A vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) aircraft, e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), includes an elongated fuselage having a pair of forward swept wings and a pair of rearward swept canards, the outer tips of which are respectively joined with a respective tip end portion of one of the forward swept wings. The thrust outlet of a thrust-vectoring jet engine is disposed along the roll axis of the aircraft and aft of the pitch axis thereof, and a pair of downwardly exhausting ducted lift fans, e.g., tip turbine fans, are respectively disposed within a tip end portion of respective ones of the forward swept wings such that the fans are located symmetrically with respect to each other on opposite sides of the roll axis and forward of the pitch axis. The aircraft is capable of VTOL operations, including hovering, and is highly maneuverable at both very low and very high speeds.

An unmanned aircraft ("UA"), or unmanned aerial vehicle ("UAV"), is a powered, heavier-than-air, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, or pilot, and which uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, can be expendable or reusable, and can carry a lethal or a non-lethal payload. Thus, ballistic or semi-ballistic vehicles, cruise missiles, and artillery projectiles are not considered UAVs.
In recent conflicts around the world, including the global war on terrorism, UAVs have proven to be very effective, both as a surveillance and intelligence-gathering tool, and as a weapons-delivery platform. Because UAVs are unmanned, and cost substantially less to produce and operate than conventional manned aircraft, they are capable of providing effective surveillance of an enemy, and/or of effecting a devastating attack upon him, while denying him either a high-value target or a potential captive in exchange.
One important task or mission for UAVs that has emerged recently is the laser illumination of a ground target by an aerial vehicle that is capable of entering a target area at a relatively high speed, hovering and/or maneuvering in that area at a relatively low speed while reflecting a laser beam from an allied ground or aerial vehicle onto a specific target, and then exiting the target area at a relatively high speed. This necessitates an aerial vehicle that has a wide sensor visibility, can carry a relatively heavy payload (e.g., ordinance, camera, laser reflector, and the like), is extremely maneuverable (i.e., can hover and effect quick changes in altitude and very small turn-radii) at slow speeds, and has a relatively high speed (i.e., high subsonic) flight capability.


A method of forming a low-k dielectric layer or film includes forming a porous low-k dielectric layer or film over a wafer or substrate. Active bonding is introduced into the porous low-k dielectric layer or film to improve damage resistance and chemical integrity of the layer or film, to retain the low dielectric constant of the layer and film after subsequent processing. Introduction of the active bonding may be accomplished by introducing OH and/or H radicals into pores of the porous low-k dielectric layer or film to generate, in the case of a Si based low-k dielectric layer or film, Si—OH and/or Si—H active bonds. After further processing of the low-k dielectric film, the active bonding is removed from the low-k dielectric layer or film.

Progressively more sophisticated interconnection technology is needed as VLSI technology drops below 0.13 μm. This decrease in device size has made it increasingly more difficult to provide an interconnection technology that satisfies the requirements of low resistance capacitance (RC) metal interconnect properties.
Signal transport speed is a very important concern in the semiconductor processing art for obvious performance reasons. The signal transport speed of semiconductor circuitry (RC time constant) varies inversely with the RC of the metal interconnections. As integrated circuits become more complex and feature sizes decrease, the effect of the RC time constant on signal delay becomes greater.
Insulating inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers are typically used in back-end semiconductor processing to fabricate metal interconnect structures. The IMD layers, however, contribute capacitance to the metal interconnect structures which undesirably reduces the signal transport speed of the semiconductor circuitry.
Methods have been devised to reduce the capacitance contribution of the IMD layers to the RC time constant, in order to increase signal transport speed of the semiconductor circuitry. One method that reduces the capacitance contribution of the IMD layers and thus, allows faster signal transport speeds, involves forming the IMD layers with a low-k dielectric material. Unfortunately, low-k dielectric materials have loss chemical bonding structures (Si—CH3), large pore sizes, and high interconnectivity between pores. Hence, subsequently performed semiconductor patterning processes such as etching, ashing, deposition, and wet processes, to name a few, often damage low-k dielectric materials, which in turn, degrades (increase) their dielectric constants.
FIG. 1 depicts a plurality of bar graphs which compare the dielectric constants of conventionally formed low-k dielectric films before and after performing various etching and cleaning processes associated with, for example, semiconductor patterning. As can be seen, each conventionally formed, low-k dielectric film exhibited an increase in dielectric constant (i.e., dielectric constant degradation). The increases in dielectric constant are due to the physical and/or chemical damage sustained by the low-k films during the etching and/or cleaning processes.
Accordingly, an easily implemented method is needed for forming low-k dielectric layers and films with improved damage resistance and dielectric constant stability.

Method of forming a low-k dielectric layer with improved damage resistance and chemical integrity

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A phacoemulsification needle (100, 100A, 100B, 1000, 100D, 200, 200A) is provided for emulsifying body tissue. The needle (100, 100A, 100B, 1000, 100D, 200, 200A) is adapted to be attached to a phacoemulsification handpiece that imparts a vibration to the needle (100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 200, 200A). The needle (100, 100A, 100B, 1000, 100D, 200, 200A) has a body (104, 220, 220A) with a distal end (99), a proximal end (106), and an aspiration passage (124) extending between the proximal and distal ends (99, 106). The aspiration passage (124) defines a longitudinally-extending central body axis (110, 110A, 110B, 1100, 110D). The aspiration passage (124) is enlarged at the distal end (99) to define a tip (102, 102A, 102B, 1020, 102D, 210, 210A).

A common ophthalmological surgical technique is the removal of a diseased or injured lens from the eye. Earlier techniques used for the removal of the lens typically required a substantial incision to be made in the capsular bag in which the lens is encased. Such incisions were often on the order of 12 mm in length.
Later techniques focused on removing diseased lenses and inserting replacement artificial lenses through as small an incision as possible. For example, it is now a common technique to take an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), fold it and insert the folded lens through the incision, allowing the lens to unfold when it is properly positioned within the capsular bag. Similarly, efforts have been made to accomplish the removal of the diseased lens through an equally small incision.
One such removal technique is known as phacoemulsification. A typical phacoemulsification tool includes a handpiece attached to a proximal end of a hollow needle. In the handpiece, an electrical energy is applied to a piezoelectric crystal to vibrate the distal, working end of the needle at ultrasonic frequencies in order to fragment the diseased lens into small enough particles to be aspirated from the eye through an aspiration passage in the hollow needle. Commonly, an infusion sleeve is mounted around the needle at the distal end to supply irrigating liquids to the eye in order to aid in flushing and aspirating the lens particles.
It is extremely important to properly infuse liquid during such surgery. Maintaining a sufficient amount of liquid prevents collapse of certain tissues within the eye and attendant injury or damage to delicate eye structures. As an example, endothelial cells can easily be damaged during such collapse and this damage may be permanent because these cells do not regenerate. Some benefits of using as small an incision as possible during such surgery are the minimization of leakage of liquid during and after surgery to help prevent tissue collapse, faster healing time, and decreased post-operative astigmatism.
Many phacoemulsification needles and tips are designed for use with handpieces that vibrate the needle longitudinally at relatively low frequencies. In addition to longitudinal vibration, certain handpieces impart a torsional motion to the needle at an oscillation frequency of about 100 cycles per second. There are also handpieces that provide torsional oscillation of the phacoemulsification tip at frequencies of about 32,000 cycles per second.
Use of the torsional-type handpiece has called for phacoemulsification needle tip designs differing from those used with the longitudinal-type handpiece. For example, needles have been designed with tips that are shaped, swaged and angled to take advantage of the needle motion created by the handpiece.
There are known phacoemulsification systems, such as the Infiniti Vision System manufactured by Alcon Laboratories of Ft. Worth, Tex., which allow the surgeon to choose between using torsional motion, longitudinal motion, or a blend thereof with a single handpiece. Other common systems include the Sovereign® System, Whitestar Signature® System, Signature Ellips® FX System manufactured by Abbott Laboratories of Abbott Park, Ill. and the Stellaris® System manufactured by Bausch & Lomb of Rochester, N.Y. Common frequencies for longitudinal oscillation range from 29 Hz to 43 Hz. Common frequencies for torsional oscillation range from 31 Hz to 38 Hz. A common blended setting uses torsional motion two-thirds of the time, and longitudinal motion one-third of the time. It is believed that the "blended" motion produces a more three-dimensional effect because of the back-and-forth motion imparted during longitudinal phacoemulsification and the eccentric motion produced at the tip during torsional phacoemulsification.
Many surgeons favor phacoemulsification needles having the straight tip design commonly used with longitudinal handpieces. The great majority of surgeons use longitudinal handpieces rather than the torsional handpieces, often because torsional phacoemulsification equipment is more expensive than longitudinal equipment, and thus these surgeons find themselves unable to take advantage of the enhanced phacoemulsification results claimed by the torsional phacoemulsification systems.


This invention relates to personal computers and, more particularly, to a personal computer having an interface controller providing an economical way to achieve access to a direct access storage device by a small computer system interface. In accordance with this invention, the system CPU is selectively allowed to access all or only a portion of the internal registers in an interface controller, enabling implementation in conjunction with a conventional subsystem microprocessor interface to the registers if desired. With this change, either interface has full access to the interface controller's internal registers. By allowing such access, the number of component parts required can be reduced where multitasking possibilities are not desired, and the cost of providing SCSI capability significantly reduced.

