A method and device for providing a relief area on the surface of a molded I/C package. Specifically, a method of reducing delamination at the gate area of a molded I/C package by disposing an area of patterned metal traces on the substrate surface to form a relief area. The relief area will permit the I/C package to be broken away form the molding apparatus while reducing the possibility of delamination or Au/Cu burs at the gate area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to microelectronic packaging and, more particularly, to molding an integrated circuit device.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art which may be related to various aspects of the present invention which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Microprocessor-controlled circuits are used in a wide variety of applications. Such applications include personal computers, control systems, telephone networks, and a host of consumer products. As is well known, microprocessors are essentially generic devices that perform specific functions under the control of a software program. This program is stored in a memory device coupled to the microprocessor.
Devices in these types of circuits are typically formed on a semiconductor die and placed in what is known in the art as a package. Many electrical circuits are packaged for surface mounting, and Fine-Pitch Surface Mount Technology (FPT) and Pin Grid Array (PGA) technology are well developed areas of this type packaging technology. In addition, an emerging packaging method has been developed using Ball Grid Array (BGA) technology.
A BGA semiconductor package generally includes a semiconductor chip mounted on the upper surface of a substrate. The semiconductor chip may be electrically coupled to the substrate by bonding wires or conductive paste. The substrate contains conductive routing which allows the signals to pass from the semiconductor chip on the upper surface of the substrate, through the substrate, and to pads on the underside of the substrate. A plurality of solder balls are deposited and electrically coupled to the pads on the underside of the substrate to be used as input/output terminals for electrically connecting the substrate to a printed circuit board (PCB) or other external device.
The packaging of electrical circuits is a key element in the technological development of any device containing electrical components. A single integrated circuit die is typically encapsulated within a sealed package to be mounted on a PCB or another suitable apparatus for incorporation into a system. The integrated circuit die is generally encapsulated within a molding compound to protect the die from external contamination or physical damage. Because the integrated circuit die is generally encapsulated, the encapsulated integrated circuit package also provides a system of interconnects for electrically coupling the integrated circuit die to a PCB or other external device.
Three common techniques for mounting an integrated circuit die on a substrate include Chip-on-Board (COB), Board-on-Chip (BOC), and Flip-Chip (F/C). In a COB package, the integrated circuit die may be attached to the substrate xe2x80x9cface-up.xe2x80x9d That is to say that the side of integrated circuit die containing the bond pads for wire bonding the integrated circuit die to the substrate is left exposed. This side is often referred to as the upper surface of the die. The backside of the integrated circuit die not containing the bond pads is adhered to the substrate. In this type of package, bond wires are attached from the upper surface of the integrated circuit die and to pads on the upper surface of the substrate to electrically couple the integrated circuit die to the substrate. The substrate contains electrical routing which routes the signals from the upper surface of the substrate to the underside of the substrate.
Alternately, the integrated circuit die may be mounted on the substrate xe2x80x9cface-down,xe2x80x9d to create a BOC. In this instance, the substrate typically contains a slot. Since the integrated circuit die is mounted face down, the bond pads on the upper surface of the die are arranged to correlate with the slot opening in the substrate. Bond wires are attached from the bond pads on the die, through the slot in the substrate, and to the underside of the substrate. The substrate contains electrical routing to distribute electrical signals along the backside of the substrate.
For F/C packages, the integrated circuit die is mounted on the substrate face-down as in the BOC package. For a F/C package, bond wires are not used to electrically couple the integrated circuit die to the substrate. Instead, solder bumps located on the face of the integrated circuit die are aligned with conductive pads on the upper surface of the substrate. The solder bumps may be reflowed to electrically couple the integrated circuit die to the substrate. The substrate contains electrical routing to distribute electrical signals from the die along the backside of the substrate.
Regardless of whether COB, BOC or F/C mounting techniques are used, the package is generally encapsulated in a molding compound to protect the integrated circuit device and bond wires from external elements such as moisture, dust, or impact. A transfer molding system or an injection molding system may be used to dispose a molding compound about the package. In an injection molding system, a package is mounted into a system and a molding compound is injected through a runner and onto the package via a gate area. Once the molding process is complete, the package is removed from the system by breaking the molding compound along the runner away from the package at the gate area. However, breaking the compound at the gate area often creates separation problems between the molding compound and the substrate. To mitigate this effect, a release material may be disposed on the surface of the substrate at the gate area. While the release material may facilitate removal of the package from the molding compound, the break area is often left rough as a result of lifting of the release material. This often results in rejection or failure of the package at inspection or test.
The present invention may address one or more of the problems set forth above.
Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the disclosed embodiments are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system having a processor and a memory package operatively coupled to the processor. The memory package has a memory device attached to a substrate, and a molding compound disposed on the substrate. The substrate also has a relief region.
In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an integrated circuit package having an integrated circuit device coupled to a substrate, and a molding compound disposed on the substrate. The substrate also has a relief region.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of building an integrated circuit package comprising the acts of: providing a substrate; disposing a relief region onto the surface of the substrate; disposing an integrated circuit device onto the substrate; and disposing a molding compound about the integrated circuit device.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of building an integrated circuit package comprising the acts of: providing a substrate having a relief area on a surface of the substrate; disposing an integrated circuit device onto the substrate; and disposing a molding compound about the integrated circuit device.

Gate area relief strip for a molded I/C package


A tampon applicator assembly is described which has a compact tampon applicator and a tampon having a longitudinal body defining an insertion end, a withdrawal end, a central section extending there between, a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface. The outer surface of the tampon has at least one area of radial depression.

Most commercially available assemblies for introducing catamenial tampons intravaginally comprise a tampon disposed inside a tampon applicator consisting of a pair of telescoping tubes.
In assemblies comprising a non-compact tampon applicator, a tampon is disposed in an outer tube which is combined with an ejector tube adapted to slideably expel the tampon from the outer tube. The ejector tube is smaller in diameter than the outer tube and is telescopically positioned therein so that by moving the ejector tube into one end of the outer tube, the tampon may be ejected from the opposite end. The outer tube is, of necessity, longer than the tampon and, to insure complete ejection of the tampon from the outer tube, generally the ejector tube is likewise longer than the outer tube. Consequently, the overall length of such assemblies is always more than twice the length of the tampon. Reducing the size of the assemblies and of the corresponding commercial packages provided an incentive to develop the compact tampon applicators.
In assemblies comprising a compact tampon applicator, the ejector tube is telescoped completely or almost completely into the outer tube while the tampon is stored in the distal end of the ejector tube. Operatively, the ejector tube is "cocked" by being withdrawn proximally most of the way from its stored position in the outer tube (leaving behind the tampon) until the distal end of the ejector tube is positioned to engage the proximal end of the stored tampon. In a subsequent ejection step, the ejector tube is reciprocated back into the outer tube, thereby expelling the tampon from the opposite end of the outer tube.
To prevent displacement of the tampon together with the ejector tube during the cocking step, the outer tube typically includes a means to engage the distal end of the tampon. Nevertheless, when the ejector tube is being withdrawn, the close association between the outer surface of the tampon and the opposing inner surface of the ejector tube may occasionally override this engagement, leading to displacement of the tampon. Because the hygienic requirements preclude further manipulation of the assembly by the user to reposition the tampon, assemblies with displaced tampons are unusable and need to be discarded. Hence, a small proportion of presently existing assemblies malfunctions and must be discarded, which may lead to consumer annoyance especially in situations when no other assemblies are at hand.
Further, the ejector tube of compact tampon applicators usually includes inwardly flexible distal fingers. When the ejector tube is being withdrawn, these fingers push against the outer surface of the tampon. Therefore, the surface or the edges of these fingers may occasionally scrape material from the outer surface of the tampon, leading to undesirable loss of material. Moreover, the outer tube of compact tampon applicators similarly includes inwardly flexible distal petal sections. These petal sections press against the outer surface of the tampon when this is being ejected from the applicator. Hence, the surface or edges of the petal sections may also retain material from the outer surface of the tampon, leading to further unwanted loss of material.
The present invention addresses the above problems of displacement of the tampon during the cocking step and of loss of tampon material during the cocking and ejection steps in assemblies comprising compact tampon applicators.


