A management apparatus includes a storage unit and a processor. The storage unit is configured to store therein priority information indicating priorities for suppressing power consumption among a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The processor is configured to collect data regarding an amount of power consumption consumed by each of the information processing apparatuses. The processor is configured to change an operating frequency or a voltage of an arithmetic processing unit included in each of the information processing apparatuses on basis of the amount of power consumption consumed by each of the information processing apparatuses and the priority information stored in the storage unit.

In facilities, such as a data center and the like, an information processing system is built, in which multiple information processing apparatuses are connected through a network as servers. Power consumption of the information processing apparatuses becomes larger as the number of arithmetic processing units (for example, central processing units (CPUs)), and memories (memory modules) increases. Accordingly, in recent years, demands are on the rise for saving power of overall facilities including a plurality of information processing apparatuses, that is to say, suppressing power consumption in an information processing system. Hereinafter an information processing apparatus is referred to as a "server", and an arithmetic processing unit is referred to as a "CPU" for the sake of convenience. Facilities are referred to as a "data center".
Currently, most CPUs are provided with a power saving function. The power saving function is normally achieved through an operation setting (C state), in which at least a part of operation in a CPU is stopped, or a performance setting (P state), in which at least one of the power source voltage of a CPU and the operating frequency (clock frequency) of the CPU is changed. In recent years, such a power saving function is used in order to control the amount of power consumption in an information processing system that is built in facilities.
In the operation setting, an internal clock through CPU software, an internal clock through hardware, and all the internal clocks may be selectively stopped. Accordingly, the amount of power consumption of a CPU may be suppressed in accordance with a range of an internal clock to be stopped.
The amount of power consumption of a CPU becomes larger as the operating frequency (clock frequency) becomes higher, and also as the power source voltage becomes higher. Accordingly, power consumption of a CPU may be increased or decreased by the performance setting.
There are some information processing systems that perform control in order to keep the total amount of power consumption at a certain value or less using the power saving function of a CPU. One of the related-art information processing systems that control the amount of power consumption using the power saving function of a CPU is provided with a management apparatus that manages power distribution to a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and respective information processing apparatuses.
A priority for suppressing power consumption is set to each of the information processing apparatuses. The management apparatus actually monitors the amount of power consumption of each of the information processing apparatuses, accumulates the amounts of power consumption, and subtracts the accumulated value from the upper limit value of available supplies of power so as to calculate the amount of surplus power. If a larger amount of power is demanded, each of the information processing apparatuses makes a request to the management apparatus for an additional amount of power. If the management apparatus receives a request for an additional amount of power exceeding the amount of surplus power from one of the information processing apparatuses, the management apparatus decreases, using the power saving function of the CPU, the amount of power consumption of an information processing apparatus having a lower priority than the information processing apparatus that has requested the additional amount of power. In this manner, if the management apparatus is not allowed to distribute the amount of power that is additionally requested, the management apparatus ensures the requested amount of power by decreasing the amount of power consumption of an information processing apparatus having a lower priority, and further allocates the additionally requested amount of power to that information processing apparatus. Accordingly, the management apparatus effectively uses the amount of power up to the upper limit value while suppressing the total amount of power consumption in the information processing system not higher than an upper limit value, and allows the entire performance of the information processing system to improve.
In this related-art information processing system, the amount of power consumption of the information processing apparatus is decreased by a change in the operation setting. In the suppression on the amount of power consumption by a change in the operation setting, at least the supply of an internal clock to the CPU core is stopped, and operation of the CPU core is stopped. Accordingly, the processing capacity of the information processing apparatus whose amount of power consumption is to be reduced is significantly decreased. Thus, execution by the CPU core of various programs including an application program (hereinafter abbreviated as an "application") is stopped.
Each of the information processing apparatuses included and operated in the information processing system is normally run in order to execute processing requested individually. Accordingly, although there is a difference in priority (level of importance), it is often not desirable for the running information processing apparatus to stop execution of a program requested for the processing.
A related technique is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-123071, for example.

Apparatus and method for managing power consumption of a plurality of information processing apparatuses by suppressing the power consumption of an information processing apparatus having higher priority


A rotatable table includes a shelf unit which is mounted on a support structure and a rotatable unit having a work surface which may be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position. The rotatable unit may be placed in (1) a horizontal position, (2) specific detent angular positions, (3) other angular positions selected by the user, and (4) a storage position wherein the work surface is vertical. A truss assembly guide which slidably receives a truss assembly makes the various angular positions possible. In an embodiment of the invention, the entire rotatable table is vertically positionable on the support structure.

Folding furniture is well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,650,145 shows a collapsible wall table. In one position the device forms a table, and in another position comprises a wall ornament.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,385 illustrates a folding table (10) which is pivotally mounted to a vertical support (12) by a pair of longer arms (16) and two pairs of shorter arms (18), so that it can swing from a horizontal position to a vertical position against the support. A ground engaging leg (30) of adjustable length is hinged at (32) to the outer end of the table and can be swung up under the table when the table is to be folded away. The shorter arms (18) lie lengthwise in channel brackets (24) when the table is extended, thereby giving the table better lateral support. Adjustable stops (28) engage the underside of the table when extended.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,457 discloses a kitchen table for use with a motor vehicle camper, which is collapsible as a storage unit to carry cooking utensils. The table comprises a pair of panels which face each other to form a closed unit. The panels are hinged to open outwardly with one edge of the unit engagable with a wall hanger and an extensible leg to support the unit in a horizontal position. When the unit is opened, one panel acts as a table and the other panel acts as a backboard carrying the utensils.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,131 comprises a utility table for attachment to a vertical wall, particularly to a wall of a switch cabinet, with a tabletop platform and a support member joined to the wall such that it assumes an initial inoperative position folded parallel to the wall out of which the tabletop platform is moved into an inclined operative position. The support member moves into a supporting position due to its own weight whereby the tabletop platform is supported inclined to the wall so that it is prevented from returning to its initial inoperative position under load conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,873 consists of a multi-purpose retractable desk or table top for use in conjunction with a shelving or wall system. The system includes vertical standards having channels which typically are receptive to shelf brackets. The retractable desk top is attached to the standards by a linkage and mechanism which enables the top to be infinitely oriented at any angle from horizontal to vertical. In its vertical, retracted configuration, the desk top lies substantially flat against the standards and the linkage is substantially concealed within the standards. The attachment linkage and mechanism is constructed to enable the height of the entire device to be adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,484 describes an improved and highly versatile wall mounted folding table with mounting brackets of various configurations, to allow the table to be mounted directly to planar wall surfaces and exposed wall support studs. By varying the vertical distance between the upper and lower mounting brackets, a forward sloping table surface is formed for use in drafting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,101 depicts a wall-mounted foldable desk for providing an elevated working surface comprising two opposed and upwardly extended side plates, each side plate having top and bottom edges with front and rear edges extended therebetween; a bottom plate having front and rear edges with side edges extended therebetween with each side edge coupled to a bottom edge of a side plate; a back plate having top and bottom edges with side edges extended therebetween with the bottom edge coupled to the rear edge of the bottom plate, each side edge coupled to a rear edge of an adjacent side plate, and the top edge aligned with the top edges of each side plate; a first plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, front and rear edges, and opposed side edges extended between the front and rear edges; pivotal structure for pivotally coupling the side edges of the first plate between the side plates to define a pivotable desk top; extendable structure coupled between the desk top and sidewalls and having one position for allowing desk top to be extended upwards in an elevated orientation and another position for allowing the desk top to be extended downwards in a retracted orientation; and coupling structure adapted for coupling the back plate to a wall and thereby allowing the desk top to be placed in the elevated or retracted orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,794 is directed to a table attached along the edge of one longitudinal side by hinges to a horizontally disposed rail which is intended for attachment to a substantially vertical structure possesses two legs each attached by a hinge to the table proximate either opposed corner of the table distal the edge attached to the rail. Both legs are mounted to: (a) support the table in a utility position with each leg being disposed perpendicular to the substantially planar bottom table surface and (b) to be disposed substantially flush to the bottom table surface in a closed position thereby allowing the table to be rotated about the horizontal, longitudinal hinges to a vertical position hanging from the rail by means of said hinges. The length of each leg is substantially equivalent to the distance between the floor and the hinged longitudinal and horizontal rail attachment. The hinges for holding the legs in both closed and open positions lock in either position. The longitudinal orientation of the table with respect to the rail optimizes the use of space in manner areas including a typical residential exterior deck and accommodates seating facing the rail which in the case of an exterior deck is outward over a railing. The vertical storage position enables the full use of the area in which the table is located, protects the upper table surface from precipitation in exterior applications and minimizes maintenance.


