A shunt system for implantation of retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts to establish a water tight connection that drains excess cerebrospinal fluid from hydrocephalic brain ventricles and delivers it, against the direction of blood flow, in a dural sinus comprising a valveless shunting catheter and a styforator. Retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts mimic natural drainage of cerebrospinal fluid; they utilize natural forces to regulate the intraventricular pressure and to maintain it more than the sinus pressure, to prevent regurgitation of blood in the shunting catheter as a result of changes in posture or intra-thoracic pressure, to maintain a steady flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the venous circulation at a rate equal to and dependent upon the rate of it's formation, to discourage stagnation and clotting of blood at the venous end of the connection and to prevent siphonage in the erect posture.

1. Description of Related Art
In the medical arts, to relieve undesirable accumulation of fluids, it is frequently necessary to provide a means for draining a fluid from one part of the human body to another in a controlled manner. This is required, for example, in the treatment of hydrocephalus, an ailment usually afflicting infants or children in which cerebrospinal fluid accumulates within the skull and exerts pressure and skull deforming forces. The aim of treatment in hydrocephalus is to return the excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulating in the brain ventricles back to the venous circulation. This is done either directly by shunting it to the venous circulation, or indirectly by shunting it to a cavity, like the peritoneal cavity, from where it is absorbed into the venous circulation. This is typically done utilizing a drainage or shunt system including a catheter inserted into the brain ventricle through the skull which is connected to a tube that conducts the cerebrospinal fluid away from the brain to be introduced either into the peritoneal cavity, i.e. a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt system, or into the venous circulation by extending the distal catheter through the patient's internal jugular vein to the atrium portion of the heart, i.e. a ventriculo-atrial shunt system. After implantation of such shunt systems, two major problems are encountered: siphonage and thrombo-embolic complications.
Siphonage inevitably occurs whenever the patient assumes an upright posture regardless of the shunt system used. Siphonage develops whenever the ventricular catheter inlet, which is inside the skull, is elevated with respect to the distal catheter outlet, which is in the peritoneal cavity or the right atrium, i.e. when the patient sits, stands or is held erect. This siphonage effect occurs as a result of the hydrostatic pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid column in the vertical segment of the shunting catheter and causes cerebrospinal fluid over-drainage. Over-drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid causes excessive reduction of the cerebrospinal fluid pressure within the brain ventricles and predispose for the development of several complications, e.g., subdural hematomas and hygromas, overriding of the cranial bones and premature union of the skull bones in infants, excessive reduction of the ventricular size leading to the slit ventricle syndrome and shunt obstruction due to suction of choroid plexus or brain debris or due to impingement of the ventricular walls on the inlet holes of the ventricular catheter . . . etc. Furthermore, when a patient assumes the recumbent position after a period of over drainage in the upright position, cerebrospinal fluid flow to draining site stops completely until the intra-ventricular pressure builds up again; in effect, flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the drainage sites after implantation of current shunts is intermittent according to changes in posture or intra-thoracic pressure. Intermittent flow of the fluid predisposes to shunt obstruction and infection as a result of stagnation of the cerebrospinal fluid or reflux of blood into the shunting catheter. To sum up, siphonage is responsible, either directly or indirectly, for most of the problems and complications encountered after implantation of current shunts.
The thrombo-embolic complications, which are particularly peculiar to ventriculo-venous shunts, occur as a result of clotting of blood at the venous end of the connection. These are serious, fatal complications and because they are difficult to treat, ventriculo-atrial shunts are rarely implanted nowadays. The ventriculo-peritoneal shunt is the one most commonly used for the treatment of hydrocephalus.
Fluid flow control devices are incorporated into the shunt systems used for treatment of hydrocephalus, with the aim of maintaining a normal intra-ventricular pressure, prevention of siphonage in the upright body position and prevention of reflux of fluids into the shunt system. These devices are combinations of check valves, differential pressure valves and anti-siphonage devices. Although incorporation of these devices into shunt systems have improved the results, yet they are still far from satisfactory. Complications still occur frequently, the incidence of shunt revision is still high and the search to find solutions for the problems encountered after implantation of current shunt systems continues.
2. Evolution of the Concept of Treating Hydrocephalus by Implanting Retrograde Ventriculo-Sinus Shunts
The concept of treating hydrocephalus by implanting retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts, i.e. by establishing a water tight connection to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulating in hydrocephalic ventricles and to deliver it into a dural sinus against the direction of blood flow in the sinus, evolved from two theoretical conclusions. The first conclusion addressed the problem of siphonage and the second conclusion addressed the problems of regulation of cerebrospinal fluid flow to the venous circulation, normalization of the intraventricular pressure, prevention of reflux of blood and prevention of blood clotting at the venous end of a ventriculo-venous connection.
First Conclusion
The first conclusion was based on the fact that veins are collapsible tubes. The observation that veins may collapse in vivo is an old one and has traditionally been attributed to the fact that their walls are too thin to withstand even minor changes in their transmural pressure (N.B. Transmural pressure is the pressure inside the vein minus the ambient pressure). Since the pressure in the big veins in the body oscillates around a value close to atmospheric pressure, conditions under which transmural pressure drops below the zero level may prevail; investigators suggested that collapse of veins may play a role in regulation of the venous flow [A. L. Noordergraaf, Circulatory System Dynamics, Ch. 5, (1978)]. The internal jugular vein is the only segment in the venous channels that convey the venous blood from the brain to the heart which is exposed to the atmospheric pressure. In the recumbent position the vein lies in a horizontal plane, it's transmural pressure is just positive and it's contour is oval or even flat. During change of posture form recumbent to erect, the position of the vein changes from horizontal to vertical allowing gravity to exert it's effect decreasing the vein's transmural pressure which becomes negative and the vein collapses.
Dr. El-Shafei conducted experiments to study the role of collapse of the internal jugular vein in regulating the venous back flow from the brain during changes in posture [Ismail L. El Shafei, et al., "Ventriculo-Jugular Shunt Against the Direction of Blood Flow, I. Role of the Internal Jugular Vein as an Antisiphonage Device", Childs Nervous System, 3:282-284 (1987)]. He found that the internal jugular vein collapsed gradually, in a specific pattern, during change of posture from recumbent to erect. Collapse of the vein started at its upper end and proceeded downward with the increase in the angle of elevation of the cranium above the heart. The degree and extent of collapse of the vein varied according to the degree of elevation of the cranium; the more the cranium was elevated the more the vein collapsed. This phenomenon is similar to what happens to the veins on the dorsum of the hand when it is elevated. Collapse of the vein decreased it's capacity and increased the resistance to blood flow in it, counteracting the gain in pressure head due to elevation of the cranium. The increase in resistance to blood flow due to collapse of the vein was exactly equal to the gain in pressure head due to elevation of the cranium, so that the rate of venous back flow from the brain as well as all the intracranial pressures, i.e. the dural sinus pressure, the cerebral venous pressure and the cerebrospinal fluid pressure, remained constant and were not affected by gravity during the change of posture from recumbent to erect. In other words, collapse of the internal jugular vein on assuming the erect posture acted as a natural, precise and self regulating siphon control mechanism. Accordingly, Dr. El-Shafei concluded that: "any cerebrospinal fluid shunt for treatment of hydrocephalus should deliver the cerebrospinal fluid into the upper end of the internal jugular vein or into one of the dural sinuses in order to utilize the natural phenomenon of collapse of the internal jugular vein on assuming the upright body position to prevent siphonage".
Second Conclusion
The second conclusion was based on general hydraulic principles. In any ventriculo-venous shunt, the intra-venous portion of the shunting catheter constitutes an obstacle in the way of the running blood stream. According to hydraulic principles, placement of an obstacle in the way of a running stream induces changes in the pattern of flow and in the distribution of pressures inside the stream [W. L. McCabe, J. C. Smith, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 2nd Edition, Ch. 3 "Fluid-flow Phenomena", (1967) pp 47-67]. These changes are well known to hydraulic and aviation engineers. An impact zone will be created on the upstream side of the obstacle and a wake zone will be created on its downstream side (FIG. 1A). In the impact zone, the running fluid hits the obstacle, deflects and moves on, i.e. the fluid never stagnates in the impact zone, and is continuously renewed, while in the wake zone, some of the fluid separates from the streamlines and stagnates. Also, in the impact zone, the static pressure of the running fluid increases by an amount known as the impact pressure, while in the wake zone it decreases by an amount known as the wake effect. (N.B. The magnitude of the impact pressure or wake effect is directly proportional to the square of the velocity of fluid flow and equals V2/2 g, where V is the velocity of flow and g is the gravitational acceleration which is a constant equal to 981 cm/s2).
According to this hydraulic principle, if the shunting catheter of a ventriculo-venous shunt is introduced into the venous channel in the direction of blood flow (FIG. 1B), two wake zones will be created in the venous channel; one in front of the catheter's end (WZ1 in FIG. 1B) and another at the axilla between the catheter and the wall of the venous channel (WZ2 in FIG. 1B). At these sites, blood will stagnate and it's clotting will be encouraged (N.B. Blood clots when it stagnates, but not when it is continuously renewed). Also, in these wake zones, the static venous pressure will decrease by an amount equal to the wake effect of the blood stream. Accordingly, the intra-ventricular pressure will stabilize after shunt implantation, when it becomes equal to the wake zone pressure in front of the venous end of the shunting catheter, i.e. the stabilized intra-ventricular pressure will be less than the pressure in the draining venous channel by an amount equal to the wake effect of the blood stream; i.e. the normal relationship of the intraventricular pressure being more than the pressure in the draining venous channel will be reversed.
On the other hand, if the shunting catheter of a ventriculo-venous shunt is introduced into the venous channel against the direction of blood flow (FIG. 1C), two impact zones will be created in the venous channel, one in front of the catheter's venous end (IZ1 in FIG. 1C) and another at the axilla between the catheter and the wall of the venous channel (IZ2 in FIG. 1C). In the impact zones blood will never stagnate; it will be continuously renewed and its clotting will be discouraged. Also, the intraventricular pressure will stabilize after shunt implantation when it becomes equal to the impact zone pressure in front of the catheter's venous end, i.e., the stabilized intraventricular pressure after shunt implantation will be maintained more than the pressure in the draining venous channel by an amount equal to the impact pressure of the blood stream, preserving the relationship that normally exists between the two pressures. Accordingly, it was concluded that: "in order to discourage blood clotting at the venous end of a ventriculo-venous shunt and to normalize the intraventricular pressure and maintain it more than the pressure in the draining venous channel regardless of changes in posture or intra-thoracic pressure, the venous end of the shunting catheter should be introduced into the venous channel against the direction of blood flow and not in the direction of blood flow".
To sum up, on theoretical basis, Dr. El Shafei concluded that "a physiological way for treating hydrocephalus is to establish a closed watertight connection that will drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid from the cerebral ventricles and deliver it into the upper end of the internal jugular vein or into a dural sinus against the direction of blood flow, i.e. to implant a retrograde ventriculo-jugular or a retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunt". Such a treatment utilizes the collapse of the internal jugular vein in the erect posture to prevent siphonage, utilizes the impact pressure of the blood stream to maintain the normal relationship of the intra-ventricular pressure being more than the pressure in the draining venous channel regardless of changes in posture or intra-thoracic pressure and creates impact zones in the draining venous channel which discourage stagnation and clotting of blood at the venous end of the connection. This way of cerebrospinal fluid shunting mimics natural drainage of cerebrospinal fluid and eliminates almost all the predisposing factors for most of the problems and complications encountered after current shunting procedures. These theoretical conclusions needed confirmation.
Dr. El-Shafei et al. conducted experiments to study the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid flow after implantation of retrograde ventriculo-jugular and retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts respectively [Ismail L. El-Shafei and Mahmound A. El-Rifaii, "Ventriculo-jugular shunt against the direction of blood flow. II Theoretical and experimental basis for shunting the cerebrospinal fluid against the direction of blood flow", Child's Nervous System, (1987) 3:285-291 and Azza Mohamed Abdel Hamid El Shaarawy, "Study of Alternative Methods for Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting to the Venous Circulation, Experimental Modeling", Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering, March 1997]. The results showed that after implantation of either of these shunts, provided that the ventriculo-venous connection is a closed system that does not allow leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, the intraventricular pressure will be regulated by its natural regulator, which is the pressure in the draining venous channel. The intra-ventricular pressure will be maintained within normal values at a level more than the pressure in the draining venous channel regardless of changes in posture or intra-thoracic pressure; therefore blood cannot regurgitate into a valveless shunting catheter as a result of these changes, flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the venous circulation will be continuous at a rate equal to and dependent upon the rate of its formation and siphonage will not develop when the upright body position is assumed. The results confirmed the theoretical conclusions and indicated that a valveless shunting catheter can be used to establish the retrograde ventriculo-venous connection. Reflux of blood into a valveless shunting catheter after implantation of a retrograde ventriculo-venous shunt can only occur if there is cerebrospinal fluid leakage, because loss of the cerebrospinal fluid will decrease the intra-ventricular pressure and make it less than the pressure in the draining venous channel. Therefore, injury to the dura mater should be avoided during shunt implantation and the dural hole made for shunt implantation should be hermetically sealed to prevent leakage from around the catheter. Also the shunt should be closed before attempting intradural surgical procedures and if a cerebrospinal fluid fistula develops. This is important because the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid flow after implantation of retrograde ventriculo-venous shunts depend entirely on it's being a closed system allowing no leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
During the 8th and 9th decades of the 20th century, Dr. El-Shafei implanted retrograde ventriculo-jugular shunts to treat hydrocephalus [Ismail L. El-Shafei, "Ventriculo-jugular shunt against the direction of bloodflow, III Operative technique and results", Child's Nervous System, (1987) 3:342-349 and Ismail El-Shafei and Mohamed Ahmed Hafez, "Ventriculo-jugular shunt against the direction of blood flow, IV Technical modifications and policy for treatment", Child's Nervous System (1991) 7:197-204]. The results were satisfactory in patients above the age of 5 years. There were no problems related to improper cerebrospinal fluid drainage or blood clotting; confirming the validity of the theoretical conclusions and the experimental results. However, implantation of a retrograde ventriculo-jugular shunt was very difficult and quite often impossible in infants and young children due to the thin caliber of their neck veins. Also, when the shunt could be implanted in young patients, only a short segment of the shunting catheter could be introduced up into the thin internal jugular vein. Shortness of the intravenous catheter segment together with movements of the head and the rapid rate of longitudinal body growth in infants predisposed to slipping of the catheter out from the vein and cerebrospinal fluid leakage in the neck few months after shunt implantation. It became obvious that infants and young children are not suitable candidates for implantation of retrograde ventriculo-jugular shunts, and they were only implanted in patients above the age of 5 years.
During the last decade of the 20th century, Dr. El Shafei, et al, implanted retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts using valveless shunting catheters regardless of the patient's age [El Shafei I L, El Shafei H I, "The retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunt. Concept and technique for treatment of hydrocephalus by shunting the cerebrospinal fluid to the superior sagittal sinus against the direction of blood flow. Preliminary report. Childs' Nerv. Syst. 2001; 17:456-465, Ismail L El Shafei, Hassan I E L Shafei, "The Retrograde Ventriculo-Sinus Shunt (El Shafei RVS Shunt). Rationale, Evolution, surgical technique and long term results." Pediatr Neurosurg 2005; 41:305-317]. The results were considered satisfactory, there were no problems related to improper cerebrospinal fluid drainage, siphonage, reflux of blood or blood clotting at the venous end of the connection. However, difficulties and problems were encountered during and after shunt implantation mainly due to cerebrospinal fluid leakage from around the shunting catheter because of imperfect sealing of the dural hole made for shunt implantation and difficulties in introducing the venous end of the connection into the sinus.
Conclusion: Since none of the available shunt systems possess features for hermetic sealing of the dural hole around the shunting catheter or for delivering the drained cerebrospinal fluid against the direction of blood flow in the sinus it became obvious that a specially designed shunt system is needed for easy and proper implantation of retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts.

