A liquid level detector 10 includes a liquid guiding pipe 14 that guides a liquid in a tank to an inside thereof in such a manner that a liquid level of the guided liquid conforms to a liquid level of the liquid in the tank, and a branching liquid guiding pipe 15 for detecting a liquid level, which branches off from the liquid guiding pipe to guide the liquid into an inside thereof in such a manner that a liquid level of the guided liquid conforms to a liquid level of the liquid in the tank. The branching liquid guiding pipe 15 is provided with position sensors 16 (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) for detecting the liquid level of the liquid in the branching liquid guiding pipe 15. On a part where the liquid guiding pipe 14 and the branching liquid guiding pipe 15 are connected to each other, there is disposed a bubble passage prevention member 17 of a porous plate shape, which prevents bubble generated in the liquid from entering the branching liquid guiding pipe 15.

In a liquid processing technique for processing objects to be processed such as semiconductor wafers by supplying thereto a process liquid, it is generally important to monitor an amount of the process liquid stored in a tank.
The amount of the process liquid stored in the tank has been usually detected by a liquid level sensor. For example, a liquid level detector has been known in the conventional art (e.g., JP Patent No. 3349862) including: a liquid level measuring pipe having one end connected to a tank storing a process liquid, and the other end disposed on a position higher than the liquid level of the process liquid in the tank; a liquid level sensor for detecting a position of the liquid level of the process liquid stored in the tank by means of the process liquid fed to the liquid level measuring pipe from the tank; and a bubble removing pipe for removing bubbles, having one end connected to the liquid level measuring pipe at a position lower than the liquid level of the process liquid in the tank, and the other end opened at a position higher than the liquid level of the process liquid in the tank.
In the art described in JP Patent No. 3349862, the liquid level measuring pipe and the bubble removing pipe are connected to each other via a horizontal pipe connected to a side part of the tank. Suppose that bubbles are generated when the process liquid in the tank is discharged, and the bubbles remain in a part (i.e., the horizontal pipe) where the liquid level measuring pipe and the bubble removing pipe are connected to each other. Then, in some cases, when the new process liquid is supplied into the tank after the used process liquid is discharged, there is a possibility that the bubbles still remaining in the connecting part (horizontal pipe) enter the liquid level measuring pipe so as to invite a malfunction of the liquid level sensor.
In particular, when a hydrogen peroxide solution (H2O2) containing a surface active agent is used as a process liquid, larger bubbles are likely to be generated. If such larger bubbles enter the liquid level measuring pipe, the amount of the process liquid in the tank may not be accurately detected.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid level detector capable of accurately detecting and monitoring an amount of a liquid stored in a tank, without suffering from an influence of bubbles generated in the liquid, and to provide a liquid processing system provided with the liquid level detector.

Liquid level detector and liquid processing system provided with the same


This invention relates to a high performance car bumper module having a covering front piece; a reinforcing element; and a system for controlled and reversible force displacement. The reinforcing element has a bow system which includes a pair of hinges, which are connected to each other with a tie-rod and a pair of hinge-fasteners. The controlled and reversible force displacement system comprises two hydraulic shock absorbers fastened on one end thereof to the bow system through the respective hinge fasteners, wherein each hinge-fastener includes a transverse slot.

"High-performance car bumpers" as used in the instant disclosure and claims are those car bumpers where the increase in theoretical stiffness relative to a normal bumper, with other conditions such as car overhang, fastening means, resistant section (moment of inertia), elastic modulus, and so forth, being the same, varies within the range of from 2.5 to 6 times as great, with a simultaneous decrease in overall tension conditions.
Suitable shock absorbers make possible the absorption of energy by yielding to the shocks in order to avoid adverse effects to the chassis of a car.
Car bumpers exhibit relatively poor performances in Europe where impact speed values are up to 4 km/hour. The performance threshold is normally limited by economic constraints and short shifts allowed for by the bumper before interfering with the frame or other functional parts of the car, such as the radiator. Within these limits, damage to the bumper is also normally allowed.
In North America greater displacements are permitted due to the bumper protruding further from the car than European bumpers. Performances corresponding to impact speeds of 8 km/hour against a front barrier are possible. Normally, under such conditions, shock absorbers are used, e.g., shock absorbers of hydraulic type, in rigid-beam systems where the rigid beam can be protected by energy absorbing materials, such as flexible foam materials. Metal bumpers are included within the category of supporting-beam bumpers. To be able to operate within their range of reversibility (absence of yield or of permanent deformation), metal bumpers require front energy absorbers, of foamed material types with great front displacements, or absorbers installed on brackets by which the bumper structure is anchored to the car, such as hydraulic shock absorbers.
Usually, the maximum value of the force which can be transmitted to the chassis of the car is not reached within the operating range of bumpers, front bumpers in particular. Therefrom, the allowed shifts being the same, the actual impact speed is decreased considerably as compared to the maximum impact speed which can be theoretically achieved.
With the aim of achieving meaningful increase in performance in terms of impact speed, the following remarks can be made regarding energy: if the value of total force which can be transmitted to the structure of the car is fixed each time and other conditions being the same,
the optimum situation of energy absorption for purposes of reducing the displacements consists of obtaining a rectangular shape of the graph of the force values vs. the displacement values (the variables), i.e., the energy absorption should take place already because the first impact moment, at the maximum allowed force, which is a preset constant. The availability of an infinite stiffness of the system which yields under a constant controlled force is assumed. The system operates within its plastic range. PA1 The maximum force being the same, the energy stored by a system in the elastic range is represented by a triangular graph of the force values vs. the displacement values (the variables). In this situation, where the surface area (i.e., the energy) is the same and the limits of resistance are typical for the materials used, the displacements are greater than in the previous situation. PA1 Elastic systems protected by shock absorbers or displaying elasto-plastic phenomena, show lower maximum force values than in the purely elastic situation, where the relevant displacements are consequently greater.


A modular energy absorber 10 that is tunable. It comprises one or more energy absorbing modules 12. The energy absorbing modules have means for coordinating energy absorbing units 16 of the one or more modules. The means 14 for coordinating position and support the units in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber. A crushable member 16 is provided that has an upper perimeter 22, a lower perimeter 24 and an intermediate wall 26 extending therebetween. It also includes a number (m) of breaches defined therein before impact. A method for configuring the modular energy absorber is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to occupant safety during a collision, and more specifically to a "customized" or "tunable" energy absorber that absorbs energy imparted by an incident object that impacts the absorber, and a method for configuring the absorber.
2. Background Art
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has been asked by Congress to improve protection for vehicle occupants, especially children, in side-impact crashes. Side collisions can be particularly deadly for infants, even if they are strapped in child seats. About 40% of children who died strapped in such seats were killed in side-impact crashes, according to one analysis of almost 100 fatal crashes by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A study by the Childrenh's National and Medical Center in 2000 found that the side door panel was the primary source of contact for injuries suffered in lateral crashes. Other studies have suggested that an evaluation of the side-impact protection afforded by primary source of contact for injuries suffered in lateral crashes. Other studies have suggested that an evaluation of the side-impact protection afforded by automobiles should contemplate ways in which to preserve the occupant's space during a lateral collision to better protect all occupants.
There have been proposed various ways to protect the occupant or rider of an automobile when the occupant impacts the A and B pillars, headliner, or any hard structure during an impact. Illustrative approaches are described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,247,745; 6,199,942; 6,679,967; 6,682,128; 6,752,450; and 6,443,513, which issued on Sep. 3, 2002 to Glance.
It is known, for example, to deploy truncated plastic cones at rollover stiff points or on door panels for side impacts with the objective of providing better performance than energy absorbent foam. Also, such cones may be less expensive to manufacture. Manufacturing economics have been realized from the raw materials being melt recyclable. Such structures not only provide weight savings and a better performance, but also a cost advantage which may amount to $4-$5 per vehicle.
Some of the required energy absorption characteristics are defined in Federal Motor Vehicle Standards 201. To meet the relevant standards, the industry continues its quest not only for the physical structures that conform to federally mandated standards, but also to develop computer modeling protocols that predict head injury sustained from impacting forces and comparing the results with head injury criteria. It would be desirable in such developments to measure actual head impact (of, for example, a dummy occupant) during in-vehicle testing at selected locations in the vehicle. Ideally, the actual measurements will approximate the values predicted by computer dynamic finite element analysis.
Additionally, the desire to reduce costs while complying with End of Life Vehicle (ELV) legislation in Europe stimulates the use of mono-materials in automotive interior soft trim applications. Related considerations emphasize the recyclability of automotive plastics. The impact or influence of the ELV directive on automotive interiors will be felt in various ways: e.g., cost effective use of recycling techniques with environmentally benign consequences. Most interior modules today are made from a combination of skin/foam/substrate. Thus, the materials currently used may present challenges to the recycling task. Such challenges may be met by more use of energy absorbing modules that are made from mono-materials. Such materials might, for example, include polyolefins and melt recyclable polymers, since they show promise as being versatile alternatives to skin/foam/substrate.
It is expected that Europe will adopt the U.S. HIC(d) requirements. This will affect the choice and quantity of materials used for energy absorbers in headliners. Similar door trim panel requirements apply to the pelvis and torso (side impact applications). It is therefore anticipated that there will be an increase in the usage of energy absorbers that will be incorporated into the structure of modules such as door trim panels, instrument panel uppers, and headliners.
To meet cost reduction goals, there is an increasing desire to manufacture interior modules using a reduced number of manufacturing steps.
In light of these and related approaches, there remains the desire to absorb as much impact energy in as little crush distance as possible, with as little weight as possible, yet be capable of being designed and manufactured under favorable economic conditions.
The absorber may, for example, be positioned in a vehicle headliner, in an A-pillar, B-pillar, or in other locations. Generally, the energy absorber is positioned between a vehicle occupant and an incident force. It serves to at least partially cushion a blow and thus protect the occupant from severe injury.