In a gear shift control apparatus for a vehicle, since a torque sharing rate is set as a constraint for a motion equation for an automatic transmission, suitable control in torque delivery, which is considered difficult in gear shift control, can be implemented and also the motion equation can be solved. Furthermore, when at least four control operation amounts must be determined in order to achieve two gear shift target values, another engaging device is classified into any of an engaging-side clutch and a releasing-side clutch depending on how another clutch torque acts on progress of a gear shift, hence in addition to achieving torque sharing in accordance with a torque sharing rate between the engaging-side clutch and the releasing-side clutch, torque sharing among a plurality of engaging devices classified into a same side can be arbitrarily set. As a result, the respective control operation amounts can be determined.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gear shift control apparatus of a vehicle that executes gear shift control of an automatic transmission and, in particular, relates to a technique for executing a gear shift of the automatic transmission using a gear shift model.
2. Description of Related Art
Automatic transmissions having a plurality of engaging devices which transmit rotation and torque between an input shaft that receives power from a drive power source and an output shaft that transmits the power to a drive wheel and executing a gear shift by switching between engagement and release of the engaging devices are widely available. Generally, with such an automatic transmission, adaptation of a demanded value (in other words, a control operation amount) of an operated element (for example, torque) is performed on a control object for each gear stage while performing evaluation on an actual vehicle, and a gear shift is executed based on the adaptation result using a control operation amount determined from a control map obtained in advance for each gear stage. However, as the number of shift stages in automatic transmissions increase, significantly greater effort is required by such adaptation work and, as a result, it is becoming difficult to adopt modes of gear shift control that are based, on a control map. Therefore, gear shift model control that is a mode of gear shift control based on a motion equation of each rotating element constituting an automatic transmission is proposed. With such gear shift model control, a control operation amount is uniquely determined by solving a motion equation obtained in advance based on a variation mode (a gear shift target value) that is desirably achieved as a result of a gear shift and the determined control operation amount is used to execute a gear shift. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-97325 (JP 2000-97325 A) describes, with respect to inertia phase control, a technique for executing a gear shift by setting a target value of an input shaft rotation speed of a transmission as a gear shift target value and calculating a demanded value of an engaging-side clutch torque as a control operation amount, and a technique for executing a gear shift by setting respective target values of an input shaft rotation speed and an output shaft torque of a transmission as gear shift target values and calculating a demanded value of an engaging-side clutch torque and a demanded value of a releasing-side clutch torque as control operation amounts using a gear shift model.
With the techniques described in JP 2000-97325 A, a gear shift is executed by either operating one control object with respect to one gear shift target value or operating two control objects with respect to two gear shift target values. However, with the techniques described in JP 2000-97325 A, since hydraulic pressure of a releasing-side engaging device is reduced towards release and subsequently temporarily increased once again toward engagement in order to cancel an inertia torque in an inertia phase (in other words, in order to prevent an output shaft torque in an inertia phase from substantially varying), there is a possibility that gear shift completion may be delayed and that drivability may decline. Meanwhile, there is a conventional method of so-called engine torque down control in which engine torque is temporarily reduced in an inertia phase in order to cancel the inertia torque. However, with the technique described in JP 2000-97325 A, the engine is not incorporated into the motion equation as a control object. In other words, with the technique described in JP 2000-97325 A, since the motion equation is solved with respect to a random engine torque, the gear shift model control described in JP 2000-97325 A is incapable of canceling an inertia torque by engine torque down control in place of temporarily increasing hydraulic pressure at the releasing-side engaging device. In this case, while engine torque down control can be executed separate from gear shift model control, such a procedure causes the entire gear shift model control to collapse and requires a solution to be once again derived from the motion equation, and may end up delaying gear shift completion or increasing gear shift shock which may cause a decline in drivability. On the other hand, attempting to uniquely determine an engine torque as a control operation amount by gear shift model control produces three control operation amounts with respect to two gear shift target values. As a result, the motion equation cannot be solved and a gear shift of the automatic transmission using gear shift model control can no longer be executed.
Problems such as those described above are not conventional, and no proposals have been made so far regarding appropriately setting a constraint for solving a motion equation when there are three control operation amounts with respect to two gear shift target values so as to enable a prescribed gear shift model to accommodate all gear shift patterns (gear shift modes) including power-on upshift, power-off upshift, power-on downshift, and power-off downshift. In contrast, this invention proposes a new technique for appropriately setting a constraint to solve a motion equation (refer to international application previously filed by the applicant but yet to be published at this time (International Application No.: PCT/JP2012/069408)). In addition, this invention proposes a technique which is based on, and further improves, the new technique described above.

