The present invention is directed to the use of antibodies or binding portions thereof, probes, ligands, or other biological agents which either recognize an extracellular domain of prostate specific membrane antigen or bind to and are internalized with prostate specific membrane antigen. These biological agents can be labeled and used for detection of normal, benign hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof. They also can be used alone or bound to a substance effective to ablate or kill such cells as a therapy for prostate cancer. Also disclosed are four hybridoma cell lines, each of which produces a monoclonal antibody recognizing extracellular domains of prostate specific membrane antigens of normal, benign hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with an estimated 317,000 cases in 1996 in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death among men who die from neoplasia with an estimated 40,000 deaths per year. Prompt detection and treatment is needed to limit mortality caused by prostate cancer.
Detection of Prostate Cancer
When it metastasizes, prostatic cancer has a distinct predilection for bone and lymph nodes. Saitoh et al., "Metastatic Patterns of Prostatic Cancer. Correlation Between Sites And Number Of Organs Involved," Cancer, 54:3078-3084 (1984). At the time of clinical diagnosis, as many as 25% of patients have bone metastasis demonstrable by radionuclide scans. Murphy, G. P., et al., "The National Survey Of Prostate Cancer In The United States By The American College Of Surgeons," J. Urol., 127:928-939 (1982). Accurate clinical evaluation of nodal involvement has proven to be difficult. Imaging techniques such as computed tomography ("CT") or magnetic resonance ("MR") imaging are unable to distinguish metastatic prostate cancer involvement of lymph nodes by criterion other than size (i.e., >1 cm). Therefore, by definition, these imaging modalities are inherently insensitive in the detection of small volume (<1 cm) disease as well as non-specific in the detection of larger volume adenopathy. A recent study assessed the accuracy of MR in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. Rifkin et al., "Comparison Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Ultrasonography In Staging Early Prostate Cancer," N. Engel. J. Med., 323:621-626 (1990). In this study, 194 patients underwent an MR and 185 of these patients had a lymph node dissection. 23 (13%) patients had pathologically involved lymph nodes. MR was suspicious in only 1 of these 23 cases resulting in a sensitivity of 4%. Similar results have also been noted with CT scans. Gasser et al., "MRI And Ultrasonography In Staging Prostate Cancer," N. Engl. J. Med. (Correspondence) 324(7):49-495 (1991).
The elevation of serum acid phosphatase activity in patients having metastasized prostate carcinoma was first reported by Gutman et al., J. Clin. Invest 17:473 (1938). In cancer of the prostate, prostatic acid phosphatase is released from the cancer tissue into the blood stream with the result that the total serum acid phosphatase level can be greatly increased above normal values. Numerous studies of this enzyme and its relation to prostatic cancer have been made since that time, e.g. Yam, Amer. J. Med. 56:604 (1974). However, the measurement of serum acid phosphatase is elevated in about 65-90 percent of patients having carcinoma of the prostate with bone metastasis; in about 30 percent of patients without roentgenological evidence of bone metastasis; and in about only 5-10 percent of patients lacking clinically demonstrable metastasis.
Prior art attempts to develop a specific test for prostatic acid phosphatase have met with only limited success, because techniques which rely on enzyme activity on a so-called "specific" substrate cannot take into account other biochemical and immunochemical differences among the many acid phosphatases which are unrelated to enzyme activity of prostate origin. In the case of isoenzymes, i.e. genetically defined enzymes having the same characteristic enzyme activity and a similar molecular structure but differing in amino acid sequences and/or content and, therefore, immunochemically distinguishable, it would appear inherently impossible to distinguish different isoenzyme forms merely by the choice of a particular substrate. It is, therefore, not surprising that none of these prior art methods is highly specific for the direct determination of prostatic acid phosphatase activity; e.g. see Cancer 5:236 (1952); J. Lab. Clin. Med. 82:486 (1973); Clin. Chem. Acta. 44:21 (1973); and J. Physiol. Chem. 356:1775 (1975).
In addition to the aforementioned problems of non-specificity which appear to be inherent in many of the prior art reagents employed for the detection of prostate acid phosphatase, there have been reports of elevated serum acid phosphatase associated with other diseases, which further complicates the problem of obtaining an accurate clinical diagnosis of prostatic cancer. For example, Tuchman et al., Am. J. Med. 27:959 (1959) noted that serum acid phosphatase levels appear to be elevated in patients with Gaucher's disease.
Due to the inherent difficulties in developing a "specific" substrate for prostate acid phosphatase, several researchers have developed immunochemical methods for the detection of prostate acid phosphatase. However, the previously reported immunochemical methods have drawbacks of their own which have precluded their widespread acceptance. For example, Shulman et al., Immunology 93:474 (1964) described an immuno-diffusion test for the detection of human prostate acid phosphatase. Using antisera prepared from a prostatic fluid antigen obtained by rectal massage from patients with prostatic disease, no cross-reactivity precipitin line was observed in the double diffusion technique against extracts of normal kidney, testicle, liver, and lung. However, this method has the disadvantages of limited sensitivity, even with the large amounts of antigen employed, and of employing antisera which may cross-react with other, antigenically unrelated serum protein components present in prostatic fluid.
WO 79/00475 to Chu et. al. describes a method for the detection of prostatic acid phosphatase isoenzyme patterns associated with prostatic cancer which obviates many of the above drawbacks. However, practical problems are posed by the need for a source of cancerous prostatic tissue from which the diagnostically relevant prostatic acid phosphatase isoenzyme patterns associated with prostatic cancer are extracted for the preparation of antibodies thereto.
In recent years, considerable effort has been spent to identify enzyme or antigen markers for various types of malignancies with the view towards developing specific diagnostic reagents. The ideal tumor marker would exhibit, among other characteristics, tissue or cell-type specificity. Previous investigators have demonstrated the occurrence of human prostate tissue-specific antigens.
Treatment of Prostate Cancer
As described in W. J. Catalona, "Management of Cancer of the Prostate," New Engl. J. Med., 331(15):996-1004 (1994), the management of prostate cancer can be achieved by watchful waiting, curative treatment, and palliation.
For men with a life expectancy of less than 10 years, watchful waiting is appropriate where low-grade, low-stage prostate cancer is discovered at the time of a partial prostatectomy for benign hyperplasia. Such cancers rarely progress during the first five years after detection. On the other hand, for younger men, curative treatment is often more appropriate.
Where prostate cancer is localized and the patient's life expectancy is 10 years or more, radical prostatectomy offers the best chance for eradication of the disease. Historically, the drawback of this procedure is that most cancers had spread beyond the bounds of the operation by the time they were detected. However, the use of prostate-specific antigen testing has permitted early detection of prostate cancer. As a result, surgery is less extensive with fewer complications. Patients with bulky, high-grade tumors are less likely to be successfully treated by radical prostatectomy.
After surgery, if there are detectable serum prostate-specific antigen concentrations, persistent cancer is indicated. In many cases, prostate-specific antigen concentrations can be reduced by radiation treatment. However, this concentration often increases again within two years.
Radiation therapy has also been widely used as an alternative to radical prostatectomy. Patients generally treated by radiation therapy are those who are older and less healthy and those with higher-grade, more clinically advanced tumors. Particularly preferred procedures are external-beam therapy which involves three dimensional, conformal radiation therapy where the field of radiation is designed to conform to the volume of tissue treated; interstitial-radiation therapy where seeds of radioactive compounds are implanted using ultrasound guidance; and a combination of external-beam therapy and interstitial-radiation therapy.
For treatment of patients with locally advanced disease, hormonal therapy before or following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy has been utilized. Hormonal therapy is the main form of treating men with disseminated prostate cancer. Orchiectomy reduces serum testosterone concentrations, while estrogen treatment is similarly beneficial. Diethylstilbestrol from estrogen is another useful hormonal therapy which has a disadvantage of causing cardiovascular toxicity. When gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists are administered testosterone concentrations are ultimately reduced. Flutamide and other nonsteroidal, anti-androgen agents block binding of testosterone to its intracellular receptors. As a result, it blocks the effect of testosterone, increasing serum testosterone concentrations and allows patients to remain potent—a significant problem after radical prostatectomy and radiation treatments.
Cytotoxic chemotherapy is largely ineffective in treating prostate cancer. Its toxicity makes such therapy unsuitable for elderly patients. In addition, prostate cancer is relatively resistant to cytotoxic agents.
Use of Monoclonal Antibodies in Prostate Cancer Detection and Treatment
Theoretically, radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies ("mAbs") offer the potential to enhance both the sensitivity and specificity of detecting prostatic cancer within lymph nodes and elsewhere. While many mAbs have previously been prepared against prostate related antigens, none of these mAbs were specifically generated with an imaging objective in mind. Nevertheless, the clinical need has led to evaluation of some of these mAbs as possible imaging agents. Vihko et al., "Radioimaging of Prostatic Carcinoma With Prostatic Acid Phosphatase—Specific Antibodies," Biotechnology in Diagnostics, 131-134 (1985); Babaian et al., "Radioimmunological Imaging of Metastatic Prostatic Cancer With 111-Indium-Labeled Monoclonal Antibody PAY 276," J. Urol., 137:439-443 (1987); Leroy et al., "Radioimmunodetection Of Lymph Node Invasion In Prostatic Cancer. The Use Of Iodine 123 (123-I)-Labeled Monoclonal Anti-Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) 227 A F (ab′) 2 Antibody Fragments In Vivo," Cancer, 64:1-5 (1989); Meyers et al., "Development Of Monoclonal Antibody Imaging Of Metastatic Prostatic Carcinoma," The Prostate, 14:209-220 (1989).
In some cases, the monoclonal antibodies developed for detection and/or treatment of prostate cancer recognize antigens specific to malignant prostatic tissues. Such antibodies are thus used to distinguish malignant prostatic tissue (for treatment or detection) from benign prostatic tissue. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,299 to Bazinet et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,615 to Freeman et al.
Other monoclonal antibodies react with surface antigens on all prostate epithelial cells whether cancerous or benign. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,446,122 and Re 33,405 to Chu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,851 to McEwan et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,404 to Ueda et al. However, the antigens detected by these monoclonal antibodies are present in the blood and, therefore, compete with antigens at tumor sites for the monoclonal antibodies. This causes background noise which makes the use of such antibodies inadequate for in vivo imaging. In therapy, such antibodies, if bound to a cytotoxic agent, could be harmful to other organs.
Horoszewicz et al., "Monoclonal Antibodies to a New Antigenic Marker in Epithelial Prostatic Cells and Serum of Prostatic Cancer Patients," Anticancer Research, 7:927-936 (1987) ("Horoszewicz") and U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,504 to Horoszewicz describe an antibody, designated 7E11, which recognizes prostate specific membrane antigen ("PSMA"). Israeli et al., "Molecular Cloning of a Complementary DNA Encoding a Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen," Cancer Research, 53:227-230 (1993) ("Israeli") describes the cloning and sequencing of PSMA and reports that PSMA is prostate-specific and shows increased expression levels in metastatic sites and in hormone-refractory states. Other studies have indicated that PSMA is more strongly expressed in prostate cancer cells relative to cells from the normal prostate or from a prostate with benign hyperplasia. Furthermore, PSMA is not found in serum (Troyer et al., "Detection and Characterization of the Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) in Tissue Extracts and Body Fluids," Int. J. Cancer, 62:552-558 (1995)).
These characteristics make PSMA an attractive target for antibody mediated targeting for imaging and therapy of prostate cancer. Imaging studies using indium-labeled 7E11 have indicated that the antibody localizes quite well to both the prostate and to sites of metastasis. In addition, 7E11 appears to have clearly improved sensitivity for detecting lesions compared to other currently available imaging techniques, such as CT and MR imaging or bone scan. Bander, "Current Status of Monoclonal Antibodies for Imaging and Therapy of Prostate Cancer," Sem. In Oncology, 21:607-612 (1994).
However, the use of 7E11 and other known antibodies to PSMA to mediate imaging and therapy has several disadvantages. First, PSMA is an integral membrane protein known to have a short intracellular tail and a long extracellular domain. Biochemical characterization and mapping (Troyer et al., "Biochemical Characterization and Mapping of the 7E11-C5.3 Epitope of the Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen," Urol. Oncol., 1:29-37 (1995)) have shown that the epitope or antigenic site to which the 7E11 antibody binds is present on the intracellular portion of the molecule. Because antibody molecules do not, under normal circumstances, cross the cell membrane unless they bind to the extracellular portion of a molecule and become translocated intracellularly, the 7E11 antibody does not have access to its antigenic target site in an otherwise healthy, viable cell.
Consequently, imaging using 7E11 is limited to the detection of dead cells within tumor deposits. Additionally, the therapeutic use of the 7E11 antibody is limited, because only cells that are already dead or tissue containing a large proportion of dead cells can be effectively targeted.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the deficiencies of prior art antibodies in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer.

