The present disclosure discloses an optical imaging lens assembly including, sequentially from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, a seventh lens and an eighth lens. The first lens has a positive refractive power; the second lens has a negative refractive power; the third lens has a positive or negative refractive power; the fourth lens has a positive refractive power, an object-side surface thereof is a convex surface, and an image-side surface thereof is a convex surface; the fifth lens has a positive or negative refractive power, and an image-side surface thereof is a concave surface; the sixth lens has a positive or negative refractive power; the seventh lens has a positive refractive power; and the eighth lens has a negative refractive power.

In recent years, with the rapid development of science and technology, imaging lens assemblies applicable for portable electronic products are changing with each passing day, and people have higher and higher requirements for the imaging quality of imaging lenses assembly. However, as the portable electronic products are trending toward miniaturization, the requirements for the total length of imaging lenses assembly are becoming more and more stringent, which in turn cause the design freedom of the lenses assembly reduce, and the design difficulty increase.
At the same time, with the improvement of image sensors such as Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or
Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) and the reduce of the size thereof, higher requirements are placed on the corresponding imaging lens assemblies. The imaging lens assemblies are required to meet the miniaturization while having a high imaging quality.


A data receiver includes group envelope detection circuitry that produces a group envelope voltage. The group envelope voltage represents the average envelope of a plurality of amplified data signals. Associated feedback adjusts the gains applied to each data signal to minimize any difference between the group envelope voltage and a reference voltage. The reference voltage is preferably the envelope of a clock signal associated with the data signals.

The invention relates to automatic gain control in signal receivers.
High-speed digital systems such as memory systems sometimes use a form of I/O in which data is defined by a differential voltage signal. A differential voltage signal comprises a pair of complementary signals. A high logic level is represented by setting a first of the signals to a relatively high voltage and the second of the signals to a relatively low voltage. A low logic level is represented by switching the two voltages, so that the first signal has a relatively lower voltage than the second signal. Differential signaling is advantageous because of its relative immunity to noise and other signal degradations. A disadvantage of differential signaling is that it requires two signal lines for every data bit.
In order to reduce the number of data signaling lines, single-ended signaling is often used in high speed circuits. This particular type of signaling is non-differential, although it is sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cpseudo differentialxe2x80x9d signaling. Pseudo differential signaling specifies logic levels as voltages relative to a common, intermediate reference voltage. For example, a signal might be defined to represent a high logic level whenever its voltage is above the reference voltage, and to represent a low logic level whenever its voltage is below the reference voltage. This type of signaling requires fewer conductors than differential signaling, because a single reference line can be used in conjunction with many data signal lines. Although this type of signaling is less immune to signal degradation than differential signaling, it represents a distinct improvement over signaling systems in which signal levels are specified in terms of absolute voltages, rather than in relation to a specified reference voltage. Typically, a reference voltage signal is transmitted alongside data signals so that the same sources of noise will affect both the reference signal and the data signals. This tends to cancel the effects of the noise and provides some degree of noise immunity.
Regardless of whether signals are differential or non-differential, it is frequently desirable to perform some sort of signal buffering and/or conditioning at the receiving device. This is typically accomplished by a data receiver corresponding to each incoming signal line.
FIG. 1 shows a data receiver 10 that buffers an incoming data signal DIN to form a buffered or amplified internal data signal DOUT. This circuit uses automatic gain control to achieve a desired voltage amplitude at DOUT.
Data receiver 10 comprises a variable gain amplifier 12 that receives DIN and produces DOUT. The receiver also has an envelope detector 14 that detects the voltage amplitude of signal DOUT. An envelope detector or peak detector is a well-known type of circuit whose output voltage tracks the peak or swing voltages of a modulating input voltage such as a data signal.
FIG. 2 shows a simplified example of an envelope detector 14, comprising an FET control transistor M, a tracking capacitance C, a charging current source ICH, and a discharging current source IDIS. Transistor M is controlled by data signal DOUT to charge capacitance C whenever DOUT is relatively high. When the voltage VENV on capacitance C approaches the voltage of DOUT, the transistor shuts off because of the reduced gate-to-source voltage of the transistor in this condition. Thus, the transistor charges capacitance C to approximately the xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d logic level of DOUT. The size of current source ICH determines the xe2x80x9cattackxe2x80x9d rate of the envelope detectorxe2x80x94the rate at which output voltage VENV will climb in response to an increased voltage at DOUT. Current source IDIS is connected to slowly discharge capacitance C, to account for situations in which the peak levels of DIN decrease over time. The size of current source IDIS determines the xe2x80x9cdecayxe2x80x9d rate of the envelope detectorxe2x80x94the rate at which output voltage VENV will fall in response to a decreased input voltage DOUT. IDIS is chosen to be small enough so that the voltage at DOUT will remain close to its peak value between peaks that occur in DIN.
If appropriate sizes are selected for current sources ICH and IDIS, an envelope detector can be configured to produce an output that closely tracks the peak voltages of a data signal. Although the envelope detector of FIG. 2 is configured to detect positive signal peaks, the circuit can be easily altered to detect negative peaks in an input signal.
Referring again to FIG. 1, envelope detector 14 is configured to determine and track the peak voltage of output signal DOUT, and to produce a voltage signal VENV representing this peak voltage. A feedback component 20 receives VENV and compares it to a supplied reference amplitude VAMP. The output of feedback component 20 is connected to the gain control of amplifier 12, forming a feedback loop that operates to minimize any difference between the peak output VENV of signal DOUT and the supplied amplitude reference VAMP. In other words, this circuit sets the gain of amplifier 12 so that the peak voltage of output DOUT is approximately equal to the voltage of VAMP. In implementation, feedback component 20 is a gm stage whose output increases or decreases depending on the relative values of its inputs.
FIG. 3 shows data receiver 10, with the generic representation of amplifier 12 of FIG. 1 being replaced by a more detailed implementation of a differential amplifier circuit. Such a differential amplifier is typically used in conjunction with an input an input data signal DIN that is specified relative to an intermediate reference voltage VREF, which is relatively constant. The differential amplifier produces a differential voltage output DOUT having + and xe2x88x92 outputs.
The differential amplifier comprises a differential pair of FET transistors M2 and M3, whose sources are connected in common. The drains of M2 and M3 form the high and low outputs of differential voltage output signal DOUT, and are connected through respective loads R1LOAD and R2LOAD to a high supply voltage Vdd. The gates of M2 and M3 are connected respectively to DIN and VREF. The sources of M2 and M3 are connected in common through a biasing current source IBIAS to a low supply voltage Vss.
The input of envelope detector 14 is connected to the positive side of differential output DOUT. The output of feedback component 20 controls current source IBIAS, which in turn controls the gain of the amplifier circuit. Feedback component 20 receives the output of envelope detector 14 and the amplitude reference VAMP, and therefore establishes the gain of the amplifier circuit so that the peak voltage of output signal DOUT is approximately equal to VAMP.
The circuits described above have been used with success in many situations. However, problems arise in certain situations. One problem arises from the use of automatic gain control and envelope detectors in situations where there are relatively long periods without a transition in the received data signal. For example, a relatively long period in which a data signal remains low results in a decaying envelope voltage, which in turn causes automatic gain control circuits to inappropriately increase circuit gains. Furthermore, in many cases it is challenging to determine the optimal amplitude of DOUT. It is desirable to keep the amplitude as low as possible to reduce power consumption, but also to keep it as high as necessary to ensure accurate differentiation between high and low signals.
A further concern arises where a data signal is precisely timed relative to other signals. In cases such as this, it is important to maintain the relative timing between the two or more signals. However, variations in amplification can affect this timing. This problem arises, for example, with incoming signals that must exceed a certain threshold voltage in order for them to be resolved by receiving circuitry. In a situation like this, a signal having a relatively higher amplitude will be resolved more quickly than a signal having a relatively lower amplitude. Thus, differences, in amplification between two signals will be perceived as timing differences by receiving circuitry.
Differences in duty cycles between two signals can also affect their relative timings as perceived by receiving circuitry. This problem can arise in situations where one signal is a true differential voltage signal and the other is a non-differential or pseudo-differential voltage signal. A differential voltage signal typically achieves very close to a 50% duty cycle, even after amplification. Non-differential signals, however, are often subject to disproportionate amplification with respect to the positive and sides of their waveforms. This is especially true in circuits where reduced supply voltages are employed in order to increase circuit speeds. In such circuits, current sources sometimes begin to operate below saturation typically reducing the amount of amplification applied to negative portions of waveforms. This has the effect of changing the duty cycle of an amplified signal, which also changes the relative point in time at which the signal crosses specified voltage thresholds.
The circuits and techniques described below address these and other issues.