Modular energy absorber of varying topography and method for configuring same


A multi-layer wiring board includes a resin base, a wiring pattern, an adhesive layer, and a via. The wiring pattern includes a land provided on the resin base. The adhesive layer is stacked on the resin base. The via is formed in the adhesive layer and has an end connected to the land. At least a portion of a side surface of the land contacts the via.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multi-layer wiring board in which connection between layers is made by a via.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, an increasingly high degree of functionalization of semiconductor devices is being required as multi-functionalization of mobile devices proceeds. Moreover, in order to meet this requirement, wiring technology of semiconductor devices is improving and miniaturization of wiring lines is advancing. A multi-layer wiring board is known as a high-density wiring technology, but as described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-31531 A, a diameter of a land connected to an end of an inter-layer-connecting via is generally set large with respect to a diameter of the via. In addition, a diameter of an electrode of an electronic component connected to an end of a via is similarly set large with respect to a diameter of the via.
However, in a structure where the diameter of the land is large with respect to the diameter of the via as in above-described Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-31531A, a space between lands becomes narrow. Hence, there is a problem that in cases like where a semiconductor device having narrow-pitched electrode pads such as a WLCSP (Wafer Level Chip Size Package) is built in or connected, lead-out of a wiring line from a via connected to the electrode pad is difficult. Accordingly, it is also conceivable for a space between the lands or the electrodes to be secured by setting the diameter of the land or the electrode as small as possible. However, if the diameter of the land or the electrode is set small, a contact area between the via and the land or electrode becomes small, whereby wiring resistance or connection resistance increases, or a minute positional misalignment between the land or electrode and the via causes a wiring defect or connection defect to occur.


A turbine type flow meter has a four-vaned plastic torpedo-shaped turbine mounted by portions of the plastic turbine within a housing between first and second bearings. The turbine supports a pair of magnets of the Neodymium-Iron-Boron type which rotate with the turbine. An upstream portion of the housing incorporates a sensor cavity, which is sealed from a flow cavity containing the turbine. A connector and an attached printed circuit board with a Hall effect sensor is mounted within the sensor cavity closely spaced from the rotating magnets. The sensor housing is constructed from two parts. Each part of the housing incorporates mating structures that are designed for joining by spin welding.

The present invention relates to water flow monitors in general and in particular to flow monitors employing a turbine.
Measuring the flow of a fluid in a pipe can be difficult, depending on the level of accuracy required. A positive displacement pump is probably the most accurate conventional approach; however, such pumps are costly, cause a significant pressure drop and are relatively bulky. Simple paddlewheel type sensors may be of low-cost and have little resistance to the flow of fluid, but may suffer from a lack of accuracy over a wide range of fluid flow rates, particularly at low or very high flow rates.
Precision flow instruments employ a turbine that passes substantially all the flow. However, bearing friction can seriously impede accuracy at higher flow velocities. The typical solution is to over-design the bearings which support the flow turbine, with the result being a relatively expensive instrument not suitable for use in many commercial and consumer applications, such as boilers, shower pumps, and tank filling applications. Flow monitoring with relative precision is necessary for residential and commercial water meters. Flow monitoring can also detect problems within waterflow systems, and can allow modulation of water flow velocities with greater precision. Flow monitoring can be important in hot water heating systems where monitoring flow assures balanced heating. Flow monitoring can also be used to increase energy efficiency by, for example coordinating water flow with burner activation in a boiler. Monitoring of fluid flow through a pump can assure that adequate fluid flows are present for pump cooling and avoiding cavitation at the pump impeller.
What is needed is a turbine type flow monitor that is low-cost, relatively accurate, creates a relatively low-pressure drop, and is resistant to leaks.
The turbine type flow meter of the present invention has an in-line housing in which a four-vaned torpedo-shaped turbine is between a first bearing spaced along the axis of flow from a second bearing. The bearings are supported by a plurality of axially extending spokes. The turbine supports a pair of magnets that rotate with the turbine. An upstream portion of the housing incorporates a sensor cavity that is sealed from a flow cavity formed by the flow meter. The sensor cavity is closely spaced from the rotating magnets positioned on the turbine. Positioned within the sensor cavity is a printed circuit board on which a Hall effect sensor is mounted. A connector mounted to the circuit board extends from the sensor cavity. The circuit board is mounted within the sensor cavity so that the Hall effect sensor is positioned close to the rotating magnets of the turbine. A temperature sensor may also be mounted on the circuit board and the circuit board may be potted within the sensor cavity with polyurethane or epoxy.
The sensor housing is constructed from two parts: a first upstream part containing the sensor cavity, and a second downstream part containing the downstream bearing. Both the upstream part of the housing and the downstream part of the housing incorporate pipe fittings to allow the turbine housing to be readily positioned along a fluid flow pipe. The upstream housing and the downstream housing incorporate mating structures that are designed for joining by spin welding.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a fluid flow sensor of low cost.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a fluid flow sensor, which monitors fluid temperature in addition to fluid flow rate.
It is a still further feature of the present invention to provide a fluid flow sensor, which is accurate at low fluid velocities.
It is a yet further feature of the present invention to provide a fluid flow sensor, which occupies little additional volume beyond the volume, occupied by the fluid piping.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An integrated circuit assembly is formed with an integral power supply decoupling capacitor for monolithic circuitry in a semiconductor substrate by using the substrate itself as one plate of the capacitor. A dielectric is formed on the "back" side, or surface, of the substrate (i.e., the surface opposite the surface in which component structures are formed) such as by growing a native oxide thereon. Using a conductive epoxy, the back side of the substrate (actually, the dielectric layer thereon) is then attached to a conductive foundation member, which forms the other plate of the capacitor when a potential is applied across the substrate and the foundation member. The conductive foundation member also may be connected to a heat sink structure integral with the package. The heat sink may extend through a window in the package, providing a path and surface via which heat may be transferred to an external heat sink if a larger heat sink mass is needed. For safety, the heat sinks and the die attach paddle may be maintained at a suitable potential, such as ground, while the substrate can be at another supply potential.

In the field of circuit design, it is well known that when multiple circuits or circuit stages are connected to a common power supply rail, undesired coupling may occur between the circuits or stages. This undesired coupling occurs, for example, when a first circuit switches on, drawing a significant amount of current, and the voltage on the supply rail momentarily drops as a result. Other circuits which receive a supply voltage from that supply rail experience the same drop in supply voltage. In turn this may cause the outputs of such other circuits to fluctuate or otherwise deviate from their normal conditions. For example, a voltage spike or oscillation might appear in the output of another of said circuits. Broadly speaking, the undesired artifact in the latter circuit's output is noise induced by operation of the first circuit. This noise can propagate through yet further circuits or stages and corrupt the device's ultimate outputs or at least degrade its performance.
To reduce or eliminate this noise, it is customary to try to isolate each circuit from noise on the supply voltage rails by providing a capacitor between a common ground and the point where each circuit connects to the supply rail--or as close thereto as possible. These capacitors act as low impedances to high-frequency switching noise and smooth out the voltage at each circuit's supply node.
Unfortunately, in integrated circuit "chips", monolithic capacitors of the size required for effectively decoupling from the supply rails tend to have fairly large capacitance values (e.g., in the range of 22 to 47 microfarads) and require considerable area. Therefore, it is generally not cost-effective to provide within the monolithic structure of an integrated circuit capacitors of sufficient capacitance to provide decoupling to an acceptable level. Additionally, in RISC and DSP processor chips, particularly those of high bandwidth, and other high density digital or analog chips, little room exists on a die for the fabrication of sufficiently large monolithic capacitors. Therefore, either discrete decoupling capacitors are connected to the integrated circuit "chip" within the package that houses the chip (but not within or on the substrate) or they are added externally to the package in a socket or on a printed circuit board or the like, when the system using the packaged chip is assembled. Of course, the further each capacitor is from the associated supply node in the circuit (i.e., the node to be connected to the supply rail), the greater the inductance and resistance between the capacitance and the circuit node. This inductance can interfere with the desired operation of the capacitor, particularly in high-speed circuits.
Power supply decoupling is particularly necessary in high-speed digital circuitry, where transient voltage spikes on power rails can induce erroneous logic level outputs. High-speed processors and memory circuits, for example, may store or provide as output erroneous data if inadequate supply decoupling is provided. However, the provision of in-package decoupling capacitors is complicated with such circuits not only by virtue of the fact that these circuits typically draw large switching currents (such as on the order of 10 Amperes or more), but also because they may dissipate relatively high amounts of power in the form of heat. To facilitate the removal of this heat, a heat-conductive path (which generally is electrically conductive, also) typically is provided between the substrate of the integrated circuitry and the exterior of the package, where it may be placed in contact with a heat sink. Safety considerations and attendant regulations generally require that the heat conductor, which could be touched by maintenance personnel, for example, be maintained at ground potential. In an embedded RAM process, an n-type substrate is often used and an n-type memory area may be placed in a p-well to isolate it from substrate currents generated by high speed digital circuits. Since the substrate is connected to a different supply potential, care is typically taken to isolate the substrate electrically from the heat conductor. Generally this is done at least partly by securing the substrate to the heat conductor with a non-conductive epoxy. However, this introduces a reliability concern for a large die since non-conductive epoxy typically has low shear strength. Alternatives, such as diamond shims are expensive and complicate assembly.
Thus, there is a need for a low cost decoupling capacitor which can be assembled into an integrated circuit package and which presents low inductance. This capacitor preferably will be compatible for use with high-speed digital circuitry, particularly monolithic circuitry which requires a heat conductor affixed to the substrate to conduct excess away therefrom and to an external heat sink which is brought in contact with the package containing the circuitry.