When eye movement of a subject is detected by an eye movement detecting portion and head movement of the subject is detected by a head movement detecting portion, a line-of-sight calculating portion calculates the line-of-sight according to the detected outputs therefrom. A portion for generating an image to be presented generates an image as a task and presents the image to a task presenting portion. When a fixation point of the line-of-sight of the subject is determined by a fixation point determining portion, a mask image generated by a masking image generating portion is inserted to the task image by an image synthesizing portion, and it is presented at the task presenting portion. A portion for determining degree of advance of dementia determines degree of advance and possibility of Alzheimer's disease based on the particular movement of the line-of-sight of the subject at that time and on the percentage of correct answer to a prescribed task.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for medical diagnosis utilizing masking of fixation point. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for medical diagnosis utilizing masking of fixation point in which eye fixation of a subject is detected to enable diagnosis of diseases related to brain function such as Alzheimer's disease.
2. Description of the Background Art
The number of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease is estimated to be four million in the United States and about a million in Japan. Compared with senile dementia such as cerebrovascular disease popular among Japanese, the cause of Alzheimer's disease is not known, and much effort has made to find the cause so as to enable early diagnosis and early medical treatment. However, it is difficult to discriminate Alzheimer's disease from cerebrovascular disease when there is no typical symptoms. There has been a strong demand of accurate method of discrimination, since development of disease, pharmaceutical treatment and so on are different for these diseases.
Hachinski's ischemic score has been proposed as a method of discriminating these two diseases. According to this ischemic score, a point is given dependent on whether or not the patient has an anamnesis of apoplexy, cerebral infraction or the like and if the points exceeds a prescribed number, it is determined as the cerebrovascular disease, and otherwise it is determined to be Alzheimer's disease. However, discrimination is still difficult by this method if the patient has no such anamnesis.
It has been known that neuropsychological symptom which is considered to be an impairment of "tool disfunction" such as visual cognitive disfunction appears from relatively early period of Alzheimer's disease. In view of this fact, Fujii et al. has reported the following analysis carried out by utilizing eye movement. More specifically, a problem of copying a cube on the right side while watching an original of the cube on the left side is presented. Even a patient who is in the initial stage I of Alzheimer's disease and does not show apparent constructional apraxia is reported to show characteristic symptom similar to a so called Balint syndrome; that is, the patient cannot stare at one point, or more specifically, abnormal distribution of gazing point appears, saccade deviated from both the presented cube and the depicted drawing by the patient is generated, or the point of gazing is fixed at the same point for a long period of time. In Alzheimer's disease, it is supposed from MRI (nuclear magnetic periorbital inspection) that there is caused disfunction of parietal lobe which is related to spatial vision. Accordingly, constructional disfunction derived from degradation in function of the rear association areas with the parietal lobe being the center, degradation of function of positional recognition of a target point or recognition of depth derived from disfunction of external spatial vision such as disfunction of eye movement, disfunction of coordinate transformation system between the coordinate of eye movement system and the coordinate of the center of one's body axis, or visual-motor disfunction, is supposed to be a possible cause of the aforementioned symptoms. As for the extension of fixation time, relation with one's memory has been studied.

Apparatus for medical diagnosis utilizing masking of fixation point

ATR Auditory and Visual Perception Research Laboratories


Compositions and methods for stimulating an immune response against cells that express survivin are provided. The method is suitable for prophylaxis and/or therapy of autoimmune disorders. The method involves administering to an individual a composition that contains a survivin peptide mimic that has a cysteine to methionine alteration at amino acid position 57 of wild type survivin. Fragments of the peptides can also be used.

Survivin is a 16.5 kDa intracellular protein that belongs to the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family. Survivin acts in concert with the mitotic spindle apparatus to regulate cell division. It is expressed in certain cells during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and associates with the spindle microtubule organizing center during this phase of cell cycle progression [Zhao J, et al. (2000) J Cell Sci, 113:4363-71; Li F, et al. (1998) Nature, 396:580-4; Fortugno P, et al. (2002) J Cell Sci, 115:575-85]. Survivin has also been shown to modulate the function of certain caspases, directly inhibiting apoptosis [Tamm I, et al. (1998) Cancer Res, 58:5215-20; Conway et al. (2000) Blood 95:1435-42; Shin S, et al. (2001) Biochemistry, 40:1117-23]. In addition, survivin inhibits the cyclin D/cdk4 complex [Fukuda S, Pelus L M. (2002) Cell Cycle, 1(5):322-6], permitting cell cycle progression. Thus, survivin functions in critical roles at a number of different cellular loci to regulate the cell cycle and to inhibit apoptotic cell death.
Survivin is overexpressed during the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle in most cancer cells and is one of the most specific cancer antigens identified to date. It is expressed in a large percentage of tumors and is rarely detectable in normal adult tissues [Overwijk W W, et al. (1998) J Exp Med, 188:277-86; Adida C, et al. (1998) Am J Pathol 152:43-49]. Although survivin is expressed in some instances within CD34(+) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that have been stimulated by hematopoetic growth factors, it is generally not presented on the surface of these cells. [Fukuda S, Pelus L M. (2002) Cell Cycle. 1(5):322-6].
It has recently come to light that survivin-expressing cells that mediate autoimmune processing (SECMAPs), such as synovial cells, are involved in certain autoimmune disorders express survivin in their pathogenic state. Examples of such cells include but are not necessarily limited to macrophages, T cells and fibroblasts. Autoimmune disorders that have been positively correlated with the presence of SECMAPs include but are not necessarily limited to arthritis, and particularly rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis (see, for example, for arthritis: Smith, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2010 Feb. 10. [Epub ahead of print]; Svensson et al. Ann Med. 2010; 42(1):45-54; Baran et al., J Cell Mol Med. 2009 Feb. 27. [Epub ahead of print]; Dharmapatni et al., Arthritis Res Ther. 2009; 11(1):R13; et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2008 September-October; 26(5):881-6; Galeotti et al., Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2008 March-April; 26(2):373-8; Gagarina et al. J Biol Chem. 2008 Jan. 4; 283(1):648-59; Bokarewa et al. Scand J. Immunol. 2007 August-September; 66(2-3):192-8; Markham et al. Br J. Dermatol. 2006 December; 155(6):1191-6; Hanashi et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2005 July-August; 23(4):550; Bokarewa et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2005; 7(2):R349-58; and for multiple sclerosis: Hebb et al. Mult Scler. 2008 June; 14(5):577-94; Sharief et al. Eur J. Neurol. 2002 September; 9(5):503-10; Sharief et al. Arch Neurol. 2002 July; 59(7):1115-21; Sharief et al. J. Neuroimmunol. 2001 Oct. 1; 119(2):358-64).
Thus, there is an ongoing and unmet need for compositions and methods for prophylaxis and/or therapy of autoimmune disorders that are caused and/or sustained at least in part by the activity of SECMAPs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Survivin peptides for autoimmune therapies


The invention discloses a receiver section towed by an airborne electromagnetic survey system, comprising a plurality of receivers, each receiver comprising at least one receiver coil. The invention further discloses an airborne electromagnetic survey system, comprising: (a) a transmitter section for generating a primary electromagnetic field that induces a secondary electromagnetic field; and (b) a receiver section for detecting the secondary electromagnetic field, wherein the receiver section comprises a plurality of receivers, each receiver further comprising at least one receiver coil; and a tow assembly for an airborne electromagnetic surveying system, comprising a means for suspending a receiver section from an aircraft, the receiver section comprising a plurality of receivers each receiver comprising at least one receiver coil.

An airborne EM survey system generally includes a transmitter for generating a primary electromagnetic field that induces eddy currents in the earth. These eddy currents generate a secondary electromagnetic field or ground response. A receiver of the EM system then measures the response of the ground. The currents induced in the ground are a function of conductivity. By processing and interpreting the received signals, it is possible to estimate the distribution of conductivity in the subsurface.
EM measurements can be made in either frequency domain or time domain. In a frequency domain EM system, the transmitter generates a sinusoidal electromagnetic field at one or more frequencies. The amplitude and phase of the secondary field relative to the primary field are indicative of the subsurface conductivity. In a time domain EM system, transient pulses are applied to the transmitter during an ON-period to generate a primary electromagnetic field that induces a decaying secondary electromagnetic field. The receiver measures the amplitude and decay characteristics of the secondary field.
An airborne EM system's signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is an important indication of the effective depth of exploration of the EM system and its ability to recognize and measure a potential target. Various systems and methods for improving SNR have been known in the art. For example, increasing the distance between the transmitter and receiver may reduce system noise thereby improving the SNR. In time domain systems, increasing the size of the transmitter loop may help increase SNR. However, these conventional improvements are transmitter dependent and usually result in increased overall system size and complexity.
Canadian Patent Application No. 2,748,278 proposes a passive geological surveying system using audio frequency magnetic (AFMAG) technology. The proposed system has a first aircraft towed receiver coil assembly and a second ground-based or airborne receiver coil assembly, wherein the differences in the audio magnetic field measured at the first and second receivers are used to interpret the location of the underground conductors. While this proposed system does not involve an active transmitter, it requires that the two receivers be sufficiently spaced apart, resulting in overall increased system size and complexity in computing the differences between the measurements at different locations.
Therefore, there remains a need for a system that provides improvements to the SNR and/or target discrimination performance of an EM system, independent of the transmitter, and without significantly increasing the overall size and complexity of the system.

