Disclosed is a medical instrument for treating biological tissue, comprising a device generating extracorporeal pressure waves and a transmission element (2) coupling said pressure waves into the body of living beings. The pressure wave is generated by a stroking member (10) impacting on a transmission element (2) and is transmitted inside the transmission element. Said transmission element comprises a boundary surface at the outlet thereof, which is curved towards the inside and is configured such that the pressure waves can be coupled into the biological tissue and can be focused therein.

The invention relates to a medical instrument for the treatment of biological tissue.
Such instruments are used to accelerate or even initiate the process of healing broken bones and bone defects, but also paradontosis, by means of pressure or impact waves. Other fields of application are the treatment of chronic pains occurring with disorders of the point of attachment of sinews and the dissolution of myofascial trigger areas. It is assumed that the pressure waves cause microscopic damages to the biological tissue that cause the body to take regenerating actions.
Presently, so-called extracorporeal pressure or impact wave devices are used for such applications. These devices generate an acoustic pulse and pass it, via the skin surface, to the target region within the body, where it will then become effective. A device of this class of apparatus, which has a simple structure, is described in the patent document DE 197 25 477. Here, the acoustic pulse is generated by the impact of a projectile and is coupled unfocussed into the body via a blunt transmission element. Other medical devices of this type focus an acoustic pulse to the target region. A typical example of such a device can be found in the German Laid Open document DE 23 51 247. Here, a spark discharge serves as the source of the acoustic pulse which is focused by an elliptic reflector. For generating the pressure waves, prior art meanwhile also includes electromagnetic and piezoelectric sources (DE 35 02 751). Known alternative means for focusing are the use of acoustic liquid or solid matter lenses (U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,875), the design of the acoustic source as a moved spherical cap surface (DE 33 12 014 C2) or the disposition of a plurality of sources on a ball surface (DE 199 28 491 A1) as they are often used in piezoelectric drives.
The operation of all known focusing systems requires a high voltage power unit to generate the short but strong acoustic pulses. This makes the devices complicated, limits the maximum repetition frequency per unit time with a still reasonable structural size, and requires safety measures for isolating the high voltage. The embodiments of DE 197 25 477 do not allow a focusing of the acoustic energy and applications are thus restricted to indications close to the surface.

Medical device for the treatment of biological tissue


An absorbent article having leakage preventing walls that longitudinally exert an elastic contractive force to bend a main body. Each leakage preventing wall is provided, between front and rear ends, with a constraint portion so as to locally constrain an allowable rising height of the leakage preventing wall. Thus, the leakage preventing wall takes a shape that can easily conform to a curved surface of the wearer's body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an absorbent article such as elongated sanitary napkin suitable for nighttime use, disposable diaper, or urine absorbing pad to be worn inside an undergarment, diaper, etc. More particularly, the invention relates to an absorbent article with longitudinally extending leakage preventing walls disposed on right and left side portions of the skin-side surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sanitary napkins disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-95842 (Patent Publication 1) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-656 (Patent Publication 2) are so elongated as to be suitable for nighttime use. This type of sanitary napkin is designed to be worn such that its front portion faces the vaginal opening being a menstrual blood excretory part while its intermediate and rear portions contact the perineum and the anus so that the rear portion faces the cleft of the buttocks. On the ski-side surface of the sanitary napkin, leakage preventing walls are provided to extend from the front portion to the rear portion on both right and left side portions of the sanitary napkin. These leakage preventing walls are allowed to rise from the skin-side surface over a long distance from adjacent a portion intended to face the vaginal opening to a portion intended to face the buttocks. With the leakage prevented walls present in a space between the skin-side surface of the sanitary napkin and the wearer's body, body liquid such as menstrual blood trying to flow down the perineum and the anus toward the posterior region during sleep may be blocked by the leakage preventing walls.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. S64-68503 (Patent Publication 3) discloses a disposable diaper, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H04-12751 (Patent Publication 4) discloses a urine absorbing pad to be worn along with a diaper cover, undergarment or the like for absorption of urine.
Also in the disposable diaper and the urine absorbing pad, longitudinally extending leakage preventing walls are disposed on the skin-side surface at right and left side portions thereof. The disposable diaper and the urine absorbing pad are designed to be worn from the crotch to the buttocks, wherein the leakage preventing walls are allowed to rise toward the wearer's body from the crotch to the buttocks, coming into close contact with the wearer's body.
These absorbent articles disclosed in Patent Publications 1 to 4 are all elongated so as to be worn from the crotch to the buttocks. FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a conventional elongated absorbent article 100, diagrammatically showing how leakage preventing walls rise in a deformed article.
The absorbent article 100 has a main body 101 composed of a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid absorbent layer, and a liquid-impermeable backsheet. The main body 101 is intended to be worn such that its front end edge 101a is directed toward the lower abdomen while its rear end edge 101b is directed toward the buttocks. Leakage preventing walls 103 are fixed to the main body 101 at their front and rear ends 103a, 103b. The leakage preventing walls 103 exert an elastic contractive force to bring the front and rear ends 103a, 103b closer to each other, whereby the main body 101 is deformed with its skin-side surface being concavely curved. As a result, the leakage preventing walls 103 rise with their longitudinally extending tops 104 being moved away from the skin-side surface.
Since the leakage preventing walls 103 exert the elastic contractive force to bring the front and rear ends 103a, 103b closer to each other as set forth above, the tops 104 of the leakage preventing walls 103 try to extend linearly between the front and rear ends 103a, 103b. In the deformed state shown in FIG. 14, accordingly, the main body 101 subjected to the elastic contractive force is folded at a fold boundary 105 being a boundary between front and rear portions 101A, 101B, so that at the folding boundary 105, the tops 104 of the leakage preventing walls 103 are spaced as far away from the skin-side surface of the main body 101 as possible.
When the absorbent article 100 is worn, the front portion 101A faces the lower abdomen, the crotch and the perineum, while the rear portion 101B faces the anus and the cleft of the buttocks posterior to the anus, and optionally covers the region posterior to the cleft of the buttocks. Here, the tops 104 of the leakage preventing walls 103 will be relatively strongly pressed against the wearer's body at the folding boundary 105 and forward and rearward portions thereof, giving an uncomfortable feeling to the perineum, the anus and the buttocks.
At the folding boundary 105 where the tops 104 are farthest away from the main body 101, moreover, the leakage preventing walls 103 tend to be influenced by the body pressure from adjacent the anus or from the buttocks. Therefore, the leakage preventing walls 103 subjected to the body pressure tend to fall to the skin-side surface of the main body 101. As a result, the skin-side surface of the main body 101 will be widely covered with the leakage preventing walls 103 to reduce the substantial liquid absorbing area of the main body 101, which results in causing liquid to leak laterally or obliquely rearward.


An antenna apparatus in which a combination of rectangular waveguides 9a and 10a and a combination of rectangular waveguides 9b and 10b are disposed bilateral symmetrically to each other, and a waveguide orthomode transducer 13 is disposed above a waveguide orthomode transducer 8 is provided. Therefore, the profile of the antenna apparatus can be reduced and the stability of installation of the antenna apparatus can be improved without impairing the electric characteristics of the antenna apparatus. Since the antenna apparatus has a bilateral symmetric structure, it excels in weight balance and offers stable performance from the viewpoint of mechanism.

A prior art antenna apparatus is equipped with a circularly polarized wave generator and a polarizer, which are mounted on a rotary joint or a rotary mechanism, so as to allow integral rotation of a reflector and a primary radiator (refer to the following non-patent reference 1).
[Non-Patent Reference 1]
Takashi Kitsuregawa, 'Advanced Technology in Satellite Communication Antennas: Electrical & Mechanical Design', ARTECH HOUSE INC., pp. 232 to 235, 1990.
A problem with the prior art antenna apparatus constructed as mentioned above is that while it can rotate both the reflector and the primary radiator in a direction of an elevation angle or in a direction of an azimuth angle, the part of the prior art antenna apparatus which is arranged above the rotary mechanism has a very large size and has a high position, and therefore the prior art antenna apparatus lacks in installation stability because the circularly polarized wave generator and the polarizer are placed on the rotary joint or the rotary mechanism.
The present invention is made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an antenna apparatus having a low profile and high installation stability without impairing its electric characteristics.


A method of forming bump protective collars is disclosed. A wafer has an active surface with a plurality of bonding pads and a passivation layer. A plurality of reflowed bumps are formed over the bonding pads. A photoresist is coated on the active surface. Using the reflowed bumps as a photo mask, the photoresist is exposed and developed. After removing the photoresist, a plurality of bump protective collars are formed on the passivation layer and around the reflowed bumps for improving the reliability of the reflowed bumps.

Conventionally, the fabrication of wafer-level chip scale packages, WLCSP, is to form a plurality of bumps on a semiconductor wafer firstly, then the wafer is singulated to form a plurality of individual WLCSP including a chip, whereas, bumps are used as outer electrical terminals of the WLCSP (chip) to an exterior printed circuit board, PCB. However, during the IC operation, the chip will generate heat which will cause extra thermal stress on the bumps due to mismatching of thermal expansion coefficients between the chip and PCB. Thus, bumps will easily break or even fail. As revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,615, "chip scale packages and methods for manufacturing the chip scale packages at wafer level", a reinforcing layer is formed around the bumps to absorb the extra thermal stress on the bumps. The reinforcing layer is made of low-viscosity polymers which can be easily coated between the bumps before curing. After curing, the reinforcing layer will be able to protect the bumps from bump failure. However, during the coating process, bump surfaces for electrical connection can be coated with the reinforcing layer easily due to the characteristics of low-viscosity polymers and cause bad solder joint even electrical open between WLCSP and PCB after assembly.