Integrated circuit and supply decoupling capacitor therefor


A silver halide photographic material is disclosed, comprising a support having provided thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide emulsion layer contains, in the dispersion medium phase of the emulsion, one or more kinds of inorganic fine particles having a refractive index the total weight of the fine particles contained in the unit volume of the dispersion medium phase is from 1.0 to 95 wt %, the dispersion medium phase containing the fine particles is substantially transparent to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the emulsion layer, and the photographic material is exposed and processed in the development process comprising at least a developing step and a fixing step.

The present invention relates to a silver halide (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cAgXxe2x80x9d) photographic material which is useful in the field of photography, and particularly relates to a photographic material improved in sensitivity and image quality.
It has been required to further improve sensitivity and image quality of photographic materials. When tabular AgX grains are used in photographic materials, the main planes of tabular grains are oriented in parallel to the support, leading to the thinning of the AgX emulsion layer. The improvement of sharpness and speed-up of development have been contrived by making use of this property. There is a maleficent effect of image quality deterioration due to light reflection by interrelation between a tabular grain and an incident light. However, further improvement of sensitivity and image quality has been required by dissolving this problem.
Coherence of the thickness of a tabular grain and a monochromatic light is described in Research Disclosure, No. 25330, May (1985), but there is no description with respect to the specific way of improvement by making use of that characteristic.
There are disclosed in JP-A-6-43605 (the term xe2x80x9cJP-Axe2x80x9d as used herein means an xe2x80x9cunexamined published Japanese patent applicationxe2x80x9d) the fact that the thickness of the tabular grain in the photosensitive layer farthermost from the exposure light source makes the light reflection in the photosensitive spectrum region of the emulsion the smallest, and the embodiment of also making the thicknesses of the tabular grain in other photosensitive layers optimal in the photosensitive wavelength region of the photosensitive layer to make the light reflection the smallest, but the improving effect of sensitivity and image quality is small only with these embodiments.
When reflection occurs by the incident light from a dispersion medium layer to an AgX layer, in general, the electric field vector of the incident wave and the electric field vector of the reflected wave are in opposite directions and they offset each other, as a result, the light strength on the vicinity of the interface weakens. There is hence the disutility that the light absorption amount of the sensitizing dye adsorbed onto the interface is inhibited, and the improvement of this disutility is also demanded.
The image quality variation of a red-sensitive layer by changing the location of the red-sensitive layer in a color photographic material comprising a blue-sensitive layer, a green-sensitive layer and a red-sensitive layer is described in Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, Vol. 38, pp. 32 to 35 (1994). If the location of a red-sensitive layer is changed, however, the image qualities of other photosensitive layers are deteriorated and the entire color balance also lowers, which produces a disadvantageous result.
Addition of TiO2 particles having a primary particle diameter of from 1 to 100 nm to a photo-insensitive layer as a UV absorber is disclosed in JP-A-10-62904, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,731,136 and 5,736,308. They propose to use TiO2 particles which are not deteriorated with the lapse of time as a UV absorber in place of conventional organic UV absorbers which are deteriorated with aging, and to use TiO2 particles in a layer nearer to the light source than the color image-forming layer. They also propose to use as the TiO2 those described in Gunter Buxbaum, Industrial Inorganic Pigments, pp. 227 to 228, VCH Weinheim, Tokyo (1993). These particles certainly comprise small primary particles, but they are particles in which 90 mol % or more of the entire particles are occupied by particles comprising 30 or more primary particles which are three dimensionally agglomerated with one another and having three dimensional structure. They are inappropriate particles for the object of the present invention. Further, the foregoing patents do not aim to inhibit light scattering of AgX grains by increasing the refractive index of the binder in a photosensitive layer, so that this technique is different from the object of the present invention.
A technique of mixing a colloidal silica to an AgX emulsion layer to improve a pressure characteristic is disclosed in JP-A-4-241551 and JP-A-5-53237, and a technique of super-rapid low replenishing development process is disclosed in JP-A-9-269560. However, the refractive index of the foregoing colloidal silica to the light having a wavelength of 500 nm is lower than that of gelatin (1.546), therefore, this technique cannot make the refractive index of a dispersion medium layer high.
On the other hand, a silver halide photographic material containing TiO2 fine particles in the emulsion layer is disclosed in EP-A-930532 but this technique is different from the technique of the present invention in the point that the above photographic material is not subjected to desilvering processing after development.
An object of the present invention is to provide a silver halide photographic material which is further improved in sensitivity and image quality.
The above object of the present invention has been achieved by the following items (i.e., the following embodiments and preferred embodiments of the present invention).
(I) Embodiments of the Present Invention
(1) A silver halide photographic material comprising a support having provided thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide emulsion layer contains, in the dispersion medium phase of the emulsion, one or more kinds (preferably from 1 to 20 kinds, and more preferably from 2 to 10 kinds) of inorganic fine particles having a refractive index of from 1.62 to 3.30(preferably from 1.70 to 3.30, and more preferably from 1.80 to 3.10) to the light having a wavelength of 500 nm, the total weight of the fine particles contained in the unit volume of the dispersion medium phase is from 1.0 to 95 wt % (preferably from 5 to 90 wt %, and more preferably from 15 to 70 wt %), the dispersion medium phase containing the fine particles is substantially transparent to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the emulsion layer, and the photographic material is exposed and processed in the development process comprising at least a developing step and a fixing step. The silver halide photographic material preferably has the refractive index of the dispersion medium phase to the light having a wavelength of 500 nm higher by 0.05 to 0.90(preferably from 0.12 to 0.90, and more preferably from 0.20 to 0.90) than the refractive index of the time when the dispersion medium phase does not contain the inorganic fine particles, the light reflection strength of the emulsion layer to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the emulsion layer is reduced due to the presence of the fine particles to 0.0 to 95% (preferably from 0.0 to70%, and more preferably from 2.0 to 40%) of the light reflection strength of the time when the emulsion layer does not contain the inorganic fine particles, and the below-described Z1 value of the entire photographic image finally obtained through all the steps of development process is from 0.0 to 0.70 (preferably from 0.0 to 0.20, more preferably from 0.0 to 0.0S, and most preferably from 0.0 to 0.010).
Z1=[(the molar rate of the silver halide remaining in the finally obtained entire photographic image)/(the molar rate of the silver halide remaining in the entire photographic image obtained after development alone)]
(2) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (1), wherein from 50 to 100% (preferably from 80 to 100%, and more preferably from 95 to 100%) of the total projected area of the silver halide grains in the at least one silver halide emulsion layer are tabular grains having an aspect ratio (diameter/thickness) of from 2.0 to 300 ( preferably from 4.0 to 300, and more preferably from 4.0 to 100), a thickness of from 0.01 to 0.50 xcexcm (preferably from 0.01 to 0.30 xcexcm), and a diameter of from 0.1 to 30 xcexcm (preferably from 0.1 to 10 xcexcm, and more preferably from 0.1 to 5.0 xcexcm).
(3) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (2), wherein the tabular grains have a variation coefficient of thickness distribution of from 0.01 to 0.30 (preferably from 0.01 to 0.20), and a variation coefficient of diameter distribution of from 0.01 to 0.30 (preferably from 0.01 to 0.20, and more preferably from 0.01 to 0.10).
(4) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (1), (2) or (3), wherein the number of the inorganic fine particles is from 0.5 to 1012 (preferably from 2.0 to 1012, and more preferably from 10 to 1012) per one tabular grain.
(5) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (1), (2), (3) or (4), wherein the photographic material is a color photographic material comprising a support having multilayer-coated thereon at least a blue-sensitive layer, a green-sensitive layer and a red-sensitive layer.
(6) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5), wherein the blue-sensitive layer, green-sensitive layer and red-sensitive layer respectively comprise one or more layers, and when taking it that the blue-sensitive layer comprises B1, B2, B3 . . . Bm1, green-sensitive layer-comprises G1, G2, G3 . . . Gm1, and red-sensitive layer comprises R1, R2, R3 . . . Rm1, in order nearer to the subject, the silver halide grains in one to three layers (preferably two or three layers, and more preferably three layers or three sets of layers) of B1, G1 and R1, [preferably (B1 and B2), (G1 and G2), and (R1 and R2), more preferably (B1, B2 and B3), (G1, G2 and G3), and (R1, R2 and R3), and still more preferably (B1, B2, B3 . . . Bm1), (G1, G2, G3. . . Gm1), and (R1, R2, R3 . . . Rm1)], are tabular grains as described in the above item (2) or (3).
(7) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5) or (6), wherein the blue-sensitive layer is arranged nearest to the subject, the blue-sensitive layer comprises one or more layers, the silver halide grains contained in at least the layer having the highest sensitivity of the one or more layers are tabular grains as described in the above item (2), and the thickness of the tabular grains is prescribed so that the reflected light strength (A3) to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the green-sensitive layer and the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the red-sensitive layer falls within the range defined by equation (a-1): Equation (a-1): Main planes of various tabular grains having the same condition excepting the thickness are subjected to incidence at the incident angle of 5xc2x0 with the beam of the photosensitive peak wavelength light, the reflected light strength is measured in the direction of the reflection angle of 5xc2x0, and when the reflected light strength with the highest strength is taken as A1, and the reflected light strength with the lowest strength is taken as A2, the range of the reflected light strength (A3) is defined as {A2xcx9c[A2+b1(A1xe2x88x92A2)]}, wherein b1 is 0.47, (preferably 0.30, and more preferably 0.12).