Gear shift control apparatus for vehicle


The invention provides the following liquid developers (1)-(5). (1) A liquid developer including a carrier liquid having an aniline point of 80.degree. C. to 100.degree. C.; and at least one compound selected from among Color Index Pigment Yellow 180, Color Index Solvent Yellow 162 and derivatives of these. (2) A liquid developer including a carrier liquid having an aniline point of 80.degree. C. to 100.degree. C.; toner; and at least one compound selected from among salicylic acid metal salt and derivatives thereof. (3) A liquid developer including a carrier liquid having an aniline point of 80.degree. C. to 100.degree. C.; toner; and at least one compound selected from among borate-containing compound and derivatives thereof. (4) A liquid developer including a carrier liquid; at least one compound selected from among an oil-soluble ionic surfactant having alkyl group(s) of at least 20 carbon atoms, and a copolymer of a monomer having a nitrogen-containing group and a long-chain (meth)acrylate; and toner containing at least one compound selected from among Color Index Pigment Yellow 180, Color Index Solvent Yellow 162 and derivatives of these. (5) A liquid developer including a carrier liquid; and toner containing Color Index Pigment Yellow 180 and having volume average particle size of 0.5 .mu.m to 5 .mu.m.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid developer used for image formation, and particularly relates to an electrophotographic liquid developer which is used for developing electrostatic latent images in image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and printers.
2. Description of the Background Art
Electrophotographic image formation is generally performed as follows. An electrostatic latent image is formed, e.g., by effecting image exposure corresponding to an original image on an electrostatic latent image carrier such as a photosensitive member. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is developed into a visible toner image. This visible image is transferred onto and fixed on a record member so that an intended image is formed.
In the electrophotographic image formation, the developing method is classified into a dry developing method and a wet developing method.
In the dry developing method, a developer is formed of toner (coloring fine particles), or is formed of the toner and carrier which has magnetic properties and is added to the toner. If the dry toner used for dry development were excessively fine, the toner would flow into an ambient atmosphere and would float therein. Therefore, the toner which is usually used has a relatively large average particle diameter of about 10 .mu.m or less.
In the wet developing method, the liquid developer which is now in the mainstream is formed of electrically insulating carrier liquid, in which toner primarily made of a coloring agent and binder resin as well as a charge director, a dispersion stabilizing agent and others are dispersed. It has been considered that the toner is charged owing to absorption of ions by virtue of the charge director, and the charged toner is used for development on the principle of electrophoresis. Since there is no possibility that the toner used in the wet development escapes into the atmosphere, fine toner can be used, and the available average particle diameter may be of the order of submicrons. Thereby, the produced image can have a high resolution and a good gray scale property.
An electrophoretic moving speed of the toner depends on the quantity of charges carried by the toner, and the developing speed can be increased with quantity of charges. As the quantity of charges increases, the dispersibilities of toner are improved, and the preservation properties of the liquid developer are improved. For improving the speed and stability of the wet developing system, therefore, it is necessary that the toner has a large quantity of charges.
With the increasing use of personal computers and others, it has been demanded that full-color images can be formed or duplicated by simple operations.
For forming the full-color image, offset printing has been employed as a method for formation or duplication of fine and beautiful full-color images. The offset printing allows fast production of high-quality images with a low cost, and therefore is suitable to large-volume printing. However, maintenance and operation of the offset printing apparatus are difficult.
In contrast to the above, electrophotographic copying machines, printers and others have such advantages that flexible image formation can be performed with easy operation. Compared with other printers of an ink-jet type or the like, the electrophotographic device is superior in printing speed, reproducibility and durability.
Year after year, higher qualities of full-color images have been required. For obtaining the high image quality substantially equal to or higher than that of the offset printing, it is suitable to employ the wet developing method which uses the toner of a small particle diameter and high chargeability.
For formation of the full-color image, precise control of the weight of toner developer is requiread in contrast to the mono-color image formation, and therefore it is necessary to stabilize the charge quantity of toner more sufficiently. Also, the high charge quantity is required for obtaining fine images of high resolutions.
For the above purpose, such a technique has been used in some cases that a charge control agent (CCA) is added to the dry developer for adding a high chargeability to the toner. As such charge control agent are known a salicylic acid metal salt and its derivative. The salicylic acid metal salt and its derivative provide negative charge to a toner. Since the salicylic acid metal salt and its derivative are white or colorless, they have no problem in providing a desired color to the toner and are suitable as a charge control agent for color developer. For example, Japanese patent No. 2625106 discloses a toner for dry developer containing the salicylic metal salt or its derivative as a charge control agent.
Further, a borate-containing compound has been known as the charge control agent. The borate-containing compound applies negative charges to the toner. Since many kinds of borate-containing compounds are colorless or light in color, they do not color the toner, and are suitable as the charge control agent for the developer of color images. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-10361 discloses the toner for dry development, which includes the borate-containing compound as the charge control agent.
However, if the salicylic acid metal salt or its derivative is used as the charge control agent for the toner in the liquid developer, such metal salt or its derivative is likely to dissolve in carrier liquid, i.e., organic solvent, and characteristics of the liquid developer may change with time. For example, dissolving of salicylic acid metal salt or its derivative lowers the chargeability of toner, and an ingredient dissolved in the carrier liquid causes lowering of the electric resistance of the carrier liquid or the like. For example, these disadvantages result in lowering of the developing speed, variations in image density, occurrence of image failures such as blur and/or dispersion in image, and condensation of toner during preservation.
If the borate-containing compound is; used as the charge control agent of the toner in the liquid developer, it is likely to dissolve in the carrier liquid (organic solvent) so that the characteristics of liquid developer may change with time. For example, dissolving of borate-containing compound causes lowering of the chargeability of toner, and an ingredient dissolved in the carrier liquid causes, for example, lowering of the electric resistance of the carrier liquid. These disadvantages result in, e.g., lowering of the developing speed, variations in image density, occurrence of image failures such as blur and/or dispersion in image and condensation of toner during preservation.
For forming the full-color images, developers of four colors, i.e., yellow, magenta, cyan and black are used similarly to the offset printing and others, and images each formed with the developer of the corresponding color are overlapped with each other by a subtractive color mixture method. If these developers of four colors are of a dry type, each developer can be produced by adding appropriate coloring pigment or dye as well as various additives, if necessary, to binder resin in a dispersed fashion, and thereby providing toner of a predetermined particle diameter. In the case of the liquid developer, the developer can be produced by dispersing such toner in the carrier liquid.
Among the toners of respective colors, the yellow toner is primarily formed of Color Index Pigment Yellow (which will also be referred to as "PY" hereinafter) 12, PY13, PY17, PY174, PY176 or the like, which has been widely used in conventional printing ink and others, because these pigments are preferable in view of coloring properties and cost.
However, the above Pigment Yellow contains organically bonded chlorine and heavy metal in the molecule. Therefore, it is proposed to use PY180 or Color Index Solvent Yellow (hereinafter may be referred to as SY) 162,. each of which is an azo compound containing no organically bonded chlorine and heavy metal and has excellent color forming ability almost same as conventional Pigment Yellow. PY180 is an azo pigment which has been known under the trade names of Novoperum-Gelb P-HG, Toner Yellow HG VP2155 and others. PY180 and dry toner containing the same are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,870,164 and 4,935,502, European patent application No. EP 0 705 886 A2 and others. SY162 is an azo dye which has been known under the trade names of Neopon Yellow 075 and others. SY162 and dry toner containing the same are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 61-112160, 7-140716 and 8-234490, and others.
However, if the above PY180, SY162 or derivative thereof is used as a coloring agent in the liquid developer, these are more likely to dissolve in the carrier liquid than the conventional yellow pigment. Depending on the types of the coloring agent and carrier liquid, therefore, characteristics of the liquid developer may change with time. For example, dissolving of the yellow coloring agent causes lowering of the chargeability of toner, and an ingredient dissolved in the carrier liquid causes lowering of the electric resistance of the carrier liquid or the like. These disadvantages result in lowering of the developing speed, variations in image density, occurrence of image failures such as blur and/or dispersion in image, condensation of toner during preservation and others.
In the liquid developer, the content of the coloring agent with respect to the binder resin in the toner is larger than that of the dry developer, and therefore the coloring agent affects the chargeability of toner to a higher extent. The toner of the liquid developer, of which coloring agent is formed of the foregoing PY180, SY162 or the derivative thereof, has a lower chargeability than the toner containing conventional yellow pigment, and therefore cannot achieve a practically required high developing speed without difficulty. In the liquid developer, the toner has a small particle diameter, and therefore a high toner chargeability is required for obtaining an intended developing speed. In the liquid developer using the foregoing PY180, SY162 or the derivative thereof as the toner coloring agent, it is unavoidable to increase the toner particle diameter for obtaining the intended toner chargeability, which results in a problem that high-resolution images cannot be formed.
If the foregoing PY180 is used as the coloring agent of the toner in the liquid developer, the pigment cannot disperse in the binder resin to an intended extent so that image failures such as blur or loss of color are likely to occur in final images. The PY180 may be directly dispersed in the carrier liquid without using the binder resin. In this case, however, PY180 cannot be dispersed in the carrier liquid to an intended extent, and is likely to be condensed or deposited.


User-friendliness of a radiation imaging apparatus configured to reset a sensor array is improved. This invention is a radiation imaging apparatus including a two-dimensional sensor array. This apparatus includes a scan control signal generation circuit which controls the reset operation of the two-dimensional sensor array, a row number register which stores the row number of a line currently subjected to the reset operation at the time of detection of radiation irradiation, a scan control signal generation circuit which controls read operation after the completion of the radiation irradiation, and an image processing circuit which interpolates an image, of the image generated based on the signals read by the read operation, which corresponds to a line corresponding to the row number stored in the row number register, by using images of adjacent lines.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a radiation imaging system, a radiation imaging apparatus, and a method of controlling the same.
Description of the Related Art
There has been a flat panel type radiation imaging apparatus provided with a sensor array formed by two-dimensionally arraying a plurality of pixels. Each pixel used for such a radiation imaging apparatus generally includes a conversion element which is obtained by forming a film on a glass substrate by using amorphous silicon or polysilicon as a material and converts radiation into an electrical signal and a switch element such as a TFT for transferring the electrical signal to the outside. In general, such a radiation imaging apparatus performs read operation by transferring, to a reading apparatus, the signals converted by conversion elements upon performing matrix driving using switch elements such as TFTs.
Each conversion element on the sensor array directly or indirectly generates a signal upon being irradiated with radiation. In a sensor array configured to indirectly generate signals, the conversion element of each pixel detects visible light converted from radiation by a phosphor instead of directly detecting radiation. In a sensor array based on either the direct detection scheme or the indirect detection scheme, each pixel generates a signal with a certain level even in the total absence of radiation. In this case, this signal will be referred to as a "dark current".
Dark currents have different characteristics in the respective pixels on the sensor array. If dark currents are superimposed on the image signals obtained by radiation irradiation, uneven offsets are added to an image, resulting in a deterioration in image quality. In order to prevent this, the radiation imaging apparatus is configured to extract dark current charges from the sensor array periodically and/or intensively immediately before radiation irradiation by using a period during which no radiation is irradiated.
In this case, when extracting a dark current, if an image signal is superimposed on the dark current, it is not possible to separate them and extract only the dark current. That is, executing dark current extraction during radiation irradiation or in the interval after radiation irradiation and before reading of an image signal will lose the image signal. Therefore, in the radiation imaging apparatus, it is necessary to perform control so as to exclusively execute dark current extraction and radiation irradiation. For this reason, a synchronization mechanism for establishing synchronization is provided between the apparatus and a radiation source.
Depending on the scheme, some conversion element needs to periodically perform reset operation as well as dark current extraction. In this case as well, reset operation leads to the loss of an image signal, and requires exclusive control with respect to radiation irradiation.

Radiation imaging system, radiation imaging apparatus, and method of controlling the same


Glass articles are made by continuously emitting a plurality of strands of molten glass spaced different distances from respective preform molds, cutting through each of the strands by moving together a respective pair of blades to form a respective gob, and transporting the gobs through the respective distances to the preform molds. The pairs of blades are operated, that is moved from an open to a closed position, such that they cut through the respective strands one after the other with the first formed gob traveling through the longest distance to the respective preform mold and the last formed gob traveling through the shortest distance to the respective preform mold.