Device for implantation of retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunt


The instant invention is a programmable, multi-colored, digital pool light system capable of operating multiple light sources and varying the power provided to each light bulb providing virtually unlimited amounts of light intensity, color blending and saturation. The light bulbs are mounted in a heat absorbing plate and light dispersing dichroic lenses are mounted above selected light bulbs. The program is operated by the ON/OFF switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to pool lights and more specifically to programmable, multi-colored underwater lights.
2. Background of the Invention
A wide variety of lighting systems have been designed for use in controlling the color and intensity of lights in various applications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,071 to Murad discloses a computerized illumination system consisting mainly of two major subsystems, three colored lamps, and a solid state digital computer. The device was designed to have a switch arrangement to select one of a limited number of illumination "programs". The lamps are designed to illuminate the lamps in a fixed sequence, based on one of the lamps being a master to synchronize the other lamps. The rotational speed is either a fixed value or zero. This programming is done at the time of manufacture, after which it is either fixed or zero. The number of steps before a repeat of the pattern is limited to the number of light channels. The number of light channels is designed to be three, red, blue, and green. With these light colors operating in a "scattering medium", it claims to be able to produce the complete range of colors by raising or lowering the intensity of each channel. Although the reference claims mention that the blended color can be blended, this programming is done at the time of manufacture, after which it is fixed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,767 to Droftei discloses a digital control for gas discharge tubes. The gas discharge tube is controlled in intensity and in the length along such tube that is illuminated by providing digital control signals to an analog drive circuit connected to the high-voltage energization device for the tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,176 to Sugden discloses a computer controlled stage lighting system having a plurality of multiple parameter lamp units each comprising means for producing a light beam having a plurality of adjustable parameters relating to beam characteristics and beam position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,587 to Gray et al. discloses a programmable lighting control system for controlling illumination systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,343 to Recknagel et al. discloses a bowling center lighting system having a plurality of independently controlled light modules, each emitting light in response to an activation signal uniquely associated with the light module.
The instant invention is able to mimic the prior art in all ways and in addition distinguishes itself by incorporating the features summarized below.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system for managing interactions includes: a processor; and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: identify first and second interactions by a user device, each of the first and second interactions being configured to alternately occupy a first area of a display screen of the user device; display an icon on the first area, the icon representing the second interaction, wherein attributes of the icon correspond to attributes of the second interaction; and modify the attributes of the icon based on a status of the second interaction.