Personal computer systems in general and IBM personal computers in particular have attained widespread use for providing computer power to many segments of today's modern society. Personal computer systems can usually be defined as a desk top, floor standing, or portable microcomputer that consists of a system unit having a single system processor and associated volatile and non-volatile memory, a display monitor, a keyboard, one or more diskette drives, a fixed disk storage (also known as a direct access storage device or "DASD"), and an optional printer. One of the distinguishing characteristics of these systems is the use of a motherboard or system planar to electrically connect these components together. These systems are designed primarily to give independent computing power to a single user and are inexpensively priced for purchase by individuals or small businesses. Examples of such personal computer systems are IBM's PERSONAL COMPUTER AT and IBM's PERSONAL SYSTEM/2 Models 25, 30, L40SX, 50, 55, 56, 57, 65, 70, 80, 90 and 95.
These systems can be classified into two general families. The first family, usually referred to as Family I Models, use a bus architecture exemplified by the IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER AT and other "IBM compatible" machines. The second family, referred to as Family II Models, use IBM's MICRO CHANNEL bus architecture exemplified by IBM's PERSONAL SYSTEM/2 Models 50 through 95. The Family I models typically have used the popular INTEL 8088 or 8086 microprocessor as the system processor. These processors have the ability to address one megabyte of memory. The Family II (and some Family I) models typically use the high speed INTEL 80286, 80386, and 80486 microprocessors which can operate in a real mode to emulate the slower speed INTEL 8086 microprocessor or a protected mode which extends the addressing range from 1 megabyte to 4 Gigabytes for some models. In essence, the real mode feature of the 80286, 80386, and 80486 processors provide hardware compatibility with software written for the 8086 and 8088 microprocessors.
In today's market, there is always the need for a less expensive way to implement necessary computer functions. Many personal computer users neither need nor are willing to pay for leading edge technology and speed. Rather, they are looking for the most inexpensive way to obtain computer tools. These users do not use multi-tasking operating systems; in fact, most use DOS. Since their requirements are simple, a low-cost solution is the most advantageous to them.
Small computer systems interface (or "SCSI") controllers (also known herein as "interface controllers") that have been implemented for controlling direct access storage devices (or "DASD") in Family II systems are very high in function, and support multiple operations concurrently. This was done to get the best performance possible out of multitasking operating systems. Of course, this performance costs money, and not every user wishes to pay for something he does not need or use. So, in order for products to be competitive in a market segment in which performance is not so critical, low cost solutions are required.
The preferred interface controller for a state of the art system is a high-integration, high-function solution. It typically uses an ASIC chip, a microprocessor, local ROM, local RAM, and an oscillator to drive the subsystem. The host system contains two BIOS ROMs, which contain CPU code to drive the subsystem, as well as code to drive other functions not related to the SCSI controller.
One large ASIC provides most of the hardware function of the SCSI controller subsystem. It has essentially three interfaces. One is to the system CPU's local processor bus. This is used to transfer data to and from the system, and allows the system to communicate with the main control registers. The second interface is to the local microprocessor which controls the low-level functions of the subsystem. Through this interface, all of the ASIC's registers can be read and written. Note that most of these registers are not accessible by the system CPU, since it does not need to control any of the low-level functions. Lastly, there is an interface to the SCSI bus, through which data and control signals pass to and from the various peripheral devices such as DASD.
The processor used as a sub-system processor in one example of such a design is an Intel 8032. The ROM contains microcode to drive the subsystem and the RAM is used for local storage. This allows all of the low-level processing work to be off-loaded from the main system CPU. The CPU gives complex commands to the subsystem, and the subsystem executes them in full and returns the data and results to the system. This design is considered ideal when multitasking is a requirement.
This and all other existing SCSI controllers interface to the system with a defined set of registers. These registers are fixed in both function and relative location, only the base address can vary from card to card. This architecture has become a de facto standard for Family II SCSI controllers and all existing designs follow this convention. The registers are as follows:
CIR Command Interface Register--This register communicates either a four byte immediate command, or the system memory address of a system control block (an "SCB") to be processed. PA0 ATTN Attention Register--This register tells the subsystem to start a command. PA0 BCR Basic Control Register--This register tells the subsystem to perform a reset, and enable or disable system interrupts or data transfer. PA0 Interrupt Status Register--This register alerts the system that status is available for an outstanding command. PA0 BSR Basic Status Register--This register has bits that provide the system with general status of the subsystem, such as, an interrupt is pending, or the Command Interface Register is full or empty.
Usually, these registers are not hard wired into the main functional logic of the SCSI controller, but rather provide "windows" through which the system CPU can talk to the subsystem microprocessor. Thus when the ATTN register is written to by the system, the ASIC generates an interrupt to the 8032. This interrupt tells the microprocessor that the registers have been loaded by the system. The microprocessor then reads the registers, interprets the high-level command that was issued, and performs the low-level operations necessary to process the command. Decisions to do retries, error recovery, or caching are done by the subsystem microprocessor, and then performed. When a command is complete, status is given back to the system CPU through one of the interface registers, or "windows". By writing back to these registers, the sub-system microprocessor causes an interrupt to be generated for the system CPU, indicating that the command is complete.

Personal computer with interface controller


It is intended to provide a membrane structure element that can be easily manufactured, has an excellent insulating property and high quality; and a method for manufacturing the membrane structure element. The manufacturing method is for manufacturing a membrane structure element including a membrane formed of a silicon oxide film and a substrate which supports the membrane in a hollow state by supporting a part of a periphery of the membrane. The method includes: a film formation step of forming a heat-shrinkable silicon oxide film 13 on a surface of a silicon substrate 2 by plasma CVD method; a heat treatment step of performing a heat treatment to cause the thermal shrinkage of the silicon oxide film 13 formed on the substrate 1; and a removal step of removing a part of the substrate 2 in such a manner that a membrane-corresponding part of the silicon oxide film 13 is supported as a membrane in a hollow state with respect to the substrate 2 to form a recessed part 4.

In recent years, various techniques for producing a thermal sensor by using semiconductor microfabrication have been developed. A hollow structure in which a membrane provided with a detection electronic element is supported in a hollow state with respect to a substrate is in some cases adapted to a thermo sensor for the purpose of ensuring heat insulating property with respect to the substrate. An element having the structure where the membrane is supported in a hollow state is called a membrane structure element.
In general, a membrane is formed of a silicon oxide film such as a SiO2 (silicon dioxide) film that is excellent in heat insulating property, and such a film is easily formed by oxidizing a surface of a silicon substrate. The SiO2 film formed by the surface oxidation is called "heat oxidized SiO2 film". However, since the heat oxidized SiO2 film has a heat expansion coefficient that is smaller than almost all of substrate materials such as a single crystal silicon, in the case where the hollow structure is formed by forming a heat oxidized SiO2 film to be used as a membrane, followed by cooling and then removing the substrate material below the heat oxidized SiO2 film by etching or the like to form a recessed part, the membrane supported in the hollow state may be brought into "sagged" state due to a large compression stress (about 200 MPa when the substrate is a single crystal silicon) remaining in the heat oxidized SiO2 film. Therefore, quality of the membrane structure element is deteriorated and strength of the membrane is deteriorated to entail a membrane breakage in the case of grave deterioration. Therefore, formation itself of a membrane having a large area becomes difficult.
Accordingly, various techniques for producing a membrane having a large area while minimizing an internal stress remaining in the membrane after membrane formation have been proposed. For example, JP-A-6-132277 (Patent Reference 1) discloses a technique for alleviating a remaining stress of a membrane as a whole by forming the membrane by laminating the SiO2 film and Si3N4 film having different thermal expansion coefficients to reduce an internal compressed remaining stress of a SiO2 film with the use of a Si3N4 film. Further, JP-A-8-264844 (Patent Reference 2) discloses a technique for reducing Young's modulus of a membrane by forming a central part of the membrane with the use of a Si3N4 film and adding a group V element to a SiO2 film. Also, Lie-yi Sheng et al., Transducers '97, 1997, pp. 939-942 (Non-Patent Reference 1) proposes a method of eliminating sagging of a membrane by using a polysilicon wiring serving also as a heater for a SiO2 film as "bones in a kite".    Patent Reference 1: JP-A-6-132277    Patent Reference 2: JP-A-8-264844    Non-Patent Reference 1: Lie-yi Sheng et al., Transducers '97, 1997, pp. 939-942

Membrane structure element and method for manufacturing same


A motor and reciprocating piston assembly is mounted in housing halves using elastomeric mounting members interposed between the assembly and each half. There are three spaced sleeve-like mounting points on each side of the assembly and three similarly spaced sleeve-like bosses on the housing halves. The mounting members have three mounting portions received in the mounting points and bosses. The three mounting portions are connected by integral arms.

This invention relates to piston pumps and compressors, and more particularly to an improved mounting arrangement for a piston pump or compressor.
Small-scale air compressors are often used to power nebulizers. A typical type of compressor for that purpose uses a wobble piston. Examples of such compressors are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,868, issued Jun. 8, 1976 to Arthur J. Droege, Sr. et al, for "Air Compressor" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,498, issued Jun. 27, 1989 to Roy J. Rozek, for "Diaphragm Compressor". As with all piston pumps or compressors, the reciprocating piston creates noise and vibrations that may be undesirable, particularly when in a nebulizer.