Method for forming bump protective collars on a bumped wafer

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


A system for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea includes a monohull fast ship and an arrangement for loading and unloading cargo through an opening in the stern of the ship and along a driving surface of a cargo carrying deck of the ship. The arrangement includes a self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle for carrying cargo to be transported during loading and unloading of the ship and a self-contained security scanning system on the vehicle for maintaining control and surveillance of cargo in transit on the vehicle. The ship includes a reader grid of ship communication system on the cargo carrying deck to which continued control and surveillance of the cargo can be handed off from the vehicle scanning system.

Commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,080,032; 5,129,343 and 5,231,946 disclose a monohull fast ship able to transport up to ten thousand tons of cargo at an average speed of 37 to 45 knots across the Atlantic Ocean in about three to four days in sea states up to 5, with a 10% reserve fuel capacity. The disclosures of these commonly owned U.S. patents are hereby incorporated by reference. While the high speed of these ships reduces the time for crossing the ocean, the efficiencies of transport of cargo by sea are effected not only by the speed of a ship but also the time to unload and load a ship in port before the ship can begin another transit. Prior art loading systems requiring cargo to be loaded from the top of the ship can require a time in port of one and a half days for loading and unloading.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,856, also hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a monohull fast ship with improved loading mechanism wherein a train of self-propelled trolleys are conveyed along one of rail pairs on the cargo carrying deck of the ship to decrease loading time in port from one and a half days down to six hours. However, the loading mechanism necessitates the use of docking facilities with rails to accommodate the trolleys moving to and from the ships and makes no allowance for meeting port/shipper security requirements. Additional time in port can be required for container inspection etc. to meet security requirements at the port and onboard the ship before putting to sea. There is a need for an improved system for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea which allows the time in port for unloading and loading the ship and meeting security requirements to be further reduced and which permits the ship to be loaded and unloaded at docking facilities without rails. The present invention addresses this need.
A system of the invention for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea comprises, in combination, an improved ship of the invention and an improved arrangement of the invention for loading and unloading cargo from the ship. Like the ship of Assignee's aforementioned patents, the ship of the present invention includes a hull producing a high pressure area at a bottom portion of a stern which rises from a point of maximum depth forward of a longitudinal center of the hull to a point of minimum draft at a transom which produces hydrodynamic lifting of the stern at a threshold speed above a length Froude Number of 0.40; sides of the hull at the datum waterline are non-convex in plan view with reference to a centerline of the ship; a length-to-beam ratio at the datum waterline is between 5 and 7.5 and a displacement to length ratio equal to a displacement of the hull divided by a cube of the length divided by 100 during operation of the hull in carrying fuel and payload is between 60 and 150 and a maximum operating Froude Number is between 0.42 and 0.9; a weather deck enclosing a top of the hull, at least one cargo carrying deck disposed below the weather deck and having a driving surface for self propelled, automatically guided vehicles transporting cargo to and from the ship through an opening in the stern of the ship and at least one lower deck disposed below the at least one cargo carrying deck; at least one water jet disposed within the hull with each water jet having an inlet in a bottom portion of the stern which produces high pressure during motion of the ship; and at least one power unit disposed on one of the at least one lower deck coupled to the at least one water jet for powering the at least one water jet to cause water to be drawn into the inlet of the at least one water jet to produce forward motion of the hull.
The improved arrangement of the invention for loading and unloading cargo through the opening in the stern of the ship and along the driving surface of the at least one cargo carrying deck includes at least one self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle for carrying cargo to be transported during loading and unloading of the ship, and a self-contained security scanning system on the at least one vehicle for maintaining control and surveillance of cargo in transit on the vehicle. Thus, the system is able to meet the recent substantial increase in the need for accurate security and tracking of containers and monitoring of their contents and of other cargo units at all times that the containers or cargo units are in transit on the vehicle during loading and unloading. This increase in security and tracking can reduce the time taken in port to load and unload containers/cargo units and process them through port security systems which necessarily depend upon random checks. The use of at least one self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle for carrying the cargo also eliminates the need for the use of rail pairs on the dock and in the ship. Because the vehicles in the disclosed embodiment move on rubber-tired wheels, without the need for rails, the ship can be loaded and unloaded at any normal roll on/roll off port. This reduces the effect of having to change port in the event of port closure by strikes or malfunctions of port facilities. It increases the flexibility of operations between different ports, rather than being restricted to those with specially installed rail systems of the prior art. These and other features of the invention make possible reduced in port time as discussed below, and provide an improved system and method for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea.
The self-contained security scanning system on the at least one self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle of the arrangement for loading and unloading cargo according to a disclosed embodiment of the invention includes a reader and a field unit on the vehicle. The reader is capable of reading identification means, such as a tag unit, on a container/cargo carried by the vehicle and in turn communicates with the field unit. The field unit communicates with at least one of a ship server, a dockside server and a global data center.
The improved ship of the invention in the disclosed embodiment includes a reader grid having a plurality of readers in different, spaced locations along the at least one cargo carrying deck for reading the identification means on the cargo on the deck and for communicating readings of the individual cargo identification means to a ship communication system. Thus, once cargo with identification means is loaded on the deck of the ship by the automatically guided vehicle, surveillance of the cargo can be handed off from the automatically guided vehicle to the reader grid of the ship and the vehicle returned to the port dock. In the disclosed embodiment the ship communication system includes a ship server which communicates with global and local information centers, a super base on each cargo carrying deck which is linked to the ship server, and a plurality of a base stations on each cargo carrying deck communicating with respective ones of a plurality of groups of readers of the reader grid on the cargo carrying deck.
Guidance means are provided on the at least one cargo carrying deck of the ship for cooperating with guidance equipment of the at least one self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle carrying cargo for guiding the vehicle during loading and unloading the ship. The guidance means includes at least one of guide rails, electrical cable in grooves in the at least one deck in which different frequency signals are induced, and optical guidance means such as laser reflectors which cooperate with laser and optical scanning equipment on the vehicle.
The improved method for rapid, secure loading and unloading of cargo on a ship according to the invention comprises supporting cargo having identification means which can be remotely machine read on a self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle, transporting with the vehicle the cargo supported on the vehicle through an opening in the stern of the ship and along a driving surface of a cargo carrying deck of the ship, and reading the identification means on the cargo during the transporting with a self-contained security scanning system on the vehicle. As described above, in the disclosed embodiment the method further includes communicating the reading of the identification means from the vehicle to at least one of a ship server, a dockside server and a global data center. In addition, further reading of the identification means on the cargo is performed when the cargo is on the cargo carrying deck of the ship using a reader of a reader grid along the deck which communicates the further reading to a ship communication system thus handing off monitoring of the cargo/containers. This monitoring can continue within the ship at sea, the automatically guided vehicles being guided from the ship and remaining at port for loading and unloading the next ship in port.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an example embodiment of the invention taken with the accompanying drawings.

System for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea, and monohull fast ship and arrangement and method for loading and unloading cargo on a ship


In machine, optionally an attachment for a packing machine, for packing bales of straw fodder of a "rectangular" form, plastic sheeting is deposited in layers or overlapping around the straw fodder bale. The packing machine has two drive rollers which rotate the bale around a substantially horizontal axis. Each drive roller is connected operationally to two auxiliary rollers, both of which are able to engage with the fodder bale. The three rollers are mounted in a roller unit in such a way that each roller is in a predetermined spaced relationship to the others. The roller units are mounted on the center axis of the drive roller so as to be revolvable, and two such spaced apart roller units when in operation are able to turn a rectangular bale of straw fodder through 360.degree. around the horizontal axis.

