Skin care compositions and methods for regulating the condition of mammalian keratinous tissue containing an effective amount of a dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline salt and a second skin care compound selected from hexamidine compounds, sugar amine compounds and their combination.

Currently, there are a number of personal care products that are available to consumers, which are directed toward improving the physical appearance and health of keratinous tissues such as the skin, hair, and nails. The majority of these products are directed to delaying, minimizing or even eliminating skin wrinkling and other histological changes typically associated with the aging of skin or environmental damage to human skin. Numerous compounds have been described in the art as being useful for regulating skin condition, including regulating fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, sagging and skin discoloration.
Mammalian keratinous tissue, particularly human skin, is subjected to a variety of insults by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Such extrinsic factors include ultraviolet radiation, environmental pollution, wind, heat, infrared radiation, low humidity, harsh surfactants, abrasives, etc. Intrinsic factors, on the other hand, include chronological aging and other biochemical changes from within the skin. Whether extrinsic or intrinsic, these factors result in visible signs of skin damage. Typical skin damage includes thinning of the skin, which occurs naturally as one ages. With such thinning, there is a reduction in the cells and blood vessels that supply the skin as well as a flattening of the dermal-epidermal junction that results in weaker mechanical resistance of this junction. See, for example, Oikarinen, "The Aging of Skin: Chronoaging Versus Photoaging," Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed., vol. 7, pp. 3-4, 1990. Other damages or changes seen in aging or damaged skin include fine lines, wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, sallowness, sagging, dark under-eye circles, puffy eyes, enlarged pores, diminished rate of turnover, and abnormal desquamation or exfoliation. Additional damage incurred as a result of both external and internal factors includes visible dead skin (i.e., flaking, scaling, dryness, roughness).
Therefore, there is a need for products and methods that seek to remedy these keratinous tissue conditions. A large number of skin care actives are known in the art and used to improve the physical appearance and/or health of the skin. For example, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are used in skin care compositions to treat acne. Retinoids are another example of skin care actives used in skin care compositions to reduce signs of aging skin. Although formulating skin care compositions with such actives provide skin care benefits, there are also challenges in formulating such compositions. For example, retinoid compositions typically have to be prepared under specialized conditions, such as inert atmosphere, and may exhibit less than optimal stability, such as discoloration, at times. Some skin care actives may result in skin irritation, such as stinging, burning and redness.
Based on the foregoing, there is a continuing need to formulate skin care compositions which improve the physical appearance and/or health of the skin, which are for example, aesthetically pleasing, stable and effective at treating the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, pores, poor skin color (redness, sallowness and other forms of undesirable skin surface texture).
Surprisingly, it has now been found that compositions containing dialkanoyl hydroxyprolines compounds, their salts and derivatives thereof when in combination with hexamidine compounds, its salts and derivatives thereof and/or sugar amine compounds, its salts and derivatives thereof provide benefits in regulating skin condition previously unrecognized in the art of which the inventors are aware. For example, topical application of dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline and hexamidine and/or N-acetyl glucosamine is believed to synergistically regulate (prophylactically and/or therapeutically) visible and or tactile discontinuities in mammalian skin. Additionally surprising is the fact that neutralized salts of dialkanoyl hydroxyprolines can be incorporated into the aqueous phase of a composition, such as a solution or an emulsion resulting in improved stability of these compositions.
For instance, Applicants have found that such compositions may be useful for preventing, retarding, and/or treating dark under-eye circles, puffy eyes, sagging, sallowness as well as spider vessels and/or red blotchiness of skin, promoting skin desquamation, exfoliation, and/or turnover, regulating and/or reducing pore size appearance, preventing/retarding tanning, regulating oily/shiny appearance, preventing, retarding, and/or treating hyperpigmentation (such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, pigment spots such as age spots, and the like) in mammalian skin, preventing, retarding, and/or treating itchiness of mammalian skin, preventing, retarding, and/or treating dryness of skin, preventing, retarding, and/or treating fine lines and wrinkles, preventing, retarding, and/or treating skin atrophy of mammalian skin, softening and/or smoothing lips, hair and nails of a mammal, and preventing, retarding, and/or treating the appearance of cellulite in mammalian skin.

Compositions and methods for regulating mammalian keratinous tissue


A method of making zeolite microneedles includes providing a polymer microneedles template, depositing zeolite seeds on the polymer microneedles template, and growing the zeolite seeds into an array of zeolite microneedles.

Microneedles are considered a hybrid of hypodermic needles and transdermal patches that involve narrow and shallow injections to administer drugs. Microneedles are a new drug delivery system for transdermal delivery of drug, by virtue of their small dimensions, ability to penetrate into skin tissue in a non-invasive manner and their minimization of the risk for infection. Microneedles typically are around 100-200 microns in length, which is long enough to penetrate the stratum corneum skin barrier but not deep enough to reach the nerves in the dermis layer. Therefore, microneedles may provide a painless injection and may allow patients to operate the microneedles safely on their own.
Microneedles are conventionally made of silicon, glass, metallic material or polymer. Early microneedles were made of silicon and were prepared by microlithography and etching technologies originally developed for the microelectronics industry. Glass microneedles are made using conventional drawn glass micropipette techniques. However, the fragile nature of silicon and glass often results in easy breakage of the microneedles.
Metallic materials, including steel, stainless steel and nickel, may be electrodeposited onto polymeric mold to create microneedles with good mechanical strength. However, the possible toxicity of metals to the human body can limit its area of application and can pose a problem for the waste disposal. Polymeric microneedles are easy to manufacture, safe and inexpensive. A number of biodegradable polymers have been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administrative (FDA). For example, Poly(lactic-acid) (PLA), poly(glycolic-acid) (PGA) and their copolymers have been used routinely for a narrow range of medical applications. However, the relative low Young's modulus of polymers means the polymer microneedles may not be strong enough to penetrate the skin.
Consequently, it is desirable to develop microneedles with improved properties. Particularly, it is desirable to develop microneedles that exhibit improved mechanical properties and possess improved thermal and chemical stability compared to silicon and polymer microneedles. It is also desirable to develop microneedles that are biocompatible, especially when compared to metal microneedles. Furthermore, it is desirable to develop microneedles that can be produced conveniently and inexpensively.

Molecular sieve and zeolite microneedles and preparation thereof

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology


A social media mechanism processes messages for content that may require filtering of recipients of the message, and informs a user who drafted the message when the message might need to be filtered so it is not sent to all potential recipients of the message. The user may then select to send the message to all potential recipients, or to filter the recipients so the message is sent to less than all of the potential recipients. User profiles are created and maintained, and may include information that helps to determine when filtering of messages is desirable. Feedback buttons are also provided to provide feedback when a user does not like a message.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to social networking, and more specifically relates to filtering message posts in a social network.
2. Background Art
Social media has become an important means of communication in our modern world. For example, many people have accounts with Facebook and Twitter, allowing them to post messages to a large number of people at one time. While some social media allows the user to create certain groups to which messages may be sent, setting up and using such groups is a manual process that does not reflect how people communicate in the real world. Many people post messages on social media that may be received by a large number of people, including people who may prefer not to see certain messages.

