A method of detoxifying a patient by peritoneal dialysis which patient will benefit from peritoneal dialysis treatment by involving underperfused or pathological tissue the administration of an agent suitable for peritoneal dialysis treatment, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective dosage amount of a pharmaceutical composition for peritoneal dialysis treatment, each dosage amount comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an agent suitable for use in peritoneal dialysis and a sufficient amount of a form of hyaluronic acid selected from hyaluronic acid and non-toxic salts and combinations thereof sufficient to alter the agent's performance in the human body wherein said amount of the form of hyaluronic acid is sufficient to provide a dosage between 10 mg and 3000 mg of the form of hyaluronic acid and wherein the molecular weight of the form of hyaluronic acid is less than 750,000 daltons but greater than 150,000 daltons.

In an article entitled "Solid cores of tumors keeping out best drugs" by Sandra Blakeslee published in the Jul. 8, 1989 edition of the Globe and Mail, Toronto, Ontario, Ms. Blakeslee submitted that a growing number of researchers believe that a basic misunderstanding of the structure of solid tumors has led researchers into designing cancer drugs that are doomed to fail in many patients.
She relates that, Dr. Herberman, Director of the Pittsburgh Cancer Center, said that for decades, cancer researchers have simply developed drugs, put them in the bloodstream and assumed they would be carried to the tumor giving almost no consideration to how uniformly the drug is distributed once it reaches the tumor.
Her article also provided that according to Dr. Judah Folkman, a leading researcher on blood growth factors at the Harvard Medical School, for a long time, physicians have been taught that tumors outgrow their blood supply. According to the article that statement is not true. Tumors compress their blood supply. This compression makes it harder to administer drugs.
The article provides further that most people think a tumor is nothing but a collection of cancer cells. According to Dr. Jain, another researcher, in reality the tumor is only 50 per cent cells. The other half is blood vessels and interstitial space. Interstitial space in a tumor, he said, can be likened to the space between marbles packed in a box.
The article further provides that no matter how biological agents are mixed and administered, they must cross a blood-vessel wall and then cross the interstitium to reach their targets, cancer cells. The article continues that every tumor is different and there are different regions within each. Moreover, tumors change daily as they grow and rearrange parts. Most blood vessels inside tumors are highly disorganized as they take tortuous turns and grow peculiar attachments to nearby vessels.
In general, Dr. Jain said, as a tumor grows, its outer region recruits new blood vessels from surrounding normal tissue. It also forms several abnormal blood vessels of its own. As the tumor grows in a confined space, many of the twisted blood vessels near its center are crushed. In turn, the tumor cells near them appear to die, although they grow into active cancer if transplanted in other animals. High pressures build up in these necrotic regions. Both blood vessels and liquid plasma in the interstitial spaces are squeezed. The pressure, therefore, prevents blood-borne molecules, including oxygen, from entering the central tumor areas.
Pressure is not uniform in normal tissue, Dr. Jain said, so a large molecule such as an antibody would reach its target through convection induced by pressure differences. But in the center of a tumor, pressure is uniformly high, blocking convection.
Molecules also migrate by diffusion Dr. Jain said, which is similar to the way a drop of ink spreads in water.
But he indicated that he measured antibody diffusion in tumors and found that it can take days, weeks or months for such large molecules to reach uniform concentration by diffusion in tumors. By then, it may be too late for treatments to do any good.
Finally, the fluid that builds up in the interstitium slowly leaks out of the tumor, he said, washing away molecules trying to reach its center.
In our Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 568,512 we disclose a new formulation suitable for use for treating cancer (for use in conjunction with at least thermotherapy (hyperthermia) and if desired, other modalities (such as chemotherapy or radiation)), the formulation comprising (for example in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier):
(a) a glucose inhibiting (non-toxic) amount of an agent that blocks the glucose transport protein (active transport molecule in the membrane) of a cell from transporting glucose into the cell, and PA1 (b) an effective (non-toxic) amount of an agent which (i) enhances penetration and transport of agent (a) through the tissue surrounding the various cellular elements, generally known as scar tissue or fibrous reaction around the cancerous tumor, and (ii) alters the penetration characteristics of the tissue surrounding the tumor to permit agent (a) to be transported to the center of the tumor. PA1 (a) a glucose inhibiting (non-toxic) amount to an agent that blocks the glucose transport protein (active transport molecule in the membrane) of a cell from transporting glucose into the cell, and PA1 (b) an effective (non-toxic) amount of an agent which (i) enhances penetration and transport of agent (a) through the tissue surrounding the various cellular elements, generally known as scar tissue or fibrous reaction around the cancerous tumor, and (ii) alters the penetration characteristics of the tissue surrounding the tumor to permit agent (a) to be transported to the center of the tumor. PA1 (a) a glucose inhibiting (non-toxic) amount of an agent that blocks the glucose transport protein (active transport molecule in the membrane) of a cell from transporting glucose into the cell, and PA1 (b) an effective (non-toxic) amount of an agent which (i) enhances penetration and transporting of agent (a) through the tissue surrounding the various cellular elements, generally known as scar tissue or fibrous reaction around the cancerous tumor, and (ii) alters the penetration characteristics of the tissue surrounding the tumor to permit agent (a) to be transported to the center of the tumor, and subjecting the cancer cells to hyperthermia (thermotherapy) therapy. In some instances other modalities (for example chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) may also be employed. PA1 (i) enhances penetration and transport of agent (a) through the tissue surrounding the various cellular elements generally known as scar tissue or fibrous reaction around the cancerous tumor, and PA1 (ii) alters the penetration characteristics of the tissue surrounding the tumor to permit agent (a) to be transported to the center of the tumor may comprise dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) (also called methylsulfone methane) or other carrier transport-type molecules having the characteristics which PA1 (i) enhances penetration and transport of agent (a) through the tissue surrounding the various cellular elements, generally known as scar tissue or fibrous reaction around the cancerous tumor, and PA1 (ii) alters the penetration characteristics of the tissue surrounding the tumor to permit agent (a) to be transported to the center of the tumor. PA1 (i) an active pharmacological substance or a mixture of pharmacological substances, either active or suitable for topical administration and PA1 (ii) a topical vehicle which comprises hyaluronic acid or a molecular fraction of hyaluronic acid or a salt of the same with an alkaline metal, an alkaline earth metal, magnesium, aluminium, ammonium or a pharmacological substance, optionally together with additional conventional excipients for pharmaceutical preparations for topical use. PA1 "The vehicling action of the hyaluronic esters also applies to associated medicaments of the type mentioned above in which the active substance acts not only topically or by nasal or rectal absorption, for example by nasal sprays or preparations for inhalation for the oral cavity or the pharynx, but also by oral or parenteral route, for example by intramuscular, subcutaneaous or intravenous route, as it favors absorption of the drug into the application site. The new medicaments can therefore be applied, apart from in the fields already mentioned, in practically all sectors of medicine, such as internal medicine, for example in pathologies of the cardiovascular system, in infections of the respiratory system, the digestive system, the renal system, in diseases of an endocrinological nature, in oncology, in psychiatry etc., and may also be classified therefore from the point of view of their specific action, being perhaps anesthetics, analgesics, anti inflammatories, wound healers, antimicrobics, adrenergic agonsits and antagonists, cytostatics, antirheumatics, antihypertensives, diuretics, sexual hormones, immunostimulants and immunosuppressants, for example, one of the drugs having the activity already described for the therapeutically active alcohols to be used as esterifying component according to the present invention, or for the therapeutically active bases used for the salification of the free carboxylic groups."
We also disclosed a combination and formulation suitable for use for treating cancer, the combination comprising:
After the introduction of the formulation or combination comprising agents (a) and (b) to the patient which have the effect of metabolically compromising the cancer cells of the tumor, the tumor and the cancer cells making up the tumor are stressed by at least thermotherapy (hyperthermia). In this regard, when agent (a) is transported into the tumor cells and the tumor cells are stressed, there is an inadequate amount of glucose available to the tumor cells for them to continue to function metabolically. Thus the tumor cell is impaired in its energy supply and dies. We also disclosed in the application a method for the treatment of cancer which method comprises administering (for example in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier):
The glucose inhibiting (non-toxic) amount of the agent that blocks the glucose transport protein of a cell from transporting glucose into the cell (in cancer cells there appear to be more than in normal cells) may comprise: ##STR1## or their analogues including phlorizin glucuronide; 4-deoxy-phloretin-2-D-glucoside and the like.
The effective (non-toxic) amount of the agent which
In the publication Ontario Medicine, Volume 8, No. 16 dated Aug. 21, 1989 the article "Toxic drug tamed but still potent" describes how an experimental liposomal drug delivery system, is used to encapsulate a highly toxic but highly effective anti-fungal agent, demonstrating that noxious drugs can be transformed into non-toxic agents without compromising clinical efficacy.
The article concluded as follows:
"It was initially hoped that liposomes would offer considerable potential as a drug delivery system for almost all pharmaceutical agents. However, research into the drug delivery system over the past two decades has shown that the artificial, cell-sized spheres form spontaneously with only a small subset of drugs available today thus limiting their use."
The effects of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) was previously studied in respect of the health of patients. The effects of Vitamin C have also been studied with respect to cancer treatment. It was found that the use of ascorbic acid in 10 gram doses to treat cancer patients increased the survival of terminally ill cancer patients. The use of ascorbic acid was found safe in very high doses.
When the vitamin cannot be absorbed completely from the gastrointestinal system, it will remain water in the bowel leading to diarrhea, which is watery but not dangerous unless it causes dehydration; it quickly forces patients to decrease the doses. It has and is being used by millions of people in these doses. Patients have taken 30 grams per day for 30 years. It is safer than common table salt, gram for gram. It does not cause kidney stones, does not cause pernicious anemia, does not make women infertile, does not cause cancer.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide formulations suitable for use to treat disease and conditions, the use of such formulations to treat disease and conditions, methods of treating disease and conditions and the delivery of medicinal and therapeutic agents for the treatment of disease (for example, cancer) and conditions.
Further and other objects of the invention will be realized by those skilled in the art from the following disclosure and in which Applicants refer to literature uncovered after the date of their invention.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglucan. Its molecular weight may vary from 50,000 dalton upwards, and it forms highly viscous solutions. As regards the actual molecular weight of hyaluronic acid in natural biological contexts, this is still a matter of much uncertainty: When the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid is to be determined, different values are obtained depending on the assay method employed, and on the source, the isolation method etc. The acid occurs in animal tissue, e.g. spinal fluid, ocular fluid, synovial fluid, cockscombs, skin, and also in some streptococci. Various grades of hyaluronic acid have been obtained. A preparation with an allegedly high degree of purity and alleged to be entirely free from side effects, is a non-inflammatory form described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,973; this preparation is said to have a molecular weight exceeding 750,000 dalton, preferably exceeding 1,200,000 dalton and is suggested for therapeutic use in various articular conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,619 relates to hyaluronic acid administered intra-articularly having a molecular weight of about 3.times.10.sup.6 dalton or more, which is prone to decrease the proteoglycan content of synovial fluid to almost normal levels. According to this patent, this indicates a positive effect on the proteoglycan metabolism of a joint. According to the Patent this is applicable both to inflammatory conditions and to degeneration caused by treatment with symptomatics, such as corticosteroid preparations. It is thus clear that a sufficiently high molecular weight of the hyaluronic acid is alleged to counteract side effects that might be caused by corticosteroids or other symptomatics producing similar effects. When corticosteroids are applied, the amount of hyaluronic acid in the synovial cavity will according to the Patent increase substantially and according to the inventors their hyaluronic acid preparations have a very positive effect on such clinical symptoms as pain, swelling and lameness.
The patent states that the objectives of the invention are attained by intra-articular administration of an effective amount of hyaluronic acid with a mean molecular weight exceeding 3.times.10.sup.6 dalton, preferably exceeding 4.times.10.sup.6 dalton; usually the molecular weight will not exceed 7.times.10.sup.6 dalton. The dosage of hyaluronic acid administered is stated to be preferably within the range of 5 mg-80 mg. The amount of solution given at each administration is generally less than 60 ml, e.g. less that 20 ml, of an aqueous solution of the acid or its salt. It is convenient to administer the acid dissolved in water (<2% w/w, buffered to physiological pH), for instance in the form of a water-soluble sodium salt. The exact amount will depend on the particular joint to be treated.