Treatment and diagnosis of prostate cancer


A multi-media warning sign attachable to a floor sign including a body having a pair of feet, each foot having a lower wall and a first magnet on the lower wall. Each first magnet has an inner wall within the foot and an outer wall coplanar with the lower wall and is engageable either directly to a ferromagnetic mounting surface or to a second magnet on an upper side of a spring-loaded clamp to secure the body to the front and rear panels of a foldable floor-standing sign in an upright position. The body can also be positioned atop a non-ferromagnetic surface. The battery-operated device also includes a lighting assembly with front and rear lights on the body, a sound system for audible warning messages, front and rear motion sensors to activate the lighting assembly and the sound system when nearby pedestrian motion is detected, and a microprocessor.

Various types of caution signs with audible and visual warnings therein are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a multi-media warning sign attachable to a floor sign including a body having a pair of feet, each foot having a lower wall and a first magnet on the lower wall. Each first magnet has an inner wall within the foot and an outer wall coplanar with the lower wall and is engageable either directly to a ferromagnetic mounting surface or to a second magnet on an upper side of a spring-loaded clamp to secure the body to the front and rear panels of a foldable floor-standing sign in an upright position. The body can also be positioned atop a non-ferromagnetic surface. The battery-operated device also includes a lighting assembly with front and rear lights on the body, a sound system for audible warning messages, front and rear motion sensors to activate the lighting assembly and the sound system when nearby pedestrian motion is detected, and a microprocessor.

Multi-media warning sign attachable to a floor sign


Embodiments for performing an automatic stop-start operation are provided. In one example, a method for an engine comprises during an automatic stop, injecting a water-containing fluid onto a closed intake valve of a cylinder while the engine is at rest, and on a subsequent restart, fueling the cylinder after at least one intake stroke and subsequent exhaust stroke are performed in the cylinder.

Vehicle manufacturers have realized that it may be desirable under some conditions to automatically start and stop an engine of a vehicle. Stopping the engine can reduce fuel consumption, especially when the vehicle is stopped for longer periods of time, in stop-and-go traffic for example. However, during an automatic stop, a catalyst positioned in the exhaust downstream of the engine may become oxidized. Due to the catalyst being saturated with oxygen, water may not be available in the catalyst for the formation of hydrogen, which is used to control NOx upon a subsequent engine restart, thus degrading emissions.
The inventors have recognized the issues with the above approach and have developed an approach for improving emissions during an automatic engine start. In one embodiment, a method for an engine comprises during an automatic stop, injecting a water-containing fluid onto a closed intake valve of a cylinder while the engine is at rest, and on a subsequent restart, fueling the cylinder after at least one intake stoke and subsequent exhaust stroke are performed in the cylinder.
By injecting a water-containing fluid onto a hot, closed intake valve, the water may vaporize and be passed to the catalyst during a following intake stroke. By doing so, intake air may be displaced by the vaporized water in the cylinder, and the non-combusted exhaust reaching the catalyst prior to the initiation of combustion may be depleted of oxygen, reducing the saturation of oxygen in the catalyst. Further, the vaporized water-containing fluid may contribute water to the catalyst for hydrogen formation. In this way, emissions may be controlled during an automatic engine restart operation.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Emissions control during an automatic engine restart


An apparatus obtains image data for a structure through bodily tissue. The apparatus includes an imaging sensor that contacts the bodily tissue to obtain image data for a first image of the structure. A pressure sensor is oriented in substantially a same direction as the imaging sensor and contacts the bodily tissue to obtain data for a second image of the structure. The second image is a different perspective of the structure than the first image.