Filtering message posts in a social network

International Business Machines Corporation


A window actuation assembly for a vehicle which is structured to automatically lower at least one, but preferably all of the windows of a vehicle in the event that a vehicle becomes partially or totally submerged in a body of water and regardless if the orientation of the vehicle, is up-right, inverted, on its side, etc. One or more fluid sensors are located strategically throughout the various portions of the vehicle and are specifically structured activate a drive assembly for the lowering of the windows upon sensing a predetermined amount of water within an associated proximity of the vehicle, to the extent that the one or more sensors are themselves at least partially submerged. The sensors are further structured not to be activated in the unlikely event that liquid inadvertently is spilled upon or otherwise applied thereto. The one or more sensors may be associated with a single drive assembly and/or independent drive assemblies associated with each of the windows such that only one, or more preferably all of the windows may be lowered in an emergency, submerged condition of the vehicle. The windows may be restricted from being raised into the normally closed position once they have been lowered under emergency circumstances, in order to prevent inadvertent closing of the windows by an occupant of the vehicle suffering from injury or being otherwise disoriented because of the emergency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle window actuation assembly which is structured to provide for the immediate and automated lowering of at least one window in a vehicle, such as a car or truck, in circumstances wherein a fluid level either inside or outside of the vehicle is elevated above a certain predefined amount, such as when the vehicle becomes at least partially submerged. Occupants of the vehicle will be prevented it from being trapped inside the vehicle in such emergency circumstances.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although there are many commonly recognized hazards associated with operating a motor vehicle, one hazard that is often overlooked relates to the extreme danger to occupants that exists when a vehicle is inadvertently driven into a body of water of sufficient depth to submerge all or a portion of the vehicle. Specifically, in many areas, such as the tropical areas of southern Florida, it is common to have small lakes and canals located adjacent to roads and streets. While these lakes and canals are typically set back at least a short distance from the roads, it is unfortunately a relatively common occurrence that a motor vehicle, because of being involved in an accident and/or because of carelessness, is driven into the adjacent body of water. For example, in many areas susceptible to flooding, it is not uncommon that water levels will rise to the point where it is still safe to drive, but where the operator of the vehicle may have difficulty in truly distinguishing a portion of the road from the flooded water levels. Under such circumstances, a substantial hazard exists for individuals operating the motor vehicles, losing track of the location of the road and inadvertently driving themselves into a canal or other body of water. During the evening hours operators of motor vehicles are frequently not able to distinguish the demarcation between the actual road and the shoreline of the bodies of water. Furthermore, in situations where an accident may occur, and a canal or other body of water is in relatively close proximity, it is very possible and often likely that any of the vehicles involved in the accident will actually find their way or be forced into the body of water.
Although these bodies of water can often be relative shallow and/or a vehicle may not be completely submerged, it is recognized that such situations can still be substantially hazardous and often deadly to the passenger of the vehicle. Specifically, it is an all to common occurrence that when the vehicle is driven into the body of water, passengers, often somewhat disoriented from the circumstances become trapped within the vehicle and have no means of escape, as the vehicle becomes submerged.
Indeed, to this end, there has been numerous inventions directed towards tools and other devices which allow a passenger, including the driver, to break one or more windows and thereby provide some means for escape. As such, it would be highly beneficial to provide a system which is able to sense or otherwise recognize such hazardous and dangerous circumstances and work to assist the escape of the passengers from the vehicle. Further, such an improved system should be capable of operating before it is to late and the vehicle becomes mostly or totally submerged and the orientation of the vehicle or pressure on the vehicle""s window prevents their being opened. Also, such an improved system should be operative in addition to or independently of other systems or components normally associated with the vehicle. Most importantly, the system should be capable of operating in the most extreme emergency circumstances in order to provide an effective and reliable means of escape for the passengers. Further, the system should also be almost instantly operative, such that the passengers have sufficient time to escape and the pressure associated with being submerged does not adversely effect the window so as to hinder and/or prevent their being opened.
It is also recognized that a significant number of vehicles, come equipped with their own power window systems which facilitate the opening and closing of windows under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, however, it is recognized that in some circumstances the passengers may either be substantially disoriented and therefore can not effectively and timely actuate the normal opening means for the windows, especially if they are concerned with other circumstances such as disorientation and/or attending to injuries. Furthermore, it is also recognized that such conventional power window structures may not operate in circumstances where the vehicle has become partially submerged, as the water may result in a malfunctioning of the vehicle""s power system.
Additionally, it is also noted that in the art associated with window actuation, there are a number of structures and devices which are directed towards preventing water from entering a vehicle, once it has begun raining. Specifically, such devices detect that rain is entering the vehicle as a result of an open window and thereby cause the open window to be closed, thus preventing the further entry of unwanted water to the interior portions of the vehicle. As it can be appreciated, such devices are indeed structured to accomplish a different function than that set forth above. Also, components associated with this type of xe2x80x9crain detectorxe2x80x9d would not be capable distinguishing the submerged condition of a vehicle from rain fall or possibly even the movement of a vehicle through a large puddle.
Accordingly, there is still a substantial need in the art for a vehicle window actuation assembly which effectively and safely operates one or more windows of a vehicle, even in situations wherein the vehicle is partially submerged, and is able to detect true emergency circumstances, so as to instigate and facilitate the exiting of passengers particularly in this type of hazardous situation.
The present invention relates to a vehicle window actuation assembly. The vehicle window actuation assembly is structured for use in a vehicle having at least one window that is structured to be opened and closed. More specifically, the vehicle window actuation assembly includes a drive assembly. The drive assembly is structured to at least lower the window, and under certain predetermined conditions both lower and raise the window. Also, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, raising of the window, once automatically lowered in an emergency situation, is restricted.
Additionally, a fluid sensor assembly is provided. Specifically, the fluid sensor assembly is structured to monitor an amount of fluid that is disposed within a defined proximity of the vehicle. Moreover, the fluid sensor assembly is structured to direct the drive assembly to lower the window when the amount of fluid detected by the fluid sensor assembly exceeds a predetermined amount or reaches a predefined level. Accordingly, when the vehicle becomes partially and/or completely submerged, the fluid sensor assembly detects the rise or location of the water levels and/or the amount of water above the predefined amount and initiates the lowering of at least one window of the vehicle. The facilitated escape of the passengers of the vehicle is thereby accomplished.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration.


A power conversion device is configured to output, to each of two inverters configured to invert a DC voltage output from a DC power supply to three-phase AC voltages, on/off signals for switching on and off respective semiconductor switching elements of each of the inverters so that, out of a plurality of voltage vectors defined so as to correspond to patterns of the on/off signals, the second closest voltage vector and the third closest voltage vector in phase to a voltage command vector that is based on a voltage command value calculated for each of the inverters are formed.

As an example of a related-art power conversion device, there is given a power conversion device configured to use two inverters so as to apply voltages to respective two sets of windings of a multi-phase rotary machine including the two sets of windings (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
In the power conversion device described in Patent Literature 1, the following control method is employed in order to avoid a mode in which the two inverters are simultaneously discharged, to thereby reduce a capacitor current. Specifically, a center value of a voltage command value corresponding to one inverter is shifted so as to be lower than a duty range that can be output, and a center value of a voltage command value corresponding to the other inverter is shifted so as to be higher than a duty range that can be output.

Power conversion device and electric power steering device


A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor using barrier layer metallurgy and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a bottom plate of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and a bonding pad using a single masking process. The method further includes forming a MIM dielectric on the bottom plate. The method further includes forming a top plate of the MIM capacitor on the MIM dielectric. The method further includes forming a solder connection on the bonding pad.

Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors are used in many integrated electronic circuits in technologies including analog, microwave, and radio frequency systems. In fact, MIM capacitors have become indispensible for RF technology.
MIM capacitors are comprised of two metal plates separated by an insulator material. These MIM capacitors are formed by deposition of the metal layers and insulator layer and etching processes, using conventional CMOS technologies, e.g., lithography, deposition and etching processes. Typically, the formation of such MIM capacitors requires extensive use of lithography masking which is a time consuming and expensive process. For example, MIM capacitors can be formed in Al or Cu BEOL processes, which require several masking steps. These masking steps, though, incur additional fabrication costs. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

Capacitor using barrier layer metallurgy


A highly available and modular cooling distribution unit (CDU) includes a heat exchange module and a pair of redundant pump modules, all configured to occupy a designated rack space that is comparable to rack space required for a conventional 1×CDU without redundancy. The heat exchange module may be fluidically coupled to one or more rack information handling resources via liquid coolant conduits, manifolds and accompanying valves, sensors, etc. In at least one embodiment, the heat exchange module includes a heat exchanger to dissipate heat from a liquid coolant and a fan assembly to move heated air in proximity to the heat exchanger. Each pump module is coupled to the heat exchange module and configured to circulate liquid coolant through a closed loop circuit that includes the heat exchanger, the liquid coolant conduits and manifolds, and information handling resources.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Semiconductor-based information handling system components, including processors, memory and other solid state storage devices, network switches, chipsets, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like, generate heat as they conduct electrical current. Heat generated by an information handling system component can decrease the component's performance and reliability and may result in temporary or permanent failure. Accordingly, thermal management is an important consideration in the design and implementation of many information handling systems.
Air-cooled information handling systems have been well known and widely implemented for decades. Such systems typically employ one or more heat sinks physically and thermally coupled to one or more heat generating components and one or more air movers, i.e., fans, to replace heated air in the vicinity of a heat generating device with cooler air. More recently, the number of information handling systems employing liquid-assisted cooling has increased, particularly in high performance and power-dense environments such as in many data center environments containing an array of server racks populated with rack-based servers, storage, and networking devices.
Liquid cooling solutions, including liquid-to-air cooling distribution units, have been implemented in data centers and other rack server environments to satisfy ever increasing cooling demand resulting from ever increasing thermal energy generated by processing, storage, networking, and other information handling resources. A conventional liquid-to-air cooling distribution unit (CDU) contains multiple active components including one or more pumps, control circuits, valves, fans, and so forth. Failure of any component can cause an entire system to be nonfunctional. In a rack server environment, the loss of a cooling distribution unit for any rack negatively impacts cooling for all servers and storage devices on the rack. Conventional 1+1 redundancy can achieve higher availability, but brings undesirable drawbacks including, without limitation, the additional rack space required to accommodate a redundant CDU, a reduction in the power density of the rack, twice as many external conduits connecting CDUs and manifolds, and roughly double the cost for coolant resources. Off-the-shelf solutions from conventional CDU suppliers frequently have little or no redundant resources and rarely support hot servicing of pumps and other mechanically active components most likely to fail.

Modular and highly available cooling distribution unit for information handling systems


A novel highly grafted, multi-functional olefin copolymer is provided comprising an additive reaction product of a method comprising reacting acylating agent with an olefin copolymer having a number average molecular weight greater than about 1,000 in the presence of a free radical initiator and essentially free of hydrocarbon solvent in an extruder to provide an olefin copolymer intermediate comprising an acylated olefin copolymer having a degree of grafting (DOG) of at least 0.5 wt. %, which copolymer intermediate's molecular weight is reduced, vacuum stripped of unreacted components, pelletized, dissolved in a neutral oil (preferably with inert gas sparging), and further reacted with a polyamine to provide a grafted multi-functional olefin copolymer viscosity modifier, and lubricating oil concentrates and compositions containing the same and uses thereof.