In the manufacture of glass articles it is standard to feed molten glass to a plurality of nozzles that continuously emit respective strands of molten glass. Cutters sever gobs (also referred to as slugs) from the emerging strand and these gobs are then fed to respective preform holders where they are conditioned, that is heated or cooled to a predetermined temperature, before being actually molded or otherwise transformed into the desired finished shape.
The cutting device has a plurality of pairs of cutting blades whose cutting edges are movable from a starting position, in which the glass strand flows between the respective cutting blades, into a working position in which each glass strand is severed with the formation of a gob, and back into the starting position. The gobs are deposited into a preform having multiple adjacently spaced blank molds where the separated gobs are optionally shaped into blanks. A shaping device can receive the blanks from the preform and processing them into glass articles. The travel paths through which the gobs move from the severing and separation stage to the preform molds have different lengths.
Normally the strands are extruded vertically downward, that is in the vertical direction, and the cutter blades are movable horizontally, that is in the horizontal direction. The travel paths through which the freshly formed gobs path can extend in both the X and vertical directions, and are invariably of different lengths.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,696 of Bogert describes a device where a pair of arms pivotal about respective vertical axes each carry a plurality of blades. The arms can be pivoted together, scissor-like, to substantially simultaneously sever a respective gob from a strand oriented between a pair of blades. The blades of each arm are fixed relative to each other and, hence, move synchronously. Thus the gobs are formed substantially simultaneously and therefore, on their way to the respective preform molds, travel different distances and, as a result, cool differently by the time they reach the preform mold.
EO 0,712,812 of Giraudo has a system where the cutting blades of a cutting blade pair may be moved linearly and horizontally. Here as well, multiple glass strands flow vertically in the vertical direction between the open cutting blade pair, and are severed by the horizontal linear movement of the cutting blades. Each of the left and right cutting blades is mounted on a separate carrier. Each carrier may be actuated by means of a linear electric motor, thus enabling all the cutting blades to move together into the separating position and into the starting position.
In both of these known devices, when the cutting blades are moved into the closed position the glass strand accumulates atop the cutting blades and is compressed. This disturbs the droplet fall, causing the gobs separated from the glass strand to be deformed. This effect is disadvantageous for the subsequent processing of the gob. For this reason it is known to provide an auxiliary device as shown in FIG. 2 having a supply 1′ into which molten glass flows via a rotary tube 2′. The level of the glass melt is indicated by reference numeral 3′. A strand 4′ of molten glass flows downward in direction Z from the supply 1′. The glass strand 4′ is severed by means of a pair of cutting blades 5′ and 6′, and a gob 7′ is separated and delivered to an unillustrated preform. To prevent the glass strand 4′ from accumulating on the cutting blades 5′ and 6′ during the separation procedure for the gob 7′, a plunger 8′ is provided which may be moved in the direction of the arrow 9′. During the cutting operation this plunger 8′ is moved back, i.e., moved upward in the direction of the arrow 9′, in order to move the glass strand 4′ back during the cutting operation, thus preventing the glass strand from accumulating on the cutting blades 5′, 6′ and being deformed. Such a system is complicated. For a high cutting frequency of the cutting blade pairs it is less efficient. The cutting frequency may be 200 cuts per minute, for example.
Another disadvantageous effect occurs when multiple gobs 7′ from a plurality of glass strands 4′ are simultaneously separated and are delivered to adjacently positioned preforms 10′. This procedure is illustrated in FIG. 5. The gob 7′ on the right is the first to arrive at the preform 10′ at station C, and due to the different distances from the cut point to the preform 10′ the second gob 7′ requires a longer time to arrive at the preform 10′ at station B. Finally, the left gob 7′ in FIG. 5 requires the longest time to arrive at the preform 10′ at station A. As a result, the gob 7′ in preform station C has a longer residence time than the gob 7′ for preform station A. The preforming work step cannot begin until all gobs 7′ have arrived at the corresponding preforms 10′. Due to the longer residence time, the gob 7′ for preform 10′ in station C is situated lower on the muzzle tool for preform station C, which also results in greater heating in the region of preform 10′ of station C. On the other hand, the temperature of the gob 7′ in preform 10′ at station C is less than in the region of preform 10′ at station A. This means that problematic differing cooling adjustments must be taken into account.


A manufacturing method for a vacuum fluorescent display is performed by the steps of dividing a substrate into a plurality of areas, and sequentially forming a signal line, an insulating layer, and a segment electrode on each area, arranging common wiring layers with a predetermined distance therebetween on the substrate to be electrically connected to all signal lines formed on the substrate, submerging the substrate into a container filled with a dispersed fluorescent material, and settling the fluorescent material on the segment electrode by applying power to the common wiring layers, and forming rear plates by cutting the substrate having the fluorescent material settled thereon into the plurality of individual areas. A separate settling jig is not required, and cost for the formation of the settling jig and manpower for its handling can be reduced, so that productivity is enhanced.

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for a vacuum fluorescent display, and more particularly to a method for forming fluorescent layers on anodes.
A general vacuum fluorescent display is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. Here, a rear plate 10a and a face plate 10b form a vacuum space by keeping a predetermined separation distance by means of a plurality of side plates 10c. A plurality of segment electrodes 11 as anodes having a predetermined pattern are provided on the inner surface of rear plate 10a, and fluorescent layers 12 are formed on segment electrodes 12. Also, filaments 14 are provided over fluorescent layer 12 as cathodes for emitting thermoelectrons, and a grid 13 for controlling and accelerating the thermoelectrons is formed between segment electrode 11 and filament 14. Signal lines 15 protected by an insulating layer 16 are arranged on the surface of rear plate 10a, for the communication with segment electrode 11, grid 13, and filament 14.
In the vacuum fluorescent display constructed as above, the method for forming the typical fluorescent layer comprises the steps of dividing one substrate into a plurality of areas; sequentially forming signal line 15, insulating layer 16, and segment electrode 11 on each area; cutting the substrate into individual areas to form a plurality of rear plates 10a; mounting rear plates 10a on a separate settling jig; and providing electrical communication to the rear plates by submerging the settling jig into a container filled with a dispersed fluorescent material, and in doing so, allowing the fluorescent material to completely settle on segment electrode 11 of each rear plate 10a.
However, in such a conventional method for forming the fluorescent display, since the fluorescent layer is formed on the rear plate by means of the settling jig, an exclusive settling jig for each model is required which raises the manufacturing cost of end product due to the respective settling jigs. In addition to this, the settlement and the subsequent separation of the rear plate on the settling jig is cumbersome, and represents an increased number of production steps, thereby lowering productivity.

Manufacturing method for a vacuum fluorescent display


An air bag device for a passenger, including a container, an air bag contained in the container, a lid covering the container, an inflator, a pair of extensions extending forward from the sides of a front face of the container, and a U-shaped frame extending along the outside of the container and having a pair of arms hinged to the extensions of the container. The frame also includes a bridge portion bridging the arm portions and a support member protruding from the bridge portion and having an end supported by the container. A pair of notches are formed midway of the arm portions and opposing the container for enhancing buckling of the arm portions when a load heavier than a predetermined level is applied to the frame from the lid. The support member may be supported to the container by means of a pin or bolt such that it is released, when the load heavier than a predetermined level is applied, from the pin or bolt to move in the direction of the load.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag device for a passenger and, more particularly, to a passenger's air bag device which is improved in shock absorptivity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional passenger's air bag devices are constructed to include: a box-shaped container; an air bag contained in a folded state in the container; a lid covering a front opening of the container; and an inflator disposed at a back of the container for injecting gases to extending the air bag. A conventional passenger's air bag device is arranged to have its lid flush with the instrument panel of an automobile.
Instrument panels are regulated (under the "instrument panel shock absorbing regulations") to have characteristics, in which it will collapse, if shocked, so as to absorb the shocks of an occupant. The lid of the passenger's air bag device also has to clear the instrument panel shock absorbing regulations.
The lid of the air bag device is required to have the deformable characteristics for satisfying the shock absorbing characteristics because the air bag applies serious shocks to the lid when it is extended. However, the lid is required to have a sufficient strength and an excellent durability for shocks having a magnitude lower than a predetermined level. This means that the lid and the container remain improper if they are weakened merely to clear the shock absorbing regulations.