Mobile end user devices such as smart phones and electronic tablets allow users to manage a variety of interactions such as voice calls, chats, and emails, via a user interface. A user may utilize different aspects of the user interface to manage different types of interactions. Because of their compact size, many mobile devices have smaller display screens that provide limited real estate for displaying a user's options for managing interactions. This can limit the number of options available to a user who has multiple ongoing (or active) interactions. For example, an agent in a contact center may desire to handle voice calls, chats, and emails concurrently via his or her mobile device. It is desirable that the agent handles all interactions in a way that can achieve certain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set by the contact center. Such KPIs may include, for example, average wait time, interaction duration, escalations, repeat callers, service levels, and the like. However, due to the limited real estate available on her mobile device screen, the agent may be limited in the number and type of interactions that she can handle at one time. Thus, what is desired is a system and method for managing multiple interactions using a mobile device, in an optimal and efficient manner.

System and method for managing multiple interactions


Tree stands are disclosed for providing an elevated standing location. The tree stand can include a support post, a seat rotatably coupled to the first end of the support post, and a platform rotatably coupled to the second end of the support post. The platform can comprise a plurality interconnected polygonal shapes defining a top standing surface. The platform can be a grating that has load bearing properties and that can be cast from a mold. The platform includes a perimeter wall, a surface portion, and one or more reinforcement walls. A height or thickness of the surface portion is less than a height or thickness of the perimeter wall and/or the reinforcement walls.

Hunting wild game from a position elevated above the ground provides several benefits over hunting from ground level. A hunter that is perched above the ground can be positioned above an animal's normal field of view, reducing the likelihood that the animal will spot the hunter first. The scent of the hunter is also above the prey's nose, minimizing the chance that the animal will smell the hunter before the hunter can spot the animal. Also, the hunter's range of vision may be increased and allow shots over otherwise obstructing limbs and brush.
A variety of tree stands have been developed that can elevate hunters above the ground and allow the aforementioned benefits. These tree stands may be adapted to be readily attached to a tree, post, or other vertical support member to provide a platform, seat, or combination of both at any desired level above the ground. Presently available tree stands adapted to be attached to a tree, post, or other vertical support member can be unstable and may tend to bounce, both of which can cause a user (such as a hunter) to fall from the tree stand.


The present invention relates broadly to an unmanned surface vessel (10) comprising a hull (12), an underwater appendage (14), a winch (16), and a cable or rope (18). The cable or rope (18) is at its distal end attached to a remote device (20) with the cable or rope (18) arranged to cooperate with the winch (16) to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel (10) via operation of the winch (16). The underwater appendage is in the form of a keel including a cavity (22) designed to partly locate the winch (16).

Sonar systems are typically installed in defence vessels for surveillance purposes and more particularly for detecting the presence of submarines. These known sonar systems include towed array sonar deployed from surface vessels such as frigates. The towed array sonar includes a system of hydrophones towed behind the frigate or other surface vessel via a tow cable. The tow cable can be up to one or more kilometres in length and is spooled about a cable drum mounted on the deck or alongside the hull of the surface vessel from which it is deployed and retrieved.


Embodiments of the invention are directed towards a medical device, method and system thereof for the placement or passage of patches, sutures, anchors, tags, tissue sensors and more particularly to a medical device for repairing female pelvic organ or tissue prolapsed region. The device may be used for the placement of stereotactic markers into tissue near joints or tumors for guidance during orthopedic or neurosurgical procedures.

Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a medical device, method and system thereof for the placement or passage of patches, sutures, anchors, tags, tissue sensors and more particularly to a medical device for repairing female pelvic organ or tissue prolapsed region.
Discussion of the Related Art
It is estimated that nearly twelve percent of women will need surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Historically, the long term result of these surgeries using the patient's own tissue for the repair, has been disappointing for both the patients and the surgeons. Recurrence of prolapse after standard autologous tissue repairs has been reported to be as high as about thirty percent to about forty percent.
Many current methods for pelvic reconstruction use instruments designed for laparoscopic surgery. These devices allow the surgeon to suture or anchor tissue, or to staple a patch or graft material into place. While laparoscopic instruments may be effective for laparoscopy when used under direct visualization, they tend to be less effective when used used in conditions of limited space and visualization, e.g., the vagina. More specifically, when laparoscopic instruments are used for vaginal surgery, there is a lack of tactile assistance or feedback when working from the end of an instrument. In addition, laparoscopic instruments are rigid and therefore not suited to the angles and planes encountered in vaginal surgery.
Methods, techniques and devices were developed that use a perineal approach. In these techniques, needles or carriers are placed through the skin of the perineum (outside the vagina) and into the pelvis and vagina. Once in position, graft material is attached to the needles which are drawn brought back out to the external skin, pulling the graft into position.
Moreover, these related art instruments are difficult to use with a perineal approach. Moreover, as the perineal approach is not widely taught, or familiar to many surgeons it is not a general skill of most surgeons, and it requires passage of a needle/carrier blindly through a great distance of tissue. Therefore, the difficulty of these techniques and related art devices limit their use to a very few specialists who are able to perform them, thereby limiting the availability of the treatment. Furthermore, this percutaneous approach has resulted in additional possible surgical complications, including infections, surrounding organ injuries, and painful scarring.
Other currently available methods and instruments available use a more traditional and familiar vaginal approach. These are generally sold as a kit, which include rigid devices used to aid in the attachment of graft materials. The graft is preformed and specific to the repair being done, i.e., anterior, posterior or apical. Currently available methods and instruments for the vaginal approach to prolapse repair utilize surgical skills and anatomical landmarks familiar to most gynecologists. However, the cost associated with the kits, the generally rigid and unwieldy nature of these devices render these kits problematic.
Therefore, there is a need for a device, method and/or system that addresses the above and other problems.