The present invention relates to a packing machine, optionally an attachment for a packing machine, for packing bales of straw fodder of a "rectangular" form, wherein plastic sheeting is deposited in layers or overlapping around the straw fodder bale, the machine comprising two drive rollers which rotate the straw fodder bale around a substantially horizontal axis.
In agriculture, it is becoming more and more common to ensile straw fodder in the form of packed straw fodder bales. There is a movement away from the traditional silo plant. This method of ensilage, which has gradually become well known, has taken place in that the fodder, such as grass or straw, has been packed in round bales. Thereafter sheeting, preferably plastic sheeting, is wrapped around the bales, thus they can be stored outdoors without any problems, and the ensilage can take place inside a thus virtually hermetically packed bale. This has reduced the work connected with fodder considerably, and has also given rise to advantageous gains for the environment, as the leakage of silage fluids has virtually ceased and the use of chemicals has been greatly reduced.
Norwegian Patent 159366 makes known a packing machine (see FIG. 5) which packs straw fodder bales, often called round bales, which, broadly speaking, have in fact the form of a short cylinder. The round bale lies on two substantially parallel running rollers which are spaced apart from one another at a distance which is less than the diameter of the round bale. The rollers are operated rotationally and cause the bale to rotate around a substantially horizontal axis. The packing machine also has a superjacent crank mechanism which carries a vertically positioned roll of stretchable, adhesive plastic sheeting. The plastic sheeting is moved in a horizontal path around the fodder bale at the height of the center line of said fodder bale. When the drive rollers rotate the round bale around their horizontal axis at the same time as the crank mechanism moves the sheeting in said horizontal path, the plastic sheeting is wrapped in layers or overlapping around the round bale, and packs it almost hermetically. A packing machine of this kind can be stationary, per se, but in a practical embodiment which is already on the market, the packing machine is designed for rapid connection to a tractor, either mounted at the front or at the back. The power outlet of the tractor may be used for the whole of, or parts of, the operation .
Norwegian Patent 165536 makes known another kind of round bale packer which is mounted on an undercarriage on wheels. Here, too, the round bale is supported by two parallel running and spaced apart rollers which cause the round bale to rotate around a substantially horizontal axis. The rollers are positioned on a swivel table which can rotate in relation to the undercarriage in such a way that the round bale can also rotate around a substantially vertical axis. Fixed in a stationary manner to the undercarriage is a roll of plastic sheeting which, after being attached to the bale, is wrapped around said bale in layers or overlapping when the round bale is rotated around its two axes. Furthermore, the rollers can be tipped in relation to the undercarriage so that the round bale rolls off therefrom.
A similar round bale packer is also known from GB Application 2191984 and EP Application No. 0208034.
It has been established that in some countries equipment already exists which packs the straw fodder bales in an almost "rectangular" form. What is described by this term is a form which is almost parallelepiped and cube-shaped. The known packing machines referred to above are not capable of handling straw fodder bales of a rectangular form, only those of the conventional cylindrical form. There has been a need to be able to pack these rectangular straw fodder bales in a similar manner as the cylindrical bales.

Packing machine for packing bales of straw fodder


Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to catalyst compositions including metal chalcogenides, processes for producing such catalyst compositions, processes for enhancing catalytic active sites in such catalyst compositions, and uses of such catalyst compositions in, e.g., processes for producing conversion products. In an aspect, a process for forming a catalyst composition is provided. The process includes introducing an electrolyte material and an amphiphile material to a metal chalcogenide to form the catalyst composition. In another aspect, a catalyst composition is provided. The catalyst composition includes a metal chalcogenide, an electrolyte material, and an amphiphile material. Devices for hydrogen evolution reaction are also provided.

Electrochemical reduction of water and carbon dioxide (CO2) is an efficient way to convert CO2 and water to energy-rich products. Various precious metal catalysts can reduce these materials; however, with the implementation of renewable energy technologies, the development of inexpensive systems having efficient electrochemical catalytic reduction capabilities, and made from earth-abundant materials, remains a challenge. One such system receiving significant interest as catalysts includes the family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal chalcogenides. As a specific example, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has emerged as a catalyst for hydrogen evolution from the electrolysis of water, due to, e.g., its favorable hydrogen binding energy at edge sites, its excellent stability, and its precious metal-free composition. However, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of 2H—MoS2, the most energetically stable phase of MoS2, is limited by its electrochemically-inert basal planes. Chalcogen vacancies (VC), such as sulfur vacancies (VS) specifically for MoS2, are active catalytic sites that can be introduced into the MoS2 basal plane. However, even with deliberate introduction of high vacancy density, the practical HER activities of 2D MoS2 are still far below the level of precious metal catalysts.
These is a need for new and improved processes for producing metal chalcogenides having, e.g., higher electrocatalytic activity.

Catalyst compositions including metal chalcogenides, processes for forming the catalyst compositions, and uses thereof

THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK


A retractable patio assembly for a recreational vehicle has a platform member pivotally attached to a wall structure of the recreational vehicle and pivotable between a stored and an extended position. Attachment to the wall structure enables adjustable vertical movement of a rear edge of such patio assembly. A pair of adjustable supports are provided at a front edge. In another embodiment, the patio assembly is received within a pair of laterally spaced track members for storage under the recreational vehicle.

People use recreational vehicles having ground engaging wheels such as campers, motor homes and the like for travel and work purposes and many live in such vehicles throughout the entire year.
As is generally well known, such recreational vehicles are often parked on less than desirable ground surfaces which become wet and muddy during rainy weather. While awnings are commonplace on campers, mobile homes, motor homes and fifth wheel RVs, they offer limited protection from such ground condition, particularly, in preventing people from carrying dirt, mud and debris into the vehicle.
Furthermore, the ground surface that the vehicle must park on may not be leveled causing difficulties in placing and using outdoor cooking devices and outdoor furniture.
Additionally, difficulties exist for disabled people to ingress and egress such recreational vehicle as well as to comfortably enjoy its surrounding outdoor environment.
Attempts have been made to compensate for undesirable ground conditions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,211 to Craves teaches a pivotal patio assembly for a pick-up truck mounted camper that is secured to the camper wall adjacent the door frame in a stowed condition and laterally slides under the door frame in a retracted position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,406 to Endsley, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,456 to Bergeson et al. teach a patio assembly for a pick-up truck mounted camper that is mounted for sliding engagement under the rear portion of the camper body to slide thereunder in a position of non-use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,057 to Pauli teaches a retractable patio assembly for a recreational vehicle having ground engaging wheels which is pivotable to a stowed position parallel to a vehicle wall and laterally displaced from the use position to allow free door access. A complex movable pair of leg members is provided to compensate for sloping or uneven ground surfaces, however, the design does not compensate for the vehicle being affected by such slopped or uneven ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,467 to King teaches a hinged modular patio assembly that is mounted for sliding engagement under the recreational vehicle having ground engaging wheels. A pair of inclined roller tracks is provided in the support members attached to the under surface. The patio platform has a means attached to each end of the rear to carry a roller which engages such inclined roller track.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,878 to Weaver teaches a hinged modular patio assembly mounted for sliding engagement beneath the recreational vehicle during transport. The ramp is moved between the stowed and deployed position by a belt and pulley system powered by a reversible motor. In deployed position the platform is disposed flush against the ground surface. A ramp is provided for wheelchair access to the platform.
While the patio assemblies presently in use provide some protection from the undesirable ground condition, they fail adequately to address compensation from sloped or uneven ground surface conditions.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved patio assembly for a recreational vehicle that addresses the aforementioned disadvantages.

Retractable patio assembly for a recreational vehicle


A combined digital audio file player and modulator. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus comprising: an elongate housing having a distal end and a proximal end; a socket power adapter located at a distal end of the elongate housing; an interface port in the housing for receiving an external memory device; a user control panel located on the housing at or near the proximal end; a circuit located within the elongate housing and operably coupled to the socket power adapter, the interface port, and the user control panel; and the circuit comprising a processor for retrieving an audio data file stored in a digital format on an external memory device that is in operable cooperation with the interface port, a decoder for decoding the retrieved audio data files, and a transmitter for transmitting the decoded audio data files to a radio tuner. In another embodiment, the invention can be a modulator that transmits data to a radio receiver or digital tuner, comprising multiple input ports or jacks and a signal converter device to transmit the data to the radio receiver or the digital tuner. Still another embodiment of the modulator reproduces compressed audio data; the modulator comprises a housing, an apparatus in the housing to accommodate an external storage device, a mechanism for instructing the modulator to execute an operation, a processing device for reading a data file on the external storage device and a converter to transmit the data to a receiver or digital tuner.

Many audio and video products are portable. DVD-players, CD-players, cassette players, laptops, stereos, televisions and MP3 players are just a few examples of these products. Some portable audio and video products contain speakers or headphone jacks. However, when traveling in a car or at home, the user may prefer to have better sound quality or have the sound outputted from an element different from the portable unit itself, such as a home or automobile stereo.
Modulators are used to wirelessly connect a portable audio and/or video player to a home or automobile stereo. The portable audio and/or video player is first coupled to the modulator with an audio/video jack or other connection. The modulator is powered by plugging it into a standard wall socket or other source of electrical energy. During operation, the portable audio and/or video player decodes the data files stored on its internal memory and transmits the decoded data to the modulator via the connection in a signal format. The modulator then converts the signal received from the portable audio and/or video player into a radio frequency and transmits the signal for receipt by the tuner of the desired stereo system. While functional, this existing system and mode of operation suffers from a number of deficiencies.
First, existing modulators are not specifically suited for use in automobiles, requiring a separate power adapter that is compatible with a cigarette lighter power source. As such, the user must have three separate components to achieve their goal, the modulator, the audio/video player, and the specialized socket power adapter, not too mention all of the necessary connection cables/wires.
Existing modulators can not function without the audio/video player because they do not have the capability to actually read, process, and/or decompress the data format in which audio and/or video content is stored. Thus, for example, a separate MP3 player, DVD player, and/or CD player is required in addition to the modulator. In such systems, the modulator merely acts an intermediary between the MP3 player, DVD player, and/or CD player and the sound producing device, such as the car stereo system. The modulator can not be simply coupled to an external memory device, such as a CD, disk, USB memory device, etc, that contains the desired audio and/or video data files. This is inconvenient for users that typically store their desired content on portable memory devices.
The inability of existing modulators to actually process data files stored on memory devices presents an additional problem when the user desires to output audio/video content within an automobile. Most automobiles have only one source of electrical power, a single cigarette lighter socket. However, because both the modulator and audio/video player require a power source, one of the devices must be powered by a battery. This is undesirable because batteries run out and can be expensive to replace or timely to charge.
Finally, existing FM modulators currently permit only one type of output port or jack (RCA jacks, firewire or miniplugs) to be used to connect the portable device to the modulators. Many also require additional connections such as cassettes or docking stations. This means modulators are not available for devices that do not use these types of electrical connections. Furthermore, different devices having different output ports or jacks from one another require different modulators because the output mechanisms are not the same, i.e., if an MP3 player has a firewire output and a CD-player has a miniplug output, two different modulators are needed.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus that does not suffer from the aforementioned drawbacks.

