A method and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in a queue (also known as FIFO) in a digital system. The method augments the FIFO with an external monitoring mechanism which, on demand, checks the FIFO's operation and alerts the system to malfunctioning of the FIFO's control mechanism or corruption of data contained therein. The detection apparatus does not depend on the implementation of the FIFO; the checking is based solely on observing the data entering and exiting the FIFO. Furthermore, the apparatus works in a non-intrusive manner during a normal operation of the FIFO as part of the system. The method and apparatus allow for many variants, all derived from the same general scheme, and which allow different levels of protection against faults.

Detection of faults is important in ensuring the reliability of digital hardware systems. Various types of faults can manifest themselves in the finished product; they may be due to errors in design, manufacturing, wear and tear, or one-time events which do not affect the behavior of the system permanently (the so-called "soft errors"). Cognizant of the possibility of faults, system designers devise schemes to monitor the system for correct operation and alert it to the presence of possible faults.
Because of the size and complexity of digital hardware systems today, it is often impossible or impractical to monitor the system as a whole. Rather, the system designers create schemes to monitor individual modules of the overall system. Because these modules vary greatly in function, the mechanisms which monitor the faults in such modules naturally vary as well. For example, communication channels or storage modules (memories, disks etc.) can be monitored for faults using redundancy-based schemes, and computational units such as ALUs (arithmetical-logical units) can be monitored using the modulo-3 arithmetic etc. When very high reliability is desired, it is of course possible to duplicate the entire module and to compare the results of the function of the duplicates, but this solution is usually too expensive. While no mechanism can discover all possible faults, various schemes exist to discover large classes of faults, and it is a general rule that the monitoring system grows in complexity as its capability to discover faults grows (the duplication scheme being an extreme example). Other cases that exemplify the increase of fault coverage at the expense of growing complexity are the so-called Hamming (n,m) codes, in which a binary m-vector is multiplied by an n×m matrix; and as is well known to those skilled in the art of error-correcting codes, the ability to detect (and correct) failures grows with the size of the matrix. Error-correcting and error-correcting codes are described in The Theory of Error-Correcting Codes, by F. J. McWilliams and N. J. A. Sloane, North-Holland Mathematical Library, 1977.
The current invention pertains to the detection of faults in queues, or FIFOs. FIFOs are ubiquitous in modern digital hardware systems and fulfill a variety of functions. They are typically used as synchronizing interfaces between modules which do not operate at the same rate. As such, they are particularly prevalent in SoC ("systems on a chip") designs, in which large collection of heterogeneous hardware modules are "glued" together by the system's integrators to provide the final integrated circuits. These modules, which typically originate from different suppliers, often work asynchronously, which means that a module producing data may do so at a rate that is higher than the ability of another module to consume it, and so a holding buffer must be interposed between the two modules; and, if the consuming module needs the data in the order in which it was generated by the producer, the buffer must be of a FIFO type. Specialized versions of FIFOs, such as pipelines, are the mainstay of modern central processing units of microprocessors. The implementation of FIFOs also varies very widely, ranging from fully static (in which the data, once inserted into the FIFO, never moves) to fully dynamic (where the data circulates through the system upon every insertion and deletion) and many other variants.

Method and mechanism for implementation-independent, on-line, end-to-end detection of faults in self-checking queues in digital hardware systems


A 3-dimensional wire frame representation is derived from a real 3-dimensional objects, where the surface of the object is generally featureless, by projecting a non-uniform pattern of randomly colored spots onto the 3-dimensional object and capturing images of the object by two cameras located at different positions. A wire frame representation of the object is then reconstructed from corresponding colored spots on the images captured by the two cameras. Wire frame representations are rapidly created using generic wire frames which are prototypical of a class of objects and which are modifiable to correspond to a specific instance of the class. A set of generic wire frames are bundled as a tool kit with software for editing wire frames. A method of morphing from a source 3-dimensional stereo rendered wire frame to a target rendered wire frame is also disclosed and the apparent camera viewpoint can change during morphing.

The creation, manipulation and use of computer representations of three-dimensional objects has considerable utility in a number of technological endeavors. For example, in computer assisted design, it is convenient to be able to create computerized representations of objects ranging in size from very large buildings to automobiles to components having microgeometries. In computer animation, it is desirable to have a three-dimensional representation of an object when preparing perspective views of three-dimensional scenes. Typically, three-dimensional objects are represented for computerized manipulation and use as a "wire frame." A wire frame consists of a number of vertices (i.e., points) in three-dimensional space specified with reference to a coordinate system. The points in three-dimensional space are typically joined by lines to create sets of linked or related polygons. Each polygon usually represents a generally flat surface element depicting a portion of the object being represented. Preferably, for certain applications, the surface polygons are triangular because one can guarantee that three points will lie in the same plane. Certain commercial software packages, however, utilize a rectangle or polygons of order higher than 4 as long as the vertices lie in the same plane.
The resolution of a wire frame is determined by the number of vertices and their spacing. If a large number of surface elements are utilized and each surface element is very small, then the three-dimensional wire frame will approximate very closely the surface of the object being represented. On the other hand, if there are few points and the surface elements are large, the representation of the object will miss details which are smaller than the minimum size of the surface element. This is analogous to trying to represent a chair utilizing one foot square pieces of cardboard linked together. Such a representation would be very crude at best. However, if one were to represent a chair using the rectangular areas bounded by the thread of a slip cover, the representation would be much finer and would capture much more detail than would be permitted by the one foot squares of cardboard.
One of the problems of representing wire frames has to do with identifying point locations on a smoothly varying contour. On a smooth contour there are no reference points which are easily identifiable from image views taken from different perspectives. Therefore, it is difficult to identify corresponding points on two images for calculating depth.
In the prior art, there is some difficulty generating life-like wire frame representations of faces. This is because some judgment is required as to the selection of which points to utilize as vertices for the representation and also because the rendering of a 3-D surface of wire frame of a face (that is, the placement of a "skin" over a wire frame) does not result in a realistic presentation. The traditional rendering techniques simply pick a solid color and texture and render it with various lighting and shadow differences. The color is so uniform as to be patently artificial. Further, in the prior art, there is a trade-off between the coarseness of the wire frame and the rendering techniques utilized. Very high resolution wire frames permit traditional rendering techniques to create a more acceptable rendition than coarse wire frames. A coarse wire frame adds unnatural discontinuities at surface element boundaries to the artificiality of uniform texture and color.
Further, the prior art does not possess the capability to change camera (viewer) view point such as by zooming during a morphing sequence in which one stereo image is changed into another.

Methods and apparatus for creation of three-dimensional wire frames and for three-dimensional stereo morphing


An ink set includes a light gray ink, a medium gray ink, and a black ink. Each of the inks in the ink set includes a carboxylic polymer. The light gray ink has a carboxylic polymer load equal to or greater than about 4.27 wt %. The medium gray ink has a carboxylic polymer load ranging from about 2.47 wt % to about 3.47 wt %. The black ink has a carboxylic polymer load ranging from about 0.5 wt % to about 2 wt %.

The present disclosure relates generally to an ink set and a method for making the same.
An ink set may be used as an ink source for an inkjet printing system to produce images on a print substrate or media. Ink sets generally include two or more inks, each of which has a different color, or a different shade of the same color. Ink sets having a variety of different colored inks are often used to produce colored images. Ink sets including different shades of gray and/or black inks are often used to produce high quality black-and-white images or to improve color balance of color images. For example, an ink set may be a three ink set including a light gray ink, a medium gray ink, and a black ink. Two or more of the inks of this type of ink set may be combined together to form other shades of gray.
Production of relatively high quality black-and-white images on a print surface generally requires that the individual inks have suitable physical properties including desirable levels of neutrality, metamerism, grain control, bronzing, dynamic range, permanence, durability (e.g., waterfastness (stability to water drip) and smudgefastness (stability to smudge/abrasion)), gloss uniformity, and the like.
Several methods have been used to optimize these ink performance properties for pigmented ink systems. One example of such a method includes the addition of a gloss enhancer to the ink set to reduce bronzing and improve gloss. The gloss enhancer is printed in conjunction with the other colors to improve their gloss and bronzing performance. This method, however, requires the addition of another ink to the ink set.
Another example of such a method includes using significant amounts of cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink (commonly referred to as composite black) along with, or in substitution of gray ink to reduce bronzing of the gray ink and to obtain neutrality and gloss uniformity. This method may involve the potential drawback of adding metamerism, and may involve neutrality issues.
In another example, black and gray inks may include cyan and magenta or cyan and violet colorants as shading agents (black colorants, in particular, those based on carbon black, tend to exhibit a brownish color when printed) to form a more spectrally flat gray color. Bronzing may still be a problem for images printed with this system.
In still another effort to reduce bronzing and obtain neutrality, only opaque inks (e.g., black ink, dark cyan ink, dark magenta ink, etc.) are used. Opaque inks, unlike transparent inks (e.g., gray ink, light cyan ink, light magenta ink, etc.), tend to have limited bronzing effect because they substantially eliminate reflection off of the print media.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


