method of use


A wireless device and network node are provided. According to one aspect, the wireless device includes processing circuitry configured to determine at least a first timing adjustment parameter based on at least a first numerology 5 parameter and adjust the timing of an uplink transmission based on the first timing adjustment parameter. According to another aspect, a method includes a timing adjustment parameter determiner module configured to determine at least a first timing adjustment parameter based on at least a first numerology parameter. The method also includes a timing adjustment module configured to adjust the timing of an uplink transmission based on the first timing adjustment parameter. These arrangements allow for the preservation of network node reception performance.

Wireless communication networks typically rely on time alignment to ensure the ability of the receiver to be able to properly receive and decode a wireless communication signal. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system 10 having wireless devices 12 and base stations 14 useful to aid understanding of this concept. In order to preserve orthogonality in the uplink (UL) in system 10, the UL transmissions from multiple wireless devices 12a-12n (hereinafter wireless 12) need to be time aligned at the evolved node B 14 (eNodeB 14). Since wireless devices 12 may be located at different distances from the eNodeB 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1, wireless devices 12 will need to initiate their UL transmissions at different times.
Time Alignment
A wireless device 12 far from the eNodeB needs to start transmission earlier than a wireless device 12 close to the eNodeB 14. This can, for example, be handled by timing advance of the UL transmissions, such that wireless device 12 starts its UL transmission before a nominal time given by the timing of the DL signal received by wireless device 12. This concept is illustrated in FIG. 2, which illustrates timing advance of UL transmissions depending on distance to eNodeB 14 (arrows pointing downwards indicate downlink transmissions and arrows pointing upwards indicate uplink transmissions). Wireless device 12 transmission timing may be adjusted based on timing advance (TA) commands (in a medium access control (MAC) message) received from the network or autonomously by wireless device 12. The timing adjustment has to meet certain accuracy requirements and is typically done in steps of a predefined size.
Wireless Device 12 Autonomous Timing Adjustment Based on DL Reception Timing
The UL timing advance is maintained by eNodeB 14 through timing alignment or timing advance (TA) commands to the wireless device 12 based on measurements on UL transmissions from that wireless device 12. This is also called a network controlled or eNB 14 controlled wireless device 12 transmit timing. Through timing alignment commands, the wireless device is ordered to start its UL transmissions earlier or later.
Different serving cells used by the same wireless device may have different timing advance. Serving cells sharing the same TA value (for example, depending on the deployment) for the same wireless device may be configured by the eNB to belong to a so called TA group (TAG). If at least one serving cell of the TA group is time aligned, all serving cells belonging to the same group may use this TA value.
According to the current requirements of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the wireless device shall adjust the timing of its transmissions with a relative accuracy better than or equal to within ±4*TS to the signaled timing advance value compared to the timing of preceding uplink transmission, where TS is a time unit. The timing advance command is expressed in multiples of 16*TS and is relative to the current uplink timing.
In addition to the timing advance (TA) based adjustment of the UL transmit timing, there is also a pre-defined requirement on wireless device 12 to autonomously adjust its UL timing in response to the drift in eNode B 14 transmit timing, i.e., the DL reference cell, which is the serving cell. More specifically, wireless device 12 is required to follow the change in the frame transmit timing of the DL reference cell, e.g., serving cell, and correspondingly adjust its transmit timing for each transmission. Wireless device 12 typically uses some sort of reference signals to track the downlink timing of the serving cell, e.g., common reference signal, synchronization signals, etc.