Combined modulator and MP3 player having socket power supply adapter and/or universal connector


Certain disclosed examples provide methods for strengthening, reinforcing, and/or stimulating repair of residual patella bone to be resurfaced. Also provided in some examples are devices associated with the methods. These methods and devices may be utilized during or following total knee replacement (TKR) or total knee arthroscopy (TKA).

During many total knee replacement (TKR) or total knee arthroscopy (TKA) procedures, the patella is frequently resurfaced, such as with a polymer like polyethylene. Despite this resurfacing, a moderate number of post-TKA patients still experience anterior knee pain and their technetium bone scans can show an increased activity in the patella. This increased activity is believed to be due to overstressed bone.
Some theories exist to explain why the patella is often overstressed following TKA. Since patellar resurfacing components are typically formed from polymer-based materials, like polyethylene, this increases stress transfer to the bone. Patellar resurfacing components tend not to have a metal backing since the inclusion of the metal backing creates other wear problems. Another theory proposed is that the TKA components do not perfectly duplicate normal knee kinematics and this also increases forces on the knee extensor mechanism and the patella. Still another theory is that, if during resurfacing, the patella is resected too thick, too thin, or asymmetrically, this would result in increased strain in the patella bone.
Accordingly, there exists a need for treatments and devices that would strengthen and/or stimulate repair of residual patella bone following TKA, or if the surgeon deems necessary, in conjunction with the TKA procedure. These patellar treatments and devices would ideally avoid the setbacks described above with current treatments and devices, including the high incidence of patellar complications following TKA or TKR procedures.

Methods and devices for patellar resurfacing treatment


A light-emitting device includes: a substrate; the metal film at the mounting region on the substrate; a light-emitting part including a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on the metal film; metal members formed on the substrate, respectively including pad parts and wiring parts, forming a positive electrode and a negative electrode configured to apply a voltage to the light-emitting element through the wiring parts, respectively; and a plating wire connected to the metal film, extended to a side face of the substrate. The metal film and the metal members are independently disposed. The wiring part of the positive electrode and the wiring part of the negative electrode are formed at a circumference of the mounting region. The metal members are formed apart from the circumferential edge of the substrate on the side of the mounting region of the substrate.

Recently, various electronic parts have been proposed and practically used. Accordingly, desired performances of these electronic components have become high. This is also true for light-emitting devices, represented by a light-emitting diode (LED: Light-emitting Diode), and performances required in a general lighting industry field and an in-vehicle illumination field, etc. become high day by day. Accordingly, a further higher output power (higher brightness) and a higher reliability are required. In addition, the light-emitting devices with these characteristics are also required to be supplied at low costs.
There is a known light-emitting device of which light outputting efficiency is enhanced (see, for example, Patent Document 1). For example, an Au plating and an Ag plating are formed at different regions on an insulating member, and the Au plating, having a good contact with an Au wire, is used as an electrode surface, and an Ag plating, having a high reflectivity, is used as a reflecting surface.
As described above, in the case where plating of different materials are formed, two kinds of conducting layers for Au plating and Ag plating are independently formed as conducting layers for electroplating at regions on which plating is to be formed. Only one of the conducting layers is electrified for respective conducting layers to easily form plating of different materials at different regions. The conducting layers for electroplating are exposed on such a place that electrification with a plating device can be easily done, for example, on a side face or a back face of the insulating member.

Light-emitting device comprising a metal film on a substrate and manufacturing method for the same


The invention relates to a cryptographic method secured against a covert channel attack. According to the invention, in order to carry out a selected block of instructions as a function of an input variable amongst N predefined instruction blocks, a common block is carried out on the predefined N instruction blocks, a predefined number of times, the predefined number being associated with the selected instruction block.

The invention relates to a cryptographic method protected against attacks of the covert channel type. The invention is in particular advantageous for protecting algorithms during which a block of instructions from amongst several different blocks of instructions is executed as a function of an input variable. Such an algorithm is for example, but not limitingly, a binary exponentiation algorithm performing a calculation of the type B=AD, with A, B and D being integer numbers. Such an algorithm is for example implemented in electronic devices such as chip cards.
The outline diagram of such an algorithm is depicted in FIG. 1. It comprises a first step of testing the value of an input data item. According to the result of the test, a block of instructions Π0 or a block of instructions Π1 is carried out. The algorithm can then terminate, or a new test step is performed on another input variable. In the example of an operation of the type B=AD, the input variable is a bit Di of D and the diagram in FIG. 1 is repeated successively for each bit of D.
The blocks of instructions Π0, Π1 each comprise a set of instructions to be executed, for example operations of addition, multiplication, variable updating, etc. The number and/or the type of instruction may be different from one block of instructions Π0, Π1 to the other.
Many cryptographic algorithms are based on the outline diagram in FIG. 1. This is in particular the case with cryptographic algorithms based on exponentiation calculations of the type B=AD, where A, B are integer numbers usually of large size, and D a predetermined number of M bits.
The numbers A, B may correspond for example to a text which is enciphered or to be enciphered, a data item which is signed or to be signed, a data item which is verified or to be verified, etc. The number D may correspond to elements of keys, private or public, used for enciphering or deciphering the numbers A, B.
By way of example of the algorithms such as the so-called "Square-And-Multiply" algorithm, the so-called "Right-To-Left binary algorithm" and the so-called "(M, M3) algorithm" may be used for performing exponentiation calculations.
A malevolent user may possibly undertake attacks aimed at discovering in particular confidential information (such as for example the key D or a data item derived from this key) manipulated in processings carried out by the calculation device executing an exponentiation operation.
A simple attack, known as a "timing attack", against the algorithm in FIG. 1 consists in measuring the time necessary for the device to execute a block of instructions between two test steps. If the execution times for the blocks of instructions Π0, Π1 are different, then it is easy to identify a block of instructions Π0 or Π1 and to deduce therefrom the value of the associated input variable.
In order to protect against this attack, it is possible to add fictional instructions in the shortest block of instructions Π0 or Π1 (a block of instructions is "the shortest" if the time taken to perform it is the least) so that the two blocks of instructions Π0, Π1 are of the same duration.
An instruction is said to be fictional if its execution does not modify the data manipulated by the algorithm. For example, the instruction i←i−0 is a fictional instruction (i is here a loop variable and the notation "←" signifies incrementation, by zero here, of the loop variable).
Though this solution is effective against "timing attacks", it is not effective against other types of covert channel attack and it may also be detrimental to the algorithm execution time.
The most widely known covert channel attacks are the so-called simple or differential ones. Covert channel attack means an attack based on a physical quantity measurable from outside the device and whose direct analysis (simple attack) or analysis according to a statistical method (differential attack) makes it possible to discover information manipulated in processings carried out in the device. For example, in a "timing attack", the covert channel (the physical quantity measurable from the outside) is time.
Covert channel attacks can make it possible to discover confidential information. These attacks were in particular revealed by Paul Kocher (Advances in Cryptology—CRYPTO '99, Vol. 1666 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pp. 388-397, Springer-Verlag, 1999).
Amongst the physical quantities which can be exploited for these purposes, there can be cited the execution time, the current consumption, the electromagnetic field radiated by the part of the component used for executing the calculation, etc. These attacks are based on the fact that, during the execution of an algorithm, the manipulation of a bit, that is to say its processing by a particular instruction, leaves a particular imprint on the physical quantity in question, according to the value of this bit and/or according to the instruction.
Covert channel attacks may succeed with algorithms such as the one in FIG. 1 if the blocks of instructions Π0, Π1 are not equivalent vis-à-vis these attacks.
The term "equivalent" must be understood here and throughout the remainder of the text in the following manner. Two instructions INST1, INST2 (or two blocks of instructions Π0, Π1) are said to be equivalent (INST0 is denoted ˜INST1) if it is not possible to differentiate them by means of a covert channel attack. This is the case in particular if the physical quantity measured during the attack follows the same development for the two instructions. It should be noted however that two instructions may be equivalent vis-à-vis one covert channel attack and not be equivalent vis-à-vis another covert channel attack.
In the same way, it will be said that two instructions (or blocks of instructions) are equal if, when they are used with the same input data, they produce identical output data.
It is known how to protect against covert channel attacks by adding fictional instructions to the algorithm. It is assumed hereinafter that a fictional instruction is equivalent to a similar real instruction. For example, the instruction i←i−0 is assumed to be equivalent to the instruction i←i−1.
In the case of the algorithm in FIG. 1, it is thus known how to effect a fictional block of instructions Π1 after each block of instructions Π0, and to effect in a symmetrical manner a fictional block of instructions Π0 before each block of instructions Π1 (see the steps in dotted lines in FIG. 1). Thus, whatever the value of the input data item, a block of instructions Π0 and a block of instructions Π1 will be effected, in this order, one or other being fictional, so that it is not possible to predict the value of the input data item, the physical quantities relating to a calculation being equivalent. Thus there is denoted:(Π0∥Π1(fictional))˜(Π0(fictional)∥Π1).
The notation "∥" signifies the successive effecting of blocks of instructions Π0, Π1 (or more generally the successive effecting of two instructions).
Though this solution is effective against covert channel attacks, it does however have the drawback of multiplying on average by two the time needed for executing the algorithm.
This is because, in the case of an unprotected algorithm using M input data (for example the M bits of a data item D), statistically on average M/2 blocks of instructions Π0 and M/2 blocks of instructions Π1 are effected. If T0 and respectively T1 are the average times for executing a block of instructions Π0 or respectively Π1, then the average time for executing the unprotected algorithm is equal to M*(T0+T1)/2.
On the other hand, in the case of the algorithm protected by fictional blocks of instructions Π0, Π1, a block of instructions Π0 and a block of instructions Π1 are systematically effected for each of the M input data. Consequently the average time for executing the algorithm protected by fictional blocks of instructions is equal to M*(T0+T1).