The art contains many disclosures on the use of polymer additives in lubricating oil compositions. Ethylene propylene copolymers and ethylene-alpha olefin nonconjugated diene terpolymers which have been further derivatized to provide bifunctional properties in lubricating oil compositions illustrate this type of oil additive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,794 discloses ethylene copolymers derived from ethylene and one or more C3 to C28 alphaolefin solution grafted with an ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acid material followed by a reaction with a polyfunctional material reactive with carboxyl groups, such as a polyamine, a polyol, or a hydroxyamine which reaction product is useful as a sludge and varnish control additive in lubricating oils.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,185 discloses a stabilized imide graft of an ethylene copolymer additive for lubricants.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,489 discloses a graft copolymer where the backbone polymer is an oil-soluble ethylene propylene copolymer or an ethylene-propylene-diene modified terpolymer with a graph monomer of C-vinyl-pyridine or N-vinylpyrrolidone to provide a dispersant VI improver for lubricating oils.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,019 discloses a multipurpose lubricating additive prepared by the reaction of an interpolymer of ethylene and a C3-C8 alpha-monoolefin with an olefinic carboxylic acid acylating agent to form an acylating reaction intermediate which is then reacted with an amine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,689 discloses a process for grafting a functional organic group onto an ethylene copolymer or an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,250 discloses a reaction product of a copolymer and an olefin carboxylic acid via the "ene" reaction followed by a reaction with a monoaminepolyamine mixture.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,007 discloses a dispersant-VI improver prepared by reacting a polyamine-derived dispersant with an oxidized ethylene-propylene polymer or an ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,181 discloses polymer additives for fuels and lubricants comprising a grafted ethylene copolymer reacted with a polyamine, polyol or hydroxyamine and finally reacted with an alkaryl sulfonic acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,525 teaches multi-grade lubricating oils comprising a low saturate base stock, less than three mass percent of an ash less dispersant and a viscosity modifier.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,702 discloses mixed ethylene alpha olefin copolymer multifunctional viscosity modifiers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,623 teaches multifunctional olefin copolymer VI improvers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,383 discloses a process for preparing a dispersant and antioxidant olefin copolymer additives, wherein free radical grafting is accompanied by the molecular weight reduction of the copolymers due to mechanically shearing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,923 discloses oil solutions of adducted derivatized EPR or EPDM.
In one conventional process, a grafted olefin copolymer VI improver is synthesized by grafting maleic anhydride or other dicarboxylic anhydride on an olefin copolymer in the presence of an alkane solvent, e.g., hexane, or similar hydrocarbon solvent. However, certain solvents, such as alkanes (e.g., hexane) in particular, can undesirably participate in side reactions during the grafting reaction to form undesired side products, such as grafted alkyl succinic anhydrides, which represent impurities in the end product. Also, relatively higher amounts of transient unfunctionalized polymer (ungrafted polymer) can be present after grafting in solvent-based grafting reactions, which reduces the useful activity level of the product.
Emission requirements for all vehicles have become increasingly more stringent. For instance, diesel engine design changes required to meet emission requirements have led to increased levels of soot in engine lubricants. This increased level of soot causes increased wear when oils are not properly formulated. In particular, with the arrival of new exhaust gas recirculation or recycle (hereinafter "EGR") cooled engines including cooled EGR engines, a problem has developed in the ability of the conventional lubricating oils to handle the resulting increased soot loading. These new engines also have more stringent NOx emission standards. It has been noted in field testing of certain Mack and Detroit Diesel trucks that the engine oils tested in the cooled EGR prototype engines exhibit undesirably excessive oil thickening because of the way soot is being generated. Increasing the treat rate of the standard dispersants in the lubricating oils has not solved the problem. It has been suggested that oils having the capability to form films that are thicker than the size of primary soot particles may be able to prevent or reduce this source of abrasive wear.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,473 describes the use of certain olefin copolymers containing alkyl or aryl amine, or amide groups, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic groups or ester linkages in lubricating oil compositions used in EGR equipped heavy duty diesel engines.
Advanced olefin polymer dispersant viscosity index improvers are needed and desired for use in lubricating oils which provide improvements in film formation properties, and deposit and soot control, in lubricants used in internal combustion engines, such as diesel engines and EGR engines in particular.

Grafted multi-functional olefin copolymer VI modifiers and uses thereof


A hammermill having a housing, a rotor assembly, a plurality of hammers, and a attrition plate assembly is provided to reduce oversized particulate material to a desired size. The housing has a sidewall that extends between an inlet end and an discharge end which defines an enclosed work space. The rotor assembly is disposed within the housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the housing. The plurality of hammers is coupled to the rotor assembly and is disposed within the enclosed work space. The attrition plate assembly has a generally circular configuration and is removably secured to the sidewall within the enclosed work space of the housing. The attrition plate assembly is arranged such that a portion of at least one hammer of the plurality of hammers is spaced from and overlies a portion of the first attrition plate assembly so that the at least one hammer and the attrition plate assembly cooperate to reduce particulate material to a desired size and to urge the particulate material toward the discharge end of the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to impact grinders, hammermills, or the like, and particularly to a screenless hammermill that can be used to reduce the size of material to a desired dimension.
2. Background Art
A number of different industries rely on impact grinders or hammermills to reduce materials to a smaller size. Hammermills are often used to process forestry and agricultural products as well as to process minerals, and for recycling materials. Specific examples of materials processed by hammermills include ore, limestone, coal, railroad ties, lumber, limbs, brush, grains, and even automobiles. Once reduced to the desired size, the material passes out of the housing of the hammermill for subsequent use and further processing. Exemplary embodiments of hammermills are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,904,306; 5,842,653; 5,377,919; and 3,627,212, all of which are incorporated herein in their entireties.
Hammermills—also generally referred to as crushers or shredders—typically include a steel housing or chamber containing a plurality of hammers mounted on a rotor and a suitable drive train for rotating the rotor. As the rotor turns, the correspondingly rotating hammers come into engagement with the material to be comminuted or reduced in size. Hammermills typically use grates formed into and circumscribing a portion of the interior surface of the housing. The size of the particulate material is controlled by the size of the screen apertures against which the rotating hammers force the material. Unfortunately, in prior art hammermills, material can "short circuit" or by-pass the hammers by being forced through the apertures in the grates or screens before being thoroughly processed or sized.
Furthermore, the prior art grates or screens can become restricted and plugged with the materials being reduced, which, in turn, reduces the throughput and efficiency of the hammermill. In particular, wood that has a "stringy bark," such as poplar, hickory, and eucalyptus, is very problematic for the grates and thus is not effectively reduced using a prior art hammermill because materials tend to straddle the apertures and to build up therein, resulting in the apertures becoming plugged or partially deformed which does not allow material of a desired size to pass through the plugged or deformed aperture(s) and reduces throughput and efficiency of the hammermill. Thus, the higher energy costs and the cost of the need for frequent repair and replacement of the grate or screen represents a significant ongoing financial outlay.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved hammermill adapted for use with any desired materials to be processed, and which will increase the likelihood of the materials passed therethrough being thoroughly processed, at least to the extent desired.


An integrated hybrid electrochemical device comprising a nickel-metal hydride battery and an alkaline H2—O2/air fuel cell together sharing a common alkali metal electrolyte in a housing common to both. In one embodiment, the NiMH battery and alkaline fuel cell electrodes share only the same electrolyte. According to another embodiment, the battery and fuel cell electrodes not only share the same electrolyte, but also share common reactant supply plenums as well. In another embodiment, the battery and fuel cell electrodes share a common electrolyte, common reactant (i.e. H2 and O2 or air) supply plenums, and common current collectors.

Nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries, and methods for their manufacture, are well known. Such batteries produce electrical current by the electrochemical reaction between NiOOH and a metal hydride (MH) in an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide (e.g. KOH) electrolyte according to the following reactions:Cathode (+): NiOOH+H2O+eNi(OH)2+OH—  (1)Anode (−): MH+OH—M+H2O+e  (2)Overall: MH+NiOOHM+Ni(OH)2  (3)where "M" is a metal (i.e. alloyed or not) capable of electrochemically storing and releasing hydrogen in a KOH environment.
Suitable metal hydrides for these batteries are primarily formed from transition metals (i.e. the Group IIIA–VIIIA metals of the Periodic Table including the lanthanide series [i.e. rare earth] metals). Of these, (1) the AB2-based phase where A=Zr, Ti, or Mg, and B=Ni, V, Cr or Mn, such as ZrMn2, ZrCr2, (2) the AB5-based phase where A=rare earths such as La or mischmetal, and B=transition metals such as Ni, have been found to be particularly effective, and include, inter alia, such alloys as LaNi5, CaNi5, ZrV2, and alloys thereof with such other metals as aluminum, tin, manganese, cobalt, silicon, chromium, calcium, magnesium, lithium, carbon, titanium vanadium, iron, yttrium, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum lanthanum, tungsten and rhenium, and various rare earth metals. Moreover, Ti3Ni2 and Cr-doped or Al-doped Ti3Ni2 have shown to be effective hydride formers. The MH electrode may be prepared by mixing ball-milled MH powder with carbon powder and a binder (e.g. polyethylene), and hot pressing it onto a suitable support/current collector. Preferably, electrocatalytic metals (e.g. AB3-type materials such as MoCo3, MoNi3, WNi3, ZrPt3, inter alia) will be homogeneously distributed throughout the MH-C mix to provide good hydrogen storage levels and electrocatalytic activity. Hot KOH etching of the electrodes enhances their activation. A more detailed discussion of MH electrodes can be found in F. Feng, M. Geng, D. Northwood, Electrochemical behavior of intermetallic-based metal hydrides used in Ni/metal hydride (MH) batteries: a review, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 26, 725–734, (2001), which is incorporated herein by reference.
NiOOH electrodes are made by (1) first preparing a paste comprising Ni(OH)2 and a binder [e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC)] in a suitable solvent [e.g. a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylformamide (DMF), or a mixture of t-butanol and water], (2) spreading the paste onto a suitable support/current collector (e.g. Ni screen, mat, expanded metal or foam), and (3) heating it (e.g. 130° C.–250° C.) for about 5–10 minutes to drive off the solvent, and bind the paste's components together and to the support/current collector. Carbon particles may be added to the mix to enhance its conductivity. The Ni(OH)2 converts to NiOOH when the battery is charged.
Low temperature, alkaline H2—O2/air fuel cells (hereafter AFC) are well known in the art and include cells that use either pure oxygen or air as the oxidant (hereafter O2/air or oxygen/air). Such fuel cells produce electrical current by the electrochemical reaction between H2 and O2/air at temperatures preferably below about 80° C. in an aqueous KOH electrolyte according to the following reactions:anode: H2+2OH—→2H2O+2e-  (4)cathode: O2+2H2O+4e-→4OH—  (5)overall: 2H2+O2→2H2O  (6)
Electrodes for such AFCs are known as "gas-diffusion" electrodes, which (1) comprise a gas diffusion layer and a reaction layer, (2) are inert to the reactants and the electrolyte, and (3) are electronically conductive, and porous—having a pore system through which gas can be readily transferred, but which resists leakage of electrolyte into the gas chambers or flood the electrode. The use of small pores in the range of 1–100 microns provide strong capillary forces that resist free flow of electrolyte through the electrode. Dual porosity electrodes having larger pores on the gas side, and smaller pores on the electrolyte side, have proven to be quite effective. Gas-diffusion electrodes have been made from self-supporting porous carbon or sintered metal (e.g. nickel), or by securing a porous active material (e.g. carbon) to a porous current collector. Plastic-bonded electrodes (i.e. catalyst particles in a plastic matrix) have also been used successfully. A catalyst (e.g. Pt, Pt—Pd, Ni, Ag, NiO etc.) suitable to effecting the anode reaction or the cathode reaction, as appropriate, is contained within the porous active material. Wetproofed gas-diffusion electrodes have (1) a hydrophobic side that confronts the reactant gas (i.e. H2 or O2/air) and is not wettable by the electrolyte, and (2) an opposing, hydrophilic side that confronts the electrolyte and is wettable thereby. A catalyzed reaction zone exists within the electrode, between the two sides, where the three phases (i.e. liquid electrolyte, gaseous reactant, and solid current collector/catalyst) meet to form an anode or cathode reaction site, as appropriate. Oft times, the electrolyte-confronting side of the electrode is covered with an electrolyte-absorbent material, e.g. a material like that used as a separator in NiMH batteries. Since Wm. Grove's invention of the fuel cell, and F. T. Bacon's adaptation thereof to aqueous KOH electrolytes, the techniques and materials for manufacturing gas diffusion electrodes have advanced significantly, have become highly developed in the art, and are all useful in the practice of the present invention.
Early AFCs used noble metal catalysts (e.g. Pt) for both the anode and cathode. Non-noble, metal hydride anode catalysts have been proposed that both (1) catalyze the formation of atomic hydrogen and water, and (2) store hydrogen within the anode for release when needed. Such electrodes are known as H2-storing electrodes and contain non-noble metal catalysts that comprise rare-earth/mischmetal alloys, zirconium and/or titanium or mixtures thereof, and include, for example, MaCobMncFedSne (where "M"=0.1–60 atomic % Ti, 0.1–40 atomic % Zr, 0–60 atomic % V, 0.1-atomic % Ni, and 0–56 atomic % Cr), "b"=0–7.5 atomic %, "c"=13–17 atomic %, "d"=0–3.5 atomic percent, "e"=0–1.5 atomic %, and a+b+c+d+e=100%. Catalytic regions will preferably be distributed throughout the anode material. Such catalysts are discussed in more detail in PCT Patent Application US01/07864 which was published as International Publication Number WO 01/69701 on 20 Sep. 2001, and is herein incorporated by reference. H2-storing AFC anodes comprising Raney nickel and H2-absorbing alloys have been proposed, and are discussed in EPO Patent 277332 (i.e. EP Patent Application no. EP 87118803 filed Dec. 18, 1987) which is also incorporated herein by reference.
Similarly, AFC cathodes capable of storing and releasing oxygen have been proposed. Such electrodes are known as O2-storing electrodes and comprise a mixture of a non-noble catalyst (e.g. carbon) and an active material capable of reversibly storing energy through a redox (reduction/oxidation) couple mechanism such as provided by metal/oxide couples selected from the group consisting of copper/copper oxide, silver/silver oxide, zinc/zinc oxide, cobalt/cobalt oxide, and cadmium/cadmium oxide, inter alia. The NiOH/NiOOH redox couple is also considered to be useful. AFC cathodes made from such redox couples are discussed in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/797,332 published Oct. 25, 2001 as U.S. 2001/0033959 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference. AFCs containing H2-storing anodes and O2-storing cathodes discussed above are said to also be capable of functioning as electrolyzers for electrolytically dissociating water into hydrogen and oxygen which is stored in the anode and cathode respectively (e.g. during regenerative braking of vehicles powered by such AFCs).
The electrolytes used for both the NiMH batteries and AFCs are essentially the same, and comprise about 20% to about 50% aqueous alkali metal hydroxide, preferably about 30% KOH for its superior conductivity. The electrolyte may either be flowed between the electrodes, or be maintained static therebetween, as in a quiescent pool, or by absorption into a porous matrix (e.g. asbestos cloth or mat, or a cast polymer film), a.k.a. "separator", that engages, and separates, adjacent electrodes one from the next. The electrolyte-absorbing matrix/separator may be made with finer pores than the adjacent electrodes which is effective in preventing flooding of the electrodes. A popular matrix/separator material is ZIRFON® which comprises a cast film (i.e. about —200 μm to about 350 μm thick) comprising zirconium oxide and polysulfone. ZIRFON® is discussed in Ph. Vermeiren, W. Adriansens and R. Leysen, ZIRFON® A new Separator for Ni—H2 Batteries and Alkaline Fuel Cells, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy Vol. 21, No. 8, pp. 679–684, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference. Circulating electrolytes are preferred for AFCs as a means to carry away the reaction water, to help manage the AFC's temperature, and to permit external purification of the electrolyte (i.e. remove carbonates formed therein by reaction with CO2 in the air) before it is recirculated back to the fuel cell.

Integrated hybrid electrochemical device


The present invention encompasses an apparatus and method for supporting multiple wireless data communication networks between a wireless communications device and a fixed communications device or another wireless communications device. Two network elements compose the physical apparatus, a protocol converter and a router. Upon receiving packet data from a fixed communications device, a router will locate a destination wireless communications device. The router will then convert the packet data to a format usable by the wireless data network that the wireless communications device is currently using for wireless access. After conversion, the router will perform actual transmission of the packet data to the correct destination wireless network. Once the converted packet data is received by the wireless network base station, it will be transmitted via RF to the destination wireless communications device. The router will also perform reverse functions of receiving packet data from a wireless communications device across wireless data network and then perform necessary conversion to a format usable by fixed communications device. The router will then perform actual transmission of the converted packet data to the fixed communications device.

Presently, a wireless communications device user is limited by the single wireless data network the wireless communications device of the user will support. For example, when traveling outside of radio frequency coverage for a specific wireless data network, the user is normally left with no viable alternative wireless communications means. A similar problem occurs during busy traffic hours when the single wireless data network cannot accomodate any more users. Also a wireless communications device user currently cannot communicate with a fixed communications device of a different network or another wireless communications device that is using a different wireless data network interface protocol. Thus a mobile end user is limited to communicating with other users having the same wireless data network interface protocol that the mobile end user is currently utilizing. Therefore, the moving end user can effectively be isolated from users on different data networks. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a seamless data communications system providing wireless communications devices the ability to operate across multiple wireless data networks.

