The present invention relates to a method for controlling a filtration rate during treatment of a body fluid, e.g., during hemofiltration or dialysis, comprising the steps of defining a target relation, or a development during dialysis thereof, between one or more calculated or measured value(s) reflecting the mass, concentration, or the volume of a substance comprised by a patient's tissue or bodily fluid, and one or more calculated or measured value(s) reflecting a patient's distribution space or an approximation thereof; during dialysis repeatedly calculating or measuring value(s) reflecting the mass, concentration or the volume of the substance and/or reflecting the distribution space or an approximation thereof, and determining the relation therebetween at least once; and controlling the filtration rate of the body fluid treatment device such that the determined relation is or approaches the target relation. It also relates to systems for conducting the method, and related computer-readable storage media.

Quite frequently, patients have to be treated regarding to their fluid balance by the use bodily fluid treatment devices, e.g., a dialysis apparatus. The present invention aims at providing a method for controlling a filtration rate during dialysis of the patient. Also, the present invention suggests devices applicable in the field or context of filtration rate control.
By utilization of the present invention a method for controlling a filtration rate during bodily fluid treatment by utilization of a device such as a device for blood treatment or dialysis is suggested. Also, a controller for carrying out the method according to the present invention is provided, as well as an apparatus, a device comprising a controller, a digital storage device, a computer program product, and a computer program.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling of a filtration rate during treatment, in particular blood treatment, and more particular dialysis, of a patient by utilization of a bodily fluid treatment device such as a dialysis device is proposed, comprising the step of defining a target relation, or a development thereof during blood treatment, between one or more calculated or measured value(s) reflecting the mass or the concentration or the volume of a substance comprised by a tissue or the bodily fluid of the patient and reflecting a distribution space of the patient or an approximation thereof, respectively, wherein during treatment or blood treatment, in particular, dialysis value(s) reflecting the mass or the concentration or the volume of the substance and/or reflecting the distribution space or an approximation thereof are repeatedly calculated or measured, and wherein the relation between the repeatedly calculated or measured values is determined at least once; and wherein the filtration rate of the bodily fluid treatment device is controlled such that the determined relation is identical or similar to the target relation or approaches it or aims to be or do so.
The patient can be either a human being or an animal. The patient may be sound or ill. The patient may be in need of medical care or not. The patient may be a dialysis patient or not.
In another aspect of the present invention, a controller is intended or provided or used or configured to carry out the method according to the present invention. The controller optionally comprises system(s) needed and suited and/or configured to carry out the respective steps of the method according to the present invention.
In particular, the controller comprises a target relation defining system configured for defining a target relation, or a development thereof during fluid treatment, between one or more calculated or measured value(s) reflecting the mass or the concentration or the volume of a substance comprised by a tissue or a bodily fluid of the patient, and one or more calculated or measured value(s) reflecting a distribution space of the patient or an approximation thereof; a calculation system configured for, during treatment of the bodily fluid, repeatedly calculating of value(s) reflecting the mass or the concentration or the volume of the substance and/or reflecting the distribution space or an approximation thereof, and determining the relation there between at least once; and a signal output system configured for outputting of one or more signals to a controlling system for controlling the filtration rate of the fluid treatment device such that the determined relation is or approaches the target relation or aims to do or be so.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising system(s) for obtaining one or more value(s) reflecting or concerning the distribution space or an approximation or changes thereof of the patient's body, and/or system(s) for obtaining a value reflecting the mass, the volume or the concentration of the substance or changes thereof. The apparatus further comprises at least one controller according to the present invention.
In another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus comprises at least one controller according to the present invention or at least one apparatus according to the present invention.
In another aspect of the present invention, a digital storage device, in particular a disc, CD or DVD, has electrically readable control signals which are able to interact with a programmable computer system such that the method according to the present invention will be executed.
In another aspect of the present invention, a computer program product has a program code stored on a machine readable data medium for executing the method according to the present invention when executing the computer program product on a computer.
In another aspect of the present invention, a computer program has a program code for the execution of a method according to the present invention when executing the program on a computer.
Embodiments can include one or more of the following features.
In some embodiments, the target relation is predetermined or preset.
In certain embodiments, the target relation is defined by a target range or one or more target line(s).
In some embodiments, the target range is a combination of one or more thresholds.
In certain embodiments, the target line or range is a trajectory in a diagram, preferably in a diagram in which a no-refill-curve might also be or is illustrated. Also, preferably, the target line or range is a trajectory in a diagram depicting a value representing the mass, concentration or volume of a substance (or changes thereof) as referred to herein over a distribution space (or changes thereof)—or vice versa.
In some embodiments, the target relation is defined before starting the respective dialysis treatment. In certain embodiments, the target relation is defined during the respective dialysis treatment.
In some embodiments, the controlling of a filtration rate during dialysis is an intentional step. In these embodiments, the result of the control as regards the filtration rate is not to be mixed up with results achieved by chance or at random or in an uncontrolled manner.
In certain embodiments, the method according to the present invention comprises the step of determining or measuring the blood volume BVo in the normohydrated condition (i.e., with a relative overhydration of about 0 liter) of the patient.
In some embodiments, the blood volume BVo can be determined by a body composition measurement using the following equation:BV0=0.1×LTM+0.01×ATM  (1)with LTM being the lean tissue mass and ATM being the adipose tissue mass. Both LTM and ATM can be measured with monitors available in the market.
In certain embodiments, the blood volume BVo can be determined by the use of a anthropometric blood volume equation. In certain embodiments, the following formula by Nadler et al. is used:
For males:BVo=0.3669×(height of the person at issue in meter)3+0.03219×weight of that person in kg+0.6041  (1a)
For females:BVo=0.3561×height3 (in meter)+0.03308×weight in kg+0.1833  (1b)as published in Nadler, S. B., Hidalgo, J. U. and Block, T.: "Prediction of Blood Volume in Normal Human Adults." Surgery, 51, 224-232, 1962.
In some embodiments, the method according to the present invention comprises the step of determining or measuring a maximum-refill curve or steady-state curve of the patient. In certain embodiments, the maximum-refill curve or steady-state curve is one boundary or limit of the target range for the relation.
The course of the maximum-refill curve or steady-state curve of the patient is in certain embodiments calculated or identified as follows:
The concentration c_Hb (also referred to in the following equations as "Hb") of hemoglobin (Hb) depends on the mass m_Hb (or mHb) of Hb and the present blood volume BV of a given point of time as follows:
                              H                                                              b                =                              m            Hb                    BV                                    (        2        )
BV in turn is the sum of the blood volume BVo at normohydrated conditions and the overhydration volume stored within the blood vessel system. The latter can be calculated by utilization of the slope of the Guyton curve being a curve depicting the blood volume BV over the extracellular fluid volume ECW of a patient explaining physiologic interdependencies between extracellular water (ECW) and the blood volume. The overhydration volume stored within the blood vessel system equals K_Guyton*OH, with K_Guyton being the slope of the Guyton curve:
                              H                                                              b                =                                            m              Hb                                                      BV                0                            +                                                k                  Guyton                                ×                OH                                              =                      1                                                            BV                  0                                                  m                  Hb                                            +                                                                    k                    Guyton                                                        m                    Hb                                                  ×                O                                                                                H                                                                        (        3        )
That way, the relation between concentration c_Hb of Hb and the overhydration OH can be expressed by
                              H                                                              b                =                                            1                              b                +                                  a                  ×                  OH                                                                  with                                                                          b                    =                                                                      BV                  0                                                  m                  Hb                                                                                and                                                                                a                        =                                          k                Guyton                                            m                Hb                                                                        (        4        )
Hence, by assessing the patient's hemoglobin concentration c_Hb over overhydration OH or over relative overhydration relOH before starting a dialysis treatment, one will get data that can be used for drafting or approximating the steady-state-curve or maximum-refill curve of that patient before starting a dialysis treatment or at the beginning thereof. As is obvious, the course of that curve can be drafted the more precisely the more constant m_Hb of Hb is for that patient. Also, the steady-state-curve or maximum-refill curve is more precise in the linear sections of the Guyton curve.
As can be seen from equation (4), from the approximated parameter b and by use of BVo, the total mass m_Hb of Hb can be determined; also, from parameter a and the total mass m_Hb of Hb the slope K_Guyton of the curve can be determined.
It is noted that the steady-state curve can be determined, approximated or drawn once two data gained or measured independently from each other or at different time points are known as well as BVo. In all other cases, as few as three data gained form different measurements will do as well.
In certain embodiments, the course of the steady-state curve is approximated based on only two measurement data as follows:
Before dialysis treatment, AEOH_pre and Hb_pre are measured (e.g. by the utilization of monitors commercially available from the present applicant). In certain embodiments, during dialysis treatment, a sufficiently strong UF bolus—that is, a suddenly increased ultrafiltration rate—is applied. In sufficient time before the dialysis treatment is terminated, the ultrafiltration is terminated for achieving a stable value called Hb_post indicating a Hb concentration. Once the refill process has been awaited and taken place, a value for AEOH_post is calculated by use of the ultrafiltration volume UFV. The steady-state curve (as is shown, e.g., in FIG. 1) can be approximated based on AEOH_pre, AEOH_post, Hb_pre, and Hb_post.
In some embodiments, a number of minor boluses is applied yielding the same result as is achieved with one strong bolus.
In certain embodiments, no bolus is applied at all. For example, if the filtration rate is set such that during filtration a maximum refill is achieved, the course of the treatment takes place just on the steady state curve.
In some embodiments, the course of the steady-state curve is approximated based on only two arbitrarily chosen measurement data. One exemplary procedure in which the curve is approximated on just two measurement data can be described as follows:
Before dialysis treatment, AEOH_pre is measured. During dialysis treatment, a rather low ultrafiltration rate is set such that a refill process can be observed or achieved from the onset or the very beginning of the dialysis. From the present ultrafiltration volume UFV and AEOH_pre, the present value for AEOH can be calculated. The present value for Hb can be determined by utilization of the blood volume monitor.
In some embodiments, the at least one value reflecting the mass, the volume or the concentration of the substance was obtained from blood samples.
In certain embodiments, the substance is comprised by the group comprising at least any protein produced naturally in the body of the patient, in particular hemoglobin (short: Hb), albumin, insulin, glucose, c-reactive protein (short: CRP), and non endogeneous substances, in particular pharmaceutically effective substances.
In some embodiments, the mass, the volume or the concentration of the substance or changes thereof is an indicator of the anemia state of the patient.
In certain embodiments, the anemia state of the patient is defined by the utilization of direct or indirect measurements or calculations of the mass, the concentration or the volume of a substance, e.g. hemoglobin (Hb), or changes over time thereof.
In some embodiments, the anemia state of the patient is defined by the utilization of direct or indirect measurements or calculations of the hematocrit (Hct) or changes over time thereof.
In some embodiments, the distribution space of the patient is an either measured or calculated value of the blood volume (BV). In certain embodiments, the distribution space is the blood volume at the beginning of another treatment session including filtration of the blood. In some embodiments, the distribution space is the intravascular blood volume. In certain embodiments, the distribution space and/or the blood volume encompasses the volume of the tube system of an extracorporeal blood system or parts thereof that is/are filled with blood. In certain embodiments, those parts may amount to 100, 150 or more milliliters (ml). For example, those parts comprise 130 ml with the applicant's dialysis device of the 5008 type (and 170 ml when used for Single Needle applications), and 170 ml with the applicant's dialysis device of the 2008 or 4008 type (and 210 ml when used for Single Needle applications). Also, in some embodiments, the blood capacity of the filter is also considered as part of the blood volume and/or the distribution space. The blood volume comprised by the filter may amount to 74 ml (FX60 by Fresenius, Germany) or about 100 ml (FX80 by Fresenius, Germany).
In some embodiments, the distribution space of the patient is an approximation based on either measured or calculated values reflecting the relative overhydration (relOH) of the patient.
In certain embodiments, the distribution space is defined as the ECW (extracellular water), the extracellular volume or fluid, the ICW (intracellular water), the intracellular volume or fluid, the plasma volume, the TBW (total body water), the liquor, the volume of oedema, lymph, urine, or any other bodily fluid or volume, and also combinations thereof. Also, the distribution space within the meaning of the present invention can be any ratio of volumes as mentioned before, e.g. ECW/ICW, etc.
In some embodiments, a target range for the target relation is defined in a diagram reflecting the mass or the concentration of the substance and the distribution space or the approximation thereof.
In certain embodiments, the method comprises the step of calculating a no-refill-curve.
In some embodiments, values that lie on the no-refill-curve are considered as a edge of a target range for the target relation.
In certain embodiments, the no-refill-curve relates to the state (which may change during dialysis and depending on the relative overhydration of the patient treated by dialysis) in which the blood volume is decreased by the same amount as is the (ultra)filtration volume (per time unit). As a result, the blood volume BV decreases quickly, and the Hb concentration c_Hb increases in turn. The no-refill-curve can delimit a no-refill-area (in a figure, for example) or no-refill-condition (in a patient, for example) from a refill-area or a refill-condition.
In some embodiments, the method according to the present invention comprises the step of calculating and/or measuring parameters reflecting the mass or the concentration of the substance and/or the distribution space of the patient or an approximation thereof.
In some embodiments, the method further includes assessing the size of at least one distribution space based on measured values and/or results of calculations reflecting a hemoglobin (Hb) state. The hemoglobin (Hb) state may be reflected by the Hb concentration, its total mass, its volume, change thereof over time, respectively, etc.
In certain embodiments, the method further includes assessing the size of at least one distribution space based on measured values and/or results of calculations reflecting the hematocrit (Hct) or changes thereof over time.
As is evident to the skilled person, the assessment of the size of at least one distribution space is not limited to be based on measured values and/or results of calculations reflecting a hemoglobin (Hb) state or the hematocrit (Hct) or changes thereof. The present invention can of course also be carried out based on measured values and/or results of calculations reflecting a mass, concentration or volume (and changes thereof) of any other suitable substance or marker.
In some embodiments, the method further includes using the size of at least one distribution space as obtained based on results from measurement of blood samples and/or from blood comprised in extracorporeal blood lines by utilization of an appropriate monitor. The measurements can be made by measuring the optical properties of the blood by optical sensors and/or by assessing acoustic properties like transit times and/or propagation velocities of ultrasonic pulses by ultrasonic sensors.
For determining the hydration state also any appropriate monitor can be used, such as monitors based on bioimpedance or dilution techniques.
In certain embodiments, the method further includes using the size of at least one distribution space as obtained based on results from urine samples.
In some embodiments, the method further includes using the size of at least one distribution space as obtained based on results from tissue samples.
In certain embodiments, the method further includes plotting results of the control for visual assessment.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus for controlling of a filtration rate during dialysis comprises a system for obtaining a value reflecting the distribution space or an approximation or changes thereof of the patient's body, and/or a system for obtaining a value reflecting the mass, the volume or the concentration of the substance or changes thereof. In these embodiments, the apparatus comprises at least one controller according to the present invention.
In some embodiments, the apparatus according to the present invention comprises a system for measuring or calculating the distribution space or an approximation or changes thereof, in particular for measuring or calculating the hydration state or an overhydration, or wherein the system for obtaining a value consists of such a system for measuring or calculating.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus comprises a system for obtaining a value reflecting the mass, the volume or the concentration of the substance that comprises at least one of a weight system, a system for determining the blood volume of the patient, a keyboard, a touch screen, a system for measuring or calculating the concentration, the volume and/or the mass of the substance, in particular hemoglobin (Hb) in blood, or changes thereof, or wherein the system for obtaining a value consists of such system for measuring or calculating.
In some embodiments, the apparatus according to the present invention comprises a system configured and intended for determining or assessing the relation between values.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus is or comprises a monitor for obtaining information concerning the control.
In some embodiments, the system for measuring or calculating the distribution space or an approximation or changes thereof is a monitor as described in WO 2006/002685 A1. The respective disclosure of WO 2006/002685 A1 is hereby incorporated in the present application by way of reference. Of course, the present invention must not be understood to be limited to systems or monitors obtaining data by bioimpedance measurements as is described in WO 2006/002685 A1. Other bioimpedance methods known in the art and also any other methods known in the art such as dilution measurements and also any other method known to the skilled person are also contemplated and encompassed by the present invention as well.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus comprises a system or monitor for measuring Hb concentrations (e.g., in [g/dl]) and/or for determining the blood volume by the utilization of any monitor as described in "Replacement of Renal Function by Dialysis" by Drukker, Parson and Maher, Kluwer Academic Publisher, 5th edition, 2004, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, on pages 397 to 401 ("Hemodialysis machines and monitors"), the respective disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by way of reference.
In some embodiments, the system or monitor is configured to measure the blood volume and/or the concentration of the substance—in particular Hb—by measuring an electrical conductivity.
In certain embodiments, the system or monitor is configured to measure the blood volume and/or the concentration of the substance—in particular Hb—by measuring an optical density.
In some embodiments, the system or monitor is configured to measure the blood volume and/or the concentration of the substance—in particular Hb—by measuring a viscosity.
In certain embodiments, the system or monitor is configured to measure the blood volume and/or the concentration of the substance—in particular Hb—by measuring a density.
In some embodiments, the system or monitor comprises one or more corresponding probes and/or one or more sensors for carrying out the measurements such as electrical conductivity sensors, optical sensors, viscosity sensors, density sensors, and the like.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus furthermore comprises an output device for outputting results provided by the controller.
In some embodiments, the output device is a monitor having a display, a plotter, a printer or any other system for providing an output.
In certain embodiments, the output device is connected to an actuator for controlling administration of a substance to the patient.
In other embodiments, the device may be used for treating a patient (or the patient's blood) by hemofiltration, ultrafiltration, hemodialysis, etc.
The embodiments may provide one or more of the following advantages.
In some embodiments, the present invention provides information on how the filtration rate should be controlled or fixed. The information can be advantageously used to prevent certain decreases of the patient's blood pressure caused by the dialysis. Also, the occurrence of nausea, convulsions, emesis, vertigo, impaired vision and other symptoms frequently caused by the filtration procedure can advantageously be reduced or avoided.
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides information on how high the filtration rate may be set to both prevent unwanted blood pressure drops and to accomplish the dialysis treatment as quick as possible (i.e., so as not to waste the patient's time or not to bind him to the treatment site longer than required). The latter may happen the closer the relation is to relations forming a maximum-refill curve or steady-state curve as described above.
Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description, figures, and claims.