A system and method are provided for parallel processing data that is forward error correction (FEC) protected with multiple codewords. The method accepts an electrical waveform representing a digital wrapper frame of interleaved FEC codewords. Typically, the codeword encoding is solved using an algorithm such as linear block codes, cyclical block codes, Hamming, Reed-Solomon, or Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH). The method calculates a first set of syndromes for a first codeword. In parallel with the calculation of the first set of syndromes, a second set of syndromes is calculated for a second codeword with a data component shared with the first codeword. Using the first set of syndromes, an error magnitude and location (EML) of the first codeword is performed. Using the second set of syndromes, an EML of the second codeword is performed in parallel with the EML of the first codeword.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to signal communication and processing and, more particularly, to a system and method for parallely recalculating the syndromes of forward error corrected signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
The bytes in serial communication streams are often interleaved to prevent errors due to relatively long bursts of noise. ITU-T Recommendation G.975. 1, Forward error correction for high bit-rate dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) submarine systems, is one example of a standardized interleaved forward error correction (FEC) code. Proprietary telecommunication optical transport network (OTN) framers also use forward error correction interleaved codes.
FIG. 1 is diagram depicting a forward error correction (FEC) interleaving scheme using inner and outer codewords (prior art). Although there are any number of possible methods for interleaving FEC codes, the general method for nesting codes is to protect one or more code words (called the inner code) by encoding it's contents within the information portion of one or more additional codewords (called the outer code). This nesting operation may be performed any number of times resulting in any number of nesting levels.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram depicting an FEC pipeline for inner/outer encoding and decoding (prior art). One method for encoding data to be FEC protected is to pass such data to an initial inner encoder. Once the data is encoded and parity check data has been added to the original data, both the data and parity are passed to a second outer encoder. The inner data and parity may or may not be reorganized and redistributed before being passed to the outer encoders. The outer encoder then calculates and adds additional parity check data to protect the inner code's data and parity. These steps may be repeated any number of times to generate any number of codeword nesting levels. The distribution of data from inner codewords within outer codewords is arbitrary and is usually dependent on the desired application in question.
Decoding nested codeword reverses the steps implemented in the encoding pipeline. Encoded data is received and passed to an outer decoder which calculates the syndromes of incoming codewords. The decoder determines if errors have occurred and proceeds to locate and correct data errors from the initially calculated syndrome values. At this point, the data may still contain errors if the data was corrupted beyond the correction capability of the outer FEC code. However, these errors may still be correctable by the inner decoder. After disinterleaving, the data is passed to the inner decoder, which attempts to correct errors by standard syndrome calculation and error location. Optionally, the data may be reinterleaved and be repeatedly decoded through inner and outer decoders. Whether with additional discrete decoders, or by feeding the output of the inner decoder back into the outer decoder, this data may be iteratively decoded through a chain or pipeline of FEC decoders. While the steps of iteratively decoding increases the likelihood of recovering correct data, it comes at a cost in processing time.
It would be advantageous if encoding-nested codewords could decoded in parallel at all levels of nesting to reduce latency.
It would be advantageous if codeword decoding could be implemented using only initially calculated and readjusted codeword syndromes, without further manipulation of the original received data after the initial syndrome calculation. It would be advantageous if data could be stored in a memory device and accessed only when error correction was deemed necessary.

Parallel forward error correction with syndrome recalculation


A vehicle including a lower reinforcement assembly for a front pillar assembly includes a rocker outer reinforcement member that extends in a vehicle lengthwise direction and includes a vertically oriented face. An upper portion extends inwardly from the face in a vehicle widthwise direction and a lower portion extends inwardly from the face in the vehicle widthwise direction thereby defining a vehicle lengthwise extending cavity. A front pillar lower reinforcement member is connected to the rocker outer reinforcement member. The front pillar lower reinforcement member includes an upwardly extending pillar portion and a lengthwise extending rocker portion having a vertically oriented face that extends downwardly terminating at the face of the outer reinforcement member at a lower edge that extends in the vehicle lengthwise direction. The front pillar lower reinforcement member includes a lower wrap reinforcement structure that extends downwardly beyond the lower edge and inwardly in the vehicle widthwise direction over a corner of the rocker outer reinforcement member. The corner connects the face of the rocker outer reinforcement member and the lower portion of the rocker outer reinforcement member.

Vehicles typically use various frame structures, such as reinforcements, to provide vehicle stiffness. For example, front pillar assemblies can provide structural support for a roof of the vehicle as well as transfer a force from a frontal impact to other vehicle structures. Reinforcement structures may be used to reduce deformation of the vehicle. Which structures reduce deformation of the vehicle during an impact can depend on the type and direction of impact. For example, for a frontal impact, different vehicle structures may be implicated depending on the location and direction of the frontal impact. Two types of frontal offset impacts include a moderate overlap frontal crash and a small overlap frontal crash. While moderate overlap frontal crashes affect a relatively moderate number of vehicle reinforcement structures and collision mechanisms, small overlap frontal crashes affect outer edges of the vehicle.

Front pillar assemblies with front pillar lower reinforcement members having lower wrap reinforcement structures

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations and preferably a transport device for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations, is characterized in that at least one heatable reagent station (1) is provided as a processing station.

This invention claims priority of the German patent application 100 41 227.0 filed Aug. 22, 2000 which is incorporated by reference herein.
The invention concerns an apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations and preferably a transport device for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations.
The reader is referred, purely by way of example, to EP 0 849 582 A2. This document discloses a generic apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens. In this, cytological or histological specimens are conveyed by way of an object carrier or basket to an automatic stainer, the automatic stainer comprising multiple processing stations.
The generic apparatus known from EP 0 849 582 A2 comprises various processing stations that are to be understood, however, as conventional reagent baths. No provision is made therein for more extensive measures to promote the action of the reagents or indeed to promote a reactive process.
It is the object of the present invention to configure and further develop an apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, in such a way that staining operations, actions of reagents, or indeed reactive processes can be promoted.
The aforesaid object is achieved by an apparatus characterized in that at least one heatable reagent station is provided as a processing station.
What has been recognized according to the present invention is that the action of reagents, for example the staining of tissue samples but also reactive processes, can be promoted by the fact that the reagent station is of heatable configuration. It is not necessary in this context to heat all the processing stations or indeed equip them with individual heating devices. The provision of a single heatable reagent station or a definable number of heatable reagent stations is sufficient, so that a xe2x80x9cspecial treatmentxe2x80x9d can take place within that reagent station.
Advantageously, the reagent station could be provided as an additional processing station, in which case an arrangement, for example, in front of, alongside, or behind the actual processing station is then necessary or possible. A relevant clearance would need to be maintained.
It is also conceivable, however, to provide the reagent station as replacement for a conventional processing station, so that the heatable reagent station can easily be retrofitted. The electrical connection for the heating device could be introduced from outside the housing of the apparatus, so that no further installation effort is necessary. It is also conceivable to provide an electrical connection directly on the housing, a permanent electrical connection or wiring from the housing to the heatable reagent station then being necessary.
In particular to achieve sufficient flexibility for the apparatus, it is advantageous if in total two reagent stations, preferably arranged next to or behind one another, are provided. The provision of further heatable reagent stations is conceivable, in which context the actual number of reagent stations under discussion here should be adapted to the actual requirement.
Concretely, the reagent station could comprise a container that has dimensions similar to those of the containers of a conventional processing station. Simple replacement is thus possible, in which context heating and power supply must be ensured.
The container or the wall of the container could be produced from a thermally insulating material, specifically in order to prevent excessively rapid outward dissipation of heat. The heating device could be arranged inside the container (similarly to a heating element) or could be integrated into the wall or the floor of the container. The wall of the container could be produced from plastic or ceramic.
As an alternative to the embodiment recited above, the container could be produced from a thermally conductive material so that heat transfer inwardxe2x80x94toward the liquidxe2x80x94is promoted. In this respect the container could be produced from metal. To decrease thermal radiation outward, the wall of the container could be surrounded by a thermal insulator so that the container operates similarly to a THERMOS(copyright) vessel.
In particularly advantageous fashion, the container has a highly thermally conductive and preferably heat-storing base, said base possibly being embodied as the bottom of the metal block forming the container. The heat-storing property of the container would thereby be promoted.
It has already been mentioned earlier that an electrical heating device, for example a heating element, could be integrated inside the container. It is also conceivable, however, to integrate the heating device into the base embodied as a metal block, so that the heat is transferred from there, by direct heat exchange, to the liquid or to the reagents. A corresponding electrical connection would need to be provided on the container, a plug connection being very particularly suitable in this context.
In additionally advantageous fashion, the reagent station could have a preferably thermally insulating holder for reception of the container. A recess for emplacement or insertion of the container could be configured inside the holder. In additionally advantageous fashion, the holder could comprise an electrical heating device that, in the context of a preferred embodiment, can be embodied as an electrical heating plate integrated into the holder. The holder would correspondingly need to possess electrical connections that in turn can be implemented in the form of plug connections.
The holderxe2x80x94with or without heating devicexe2x80x94could be configured for simultaneous reception of two or more containers, the holder having for that purpose recesses in accordance with the number of vessels to be received. It is possible in this context for all the vessels emplaced into the holder to be heated simultaneously by a single heating device. To obtain the greatest possible flexibility for the apparatus claimed, the holder could comprise two or more heating devices operating independently of one another so that the individual vessels are heatable separately, in which context, if only one container is loaded, heating of only that container is also necessary and achievable. Energy consumption is thereby undoubtedly reduced.
In particular to prevent any overflow of the container into the housing and to prevent any undesired contamination with the reagents being used, the reagent station, in particular the holder serving to receive the container, is positioned in a pan, the pan possibly being inserted into the housing in place of the other processing stations (to replace one or two processing stations). In any event, the pan could comprise particular holding means for receiving and optionally securing the holder, in which in turn the container or containers are inserted. For connection of the electrical heating device, the pan could comprise electrical connections so that a direct electrical connection is possible without additional modification.
The pan could furthermore have an outflow, preferably in the form of an outflow fitting connectable to an outflow line, so that overflowed or dumped reagents can be discharged. A detector arranged in the pan could detect the fill level of the pan and trigger an alarm when a definable (critical) fill level in the pan is reached.
Lastly, be it noted that the heating device itself, or the heating plate, the holder, or even the pan, can be equipped with one or more temperature sensors so that closed-loop control is possible in consideration of adjustable temperature values. In this respect it is also possible to provide a temperature sensor inside the container so that closed-loop control of the liquid temperature present in the container can be performed. An integrated or separate control unit could be provided for closed-loop or open-loop control of the heating device. Retrofitting of the apparatus with a corresponding control unit is possible, external mounting being conceivable for simple retrofitting.