This invention relates to obtaining images of structures, such as tumors or lesions, in bodily tissue.
Modern imaging techniques have reduced the need for major surgical procedures to identify foreign structures in bodily tissue. For example, pressure sensors can be used to obtain a topographic image of bodily tissue and to determine the xe2x80x9chardnessxe2x80x9d (or density) of a structure in the tissue based on an amount of resistance provided by the structure. If the structure is relatively hard, it is more likely to be malignant, whereas if the structure is relatively soft, it is less likely to be malignant.
Ultrasound is another imaging technique that is used to obtain images of bodily tissue. Ultrasound provides narrow, cross-sectional slices of bodily tissue which make it possible, in some cases, to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors without major surgery. Readings from ultrasound devices are dependent upon the location and pressure applied to the ultrasound device.
For example, in breast cancer diagnoses, a technique known as xe2x80x9celastographyxe2x80x9d is implemented using ultrasound. According to this technique, while a structure is being examined, an ultrasound scanning head is pressed into the breast causing a compressive load on the structure and its surrounding tissue. By noting the relative change in the structure""s size as more load is applied, a user can make a qualitative assessment of how hard the structure is, with the assumption that a hard structure is more apt to be malignant. This same procedure can be repeated to determine if a structure has changed since a previous examination.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features obtaining image data for a structure through bodily tissue. An imaging sensor contacts the bodily tissue to obtain the image data for the structure. A pressure sensor is oriented in a substantially same direction as the imaging sensor. The pressure sensor contacts the bodily tissue to produce a signal that corresponds to an amount of pressure between the pressure sensor and the bodily tissue.
Among the advantages of this aspect of the invention may be one or more of the following. In order to determine if the consistency and/or size of a structure has changed between examinations, it is important to ensure that the pressure and orientation of sensors in a subsequent examination is similar to the pressure and orientation of sensors in a previous examination. The pressure sensor provides a way of doing this. For example, the pressure sensor can be used to measure an amount of pressure at a particular orientation of the imaging sensor. This pressure can then be duplicated during a subsequent examination, thereby providing more reliable examination results.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The imaging sensor is an ultrasound transducer. The pressure sensor is part of an array of pressure sensors and the imaging sensor is part of an array of imaging sensors. The array of pressure sensors is arranged at locations along an outer perimeter of the array of imaging sensors. Each pressure sensor produces a signal that is indicative of an amount of pressure between the pressure sensor and the bodily tissue. A processor analyzes signals from the pressure sensors to determine if an orientation of the pressure sensors is the same as a previous orientation of the pressure sensors.
A device may be included which provides an indication of the amount of pressure between the pressure sensor and the bodily tissue based on the pressure signal. The device comprises circuitry which receives the signal from the pressure sensor and the image data obtained by the imaging sensor, and which generates the indication and an image of the structure. The indication can comprise a visual indication and may be implemented using one or more light-emitting diodes which illuminate in accordance with the signal. Alternatively, the visual indication may be a computer monitor or other display device. The indication can comprise an audio indication, such as an audible tone that varies in accordance with the signal. This aspect of the invention may be incorporated into one of, e.g., an ultrasonic endoscope, a laparoscope, a transesophogeal ultrasonic endoscope, an intravascular catheter, an ultrasonic gastric endoscope, a duodenoscope, and a colonoscope.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features obtaining image data for a structure through bodily tissue. An imaging sensor contacts the bodily tissue to obtain image data for a first image of the structure. A pressure sensor is oriented in a substantially same direction as the imaging sensor, which contacts the bodily tissue to obtain data for a second image of the structure. The second image is a different perspective of the structure than the first image.
Among the advantages of this aspect of the invention may be one or more of the following. The two images provide a user with views of different perspectives of the structure. For example, the pressure sensors may provide a topographic view which identifies relatively hard regions of the structure. The imaging sensors may provide cross-sectional slices of the structure. Thus, with the slices and the topographic view, the user is able to view the structure in three dimensions, and make a more informed decision as to whether the structure is likely to be benign or malignant. It is also possible to determine the relationship between depth and hardness and to use this information to gain further knowledge of the structure. For example, the same structure may appear to have different hardnesses depending upon its depth. Knowing the depth of the structure, therefore, can correct this discrepancy.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The imaging sensor may comprise an ultrasound transducer, in which case the first image comprises a cross-sectional slice of the structure. The second image comprises a topographic map of the structure. The topographic map shows areas of the structure having different characteristics in different shades. An example of different characteristics includes different levels of hardness in the structure.
The pressure sensor may be part of an array of pressure sensors and the imaging sensor may be part of an array of imaging sensors. The pressure sensors may be arranged at locations along an outer perimeter of the imaging sensors. For example, the pressure sensors may be arranged to surround the imaging sensors.
A display screen displays the first and second images at a same time and an identifier that identifies the second image. A processor receives the data for the first and second images from the imaging sensor and pressure sensor, respectively, and processes the data to generate the first and second images for display on the display screen.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features obtaining image data for a structure through bodily tissue. In this aspect, a pressure sensor contacts the bodily tissue to obtain data for the structure and a position tracking device determines a location of the pressure sensor relative to the structure.
Among the advantages of this aspect of the invention may be one or more of the following. Knowing the location of the pressure sensor relative to the structure makes it possible to identify a specific region of the structure for re-examination and to control placement of the pressure sensors on the bodily tissue accordingly. Imaging sensors may also be included to obtain image data for a different image of the structure. The imaging sensors may be positioned in accordance with the location determined by the position tracking device, making re-examination more precise.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. An imaging sensor is included that contacts the bodily tissue to obtain image data for a different image of the structure. The imaging sensor comprises an ultrasound transducer. The pressure sensor is part of an array of pressure sensors that are arranged along an outer perimeter of the imaging sensor. A display screen displays the image of the structure and an image of the apparatus relative to the structure based on the data.
The position tracking device obtains data for a body containing the structure. The display screen displays an image that is representative of the body and a location of the structure relative to the body based on the data. The position tracking device obtains the image data for the body and the location of the structure relative to the body based on fiducial points in the body.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features obtaining information relating to a structure through bodily tissue. An imaging sensor contacts the bodily tissue to obtain first information relating to the structure. A pressure sensor is oriented in a substantially same direction as the imaging sensor. The pressure sensor contacts the bodily tissue to obtain second information relating to the structure. The second information differs from the first information.
Among the advantages of this aspect of the invention may be one or more of the following. Obtaining different information about a structure facilitates identification and removal of the structure. For example, the first information may relate to a hardness of the structure and the second information may relate to a depth of the structure within the bodily tissue. This information can be used in classifying the structure as benign or malignant and, if necessary, removing the structure from the tissue.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The imaging sensor comprises an A-mode ultrasound transducer. A display, such as a monitor, displays the first information and the second information. A fixture guides a tissue sampling device to the structure. The fixture is movable (both vertically and horizontally) over a range of angles.
Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, claims, and drawings.

Obtaining images of structures in bodily tissue


An airbag of an airbag restraint system for an automotive vehicle. The airbag is formed of a circular doubly woven cloth including generally circular front and rear cloth parts which are separable from and integral at their periphery with each other to define therebetween a gas chamber to be filled with high pressure gas from an inflator. Each of front and rear cloth parts is formed with a generally rectangular reinforcement regions located near the periphery of the cloth part. The reinforcement region includes two warp band-like regions which are separate from each other and located near the periphery of the cloth part. The reinforcement region further includes two weft band-like regions which are separate from each other and located near the periphery of the cloth part. The weft band-like regions cross the warp yarn band-like regions, so that the reinforcement region is formed generally rectangular. Reinforcement yarns are woven in each of the warp and weft band-like regions. The reinforcement yarns are higher in coefficient of extension than the warp and weft yarns.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in an airbag of a vehicular airbag restraint system, and more particularly to the airbag formed of a doubly woven cloth defining therein a gas chamber to be filled with high pressure gas from an inflator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a variety of airbag restraint systems which have been proposed and put into practical use. These systems are usually constructed and arranged as follows: When a vehicle deceleration, due to a vehicle collision, exceeds predetermined level, an initiator is ignited to start the operation of an inflator or gas generator, thereby inflating and developing an airbag from its folded state. Accordingly, a vehicle passenger is protected from coming into direct contact with an instrument panel and/or a front windshield of an automotive vehicle.
The airbag is usually formed of front and rear side singly woven cloths, in which the woven cloths are sewn at their peripheral portions with each other to form a bag-shape. However, frays tends to occur at the peripheral portions of the singly woven cloths, while the singly woven cloths are insufficient in strength. For such an airbag, it is necessary to separately provide to the peripheral portion a sewn part for the purpose of reinforcement, thereby increasing the number of steps in the production process of it and the production cost of the same.
In view of the above, the airbag has been recently proposed to form an airbag of a doubly woven cloth in place of the above-mentioned singly woven cloths. An example of such an airbag formed of the doubly woven cloth is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2-158442. Such an airbag includes front an rear side (singly woven) cloth parts which are separate from each other, but which are integral at their peripheral portion with each other thereby defining therebetween a gas chamber to be fed with high pressure gas from an inflator.
In the production of such an airbag, it is unnecessary to sew the peripheral portions of two separate (singly woven) cloths with each other to form the airbag. Additionally, it is also unnecessary to reinforce the peripheral portions of the cloths. Thus, a sewing step can be omitted, thereby lowering the production cost while simplifying a production process of the airbag.
However, drawbacks have been encountered in the airbag formed of the doubly woven cloth, in which when a stress is concentrically and locally applied to the airbag from the outside, the airbag tends to be broken under the influence of such a stress. More specifically, the airbag usually requires a central opening (not shown) in one of the cloth parts. Through the central opening, high pressure gas is supplied inside the airbag. Accordingly, the airbag tends to easily tear or break when a high stress is concentrically and locally applied to the airbag cloth at a portion around the central opening. Additionally, inflation regulating belt members may be required to be disposed inside the airbag in order to prevent the airbag from unnecessarily inflating. The belt members are usually sewn to the inner surface of the airbag. It will be understood that when a stress is concentrically and locally applied to the woven cloth of the airbag through each belt member, the airbag tends to easily tear or break at the positions where the belt members are sewn.
Thus, the airbag tends to tear or break at particular positions where the high stress is concentrically applied. When a tearing or breakage occurs in the airbag, the airbag cannot inflate uniformly to obtain a predetermined desirable shape, thereby providing a non-uniform impact softening force against a vehicle passenger during a vehicle collision or the sudden stopping of a vehicle. In order to prevent such drawbacks, it is necessary to provide a reinforcement patch around the central opening of the airbag and reinforcement members at positions where the inflation regulating belt members are sewn to the airbag. These reinforcement members unavoidably complicate the production process and raise the production cost of the airbag.