Method for controlling of a filtration rate, controller, and devices


The disclosure relates to a device for determining perfusion capacity in a region of a patient""s skin and underlying tissue utilizing a thermoelectric device to create a temperature differential, a sensor for measuring the temperature differential, a controller coupled to the sensor and the thermoelectric device for maintaining the temperature differential substantially constant by providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric device, and measuring the electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric device when the thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent the region of the patient""s skin to indicate perfusion capacity.

The present invention relates to a skin perfusion evaluation apparatus and method. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for rapidly assessing microvascular perfusion of the skin which is capable of providing an indication of vascular sufficiency in the tested area.
The apparatus of the present invention is particularly effective in early detection of pressure ulcers to permit treatment before such pressure ulcers (i.e. bed sores) develop. When a patient is bedridden, soft tissue is often compressed for a long period of time between a bone of the patient and a firm surface such as a mattress. This can cause a localized area of tissue necrosis also known as a pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, or bed sore.
It is known that temperature of the skin resulting from intrinsic or non-environmental factors is primarily produced by blood perfusion. The present invention provides a handheld mechanism for rapidly assessing perfusion of the skin. By determining the likelihood for development of pressure ulcers before the pressure ulcers actually occur, it is possible to take preventative steps to prevent pressure ulcers. For instance, the patient could be transferred to a different bed which reduces pressure on the body. The patient can be monitored more closely to make sure that pressure on a particularly vulnerable area is avoided. Therefore, by providing rapid assessment of microvascular perfusion in a particular area, the present invention can reduce the likelihood of development of pressure ulcers, thereby reducing pain and suffering to the patient and reducing costs associated with treating pressure ulcers after they develop.
The apparatus and method of the present invention is also useful for diabetics. The apparatus and method for evaluating skin perfusion can be used to monitor and detect vascular insufficiency in the legs before the insufficiencies lead to leg ulcers and other problems. The apparatus and method of the present invention is useful in any instance where determination of reduced blood flow in an area can result in earlier treatment (i.e. tissue flaps and grafts).
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for evaluating perfusion adjacent a skin surface. The apparatus includes a thermoelectric device having a cold plate and a hot plate with a temperature differential therebetween. The thermoelectric device is mounted so that it can be positioned adjacent the region of the patient""s skin. The device includes a sensor for measuring the temperature differential between the cold plate and the hot plate and a controller coupled to the sensor in the thermoelectric device for maintaining the temperature differential substantially constant by providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric device. The electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric device when it is positioned adjacent the region of the patient""s skin is indicative of the perfusion capacity. Additionally, the cold plate may be positioned to lie between the patient""s skin and the hot plate when the thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent the region of the patient""s skin. A heat sink may be provided for maintaining the hot plate at the temperature substantially equal to the temperature of ambient air. The thermoelectric device may be a Peltier device. The device may include a DC power source electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device, and a gauge for measuring the electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric device.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a device for determining a perfusion capacity in a region of a patient""s skin and underlying tissue includes a plate mounted in a position permitting placement of the plate adjacent the region of the patient""s skin. A sensor is provided to determine the temperature of the plate and a controller is coupled to the sensor and to the plate to provide electrical energy to the plate to maintain the temperature of the plate substantially constant. The electrical energy provided to the plate when the plate is positioned adjacent the region of the patient""s skin is indicative of the perfusion capacity in the region of the patient""s skin and underlying tissue. The device may include a gauge coupled to the controller for measuring the energy required to maintain the temperature of the plate substantially constant. The device may also include a second plate spaced apart from and thermally coupled to the first plate by a boundary so that providing electrical energy to the first and second plates induces heat to cross the boundary between the first plate and the second plate. A heat sink may be provided for dissipating heat transferred from the first plate to the second plate so as to maintain the temperature of the second plate at the temperature of the ambient air.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a device for determining perfusion capacity at a region of the patient""s skin and underlying tissue includes a first plate mounted to be placed in a position adjacent the region of the patient""s skin and a second plate electrically coupled to the first plate by a junction containing material dissimilar to one of the first and second plates. A controller maintains a first plate at a first temperature and the second plate at a second temperature defining a temperature differential which is maintained substantially constant by the controller by adjusting electrical energy supplied to the first and second plates. The electrical energy supplied to the first and second plates when the first plate is positioned adjacent the region of the patient""s skin is indicative of the perfusion capacity of the region of the patient""s skin and underlying tissue. The device may include a heat exchanger which maintains the second plate at the temperature of ambient air. A fan can be provided to force ambient air across the heat exchanger. The device may include a power source providing direct current flowing between the first and second plates, which current may flow in the direction which induces the first plate to have a temperature lower than the temperature of the second plate.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for evaluating microvascular perfusion adjacent a skin surface. The method includes a step of thermally coupling a plate to a region of the patient""s skin and providing energy to the plate to dissipate heat absorbed by the plate from the skin. The provided energy is measured and used to calculate the perfusion capacity. The method may include the step of establishing an initial temperature of the plate before thermally coupling the plate to the region of the patient""s skin. This initial temperature may be lower than the temperature of the ambient air adjacent the patient""s skin. The method may include providing electrical energy so as to substantially dissipate all of the heat absorbed by the first plate. This energy may be provided until the rate at which the energy is provided reaches a steady state value.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for using a first plate and a second plate and the differential temperature therebetween to determine the perfusion capacity of a region of a patient""s skin and underlying tissue utilizes plates that are juxtaposed and configured such that heat applied to the first plate relative to the second plate will provide an electrical measurement. The method includes placing the first plate adjacent to the region of the patient""s skin, providing an electrical measurement indicative of the energy affecting the differential temperature, and providing an indication of the perfusion capacity related to the energy affecting the differential temperature. The energy affecting the differential temperature may be an energy required to maintain the differential temperatures substantially constant. The method may also include the step of allowing the energy affecting the differential temperature to reach a steady state value after the first plate is placed adjacent to the region of the patient""s skin. The method may also include the step of maintaining the second plate at a substantially constant temperature.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method for using the Peltier Effect (xe2x80x9cPExe2x80x9d) to determine a perfusion capacity of a region of the patient""s skin and underlying tissue includes steps of providing a PE sensor having a first plate to be thermally coupled to the region of the patient""s skin and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate and a controller for applying a current across the plates. The first plate is thermally coupled to the patient""s skin and the current required to maintain the temperature of the first plate at a setpoint temperature is measured. The current measurement is used to provide an indication of the perfusion capacity. The method may include the step of cooling the first plate to the setpoint temperature which is lower than the expected temperature of the region of the patient""s skin by applying a current to the plates prior to thermally coupling the first plate to the region of the patient""s skin. The method may also include the step of measuring the current required to maintain the temperature of the first plate at the setpoint temperature to determine a baseline current value prior to thermally coupling the first plate to the region of the patient""s skin. The method may also include the step of permitting the measured current to reach a substantially steady state value after thermally coupling the first plate to the region of the patient""s skin and comparing the substantially steady state value of the measured current to the baseline current value to provide an indication of perfusion capacity. The thermal coupling of the first plate to the region of the patient""s skin may be maintained until the substantially steady state current value is compared to the baseline current value.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A brake caliper cover system for existing brake caliper assembly in a vehicle. The brake caliper cover system has a front cover and a back cover. The front cover and back cover are disposed on the front and back sides of a brake caliper assembly, respectively. The front cover and back cover are fastened together about the brake caliper assembly.