Medical device, method and system thereof


A method for treating gases and solids in a fluid bed, the fluid bed reactor substantially comprising, regarded downstream, a mixing chamber, a riser pipe and a cyclone with a solids return pipe to the mixing chamber, the gases being introduced into the mixing chamber at a gas rate immediately before the inlet port of the mixing chamber of more than 35 m/sec.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating gases and solids in a fluid bed, the fluid bed reactor substantially comprising, regarded downstream, a mixing chamber, a riser pipe and a cyclone with a solids return pipe to the mixing chamber.
The present invention is advantageously applicable for reducing metal ores with hot reducing gases, in particular the hot waste gas from a smelting reduction vessel. The present invention is also particularly advantageous for the purifying and fast cooling of waste gases containing dangerous and problematic, e.g. glutinous, substances.
Fluidization is being applied increasingly in largescale industrial practice. Processes for purifying hot contaminated waste gases from the metallurgical and chemical industries have become known, for instance, that are based on the technology of the circulating fluid bed. The unproblematic recovery of heat in this procedure is stated as an additional advantage.
For example, Australian patent 553 033 describes a method in the so-called Fluxflow reactor for recovering heat from a gas loaded with melted drops that is brought in contact with the heating surfaces of a heat exchanger, characterized in that the gas temperature before the heat exchanger is reduced below the eutectic temperature of the melted drops by admixing solid particles to the gas loaded with melted drops. The stated data for the described method are a gas rate of 3 to 20 m/sec, a particle content of the gas of 10 to 500 g/mol, an inlet gas temperature of 300.degree. to 1500.degree. C., an outlet gas temperature of 500.degree. to 1200.degree. C. and an average particle size of 100 to 2000 micrometers.
Another broad range of application for fluid bed technology is coal gasification. German patent no. 27 42 644 relates to a method for continuous gasification of carbonaceous solids and an apparatus for carrying out this method. In this process the solids pass through at least three zones from top to bottom in a shaft-like vessel. The rates of the descending product stream are at most 5 m/min, and the flow rate of the fluidizing gas for keeping the solids in a whirled up state is at most about 6 m/sec.
European patent application no. 03 04 931 relates to a method and apparatus for gasification or combustion of solid carbonaceous materials in a circulating fluid bed wherein the gas rate in the fluid bed reactor is kept at a high level of 2 to 10 m/sec and a considerable proportion of the solids is discharged from the reaction vessel with the gas, separated in a subsequent cyclone and then fed back to the reactor vessel. The preliminarily purified gas is then freed from the fine solids in a gas purifying facility. The process is characterized in that this fine material from the gas purifying facility agglomerates with the circulating material from the cyclone and is finally also fed to the reactor vessel. With a circulating fluid bed reactor of the Fluxflow type, that is used for example for recovering heat from a hot gas stream or for treating solid particles with hot gases, the hot gas is fed into the reactor as a fluidizing gas through a usually circular port in the bottom. No grate is necessary for holding the fluid bed material in a Fluxflow reactor. This system of course also has some disadvantages, in particular when used on a large scale. The gases introduced into the fluid bed cannot always prevent heavy solid particles from falling out of the fluid bed countercurrently through the inlet port on the bottom of the reactor. Particularly the strong downward flow of the solid particles on the outer walls of the reactor causes particles to flow out through the inlet port of the reactor. It is also known that turbulence in the solid-gas flow system increases these losses through the inlet port. This backflow of solid particles into the main process facility preceding the fluid bed reactor can lead to problems and complicates the process control. Furthermore, the particles or cakes of particles that fall through the inlet port can cause disturbances, turbulence and a reduced gas rate in the gas stream itself, thereby causing disturbances in the buildup of the fluid bed in the mixing chamber.
The problem on which the invention is based is accordingly to design a method and apparatus in such a way that no solid particles escape from the mixing chamber through the inlet port countercurrently to the introduced gases when gases are introduced into a mixing chamber with a fluid bed of solid particles. A further, more specific problem on which the invention is based is to design a method and apparatus for reducing metal ores by the fluid bed technique, that is advantageously applied here, in such a way that very hot reducing gases, for example waste gases from a smelting reduction vessel, are fed at a temperature over 1700.degree. C. directly into the mixing chamber and cooled in the mixing chamber to a favorable reduction temperature whereby no appreciable amounts of solid particles escape from the mixing chamber countercurrently into the reducing gas feed pipe. An additional objective of the invention is to design the method in such a way that it can be advantageously operated in conjunction with a smelting reduction process.
This overall problem is solved by the invention by introducing the gases into the mixing chamber at a gas rate immediately before the inlet of the mixing chamber of more than 35 m/sec.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the hot gas is introduced into the mixing chamber through a gas inlet pipe having a length (l) to diameter (D) ratio l/D greater than 1, and the downward marginal flow of the solid particles in the lower conic portion of the mixing chamber, that has an angle of inclination smaller than 70.degree., is guided so as to meet the substantially vertical upward flow of the hot gases at the gas inlet port of the mixing chamber at an angle of at least 20.degree..
The method according to the invention prevents solid particles from escaping into the gas inlet pipe on the bottom of the mixing chamber and causes all solid particles to leave the mixing chamber only in the direction of flow.
The apparatus according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the mixing chamber has a gas inlet pipe through which the gases pass into the mixing chamber, the gas inlet pipe having a length to diameter ratio l/D greater than 1 and the mixing chamber having a lower conic portion whose walls have an angle of inclination smaller than 70.degree..
When the inventive method is applied for reducing metallic oxides a fluid bed or circulating fluid bed is preferably used. The reactor comprises a mixing chamber in which the metal ores and the hot reducing gas are mixed, a cyclone for separating these solid particles and the gases from the mixing chamber, a riser pipe that feeds the suspension stream of solid particles and gas from the mixing chamber into the cyclone, and a solids return pipe for transporting at least part of the solids from the cyclone into the mixing chamber.
Contrary to the prevailing view that high blow-in rates in the mixing chamber lead to disadvantages, the inventive high inlet rate of the hot gases entering the mixing chamber (greater than 35 m/sec) has surprisingly resulted in advantageous flow characteristics in the mixing chamber that are reflected in a number of positive effects. The inventive high inlet gas rates in the mixing chamber unexpectedly result, not in the disadvantages described in the prior art, but in the advantageous effects now explained in more detail.
By applying the invention in a Fluxflow.RTM. reactor one can achieve a selective temperature adjustment of the mixture of solid particles, such as metal ore, sand or waste gas dust, and hot gas, such as waste gas from the smelting reduction vessel or waste gas from a furnace chamber.
For this purpose part or all of the inner surface of the mixing chamber is positively cooled, for example water-cooled, according to the invention. Part of the inner wall of the mixing chamber can be lined with one or more layers of refractory material, including positively cooled areas. By selecting the ratio of positively cooled inner surface not lined with refractory material to inner surface insulated with refractory material one has a first possibility of control for adjusting the temperature of the fluid bed mixture in the mixing chamber. A further possibility of control results from the selection of the coolant that flows through the cooling ducts of the inner surface of the mixing chamber. For example one can use water, oil, water vapor, compressed air or mixtures thereof.
A further measure for controlling the temperature of the fluid bed mixture in the mixing chamber is to regulate the supplied amount of new solid particles, such as metal ore. Furthermore, coolants such as water vapor, water and/or oil can also be sprayed directly into the mixing chamber.
An essential feature of the invention results from the use of the mixing chamber as a cooler for the hot reducing gas as soon as the inlet temperature of the reducing gas is higher than the optimal reduction temperature for the metal ores. The reducing gas used is mainly the waste gas from a smelting reduction vessel. Its temperature is normally clearly above the required advantageous reduction temperature. This waste gas is customarily loaded with dust and passes into the mixing chamber at a relatively high speed in the center from one side, for example from below. According to the invention the inlet rate is over 35 m/sec, and it can vary, for example in accordance with the particle size and the specific weight of the particles, the fluid bed height in the mixing chamber, the total amount of circulating fluid bed material, the dimensions and form of the mixing chamber.
The minimum speed is also dependent to a certain extent on the operating pressure of the hot introduced gases. The minimum gas rate is lower at a higher operating pressure. In the case of waste gas from a smelting reduction facility the pressure in the smelting reduction vessel can also influence the pressure in the mixing chamber. For example, if the inventive method is applied under otherwise equal conditions the inlet gas rate in the mixing chamber can be at least 120 m/sec at an operating pressure of about 1.5 bars and at least 85 m/sec at an operating pressure of about 3.5 bars.
The flow pattern arising in the mixing chamber is determined by the relatively high inlet gas rate and also by the form and dimensions of the gas inlet pipe and the lower portion of the mixing chamber. This ensures according to the invention that the fluid bed remains in the mixing chamber and the temperature of the hot gases is optimally reduced. In the reduction of metal ores the fast cooling of the gases leads to a fast temperature decrease in the introduced reaction gases to a temperature advantageous for reduction, and the good mixture of gas and solids results in their uniform reduction in the fluid bed. In a Fluxflow reactor the flow characteristics can probably be imagined to be such that the flow approximately follows the axis of symmetry in the center, going in the opposite direction on the vessel walling. This results in an inner circulating flow. With the typical vertical position of the mixing chamber there is an ascending flow in the center of the vessel and a descending flow on the outer wall of the vessel.
According to the invention the cone angle of inclination of the lower portion of the mixing cheer and thus the downflow direction of the particles is limited to less than 70.degree., preferably 45.degree. to 70.degree.. The inlet port for the hot gas is preferably disposed in the center of the lower conic portion of the mixing cheer. The mixing cheer also comprises a cylindrical central portion and an upper conic area with the central port for the connected riser pipe. It has proven to be particularly advantageous for the lower conic portion of the mixing chamber to form an angle of inclination with the horizontal between 45.degree. and 70.degree. since particularly preferred flow characteristics surprisingly result at this angle. If this angle of inclination, i.e. the angle of inclination of the walls in the lower conic area of the mixing chamber, is greater than 70.degree. the downflow of the particles increasingly approaches the vertical direction and the particles can then pass into the gas feed pipe at high speed. These particles that escape from the mixing chamber and are thus lost to the fluid bed can also lead to crusts in the gas inlet pipe and therefore prove to be problematic for the gas flow.
The gas inlet pipe is inventively constructed so as to have a length to diameter ratio l/D greater than 1 in order to ensure that particles or particle agglomerates possibly passing into the gas feed pipe disintegrate there and are transported back into the mixing chamber by the high gas rate in the inlet pipe.
According to the invention the solid particles leave the mixing chamber together with the reducing gas only in the direction of flow, i.e. they flow solely into the subsequent riser pipe. The discharge of solid particles from the mixing chamber into the gas feed pipe contrary to the direction of flow is probably prevented by the high inlet gas rate of more than 35 m/sec. In particular if the inventive method is combined with a smelting reduction facility, whereby the particles present in the fluid bed in the mixing chamber have dimensions greater than 1 mm and a specific weight D greater than 4 g/cm.sup.3, this effect is particularly advantageous if the gas rate immediately before the inlet port of the mixing chamber is at least 60 m/sec, preferably at least 100 m/sec.
In other applications, for example for cooling and/or purifying hot gases from gas turbine combustors, gasifiers or other high-temperature processes such as sintering plants, in a fluid bed with a main particle size of 4 to 200 micrometers and a specific weight D less than 4 g/cm.sup.3 the inventive method can be successfully used for preventing particles, for example flue dust, from passing out of the mixing chamber into the gas feed pipe. The rate of the hot gases immediately before the inlet port of the mixing chamber is then preferably adjusted between 35 and 80 m/sec.
As already mentioned, the invention can be successfully employed in processes for reducing metal ores. The optimal temperature for reducing the metal ores prevails in the riser pipe of the fluid bed reactor. The measures for temperature adjustment are already described. In practice one can start out from the known mean temperature and amount of reducing gas, and known substance feeding rates for ore, returns from the cyclone, including carrier gas and various additives, for example slag forming agents. A thermal balance can be set up on this basis and the theoretical gas temperature at the exit of the mixing chamber calculated. This theoretical gas temperature is normally above the optimal reducing gas temperature, and the heat dissipation and the ratio of positively cooled to refractorily lined inner wall surfaces in the mixing chamber must be fixed accordingly so that the reducing gas temperature at the entrance to the riser pipe corresponds to the desired temperature.
The vertical position of the mixing chamber with the reducing gas inlet port at the bottom on the mixing chamber in the area of the axis of symmetry and the riser pipe connected to the mixing chamber on the opposite side constitutes an advantageous design of the invention but is not the only possible construction.
The amount of solids recycled from the cyclone to the mixing chamber, which can be partly reduced metallic oxides for example, then rises again with the fluid bed of the mixing chamber, thereby maintaining the function of a circulating fluid bed. It is possible to use two or more cyclones in a fluid bed reactor, e.g. in order to improve the separation of fine dusts.
Any desired proportion of the product stream can be branched off from the solids return pipe and fed to further processing steps or a storage tank. It has proved to be particularly advantageous and within the scope of the invention to feed the partly reduced metallic oxides directly, i.e. in the still heated state, to a smelting reduction facility, for example the smelting reduction vessel in which the waste gas for the mixing chamber arises.
The density of the fluid bed varies in different parts of the facility. The fluid bed density, i.e. the density of the suspension of solid particles and gas, is thus between 10 kg/m.sup.3 and 200 kg/m.sup.3, but preferably between 20 and 100 kg/m.sup.3, in the mixing chamber. In the connected riser pipe the product stream density is lower, and in the upper portion, i.e. before entrance into the cyclone, it is 2 kg/m.sup.3 to 30 kg/m.sup.3, but preferably 3 kg/m.sup.3 to 10 kg/m.sup.3. In the connected solids return pipe from the cyclone to the mixing chamber the product stream density is normally above the values before entrance into the cyclone.
The mixing chamber is an important facility for the Fluxflow reactor to which the inventive method relates. It is normally a rotationally symmetrical, prolate type of vessel having at the lower end the connection for the reducing gas feed pipe and passing at the upper end into the riser pipe. The free diameter of the riser pipe is normally greater than the free diameter of the reducing gas feed pipe. The solids return pipe ends in the mixing chamber. New material, for example non-prereduced or raw metal ore, is fed to the process in the mixing chamber via a separate connection.
The invention shall be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing and an example.