Multiple receivers for airborne electromagnetic surveying


An assembly for shielding an implanted medical device from the effects of high-frequency radiation and for emitting magnetic resonance signals during magnetic resonance imaging. The assembly includes an implanted medical device and a magnetic shield comprised of nanomagnetic material disposed between the medical device and the high-frequency radiation. In one embodiment, the magnetic resonance signals are detected by a receiver, which is thus able to locate the implanted medical device within a biological organism.

Magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI") has been developed as an imaging technique adapted to obtain both images of anatomical features of human patients as well as some aspects of the functional activities and characteristics of biological tissue. These images have medical diagnostic value in determining the state of health of the tissue examined. Unlike the situation with fluoroscopic imaging, a patient undergoing magnetic resonance imaging procedure may remain in the active-imaging system for a significant amount of time, e.g. a half-hour or more, without suffering any adverse effects.
In an MRI process, a patient is typically aligned to place the portion of the patient's anatomy to be examined in the imaging volume of the MRI apparatus. Such an MRI apparatus typically comprises a primary magnet for supplying a constant magnetic field (B0) which, by convention, is along the z-axis and is substantially homogeneous over the imaging volume and secondary magnets that can provide linear magnetic field gradients along each of three principal Cartesian axes in space (generally x, y, and z, or x1, x2 and x3, respectively). As is known to those skilled in the art, a magnetic field gradient (ΔB0/Δxi) refers to the variation of the field with respect to each of the three principal Cartesian axes, xi. The MRI apparatus also comprises one or more RF (radio frequency) coils which provide excitation and detection of the MRI signal. Additionally, or alternatively, detection coils may be designed into the distal end of a catheter to be inserted into a patient. When such catheters are employed, their proximal ends are connected to the receiving signal input channel of the magnetic resonance imaging device. The detected signal is transmitted along the length of the catheter from the receiving antenna and/or receiving coil in the distal end to the MRI input channel connected at the proximal end. Other components of an MRI system are the programmable logic unit and the various software programs which the programmable logic unit executes. Construction of an image from the received signals is performed by the software of the MRI system.
The insertion of metallic wires into a biological organism (such as, e.g., catheters and guidewires) while the organism is in a magnetic resonance imaging environment poses potentially deadly hazards to the organism through excessive heating of the wires. In some studies, heating to a temperature in excess of 74 degrees Centigrade has created such hazards; see, e.g., an article by M. K. Konings, et al., in "Catheters and Guidewires in Interventional MRI: Problems and Solutions", MEDICA MUNDI 45/1 March 2001.
The Konings et al. article lists three ways in which conductors may heat up in such environments: 1) eddy currents, 2) induction loops, and 3) resonating RF transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves along the length of the conductors. It is disclosed in this article that: "Because of the risks associated with metal guidewires, and catheters with metal conductors, in the MRI environment, there is an urgent need for a non-metallic substitute, both for guidewires and for signal transfer." The authors further propose the use of " . . . a full-glass guidewire with a protective polymer coating . . . . "
However, the use of such " . . . full glass guidewire . . . " presents its own problems. Many medical devices (such as, e.g., guides wires, stents, etc.) require some degree of strength and flexibility that is not afforded by glass guidewires and that typically require the use of metal or metal alloys in the device. The implementation of glass guidewires, optical fibers, etc., solutions would require substantial retooling of the, for example, catheter manufacturing industry and is not a suitable solution for other medical instruments that a physician may wish to employ, e.g. guidewires, stents, etc, during a medical procedure within an MRI system.
Compositions adapted to assist in visualizing medical devices in magnetic resonance imaging are well known. Reference may be had, e.g., to U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,759, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. This patent describes and claims: "A coating for visualizing medical devices in magnetic resonance imaging, comprising a complex of formula (II): P-X-J-L-Mn+ (II), wherein P is a polymer, X is a surface functional group selected from the group consisting of an amino group and a carboxyl group, L is a chelate, M is a paramagnetic ion, n is an integer that is 2 or greater and J is the linker or spacer molecule and J is a lactam."
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,239 discloses and claims: "A method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging of a patient comprising, prior to the NMR imaging of a patient, administering to said patient ferromagnetic, paramagnetic or diamagnetic particles effective to enhance an NMR image."
U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,608 discloses and claims: "A device which is specifically useful during magnetic resonance imaging of body tissue comprising: a flexible member of resinous material adapted to be inserted in the body tissue, the flexible member having ferromagnetic particles embedded therein at a concentration of about 0.001% to about 10% by weight of the material wherein, under magnetic resonance imaging, the flexible member exhibits characteristics which differ substantially from characteristics of the body tissue so that the visibility of the flexible member under magnetic resonance imaging is substantially enhanced, resulting in the flexible member being distinguishable from adjacent tissue as a dark area in brighter tissues and as a bright area in darker tissues, said member being free of elements which tend to degrade the overall quality of magnetic resonance images of the body tissue." At column 2 of this patent, it is disclosed that: "Ferromagnetic particles in general can cause magnetic field artifacts (MRI signal voids, with adjacent very bright signal bands, hereinafter called 'imaging artifacts' which are considerably larger than the size of the particle." The entire disclosure of this patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,179 discloses and claims: "1. A catheter which is specifically useful during a magnetic resonance imaging of body tissue comprising: a contrast agent; a flexible tubular member having a first lumen with an additional lumen positioned therein, the additional lumen retaining the contrast agent therein; the flexible tubular member being made of resinous material and adapted to be inserted in the body tissue, the flexible tubular member having ferromagnetic particles embedded therein at a concentration of about 0.001% to about 10% by weight of the material wherein, under magnetic resonance imaging, the flexible member exhibits characteristics which differ substantially from characteristics of the body tissue so that the visibility of the flexible member under magnetic resonance is substantially enhanced, resulting in the flexible member being distinguishable from adjacent tissue as a dark area in brighter tissues and as a bright area in darker tissues, said member being free of elements which tend to degrade the overall quality of magnetic images of the body tissue." In the device of this patent, a ferromagnetic material was extruded into plastic as the plastic was being extruded to form the flexible tubular member. The entire disclosure of this United States patent is hereby incorporated by reference in to this specification.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,053 discloses and claims: "1. A contrast agent adapted for magnetic resonance imaging of a sample, said contrast agent comprising a suspension in a medium acceptable for magnetic resonance imaging of (a) coated particles of a contrast agent possessing paramagnetic characteristics and (b) coated particles of a contrast agent possessing diamagnetic characteristics, each of said coatings being selected from a group of materials which [I] renders said coated particles (a) and (b) substantially compatible with and substantially biologically and substantially chemically inert to each other and the environments to which said contrast agent is exposed during magnetic resonance imaging and [II] which substantially stabilizes said suspension; the nature of each of said coatings and the relative amounts of (a) and (b) in said suspension being such that the positive magnetic susceptibility of (a) substantially offsets the negative magnetic susceptibility of (b) and the resulting suspension has substantially zero magnetic susceptibility and, when employed in magnetic resonance imaging, results in the substantial elimination of imaging artifacts." The entire disclosure of this United States patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. In column 1 of this patent, it is disclosed that: "It is well known to enhance NMR . . . images by . . . introducing into the sample to be imaged ferromagnetic, diamagnetic, or paramagnetic particles which shadow the image produced to intensity and contrast the image generated by the NMR sensitive nuclei. See, for example, the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,731,239; 4,863,715; 4,749,560; 5,069,216; 5,055,288; 5,023,072; 4,951,674; 4,827,945; and 4,770,183 . . . ."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,958 discloses and claims: "A magnetic resonance imaging system, including: an imaging region and a means for generating a magnetic resonance image of a target object in the imaging region, said magnetic resonance image including an image of the target object, wherein the means for generating the magnetic resonance image includes means for producing an RF field having an RF frequency in the imaging region; and an instrument for use with the target object in the imaging region, said instrument including: an electrically non-conductive body, sized for use with the target object in the imaging region; and an electrically conductive, ultra-thin coating on at least part of the body, the coating being sufficiently thick to cause the instrument to be positively shown in the magnetic resonance image in response to presence of the instrument in the imaging region with the target object during generation of the magnetic resonance image, wherein the coating consists of material having a skin depth with respect to said RF frequency and the coating has a thickness less than the skin depth." At column 4 of this patent, it is disclosed that: "The present invention is based on the inventor's recognition that an electrically conductive, 'ultra-thin' coating (a coating whose thickness is less than or of the same order of magnitude as the coating's skin depth with respect to its electrical and magnetic properties and the frequency of the RF field in an MRI system) on an instrument can cause the instrument to create just enough artifact to be visible when imaged by an MRI system, but not so much artifact as to obscure or distort unacceptably the magnetic resonance imaging of a target (e.g., human tissue) also being imaged by the MRI system. In other words, the invention controls the artifact in such a way as to make the instrument visible but not appreciably distort the tissue structures being imaged by the MRI. An ultra-thin coating on an instrument embodying the invention typically has a thickness of on the order of hundreds or thousands of Angstroms." The entire disclosure of this United States patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,777 describes and claims: "In a method of contrast enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic imaging which comprises administering into the vascular system of a subject a contrast enhancing amount of a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent and generating an image of said subject, the improvement comprising administering as said contrast agent composite particles comprising a biotolerable, biodegradable, non-immunogenic carbohydrate or carbohydrate derivative matrix material containing magnetically responsive particles, said magnetically responsive particles being of a material having a Curie temperature and said composite particles being no larger than one micrometer in size." The entire disclosure of this United States patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.
United States published patent application 2002/0176822 discloses and claims: "A magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising: a magnetic resonance device for generating a magnetic resonance image of a target object in an imaging region; and an instrument for use with the target object in the imaging region, said instrument including a body sized for use in the target object and a polymeric-paramagnetic ion complex coating thereon in which said complex is represented by formula (I): P—X-L-Mn+ (I) wherein P is a polymer, X is a surface functional group, L is a chelate, M is a paramagnetic ion and n is an integer that is 2 or greater." The entire disclosure of this United States patent application is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.
None of the prior art compositions or coatings appear to be adapted to both facilitate MRI imaging while simultaneously protecting biological tissue within a living organism from the adverse effects of the MRI electromagnetic wave. By way of illustration, some of the adverse effects include heating of tissue in contact with an implanted, conductive medical device, and voltages induced across tissue near or contiguous with leads of implanted medical devices.
It is an object of this invention to provide an assembly for protecting biological tissue from the adverse effects of heating during MRI scanning while simultaneously facilitating MRI imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging coated assembly