A DC--DC converter wherein, a DC power supply, a coil, and a main switch are connected in parallel, a resonant capacitor is connected in parallel with the main switch, a rectifier is connected to the coil for DC output to be provided from both ends of the coil, and a control switch is connected in parallel with the coil for allowing current due to energy accumulated in the coil to flow when the main switch is OFF.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a DC--DC converter, and more particularly to a DC--DC converter based on a forward type which can be built as a compact one with low price.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 5 shows the DC--DC converter disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI2-65659.
In this DC--DC converter 51, current flow to the coil L by turning ON the transistor Tr, and energy is accumulated in the coil L from the DC power supply Eb. Then, when the transistor Tr is turned OFF, resonance is generated by the coil L and the resonant capacitor C. If voltage in the coil L is in the reverse direction to that in the DC power supply Eb, energy accumulated in the coil L flows to the smoothing capacitor CF as DC output and furthermore is supplied to the load RL.
The DC output can be stabilized by adjusting the transistor Tr ON period and setting the ON/OFF cycle constant.
On the other hand, when the switch S is turned ON during the time that the transistor Tr is ON, current due to energy accumulated in the coil L flows through the diode D, so that resonance is stopped.
The conventional DC--DC converter 51 described above is based on a flyback type, which causes many problems. For instance, a peak value of the charging current flowing via the rectifier DD to the smoothing capacitor CF becomes larger and the coil L, rectifier DD and smoothing capacitor CF must all be usable for large current.
Also, since energy of about 2 times larger than the output energy must be accumulated in the coil L during the transistor Tr ON period, the size of the coil L becomes large.
Also, as a peak value of the current is large, much noise is generated.
Thus, the object of this invention is to provide a DC--DC converter, in which components such as a coil, a rectifier and so on for small current are available and which can be minimized in size and in which noise is not generated much.


An integrated tool is provided, having a tissue-type sensor, for determining the tissue type at a near zone volume of a tissue surface, and a distance-measuring sensor, for determining the distance to an interface with another tissue type, for (i) confirming an existence of a clean margin of healthy tissue around a malignant tumor, which is being removed, and (ii) determining the depth of the clean margin. The integrated tool may further include a position tracking device and an incision instrument. The soft tissue may be held within a fixed frame, while the tumor is being removed. Additionally a method for malignant tumor removal is provided, comprising, fixing the soft tissue within a frame, performing imaging with the hand-held, integrated tool, from a plurality of locations and orientations around the soft tissue, reconstructing a three-dimensional image of the soft tissue and the tumor within, defining a desired clean margin on the reconstructed image, calculating a recommended incision path, displaying the recommended path on the reconstructed image, and cutting the tissue while determining its type, at the near zone volume of the incision surface. The method may further include continuously imaging with the cutting, continuously correcting the reconstructed image and the recommended incision path, and continuously determining the tissue type, at the near zone volume of the incision surface.