The Merck Index Specifies that Hyaluronic Acid has a Molecular Weight within the range of 50,000 to 8.times.10.sup.6 depending on source, methods of preparation and methods of determination. The Merck Publication teaches hyaluronic acid as a surgical aid (ophthalmological).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,576 purports to teach that hyaluronic acid, an agent well known to reduce the sequelae of trauma in mammalian joint tissue when applied directly to the traumatized tissue, will be carried to such traumatized tissue by the mammal's natural processes if applied at a site remote from the traumatized tissue. Thus hyaluronic acid in any therapeutically acceptable form can, according to the Patent, be administered by the typical remote routes including intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and topical.
This, the patent alleges, makes the utilization of hyaluronic acid much more convenient and attractive. For instance the treatment of arthritis in horse or human joints with hyaluronic acid according to the patent no longer requires more difficult intra articular injections.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,585 relates to a method of enhancing or regulating the host defence of a mammal, said method comprising administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of hyaluronic acid.
At column 1 lines 43-46, the patent provides that the invention was based on the unexpected discovery that administration of hyaluronic acid to mammals results in a considerable increase in the defence.
The hyaluronic acid employed in the Patent was Healon (T.M.) provided by Pharmacia AB, Uppsala, Sweden (Pharmacia AB is also entitled to the benefit of U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,973). The patent provides at column 4, line 19 that because a patient's infections had been hard to treat, instead of just hyaluronic acid being administered to the patient to increase the patient's defence, the patient was given hyaluronic acid and an antibiotic. While the patent states that the antibiotic was given in combination with hyaluronic acid, in fact because the hyaluronic acid was administered subcutaneously and because the patient was a heart patient, one skilled in the art would understand that any antibiotic administered, while possibly administered simultaneously was definitely administered separately intravenously (probably) or intramuscularly (less probably). Thus, (most probably) the hyaluronic acid administered according to the teachings of this patent was administered in order to prevent possible development of infections (increase the host's defence) and not for any other reason.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,524 discloses cross-linked gels of hyaluronic acid, alone and mixed with other hydrophilic polymers and containing various substances or covalently bonded low molecular weight substances and processes for preparing them. These products are alleged to be useful in numerous applications including cosmetic formulations and as drug delivery systems.
The patent further states that as hyaluronic acid is known to be a biologically tolerable polymer in the sense that it does not cause any immune or other kind of response when introduced into a human body, the cross-linked hyaluronic acid gels can be used for various medical applications. The cross-linked gels modified with other polymers or low molecular weight substances it is alleged can be used as drug delivery devices. For example, the inventors are alleged to have found that heparin introduced in a cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel retained its antithrombogenic activity.
The inventors also allege that they have also found that cross-linked gels of hyaluronic acid can slow down the release of a low molecular weight substance dispersed therein but not covalently attached to the gel macromolecular matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,024 purports to teach new medicaments for topical use containing:
Applicants are also aware of recently published Japanese Patent Document 61000017 dated 86/01/06 whose English abstract of disclosure states that the Japanese Patent Document relates to the use of hyaluronic acid or cross-linked hyaluronic acid or their salts as the active ingredient for inhibiting carcinoma metastasis.
According to the purported abstract of the Patent more that 1.0% of hyaluronic acid is dissolved in alkaline aq. soln. and pref. more than 50% of H.sub.2 O sol. org. solvent. eq. alcohol, acetone, dioxane, against total soln. is added. Preferably the pH is 12-14. Then multifunctional epoxy cpd. is added and reacted at 10-60 deg. C, pref. at 20-40-deg. C for 24 hrs. Cross-linking ratio of crosslinked hyaluronic acid or its salt is regulated by changing mol ratio of hyaluronic acid or its salt and multifunctional epoxy cpd.. Pref. hyaluronic acid used has intrinsic viscosity 0.2-30, m.w. 4000-2000000. The hyaluronic acid is allegedly used in several dosage forms. Clinical dose for adult is alleged to be normally, as hyaluronic acid or cross-linked hyaluronic acid, 25 mg-5 g/day (p.o.) and 10 mg-2.5 g/l dose (inj). The abstract alleges that the advantage is that the hyaluronic acid has no side effects as other anticancer drugs and has an analgesic and a tissue restoration effect.
European Patent Application 0295092 purports to teach a vehicle together with fragments of hyaluronic acid for delivering of the fragments of hyaluronic acid into the skin to reach the dermal layer of the skin to increase the development of blood vessels for stimulating hair growth or regrowth. The preferred fragments of hyaluronic acid are polysaccharides containing from 7 to 25 monosaccharide units. The patent provides it is apparent that the larger the fragments of hyaluronic acid, the greater the difficulty there is in delivering the fragments to the dermal layer of the skin, unless there is also present in the composition a means for enhancing the activity of said fragments.
The combination may thus include a means for enhancing the activity of the fragments of hyaluronic acid especially to improve their penetration through the skin following topical application. Some activity enhancers, it is alleged, also function as vehicles for the fragments of the hyaluronic acid.
Some activity enhancers are also alleged to possess the ability to stimulate or increase hair growth. Minoxidil is asserted among others to be such an activity enhancer. Thus both the fragments of hyaluronic acid and minoxidil are alleged to stimulate hair growth both delivered by a vehicle.
European Patent Application 0179442 asserts that where free radicals are formed in considerable quantities, hyaluronic acid is broken down or degraded before the hyaluronic acid has given the desired effect.
Canadian Letters Patent 1,240,929 teaches the combination of chondroitin sulfate compound and a hyaluronate to protect both human and animal cell layers and tissue subject to exposure to trauma.
European Patent Application 0208623 purports to teach hyaluronic acid as an augmentation of the activity of certain proteases. It also purports to teach the use of hyaluronic acid for treating connective tissue diseases including malignant tumors and cardiovascular disorders.
European Patent Application 270317 purports to teach the combination of an antiviral agent lacking inhibitory action and a compound [for example, hyaluronic acid] possessing cell fusion inhibitory activity and/or virus-adsorption inhibitory activity for treating disease carried by a virus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,941 purports to teach the use of an effective amount of hyaluronic acid as the active agent for the treatment of retroviruses in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,521 and European Patent Application 0265116 both describe hyaluronic acid fractions, the making thereof and cross-linked esters of hyaluronic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,521 describes esters of hyaluronic acid incorporated into pharmaceutical preparations as the active ingredient and as vehicles for ophthamological medicines for topical use (See column 11, lines 35 to 42; and column 12, lines 62 to column 13, line 3) and in suppositories for a systemic effect due to the effect of transcutaneous absorption, such as in suppositories.
The patent provides at column 13, lines 5 to 31:
Furosemide inhibits sodium reabsorption in the ascending limb of Henle's Loop and in both proximal and distal tubules. The action of the drug is independent of any inhibitory affect on carbonic anhydrase or aldosterone. Furosemide is known to promote diuresis in cases which have previously proved resistant to other diuretics. It has no significant pharmacological effects other than on renal function. In the human it is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Following intravenous administration a diuresis generally occurs within 30 minutes and the duration of action is about 2 hours.
Under a variety of circumstances, the patient can become relatively resistant to the effects of Lasix. This can be so for a variety of reasons but is certainly seen in those situations where there is a major amount of peripheral edema or "third spacing" of fluid which may be true in malnutrition and/or advanced carcinomas. In the latter instances, there is a markedly decreased level of albumin and in all probability, increased permeability and transudation of fluid out of the vascular system. Hence, these patients can become relatively resistant to any of the diuretics including high doses of Lasix administered intravenously.
There have been extensive studies to determine the defect in immune function that allows a tumor cell to develop. It was postulated that the immune system's major role was that of immunological surveillance to destroy abnormal cells. The concept of surveillance, while somewhat simplistic, remains an accepted concept for the elaborate mechanism of immune recognition and function that is present in the higher species--mammals.
It has then been postulated that tumors develop because of local or generalized immune suppression. However, if general immune suppression occurs, it is only certain types of neoplastic disorders that develop, mainly those of the lympho-reticular system. This observation is correct and represents a major challenge to the immune surveillance theory unless a specific reason can be shown as to why the individual cancer cell can develop plus individually evade the immune system.
It was demonstrated experimentally in 1974 that defects of macrophage function may exist in neoplastic disease.
The initial experiments found suppressor cells to be part of the immune system; these were either of the T-cell type of the macrophage cell system. There was presence demonstrated in neoplasia, chronic bacterial infection, recovery from massive injury and chronic fungal infection.
There has been repeated demonstration in experimental animals, that the macrophage cell function is altered in neoplastic disease. The macrophages in the animal's systems appeared "blocked" in their function. Generally when removed from the in vivo situation, washed in saline and cultured, they could perform normally. This block has been shown to be related to the excessive production of prostaglandin by neoplastic tissue or by the macrophage itself.
In the basic research efforts in the latter '70s and the early 80's, there existed considerable confusion as to what role immunotherapy should take in cancer. Activation or "hyping" of macrophages was thought to be important. However, in an examination of peritoneal macrophages obtained from patients with neoplastic disease, there was definite evidence that these macrophages were already activated yet were co-existing with cancer cells and not causing their destruction.
In this year, 1989 it has been shown that the malfunction of macrophages or the putative block is due to excessive prostaglandin and that this can be altered in tissue culture by corticosteroids, ASA, and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e. indomethacin, and naproxen (Naprosyn.TM.). Again, in animal tumors it was repeatedly demonstrated that these substances could alter the response to neoplastic cells and that various combinations of these substances employed with immune enhancing agents could produce very credible success in eliminating experimental tumors. Researchers combined Indomethacin therapy with Interleukin 2 and showed that this could effect a cure with experiment neoplasm.
There were continued problems with the use of any of these agents in the actual human in vivo experience. All of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID) produced major toxicity in terms of gastrointestinal, neurological, and other areas. Thus, the basis of the present approach is that under general circumstances the use of these agents in human disease, in sufficient amounts, the drug will penetrate to any pathological tissue to alter therapeutically local prostaglandin production. While intravenous preparations exist of Indomethacin and now of other agents, the data is overwhelming, as is our own experience, that using these drugs alone produces prohibitive side effects in human subjects. Therefore only insufficient amounts can be brought into the body to effect more than occasional responses in neoplasm.
However the majority of the evidence is present to indicate and therefore it can be postulated that the basis for neoplastic development and how the initial cell "sneaks by" the immune surveillance mechanism relates to its production of prostaglandin. One need postulate only one mutation to alter the amount of prostaglandin synthesis produced by cells when they become "malignant" to establish a mechanism of blocking out the initial cell in any immune reaction, i.e. the macrophage. It therefore became essential to develop a combination of NSAIDS for clinical use to produce a major improvement in response in neoplastic disease and other conditions where excessive prostaglandin synthesis represents the basis of the pathogenesis of this disease state, i.e. arthritis, and various others of the so-called connective tissue inflammatory disorders and/or auto-aggressive diseases.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,780 teaches a pharmaceutical composition comprising Vitamin C, a zinc salt, a sulfur amino acid for treating surface epithelium for epithelium regeneration. Hyaluronic acid may be added for applications in the reproductive tract.
Japanese Patent Publication 63/045223 relates to the treatment of disease caused by retroviruses. Hyaluronic acid is taught for prevention or therapy of leukemia or AIDS by suppressing replication of the virus.
An article entitled "Inactivation of Herpes Simplex Viruses by Nonionic Surfactants" by one of the inventors herein (Dr. Samuel Asculai) among others [published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, April 1978, pp. 686-690] disclosed nonionic surface-active agents, for example nonoxynol-9 found in Delfen.TM., "possessing ether or amide linkages between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions of the molecule rapidly inactivated the infectivity of herpes simplex viruses. The activity stemmed from the ability of nonionic surfactants to dissolve lipid-containing membranes. This was confirmed by observing surfactant destruction of mammalian cell plasma membranes and herpes simplex virus envelopes. Proprietary vaginal contraceptive formulations containing nonionic surfactants also inactivated herpes simplex virus infectivity. This observation suggests that nonionic surfactants in appropriate formulation could effectively prevent herpes simplex virus transmission."