A method, system, device, or apparatus for selecting an IP address for a message. The method, system, device, or apparatus is used when there are two or more IP addresses for a multihomed device. The method determines an IP address reachable from a destination for the message. The message is generated using the reachable IP address as the hostname of the multihomed device. The generated message is transferred to the destination.

Communication devices are used for voice and video calling, video conferencing, gaming, Internet access, media streaming, data messaging, email, machine-to-machine data transfers, computerized information services, and the like. Communication devices exchange data with communication systems to provide these various data services. The communication devices may be phones, smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets, wearable devices, media players, intelligent machines, and the like. Devices may communicate with other devices on the same network, and/or may communicate with devices on other networks. When devices want to communicate with devices on other networks, the communications may be transferred through a gateway, which is normally a default gateway. Communication systems may include Internet Protocol (IP) networks to transfer data.
Routers perform data traffic directing functions, such as transferring data packets between networks. Data packets are sent from one router to the next, until the packets reach the destination node. A source address indicates the IP address for the sending node, and the destination address indicates the IP address for the receiving node. In many communications, data packets flow bidirectionally. Routers advertise their information, such as prefix information, using Router Advertisement messages. The prefix information indicates the addresses that are reachable through the router. The Router Advertisement messages may also include next-hop information, for the next router in the packet route. Each router generates and maintains a routing table that lists preferred packet routes.
Multihomed devices may have multiple addresses (e.g., IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and/or multiple IPv6 addresses). A host routinely transmits system log messages to a system log server. In the event of an error or failure the host will send an error or failure message to the system log server. The system log messages include the IP address for the host or the HOSTNAME that identifies the host sending the message. The HOSTNAME should contain the hostname and the domain name of the message originator in the format specified in STD 13. This format is called a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). Not all systems/applications provide a FQDN, as such other methods may be used to determine the HOSTNAME of a device. System Logs may be used for activities such as troubleshooting or rolling back the system after a failure incident. The system log server will use the HOSTNAME in the system log message to connect with the host.

System log messages hostname address selection by multihomed hosts


A pulsed drive signal without a dead band can be achieved by a drive circuit arranged to receive opposite pulsed input signals, having a dead band between them, a transformer arranged to receive the input signals and output intermediary signals, time delay circuitry arranged to receive the intermediary signals, and to provide buffer input signals, corresponding to the intermediary signals, but with a ramped up transition from a low to a high signal, a first and a second buffer stage arranged to receive the first and second buffer input signals, respectively, and produce the first and the second drive output signal corresponding to the first and second pulsed input signal but with the transition from a high to a low signal delayed to reduce the dead band.

In systems with large board power requirements, a distributed power architecture, using an intermediate bus voltage, tend to become more and more used. The reason behind this approach is the increasing demand for fast load step response in the down-stream DC/DC converters, normally defined as Point-Of-Load, POL converters. In order to obtain a fast load step response, the POL converter is based on a non-isolated structure. Therefore, the Intermediate Bus Converter, IBC, provides isolation between the voltage distribution and the intermediate bus voltage, which is held at a level, appropriate as input voltage for the POL converter. Thus, a key feature for the IBC is conversion efficiency.
Since conversion efficiency of the IBC is a key feature, MOSFETs are used to rectify the transformer's secondary voltage. This method is normally referred to as synchronous rectification. Such a device significantly reduces conduction losses compared to Schottky diodes. The most utilized rectifying method is the "self-driven" structure, where the voltage across the transformers secondary is used as a gate-drive for the synchronous rectifiers. This method is well recognized and described in any power conversion literature.
Unregulated intermediate bus converters (defined as "fixed ratio IBC") are running with a duty cycle very close to 50% for each half cycle. In order to prevent failure or malfunction, there is a small functional dead-band between the primary switches, which will lead to power losses. Some prior art solutions propose ways of reducing the dead band.
US 2005/0184716 A1 discloses an apparatus for minimizing the power losses associated with the dead time between the on-time of to series connected switches of a power converter. A control arrangement is provided to change the duration of the dead time in order to minimize the power loss.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,281 B2 discloses a power converter having a control circuit for minimizing the dead time to reduce the energy loss caused by alternating between the two switches.
However, as mentioned above, the dead band serves the function of preventing failure or malfunction of the circuit. Therefore, the dead band cannot be avoided altogether, without risking failure or malfunction.

Drive circuit for a synchronous rectifier and a method for controlling it


A process for the preparation of plexifilamentary film-fibril strands of polymer. The process includes the steps of generating a spin fluid containing (a) 5 to 30 wt. % containing one or more polymer types, (b) a primary spin agent selected from the group consisting of dichloromethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, and (c) a co-spin agent comprising 1H,6H-perfluorohexane or 1H-perfluorohexane or 1H-perfluoroheptane. The spin fluid is flash-spun at a pressure that is greater than the autogenous pressure of the spin fluid into a region of lower pressure to form plexifilamentary film-fibril strands of the polymer. The co-spin agent is present in the spin fluid in an amount sufficient to form an azeotrope-like composition with the primary spin agent in the presence of the one or more polymer types. The polymer may be selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene-1, polymethylpentene, polyvinylidene fluoride, poly (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), and blends of the foregoing.

Flash spinning is a process for producing fibers that involves spinning a polymer from a spin fluid. In the flash spinning process, the spin agent must be recovered and if possible re-used. Recovery and re-use are time and resource extensive operations that if simplified can result in cost savings and quality improvements in the product.
The present inventors have discovered spin agent compositions that allow for simplified spin agent composition processes under more suitable pressure and temperature conditions. These compositions can be used for a broad range of different polymers and blends thereof.