High frequency acoustic waves, analogous to ultrasound, can enhance the delivery of therapeutic compounds into cells. The compounds delivered may be chemotherapeutic drugs, antibiotics, photodynamic drugs or gene therapies. The therapeutic compounds are administered systemically, or preferably locally to the targeted site. Local delivery can be accomplished through a needle, cannula, or through a variety of vascular catheters, depending on the location of routes of access. To enhance the systemic or local delivery of the therapeutic compounds, high frequency acoustic waves are generated locally near the target site, and preferably near the site of compound administration. The acoustic waves are produced via laser radiation interaction with an absorbing media and can be produced via thermoelastic expansion, thermodynamic vaporization, material ablation, or plasma formation. Acoustic waves have the effect of temporarily permeabilizing the membranes of local cells, increasing the diffusion of the therapeutic compound into the cells, allowing for decreased total body dosages, decreased side effects, and enabling new therapies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for drug delivery, and more specifically, it relates to the use of acoustic waves for the enhancement of drug delivery.
2. Description of Related Art
Ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery has been postulated to work through a variety of mechanisms. Most notably, ultrasound produces cavitation bubbles, which are thought to disrupt the lipid bilayer membrane of cells (Mitragotri, et al. Pharm Res 1996; 13: 411-420). This disruption can cause channels to form, which can temporarily increase a cell""s permeability to certain drug compounds. The concentration of compounds which normally have low diffusion rates into the cell can be increased. Transdermally (across the skin), it has been shown that the permeability of disordered lipid bilayers can be up to 5000-fold higher than the diffusion coefficients in normal lipid bilayers (Mitragotri 1996). Other compounds, to which the cell is usually impermeable, can also be driven into the cell through the use of ultrasound.
Extracorporeal (transdermal) application of ultrasound is inappropriate when deeper penetration of the ultrasound is required for enhanced drug delivery in remote locations. In the current transdermal method, the drug of interest is applied to the skin and ultrasound is generated through the placement of a piezoelectric transducer on the skin. This ultrasound could be focused into deeper structures, similar to ultrasound imaging transducers. However, it is difficult to assess or control dosimetry to deeper structures with this method and the ultrasound does not penetrate through gas filled organs or high density tissues such as bone. If one transducer is used, a high amount of power is necessary to generate the required ultrasound in the underlying tissues. The high power needed can cause thermal damage to the skin. An array of transducers could be used to focus onto a single point beneath the skin. However, the amount of heat and stress produced as the ultrasound waves converge, may produce damage to the underlying tissue, including those that are not intended to be treated. Local generation of ultrasound solves many of these potential problems. However, the use of traditional piezoelectric materials such as PZT induce other complications. These materials need electrical stimulation, which is undesirable to deliver inside the body. Further, the large size of the piezoelectric materials required to achieve necessary ultrasound magnitudes, forbids certain in vivo applications. The present invention, with its local generation and delivery of optically generated ultrasound, facilitates the delivery of ultrasound at required intensities into remote locations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,402, issued Aug. 30, 1988, titled xe2x80x9cUltrasound Enhancement Of Transdermal Drug Deliveryxe2x80x9d is directed to a method using ultrasound for enhancing and controlling transdermal permeation of a molecule, including drugs, antigens, vitamins, inorganic and organic compounds, and various combinations of these substances, through the skin and into the circulatory system. The frequency and intensity of ultrasonic energy which is applied, the media between the ultrasonic applicator and the skin, and the length of time of exposure are determined according to the type of skin and the substance to be diffused transdermally. Levels of the diffused molecules in the blood and urine measured over a period of time are initially used to determine under what conditions adequate transfer occurs. In general, the frequency range of the ultrasound is between 20 kHz and 10 MHz, with intensities between 0 and 3 W/cm less than 2 greater than . Intensity is decreased as the frequency is decreased to prevent damage to the skin. The preferred range of frequencies is between 0.5 MHz and 1.5 MHz and the preferred range of intensities is between 2 and 4 W/cm less than 2 greater than . Exposure is for between 1 and 10 minutes for most medical uses. The ultrasound may be pulsed or continuous. However, the frequency, intensity and time of exposure are interdependent as well as a function of the molecule being diffused and the nature of the skin at the site of exposure. One way of determining the maximum limit of exposure is to measure skin temperature, decreasing or stopping the treatment when the temperature of the skin rises one to two degrees Centigrade.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,837, issued Feb. 7, 1995, titled xe2x80x9cMethod For Enhancing Delivery Of Chemotherapy Employing High-Frequency Force Fieldsxe2x80x9d pulse shocks of high-frequency wave energy (e.g. RF, microwave, high-energy infra-red or laser electromagnetic wave energy or ultrasonic acoustic wave energy), rather than DC electric pulses, are employed to non-invasively produce, with minimal or, if desired, a controlled amount of temperature rise in a patient""s body tissues, force fields of an intensity sufficient to create transient pores in the plasma membranes of targeted cells, such as tumor or other diseased cells, through which chemotherapeutic agents can easily be delivered, enter and taken up by these targeted cells, even for (1) deep-seated cells (e.g., the cells of a deep-seated tumor) or (2) non-localized diseased cells (e.g., metastasized tumor cells) within a patient""s body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,816, issued Jun. 6, 1995, titled xe2x80x9cUltrasonic Transdermal Drug Delivery Systemxe2x80x9d described the use of Ultrasonic energy to release a stored drug and forcibly move the drug through the skin of an organism into the blood stream. A housing (81) includes a cavity (67) defined by an assembly of ultrasonic transducers (65) and separated from the skin by a polymeric membrane (69) that stores the drug to be delivered. The ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a flat, circular ultrasonic transducer (85) that defines the top of a truncated cone and a plurality of transducer segments (87a, 87b, 87c, 87d . . . ) that define the walls of the cone. The resonant frequency of the planar transducer is lower than the resonant frequency of the transducer segments. The planar, flat, circular transducer generates fixed frequency (5 KHz-1 MHz range) ultrasonic stimuli impulses for a predetermined period of time (10-20 seconds). Between the stimuli pulse periods, the transducer segments receive variable frequency ultrasonic pumping pulses. Preferably, the variable frequency ultrasonic pumping pulses lie in the 50 MHz-300 MHz range. The variable frequency ultrasonic pumping pulses are applied to opposed transducer segments. The transducer segments create beams that impinge on the skin at an oblique angle and create a pulsating wave. Further, the variable frequency ultrasonic pumping pulses are applied to opposing transducer segments in a rotating manner to create pulsating waves in the skin in a variety of directions. The stimuli pulses cause the planar transducer to produce an ultrasonic wave that excites the local nerves in the way that trauma (heat, force) excites the local nerves. The nerve excitation opens the epidermal/dermal junction membrane and the capillary endothelial cell joints. The variable frequency ultrasonic pumping pulses cause the transducer segments to produce ultrasonic waves in both the polymeric membrane and the skin. The ultrasonic waves pump the drug first through the polymeric membrane and then through, skin openings into the underlying blood vessels. The control electronics apply ultrasonic stimuli pulses to the skin by energizing the stimuli transducer at a first frequency, preferably lying in the 5 KHz-1 MHz range for a predetermined period of time (10-20 seconds). Between the stimuli pulse periods, the control electronics apply variable frequency ultrasonic pumping pulses to the skin by energizing the pumping transducer segments. Preferably, the frequency of the variable frequency ultrasonic pumping pulses lie in the 50 MHz-300 MHz range
U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,611, issued Aug. 29, 1995, titled xe2x80x9cEnhancement Of Transdermal Delivery With Ultrasound And Chemical Enhancersxe2x80x9d discloses a method of enhancing the permeability of the skin or mucosa to a biologically active permeant or drug is described utilizing ultrasound or ultrasound plus a chemical enhancer. If desired the ultrasound may be modulated by means of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation and/or combinations thereof. A frequency modulation from high to low develops a local pressure gradient directed into the body, thus permitting permeant to traverse the skin or mucosa. The enhanced delivery is preferably accomplished using a chemical enhancer, applying ultrasound optionally at a modulated frequency, amplitude, phase, or combinations thereof that further induces a local pressure gradient into the body. The method is also useful as a means for application of a tattoo by noninvasively delivering a pigment through the skin surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,502, issued Mar. 25, 1997, titled xe2x80x9cHigh Pressure Impulse Transient Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Proliferative Diseasesxe2x80x9d described the use of high pressure shock waves in combination with sub-toxic doses of compounds to treat proliferative diseases. A related patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,892, issued Aug. 19, 1997, titled xe2x80x9cCompound Delivery Using High-Pressure Impulse Transientsxe2x80x9d discussed a method for increasing the delivery of a compound to the interior of a cell using a time-dependent pressure impulse. These two patents describe a technique that is intended to deliver a low number (typically less than 20) of fast rise-time (typically less than 35 ns), high pressure magnitude (typically 250-350 bars) acoustic waves to a collection of biological cells. Simultaneous administration of a therapeutic compound and the acoustic wave(s), enhance the delivery of the compound compared to normal passive diffusion. Means are discussed for creation of the acoustic shock waves and for selection of compound dosages based on the therapeutic index.
The invention is a means of locally producing high frequency acoustic waves, analogous to ultrasound, in vivo for the purpose of enhancing the delivery of therapeutic compounds into cells. This technique involves treating diseased or hyper-proliferative cells, such as those responsible for vascular hyperplasia leading to restenosis, and carcinomas, neoplasms, and sarcomas. The compounds delivered may be chemotherapeutic drugs (such as Taxol, 5-Aminoaleuvenic acid, anthracyclines), antibiotics, photodynamic drugs (such as psoralans, porphyrin derivatives), or gene therapies (RNA, DNA).
The therapeutic compounds are administered systemically, or preferably locally to the targeted site. Local delivery can be accomplished through a needle, cannula, or through a variety of vascular catheters, depending on the location of routes of access. Natural barriers may be used to limit diffusion of the compounds, or mechanical barriers such as a balloon catheter to dam a drug within a blood vessel.
To enhance the systemic or local delivery of the therapeutic compounds, high frequency acoustic waves are simultaneously delivered. The acoustic waves are generated locally near the target site, and preferably near the site of compound administration. The acoustic waves are produced via laser radiation interaction with an absorbing media and can be produced via thermoelastic expansion, thermodynamic vaporization, material ablation, or plasma formation. Ideally, a thermoelastic or thermodynamic mechanism is employed. For example, as a short burst of laser radiation is deposited into a strongly absorbing material, the material rapidly heats and expands, sending an acoustic wave into the surrounding media. The laser radiation may be delivered to a remote location via a fiber optic passed through a catheter or other cannula. Absorption of laser radiation may take place in native tissues or fluids, in applied absorbing dyes, in the therapeutic compound, or in a transducer placed near the target sight. An ultrasound effect may be produced by the delivery of laser pulses at high frequencies, greater than 100 Hz, and preferably greater than 1000 Hz. This ultrasound has the effect of temporarily, but non-toxically permeabilizing the membranes of local cells, increasing the diffusion of the therapeutic compound into the cells. In this way, the effectiveness of the compounds may be increased, allowing for decreased total body dosages, decreased side effects, and enabling new therapies.