Protocol converter and router for multi-mode wireless data communications


A linearly-actuated lock including a housing, a lock case received within the housing along an axis, and a lock barrel rotatable relative to the lock case between a locked state and an unlocked state. The lock barrel includes tumblers and tumbler springs. The lock further includes a key insertable into the lock barrel to displace the tumblers relative to the lock barrel in a direction parallel to the axis and a sidebar extending through apertures of the lock barrel. The sidebar is engageable with a notch of the tumblers when the sidebar moves radially inward relative to the axis. The sidebar includes a cam surface slidable against at least one of the housing and the lock case when the lock barrel rotates. The sidebar also includes a projection having a single-ramped surface received within the notch of each tumbler when the lock barrel is in the unlocked state.

The present invention relates to keyed locks for providing secured access to doors such as building or vehicle doors, ignition switches for vehicles, or start-up switches for other powered machines, and other devices. The present invention also relates to keyed locks, e.g., padlocks, that may be used as a safety lock or tag-out lock in applications where safety is a primary concern over security.


Methods for the purification of the macrolide moxidectin result in higher purity levels than can often otherwise be obtained. The crystalline moxidectin is then used in a wide variety of pharmaceutical and veterinary applications, including the prevention, treatment and control of parasites in plants, animals and humans.

The present invention relates to the purification of the anthelmintic compound known as moxidectin. The chemical name for moxidectin is [6R,23E,25S(E)]-5-O-Dementhyl-28-deoxy-25-(1,3-di methyl-11′-butenyl0-6,28-epoxy-23-9methoxyimino)milbemycin B. The composition of moxidectin and various uses thereof are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,154, Asato, et. al, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,753, Sutherland, et. al. The morphological characteristics, compounds and methods of production for moxidectin are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,994, and in its issued European counterpart, EP 170,006. Another process used to purify moxidectin is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,824.
Moxidectin is useful as an anti-parasitic in the prevention, treatment or control of helmintic, ectoparasitic, insect, acarid and nematode infections and infestations in warm-blooded animals, as well as agricultural crops. It is especially useful to cattle and sheep farmers to control such parasites as ticks and worms. Moxidectin may be administered to livestock and other animals in a number of ways including, as a topical or "drench", as a subcutaneous injection, or orally in pill or tablet form.
Two methods currently used to purify moxidectin are described as examples 17 and 19 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,824. The methods of examples 17 and 19 yield purity levels of 89% and 71%, respectively. Another process currently known and used to purify moxidectin involves the following steps: dissolving moxidectin in cyclomethylhexane, (MCH), and adding water to the moxidectin/MCH solution resulting in the precipitation of moxidectin over an extended period of time. The process results in a product with 90-92% purity, but can take days to complete. The current methods are cost-intensive, time-consuming and result in an end product with a purity level that is not high enough for many applications.
A higher purity level would further enable suitable formulations of pharmaceutical preparations for animal, as well as human uses. A method that would allow for amorphous moxidectin to be converted to crystalline moxidectin with a higher purity would also be useful to the skilled artisan.
Other methods of moxidectin currently available to the skilled artisan may achieve a higher purity level, but typically will utilize more hazardous solvents such as chloroform and dichloromethane. They also can involve more complicated processes such as normal and reverse chromatography steps (silica media).
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a new method to purify moxidectin that is cost-effective, less time consuming, and produces an end product with a higher purity level than is currently available. Also needed is moxidectin with a higher purity level than what is otherwise available in the art that is safe for use in a wide variety of pharmaceutical applications, including those for animal and even human uses.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of purifying moxidectin through crystallization


The instant invention provides a process for separating one or more aliphatic diamines from reductive amination reaction solvents and impurities, and aliphatic diamines obtained via such a process. The process for separating one or more aliphatic diamines from reductive amination reaction solvents and impurities according to the instant invention comprises the steps of: (1) feeding one or more cycloaliphatic cyanoaldehydes, hydrogen, ammonia, and optionally one or more solvents into a continuous reductive amination reactor system; (2) contacting said one or more cycloaliphatic cyanoaldehydes, hydrogen, and ammonia with each other in the presence of one or more heterogeneous metal based catalyst systems at a temperature in the range of from 80° C. to about 160° C. and a pressure in the range of from 700 to 3500 psig; (3) thereby forming a product mixture comprising one or more cycloaliphatic diamines, optionally one or more bicyclic by-products, optionally one or more cycloaliphatic aminonitriles, optionally one or more cycloaliphatic aminoalcohols, optionally one or more oligomeric by-products, ammonia, water, hydrogen, and optionally one or more solvents; (4) removing said product mixture from the reactor system; (5) removing at least a portion of said ammonia, said hydrogen, or mixture thereof from said product mixture via distillation; (6) removing at least a portion of said water and said one or more optional solvents via distillation; (7) removing at least a portion of one or more optional bicyclic by-products via distillation; (8) removing one or more optional cycloaliphatic aminonitriles, one or more optional cycloaliphatic aminoalcohols, one or more optional oligomeric by-products via distillation; and (9) thereby separating said one or more cycloaliphatic diamines from said product mixture.

The aliphatic diamine reaction mixtures typically include many impurities. Such impurities are undesirable and should be separated from the desired diamine products to meet the certain required specifications. Despite the research effort to improve the process for isolation of desired diamine products, there is still a need for a method by which cycloaliphatic bis(aminomethyl) compounds can be prepared economically and in high yields.

Process for separating one or more aliphatic diamines from reductive amination reaction solvents and impurities


A cap assembly for use with a centrifuge container includes a stopper (plug) member to provide a fluid-tight seal of an open end of the container. The stopper member includes a channel therethrough. A lid receives the combination of a stopper fitted into the open end of the container. Depending portions on the underside of the lid press upon the stopper to ensure a reliable seal of the container. In addition, the depending portions are adapted to close off an opening of the channel when the lid and stopper are assembled. Removal of the lid opens the channel allowing air to flow into the container, and in this way any vacuum that develops in the container during a centrifugation run is released by such action.

Centrifuges are commonly used in medical and biological industries for separating and purifying materials of differing densities, such as viruses, bacteria, cells and proteins. A centrifuge includes a rotor and a container to support a sample undergoing centrifugation. The rotor is designed to hold the sample container while it spins up to tens of thousands of revolutions per minute. To avoid spillage, evaporation, or aerosoling of the sample, a cover is placed onto the container so as to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween
During centrifugation, hydrostatic pressure within the container can compromise the seal integrity of the covered container. The hydrostatic pressure may force the sample to pass between the cover and the receptacle. Avoiding this type of leakage poses a great challenge when designing centrifuge sample containers. The prior art is replete with differing designs for sample-holding containers from which inspiration may be drawn to provide improved sample-holding centrifuge containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 718,643 to Lees et al. discloses a sealing-jar for preserving articles of food, FIG. 1, including a body of a receptacle (a), a recess (b), a cover (c), a flat flange (d), a circular down-turned rib (e), and a rubber gasket (f). A seal is achieved by the gasket (f) fitting around the cover (c), beneath the flange (d), so as to bear against the recess (b), but this seal is easily compromised by centrifugal forces.
Australian Pat. No. 4247/26 to Lucke et al. discloses an apparatus for sealing bottles and jars, FIGS. 1-3, containing a domed disc stopper 8 having a downwardly projecting wall 9 near its outer edge. The wall 9 is inclined to match the seating 7 at the top of a rigid neck 5 of a jar or bottle. A rigid cap 12 has internal screw-threads 6 that are designed to thread onto the neck 5. A resilient ring 10 fits into an annular groove in the face of the stopper, col. 3 lines 4-8. The resilient ring 10 seats against the neck 5 by the cap 12 pressing against the stopper 8.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,772 to Magnani et al. discloses an airtight container cap, FIGS. 1-3, containing a ring-nut 1 have an upper circular hole 2, a slot 3 on the side surface thereof and threads 4; a jar 7 with a threaded neck 6; glass stopper 8 having one groove 9 in the upper portion a second groove 10 in the lower portion and a shoulder 12; and a circular gasket 11. The circular gasket 11 is positioned within groove 10 of the glass stopper 8. The glass stopper 8 is then mounted inside of ring-nut 1 through hole 2. Ring-nut 1 is then threaded onto the neck 6 of a jar 7, forming a hermetic seal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,273 to Hawkins et al. discloses a closure with enhanced sealing for a container, FIGS. 1-3, comprising a container neck lip 30 and a cap 18 having an inner skirt 24, a top 20 and a depending coaxial outer skirt 22. The outer skirt has internal threads 26 for engaging the complementary external threads 28 of the container neck. The inner skirt 24 has an interference fit with the inside of the container neck lip 30, thus, forming one element of the enhanced seal. A bead 32 projects inwardly from the depending skirt 22 and provides the second element of the enhanced seal by maintaining peripheral contact against the outside of the container neck lip 30. An o-ring 34 is positioned between the outer and inner skirts, 22 and 24 respectively, and becomes compressed between the top 20 and the container lip 30 to maintain a hermetic seal while the cap 18 is threaded on the container neck 12. The rigid inner skirt firmly presses against the inside of lip 30 and co-acts with the inwardly directed bead 32 maintaining peripheral contact with the outside lip 30, which helps to maintain the hermetic seal by retaining the o-ring 34 in its compressed state.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,783 to Hall discloses a tube 10 for use in a fixed angle centrifuge rotor having indicia 20 thereon indicating the level to which the tube may be filled with liquid without risk of spillage due to meniscus re-orientating.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,977 to Haynes et al. discloses a vented closure for a capillary tube assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a capillary tube 12 having a bore extending therethrough and a cap 14 slidably mounted to on end of the tube 12. The cap 14 includes an enlarged head 16 and a substantially cylindrical body 18. One or more vent grooves 20 are formed into the body which allows air to escape when the cap 14 is in a first slidable position. The groove 20 typically extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body 18.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,252 discloses an invertible pressure-responsive sealing cap I for attachment to a container 2 having a mouth 4 with an outwardly facing threaded portion 12. The mouth 4 has an inner cylindrical sealing surface 6. The cap 1 has a threaded portion 3 disposed on a cap skirt 5, with the threaded portion 3 facing inwardly toward a cap axis 7. A central dome portion 9 is symmetrically disposed about the cap axis 7 and extends outwardly therefrom, terminating in an annular portion 11. The dome portion 9 is initially concave and extends into the mouth 4 of the container 2. The interface of the dome portion 9 and the annular portion 11 define a first flexure area 17. A sealing portion 13 is disposed about the annular portion 11 defining a second flexure area 21 thereat. The sealing portion 13 includes an outwardly facing cylindrical surface 23. In operation, the cap 1 is mated to the container 2 and pressure build-up therein causes the dome portion 9 to flatten increasing the sealing force between the sealing surfaces 23 and 6. A drawback with the aforementioned containers is that the fluid-tight integrity of the seals is compromised by samples egressing therethrough during centrifugation, which has led to the development of seals which employ centrifugal force to drive a cap or plug against a container.
U.S. Pat Nos. 5,127,895 to R. Pawlovich; 5,395,001 to P. Moore; 5,361,922 to P. Moore et ale; 4,304,356 to S. Chulay et ale; 4,290,550 to S. Chulay et ale; 4,080,175 to S. Chulay et al.; and 4,076,170 to S. Chulay et al. ale, all assigned to the assignee of the present invention, disclose centrifuge containers which achieve a seal by having a cap or plug forced against a container under centrifugal force. In some of these patents, deformable o-rings are used as part of the seal mechanism. Tapered surfaces, annular ridges and annular grooves are all employed, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,001, to achieve a sealed sample.
For centrifuge containers having large diameter openings, structural flexure of the sample containment assembly during a centrifugation run may permit air to pass from within the container. Thus, a container having a lid for sealing its open end will be subject to a small but significant negative air pressure as a result of the venting of air from the container. This presents operational difficulties to the lab technician who must contend with carefully removing the vacuum sealed lid without doing damage to it, and yet desires to rapidly perform the operation in order to minimize the down time between centrifugation runs.
What is needed is a capping assembly for a centrifuge container that is capable of maintaining a tight seal during a centrifugation run while at the same time is capable of easily releasing a vacuum that may develop within the container during the run. It is desirable that such a capping assembly be manufactured with minimum parts and easily maintained during its useful life.