Use of hyaluronic acid or its derivatives in peritoneal dialysis and formulations thereof


The CPU includes: a data transmission instruction output processor; a failure detection signal input processor to which a failure detection signal is input from a failure detection processor for detecting a failure of an input unit; a data storage memory for, each time an input data update processor of the input unit updates data, storing the updated data; and a CPU operation processor for obtaining input data from the data storage memory and obtaining a detection signal from the failure detection signal input processor to perform operation processing. The CPU operation processor obtains periodic data as of an amount of time given by the following expression ago:{ROUNDUP(T22/T1)}×T1

1 . Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data polling method and a digital instrumentation and control system for atomic power plant using the method.
2 . Description of the Related Art
A digital control system for atomic power plant needs to be reliable, so it needs to be a system in which, when a failure occurs, its cause can be accurately determined. So, in the system, the reliability of input data input from the outside, such as pres sure of pressurizer, temperature of heater or auxiliary machine open/close status, is determined by appending to the input data its associated reliability data,  such as for determining whether the input data is normal or abnormal.
In order to determine the reliability of input data, data polling is performed between a central processing unit (CPU) equipped in a digital controller system for atomic power plant and an input module as an input unit for input data. Then, reliability data is appended to the input data and the CPU outputs determination data.
However, in a conventional digital controller system for atomic power plant, the data polling period of the equipped CPU is not synchronized with the data update period of the input module, and also, an input module failure detection time for the input module to detect a failure is long relative to the data polling period of the CPU.
Thus, the data polling period of the CPU may be changed to retrieve data from the input module. For example, though in a different technical field, JP-A-2003-259469 (Patent Document 1) discloses a wide area management system for water utility in which a polling period is changed for periodic data collection, self-check or the like.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2003-259469 (in paragraph 0032)
However, the Patent Document 1 only discloses that a polling period is changed for periodic data collection, self-check or the like, but does not disclose a specific method for changing the polling period.

Data polling method and digital instrumentation and control system for atomic power plant using the method

Abstract: where T22 is the failure detection processing time of the failure detection processor, T1 is the data transmission instruction output period of the data transmission instruction output processor, and ROUNDUP is a function of rounding up to the nearest integer.


A medical electrode, and a method of making a medical electrode. The electrode comprises an electrode member having a top face and a bottom face; disconnected regions of electrically conductive material in electrical contact with the top face of the electrode member, patient contacting layer and an electrical connector in electrical contact with the disconnected regions. The disconnected regions reduce patient skin irritation and burning while optimizing electrical impedance of the electrode.