Optically generated ultrasound for enhanced drug delivery

The Regents of the University of California


A temperature responsive control valve is disclosed. The valve may have a housing having a hot inlet, a cold inlet and an outlet. A first valve member, and a second valve member, may be configured to move within the housing to selectively prevent and permit flow from the hot inlet and the cold inlet to the outlet when a sensed temperature is within predetermined ranges. A temperature responsive actuator may be disposed to move the first and second valve members within the housing in accordance with the sensed temperature. A first bias may be configured to bias the first valve member toward preventing flow from the hot inlet to the outlet, and a second bias may be configured to bias the second valve member toward preventing flow from the cold inlet to the outlet.

Typically, an engine cooling system has a pump to circulate coolant used to cool the engine, a radiator to cool the coolant and a bypass to allow coolant to circulate through the engine without being cooled by the radiator. In motor vehicles, a cabin heater is usually, provided so that the coolant warmed by the engine provides heating for any occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, the main engine coolant is often used to cool one or more additional heat exchangers or radiators such as a transmission oil cooler, a fuel cooler or an air-charge cooler. A temperature responsive control valve is provided to control the flow of coolant through the radiator and frequently also to control the flow of coolant through the bypass.
GB2401166A describes a temperature responsive flow control valve in which a housing has a hot inlet for connection to a bypass receiving hot coolant from an engine, a cold inlet for connection to a radiator and an outlet for a pumped return to the engine. A thermostat capsule has a pushrod which reacts against a spoked abutment and carries a flange which is a running clearance in a bore of the housing leading from the cold inlet. The capsule is carried in a valve spool having a flange with a seat which seals against the housing. When coolant in the hot inlet is below 80° C., the valve prevents flow from the hot and cold inlets and to the outlet but as the temperature rises above 80° the valve spool moves progressively towards the hot inlet to allow flow past the seat to allow flow from the hot inlet to the outlet. Further movement of the valve spool with increasing temperature at the hot inlet brings the flange out of the bore in the cold inlet to allow flow through the cold inlet past the flange.
However, the inventors herein have recognized several issues with such an approach. As one example, even though the pressure at the cold inlet is substantially the same as that at the outlet, if there is an excessive clearance between the flange and the bore in the cold inlet, there can be unwanted flow through the cold inlet even if the flange is still in the bore of the cold inlet.
Thus, in one example, the above issues may be addressed by providing a temperature responsive control valve for use in an engine cooling system where the above problem is eliminated or minimised. The temperature responsive control valve for use in an engine cooling system in which a pump circulates liquid coolant to an engine, coolant from the engine is returned to the pump through a radiator and a bypass arranged in parallel and the control valve controls flow as between the radiator and the bypass, the control valve having a housing defining a hot inlet which in use is connected to the bypass, a cold inlet which in use is connected to the radiator, an outlet which in use is connected to the pump, a first valve member to control the flow of coolant from the hot inlet to the outlet, a second valve member to control coolant flow from the cold inlet to the outlet and a temperature responsive actuator to move the first and second valve members, wherein the control valve is operable to substantially prevent coolant flow from the hot and cold inlets to the outlet when the temperature of the coolant sensed by the temperature responsive actuator is below a first predetermined temperature, to permit coolant flow only from the hot inlet to the outlet when the sensed temperature is between the first predetermined temperature and a second higher predetermined temperature and to permit coolant flow from both of the inlets to the outlet when the sensed temperature is above the second temperature, wherein the second valve member is spring biased onto a seat in the housing to prevent coolant flow from the cold inlet to the outlet when the temperature of the coolant sensed by the temperature responsive actuator is below the second predetermined temperature and is lifted from the seat by the first valve member when the temperature of the coolant sensed by the temperature responsive actuator exceeds the second predetermined temperature.
In some examples there may be a lost motion connection between the first valve member and the second valve member. A biasing spring may act between the first valve member and the second valve member.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Temperature responsive flow control valve for an engine cooling system


The present disclosure discloses a radiation treatment device and pertains to the field of medical appliance technologies. The radiation treatment device includes a radiotherapy unit and an imaging unit. The radiotherapy unit is configured to emit a treatment beam to a to-be-treated region in a patient, wherein the to-be-treated region in the patient is located outside the radiotherapy unit. The imaging unit is arranged adjacent to the radiotherapy unit and is configured to emit an imaging beam to the to-be-treated region in the patient. Without moving the to-be-treated region in a patient, the radiotherapy unit may emit the treatment beam to the to-be-treated region in the patient according to the treatment plan worked out to execute the radiation treatment, such that the accuracy of the radiation treatment is improved.

At present, to improve the speed and accuracy for tumor localization and radiation treatment, radiation treatment devices routinely combine radiotherapy units and imaging units, such that radiation treatment can be performed on patients without moving the patients from imaging rooms equipped with the imaging units to treatment rooms equipped with the radiotherapy units, and the radiation treatment procedures are as follows.
A patient is initially moved to an imaging unit by moving a treatment couch to complete tumor imaging, and a treatment plan is subsequently worked out based on the size and shape of the tumor in the images as well as surrounding tissues, etc. Next, the patient is moved to the radiotherapy unit by moving the treatment couch, and the treatment couch is properly located such that the tumor location corresponds to the tumor location in the treatment plan, and finally, the radiation treatment is executed for the tumor in the patient.
However, the treatment couch needs to be relocated before the radiation treatment device performs the radiation treatment on the tumor in the patient, which may lead to a location error of the treatment couch and thus may have a negative effect on the accuracy of the radiation treatment. Moreover, the imaging unit and the radiotherapy apparatus in the radiation treatment device cannot work simultaneously, and thus it is impossible to perform image-guided radiation treatment on the patient, particularly the patient subject to the radiation treatment.