Apparatus for treating gases and particulate solids in a fluid bed


Apparatus for utilizing waste water from a refrigeration system to cool the motor-compressor and associated coil of condenser tubing in that system. The apparatus features a motor-compressor around which is wrapped the condenser coil. The motor-compressor and condenser coil are contained within a water tank to which is directed waste water that has been collected from the meltdown of an ice making cycle or the condensate from a refrigerant evaporator. In applications where waste water production is insufficient a valve controlled supply of fresh water can be substituted therefor or used in conjunction with the waste water to effect cooling of both the compressor and condenser coils. Use of the waste water in this manner obviates the need for fans and associated motors to provide air-cooling of the condenser and for possible oil cooling of the motor-compressor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a waste water condenser which utilizes waste water obtained from the refrigeration system in cooling both the condenser coil and the compressor.
2. Prior Art
In conventional refrigeration systems a fan and accompanying fan motor are generally used to provide air-cooling for the condenser. However, this arrangement means that power must be supplied to the motor which drives the fan, thus incurring additional operating expense not to mention the increased chance of malfunction by reason of the need for additional moving parts. Moreover, since many refrigeration systems are located in an indoor environment where the air temperature is in the area of 70.degree. F. the air used to cool the condenser is not very efficient in extracting heat from the refrigerant within the condenser coil. Additionally, the use of fans requires ventilation grilles in the appliances in which they are used. Other systems of cooling which use water for that purpose rather than air generally require a large amount of water which is in short supply in many areas.


An improved high pressure glass column for high performance liquid chromatography which comprises, both ends of the high pressure glass column on which flanges made of the same glass material are arranged, two column end fitting plugs which are made of a fluorine-contained resin and have a small bore for the effluent flow bored in their center, a piston part of a fitting plug inserted in the bore syringe part of the column end and a flange arranged to attach to the flange of the glass column tube, where the inside of the end of the piston part is formed with a conic shape and one or more narrow circled hollows are formed around the outlet of the piston part, two filters made of the fluorine-contained resin placed in between the both ends of the piston part of the fitting plug and the solvent material packed into the column, and two clips fitting and holding the two flanges of the column and the plugs.

This invention relates to the development of the high pressure glass column for high performance liquid chromatography.
Up to now, the stainless steel tube has been almost exclusively utilized for preparing a high pressure column in modern liquid chromatography. Although stainless steel is mechanically convenient material for designing and sealing up the end fitting of the high pressure column, it has some unfavorable features as follows: the packing material is not visible in the stainless steel tube, leading to difficulty in taking care of the packing materials and packing system during the operation; the column tube material itself is deteriorated by acid; and the inside wall of the tube is required to be polished up before use for reducing the unfavorable wall effect and for obtaining a high efficiency column.
As another alternative, a glass column tube has been proposed, because it is transparent permitting the sorbent packed in the column and the whole packing system to be visible, and the glass material itself is stable for acids and various chemicals.
However, the system for the design of the end fitting and sealing up of the column becomes difficult, because of the fragility of the glass material. Consequently, the end-fitting and sealing up-system of the column ends must be incorporated with some complex shock-absorbing mechanism such as an O-ring.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the column fitting system used for the glass column which has been conventionally available and indicates the cross section of one part of the column end. The end of the glass column tube 1 has a flange 2, and column fitting plug 4 which is inserted into the glass column tube 1 also has a flange 5. The narrow bore 3 for the effluent flow is provided in the center of the fitting plug 4. Between the two flanges 2 and 5, an O-ring is placed and the column fitting plug 4 and the column tube 1 are tightly screwed up by using the two male and female screws made of metal 7 and 8. A filter 9 is placed between the outlet of the column end fitting 4 and the packing material 10.
The complex structural mechanism of this system containing the male and female screws made of metal and the O-ring produces dead spaces in the inlet part of the column and unfavorable irregular eddy diffusion of the effluent takes place. Consequently, the eluent and the sample injected enter into the dead spaces and the column efficiency is decreased.
By the strong compression of the screws, the O-ring made of synthetic rubber or a fluorine-contained resin is often broken, leading to a leak of the effluent. As far as employing the O-ring in the column end fitting system, it is usually difficult to use the glass column for a high pressure of over 20 kg/cm.sup.2. This means that the slurry packing procedure by using high pressure, which is required for obtaining a high efficiency column is not able to be applied for such a glass column tube.
As a result, the glass column has been utilized only for the limited case of academic research and the analytical work involving the use of a strong acidic eluent as the mobile phase, which does not allow the use of a stainless steel column tube.
The purpose of this invention is to prepare a high efficiency glass column which can be used under a high pressure. In order to achieve this, the design of the system for the high pressure sealing of the column end fitting was widely examined.
By reducing the complexity of the conventional glass column system, the dead space involved in the column end fitting plug will be decreased, and therefore, the simplification of the design for the column end-fitting system excluding the use of an O-ring as well as with a high pressure sealing mechanism was desired.
A new high pressure sealing system allowing the application of the slurry packing procedure, and a simple sealing structure with no O-ring, affording the minimum dead space, was studied. As a result, a high pressure-high efficiecy column incorporating the minimized dead space in the column end fitting was realized.
The other items intended for this invention will be described in the following.