The autonomous timing adjustment is applied by wireless device 12 for transmitting uplink signals when wireless device 12 does not have a valid timing advance adjustment command. Wireless device 12 also applies autonomous timing adjustment for initial transmission of signals, e.g., random access transmission. Wireless device 12 also applies autonomous timing adjustment for first transmission of signals in DRX or after long inactivity, e.g., time alignment timer (TAT) expires rendering the TA command invalid. All autonomous timing adjustments made to the wireless device uplink timing follow some rules. For example:                The maximum amount of the magnitude of the timing change in one adjustment is Tq seconds.        The minimum aggregate adjustment rate is 7*Ts per second.        The maximum aggregate adjustment rate is Tq per 200 ms,where Ts=32.55 nanoseconds (ns) and Tq depends on the bandwidth of the DL reference cell. An example of Tq is 3.5 Ts for a DL BW of 10 MHz or larger.
The serving cell timing may change for different reasons, e.g., due to variation in radio conditions, imperfection in clocks, maintenance activities, deliberate attempt by the network to change timing, etc. In addition, it is also required that wireless device 12 changes its timing (increase or decrease) with a certain rate. This is to make sure that wireless device 12 does not change the timing too fast. This requirement stems from the fact that if wireless device 12 changes its timing in the order of several microseconds (μs) from subframe to subframe, the base station receiver may not be able to cope with the received signals. This will result in degradation of demodulation of signals transmitted by wireless device 12.
Numerologies
For Long Term Evolution (LTE), the term "numerology" may include, e.g., the following elements, i.e., parameters: frame duration, subframe or transmission time interval (TTI) duration, slot duration, symbol duration and number of symbols per slot and subframe, subcarrier spacing, sampling frequency, fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, number of subcarriers per resource Block (RB), number of RBs within the bandwidth, and cyclic prefix length. Note that different numerologies may result in different numbers of RBs within the same bandwidth.
The exact values for the numerology elements in different radio access technologies are typically driven by performance targets. As an example, performance requirements impose constraints on usable subcarrier spacing sizes. As another example, the maximum acceptable phase noise and the slow decay of the spectrum (impacting filtering complexity and guardband sizes) set the minimum subcarrier bandwidth for a given carrier frequency, and the required cyclic prefix sets the maximum subcarrier bandwidth for a given carrier frequency.
However, the numerology used so far in the existing radio access technologies (RATs) is rather static and typically can be trivially derived by wireless device 12, e.g., by one-to-one mapping to the RAT, frequency band, service type (e.g., multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS)), etc.
In LTE downlink which is orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM)-based, the subcarrier spacing is 15 kHz for normal cyclic prefix (CP) and 15 kHz and 7.5 kHz (i.e., the reduced carrier spacing) for extended CP, where the latter is allowed only for MBMS-dedicated carriers. The support of multiple numerologies has been agreed for new radio (NR), which can be multiplexed in the frequency and/or time domain for the same or different wireless devices.
In New Radio (NR), which is to be based on orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM), multiple numerologies will be supported for general operation. A scaling approach (based on a scaling factor 2n, n=1, 2, . . . ) is considered for deriving subcarrier spacing candidates for NR: 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, etc. Subcarrier spacing(s) of up to 960 kHz are currently being discussed for NR (the highest discussed values corresponding to millimeter-wave based technologies). Further, multiplexing different numerologies within a same NR carrier bandwidth should be supported, and frequency division multiplexing (FDM) and/or time division multiplexing (TDM) can be considered. Further, multiple frequency/time portions using different numerologies should share a synchronization signal, where the synchronization signal refers to the signal itself and the time-frequency resource used to transmit the synchronization signal. Also, the numerology used can be selected independently of the frequency band although it is assumed that a very low subcarrier spacing will not be used at very high carrier frequencies. FIG. 3 illustrates example subcarrier spacing candidate configurations for NR with various cell sizes 16 and various frequencies 18.
NR Architecture
NR (also known as 5G or Next Generation) architecture is being discussed in 3GPP and the current concept is illustrated in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, eNB denotes LTE eNodeB 14, gNB denotes NR base station (BS) 20 (one NR BS 20 may correspond to one or more transmission/reception points), and the lines between the nodes illustrate the corresponding interfaces which are under discussion in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Further, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate deployment scenarios with NR BS 20 which are discussed in 3GPP.