A method includes logging past event sequences in a knowledge base, receiving a real-time event sequence, comparing the real-time event sequence to the past event sequences to determine a predicted event sequence for the real-time event sequence, and providing the predicted event sequence, a suggested course of action with predicted outcome, and a recommendation of a user who previously encountered the event sequence. In the above manner, use of subjectively characterized and/or raw historic data to match real-time event sequences provides users with both subjective advice from those who had previously faced similar conditions as well as raw statistical predictions as to what is expected to come next. This allows the users to take a course of action that results in the most desirable outcome.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the protection of computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an incident management system and method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Incident management systems are capable of detecting actual and suspected internal and external intrusions, e.g., stealth scans, and denial-of-service attacks. The actual and suspected internal and external intrusions and denial-of-service attacks are referred to as threats. The detection of a threat by an incident management system is referred to as an event. Generally, an event is an occurrence of some importance, e.g., has been identified as an occurrence that is to be monitored, and frequently one that has antecedent cause, e.g., is associated with malicious code.
Typically, the incident management system forwards the events to a central event manager. The central event manager may also receive events from other incident management systems. This provides an administrator of the central event manager information on all of the events on a network or a plurality of networks being monitored by the central event manager. However, administrators presented with a set of events will rarely find the requisite course of action is obvious.

Subjective and statistical event tracking incident management system


A method and composition for reducing evaporation of an aqueous layer from the surface of the eye. The method comprises applying an admixture of a charged phospholipid and a non-polar oil over the eye, preferably in the form of a finely divided oil in water emulsion.

1. Introduction
This invention relates to a means for wetting the surface of the eye, providing mechanical lubrication to the eye and reducing the evaporation of fluid from the surface of the eye. This invention also relates to a means for delivering a medicament to the corneal surface. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition capable of augmenting and maintaining a stable tear film over the corneal surface and/or to delivering a medicament to said surface. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention relates to an ophthalmic composition for dry eye treatment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art that an aqueous tear film extends over the corneal surface which functions to maintain the corneal surface moist and lubricated. It is also known in the art that dehydration of moisture from the eye can result in discomfort, and compositions are available in the market intended to prevent evaporation from the tear film. These compositions are primarily aqueous film forming materials that provide a barrier layer that inhibits the evaporation of moisture.
The feeling of discomfort resulting from a dry eye condition includes ocular dryness, grittiness, burning, soreness or scratching dependent upon the subject and his condition. Proposed causes for dry eye, treatment and symptoms are all described in a compendium of papers on this subject edited by Holly, The Preocular Tear Film in Health, Disease, and Contact Lens Wear. The Dry Eye Institute, Lubock, Tex., 1986, incorporated herein by reference.
The most common treatment for dry eye involves temporary alleviation of the dry eye symptoms by topical application of a tear substitute that adds a volume of liquid to the anterior surface of the eye and related adnexa. Typical tear substitute compositions comprise water soluble, aqueous polymer compositions. Such compositions include, for example, saline solutions of polyvinyl alcohols, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose or carboxymethyl celluloses. U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,748 teaches an artificial tear composition comprising an aqueous hypotonic solution of lecithin and a viscosity adjusting agent such as a solution soluble cellulose.
Methods used to quantify the effectiveness of tear substitutes for dry eye treatment solutions have not been standardized and many methods used in the art to quantify the results obtained with such tear substitute compositions are often inaccurate. For this reason, it is known that reported relief of dry eye symptoms using known tear substitutes varies considerably from subject to subject, and regardless of the method used to quantify relief using a tear substitute, relief often does not exceed several minutes.
The symptoms associated with dry eye are often exacerbated with subjects using contact lenses. In some cases, contact lens intolerance is caused in part or in total by the condition of dry eye and the symptoms thereof. For many subjects, contact lens intolerance is not overcome by topical application of tear substitutes. For these reasons, there is a need for improved compositions and processes for treatment of the dry eye condition.
An improved composition for dry eye treatment is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,088 granted Apr. 3, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference. This patent teaches the use of charged phospholipids and the treatment of dry eye symptoms which assist in replicating the tear film that would naturally occur in the eye. In accordance with the patent, the phospholipid composition, preferably in the form of an aqueous emulsion, is topically applied to the eye where it is believed to disperse over the ocular surface and form a film over the eye that replicates a lipid layer that would be formed by the spreading of a naturally occurring lipid secreted from the Meibomian glands over the surface of the eye during blinking. Because the phospholipid, when applied to the eye, carries a net charge, it is believed that the aligned molecules repel each other such that complex aggregate formation is prevented and the integrity of the phospholipid film is maintained. It is speculated in the patent that the film formed from the phospholipid helps in the formation of a barrier film reducing evaporation of the aqueous layer, thereby preserving the tear film.


Water dispersible, hydrophilic, repulpable, water-activatable, acrylic polymers are provided. The polymers are non-tacky when dry, but become tacky when wet, and exhibit high peel strength on a variety of substrates. The polymers comprise an acrylic-based polymer prepared by emulsion polymerization of 40 to 70% by weight of one or more alkyl acrylates, the alkyl group of which has from 4 to 8 carbon atoms; 10 to 20% by weight of methacrylate; 2 to 15% by weight of vinyl acetate; and 10 to 25 percent by weight of methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid; and a positive amount up to about 30% by weight of methyl methacrylate. Some embodiments also include a short chain hydroxyalkyl methacrylate. Also provided are ink jet-imprintable, water-activatable constructions comprising a layer of water-activatable polymer, coated on a release liner or other surface. Optionally, a water-resistant transparent film layer is disposed between the polymer and release liner or used in place of the release liner. The constructions are suitable for use in ink jet printers and can be used to transfer an image to a substrate.

Labels, tapes and similar constructions are ubiquitous in modern society. Many such constructions include a release liner coated with adhesive, such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), which is laminated to a paper or film face stock. Removal of the release liner allows the construction--face stock coated with adhesive --to be adhered to a substrate. The face stock and liner are a major cost of the label.
Many adhesives, such as those commonly used in label constructions, are not water dispersible or repulpable. Therefore, they make recycling of the label product difficult, due to the tendency of the adhesives to form globules during the repulping process. In addition, most PSAs are tacky when dry and cannot readily be used with ink jet printers that have become so popular in today's world. Moreover, such PSAs typically are not hydrophilic, making it difficult to print on them directly with water-based ink jet printer inks. Instead, only the face stock or liner is ink-receptive. The unsuitability of such PSAs for use in ink jet printers is compounded by the tendency of the adhesives to block the printer ports in the printers.
Although attempts have been made to formulate moisture activated or water activated adhesives, many of the adhesives produced have been rubber based and, therefore, subject to oxidative and UV degradation. Many rubber-based and other adhesives have been solvent borne, and thus objectional for environmental, health and safety reasons. The following patents are representative. U.S. Pat. No. 3,681,179 to Theissen discloses a solar control film construction having a water-activatable adhesive system comprising a normally tacky and pressure-sensitive adhesive coating covered by a thin, tack-free continuous water-soluble layer. A tack free emulsion acrylic adhesive is not disclosed.
European Patents Nos. 199,468 and 297,451 describe a method for compounding water-activatable hot melt adhesives comprising polyaklylenimine or other vinyl heterocyclic monomers, a hydroxy-substituted organic compound, a plastizier, tackifier, and filler, and an antioxidant. No mention is made of making water activatable emulsion acrylic adhesives.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,331,576 and 4,325,581 to Colon et al. disclose common water-soluble hot melt adhesives based on polymers containing vinyl pyrrolidone and other heterocyclic monomers. Emulsion acrylics are not disclosed.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,052,368 to Morrison and 4,172,824 to Harrington describe water sensitive hot melt adhesives including polyester-based adhesives which typically comprise a copolyester in combination with a plasticizer. The systems are not emulsion acrylics.
None of the above-identified patents disclose or suggest the possibility of making a hydrophilic, acrylic emulsion polymer that is non-tacky when dry and water-activatable to become an adhesive, and that can be used in a "label-less" or "liner-less" construction, i.e., a construction in which either a face stock or a liner is not required.

Water-activatable polymers and printable constructions


The present invention relates to compounds useful in the treatment of cancer or other proliferative diseases represented by the formula

Epothilones are macrolide compounds which find utility in the pharmaceutical field. For example, Epothilones A and B having the structures:
may be found to exert microtubule-stabilizing effects similar to paclitaxel (TAXOL®) and hence cytotoxic activity against rapidly proliferating cells, such as, tumor cells or other hyperproliferative cellular disease, see Hofle, G., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 35, No.13/14, 1567–1569 (1996); WO93/10121 published May 27, 1993; and WO97/19086 published May 29, 1997.
The widespread interest in epothilones that originated with the discovery of their mircotubulin-stabilization activity was furthered by the finding that epothilones were active in vitro against a number of paclitaxel-resistant human cancer cell lines (Bollag, D. M., et al., Cancer Res., Vol. 55, 2325–2333 (1995); Kowalski, R. J., et al., J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 272, 2534–2541 (1997)). Additionally, the relatively efficient total synthesis of epothilones, compared to that of paclitaxel, has lead to extensive efforts in the synthesis of epothilone analogs, as well as the characterization of their biological activity and structure/activity relationship (SAR) features. (Altmann, K.-H., et al., Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol., Vol. 5, 424–431 (2001)).
Several groups have been active in this area including Danishefsky at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center, Nicolaou at the Scripps Research Institute, Altmann at Novartis Pharma AG and Klar at Shering AG. For example, the Danishefsky group has prepared and characterized the biological activity of 12,13-desoxyepothilone derivatives (Chou T.-C. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., Vol. 95, 9642 (1998)). The Nicolaou group at the Scripps Research Institute has synthesized 12,13-cyclopropyl, 12,13-cyclobutyl and related pyridine side-chain epothilone analogs. (Nicolaou, K. C., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., Vol. 123, 9313–9323 (2001)). Epothilone derivatives containing 16-halo substitutions have been prepared by the group at Schering AG (WO 00/49021). Additionally, Altmann at Novartis Pharma AG has synthesized an epothilone analog in which the thiazole moitey is conformationally locked by a benzenoid functionality (Altmann, K. H. et al., Chimica, Vol. 54, No. 11,612–621 (2000)).
Derivatives and analogs of Epothilones A and B have been synthesized and may be used to treat a variety of cancers and other abnormal proliferative diseases. Such analogs are disclosed in Hofle et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 35, No.13/14, 1567–1569 (1996); Nicolaou, K. C., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 36, No. 19, 2097–2103 (1997); Su, D. S., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 36, No. 19, 2093–2097 (1997); Su, D. S., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 36, 757–759 (1997); Meng, D., et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., Vol. 119, 10073–10092 (1997); Yang, Z., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 36, 166–168 (1997); Nicolaou, K. C., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 36, 525–527 (1997); Nicolaou, K. C., et al., Nature, Vol. 387, 268–272 (1997); Schinzer, D., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 36, 523–524 (1997); and Nicolaou, K. C., et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 37, 2014–2045 (1998).
Although natural product epothilones A and B have shown excellent in vitro cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines, difficulties remain with respect to their in vivo use due to a lack of stability, including metabolic stability, and potential toxicity (Lee, F., et al., Clin. Can. Res., Vol. 7, 1429–1437 (2001)). Thus, there remains a need in the art for biologically active epothilone compounds with improved in vivo stability and improved safety profiles.