The present invention relates generally, to a medical tool for tissue characterization, and specifically, to an integrated tool, having a tissue-type sensor, for determining the tissue type at an incision edge, and a distance-measuring sensor, for determining the distance to an interface with another tissue type. The tool is operable for confirming an existence of a clean margin of healthy tissue around an excised tumor, and for determining the width of the margin.
When a malignant tumor is found in a breast, the patient currently has two primary treatment options, 1) mastectomy or 2) breast conserving therapy, which means, lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy. Generally, breast conserving therapy is indicated for patients with Stage T1 or T2 cancers, of between less then about 0.5 and about 5 cm in greatest dimension.
To localize the tumor within the breast, a radiologist may place a guide wire under x-ray or ultrasound guidance, so that the proximal tip of the guide wire, with respect to the tissue, is in the tumor. Alternatively, an imaging modality alone, for example, mammography, CT, ultrasound, or another imaging modality may be used to locate the tumor. The patient is then transported to the operating room, where the surgeon uses the guide wire, or the image, or palpation to locate the tumor in the breast and to excise a portion of tissue including the cancerous portion and a layer of healthy tissue surrounding the cancerous portion.
The layer of healthy tissue must enclose the cancerous portion, to ensure that all the malignancy has been removed. This layer is often referred to as a "clean margin." Although generally dependent on the size and shape of the malignant tumor that is being removed, a desired depth of the clean margin may range from 1 cell layer, or about 40 microns, to 10 mm.
Typically the surgeon uses a scalpel and (or) an electrosurgical cutting device to remove a tissue portion enclosing the tumor, in one piece, and manage bleeding. The removed portion is transported to the pathologist, who samples the margins, histologically, at specific and suspicious points, for example, at one or a few representative points on each face of the portion, to assess whether the cancer has been completely removed from the body. If the pathologists deems that cancer cells are too close to the edge of the portion, i.e., if he deems the margin infected, a re-excision is recommended, and the patient must undergo a second surgical procedure to remove more of the tissue.
There are several problems with conventional breast conserving therapy.    1. There are technical challenges associated with placement of the guide wire tip, and the radiologist may not place the guide wire properly through the lesion. It is particularly difficult to place the guide wire at the correct depth. Also, when the guide wire is placed under x-ray guidance, the breast is compressed. When the breast is decompressed for the surgical excision, the guide wire can move, resulting in inaccurate placement thereof. Finally, the guide wire placement procedure is uncomfortable to the patient and logistically challenging; the procedure must be coordinated with the time of surgery. Often, the easiest path for the radiologist to place the guide wire is different from the best surgical approach, so the surgeon cannot follow the guide wire down to the tumor.    2. It is difficult to estimate correctly the full extent of the disease and the exact volume of the cancerous portion of the tumor, especially with non-palpable lesions. Non-palpable lesions are similar in their properties to normal tissue, hence harder to detect by ultrasound and mammography. Thus, the guide wire may be inaccurately placed. To compensate for the imprecision in determining the extent of the disease, the surgeon must remove much more tissue than would be required if the full extent of the cancer could be imaged in real-time. This leads to a negative impact aesthetically and emotionally on the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,787 to Schiller et al., whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, provides an apparatus and method for detecting a distance from a tissue edge to a malignant tissue, enclosed therein. The apparatus comprises a needle having a strain gage, mounted on one of the needles walls. Strain signals are collected as the needle is moved through the tissue. The needle is inserted at different points to allow data collection from different points within the tissue. The data is sent together with its spatial coordinates to a computerized system, which provides an image of the structure of the examined tissue.
WO Patent 9712553 to Changus et al., whose disclosures is incorporated herein by reference, provides an apparatus for marking a predetermined margin around a tumor that is contained within a healthy tissue. The apparatus includes a needle to be inserted into the patient's body towards the malignant tissue. The needle contains margin wires that are to create a cage containing the malignant tissue within it. The needle is to reach a predetermined distance of between 7 and 13 mm and preferably 10 mm from the malignant tissue before the wires are deployed to create the cage. The cage is then used to guide the surgeon performing a lumpectomy procedure, as to the portion of tissue to be excised and its location, so that the removed tissue will include the malignant tissue with a sufficient clean margin around it. The drawback of such a procedure is that it requires exact knowledge as to the location of the malignant tissue and its boundaries while creating the cage.
US Patent applications 20040168692 and 20020059938, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,752,154, 6,722,371, 6,564,806, 6,405,733, all to Fogarty, et al., all entitled, "Device for accurately marking tissue," and all of whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference, describe methods and a device for fixedly yet removably marking a volume of tissue containing a suspect region for excision. Additionally they describe methods for deployment of the device and its excision along with the marked tissue volume. At least one locator element is deployed into tissue and assumes a predetermined curvilinear shape to define a tissue border containing a suspect tissue region along a path. The locator element path preferably encompasses the distal-most portion of the tissue volume, with respect to the tool, without penetrating that volume. Multiple locator elements may be deployed to further define the tissue volume along additional paths defining the tissue volume border that do not penetrate the volume. Other localization wire embodiments of the invention are disclosed in which the tissue volume may be penetrated by a portion of the device. Polar and tangential deployment configurations as well as a locator element that may be cold-formed by a die in the distal portion of the deployment tube into a permanent accurate shape are also disclosed.
US Patent applications 20050010131 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,331,166 and 6,699,206, all to Burbank et al., all of whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference, describe a method and apparatus for precisely isolating a target lesion in a tissue, so that there is a high likelihood the lesion is removed with a margin. The apparatus comprises a biopsy instrument having a distal end (with respect to operator) adapted for entry into the patient's body, a longitudinal shaft, and a cutting element disposed along the shaft. The cutting element is actuatable between a radially retracted and extended position. Advantageously, the instrument is rotatable about its axis in the radially extended position to isolate a desired tissue specimen from surrounding tissue by defining a peripheral margin about the tissue specimen. Once the tissue specimen is isolated, it may be segmented by further manipulation of the cutting element, after which the tissue segments are preferably individually removed from the patient's body through a cannula or the like. Alternatively, the specimen may be encapsulated and removed as an intact piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,948 to Albrecht et al, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a device and method for removal of tissue lesions, for example, in the breast, the liver and the lungs. The device includes a probe housing having a rotatable RF loop cutter mounted at the distal end of the probe. The RF loop cutter can include at least one electrode supplied with an RF actuating signal for cutting tissue. A rotational drive and specimen containment sheath can also be included. Real-time imaging is preferably used with the RF loop probe to assist in placement of the probe, and to more accurately assess a desired excision volume.
Ultrasound or ultrasonography is a medical imaging technique, using high frequency sound waves in the range of about 1 to 20 MHz and their echoes. The sound waves travel in the body and are reflected by interfaces between different types of tissues, such as between a healthy tissue and a denser cancerous tissue, or between a soft tissue and a bone. The ultrasound probe receives the reflected sound waves and the associated instrumentation calculates the distances from the probe to the reflecting boundaries.
Ultrasound probes are formed of piezoelectric crystal, which produces an electric signal in response to a pressure pulse. The shape of the probe determines its field of view, and the frequency of the emitted sound determines the minimal detectable object size. Generally, the probes are designed to move across the surface of the body. However, some probes are designed to be inserted through body. lumens, such as the vagina or the rectum, so as to get closer to the organ being examined.
The calculation of the distance, d, is based on the speed of sound in the tissue, v, (for example, in fat 1450 m/s, in blood 1570 m/s, in skull bone 4080 m/s, while the mean value for human soft tissue is 1540 m/s, which is similar to that of water) and the time of travel, t, usually measured in microseconds. Where a single probe is used as a transmitter and receiver, the time of travel, t, refers to the time it takes the sound signal to propagate through the tissue from the ultrasound probe to the reflecting interface and back to the ultrasound probe. Thus, in a homogeneous media, the distance may be calculated according to d=v t/2.
It will be appreciated that a predetermined offset needs to be considered, due to fixed electronic and mechanical delays. For example, in cases of measurements involving direct contact transducers, the offset compensates for transit time of the sound pulse through the transducer's wear-plate and the couplant layer, and for any electronic switching time or cable delays. The offset is determined as a part of instrument calibration procedures and is necessary for high accuracy. It will be further appreciated that when a single transducer transmits and receives, there is an additional dead time, which can be overcome by using at least two transducers, one transmitting and the other receiving.
A reflectance, R, may be defined, representing the energy that is being reflected. R depends on the impedance discontinuity between the different types of tissues across the interface, orR=(Z2−Z1)2/(Z2+Z1)2,
where Z1 is the acoustic impedance of the tissue in which the ultrasound pulse travels, and Z2 is the impedance of the tissue across the interface. In general, the acoustic impedance is the product of the density of a material, ρ, and the speed of sound in that material, v, so that,Z=ρv.
For tissues, which are essentially water-like, so that the speed of sound in them is essentially that of the speed of sound in water, the reflectance depends on the variation in tissue density ρ1 and ρ2, across the interface.
For example, in a human body, at ultrasound frequencies of several MHz, for example, 1-10 MHz, the density variation between fat and muscle tissue will lead to about 3% reflection because of the difference in ultrasonic impedance between the two types of tissue. Similarly, at these frequencies, a breast tumor, being denser than fat, will lead to a reflection of about 1%. Thus, the ultrasound technique is useful in identifying cancerous tumors. A radiologist may use the ultrasound imaging to guide a surgical tool, such as a biopsy needle or an incision instrument.
Before the early 1970's ultrasound imaging systems were able to record only the strong echoes arising from the outlines of an organ, but not the low-level echoes of the internal structure. Therefore liver scans, for instance, did not show possible carcinomas or other pathological states. In 1972 a refined imaging mode was introduced called gray-scale display, in which the internal texture of many organs became visible. In gray-scale display, low-level echoes are amplified and recorded together with the higher-level ones, giving many degrees of brightness. In consequence, ultrasound imaging became a useful tool for imaging tumors, for example, in the liver.
A development of recent years is a 3D ultrasound imaging, in which, several two-dimensional images are acquired by moving the probes across the body surface or by rotating probes, inserted into body lumens. The two-dimensional scans are then combined by specialized computer software to form 3D images.
In multiple-element probes, each element has a dedicated electric circuit, so that the beam can be "steered" by changing the timing in which each element sends out a pulse. Additionally, transducer-pulse controls allow the operator to set and change the frequency and duration of the ultrasound pulses, as well as the scan mode of the machine. A probe formed of array transducers has the ability to be steered as well as focused. By sequentially stimulating each element, the beams can be rapidly steered from the left to right, to produce a two-dimensional cross sectional image.
Contrast agents may be used in conjunction with ultrasound imaging, for example as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,704, to Schutt, et al., entitled, "Ultrasonic imaging system utilizing a long-persistence contrast agent," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
A large number of techniques, other than ultrasound, are available today for tissue characterization, to determine the presence of abnormal tissue, for example, cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue. Many of these may be used with hand-held probes. Others use miniature probes that may be inserted into a body lumen or applied in minimally invasive surgery.
One of the methods used for tissue characterization is based on measurements of the tissue's electro-magnetic properties.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,515, to Hashimshony, entitled, "Method and system for examining tissue according to the dielectric properties thereof," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method and system for examining tissue in order to differentiate it from other tissue, according to the dielectric properties of the examined tissue. The method includes applying an electrical pulse to the tissue to be examined via a probe formed with an open cavity such that the probe generates an electrical fringe field in examined tissue within the cavity and produces a reflected electrical pulse therefrom with negligible radiation penetrating into other tissues or biological bodies near the examined tissue; detecting the reflected electrical pulse; and comparing electrical characteristics of the reflected electrical pulse with respect to the applied electrical pulse to provide an indication of the dielectric properties of the examined tissue.
Furthermore, commonly owned U.S. Patent Application 60/641,081, entitled, "Device and Method for Tissue Characterization in a Body Lumen, by an Endoscopic Electromagnetic Probe," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a device and method for tissue characterization in a body lumen, for the detection of abnormalities, using an electromagnetic probe, mounted on an endoscope. The endoscope may be designed for insertion in a body lumen, selected from the group consisting of an oral cavity, a gastrointestinal tract, a rectum, a colon, bronchi, a vagina, a cervix, a urinary tract, and blood vessels. Additionally, it may be designed for insertion in a trucar valve.
Electrical impedance imaging is another known imaging technique for detecting tumors. It involves systems in which the impedance between a point on the surface of the skin and some reference point on the body of a patient is determined. Sometimes, a multi-element probe, formed as a sheet with an array of electrical contacts is used, for obtaining a two-dimensional impedance map of the tissue, for example, the breast. The two-dimensional impedance map may be used, possibly in conjunction with other data, such as mammography, for the detection of cancer.
Rajshekhar, V. ("Continuous impedance monitoring during CT-guided stereotactic surgery: relative value in cystic and solid lesions," Rajshekhar, V., British Journal of Neurosurgery, 1992, 6, 439-444) describes using an impedance probe with a single electrode to measure the impedance characteristics of lesions. The objective of the study was to use the measurements made in the lesions to determine the extent of the lesions and to localize the lesions more accurately. The probe was guided to the tumor by CT and four measurements were made within the lesion as the probe passed through the lesion. A biopsy of the lesion was performed using the outer sheath of the probe as a guide to position, after the probe itself was withdrawn.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,694, to Sollish, et al., entitled, "Apparatus and method for detection of tumors in tissue," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, relates to an apparatus for detecting tumors in human breast, based on the dielectric constants of localized regions of the breast tissue. The apparatus includes a probe, comprising a plurality of elements. The apparatus further includes means for applying an AC signal to the tissue, means for sensing electrical properties at each of the probe elements at different times, and signal processing circuitry, coupled to the sensing means, for comparing the electrical properties sensed at the different times. The apparatus thus provides an output of the dielectric constants of localized regions of breast tissue associated with the probe.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,708 to Frei, et al., entitled, "Apparatus and method for detection of tumors in tissue," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, relates to apparatus for detecting tumors in human breast tissue, by the dielectric constants of a plurality of localized regions of human breast tissue.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,308,097, 6,055,452 and 5,810,742, to Pearlman, A. L., entitled, "Tissue characterization based on impedance images and on impedance measurements," whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference, describe apparatus for aiding in the identification of tissue type for an anomalous tissue in an impedance image. The device comprises: means for providing a polychromic emmitance map of a portion of the body; means for determining a plurality of polychromic measures from one or both of a portion of the body; and a display of an indication based on said plurality of polychromic measures.