Cap/closure having a venting mechanism for use with centrifuge containers


Methods of manufacturing a valve bag are disclosed. First and second webs of valve material, such as heat sealable plastic film, are combined to create a combined web of valve material, and a sealing process is applied thereto to define valve portions. The combined web of valve material includes a plurality of valve strip portions, each including a valve portion. Then first and second bag sections, which may be on a first and second side respectively of a web of folded bag material, or on a first web and second web of bag material respectively, are dispensed with the combined web of valve material positioned in between, and brought together to form a combined web of valve bag material. A sealing process is applied to the combined web of valve bag material, forming a valve bag section. The bag section is then separated from the remainder of the combined web of valve bag material to form an individual valve bag.

GB-A 2447611 describes a valve bag, and a method of manufacturing the same. The valve bag is manufactured by dispensing a first and second web of material, each having a 'valve' and an 'open' side; creating a combined web by contacting a lower side of the first web with an upper side of the second web; sealing the combined web together along a sealing line adjacent the valve side, the sealing process defining a valve portion; separating the first and second web at the open side and folding outwardly until a section of a lower side of the first web contacts an upper side of the second web; sealing together the contacting sections of the first and second web; and separating adjacent bag sections.
This valve bag was an improvement over its predecessors and their respective methods of manufacture. That is, it used conventional sealing and folding machines and allowed the manufacturer to vary the size and quantity of bags produced, such that the small valve bags for holding small items, such as nuts and bolts, were possible. Its predecessors were far more expensive to manufacture, such that only valve bags for larger quantities of products were economically viable.
It is therefore desirable to alleviate the above problem.


A light-emitting diode is built on a silicon substrate doped with a p-type impurity to possess sufficient conductivity to provide a current path. The p-type silicon substrate has epitaxially grown thereon two superposed buffer layers of aluminum nitride and n-type indium gallium nitride. Further grown epitaxially on the buffer layers is the main semiconductor region of the LED which comprises a lower confining layer of n-type gallium nitride, an active layer for generating light, and an upper confining layer of p-type gallium nitride. In the course of the growth of the main semiconductor region there occurs a thermal diffusion of aluminum, gallium and indium from the buffer layers into the p-type silicon substrate, with the consequent creation of an alloy layer of the diffused metals. Representing p-type impurities in the p-type silicon substrate, these metals do not create a pn junction in the substrate which causes a forward voltage drop.

This invention relates to semiconductor devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and transistors, particularly to those employing nitrides or nitride-based compounds as semiconductors, and to a method of making such semiconductor devices.
Nitride-based semiconductor devices are capable of fabrication on substrates of either sapphire, silicon carbide, or silicon. Silicon in particular offers the advantages of being less expensive and easier of cutting than sapphire or silicon carbide. Unlike sapphire, moreover, silicon is electrically conductive and so lends itself to use as a current path. Offsetting these advantages of the silicon substrate is a relatively great voltage drop caused by the potential barrier between the silicon substrate and the nitride semiconductor. The nitride semiconductor LEDs with the silicon substrate have therefore required a drive voltage that is high enough to overcome the voltage drop.
Japanese Unexamined Paten Publication No. 2002-208729 teaches an LED configuration designed to preclude the noted shortcoming of the silicon substrate. It employs an n-type silicon substrate on which there is grown by epitaxy the main semiconductor region of the LED via a buffer region. The buffer region comprises an aluminum nitride (AlN) layer directly overlying the n-type silicon substrate, and an indium gallium nitride (InGaN) layer of the same n conductivity type as the silicon substrate on the AlN layer. The main semiconductor region comprises a lower cladding or confining layer of n-type gallium nitride (GaN), an active layer of InGaN, and an upper cladding or confining layer of p-type GaN.
In the course of the epitaxial growth of the successive layers of the buffer region and main semiconductor region of the prior art LED on the n-type silicon substrate, there occurs a partial diffusion of the aluminum of the lowermost AlN buffer layer, and of the indium and gallium of the overlying InGaN buffer layer, into the silicon substrate. The result is the creation, at the interface between silicon substrate and AlN layer, of a layer of the alloys or compounds of gallium, indium, aluminum and silicon. This alloy layer, as it might be so called, is in itself advantageous from the standpoint of LED efficiency as it reduces the potential barrier of the heterojunction between silicon substrate and AlN layer and so enables the LED to operate with a lower drive voltage than in the presence of the potential barrier. The LED is thus made less in power loss and higher in efficiency.
The trouble, however, is that aluminum, indium and gallium diffuse deeper down into the silicon substrate from the alloy layer. These Group III elements represent p-type impurities in the n-type silicon substrate, so that a pn junction was conventionally created in the substrate under the alloy layer. This applicant has ascertained that the pn junction caused a forward voltage drop of 0.6 volt or so. The residual potential barrier between the silicon substrate and the nitride semiconductor layers thereon was still so high that the voltage drop across this prior art LED (in other words, its drive voltage) was approximately 1.2 times as great as that across the sapphire-substrate LED. This shortcoming of the n-type silicon substrate in conjunction with the nitride semiconductor layers grown thereon manifests itself not only with LEDs but with transistors and other types of semiconductor devices of comparable make.
Another problem with LEDs concerns the electrodes that meet the dual, sometimes contradictory, requirements of enabling the emission of light therethrough and providing electric connections. A typical conventional solution was the creation of a transparent electrode, as of a mixture of indium oxide and tin oxide, on the light-emitting surface of the semiconductor chip, and on this transparent electrode, a metal-made bonding pad for connection of wire. The metal material of the bonding pad is easy to diffuse into the transparent electrode and even into the semiconductor region, the transparent electrode being as thin as, say, ten nanometers. A Schottkey barrier was therefore easy to be formed between the bonding pad and the semiconductor region. Blocking the forward current of the LED, the Schottkey barrier reduced current flow under the bonding pad and added to current flow through the outer parts of the semiconductor region.
As the n-type silicon substrate necessitates as aforesaid the application of a high drive voltage forwardly of the LED, both silicon substrate and semiconductor region cause greater power losses and generate more heat. The noted Schottkey barrier deteriorates as a consequence, permitting greater current flow therethrough and, in turn, causing reduction of current flow through the outer parts of the semiconductor region. The greater amount of light generated at the central part of the semiconductor region hardly leads to a greater amount of light actually emitted from the LED, because the bonding pad is impermeable to the light. Furthermore, with the reduction of current flow through the outer parts of the semiconductor region, a correspondingly less amount of light is generated and emitted through the transparent electrode. The prior art LEDs having nitride semiconductors on n-type silicon substrates were therefore mostly unsatisfactory in the efficiency of light emission.
It has been known to provide a current blocking layer of electrically insulating material between the bonding pad and the semiconductor region. This solution is objectionable because of the additional manufacturing steps, and consequent higher manufacturing costs, needed for fabrication of the current blocking layer.