The present invention relates to a method for detecting and/or for quantifying poly(A) RNA and/or mRNA, wherein a poly(dT) oligonucleotide which features a fluorescent dye and also a quencher is hybridized to the nucleic acid to be detected. Non-hybridized poly(dT) oligonucleotide is degraded by an added nuclease, and as a result, fluorescently labelled nucleotides are released and the resulting fluorescent signal is measured.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for detecting and/or for quantifying poly(A) RNA and/or mRNA, wherein a poly(dT) oligonucleotide which comprises a fluorescent dye and also a quencher is hybridized to the nucleic acid to be detected. Non-hybridized poly(dT) oligonucleotide is degraded by an added nuclease, and as a result, fluorescently labelled nucleotides are released and the resulting fluorescent signal is measured.
2. Description of Related Art
The quantification of the exact amount of mRNA added is of great importance for many methods in molecular biology. More particularly for various gene expression analyses, such as, for example, quantitiative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and microarrays, this so-called normalization is important for obtaining accurate and comparable experimental results.
The amount of RNA added is usually determined by means of spectrophotometry by measuring the absorbance at 260 nm. This technique, however, has the disadvantage that, at this wavelength, not only the mRNA but also further nucleic acids, such as DNA, rRNA, tRNA and further non-coding RNAs, are detected, i.e. the exact amount of mRNA present is not known.
For this reason, the DNA is generally removed from the sample by means of a purification method prior to the quantification of the RNA, meaning additional process steps and costs. After the removal of the DNA, the amount of total RNA is determined in a spectrophotometer and, from this, the amount of mRNA present is indirectly deduced. Since, however, the ratio of mRNA to total RNA is not constant, but can be completely different from preparation to preparation and also in different starting materials, a high error rate arises when the total RNA is used to deduce the amount of the mRNA present.
A further disadvantage of this method is that it cannot be established whether the mRNA in the sample has already (partially) been degraded. The degradation of mRNAs often begins with the removal of the poly(A) tail at the 3′ end and continues with the degradation of the coding region. Such mRNA is no longer intact and often no longer usable for molecular biology experiments.
In order to be able to add intact, quantifiable total mRNA to a molecular biology reaction, this mRNA first has to be purified from the biological sample in a time-consuming and multi-step procedure with the aid of poly(dT) nucleotides coupled to a solid phase. This procedure is, however, not quantitative, and so, during the purification procedure, some of the mRNA from the biological sample is lost. After the purification, the mRNA thus isolated has to be quantified spectrophotometrically, meaning not only an additional process step but also a loss of some of the isolated mRNA.

Method for detecting and quantifying poly(A) RNA and mRNA


Inertial measurement systems for measuring accelerations and angular speeds are currently widely used in vehicles where they serve as sensors for safety devices and navigation systems. The required reliability and precision, however, can be obtained only with extremely accurate sensors and precise finishing. The invention therefore provides for a method according to which an inertial measurement system comprising economical, mass-produced sensors is first gauged overall in a testing device in one calibration operation. During gauging any offset, mounting position and scaling errors are detected as coefficients of coupling matrices of the sensors and converted into compensation values which are then used to improved the accuracy of the sensors"" measurement values when the measurement system is in operation. The above method is suitable for inertial measurement systems in land, air and water craft.

The invention relates to a method for improving measurement values of an inertial measurement system in accordance with the preamble to claim 1.
Such methods are used in inertial measurement systems that are currently widely used. For instance, they are used in regulation and control systems in which it is necessary to know the precise acceleration and angular speeds relative to an inertial coordinate system (fixed star system). Generally the earth-fixed system is used in a first approximation for the inertial reference system. Such measurement systems, also called inertial platforms, are used in very technically complex systems in the design and control of weapons or are employed in tilt regulation of high speed trains. Such systems will also soon be mass-produced as motor vehicles increasingly are equipped with airbags and side-impact protection and also with pitch and yaw stabilizers or navigation systems and use such systems to trigger and control these safety devices. Such devices are also required in the airline industry and naval engineering.
Thus, known from German Offenlegungsschrift 44 16 586 is a measurement system with angular speed and acceleration sensors and a computer unit, in which system the measurement values of the sensors are converted to output values that are related to an inertial coordinate system.
The sensors currently available for these measurement systems are still quite expensive when they have the necessary reliability and precision. Although sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers can be produced cost effectively as microelectronic components, when built-in they have substantial errors so that for constructing the measurement systems substantial production expenses, including the required alignment and compensation, are required to achieve acceptable error and offset tolerances.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method for improving the measurement values in which a measurement system built with inexpensive sensors for angular speeds and accelerations can be aligned and compensated in a simple manner.
This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
The inventive method is particularly advantageous when employed in the manufacture of mass-produced articles since only limited personnel are required to set up the measurement system and the testing equipment. Complex mechanical alignment work is not necessary, nor are the alignment apparatus and aids required for such work. The inventive method is very suitable for a fully-automatic, economical in-process inspection of inertial measurement systems since it makes possible the use of simple sensors for angular speeds and accelerations that are inexpensive to produce and takes into account their production tolerances in the alignment or calibration of the measurement system so that the accuracy of the inertial measurement system is substantially improved thereby.
One of the most important requirements for the calibration or alignment of the sensors is the availability of calibration standards with great precision, that is, high accuracy of the absolute values for angular speed and acceleration as well as optimum reproducibility of excitation and angular position. For this, the measurement system is mounted on a precision rotary table, the axis of rotation of which is precisely horizontal. The assembly occurs such that coordinate axes of the measurement system and of the rotary table are parallel; parallel displacements are inconsequential for the result. Thus the measurement system can be subjected in a simple manner to two reference excitations. A dynamic excitation of the gyroscope by precise, constant rotation and a static excitation of the accelerometer can be realized in this simple manner by the gravitational acceleration.
The inventive method is also advantageously further developed in the subordinate claims.
It has proved advantageous for optimum testing, before the measurement on the rotary table, to perform measurement of the angular speed offset of the gyroscope and the acceleration offset of the accelerometer as a function of temperature, since these measurements are generally time-consuming.

Method for improving the measurement values of an inertial measurement system


An electrical connector (1) includes a housing (10), four signal contacts (20), a pair of power contacts (30) and a shielding (40, 50). The housing has a forwardly extending mating tongue (12). The mating tongue defines four receiving channels (126) therein in a vertical direction and a pair of side surface (122). A groove (128) is defined in each of the side surfaces of the mating tongue. Each signal contact comprises a mating portion (21) retained in a corresponding receiving channel. Each power contact comprises a mating portion (31) retained in a corresponding groove of the mating tongue. The shielding substantially surrounds the housing. The connector has a small dimension and can be used in a portable electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an IEEE 1394 electrical connector.
2. Description of Related Art
IEEE 1394 standard, originally developed by Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) as a replacement for Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), is widely used in peripheral devices of the computer or digital products. Related description can be referred to an article of a magazine CONNECTOR SPECIFIER published on February 1998, entitled Blazing Ahead with 1394, which is submitted herewith by Information Disclosure Statement (IDS). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,362,249, 6,165,015, D391,551, D390,192 and D410,434 also disclose such IEEE 1394 electrical connectors.
As stated in Blazing Ahead with 1394, the IEEE 1394 standard generally contains two connector systems: a six-circuit I/O connector used in peripheral devices and a four-bay unitized connector generally for internal applications. Following the development of digital video device, for example, digital camera or digital camcorder, a four-circuit I/O IEEE 1394 electrical connector is developed for input/out use of the digital video device. The four-circuit IEEE 1394 electrical connector does not have a power pair of the six-circuit IEEE 1394 electrical connector. U.S. Pat. Nos. D391,551 and D390,192,both issued to Naoyuki Ono, disclose such four-circuit IEEE 1394 electrical connectors. Generally, such connectors are small size so that they are suitable for portable application. However, since lacking the power pair, these connectors cannot be used in electronic devices which are not self-powered.
The six-circuit IEEE 1394 electrical connectors, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,165,015, D410,434 and 5,362,249, have the power pair so that they can be used in electronic devices which are not self-powered. However, these connectors are bulky so that they are not suitable for use in portable devices, such as personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop computer or other hand-held digital devices.
Hence, an improved small size IEEE 1394 electrical connector with a power pair is required to overcome above disadvantages of the conventional IEEE 1394 electrical connectors.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a small size electrical connector having power contacts therein so that the connector can be used in a portable electronic device which is not self-powered.
In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention includes a housing, four signal contacts, a pair of power contacts and a shielding. The housing has a forwardly extending mating tongue. The mating tongue defines four receiving channels in a vertical direction and a pair of side surfaces. A groove is defined in each of the side surfaces. Each signal contact comprises a mating portion retained in a corresponding receiving channel. Each power contact comprises a mating portion retained in a corresponding groove of the mating tongue. The shielding substantially surrounds the housing. The connector has a small dimension and can be used in a portable electronic device.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Miniature electrical connector having power pair on side surface of a tongue of a housing thereof


Systems, methods, and computer programs for creating a cloning image using a pseudo environment in a virtual machine. The pseudo environment is configured based on an inventory of the assets of a reference machine. The cloning image can be deployed to one or more target machines.