Autonomous timing adjustment for a wireless device


An aircraft collision avoidance system includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, a plurality of sensor processors, a plurality of transmitters, and a display device. Each 3D LIDAR sensor is enclosed in an aircraft exterior lighting fixture that is configured for mounting on an aircraft, and is configured to sense objects within its field-of-view and supply sensor data. Each sensor processor receives sensor data and processes the received sensor data to determine locations and physical dimensions of the sensed objects. Each transmitter receives the object data, and is configured to transmit the received object data. The display device receives and fuses the object data transmitted from each transmitter, fuses the object data and selectively generates one or more potential obstacle alerts based on the fused object data.

Aircraft pilots often maneuver an aircraft while on the ground. This may happen, for example, during ground operations, such as when the aircraft is taxiing, being maneuvered to or from a hangar, or being maneuvered to or from a terminal. Collisions with an obstacle can not only damage the aircraft, but can also put the aircraft out of service and result in flight cancellations. The costs associated with the repair and grounding of an aircraft are significant. As such, the timely detection and avoidance of obstacles that lie in the ground path of a vehicle is an important issue that needs to be addressed.
Obstacles on the ground, such as structures, other vehicles and other obstacles, may lie in the path of the aircraft. These obstacles can be detected by the pilot via line of sight. However, in many instances, due to the dimensions of the aircraft (e.g., large wing sweep angles, distance from cockpit to wingtip) and the pilot's limited field of view, it can be difficult to monitor extremes of the aircraft during ground operations. As a result, the operator may not be able to detect obstacles that are located in "blind spots" in proximity to the aircraft. In many cases, the pilot may not detect an obstacle until it is too late to take corrective action. To alleviate this, many aircraft include various types of sensors to sense potential or imminent strikes.
In some systems, the sensors that are used are radar sensors, which may be integrated into the aircraft wing tip lights. These systems, however, exhibit certain drawbacks. For example, these systems have exhibited operational issues due to false alarms arising from non-threat objects in the vicinity of the aircraft. This is due, in part, to lack of sensor resolution and concomitant capability to discriminate the size and elevation of potential objects.
Hence, there is a need for an aircraft collision avoidance system that exhibits sufficient resolution and concomitant capability to discriminate the size and elevation of potential objects, to thereby eliminate, or at least reduce, false alarms.

Lidar-based aircraft collision avoidance system


An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a carrier housing, a main carrier support plate for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers through predetermined paths while dispensing fine denier yarns toward a braiding zone. Each yarn carrier has a spindle for mounting a molded bobbin, with a spindle tip having a recess engageable with resilient leg portions of a bobbin hold down member hingedly mounted for rotation relative to the carrier housing. Tension on the yarn controls rotational movement of the bobbin to dispense yarn therefrom, and the tension of the final braided suture product is controlled to form a product of predetermined uniform appearance.