(8) A silver halide color photographic material comprising a support having provided thereon at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide color photographic material satisfies at least one of the following items (i) to (v):
(i) At least one silver halide emulsion layer contains tabular silver halide grains, and the tabular grains have a lower spectral reflectance than the spectral reflectance of the tabular silver chloride grains having the same thickness;
(ii) At least one silver halide emulsion layer contains tabular silver halide grains, the average thickness of the tabular grains is smaller than the thickness of the grains in the layer which give the maximum value of spectral reflectance, and the spectral reflectance at the average thickness is 90% or less of the maximum value of spectral reflectance;
(iii) In the above item (ii), the silver halide grains having equivalent-circle diameter of 0.6 xcexcm or less accounts for 20% or less of the silver halide grains in the layer in terms of the projected area;
(iv) At least one spectral sensitive silver halide emulsion layer comprises two or more emulsion layers containing tabular grains, and the average grain thickness of the silver halide grains contained in at least one layer of these two or more layers other than the layer farthest from the support falls within the range of the thickness which gives the spectral reflectance of 80% or more of the maximum spectral reflectance of the tabular grains; and
(v) In the above item (iv), the layer farthest from the support satisfies the condition in item (ii) or (iii).
(9) A silver halide color photographic material comprising a support having provided thereon at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, wherein at least one silver halide emulsion layer contains inorganic fine particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less and tabular silver halide grains having a thickness of less than 0.09 xcexcm.
(10) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (8), wherein at least one silver halide emulsion layer contains inorganic fine particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less.
Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below.
(11) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5), wherein the green-sensitive layer comprises one or more layers, the silver halide grains contained in at least the layer having the highest sensitivity of the one or more layers are tabular grains as described in the above item (2), and the thickness of the tabular grains is prescribed so that the reflected light strength to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the red-sensitive layer falls within the range defined by equation (a-1).
(12) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5), wherein the red-sensitive layer comprises one or more layers, the silver halide grains contained in at least the layer having the highest sensitivity of the one or more layers are tabular grains as described in the above item (2), and the thickness of the tabular grains is prescribed so that the reflected light strength to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the red-sensitive layer falls within the range defined by equation (a-1).
(13) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5), wherein the blue-sensitive layer comprises from 2 to 7 layers, preferably from 3 to 5 layers, and when taking it that the blue-sensitive layer comprises first layer, second layer . . . m1th layer, in order from the highest sensitivity, the AgX grains in each layer of the second layer, preferably the second and the third layers, and more preferably the second layer . . . the m1th layer, are tabular grains as described in the above item (2), and the thickness of the tabular grains is prescribed so that the reflected light strength to the photo-sensitive peak wavelength light of the green-sensitive layer and the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the red-sensitive layer falls within the range defined by equation (a-1).
(14) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5), wherein the green-sensitive layer comprises from 2 to 7 layers, preferably from 3 to 5 layers, and when taking it that the green-sensitive layer comprises first layer, second layer . . . m1th layer, in order from the highest sensitivity, the AgX grains in each layer of the second layer, preferably the second and the third layers, and more preferably the second layer . . . the math layer, are tabular grains as described in the above item (2), and the thickness of the tabular grains is prescribed so that the reflected light strength to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the red-sensitive layer falls within the range defined by equation (a-1).
(15) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5), wherein the red-sensitive layer comprises from 2 to 7 layers, preferably from 3 to 5 layers, and when taking it that the red-sensitive layer comprises first layer, second layer . . . m1th layer, in order from the highest sensitivity, the AgX grains in each layer of the second layer, preferably the second and the third layers, and more preferably the second layer . . . the m1th layer, are tabular grains as described in the above item (2), and the thickness of the tabular grains is prescribed so that the reflected light strength to the photo-sensitive peak wavelength light of the red-sensitive layer falls within the range defined by equation (a-1).
(16) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (5), wherein the thickness of the tabular grains in the first blue-sensitive layer, preferably the first layer and the second layer, is prescribed so that the reflected light strength to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the blue-sensitive layer falls within the range defined by equation (a-1), wherein b1 is 0.70, preferably 0.55.
(17) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (1), wherein the photographic material has one or more photosensitive layers, at least one photosensitive layer comprises two or more AgX-containing emulsion layers, and when taking it that the AgX-containing emulsion layer comprises first layer, second layer . . . m1th layer, in order nearer to the subject, at least one layer of the second layer to the lowest rank layer is a reflective layer in order to effectively reflect the photosensitive layer, the AgX grains contained in the reflective layer are tabular grains as described in the above item (2), and when taking it that the average grain diameter of the AgX grains contained in the layer ahead of one is d1, the average value d2 is from 1.10d1 to 100d1, preferably from 1.50d1 to 100d1, more preferably from 2.0d1 to 100d1, and still more preferably from 4.0d1 to 100d1.
(18) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (17), wherein the thickness of the tabular grains contained in the reflective layer is prescribed so that the reflected light strength (A4) to the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the photosensitive layer falls within the range defined by the following equation (a-2): Equation (a-2) Main planes of various tabular grains having the same condition excepting the thickness are subjected to incidence at the incident angle of 5xc2x0 with the beam of light of the photosensitive peak wavelength light, the reflected light strength is measured in the direction of the reflection angle of 5xc2x0, and when the reflected light strength with the highest strength is taken as A1, and the reflected light strength with the lowest strength is taken as A2, the range of said reflected light strength (A4) is defined as {A1xcx9c[A1+b2(A1xe2x88x92A2)]}, wherein b1 is 0.47, preferably 0.30, and more preferably 0.20.
(19) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (18), wherein the sensitivity of the tabular grains contained in the lowest layer (a sample monolayer-coated on a transparent support is exposed through an optical wedge with the photosensitive peak wavelength light of the photosensitive layer, development processed, and when the exposure amount giving the middle point density on the characteristic curve of the sample obtained is taken as (E1), a log(E1) value is the sensitivity) is higher by 0.10 to 2.0, preferably by 0.2 to 1.0, than the sensitivity of the tabular grains contained in the layer of a rank ahead of one (a-log(E2) value obtained by the same definition).
(20) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (2) or (3), wherein the tabular grains have {111} planes as main planes and two twin planes parallel to the main planes, the distance between the twin planes is from 0.3 to 50 nm, preferably from 0.3 to 30 nm, the configuration of the main planes are hexagons, or hexagons having rounded corners, and a ratio of adjacent side lengths of the hexagon or a hexagon formed by prolonging the straight lines of the sides ((a side length of the longest side/a side length of the shortest side) in one tabular grain) is from 1.0 to 2.0.
(21) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (2) or (3), wherein the tabular grains have {100} planes as main planes, the configuration of the main planes are right angled parallelograms or right angled parallelograms having rounded corners, and a ratio of adjacent side lengths of the parallelogram or a parallelogram formed by prolonging the straight lines of the sides ((a side length of the longest side/a side length of the shortest side) in one tabular grain) is from 1.0 to 3.5, preferably from 1.0 to 2.0.
(22) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (2), wherein the tabular grains have an epitaxial part (which is called a guest grain) on the peripheral part of the projected configuration which is different in a Cl content, a Br content or an I content from the average halogen composition of the surface layer of the tabular grain (a layer of a distance of from 0 to 3.0 nm from the surface of the grain) by 5.0 to 100 mol % (preferably from 20 to 100 mol %, and more preferably from 40 to 100 mol %), the total amount of the epitaxial part is from 0.001 to 0.30 (preferably from 0.003 to 0.20) per mol of the host grain, and the peripheral part is the region from 60 to 100% (preferably from 80 to 100%, and more preferably from 90 to 100%) of the distance in a straight line from the central part to the peripheral part with the central part as the starting point.
(23) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (1), wherein the inorganic fine particles are pulverized in an aqueous solution containing from 001to 10 wt % (preferably from0.1 to 5.0 wt% ), of a water-soluble dispersion medium containing one or more of a water-soluble polymer, a surfactant, a photographic antifoggant, an onium base-containing compound, a phosphoric acid, a silicic acid, and an organic acid), and the pulverized size of the inorganic fine particles is from 108xe2x88x92to 0.5 times (preferably from 108xe2x88x92to 0.1 times) of the original average volume.
(24) The silver halide photographic material as described in the above item (1) or (2), wherein from 10 to 100% (preferably from 30 to 100%, and more preferably from 60 to 100%) of the entire molar amount of the inorganic fine particles are titanium oxide, and when Fe is contained, the weight of Fe2O3 based on (TiO2+Fe2O3) is from 0.0 to 1.0 wt % (preferably from 0.0 to 0.5 wt %, and more preferably from 0.0 to 0.1 wt %).