Abstract: wherein:        R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 are hydrogen or lower alkyl;        R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclo;        X is hydrogen and Y is hydroxy, or X and Y taken together represent a carbon-carbon bond;        and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, or hydrates thereof.

Abstract: Also included are therapeutic compositions containing the compounds represented by formula I as active ingredients, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of cancer or other proliferative diseases.


A sheet processing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of preventing a motor from losing synchronization when initializing a roller position at power-up time, even if a diagonal feed mechanism does not have a sensor for detecting a position of a diagonal feed roller pair.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving device for, for example, a sheet processing apparatus for diagonally feeding and shift-loading a sheet to be carried in either of the sheet width directions.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a finishing process apparatus connected to a copy machine or other image forming apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-193537) in which, a sheet being carried by a diagonal feed mechanism disposed along a sheet carrying path is diagonally fed towards the front (near side) of the apparatus or towards the rear (back side) of the apparatus, that is, in the sheet width direction intersecting the sheet carrying direction at a right angle, and is shift-loaded (shifted and loaded) according to the width of the sheet.
This diagonal feed mechanism comprises two diagonal feed roller pairs positioned separated from each other in the sheet width direction intersecting with the carrying direction of the sheet at a right angle. The two diagonal feed roller pairs are positioned diagonally such that the respective axes thereof intersect downstream along the sheet carrying direction.
Depending on the shift direction of the sheet, rollers of one of the diagonal feed roller pairs are caused to close and sandwich and carry the sheet while rollers of the other diagonal feed roller pair are caused to open, thus diagonally feeding the sheet towards the front or towards the rear of the apparatus. The action of the rollers of the two diagonal feed roller pairs closing and opening is controlled by a driving unit (such as a pulse motor, etc.).
Incidentally, when powering up, the positions of the rollers in the direction of closing and opening of the diagonal feed roller pairs is undetermined. For this reason, in order to determine accurately the initial position of the diagonal feed rollers, generally the diagonal feed rollers provided with a detection flag are moved and the position of the diagonal feed rollers is detected by sensors, the initial position of the diagonal feed rollers thus being determined accurately based on these detection results.
However, in this case position sensors must be provided for each of the two diagonal feed roller pairs, incurring a cost.
Accordingly, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-193537 mentioned above, an abutting member is provided to the diagonal feed roller that is movable, and this diagonal feed roller is moved during initialization towards a positioning member which is immovably fixed, and the abutting member abuts the positioning member, thus determining the initial position of the diagonal feed rollers. It is thus possible to determine accurately the initial position of the diagonal feed rollers without using position sensors, making it possible to cut costs.
However, with the above prior art, if the abutting member of the diagonal feed roller is already abutting the positioning member when powering up, a motor is driven so as to move the movable diagonal feed roller towards the positioning member with the abutting member already abutting the positioning member. This causes the problems of the motor losing synchronization, a reduction in quietness, and a reduction in the durability of the diagonal feed mechanism due to a large load.


A heating device is provided, including an insulating ceramic base having a heating surface for heating an object. A high frequency electrode is embedded in the insulating ceramic base in the vicinity of the heating surface, and a heating body is embedded in the base in a location that is further from the heating surface than the location of the high frequency electrode. A low resistance ceramic member is provided so as to be exposed to a part of the heating surface of the insulating ceramic base and to be connected to a conductive member inside of the insulating ceramic base. A main component of the material of the low resistance ceramic member is common to that of the insulating ceramic base, and the respective thermal expansion coefficients are equivalent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heating device for use in heating a semiconductor wafer and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a heating treatment is implemented in order to form an oxidation film and the like on a wafer by using a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. As an example of a heating device for implementing the heating treatment in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, there is a ceramic heater including a disc-like ceramic base having a heating surface on which a heating object is set, in which a linear resistance heating body is embedded in the ceramic base. One or plural lines of the linear resistance heating bodies of the ceramic heater are embedded in a wiring pattern parallel to the heating surface of the ceramic base. A voltage is applied to both ends of the lines, and the heating surface is thereby made to generate heat.
Moreover, in the ceramic heater, there is one in which a disc-like high frequency electrode capable of applying a high frequency is embedded in an inside of the ceramic base in the vicinity of the heating surface. The high frequency electrode constructs a pair of plasma electrodes, for example, together with an opposite electrode disposed adjacent to the heating surface oppositely thereto in a space above the ceramic base. Electric power is supplied to the high frequency electrode and the opposite electrode, thus making it possible to generate high frequency plasma in a space in the vicinity of the heating object set on the heating surface. Moreover, the high frequency electrode can also be used for applying a bias voltage to the heating object.
As a material used for the ceramic base of the ceramic heater, a material having sufficiently high electrical resistivity or having insulating property against such a resistance heating element at an operation temperature at which the treatment object is heated. The reason is as follows. Specifically, when the material of the ceramic body has conductivity, a part of a current supplied in order to heat the resistance heating body flows through the ceramic base. Then, a region other than the resistance heating body generates heat, or a desired current does not flow through the resistance heating body. As a result, the resistance heating body is inhibited from performing uniform heating all over the heating surface, that is, uniform heating performance of the ceramic body is significantly damaged.
Therefore, as the material of the base of the ceramic heater, aluminum nitride (AlN) is frequently used. Aluminum nitride is good in heat resistance and corrosion resistance, has high thermal conductivity and high resistivity. In terms of these characteristics, aluminum nitride is suitable for the base of the ceramic heater.
With regard to a sintered body using aluminum nitride as described above, there is an aluminum nitride sintered body mixed with carbon fiber in order to obtain volume resistivity suitable for use as an electrostatic chuck (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-41765).
Moreover, with regard to a susceptor having low volume resistivity, there is a ceramic-made susceptor having a stacked two-layer structure of a surface layer having a mounting surface on which the treatment object is mounted and of a support layer supporting the surface layer, in which the surface layer entirely has lower volume resistivity than the support layer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-134590).
In the ceramic heater, and in particular, in a ceramic heater in which the high frequency electrode is embedded in the ceramic base, when the plasma is generated at the time of heating, a part of plasma charges remains and is accumulated in the heating surface of the ceramic heater. Thus, when the heating object such as the wafer is detached from the heating surface, the accumulated charges may be discharged to the heating object. Such discharge is called arcing, which brings a damage of the wafer and a generation of particles.
Moreover, by the fact that a part of the plasma charges remains on the heating surface of the ceramic heater, the wafer or the like set on the heating surface of the ceramic heater is sucked to the surface of the heater by electrostatic force due to the remaining charges, causing difficulty in detaching the wafer or the like.
Furthermore, a ring-like member may be mounted on a periphery of the wafer set on the heating surface in order to prevent unintended etching on the ceramic base at the time of the plasma generation. The charges caused by the plasma may be accumulated in the ring-like member. Then, such arcing in which the charges are discharged to the other members or the heating object occurs at the time when certain amount of the charges are accumulated in the ring-like member, leading to a breakage of the heating object and the like and the generation of the particles.
In this connection, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heating device that suppresses the charges from remaining on the ceramic base and the ring-like member, thus making it possible to effectively prevent an occurrence of the arcing.


Methods to create chemically-induced dimerizing (CID) protein systems and uses thereof are described. The methods utilize antibody binding domain dimerizing proteins. The created systems can be used to regulate cellular events such as gene expression, receptor signaling and cell death to effectuate a variety of clinically relevant treatment outcomes.