A portable data input apparatus comprises an elongated casing. A pen-scanner type bar code reader reads a bar code provided according to the kind of a commodity, and outputs a corresponding code data unit. A keyboard is designed to input at least a numerical data unit representative of the amount of the commodity. A display device displays the code data unit and the numerical data unit. A display mode changing circuit is designed to invert the image of the data units displayed on the display device in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, in response to a detection signal, which is output when the code data and numerical data are inversely displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable data input apparatus for reading bar codes attached to articles and the like by using a pen scanner type bar code reader and, more particularly, to a portable data input apparatus which allows an operator to see the erect image of displayed data in a state of use corresponding to the more dexterous hand of the operator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable data input apparatus is generally used for enhancing working efficiency, in checking the inventories of goods displayed in a shop, and in ordering new goods from a wholesale dealer.
This type of portable data input apparatus has a microcomputer therein. The casing of the portable data input apparatus is shaped so that one can carry it by one hand. The outer surface of the casing is provided with a keyboard for inputting the code data and amount data of goods, and a display for displaying the key-input data. A memory section constituted by a RAM, etc. for storing the key-input data is provided within the casing.
When ordering inventories with use of the portable data input apparatus, a right-handed person holds the casing in the left hand and key-inputs data by the right hand, while a left-handed person holds the casing in the right hand and key-inputs data by the left hand.
For simplifying the data input operation of the portable data input apparatus, there has been proposed a portable data input apparatus in which a pen-scanner type bar code reader is connected by a connection cable to the portable data input apparatus, and commodity codes are read by the bar code reader.
In the portable data input apparatus having the above structure, however, if the pen-scanner type bar code reader is connected to the portable data input apparatus, for example, with use of a connection cable, the bar code reader would prevent smooth carriage of the data input apparatus. Thus, the handling and maintenance of the bar code reader are troublesome.