The present disclosure provides systems and methods for characterizing the interaction of free radicals with various materials and the use of known interactions to isolate free radical generation from free radical interaction with a target molecule.

During semiconductor manufacturing/fabrication processes, thin films that are incorporated into semiconductor devices can be exposed to processing plasmas, which are commonly used for deposition, etching, ashing, sputtering, and/or cleaning of the thin films. Plasmas of this sort can contain free radicals and other active species that interact with the material under processing. These interactions can modify the chemical structure of the materials and can penetrate deep into thin films of the materials. These effects can be desirable in some cases, such as with etching processes, or they can be damaging to thin films, in which case the quality and reliability of the eventual device can be compromises.
A need exists for systems and methods for investigating transmission properties of various free radicals through materials, such as those used in semiconductor devices.
Recent developments in the biological sciences have utilized the interaction of free radicals with biomolecules to investigate the conformational structure of the biomolecules. However, in some cases, the free radical generation process can involve harsh environments that would be unsuitable for the biomolecules being investigated. Additionally, some free radical generation processes can require difficult adjustments to control the amount of free radicals being introduced to the biomolecules being investigated. In some cases, the free radical generation processes can have a minimum free radical generation that exceeds the desired amount of free radicals for interacting with the species of interest.
A need exists for systems and methods for sparing a species being investigated from the potentially harsh environment of free radical generation. A need also exists for systems and methods for reproducibly controlling the properties of the free radicals being introduced to a species of interest.

Methods and systems for transmission and detection of free radicals


An orthopaedic device with a shell mechanism which can be brought into a closed position in which it engages at least partially around a body part arranged in the shell mechanism, and into an open position, in which the body part can be brought into the shell mechanism, wherein the shell mechanism can be brought from the open position to the closed position by means of the body part being introduced into the shell mechanism. The device has at least one actuation element which is arranged and designed in such a way that it is actuated when the body part is introduced into the shell mechanism, and it brings the shell mechanism from the open position to the closed position, wherein the actuation element has a tensile force transmission element, in particular a band or a cloth.

This type of orthopaedic device may be an orthosis, for example, which is intended for various body parts. This type of orthosis and other orthopaedic devices have a shell mechanism, which at least partially enclose a body part on which the orthosis is to be carried. For instance, ankle foot orthoses or ankle orthoses with a shell mechanism are known that enclose the lower leg of the carrier of the orthosis. Traditionally, belts may be used for this purpose, these belts being arranged around the respective body part and subsequently closed. This may be achieved, for example, by way of velcro elements, clasps or push buttons.
The shell mechanism, such as a belt, can therefore be brought into the closed position in which the body part is often completely, or at least partially, enclosed: this generally results in the orthopaedic device being fixed to the body part of the carrier of the device. However, in order to bring the body part into or move it out of the shell mechanism, it is necessary to bring the shell mechanism into the open position. This occurs, for instance, by releasing a velcro fastener, by opening a clasp or by other means known from the prior art.
However, a disadvantage of this is that at least one hand, often both hands, are required to bring the shell mechanism into the closed position or out of the closed position into the open position. Due to the positioning of the shell device, which is often difficult to access, this is particularly difficult for people with limited motor skills, such as stroke patients. This is even more pertinent given the fact that the hand which is not preferred for motor-related tasks, i.e. the left hand for right-handed people, often has to be used to bring the shell mechanism from the open position into the closed position. With lower arm orthoses or wrist orthoses in particular, one of the hands is the body part on which the shell mechanism is to be arranged, meaning that this hand is not available for bringing the shell mechanism into the closed position.
DE 10 2013 019 079 A1 thus describes a locking system for an orthopaedic aid, such as an ankle foot orthosis, that can be operated with one hand. An element of a magnetic lock is located at the end of a belt that is to be wrapped around a body part. The corresponding second element is arranged on a part of the orthosis that is to be connected using the belt. As it is a magnetic lock, an attractive force between the two elements of the lock increases the closer the two elements get to one another. This results in the lock exhibiting a "self-locating effect", which enables the lock to be closed with just one hand.
DE 20 2011 107 040 U1 describes a further locking device which allows for an orthopaedic brace device to be operated with a single hand. The device described comprises a shell mechanism that constitutes two shells, which are connected to one another via a hinge. In this case, the two shells extend like scissors on both sides of the hinge in such a way that, when in the open state, two ends of the respective shell segments protrude inwards into the interior of the shell mechanism. If, for example, an arm is now inserted into the shell mechanism, the two scissor elements are activated, causing the shells to move towards each other.
However, it is disadvantageous that one hand is needed to close the orthosis and the padding options on the inside of the shell mechanism are limited, given the fact that the scissors-like protruding elements must also be moveable relative to one another in the interior of the shell mechanism. This may result in some uncomfortable situations. Furthermore, the scissors-like clamping also means that the two shell elements can only move relative to one another about a limited swivel angle, and upon opening the orthosis, the body part will be pushed out of the orthosis by the scissors-like protruding projections: this may also cause discomfort to the carrier while wearing the device.
US 2010/0192288 A1 describes padding elements which should protect body parts from exposure to too great a pressure. They comprise a padded layer which clings to the body part that is to be protected when it applies pressure to the padded layer.


Systems and methods for mixing and dispensing an aqueous urea solution at the point of delivery to diesel powered vehicles. A stand alone terminal or modular unit that mixes and dispenses the dilute solution on an as-needed batch basis. Each delivery terminal includes a dry or concentrated liquid urea reservoir, and a metering urea dispenser, along with a parallel demineralized water reservoir and a metering water dispenser. The demineralized water may be provided directly from an external source or the system may include a demineralizing component. The metered dispensing of the urea and the water into a mixing tank to produce the aqueous urea solution (AUS) is controlled through an electronic control system. From the mixing tank the system directs the solution through a sediment filtration system before retaining the mixed and filtered solution in a terminal holding and dispensing tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for making and dispensing chemical solutions for use in conjunction with internal combustion engines. The present invention relates more specifically to systems and methods for making a dilute chemical solution from a liquid solvent (water) and either a dry composition (urea) or a concentrated solution (urea), at a point immediately prior to dispensing the dilute solution into a vehicle powered by an internal combustion (diesel) engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Efforts are continuously being made to reduce emissions associated with the burning of hydrocarbon fuels in internal combustion engines. At the same time, efforts are being made to increase the fuel efficiency of these internal combustion engines. Recent efforts to improve the fuel efficiency of diesel engines have been successful but often at the cost of increasing emissions, especially nitrogen oxide ( ) emissions.
There are a variety of nitrogen oxide ( ) reducing systems that have been and currently are being developed for use in conjunction with diesel engines. One of these reducing systems is a urea based reducing solution, one type of which is marketed under the trade name AdBlue®. These systems are designed to reduce the pollutant emissions associated with the burning of diesel fuel in vehicular engines. These reducing systems were developed in response to a number of the newer processes that give diesel engines greater fuel economy but which as a result create extra emissions of certain pollutants. High compression ratios and lean air-fuel mixtures result in higher combustion temperatures, which in turn result in more nitrogen oxides and particulate matter being released into the gaseous exhaust system. While the particulate matter may typically be controlled with higher injection pressures and particulate filters, limiting the emissions can be more problematic.
One basic process for reducing emissions involves the injection of an aqueous urea solution (AUS) from a stored container on the vehicle into the exhaust stream. This process initiates a chemical reaction which, in conjunction with an additional catalytic converter, converts a significant percentage of the into water vapor and nitrogen. In general, the first stage catalytic converters utilized in conjunction with diesel engines initially trap the and later release it into a second converter which then converts it into nitrogen ( ) and water ( ). This basic system removes much of the, but through the addition of ammonia ( ) in the form of the AUS, a more complete conversion can be achieved. In other words, the exhaust system associated with a diesel engine will typically first include a diesel oxidation catalyst which reduces the amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons released from the exhaust. A catalytic converter begins the initial removal of oxides of nitrogen. Subsequently, a particulate filter traps and stores soot particles, burning them off when the filter gets full. Finally, in addition to the above, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalytic converter takes the remaining nitrogen oxides and converts them to nitrogen and water by the addition of the AUS injected into the exhaust stream to enable the conversion.
A typical variety of AUS marketed under the trade name AdBlue® comprises AUS32 (aqueous urea solution 32.5%) and is used in the above described process referred to as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to reduce emissions of oxide and nitrogen from the exhaust of diesel vehicles. This particular AUS solution is a 32.5% solution of high purity urea in demineralized water that is clear, non-toxic, and generally safe to handle. However, the solution can be corrosive for a number of metals and must be stored and transported using containers, conduits, valves, and fittings made up of certain non-corrosive materials. The AUS is typically carried onboard SCR equipped vehicles in specially designed tanks and is dosed into the SCR system at a rate typically equivalent to three to five percent of diesel consumption. This low dosing rate ensures long re-fill periods and minimizes the special tank's impact on chassis space. On highway SCR systems are currently in use throughout much of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2010 legislation, which sets new limits on emissions, will, because of these new limits, require North American trucks to be equipped with SCR systems after 2010. In North America the AUS type reducing agent is commonly referred to as diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). A number of trucking industry manufacturers have already developed branded SCR systems that use aqueous urea solutions such as a product marketed under the brand name BlueTec®.
Most SCR systems currently in use and in development tend to be sensitive to chemical impurities in the urea solution. It is therefore important that high standards of quality are maintained for the composition that is delivered into the vehicle and for the delivery system itself. In general (and more specifically, throughout Europe), the use of SCR technologies has initiated a supply infrastructure that provides delivery of the manufactured solution to service stations that likewise provide the diesel fuel for the vehicles. In general, the sale and delivery of the AUS is made in canisters of five or ten liters, although larger quantities are sometimes delivered in two hundred liter drums. Deliveries to fueling depots are sometimes made in bulk tankers, not unlike the delivery of the diesel fuel itself.
In any case, the delivery of the AUS to a fuel station or depot where it is finally delivered to the vehicle that uses it is almost always made in liquid form, i.e., already mixed into a dilute solution. Unfortunately, it is this dilute solution that provides the most corrosive composition to the various metals that it might come into contact with and which requires the use of special storage containers and dispensing conduits. In contrast, the urea in its dry condition is relatively easy to transport and requires little in the way of special handling. In a similar manner, urea in a concentrated liquid condition can significantly reduce transportation cost, simply by reducing the quantity that must be transported (and the associated packaging).
It would be desirable, therefore, to deliver the much less corrosive compound, namely the dry urea powder or pellets, to a point where it might be stored without as significant a concern for its corrosive effects. Alternatively, it would be desirable to deliver the highly concentrated solution of urea to a point where it might be stored in much more manageable quantities. It would be desirable if the aqueous urea solution (AUS) could then be mixed and manufactured on-site to be immediately dispensed into the vehicle that will utilize the reducing agent. It would be desirable if this mixing of the dilute solution and the subsequent dispensing of the dilute solution could occur on an as-needed basis as opposed to requiring the maintenance of a supply that degrades over time, and potentially causes corrosive effects throughout the storage and delivery system. It would be desirable to avoid and/or minimize shipping and handling contamination risks and costs associated with the distribution of a solution versus the on-site manufacturing (blending) thereof.