Another known method of tissue characterization is by optical fluorescence spectroscopy. When a sample of large molecules is irradiated, for example, by laser light, it will absorb radiation, and various levels will be excited. Some of the excited states will return back substantially to the previous state, by elastic scattering, and some energy will be lost in internal conversion, collisions and other loss mechanisms. However, some excited states will create fluorescent radiation, which, due to the distribution of states, will give a characteristic wavelength distribution.
Some tumor-marking agents give well-structured fluorescence spectra, when irradiated by laser light. In particular, hematoporphyrin derivatives (HPD), give a well-structured fluorescence spectrum, when excited in the Soret band around 405 nm. The fluorescence spectrum shows typical peaks at about 630 and 690 nm, superimposed in practice on more unstructured tissue auto fluorescence. Other useful tumor-marking agents are dihematoporphyrin ether/ester (DHE), hematoporphyrin (HP), polyhematoporphyrin ester (PHE), and tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (TSPC), when irradiated at 337 nm (N2 laser).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,137, to Andersson-Engels, et al, entitled, "Diagnosis by means of fluorescent light emission from tissue," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, relates to improved detection of properties of tissue by means of induced fluorescence of large molecules. The tissue character may then be evaluated from the observed large-molecule spectra. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,137, the spectrum for tonsil cancer is clearly different from normal mucosa, due to endogenous porphyrins.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,806, to Deckelbaum, entitled, "Laser ablation process and apparatus," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a process and apparatus for ablating atherosclerotic or neoplastic tissues. Optical fibers direct low power light energy at a section of tissue to be ablated to cause the section to fluoresce. The fluorescence pattern is analyzed to determine whether the fluorescence frequency spectrum is representative of normal or abnormal tissue. A source of high power, ultraviolet, laser energy directed through an optical fiber at the section of tissue is fired only when the fluorometric analysis indicates that it is directed at abnormal tissue.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,594, to Mok, entitled, "Probe-and fire lasers," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method and an apparatus of irradiating a treatment area within a body, such as blood vessel plaque. The method includes initially administering to the patient a non-toxic atheroma-enhancing reagent which causes the plaque to have a characteristic optical property when illuminated with a given radiation, introducing a catheter system including fiberoptic cable means into the artery such that the distal end thereof is operatively opposite the plaque site, introducing into the proximal end of the fiberoptic cable means the given radiation, photoelectrically sensing at the proximal end the characteristic optical property to generate a control signal, and directly under the control of the control signal transmitting via the cable means from the proximal end to the distal end, periodically occurring laser pulses until the characteristic optical property is no longer sensed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,576, to Richards-Kortum, et al., entitled, "Diagnostic method and apparatus for cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in vitro and in vivo using fluorescence spectroscopy," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, relates to the use of multiple illumination wavelengths in fluorescence spectroscopy for the diagnosis of cancer and precancer, for example, in the cervix. In this manner, it has been possible to (i) differentiate normal or inflamed tissue from squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and (ii) differentiate high grade SILs from non-high grade SILs. The detection may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Multivariate statistical analysis has been employed to reduce the number of fluorescence excitation-emission wavelength pairs needed to re-develop algorithms that demonstrate a minimum decrease in classification accuracy. For example, the method of the aforementioned patent may comprise illuminating a tissue sample with electromagnetic radiation wavelengths of about 337 nm, 380 nm and 460 nm, to produce fluorescence; detecting a plurality of discrete emission wavelengths from the fluorescence; and calculating from the emission wavelengths a probability that the tissue sample belongs in particular tissue classification.
Commonly owned U.S. Patent Application 2003/01383786, to Hashimshony, entitled, "Method and apparatus for examining tissue for predefined target cells, particularly cancerous cells, and a probe useful for such method and apparatus," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, teaches a method apparatus and probe for examining tissue and characterizing its type according to measured changes in optical characteristics of the examined tissue. In a preferred embodiment of this method the tissue to be examined is subject to a contrast agent containing small particles of a physical element conjugated with a biological carrier selectively bindable to the target cells. Additionally, energy pulses are applied to the examined tissue, and the changes in impedance and/or the optical characteristics produced by the applied energy pulses are detected and utilized for determining the presence of the target cells in the examined tissue. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the applied energy pulses include laser pulses, and the physical element conjugated with a biological carrier is a light-sensitive semiconductor having impedance which substantially decrease in the presence of light. Moreover, the same probe used for detecting the targeted cells, may also be used for destroying the cells so targeted.
Optical reflectance spectroscopy may also be used. Its application for tissue characterization is described, for example, in http://www.sbsplimb.nichd.nih.gov/html/spectroscopy.html, downloaded on Mar. 15, 2005. It describes an optical reflectance spectroscopy (ORS) device for measuring the thickness of the epithelial layer, and an evaluation technique based on oblique angle reflectance spectroscopy that allows assessment of the scattering and absorption properties of the epithelium and stroma, thus providing information on chronic oral epithelial tissue inflammation, which is considered a potential diagnostic precursor to oral cancer.
Another known method for tissue characterization is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is based on the absorption and emission of energy in the radio frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum, by nuclei having unpaired spins.
Conventional MRI is a large-apparatus, for whole body imaging, having:
i. a primary magnet, which produces the Bo field for the imaging procedure;
ii. gradient coils for producing a gradient in Bo;
iii. an RF coil, for producing the B1 magnetic field, necessary to rotate the spins by 90° or 180° and for detecting the MRI signal; and
iv. a computer, for controlling the components of the MRI imager.
Generally, the magnet is a large horizontal bore superconducting magnet, which provides a homogeneous magnetic field in an internal region within the magnet. A patient or object to be imaged is usually positioned in the homogeneous field region located in the central air gap for imaging. A typical gradient coil system comprises an anti-Helmholtz type of coil. These are two parallel ring shaped coils, around the z axis. Current in each of the two coils flows in opposite directions creating a magnetic field gradient between the two coils.
The RF coil creates a B1 field, which rotates the net magnetization in a pulse sequence. The RF coils may be: 1) transmit and receive coils, 2) receive only coils, and 3) transmit only coils.
As described hereinabove, the MRI relies on a magnetic field in an internal region within the magnet. As such, it is unsuitable as a handheld probe or an endoscopic probe, because the tissue to be imaged has to be in the internal region of the imager,
This problem has been resolved by U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,132, to Pulyer, et al., entitled, "MRI probe for external imaging," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, which describes an MRI spectroscopic probe having an external background magnetic field B0 (as opposed to the internal background magnetic filed of the large horizontal bore superconducting magnet.). Thus, an MRI catheter for endoscopical imaging of tissue of the artery wall, rectum, urinal tract, intestine, esophagus, nasal passages, vagina and other biomedical applications may be constructed. The probe comprises (i) a miniature primary magnet having a longitudinal axis and an external surface extending in the axial direction, and (ii) a RF coil surrounding and proximal to said surface. The primary magnet is structured and configured to provide a symmetrical, preferably cylindrically shaped, homogeneous field region external to the surface of the magnet. The RF coil receives NMR signals from excited nuclei. For imaging, one or more gradient coils are provided to spatially encode the nuclear spins of nuclei excited by an RF coil, which may be the same coil used for receiving NMR signals or another RF coil.
Additionally, commonly owned U.S. Patent Application 2005/0021019 to Hashimshony et al., entitled "Method and apparatus for examining substance, particularly tissue, to characterize its type," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method and apparatus for examining a substance volume to characterize its type, by: applying a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance: applying RF pulses locally to the examined substance volume such as to invoke electrical impedance (EI) responses signals corresponding to the electrical impedance of the substance, and magnetic resonance (MR) responses signals corresponding to the MR properties of the substance; detecting the EI and MR response signals; and utilizing the detected response signals for characterizing the examined substance volume type.
Contrast agents may be used in conjunction with MRI. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,981 to Unger, entitled, "Gas filled microspheres as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes the use of gas filled microspheres as contrast agents for MRI.
Temperature imaging for locating and detecting neoplastic tissue is also known. In the 1950's, it was discovered that the surface temperature of skin in the area of a malignant tumor exhibited a higher temperature than that expected of healthy tissue. Thus, by measuring body skin temperatures, it became possible to screen for the existence of abnormal body activity such as cancerous tumor growth. With the development of liquid crystals and methods of forming temperature responsive chemical substrates, contact thermometry became a reality along with its use in medical applications. Devices employing contact thermometry could sense and display temperature changes through indicators which changed colors, either permanently or temporarily, when placed in direct physical contact with a surface such as skin, reflecting a temperature at or near the point of contact. An abnormal reading would alert a user to the need for closer, more detailed examination of the region in question. However, the art in this area has been directed primarily at sensing and displaying temperatures on exterior skin surfaces. Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,224, to Vanzetti et al., whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, disclosed the placement of temperature responsive, color changing liquid crystals at various points in a brassiere for the purpose of detecting the existence of breast cancer, while US Patent RE 32,000, to Sagi, entitled, "Device for Use in Early Detection of Breast Cancer," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, disclosed the use of radially arranged rows of temperature responsive indicators, deposited on a disc for insertion into the breast-receiving cups of a brassiere for the same purpose.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,968, to Brounstein, entitled, "Differential temperature measuring device and method", whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a device and method for sensing temperatures at internal body locations non-surgically accessible only through body orifices. The device is particularly useful in medical applications such as screening for cancer and other abnormal biological activity signaled by an increase in temperature at a selected site. As applied to prostate examinations, the device is temporarily, adhesively affixed to a user's fingertip or to a mechanical probe. In the preferred embodiment, the device includes two temperature-sensing elements, which may include a plurality of chemical indicators. Each indicator changes color in response to detection of a predetermined particular temperature. When properly aligned and installed, the first element is located on the palmar surface of the fingertip while the second element is located on the dorsal surface of the fingertip. After an examination glove has been donned over the fingertip carrying the device, a prostate examination is performed during which the first element is brought into constant but brief contact with the prostate region and the second element is similarly, simultaneously brought into contact with a dermal surface opposing the prostate region. Upon withdrawal of the fingertip from the rectum and removal of the glove, the two temperature sensing elements may be visually examined in order to determine the temperatures detected by each one. A significant difference in observed temperatures indicates the possibility of abnormal biological activity and the need for further diagnostic or medical procedures.
Infrared thermography is a temperature imaging technique, which measures thermal energy emitted from the body surface without contact, quickly and dynamically, and produces a temperature image for analysis. Harzbecker K, et al. report, based on thermic observations in 63 patients and a control experiment in 15 persons, on experiences with thermography in the diagnosis of diseases, which are localized more profoundly in the thoracic cavity. (Harzbecker K, et al., "Thermographic thorax diagnostics," Z Gesamte Inn Med. Feb. 1, 1978;33(3):78-80.)
Similarly, Dexter L I, Kondrat'ev V B. report data concerning the use of lymphography and thermography for the purpose of establishing a differential diagnosis in 42 patients with edema of the lower limbs of a different origin. A comparative estimation of different methods of the differential diagnosis indicated the advantages of infrared thermography. (Dexter L I, Kondrat'ev V B., "Thermography in differential diagnosis of lymphostasis in the lower limbs," Vestn Khir Im I I Grek. June 1976; 116(6):60-4.)
Various means for minimally invasive surgical removal, of a breast tumor and other tumors in a soft tissue are known.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,634, to Carroll, entitled, apparatus and method to encapsulate, kill and remove malignancies, including selectively increasing absorption of x-rays and increasing free-radical damage to residual tumors targeted by ionizing and non-ionizing radiation therapy", whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a coaxial bipolar needle electrode for applying radio-frequency diathermal heat.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,948 to Albrecht, et al. entitled, "Device for removal of tissue lesions," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes an excisional biopsy device and method for excision and removal of neoplasms under real-time image guidance with minimal disruption of normal tissue while providing an optimal specimen to assess the completeness of the excision. The device and method are minimally invasive, and are used to remove cancerous lesions from soft tissue, including breast tissue, and are a less invasive alternative to open lumpectomy. The invention provides an RF loop for excision and removal of breast lesions which promotes hemostasis during excision through electrosurgical coagulation of blood vessels and channels to supply pressure and hemostatic fluids to the tissue cavity.
The method includes is as follows: The mass is localized, and the tunneling trajectory is determined. The skin is excised, and tunneling is begun by activating and using the semi-circular RF tunneling electrode. After tunneling is completed, but prior to cutting a sphere, the coordinates of the excision specimen are confirmed, preferably with the assistance of computer aided imaging and guidance technology. The semi-circular rotational electrode blade of the RF loop is then activated and used to cut the sphere, and is rotated by the drive electrical cables attached to the power drive. Simultaneously, the tissue is immobilized and any blood is aspirated by vacuum. As the RF loop is rotated, it pulls along the containment sheath or bag that surrounds the spherical specimen. After the sphere is fully cut, the RF loop is held in place and the containment sheath is pulled taught around the sphere by a draw cord to reduce the sphere's volume to aid in its removal. The device and sphere are then removed from the body simultaneously.
US Patent Application 20020120265, to Fowler, entitled, "Symmetric conization electrocautery device," whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a tissue electrocautery device that accommodates anatomical structures lying at more than one longitudinal axes. Such a circumstance is encountered when attempting to perform symmetric tissue electrocautery of an endocervical canal where the longitudinal axis of the vaginal vault is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the endocervical canal. The device of the present invention uses a hollow housing, elongate along a first longitudinal axis, having a proximal portion with a proximal end and a distal end, and includes a distal portion from the distal end. The distal portion is elongate along a second longitudinal axis and pivotable in relation to the proximal portion at a selectable angle to the first longitudinal axis. Within the housing is a rotatable electrically conducting mechanism, adapted to conduct electrocautery energy from an electrode proximal to the housing proximal portion to a coupling proximate the distal portion, while rotating the coupling with a removable handle proximal to the housing proximal portion. The electrical energy is delivered to an electrocautery head, carrying an electrocautery wire, operably electrically engageable with the coupling and rotatable around a longitudinal axis parallel the second longitudinal axis, electrocauterizing tissue of a human patient while rotating around its longitudinal axis.
In spite of these works, clean removal of malignancies, surrounded by definite and sufficient clean margins, remains an elusive goal.