Typical automotive braking systems use brake calipers to engage the rotor when braking is desired. Most automotive braking systems consist of floating or sliding single or double piston type calipers. In some high performance vehicles, the vehicles have high performance braking systems utilizing four piston aluminum fixed brake calipers. Various aftermarket kits are available to allow automotive enthusiasts to install high performance braking systems in their vehicles.
However, many automotive enthusiasts do not need the high performance braking system provided by the aftermarket high performance braking kits, but are only interested in the aesthetics provided by the installation of four piston calipers, particularly when used with aftermarket high performance aluminum wheels. Therefore it would be advantageous to provide a brake caliper cover for typical automotive braking systems which allows the braking systems to exude the aesthetic appeal of a high performance brake caliper, without the need to install the costly high performance braking systems.
Brake calipers covers are currently available to enhance various visual aspects and useful aspects of an automotive braking system. U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,142 discloses an illuminated cover for a brake caliper. Brake calipers covers, such as ones disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0074716, are used to reduce the build up of brake dust. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0321198 discloses brake caliper covers with vent openings to provide beneficial dynamics such as cooling the brake caliper mechanisms.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a brake caliper cover with increased stability.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a brake caliper cover with minimal movement once installed.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a brake caliper cover which is easy to install and remove.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a brake caliper cover which does not require modification to the existing brake assembly for installation.


An apparatus and method are established for recognizing guest virtual machines which require only a subset of interpretive execution facilities. The interpretive execution initialization process recognizes subset candidates and bypasses initialization of those facilities not required by the candidates. The candidates are typically short duration jobs and a reduction of initialization and termination overhead creates a substantial performance improvement. The translation lookaside buffer operation is modified to flag subset guest entries as host entries and to associate a unique segment table origin with each subset guest. This allows the TLB entries to remain between guest machine dispatches eliminating TLB purge time and allowing potential reuse of TLB entries if the same guest is repeatedly dispatched within a short time period. The guest machine state description is modified to flag subset candidates based on address translation and timing requirements. Initialization of timing facilities is bypassed in certain subset modes further reducing initialization overhead.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly, to virtual machine systems which provide for instruction processing in multiple levels of virtual machines. More particularly, this invention relates to efficient emulation of one or more guest architectures in a multi-programmable computer system to improve the performance of the system when executing plural levels of operating systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mainframe computer systems such as the IBM 3090 computer system comprise a plurality of processors and large random access and sequential access storage devices. These large systems are capable of processing a large number of tasks in a short period of time. It is frequently desirable to divide this host processing power into separate partitions or "virtual machines" that can be operated by different users. The division is accomplished by the use of host control program software such as the IBM Virtual Machine/Extended Architecture (VM/XA) system product or a facility such as the IBM PR/SM hardware partitioning feature. Each of the virtual machines defined above can accept a "guest" operating system that may be different from the host operating system. Thus, for example, if the host is running the VM/XA operating system, the guest could operate the IBM MVS/XA system program. The guest virtual machines may in turn be divided into additional virtual machines for performance of certain tasks.
The host control program or operating system is typically referred to as the host and the guest operating on the host is the guest. Guest programs believe they are causing a real access to a processor or memory. The IBM System/370 architecture manages this through a process known as interpretive execution of the virtual machine instructions. The System/370 architecture is described in the IBM Publication GA22-7000. The IBM System/370-XA implementation of interpretive execution is described in IBM Publication SA22-7095.
Interpretive execution requires the translation of instructions and addresses from the guest machine to the underlying real machine and real storage. An example of the translations required is the translation of memory addresses from the guest machine to real storage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,954, issued on Jun. 26, 1984 and assigned to the assignee of this application, describes interpretive execution and address translation under interpretive execution and is incorporated herein by reference.
The host machine initiates a guest program through a Start Interpretive Execution (SIE) instruction. The SIE instruction invokes interpretive execution hardware in the host causing the host to enter interpretive execution mode for executing the guest. SIE provides for the mapping of addresses by the guest virtual machine.
Each virtual machine to be operated as a guest of the host machine is described in a state description maintained in real storage. When an SIE instruction is encountered, the state description is used to establish the virtual machine environment for execution., At the same time, the existing host environment must be saved so it can be restored upon exit from the virtual machine. Upon completion of the SIE instruction (including running of the guest), the current status of the guest virtual machine must be stored in the state description and the previous host environment restored to the real machine. This saving and restoring control information creates a large amount of overhead which is particularly harmful to performance when the actual execution time for the guest virtual machine is relatively short.
Among the interpretive execution facilities are dynamic address translation and guest timing services. Dynamic address translation is the process which translates a guest virtual address into a host real address allowing access to the real storage in the machine. The IBM System/370 employs a virtual memory mechanism in which real memory is divided into pages of a constant size, e.g., 4K bytes, which are addressed by segment and page indices. The virtual address of a memory location will be represented as a segment table index value, a page table index value, and a displacement within the page. To locate the actual data, the segment table, page table, and memory page must each be accessed. If the virtual address is specified in a guest operating system, the address that guest believes to be a real address must be further translated by the lower level guests and the host machine. As a result, several steps of address translation must occur as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4a.
Address translation can be made more efficient by the use of a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). The translation lookaside buffer captures the results of dynamic address translation and provides a shortcut for future guest address translations. The TLB has a limited capacity, so only a certain number of recent translations are maintained (e.g., 512). The System/370 hardware provides the ability to test whether or not a translation from virtual to real for the virtual address request is available in the TLB. If the translation is available, it is used and dynamic address translation is bypassed. This can result in significant time savings. The translation lookaside buffer maintains several pieces of information including an indicator of whether the entry is for the host system or a guest, the logical address translated (representing a guest virtual or guest real address), the real address that resulted from the translation, and the segment table origin (STO) address of the logical address.
A second facility provided by interpretive execution is guest timing. The System/370 architecture provides host timing facilities including a clock comparator, CPU timer and time-of-day (TOD) clock. The host operating system can measure differences in time by simply comparing the clock at different points in time. Guest operating systems, however, must account for the periods of time when a different guest has control of the real machine resources. This accounting involves the maintenance of timing intervals and timing comparators. This interpretive execution facility also creates high overhead particularly where the interpretive execution guest machine is operating only for short periods of time.

Method and apparatus for enabling an interpretive execution subset

International Business Machines Corporation


A multiple molecular diagnosis chip structure according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a reaction pad; a channel pad; and a transfer pad.