Portable data input apparatus with different display modes


A device is described that can be used quickly and accurately by surgeons to provide uniform facial tissue planes that are tunnel-free and wall-free thus optimizing face lifting, tightening, and implant delivery. The device is comprised of a shaft with a substantially planar tip further comprised of relative protrusions and energized relative recession lysing segments. Forward motion of the device precisely divides and energizes various tissue planes causing contraction, especially via the fibrous tissues. Other forms of energy and matter can be delivered down the shaft to further enhance desirable tissue modification and contraction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to face-lifting devices. More specifically, however, this application and those co-pending perform face-lifting via precise uniform planar tissue separation with tissue tightening resulting from energetic alteration of the freshly divided tissue planes. The device acts below the surface of the skin through the most minimal of incisions. The invention is the only tip configuration able to generate over 1000 sqcm of wall-less undermined facial skin in under 20 minutes using only three 1 cm long incision. Although, the invention can dramatically and uniformly affect large subsurface areas and volumes of tissue, the device would be considered as minimally invasive cosmetic surgery since the clinically visible incisions are relatively small and recovery period relatively rapid. The invention also pertains to attendant methods for enhancing the energetic effects of the divided tissue planes via concurrent application of organic and inorganic, chemicals and materials. The goal of this application and related applications is to, with minimal invasion and complete epidermal avoidance, efficiently and uniformly separate and divide human tissue planes without leaving remnant fibrous tissue tunnels, to concomitantly coagulate distant unseen blood vessels, and to energetically alter tissues on either side of the said divided tissue planes thereby to induce tissue contraction and strengthening via collagen formation. Additionally, a unique and important side-benefit of the complete and efficient separation of human facial tissue planes (without leaving remnant fibrous tissue tunnels) is to interfere with the reformation of targeted wrinkles, undulations, folds or defects in the surface tissues of the face via undercutting their deep fibrous attachments.
2. Description of Related Art
Animal and human skin is usually composed of at least 3 layers. These layers include the: outermost surface epidermis which contains pigment cells and pores, the dermis or leather layer, and the subdermis which is usually fat, fibrous tissue or muscle. The current target of most rejuvenation methods' energies is the dermis which is comprised mostly of fibroblast cells. Fibroblasts produce a bed of collagen and ground substances such as hyaluronic acid for the dermis. When a disturbance occurs in the dermis such as trauma, fibroblasts are activated and not only produce new reparative strengthening collagen but contract, thus tightening and sealing healing tissue. Collagen is a basic structural protein found through almost all of the human body. It is present in under 5% of the epidermis, half of the dermis and about 20% of the subcutaneous depending upon the race, location, age and previous trauma of the individual. Immediate collagen shrinkage is usually parallel to the axis of the individual collagen fiber which roughly corresponds to the direction of collagenous strands as seen when stained and viewed microscopically. Thermal damage to collagen is likely brought about by hydrolysis of cross-linked collagen molecules and reformation of hydrogen bonds resulting in loss of portions or all of the characteristic collagen triple-helix. New collagen formed as the result of trauma and some diseases; new collagen is technically scar tissue. Nonetheless, a controlled and uniform formation of scar tissue can be medically beneficial and visually desirable as can be seen in cases of previously sun-damaged women's faces following a deep chemical peel. Thus, the formation of new collagen in a desirable, uniform and controlled fashion may lead to tissue strengthening as well as tightening. " . . . In the human face, without uniformity there is only deformity."
Currently, a need exists for a surgical device with the following assets: 1) minimally invasive insertion—to treat the entire face and neck through only three ⅜ of an inch incisions, 2a) precise horizontal/tangential tissue layer separation without leaving remnant fibrous (collagenous) tissue tunnels, yet preserving nerve and vessel layered networks while maintaining straight horizontal tracking to break any and all fibrous bonds holding the dermis to deeper structures [seen on the surface as visible wrinkles, folds, crevices], 2b) cutting tip energy application—to coagulate blood vessels located too far from the minimal incisions to be visible the naked eye since use of endoscopes is cumbersome and time-consuming, 3) direct subsurface tissue energy application capability to alter, induce or stimulate fibroblasts/collagen resulting in skin tightening and strengthening thus completely bypassing the ultra-sensitive and fragile epidermis and thus avoiding visible surface scaring and pigment loss/excess.
Applicant meets the following needs: 1) minimally invasive surgery with very few visible surgical device entrance wounds, 2) rapid patient recovery and healing, 3) ability to be used with tumescent anesthesia, 4) complete epidermal avoidance or bypass, 5) 20 minute operating time in the face and neck to efficiently separate and divide human tissue planes, while coagulating blood vessels, 6) concurrent ability to alter tissues adjacent to the divided tissue planes thereby inducing collagenous reformation, contraction and strengthening, 7) complete breaking and detachment of all of the fibrous binding elements between the dermis and the deeper skin structures so that reformation and reattachment will not occur thus reducing the chance that targeted wrinkles, undulations, folds or defects in the surface tissues of the face will reappear following the contractile healing phase. Currently no device or method in the medical literature addresses all of these concerns simultaneously. After the insertion of simple tumescent anesthesia, a human facial procedure is estimated to take only 15 minutes to perform in experienced hands, including stitching.
Cutting (in surgery), lysis (in surgery), sharp undermining and blunt undermining have been defined in applicant's prior related art. Sharp instrument undermining is a mainstay of plastic surgery, however even experienced plastic surgeons performing face-lifts may, from time to time, "lose" the correct tissue plane while performing sharp undermining; even with great skill and experience, previous surgical scarring or aberrant anatomy may thwart surgical perfection during sharp scissor or scalpel tissue dissection/undermining. Blunt undermining employs a rounded, non-sharp tipped, instrument or even human finger to find the path of least resistance between tissues; once the desired plane is found by the surgeon, blunt dissection offers the benefit of a reduced chance to traumatize or damage vital structures such as facial blood vessels or nerves (to facial muscles) thereby reducing the chances for bleeding or permanent facial paralysis. Unfortunately, blunt undermining alone between highly fibrous tissues that exists in the human face results in irregular tunnels with thick fibrous walls.
Disadvantages of the current face-rejuvenating techniques using LASERS are described in the aforementioned referenced patents and those of applicant. Current face-lifting instruments that cut with other than manual energy are incapable of providing a uniform wall free tissue plane during energized face-lifting dissection. Current lasers must be crudely fired from positions outside the patient to energize tissue within the face and cut in a very imprecise fashion (See "Manual of Tumescent Liposculpture and Laser Cosmetic Surgery" by Cook, R. C. and Cook, K. K., Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, Philadelphia ISBN: 0-7817-1987-9, 1999) using current energy assisted face-lifting methods. Currently deep dermal tissue is treated, altered or damaged with little precision. Complications from the aforementioned technique have been summarized by Jacobs et al. in Dermatologic Surgery 26: 625-632, 2000.
Disadvantages of the current face-lifting techniques using electrosurgical devices have been defined in the referenced patents and those of applicant.
The paper-thin layer of the skin that gives all humans their pigmentary color and texture is the epidermis. Unfortunately, virtually every skin rejuvenation system that has existed until now (with the exception of injectable skin filling compounds) and even traditional face-lifting surgery (when cutting through the skin around the ear is considered) must pass through the epidermis to attempt to reach and treat the dermis. Damage to the epidermis and its component structures often results in undesirable colorations or color losses to the skin as is seen in scarring. The prime consideration over the last decade for scientists and engineers regarding skin rejuvenation procedures is how to spare damage to the thin but critical epidermis and adjoining upper dermal layer.
This patent application will serve as the first submitted report that significant trauma to a tissue plane adjacent the dermis such, as the subcutaneous (fatty) layer, can induce the opposing overlying layer of dermis to contract, presumably due to inflammatory mediators or cells crossing between the planes. Additionally, the orderly and precise formation of new collagen (neocollagenesis) in the dermis by the invention and related patents may lead to desirable tissue strengthening as well as tightening. As the human facial skin ages, some of the strongest layers of tissue which plastic surgeons use to stitch-tighten the face, the fibrous layers known as fascia or SMAS=Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System, become thinner and weaker. Disease and environmental factors such as diet and chemical exposure also take their toll. Various embodiments of the invention can be passed along these layers activating fibroblasts, increasing the amount of collagen as a result of the precisely delivered traumatic or tissue-altering energies the device inflicts to the uniform tissue planes the device creates, thus thickening and strengthening the aging layers. If even further strengthening is needed in the giant, precise, bloodless subsurface plane that the device establishes using only three minimally invasive 1 cm incisions, then three minimal incisions allow for the introduction into the face of reinforcing meshes, tethers, slings made of organic and/or inorganic materials as well as facial implants. Prolotherapy agents have never been previously described for facial tightening or strengthening, to our knowledge, possibly because there is currently no instrument available to precisely create uniform facial tissue planes upon which the chemical gradients' of potential prolotherapy agents can act. Following applicants uniform invention-induced facial tissue plane formations, prolotherapy fluids can be injected into the minimal incisions to enhance the actions of the instant device or to cause their own primary effect.
Externally applied Fractional Photothermolysis is distinguishable from this invention and related art. Fractional Photothermolysis (FP) is well described in a most recent publication by Rox Anderson: "Fractional Photothermolysis: A New Concept for Cutaneous Remodeling Using Microscopic Patterns of Thermal Injury" published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, volume 34, pages 424-438, 2004 by Manstein D, Herron S, Tanner H, and Anderson R. Anderson states "There is an increasing demand for an effective and safe laser treatment that repairs photo-aged skin. Two treatment modalities, ablative skin resurfacing (ASR), and non-ablative dermal remodeling (NDR), have been developed to address this demand. All currently available laser treatments, however, exhibit significant problems and these laser systems typically operate safely and effectively only over a narrow, patient dependent treatment range." The prime reason for the narrow range is the ultra-delicate epidermis. Anderson advocates, "Studies indicate that the efficacy for treatment of rhytides (wrinkles) and solar elastosis improves with increased thermal damage depth [Anderson's reference 9]. The most effective Erbium:YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) lasers for the treatment of rhytides use longer pulse durations to increase the residual thermal damage depth [ref 10]. To enhance wound healing without sacrificing efficacy, a combined approach has become popular for ASR [ref 11]. To overcome the problems associated with ASR procedures, the so-called NDR technologies have emerged that selectively damage the dermal tissue to induce a wound response, but avoid damage to the epidermis [refs 12-25]. In this technique, controlled dermal heating without epidermal damage is achieved by combination of laser treatment with properly timed superficial skin cooling. The wound response to thermally damaged dermal tissue results in formation of new dermal collagen and repair of tissue defects related to photoaging. The absence of epidermal damage in NDR techniques significantly decrease the severity and duration of treatment related side effects. Lasers used for NDR procedures have a much deeper optical penetration depth that superficially absorbed ablative Erbium:YAG and CO2 lasers. While it has been demonstrated that these techniques can avoid epidermal damage, the major drawback of these techniques is limited efficacy [ref 26]. Anderson measures and reports a mere 2% tissue shrinkage results: " . . . small but reproducible, skin shrinkage was observed as measured by microtattoo placement. Skin shrinkage was still evident 3 months following treatment . . . " Anderson's concern to minimize permanent epidermal damage, especially in darker-skinned patients, is evident "In our study, there were several dark-skinned subjects, who demonstrated little or no significant pigmentation abnormalities after FP at low or medium MTZ (Microscopic Treatment Zones) densities per treatment. Histology revealed that there is a localized, well-controlled melanin release and transport mechanism using MENDs (Micro Epidermal Necrotic Debris) as a 'vehicle'."