A magnetic transfer method for transferring information signals recorded on a master medium onto a slave medium which is placed in pressure contact with the master medium by impressing a bias magnetic field wherein the relationship between the longitudinal remanent coercivity Hr.sub.1 of the master medium is equal to or twice the perpendicular remanent coercivity Hr.sub.2 of the slave medium.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magnetic transfer ring method for transferring information signals recorded on a master medium from the master medium to a slave medium.
2. Prior Art
As a method for duplicating a magnetic recording medium, on which video or audio signals are recorded previously, there is known a so-called magnetic transferring method, according to which a slave medium is placed in contact with a pre-recorded master medium, with the magnetic layers thereof in intimate contact with each other, and a bias magnetic field is applied under an optimum contacting state for transferring the magnetic recording on the master medium onto the slave medium.
Heretofore, when transferring magnetic recording by a magnetic transferring method, an apparatus adapter for impressing a bias magnetic field in the longitudinal direction of the medium, as described for example in the Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication No. 52-36004(1977), was used. Recently, there has come to be known an apparatus making use of a transfer drum formed of soft magnetic iron, as shown for example in Japanese Utility Model KOKAI Publication No. 63-44214(1988). This apparatus has an advantage that, since the bias magnetic field is impressed with emphasis in the perpendicular direction, it becomes possible to suppress demagnetization of the master medium by the bias magnetic field. Thus the apparatus is practically employed for preparing a so-called soft tape such as a video tape.
Meanwhile, with the above described magnetic transferring method, which is usually employed for mass production of soft tapes, it is required that the master medium undergoes lesser demagnetization even after repeated transfer operations. Demagnetization of the master medium depends on the bias magnetic field which is applied during the transfer operation. Thus, for suppressing demagnetization of the master medium, it is desired that the strength of the bias magnetic field necessary for the transfer operation be as low as practicable.
On the other hand, coercivity Hc.sub.2 of the slave medium is proportional to the strength of the bias magnetic field to be applied for the transfer operation. Thus, for suppressing demagnetization of the master medium and simultaneously increasing the transfer efficiency, it was felt that coercivity Hc.sub.2 of the slave medium and coercivity Hc.sub.1 of the master medium be related to each other by the formula (1) ##EQU1##
However, considering the anti-magnetic field in the perpendicular direction of the medium, coercivity in the longitudinal direction of the medium (longitudinal coercivity) is not critical. More specifically, in a medium having a longitudinal rectangular ratio R.sub.s closer to unity and lower switching field distribution (SFD), such as, for example, a Co-containing .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 tape or metal tape, it may occur that, while the longitudinal coercivity of the medium and the strength of the longitudinal reverse magnetizing field thereof coincide fairly well with each other, the perpendicular coercivity of the medium and the strength of perpendicular reverse magnetizing field thereof differ significantly from each other. That is, with the magnetic transferring method, when the bias magnetic field is impressed in the longitudinal direction, if the relation ##EQU2## is satisfied, it becomes possible to reduce demagnetization of the master medium by the bias magnetic field to thereby obtain satisfactory characteristics. However, through our repeated experiments, it has now been found that, when the bias magnetic field is impressed in the perpendicular direction, demagnetization of the master medium can not necessarily be suppressed even when a master medium-slave medium combination satisfy the relation ##EQU3## or the relation ##EQU4## is used and an optimum bias magnetic field for the slave medium is impressed for the transfer operation. Thus, with the magnetic transferring method in which the bias magnetic field is impressed in the perpendicular direction, a new information concerning the condition to be satisfied by the master medium and the slave medium is necessary for suppressing demagnetization of the master medium and improving the transfer efficiency.


There is provided a flavor composition that can impart and augment the natural, fresh and milk-rich feeling of dairy products to a necessary and sufficient level, which is a flavor composition for milk, dairy products, foods or beverages containing milk and dairy products, or dairy product substitutes, characterized by containing a trace amount of one or more disulfide compounds selected from the group consisting of methyl 2-methyl-3-furyl disulfide, bis(2-methyl-3-furyl)disulfide, methyl furfuryl disulfide and difurfuryl disulfide, as dairy products to which the flavor composition is added.

The demand for products of greater variety is increasing with the ever-diversifying preferences of consumers in recent years. There is, particularly in the foods and beverages industry, a strong demand for development of various and diverse foods and beverages that can satisfy consumer preferences. Currently, this demand is not being satisfactorily met with only the aroma compounds proposed and studied in the prior art as flavors and fragrances that are among the starting materials for foods, beverages and cosmetic products.
It has therefore become urgent to provide a variety of aroma substances having unique fragrance and flavor properties that are new to the prior art and can meet the needs of different individual products, and to develop a natural flavor composition that can impart a natural flavor conforming to consumer desires for natural products, as well as foods and beverages containing it. A particular demand exists for aroma compounds with more natural flavors for dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese.
Such flavor is an aromatic flavor that includes a natural feel evocative of fresh milk, a non-degenerated fresh feel similar to sterilized milk, and a warm, milk-rich feeling that approaches that of milk fat or milk itself.
The compound 4-methyl-5-thiazoleethanol (sulfurol) is known in the prior art to impart a natural, milk-rich feeling and flavor characteristic of dairy products (see Non-patent document 1). This compound, however, has not been found in dairy products. Also, since the compound has a threshold of 10,800 ppb (see Non-patent document 2) and is not associated with a strong aroma, it has been necessary to add a substantial amount of the compound to flavor compositions in order to exhibit characteristic odor.
It has been proposed that the thick and voluminous texture characteristic of milk can be imparted to and augmented in dairy products by adding 3-methylnonane-2,4-dione, a compound found in vegetables and teas (see Patent document 1). However, although the compound can impart a thick and voluminous texture to dairy products, its effect of imparting a natural and fresh feel similar to freshly obtained milk has been insufficient.    [Patent document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-52330    [Non-patent document 1] Kouryou, 153, 37-, 1987    [Non-patent document 2] Perfumer & Flavorist, 16, Jan./Feb., 1-19, 1991


A rocker arm for a valve train assembly includes: a first body; a second body mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the first body; and a latching arrangement. The latching arrangement includes a latch pin drivable in response to an external actuator from a first position in which the first body and the second body are un-latched to a second position in which the latch pin latches the first body and the second body together. The latching arrangement includes a piston member and a first biasing member. The piston member is arranged such that if the external actuator attempts to cause the latch pin to be driven from the first position to the second position at a time when the latch pin is prevented from being driven, the piston member moves to bias the biasing member so that the biasing member urges the latch pin to the second position.

Rocker arms for control of valve actuation by switching between at least two or more modes of operation are well known. Such rocker arms typically involve multiple bodies, such as an inner arm and an outer arm that are latched together by a latch pin to provide one mode of operation and are unlatched, and hence can pivot with respect to each other, to provide a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation may, for example, be a normal engine cylinder combustion mode in which the latched rocker arms pivot together as a single body in response to a rotating cam profile in order to operate a cylinder valve and the second mode of operation may, for example, be a cylinder de-activation mode in which one of the un-latched rocker arms pivots with respect to the other rocker arm in response to the rotating cam profile and absorbs the action of the cam profile as 'lost motion' without exerting a force on the cylinder valve which remains closed.
In some valve train assemblies that comprise such rocker arms the latch pins of the rocker arm are caused to be moved from an un-latched position to a latched position by an actuator that is external to the rocker arms.
It is known that in some circumstances, when it is required for the latch pin to be moved into the latched position, the timing at which the external actuator is activated must be controlled very precisely otherwise the actuator may attempt to cause the latch pin to move at a time when the latch pin is unable to move, for example, because of the current orientation of the two bodies of the rocker arm.
It is therefore desirable to provide improved a rocker arm.


An apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to receive a digital image comprising a current pixel and a plurality of nearby pixels, determine a pixel intensity of the current pixel, wherein the pixel intensity comprises a noise component, and reduce the noise component by applying a bilateral filter as a combination of a domain filter and a range filter on the current pixel, wherein the domain filter is dependent on the pixel intensity and geometric closeness between the current pixel and the nearby pixels, and wherein the range filter is dependent on the pixel intensity and photometric similarity between the current pixel and the nearby pixels.

Random noise captured by digital cameras may degrade the quality and authenticity of resulting digital images. For example, when a digital camera capture images in low-light conditions, an image sensor on the digital camera may receive insufficient light, which may result in an under-exposed image. The under-exposed image may appear faded and blurry due to noises in image pixels. Furthermore, inexpensive camera sensors found in some mobile electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets may exacerbate the problem by introducing additional noise. Thus, denoising filters configured to reduce or remove noises from images may help improve image quality.

Bilateral denoising for digital camera images


A partial Fourier Transform is performed, using Goertzel's algorithm, to calculate two frequency bins. A phase variation is calculated for each bin, the phase variation preferably representing the phase difference between the bin calculated by a Fourier Transform performed on samples in a guard interval and the bin calculated by a Fourier Transform performed on matching samples within the useful part of the symbol. The local oscillator frequency offset is compensated by summing the phase variations, and the sampling frequency offset is compensated by taking the difference between the phase variations.

A conventional OFDM receiver has a demodulator which has to be tuned very accurately to the received signal. The receiver sampling clock must also be accurately aligned to the received signal. Normally, the demodulator carries out coarse frequency synchronisation (signal acquisition) and fine frequency tuning or tracking. The demodulator also performs coarse timing (OFDM symbol synchronisation) and fine sample clock synchronisation.
The present invention is primarily concerned with fine frequency tuning and fine sample clock synchronisation. Various arrangements are known for carrying out these operations in such a way as to minimise the effect of multipath interference, which can give rise to inter-symbol-interference (ISI). Some such arrangements rely upon each OFDM symbol comprising a "useful part" and a "guard space", the guard space sometimes being referred to as a guard interval, cyclic extension or cyclic prefix. The guard space precedes the useful part of the symbol and contains a repeat of the data at the end of the useful part.
In some prior art arrangements, time-domain samples which are spaced apart by the useful symbol period are cross-correlated to achieve symbol synchronisation, fine frequency correction and sample clock adjustment. Other arrangements derive fine frequency and sampling timing control signals from the output of the conventionally-provided fast Fourier Transform (FFT) block which is provided for demodulation of the time-domain samples.
It would be desirable to provide an improved technique for dealing with fine frequency and/or sampling clock offsets.
According to the present invention an OFDM receiver has, in addition to an FFT block for extracting data from a received signal, a further means for performing a partial and/or reduced Fourier transform on received time domain samples. A "partial" FT is one in which only a subset of the frequency bins is calculated. A "reduced" FT is one which has a set of bins which is smaller than the set which is used to demodulate the OFDM signal, i.e. it is a short FT. The partial and/or reduced Fourier transform can derive a phase variation value, for a particular frequency output bin, which represents an error resulting from mis-tuning of the local oscillator frequency. Alternatively, or additionally, the contents of two output bins of the partial and/or reduced FFT car be evaluated to determine two separate phase variations, any difference between those phase variations resulting from an error in the sample clock frequency. Accordingly, the partial and/or reduced FT can provide signals for correcting the local oscillator frequency and/or the sample clock.
In the preferred embodiment, each phase variation represents the difference between the phase angles of the same output bin for different parts of the OFDM symbol, those different parts containing the same data. This is done by performing the partial and/or reduced FT on samples of the guard space and the matching samples in the useful part of the symbol. In this embodiment, because several samples in the guard space match corresponding samples in the useful part of the symbol, it is sufficient to perform a reduced FT on groups of samples. Only one or two bins need to be calculated.
In an alternative embodiment, which is particularly applicable to OFDM transmissions containing pilot signals of known value, each phase variation can represent the difference between the phase of the complex sample in a particular output bin and the expected phase of a pilot signal. In this embodiment, it is necessary to resolve an individual pilot symbol, so one or two frequency bins of a full FT are calculated.