Medical electrodes provide an electrical interface between a patient and monitoring equipment (e.g., an electrocardiograph device) or between a patient and stimulating equipment (e.g., interferential and iontophoresis devices). A specific type of stimulating electrode, used to provide an electrical interface between a patient and defibrillation equipment, must be capable of conducting the high-energy level required for transcutaneous defibrillation.
In a malady called "fibrillation," the normal contractions of a muscle are replaced by rapid, irregular twitchings of muscular fibers (or fibrils). Fibrillation commonly occurs in the atria or ventricles of the heart muscle; the normal, rhythmical contractions of the heart are replaced by rapid, irregular twitchings of the muscular heart wall. A remedy for fibrillation is called "defibrillation," a procedure which applies an electric shock to arrest the fibrillation of the cardiac muscle (atrial or ventricular) and restore the normal heart rhythm.
Defibrillation electrodes deliver high-energy levels required for defibrillation, up to 360 Joules or more. Defibrillation electrodes also distribute the energy over a relatively large area of the epidermis of the patient to achieve adequate current density distribution within the atria or ventricles. Well-defined industry standards exist for defibrillation electrodes. In particular, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for defibrillation electrodes have been published by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). The ANSI standards for the size of defibrillation electrodes recommend, for example, that the minimum active area of individual, self-adhesive electrodes used for adult defibrillation and pacing shall be at least 50 cm2 and that the total area of the two electrodes shall be at least 150 cm2.
The specification for defibrillation recovery characteristics, which describes certain time-related, electrical dissipation properties of the electrode following repeated electrical shocks of defibrillation currents, is difficult for many electrodes to meet. The use of non-compliant electrode may result in life-threatening delays following defibrillation. This restriction limits the usefulness of such electrodes in a critical care environment. Accordingly, many of these products bear a caution label that they are not to be used where defibrillation is a possibility.
Irritation and burning of the patient's skin due to high current density around the perimeter of the electrodes and uneven current distribution is a common problem with defibrillation electrodes, particularly after application of repeated high-level defibrillation or cardiac pacing pulses. A new disposable medical electrode, particularly useful for high-energy applications, is disclosed here. The invention provides an electrode that features control of current distribution. In addition, the electrode provides energy sufficient for defibrillation, and which has improved current distribution between the electrode and the skin surface of the patient to efficiently deliver the energy without burning the patient's skin.

Medical electrode suitable for high-energy stimulation


In a method of regenerating a NOx adsorber, the NOx adsorber is used to treat exhaust gases created during the combustion of gaseous fuels in general. Methane is introduced into a reformer or exhaust line in which hydrogen generated during reforming is used to regenerate the NOx absorber.

Emissions controls for internal combustion engines are becoming increasingly important in transportation and energy applications. Emissions control is becoming especially important for diesel engines. One pollutant of concern is nitrogen oxides (NOx). NOx are generated by the combustion of fuel in internal combustion engines.
Aftertreatment systems for reducing NOx are important in all types of combustion processes. One NOx treatment system is a lean NOx adsorber (LNA). LNA systems need to be periodically regenerated. That is, over time, a reductant is needed to treat NOx traps to permit further NOx removal to take place. It is generally desirable to ensure that regeneration takes place during less than 5% of the operating time of the engine. As such, it is important to ensure that an efficient means of regeneration is employed.
As discussed in, by way of example, PCT/International Publication No. WO 00/76637, there are a variety of reductants available for NOx trap regeneration. By way of example, many hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen can be used as reductants. Hydrogen is especially effective as a reductant (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,911). Also, hydrogen is advantageous in regard to the emissions generated. When hydrogen is used as a reductant—water and nitrogen result. Other carbon-based reductants tend to generate other emissions. For example, the use of CO, as a reductant, produces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
Hydrogen is difficult to store and is generally not readily available. However, hydrocarbons are readily available since internal combustion engines typically use hydrocarbons as fuel. As hydrocarbons comprise hydrogen atoms, they provide a possible source of hydrogen. A hydrocarbon fuel may be passed through a reformer to yield hydrogen.
In a diesel-fuelled compression ignition engine, the hydrocarbon in abundance is diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is not an ideal source of hydrogen, however. It is relatively high in sulfur and therefore may create sulfur management issues in relation to the reformer. Also, partial oxidation of diesel fuel to provide hydrogen, using a partial oxidation catalyst (POX), requires temperatures in excess of 800° C. Aside from the excess energy often needed to generate such temperatures, such temperatures substantially limit the materials suitable for use in devices for reforming diesel fuel. As such, an operating strategy wherein diesel is reformed or partially oxidized to provide hydrogen has not yet generated significant industry acceptance.
As noted above, hydrocarbon reforming requires sulfur management. Sulfur contamination can impair the performance of Ni-based reformers by poisoning such reformers.
NOx emissions may also be reduced by managing the combustion process. NOx emissions can be reduced by using certain gaseous fuels in place of heavy hydrocarbons. Examples of such fuels include natural gas, methane and propane. Even with gaseous fuel, however, NOx emissions are not insignificant.
Developments in gaseous combustion processes have also attempted to address NOx emissions problems. Spark ignited gaseous fuel engines, wherein a premixed charge of air and gaseous fuel is ignited within the combustion chamber, have resulted in further reductions of NOx. However, there have been corresponding penalties in performance of such engines when compared to diesel-fuelled compression-ignition engines.
Some types of gaseous-fuelled compression ignition engine are capable of being fuelled by gaseous fuels instead of diesel without sacrifices in performance or efficiency. In particular, gaseous fuel combustion engines, herein referred to as a high pressure direct injection gas engines, are known in the art. High pressure directly injected gaseous fuel, ignited by an ignition source such as a small quantity of pilot fuel introduced within the engine combustion chamber, yields an improvement over diesel-fuelled engines by reducing the emissions levels of NOx depending on the gaseous fuel chosen. Although such direct injection gaseous fuelled engines have the added benefit of maintaining diesel performance, where that is not usually the case with spark ignited gaseous fuelled engines, there is often a penalty in NOx emissions when such engines are compared directly to spark-ignited engines. Combustion of a high pressure directly injected quantity of gaseous fuel results in diffusion combustion where the bulk of the combustion is believed to occur in a local near-stoichiometric reaction zone. The temperature and resulting NOX formation are relatively high (compared to the temperature and resulting NOx formation resulting from lean burn SI premixed combustion).
Ultimately, for both spark-ignited engines as well as high pressure direct injection compression-ignition engines, there is a need to further manage NOx levels when gaseous fuels are used.
This invention addresses some of the issues discussed above.

Method and apparatus for regenerating NOx adsorbers


This invention relates to drink compositions or drink concentrate compositions having no or low added sugar. The sweetness is provided by an intense sweetener, reducing or eliminating the amount of added sugar needed. No or low sugar drink compositions often lack `non sweetness` characteristics such as body, texture and viscosity and appear weak and watery. The present invention uses gelatinized starch together with an intense sweetener. The gelatinised starch compensates for the thickening, non sweetness property of the missing added sugar giving the drink body and a thicker mouthfeel as well as a pleasant after taste. The drink may additionally contain acidulants, buffers, preservatives, colorants and fruit comminutes.

This invention relates to drink compositions and, especially, but not exclusively, to soft drink compositions. It is particularly (although again not exclusively) applicable to drinks or drink compositions that have an intense sweetener. Such drinks typically do not contain any added sugar.
For the avoidance of doubt, by the term "no or low-added-sugar" as used herein is meant a drink composition which does not contain added sugar, or which contains only a low amount (relative to the amount necessary to obtain the desired sweetness if there were no other sweetener but sugar in the drink). The word "sugar" as used herein refers to sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose and any other soluble carbohydrate sweetening material. Sugar may, however, be naturally and inherently present in other components of the composition.
In many foodstuffs, such as soft drink compositions, sugar is being replaced by intense sweeteners in order to reduce both the calorific content of the foodstuff and the cariogenic effects associated with sugar.
In addition to sweetening a foodstuff, the presence of sugar also provides a foodstuff with body, texture and viscosity. These so called "non-sweet" functional properties of sugar are often desired by the consumer and are generally dependent upon the level of sugar in the foodstuff.
Compared to sugar, many intense sweeteners have a very high sweetness intensity and are, therefore, required only in small amounts in a foodstuff to provide the desired sweetness profile. In a no-added-sugar soft drink composition, the low level of intense sweetener, coupled with the intense sweetener's poor non-sweet functional properties, may result in a no-added-sugar soft drink lacking in body, texture and viscosity. Many no-added-sugar soft drink compositions containing intense sweeteners therefore appear weak and "watery" and possess an unpleasant mouth feel. Furthermore, many consumers complain of an unpleasant aftertaste after drinking no-added-sugar soft drink compositions containing intense sweeteners.
Heretofore, a number of substances have been added to no-added-sugar soft drink compositions in an attempt to mimic the non-sweet functional properties of sugar.
EP-B-0210695 discloses a fruit juice comprising an intense sweetener and background pulp, such as a combination of pectin and cellulose.
EP-B-0301440 disclosed the use of hemicellulose A or B as a water soluble bulking agent in a foodstuff in order to provide for the functional properties of carbohydrates.
GB-A-1571405 discloses the use of potato pulp as a texturising agent in foodstuffs.
EP-A-0553368 discloses the use of partially debranched starch as a clouding agent in a fluid.
Stabilisers such as pectin, carboxy methyl cellulose and xanthan gum have also been used in no-added-sugar soft drink compositions to provide for some of the non-sweet functional properties of sugar.
Although many of the above detailed substances, when added to a no or low-added-sugar soft drink composition, may provide for the non-sweet functional properties of sugar, their use often results in a soft drink possessing a mouth feel which some consumers find unpleasant.