Externally applied FP as described by Anderson differs from applicant. Anderson's FP device must be placed on the external skin surface and has not been described for internal use to reach the outer layers of skin from the inside route. Anderson's FP device is external, not designed to, not can it, break the fibrous tissues beneath the surface skin and cannot be passed beneath the skin without another attachment or device such as applicant's tip to "ice-break" the way. Without breaking the fibrous bonds below the skin surface that attach the surface skin to the deeper structures of the face that bind wrinkles in permanently. Unfortunately, surface treatments are only temporary and cause only minor tightening. Anderson's externally applied art must restrict energy delivery which renders only a 2% tightening in order to avoid damaging the fragile epidermis. Anderson uses MENDs (Micro Epidermal Necrotic Debris) that allow sufficient time and space for traumatic epidermal re-growth to occur to avoid permanently damaging the epidermis. An embodiment of applicant creates MEND or even Focal Macroscopic Necrosis (FMN) and delivers energy, from inside out on uniform tissue planes allowing uniform energy gradients and therefore bypass the delicate and sensitive epidermis while still bringing about deeper tissue contraction. Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,540 involves laser fiberoptics which can be pulsed and delivered below the skin to bring about FMN like lesions. Fiber sizes mentioned would provide energy destruction patterns greater in size then MEND's; however, fiberoptic size in U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,540 may be reduced to bring about damage volumes somewhat greater than or approaching the size of MENDs and discharge more energy 'upward' toward the epidermis than Anderson for greater dermal alteration with minimized epidermal effect. Applicant allows for the treatment of a larger surface area much more rapidly because of the capability for greater direct, internal energy transfer. Applicant treats the entire face and neck to the collarbones in under 20 minutes operating time by an experienced hand. Anderson's device delivers only a 2% tissue contraction measurement in tissue under no growing tension as compared with applicant's 20%-30% contraction in 10×10 sqcm tattoo grids on the abdomens of baby pigs that doubled in size over the 3 month study period (unpublished, photographs available upon request). The difference in results is largely due to the great disparity between the two methods in energy delivered to the tissues. (Underlining was added for emphasis).
Laser treated tissues and electrosurgically treated tissues are similar in several respects. However most importantly, when it comes to internally electro-modifying human tissues, is that immediately local vaporized tissue regions take on a relatively high electrical impedance, and increase the voltage difference, thus altering further local electrical penetration/treatment of the tissues. Irregular energy absorption by irregularly thick and irregularly formed fibrous tunnel remnants resulting from the use of devices, other than applicant's, would thus cause visible irregular skin surface effects on healing. Other reasons why applying tissue-altering energy to precisely formed facial tissue planes without fibrous tunnel wall remnants is important include: "the electrical impedance of tissue is known to decrease with increasing frequency due to the electrical properties of cell membranes which surround the electrically conductive cellular fluids. As a result of higher tissue impedance, the current flux lines tend to penetrate less deeply resulting in a smaller depth of tissue heating. If greater depths of issue heating are to be effected a higher output voltage and frequency must be used. Lower impedance paths will automatically result in lower resistive heating since heating is proportional to the operating current squared multiplied by impedance."
Monopolar electrosurgical instruments possess a single active electrode at the tip of an electrosurgical probe. Low voltage applied to the active electrode in contact with the target tissue moves electrical current through the tissue and the patient to a dispersive grounding plate or an indifferent electrode. Voltage differences between the active electrode and the target issue cause an electrical arc to form across the physical gap between the electrode and tissue. At the point of arc contact with tissue, rapid tissue heating occurs due to high current density between the electrode and tissue. Current density causes cellular fluids to vaporize into steam yielding a cutting effect. Monopolar electrosurgery methods generally direct electric current along a defined path from the active instrument electrode through the patient's body into the return or grounding electrode. Small diameter electrodes increase electrical field intensity in the locality. Bipolar configurations more easily control the flow of current around the active region of a treatment device which reduces thermal injury and thus minimizes tissue necrosis and collateral tissue damage while reducing conduction of current through the patient. Applicant believes that the optimum combination of electrical energies to be used in conjunction with a protective tip is monopolar cutting current in the lysing segments and adjunctive monopolar or bipolar coagulation current along the planar aspects of the device. Because of applicant's discovery that the highly resistive lower fatty layer plane of facial dissection may be electrically or energetically traumatized and eventually result in the transfer of mediators into overlying, over-draping dermis causing its contraction (likely by inflammatory chemical mediators or cellular transfer), logically higher energy formats than bipolar would be necessary to necrose the fatty layer for the transfer effect (subcutaneous to dermis traumatic inflammatory shrinkage transfer effect=SDTISTE) to occur.
Eggers in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,469 and related patents differs from applicant. Eggers teaches an electrosurgical device that requires an ionic fluid to create conduction between minute arrayed electrodes and relies on an ionic fluid source from within the instrument to function optimally. Eggers teaches bipolar energy flows principally between pairs or groups of minute electrodes arranged in various arrays depending upon the embodiment chosen. Unfortunately, observing Eggers' diagram 2c top view may lend the incorrect impression of similarity in shape to the applicant tips; however, in Eggers the protrusions are electrodes/conductors which would irregularly violate and destroy the vital human facial tissue structures including the subdermal plexus of vessels on passage if creation of a plane were attempted or even possible. Applicant's protrusions are non-conductive or insulated protectors and facilitate precise device movement, wall-free uniform tissue plane formation while providing for vital subdermal plexus tissue preservation. Eggers' embodiment of electrode arrays at the tip may be likened to component rasps of a oil well drill bit where the array protrusions bite into and chew away to form a canal in the target tissue, a desired effect that is totally counter to the intentions and dynamics of applicant. To quote Eggers in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,469 column 4 line 49: "The electric field vaporizes the electrically conductive liquid into a thin layer over at least a portion of the active electrode surface and then ionizes the vapor layer . . . ". Eggers teaches vaporizing a thin layer of an optimizing conducting fluid; additional application of a conducting fluid is not a necessity for applicant. Eggers furthermore reveals in column 11: "The depth of necrosis (tissue death, lethal alteration) will typically be between 0 to 400 microns and usually 10 to 200 microns (=0.2 mm)." The energy levels that are generated by applicant allows tissue damage to depths of 4 mm (4,000 microns) over twenty times greater than Eggers' safe range. Only applicant can create tunnel free, wall free, uniform tissue planes upon which to apply tissue modifying energy or tissue modifying chemicals and render uniform gradient potential. Eggers' U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,469 external skin resurfacing (Visage®) requires an external ionic fluid drip and has been in clinics and is known not to remove much more than very fine wrinkles without epidermal pigment changes or scarring. Only the thinnest wrinkles can be reduced by Visage®. Eggers fails to describe any protrusion-recession tissue protecting energizable tip to reliably track without the formation of tunnels or remnant tunnel walls capable of creating uniform facial tissue planes upon which to uniformly transfer energy. Without uniform tissue planes to uniformly energize, there will cannot be uniformity of tissue contraction. Without facial uniformity there is only non-uniformity.
Eggers' U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,740,079 and 6,719,754 and 6,659,106 and 6,632,220 and 6,632,193 and 6,623,454 and 6,595,990 and 6,557,559 and 6,557,261 and 6,514,248 and 6,482,201 and 6,461,354 and 6,461,350 are virtually all bipolar in nature and require a fluid delivery element that may be located on the probes or part of a separate instrument. Alternatively, an electrically conducting gel or spray may be applied to the target tissue. All are incapable of yielding tunnel-wall-free, completely uniform facial planes upon which to energetically act thereupon. '559B1 does teach a single platypus-bill shaped, asymmetrically located, "atraumatic" shield which is totally incapable of yielding tunnel-wall-free, completely uniform facial planes upon which to energetically act since a single shield would create non-uniform tunnels and be deflected by them to a zone of least resistance. '354B1 requires that the bipolar electrodes be maintained "a distance of 0.02 to 2 mm from the target tissue during the ablation process . . . maintaining this space . . . translate or rotate the probe transversely relative to the tissue (brushing)". If coagulation or collagen shrinkage of a deeper region of tissue is necessary (sealing an imbedded blood vessel) . . . press the electrode terminal . . . Joulean heating." In itself, '354B1 would thus be impossible if not completely impractical device for use as an internal, minimally-invasive, complete facial tissue modification device because fulfilling such requirements of pressing blindly to seal unseen blood vessels up to 10 cm away from a limited incision port would impossible without an endoscope and thus take hours to complete surgery (less than opening up and closing an entire traditional face-lift). The handling of bleeding vessels, as per column 8 of '350B1, is surgically awkward without an endoscope and surgically impossible if performed blindly from limited incisions for the same reasoning as just mentioned for '354B1. '350B1 relies on the relative weakness of the electrical energy found in bipolar designs; circuitry detection and interruption with an alarm may fail to preserve nerves as opposed to applicant which relies on geometry to maintain precise location on motion and palpable feel to manipulate away from known nerve locations to avoid damage. Applicant and other facial surgeons disagree with Eggers statement in '261B2 that 150 degree Centigrade temperatures generated by probe's residual heat can seal vessels; those who disagree cite the example medium sized branches of the facial artery in the event of a bleed a hidden distance from minimally invasive incision sites. In all of Eggers, especially '193B1, FIG. 3, initial inspection of the two-dimensional figures may resemble those of applicant, however the protrusions are in a cylindrical base, conductive, non-insulated, not linearly arranged and do not have a lysing segment between them. '248B1 uses a laterally deployable and retractable antenna arising from the side of a pencil-shaped shroud-like probe to more precisely modify electrosurgical arcs for cutting of tissue. '248B1 differs from applicant by using a laterally based electrode and being unable to position said portion of the cutting instrument for uniform lysis of the delicate undersurface of the face. The lateral wire of '248B1 would be forced in a direction opposite the areas of greatest fibrous build-up adjacent non-uniformly lysed tunnels thus resulting in a non-uniform result. '079B1 is an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering uniform discharge arc at the tip and thus more precise cutting wave. '079B1 uses an active electrode with a dynamic active surface area of varying geometry however, applicant's geometry differs significantly in that '079B1 is incapable of yielding tunnel-wall free completely uniform facial planes which would adversely effect evenness in tissue plane energy absorption. Additionally, the monopolar cutting current of '079B1 is undesirable for collagen/fibrous tissue modification function of applicant's tissue-modifying-energy-window/zone and would largely damage the delicate underside of the facial dermis and dermal plexus since '079B1's stated and anticipated geometry lacks the protective insulated protrusions of applicant to safeguard such vital structures. Virtually all of Eggers teaches bipolar electrosurgery; as Eggers states, bipolar electrosurgery desirably create the following "plasma layer confines the molecular dissociation process to the surface layer to minimize damage and necrosis to the underlying tissues." To bring about significant uniform and safe modification of the overlying dermal and epidermal tissues without irregular defects such as necrosis is not possible without applicants geometry and adjacent energy function. Because of this lack of significant tightening efficacy without permanent epidermal changes or scarification, Visage® has seen only limited use in cosmetic surgery and salons; use at higher energy levels has caused undesirable surface skin scarring.
Goble, U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,405 teaches an electrosurgical rasping device that works similarly to Eggers. Goble teaches a "rasping" device that creates vapor bubbles requiring aspiration around the targeted tissue as opposed to applicant who teaches smooth forward instrument without rasping to wear down target surface. Goble teaches uses in orthopedic surgery and urological surgery requiring a saline like solution " . . . to fill and distend the cavity . . . " as opposed to Applicant and applicant's prior related art which does not. Goble teaches an instrument useful for "brushing . . . debulking . . . sculpturing and smoothing" as opposed to applicant who cuts and passes smoothly by the target tissue which is not to be removed but energetically altered and left in place to remodel. Gobel requires an ionic fluid pump and an aspirator and mentions the need for endoscopic assistance as opposed to applicant. Applicant teaches a feel-only, blindly operated device wherein pumps or aspirators are optional. Goble's teaches "rasping" as acting like a rasp to "wear down" as opposed to applicants prior use of the word "rasp" which just the feeling that the operating surgeon gets when the device passed successfully in the proper fibro-fatty facial tissue plane.