High pressure glass column for high performance liquid chromatography


An arch support orthosis includes an arch curve being variably tensioned for supporting a user's arch and foot. The arch support orthosis includes a metatarsal curve, a curved heel portion and a continuous medial longitudinal arch curve. An anterior slope and posterior slope of the arch curve include varying thicknesses from the base of each slope to a crown of the arch curve. A greater base thickness of each anterior and posterior slope provides firm support of the respective anterior curve and posterior curve of a user's arch, with the crown being resiliently supportive of the user's arch during weighted and unweighted use. A means for tensioning having an adjusting means are connectable under the continuous arch curve between the anterior and posterior slopes, thereby allowing a user to adjust angles of the respective slopes and the tension along the arch curve for treating plantar fasciitis and other foot disorders.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of arch support orthosis for feet, and more particularly to a therapeutic arch orthosis including a variably tensioned arch curve and a method of utilizing the orthosis in treating foot disorders.
2. Description of Related Art
Prior foot support devices typically provide flexible cushioning material for support of an arch of a foot. Typical prior devices have provided pliable cushion pads that can be utilized to build up the cushioning materials for support of a heel or an arch. Other prior devices have provided shoes or boots that contain an integral and non-removable foot support structure that is installed as a single unit into a specially designed shoe or boot having an externally accessed adjustment screw or connector, which is not transferable to other shoes. The arch portions of prior pliable insoles were not adjustable without adding or removing layers of cushioning materials.
Prior foot instep supports typically provide an arch curve that is composed of flexible materials such as leather, foam, pliable plastic, and/or resilient sheet metal to provide comfort for the wearer of the foot instep supports. Prior insole or instep devices generally are made to have a similar thickness along the length of the insole, or have a solid arch portion composed of flexible rubber or compressible foam material having a thickness extending continuously from the arch surface to a generally flat base of the insole. The prior foot instep supports were malleable and did not retain a rigid shape. The prior foot instep supports were purposefully made of malleable and flexible materials to allow changing of the curvatures to fit a user, and/or to allow the instep supports to be bent to fit into different styles of shoes. The heel and/or arch curve portions of prior instep supports were typically compressed over periods of extended use, with little or no repetitive rebound properties for retention of the original curvature of the arch portion or the instep support portion. With no retention of the original curvature of the arch portion of prior instep supports, the arch portion would fail and flatten with use, and a user's arch curve was not properly supported after extended use of prior instep supports, leading to arch pain and/or heel pain identified in layman's terms as "falling arches."
The prior arch support devices only provided arch adjustments that require replacements of stackable members of cushioning. Other foot support devices require lateral movement of arch support portions controlled by adjusting connectors external to the shoe, and which require significant shoe modifications to permanently install within enclosing shoes or sports boots. The stackable members of cushioning deformed and flattened during extended use, and the foot support devices permanently installed within shoes were not transferable to other pairs of shoes.
Medically dispensed shoe orthotics typically provide a rigid orthotic having been generated from a cast formed of a patient's foot. The medically dispensed orthotic typically extends a partial length of the foot, from the toes to the arch portion, or from the arch portion to the heel portion, or extends the full length of the foot. The medically dispensed orthotic is not adjustable in overall length or in arch curve height, therefore when a user's foot changes due to growth, or an arch curve resumes a pre-injury height, the cast-formed orthotic is discarded and an additional cast formed orthotic is required to be generated by a medically trained professional to adequately support the foot.
Commercially available sport shoe inserts typically provide a cushioned cover over a rigid length of plastic. The rigid length of plastic may extend from the arch curve portion to a heel portion of the foot, or may extend from the toes to the heel portion of the foot. The sport shoe insert typically is available in one or two arch curve heights such as a "high arch" or "medium arch" style, with the same arch curve height provided for both of the right and left shoe inserts. The user is expected to select a foot length and arch curve height (high or medium arch), that matches his or her foot, and the user is typically not provided with assistance from a trained professional. A user having a "low arch" must utilize a "medium arch" style, or locate a lower arch support insert.
There is a need for an adjustable arch support orthosis providing therapeutic rigid support of the longitudinal arch of the feet, with the orthosis transferable between pairs of footware. A need exists for an adjustable arch support orthosis including a generally rigid medial longitudinal arch curve that is variably adjustable in tension along the slope of the arch curve during each weighted and unweighted cycle of walking and running. A further need exists for an adjustable arch curve orthosis including a generally rigid medial longitudinal arch curve having a means for adjusting the tension along the arch curve, to allow a user to adjust the tension and height of the arch curve for proper fit under each arch of the right and left foot, and for proper fit in various styles of footware.
An additional need includes providing a method for utilizing an arch support orthosis being adjustable in tension along the arch curve, including varying the tension along the arch curve of the arch support orthosis for treatment of foot disorders under the supervision of a medical professional for a user suffering from heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, arch pain, tendinitis, metatarsalgia, and related foot disorders. A need exists for a method of adjusting the tension along the arch curve of an adjustable arch support orthosis, with maintenance over repetitive uses of a preferred arch curve tension and slope for support of the user's arches of the feet, with minimal training of the user and without the need for daily or weekly supervision of a medical professional.

Adjustable arch support orthosis including variably tensioned arch curve and method of utilizing orthosis


This invention relates to use of cyclodextrins to complex urushiols to protect against and to treat irritation arising from exposure to urushiols. Cyclodextrins, particularly gamma-cyclodextrins, are capable of binding strongly to urushiols and can be used effectively to prevent irritation of tissue that is exposed to urushiols.. Cyclodextrin-urushiol complexes can also be used to desensitize against urushiol. Compositions containing cyclodextrin/urushiol complexes may be provided as tablets for buccal administration in dosages sufficient to induce desensitizing response.

Urushiols are a group of alkylcatechols produced by plants which cause mild to severe allergenic responses. These substances are produced by plants, including but not limited to the genus Rhus, which includes poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Exposure to the plant causes oily urushiols to be transferred to the skin. The result is painful contact dermatitis followed, at times, by infection. The viscous oils are water-insoluble and are washed off only with difficulty. The attempt to clean the skin of the urushiols often results in further spreading of the urushiols resulting in increased irritation and discomfort. In some instances, burning of the plants causes the urushiols to be discharged into the air and carried on the wind. In such instances, not only the skin and mucous membranes, but also the lungs may be affected by exposure to the urushiols.
Protective clothing has often been worn as a means of prevention. Treatment has usually consisted of application of steroid preparations and of soothing lotions such as Calamine lotion. None of these treatments have provided particularly satisfactory results.
Attempts to desensitize susceptible persons by administration of urushiols by mouth have proven disappointing. Part of the problem is that the allergenic urushiol liquid dosage forms are inherently hard to handle. The frequent side reactions have resulted in considerable discomfort to the patients.
The patent literature discloses several compositions for using in treating irritation resulting from exposure to urushiols. U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,772 discloses a method of blocking the urushiols by application of a film-forming polymer and a cross-linking agent. No method of complexing the urushiols for removal from the skin is disclosed therein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,575 discloses a composition containing non-aqueous alkyl/aryl polyglycol ether to treat dermatitis resulting from exposure to plants of the Anacardiacea family. U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,453 discloses a method of treating skin exposed to urushiols by application of acrylic copolymer to adsorb the irritating agent. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,861,584 and 5,017,361 disclose a method of protecting the skin from contact with allergen by application of a barrier composition containing smectite clay and quaternary ammonium compounds to absorb and block the urushiols.
From the general literature, it is suggested that compositions containing bentonite, kaolin, and silicone could be used to protect against exposure to poison ivy and poison oak dermatitis. (Arch Dermatol, 125, April 1989, 499-501).
The prior art inventions pose several problems. First of all, it is not effective to treat skin already exposed to urushiols with a blocking agent. The blocking agents are, furthermore, often uncomfortable and inconvenient to use.
Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligomers of glucose that are derived from starch, and that consist of rings of glucose molecules. The three most common forms, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins consist, respectively, of six, seven and eight glucose molecules. The molecules contain cavities that have lipophilic properties. Cyclodextrins have been used as delivery agents for water-insoluble drugs for topical, oral and parenteral delivery. They have also been used to deliver cosmetic preparations to the skin. Cyclodextrins present an advantage as natural substances that are nontoxic and nonirritating to the skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,794 discloses and claims a method of treating acne using beta-cyclodextrin. No suggestion is made therein that the cyclodextrins have use for protection or treatment of patients that have been exposed to urushiols or that the compositions should be applied on a solid support or in form of a spray.


A container for nestably holding a sink for storing, shipping and displaying. The container forms from a blank of corrugated paperboard scored for folding to provide a back, two opposing side walls, and two opposing end walls. The back includes an opening for partially receiving therethrough the bowl of the sink. A pair of supports are each foldably attached along a first score to a respective one of the end walls. A plurality of sections in the support are defined by second scores. The support folds on the scores and bears against the bottom and the end wall. The sink sits on the support. Two containers are nested together by placing one container on the other. This positions the bottom side of the bowl of one sink in the bowl of the second sink.