Systems and methods for on-site mixing and dispensing of a reducing agent solution for use with a diesel catalytic converter


Pressure sensitive adhesive compositions comprising an unreactive mixture of polydiorganosiloxane polyurea copolymer, diluent, and silicate tackifying resin. The compositions are useful for articles such as medical devices.

Various compositions based on polydiorganosiloxane polyurea copolymer have been described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,915 describes silicone adhesive compositions having excellent quick stick, peel and tack adhesion properties. Generally the adhesive composition is the reaction mixture of a silanol-containing siloxane resin, a silicone polymer gum, and a silicone fluid containing functionality capable of reacting with silanol and silanol-like groups; optionally, a solvent and a cure catalyst are added.
EP 0 667 382 A1 describes a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive containing thermoplastic multi-segmented copolymer.
WO 97/40103 describes a composition that includes a silicone fluid, a silicone-urea segmented copolymers, and no more than about 30% by weight of a silicate tackifying resin.
WO 03/052019 describes pressure sensitive adhesives and methods, wherein the adhesives include a silicone tackifying resin and a polydiorganosiloxane polyurea copolymer. The tack of these adhesives is improved by the use of a processing as, such as a plasticizer.
Although, various compositions have been described, industry would find advantage in compositions particularly well-suited for medical applications wherein during use the adhesive is adhered to skin.

Silicone pressure sensitive adhesive and articles


A vehicle door drive unit for raising and lowering a glass plate is constructed so that a plurality of pulleys across which wires extend are provided at upper and lower sides of a base panel. The glass plate is supported by a carrier plate which is connected to the wire ends. The glass plate is moved up and down by the wires and is prevented from excessively moving in a vehicle inward direction when the door is closed by a supporting rod positioned along an upward and downward path of the glass plate and a contact member. Trumpet shaped guide portions are formed at the edges of holes of the wire fixing portions of the carrier plate and the circumferential surfaces of a V-shaped tensioner are provided for eliminating slack in the wires.