Drink compositions utilizing gelatinised starch and method of making


In a surface emitting device in which a light source is bonded to a light guide bar in contact with a light guide plate, the light source is bonded to the light guide bar using an adjusting member for adjusting the position of the light source. Examples of the adjusting member include a spacer disposed under the light source, a recessed portion provided in a molded case, a positioning guide made by extending a reflective panel, and another positioning guide formed integrally with the light guide bar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surface emitting devices and liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatuses. In particular, it relates to a bonding structure between a light source and a light guide bar in a surface emitting device for ensuring efficient use of light emerging from the light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some LCD apparatuses, for example, reflective LCD apparatuses, require reflection of ambient light for display. In such LCD apparatuses, those having surface emitting devices (front lights) on the front sides have been developed in order that they can be used in dark places where the ambient light is insufficient (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-140913).
FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing an LCD apparatus having a surface emitting-device. As shown in FIG. 9, a surface emitting device 110 is disposed on the front side (upper side) of a liquid crystal panel 120 such that the liquid crystal panel 120 is illuminated from the front. A light guide plate 112, a light guide bar 113, and a light source 115 constitute the main part of the surface emitting device 110.
The light source 115 is integrated with the light guide bar 113 disposed along an edge of the light guide plate 112 and serves as an extended light source that emits a wide beam of light toward a side surface of the light guide plate 112.
The light guide plate 112 is a flat plate made of, for example, transparent acrylic resin and is formed by injection molding. The light guide plate 112 is disposed parallel to a display surface of the liquid crystal panel 120. The opposing surfaces of the light guide plate 112 and the liquid crystal panel 120 have substantially the same area.
To change the direction of light traveling in the light guide plate 112, a plurality of grooves 114, which are wedge-shaped in side view, are arranged in parallel on a front surface 112c of the light guide plate 112 to form a prismatic surface.
The long light guide bar 113 is bonded to an edge of the light guide plate 112, while the light source 115 is bonded to an end of the light guide bar 113. Although only one light source 115 is disposed at one end of the light guide bar 113 in the example shown in FIG. 9, two light sources may be disposed at respective ends of the light guide bar 113. An outer surface 113a (the surface opposite to the light guide plate 112) of the light guide bar 113 is provided with prismatic grooves (not shown) such that the direction of light traveling in the light guide bar 113 is changed by reflection thereat.
The light source 115 bonded to an end of the light guide bar 113 is a point source, such as a white light emitting diode (LED) and an organic electroluminescent (EL) device, and is designed to emit light toward the end surface of the light guide bar 113.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show light paths in the surface emitting device 110. As shown in FIG. 9, the light emitted by the light source 115 enters the light guide bar 113 through the end surface thereof. The direction of the light is then changed by the prismatic surface formed on the outer surface 113a of the light guide bar 113. The light is directed toward the light guide plate 112 and travels into it through a side surface 112a thereof. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the light propagating in the light guide plate 112 is reflected off the prismatic surface of the grooves 114, changes its direction, and emerges from the emitting surface (undersurface) of the light guide plate 112 toward the liquid crystal panel 120. The light thus illuminates the liquid crystal panel 120 on the backside (underside in FIG. 10) of the surface emitting device 110.
Since the light enters the light guide plate 112 through the entire bonding surface between the light guide plate 112 and the light guide bar 113, uniformity of the light on the emitting surface of the light guide plate 112 is improved.
The surface emitting device 110 including the above-described light source 115, the liquid crystal panel 120, and other necessary attachments are mounted in a molded case to form an LCD apparatus.
FIG. 11 shows a bonding structure between the light source 115 and the light guide bar 113. Normally, one end of a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 118 is bonded to the light source 115 for supplying power thereto, while the other end thereof is bonded with a bonding member, such as double-sided tape 117, to the light guide bar 113 or to the undersurface of a reflective panel 116 covering the light guide bar 113. Then, the surface emitting device together with the liquid crystal panel is mounted in a molded case 119. The light source 115 is thus secured to a bottom plate of the molded case 119 via the FPC 118. A displacement "d" between a centerline L1 of the light guide bar 113 and a centerline L2 of the light source 115 is caused by changes in thickness of the double-sided tape 117 and the FPC 118, or by the size of the LED chip constituting the light source 115. When the centerline L1 and the centerline L2 are not aligned, the amount of light entering the light guide from the light source is limited. This decreases the brightness, causes variations in brightness of the surface emitting device, and thus reduces the quality of a display screen of a reflective LCD apparatus.

Surface emitting device and liquid crystal display apparatus


A microelectromechanical device having a reset electrode for use in various devices including display devices such as those employing spatial light modulators. The device includes an optically transmissive substrate, a semiconductor substrate, and a member deflectable between a rest position and an operative position supported by one of the substrates. The deflectable member returns to an undeflected position by operation of the reset electrode.

The present invention relates to projection systems having micromirrors and micromirror arrays. The present invention also relates to integrated circuits having at least one deflectable element.
Various technologies have been proposed for projection and display systems such as those utilizing spatial light modulation employing various materials. Among these are silicon-based micromechanical spatial light modulation (SLM) devices in which a large portion of the device is optically active. In such systems, micromirrors may deflect in one or more directions. For instance, in architectures that rely on a passive drive scheme, a voltage bias is accomplished by an address electrode. Once the mirror rotates, the electrode floats and the mirror maintains its deflected position. As the bias is reset, the mirror rotates back to the flat state at a rate that is limited by the hinge spring constant of the micromirror device. The hinge spring constant typically results in a reset cycle that is slower than the drive cycle. This limits the ability of the micromirror device to twitch at high frequencies. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a micromirror architecture that could facilitate high reset frequencies, while providing high efficiency and operational integrity.

Microelectromechanical device with reset electrode

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for transmitting a signal in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the steps of: grouping two subcarriers having different channel characteristics; identifying a number of all cases occurring when either equal symbols or different symbols, among symbols determined upon applying a first modulation scheme, are mapped to the two subcarriers; and mapping two subcarriers corresponding to each of the number of all cases to one symbol according to a second modulation scheme, and transmitting the signal, wherein a modulation order of the second modulation scheme is two times higher than a modulation order of the second modulation.

In a wireless communication system, base stations and mobile stations transmit signals in consideration of a channel coding scheme and a diversity gain in order to achieve reliable communication at a high speed.
Tarokh suggested space-time block coding for communication in a Rayleigh fading channel by means of multiple transmission antennas. Alamouti suggested a method capable of a diversity gain, with a system using two transmission antennas as a model.
Meanwhile, currently, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme is being discussed as a wireless transmission scheme for the next-generation wireless mobile communication system.
According to the OFDMA scheme, a base station allocates a different number of subcarriers depending on data rates required by mobile stations, thereby efficiently distributing resources. In addition, the OFDMA scheme is suitable for a communication system using a large number of subcarriers, and can be efficiently used in a system having a wide area cell where a time delay spread is large.
However, since signals are mapped in units of symbols for each mobile station in a wireless communication system using the OFDMA scheme, it is impossible to obtain a diversity gain unless a channel coding is performed. Moreover, even though a channel coding is performed in the wireless communication system, only a small amount of diversity gain can be obtained. In order to maximize the diversity gain, it is necessary to use multiple antennas. However, when multiple antennas are used, there is a problem in that the configuration of a receiver is more complicated in order to remove interference between antennas.

Method for transmitting signal in wireless communication system


A powered vehicle is disclosed including a chassis and a plurality of wheels. At least one of the wheels is coupled to the chassis with an axle that is coupled to the chassis with a clip.

Motorcycles typically have a chassis, engine, and front and rear wheels. Motorcycles also typically include axles that couple the front and rear wheels to the chassis. Many motorcycles include mufflers that exhaust fumes from the engine toward the rear of the motorcycle.
Depending on the routing of the muffler, it may block access to the axle for the rear wheel. If the access to the axle is blocked, the muffler may need to be removed before the rear wheel can be removed. Having to remove the muffler before removing the rear wheel adds time and inconvenience to removing the rear wheel to change the rear tire, for example.


An animal feed is provided that employs a substantially indigestible cation exchanger capable of binding ammonium cations and an acidogenic substance to acidify an animal's manure and thereby create ammonium cations that can be bound by the cation exchanger. The animal feed reduces ammonia emissions from manure produced by animals fed the animal feed compared to the emissions obtained from manure when an acidogenic substance is fed alone and compared to the emissions obtained from manure when a cation exchange capacity material is fed alone. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of lowering ammonia emissions from manure is provided. The present invention also provides a method for reducing soluble phosphorus levels in manure and a method for reducing total phosphorus levels in manure. In a further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided that yields manure that may be used alone or in concert with other materials to act as a fertilizer having advantageous ecological properties. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for reducing insect populations associated with manure.