Compensation of sampling frequency offset and local oscillator frequency offset in a OFDM receiver


A medical apparatus includes a socket unit for connecting a plug unit of a device for supplying medical fluids, in which the medical apparatus is in particular an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, for example an extracorporeal dialysis apparatus or an apparatus for peritoneal dialysis, or an apparatus for filling the device for supplying medical fluids. The socket unit comprises connection pieces for the connection of connectors of a plug unit, so that a flow connection can be produced for supplying or discharging a fluid. The connection pieces are surrounded by connection parts thereby forming rinsing chambers, in which the rinsing chambers are closed by closure pieces, said closure pieces being part of a closure body which is disposed rotatably on the socket unit.

Various connectors are known for the connection of external components to medico-technical apparatuses. The access to the medico-technical apparatuses generally takes place by means of plugs, which are inserted into matching sockets of the medico-technical apparatuses. In this regard, the medico-technical apparatuses, which will be referred to generally below as medical apparatuses, comprise a corresponding socket unit, whilst the external components comprise a plug unit.
For the treatment of patients with kidney disease, use is made of blood treatment apparatuses, which include in particular the known extracorporeal dialysis apparatuses or apparatuses for peritoneal dialysis. The preparation of medical treatment fluids is required for cleaning the patient's blood. These include, for example, dialysing fluid or substitution fluid. In so-called automatic peritoneal dialysis (APD) or acute dialysis, the medical treatment fluids are automatically processed in the blood treatment apparatuses. The treatment fluids are prepared in fluid reservoirs, which are connected to the blood treatment apparatuses.
The fresh dialysing fluid is pumped from the fluid reservoir into the blood treatment apparatus. The fluid reservoir can already contain a concentrate which is diluted with water. In this case, the fluid reservoir only has to be filled with water. In this connection, therefore, water is understood to mean a medical fluid. It is also possible for a plurality of fluid reservoirs to be connected to a blood treatment apparatus, if a treatment fluid ready for use is produced in the treatment apparatus by mixing a plurality of fluids. The connection of the fluid reservoir to the blood treatment apparatuses again takes place with a plug unit, which is inserted into a socket unit of the blood treatment apparatus.
For the filling of devices for supplying dialysing fluid, apparatuses are known to which the devices for supplying dialysing fluid can be connected. The apparatuses for the filling therefore in turn comprise a socket unit which can be connected to the plug unit of the device for supplying dialysing fluid.
A device for supplying a treatment fluid is described for example in European Application No. EP 0 575 970 A2. The known device for supplying dialysing fluid comprises a bag for accommodating the fluid, to which a hose line is connected, which at its free end is connected to a plug. The dialysis apparatus comprises a socket into which the plug is inserted. Two flow connections can be produced with the plug and the socket, in order to convey fresh dialysing fluid from the bag into the dialysis apparatus and used dialysing fluid back into the bag. To secure the plug in the socket against slipping out, the plug comprises latching noses which engage in the recesses of the socket when the plug is fully inserted into the socket.
The connection of the device for supplying medical fluids to the blood treatment apparatus or an apparatus for the filling of the device for supplying medical fluids should be as straightforward and reliable as possible for the medical personnel. The socket unit should be able to be rinsed with a rinsing fluid for the purpose of disinfection.
A socket unit for a dialysis apparatus is described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2009/074588 A1, said socket unit being able to be rinsed with a rinsing fluid. The socket of the socket unit comprises a cylindrical housing body, in which a connection piece for a connector of a plug unit is disposed. For the purpose of rinsing, the housing body of the socket unit is closed by a closure piece, so that the cylindrical recess in the housing body forms a rinsing chamber through which the rinsing fluid flows. The closure piece is guided displaceably on the housing body of the socket unit between a first position in which the rinsing chamber is closed and a second position in which the rinsing chamber is open.

Medical apparatus with a socket unit for the connection of a device for supplying medical fluids


A system and method for synchronizing records stored in differing formats in a shared data environment. One aspect of the invention involves distinguishing a record without regard to its format. Once a record is introduced into the environment, it is detected. A record tag, unique to the environment, is generated and associated with the record. When synchronizing, only those records with equivalent record tags are compared and updated.

In today's computer networks, sharing data among devices has become desirable if not essential. Not only does the shared data need to be replicated on each device, but the set of replicated data must be synchronized so that changes made to one replica are reflected in all the others. Synchronization enables many users to work with their own local copy of shared data but have the shared data updated as if they were working on a single, centralized database. For shared data applications where users are geographically widely distributed, replication and synchronization are often the most efficient methods for effectively utilizing shared data.
In addition to desktop computers, workstations, and servers, modern computing environments often include lightweight handheld computing devices that fit into a pocket, purse, or day planner. Modern computing environments range from private networks to the Internet. Although a wide range of application programs can be executed on handheld computers, shared data applications are particularly popular and well suited for these devices. Shared data applications include, among many others, electronic calendars and task lists, electronic mail organizers, and electronic address books. A device running one or more of these applications stores electronic data that is or can be replicated and shared with other devices. It is desirable, if not essential, then to at least periodically synchronize data stored on each device. For example, many calendaring applications allow devices to share data or records concerning each user's appointments. It is important that when a new appointment is added or an existing appointment is modified on one device that addition or change is reflected on all devices providing calendaring.
Where the shared data applications on each device use the same data formats, synchronization is a relatively simple process. However, modern computing environments tend to be more complex, often having devices from multiple manufacturers, each with differing data formats making it difficult to accurately synchronize shared data. For example, where the data for one appointment is stored in one format on one device and in a second format on the other, synchronization sometimes results in the duplication of the appointment on each device.


A resonator (1) for electromagnetic waves with a stabilizer can, for example, be part of a mode-coupled fiber laser. The stabilizer (2) is provided to stabilize the effective length of the resonator (1). Stabilization is accomplished in a first embodiment via two temperature controllers (3, 4) controlling the temperature of a first portion (L1) and the temperature of a second portion (L2) of the resonator (1). The temperature of the second portion (L2) is controlled as a function of an error signal generated by deviations of the resonator (1) from a nominal length. The second portion (L2) is significantly shorter than the first portion (L1).

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a resonator for electromagnetic waves with a stabilizer for stabilizing the effective length of the resonator. In addition, the invention relates to a method for stabilizing the length of a resonator.
2. Description of Related Art
A resonator for electromagnetic waves is, for example, an optical wave guide which forms part of a fiber laser. Fiber lasers are known in the art, for example, from X. Shan et al., "Stabilizing Er Fiber Soliton Laser With Pulse Phase Locking", Electronics Letters, 16 Jan. 1992, Vol. 28, No. 2, pages 182 to 184. Described therein is an active mode coupled fiber laser. The fiber laser is constructed as a ring laser and serves as an optical pulse generator. Into the fiber ring there is inserted, among others, a piezo-electric element, a phase modulator, and a coupler for coupling out a portion of the light. By applying the voltage to the piezo-electric element, the fiber segment around which the piezo-electric element is wound can be stretched; in this way, the length of the fiber segment can be changed. A portion of the light from the fiber ring is coupled out by the coupler and conveyed to a phase control device which generates the voltage for the piezo-electric element.
It is noted in the aforementioned publication that fiber lasers can be very sensitive to changes in temperature, i.e. the length of the fiber ring can change as a result of, e.g., temperature variations which can lead to an unstable laser operation. This poses a problem in particular in data transmission technology where minute instabilities can already cause unacceptable bit error rates. The piezo-electric element is capable of reducing the effect of a temperature dependent change in length, because the fiber segment can be stretched more or less depending on the magnitude and the direction of the change in length.
In this way, the length, or more accurately, the effective lengths of the fiber ring (resonator) is stabilized. For the effective lengths L.sub.eff holds: L.sub.eff =.sqroot..sub.68 .times.L.sub.geo, with the dielectric constant .epsilon. and the geometrical length L.sub.geo ; for optical applications, .sqroot..epsilon. is equal to the index of refraction n and the term "optical length" is used.
As an alternative to the aforedescribed concept, the optical length of a fiber segment can also be stabilized by controlling the temperature of the fiber segment. The required accuracy of the control of about .+-.0.01.degree. C. requires, however, a substantial technical investment.