Airbag of vehicular airbag restraint system


A keyboard stabilizer is adapted to reduce the clanking and rattling sounds that it makes during operation. The invention takes advantage of the surprising result that adhesive, in proper amounts, can act as a sound dampener. First, a circumferential score is cut near each tip of the wire. Second, adhesive is applied to several critical points on the housings, stems, and wire. Third, lubricant is applied to several critical points on the housings, stems, and wire. The stabilizer is then assembled from the prepared parts.

The invention is a modified version of a keyboard stabilizer, which is an existing mechanism in a standard computer keyboard. The keys that are wider than the alphanumeric keys are stabilized for steady activation. Every keyboard has at least five stabilized keys: Backspace, Enter, Shift (left), Shift (right), and the Spacebar. Full keyboards with a number pad have three more wide/stabilized keys.

Keyboard stabilizer adapted for noise reduction


Alterations in the genetic content of a cell underlie many human diseases, including cancers. A method called Digital Karyotyping provides quantitative analysis of DNA copy number at high resolution. This approach involves the isolation and enumeration of short sequence tags from specific genomic loci. Analysis of human cancer cells using this method identified gross chromosomal changes as well as amplifications and deletions, including regions not previously known to be altered. Foreign DNA sequences not present in the normal human genome could also be readily identified. Digital Karyotyping provides a broadly applicable means for systematic detection of DNA copy number changes on a genomic scale.

Somatic and hereditary variations in gene copy number can lead to profound abnormalities at the cellular and organismal levels. In human cancer, chromosomal changes, including deletion of tumor suppressor genes and amplification of oncogenes, are hallmarks of neoplasia (1). Single copy changes in specific chromosomes or smaller regions can result in a number of developmental disorders, including Down, Prader Willi, Angelman, and cri du chat syndromes (2). Current methods for analysis of cellular genetic content include comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) (3), representational difference analysis (4), spectral karyotyping/M-FISH (5, 6), microarrays (7-10), and traditional cytogenetics. Such techniques have aided in the identification of genetic aberrations in human malignancies and other diseases (11-14). However, methods employing metaphase chromosomes have a limited mapping resolution (˜20 Mb) (15) and therefore cannot be used to detect smaller alterations. Recent implementation of comparative genomic hybridization to microarrays containing genomic or transcript DNA sequences provide improved resolution, but are currently limited by the number of sequences that can be assessed (16) or by the difficulty of detecting certain alterations (9). There is a continuing need in the art for methods of analyzing and comparing genomes.


An electrical connector includes: an insulating body, a first terminal and a second terminal. The insulating body is provided with a mating slot. At least one side of the mating slot is provided with two accommodating holes, and the accommodating holes are in communication with the mating slot. One end of the first terminal has a first contact located in a first accommodating hole, and a first distance exists between the first contact and an inner wall of the first accommodating hole. One end of the second terminal has a second contact. A width of the second contact is equal to a width of the first contact. The second contact is located in a second accommodating hole. A second distance exists between the second contact and an inner wall of the second accommodating hole. By reducing the second distance, the second distance is less than the first distance.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
With the development of electronic devices toward high-speed signal transmission, a corresponding requirement for a signal transmission rate is also imposed on an electrical connector inside the electronic devices. A speed ranges from 3 gigabytes per second (Gb/s) to 6 Gb/s a few years ago and increases to a current speed requirement of 32 Gb/s and above. Compared with an electrical connector that transmits a signal of relatively low frequency, a connector for a high-frequency signal needs to resolve problems such as crosstalk and characteristic impedance matching. Otherwise, it is likely to generate mutual crosstalk during signal transmission, causing signal distortion.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need to design a new electrical connector exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Electrical connector providing reduced crosstalk with improved signal transmission


A knee arthroplasty assembly for use in a patient's knee joint including a tibia and a femur is disclosed. The assembly can include a tool, a first accessory, and a second accessory. The tool can include a tibial component configured for placement against the tibia and a femoral component configured for placement against the femur. The femoral component can be moveably coupled to the tibial component to place the patient's knee joint in tension by separating the tibia and the femur. The first accessory can be removeably coupled to the tibial component of the tool. The second accessory can be referenced to the first accessory and can have a reference indicator that references the femur for determining a size of the femur.

In a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure, a patient's distal femur is resected and replaced with a prosthetic femoral implant, and the patient's proximal tibia is resected and replaced with a prosthetic tibial implant. The prosthetic femoral implant articulates with the prosthetic tibial implant to restore joint motion.
Many factors influence joint motion after the TKA procedure. The size and shape of each prosthetic implant will impact joint motion. Additionally, the location and orientation of each prosthetic implant, which is determined by the location and orientation of the corresponding bone resections, will impact joint motion. The tension or laxity of the surrounding soft tissue will also impact joint motion. For example, if the surrounding collateral ligaments are too tense, joint motion may be limited, but if the surrounding collateral ligaments are too lax, improper femoral rotation or femoral lift-off may occur. Also, the soft tissue balance around the joint will impact joint motion.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A lightweight ROV deployable tree cap (28) for deployment on a subsea production hub (10) of a subsea tree. A tree cap (28) has a lightweight body (30) with parallel planar sides and including suitable openings and slots for mounting of the various operating elements. A seal plate structure (64) includes a piston (66) connected to a seal plate (68) having a pair of downwardly projecting tubular seal members (70, 72) for fitting within the production bore (13) and annulus bore (15) of the tree hub (10) in a sealed landed position. Fluid pressure is applied to fluid line (96) to urge piston (66) and seal plate (68) downwardly into sealing landed position. For removal or retrieval of tree cap (28) from the installed position on subsea tree hub (10), fluid pressure is applied through fluid lines (108, 110) for the upward movement of seal plate (68) and tubular seal members (70, 72) from sealing relation with production bore (13) and annulus bore (15). Hydraulic fluid is supplied from the ROV through fluid coupling devices (98, 112) which are insertable within receptacles (110,114) in the tree cap body (30). The fluid couplers (98, 112) are removed from the operating receptacles after installation of the tree cap (28) and are parked in other receptacles on A tree frame until needed for further service, such as removal of the tree cap (28). A spare tree cap may be positioned on the tree frame and installed on the tree hub by the ROV.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of equipment and methods of installation thereof of subsea wellhead equipment. In particular, the invention concerns a ROV deployed cap for a Xmas tree for a subsea well and the method of installing and retrieving the tree cap.
2. Background and Objects of the Invention
Prior tree caps have been installed by using a drill pipe connector arrangement. Prior tree cap design has been elaborate, almost a piece of art. Extensive machining and weight issues became the norm. An extra trip of the drill pipe was required simply to retrieve or lower the tree cap. As the offshore oil industry moves to deeper and deeper depths, the time that it takes to lower or retrieve the tree cap with drill pipe will cost a well operator thousands of dollars in rig time alone.
Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a light weight ROV installable tree cap for a subsea Xmas tree.
Another object is to provide a method of installing and retrieving the tree cap by using pressure fluid apparatus for stabbing the cap in place on the production hub and for retrieving the cap.

ROV deployed tree cap for a subsea tree and method of installation


An exemplary laser projection device includes a substrate, three laser chips mounted on the substrate, and a spectroscope arranged on laser beams paths of the laser chips. Each laser chip is a laser diode. The spectroscope includes a first group of splitters, and a second group of splitters spaced from the first group of splitters. Laser beams emitted from the laser chips are adjusted into the second group of splitters by the first group of splitters. And then, the laser beams adjusted into the second group of splitters are adjusted to be oriented toward the same direction and mixed together to obtain light of a predetermined color.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to projection devices and more particularly to a laser projection device.
2. Description of Related Art
Laser projection devices are more and more popular for its projected images having a lager color gamut, a higher brightness, an increased contrast and a better saturation.
A conventional laser projection device includes a red light emitting diode (LED) package, a green LED package, a blue LED package, a spectroscope arranged on light paths of the LED packages and a photoelectric conversion device. The spectroscope includes a first beam splitter, a second beam splitter, and a third beam splitter. The three beam splitters are corresponding with the three LED packages respectively. Light emitted from the LED packages directly radiates to the spectroscope and then is reflected by the spectroscope to mix. And then, the mixed light can be modulated into images on a screen by the photoelectric conversion device.
In order to reduce the bulk of the projection laser device, the three LED packages are usually mounted on a substrate, and the space between two adjacent LED packages is reduced. Because the space between two adjacent LED packages is reduced, the corresponding beam splitters need to be thinner and thinner, or the beams emitted from the LED packages can not radiated to the corresponding beam splitters. However, the thinner beam splitters are too frangible to be assembled easily, which results in the assembling efficiency of the laser projection device being reduced.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved laser projection device which can overcome the above described shortcomings.