1. Technical Field
Embodiment of the invention disclosed generally relate to systems and associated methods for facilitating configuration and maintenance of computer network assets. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to provisioning computing devices using cloning and visualization techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some computer networks use a large number of servers to provide services to client computers. To prevent the servers from becoming outdated, regular updating of the hardware or the software of the servers is performed. For example, updates can add new features to, update, the versions of add patches to, or perform other modifications or maintenance to the operating system of one or more of the servers. However, maintaining or updating a large number of servers can be costly and time consuming.
To facilitate the task of updating servers, it is known to use virtual machines. In general terms, a virtual machine is software configured to simulate a physical computing system. A virtual machine is allocated memory in a hardware layer, a virtual processor having one or more virtual central processing units, and virtual, input or output (I/O) devices. A virtual machine can be used on a host computing device to mimic the characteristics of a processor that is different in type from the native processor of the host computing device. Multiple virtual machines can share the underlying physical resources of the hardware layer of a computing device that hosts the virtual machines. The use of virtual machines permits multiple operating systems and programs to run on a single physical computer at the same time. Each virtual machine typically hosts its own applications in a fully isolated environment, with each operating system executing independently as if it were operating on a single dedicated computing system. In some cases, a virtual machine is configured to emulate an entire computing system by emulating specific hardware characteristics and being configured with specific software applications.
Recently, the creation and management of virtual machines has been called platform visualization. Platform virtualization is performed on a given hardware platform by host software which creates virtual machines for guest software. The guest software, which is often itself a complete operating system, runs as if it were installed on a stand-alone hardware platform. The guest system often requires access to specific devices to function. Hence, the virtual machine is configured to support the interfacing of the guest system to devices such as hard disk drives or network interface devices, for example. Virtual machines can be used for replacing outdated servers, providing redundant servers for disaster recovery, replacing outdated hardware with new hardware, and the like.
The maintenance and updating of assets in computing networks is also facilitated by the use of cloning techniques. In general terms, disk cloning technology copies the contents of one computer hard disk to another or to an "image" (a file). Often, the contents of the first disk are written to an image file as an intermediate step, and the second disk is loaded with the contents of the image file. Current cloning technology generally copies the contents (particularly, the operating system and desired applications) of a computer system's disk, keeps the state of the computer system at a given point in time, and deploys an image of the disk. Known commercial products in this technology area include Tivoli Provisioning Manager (TPM) for OS Deployment, Norton Ghost Solution Suite, and Acronis TrueImage.
Disk cloning software has several uses. Reboot and restore is a technique in which the disk of a computer is automatically wiped and restored from a "clean" master image. In provisioning, client computers are provided with a software suite so that a client computer is ready to be used without delay in installing individual applications. In full system backup a comprehensive backup of an operating system and installed software can be made. In system recovery an original equipment manufacturer can provide media that can restore a computer to its original factory software configuration.
Although it is known to transfer an image of an existing computer system to another, the provision in a large network of the same or similar computing environment in terms of functionality, including user and software settings, legacy software functionality, legacy peripherals functionality, and the like, presents significant difficulties.

Cloning image creation using virtual machine environment

International Business Machines Corporation


Techniques are described for encapsulating AV1 encoded video data within NAL units. For example, the NAL units can be H.264 or HEVC NAL units. Encapsulation can comprise using a reserved NAL unit type. For example, an open bitstream unit comprising AV1 encoded video data can be encapsulated within a NAL unit using a reserved NAL unit type. The NAL unit can be packetized for delivery to another computing device via a computer network.

AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) is an open, royalty-free video coding format designed for video transmissions. It can achieve up to 50% higher data compression rates than the H.264 codec, which allows delivery of better quality video in constrained bandwidth networks as well as enabling 4K or high resolution. However, the AV1 format does not provide a specification for streaming video over a network connection.

AV1 codec for real-time video communication


A fixture-mounting post useful to mount one or more fixtures. An elongate member defines fixture-mounting means comprising two oppositely facing longitudinal arrays of fixture-mounting slots. An elongate shroud having two protions is disposed around the elongate member. For each array of slots, two elongate edges of the shroud extend between both ends of the shroud and are spaced from each other to permit access to such array. A sleeve encloses a portion of the shroud at one end. A strip of resiliently compressible material is wrapped at least partly around the member and is compressed between the member and the enclosed portion of the shroud. A tight fit thus is effected between the enclosed portion of the shroud and the sleeve to secure the shroud to the sleeve. A method of assembling the post is also described.

In commercial establishments, such as clothing and other retail stores, it is common to mount fixtures of various types on floor-anchored posts.
In one known arrangement, each post comprises an inner, elongate member and an outer shroud. The elongate member is made from a length of substantially square metal tubing with two oppositely facing longitudinal arrays of slots extending through flat walls of such member. The slots are configured to receive hooks on the fixture. The shroud is made from two similar pieces of sheet metal.
At the upper end of the shroud, a hook welded to an inner surface of each of the shroud pieces is hooked over one of the walls of the inner member. A metal sleeve is fitted over the lower ends of the shroud pieces, which are spaced from each other to permit access to the longitudinal arrays of fixture-mounting slots. The shroud pieces are welded to the sleeve.
Because the shroud pieces are welded to the sleeve, the shroud pieces cannot be pre-finished with an applied coating that can be damaged by heat from welding. Moreover, welding of the shroud pieces to the sleeve is an expensive, time-consuming task.
Hence, there has been a need, to which this invention is addressed, for a better way to assemble a fixture-mounting post.

Fixture-mounting post and assembly method therefor


A hospital bed obstacle detection device (412) and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components (24, 26) of a hospital bed (410).