As an example of a conventionally known vehicle door, there are a hinge door and a slide door (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-1756). An example of a conventional hinge door is described with reference to FIG. 9.
The vehicle door 1 comprises a door panel unit and a door module. The door panel unit comprises an outer panel 13 forming an outer wall of the door 1, a hinge member 1a for attaching the door 1 to the vehicle body, and an inner panel provided at a vehicle inner circumferential edge of the outer panel 13.
On the other hand, a frame structure forming the framework of the door module comprises a front sash 6a positioned at a vehicle front side, a rear sash 6b positioned at a vehicle rear side, an upper sash 6c positioned at the highest portion of the door module, a middle frame 6d that is positioned below the upper sash 6c and extends horizontally, and a window 5 enclosed by these sashes, and further comprises a panel 3 including a lower frame 6e positioned at the lowest portion of the middle frame 6d and door module and a space 4 therebetween. The upper sash 6c is along an upper edge 10a of the door glass 10.
The frame structure comprises a drive unit 20 for driving the glass plate up and down, a door latch mechanism, and a latching operation mechanism (door inside handle).
The sashes 6a, 6b, and 6c, drive unit 20, and door glass 10 compose a door glass lifting and lowering device.
As shown in FIG. 9, the drive unit 20 comprises a steel-made base plate (referred to as a base panel, also) 21 provided between the middle frame 6d and lower frame 6e, and a pair of front and rear frames 22 and 23 that are fixed on the base plate 21 and extend vertically. Upper ends and lower ends of the frames 22 and 23 are fixed to the middle frame 6d and the lower frame 6e. Upper pulleys 26 and 28 and lower pulleys 27 and 29 are provided at the upper ends and lower ends of the frames 22 and 23. Furthermore, a drive pulley 25 and a motor 24 for rotating the drive pulley 25 are provided on the base plate 21. This motor 24 is a motor with a reduction gear, which uses an on-vehicle battery (not shown) as a power supply and is rotatable forward and backward.
A wire called a wire cable is set on these pulleys so as to cross over in an X shape. Namely, this wire comprises a front moving portion 31a laid vertically across the front side upper pulley 26 and lower pulley 27, a rear moving portion 31b laid vertically across the rear side upper pulley 28 and lower pulley 29, a first slanting portion 31c slantingly laid across the upper pulley 28 and drive pulley 25, a second slanting portion 31d slantingly laid across the lower pulley 27 and drive pulley 25, and a third slanting portion 31e slantingly laid across the upper pulley 26 and lower pulley 29.
The first and second slanting portions 31c and 31d and the third slanting portions 31e cross each other in an X shape. For the first slanting portion 31c and second slanting portion 31e, tension member 30 for absorbing the elongation and slack of the wire by appropriately tensioning the entire wire.
At the vertical middle portions of the front moving portion 31a and rear moving portion 31b, a carrier plate 38 for supporting the door glass 10 is fixed so as to be almost horizontal. A U-shaped glass receiving member 41 is fixed to the carrier plate 38.
As a means for fixing the wire 31a to the carrier plate 38, as shown in FIG. 9(B) and FIG. 9(C), the wire 31a is inserted into a hole made at a carrier plate attaching location 39, and fixed by means of an optional method such as caulking.
The end portion of the first slanting portion 31c is latched on the drive pulley 25, and a length that allows the lifting and lowering stroke of the door glass 10 is wound around the drive pulley 25. The end portion of the second slanting portion 31d is also latched on the drive pulley 25, and the length that allows the lifting and lowering stroke of the door glass 10 is wound in a multi-round spiral groove 25a of the drive pulley 25.
Therefore, when the drive pulley 25 rotates clockwise, the first slanting portion 31c of the wire is extended from the drive pulley 25, and the second slanting portion 31d is wound by the drive pulley 25, and the moving portions 31a and 31b simultaneously rise. In accordance with this rise, the carrier plate 38 and door glass 10 lower together. Furthermore, when the drive pulley 25 rotates counterclockwise, the first and second slanting portions and the moving portions move oppositely to each other, whereby the carrier plate 38 and door glass 10 rise.
Next, the well-known tension member shown in FIG. 10 (referred to as a tensioner, also) is described in detail. The tensioner 30 comprises a swing member 60, a first slide member 61, and a second slide member 62. These members are, as generally known, integrally plastically formed from a synthetic resin such as nylon or polyacetal which enables easy sliding but does not allow the occurrence of sliding noises.
The swing member 60 integrally connects the first slide member 61 and second slide member 62 while leaving a gap 63 that serves as a passage for the wire 33 therebetween. The swing member 60 is pivotally attached to the base panel 21 so that pendulum-like horizontal reciprocative movements of the second slide member 62 of the tensioner 30 are possible. A fixing hole 65 is formed in the base panel 21, a through hole 66 is formed in a hollow portion 61d in the first slide member 61, and a pivot 64 is formed of a caulking pin for pivotally attaching the first slide member 61 to the base panel 21.
A wound spring 70 is housed in a hollow portion 61e of a lower opening formed in the body of the first slide member 61, one end thereof is inserted and fixed into a spring end fixing hole formed at an upper side of the body, an other end is inserted and fixed into a spring end fixing hole formed in the base panel 21, and the wound spring is constructed so as to absorb the slack that may be generated from the wire 33 by always pressing the second slide member, 62 in one direction.
Circumferential surfaces opposed to the wire 33 passing through the wire passage 63 between the first slide member 61 and second slide member 62 are shaped as shown in the figure so as to have U-shaped sections opening outward. These first slide surface 61a and second slide surface 62a which have U-shaped sections opening outward are provided with brim portions 61b and 62b at both sides to guide the passing wire at a central flat portion.
The first slide member 61 and second slide member 62 are constructed so that, when the wire 33 passes through the wire passage 63 between the first slide member 61 and second slide member 62, the wire reciprocates toward an arrow 90 direction while being always guided by the flat surfaces 61a and 62b formed on the circumferential surfaces of the first slide member 61 and second slide member 62 in a case where the movement locus of the wire 33 advancing and retreating between the drum 25 and pulley 27 deflects in an axial direction (arrow 90 direction) of the drum 25 as shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with the rotation of the drum 25 which has the abovementioned spiral groove 25a.
In the condition of FIG. 9, as mentioned above, when the drive pulley 25 is rotated clockwise to lower the door glass 10, the second slanting portion 31d of the wire is strongly tensioned, and a slightly slackening condition is applied to the first slanting portion 31c of the wire.
Particularly, when the drive pulley 25 is driven clockwise (counterclockwise) to lower (raise) the door glass 10 via the wire 33, even if the door glass 10 reaches a bottom dead point 10d (top dead point 10c) and stops, the drive pulley 25 continues to slightly rotate, and extends the first slanting portion 31c (second slanting portion 31d) of the wire. In such a condition, the second slide member 62 in the tension member 30 pulls and tensions the first slanting portion 31c (second slanting portion 31d) of the wire that is about to rotate in an arrow 59 direction and slacken, and absorbs the slack.
In the conventional vehicle door, the glass plate 10 is supported by elastic members provided in the grooves of two front and rear sashes 6a and 6b of the window frame when the glass plate has risen halfway or has entirely risen.
Therefore, at a moment at which the door 1 is closed with great force and it hits against the frame edge of the getting in/out section, in both cases of a hinge door and slide door, the glass plate 10 warps toward the inside of the vehicle due to inertia or shifts toward the inside of the vehicle while collapsing the elastic members (blades) in the sashes, and the lower portion of the glass plate 10 comes into contact with the internal components arranged in the space 4 of the panel 3. Thereby, there was a problem that an impact noise occurred.
In order to solve the abovementioned problem, there is a conventional vehicle door 1 constructed so that an additional guide rail is provided at the middle position between the sashes 6a and 6b that are two front and rear guide rails within the panel 3 of the door 1, these three rails support the glass plate 10, and the glass plate 10 moves up and down while being supported by the rails.
With this construction, door stability when it is closed is improved. However, during use, resistive loads of the three rails are applied to upward and downward movements of the glass plate 10. Due to the sliding resistance, upward and downward movements of the glass plate become entirely heavy. Therefore, there is a problem that the drive unit is required to output a high output, so that the drive unit is increased in size.
Furthermore, it becomes necessary to match the third rail with the movement locus of the glass plate. That is, it requires high-level techniques to form a guide surface on the third rail in contact with the movement locus of the glass at the middle position between the two front and rear guide rails in accordance with the movement locus of the glass plate which is determined by the sashes 6a and 6b serving as the two front and rear guide rails in the window frame. This work involves personnel problems such that it becomes necessary to station a specially skilled person at the line of assembly of the door.
Furthermore, if the skill of a worker is poor, the guide surface of the guide rail added at the middle position between the two front and rear guide rails may not match with the movement locus of the glass plate, and when the glass plate is moved up and down, there is a problem that the glass plate may creak or the movement thereof may become heavy or difficult.
Furthermore, in a case where the window 5 of the conventional door is large, the door glass 10 must have dimensions adapted to the window 5. In accordance with this, the moving up and down stroke of the carrier plate 38 supporting the glass must be increased. On the other hand, an interval between the upper and lower pulleys 26 and 27 supporting the wire 31a in the drive unit 20 provided at the panel 3 is set within a limited range in the internal space of the panel 3.
Therefore, when increasing the stroke of the carrier plate 38 between the upper and lower pulleys, the top dead point (bottom dead point) of the carrier plate 38 comes closer to the pulley.
When the carrier plate 38 comes closer to the pulley 26, and in a case where the door is opened and closed, if the lower end of the glass 10 supported by the elastic blades repeatedly deflects toward a vehicle inward direction 73 and a vehicle outward direction 73′ as shown in FIG. 9(C), a bending force with a large angle of bending 56 is repeatedly applied to the fastening point 39 of the wire 31a to the carrier plate 38. Therefore,there is a problem that cutting of the wire 31a at the fastening point 39 occurs.
In order to avoid this problem, a method in which the top dead point (bottom dead point) of the carrier plate 38 is prevented from coming closer to the pulley 26 can be considered, however, in this case, the moving up and down stroke of the carrier plate 38 is further reduced, and it becomes necessary to make the window smaller.
Furthermore, in the conventional vehicle door, the first slide surface 61a and second slide surface 62a of the tension member 30 are formed to be flat as shown in FIG. 10.
Therefore, in response to the rotation of the drum 25 having the abovementioned spiral groove 25a, the movement locus of the wire 33 advancing and retreating between the drum 25 and pulley deflects in the axial direction (arrow 90 direction) of the drum 25, whereby the first slide surface 61a and second slide surface 62a evenly reciprocatively slide toward the axial core direction (in the arrow 90 direction).
Thereby, the slide surfaces are evenly worn, and this makes use possible over an extended period of time.
However, in accordance with increases in the number of upward and downward movements of the glass plate 10 due to a long period of use, the first slide surface 61a and second slide surface 62a may be partially severely worn. In such a case, the worn portions are locally depressed, and the wire 33 that reciprocates in the arrow 90 direction in FIG. 10(B) and FIG. 10(C) is entangled in the depressed portions. Then, in accordance with increases in a depth of the depressions, when the wire slips out depressions, a snapping noise occurs. There is a problem that the driver of the vehicle mistakes the snapping noise for an abnormal noise and becomes concerned.


The invention relates to an implantable orthopaedic device, in particular for the cervical spine, of the type formed by a support plate (2) provided with at least one orifice (3) for passage of a fixing screw (4), which orifice (3) is provided with locking means comprising a slotted metal ring (8) accommodated in a receiving groove (5) on the circumference of said orifice (3) of the plate and intended to cooperate with an annular channel (10) formed in the screw head (4a). According to the invention, the annular chamber (10) of the screw head (4a) is framed by an end of male spherical contour (11′) and by a truncated annular protuberance (12). This end of male spherical contour (11′) is designed to cooperate with the complementary female spherical contour (7a′) formed on the upper flange (7a) of the plate groove (5). Moreover, the locking ring (8) is mounted “floating” in its receiving groove (5), and the channel (10) of the screw head (4a) is connected to said annular protuberance (12) via a truncated part (10c) allowing the screw to be undone.