A lamp socket adapter includes an adapter body, a threaded sleeve, a slot type socket, two locking bars, and two elastic members. Thus, the lamp socket adapter converts a screw type socket into a slot type socket irreversibly. In addition, the arc-shaped guide face of each of the locking bars is directed toward a rotation direction of the outer thread of the threaded sleeve to guide rotation of the outer thread of the threaded sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adapter and, more particularly, to a lamp socket adapter.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional incandescent lamp has a screw base screwed into a screw type socket to attach the incandescent lamp to the screw type socket. The incandescent lamp usually consumes a larger amount of electrical energy, so that the incandescent lamp is replaced by an energy-saving lamp. However, the energy-saving lamp has a base formed with two pins that are inserted into two slots of a slot type socket so that the energy-saving lamp is only available for a slot type socket and cannot be mounted on a screw type socket. A conventional lamp socket adapter is mounted between a slot type socket and a screw type socket to convert the screw type socket into the slot type socket. However, the conventional lamp socket adapter is easily removed from the screw type socket.

Lamp socket adapter to convert a screw type socket into a slot type socket irreversibly

Dong Guan Bright Yinhuey Lighting Co., Ltd.


A system method and non-transitory computer readable medium implemented as programming on a suitable computing device, the system for inversion of control of executable extensions including a run-time environment configured to push data to one or a plurality of extensions, wherein said one or plurality of extensions are configured to comprise one or a plurality of signatures. Wherein said one or a plurality of extensions are compilable, designable and testable outside of the run-time environment, and wherein the run-time environment may be configured to accept an extension and to push data to that extension as per said one or a plurality of signatures.

A workflow typically consists of a sequence of concatenated steps where each step is designed to follow the precedent step, in some examples, without delay or other gap and usually ends just before the subsequent step begins.
A workflow software application is a software application designed to, at least to some degree, automate a process or processes. Typically, the processes are business-related, but the workflow may be any process that requires a series of steps that can be automated via software. In some instances, steps within the workflow process may require human intervention, such as an approval. Some advanced workflow applications allow users to introduce new components into the operation.
A workflow application can typically be developed using many general-purpose programming languages, but in some instances, workflow applications that use specialized workflow languages also exist.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Inversion of control for executable extensions in a run-time environment

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A multiple frequency detection system allows the seamless integration of an almost ideal EAS function with an RFID function. While not being limited to a particular theory, the preferred embodiments integrate EAS technology at, for example, 8.2 MHz or 14 MHz, and RFID technology at, for example, 13.56 MHz in a common antenna package. The use of standard RFID frequencies as forcing functions will allow for the easy packaging of EAS with RFID and have a true roadmap of a scalable technology.

The current technology uses a 8.2 MHz high frequency signal source to create a magnetic field in a bandwidth sufficient enough to match the design tolerance of the disposable targets which are built to resonant at a single frequency. The base technology of detection and deactivation has been the same for almost two decades and has reached a defacto-standard worldwide. This technology is based on the need to sell a recurring consumable to the customer in the form of a target placed on merchandize that can be detected by a security system at the perimeter of a protected area with some type of alarm that will notify store personnel if the target has not had its physical characteristics changed by a deactivated, usually integrated into a point of sale (POS) area.
The current technology makes use of an 8.2 MHz (+/− about 4%) resonant target which is either disposable in the form of a label, or of a plastic enclosure with some type of re-attachment method to the merchandise. The disposable target is in the form of paper like label and has a mechanism by which either the inductor or the capacitor can be disabled. The reusable target is in the form of a discreet purchased capacitor and manufactured coil inductor with no method of altering either of these physical properties.
Currently, there are two distinct methods of detecting targets. Both methods operate by imposing a forcing function at a range of frequencies on a closed loop wire antenna structure to induce a near magnetic (H) field. This field impinges upon the inductor of the target when the target is close (e.g., within several feet) of the antenna structure. The impinged field causes a current to flow in the coil (inductor) which, when the frequency of the impinged field, and the resonant frequency of the target are close to one another, causes a sizable current/voltage (I/V) oscillation to be set up in the target.
In the first and most widely used methodology for detecting targets, referred to as the FM/AM or Swept method of detection, one gate is used as an FM transmitter and another is used as an AM receiver. The FM transmitter is used in continuous wave (CW) operation such that the receiver sees both the forced and the natural response of the target. This method is low cost, is excellent for aisle widths up to about four feet and uses low power (e.g., <100 μuV/m @ 30 m). The detection system of the receiver can either be logic based or digital signal processing (DSP) based. Systems near each other are RF slaved or use an offset sweeping rate (FM modulation) to avoid interference.
The second methodology for detecting targets, referred to as the pulsed detection or "pulse-listen" method, uses a pulsed transmitter coupled with a homodyne AM receiver as a single gate transceiver pair. The transmitter offers a random uniform distributed set of frequencies which transfers energy to the target. The AM receiver is gated to operate quickly after the transmitter pulse negative transition. The duty cycle of the transmitter is less than about 10% with a peak radiated power of less than about 1000 μV/m @ 30 m. The receiver only responds to the natural function and is exclusively a digital signal processor (DSP) based detection system. Systems physically close to each other (e.g., closer than about 5 m) need to be synchronized to each other in order to avoid interference. Variations of the transmitter pulse mask have a modulation level (e.g., pulse) being less than 100% to allow for a continuous wave (CW) component to be generated. Other than power dissipation increases, this variation has no effect on the system.
A known system of deactivation is very similar to that of the second pulse transmitter type of sensors. The method operates on one of three principles, either always on with no receiver; on at low power, detect and alarm, and switch to high power; or on at high power, and detect and alarm if not destroyed. The frequency band of operation is the same at that of the sensors. Peak power output is less than about 1000 μV/m @ 30 m. This is the current limit set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is about 8 dB below the European Conformity (CE) limit in Europe.
Deactivation of the target is almost immediate, depending upon where the transmitter is operating in the frequency cycle. Interfacing with the POS system is provided through an interlock input which causes the transmitter to operate when a closer (optical or electrical) signal is received from the POS system. Various styles and types of antenna can be integrated with the POS system either fixed (e.g., in a counter) or portable (e.g., handheld).
The current technology has been installed in hundreds of thousands of various installations throughout the world. Several issues have been recurring with each of the technologies for the various functions (targets, sensors and deactivators). First, it must be understood that the method of system operation is not a communications system as understood in the conventional sense. The system is actually a field disturbance function which operates in an unlicensed, and unregulated (for interference) band throughout the world. For example, in EAS systems of the RF type, a transmitter functions to generate energy at a predetermined frequency which is transmitted through the transmitter antenna to establish an electromagnetic field within a surveillance zone. Typically, because of manufacturing tolerances within security tags, transmitters generate energy which is continually swept up and down within a predetermined detection frequency range both above and below a selected center frequency at a predetermined sweep frequency rate. For example, if the desired center or tag frequency to be transmitted is 8.2 MHz, the transmitter may continually sweep up and down from about 7.5 MHz to 9.0 MHz at a sweep frequency rate between 60-90 Hz.
Various standard RF noise calculations, environmental models and system simulations are not applicable to predicting real-world operation in an absolute sense. The best that can be achieved with these methods is overall system design functions. The current EAS technology limits itself in several areas. Performance is predicated on an "average" noise environment and is based upon the most common target size and signal strength. Though highly adaptable and well filtered, the system is vulnerable to environmental resonances (door frames, ceiling wiring, etc.) and therefore in practice needs to have highly trained field service technicians solve these resonances.
Reliability of system operation and quality of service (QoS) in the known EAS industry are lacking, generally because the systems are not operated on truly robust communication systems and functionality. RF has as its major issue alarm integrity, and AM has target deactivation. Both of these problems contribute to cause customers' target purchases to decline year-to-year, even when their merchandise volume grows.
A major improvement in quality of RF alarm integrity came with U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,769 to Kajfez, et al. (hereinafter "Kajfez"), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Kajfez discloses an EAS system that detects tags having two resonant frequencies critically coupled to each other. This provided an approach for utilizing the two critically coupled resonant circuits within the 7.5-9.0 MHz swept pass band of the EAS system. The system in Kajfez requires a distinct relationship between the two resonant frequencies creating a known phase amplitude relationship between the tags. While a tag in Kajfez improved the detection reliability of the prior EAS systems, the Kajfez system has its limitations. First, any perturbation of the two signals-destroys the system. That is, if one of the two signals from a tag in Kajfez is not detected, the system does not recognize the tag, which renders the system ineffective for its intended purpose. Thus the system is not immune to localized tagging effects, such as, for example, being put near metal in shopping carts, etc. Second, the Kajfez tag is formed by two resonant circuits that must be overlaid with a critical manufactured coupling between the two circuits. In other words, the Kajfez tag is actually two EAS tags manufactured and overlaid on each other, which greatly increases the cost of the target. Third, Kajfez is limited to operation with a swept type EAS system only. That is, in order to get a response of a Kajfez tag, the EAS system must sweep through the tag. In other words, the Kajfez system must have a continuous signal that electromagnetically is not discontinuous, meaning it's always on; and it changes frequency and goes through and scans through the tag to get the response.
RFID technology is looked upon as a solution for the above identified problems; however that will likely not prove to be true. First, target prices are expensive, and will likely stay that way for the foreseeable future due to the high relative cost of silicon and wafer to target (e.g., antenna) attachment process costs. Second, EAS provides a perimeter, or corral type function. While RFID can simulate this function, aisle widths for high frequency (UHF)-RFID are typically too narrow at less than one meter using 2″×2″ size targets, and for ultra high frequency (UHF)-RFID systems are too unreliable (e.g., body and conductive structure detuning and target to antenna orientation) due to the physics of the RF medium employed. Therefore, RFID alone is not yet the saving grace of EAS, since it has too many technical and financial limitations for the foreseeable future.
The use of EAS (electronic article surveillance) tags and RFID (radio frequency identification) tags for a wide variety of read, track and/or detect applications is rapidly expanding. A smooth bridge between existing EAS and RFID functionality has been a consistent theme identified by users interested in RFID to allow them to obtain the benefits of RFID while maintaining their investment in EAS technology and its usefulness in protecting lower cost objects for sale that cannot justify the higher implementation cost of RFID. However, where identification tags are capable of receiving both EAS and RFID frequencies, the conventional manner in which the respective EAS or RFID signals return from these tags is processed exhibits certain shortcomings or limitations. For example, the reader for these signals comprises an 8.2 MHz EAS transceiver and a 13.56 MHz RFID transceiver in the same package that drives separate antennae via time domain switching between the two frequencies. The interference between the two technologies is handled by traditional analog signal filtering techniques. Utilizing such a configuration though, is challenging as it involves redundancy of components (i.e., duplication of transceiver components, duplication of antennae, etc.). In addition, the degree of filtering required for such a configuration is great (estimated at 100 dB) due to the very close proximity in frequency (less than 1 octave) and the relative signal amplitude differences allowable for the 2 transmission bands. Moreover, the need for two antenna for this configuration results in a much wider structure (e.g., roughly double) than for either technology deployed alone.
Even with these techniques, performance is inferior than for either technology deployed alone. The identification tag used in this related art EAS and RFID configuration includes two circuits: an RFID circuit and an EAS circuit, which are not coupled and have nothing to do with each other electro-magnetically. As noted above, the system uses time domain switching, via time division multiplex (TDM), between an RFID frequency and an EAS frequency to function as a system for both. However, by switching back and forth between RFID and EAS, the combined system by definition can not provide as much processing as single stand-alone RFID and EAS systems. Therefore the combined system is not complementary and will not operate as well as either single technology systems, at least because the time switching has a trade-off of less individual processing.
Traditionally, "pulse-listen" methodologies (e.g., transmitting a sequence of RF burst signals at different frequencies so that at least one of the frequencies bursts falls near a resonant frequency of the EAS tag) have been used in EAS but not RFID technologies, because the RFID chip requires a continuous signal emission from the reader to power the IC of the RFID tag. It would be beneficial to provide a system and method that can simultaneously detect EAS and RFID identification tag signals while avoiding the shortcomings discussed previously.