The present invention relates generally to a patient support and, more particularly, to a device and related method for detecting obstacles within a path of travel intermediate first and second components of a hospital bed. Further, the present invention relates to a device and related method for inhibiting the relative movement between first and second components of the hospital bed upon detection of an obstacle within the path of travel.
It is well known to provide a vertically movable patient support. More particularly, it is known to provide a hospital bed including a base frame and an elevating frame supporting a patient support surface. A lifting mechanism is configured to raise and lower the elevating frame relative to the base frame. Entry and exit from the bed is facilitated by placing the elevating frame in a lowered position. A raised position of the elevating frame, in turn, provides a convenient surface for the examination and treatment of the patient.
Additionally, conventional lifting mechanisms provide for the tilting of the elevating frame from a horizontal position into Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positions. A hospital bed incorporating such a lifting mechanism is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,283 to Adams et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a hospital bed obstacle detection device is provided for use with a hospital bed including a base frame and an elevating frame coupled to a patient support surface. The obstacle detection device controls movement of the elevating frame relative to the base frame upon detecting an object within a path of travel of the elevating frame. The obstacle detection device comprises an emitter coupled to one of the base frame and the elevating frame. The emitter is configured to generate a wireless curtain extending below the elevating frame. The obstacle detection device further comprises a receiver coupled to one of the base frame and the elevating frame of the bed. The receiver is configured to detect the wireless curtain generated by the emitter. The obstacle detection device further comprises a control unit in communication with the receiver and configured to control movement of the elevating frame based on an output signal from the receiver.
Illustratively according to the invention, the emitter comprises an infrared light source and a lens positioned proximate the infrared light source configured to convert light emitted therefrom to form an optical curtain. Illustratively, the lens comprises a fresnel lens.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the wireless curtain includes a modulated signal and the receiver compares the modulated signal to a predefined verification signal in order to prevent interference from external light sources.
Illustratively according to the invention, the receiver is configured to move with the elevating frame within a predefined vertical range. The predefined vertical range is illustratively from the base frame to the elevating frame when the elevating frame is in a fully raised position.
Further illustratively according to the invention, an indicator is provided in communication with the control unit. The indicator is configured to indicate failure of the receiver to detect the wireless curtain.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the invention, a patient support apparatus comprises a base frame, an elevating frame configured to move along a path of travel above the base frame, a patient support surface supported by the elevating frame, and a detector supported by one of the elevating frame and the base frame, the detector being configured to detect an obstacle within the path of travel of the elevating frame and provide a control signal in response thereto. A control unit is provided in communication with the detector and is configured to prevent movement of the elevating frame in response to the control signal.
Illustratively according to the invention, an emitter is supported by one of the base frame and the elevating frame, wherein the emitter is configured to generate a wireless signal.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the emitter is supported by the base frame and the detector is supported for movement with the elevating frame.
Illustratively according to the invention, the detector comprises a camera configured to capture images of the elevating frame along the path of travel. The control unit is configured to compare the images captured by the camera to predefined images to determine the presence of an obstacle within the path of travel.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a patient support apparatus comprises a base frame, an elevating frame disposed in spaced relation to the base frame, a patient support surface supported by the elevating frame, and an emitter coupled to one of the base frame and the elevating frame and configured to generate a wireless signal. A receiver is coupled to one of the base frame and the elevating frame and is configured to detect the wireless signal.
Illustratively according to the invention, the patient support apparatus includes a lifting device configured to move the elevating frame relative to the base frame.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the patient support apparatus includes a control unit in communication with the lifting device and the receiver. The control unit is configured to prevent operation of the lifting device if the receiver fails to detect the wireless signal.
Illustratively according to the invention, the emitter generates an optical curtain positioned intermediate the base frame and the elevating frame. The emitter illustratively comprises an infrared light source and a lens is positioned proximate the infrared light source configured to convert light emitted therefrom to the optical curtain. Illustratively, the lens comprises a fresnel lens.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the wireless signal includes a modulated signal and the control unit compares the modulated signal to a predefined verification signal in order to prevent interference from external light sources.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the receiver is configured to move with the elevating frame within a predefined vertical range. The predefined vertical range is illustratively from the base frame to the elevating frame when the elevating frame is in a fully raised position.
Illustratively according to the invention, an indicator is provided in communication with the control unit. The indicator is configured to indicate failure of the receiver to detect a wireless signal.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the wireless signal includes a pulsed portion having a predefined frequency, and said receiver is configured to detect said predefined frequency. The pulsed portion illustratively has a frequency of approximately 57 MHz and has a duration of approximately 600 microseconds followed by a delay of approximately 2 milliseconds.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the emitter is configured to generate a plurality of wireless signals in a plurality of signal paths, and a plurality of receivers are configured to detect the wireless signals along different ones of the signal paths. The control unit is configured to prevent movement of the elevating frame when any of the plurality of receivers fail to detect a wireless signal.
Illustratively according to the invention, at least one of the receivers is supported for movement with the elevating frame and the emitter is supported by the base frame.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a hospital bed obstacle detection device is provided for use with a hospital bed including a base frame and an elevating frame coupled to a patient support surface. The obstacle detection device is configured to prevent vertical movement of the elevating frame relative to the base frame upon detecting an object within a path of travel of the elevating frame. The obstacle detection device comprises at least one emitter configured to generate a first optical curtain extending proximate a first longitudinal side edge of the bed intermediate the base frame and the elevating frame, and a second optical curtain extending proximate a second longitudinal side edge of the bed intermediate the base frame and the elevating frame. The obstacle detection device further comprises at least one first side receiver associated with the at least one emitter and configured to detect the first optical curtain, and at least one second side receiver associated with the at least one emitter and configured to detect the second optical curtain. A control unit is provided in communication with the at least one first side receiver and the at least one second side receiver, the control unit configured to prevent movement of the elevating frame if either of the at least one first side receiver and the at least one second side receiver does not detect the first optical curtain and the second optical curtain, respectively.
Illustratively according to the invention, the emitter comprises an infrared light source and a lens positioned proximate the infrared light source configured to convert light emitted therefrom to the optical curtain. Illustratively, the lens comprises a fresnel lens.
Illustratively according to the invention, each optical curtain includes a modulated signal and each receiver compares the modulated signal to a predefined verification signal to prevent interference from external light sources.
Further illustratively according to the invention, each receiver is configured to move with the elevating frame within a predefined vertical range. The predefined vertical range is illustratively from the base frame to the elevating frame when the elevating frame is in a fully raised position.
Illustratively according to the invention, an indicator is provided in communication with the control unit. The indicator is configured to indicate failure of either of the first side and the second side receivers to detect the first and second optical curtains, respectively.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a hospital bed obstacle detection device is provided for use with a hospital bed including a base frame and an elevating frame coupled to a patient support surface. The obstacle detection device controls movement of the elevating frame relative to the base frame upon detecting an object within a path of travel of the elevating frame. The obstacle detection device comprises means for generating a wireless curtain within a path of travel of the elevating frame, means for detecting the wireless curtain and generating a signal in response thereto, and means for receiving the signal and controlling movement of the elevating frame in response thereto.
Illustratively according to the invention, the means for generating a wireless curtain comprises an infrared light source. A lens is illustratively positioned proximate the infrared light source and is configured to convert light emitted therefrom to the wireless curtain. Illustratively the lens comprises a fresnel lens.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the wireless curtain includes a modulated signal and the detecting means compares the modulated signal to a predefined signal to prevent interference from external light sources.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the detecting means is configured to move with the elevating frame within a predefined vertical range. The predefined vertical range is illustratively from the base frame to the elevating frame when the elevating frame is in a fully raised position.
Illustratively according to the invention, an indicating means is provided in communication with the control means. The indicating means is configured to indicate failure of the detecting means to detect the wireless curtain.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a method is provided of preventing vertical movement of a patient support surface upon detection of an obstacle within a path of travel, the method comprising the steps of providing a patient support including a movable component, generating a detectable wireless signal within a path of travel of the movable component, providing a receiver for detecting the wireless signal, moving the patient support surface, generating a stop signal if the receiver fails to detect the wireless signal, and preventing vertical movement of the patient support surface in response to the stop signal.
Illustratively according to the invention, the step of generating a detectable wireless signal comprises the steps of providing a light source and emitting infrared light from the light source. The method illustratively further comprises the step of placing a lens proximate the light source for converting light emitted therefrom to an optical curtain.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the wireless signal includes a modulated signal and the receiver compares the modulated signal to a predefined verification signal to prevent interference from external light sources.
Illustratively according to the invention, the receiver is configured to move with the elevating frame within a predefined vertical range.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the method comprises the step of activating an indicator in response to the stop signal.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the invention, a hospital bed includes a first component, a second component movable relative to the first component, an optical curtain generator coupled to the first component, and an optical curtain detector coupled to the second component. The hospital bed further includes a control unit in communication with the detector and being configured to prevent relative movement of the first and second portions upon failure of the detector to detect the optical curtain.
Illustratively according to the invention, the first component is one of an elevating frame and an articulating deck supported by the elevating frame, and the second component is the other of the elevating frame and the articulating deck.
Illustratively according to the invention, the first component is one of a base frame and an elevating frame supported by the base frame, and the second component is the other of the base frame and the elevating frame.
Illustratively according to the invention, the first component is a first siderail and the second component is a second siderail.
Illustratively according to the invention, the first component is one of an elevating frame and a siderail supported by the elevating frame, and the second component is the other of the elevating frame and the siderail.
Illustratively according to the invention, the first component is one of a footboard and a siderail, and the second component is the other of the footboard and the siderail.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a hospital bed includes a first component, a second component configured to move relative to the first portion along a path of travel, and a detector supported by one of the first component and the second component, the detector configured to detect an obstacle within the path of travel of the second component and provide a control signal in response thereto. A control unit is in communication with the detector and is configured to prevent relative movement of the first and second components in response to the control signal.
Illustratively according to the invention, an emitter is supported by one of the first component and the second component, the emitter being configured to generate a wireless signal. The emitter is illustratively supported by the first component and the detector is supported for movement with the second component.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the detector comprises a camera configured to capture images of the second component along the path of travel. The control unit is configured to compare the images captured by the camera to predefined images to determine the presence of an obstacle within the path of travel.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the invention, a patient support apparatus comprises a first component, a second component configured to move relative to the first component along a path of travel, and an emitter supported by one of the first component and the second component. The emitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal having a pulsed portion of a predetermined frequency and duration. A detector is configured to detect the wireless signal, the detector being configured to provide an indication if it fails to detect the pulsed portion of the wireless signal.
Illustratively according to the invention, a control unit is configured to prevent movement of the second component relative to the first component when the detector fails to detect the pulsed portion of the wireless signal. Further illustratively, the pulsed portion of the wireless signal has a frequency of approximately 57 MHz and a duration of approximately 600 microseconds.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a patient support apparatus comprises a first component, a second component configured to move relative to the first component along a path of travel, and a force sensing switch supported by one of the first component and the second component. The force sensing switch is configured to provide an indication if it detects the application of a predetermined force thereto.
Illustratively according to the invention, a control unit is configured to prevent movement of the second component relative to the first component when the force sensing switch detects the application of the predetermined force.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

Hospital bed obstacle detection device and method


The present invention pertains to engineered immune cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered immune cells of the present invention are characterized in that at least one gene selected from a gene encoding GCN2 and a gene encoding PRDM1 is inactivated or repressed. Such modified Immune cells are resistant to an arginine and/or tryptophan depleted microenvironment caused by, e.g., tumor cells, which makes the immune cells of the invention particularly suitable for immunotherapy. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies using immune cells for treating different types of malignancies.