The ability to precisely regulate cellular events (e.g., gene expression, intracellular signaling, cell migration, cell death, etc.) in living organisms has immense potential in a variety of contexts. For example, the ability to precisely regulate cellular events can be used in human medicine to treat innumerable conditions.
Many cellular events are regulated (e.g., initiated, modulated or terminated) when proteins interact or cease interaction with each other. For example, gene expression can be initiated when a DNA binding domain protein interacts with a transcription activation domain protein. Gene expression can terminate, for example, when the interaction ceases. Cell receptor signaling can also be initiated when intracellular protein domains of a receptor interact. Cell receptor signaling can terminate, for example, when the interaction ceases. Cellular signaling pathways can also be regulated by bringing enzymes and their substrates together (such as kinases and their downstream targets). Protein degradation can be initiated by recruiting ubiquitination machinery to a target protein. Further, cell death processes can be initiated when caspase proteins interact.
Chemically-induced protein interaction (e.g., chemically induced dimerization (CID) of proteins) refers to a process whereby two proteins which do not normally interact, pair (e.g., homo- or heterodimerize) in the presence of a small molecule (e.g., a small molecule drug) [20]. The most widely used example of this technology is the FKBP12/FRB dimerization system [21, 22]. FKBP12 and FRB are human derived proteins which dimerize in the presence of the immunosuppressive small molecule drug, rapamycin. Fusion of FKBP12 to a DNA binding domain and fusion of FRB to a transcriptional activation domain produces a system where addition of rapamycin activates gene expression by recruiting the transcriptional activation domain into proximity of the promoter DNA [21]. This system was further improved by creating mutants of both FKBP12 and FRB which exclusively bind to rapamycin analogs (rapalogs) with reduced immunosuppressive activity [23, 24].
A drawback of the FKBP12/FRB system, however, is the slow dissociation rate of FKBP12 and FRB after removal of excess small molecule, leading to a slow turn off of gene expression fter small molecule withdrawal [25, 26].
In addition to heterodimerization with FRB, FKBP12 can be made to homodimerize with itself by use of a symmetrical ligand FK1012 or its derivatives [28, 29]. In one example of a use of this system, a fusion of FKBP12 with a fragment of human Fas or Caspase 9 proteins creates inducible caspase switches. Addition of the small molecule to cells expressing either fusion protein results in a caspase cascade and cell death [30, 31]. This system is currently in human trials as a method to control graft versus host disease in modified human T-cell therapies [32, 33].
In addition to FKB12 and FRB, CID systems have also been created with the proteins Calcineurin (which binds to the drug FK506) and DHFR (which binds to the drug trimethoprim) [27].
Limitations exist with current CID technologies. First, the small molecules used to control the systems often have undesirable characteristics. Rapamycin and FK506 are potent immunosuppressive drugs and are not suitable for use in gene therapy applications. Although modified small molecules without immunosuppressive activity can be synthesized (as with "rapalogs"), each drug still must be evaluated for safety by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval process. Additionally, it is not clear from the outset that small molecules with an ideal set of characteristics can be found, potentially wasting time in costly drug development. Second, as the CID proteins in these systems are derived from human proteins with normal cellular functions, their overexpression may alter cell physiology. For example, overexpression of FKBP12 has been shown to alter calcium influx in muscle and processing of the Alzheimer's associated APP protein in neurons [34, 35]. These systems can also have poor ON/OFF kinetics and thus cannot be regulated with enough precision. Currently existing systems can also cause off target effects on endogenous gene expression.

Methods to create chemically-induced dimerizing protein systems for regulation of cellular events