Resonator for electromagnetic waves with a stabilizer and method for stabilizing the length of the resonator


Rule based data object matching to determine if two or more objects are similar to allow the objects to be merged into one master data object. The rules explicitly state what conditions are required to consider two or more objects equal. The certainty of the rule may be specified. Examples for the certainty are automatic, manual high, medium and low probability. For example, the certainty “automatic” specifies that the objects can be considered matches and no additional manual verification is needed. The certainty “manual low probability” specifies that there is a low probability that the objects are matches and that a manual verification is needed. Matching rules may be grouped by priority. If matches are not found, the next highest priority group of rules is processed. Hierarchical matching rules may be specified that are able to express similarity of objects considering structured objects containing sub-objects in a hierarchical manner.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to the field of computer software. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable systems to apply a set of rules to determine if two or more data objects are similar in accordance with that the defined set of rules. Subsequent processes make use of the similarity information. Examples are the merging of similar objects to one resulting object and reporting using aggregated information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern businesses have a need to utilize stored business data to make effective business decisions. When the data in these systems is not shared and made consistent, inefficiencies occur. Achieving consistent data across multiple distributed heterogeneous systems is difficult. Establishing effective communication links between disparate systems is a prerequisite to making the data consistent, but does not alone solve the problem. Even when data is effectively shared throughout an organization, problems still arise in that over the course of time the data may exist in different forms and models. Since the achievement of data consistency is difficult it is common for companies to maintain data in independent realms. For example, because of the difficulties associated with merging data, some companies independently maintain data for each of their different corporate divisions and only utilize such data for business decisions relevant to a particular corporate division. The maintenance of independent systems often occurs during mergers and acquisitions where company systems are almost certainly heterogeneous and typically utilize radically different structures and data models.
To solve the data consistency problem and leverage the commonalities of data for the benefit of the company, companies typically seek to coordinate interaction between heterogeneous systems by identifying similar and overlapping data and then coordinating the integration of such data in a way that ensures the data stays consistent across different systems. Effectively accomplishing such coordination is difficult at best and tends to lead to organizational inefficiencies. One approach some organizations use is to maintain what is known as master data. Master data may be thought of as the definitive version of a data object. Solutions for coordinating the data, i.e., storing, augmenting and consolidating master data, are generally primitive and lack matching capabilities. Moreover, the fact that master data may exist does little to provide information technology personnel with insight about the process used in determining if an object matches another object.
Failing to successfully coordinate master data objects yields data object redundancies and inconsistencies that disrupt the business decision-making process and increase the overall cost of doing business. Furthermore, customer service suffers from incomplete data requiring customers to call multiple places within the same company to obtain the required information. In some cases the failure to efficiently service customers causes enough frustration that it begins to result in decreased customer loyalty and leads to a loss of customers.
Because of the limitations described above there is a need for a system and method that can effectively coordinate master data objects across an enterprise.

Rule-based database object matching with comparison certainty


An orthopaedic prosthesis for cementless fixation has a solid metal base and porous metal pegs extending out from the base. The pegs are mechanically, rather than metallurgically, fixed to the base. A process for making such a prosthesis is also disclosed.

During the lifetime of a patient, it may be necessary to perform a joint replacement procedure on the patient as a result of, for example, disease or trauma. The joint replacement procedure may involve the use of a prosthesis that is implanted into one or more of the patient's bones. In the case of a knee replacement procedure, a tibial tray is implanted into the patient's tibia. A bearing is then secured to the tibial tray. The condyle surfaces of a replacement femoral component bear against the tibial bearing.
One type of knee prosthesis is a fixed-bearing knee prosthesis. As its name suggests, the bearing of a fixed-bearing knee prosthesis does not move relative to the tibial tray. Fixed-bearing designs are commonly used when the condition of the patient's soft tissue (i.e., knee ligaments) does not allow for the use of a knee prosthesis having a mobile bearing.
In contrast, in a mobile-bearing type of knee prosthesis, the bearing can move relative to the tibial tray. Mobile-bearing knee prostheses include so-called "rotating platform" knee prostheses, wherein the bearing can rotate about a longitudinal axis on the tibial tray.
Tibial trays are commonly made of a biocompatible metal, such as a cobalt chrome alloy or a titanium alloy.
For both fixed and mobile-bearing knee prostheses, the tibial trays may be designed to be cemented into place on the patient's tibia or alternatively may be designed for cementless fixation. Cemented fixation relies on mechanical bonds between the tibial tray and the cement as well as between the cement and the bone. Cementless implants generally have surface features that are conducive to bone ingrowth into the implant component and rely to a substantial part on this bony ingrowth for secondary fixation; primary fixation is achieved through the mechanical fit of the implant and the prepared bone.
Tibial components of both fixed and mobile-bearing and cemented and cementless knee arthroplasty systems are commonly modular components, comprising a tibial tray and a polymeric bearing carried by the tibial tray. The tibial trays commonly include features extending distally, such as pegs or stems. These extensions penetrate below the surface of the tibial plateau and stabilize the tibial tray component against movement. In cementless tibial implants, the outer surfaces of these extensions are typically porous to allow for bone ingrowth. For example, in the Zimmer Trabecular Metal Monoblock tibial trays, pegs with flat distal surfaces and hexagonal axial surfaces are formed completely of a porous metal. In such trays, bone ingrowth is likely to occur along all surfaces of the pegs, including the distal surfaces.
Femoral components of such knee prosthesis systems are also designed for either cemented or cementless fixation. For cemented fixation, the femoral component typically includes recesses or cement pockets. For cementless fixation, the femoral component is designed for primary fixation through a press-fit, and includes porous bone-engaging surfaces suitable for bone ingrowth. Both designs may include pegs designed to extend into prepared holes in the femur for stabilization of the implant.
On occasion, the primary knee prosthesis fails. Failure can result from many causes, including wear, aseptic loosening, osteolysis, ligamentous instability, arthrofibrosis and patellofemoral complications. When the failure is debilitating, revision surgery may be necessary. In a revision, the primary knee prosthesis (or parts of it) is removed and replaced with components of a revision prosthetic system.
When the tibial or femoral implant includes extensions (such as pegs or stems) that extend into the natural bone, a revision surgery usually requires resection of the bone in order to dislodge the extensions from the bone. This resection complicates the surgery and does not dislodge the extensions from the bone, and subsequent removal of the implant with the intact extensions often results in the removal of more of the patient's natural bone than is desirable. This removal of additional bone may further compromise the bone, increase the risk of onset of bone pathologies or abnormalities, or reduce the available healthy bone for fixation of the revision implant. Moreover, the large resection usually means that a larger orthopaedic implant is necessary to fill the space and restore the joint component to its expected geometry.
This difficulty in dislodging the primary implant components from the bones is worsened by the fact that bone also grows into the extensions. Severing these connections may be problematic since not all of these areas are easily accessible without resecting large amounts of bone.
Similar issues may be presented in other types of joint prostheses.
The assignee of the present application has filed patent applications related to the use of porous metal pegs in prostheses. These patent applications include the following: U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20110029090 A1 entitled "Prosthesis With Modular Extensions"; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20110035017 A1 entitled "Prosthesis With Cut-Off Pegs And Surgical Method"; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20110035018 A1 entitled "Prosthesis With Composite Component"; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20110106268 A1 entitled "Prosthesis For Cemented Fixation And Method For Making The Prosthesis". The disclosures of all of these patent applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Use of the extensions disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20110035017, allows the surgeon to cut along the bone-engaging surface of the implant and through the porous metal extensions extending into the bone from the tibial tray platform. This can be accomplished using a bone saw to easily remove the tibial platform during revision surgery. To remove the extensions from the bone, the surgeon may then cut around the outer perimeter of each extension with a saw such as a trephine saw. Each extension may then be readily removed from the bone.
U.S. Pat. Pub. Nos. 20110106268, 20110035017, 20110029092 and 20110029090 disclose sintering porous metal pegs onto a solid metal base as well as mounting the porous metal pegs on solid metal studs without sintering (through a Morse taper connection, for example). Sintering to form a metallurgical bond can be challenging in practice, particularly if the solid metal base comprises a Co—Cr—Mo alloy and the peg comprises a titanium foam; these metals are not compatible at sintering temperatures and bonding between these metals can result in the formation of brittle intermetallic materials at the interface. These brittle intermetallic materials can have unacceptable mechanical properties. Accordingly, for some materials, a mechanical connection is preferable. And while means of mechanically connecting porous and solid metal parts of an implant component disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. Nos. 20110106268, 20110035017, 20110029092 and 20110029090, it is desirable to explore other options for mechanical connecting porous and solid metal parts, options that may be more cost-effective or may result in advantageous properties.