Molecular diagnosis or Molecular diagnosis refers to a diagnostic field or technique of detecting or analyzing biomarker materials (especially DNA or RNA) using molecular biological techniques, and, particularly, is used in a similar meaning to nucleic acid diagnosis. Since the development of the polymerase chain reaction in particular, in 1985, and technological advances have been made, such as a completion of a genetic map of various infectious organisms including humans, molecular diagnosis technique is rapidly developed.
Currently, the mainly used method for virus detection is molecular diagnosis method, which detects nucleic acid (nucleic acid: DNA and RNA or their variants) of bacteria and viruses, etc. that is a cause of diseases, and detects the cause and the infection or not of the disease. The molecular diagnosis method consists of four steps: a sample collection from a body fluid, a gene extraction of the collected sample, and an amplification and analysis using a polymerase chain reaction. Since the molecular diagnosis method can undergo a gene amplification course, accurate diagnosis with very high sensitivity and specificity for even a minimum quantity pathogen is possible. However, in order to perform the existing diagnostic methods, high-cost analysis equipment and the reagents and high-cost analysis equipment such as PCR and electrophoresis, etc., is used, and thus, they are costly, and it requires complex and specialized techniques, and thus, they can be performed only by skilled engineers. In addition, due to the enormous size of analysis equipment, an integration of each bioreactor step is difficult and the possibility of sample contamination is always contained in the molecular diagnosis process. Since it takes long time to analysis, there are limitations to the gene diagnosis in the field.
Therefore, a new pathogen gene analysis system with high efficiency and high sensitivity has been needed to overcome the disadvantages of existing gene diagnosis techniques and to enable gene diagnosis in the field. As an alternative, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technique is spotlighted. Lab-on-a-chip technique is a typical example of NT, IT, and BT convergence technologies, and refers to technique that all preprocessing and analysis steps of the sample such as sample dilution, mixing, reaction, separation, and quantification are performed on one chip using technologies such as MEMS and NEMS. Because of the features capable of automating and rapidly performing all reactions on a palm-sized chip, studies have been made for many years to miniaturize sample preprocessing, PCR, and analysis systems, and studies with regard to the gene analysis system integrated with the above it have been progressed significantly.
In gene analysis, amplification of DNA through PCR is essential for nucleic acid analysis since it amplifies the gene from a minimum quantity sample and has high sensitivity and specificity. Thermal cycling PCR method is a series of reactions that precisely match three temperature steps of a denaturation and a junction extension, and thus, expensive equipment is required for accurate temperature gradient. An isothermal PCR was developed to overcome it. Unlike the thermal cycling method, the isothermal PCR method can denature and junction extend at a constant temperature so that an amplification time can be shortened. It has an advantage which can perform it even in low price equipment capable of the isothermal maintenance. Therefore, it is advantageous to miniaturize equipment and can be applied regardless of the places such as a laboratory or a detection site.
Recently, a lot of studies have been produced to embody isothermal PCR on a microchip by using a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) or micro overall analysis system technique. This isothermal PCR method may refer to a method which enables the molecular diagnosis in the field test (POC test). Field diagnosis sensors using the isothermal PCR have been developed, but there are various problems such as a miniaturization, a cost reduction, a simple structure realization. Since the diagnosis sensor used in the field diagnosis test should be simpler and portable, a diagnosis sensor of being more miniaturized and capable of simple molecular diagnosis is needed.
The matters described as the above-mentioned background art is merely for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the background of the present invention and is not to be construed as an admission that it corresponds to the related art already known to those skilled in the art.

Chip structure for multiple molecular diagnoses


An apparatus and corresponding method for fast motion estimation with multiple reference pictures are provided, where an exemplary video encoder for encoding video signal data for an image block relative to multiple reference pictures includes a fast motion estimator for providing motion vectors corresponding to one of the reference pictures, including a scene detection portion for performing fast motion estimation while excluding reference pictures that fall across a scene change; and where a corresponding method for encoding video signal data for an image block having multiple reference pictures includes receiving a substantially uncompressed image block, detecting a scene change, excluding reference pictures that fall across the scene change, and computing motion vectors corresponding to a difference between the image block and one of the plurality of reference pictures.

Video data is generally processed and transferred in the form of bit streams. Typical video compression encoders gain much of their compression efficiency by forming a reference picture prediction of a picture to be encoded, and encoding the difference between the current picture and the prediction. The more closely that the prediction is correlated with the current picture, the fewer the number of bits that are needed to compress that picture, thereby increasing the efficiency of the process. Thus, it is desirable for the best possible reference picture prediction to be formed.
In many video compression standards, including Moving Picture Experts Group ("MPEG")-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, the motion between a previous reference picture and the current picture is estimated to form a motion compensated version of the previous reference picture. The motion compensated version of the previous reference picture is used as a prediction for the current picture, and only the difference between the current picture and the prediction is coded.
Motion estimation plays an important role in current video coding systems, and is generally the most computationally complex part of the encoder. The block matching algorithm is employed by most current video coding standards. A full search strategy, which estimates the amount of motion on a block-by-block basis, is a popular motion estimation method. Unfortunately, the complexity of the full search strategy is extremely high, especially for advanced video coding standards such as H.264, which employ multi-reference pictures and multi-block types. Several fast-search algorithms, such as the three step search, newer three step search, diamond search, zonal search, hierarchical or multi-resolution search, or combinations thereof have been proposed. Such algorithms reduce the complexity by reducing the number of searching points. Unfortunately, they tend to trap into local minima on the error surface. Thus, their performance is generally worse than the full search strategy.
Block motion estimation is employed by most current video coding standards to reduce the bit rate. Block motion estimation for video coding has been well explored but few algorithms have been proposed for multi-reference picture and multi-block type selection, such as may be used in the H.263++ and JVT/H.264/MPEG AVC standards, for example.
In the JVT/H.264 standard, various modes are provided for motion compensation. Each motion-compensated macroblock mode corresponds to a fixed size block. The block can be partitioned into 16×16, 16×8, 8×16, and 8×8. The 8×8 block can be further sub-partitioned into block sizes of 8×4, 4×8, or 4×4. Thus, 7 block types are supported in total. The prediction signal for each predictive-coded m×n block is obtained by displacing an area of the corresponding reference picture, which is specified by a translational motion vector that is differentially coded from a motion vector predictor. JVT/H.264 also supports multi-picture motion-compensated prediction. That is, more than one prior coded picture can be used as a reference for building the prediction signal of predictive coded blocks. Accordingly, for motion estimation, the encoder has to make decisions for which block type and which reference picture should be selected. This multi-reference picture and multi-block type selection makes motion searching more complicated.
Multiple reference pictures are used for video encoding to achieve better compression. For example, the JVT/H.264 standard permits the use of up to 15 reference frames. Typically, the motion vectors of a predicted block are calculated from all of the reference pictures, and then the best apparent prediction is chosen for the block. Thus, in this example, the computational burden of the motion estimation process might be up to 15 times that of a single reference picture. It will prohibit from using more reference frames, or increase the complexity of the encoder, or slow a software encoding speed.
Unfortunately, the slow and/or complex computations for multiple reference pictures adversely affect system performance and/or cost, respectively, because the motion estimation of a predicted block is applied to all reference pictures. Thus, what is needed is a method for increasing the speed of the motion estimation process where multiple reference pictures are used.

Fast motion estimation for multiple reference pictures


An electric machine with a rotor and a stator, especially an electric motor or a generator, preferably for a power plant, wherein the stator has a winding with several winding bars which, in the area of an axial core face, are each connected via a phase connector bar to a terminal of the stator winding so as to be electrically conductive. Several phase connector bars extend between their ends in a ring segment manner along the circumference of the stator and rest internally and radially on at least one support. Several such supports are distributed along the circumference in the area of the core face. On at least one support, there is a phase connector bar between two stationary axial stops; with its inside, said phase connector bar is axially in contact with the first axial stop or with a spacer, and with its outside, it is axially in contact with the second axial stop or with a spacer. At least one pretensioning device is provided which uses axial spring force to press the phase connector bar against the corresponding axial stop and/or against the corresponding spacer so that contact is made.