Laser projection device with splitters spaced from each other


A method for screening a reagent for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease or related neurological pathology includes the steps of: (a) activating a receptor and determining a first extent of endocytosis of the receptor, wherein the receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor that associates with presenilin-1; (b) activating the receptor under the same conditions as in step (a), in the presence of a candidate reagent, and determining a second extent of endocytosis of the receptor; (c) determining a difference between the first extent of endocytosis and the second extent of endocytosis; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c), if the difference is less than a threshold. Uses of receptor antagonists for manufacturing medicaments for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease or related neurological pathology, wherein the receptor antagonists inhibit endocytosis of a G-protein coupled receptor that associates with presenilin-1 during endocytosis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease or related neurological pathologies; particularly, it relates to the use of β-adrenergic or opioid receptor antagonists for treating Alzheimer's diseases.
2. Background Art
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), which is characterized by progressive dementia and personality dysfunction, is the most common neurodegenerative disorder associated with aging. AD affects 5-11% of the population over the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the vicinity of degenerating neurons and reactive astrocytes. D. J. Selkoe, Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 17, 489 (1994).
Amyloid plaque, composed mostly of amyloid β (Aβ), is a hallmark of AD neuropathology, and formation of amyloid plaques is considered a primary cause of AD. In addition, recent studies have revealed that the diffusible oligomeric Aβ may also be neurotoxic and potentially AD-related. Walsh, D. M. et al., "Naturally Secreted Oligomers of Amyloid Beta Protein Potently Inhibit Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation in vivo," Nature 416, 535-9 (2002)
Aβ is generated from β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) via sequential cleavages by β- and γ-secretases. As illustrated in FIG. 1, APP is cleaved by β-secretase to produce a soluble APPs-β fragment and a C99 fragment, the latter is in turn cleaved by γ-secretase to produce the Aβ fragment and a C60 fragment.
The amyloid fragments (Aβ) comprise at least two forms, a 40 amino acid form (Aβ40) and a 42 amino acid form (Aβ42). The 42 amino acid form (Aβ42) is more prone to plague formation and is considered more relevant to AD etiology. γ-Secretase plays a pivotal role in AD because it determines the ratio of the two main Aβ species (Aβ40 and Aβ42).
As shown in FIG. 2, γ-secretase complex includes at least four essential components: presenilin (PS), nicastrin (NCSTN), APH-1, and PEN-2. Mutations in the putative catalytic component presenilin-1 (PS1) account for most cases of familial AD (FAD), suggesting that γ-secretase may be critically involved in the pathogenesis of AD (at least the pathogenesis of FAD).
Although the correlation between presenilin-1 mutations and FAD provides a clue to genetic cause of AD, FAD accounts for less than 10% of all AD cases. In contrast, most AD cases are sporadic in nature, indicating that factors other than presenilin-1 mutations are more important in the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, it is important to investigate how other factors or environmental influences contribute to AD pathogenesis.
Previous studies have shown that Aβ production in cell cultures can be reduced by activation of intracellular signaling pathways or membrane receptors such as muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Recent evidence also shows that Aβ levels and amyloid plaque formation can be influenced by somatostatin or environmental factors.
APP processing is also regulated by neurotransmitters and synaptic activity. For example, activation of neurotransmitter receptors, which are coupled to phosphotidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis or to protein kinase C (PKC) activation, can promote APP metabolism and decrease amyloid formation. (Ulus and Wurtman, J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 281, 149 (1997)) On the other hand, activation of neurotransmitters coupled to cAMP production can suppresses both constitutive and PKC/PI-stimulated APPs secretion in astroglioma cells and in primary astrocytes. (Lee et al., J. Neurochem., 68, 1830 (1997)) The inhibitory effect of cAMP on APPs secretion may be specific for astrocytic cells because cAMP and PKA activation reportedly stimulate APPs secretion in pheocbromocytoma PC-12 and human embryonic kidney cells. (Xu et al., PNAS USA, 93, 4081 (1996); Marambaud et al., J. Neurochem., 67, 2616 (1996)) In any event, the above results indicate that changes in neurotransmitter levels or second messenger signaling, which may result from neuron degeneration and synapse loss in AD, can disrupt APP processing and lead to accumulation of amyloidogenic or neurotoxic APP fragments.
Furthermore, it has been shown that modulation of β-adrenergic receptors, which leads to elevated cAMP, can increase the synthesis of APP in astrocites. Based on this finding, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,187,756 and 6,043,224, issued to Lee et al., discloses methods for alleviating neurological disorders stemming from the aberrant expression of APP by using β-adrenergic receptor antagonists that modulate the cAMP levels. In this approach, β-adrenergic receptor antagonists are used to suppress the synthesis of APP, through modulation of cAMP levels.
In addition to suppression of APP synthesis, modulation of APP metabolism may also be used to alleviate neurological disorders associated with APP-related plaque formation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,915, issued to Buxbaum et al., discloses methods and compositions for affecting APP processing using agents that regulate protein phosphorylation, i.e., agents that affect kinases or phosphatases. The modulation of APP processing in turn leads to the regulation of the production of Aβ peptides that accumulates in amyloidogenic plaques.
Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,932, Gandy et al. disclose and claim a method of modulating or affecting the intracellular trafficking and processing of proteins (including APP) in mammalian cells, using chemicals such as chloroquine and primaquine.
While these prior art methods seem to be effective in modulating the production and metabolism of APP, and hence the formation of plaques, there remains a need for more methods and reagents for the treatment and prevention of AD.

Screening G protein-coupled receptor antagonists for methods of treating Alzheimer's disease

Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences


There is provided a decoding apparatus and a decoding method which are for using compressed data efficiently by making the resolutions of the individual components differ from one another. A decoding apparatus decodes compressed data that represents an image signal composed of a plurality of components as a compressed code by making the resolutions of the individual components differ from one another. The decoding apparatus basically comprises input sections 5-Y, 5-I, 5-Q which decode compressed data and take in the individual components independently, a reduction circuit 5-Y-1 which reduces and changes a size corresponding to the processing unit and resolution of any one of the components, and a conversion section 5-6 which converts into a decoded image signal in a specific format by using reduced components and uncompressed components.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image data processing apparatus and an image data processing method, and more particularly to an apparatus and method which are applied effectively to an image processing apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, or an image scanner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image information is generally compressed and stored for subsequent use because of its large volume. In the field of color image data processing technology, the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) method has been particularly popularized. Not only in the JPEG method but also in an irreversible color image data compression method, image data is generally converted into luminance and color-difference signals using human visual characteristics and the resolution of color difference is converted into a lower resolution than that of luminance, thereby compressing the data.
The decoded image is generally used as an image obtained by up-sampling the color difference and making the resolution of the color difference signal and that of luminance signal the same. The reason is that the input image size is made the same as the output image size to enable the output side to view the same image as that of the input.
On the output side, the process of outputting an image N times (as large or small as) the input image and the process of decoding a partial region are also included in a form of use of compressed data on the decoding side.
As described in reference 1 (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-175061), a decoding method has been devised which uses the relationship between the resolution of luminance and that of color difference in returning the luminance and color difference signals to the RGB signals to reduce the number of data conversions. On the other hand, as for compression, a method has been devised which does not simply compress an image, but divides an image into a character area and a non-character area and uses different compression methods for the respective areas as described in reference 2 (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-338934).

Image data processing apparatus and method


A rotary engine and method having a housing with a bore defining a cavity. A rotatable rotor in the cavity has a plurality of protuberant lobes with respective distal ends moving along the bore. Each of a plurality of vanes has a distal end biased to engage a perimeter of the rotor. The rotor rotates between neutral rotor positions where all of the lobes are simultaneously rotationally aligned with the vanes, and a plurality of different power stroke rotor positions between consecutive neutral rotor positions incrementally increasing in size a like plurality of volumetrically equivalent working fluid expansion chambers that are each in fluid communication with a respective working fluid inlet intersecting the bore and, in turn, incrementally decreasing in size a like plurality of volumetrically equivalent working fluid exhaust chambers each in continuous fluid communication with a respective working fluid outlet intersecting the bore.

For purposes of this description and meaning of the claimed invention the present rotary engine embodiments are broadly directed to pistonless rotary engines. That is, the claimed embodiments are directed to an engine and associated methodology that converts the high energy state of a working fluid into rotating output motion, as distinguishable from the reciprocating output motion of a piston rotary engine.
Some types of such rotary engines are powered by internally combusting a fuel to set the rotor in motion by sequentially timed explosions resulting from the combustion. The Wankel engine is a well known type of such a rotary internal combustion engine, popularly commercialized by Mazda, for example, in the automotive industry. The Wankel engine, first patented in 1929, employs a rotor shaped similar to a Reuleaux triangle rotationally engaging an epitrochoid-shaped bore. Although the Wankel engine design requires less complexity and fewer precision moving parts than a comparative in-line or V configuration piston engine, it yet remains more complicated than present embodiments that advantageously remove the combustion process from within the engine. A four stroke internal combustion rotary engine, for example, requires that the rotor establish four separate chambers for supporting the combustion process; the intake chamber, the compression chamber, the combustion chamber, and the exhaust chamber. Further, the by-products of the combustion process inside such an engine can contaminate the engine internal working surfaces and thus be detrimental to achieving a reliably robust engine design.
Steam powered engines, on the other hand, are external combustion engines that generally receive high energy steam from a companion device, such as a package boiler and the like, and harness it in a manner that converts the input fluid energy into mechanical motion. Steam driven turbines, for example, are the predominant source of electrical power generation in the United States.
At the turn of the 20th century there was a significant effort in the industry to marry the advantages of steam power to the advantages of the pistonless rotary engine design. A good number of what appeared to be promising solutions, such as the Hult engine, the Tower engine, and the Dolgorouki engine, all fell by the wayside to become no more than interesting museum artifacts. Improvements have eluded those skilled in the art for more than a century, preventing any breakthrough to a commercially viable design for a pistonless rotary steam engine. It is to those enabling improvements that the embodiments of the present invention are so directed.