The number one complaint filed with both state and federal environmental agencies against animal producers involves odors. What is true for animal producers in general is also true for poultry producers. Controlling odors associated with poultry manure is a continuing problem for poultry and egg producers. Aerosol ammonia is one of the primary causes of nuisance odors associated with confined animal feeding operations. Since aerosol ammonia comprises a large portion of the odor associated with poultry litter, measures to control odor at poultry operations should incorporate strategies to reduce ammonia volatilization. In addition to ammonia's role as a component in nuisance odors, high levels of gaseous ammonia adversely affects animal health and the safety of people working in these environments.
Aerosol ammonia levels in hen houses with shallow pits and monthly manure removal have been measured to be in the range of 46 parts per million (ppm). Similarly, the levels of aerosol ammonia in hen houses with deep pits (manure-drying pits where manure is removed annually) have been measured to be in the 46 ppm range. Gaseous ammonia levels are especially high in winter, when hen house ventilation is restricted to conserve heat. During cold weather, gaseous ammonia levels in hen houses often exceed the 46 ppm range.
Poultry, for example, chickens and turkeys, continuously exposed to 20 (ppm) ammonia vapors exhibit significant respiratory tract damage after only six weeks. Chicks exposed to 20 ppm ammonia for 72 hours are much more susceptible to Newcastle Disease than chicks reared in ammonia-free environments. A high level of ammonia in the environment of laying chicken hens is also known to reduce egg production. For a more thorough discussion of the effect of high levels of gaseous ammonia on animal health and production, the reader is directed to the following articles that are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. See: Avian Dis. 8:369-379, 1964; Deaton et al. Poultry Sci., 63:384-385, 1984; McQuitty et al. Canadian Agricultural Engineering 27:13-19; Strombaugh et al. J. Anim. Sci. 28:844, 1969. Similarly, high ammonia levels correlate with a reduction in the amount of animal feed converted to animal body mass and reduced weight gain in hogs.
In addition to ammonia's adverse effects on animal health, exposure to high levels of aerosol ammonia also adversely impacts human health. For example, exposure to aerosol ammonia concentrations in the range of 25 parts per million (ppm) produces discomfort in workers, and even brief exposures (<5 minutes) to ammonia can cause nasal irritation and dryness. In recognition of the ill effects of aerosol ammonia on human health, both the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identify ammonia as a health hazard. Currently NIOSH rules set the permissible exposure level (PEL) for ammonia over an 8-hour period at 25 ppm. OSHA rules set a PEL, over an 8-hour period, at 50 ppm. OSHA also recognizes that an aerosol ammonia concentration of 300 ppm ammonia is immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). 29 C.F.R. 1910.120 (2003) defines IDLH as "[a]n atmospheric concentration of any toxic, corrosive or asphyxiant substance that poses an immediate threat to life or would cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects or would interfere with an individual's ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere."
In addition to the problems associated with aerosol ammonia in animal manure, manure often times comprises high concentrations of water-soluble forms of phosphorus. High concentrations of phosphorus can cause environmental problems, especially if the phosphorus finds its way into surface water sources or shallow aquifers. Manures from monogastric animals such as hogs and poultry are especially high in phosphorus due to the inability of monogastric animals to digest phytic acid, a phosphorus-rich compound commonly found in animal feeds. The presence of high levels of soluble phosphates in manure is especially problematic when manure is disposed of by spreading it over fields or when feedlots are located near watersheds or above shallow aquifers. Examples of environmental damage caused by manures high in soluble phosphates include fish kills and bacterial or algal blooms exacerbated by the introduction of phosphates from manure into surface waters.
While plants require phosphorus in order to grow, excess levels of phosphorus can stunt plant growth and in some cases cause plant death. This is especially problematic, as one common means of disposing of manure is to use it to fertilize plants. Accordingly, phosphorus must be provided to plants in amounts conducive to and not detrimental to plant growth and development. When phosphates are provided to plants in amounts that exceed the plants' ability to absorb these compounds, excess phosphates accumulate in the soil or find their way into the watershed.
One widely used measure of fertilizer efficacy is the fertilizer's Nitrogen to Phosphate ratio (N:P ratio). For most plants, a N:P ratio in the 5.8:1 range is acceptable. When the N:P ratio is substantially lower than 5.8:1, a compound may provide more phosphate than plants can readily absorb while providing less nitrogen than the plants require for optimal growth. Off-gassing of ammonia lowers the nitrogen content in manure, thereby decreasing the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio in the manure. Especially if manure is already high in phosphorus, as ammonia is off-gassed the N:P ratio may become so low that the manure must undergo costly processing before it can be used as a fertilizer.
Clearly then, there is a need for methods to produce a manure that exhibits low levels of gaseous ammonia and has a N:P ratio in a range suitable for its ready use as a fertilizer.

Animal feed and methods for reducing ammonia and phosphorus levels in manure


A surgical tool holder has a shank having a central axis, a first driveable end and second coupling end. The second end has a coupling device having interfaces each for mating with corresponding structures on the inside of a hollow reamer. The interfaces mate with centering structures at or near a base end of each tool, the tool being held in functional assembly to the shank by a releasable locking mechanism.

This invention relates to surgical tool holders, and more particularly, to holders of rotary surgical cutting tools.
Surgical tools and their respective holders have to be kept clean and sterile before any use in a hospital environment in order to minimize risk of transfer of disease or infection from patient to patient following the emergence of certain "prions" that are not killed by normal hospital sterilization and thus need to be physically removed through washing and rinsing. A surgical tool, for example for preparing for the fitting of a hip prosthesis, works in a medium which causes considerable soiling of the tool and of the tool holder. Despite the importance of doing so, the thorough cleaning of these devices is difficult. Surgical tool holders of the prior art are designed such that washing and rinsing are generally not an effective way of cleaning the tool. This is due to the small spaces left between component parts which allow only minimal access by cleaning agents.
Further, among the many different styles of reamers used by surgeons in orthopaedic surgical operations, there are two that are particularly pervasive, yet which present different interfaces to the holders, thus not permitting a single reamer holder to be able to fasten to the two different interfaces. This requires that the two reamers each have a dedicated holder, which adds to the bulk and expense of surgical tool kits.
What is needed therefore is a surgical tool holder which is quickly and simply disassembled for cleaning and sterilization. Still further, what is needed is a dual reamer holder capable of holding the two different styles of reamers which are pervasively used in orthopaedic surgery.
The surgical tool holder of the invention has a shank having first driveable end and second coupling end, a coupling device mounted on the coupling end, and a locking mechanism. The coupling device has at least two pairs of bayonet interfaces spaced apart from the central axis. Each interface is made up of at least a portion of a slot having a two-tiered opening transverse to the central axis. The two-tiered opening is of a form so as to be able to receive corresponding elongated structures of at least two types of reamer tools, at the selection of the user. The corresponding structures are elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis.
In another aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism in made up of an annular capture component, a spring, a locking sleeve which slides on the shank, and a locking device. The capture component is mounted so as to slide along the shank and includes two pairs of longitudinally protruding pins, the matching pin to the pair being positioned 180 degrees apart. In a preferred configuration, the four pins are spaced apart evening on a circle centered on the axis of the shank.
The locking device cooperates with the capture component so as to lock the tool onto the interface. The spring biases the capture component in a locking direction and bears on the locking sleeve. The locking sleeve is disengageably lockable to the shank via a connection device. The connection device is preferably a bayonet mechanism.
The object of the invention is to enable quick disassembly for cleaning and component sterilization.
Another object of the invention is to provide one holder capable of holding the two pervasively used hollow reamers.


A server computer receives back-up data from individual client computers and inserts them into a buffer within a shared memory area. The server associates an identification tag with each set of back-up data which identifies from which particular client computer the data was received. The server then multiplexes the back-up data and the identification tags onto a tape. Data from a particular client is de-multiplexed from the tape by scanning all of the identification tags on the tape and pulling off the tape any data which is associated with the identification tag corresponding to the particular client.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for enterprise data management and more particularly, to multiplexing back-up data from several sources onto a single storage device.
2. Description of the Background Art
Networked client/server computer systems are becoming increasingly more common as the "Information Revolution" progresses. In a client/server computer network, the server computer is a computer that runs a set of services which are available to the client computers. The client computers are computers that run application programs through which the services are requested. The client computers and server computers are inter-coupled via a network. Such services may include database management, Network Information Services (NIS), and Network File System (NFS) programs. The services may operate within an environment that includes a back-up process. A back-up process copies data from an expensive disk storage media to a much less expensive tape storage media so as to provide a back-up copy of the data.
Typically when client computer data is backed-up by a server computer, the server computer backs-up client computer data to tapes in a serial manner, that is, one client computer at a time. This means that the server computer schedules a tape drive resource for backing-up a particular client computer's data, and the tape drive is dedicated solely to that client computer until the client computer stops sending back-up data. In this manner, the back-up data are written to tape in a standardized format. One such standardized format is provided by the Tape ARchive (TAR) function of the UNIX operating system.
Dedicating such a resource to a single client computer during a back-up operation often does not fully utilize a tape drive's data through-put capabilities and results in poor use of a critical resource. Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for keeping enough data available so that that a tape drive's full through-put capabilities may be most completely realized.

System and method for multiplexed data back-up


A lighting system for decorative miniature houses and villages utilizing a transformer powered by 110 V AC and having a direct current output conveyed from the transformer through an electrical cord having two separate electrically conductive wires therein, the electrical cord being connected adjacent to each of the miniature houses or buildings in the village requiring electrical energy to operate a light or other electrically energized device, each of the electrically energized devices in the miniature houses or buildings having an electrical energy supply cord connected to the single electrical cord conveying direct current electrical energy from the transformer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electrical lighting systems. In particular, the invention relates to electrical lighting systems for decorative miniature houses and village displays.
2. Description of the Related Art
Decorative displays of miniature houses and villages are common and widely utilized during the Christmas holiday season. When preparing such decorative miniature house and village displays, 110 volt alternating current (hereinafter V AC) available throughout the United States is frequently used to provide energy to energize the lights commonly utilized in the displays.
To energize 110 V AC lights in displays of miniature houses and villages with such common 110 V AC, each cord leading to a light in a house must be plugged into a female wall receptacle, or an electrical extension cord is plugged into a wall socket and extended to the electrical outlet cord from the miniature house containing the light or lights requiring 110 V AC. The cord from the miniature house requiring 110 V AC and other miniature houses or other structures requiring 110 V AC voltage are plugged into the extension cord until all outlets in the extension cord are full.
When displaying decorative miniature villages containing many miniature houses, churches, and other structures, many extension cords are needed to provide lighting, and the many bulky and unsightly cords detract from the aesthetic quality of the decorative display. Furthermore, concealment of the cords is difficult and adds further expense to the preparation of a decorative miniature village display.
Thus, there is a need for an electrical lighting system for decorative miniature houses and villages which eliminates the problems encountered with lighting such decorative miniature houses and villages with conventional electrical cord.
Exemplary of the related art are the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,664,055; 4,203,053; 4,462,066; and 5,248,276.