Mechanical assembly of pegs to prosthesis


The present invention provides a method for molding an over-molded part by a multi-shot molding method. The method of the invention comprises combining a first mold section having one or more retractable tool portions and a second mold section to form a first mold cavity. A first thermoplastic resin is injected into a first mold cavity to form a first molded part. Subsequently, the second mold section is separated from the second mold section such that the first molded part remains in contact with the first mold section. The retractable tool portion is retracted to expose one or more channels. Next, a third mold section is combined with the first mold section to form a second mold cavity. A second thermoplastic resin is then injected into the second mold cavity to form the over-molded part which may then be removed from the mold section. The present invention also provides a method in which a first mold section having one or more retractable tool portions is combined with a second mold section also having one or more tool sections. Finally, the present invention also provides a molding apparatus which executes the methods of the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
In at least one aspect, the present invention relates methods and equipment for forming an over-molded component, and in particular, to methods and equipment for forming an over-molded component with regions that are difficult to access.
2. Background Art
Multishot molding is a type of injection molding process in which a plastic part having several different colors or several different resins is formed. For example, in two shot molding a plastic part is formed from two different materials. This process is easily automated and able to produce success parts such as buttons and gear wheels with a firm core yet a soft feel. Although multi-material molding is a relatively new molding technology in the United States, it has been popular in Europe for a number of years. Multishot molding is particularly useful for hard and soft combinations of resins, multicolored components, housing or connectors with seals or gaskets, grips and tactile applications, back-lit graphics, weatherproofing, and vibration reduction.
In the typical two shot method, a first resin is injected into the molding apparatus to form a pre-molded part. Next, a second unit injects a second resin onto the premolded part. Typically, the two shot process is automated to form articles having different combinations of resins or colors. Although the two shot process works well, problems occur when it is necessary to over-coat (i.e., over mold) isolated regions in the first resin with the second resin. Such isolated regions occur in a part such as a vehicle console panel when ridges in the part isolate a tray or other recess in the console.
Accordingly, there is a need for two shot molding processes in which isolated regions in a molded part can be overcoated with a second resin.

Method of over-molding TPE components using zero gate

International Automotive Components Group North America


An electrical cable includes first and second conductive strips and an electrically insulative base extending between and joining the first and second conductive strips and electrically isolating the first conductive strip from the second conductive strip. The first and second conductive strips each include an electrically conductive thermoplastic resin in contact with a longitudinally continuous electrical conductor, the electrically conductive thermoplastic resin having a lower electrical conductivity than the electrical conductor. The electrically conductive thermoplastic resin forms an exposed surface of the cable and a field of fastener elements extending from the exposed surface. Lighting systems and electrical fastening devices include similar features.

Electrical cables are often used to conduct electricity between a power source and an electrical device. These electrical cables are sometimes secured in place to provide a fixed electrical conduction path between the power source and the electrical device. For example, in many interior lighting applications, the electrical cables are kept securely behind a wall.
It is often desirable to move an electrical device relative to a power source. Thus, many electrical devices include an electrical cable in the form of a power cord that can move with the electrical device while remaining connected to a fixed power source. For example, many reading lamps include a power cord that electrically connects the reading lamp to a power outlet, and the shape of the power cord changes when a user repositions the reading lamp relative to the power outlet.


The present invention relates to a method for forming a uniform protective outer coating of pyrolytic graphite on a graphite chuck which is used for supporting a started filament in the manufacture of carbon free polycrystalline silicon.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of producing carbon-free polycrystalline silicon by the pyrolysis of a gaseous silicon compound. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved graphite chuck and to a method of protection for a graphite chuck used to support the heated starter filament which thermally decomposes the gaseous silicon compound such that silicon is deposited on the starter filament without carbon contamination.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Polycrystalline rods are primarily used as precursors for making single crystal rods for the semiconductor industry by either the float zone melting process or by the Czochralski crystal pulling technique. These single crystal rods are then processed to form silicon wafers from which silicon chips are made.
Generally, polycrystalline rods are made by the pyrolytic decomposition of a gaseous silicon compound, such as silane or a chlorosilane (e.g., trichlorosilane) on a rod-shaped, red-heated starter filament made preferably from a silicon seed rod or, alternatively, from a high-melting point metal having good electrical conductivity such as tungsten or tantalum. The principles of the design of present state-of-the-art reactors for the pyrolysis of silane and chlorosilanes are set forth in, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,147,141, 4,147,814, and 4,150,168, which are incorporated herein by reference as if set out in full. It is generally more desirable to prepare the polycrystalline silicon rods by silane pyrolysis so as to avoid the complications caused by the formation of chloride by-products when pyrolyzing chlorosilanes.
The pyrolysis of silane to form silicon and hydrogen, or a chlorosilane which produces chloride-containing compounds such as HCl, SiHCL.sub.2 or the like as well as hydrogen, is performed in a reactor consisting of a series of heated filaments, generally silicon rods, surrounded by cooled surfaces. Typically, the filaments are heated by introducing an electrical current through the filament. The process is started with the silicon filament at ambient temperature.
The polycrystalline silicon is produced by heterogeneous decomposition of the silane or chlorosilane on the glowing hot silicon filament rod. The reaction deposits silicon on the surface of the rod and releases hydrogen gas if the silicon is formed by the decomposition of the silane, or hydrogen gas in conjunction with other chloride-containing by-product compounds if the source of the silicon is a chlorosilane.
One of the major objectives in the production of polycrystalline silicon is to produce a silicon rod which is as pure as possible. Even slight amounts of contaminants have a major impact on the efficacy of the silicon chips which are ultimately made from this precursor polycrystalline silicon. The prior art techniques for making polycrystalline silicon have had the problem of coping with various contaminants, including carbon. The present invention is specifically directed to reducing the amount of carbon which may be present in such a polycrystalline silicon rod.
While it has been recognized that carbon is undesirably present as a contaminant in the polysilicon rod, there has been no appreciation or recognition as to what the source of such carbon is or how it is contaminating the polysilicon rod. Indeed, without being able to determine the source for such contamination or the means by which such contamination takes place, a solution to this problem has long been awaited.

Method for protecting a graphite chuck for a starter filament in the manufacture of polycrystalline silicon


There is provided an electronic apparatus which once makes a user conscious of copyright and the like of digital data, such as audio data and image data, when the user records the digital data or performs the like processing, and then allows the user to use the digital data without annoying him any longer concerning the copyright and the like of digital data, a data recording method for the electronic apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the data recording method. The electronic apparatus is capable of performing a plurality of processes including a specific process execution of which is restricted in advance. A notification section notifies a user of a message calling the user's attention to the specific process in response to an instruction issued on the specific process. A function-setting section sets a specific function according to the notification of the message. An execution restriction-removal section removes restriction on the execution of the specific process and stops the function of the notification section, based on the set specific function.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly to an electronic apparatus that deals with digital data, such as audio data and image data, a data recording method for the electronic apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the data recording method.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a method of preventing unauthorized duplication of audio digital data, such as performance data, is employed in which a duplication-inhibiting flag is set in advance to an unassigned bit of data which is not necessary for processing the audio digital data, e.g. in playback of the performance data, and when an apparatus that deals with the digital data detects such a duplication-inhibiting flag set in performance data to be processed, the recording function (sound data recording, image data recording, etc.) of the apparatus is disabled or limited so as to inhibit the duplication of the data.
This function of inhibiting duplication is provided for preventing a user ignorant of the importance of copyright from performing unauthorized duplication of data and transferring the duplicate to a third person or appropriating part (or all) of another person's work for the user's own work without proper authorization.
However, not all acts associated with duplication of works are prohibited, and duplication of a work for a user's private pleasure is not regarded as an illegal act. Therefore, it raises a problem to place excessive restriction on acts of good users who understand the importance of copyright and perform duplication of data within a duly limited scope.
To avoid such a problem, apparatuses have come into use which have a function of giving a warning to a user whenever the user issues an instruction for copying data. Although the apparatuses caution users as to copying of data, they give the same user the same warning in the same situation. However, in spite of understanding the importance of copyright and taking heed thereof, if a user is given the same warning repeatedly as he becomes accustomed to the use of such an apparatus, he cannot help feeling the cautioning message pesky or bothersome. Further, the operation for clearing the warning message before each copying operation is troublesome, and causes a has beente of time and labor.

Electronic apparatus, data recording method for the electronic apparatus, and storage medium storing program for executing the data recording method


An expandable pelletized material comprising    A) a polymer matrix composed of            A1) at least 55% by weight of polyester (based on the entirety of components A1) and A2)) with a total enthalpy of fusion of up to 60 J/g, optionally of one or more melting points in the range from 100 to 300° C. and of one or more glass transition temperatures in the range from 0 to 250° C., and        A2) from 0 to 45% by weight (based on the entirety of components A1) and A2)) of one or more thermoplastic polymers different from component A1);            B) a physical blowing agent component, and    C) optionally further additivesis suitable for producing moldable foams for use in the automobile industry, airline industry, construction industry, packaging industry, sports and leisure industry, in transport, in engineering, in lightweight construction, and/or in composite construction.