A compound and method of making a compound for use as a diagnostic or therapeutic pharmaceutical comprises at least one functionalized hydroxyalkyl phosphine donor group and one or more sulfur or nitrogen donor and a metal combined with the ligand.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to is pharmaceuticals and especially radiopharmaceuticals for use as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. More specifically, the present invention relates to compounds and methods of synthesizing compounds which utilize multi-dentate ligands which form stable complexes with metal compounds both with and without the need of external reducing agents for use as diagnostic or therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
2. Background Art
Because of the favorable physical properties, widespread availability, and low cost of .sup.99m Tc, this radionuclide continues to be the most attractive candidate to formulate diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals for scintigraphic imaging studies in patients (Jurisson et al., 1993). Re, a chemical analogue of Tc, has two radioisotopes (i.e., .sup.186 Re and .sup.188 Re; .sup.186/188 Re) that have physical and production properties that make them among the most attractive beta-emitting radionuclides for formulation of new therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals (Volkert et al., 1991; Troutner, 1987). Since the chemical properties of Tc and Re are often identical (although, not always) many ligand systems can be used as a basis to synthesize bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) that are capable of forming chelates with .sup.99m Tc that have the same structural and physicochemical properties as the corresponding .sup.186/188 Re chelates.
Development of sophisticated molecular probes in the design of new .sup.99m Tc- and .sup.186/188 Re radiopharmaceuticals will provide for future advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. While many important single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiopharmaceuticals are effectively used as specific tools for diagnosis of human disease, accelerated development of many new site-directed synthetic derivatives (e.g., immunologically derived molecules, receptor-avid molecules, etc.) will provide a multitude of opportunities for further technological advances for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
When developing effective site specific therapeutic or diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, many important factors must be considered. It is essential that the metallic radionuclide (e.g. Re-188 or Tc-99m), upon interaction with a bifunctional chelating agent, should form an in vivo stable complex in high specific activities with 1:1 metal to ligand stoichiometry. These stringent requirements restrict the choice to only a few ligand backbones and, therefore, necessitates the design and development of new bifunctional chelating agents. Most importantly, a detailed understanding of the coordination chemistry of new ligand systems with non radioactive rhenium is important for the subsequent extention of these reactions at the tracer levels to label bifunctional chelating agents using Re-188.
Many difficulties encountered in the design of highly selective radiolabeled drug carriers must be overcome (e.g., problems in efficient drug delivery to target sites, in vivo metabolism, rates of clearance of radioactivity from non-target tissues relative to target tissues, etc.). The physicochemical characteristics of the .sup.99m Tc- and .sup.186/188 Re-chelate moiety attached or fused to the site-directed molecule will play a crucial role as an inherent determinant of the effectiveness of the final drug product. In addition, the ability of .sup.99m Tc or .sup.186/188 Re to label the final product under conditions amenable for routine formulation of radiopharmaceuticals is also an essential consideration.
Labeling of biomolecules with .sup.99m Tc or .sup.186/188 Re to produce effective radiopharmaceuticals presents many challenges. It is necessary to produce .sup.99m Tc and/or .sup.186/188 Re labeled drugs that have high in vitro and in vivo stabilities. Several different ligand frameworks have been developed that form .sup.99m Tc or Re chelates exhibiting minimal or no measurable in vivo or in vitro dissociation. These chelates have provided radiopharmaceutical chemists with a selection of .sup.99m Tc-chelates that have a range of physicochemical characteristics.
The formation of .sup.99m Tc (viz Re) products in high yields with high radiochemical purity (RCP), however, usually requires the presence of large quantities of excess ligand during the formulation processes that are used for routine pharmaceutical preparation. Unfortunately, the high specific activities (i.e., GBq/.mu.mole or Ci/.mu.mole) required for radiolabeled site-directed synthetic derivatives being developed preclude the use of many of these chelation systems, thus, severely limiting the choice to only a few ligand backbones.
High specific activity (Sp. Act) radiolabeled agents can be prepared using either preformed .sup.99m Tc- or .sup.186/188 Re bifunctional chelates (BFCs) or post-conjugation chelation with the radioactive metals where a chelating moiety is already appended (Parker, 1990) or fused (Lister-James et al., 1994; Knight et al., 1994) to the biomolecular targeting agent. Even though maximization of Sp. Act can be achieved by separation of the radiolabeled from the non-radiolabeled molecules, practically, it is more desirable to employ chelation systems that require small quantities of the chelates. In the formation of products that will be ultimately used as FDA approved .sup.99m Tc/.sup.186/188 Re radiopharmaceuticals for routine patient care applications, it is most desirable to keep the number of steps for the formation of the drug-product to a minimum, ideally to one step, as is the case for most .sup.99m Tc- "instant kits".
One of the few ligand systems shown to be effective for preparation of high yield, stable .sup.99m Tc chelates using small quantities of chelator are the amido-thiol class of ligands (Fritzberg et al. 1988, Rao et al., 1992, and Chianelli et al, 1994). Generally, these types of multi-dentate ligands contain at least four donor atoms and one or two thiol donor groups in combination with two to three amido donor groups. Several N.sub.2 S.sub.2 or N.sub.3 S amido-thiol frameworks have been used to synthesize BFCAs and include diamidodithiol (DADS) ligands (Fritzberg et al., 1988), monoaminemonoamide (MAMA) ligands (Rao et al., 1992; Gustavson et al., 1991) and mercaptoacetylglycylglycylglycine (MAG.sub.3) ligands (Chianelli et al., 1994). While the amido-thiol ligands make effective BFCAs for .sup.99m Tc and .sup.186/188 Re, the range of their physicochemical properties are limited, conditions for routine labeling can be difficult to reduce to practical utility and external reducing agents (e.g., Sn(II) are usually present during labeling with .sup.99m Tc or .sup.186/188 Re which can cause irreversible alteration of the site-directed moiety reducing or eliminating specific in vivo localization.
Other ligand systems that have also been used for .sup.99m Tc labeling include N.sub.2 S.sub.2 -amine-thiol ligands, propylineamineoxime (PnAO) derivatives and the hydrazino nicotinamide (HYNIC) system. The former two derivatives form neutral lipophilic .sup.99m Tc-chelates, that while beneficial in some respects, result in high non-specific binding in vivo and poor clearance from non-target tissues (Muna et al., 1994; Noch et al., 1994). The HYNIC system does not form a well-defined product with .sup.99m Tc (Abrams et al., 1990a; Abrams et al., 1990b). All of these systems usually form chelates with .sup.99m Tc with the necessity of external reducing agents.
Ligand backbones containing trivalent phosphine donor groups have been shown to be effective in forming stable .sup.99m Tc and .sup.186/188 Re chelates in high RCP. Phosphines not only chelate .sup.99m Tc (or Re), but they are capable of reducing both pertechnetate and perrhenate to lower oxidation states, and, therefore, do not necessarily require the presence of an external reducing agent (e.g., Sn(II)).
Diphosphine ligands have been extensively used in the development of .sup.99m Tc-radiopharmaceuticals, particularly those that are used as .sup.99m Tc-labeled myocardial perfusion agents (Deutsch, 1993; Nowotnik and Nunn, 1992; Kelly et al., 1993). Unfortunately, most of these chelates utilize alkylphosphine donor groups and the phosphines are rapidly oxidized (to phosphorus oxides) in aqueous solutions containing O.sub.2 and require stringent conditions for manufacture of the drugs and for ultimate routine formation of the final product. For these reasons, ligands that contain alkyl phosphine donor groups have limited flexibility for the design of new drugs and do not form a rational basis to prepare most phosphine-based BFCAs for use in preparing site-directed radiopharmaceuticals.
Aromatic phosphines have also been reported for use with Tc and Re, however, the high lipophilicity of the resulting chelates minimize their potential utilization as BFCAs for in vivo applications.
A small ligand system containing phosphine donor groups with good solubility in aqueous solutions and not oxidized by O.sub.2, but still capable of reducing .sup.99m TcO.sub.4.sup.- or .sup.186/188 ReO.sub.4.sup.- and/or strongly chelating reduced Tc or Re, would find widespread applicability in formulating new radiopharmaceuticals or new BFCAs.
Bonding capabilities of phosphines with the early transition metals (e.g.; Technetium or Rhenium) are influenced not only by the .sigma. phosphorus-metal interaction which uses the lone pair of electrons on the P.sup.III center and a vacant orbital on the metal center, but also by the distinct possibility of synergic .pi. back-donation from a non-bonding d.pi. pair of electrons on the metal center into the vacant 3d.pi. orbital on the phosphorus. The .sigma. and .pi. bonds reinforce one another to produce strong phosphorus-metal bonds which are often stable even under in vivo conditions. (Greenwood and Earnshaw, 1993, Mayer and Kaska, 1994). Therefore, functionalized phosphines constitute an important family of ligands for use in nuclear medicine. For example, the Tc-99m based radiopharmaceuticals, Tetrafosmin and Technecard, which are currently being used as in vivo heart imaging agents, are derived from bis chelating and monochelating phosphines of the type (EtO(CH.sub.2).sub.2).sub.2 P(CH.sub.2).sub.2 P((CH.sub.2).sub.2 OEt) and P(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3).sub.3, respectively. (Higley et al., 1993, Jain et al., 1993, DeRosch et al., 1992, Marmion et al., 1995). While bis chelating phosphines of the DMPE class (where DMPE stands for 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) are able to produce in vivo stable Tc-99m complexes (Deutsch et al., 1981, Deutsch, 1993, Glavon et al., 1982, Vanderheyden et al., 1984, Vanderhyden et al., 1985), the inherent oxidative instability of DMPE and related alkyl phosphines limits their utility in terms of ligand backbone modifications to produce bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) in the development of Tc-99m (or Re186/188) labeled biomolecules. On the other hand, aryl phosphines are usually too large or highly charged (e.g. sulfonated aryl phosphines) and, therefore, may be unsuitable in the design of BFCAs for use in nuclear medicinal applications (Cornils and Wiebus, 1995). Studies by Deutsch et al., applicant, and several others have demonstrated that technetium (or rhenium) forms in vivo stable and kinetically inert bonds with phosphines. (DeRosch et al., 1992, Bandoli et al., 1984, Vanderheyden et al., 1985, Vanderheyden et al., 1984, Libson et al, 1983, Ichimura et al., 1984). Therefore, new developments in the design of phosphine ligands may aid in the discovery of new, performance effective, radiopharmaceuticals. In particular, the synthesis of functionalized phosphine frameworks that would result in the formation of Tc-99m or Re-188 complexes with 1:1 metal to ligand stoichiometrics becomes important in the context of design and development of radiopharmaceuticals produced via the labelling of specific biomolecules (e.g. peptides or proteins), for use in tumor specific diagnosis or therapy of human metastases. In this approach of designing diagnostic or therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, it is important that the bifunctional chelating agent (ligand) be bound to a point of the biomolecule away from the active site (e.g. amino acid sequence necessary for receptor binding). Radiolabelling of the biomolecule/ligand complex with Tc-99m or Re-188 can then be carried out via strong covalent interactions of the metal center with specific donor atoms of the ligand, with no destruction of receptor specificity as is shown in FIG. 1. Simple aryl or alkyl functionalized phosphines (e.g. PPh.sub.3 or (H.sub.3 C).sub.2 PCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 P(CH.sub.3).sub.2) produce strong and in vivo stable metal-phosphorus bonds. However, they are unsuited for use in the design of biomolecular labelled radiopharmaceuticals because, most often, the coordination chemistry of these ligands produces complexes with more than one ligand per metal center. The chemical modifications of (H.sub.3 C).sub.2 PCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 P(CH.sub.3).sub.2 (DMPE) and other related alkyl phosphates present difficulties in forming complexes with one ligand per metal center. Furthermore, their oxidative instability and pyrophoric nature limit their use in the development of bifunctional chelating agents via ligand modification reactions. Several groups have investigated the coordination chemistry of technetium and rhenium with sulfur/nitrogen and phosphine containing ligands (Archer et al., 1995, Refosco et al., 1993, Tisato et al., 1995). However, the presence of bulky aryl substituents on the phosphines often limit their degree of solubility in aqueous solutions making them unsuitable for bifunctional chelating agents.
Most other bifunctional chelation systems require the presence of an external reducing agent (e.g., Sn.sup.+2) or prereduction of .sup.99m TcO.sub.4.sup.- or .sup.186/188 ReO.sub.4.sup.- to lower metal oxidation states (e.g. .sup.99m Tc-glucoheptonate). Water soluble phosphine groups containing low molecular side arms attached to each phosphine P-atom would provide versatility in ligand design and could be used as both as a reducing agent for .sup.99m TcO.sub.4.sup.- (or .sup.186/188 ReO.sub.4.sup.-), under conditions used for routine .sup.99m Tc-radiopharmaceutical preparation, and as an efficient complexing agent for the reduced forms of Tc or Re.
Applicants use a series of multi-dentate ligands containing functionalized hydroxyalkyl phosphines that are stable in aerated aqueous solutions and will form highly stable .sup.99m Tc and .sup.188 Re chelates. Unlike prior art alkyl phosphine based ligands designed to reduce or chelate .sup.99m Tc or .sup.186/188 Re, the hydroxyalkyl phosphine groups are not sensitive to the presence of oxygen when dissolved in aqueous solutions. Other water soluble phosphine ligands with good oxidative stability have also been used as reducing agents, however, the side chains attached to the phosphine donor P-atoms in these ligands are bulky and/or produce highly charged phosphines which limit their utility in radiopharmaceutical development (Pasqualine et al., 1994).
Most other bifunctional chelation systems require the presence of an external reducing agent (such as Sn(II) or NaBH.sub.4) or prereduction in order to reduce the .sup.99m TcO.sub.4.sup.- (or .sup.186/188 ReO.sub.4.sup.-) from the +7 oxidation state to lower oxidation states (e.g., .sup.99m Tc-GH) that are more readily chelated.
The ligands containing one or more hydroxyalkyl phosphine donor groups of the present invention require no external reducing agents, however, the ligand can be used as coordinating groups when used in conjunction with other reducing agents or .sup.99m Tc-synthons. The resulting .sup.99m Tc and Re complexes produced with these phosphine containing ligands exhibit excellent in vivo stability as well in aqueous solutions including human serum.

Hydroxymethyl phosphine compounds for use as diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceuticals and method of making same

The Curators of the University of Missouri


A rotating wing aircraft has a rotating fuselage and wings. The aircraft is configured to rotate with the air passing over the wings because of the rotation providing the lift needed to keep the aircraft aloft. The wings have rudders coupled to them, such as at the tips of the wings, to provide force for laterally moving the aircraft. The aircraft may be able to remain airborne by hovering for a long period of time, on the order of days. Power for the aircraft may be provided by a central diesel electric generator, which provides power for electric motors that turn propellers that are on the wings. The aircraft may be used for any of a variety of applications, such as for surveillance, communications, or as a radar platform.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to aircraft capable of hovering, and capable of long-duration flight on the order of days.
2. Background of the Related Art
Previous aircraft designs have generally been optimized for relatively rapid transport of cargo from one point to another, or over an intervening region. Such aircraft, which have generally included an onboard crew, have not been suitable for long-duration missions, such as missions taking multiple days.
Air ships tend to be expensive to operate, and tend to be more fragile than many other types of aircraft, such as fixed wing aircraft. Also, air ships may be difficult to handle, especially in high winds. Further, air ships tend to be relatively slow compared with other types of aircraft.
Helicopters are one type of aircraft that is capable of hovering during flight. However, helicopters are highly stressed machines which require extensive maintenance. In addition, helicopters have poor fuel efficiency, which limits their flight time to less than that of fixed wing conventional aircraft. In addition, helicopters tend to have poor high altitude performance, when compared with other types of aircraft.
None of the prior types of aircraft described above are suitable for long-duration missions at high altitudes, especially where the missions may involve staying in substantially the same location for long periods of time.