When it comes to large machines of this type, particularly for generating electricity in a power plant, the stator has a winding made up of several winding bars. These winding bars, which are preferably configured as so-called Roebel bars, extend in the axial direction in a stator core. At least on one axial face of this stator core, the ends of the winding bars protrude out of the stator core. Normally, the protruding ends of the winding bars are bent and arranged in such a way that, on the core face, they form a truncated winding head whose cross section increases as the distance from the core face increases.
Normally, the stator winding of the electric machine is fitted with several terminals so that electric energy can be fed into and/or dissipated out of the stator winding, depending on whether the electric machine is configured or operated as an electric motor or as a generator. For this purpose, selected winding bars, so-called phase-winding bars, have to be connected to these terminals. This can be done, for instance, by means of phase connector bars, each of which connects one of the phase-winding bars in the area of the core face to one of the terminals.
As a rule, the phase connector bars extend between their ends in a ring segment manner along the circumference of the stator, whereby they rest internally and radially on one or more supports distributed in the area of the core face along the circumference. These supports can be provided with two stationary axial stops between which there is at least one phase-connector bar. Normally, there are several phase connector bars between the axial stops of the supports. Advantageously, spacers with which the phase connector bars come into axial contact are arranged between each of the adjacent phase connector bars in the area of the supports. Here, each of the phase connector bars located axially on the outside can either be in direct contact with the axial stop facing them or else, via another spacer, they can each be in indirect contact with the axial stop facing them. The spacers are advantageously dimensioned in such a way that, after the assembly, a press fit is created in the axial direction for the phase connector bars located between the axial stops. As a result, the phase connector bars are effectively affixed to the supports, which is necessary in view of the loads that occur during the operation of the electric machine.
As a rule, the outside of the phase connector bars are provided with insulation, normally a synthetic resin. When the resin hardens and due to the heat that is generated during the operation of the electric machines, settling phenomena can occur which can cause the insulation of the phase connector bars to yield slightly in the axial direction. As a result, the axial pressing in the press fit between the axial stops of the supports drops markedly which, during the continuous operation of the machine in question, can reduce the axial holding forces to such an extent that the spacers can move relative to the phase connector bars due to the occurring vibrations. This gives rise to abrasive effects, thus causing the destruction of the electric insulation of the phase connector bars. Moreover, under certain circumstances, the spacers can become completely detached and fall out, thereby rendering the axial holding of the phase connector bars unstable. These processes entail an undesired risk potential and require regular inspections and at times complex maintenance measures.

Electrical machine with a rotor and stator


An intermittent windshield wiper control device for use with antique or historical cars. The control device includes a user actuator mechanism, microprocessor circuitry, a potentiometer system, and a relay system. User movement of the actuator mechanism is translated to the potentiometer system to vary an output therefrom. The microprocessor circuitry acts in response to the potentiometer system output in controlling operation of a vehicle's wiper motor via the relay system.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to devices for actuating or controlling operations of a vehicle's windshield wiping or cleaning system. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a windshield wiper device for effectuating wiping of water, snow, sleet, debris, bugs, and the like from the windshield of a vehicle. Specifically, the disclosure is an intermittent windshield wiper control system that is able to be retrofitted to antique or historical cars so as to upgrade such cars to include an intermittent wiper operation.
2. Background Information
Since the invention of the automobile over a century ago, the vehicle operator has desired to have the ability to clean the windshield of the vehicle so as to better be able to see through it. Many wiper or wiper-like inventions exist. In addition, due to the frequency of the rain, sleet or snow that falls and lands on the windshield, it is known that different speeds of wiping are desirable and useful. Furthermore, it has been discovered years ago, that in addition to variable speed motors for the wiper which allow wiping of the windshield at different speeds, it is desirable to have an intermittent wiper which is one that works with a delay in between cycles thus working well in light rain conditions. However there are many antique or historical cars on the road that pre-date the factory installation of intermittent wipers and thus only have 1 or possibly 2 speed wiper systems, without any intermittent speed, where the speeds are motor speeds without any delay in between cycles.


A digital micromirror device (“DMD”) is used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMD selectively reflects some light, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follows the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer's image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.

It is known in the art to shape a light beam. This has typically been done using an element known as a gobo. A gobo element is usually embodied as either a shutter or an etched mask. The gobo shapes the light beam like a stencil in the projected light.
Gobos are simple on/off devices: they allow part of the light beam to pass, and block other parts to prevent those other parts from passing. Hence mechanical gobos are very simple devices. Modern laser-etched gobos go a step further by providing a gray scale effect.
Typically multiple different gobo shapes are obtained by placing the gobos are placed into a cassette or the like which is rotated to select between the different gobos. The gobos themselves can also be rotated within the cassette, using the techniques, for example, described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,332 and 4,891,738.
All of these techniques, have the drawback that only a limited number of gobo shapes can be provided. These gobo shapes must be defined in advance. There is no capability to provide any kind of gray scale in the system. The resolution of the system is also limited by the resolution of the machining. This system allows no way to switch gradually between different gobo shapes. In addition, moving between one gobo and another is limited by the maximum possible mechanical motion speed of the gobo-moving element.
Various patents and literature have suggested using a liquid crystal as a gobo. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,121 describes such a liquid crystal device. Our own pending patent application also so suggests. However, no practical liquid crystal element of this type has ever been developed. The extremely high temperatures caused by blocking some of this high intensity beam produce enormous amounts of heat. The projection gate sometimes must block beams with intensities in excess of 10,000 lumens and sometimes as high as 2000 watts. The above-discussed patent applications discuss various techniques of heat handling. However, because the light energy is passed through a liquid crystal array, some of the energy must inevitably be stored by the liquid crystal. Liquid crystal is not inherently capable of storing such heat, and the phases of the liquid crystal, in practice, may be destabilized by such heat. The amount of cooling required, therefore, has made this an impractical task. Research continues on how to accomplish this task more practically.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate this problem by providing a digital light beam shape altering device, e.g. a gobo, which operates completely differently than any previous device. Specifically, this device embodies the inventor's understanding that many of the heat problems in such a system are obviated if the light beam shape altering device would selectively deflect, instead of blocking, the undesired light.
The preferred mode of the present invention uses a digitally-controlled micromirror semiconductor device. However, any selectively-controllable multiple-reflecting element could be used for this purpose. These special optics are used to create the desired image using an array of small-sized mirrors which are movably positioned. The micromirrors are arranged in an array that will define the eventual image. The resolution of the image is limited by the size of the micromirrors: here 17 um on a side.
The mirrors are movable between a first position in which the light is directed onto the field of a projection lens system, or a second position in which the light is deflected away from the projection lens system. The light deflected away from the lens will appear as a dark point in the resulting image on the illuminated object. The heat problem is minimized according to the present invention since the micromirrors reflect the unwanted light rather than absorbing it. The absorbed heat is caused by the quantum imperfections of the mirror and any gaps between the mirrors.
A digital micromirror integrated circuit is currently manufactured by Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, Tex., and is described in "an overview of Texas Instrument digital micromirror device (DMD) and its application to projection displays". This application note describes using a digital micromirror device in a television system. Red, green and blue as well as intensity grey scales are obtained in this system by modulating the micromirror device at very high rates of speed. The inventor recognized that this would operate perfectly to accomplish his objectives.
It is hence an object of the present invention to adapt such a device which has small-sized movable, digitally controllable mirrors which have positions that can be changed relative to one another, to use as a light beam shape altering device in this stage lighting system.
It is another object of the present invention to use such a system for previously unheard-of applications. These applications include active simulation of hard or soft beam edges on the gobo. It is yet another application of the present invention to allow gobo cross-fading using time control, special effects and morphing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to form a stroboscopic effect with variable speed and intensity in a stage lighting system. This includes simulation of a flower strobe.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multiple colored gobo system which can have split colors and rotating colors.
It is yet another object of the present invention to carry out gobo rotation in software, and to allow absolute position and velocity control of the gobo rotation using a time slicing technique.
Another objective is to allow concentric-shaped images and unsupported images.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a control system for the micromirror devices which allows such operation.
Yet another particularly preferred system is a shadowless follow spot, which forms an illuminating beam which is roughly of the same shape as the performer, and more preferably precisely the same as the performer. The beam shape of the beam spot also tracks the performer's current outline. The spot light follows the performer as it lights the performer. This action could be performed manually by an operator or via an automated tracking system, such as Wybron's autopilot.
Since the beam does not overlap the performer's body outline, it does not cast a shadow of the performer.

Programmable light beam shape altering device using programmable micromirrors


A method and apparatus for stimulating the production zone of an oil well having a high pressure gas gun and a coil tubing conduit to deliver cleaning, stimulating, and cooling liquid to the zone while firing the gun. The coil tubing conduit has discharge ports positioned to allow discharge of the liquid at or near the gun to provide cooling of the gun's electrical transmission line and the gun's moving parts. The gun may be gradually withdrawn from the production zone while continuing to fire the gun to stimulate the production zone.