The present invention relates to a novel orthopaedic device, of the type formed by a support plate provided with at least one orifice for passage of a screw for fixing it to the receiving bone material, adapted in particular for being implanted in the cervical spine of a patient.
In case of intervertebral fusion (arthrodesis), a plate-shaped implant is generally used to consolidate the cervical spine and to ensure the position keeping of the bone graft placed by the practitioner between two vertebrae, in replacement of the intervertebral disk that has been extracted.
The corresponding plate is provided several orifices each intended to receive a fixing screw capable of anchoring in the receiving bone material. The shape and dimensions of this plate, and of the associated screws, are adapted to the treated site and to the implantation constraints.Very generally, the support plates are proposed to the practitioner with a batch of screws of different sizes, only some of which are used depending on the implantation site.
For optimum efficiency and security, at the time of implantation, the practitioner applies a particular tightening to each screw, so that the associated plate is suitably positioned and maintained against the vertebrae.
Most of the present orthopaedic devices comprise means for locking or clamping the screws, so as to prevent or at least limit these screws from moving back with respect to the associated plate, after the assembly is reloaded (the corresponding loosening of the screws being liable to create discomfort to the patient or to imply high risks of lesion).
Such orthopaedic devices are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,389 and US-2004/0260306. In these documents, the fixing screws each comprise a head provided with an annular channel within which a radially elastic locking ring is pre-mounted. As for the plate, it is provided with orifices whose internal surface is provided with a groove delimited by an upper annual material strip having a beveled top face, and a lower face forming an annular flat surface.
In practice, each screw is implanted through one of the orifices of the plate and screwed until its head automatically locks within the associated orifice. To this end, when the screw head reaches the upper edge of the groove, its spring ring is radially compressed by the above-mentioned beveled top surface, then it automatically expanses within this groove to form the required stop for preventing back-moving or unscrewing, with the above-mentioned annular flat surface.However, with such devices, it is necessary to equip each screw with a locking ring, namely both the screws that are implanted and those that are not used, which entails a not insignificant cost.Moreover, once the screws implanted, it is not possible to remove them without damaging the material.
Another type of material of this sort is described in FR-2 778 088. Here, the screw backstop means consist of a slide slidingly mounted on the support plate, capable to partially cover the screw heads once the latter are suitably tightened.
However, this structure is rather complex. Moreover, this type of implant necessitates additional operating time to insert or remove the screws, as well as additional equipment.
Further, the backstop means are inevitably efficient only on a well-defined area of the screw periphery.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,255 presents still other implants of this sort. In a possible embodiment, the corresponding implant is formed by a support plate provided with insertion orifices for the fixing screws, within which orifices is provided a receiving groove for an open locking ring, the latter two having general shapes that are complementary with each other. Under the groove equipped with its locking ring, each orifice is provided with a portion having a female spherical peripheral surface.
The fixing screws comprise a head extended by a threaded body. These screw heads are equipped with an annular peripheral protuberance or excrescence, having a male spherical surface that is complementary with the female spherical surface of the associated orifice of the plate, said protuberance connecting with the upper part of said screw head by a circular flat surface perpendicular to the screw axis.During the implant setting, the fixing screws are tightened until the spherical surface of their annular protuberance is in contact with the complementary spherical surface of the support plate. Before this contact, the annular protuberance is forced through the slotted ring, making the latter radially expands within its receiving groove. After the upper circular flat surface of this protuberance has passed the slotted ring, the latter automatically recovers its rest position to form the required locking member (through plane contact between the annular flat surface of the screw and the lower face of the slotted ring).The spherical contact surfaces between the plate orifices and the screw heads offer the practitioner a possibility of angularly adjusting the screw.
However, given the structure of this implant, when the axis of the screw is not merged with that of its receiving orifice, the contact between the annular flat surface of the screw heads and the locking ring is not optimum, which minimizes the rest surface area that serves to prevent the screw from moving back.
Further, the removal of the screws after implantation is not very easy to make and necessitates particular additional equipment. This implies an additional cost as for the material, and also an additional operating time.

Implantable orthopaedic device, in particular for the cervical spine


Organophosphorus dihalides can have one of their halogen substituents substituted with an alkyl group from a trialkylaluminum by gradual addition of the latter reagent to the former.

1. Field of the Invention
The present process relates to the selective reaction of a trialkylaluminum compound with an organophosphorus dihalide to yield a halodiorganophosphine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to react trialkylaluminum compounds with phosphorus trichloride to yield various substitution products depending on the conditions used. See Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 53, 1122f (1959).
More recently, it has been disclosed that compounds of the formula RPCl.sub.2 (R being alkyl or aryl) can be alkylated with Grignard reagents (R'MgX) to form compounds of the formula RR'PCl. See Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 107, 77926s. However, the selectivity of these reactions is usually poor and mixtures result.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,132 to S. B. Becker has a general description of a metathesis reaction between (1) a phosphorus-halogen compound which is said to be of the formula PR.sub.n X.sub.3-n, where R can be a monovalent hydrocarbon radical and n can be 1 or 2 and (2) a compound of the formula AlR.sub.3 or M(AlR.sub.4).sub.n where R can be as described above, M can be alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, and n is the valence of M. This patent indicates that control of the ratio of equivalents of either reactant will control the extent of hydrocarbon substitution in the phosphorus compound. At Col. 4, lines 5-9, however, it indicates that its "specific examples" illustrate how "the reactions can be controlled to yield intermediate products of hydrocarbon substitution into the phosphorus-halogen reactants". The Examples contained in this patent only use lithium aluminum tetrapropyl with phosphorus trichloride. No examples or more specific disclosure using the less reactive trialkylaluminum and an organophosphorus dihalide are given. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,974,217 to J. A. Miles (at Col. 1, lines 23-27) and 4,810,425 to G. E. Nelson (at Col. 1, lines 27-29) discuss the Becker '132 patent solely in terms of relating to use of the more reactive M(AlR.sub.4).sub.n compounds as a reagent with either phosphorus trichloride or phosphorus tribromide.

Selective reaction of trialkylaluminum with organophosphorus dihalide


A four-component artificial intervertebral disc may provide six degrees of movement: flexion, extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, axial deflection, and anterior/posterior translation. The disc may include a superior endplate, a superior core, an inferior core, and an inferior endplate. The superior endplate may include a concave mating surface, and the inferior endplate may include a spherical mating surface. The superior endplate may roll across the superior core to provide flexion, extension, and lateral bending. The superior endplate may twist or rotate atop the superior core to provide axial rotation, and the superior endplate may slide over the superior core to provide anterior/posterior translation. The superior core may be connected to the inferior core, and the inferior core may be connected to the inferior endplate. The inferior core may be made from a flexible material that may enable the artificial disc to expand or compress vertically.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure is directed to a device for replacing a diseased or damaged intervertebral disc. In particular, the device provides a wider range of motion than alternative treatment options, such as, for example, a spinal fusion. Specifically, the device may allow three or more degrees of freedom or different types of movement.
2. Related Art
The spine is composed of several individual bones, known as vertebrae. The vertebrae vary in size, shape, and function in different regions of the spine. The cervical vertebrae make up the bones of the neck and provide for much of the movement of the head. The thoracic vertebrae act as anchors for the ribs and are relatively immobile. The lumbar vertebrae, located at the base of the spine, are the largest vertebrae and allow movement and articulation of the trunk.
In between each pair of vertebrae is an intervertebral disc, which consists of a fibrous outer portion and a gelatinous inner portion. The discs allow the vertebrae to move and articulate relative to one another. They also act as a shock absorber when there is a blow to the spine, such as from a fall or a strike on the head. In particular, an intervertebral disc is capable of at least six different motions or degrees of freedom: flexion, which is bending forward from the waist; extension, which is bending backward from the waist; lateral bending, or leaning sideways; axial rotation, which is turning or twisting to one side or the other; axial deflection, which may also be known as axial compression, vertical extension, or compression along the spine; and anterior/posterior (A/P) translation, which is when one vertebrae slides forward or backward relative to a neighbor without changing its angle relative to the neighboring vertebra.
The intervertebral disc can be injured as a result of aging, trauma, or disease. The disc can become desiccated or otherwise lose or weaken in structure, a condition known as degenerative disc disorder (DDD). A herniated disc is one that has developed a tear in the outer portion, allowing the inner portion to push out. In any case, a damaged disc no longer permits movement as it once did. As the vertebrae move out of their normal, healthy position, the patient may develop chronic, and in some case debilitating, pain as nerves are compressed.
Historically, the injured disc, in a condition such as DDD or herniated disc, can be treated with spinal fusion. Spinal fusion can also be indicated as a treatment for tumors, fractures, and conditions such as scoliosis and kyphosis. In the fusion procedure, a discectomy is performed to remove the damaged disc and the adjacent vertebrae are physically joined together with rods, wire, or other instrumentation. A bone graft is placed between the vertebrae, and over several months, the vertebrae grow together. A typical fusion patient does not notice any loss in mobility because her range of motion was even more restricted by the original condition or injury.
Nevertheless, the lack of motion between the fused vertebrae places increased stress on the surrounding vertebrae and intervertebral discs. This increased stress may lead to premature failure or injury to these components, requiring further treatment. In addition, a fusion procedure may be a major operation, requiring open back surgery and a long recovery period. For these reasons, it is typically a treatment of last resort, reserved for severe cases or when other treatment options have failed.
Alternatives to the open spine fusion procedure, including minimally invasive procedures and artificial disc replacements, are in various stages of development and practice, but these alternatives have yet to see widespread adoption. Minimally invasive procedures involve the use of small incisions, remote control manipulation of instruments, and observation through an endoscope or similar device. These procedures may result in less trauma to the patient and improved recovery times. Minimally invasive surgery can also be used to replace an injured intervertebral disc. Instead of fusing the vertebrae above and below a damaged or diseased disc, the disc can be replaced with an artificial disc. Current discs may provide a greater range of motion than an equivalent fusion procedure while offering equal or better treatment of the condition.
Current artificial discs, however, suffer from one or more drawbacks. Some discs do not enable a full range of motion along all degrees of freedom provided by a natural intervertebral disc. Current discs may not properly restrict motion along a degree of freedom, which may result in hyperextension and injury to the patient. A disc may not be compatible with minimally invasive procedures for replacing the injure disc, or a disc may only be compatible with an anterior procedure. In an anterior procedure, a surgeon accesses the spine through an incision in the abdomen or neck. Alternative routes for accessing the intervertebral disc include: posterior, where the incision is made directly on the patient's spine; transforaminal, where the incision is placed to one side of the spine; and lateral, where the incision is on the patient's flank.
Accordingly, there is a need for an artificial disc that enables all six degrees of movement, restricts movement along one or more degrees, and/or is compatible with a non-anterior surgical procedure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.