An apparatus for discharging the contents of bags containing flowable material includes a frame, with a pair of bag spikes mounted generally parallel to, and coplanar with, one another on the frame. A pair of bag pans is movably mounted on the frame so as to be engageable with the bag spikes. Each of the pans is selectively pivotable around a respective axis defined by each of the bag spikes. The bag pans are movable between a first, load/unload position wherein the bag pans are out of engagement with the spikes, and a second, engaged position wherein the bag pans are in engagement with the spikes. A knife assembly is provided that includes a knife arm having a first end pivotably mounted to the frame, and a second end upon which is disposed a knife member. The knife assembly is pivotable between a severing position wherein the knife member extends between the bag pans, and a rest position wherein the knife member is out of the plane defined by the bag pans. A bag pan drive mechanism is mounted on the frame, and is adapted to move the bag pans between their load/unload and engaged positions. A knife actuator mechanism is also mounted on the frame. The knife actuator mechanism is adapted to move the knife assembly between the severing position and the rest position. A bag pan pivot mechanism is also mounted on the frame, and is adapted to selectively pivot the bag pans about the axes defined by the bag spikes.

Flowable materials, such as dry powders and granular materials, are used throughout the world. Such products are typically shipped and handled in bags containing 50 to 100 pounds of material. The bags are usually multilayer bags that provide strength, moisture resistance, and protection of product purity and integrity. It is often the case that the materials themselves are hazardous to human health and safety, posing the risk of burning and skin irritation on contact, respiratory aliments, and eye irritation. Some materials are carcinogenic with long term exposure.
The act of emptying or removing the material from these bags presents serious industrial problems in terms of manpower costs, personnel safety, hygiene, and product contamination. The physical act of emptying the bags requires manually lifting and placing the bags over a hopper or receiver, cutting the bags open with a knife or razor blade, dumping the contents and shaking the bag. This type of work results in cuts, strains, back injuries and exposure to material being handled. Pieces of the bag are often dropped into the material causing contamination of the product. Previous efforts to solve or alleviate the problems associated with emptying bags of flowable material rely on training of personnel, extensive use of personal safety equipment, local and area ventilation, work area clean up and decontamination.
As can be seen from the foregoing, it is clear that the need exists for a simple, economical, and environmentally safe apparatus for handling and removing flowable materials from bags.