The present invention relates to oil well production and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for downhole stimulation of oil production from a well.
Current techniques for cleaning or stimulating an oil well include the injection of various well known solvents and acids into the production zone of a well. The solvents or acids cause the asphaltenes in the zone to break up and flow through the perforations in the slotted well casing. The solvents or acids also dissolve or dilute contaminants such as scale, bitumen, sediment and the like which may be plugging the casing slots thereby allowing oil in the production zone to more readily flow into the casing and eventually be brought to the surface.
Recently a cleaning technique has been employed which utilized a cleaning device generating a high pressure gas pulse downhole in the region of the casing slots. A flexible tubing encasing a gas generating propellant is run into the perforated section of the casing on a single conductor cable. The propellant is ignited by means of an ignition mechanism thereby producing a gas to propel, high velocity, short duration flow of well fluid and gas through the perforations. This is followed by cooling and contraction of the gas which creates an implosion and flow of fluids into the well bore from the annulus, gravel pock or formation. Thus a double acting outflow-inflow is used to clean the perforations and create flow channels in the annulus. It must be understood that a series of pulses may not be created as the device is withdrawn from the production zone, since there is only a single length of propellant which is ignited.
It is well known in the seismic exploration for hydrocarbons and minerals, oceanographic research, deep earth crustal studies, and well velocity surveys that powerful energy sources may be utilized to create waveforms for mapping purposes. One of these sources is known by the trademark BOLT
AIR GUN. Such guns are available in over twenty variations of seven basic models for use at sea and on land, both downhole and on the surface. The guns operate by the principle of the sudden release of high pressure compressed gas, such as air or nitrogen, when electrically fired. A high degree of repeatability may be obtained, allowing the use of multi-gun arrays to achieve high energy output and optimally synthesized waveforms. Such guns have not been used to stimulate producing wells or to clean casing perforations by combining the acoustic pressure pulse with simultaneous injection of solvents or acids into the production zone.

Method and apparatus for downhole oil well production stimulation


The present invention relates to a method for encoding an audio signal. In a first embodiment a model relating to temporal masking of sound provided to a human ear is provided. A temporal masking index is determined in dependence upon a received audio signal and the model using a forward and a backward masking function. Using a psychoacoustic model a masking threshold is determined in dependence upon the temporal masking index. Finally, the audio signal is encoded in dependence upon the masking threshold. The method has been implemented using the MPEG-1 psychoacoustic model 2. Semiformal listening test showed that using the method for encoding an audio signal according to the present invention the subjective high quality of the decoded compressed sounds has been maintained while the bit rate was reduced by approximately 10%. In a second embodiment, the inharmonic structure of audio signals is modeled and incorporated into the MPEG-1 psychoacoustic model 2. In the model, the relationship between the spectral components of the input audio signal is considered and an inharmonicity index is defined and incorporated into the MPEG-1 psychoacoustic model 2. Informal listening tests have shown that the bit rate required for transparent coding of inharmonic (multi-tonal) audio material can be reduced by 10% if the modified psychoacoustic model 2 is used in the MPEG 1 Layer II encoder.

In present state of the art audio coders, perceptual models based on characteristics of a human ear are typically employed to reduce the number of bits required to code a given input audio signal. The perceptual models are based on the fact that a considerable portion of an acoustic signal provided to the human ear is discarded—masked—due to the characteristics of the human hearing process. For example, if a loud sound is presented to the human ear along with a softer sound, the ear will likely hear only the louder sound. Whether the human ear will hear both, the loud and soft sound, depends on the frequency and intensity of each of the signals. As a result, audio coding techniques are able to effectively ignore the softer sound and not assign any bits to its transmission and reproduction under the assumption that a human listener is not capable of hearing the softer sound even if it is faithfully transmitted and reproduced. Therefore, psychoacoustic models for calculating a masking threshold play an essential role in state of the art audio coding. An audio component whose energy is less than the masking threshold is not perceptible and is, therefore, removed by the encoder. For the audible components, the masking threshold determines the acceptable level of quantization noise during the coding process.
However, it is a well-known fact that the psychoacoustic models for calculating a masking threshold in state of the art audio coders are based on simple models of the human auditory system resulting in unacceptable levels of quantization noise or reduced compression. Hence, it is desirable to improve the state of the art audio coding by employing better—more realistic—psychoacoustic models for calculating a masking threshold.
Furthermore, the MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio encoder is widely used in Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and digital receivers based on this standard have been massively manufactured making it impossible to change the decoder in order to improve sound quality. Therefore, enhancing the psychoacoustic model is an option for improving sound quality without requiring a new standard.

Bit rate reduction in audio encoders by exploiting inharmonicity effects and auditory temporal masking

Her Majesty in Right of Canada as Represented by the Minister of Industry


A turbine blade with a 5-pass serpentine flow cooling circuit to provide cooling for the blade. A first leg of the serpentine circuit is formed along the leading edge region of the blade, while the last leg is formed along the trailing edge region. The serpentine flow circuit includes a first root turn and a second root turn and a cooling air collector cavity formed in the blade attachment region and between the two root turns. A first metering hole connects the first root turn with the collector cavity, and a second metering hole connects the second root turn with the collector cavity. A portion of the cooling air flow from the first root turn is diverted through the first metering hole and into the collector cavity. This diverted cooling air then flows through the second metering hole and into the second root turn to be rejoined with the cooling air than passed through the serpentine circuit in the mid-chord region. The recombined cooling air flow then passes up the last leg of the serpentine circuit and is discharged through a row of exit holes spaced along the trailing edge of the blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid reaction surfaces, and more specifically to a turbine blade with a serpentine flow cooling circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
In a gas turbine engine, especially in an industrial gas turbine engine, a turbine section includes multiple stages of stator or guide vanes and rotor blades to extract mechanical energy from a hot gas flow passing through the turbine. Increasing the turbine inlet temperature can increase the turbine efficiency, and therefore the engine efficiency. However, the maximum turbine inlet temperature is limited to the material characteristics of the turbine airfoils, especially the first stage guide vanes and rotor blades, since these airfoils are exposed to the highest temperature.
In order to allow for a higher gas flow temperature, the turbine airfoils include complex internal cooling circuits to provide the maximum amount of cooling for the airfoil while making use of the minimum amount of cooling air in order to maximize the efficiency of the turbine and therefore the engine. Internal airfoil cooling circuits have been proposed with complex design in order to maximize the amount of cooling as well as minimize the amount of cooling air used in order to increase the turbine efficiency and to increase turbine airfoil life. A serpentine flow cooling circuit is a very efficient arrangement to provide for cooling within the airfoils sine the serpentine path winds back and forth within the airfoil to increase the path length for the cooling air. FIG. 1 shows a prior art first stage turbine blade external heat transfer coefficient (HTC) profile. As shown in FIG. 1, the airfoil leading edge and trailing edge as well as the forward region of the suction side surface experience high hot gas heat transfer coefficient while the mid-chord section of the airfoil is at a lower hot gas HTC than the leading edge (LE) and the trailing edge (TE) and forward suction side (S/S) sections.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of a prior art turbine blade with a 5-pass aft flowing serpentine cooling circuit for the second stage blade. FIG. 3 shows a top view of a cross section through the turbine blade of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the cooling air passage through the turbine blade of FIG. 2. The serpentine cooling circuit of FIG. 2 includes a first leg channel 11 extending along the leading edge region of the blade, a second leg forming a down pass channel 12, a third leg 13 forming an up-pass channel, a fourth leg 14 forming another down pass channel, and a fifth or last leg 15 extending along the trailing edge region of the blade. A first blade tip turn 16 and a second blade tip turn 18 turn the cooling air from an up-pass channel into the adjacent down-pass channel. A first blade root turn 17 and second blade root turn 19 turns the cooling air from a down-pass channel into the adjacent up-pass channel. A cover plate 21 covers over passages in the root to force the cooling air to follow the serpentine circuit. A row of exit cooling holes 22 discharge cooling air form the last leg 15 out from the airfoil cooling circuit. For an aft flowing 5-pass serpentine cooling circuit used for the entire airfoil, the cooling air flows through the serpentine cooling channels, lowering the airfoil metal temperature while increasing the cooling air temperature. As the cooling air reaches the airfoil trailing edge region, it loses some cooling capability (due to a pickup pf heat while passing through the airfoil mid-chord region) and therefore induces a hot spot for the airfoil trailing edge metal temperature. Hot spots appearing on a turbine airfoil especially in an industrial turbine engine induce problems with oxidation, which significantly reduces the part life in the engine. Also, it over-cools the airfoil mid-chord section where the heat loads for that region are low. In order to achieve a uniform sectional metal temperature distribution, a re-distribution of cooling air within the 5-pass serpentine flow circuit is required.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a turbine airfoil with a serpentine flow cooling circuit that cools less of the airfoil mid-chord region while cooling more of the trailing edge region than the cited prior art turbine blade serpentine flow cooling circuit.