The invention relates to an expandable pelletized material based on polyester, to moldable foams and foam moldings obtainable therefrom, to processes for producing these, and also to the use of the same as structural foam and/or insulation foam.
Foams based on polyester have a comparatively small range of applications, because of problems in process technology and because of densities that are usually high in comparison with polystyrene foams or with polyurethane foams.
Low-density polyester foams are known by way of example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,719. U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,702 describes extruded foam sheets based on a mixture made of polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,985 discloses polycarbonate foams which were foamed via depressurization of a pelletized material in contact with CO2 under pressure.
Despite these advances, there remains a high level of demand for expandable pelletized polyester materials and polyester foams, where these exhibit not only low density but also good processibility. Moldable foams here feature extensive freedom in the shaping of the foam components, and provide a high level of resource conservation in use, since the density of the foam, and thus the amount of raw material required, and the properties of the foam, can be adjusted during the prefoaming process. These foam beads can then be foamed to give slabs or complex moldings in a single operation.

Expandable pelletized materials based on polyester


The X-ray CT apparatus of the embodiment includes an X-ray generating part, an X-ray detector, a reconstruction function setting part, and a reconstruction processor. The X-ray generating part generates X-rays while rotating in a circuital orbit around the subject. The X-ray detector has a plurality of channels and detects the X-rays transmitted through the subject in each channel. The reconstruction function setting part sets the reconstruction function using statistics representing the statistical dispersion of the X-ray amount of the detected X-rays and a predetermined reference reconstruction function. The reconstruction processor carries out the reconstructing the projection data based on the detected X-rays based on the reconstruction function and produces image data.

An X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) system scans subjects (CT imaging) using X-rays. In addition, the X-ray CT apparatus is a system that images the inside of the subject by processing the collected data through a computer.
Specifically, the X-ray CT apparatus radiates X-rays a plurality of times onto the subject from different directions. In addition, the X-ray CT apparatus detects the X-rays transmitted through the subject through an X-ray detector. A plurality of detection data is collected through detection. The collected detection data is A/D converted by a data collector. The detected data is subsequently transmitted to a console device. The console device produces projection data by carrying out preprocessing, etc. on the detected data. Then, the console device carries out reconstruction processing based on the projection data. The console device produces tomographic image data or volume data based on a plurality of tomographic image data by reproduction. The volume data is a data set representing the three-dimensional distribution of CT values corresponding to the three-dimensional regions of the subject.
Reconstruction processing is carried out on the projection data, for example, by providing convolution and back projection using a reconstruction function. The reconstruction function influences by the S/N, granularity, etc. of images (image data) obtained through reconstruction processing.
In addition, regarding the reconstruction function, a single reconstruction function is selected from among a plurality of predetermined reconstruction functions in single CT imaging based on the imaging conditions and experience of the operator and is applied. The imaging conditions include at least one condition from among the imaging site, direction, tube current value, helical pitch, contrast conditions, etc.


The invention relates to a hand-grip with a grip part which can be detachably fastened on a microscope housing, the mounting and dismounting being possible with a single-handed movement with the gripping hand. The hand-grip is fashioned and positioned such that it permits operation of the microscope in all directions with only one hand.

Conventional hand-grips have become known in the most varied forms and mounting types. They are mostly screw in pairs (left and right) on the microscope housing, or constructed on rods which are fastened on the pivoted support of a microscope and therefore move the latter only indirectly.
When controlling a microscope, the user lays his two hands on the gripping pieces of conventional hand-grips, and, if appropriate, actuates electric switches or the like, in order to release brakes or the like, and then moves the microscope by muscular force to the desired position. In the case of particularly smoothly mounted microscopes such as, for example, surgical microscopes on a special stand (OHS) from the applicant, skilled users can carry out most movements of the microscope even with one hand, since the electric switching elements are arranged on both hand-grips-handgrips on both the left and right side.In a fashion comparable to a motor bicycle handlebar—the pairwise hand-grips frequently extend horizontally so that a user can apply the microscope between his spread hands.However, this disadvantageously results in space being used by the hand-grips which would otherwise be free. Chiefly, in the case of built-on accessories with assistant terminals, this leads to space problems for assistants. Above all, the hand-grips fastened on rods disadvantageously increase the overall weight of the microscope structure which must be borne by the stand.

Microscope with a handle and/or hand-grip for a microscope


This invention relates to an orthodontic bracket for retaining a wire arch for tooth correction, which bracket comprises a base part having single or double wings and are formed with an open-ended and open-topped transverse groove for receiving the wire arch, and also comprises a footpad secured to the base part and adapted to be adhesively joined to an adjacent tooth surface. A groove is formed in the base part and/or in the pad and extends on the underside thereof or particularly a tunnel is formed in said base part and/or pad, which groove or tunnel extends in the direction in which the wings are spaced apart and serves to anchor partial wire arches.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an orthodontic bracket for retaining a wire arch for tooth correction, which bracket comprises a base part having single or double wings and are formed with an open-ended and open-topped transverse groove for receiving the wire arch, and also comprises a footpad secured to the base part and adapted to be adhesively joined to an adjacent tooth surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such brackets are used for the so-called full-arch technique, by which the following movements for correcting the tooth positions can be effected in dependence on the angular orientation of the transverse groove and the wing or wings and of the base surface of the pad relative to the orientation of the entire bracket:
a) A turning moment for a lingual-labial and buccal tilting of the teeth; PA0 b) an angulation for a mesial-distal tilting of the teeth; PA0 c) An inward and outward labial-lingual or buccal-lingual movement of the teeth; and PA0 d) a rotation of the teeth. PA0 The square-section tube annoys the patient; PA0 it promotes the accumulation of plaque; PA0 it is not functionally satisfactory because it is spaced a large distance from the root of the tooth.
Each bracket is designed to effect said movements to predetermined extents, which are selected by the orthodontic dentist in the so-called straight-arch technique.
In orthodontic treatment it is often also necessary to effect an individual or additional treatment of individual teeth or sets of teeth. It has previously been necessary to keep special brackets or buccal tubes for the so-called partial-arch technique in storage for that purpose.
In said partial-arch technique, an additional partial wire arch must be used, mainly adjacent to a canine, and said partial wire arch must extend as far as to the 6th and 7th molars. That requirement has previously been met in that an additional square-section tube was applied to the labial side of the canine. That practice involves the following inconveniences for the patient:
Said additional tubes are either separately attached to the tooth front or are secured to the bracket for the full-arch technique so that the volume and particularly also the overall height of the bracket are increased. This results in the above-mentioned disadvantages and renders the simultaneous use of such brackets for the full-arch technique and the partial-arch technique more difficult. Besides a large number of different brackets must be kept in stock by the dentist for the various uses.


A semiconductor pressure sensor of this invention is intended to provide a semiconductor pressure sensor having an excellent electrical isolation between the supporting means of the semiconductor pressure sensor and the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor pressure sensor basically comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first semiconductor region in which; at least a semiconductor device is formed, a second semiconductor region and an isolated layer buried between the first and second semiconductor regions, a cavity provided in the second semiconductor region, the opening thereof existing on the mail surface of the second semiconductor region and a strain detecting portion consisting of the semiconductor device and provided in the first semiconductor region opposite to the cavity. The semiconductor pressure sensor is featured in that at least one of the outer peripheral side surfaces of the first and the second semiconductor regions is formed inside of the outermost peripheral side surface of the isolation layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor pressure sensor which is substantially impervious to electrical interference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor pressure sensor for measuring a pressure by detecting a variation of resistance value caused by a deformation of a strain gauge is well known, and usually comprises a diaphragm made of a single crystal silicon substrate and having a thin portion. The variations of resistance are measured by detecting the value of a pressure applied to the diaphragm, utilizing the concept that the deformation of the strain gauge varies in accordance with a mechanical strain force applied thereto by a piezo-resistance element.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 61-239675 discloses a semiconductor pressure sensor, as shown in FIG. 22, which comprises a semiconductor substrate 800 on which a piezoresistance layer 802 is formed, a semiconductor substrate layer 810 for supporting the semiconductor pressure sensor, and a buried isolation layer 808 provided between the semiconductor substrate 800 and the semiconductor substrate layer 810. This sensor is characterized in that a bimetallic movement caused by contact between the diaphragm having a thin thickness and another isolation layer formed on the surface thereof, is suppressed.
As shown in FIG. 22, a conductive metal layer 804 and an isolation layer 806 are further provided in the semiconductor pressure sensor.
In the semiconductor pressure sensor as shown in FIG. 22, however, several drawbacks have been found, for example, the semiconductor substrate 800 and the semiconductor substrate layer 810 are inter conductive when they come into contact with each other during a dicing operation for separating a wafer into respective chips, because the thickness of the buried isolation layer 808 provided therebetween is very thin, e.g., about 0.5 to 2 .mu.m, or when water or dust is attached to an outer peripheral side surface of the buried isolation layer 808 or in the vicinity thereof, even after the semiconductor pressure sensor is produced. Further, when an electrical voltage exceeding a surface discharge breakdown voltages is applied, due to noise or the like, between the semiconductor substrate 800 and the semiconductor substrate layer 810, an external potential will be introduced into the semiconductor substrate, leading to a malfunction or variations in the output thereof due to a mutual interaction between the substrate and the circuitry of a chip pressure sensor on which a drive source of the semiconductor pressure sensor and various circuits are integrated.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor pressure sensor