Many homes and commercial bathrooms are equipped with a sink for washing. Types of sinks include pedestal sinks, drop-in or self-rimming sinks, and vanity sinks. These sinks include a bowl for holding water and a rim that defines an outer edge of the sink. The vanity sink includes a countertop that extends outwardly from the bowl to form a planar surface around the bowl. The rim or countertop at the rear of the bowl includes holes for receiving a faucet fixture for communicating water into the bowl. A back splash typically extends upwardly along the back edge of the rim. The back splash prevents water from splashing from the bowl or flowing from the countertop onto the wall from which the sink extends. An annular stem extends downwardly from the bottom of the bowl for receiving a drain pipe.
Many sinks are manufactured in molds with a mixture which hardens to a stone-like rigidity. In the terminology of the art, the material in the mixture is a cast polymer, such as cultured marble. This material provides the finished sink with a smooth, marble-like surface. The finished sink is placed in a container for shipping to distribution centers and retail outlets for sale.
The stone-like sink presents special packaging considerations for storing, shipping and displaying. The container must hold the sink, protect it from damage, and display the sink for sale. A large container may hold a sink with padding for protection, but if the container is excessively large, transportations, handling, and storage costs are increased. Reducing these costs with a smaller container and less padding, however, may lead to damage to the sinks during handling and shipping. For example, the sink made of cultured marble particularly is susceptible to chipping or cracking. Chips and cracks often are caused by sharp hits during handling and shipping. The hits may be caused by equipment handling the container, for example, a fork lift truck. Also, one container may be caused to hit another and damage to the sinks in each may occur. The container preferably protects the sink from damage caused by such hits, or at least reduces the force of the blow and thereby resists damage to the sink. Also, the outwardly-extending bowl and drain biases the sink to tipping in the container. The container preferably provides a sturdy base so that the sink does not fall over during storage and display. Finally, the sink preferably is viewable during display for sale. The consumer can inspect the sink before purchase. The container therefore preferably continues to protect the sink until it is removed for installation.
Corrugated paperboard containers have been used to hold and protect sinks for storing, shipping and displaying. Corrugated paperboard containers typically are formed from a single blank having scores that define four wall panels. A flap, known in the packaging industry as a manufacturer's joint, joins one end of the blank with the other to form a knocked-down container. Flaps foldably attach to the walls along scores to define the bottom and the top of the container when it is assembled for holding a sink. These containers are known in the industry as regular slotted containers. In the terms of the industry, the container is "squared-open" and the bottom flaps are secured together, such as with tape or staples. The sink is placed inside and the top flaps closed and secured together.
The use of padding in such regular slotted containers varies. The containers hold the sink closely to the bottom and walls of the container. The annular stem for the drain bears on the bottom and may be damaged or chipped during handling. The bottom and other contact points of the container may thereby be worn. This could weaken the container, create a hole and tears, and may lead to damage of the sink. To cushion the sink against handling shocks, egg-carton type padding is placed on the bottom of the container and on the sink before the top flaps are closed. In other containers, corrugated paperboard tubes having rectangular cross-sections support the sink in the container. For example, corrugated tubes positioned in the corners of the container restrict the sink from tipping and from contacting the walls of the container. In other of such containers, corrugated tubes are positioned on the bottom flaps against the opposing sides of the container. The sink sits in a sleeve on the tubes. The bowl of the sink inserts through a slotted opening in a sheet of corrugated paperboard that forms the sleeve. Flaps on the sides of the sheet fold inward and form tubes that sandwich around the rim of the sink. The sleeve holds the sink in the container. The bottom surface of the sleeve rests on the tubes which support the sink in the container. Another four-panel container uses a styrofoam block with a cavity that receives the sink. Styrofoam pads may also be used to cushion the sink in the container. The styrofoam however is bulky and its disposal problems lessen its utility as a packing and shipping material.
The four-panel containers discussed above are bulky and sized to form a rectangular shell around the sink. The sinks are placed square in the container, so that the countertop is horizontal and parallel to the top flaps of the container. The height of the container is sufficient to enclose the sink including the upwardly extending back splash and the downwardly extending bowl and annular stem. The space in the container accommodates the downwardly extending bowl and the upwardly extending L-shaped back splash and countertop. While the container affords protection to the sink during shipping and handling, the size of the container limits the number of containers that can be held in a typical rack storage shelf or on a pallet. A container that occupies a smaller volume would permit more containers to be displayed on a shelf or held on a pallet. This would reduce handling and shipping costs of sinks.
These known containers have other drawbacks which limit their usefulness for display of the sink. The closed container prevents the consumers at retail centers from examining the sink. To solve the display problem, a dashed line has been imprinted around an upper portion of the container. The dashed line indicates where the container could be cut so that it is easily opened for inspection and display. While facilitating inspection and display of the sink, removal of the upper portion of the container presents drawbacks. The opened carton could not be placed on its side, for example, on shelves. The sink would tip out. Sales centers accordingly have to stack the containers of sinks. Also, consumers resist for any number of reasons purchasing an item in an open container. The reasons for resistance include the perception that parts may be missing, the perception that the sink may be damaged, and a perception that another consumer purchased and then returned the item for unknown reasons. Labor and time is also required to place and open the containers.
Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an corrugated paperboard container for that more efficiently uses storage space for holding sinks, protects and cushions the sink during handling and shipping, and displays the sink for sale without modification.


The present invention relates to diagnosis and/or treatment of medical conditions. The present invention relates to new method of diagnosing dry mucosa condition in a subject. The condition may be dry eye. The present invention also provides a method to monitor the efficacy of a treatment of a dry mucosa condition, a method of treating a dry mucosa condition and/or a diagnostic kit for a dry mucosa condition.

Sjogren Syndrome is an autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by a particular form of dry mouth and dry eyes. It affects the lacrimal gland's ability to secrete tears and results in dry eye, salivary gland dysfunction, causing dry mouth and dryness in other mucous membranes such as the bronchial epithelium, the vagina and other mucosa.
This loss of tear and saliva fluids may result in characteristic changes in the eyes (called aqueous tear deficiency or keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and in the mouth with deterioration of the teeth, increased oral infection, difficulty in swallowing, and painful mouth. However, dry mucosa may also be due to other causes classified under the non-Sjogren Syndrome. The causes may be due to use of certain types of drugs, inflammation or infection, or hypothyroidism. Dry mucosa conditions due to any cause can affect both humans and animals such as mammals.
For the eyes, the lacrimal gland located in the orbit of the eye continuously secretes small amounts of tear fluid that are released onto the surface of the eye through very small ducts. Dry eye syndrome can be defined as a loss of tear fluid with accompanying abnormalities of the tear film. There are few objective signs of dry eye and importantly, discomfort which varies on an individual basis is the aspect that is most noticed by patients and which motivates them to seek help [1]. For severe cases, ocular surface damage and a loss of vision is not uncommon. Dry eye syndrome affects millions of people and its prevalence is estimated to be as high as 11˜22% of the general population with the prevalence in Asia greater than in the West [1]. It is more common in people over 55 years of age and in females; however, in Asia, dry eye is a factor in those over 45 [2]. The prevalence is also significantly higher in visual display terminal users and contact lens wearers.
The causes for dry eye syndrome are diverse; however, fundamentally it is due to a loss of fluid over the ocular surface and particularly the cornea. The cornea is the most important optical element of the eye and dry eye decreases good vision as well as the quality of life of the patient. The fluid layer over the ocular surface, called the tear layer, is some microns thick but has layers as follows: 1-outermost lipid layer, 2-middle aqueous layer and 3-inner mucin layer. Usually it can be classified into two major categories: tear secretion deficiency and excessive tear evaporation. Dysfunction of the lipid layer of the tear film leads to excessive evaporation of tears. A mucin layer deficiency often caused by vitamin A deficiency; however, except for developing countries, it is rare.
For therapeutic development by pharmaceutical companies for dry eye, non-Sjogren's dry eye is the primary target as it comprises the majority of these patients. At present there is only one actual therapeutic drug on the market, Restasis® from Allergan®. The reasons for this paucity in drug development arise primarily from the lack of objective measures of dry eye and therapeutic efficacy.
Diagnosis of dry eye syndrome is typically based on subjective symptoms, Schirmer test (evaluating quantity of tear fluid), tear break-up time (evaluating quality of tear film) and other less common clinical tests including fluorescein staining, Rose Bengal staining, measuring tear meniscus height, impression cytology, and others. Studies show that correlation is poor between clinical tests and symptoms and even between different clinical tests [3, 4]. This also makes a difficult scenario for the evaluation of therapeutic agents [5].
As such, new and improved methods of determining and diagnosing dry mucosa conditions such as dry eye are welcome.