Braided products and apparatus for production of such products are well-knows. Typical of the braiding mechanisms used for such products are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 776,842 to Horwood, 1,154,964 to Bentley, 1,285,451 to Stanton, 1,358,173 to Penso et al., 1,486,527 to Larkin, 1,785,683 to Mallory, 2,079,836 to Brown et al., 2,200,323 to Barrans et al., 2,452,136 to Marti, 4,158,984 to Griffiths, 4,304,169 to Cimprich et al., 4,333,380 to Kozlowski, 4,716,807 to Fischer, 4,753,149 to Celani, 4,909,127 to Skelton et al. and 4,922,798 to Ivsan. British Patent Publication No. 138,069 dated Sep. 2, 1920 relates to improvements in such braiding devices.
Sutures intended for the repair of body tissues must meet certain requirements: they must be substantially non-toxic, capable of being readily sterilized, they must have good tensile strength and have acceptable knot-tying and knot-holding characteristics and if the sutures are of the bio-absorbable variety, the bio-absorption of the suture must be closely controlled.
Sutures have been constructed from a wide variety of materials including surgical gut, silk, cotton, polyolefins such as polypropylene, polyamides, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyglycolic acid, glycolide-lactide copolymer, etc. Although the optimum structure of a suture is that of a monofilament, since certain materials of construction would provide a stiff monofilament suture lacking acceptable handling, knot-tying and knot-holding properties, sutures manufactured from such materials have been provided as braided structures. Thus, for example, sutures manufactured from silk, polyamide, polyester and bio-absorbable glycolide-lactide copolymer are usually provided as multifilament braids.
currently available braided suture products are braided on conventional braider apparatus having yarn bobbin carriers which travel around the perimeter of a braider deck to result in a tubular type braid with the yarns crossing over each other on the surface of the braid. In larger suture sizes, e.g., 5/0 and larger, the tubular braid, or sheath, is constructed about a core structure which is fed through the center of the braider. Known tubular braided sutures, including those possessing cores, are disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,187,752; 3,565,077; 4,014,973; 4,043,344; and 4,047,533.
Recent attempts to improve the flexibility, hand and tissue drag characteristics of braided sutures have resulted in new braid structures possessing a significantly greater number of sheath yarns for a given overall denier, the sheath yarns being fabricated from individual filaments of finer denier than filaments which are typical of known types of braided sutures. Braided sutures of this type are disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 491,215 filed Mar. 9, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,093 on May 28, 1991, and related applications. The foregoing application discloses sutures braided from yarns having a denier in the range of about 0.2 to 6.0 and, optionally, a core having a denier of from about 50 to about 2500 denier. Improvements in such apparatus and methods for continuously braiding fine denier yarns into fine braided products having predetermined construction and appearance suitable for use in body tissue repair are disclosed in parent application Ser. No. 07/569,079, now abandoned in favor of FWC application Ser. No. 08/702,344, incorporated herein by reference, and include a quick release braider bobbin top holder. The foregoing improvements and those of the present application may find application in the manufacture of both tubular braided structures and so-called spiroid braided structures, with or without a core.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for braiding elongate flexible members to form a final braided product, preferably a surgical suture made from fine denier yarns. The braided product may be of the type formed only of a tubular braided sheath, a substantially solid spiroid braid, or a tubular or spiroid braided sheath formed about a center core. In particular, the present invention is directed to improvements which make it possible to quickly mount and/or remove a yarn bobbin onto or from a yarn bobbin carrier with high efficiency and speed and to secure the bobbin to the carrier with a securing mechanism which is simple to operate, does not require a high level of dexterity, and which is not tiring or injurious to the muscles of the operator.
In the braider apparatus of the present invention a plurality of yarn bobbin carriers move about a main carrier support plate to dispense yarns toward a braiding zone where the yarns are braided together to form a final braided product, preferably a surgical suture. The preferred apparatus includes means for controlling tension on the yarns dispensed from the bobbins to form the braided suture product and to control the tension on the final braided product. Each yarn carrier includes a spindle onto which a novel molded bobbin having a central aperture is mounted for rotational movement relative to the spindle. Each bobbin has a number of radial segments engageable with a pawl on the carrier for selectively permitting rotation of the bobbin in response to yarn tension in order to control the dispensing of yarn from the bobbin.
In accordance with the invention, a bobbin top holder base is fixedly mounted relative to the yarn carrier adjacent the top of the yarn carrier spindle and, hence, adjacent to the top of a bobbin situated thereon. The bobbin top holder base has hinge pins, and a bobbin top holder is hingedly mounted to the bobbin holder base at the hinge pins. The bobbin top holder has two longitudinally extending legs defining a slot therebetween and, more specifically, a spindle engaging recess having an inwardly projecting radiused section to engage a corresponding circumferential recess in the spindle adjacent the spindle tip. The bobbin holder legs are formed of a resilient plastic material which is sufficiently flexible to permit the legs to spread apart as the legs are forced over the spindle tip, and resiliently reassume a rest position disposed within the circumferential recess of the spindle to hold the bobbin on the spindle.
In use, the bobbin top holder first is disposed in an unlocked or open position rotated away from the spindle to permit mounting of a bobbin loaded with yarn onto the carrier. After the bobbin is mounted, the bobbin top holder is rotated into contact with the spindle tip with sufficient force to cause the bobbin top holder legs to spread apart and mount over the spindle, resiliently resuming a rest or contracted position disposed within the circumferential recess of the spindle tip, thereby securing the bobbin on the carrier. The braider apparatus thereafter is operated to form a final braided product, preferably a surgical suture. In order to remove an empty bobbin, sufficient upward force is exerted on the bobbin holder legs to cause the bobbin legs to spread apart, leave the spindle recess, and become disengaged from the spindle. The preferred bobbin holder is injection molded of an elastomeric plastic material which is sufficiently resilient to permit many cycles of bobbin mounting without failure of the bobbin top holder.
The bobbin holder of the invention is convenient to use and advantageously improves the efficiency of the preferred braider apparatus.