Thermage, Inc. of Hayward, Calif. recently introduced to the market its tissue contraction product of an externally applied electrosurgical template activated while touching the outer. Energy passes through the epidermis thus passing energy through the upper skin with the intention of electrically altering collagen to achieve remodeling; damage to the epidermis is reduced some by externally spraying a cryogen (cooling gas) of about −40° C. on the targeted zone's epidermis at the time of the electrical impulse. Unfortunately, the amount of tissue contraction Thermage, Inc. can prove in the medical literature borders upon statistical insignificance (to quote several prominent cosmetic surgeons) and is far less than 5%. Currently, great debate exists in the cosmetic dermatologic community as to whether a statistically significant improvement exists at all regarding Thermage's tissue contraction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,255B1 of Stern relates to Thermage's device and is an externally applied "tissue interface surface . . . and has a variable resistance portion." '255B1 teaches a linear array of externally applied bi-polar electrodes; an externally applied monopolar embodiment using return electrodes is also illustrated. Base claims in '255B1 regarding the electrosurgical delivery device indicate contact with the skin's external, outer surface. Knowlton U.S. Pat. Nos.: 6,470,216 and 6,461,378 and 6,453,202 and 6,438,424 and 6,430,446 and 6,425,912 and 6,405,090 and 6,387,380 and 6,381,498 and 6,381,497 and 6,337,855 and 6,377,854 and 6,350,276 and 6,311,090 and 6,241,753 and 5,948,011 and 5,919,219 and 5,871,524 and 5,755,753 are Thermage, Inc. licensed. Knowlton mentions in '498B1 "the methods of the present invention do not provide for total necrosis of cells. Instead, . . . a partial denaturization of the collagen permitting it to become tightened." Knowlton cites the failure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,063 to protect the melanocytes (pigment cells of the epidermis) as a need "for tissue tightening without damaging the melanocytes or other epithelial cells, or without surgical intervention." Knowlton's before-mentioned art is thus classified as non-invasive and therefore involving no incisions or intended openings even in the epidermis as a result of tissue damage. Applicant's art requires incisions as opposed to the before-mentioned art of Knowlton which is not mentioned to be inserted through the skin; Knowlton's devices are far to large to be adapted to any minimally invasive surgical sites. '854B1 Method for Controlled Contraction of Collagen in Fibrous Septae in Subcutaneous Fat is largely viewed in the medical community to be undesirable. Pulling on the septal strings cause in-pocketing of the surface skin. This because cellulite (an undesirable problem) is currently widely thought to be the result of contracted fibrous septae causing in-pocketings of the upper skin layers down toward the fatty layer. In '753B1 Knowlton desires to create no deeper than a second degree burn on the tissue surface to internally scar and thus create tissue contraction over areas such as a bony callus over periosteum and states, "This method is particularly useful in tissue sites that are devoid or deficient in collagen." In '753B1 Knowlton mentions that the device can be done transcutaneously, percutaneously or via endoscope, Knowlton also mentions reverse thermal gradients in that epidermal sparing results form heating below the surface. The principle of delivering electricity on a medical instrument under the skin is not novel, just the use of Knowlton's specific embodiment is. Similar percutaneous delivery of energy has however long been the practice of surgeons dating for electrosurgery at least from the mid 1980's and for laser surgery from the 1990's when Cook was directing lasers percutaneously to contract the underlying dermis of the neck. Much of the endoscopy art dating over one to two decades allows for percutaneous delivery electrosurgery and or laser. Most distinguishing is that '753B1 fails to provide a means to create a uniform planar tissue surface upon which to deliver electronic energy in a uniform fashion. Irregular target surfaces yield irregular electronic energy gradients. Applicant can provide a uniform band of freshly separated facial tissue to treat that is free of fibrous tunnel walls; thus, the overlying collagen can be uniformly treated by an underlying energy source and gradient without resultant striping or banding of the overlying skin including the epidermis. '753B1 provides no means nor an enablement to allow for a minimally invasive creation of a path in which to pass the '753B1 device freely without the formation of tunnels or breaking strong fibrous impediments. Knowlton in '276B1 displays a FIG. 2A showing an "introducer" that crudely in two dimensions resembles applicant; however, this is merely because the cylindrical 2A device with protruding attachment channels for cables, catheters, guide wires, pull wires, insulated wires, optical fibers, and viewing devices/scopes has been rendered only two-dimensionally whereas three-dimensional considerations reveal great dissimilarity. Knowlton's description in column 4 of '276B1 mentions the device coupling to a template to receive a body structure. '276B1 apparently mentions and designs for only external tissue (or other outer layer skin like mucosa) to be in contact with the template. The remainder of the group of patents are related to '090 and involve externally applied devices to the outer skin with ion permeable porous membranes using electrolytic solutions that at least partially conform over the external skin surface in a way similar to rubber ('202B1 teaches inflating a membrane for body conformation); monopolar and bipolar embodiments are presented. Such devices are intended to pass radiant energy (defined as any kind that can cause cell heating or physical destruction . . . including RF, microwave, ultrasound, etc.) through the epidermis in a uniform fashion and to minimize epidermal damage using cooling lumens and surface cooling fluids. Applicant and applicant's prior related art on the other hand teach an internal probe with a special tip that provides tunnel-free planar lysing precisely through human face while maintaining a tracking feeling. Nonetheless, following many published studies the energy applied through the simultaneously cooled epidermis of US '255B1 is insufficient provide a consensus on photographic wrinkle or tissue tightening improvement beyond mild. Conversely, Applicant and applicant's prior related art teaches energy levels that are much higher in fluence and bypass the ultrasensitive epidermis altogether. Applicant and applicant's prior related art does not necessarily require a cryogen spray to reduce epidermal heating so as to pass significantly greater levels of electrical energy into the targeted dermis.
Brucker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,0012 and other spot treatment combination energy devices using laser, fiberoptics, radiofrequency, ultrasonic or microwaves differ from Applicant and applicant's prior related art in their inherent shapes which are usually catheter like, bendable, circular in cross section. Flexible catheters cannot not penetrate the fibrous tissues of the face on their own. Such devices are usually meant to migrate between organs to perform a 'spot' treatment on one or more of them. It is to be noted in FIG. 4 of Brucker that electrodes 18 & 20 are detector electrodes meant to aid in the detection of electrical heart arrhythmias and that any similarity to the insulated protruding segments of Applicant and applicant's prior related art is clearly different when two dimensional drawings are considered in three dimensions just as was Eggers'. Brucker as a bendable catheter would not have the rigidity to course along the proper fibrous facial plane and would simply bore a hole or tunnel or be directed in a path of least resistance. The only similarity between Brucker and the instant application of Applicant and applicant's prior related art is that Brucker may carry fluids toxic to heart cells; however, applicant's use of prolotherapy with the device is to uniformly modify a uniformly created tissue plane. The arrays of electrodes in Brucker are detecting electrodes located around the tip of Brucker in which lies a single energized treatment electrode that only escapes or transiently protrudes from the catheter channel when there exists a need to kill heart cells that are improperly firing electrically; Brucker's protruding arrays are usually not deployed in motion and would likely interfere with motion by catching on tissues during motion, Brucker's protrusions therefore do not aid in device motion.
Single lumen, circular or non-planar cross sectional laser delivery devices such as Keller U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,634 & U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,642 usually require the use of an accessory endoscope. An endoscope is a cumbersome optical instrument that would usually requires two hands to use at the same time the surgeon is handling Keller's instrument to direct it to the target tissue which would be difficult indeed. Keller and similar devices differ by lacking applicant's planar tip configuration of protective relatively protruding non-conducting elements with energized relative recessions. Applicant's art can be manipulated blindly by the surgeon without the aid of an endoscope since the device provides instant continuous feedback via a simple palpable "feel" that the surgeon can easily learn and rely on for certainty that the device is migrating in the tissue properly. Devices such as Keller can only perform spot tunneling unless the surgeon is also using an endoscope that focuses some type of tissue dissociating energy along an entire tissue plane; unfortunately, to maintain a coordinated planar movement with Keller would be time-consuming and difficult. Keller discusses that results using '634 and '632 are limited to channels.
Loeb of U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,915 teaches passing only a single bare optical fiber through human facial subcutaneous skin tissue. Loeb however does not teach any housing or rigid or semi-rigid structure that would allow passage of a bare optical fiber through undissected tough and fibrous human fibro-fatty facial tissue. In line 55 column 6 Loeb states and alleges: "The optical fiber is a bare optical fiber . . . The tip pierces the skin and is advanced into the subcutaneous tissue while emitting laser energy . . . " Loeb further teaches in column 9 line 14: "The diameter of the tip of the optical fiber is in the range of about 25-100 microns (<0.1 millimeter) . . . Preferably about 50 microns . . . " Those skilled in the art readily know that it is impossible to advance such a thin fiber through relatively impenetrable human facial tissue to have any uniform clinical effect. Without uniformity on the face, one has deformity. In light of the human facial anatomy, where the dermis is composed of almost impenetrable collagen fibers close to the density of football leather and where the subcutaneous fatty layer contains collagenous fibrous septae that are relatively dense although not as dense as the fatty layer of abdomen, Loeb cannot deliver a uniform effect and is impractical as enable in '915. Applicant differs from Loeb because applicant provides for a relatively rigid structure housing energetic elements that can penetrate the extensive fibrous septal network of the facial subcutaneous layer and provide uniform tissue surfaces to enlarge thus altering the collagen of this layer of the face efficiently. Loeb teaches a pulsed energy level in Table 1 for "skin wrinkle removal", that even if the impossible task of passing a single hair thin optical fiber through the relatively dense facial fatty layer were possible then based upon Loeb's fiber diameter it would take many hours to days to efficiently irradiate or treat a whole face. It is noteworthy that under most facial wrinkles, collagenous accumulations are particularly dense further arguing against Loeb.
The term rhytisector is a compound word derived from (rhyti=wrinkle)+(sector=to cut or remove). The tool was usually inserted under the skin in a natural crease, fold or hairline a distance from the targeted wrinkle to be "removed". A rhytisector is a "Y" shaped device made of metal with the shaft/base of the Y usually being between 8 cm and 16 cm long and the arms of the V portion of the Y being about 3-4 mm and the base (acute angle) of the rhytisector is usually thin and cutting in nature. Rhytisectors discussed in the medical literature are completely flat when viewed horizontally from the side and not electrified energized in any way. Rhytisector use has decreased dramatically over the last decade. Unfortunately, the rhytisector tool developed a reputation for intense bleeding leading to bruising, hematomas (blood pools) and unwanted blood vessel laceration (breaking open). This was largely due to the sharp edges and no ability to coagulate. Applicant has searched catalogues from prior to 1999 of many major electrosurgical and plastic surgical/medical instrument manufacturers: Bernsco, Ellman, Colorado Biomedical, Conmed, Delasco, Snowden-Pencer, Tiemann, and Wells-Johnson and found no mention of any rhytisector that was electrifiable or substantially electrically resistive on the distal tips of the "Y". Even if a rhytisector was insulated similar to applicant the shape would be different since the rhytisector is a completely thin and equally flat instrument.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,092 by Farin describes a single tube device that can deliver laser, ultrasound or radio frequency devices to treat tissue. However, Farin's device is not intended for separating tissue planes and is susceptible to catching, tearing or puncturing the tissue when manipulated. The dissimilarities between Farin's device and those similar have been described in this application and those co-pending.
The dissimilarities of using ultrasonic liposuction cannulas for face-lifting or facial tightening from this patent application have been described in this application and those co-pending.
There exists a special subset of the general population that may benefit uniquely from the present invention. The facial skin and substructure of Caucasian men and women begins to droop and develop folds between the ages of 45 and 55. Patients of Asian, Hispanic and African origin will experience the same stage of this condition but at a bit later age. Currently long incisions of 10-20 cm are made around each of the two ears, for the purposes of hiding the scars; skin is cut out and discarded and the remaining skin stretched. Unfortunately, skin does not thicken in response to stretching and removal; it only thins. In the early 1990's, some plastic surgeons advocated "prophylactic" or "preemptive" face-lifting on women in their 40's purportedly to "stay ahead of nature." This philosophy of "prophylactic face-lifting" has now been largely discredited by the vast majority of reputable surgeons.
Given the disadvantages and deficiencies of current face-lifting and skin-tightening techniques, a need exists for a device that provides a fast and safe alternative. The present invention utilizes a unique energized lysing design adjacent to various similar and dissimilar forms of energy to induce tissue contraction. The present invention provides a process for human or animal tissue strengthening to achieve face-lifting, facial tightening, or non-facial tissue tightening. The device and methods can rapidly be used in hospitals as well as office-based surgery and minimizes pain and risk of injury.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Facial tissue strengthening and tightening device and methods