Investigation of mucosa dryness conditions

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


A table may include a table top and at least one leg assembly. The table top may include a first table top section and a second table top section. The table top sections may be movable between a first position in which the table top sections are generally aligned and a second position in which the table top sections are at an angle. The leg assembly may be movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top. The leg assembly may include a first support structure and a second support structure. The support structures may be movable between a generally aligned position and an angled position when the leg assembly is in the extended position. Moving the support structures to the angled position may help retain the leg assembly in the extended position. Moving the table top sections to the second position may help retain the support structures in the angled position and thus further help retain the leg assembly in the extended position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed towards furniture and, in particular, towards tables.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional tables are used for a variety of purposes and come in a wide array of designs. In some situations, it is desirable to have a table that is adjustable. For example, it may be desirable to have a table that is adjustable in height. It may also be desirable to have a table that can be folded into a more compact configuration for storage or transport. Disadvantageously, many conventional tables are difficult to adjust the height or require complex mechanisms allow the tables to fold into a more compact configuration.
Conventional tables often include table tops constructed from wood, particle board or metal. Table tops constructed from wood, particle board or metal, however, are often relatively heavy and this may make the table awkward or difficult to move. Conventional table tops constructed from wood or metal are also relatively expensive and the table tops must generally be treated or finished before use. For example, table tops constructed from wood must generally be sanded and painted, and metal table tops must be formed into the desired shape and painted. In addition, these relatively heavy table tops increase the cost of transportation, shipping, and storage of the tables.
In order to decrease the weight of conventional tables, table tops can be constructed from relatively thin, light-weight materials. Disadvantageously, table tops constructed from light-weight materials may require reinforcing members, such as frames, railings, brackets and the like, to strengthen the table top. These reinforcing members may increase the strength of the table top, but these additional parts also increase the weight of the table. In addition, these additional parts increase manufacturing costs and require additional time to assemble the table. Furthermore, these additional parts may have sharp edges that can injure the user's legs, arms or other body parts.


Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide sacrifical polymer compositions and methods for fabricating electronic devices using such sacrifical polymer compositions where such methods include (1) providing a tacky sacrifical polymer composition that holds components in a desired alignment to one another, (2) providing solder fluxing for effecting electrical coupling; and (3) thermal decomposition or depolymerization of the sacrificial polymer composition to provide essentially residue free surfaces.

While assembled electronic circuitry has been dramatically reduced in size the use of soldering as a method for forming both an electrical and fixable attachment of electronic components to a substrate has remained quite prevalent. However, such attachments generally require that the electronic components be held in desired positions prior to completing the aforementioned fixable attachments.
A number of solutions for holding components in such desired positions have been developed and used with some success. For example, it is known to use a tack agent to temporarily secure such components in desired positions while solder bond or solder ball connections are made through the application of heat. However, generally such tack agent remains as a contaminant that requires the assembly to be subjected to an extra processing step designed to remove such contamination. For some of the aforementioned solutions, a fluxing agent is provided separately from the tack agent, for example by applying such fluxing agent in a distinct application step, separate from the application of the tack agent. In other solutions the fluxing agent is provided in a combination with the tack agent, for example where a solder paste is used as the tack agent and fluxing agent is either added thereto or pre-reacted therewith.
In still other solutions, a tack agent and a di-carboxylic acid fluxing agent are admixed where upon soldering, the tack agent either volatilizes or decomposes (see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,134). However, as a di-carboxylic acid fluxing agent is taught, it is likely that even small amounts of contamination from such di-carboxylic acid fluxing agent can remain and cause reliability issues if a separate cleaning step is not employed. In US Published Application No. 2009/0294515, embodiments where either specialized process equipment is required for fluxless solder bonding or a carboxylic acid fluxing agent are employed. Therefore new solutions that eliminate the need for such specialized equipment by providing tacking properties and a non-carboxylic acid fluxing agent to achieve desirable solder reflow are needed.

Thermally decomposable polymer compositions incorporating thermally activated base generators


A system for reading bar code symbols or the like, having a scanner for generating a laser beam directed toward a target and producing a first narrowly spaced apart dual line scanning pattern that enables the user to manually aim and direct the beam to the location desired by the user and a relatively wider spaced apart dual line second scanning pattern that sweeps an entire symbol to be read, and a detector for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by such symbol.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the design of laser scanning systems for reading bar code symbols or similar indicia and, more particularly, to method of changing the scanning pattern of a raster scan in order to more effectively read two dimensional bar code symbols. 2. Description of the Related Art
Various optical readers and optical scanning systems have been developed heretofore for reading bar code symbols appearing on a label or on the surface of an article. The bar code symbol itself is a coded pattern of indicia comprised of a series of bars of various widths spaced apart from one another to bound spaces of various widths, the bars and spaces having different light-reflecting characteristics. The readers and scanning systems electro-optically transform the graphic indicia into electrical signals, which are decoded into alphanumerical characters that are intended to be descriptive of the article or some characteristic thereof. Such characters are typically represented in digital form and utilized as an input to a data processing system for applications in point-of-sale processing, inventory control, and the like. Scanning systems of this general type have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,798; 4,360,798; 4,369,361; 4,387,297; 4,409,470 and 4,460,120, all of which have been assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.
As disclosed in some of the above patents, one embodiment of such a scanning system resides, inter alia, in a hand-held, portable laser scanning head supported by a user, which is configured to allow the user to aim the head, and more particularly, the light beam, at a target and a symbol to be read.
The light source in a laser scanner is typically a gas laser or semiconductor laser. The use of semiconductor devices as the light source in scanning systems is especially desirable because of their small size, low cost and low power requirements. The laser beam is optically modified, typically by a lens, to form a beam spot of a certain size at the target distance. It is preferred that the beam spot size at the target distance be approximately the same as the minimum width between regions of different light reflectivity, i.e., the bars and spaces of the symbol.
The bar code symbols are formed from bars or elements typically rectangular in shape with a variety of possible widths. The specific arrangement of elements defines the character represented according to a set of rules and definitions specified by the code or "symbology" used. The relative size of the bars and spaces is determined by the type of coding used, as is the actual size of the bars and spaces. The number of characters per inch represented by the bar code symbol is referred to as the density of the symbol. To encode a desired sequence of characters, a collection of element arrangements are concatenated together to form the complete bar code symbol, with each character of the message being represented by its own corresponding group of elements. In some symbologies a unique "start" and "stop" character is used to indicate where the bar code begins and ends. A number of different bar code symbologies exist. These symbologies include UPC/EAN, Code 39, Code 128, Codabar, and Interleaved 2 of 5.
For the purpose of our discussion, characters recognized and defined by a symbology shall be referred to as legitimate characters, while characters not recognized and defined by that symbology are referred to as illegitimate characters. Thus, an arrangement of elements not decodable by a given symbology corresponds to an illegitimate character(s) for that symbology.
In order to increase the amount of data that can be represented or stored on a given amount of surface area, several new bar code symbologies have recently been developed. One of these new code standards, Code 49, introduces a "two-dimensional" concept by stacking rows of characters vertically instead of extending the bars horizontally. That is, there are several rows of bar and space patterns, instead of only one row. The structure of Code 49 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,239, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
A one-dimensional single-line scan, as ordinarily provided by hand-held readers, has disadvantages in reading these two dimensional bar codes; that is, the reader must be aimed at each row, individually. Likewise, the multiple-scan-line readers produce a number of scan lines at an angle to one another so these are not suitable for recognizing a Code 49 type of two-dimensional symbols.
In the scanning systems known in the art, the light beam is directed by a lens or similar optical components along a light path toward a target that includes a bar code symbol on the surface. The scanner functions by repetitively scanning the light beam in a line or series of lines across the symbol scanning component such as a mirror disposed in the light path. The scanning component may either sweep the beam spot across the symbol and trace a scan line across and past the symbol, or scan the field of view of the scanner, or do both.
Scanning systems also include a sensor or photodetector which functions to detect light reflected from the symbol. The photo-detector is therefore positioned in the scanner or in an optical path in which it has a field of view which extends across and slightly past the symbol. A portion of the reflected light which is reflected off the symbol is detected and converted into an electrical signal, and electronic circuitry or software decodes the electrical signal into a digital representation of the data represented by the symbol that has been scanned. For example, the analog electrical signal from the photodetector may typically be converted into a pulse width modulated digital signal, with the widths corresponding to the physical widths of the bars and spaces. Such a signal is then decoded according to the specific symbology into a binary representation of the data encoded in the symbol, and to the alphanumeric characters so represented.
The decoding process in known scanning systems usually work in the following way. The decoder receives the pulse width modulated digital signal from the scanner, and an algorithm implemented in software attempts to decode the scan. If the start and stop characters and the characters between them in the scan were decoded successfully and completely, the decoding process terminates and an indicator of a successful read (such as a green light and/or an audible beep) is provided to the user. Otherwise, the decoder receives the next scan, performs another decode attempt on that scan, and so on, until a completely decoded scan is achieved or no more scans are available.

Dual line laser scanning system and scanning method for reading multidimensional bar codes