Rotating flying wing aircraft and control system


A display assembly apparatus and method of assembly using a folded frame and structurally reinforcing shelf for shipping and displaying products. The display uses a planar sheet for compact shipping which is adapted to be folded into the form of a vertically rising cabinet having a vertical supporting member defining shelf apertures which correspond to extending tabs on a shipping tray that allows for product to be shipped in the tray and then directly installed into the cabinet without the problems normally associated with stock transfer from shipping cartons to display areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of display systems in general. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to a folded panel and tray display system.
2. Description of the Known Art
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a folded corrugated cardboard display may be used to provide a display base for products in a retail or display environment. Details of a typical cardboard display are contained in U.S. Pat. No. U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,390, issued to Podergois on May 27, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,779, issued to Crawford, et al. on Jan. 16, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,352, issued to Noyes, et al. on Apr. 7, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,136, issued to Franklin on Jan. 31, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,688, issued to Wahl on Mar. 16, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,398 issued to Parisi on Jan. 17, 1978; U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,737 issued to Smith on Oct. 26, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,916 issued to Epstein on Aug. 31, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,814 issued to Downing on February, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,392 issued to Downing on December, 1963; U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,395 issued to Decker et al. on February, 1958; U.S. Pat. No. 2,373,778 issued to Quinby on April, 1945; U.S. Pat. No. 2,049,231 issued to Storch on July, 1936; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,852,471 issued to Nelson on April, 1932. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
These prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved display assembly is needed to overcome these limitations. What is needed then is a combined folded frame and structural shelving display assembly.


A system and method for authenticating and authorizing computer users with a single, standard, directory-based set of applications. The invention combines dynamic directory services (DDS) with a directory access protocol such as the light weight directory access protocol (LDAP) to provide authentication and application-authorization for secured networks, applications, and programs. Dynamic information such as session information or user ID numbers is stored in a directory each time a user logs into the systems and is maintained in the directory until the user logs out. While the information exists in the directory, it can be queried by other programs, applications, or networks that use a directory service to authenticate or authorize the user for the program, application, or network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the fields of computer authentication, application authorization and user profiling. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of dynamic directory services (DDS) to dynamically store information in a directory server that can be used for authentication, application authorization, and user profiling purposes to eliminate the need for numerous authorization and access control schemes with a single standard directory based set of applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many computer networks require users to be authenticated before they are allowed access thereto. Similarly, many computer applications and/or programs can only be accessed or used by authorized users. Computer users are typically authenticated and/or authorized by access control and security programs that contain or consult user profiles or databases (data repositories) containing access control information for the users. These access control and security programs typically require the entry of user IDs, passwords, etc., before users are allowed access to the networks and/or programs and applications.
Most networks, programs, and applications that have secured entries have their own proprietary access control and security systems (front and back). This requires computer users who wish to gain access to more than one network, application, and/or program during a computer session to repeatedly re-enter their user IDs, passwords, etc., each time they attempt to transfer from one network to another or from one application or program to another. This also requires each network, application, and program to have and maintain its own separate access control information for all users.

Authentication, application-authorization, and user profiling using dynamic directory services


A method for anatomical imaging includes acquiring image data representative of three-dimensional volume segments of an image volume of interest in a subject. The image data are acquired in synchronism with corresponding physiological cycles of the subject. Each volume segment contains image data distributed in three dimensions. Acquiring image data includes selecting a sequence of scan lines for each respective volume segment configured to minimize an occurrence of motion artifacts throughout the image volume. The image data representative of the volume segments is combined to produce a representation of a three-dimensional anatomical image of the image volume.

The present disclosure generally relates to medical ultrasound imaging, and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for artifact elimination in time-gated anatomical imaging.
Imaging of internal anatomical structures by ultrasound, MRI, and CT requires sequential acquisition of data from different portions of the volume to be imaged. Often these acquisitions can be completed in a time that is short enough that anatomical motions are captured clearly or are unimportant. In other cases the acquisition time is long enough that significant anatomical motion occurs, distorting or obscuring the desired image.
When the motion is periodic in time, for example, as in a cardiac or respiratory cycle, it is common practice to split the acquisition into smaller sub-volumes, each of which is acquired in a sufficiently short time to provide a good image. These sub-volumes are time-synchronized with the same point in different cycles of the periodic motion and then, after acquisition, are combined into a single image of the desired volume. Often, especially in ultrasound imaging, multiple images of each sub-volume are obtained so as to build a moving picture of the entire volume over the time of an entire cycle of the motion.
It would be desirable to obtain the entire image using as few sub-volumes as possible because this minimizes the number of cycles of the motion, e.g. heartbeats, and therefore, the time required for data acquisition. Shorter acquisition times are easier for the patient and reduce the likelihood of artifacts due to extraneous motion of the patient or the imaging equipment or due to departures from perfect repeatability of the anatomical motion over multiple cycles.
Unfortunately, using fewer sub-volumes requires that they each be larger if they are to encompass the same volume of interest, thereby increasing the acquisition time for each sub-volume. If the anatomical motion is fast enough, the amount of motion during the acquisition time of a single sub-volume will be large enough to cause image artifacts at the boundaries between sub-volumes. For example, in volumetric imaging of the heart, data at the final edge of one subvolume would be acquired slightly later in the heartbeat than the data at the adjacent starting edge of the next sub-volume. A fast-moving portion of the heart wall crossing this boundary between sub-volumes would be shown in slightly different positions on either side of the boundary, resulting in a "tearing" artifact which will be visually objectionable and may cause difficulties in the reconstruction of the whole image.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,390, a segmented 3-D cardiac ultrasound imaging apparatus builds a volumetric image of the heart by acquiring image data from several separate volume segments during separate cardiac cycles (heartbeats). The apparatus splices the images together to make a single volumetric image. The time within a cardiac cycle when the image data are acquired is referred to the cardiac phase, and an entire volume segment is imaged at the given phase in the cardiac cycle allocated to that volume segment.
However, when a fast-moving structure such as a heart valve spans a boundary between volume segments, a "tearing" artifact can sometimes occur. A probable cause may be due to the fact that even within a single cardiac phase, the time needed to acquire all of the data from a volume segment was sufficient for the fast-moving valve to be in a slightly different position in one volume segment in which it was imaged at the beginning of the phase, than in the adjacent volume segment in which it was imaged at the end of the phase. Accordingly, when the volume segment images are spliced together, the valve briefly appears "torn".
Let us consider further the case of volumetric ultrasound imaging of the heart. Due to the speed of cardiac motions, it is desirable to obtain image data at as high a frame rate as possible. Images of the entire region of interest must be obtained as frequently as possible. Typically 15 Hz frame rates are barely usable; 30–60 Hz being preferable.
The amount of time required to obtain ultrasound data from a large volume encompassing most of the heart is long enough that an adequately high frame rate may not be possible. In such a case, the practice is to acquire the data in several smaller adjacent sub-volumes, each synchronized with a different beat of the cardiac cycle via an ECG signal. Then the sub-volumes are spliced together in the displayed image as if they were all from the same cycle. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each sub-volume consists of n 2-D scan planes with the order of scanning from 1 to n noted at the bottom for the first two sub-volumes (10, 12). The scan planes are oriented perpendicular to the page and stacked left to right. In each sub-volume, after a synchronization trigger from the ECG, the scan planes are acquired in the order indicated, so that like-numbered scan planes are acquired at essentially the same instant in different cardiac cycles.
The problem comes at the boundaries between sub-volumes. At the boundaries, the scan plane acquired at the end of the frame in one sub-volume (10) is displayed adjacent to the scan plane acquired at the beginning of the frame in the next sub-volume (12). A fast-moving part of the heart such as a valve will have moved enough, even during the relatively short frame time to be in different positions at the beginning and end of the frame time. This results in the "tearing" artifact 14 depicted in FIG. 1.
As a result, a single acquisition from a volume segment has been treated as if it were acquired instantaneously, but in fact is not. A small amount of time elapses between the first line acquired and the last (between the beginning and the end of the cardiac phase). This is not a problem within a single region, since so long as adjacent scan lines were acquired close in time to each other, the tissue imaged by those lines will all be in nearly perfect relative alignment. However, stacking multiple volume segments, with typical prior art scan patterns, together can cause image artifacts at the volume segment boundaries because the end of one volume segment's acquisition is spliced to the beginning of the next volume segment's acquisition.
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an imaged volume perpendicular to the scan lines. The locations of individual scan lines 16 and four (4) volume segments 18, 20, 22 and 24 are shown. The scan lines are numbered in the order of their acquisition; each line is designated with the volume segment to which it belongs (VSn) and the line number within that volume segment. In this example, there are only sixteen (16) rows and four (4) columns per volume segment, but typically there would be many more lines in a volume segment. A discontinuity at the boundary can be observed in FIG. 2, as indicated by reference numeral 26, there being a difference of forty eight (48) scan lines worth of time across the boundary. With more lines in a volume segment, this difference would be higher.
Accordingly, a method and apparatus for artifact elimination in time-gated anatomical imaging which overcomes the problems in the art discussed above would be desirable.

Artifact elimination in time-gated anatomical imaging


The present invention provides a new flame-retardant additive comprising brominated syndiotactic polystyrene. The additive has a melting temperature in excess of about 325.degree. C. and it displays a noncrystalline order. The additive also has less than 1500 ppm halogen located on the backbone of the syndiotactic polystyrene as measured in HBr equivalents. The additive provides for better color and improved thermal stability as compared to the use of conventional brominated polystyrene.