Cellular adaptive immunity is mediated by T-lymphocytes, also known as T-cells, which upon recognition of a non-self or tumoral antigen can either destroy the target cell or orchestrate an immune response with other cells of the immune system.
Adoptive immunotherapy, which involves the transfer of autologous antigen-specific T cells generated ex vivo, is a promising strategy to treat viral infections and cancer. The T-cells used for adoptive immunotherapy can be generated either by expansion of antigen-specific T cells or redirection of T-cells through genetic engineering (Park, Rosenberg et al. 2011). Transfer of viral antigen specific T-cells is a well-established procedure used for the treatment of transplant associated viral infections and rare viral-related malignancies. Similarly, isolation and transfer of tumor specific T-cells have been shown to be successful in treating melanoma.
Novel specificities in T-cells have been successfully generated through the genetic transfer of transgenic T cell receptors or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) (Jena, Dotti et al. 2010). CARs are synthetic receptors consisting of a targeting moiety that is associated with one or more signaling domains in a single fusion molecule. In general, the binding moiety of a CAR consists of an antigen-binding domain of a single-chain antibody (scFv), comprising the light and variable fragments of a monoclonal antibody joined by a flexible linker. Binding moieties based on receptor or ligand domains have also been used successfully. The signaling domains for first generation CARs are derived from the cytoplasmic region of the CD3zeta or the Fc receptor gamma chains. First generation CARs have been shown to successfully redirect T cell cytotoxicity, however, they failed to provide prolonged expansion and anti-tumor activity in vivo. Signaling domains from co-stimulatory molecules including CD28, OX-40 (CD134), and 4-1BB (CD137) have been added alone (second generation) or in combination (third generation) to enhance survival and increase proliferation of CAR modified T-cells. CARs have successfully allowed T-cells to be redirected against antigens expressed at the surface of tumor cells from various malignancies including lymphomas and solid tumors (Jena, Dotti et al. 2010).
While it is thus possible to redirect T-cell cytotoxicity towards tumor cells, these later cells may still dampen the immune response by escape mechanisms. One such escape mechanism is the elimination of certain amino acids such as arginine and tryptophan from their local microenvironment by production of arginase and Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1).
Most reports have associated arginase activity with the need for malignant cells to produce polyamines to sustain their rapid proliferation. However, arginase tends to inhibit T-cell proliferation and activation.
Rodriguez et al. (2004) found that L-arginine (L-Arg) plays a central role in several biologic systems including the regulation of T-cell function. L-Arg depletion by myeloid-derived suppressor cells producing arginase I is seen in patients with cancer inducing T-cell anergy. They showed that L-Arg starvation could regulate T-cell-cycle progression insofar as T cells cultured in the absence of L-Arg are arrested in the G0-G1phase of the cell cycle. This was associated with an inability of T cells to up-regulate cyclin D3 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4). Silencing of cyclin D3 reproduced the cell cycle arrest caused by L-Arg starvation. They also found that Signaling through GCN2 kinase was triggered during amino acid starvation.
A recent study demonstrated that arginase is expressed and released from Leukemia blasts and is present at high concentrations in the plasma of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), resulting in suppression of T-cell proliferation (Mussai, F. et al. 2013). The study showed that the immunosuppressive activity of AML blasts can be modulated through small molecule inhibitors of arginase and inducible nitric oxide synthase, strongly supporting the hypothesis that AML creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment that contributes to the pancytopenia observed at diagnosis. High arginase activity has been also described in patients with solid tumors, in particular in gastric, colon, breast, and lung cancers, and more particularly in small cell lung carcinoma (Suer et al., 1999). It is also considered that the following reaction catalyzed by arginase+H2O→urea+ornithine increases urea and ornithine concentration is the environment of tumors, which may have a negative impact on lymphocytes. On another hand, the inhibition of arginase in vivo was found to decrease tumor growth in mice as per the study by Rodriguez et al. (2004).
The metabolic enzyme IDO1 contributes to the balance between tolerance versus inflammation in a number of experimental models. Expression of IDO1 in APCs, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, can suppress T cell responses as observed during mammalian pregnancy, inflammatory conditions, autoimmunity and tumor resistance. IDO1 was found to be over-expressed by plasmacytoid dendritic cells in tumor draining lymph nodes (Munn, D. H. et al., 2004) as well as in child acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Rutella, S. et al., 2013) and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Lindström V., et al. 2013). IDO1 catabolizes the essential amino acid tryptophan, thus decreasing concentrations in the local microenvironment as well as generating biologically active downstream metabolites. Studies in both yeast and mice revealed that GCN2 also plays a role in the response to tryptophan deprivation. PRDM1 (also referred to as BLIMP-1) is a protein, which expression level parallels that of IDO1, and that is up-regulated in situation of tryptophan deprivation.
It thus appears that production of arginase and/or IDO1, through amino acid deprivation, represents a significant component of tumor escape, which needs to be addressed by innovative immunotherapy strategies, especially those involving T-cells.

Method for generating immune cells resistant to arginine and/or tryptophan depleted microenvironment


Methods, systems, and computer program products for black box techniques for detecting performance and availability issues in virtual machines exploiting hardware assisted virtualization are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes capturing multiple hardware assisted virtualization exit calls generated in connection with a given virtual machine; calculating one or more virtual machine performance metrics attributed to the given virtual machine based on the multiple hardware assisted virtualization exit calls; determining one or more virtual machine performance issues and/or one or more virtual machine availability issues attributed to the given virtual machine based on the one or more calculated virtual machine performance metrics; and outputting an alert identifying the one or more determined virtual machine performance issues and/or the one or more virtual machine availability issues attributed to the given virtual machine.

In virtualized environments, it can be challenging to monitor the state of VMs externally; that is, without embedding agents in the VMs. Additionally, customers can often be resistant to the installation of agents by a Cloud provider. Such agents utilize compute resources in the VM, and customers with privileged access can interfere with the intended functioning of the agents.

Black box techniques for detecting performance and availability issues in virtual machines


Aspects of the disclosure pertain to matching a selected image/photograph against a database of reference images having location information. The image of interest may include some location information itself, such as latitude/longitude coordinates and orientation. This location information may be based on information obtained when the user's device interacts with base stations or other access points in a wireless communication network, such as signal strength information. The location information is used as an estimated location. The image of interest and the estimated location are used to select one or more cells to match the image against. Each cell may have multiple images and an index. The image is compared against specific cells, and if a match is found, a front end server identifies the correct location and orientation of the received image, and may correct errors in the estimated location of the user device.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to digital imagery. More particularly, aspects are directed to matching a received image with geolocation information against selected reference images.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile user devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants ("PDAs") often include digital cameras among other features. Such devices marry the benefits of wireless access with electronic photography. A user may take pictures of friends and family, points of interest, etc., and share those pictures instantly.
Image recognition can be used on the pictures. For instance, applications such as mobile visual search programs may analyze these pictures in an attempt to identify image features such as corners, edges or lines, etc. However, mobile visual searching can be computationally intensive as well as time consuming, and depending on the device that captures the image, may rely on incomplete or inaccurate location information associated with the image. Aspects of the disclosure address these and other problems.

Matching an approximately located query image against a reference image set using cellular base station and wireless access point information