Lighting system for decorative miniature houses and village displays


A method for determining an amount of flocculant effective to recover a molecular sieve crystalline product that comprises the steps of (a) preparing a molecular sieve crystalline product mixture; (b) separating the molecular sieve crystalline product mixture into a plurality of samples; (c) mixing at least two of the plurality of samples with a quantity of flocculant to produce a plurality of flocculated samples, wherein at least two of the plurality of flocculated samples have a different ratio of flocculant to molecular sieve crystalline product mixture; (d) measuring the viscosity or zeta potential of at least two of the plurality of flocculated samples having a different ratio of flocculant to molecular sieve crystalline product mixture; (e) establishing a relationship between the quantity of flocculant and the viscosity or zeta potential measurements; and (f) determining from the relationship the amount of flocculant effective to recover the molecular sieve crystalline product.

Olefins are traditionally produced from petroleum feedstock by catalytic or steam cracking processes. These cracking processes, especially steam cracking, produce light olefin(s) such as ethylene and/or propylene from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks. Ethylene and propylene are important commodity petrochemicals useful in a variety of processes for making plastics and other chemical compounds.
The petrochemical industry has known that oxygenates, especially alcohols, are convertible into light olefin(s). There are numerous technologies available for producing oxygenates including fermentation or reaction of synthesis gas derived from natural gas, petroleum liquids, carbonaceous materials including coal, recycled plastics, municipal waste or any other organic material. Generally, the production of synthesis gas involves a combustion reaction of natural gas, mostly methane, and an oxygen source into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. Syngas production processes are well known, and include conventional steam reforming, autothermal reforming or a combination thereof.
Methanol, the preferred alcohol for light olefin production, is typically synthesized from the catalytic reaction of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide in a reactor in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. For example, in one synthesis process methanol is produced using a copper/zinc oxide catalyst in a water-cooled tubular reactor. The preferred methanol conversion process is generally referred to as a methanol-to-olefin(s) process (MTO), where an oxygenate, typically mostly methanol, is converted into primarily ethylene and/or propylene in the presence of a molecular sieve.
There are many different types of molecular sieves well known to convert a feedstock, especially an oxygenate containing feedstock, into one or more olefin(s). Molecular sieves, such as zeolites or zeolite-type molecular sieves, carbons and oxides, are porous solids having pores of different sizes that selectively adsorb molecules that can enter the pores, and exclude other molecules that are too large. Examples of molecular sieves useful in converting an oxygenate into olefin(s) are U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,100 [describes the use of ZSM-5 to convert methanol into olefin(s)]; U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,905 (discusses the conversion of methanol and other oxygenates to ethylene and propylene using crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites, for example, Zeolite T, ZK5, erionite and chabazite); U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,095 (describes the use of ZSM-34 to convert methanol to hydrocarbon products such as ethylene and propylene); U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,440 (describes producing light olefin(s) from an alcohol using a crystalline aluminophosphates, often represented by ALPO4); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871 [describes silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves (SAPO), one of the most useful molecular sieves for converting methanol into olefin(s)].
Typically, molecular sieves are formed into molecular sieve catalyst compositions to improve their durability in commercial conversion processes. The collisions within a commercial process between catalyst composition particles themselves, the reactor walls, and other reactor systems cause the particles to breakdown into smaller particles called fines. The physical breakdown of the molecular sieve catalyst composition particles is known as attrition. Problems develop in the recovery systems because fines often exit the reactor in the product containing effluent stream. Catalyst compositions having a higher resistance to attrition generate fewer fines; this results in improved process operability, and less catalyst composition being required for a conversion process, and therefore, lower overall operating costs.
It is known that the way in which the molecular sieve catalyst compositions are made or formulated affects catalyst composition attrition. Molecular sieve catalyst compositions are formed by combining a molecular sieve and a matrix material usually in the presence of a binder. For example, PCT Patent Publication WO 03/000413 A1, published Jan. 3, 2003 discloses a low attrition molecular sieve catalyst composition using a synthesized molecular sieve that has not been fully dried, or partially dried, in combination in a slurry with a binder and/or a matrix material. Also, PCT Patent Publication WO 03/000412 A1 published Jan. 3, 2003, discusses a low attrition molecular sieve catalyst composition produced by controlling the pH of the slurry away from the isoelectric point of the molecular sieve. U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,501 shows making a low attrition molecular sieve catalyst composition by making a slurry of a synthesized molecular sieve, a binder, and optionally a matrix material, wherein 90 percent by volume of the slurry contains particles having a diameter less than 20 μm. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0181322, published Sep. 25, 2003, which is fully incorporated herein by reference, illustrates making an attrition resistant molecular sieve catalyst composition by controlling the ratio of a binder to a molecular sieve. U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,863 is directed to a method of heat treating a molecular sieve catalyst composition to remove a portion of the template used in the synthesis of the molecular sieve. U.S. Pat. No. 6,541,415 describes improving the attrition resistance of a molecular sieve catalyst composition that contains molecular sieve-containing recycled attrition particles and virgin molecular sieve. U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,682 describes the use of a polymeric base to reduce the amount of templating agent required to produce a particular molecular sieve.
It is also known that in typical commercial processes flocculants are used to facilitate the recovery of synthesized molecular sieves. Thus, without flocculants, the natural settling of the as-synthesized molecular sieve from the synthesis mixture may be too slow to be economically viable. In addition, the direct filtration of the synthesis mixture is often slow and inefficient because of the small crystal size of the as-synthesized molecular sieve and the presence of unconverted reactants and by-products that may also be small in size. Flocculants are therefore typically used to ensure faster and more complete settling of the as-synthesized molecular sieve from the synthesis mixture. However, the presence of excess flocculant can raise the viscosity of the synthesis mixture thereby making subsequent filtration more difficult. In addition, the presence of excess flocculant in the recovered molecular sieve can affect catalyst formulation, and in some cases can result in the formulation of catalyst compositions having lower attrition resistance, lower selectivity in various conversion processes, and high slurry viscosity. At present the determination of the amount of flocculant to be used in the recovery of molecular sieves involves a large amount of trial and error and hence there is a need for a method that facilitates the determination of optimal flocculant levels.
For an example of the use of flocculants in the recovery of molecular sieves, reference is directed to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0256354, published Nov. 17, 2005, which claims a process for producing one or more olefin(s), comprising the steps of (a) introducing a feedstock to a reactor system in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst composition comprising a synthesized molecular sieve having been recovered in the presence of a flocculant; (b) withdrawing from the reactor system an effluent stream; and (c) passing the effluent gas through a recovery system recovering at least the one or more olefin(s). See also, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/109,397, filed Apr. 19, 2005, which claims a catalyst composition comprising a non-over flocculated molecular sieve and an over flocculated molecular sieve. See also, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/109,584, filed Apr. 19, 2005, which claims a catalyst composition comprising an over flocculated molecular sieve and a phosphorous compound. See also, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/109,586, filed Apr. 19, 2005, which claims a catalyst composition prepared by the process comprising (a) combining: (i) an over flocculated molecular sieve; (ii) a binder; and (iii) optionally, a matrix material to form a catalyst slurry; and (b) milling the catalyst slurry.

Method of flocculation and formulation of crystalline materials


A handle to be installed on an upper bracket that connects upper end sides of a pair of front forks is provided. The handle includes a handle bar and a handle holder. The handle bar includes a base portion installed on an upper surface of the upper bracket. The handle holder extends from a center of the upper surface of the upper bracket toward the pair of front forks. The base portion and the handle holder are fixed to the upper bracket by a fixing member.

The present invention relates to a handle.
In a related art, one in which a pair of handle bars are installed on an upper bracket connecting upper end sides of a pair of front forks via a pair of clamp members is known as a handle of a straddle-type vehicle (for example, see JP-A-2012-076484). In the handle described in JP-A-2012-076484, the pair of front forks protrude from an upper surface of the upper bracket, and the pair of clamp members on the upper bracket are attached to protruding portions of the front forks. An insertion hole for the handle is formed in each clamp member, and the handle bar is screwed to the clamp member in a state in which the handle bar is inserted into the insertion hole.


A managed biometric-based notification system and method is provided. The system includes at least one image acquiring system adapted to capture a first content comprising a feature set, a comparison module including at least one processor, at least one database comprising a second content, the second content comprising a feature set, at least one search engine operatively coupled with the at least one image acquiring system and the at least one database, a memory, the at least one processor operatively coupled with the at least one image acquiring system and the at least one search engine, programmed to execute a series of instructions, stored on the memory, to process the feature set of the first content and a feature set of the second content, at least one notification component including at least one transmitted data point, a content management module, and at least one pre-selected receiving node.