Flame-retardant additives and methods of making and using the same are well-known in the prior art. Flame retardant additives are added to many polymers during processing so as to render the finished product made with such polymers resistant to ignition.
One class of flame retardants that is used extensively in industry comprises halogenated polymers of styrenic monomers. An example of a commercially successful product of this class is a brominated polystyrene flame retardant additive sold by the Ferro Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio, under the trademark PYRO-CHEK.RTM. 68PB.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,909 which is owned by Ferro Corporation discloses a method for producing a brominated polystyrene flame retardant additive such as PYRO-CHEK 68PB. Additional examples of references that disclose methods for producing brominated styrenic polymers are Naarmann et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,221, Diebel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,703 and Lindenschmidt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,455.
Brominated styrenic polymers are utilized to impart flame retardant properties to a broad range of polymeric resins. Such polymeric resins include, for example, polyamides, polyesters such as PET and PBT, polyolefins and styrenic polymers such as HIPS, ABS, SAN, etc. Unfortunately, the use of commercially available flame retardant additives, such as conventional atactic brominated polystyrene, in high temperature resins such as, syndiotactic polystyrene resin or certain high temperature polyamides is generally not feasible. For example, the use of conventional brominated polystyrene additives in high temperature polymeric resins can lead to a material having unacceptable color and inadequate levels of thermal stability.
Nakano U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,454 talks briefly of adding a halogenated syndiotactic polystyrene to syndiotactic polystyrene polymeric resin. However, Nakano '454 provides absolutely no insight into the physical properties of such additive or how one can produce such an additive.
The commercial trend over the last ten years has been to utilize host polymeric resins displaying increasingly higher working temperatures. The present invention meets the challenges created by this trend by providing a flame-retardant additive that is well suited for use in today's high temperature polymeric resins.

Brominated syndiotactic polystyrene and the use thereof


This disclosure describes example an surgical fixation system and example methods for implanting the surgical fixation system on the spine. The surgical fixation system can be applied minimally invasively to the anterior column for both single level and multi-level constructs. The surgical system can be applied to the anterior column via lateral access approaches. The lateral access approach may traverse the psoas muscle. The fixation system includes a plurality of anchor assemblies connected by a spinal rod. The anchor assemblies each include a fixation body, bone anchor, rod-receiving member, anchor lock and rod lock. The rod-receiving member may be moveably coupled to the fixation body to facilitate rod insertion.

The spine is formed of a column of vertebra that extends between the cranium and pelvis. The three major sections of the spine are known as the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and 5 lumbar vertebrae, with each of the 24 vertebrae being separated from each other by an intervertebral disc. A series of about 9 fused vertebrae extend from the lumbar region of the spine and make up the sacral and coccygeal regions of the vertebral column.
The main functions of the spine are to provide skeletal support and protect the spinal cord. Even slight disruptions to either the intervertebral discs or vertebrae can result in serious discomfort due to compression of nerve fibers either within the spinal cord or extending from the spinal cord. If a disruption to the spine becomes severe enough, damage to a nerve or part of the spinal cord may occur and can result in partial to total loss of bodily functions (e.g., walking, talking, breathing, etc.). Therefore, it is of great interest and concern to be able to treat and correct ailments of the spine.
When conservative efforts fail, treating spinal ailments very often includes a combination of spinal fusion and fixation. Generally, spinal fusion procedures involve removing some or all of an intervertebral disc, and inserting one or more intervertebral implants into the resulting disc space. Introducing the intervertebral implant serves to restore the height between adjacent vertebrae ("disc height") and maintain the height and/or correct vertebral alignment issues until bone growth across the disc space connects the adjacent vertebral bodies. Fusions may be performed across a single level or multiple levels.
Fixation systems are often surgically implanted during a fusion procedure to help stabilize the vertebrae to be fused until the fusion is complete. Fixation systems often use a combination of rods, plates, pedicle screws, and bone hooks to attach a fixation construct to the affected vertebrae. Like the fusion, the fixation system can be implanted across a single level or across multiple levels, and typically, the fixation system is positioned to span each level to be fused. Fixations systems are designed to engage either the posterior elements (e.g. pedicle screw systems, spinous process plates) or anteriorly, the vertebral bodies (e.g. plates, anterior staple/rod systems). The configuration required for each procedure and patient varies due to the ailment being treated, the specific method of treatment (e.g. surgical approach, etc. . . . ) and the patient's specific anatomical characteristics.
A trend in the medical community is the move away from performing surgery via traditional "open" techniques in favor of minimally invasive or minimal access techniques. Open surgical techniques are generally undesirable in that they typically require large incisions and high amounts of tissue displacement to gain access to the surgical target site, which produces concomitantly high amounts of pain, lengthened hospitalization (increasing health care costs), and high morbidity in the patient population. Less-invasive surgical techniques (including so-called "minimal access" and "minimally invasive" techniques) are gaining favor due to the fact that they involve accessing the surgical target site via incisions of substantially smaller size with greatly reduced tissue displacement requirements. This, in turn, reduces the pain, morbidity and cost associated with such procedures. For example, a minimally invasive lateral (from the patients side) approach to access the disc for fusion has been developed over the last decade and demonstrated great success in reducing patient morbidity, shortening the length of hospitalization, and decreasing recovery time when employed.
Minimally invasive posterior pedicle based fixation systems are also now well known in the art and can be used in conjunction with the lateral based access for fusion when multiple levels are involved. However, this can be disadvantageous in that it generally involves repositioning the patient in between the fusion procedure and the fixation procedure. On the other hand, the availability of minimally invasive fixation systems for fixing to the anterior column is generally limited to single level procedures. Accordingly, there is a need for minimally invasive fixation systems designed to engage the anterior column across multiple levels, particularly in conjunction with a lateral access fusion procedure.
The devices and methods described in the present application address these needs.

Systems and methods for performing spine surgery


A layered bismuth ferroelectric structure (12) and a method for forming the bismuth layered ferroelectric structure (12). A monolayer (12A) of bismuth is formed in intimate contact with a single crystalline semiconductor material (11). A layered ferroelectric material (12) is grown on the monolayer (12A) of bismuth such that the monolayer (12A) of bismuth becomes a part of the layered ferroelectric material (12). The ferroelectric material (12) forms a layered ferroelectric material which is not a pure perovskite, wherein the crystalline structure at the interface between the single crystalline semiconductor material (11) and the monolayer (12A) of bismuth are substantially the same.

The present invention relates, in general, to semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to ferroelectric semiconductor devices.
Ferroelectric materials have been used to form electrical components such as capacitors, non-volatile memories, and optical guided wave devices. Typically, these materials are deposited on a conductive substrate which is disposed on a substrate oxide overlying a semiconductor substrate. The substrate oxide prevents defects that might occur at the interface between the silicon substrate and the ferroelectric material, which defects degrade the performance of the semiconductor device. Further, the ferroelectric material is typically deposited as a polycrystalline film. Accordingly, the ferroelectric material generally has poor leakage characteristics. Moreover, the interface between a ferroelectric material deposited directly on a semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor substrate has generally been unsuitable for semiconductor device applications.
Techniques for depositing the ferroelectric material include sputter deposition using a single target, sputter co-deposition using two or more targets, and spin-on deposition. The use of sputtering techniques to deposit ferroelectric material directly on a semiconductor substrate damages the semiconductor substrate, thereby creating interface states. Spin-on deposition, on the other hand, is performed in atmospheric conditions and results in a large interface state density due to poor interface control. In addition, these techniques require a high temperature anneal, e.g., about 900 degrees Celsius (.degree.C.), which adversely affects the semiconductor substrate and thus the interface between the ferroelectric film and the semiconductor substrate. Other drawbacks of the spin-on deposition technique include incompatibility with standard integrated circuit processes, precipitation of particles in the ferroelectric materials during their deposition, and poor adhesion of the ferroelectric material to the semiconductor substrate.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a ferroelectric device and a method for manufacturing the ferroelectric device wherein the ferroelectric material is lattice matched to a semiconductor surface to minimize defects at the ferroelectric-semiconductor interface due to strain. It would be of further advantage to deposit a ferroelectric film having properties that are suitable for use in a ferroelectric gate field effect transistor. Suitable properties of the ferroelectric film include a low interface state density, appropriate spontaneous polarization, and an appropriate coercive field.

Method for making a ferroelectric semiconductor device and a layered structure


Techniques for conveyor systems that integrate robotic smart carrier nests whose configurations are dynamically changed based on product geometry are provided. In one embodiment, a system can include a modular nest configured to hold product during assembly. The modular nest includes a first actuator comprising a first pair of gripping arms that open and close in a first direction based on a first signal. The modular nest also includes a second actuator comprising a second pair of gripping arms that open and close in a second direction based on a second signal. The first signal and the second signal are based on a geometry of the product. Further, the first direction and the second direction are different directions.

Assembly manufacturing operations are used to assemble a product based on forming an assembly line to convey the product (e.g., a conveyor line) through a number of assembly stations in order to fully assemble the final product. The conveyor line can include either manual or robotic assembly operation stations. In some assembly operations there is some form of carrier (e.g., pallet or structure) that serves as the start of the assembly. Then, as the carrier moves along the conveyor line, the carrier obtains the required products inserted at their respective stations to form the finished assembly.
The carriers are attached to the conveyor and are built, and custom designed specifically to hold a specific product. Therefore, if a different product assembly is to go through the conveyor line, the carriers need to be changed manually in order to hold/house that specific product as it goes down the assembly line operations.