Embodiments of a system are disclosed for stress assessment of a call center agent while interacting with a customer. The system is for use with a communication network. The system includes a stress assessment device and an agent device that includes an imaging unit. The agent device is configured to capture video of a target region of exposed skin of the agent using the imaging unit, collect customer interaction data based on interaction with a customer device over the communication network, and communicate the captured video and the customer interaction data to the stress assessment device. The stress assessment device is configured to passively estimate agent stress-level based on the received video, and generate feedback to the agent based on correlation between the customer interaction data and the estimated stress-level over a predefined time interval.

The human body experiences stress due to a wide range of physiological and psychological external stimuli. Stress enables an active physiological response of the body to the external stimuli in a timely fashion. However, an abnormal increase in stress may compromise long-term health and disrupt the body's ability to respond to events that require a quick physical response, such as quickly pulling a hand away from a hot flame.
In a call center environment, agents often experience stress when communicating with customers for various reasons. For example, agents may experience stress when dealing with irate customers, or when the agent's role is either in conflict or ambiguous. Agent role conflict occurs when an agent has conflicting objectives to meet, such as where the agent is evaluated on the number of calls answered in a day. However, the agent may be simultaneously expected to resolve each caller's query/concern, which may result in calls lasting longer and thus decreasing the number of calls answered in a day. Agent role ambiguity occurs when the agent is either unaware of an appropriate action for a customer query, or lacks sufficient information for resolving the query. For example, customer complaints are usually related to inherent issues with respect to a client's product or service, over which the agent has little or no control (e.g., outage in access to a website due to annual maintenance). In another example, the agent may not have enough information to resolve a customer concern (e.g., the troubleshooting manual does not cover a particular type of problem).


Prosthetic heart valves are described. Prosthetic heart valves can include radially expandable and compressible inner and outer metal frames. The inner frame can be disposed within a lumen of the outer frame and can be coupled to the outer frame. An outflow end of the inner frame can be coupled to and/or located at an outflow end of the outer frame. An end portion of the inner frame can be spaced radially inwardly from an inner surface of the outer frame, such that a radial gap exists between the inner surface of the outer frame and an outer surface of the inner frame. Prosthetic heart valves can further include a plurality of leaflets disposed within and supported by the inner frame, such as by commissure posts of the inner frame.

A transcatheter heart valve (THV) is a prosthetic, or replacement, heart valve which is configured to be implanted by a catheterization technique. One type of THV has been developed by Edwards Lifesciences of Irvine, Calif. and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,118, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The THV described in the '118 patent is primarily configured for replacing the function of a stenotic aortic valve in a human heart. An important feature of the THV is the ability to be implanted within the stenotic region of the native aortic valve. After implantation, the THV holds open the leaflets of the native aortic valve and utilizes the native valve annulus as an attachment means for the THV.
Such transcatheter techniques traditionally involve the implantation of a prosthetic valve that can be compressed or folded to a reduced diameter. By compressing or folding the prosthetic valve to a reduced diameter, the prosthetic valve can be delivered through a less invasive penetration to a desired target location within the human anatomy. Thereafter, the compressed valve is traditionally released, expanded, separated from the delivery system, and secured to the desired target location.
An important design parameter of the THV is the diameter of its folded or crimped profile. The diameter of the crimped profile is important because it directly influences the physician's ability to advance the THV through the femoral artery or vein. More particularly, a smaller profile allows for treatment of a wider population of patients, with enhanced safety.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,219 (the '219 Patent) discloses a replacement heart valve having a replacement valve collapsed within the lumen of an anchor. Col. 7, lines 35-36. "Retraction of wires 50 relative to tubes 60 foreshortens anchor 30, which increases the anchor's width while decreasing its length." Col. 7, lines 36-38. The '219 patent also discloses a two-piece apparatus comprising an expandable anchor piece and an expandable replacement valve piece. The anchor piece includes a groove section that is "adapted to engage an expandable frame portion" of the valve piece, in order to couple the anchor piece to the valve piece. Col. 17, lines 38-41. Such coupling can be complicated to perform and can make implantation difficult.
European Patent EP 1 872 743 discloses a cardiovascular valve assembly comprising a replaceable valve member and an expandable base member designed to account for patient growth. "After installation of base member 100, tubular body 110 may be dilated to a small diameter during a first procedure. A valve member 20 having a small diameter frame 30 can be docked with base member 100 by insertion of fingers 50 into opening 154." Col. 7, line 57 to col. 8, line 4. Again, this method of inserting fingers into openings in the disclosed design can be complicated to perform.
International Application No. PCT/US2008/001590 discloses a valve having "a valve leaflet 104 that] can be coupled adjacent to the proximal end 112 of the valve frame 102 at junction points 120." Page 4. A "leaflet transition member 110 [is] coupled to at least a portion of the valve leaflet 104 and/or the leaflet frame 111. Page 4. "Elongate push members" on a delivery catheter "can be used to push the leaflet transition member 310 inside the lumen 308 of the valve 300." Page 10.
These replacement heart valves can be complicated to manufacture and/or implant within a patient's body. A need thus remains for an improved replacement heart valve that can address these and other disadvantages associated with conventional replacement heart valves.