Cryptographic method protected against covert channel type attacks


A composite target used in alignment of layers on a wafer uses alignment marks placed in a target area. First alignment marks are composed of material from a first layer placed on the wafer. As subsequent layers are placed on the wafer, alignment marks composed of material from the subsequent layers are placed within the target area. For example, alignment marks composed of material from a second layer are each placed adjacent to one of the alignment marks composed of material from the first layer. Alignment marks composed of material from a third layer are each placed adjacent to one of the alignment marks composed of material from the second layer. Alignment marks composed of material from a fourth layer are each placed adjacent to the alignment marks composed of material from the third layer. And so on. The alignment marks are, for example, each rectangular in shape.

This invention relates generally to processing integrated circuits and more particularly to auto alignment marks used to align layer placement during processing of wafers.
When processing wafers, targets are placed to assure each layer is properly aligned with respect to prior layers. Within the targets, alignment marks are placed. Layers placed subsequent to the alignment marks, utilize the alignment marks for proper placement. The subsequent layer can then be aligned to the mark within an alignment error. The alignment error results from the error tolerances of the processing devices. See for example, Canon Reticle Alignment for Canon I-2000/I-2500 Stepper Model, available from Canon U.S.A. having a business address of 2051 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95054.
For example, in a first layer, master marks may be placed in each target. Subsequent layers are all aligned to these first layer master marks. This assures that every layer subsequent to the first layer will be aligned to the first layer within the alignment error. However, one problem with such a master mark alignment system is that the total alignment errors between layers other than the first layer is the square root of two times the alignment error. Thus immediately adjacent layers may be misaligned an amount up to the square root of two times the alignment error. In some processes this amount of error between adjacent layers may be excessive.
Alternately, each layer may include alignment marks for each target. Each layer is aligned using alignment marks composed of material from the immediately prior layer. This guarantees that immediately adjacent layers are misaligned at most an amount equal to the alignment error. However, use of such a sequential mark alignment system may result in a "walking error" wherein misalignment between layers which are not immediately adjacent to one another can be significantly larger than the alignment error.


A microscopy imaging system includes a first light source for providing a first train of pulses at a first center optical frequency ω1, a second light source for providing a second train of pulses at a second center optical frequency ω2, a modulator system, an optical detector, and a processor. The modulator system is for modulating a beam property of the second train of pulses at a modulation frequency f of at least 100 kHz. The optical detector is for detecting an integrated intensity of substantially all optical frequency components of the first train of pulses from the common focal volume by blocking the second train of pulses being modulated. The processor is for detecting, a modulation at the modulation frequency f, of the integrated intensity of the optical frequency components of the first train of pulses to provide a pixel of an image for the microscopy imaging system.

The invention generally relates to vibrational microscopy and imaging systems, and relates in particular to vibrational imaging systems employing Raman scattering.
Conventional vibrational imaging techniques include, for example, infrared microscopy, Raman microscopy, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy.
Infrared microscopy, which generally involves directly measuring the absorption of vibrational excited states in a sample, is limited by poor spatial resolution due to the long wavelength of infrared light, as well as by a low penetration depth due to a strong infrared light absorption by the water in biological samples.
Raman microscopy records the spontaneous inelastic Raman scattering upon a single (ultraviolet, visible or near infrared) continuous wave (CW) laser excitation. Raman microscopy has improved optical resolution and penetration depth as compared to infrared microscopy, but the sensitivity of Raman microscopy is rather poor because of the very low spontaneous Raman scattering efficiency (Raman scattering cross section is typically on the order of 10−30 cm2). This results in long averaging times per image, which limits the biomedical application of Raman microscopy.
CARS microscopy, which uses two pulsed laser beams (pump and Stokes beams), significantly increases the absolute scattering signal due to the coherent excitation. The CARS process, however, also excites a high level of background from the vibrationally non-resonant specimen. Such a non-resonant background not only distorts the CARS spectrum of the resonant signal from dilute sample but also carries the laser noise, significantly limiting the application of CARS microscopy on both spectroscopy and sensitivity perspectives.
One approach to reduce the non-resonant background field in CARS microscopy is to take advantage of the fact that the non-resonant background has different polarization properties than the resonant signal. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,507 discloses a system in which the pump and Stokes beams are properly polarized and a polarization sensitive detector is employed. Another approach to reducing the non-resonant background field involves detecting the anti-Stokes field in a reverse direction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,809,814 discloses a system in which a CARS signal is received in the reverse direction (epi-direction) from the sample. For transparent samples, however the epi directed signal is significantly smaller than the forward directed signal, and a stronger signal may be desired for certain applications.
There is a need, therefore, for a system and method for providing much improved sensitivity in vibrational imaging, and in particular, to provide a microscopy system that preserves the Raman spectrum (and the associated vibrational signature) and provides an output resonant signal that is readily distinguishable from the non-resonant background.

Microscopy imaging system and method employing stimulated raman spectroscopy as a contrast mechanism


An adjustable, fastenerless modular shutter includes a pair of side rails, at least one shutter panel and a pair of end rails. A center rail can be provided. The side rails and end rails are mutually connected to form a frame for holding one or more shutter panels and center rails. Each end rails and the center rail has a front wall and a pair of runner portions having locking portions. The locking portions are slidably receivable in the pair of side rails and include interferingly, frictionally engaging projections for engaging the side rails to resist separation of the end rails from the side rails during assembly of the shutter. The side rails include front inwardly directed lips which assist in retaining the shutter panelis), the center rail and the end rails, particularly the runner portions. The end rails and the center rail include front surfaces raised from their respective runner portions to be planar with front surfaces of the side rails when the shutter is assembled. An overall aesthetically pleasing architectural appearance is achieved.

A variety of decorative building shutters are available for installation adjacent to openings in buildings, such as windows. One popular type of shutter which is available is assembled from modular components which are available in a range of sizes. Such modular shutters are easily tailored for particular installations.
Examples of such modular shutters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,966 to Foltman, entitled "Adjustable Height Shutter", 5,152,166 to MacGowan, entitled "Modular Shutter Assembly", and 5,265,391 to Ricard et al., entitled "Stabilized Modular Shutter", all of which patents are assigned to the assignee of this application. Other examples of modular shutters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,765,110 to MacLeod, entitled "Adjustable Plastic Shutter" and 5,060,442 to Chubb, entitled "Louvered Plastic Building Product."
Typically, modular shutters have a pair of side rails, a central shutter panel which, for example, may be planar or louvered, and top and bottom end rails. Generally, the side rails are cut to meet the particular size requirements of the shutter installation. The shutter panels are cut or sized accordingly. The width of modular shutters can be adjusted by use of shutter panels, end rails and mullions of different dimensions.
In many existing modular shutters, each shutter panel has a pair of runners extending along the opposite sides of the panel, transverse to the plane of the shutter panel. Typically, each of the side rails of such modular shutters has a channel formed on the inner wall thereof to slidably receive the runners of the shutter panel. The channel includes a front lip extending inwardly from a front edge of the inner wall and overlying an edge portion of the shutter panel.
The end rails of many shutters also include runner portions which are slidably received in the side rails. The side rails can be C-shaped in cross section with inner and outer walls. Typically, such end rails also include depending tab-like portions which project into the side rails at the ends thereof, against the outer wall to retain the shape of the side rail and to properly position the end rail thereon.
In assembling such shutters, the end rails are assembled to the side rails. One end rail can be assembled before the central panel and side rails are assembled. Typically, the side rails and end rails are fastened together, such as by stapling, to prevent separation thereof. The side and end rails are fastened along the portion where the end rail runner and side rail inner wall are adjacent to each other. While temporarily fastening the shutter in the assembled configuration with fasteners facilitates installation, it is nevertheless a time consuming and laborious task. When the shutter is installed, for example, adjacent to a window on a building surface, screws or other fasteners are driven through the side rails to secure the shutter to the building surface.
In known modular shutters, the end rails and center rails are configured to be attached to the side rails by interfitting into the channel on the inner wall beneath the front lip. The end rails and center rail include a front wall surface which is slightly recessed from the front wall surface of the side rails to fit beneath the lip.
When assembled, this also simplified the configuration of the end rails for insertion of the runner portions into the side rails. However, this presents an uneven and less than optimal appearance of the finished shutter.