Braider apparatus with improved bobbin holder


A vehicle lamp includes a heat-dissipation base, a light source mounted on the heat-dissipation base, a lightguide having a light incident surface for receiving light from the light source, a light outgoing surface for projecting a portion of light received from the light source, opposite upper and bottom surfaces disposed between the light incident and light outgoing surfaces, and a light-guiding structure formed on the upper surface. The lightguide is configured to guide a portion of a light beam entering the light incident surface to the light outgoing surface, with the light-guiding structure configured to guide another portion of the light beam entering the light incident surface to be outputted through the bottom surface. A condensing lens is further provided to receive light from the light outgoing surface and the bottom surface.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a light-guiding pillar and a vehicle using the same.
Description of Related Art
Vehicular luminaire has already been one of the key development projects in the field of lighting. In recent years, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have gradually replaced the conventional light sources applied in vehicular luminaires because LEDs have advantages such as high luminous efficacy, high brightness, low power consumption and instant response.
However, due to the shape and size of LEDs emitting surface, there are various problems in focusing design to be solved if the optical system in vehicular luminaires is projection type or PES type. As a result, there is still room to improve optical efficiency of different vehicle lighting systems under the condition of complying with the relative regulations of vehicle lighting.


A modulation contrast microscope that affords good view of sperm in ICSI, in particular, good view during sperm manipulation in ICSI, by improving contrast of the end portion of the tail includes the modulation contrast microscope comprises an aperture member having a partial aperture disposed at or near the front focal plane of a condenser lens, and a modulator disposed at a plane substantially conjugate with the aperture member, at or near the rear focal plane of a first objective lens or a conjugate plane thereof. The transmittance T(%) of a region of the modulator, corresponding to the partial aperture, satisfies the condition 1 £ T £ 8. Good viewing for ICSI sperm manipulation can be obtained as a result.

So-called modulation contrast microscopy (Hoffman modulation contrast) is a known microscopy method disclosed in Patent document 1. Manufacturers build contrast microscopes on the basis of the principles disclosed in Patent document 1.
Patent document 2 discloses a modulation contrast microscope that is based on the principles of Patent document 1. The modulation contrast microscope comprises a light source, a condenser lens, an aperture disposed in the front focal position of the condenser lens, an objective lens, and a modulator disposed at a position substantially conjugate with the aperture and having a region of transmittance T(%), wherein the microscope is configured so as to satisfy the conditions of formula (1) and formula (2):1.05<|(Mo′×fc)/(Mc′×fr)|<1.4  (1)8<T<25  (2)
In formula (1) and formula (2), Mo′ denotes the size, in the radial direction, of a region of transmittance T within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis in which the modulator is arranged, Mc′ denotes the size of the aperture in the radial direction, centered around the microscope optical axis, fc is the focal distance of the condenser lens, and fr is the focal distance of the optical system from the surface of a specimen up to the modulator.
In addition to formula (1) and formula (2), Patent document 2 discloses also an instance where the microscope further satisfies the conditions of formula (3):0.2R<D<0.6R  (3)
In formula (3), R denotes the size of the effective radius of the plane at which the modulator is disposed, and D denotes the distance from the region of transmittance T from the microscope optical axis.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 51-128548
Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-131139
As indicated in Patent document 2, so-called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) has been used in recent years as an in-vitro fertilization technique for the treatment of infertility.
To inject a sperm into an egg cell, the normal procedure of ICSI often involves suctioning first a sperm from the tail of the latter. Sperm of good morphology must be selected, and it must be ensured that sperm are pipetted from the outmost end of the tail so as not to damage the sperm, in order to increase the fertilization success rate.
Under the modulation contrast microscopy conditions set forth in Patent document 1 and Patent document 2, however, contrast is weak for sperm, which in ICSI is as important as the egg. Contrast is weak, in particular, at the tail end of the sperm. The above methods are problematic in that, as a result, it is difficult to distinguish the tail end portion within the small form of sperm, and it is thus difficult to select sperm of good morphology, and to pipette sperm from the outmost end of the tail.
In particular, Patent document 2 sets forth "viewing is thus optimized, with good balance between resolution and contrast, but without excessive contrast, also in fine portions such as the zona pellucida and granules of the egg, by setting the partial aperture and the length of the region of transmittance T to lie within the range of formula (1) above". Patent document 2, however, does not set out any rationale for the transmittance T in formula (2), nor does it make any mention of contrast in sperm, in particular the tail.