An Internet search system is structured for efficient data retrieval from semi-structured data sources. The configurable Internet WEB search system has a browser module for navigating to and displaying a WEB page, a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval, a data-type input function for a user to denote data type to be extracted from a selected block portion, and a search implementation function for implementing a search under the search system. The data type entered by the data input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and data found is retrieved to be provided to the user. In a preferred embodiment portions of the system are executed on a user station, and other portions on a Portal server to which the user may subscribe.

The present invention is in the field of Internet navigation including various communication and connection technologies and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus, including software, for obtaining information from semi-structured, WEB-based data sources for presentation to users.
The information network known as the World Wide Web (WWW), which is a subset of the well-known Internet, is arguably the most complete source of publicly accessible information available. Anyone with a suitable Internet appliance such as a personal computer with a standard Internet connection may access (go on-line) and navigate to information pages (termed web pages) stored on Internet-connected servers for the purpose of garnering information and initiating transactions with hosts of such servers and pages.
Many companies offer various subscription services accessible via the Internet. For example, many people now do their banking, stock trading, shopping, and so forth from the comfort of their own homes via Internet access. Typically, a user, through subscription, has access to personalized and secure WEB pages for such functions. By typing in a user name and a password or other personal identification code, a user may obtain information, initiate transactions, buy stock, and accomplish a myriad of other tasks.
One problem that is encountered by an individual who has several or many such subscriptions to Internet-brokered services is that there are invariably many passwords and/or log-in codes to be used. Often a same password or code cannot be used for every service, as the password or code may already be taken by another user. A user may not wish to supply a code unique to the user such as perhaps a social security number because of security issues, including quality of security, that may vary from service to service. Additionally, many users at their own volition may choose different passwords for different sites so as to have increased security, which in fact also increases the number of passwords a user may have.
Another issue that can plague a user who has many passworded subscriptions is the fact that they must bookmark many WEB pages in a computer cache so that they may quickly find and access the various services. For example, in order to reserve and pay for airline travel, a user must connect to the Internet, go to his/her book-marks file and select an airline page. The user then has to enter a user name and password, and follow on-screen instructions once the page is delivered. If the user wishes to purchase tickets from the WEB site, and wishes to transfer funds from an on-line banking service, the user must also look for and select the personal bank or account page to initiate a funds transfer for the tickets. Different user names and passwords may be required to access these other pages, and things get quite complicated.
Although this preceding example is merely exemplary, it is generally known that much work related to finding WEB pages, logging in with passwords, and the like is required to successfully do business on the WEB.
A service known to the inventor and described in disclosure referenced by Ser. No. 09/208,740 listed under the cross-reference to related documents section provides a WEB service that allows a user to store all of his password protected pages in one location such that browsing and garnering information from them is much simplified. A feature of the above service allows a user to program certain tasks into the system such that requested tasks are executed by an agent (software) based on user instruction. The service stores user password and log-in information and uses the information to log-in to the user""s sites, thus enabling the user to navigate without having to manually input log-in or password codes to gain access to the links.
The above-described service uses a server to present a user-personalized application that may be displayed as an interactive home page that contains all of his listed sites (hyperlinks) for easy navigation. The application lists the user""s URLs in the form of hyperlinks such that a user may click on a hyperlink and navigate to the page wherein login, if required, is automatic, and transparent to the user.
The application described above also includes a software agent that may be programmed to perform scheduled tasks for the user including returning specific summaries and updates about user-account pages. A search function is provided and adapted to cooperate with the software agent to search user-entered URLs for specific content if such pages are cached somewhere in their presentable form such as at the portal server, or on the client""s machine.
A further enhancement to the system described above is known to the inventor and described in the disclosure of application Ser. No. 09/323,598 also listed under the cross-reference section. The described enhancement consists of a means for obtaining information from WEB-based sources using a site-navigation script, a field template, and a means for parsing data. The navigation script follows site logic of a target WEB site containing the data for return to a user. Part of the template includes the description and location of the data requested by a user. A parsing engine acts to identify the new data for retrieval for a user. In this way, WEB summaries may be compiled on updated data at user-frequented sites.
There are certain limitations to the method described above in that an adequate description and location of the target data must be provided before the system may navigate to and parse the available data. The above system is designed to work with structured data wherein the target data appears in a same location or xe2x80x9cfieldxe2x80x9d time after time. Structured data is data that resides in a table, form, or other template format designed to contain the data. In some cases however, data is presented in a semi-structured fashion meaning that a desired chunk of data is not logically identifiable to a specific field, column, line, or table location wherein the data appears time after time. Identifying and retrieving information from semi-structured data sources can be extremely complicated.
A good example of semi-structured data would be news headlines followed by summary text. There may be a differing number of headlines presented on a news page on any given day and the summaries under the headlines may take up variant space between headlines causing the headlines to appear in a consistently different location. Moreover, the summaries may be varied in format, style and so on. A news site containing headlines and summaries in list fashion represents a semi-structured site wherein data appears in different locations at different times. While a user may parse the entire page for data that matches a key word or phrase, the data is extracted out of context and may be meaningless to a user without the surrounding text.
What is clearly needed is a method and apparatus that enables a user to request and receive information from semi-structured data sources. Such a system would provide effective summarization of data for user-visited sites wherein data does not follow a predictable structure or is fragmented over a significant portion of a WEB page.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a configurable Internet WEB search system is provided, comprising a browser module for navigating to and displaying a WEB page; a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval; a data-type input function for a user to denote data type to be extracted from a selected block portion; and a search implementation function for implementing a search under the search system. The data type entered by the data input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and data found is retrieved to be provided to the user.
In preferred embodiments block selection is by click and drag techniques as used in blocking text for a word processor, and data types are entered as natural language strings. Multiple blocks may be selected and a data-type associated with each selected block. In some embodiments search implementation may be initiated as each data block is selected and a data-type is associated with the selected data block, and matched data is immediately retrieved and transmitted to the user. In other embodiments matched data is retrieved and accumulated for a user until the user requests transmission of the accumulated data.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the search system is implemented between a user station and an Internet Portal server, the block selection and configuration function and the data-type input function executing on the user station, and navigation and data retrieval functions are executed by the Portal server. In these cases the user operates through a portal server to access and configure WEB pages, and the block selection and data-type association functions generate a data-type definition (DTD) file associated with the WEB page listing the selected blocks and associated data types for the page. The user in these cases has a home page on the portal server listing URLs visited regularly by the user, and wherein the system saves the DTD files created by the user for the user""s regularly visited pages in a manner that the search system may be initiated by the user for selected pages from the home page, and when initiated, searches the selected pages according to the stored DTD for each page.
In another aspect of the invention a method for searching WEB pages by a user for specific data is provided, comprising steps of (a) navigating to a WEB page by the user via a browser function; (b) selecting a specific block of the WEB page by the user using a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval; (c) inputting a data type to be associated with a selected block using a data-type input function; (d) initiating a search; and (e) retrieving information from the data block according to the data type input.
In preferred embodiments, in step (b), block selection is by click and drag techniques as used in blocking text for a word processor, and data types may be entered as natural language strings. Also, in some embodiments multiple blocks may be selected and a data-type associated with each selected block. In some cases search implementation is initiated as each data block is selected and a data-type is associated with the selected data block, and matched data is immediately retrieved and transmitted to the user, while in other cases matched data is retrieved and accumulated for a user until the user requests transmission of the accumulated data.
In some preferred embodiments of the method the search system is implemented between a user station and an Internet Portal server, the block selection and configuration function and the data-type input function executing on the user station, and navigation and data retrieval functions are executed by the Portal server. In some of these embodiments wherein the user operates through a portal server to access and configure WEB pages, the block selection and data-type association functions generate a data-type definition (DTD) file associated with the WEB page listing the selected blocks and associated data types for the page. Also in many such cases the user has a home page on the portal server listing URLs visited regularly by the user, and wherein the system saves the DTD files created by the user for the user""s regularly visited pages in a manner that the search system may be initiated by the user for selected pages from the home page, and when initiated, searches the selected pages according to the stored DTD for each page.
In embodiments of this invention described in enabling detail below, for the first time a fast and efficient system is provided for enabling a user/subscriber to retrieve data from semi-structured data sources.