A spinal anaesthesia is performed with the use of a step and instruments for removing an antiseptic substance after its application of patient's skin for disinfection and before introduction of a spinal needle, to prevent contamination of central nervous system by the anticeptic substance which otherwise would be introduced with the needle tip.

The present invention relates to a method of and a set for spinal anesthesia.
Spinal anesthesia is well known in medical practice. As shown in FIG. 1, a spinal needle 2' with a stylet 1' is introduced via an introducer 3' through a skin 4', ligamentum flavum 5', epidural space 6', dura mater 7, arachnoid 8' into a subarachnoid space 9' with spinal fluid, where peripheral nerves emerge from the spinal cord and a small amount of local anesthetic introduced through the needle into the space 9' causes a profound anesthesia from the waist down. A major problem with the spinal anesthesia is a PDHP causing headaches and contributed to a loss of spinal fluid through a hole made by the spinal needle. From more than 2 million of diagnostic spinal punctures the incidents of PDPH constitute up to 8% despite the ever reducing diameter of the needles.
In 1989 we suggested (ANAESTHESIA, UK and Ireland, v.20:4:14,1989) that a small amount of antiseptic solution used for skin preparation reaches the subarachnoid space with the tip of the needle bypassing the brain barrier, it contaminates the central nervous system of the patient with highly toxic antiseptic solution and causes the development of benign aseptic self-limited meningismus (PDHP). It was proposed as a hypothesis to wash off the antiseptic solution before administration of anaesthesia by the spinal needle. The prevention of PDHP has been achieved by us in 1086 cases over the last 5 years in our experiments, in which we removed the antiseptic from the patient prior to the administration of anaesthesia.
In known methods of spinal anaesthesia no steps of removal of antiseptic solution were proposed. In known sets for spinal anaesthesia no means were provided for the antiseptic solution removal, as can be seen from FIG. 2 in which the set support S has only an antiseptic application section 2 provided with antiseptic application grip sponges 1, and a spinal anaesthesia section 7 provided with syringes, spinal needle, stylet, introducer, anaesthesia solution reservoir, etc.


Provided is a head including a channel formation substrate that is provided with a pressure generating chamber which communicates with a nozzle for ejecting a liquid, a piezo element, a driving circuit board that is bonded to the one surface side of the channel formation substrate, and a driving circuit for driving the piezo element. The piezo element and the driving circuit are electrically connected to each other via a bump which is provided on any one of the channel formation substrate and the driving circuit board. A holding portion that holds the piezo element is provided between the driving circuit board and the channel formation substrate. The holding portion is opened to an atmosphere through an atmosphere open passage which is provided to penetrate the driving circuit board in a direction in which the driving circuit board and the channel formation substrate are stacked.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a head which ejects a liquid, and a liquid ejecting apparatus which is provided with the head, and particularly relates to an ink jet recording head and an ink jet type recoding apparatus which eject ink as the liquid.
2. Related Art
A piezo ink jet system is an on-demand type ink jet printing system which discharges a liquid droplet by deforming a piezo element through the applying of a voltage to the piezo element (JIS Z8123-1: 2013).
A permanent head is a machine portion or an electrical portion of a printer main body which continuously or intermittently generates a liquid droplet of ink (JIS Z8123-1: 2013).
The permanent head (hereinafter, referred to as a "head") which is used in the piezo ink jet system is provided with a channel formation substrate on which a pressure generating chamber, which communicates with a nozzle for ejecting a liquid droplet is formed, a piezo element which is provided on one surface side of the channel formation substrate, and a driving circuit board in which a driving circuit, which is bonded onto the channel formation substrate so as to be close to the piezo element and drives the piezo element is provided. The permanent head ejects the liquid droplet from the nozzle by driving the piezo element by the driving circuit and applying a pressure change to the liquid in the pressure generating chamber.
As the piezo element described above, a thin-film type piezo element which is formed on the channel formation substrate through a film formation method and a lithography method has been proposed. When using such a thin-film type piezo element, it is possible to dispose the piezo element at high density; however, it is difficult to electrically connect the piezo element which is disposed at high density and the driving circuit.
For this reason, there have been suggested a configuration such that a bump is provided on the driving circuit board, and the driving circuit and the piezo element are electrically connected to each other via the bump (for example, JP-A-2014-51008).
In this way, by using the bump for connection between the driving circuit and the piezo element, it is possible to easily connect the piezo element which is disposed at high density and the driving circuit at low cost.
However, there is a problem in that if a holding portion, which is a space for accommodating a piezo element, between the driving circuit board and the channel formation substrate is sealed, a pressure change in the holding portion is generated by the driving of the piezo element, and thus the displacement of the piezo element is disturbed due to the pressure change in the holding portion. In addition, if the holding portion is sealed, the pressure of a gas in the holding portion changes due to a temperature change, the displacement of the piezo element is disturbed due to the pressure change in the holding portion, a membrane for separating the holding portion from a flow path is destroyed, ink flows into the holding portion from the flow path, and thereby the piezo element may be destroyed due to the inflowing ink.
In addition, there is a problem in that if the holding portion is sealed, at the time of bonding the driving circuit board and the channel formation substrate, moisture contained in the atmosphere is sealed, and becomes condensation at a low temperature such that the moisture is attached to the piezo element, thereby destroying the piezo element.
Note that such a problem exists in not only a head for ejecting ink, but also a head for ejecting liquid droplets other than the ink.


An integrated circuit includes a delay compensation circuit (221, 222) that further includes a terminal for receiving a varying signal from a circuit external to the integrated circuit; a sampler circuit that samples and holds a present value of the varying signal at each occurrence of a transition in a digital signal; an integrator, coupled to the sampler circuit, that integrates a voltage difference between a sample of the varying signal and a reference signal, and that outputs results of the integration, wherein a time constant of the integrator is greater than a period of the varying signal; a waveform generator that generates a decreasing voltage in response to a transition in a second digital signal; and a comparator that has one input terminal for receiving the decreasing voltage, an inverted input terminal for receiving the results, and an output terminal for outputting a signal that generates an output signal.

1. Field
This invention relates generally to delay compensation circuits, and more specifically a delay compensation circuit that can be used with a driver stage of a switched-mode power supply.
2. Related Art
A switched-mode power supply (hereinafter "SMPS") is a type of direct current voltage to direct current voltage converter that includes two power transistors in a push-pull configuration and an inductor coupled between the two power transistors and an output terminal of the SMPS.
A driver stage of a SMPS alternately switches the two power transistors on and off. To ensure that only one of the two power transistors are on at any moment, the driver stage creates a dead time that occurs during switching transitions. Dead time is defined as an interval during which both power transistors are off. The dead time occurs at each cycle during a period between when one power transistor turns off and the other power transistor turns on. The presence of the dead time avoids a situation where both power transistors are on simultaneously, which would cause a short circuit current and may also lead to failure of the power transistors. The dead time causes an output voltage of the SMPS to be clamped around −0.6V (one diode voltage drop) due to the effect of the inductor. The dead time inserts losses into the SMPS, and such losses become more significant when the output voltage of the SMPS is relatively low. For example, if a SMPS has an output voltage above 4V, the diode voltage drop during the dead time may not be a problem, but if a SMPS has an output voltage of 1.8V or less, the diode voltage drop during the dead time may compromise efficiency of the SMPS. A SMPS having an output voltage of 1.8V or less is used as a power supply for some microprocessors.
A high switching frequency of a SMPS allows components, such as inductors and capacitors, to be small in size and allows the SMPS to have a fast reaction time relative to changes in load current. Disadvantageously, the losses due to the dead time become more significant as the switching frequency is increased.
FIG. 1 illustrates a known device 100 comprising an output stage of a SMPS 102 coupled to a known driver stage 104. The known driver stage 104 comprises known switcher logic 106, an upper buffer 108, a lower buffer 110, a first comparator 121 and a second comparator 122. The first comparator 121 outputs, to the known switcher logic 106, an F_LATCHA signal. The second comparator 122 outputs, to the known switcher 106, an R_LATCHA signal. The SMPS 102 comprises an upper power transistor 131, a lower power transistor 132, an inductor 134 coupled between the power transistors, and an output terminal 140 of the SMPS, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The SMPS 102 also comprises diodes 135 and 136 that are inherently within power transistors 131 and 132, respectively. A load capacitor 137 and a load resistor 138 are coupled to the output terminal 140 of the SMPS 102.
A variable voltage SWA appears at a node 133 between the two power transistors 131 and 132. The inductor 134 is coupled between node 133 and the output terminal 140 of the SMPS 102. The inductor 134 affects the voltage at node 133. The first comparator 121 compares the SWA voltage with a fixed DC reference voltage VREF, which is typically chosen to be slightly above 0V. The second comparator 122 compares the SWA voltage with a fixed DC reference voltage VREFR, which is typically chosen to be slightly below 0V.
The known switcher logic 106 of the driver stage 104 generates W_VGUA and W_VGLA signals that are fed into the upper buffer 108 and the lower buffer 110, respectively, of the SMPS 102. The known switcher logic 106 generates the W_VGUA and W_VGLA signals based, in part, upon timing of the F_LATCHA signal from the first comparator 121 and the R_LATCHA signal from the second comparator 122.
The upper buffer 108 and the lower buffer 110 output VGUA and VGLA signals, respectively, that alternately turn on and off the two power transistors 131 and 132 such that only one power transistor is on at any moment. The VGUA signal alternately turns on and off the upper power transistor 131. The VGLA signal alternately turns on and off the lower power transistor 132.
Disadvantageously, the known driver stage 104 may be unable to reduce the dead time sufficiently enough for optimal efficiency.
Known driver stages, such as known driver stage 104, may increase the dead time when inherent delays associated with comparators and logic paths have a longer duration than the time of one sweep of the SWA voltage.
Furthermore, inherent delays associated with comparators and logic paths may vary with process, noise, temperature, VDD variation, clock and timing variation, part-to-part variation, and other random effects. The dead time of known driver stages, including known driver stage 104, may increase when such inherent delays are unknown and/or vary.