Turbine blade with serpentine cooling circuit


A method and apparatus for making and breaking tubular connections at the surface of a well by utilizing a pipe joining system. The pipe joining system includes a movable support frame for supporting and integrating on a rig floor the tools associated with making and breaking the connection between two tubulars. Tools incorporated in the pipe joining system include combinations of a wrenching assembly for gripping the tubulars and applying torque to the connection, a spinner for spinning the joints of the tubulars into connection, a positioning tool for vertically and/or horizontally aligning the tubulars in the system, a cleaning and doping device for cleaning and doping the threads of the tubulars, a stabbing guide for properly aligning the tubulars before joining, a mud bucket for handling mud spillage during the breaking of the tubulars, and a control system that remotely operates the entire automated system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for making and breaking wellbore tubulars. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for a makeup and breakout system for use on a rig floor that integrates functions including cleaning and doping the threads of the tubular, spinning the connection, wrenching the connection, guiding the stabbing process, and handling mud spillage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrocarbon wells typically begin by drilling a borehole from the earth's surface to a selected depth in order to intersect a hydrocarbon bearing formation. While the depth of a typical borehole reaches several thousand feet, the length of an individual drill pipe is only approximately thirty feet. Therefore, in the construction of oil or gas wells it is usually necessary to assemble long strings of drill pipe. Due to the length of these pipes, sections or stands of pipe are progressively added to the pipe as it is lowered into the well from a drilling platform. In particular, when it is desired to add a section or stand of pipe the string is usually restrained from falling into the well by applying the slips of a spider located in the floor of the drilling platform. The new section or stand of pipe is then moved from a rack to the well center above the spider. The threaded pin of the section or stand of pipe to be connected is then located over the threaded box of the pipe extending from the well and the connection is made up by rotation therebetween. An elevator is connected to the top of the new section or stand and the entire pipe string lifted slightly to enable the slips of the spider to be released. The entire pipe string is then lowered until the top of the section is adjacent the spider whereupon the slips of the spider are re-applied, the elevator disconnected and the process repeated. Removing the drill pipe from the well requires disassembling the long string of drill pipe by the same process as assembly except in reverse order. When breaking the connection between the pipes as they come out of the well, fluid or mud from within the top drill pipe typically spills out. Without a means of containing and collecting the mud, safety risks increase, replacing lost mud raises costs, and environmental issues become present.
Completion and production phases of oil or gas wells require similar connections between other tubulars such as casing, liner, and tubing. In general, the diameter, location, and function of the tubular that is placed in the wellbore determines whether it is known as drill pipe, casing, liner, or tubing. However, the general term tubular or tubing encompasses all of the applications.
It is common practice to use devices designed to aid and automate making up and breaking out the drill pipe. Tools used in this process include devices for cleaning and doping the threads, spinners that quickly rotate the pipes, hydraulic power tongs or wrenches that torque the connection, stabbing guides that align the pipes, and mud buckets that contain mud spillage. Currently, these devices represent substantially non-integrated separate tools with different levels of automation. Therefore, the process of assembling and disassembling drill pipe strings requires manual operation of controls and a high level of physical interaction within close proximity of the tool being used at the well center. This provides both a risk of injury and a higher possibility of incorrect operation of the various devices while making up and breaking out the drill pipe. The monotonous routine of these operations increases the probability of injury and operator error. Therefore, a tool offering remote operation and substantial automation reduces safety risks and increases repeatability due to the limited human interaction that is necessary.
In addition, individual devices used in making up and breaking out drill pipe inefficiently occupy a large amount of space on the drilling platform. These devices must compete for space with tools used in other operations on the platform. Due to limited floor space on drilling platforms, leasing or obtaining additional floor space for the individual devices becomes expensive. Acquiring additional floor space on an off-shore rig floor is especially expensive since this may require obtaining an extra boat with a deck that can be positioned near the platform and used for transferring tools onto and off of the rig floor. Therefore, an integrated tool for making and breaking pipe connections that utilizes a small footprint offers substantial cost savings in the construction of oil and gas wells.
When utilizing independent devices in making up and breaking out drill pipe, a separate mechanism must be used within each device that centers and positions the pipe into proper alignment. This introduces a redundancy in mechanisms used to center and position the drill pipe. Independent and non-integrated devices also lack the ability to utilize one control system. Due to the high costs associated with the construction of oil and gas wells, time is critical, and repeating the drill pipe positioning operations and arranging independent components over the well at the appropriate time increases the time taken to attach each new section or stand of pipe. Positioning independent components around the drill pipe at the appropriate time requires the use of interlocking structures that prevent collisions between the individual tools. Traditionally, individual devices cost more than single integrated devices, especially when the integrated device incorporates common features of the individual devices.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved apparatus for making or breaking a tubular connection. Further, there is a need for an apparatus that will make up or break out a tubular connection that combines and integrates individual tools into one space efficient, safe, precise, remote controlled operation.

Automated pipe joining system and method


Provided is a combustion generating device of an internal combustion engine, which is capable of performing very precise flame control through a simple structure which does not need a prechamber and reducing harmful exhaust gas through low-temperature rapid combustion. The combustion generating device includes: an ignition system generating a spark; and an injector generating a mixture by mixing air and fuel and injecting a flame into a combustion chamber, the flame being generated by applying the spark to the mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combustion generating device of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to a combustion generating device of an internal combustion engine, which directly injects a flame into a combustion chamber, the flame being ignited and generated at the same time as a mixture of air and fuel is injected from a sub injector which mixes the air and fuel and injects the mixture.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, an internal combustion engine using gasoline as fuel, such as an engine of a vehicle, directly injects fuel into a combustion chamber formed in a cylinder block through an injector, and the fuel injected into the combustion chamber is burned by a flame generated through an ignition system, for example, a spark plug.
In the internal combustion engine having the above-described structure, the size of a flame kernel formed by a spark of the spark plug is small, and the duration thereof is short. Therefore, the fuel mixture within the combustion chamber may not be completely burned. During lean burn (ultra lean) combustion for improving fuel efficiency, a large amount of nitrogen oxide is generated by high-temperature combustion. Therefore, the internal combustion engine requires an expensive catalytic filter to reduce the nitrogen oxide.
In order to overcome such a defect, a prechamber jet ignition system is used. The prechamber jet ignition system enables low-temperature rapid combustion during ultra lean combustion of fuel within the combustion chamber, thereby reducing the amount of nitrogen oxide. Further, the prechamber jet ignition system may continuously and stably generate a very large flame kernel. The prechamber jet ignition system includes a prechamber formed above the combustion chamber and communicating with the combustion chamber, a sub injector installed to inject fuel to the prechamber, and a spark plug for igniting fuel within the prechamber.
Accordingly, after a mixture is introduced into the combustion chamber or fuel is injected through an injector, a small amount of fuel is injected into the prechamber through the sub injector, and the spark plug generates a spark inside the prechamber so as to ignite the fuel within the prechamber. The flame ignited in such a manner is injected to a fuel chamber from the prechamber, and the fuel within the combustion chamber is burned by the flame injected from the prechamber.
However, in the above-described internal combustion engine where combustion is performed in the combustion chamber through the flame injected from the prechamber, an accidental fire is highly likely to occur when an ultra small amount of fuel is injected into a small space formed by the prechamber and ignited by the spark plug. In this case, the engine may be failed. Further, since the air within the prechamber is not fresh external air but exhaust gas remaining in a previous explosion stroke, the prechamber contains a small amount of oxygen. Accordingly, the combustion inside the prechamber is destabilized. In addition, the internal combustion engine has difficulties in performing precise ignition control such as air-fuel ratio control or combustion speed control.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Combustion generating device of internal combustion engine