1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a notification system. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods of managed biometric-based notification.
2) Discussion of the Related Art
Retail crime, shoplifting, and fraud are increasing in the United States. This increase brings a rising incidence of violence. In 2006, it was reported that the value of property lost in such cases, excluding shoplifting, was $18 billion. Shoplifting resulted in a $40 billion loss that same year, totaling $58 billion in 2006. Some suggest that part of the problem has been the "professionalism" of retail theft, which is essentially well organized individuals or gangs stealing large quantities of merchandise. Many surveillance systems are currently being used to combat this level of crime, however, the most effective systems are those which utilize biometric components.
Biometrics is the study of methods for characterizing and recognizing an individual based upon physical and behavioral traits, or in other words, a system which uses measurable biological properties to identify individuals. Physical traits are those related to the characteristics of the human body, e.g. fingerprints, iris geometry, and face recognition. Behavioral traits are those linked to a signature, voice or keystroke. It is because biometrics measures qualities that an individual cannot change, that it is most effective for authentication and identification purposes.
Biometrics have become an increasingly important part of an overall set of tools for securing a wide range of retail stores, facilities, areas, information, and environments. The use of biometric-based identification systems are becoming popular because such systems can provide substantially more security than many traditional security systems (e.g., usernames, passwords or personal identification numbers). Face recognition technologies can be used, for example, to determine whether an individual is permitted entry into a home, office, or similar environment, or to determine if an individual is wanted.
Generally, in what is known as "one-to-many match," and prior to a biometric feature extraction process, an analog or digital representation of biometric characteristics are obtained from a biometric capture device. Many conventional systems rely on digital imaging technologies to capture data, which can include optics, a camera, or other electronic equipment. The digital representation of the images (i.e., the raw or unprocessed image data) is then processed by an algorithm that converts the image data into a particular representation (i.e., a biometric marker or template).
Biometric features are information processed or extracted from a biometric sample or samples, which can then be used for comparison with a stored biometric reference. From the recognition sample, the biometric feature extraction creates a template which is compared with one or multiple biometric templates from a database. Due to the statistical nature of biometric samples, there is generally no exact match possible. For that reason, the decision process will only assign the biometric data subject to a biometric template and confirm recognition if the comparison score exceeds an adjustable threshold. Face recognition works by using a computer to analyze an individual's facial structure. The biometric software takes a number of points and measurements, including the distances between characteristics such as eyes, nose and mouth. This may also include angles of certain features such as the jaw and forehead, and lengths of various portions of the face.
Research today is centered around the software aspect or algorithm development of biometric identification. The developing algorithms aim to reduce a known problem in the art, namely, the high numbers of false positives and negatives, which are called the False Acceptance Rate (FAR) and the False Recognition Rate (FRR), considered Type I and Type II errors in statistical models. The technologies involved in biometric identification include Segmentation, Decomposition Methods, namely, Eigenface, Local Feature Analysis (LFA), and Independent Component Analysis (ICA), and also include Support Vector Machines, Elastic Bunch Grapes, Implicit 3-D models and methods.
While more accurate and precise algorithms are essential to the identification of an individual, the implementation of current systems generally result in an inability to properly disseminate information. Furthermore, current systems are deficient in their implementation in a real-time environment using current technology network components. This deficiency stems from a lack of control over the environment, user integration and management over the system network.

Managed biometric-based notification system and method


A method and system to access native drivers in a computer using a generic application interface. An embodiment of the method may include providing the generic application interface to allow access to multiple peripheral devices, where the interface is independent of the device-specific features of the peripheral devices. The interface may include generic routines commonly shared by the peripheral devices. The method may further include using the interface to call the generic routines as a function of device-specific features of a particular device upon receipt of a request to access the particular device. The method provides a generic API that may be commonly used by a plurality of applications on a computer or a plurality of computers in a network to access a plurality of peripheral devices. As such, the developer or user may port applications based on the generic API between different computers without making modifications to the applications. Exemplary applications include mobile devices in wireless communication with network peripheral devices.

In general, a computer application uses an application programming interface (API) that provide API functionality specific to the peripheral devices accessible to the computer on which the application runs. As such, the application may be configured with API functions to receive and send data readable by the specific peripheral devices and to access device-specific implementations of peripheral features, e.g., printing, scanning, etc. The application API may readily cause the native drivers installed on the computer to execute and control the peripheral devices. This configuration advantageously provides an efficient operation for the application on this computer.
However, the application in that same form typically may not use those same API functions to access a similar feature on a different peripheral device. Nor may the application be ported to another computer for use with its peripheral devices. This is because the device-specific implementations of the peripheral features of the different or new peripheral devices are unrecognizable and incompatible with the application. Hence, the application is unable to access the native drivers of these peripheral devices. Therefore, in order to access the different or new peripheral devices, the application must undergo significant modification in order to add the device-specific functionality of these devices. This requires significant time and labor for a system developer.
With the emergence of large computer networks having computers with a plurality of operating systems and a variety of peripheral devices that provide the same, like, or different features, the current approach to application and API design is impractical. No system can afford the time and expense of providing related applications with APIs dependent on device-specific features for each and every permutation of the computers and their peripheral devices in the network.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a generic device-independent solution that may commonly be used among multiple applications and computers to access device-dependent features through the corresponding native drivers of the peripheral devices.

Generic application program interface for native drivers


A oral care composition includes: (a) a guanidine active; (b) a film-forming polymer; (c) a hydrophobic viscosity modifier in an amount sufficient to provide the oral care composition with a particle settling time greater than 20 minutes; and (d) an oil carrier. The guanidine active is preferably L-arginine. The film-forming polymer is preferably GANTREZ. The hydrophobic viscosity modifier is preferably a gelled mineral oil. The oil carrier is preferably a vegetable oil. A method of cleaning teeth includes applying to the teeth the oral care composition such that the oral care composition cleans the teeth. A oral care implement includes: a handle; a head mounted to the handle, the head having an outer surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface; and a gelatin capsule containing the oral care composition positioned on the head.

PCT/US2010/039677 discloses the use of arginine and a film-forming polymer of methylvinylether/maleic anhydride (GANTREZ S™) in a mouthwash to form a highly adherent film, which is effective to occlude dentinal tubules, and thereby reduce tooth sensitivity.
Other publications disclosing the use of arginine and GANTREZ in a oral care composition include US 20090202456 A1, US 20090311200 A1 and US 20100135932 A1.
Despite the foregoing developments, it is desired to provide dentinal tubule occlusion agents in gelatin encapsulated liquid oral care compositions. It is further desired to provide oral care devices comprising gelatin capsules containing dentinal tubule occlusion agents.

Gelatin encapsulated oral care composition containing dental occlusion actives, hydrophobic viscosity modifier and oil carrier


Toner conveying device includes cylindrical member, shutter member, and shutter opening/closing mechanism. Cylindrical member is provided at end of toner conveyance path in which toner is conveyed, cylindrical member having first opening from which toner is discharged, end of toner conveyance path being on downstream side in toner conveyance direction. Shutter member is formed in shape of cylinder with bottom and configured to be externally fitted with cylindrical member and open and close first opening. Shutter opening/closing mechanism is configured to cause shutter member to pivot between open position at which first opening is opened and closed position at which first opening is closed, while moving shutter member in direction along axis around which shutter member pivots such that at closed position, bottom surface of shutter member and side edge of cylindrical member are pressed against each other.

The present disclosure relates to a toner conveying device for conveying toner, and an image forming apparatus.
Generally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer or facsimile, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum is visualized with developer (toner) in a developing device, and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium. In this process, toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium may remain on the surface of the photoconductor drum. As a result, a cleaning device removes the remaining toner (waste toner) from the surface of the photoconductor drum. The toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor drum is conveyed by a screw as the waste toner, and then recovered in a waste bottle.
Meanwhile, the photoconductor drum, cleaning blade and the like have shorter lives than the image forming apparatus. As a result, these parts are normally provided as a unit that can be installed in the apparatus main body in an attachable/detachable manner as a replacement part (hereinafter, the unit is referred to as "cleaning unit"). In that case, an opening is formed in the cleaning unit to allow a waste toner conveyance path in the cleaning unit to communicate with the waste bottle.
The cleaning unit is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. As a result, when the cleaning unit is detached from the apparatus main body, it is necessary to prevent the waste toner remaining in the cleaning unit from leaking from the opening.
There is known a conventional technology in which a shutter member is provided to open and close the opening. Specifically, an end of a casing of the cleaning unit on the downstream side in the conveyance path is formed in a shape of a cylinder, and the above-mentioned opening is formed in a lower part of the cylindrical portion. On the other hand, the shutter member is formed in the shape of a cup to be externally fitted with the cylindrical portion, and has an opening of a shape corresponding to the opening of the casing. In addition, the shutter member is configured to be rotated in the circumferential direction between a closing position and an opening position, wherein at the closing position, the opening of the casing is closed by the shutter member, and at the opening position, the opening of the casing overlaps with the opening of the shutter member, and the waste toner conveyance path in the cleaning unit is communicated with the waste bottle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Toner conveying device, image forming apparatus