A method and system for generating a computer application is disclosed. The computer application is generated on a host system in an arbitrary object framework that separates a content of said computer application, a form of said computer application and a functionality of said computer application. Arbitrary objects are created with corresponding arbitrary names of various object types for generating said content of said computer application, said form of said computer application, and said functionality of said computer application. The arbitrary objects are managed in an object library. The arbitrary objects are deployed from said object library into a design framework to create said computer application.

Three processes used to create complex software applications such as web sites are form, function, and content. Form includes graphic designs, user interfaces, and graphical representations created by a designer or a group of designers. Function includes logical functionality, which can be software code created by a programmer or group of programmers. Form includes informative content. Informative content can include written, recorded, or illustrated documentation, such as photographs, illustrations, product marketing material, and news articles. Content can be created by writers, photographers, artists, reporters, or editors.
Currently, typical workflows dictate a serial approach to integrating the form, function, and content to create complex software applications such as a web site. The serial approach is illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, content 10 for a complex software application can be chosen or created. Form 12 for the presentation of content 10 can then be created. Functionality 14 can then be generated using code to create the complex software application (product 16) with the desired information (content 10) and style (form 12). Using the method illustrated in FIG. 1, every final component of the complex software application must be manipulated by a programmer before it is ready to be used. The exact workflow may vary from industry to industry or business to business, but the basic restrictions are generally the same.
A traditional approach such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, may create unwanted bottlenecks in the production process. Each upstream revision, such as a change of content 10 or design 12, forces a repetition of the entire process. As an example, consider a web site for a large newspaper. The web site may have a function that can include a file into the web site. The marketing department may decide to change the appearance of the header on the web site depending on the browser of a user. In this case, a programmer may need to invoke an external script or embed some specific logic within the web site. Unfortunately, if there is a large web site with thousands of pages of information stored on a server, the programmer may have to change every one of the thousands of pages. Therefore, a small change by the marketing department can cause a large burden on the programming department.
Prior art solutions have succeeded in partially separating some of these functions. Notably, content management databases and digital repositories provide a means of separating content from form and function. Likewise, sophisticated software development teams frequently employ internal code structuring techniques that can help to minimize dependencies between interface designs and the functions they access. However, content management tools typically fail to address form/function issues. Therefore, there can still be production slow-downs due to changes in form that require a subsequent change in functionality.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for generating web sites in an arbitrary object framework


A new use of, and method of treatment using, a compound selected from the group consisting essentially of compounds of Formula I: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is hydrogen, lower alkanoyl of up to 6 carbon atoms or aroyl selected from benzoyl and naphthoyl;. R.sub.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms or arylalkyl selected from benzyl, phenylethyl and phenylpropyl; PA1 R.sub.3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms; PA1 R.sub.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, or when X is oxygen, R.sub.4 together with R.sub.5 can represent --CH.sub.2 --O--; PA1 X is a valency bond, --CH.sub.2, oxygen or sulfur; PA1 Ar is selected from phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl and tetrahydronaphthyl; PA1 R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are individually selected from hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, hydroxyl, lower alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, a --CONH.sub.2 -- group, lower alkoxy of up to 6 carbon atoms, benzyloxy, lower alkylthio of up to 6 carbon atoms, lower alkysulphinyl of up to 6 carbon atoms and lower alkylsulphonyl of up to 6 carbon atoms; or PA1 R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 together represent methylenedioxy;. or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for inhibition of proliferation of smooth muscle cells. The new use of, and method of treatment using, the present antiproliferative compounds prevent restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and prevent development of atherosclerosis.

Abnormal vascular smooth muscle proliferation is associated with cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and most endovascular procedures. Abnormal vascular smooth muscle proliferation is a common complication of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The incidence of chronic restenosis resulting from vascular smooth muscle proliferation following PTCA has been reported to be as high as 40-45% within 3-6 months. Capron, L., Heudes, D., Chajara, A. & Bruneval, P. (1991) J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol., 18, 207-211; Bourassa, M. (1992) J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., 19, 1410-1411. Several neurohumoral factors, including angiotensin II and norepinephrine, as well as growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), have been implicated in the development of vascular restenosis in vivo. Bourassa, M., et al. supra; Powell, J. S., Clozel, J. -P., Muller, R. K. M., Kuhn, H., Hefti, F., Hosang, M. & Baumgartner, H. R. (1989) Science, 245, 186-198; Clozel, J. -P., Hess, P., Michael, C., Schietinger, K. & Baumgartner, H. R. (1991) Hypertension, 18 (Suppl. II), II55-II59 ; Fingerle, J., Sanders, K. H. & Fotev, Z. (1991) Basic Res. Cardiol., 86, 75-81; Forney-Prescott, M., Webb, R. L. & Reidy, M.A. (1991) Am. J. Pathol., 139, 1291-1296.; Kauffman, R. F., Bean, J. S., Zimmerman, K. M., Brown, R. F. & Steinberg, M. I. (1991) Life Sci., 49, 223-228; Azuma, H., Y. & Hamasaki, H. (1992) Br. J. Pharmacol., 106, 665-671.; Ferns, G. A. A., Raines, E. W., Sprugel, K. H., Motani, A. S., Reidy, M. A. & Ross, R. (1991) Science, 253, 1129-1132; and Lindner, V. & Reidy M. A. (1991) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. (USA), 88 3739-3743.
The high incidence of vascular reocclusion associated with PTCA has led to the development of in vivo animal models of restenosis and the search for agents to prevent restenosis. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, a-adrenoceptor antagonists and growth factor antibodies have generally produced only a modest (10-50%) reduction of vascular restenosis in such animal models. Powell, J. S., et al., supra; Fingerle, J., et al., supra; Forney-Prescott, M., et al., supra; and Kauffman, R. F., et al., supra. Clinical studies with ACE inhibitors (which showed only a slight protective effect in animal models of restenosis) have failed to demonstrate significant efficacy in the prevention of angiographically-defined restenosis in humans. Popma, J. J., Califf, R. M. & Topol, E. J. (1991) Circulation, 84, 1426-1436. This limited or insignificant protection against vascular restenosis afforded by agents with specific mechanisms of action most likely reflects the complex nature of the pathophysiology underlying vascular restenosis; a multiplicity of chemotactic and mitogenic factors are believed to be involved in this response to vascular wall injury, and it is unlikely that interfering with the actions of only one of these factors will prove to be beneficial.
Therefore, therapeutic anti-mitotic agents which reduce or prevent the abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells associated with cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and vascular hypertrophy associated with hypertension, or resulting from complications following PTCA and causing chronic restenosis are highly desirable.

Use of, and method of treatment using, carbazolyl-(4)-oxypropanolamine compounds for inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation

Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceuticals Corporation - SmithKline Beecham Corp., Ltd. Partnership No. 1


A printing device has paper feed devices upstream and downstream of a printing station. The downstream paper feed devices uses pairs of pressure feed rolls which frictionally feed the paper when received. A tapered guide channel positioned in side by side relation with the pair of feed rolls comprises a stationary guide plate and pivotable guide plate with guide surfaces designed to collapse any curl in the leading edge of single or multilayer paper. A spring maintains the pivoted guide plate in operating position with a predetermined spring force which opposes deflection by the leading edge of the paper but allow deflection due to paper generated forces exceeding the predetermined spring force.