An overhead storage compartment (10, 100, 200) is disclosed in which the storage compartment (10, 100, 200) is moveable into a collapsed state so as to lie substantially adjacent to a roof panel (2) of a motor vehicle (5) and not intrude significantly into an interior space of the motor vehicle (5) and is further deployable from the collapsed state into an in-use or deployed state in which it defines a cavity that can be used to transport articles in the vehicle (5).

It is known from, for example, GB Patent Publication 2,416,117 to provide an overhead storage compartment for a motor vehicle.
Although such a storage compartment provides more storage space in a vehicle it is not always necessary to have the additional storage space provided and, particularly in the case of a vehicle used to transport passengers, the intrusion of the storage compartment into the interior of the vehicle can be inconvenient.

Overhead storage compartment for a vehicle


A memory cell array is composed of N (1.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.Nmax) blocks. A redundancy memory is always composed of Nmax blocks. A block decoder selects one of the N blocks of the memory cell array based on a block address signal. A redundancy memory decoder selects one of the Nmax blocks of the redundancy memory based on a redundancy memory selection address signal. When the number of blocks of the memory cell array and the number of blocks of the redundancy memory are different from each other, the N blocks of the memory cell array are in a one to one correspondence with N blocks of the Nmax blocks of the redundancy memory and the redundancy memory decoder selects one of the N blocks of the redundancy memory. The other blocks than the N blocks of the redundancy memory are left unused.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory having a redundancy circuitry and particularly, to a semiconductor memory for which there is applied a designing method to realize a memory capacity (the number of memory bits) which meets a user's desire by increase or decrease in the number of memory segments.
Heretofore, when a memory capacity of a semiconductor memory is changed, there has been a need for a maker to conduct designing of the semiconductor memory from its very start. In recent years, however, there has been arisen a new need for a maker to provide, in a short time period, a semiconductor memory having a memory capacity which meets a user's desire due to product diversification of electronic equipment, increase in complexity of a system and the like. Accordingly, there has been proposed a designing method in which a memory capacity can be changed by increase or decrease in the number of memory segments.
In recent years, attention has also been drawn to the so-called system LSI that a specific system is formed in one chip by integrating a plurality of functions on the one chip. The system LSI is an LSI to gather a plurality of functions, which have respectively been formed in separate chips, on one chip; the system LSI contributes to realization of higher performance, lower power consumption and size reduction (decrease in the number of parts) of a system. In the means time, it is required that there is supplied a semiconductor memory having a memory capacity which meets a user's desire in a short time period in the case of an LSI provided with a function of a semiconductor memory (memory macro) among various system LSIs, for example in the case of a MERGED MEMORY-LOGIC LSI. Hence, for a memory macro in a system LSI as well, there is applied a designing method in which a memory capacity can be changed by increase or decrease in the number of memory segments.
Below described will be a designing method in which a memory capacity can be changed by increase or decrease in the number of memory segments. This designing method employs a circuit block called a memory segment. A memory segment comprises a memory cell array having a specific memory capacity (for example, one megabits), a sense amplifier, a row decoder, a column decoder and the like and is already designed in advance of need. When a semiconductor memory having N megabits, wherein N is a natural number, is designed, N memory segments are used. In this case, each memory segment is not necessary to be redesigned from its start and it is only required that structures of a block decoder and the like are partially changed according to a memory capacity; designing of a semiconductor memory having N megabits can thus be completed in a short time period.
In such a manner, in the above described designing method, since not only can a memory capacity of a semiconductor memory freely be changed by adjusting the number of memory segments but there is no needs for full designing including initial stages for all memory segments, reduction in a turn around time (TAT) and lower cost, as well, can be achieved as compared with a designing method in which designing is performed from its very start for each of all circuits according to a memory capacity of a semiconductor memory.
A semiconductor memory is generally provided with a redundancy circuitry used as substitution in order to improve a production yield, wherein a memory cell having a defect (defective cell) is replaced with a spare memory cell (spare cell).
A redundancy circuitry comprises a redundancy memory (for example, a fuse element) and a redundancy memory decoder, and a redundancy memory is provided, for example, in correspondence to a memory segment. In a memory segment, there is provided a spare cell array and in a redundancy memory, there is stored data for substituting a spare cell for a defective cell in a memory segment corresponding to the redundancy memory and reading out. The redundancy memory decoder has the same structure as a block decoder provided in a memory segment. The block decoder selects a memory segment and a redundancy memory decoder selects a redundancy memory corresponding to the selected memory segment.
In the above described designing method using a memory segment, however, this redundancy circuitry is also designed in advance of need singly or together with another circuit as a block. In this case, if a memory capacity of a semiconductor memory, that is the number of memory segments, is changed, not only is a structure of a block decoder in a memory segment changed but also a structure of a redundancy circuitry (a redundancy memory, a redundancy memory decoder, a switching circuit and the like) is greatly changed. Accordingly, it takes a lot of time for a change in design of the redundancy circuitry, which makes it harder designing in a short time period and with a low cost.


A chlorinated rubber composition which is resistant to various fluids such as transmission fluids comprises a blend of a chlorinated polyethylene elastomer, an ethylene acrylic elastomer and/or polyacrylic rubbers, and optionally a chlorosulfonated polyethylene. The rubber composition has many uses such as a tube and generally contains various additives such as fillers, plasticizers, vulcanizing agents, and the like.

Heretofore, numerous rubber compounds were utilized as sheets, tubings, liners, and the like. However, generally no chlorinated polyethylene rubber compositions have existed which had good resistance to transmission fluids, especially the recent new types of "E-fluids".
Similarly, while numerous types of high temperature-resistant rubbers were available, generally no blend of a chlorinated polyethylene elastomer, an ethylene-octene copolymer, and an ethylene-acrylic and/or a polyacrylic elstomer was known which had good heat resistance as at approximately 150° C.

Fluid and heat resistant chlorinated polyethylenes (CPE)

Abstract: A heat resistant rubber composition comprises a blend of a chlorinated polyethylene elastomer, an ethylene-acrylic elastomer and/or polyacrylic rubbers, an ethylene-octene copolymer, and an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, and the same can be used as a cover or jacket as on the above chlorinated rubber tube.


A method and apparatus is disclosed for remotely processing voice commands for controlling a television. A voice command is uttered by a user into a microphone contained in a remote control. The voice command is digitized, modulated, compressed, and wirelessly transmitted to a wireless receiver connected to a set-top box. The voice command is then transmitted to a cable head-end unit for voice and word recognition processing. Once the command function is determined, the function is transmitted back to the set-top box where the set-top box performs the command. The microphone is activated and deactivated by pressing and releasing a push-to-talk (PTT) switch. The PTT activates other functions by being turned, double-clicked and toggled up and down, left and right.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to voice controlled electronic devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a voice-controlled set-top box and remote control for performing television related processes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Speech recognition systems are capable of recognizing words spoken by human beings. Isolated word recognition systems have been developed to recognize and discriminate isolated words, i.e. words separated by a pause, which have been trained into the systems. Such s speech recognition device is summarized in D. Raj Reddy, Speech Recognition by Machine: A Review, Proceedings of the IEEE, April 1976, pages 501-531. Connected word recognition systems are capable of recognizing and discriminating individual words from spoken phrases.
It is also known to use voice recognition systems to control system variables of various active systems. Speech recognition control system and method, U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,080, Lemelson, Aug. 12, 1986, discloses a weighing scale involving calculating functions that include an automatic control system that can accept spoken words as input. A speech recognition system is used for processing and analyzing speech signals output by a microphone. The microphone is connected to a speech recognition computer that outputs and applies select command control signals to effect desired control functions. It is disclosed to control conveyors to place labels on containers automatically using the speech recognition system. The apparatus may be controlled to stop and start, slow down or speed up by an operator speaking the appropriate voice commands into a microphone.
Voice controlled welding system, U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,292, Tunnell , et al., Feb. 3, 1987 discloses an apparatus and method for permitting human voice control of a welding system. It is disclosed that a human operator is provided with an audio transmitter by which the operator adjusts the welding power supply through voice commands. The voice commands are issued by the operator and transmitted through a receiver to a voice recognition unit. The received signal is interpreted by a computer that is electrically connected to deliver power control signals to the welding power supply, and thereby adjusts the power delivered to the welding head. The operator may also issue voice commands to start and stop an internal combustion engine that drives the welding power supply, when such an engine is used.
A problem with the prior art voice recognition systems is that they require a sophisticated voice recognition system in close proximity to the user, requiring individual units which is quite costly. What is needed is a centralized voice command processing system such services a multitude of users.
A problem with television remote controls is their ever-increasing size. As remote controls become more sophisticated, more and more functions are added. As more functions are added, more buttons are added, causing the aforementioned increase in size. Remote controls are now approaching a practical limit. Moreover, remote control manufacturers have standard template designs for their remote controls. The standard designs dictate where the buttons are located, as well what functions will exist. What is needed is a way to add functions to an existing remote control without greatly increasing its size and without interfering with existing manufacturer designs.
A problem with voice command remote control systems is that they are activated when a sound input reaches a pre-determined amplitude. Often, ambient noise reaches the pre-determined level and the system is unintentionally activated. This leads to inadvertent input and a misuse of processing power because the speech recognition unit attempts to process the noise. What is needed is way to activate and deactivate a voice command system that is not substantially affected by ambient noise.