Method and apparatus for retrieving information from semi-structured, web-based data sources


An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, an interface unit which is connected to a host apparatus and at least one of other image forming apparatuses, an image forming unit which prints image data received through the interface unit, and a controller which, if image data is received when the image forming apparatus is in a normal mode, controls the image forming unit to perform an image forming job using the image data, and if the image data is received when the image forming apparatus is in a power saving mode, controls the interface unit to transmit the image data to another image forming apparatus so that the another image forming apparatus performs an image forming job.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus, a host apparatus, a server, and a method of performing an image forming job thereof, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing power consumption, a host apparatus, a server, and a method of performing an image forming job thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus means an apparatus which performs such jobs as generating, printing, receiving, and transmitting image data, and examples of an image forming apparatus include a printer, a scanner, a copy machine, a fax machine, and a Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP) which performs the above functions in a single device. For the purposes of this application, a host apparatus, for example, a general purpose computer, is not an image forming apparatus.
Recently, there has been an effort to reduce power consumption both in a normal operation mode, in which an image forming apparatus operates normally, and in a power saving operation mode, in which an image forming apparatus is not performing any particular operation.
In particular, if a command for an image forming job is received from a host apparatus while an image forming apparatus is in a power saving mode, the image forming apparatus consumes a considerable amount of power to "wake up" components (for example, a printing unit, a scanning unit, and so on) of the image forming apparatus while converting the power saving mode to an operation mode.
However, even if there is a first image forming apparatus in a normal mode among other image forming apparatuses in power saving mode connected to the first image forming apparatus, if one of the other image forming apparatus receives a command for an image forming job it will operate in the power saving mode after being "woken up." That is, the image forming apparatus in the power saving mode will consume a considerable amount of power as it is unnecessarily converted from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

Image forming apparatus, host apparatus, server, and method of performing image forming job thereof


Provided is a medical appliance excellent in slidability and durability. A medical appliance comprising a base material, a polyimide film (A) and a polymer film (B) having a higher nitrogen content and/or a higher oxygen content than respective contents of the polyimide film (A). The appliance has the polymer film (B) on a part or the whole of the surface of the base material, and has the polyimide film (A) on the polymer film (B).

Polyimides are polymers synthesized from bifunctional carboxylic anhydrides and primary diamines; among polyimides, aromatic ones exhibit superior mechanical characteristics, heat resistance and oxidation resistance, so they are extensively used in such fields as electronic devices and aircrafts.
In addition, polyimides also excel in lubricating property and biocompatibility, so using them as solid lubricating films and the like that are formed on substrates is under review in such fields as medical appliances.
A specific example that has been proposed is a medical wire insert characterized by having a coated wire comprising a core wire and a polyimide coat formed on its surface by vapor deposition polymerization (see Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, the medical wire insert has high lubricating property, can smoothly travel through a medical annular device, has a suitable degree of stiffness, is easy to handle, and even has great peel strength.
Patent Document 1: JP 2001-238963 A

Medical appliance having polyimide film and method for manufacture thereof


In a memory device which includes a plurality of memory cells, a top dummy storage region, a bottom dummy storage region, a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines form in a substrate, a selected bit line among the plurality of bit lines, a channel region in the substrate and a source region in the substrate are pre-charged and a negative pre-pulse voltage is applied to the bottom dummy storage region during a first period. A selected memory cell among the plurality of memory cells is programmed during a second period subsequent to the first period, wherein the selected memory cell is coupled to the selected bit line and a selected word line among the plurality of word lines.

The present disclosure is related a method of programming a memory device and related memory device, and more particularly, to a method of reducing program disturb when programming a memory device with 3D QLC structure and related memory device.
Semiconductor memory has become more popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is applied in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Recently, ultra high density storage devices have been proposed using a three-dimensional (3D) stacked memory structure sometimes referred to as a Bit Cost Scalable (BiCS) architecture. For example, a 3D NAND stacked flash memory device can be formed from an array of alternating conductive and dielectric layers. A memory hole is drilled in the layers to define many memory layers simultaneously. A NAND string is then formed by filling the memory hole with appropriate materials. Control gates of the memory cells are provided by the conductive layers.
A single-level cell (SLC) non-volatile memory can only store only one bit per memory element, while a multi-level cell (MLC) non-volatile memory can store more than one bit per cell. For example, a NAND memory having 16 voltage levels per cell may be referred to as quad-level cell (QLC) memory and may represent 4 bits of data per cell.
Each planar NAND memory consists of an array of memory cells connected by multiple word lines and bit lines. Data is programmed into or read from the planar NAND memory on a page-by-page basis. In order to mitigate the effect of floating gate-to-floating gate coupling, a 3D QLC NAND memory may be programmed through coarse and fine programming to improve overall programming speed. In a prior art programming method, a first word line is programmed to a first voltage VPGM1 with coarse programming, a second word line is programmed to the first voltage VPGM1 with coarse programming, the first word line is programmed to a second voltage VPGM2 with fine coarse programming, and the second word line is programmed to the second voltage VPGM2 with fine coarse programming, wherein VPGM2>VPGM1.
During the fine programming of the first word line when the selected bit line is being pre-charged, the signal path between the first and second word lines is cut off and the residual electrons generated when coarse-programming the first word line are unable to be drained. Therefore, the prior art programming method tend to induce program disturb.

Method of programming memory device and related memory device