In printers, fan folded paper is commonly fed by paper moving devices located on opposite sides of a print station which in a dot matrix printer commonly comprises a horizontal bar platen and a traversing print head. The paper moving device on the upstream side of the print station often comprises pin feed devices such as pin belt tractors which engage perforations along opposite edges of the paper. The paper moving device on the downstream side is usually a friction feed device comprised of one or more pairs of cooperating pressure feed rolls. The paper feeding devices are operated in a coordinated manner by a common drive mechanism for feeding the paper in a substantially straight line path in forward and reverse directions across the platen and through the print station. Among other things the use of dual paper moving devices enables the paper, which can be either single or multiple layers, to be tensioned for printing. A tear structure may also be provided downstream from the feed rolls to allow, portions of the paper to be separated from the printer. Examples of printers with such paper feeding, are the IBM 4224 Printer and the IBM 4230 Printer. Other examples of dual feed devices of the above type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,030,025; 5,005,746; 4,995,745 and 4,671,686, the latter describing the dual feed devices as parts of a paper feed module or assembly which can be removed from, and installed onto the frame of a printer. The printer frame contains the platen, the print mechanism and the power drive system along with electrical controls for operating the print mechanism and the power drive system.
In order to realize the maximum utilization of the paper, the leading edge margin should be as small as possible, i.e. the first print line should be as close as practicable to the leading edge of the paper. It has been found, however, that printing close to the, leading edge of certain grades of paper tends to cause the leading edge to curl or to spread in the case of multi-layer paper. Consequently, the leading edge of the paper, unless constrained as it is moved beyond the print station toward the feed rolls, will be misaligned and will not enter the feed rolls properly so that the paper jams or is damaged. Curling or spreading of the leading edge of the paper also occurs when the paper is torn off at the tear structure. Thus, the same problem of misalignment and paper jamming results when the paper, in order to print near the leading edge, is then reverse fed to the extent that the leading edge is no longer held within the feed rolls.
One possible approach to solving the problem would be to provide means for separating the feed rolls until the paper is within the pinch point or bite of the rolls. Another approach might be to use paper which is sufficiently stiff so that curling or spreading is minimal or non-existent. Both approaches have obvious limitations. A further approach is to provide a paper guide structure between the print station and the feed rolls. Heretofore, one type of guide structure consists of stationary guide plates arranged to form a channel or chute extending between successive pairs of feed rolls or between a rotating platen and a pair of feed rolls. Such structures have been primarily designed for single sheet feeding and are not easily adjusted to accommodate paper having different layers. Another type paper guide structure consists of one or more stationery guide plates extending through and in either direction beyond the print station and includes springs or spring loaded pressure rolls or belts which press the paper against a surface of the guide plate. Besides being unduly complex, such structures place limitations on the design and servicing of the printer and paper feed devices. Sheet feeding devices are known which use mechanisms for removing curl from the sheet to improve stacking. None have dealt with the problem of leading edge curling or spreading of single or multilayer papers.
Examples of various types of guide structures may be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,528,420; 2,973,957; 3,352,470; 3,556,512; 4,197,025; 4,669,721; 4,842,263; 4,903,954; 4,995,745; 4,995,746; 4,997,179; 5,000,598; and 5,030,024. U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,525 deals with the problem of distortion across the center section of the leading edge of a document being fed by pin feed tractors into the entry structure of a printer. The problem is solved by providing an entry plate with different entry slope angles to guide different parts of the distorted leading edge of the paper into the entry. None of these references is suitable for solving the leading edge curling/flaring problem when paper is being fed into feed rolls.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for suppressing autoimmune response in an afflicted joint in a human. The method involves oral administration of between about 5 and 25 .mu.g per day of type II collagen.

Collagen is the most common protein in the structural support of the human or mammalian body. Collagen's basic elemental unit is the tropocollagen protein. Tropocollagen is composed of three polypeptide chains of the same size. These chains are wound about each other forming a superhelical cable or a triple-stranded helical rod. Each of the three chains in tropocollagen consists of about a thousand amino acid residues.
Several different types of collagen proteins are currently recognized as distinct, differing in amino acid composition and length. Type I collagen is composed of two alpha-1(I) and one alpha-2 polypeptide chains. Type I collagen is mostly found in the supporting structure of skin tissue, tendon, bone and in the eye cornea. Type II collagen contains three polypeptide chains of the alpha-1(II) type and is found primarily in articular cartilage, within the intervertebral discs and in the vitreous body within the eye. Type III collagen is composed of three alpha-1(III) polypeptide chains and is found in tissues such as fetal skin, the cardiovascular system and reticular fibers in the eye. Type IV collagen has a mixture of two alpha-1(IV) and one alpha-2(IV) polypeptide chains and is primarily found in basement membranes. Type V collagen has two alpha-1(V) and one alpha-2(V) polypeptide chains and is found, e.g., in placenta and skin. Other types of collagen have comparable structural differences from one another.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a cell-mediated autoimmune disease, i.e., a condition where the immune system mistakenly perceives the body's own tissue as foreign and mounts an abnormal immune response against it. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by persistent inflammatory synovitis that causes destruction of cartilage and bone erosion, leading to structural deformities in the peripheral joints. Joints containing articular cartilage of which Type II collagen is a major component are particularly affected.
Rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by joint swelling, inflammation, stiffness and pain especially upon flexing. In the advanced stages of arthritis, debilitating pain may result from even a slight movement of the joints. A substantial percentage of afflicted humans possess T-cells of the CD4+ type specifically reactive with collagen and/or have an abnormal humoral response against collagen.
Present treatment for arthritis involves use of nonspecific cytotoxic immunosuppressive drugs. These drugs suppress the entire immune system and are incapable of selectively suppressing the abnormal autoimmune response. This global restraint of the immune system over time increases the risk of infection. Non-limiting examples of such immunosuppressive drugs include methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, Imuran (azathioprine) and cyclosporin A.
Additionally, prolonged therapy with these nonspecific cytotoxic immunosuppressive drugs entails toxic side effects, including increased tendency towards development of certain malignancies, kidney failure, bone marrow suppression, diabetes and liver function disorders. Moreover, cytotoxic immunosuppressive drug therapy merely slows down the progress of the disease, which resumes at an accelerated pace after the therapy is discontinued. For example, about six weeks after such a drug is discontinued, the patient deteriorates to the same stage as before the treatment was begun. In addition, effectiveness of these drugs is self-limiting; they gradually cease being effective after about 2-5 years.
Steroid compounds such as prednisone and methylprednisolone (which are also non-specific immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory drugs) are also used for symptomatic relief. Steroids also have significant toxic side effects associated with their long term use.
Thus, current treatments for arthritis are of limited efficacy, involve significant toxic side effects, and cannot be used continuously for extended periods of time, which further limits their efficacy. Rheumatoid arthritis afflicts over 2 million individuals in the United States in any given year. Accordingly, there is an acute need for novel treatments and for novel therapeutic compositions for human rheumatoid arthritis that do not suffer from one or more of the drawbacks identified above.
An alternative treatment for arthritis is the oral antigen tolerization therapy proposed by the present inventors. It involves the oral administration of one or more tissue-specific antigens (i.e., antigens occurring only in the tissue under autoimmune attack) which have the ability to suppress the autoimmune response responsible for a particular autoimmune disease specifically, thus leaving other immune functions essentially intact.
The antigens useful in this approach generally include autoantigens, i.e., tissue-specific antigens that are themselves the subject of autoimmune attack. Pure bystander antigens, which are also tissue-specific (but are not the target of autoimmune attack) also possess the ability to elicit suppressor T-cells which are targeted to the afflicted tissue where they exert their immune suppressive activity via the release of immunoregulatory substances such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-.beta.), interleukin-4, or interleukin-10. These immunoregulatory substances in turn down-regulate all immune cells concentrated in the vicinity of the afflicted tissue, thereby suppressing immune responses in that locality. Bystander antigens include without limitation portions of autoantigens that (i) are not themselves the target of autoimmune attack and (ii) possess the requisite suppressive activity via elicitation of suppressor T-cells, i.e. are recognized by T-cells of the host.
Prior to the work of the present inventors, oral antigen tolerance therapy for arthritis had been tried only on artificially induced arthritis-like diseases in animals (adjuvant arthritis and collage-induced arthritis).
In the rodent models, collagen was shown only to prevent disease induction and had no or minimal effect on pre-induced disease. Oral antigen tolerization had never been tried in humans afflicted with arthritis.
Weiner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,347 discloses the oral administration of between 50 .mu.g and 10 mg and preferably between 100 .mu.g to 500 .mu.g per day of type II collagen, to treat arthritis in humans. At the time the invention of the '347 patent was made, 50 .mu.g per day was considered to be an extraordinarily small quantity of active ingredient for administration to humans for effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It has now been discovered that even more effective and improved treatment of humans suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is obtained by oral administration of as little as 5 and typically 10-25 .mu.g per day, and preferably 20 .mu.g per day of type II collagen.
The discovery that 20 .mu.g of type II collagen per day is a more effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis than higher doses is entirely surprising and unexpected. Classical pharmacology posits that a dose-response relationship exists whereby higher doses of a pharmacological agent give greater responses until a plateau is reached in the response. Lower doses should give lesser, not greater, responses. This would especially be expected to be the case with the present invention, which involves oral administration of a protein. Most pharmacological agents which are proteins must be administered via injection (e.g. insulin) because of the well-known destructive effects on proteins resulting from passage through the strongly acidic environment of the human digestive system. The finding that a lesser amount of orally administered type II collagen (on the order of 5 or 10 to 25 .mu.g) was useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis was therefore entirely surprising and unexpected.

Method of treating rheumatoid arthritis with low dose type II collagen