Method and apparatus for voice control of a television control device


A refrigerator is described. The refrigerator includes a cabinet that includes a storage compartment; an inner case that defines the storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a first door that is pivotally mounted to the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a second door that is pivotally mounted to the cabinet and that is provided with a pillar that is configured to rotate between a folded orientation and an unfolded orientation, the pillar being configured to contact the first door and thereby close a gap between the first door and the second door based on the pillar being oriented in the unfolded orientation and the first door and the second door being closed. The refrigerator further includes a drive assembly that is located at the inner case and that is configured to rotate the pillar. The refrigerator further includes a controller that is configured to drive the drive assembly.

Generally, a refrigerator is an appliance for storing food in a fresh state within a storage compartment (freezing compartment or refrigerating compartment) for a certain period of time by cooling the storage compartment through repeated operation of a refrigeration cycle.
Such a refrigerator includes a compressor for compressing refrigerant circulating through a refrigeration cycle into a high-temperature and high-pressure state. The refrigerant compressed in the compressor generates cold air while passing through a heat exchanger, and the generated cold air is supplied to a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment.
Generally, the refrigerator has an arrangement in which the freezing compartment is arranged at the upper side, and the refrigerating compartment is arranged at the lower side. In a side-by-side type refrigerator, the freezing and refrigerating compartments thereof are arranged to laterally neighbor to each other.
In a refrigerator of another type, a storage compartment provided at the upper or lower side of the refrigerator can be opened by two side-by-side type doors.
In the case in which one storage compartment can be opened by two side-by-side type doors, a pillar is provided at one of the two doors. The pillar, which is provided at only one of the two doors, comes into contact with the two doors through rotation thereof when the storage compartment is closed by the two doors and, as such, functions to enhance sealability of the storage compartment.
In a conventional refrigerator provided with such a pillar, typically, a structure including a protrusion and a guide groove is provided at an inner case of the refrigerator in order to guide rotation of the pillar.


An adhesive composition comprising a fluorinated elastomer having dicyclopropane rings formed by reaction of chloroform with unsaturated bonds introduced into the molecule of fluorinated elastomer by an alkali treatment, as an adhesive component has a good room temperature adhesiveness and very distinguished electric characteristics perse such as a high insulation resistance, a low dielectric constant, a low dielectric loss tangent, etc. and is effectively applied to adhesion of electronic materials in printed substrates, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adhesive composition and more particularly to an adhesive composition suitably applicable to electronic materials such as printed substrates, etc.
2. Related Art
Recently, development of heat-resistant adhesives, particularly organic heat-resistant adhesives is in progress. Organic heat-resistant adhesives include, for example, polybenzoimidazole-type, polyimide-type, polyamideimide-type, fluorohydrocarbon resin-type, silicone-type, epoxyphenol-type, epoxy novolak-type, epoxy acryl-type, nitrilephenol-type ones, etc., among which it is noted that polyimide-polybenzoimidazole-type adhesives have a distinguished heat-resistant adhesiveness.
However, the polyimide-polybenzoimidazole-type adhesives have such problems as a higher curing temperature for developing the adhesiveness, generation of water during the reaction, etc. That is, heat-resistant adhesives that are satisfactory for all such characteristics as a long-term heat resistance, an adhesiveness, curing conditions, etc. have not been available yet.

The Central Synthetic Rubbers Research Institute


A graphical user interface for a computer program includes the representation of a face (an avatar) on a computer screen which allows a user to communicate the user's attitude to a situation represented by the computer program. The expression of the face changes according to the user's movement of a cursor over the face. In response to a situation appearing on the computer screen, the user sets the expression on the face to correspond with the user's attitude. The situation on the computer screen changes accordingly.

Pictorial-based interfaces in computer programs are well-known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,069 issued to Okada in 1988 allows a video game user to change the movement of a character on the video screen by shifting a lever in the desired direction. An arrow on the computer screen indicates the direction in which the lever ought to be shifted in order to effect successful movement of the character on the screen. Since the arrow simply tells the user how to behave in order to succeed in the game, the game does not require any independent thought on the part of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,414 issued to Rosendahl in 1995 relates to a manipulable icon. Icons are typically two dimensional and display information about aspects of a computer program. The icon disclosed in this patent is notionally three dimensional and can be manipulated to show different information about an application such as the name of a document, its size, its creator, copyright information, etc. The icon described in this patent acts as a vehicle to transmit information about one or many documents to the user. The icon does not otherwise help the user interact with a particular computer application. In other words, while the icon provides information to the user, it does not help the user communicate information to a computer application.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,002 issued to Gechter in 1996 describes an interactive, electronic game having, among other aspects, "character behaviour controllers". The patent describes a game in which a user can choose a character and then control its behaviour according to the character's "character controller logic". For example, when a character is selected, a pop-up window may appear allowing the user to modify the character's actions or behaviour by selecting desired options from the pop-up menu. In other words, the user controls the character's behaviour directly by inputting specific commands. The characters simply behave as instructed by the user. The characters do not react to the user's behaviour or attitude to a particular situation.
There is at least one game available in which the characters behave according to or in response to a user's mood. In other words, the user does not tell the characters how to behave. Rather, in the game "Mode", produced by the company Animatics and available on the World Wide Web on the Internet, the user indicates his or her mood to a particular situation in the game, and the characters in the game react accordingly. The user indicates his or her mood by moving the cursor on the "Mood Bar" depicted on the computer screen and clicking the mouse. The Mood Bar is a rectangle showing a spectrum of colours, with red on the left hand side and green on the right hand side with appropriately varying colours in the middle. The user is meant to indicate his or her mood to a particular character or situation in the game by moving the cursor on the colour that best represents the user's mood (red for angry and green for happy, for example) and clicking the mouse. The characters in the game will then react appropriately in view of the user's mood.
While the Mood Bar does allow the game's characters to behave or react in response to the user's mood, the game does not consider other aspects of the user's personality or emotions. For example, a user could be in a good mood despite negative events that might occur in the game. Accordingly, it would be desirable to allow the characters in a computer game or program to react to aspects of the user's attitude to a situation in the game or program which could change from event to event, even though the user's mood may remain the same. Further, to reflect real-life situations, it may be more helpful or educational to the user to be able to see how his or her attitude may affect a given character's behaviour in a particular situation.
As indicated above, with the Mood Bar, the user points the cursor at a colour that represents his or her mood and clicks the mouse. However, the Mood Bar fails to provide any indication to the user as to the mood just selected or any indication that the program has even registered (or taken into consideration) the newly selected mood.

Graphical user interface to communicate attitude or emotion to a computer program


The invention provides a memory card adaptor in which the number of parts is reduced and the cost reduction can be attained. The adaptor has: an adaptor body 4 into and from which a small memory card is to be inserted and extracted through a card insertion port 11 that is opened in a side face, and which is to be inserted into and extracted from a card connector for a large memory card; and plural conductive members 6a to 6i which are arranged in the adaptor body 4, and through which plural connect terminals 303a to 303h of the small memory card are to be electrically connected to plural contacts of the card connector. A linking portion 41 which directly couples plural specific ones 6c, 6f of the plural conductive members 6a to 6i is disposed. The specific conductive members are not adjacent to each other, and the tip ends are positionally shifted from each other in the length direction. A linkage part 41c of the linking portion is between bent portions 41a, 41b which are formed by bending tip end portions of the specific conductive members into “U-like shape” along the length direction, and is formed into a corrugated shape which undulates in card insertion/extraction directions.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card adaptor which is used for connecting a small memory card to a card connector for a large memory card that is larger than the small memory card.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in accordance with advances in miniaturization of small portable apparatuses such as a mobile telephone, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, and a PDA among electronic apparatuses which use a memory card, also the size of a memory card is being reduced.
In the case where the size of a memory card is reduced, in order to connect the miniaturized small memory card to a card connector for an unminiaturized large memory card, a memory card adaptor is required which is connected to the card connector for a large memory card while holding the small memory card, to attain electrical connection between the small memory card and the card connector.
As such a memory card adaptor, an adaptor to which a mini SD (memory) card is to be attached, and which is to be connected to a card connector for a SD (memory) card that is slightly larger than the mini SD card is conventionally provided.
An example of a conventional adaptor for a mini SD card is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 2004-272704. In the disclosed adaptor, the following technique is employed. The adaptor comprises: a box-like adaptor body into and from which a mini SD card is to be inserted and extracted through a card insertion port opened in a side face; and nine contacts (contacts respectively corresponding to pin Nos. 1 to 9 of an SD card) which are arranged in the adaptor body, which are to be electrically connected to plural contacts of a mini SD card that is inserted through the card insertion port, and which, when attached to a socket (card connector), are to be electrically connected to nine contacts of the socket. The adaptor body is configured by coupling together a resin-made base, a cover which covers the base, and a metal shell which is attached to an opening portion of the cover, whereby two contacts of the adaptor (two contacts of 3rd and 6th pins) which are to be connected to a ground contact of the socket through the metal shell.


An apparatus for detecting an endpoint of a grinding process includes a connecting device, a timer and a controller. The connecting device is connected to a sensor that periodically senses an interface of a reconstructed wafer comprising a plurality of dies of at least two types to generate a thickness signal comprising thicknesses from a surface of an insulating layer of the reconstructed wafer to the interface of the reconstructed wafer. The timer is configured to generate a clock signal having a plurality of pulses with a time interval. The controller is coupled to the sensor and the timer, and configured to filter the thickness signal according to the clock signal to output a thickness extremum among the thicknesses in the thickness signal within each time interval, wherein the thickness signal after the filtering is used to determine the endpoint of the grinding process being performed on the reconstructed wafer.

Semiconductor devices are used in a variety of electronic applications, such as personal computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment. Semiconductor devices are typically fabricated by sequentially depositing insulating or dielectric layers, conductive layers, and semiconductor layers of material over a semiconductor substrate, and patterning the various material layers using lithography to form circuit components and elements thereon.
In the manufacturing of the semiconductor devices, a grinding process may be performed to remove portions of molding compound and other dielectric materials on layers of a reconstructed wafer, thereby reducing a thickness of the reconstructed wafer.
Since the layers that are subject to the grinding are often thin layers, accurately stopping the grinding process on the right time is vital to the yield of the manufacturing process.

Apparatus and method for detecting end point

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


An anisotropic conductive film has a structure in which high hardness conductive particles having a 20% compression elastic modulus of 8000 to 28000 N/mm2 and low hardness conductive particles having a lower 20% compression elastic modulus than that of the high hardness conductive particles are dispersed as conductive particles in an insulating resin layer. The number density of all the conductive particles is 6000 particles/mm2 or more, and the number density of the low hardness conductive particles is 10% or more of that of all the conductive particles.

Anisotropic conductive films in which conductive particles are dispersed in an insulating resin layer are widely used for mounting electronic components such as IC chips. However, if an oxide film is formed on a surface of a terminal of the electronic component connected through the anisotropic conductive film, connection resistance becomes high. To cope with this, staving the oxide film using the conductive particles having different particle diameters to reduce the resistance (Patent Literature 1), using the hard conductive particles to make the conductive particles dig into wiring and increasing a connection area to reduce the resistance (Patent Literature 2), and the like have been proposed.


A conveyor device for an automated production line, including at least one conveyor track along a course of the production line, at least one component carrier carriage for transporting components or component assemblies on the production line, wherein the production line includes transfer portions and workstations that are run through by the conveyor track along the course of the production line. The conveyor track is configured as a monorail which extends along a central longitudinal axis of the component carrier carriage. The conveyor track includes a plurality of rollers which are driven at least in part by means of drives and the component carrier carriage includes at least one friction surface, by means of which the component carrier carriage is drivable by the rollers of the conveyor track, in particular is movable dynamically along the conveyor track.

Conveyor devices and component carrier carriages are disclosed in the prior art, e.g. in WO 16/150543 A1 or EP 2 560 861 B1.
In particular, in the so-called carcass construction of the vehicle bodies the different body parts are connected together at multiple workstations by means of robots mostly by spot-welding or other connecting methods. The robots, in this case, are programmed such that they provide their connections at precisely defined coordinates in space. It is the job of a conveyor device, which provides the individual components or component assemblies at the workstations, to guide the components or component assemblies to the correct point in a precise manner, often to an accuracy of a fraction of a millimeter, such that the coordinates predefined for the robots and the position of the workpiece, produced from components or component assemblies, match in as precise a manner as possible. The positioning of the workpiece is effected, in this case, along three directions in space X, Y, Z, by a component carrier carriage being aligned as a component part of the conveyor device. The component carrier carriage moves, in this connection, into the workstation and must then be aligned along its direction of movement (X), transversely to the direction of movement (Y) and in the vertical direction (Z).
Considerable problems arise, as a rule, as a result of the, on the one hand, compact design in order to provide as much space as possible for the processing automatons, in particular, industrial robots, on the other hand as a result of the required precision during the positioning process in the individual workstations.

Conveyor device for an automated production line, component carrier carriage for a conveyor device, and method for operating a conveyor device


An optoelectronic transducer includes a base plate, a radiation-emitting or transmitting semiconductor component disposed on the base plate, an optical lens system aimed at the semiconductor component and a spacer joined to the base plate for the lens system. The base plate, the spacer and the lens system are formed of materials with at least similar coefficients of thermal expansion. A method for producing an optoelectronic transducer includes forming indentations in a base plate for receiving semiconductor components, while leaving a land remaining on at least one side of each of the indentations. A first plate of the size of the base plate is placed on the lands and joined to the lands by material locking. The first plate is removed between the lands producing spacers joined to the base plate. A number of the semiconductor components are inserted into the indentations in accordance with a predetermined grid pattern and are joined to the base plate to form substrates. The substrates are covered with a second plate including a number of lens systems correspopnding to number of semiconductor components, while placing the lens systems of the second plate in the same grid pattern. The second plate is adjusted relative to the substrates for aiming each of the lens systems at a respective one of the semiconductor components. The second plate is secured to the substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optoelectronic transducer having a radiation-emitting or transmitting semiconductor component with a base plate on which the semiconductor component is secured, and a spacer joined to the base plate for an optical lens system aimed at the semiconductor component. The invention also relates to a method for producing the optoelectronic transducer.
Such transducers are known, for instance, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,761 or Japanese Patent Disclosure JP 5-218 463. Operating the transducers with good efficiency presents a considerable problem. Aside from the properties of the semiconductor component itself, the efficiency is optimally achieved by aiming the lens system optically at the semiconductor component. It is only then that the light from the semiconductor component can be outcoupled at high efficiency to an optical wave guide or coupled into the semiconductor component from an optical wave guide.
In an optoelectronic transducer, it must moreover be assured that the optimal adjustment is preserved even during operation. That is, when the transducer heats up during operation misadjustments can occur that worsen the efficiency.

Optoelectronic transducer formed of a semiconductor component and a lens system


In an implantable heart stimulating device, system and method, electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to first and second ventricles of a heart with a variable time interval therebetween, and signals are sensed at two different positions in the heart, from which an impedance value is derived. A minimum value and a maximum value of the impedance value are determined during a heart cycle, and a relationship between the minimum and maximum values also is determined. The time interval is varied and the relationship is monitored over a number of heart cycles. The time interval is set so that the relationship satisfies a predetermined requirement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an implantable heart stimulating device, a system including such a device and a method for heart stimulation using the system. More precisely, the invention concerns a stimulating device of the type having a housing and a control circuit arranged in the housing. The heart stimulating device is designed such that it can be used to stimulate both ventricles of a heart.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most heart stimulating devices, or pacers, are designed to stimulate the right ventricle of the heart. It is also known to stimulate the left ventricle. In particular for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) or other severe cardiac failures, it is known to stimulate the left ventricle, or both ventricles, in order to optimize the hemodynamic performance of the heart.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,768 describes different possible electrode positions in order to stimulate or sense the different chambers of the heart.
In different kinds of heart stimulating devices it is also known to use an impedance value in order to control different pacing parameters.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,171 describes the use of impedance values to control the pacing rate. The pacer described in this document is designed only to stimulate the right side of the heart.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,100 describes that electrodes may be positioned in both the left atrium and the right atrium as well in the left and the right ventricles. The patent describes the possibility of sensing the impedance between different electrodes. The sensed impedance values may be used to improve the cardiac output.
United States Patent Publication No. 2001/0012953 describes bi-ventricular pacing. An impedance may be measured between electrodes on the right and the left sides of the heart. The variation of the impedance with time is detected. The detected impedance variation may be used in order to synchronize the contraction of the ventricles.
United States Patent Publication No. describes different manners of using the proximal and distal electrodes of different leads in order to inject a current and to measure an impedance. The measured impedance value may be used in order to maximize the cardiac flow.
For a patient suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF) it is of a great benefit to be able to increase the cardiac output, thereby decreasing the degree of CHF. One cause of CHF is that the left and right ventricles are not synchronized with each other. By optimising the synchronization between the ventricles, the filling of the ventricles and the cardiac output may be increased.

Bi-ventricular heart stimulating device, system and method