A means and method for treating inflamed mucosal tissues topically with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is described. The NSAID is incorporated into a substantive film forming aqueous based carrier system consisting of a water dispersible natural cellulosic polymer and an organic acid. The NSAID composition may further include a water soluble or water hydratable viscosity enhancing agent and/or a plasticizer. The NSAID topical composition is especially effective in treating pain associated with vulvodynia or vulvar vestibulitis.

The principal organs of the human female reproductive tract include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and the vagina. The vagina comprises a musculomembranous tube which forms the passageway between the uterus and the entrance to the vagina between the external vulvae. The vulvae include the labia majora, consisting of two folds of cellular adipose tissue lying on either side of the vaginal opening which form the lateral borders of the vulva. The labia minora lies within the labia majora and encloses the vestibule of the vagina. The vestibule is an almond-shaped space between the lines of attachment of the labia minora. The covering membranes of the vestibule are constructed of delicate, non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium.
Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is an inflammatory process of the vestibule of the vagina which involves the mucous membrane and its underlying appendages, the lesser vestibular ducts and glands. It is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including severe pain on vestibular touch or vaginal entry, tenderness to pressure localized within the vulvar vestibule, and erythema confined to the vestibule.
Vulvar vestibulitis is extremely common. In fact, it has been estimated that approximately 15% of women visiting their gynecologist have vulvodynia or vulvar vestibulitis. Goetsh, M. F., Vulvar vestibulitis: Prevalence and historic features in a general gynecologic practice population: Amer. J. Obstet. & Gynecol., 1991; 164: 1609-1616.
Vulvar pain and its associated problems of dysparunia (pain during sexual intercourse) and vaginismus, or spasm of the leavator muscles, was first described by Skene over one hundred years ago when he wrote about the finding of "excessive sensitivity or hyperesthesia" of the vulva. Skene, A. J. C.; Treatise on Disease of Women, 1889; Apleton and Company, New York. Subsequently, in 1928, Kelly described finding "exquisitely sensitive deep red spots in the mucous of the hymeneal ring" and hypothesized that it could be the source of dysparunia. Kelly, H. A., Gynecology 1928; Apleton and Company, New York. Since that time, vulvar pain and the inability to have intercourse has been called vulvodynia or vaginismus, and was thought to be predominantly a psychological disorder.
Recently, Woodruff and Parmley described a lesion associated with vulvar pain which was erythematous and confined to the vestibule of the vagina and recommended a surgical approach for therapy. Woodruff, J. D. and Parmley, T. H.; Infection of the minor vestibular gland; Obstet. & Gynecol., 1983; 62: 609-612. Later, Freidrich described the lesion in greater detail, named it vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, and concurred that the surgical approach was necessary in most cases. Freidrich, E. G.; Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: J. Reprod. Med., 1987; 32: 110-114.
Women suffering from vulvar vestibulitis have varying degrees of pain from mild discomfort to severe wherein the woman is unable to walk and/or experiences pain with intercourse. Intercourse in most patients is impossible due to the severity of the pain with insertion and thrusting. Following intercourse, there is usually swelling and pain for several hours to several days. Vulvar vestibulitis can last for years and places a great burden on any relationship the individual may have. Patients with vulvar vestibulitis typically show erythema, occasionally erosion, hypertrophy of the vestibular ducts, and extreme tenderness when the area is touched with a cotton tipped applicator.
The cause of vulvar vestibulitis is uncertain, with yeasts, human papilloma viruses, contact irritants, and other factors being suggested as possible causes. The symptoms vary in their severity, from periods of relative comfort to periods of excruciating pain. These episodes are unpredictable as to their frequency, duration, or severity of pain. Women with vulvar vestibulitis must not only learn how to cope with the chronic nature of this problem, but frequently with a partner who may or may not be understanding when they are unable or unwilling to have sexual intercourse because of pain. Many of these individuals suffer depression and a number of couples, unwilling to deal with the long term nature of this problem, separate, leaving the person with the disease devastated, feeling inadequate, and willing to attempt any therapy that may have some promise of alleviating the pain.
Currently, surgery, laser therapy, and interferon therapy are the treatments most commonly recommended to patients with vulvar vestibulitis. Surgical removal of the vestibule and its underlying structures is appealing to both the physician and the patient, since it offers a quick and decisive approach. However, surgery is a mutilating procedure leaving the area disfigured and scarred and, in most patients, the ameliorative affect is short, with the return of symptoms in many cases in less than twelve months.
Laser therapy or laser surgery is also disadvantageous since it disfigures the skin, causes hyperestesia in many patients, and its effects are commonly of short duration. Topical steroid therapy has had some benefit in these individuals by decreasing the amount of inflammation in the tissues of the vestibule. However, cortical steroid therapy causes atrophy of the skin, especially in the thinner more delicate mucosal areas and, therefore, long-term use is not feasible. Oral analgesic or anti-inflammatory medications, either steroid or non-steroid, have not shown any beneficial effects in these patients. Anti-depressive medication, counseling and behavior modification techniques are helpful, but do not treat the underlying pain. Recently, relaxation exercises have been proposed to relieve the underlying muscle spasm, but again they do not relieve the pain of the vestibule.
There is therefore a need for a treatment for vulvar vestibulitis which is not disfiguring or harmful to the vestibular tissue, yet which is also effective in treating the pain.
It is believed that in a majority of patients, the disease would improve significantly with time by using conservative topical treatment and allowing the normal immune response to control the underlying process. In order to do this effectively, the drug product must control pain without damaging the integument of the vestibule. In addition, the product should be non-irritating, non-staining, hypoallergenic, and user friendly. None of the products currently available, however, control the pain associated with vulvar vestibulitis. There are also problems with the current delivery systems, especially when applied to the vulva.
The three classes of vehicles/delivery systems that are commonly and widely used in topical preparations for vaginal use are ointments, creams, and water soluble polymers or polymer gels. Ointments are derived from either petrolatum hydrocarbon products or animal fats. The animal fat products are exemplified by lanolin or wool fat. Ointments suffer severe disadvantages when utilized for administration to mucosal surfaces, either in the rectum or vagina. First, ointments are occlusive, placing an oleaginous covering over skin or mucosa which prevents or restricts the ability of the underlying tissue to transpire. This results in maceration of the tissue, which is further exacerbated if the tissue is already irritated. In addition, being oily products which become more fluid at body temperature, ointments tend to soften and flow and stain clothing.
Creams or lotions are either oil-in-water or a water-in-oil emulsion systems. The water-in-oil emulsions have some of the same disadvantages as do ointments since they have an oil external phase. Both classes of emulsions, however, of necessity, contain surface-active or emulsifying agents. These materials are irritating to the eye and to mucus membranes. The irritation is compounded if the membranes are already irritated or compromised.
The polymeric gel or water soluble polymeric carrier system is the newest of the three classes of delivery systems, even though it has been available for around fifty years. This type of system is exemplified by the polyethylene glycols. Combinations of the polyethylene glycols, differing in molecular weight, produce semisolid topical carriers ranging in viscosity and consistency. Other soluble polymers, such as hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, poly(acrylic acids), etc., are used to produce gels, which serve as topical vehicles. All of the materials in this class are highly water soluble. However, these products do not adhere well to wet mucosal surfaces and are quickly released from such surfaces by the moisture that is present, or due to vaginal expansion in response to sexual stimulation. Further, these materials often are also irritating to mucosal surfaces based on their high affinity for water and their tendency to dehydrate and overly dry the mucosal surfaces to which they are applied. The patient often experiences a burning sensation following the application of these delivery systems to the mucosal surface.
The present inventors have now discovered that the use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) incorporated in a novel aqueous based carrier system is effective for treating the pain associated with vulvar vestibulitis without harming the vestibular tissue. The composition is also effective for treating other inflammatory disorders affecting mucosal and non-keratinized epithelial tissues.
Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a composition and method for treating inflamed human mucosal and epithelial tissues using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a composition and method for treating inflamed human mucosal and epithelial tissues which is effective in decreasing the amount of pain associated with the inflammation.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a composition and method for treating inflamed human mucosal and epithelial tissues which is not disfiguring or harmful to the tissues.
It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a composition and method for treating inflamed human mucosal and epithelial tissues which is oil-free and nonirritating.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a composition and method for treating inflamed human mucosal and epithelial tissues which is easy to use and economical to manufacture.
The method and means of accomplishing each of the above objectives as well as others will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows hereafter.

Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug composition


A metal container with a combustible liner for use as a portable firefighting training unit. The combustible liner is formed of particle board sections loosely assembled inside the metal container with an opening in the liner in registry with an access opening in the metal container. The unit may be used to demonstrate various phenomena associated with a developing fire including the flammability of unburned products of combustion, hose stream techniques with a spray bottle filled with water, flashover and backdraft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable firefighting training unit which can be used to demonstrate the progression of a fire including flashovers and backdrafts.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The hazards of flashover, backdraft, smoke explosion and other forms of fire gas ignition need to be taught to firefighters. For this purpose steel shipping containers are frequently used to provide firefighters with the necessary understanding of fire behavior. In use, the container is loaded at one end with Class A combustibles with open and shut vents added to control air flow. Inside these cells, the firefighters may view the early stages of fire growth and examine first hand the production of unburned products of combustion combining with flammable gases given off by the pyrolyzing combustibles. They may witness the transformation of smoke to flame as pockets of unburned fuel in the smoke reach ignition and turn to flame. As the demonstration progresses, the firefighters may observe a flashover in the fuel-loaded end of the cell, witnessing the sudden but sustained transition from a developing to a fully developed fire. Variations on the shipping container have been designed, some of which are patented, and are used to demonstrate door entry techniques and backdraft.
The above mentioned equipment is very effective at training but is not available for training all firefighters including those belonging to volunteer departments because of cost, time and/or logistics. According to the National Fire Protection Association's U.S. fire department profile, about 70% of all firefighters in America are volunteers and the majority of career and volunteer fire departments having a limited training budget. Hence the number of firefighters possibly in need of training is not insignificant.
There are field training programs for firefighters and one of the pieces of equipment used for field training is what is called a "dolls house." The components of the "dolls house" are cut from particle board and then glued or stapled together. The joints must be tight as the purpose of the prop is to simulate a single compartment fire with a single ventilation point. Making the dolls house is tedious and a new one must be constructed for each demonstration as it is burned. It would therefore be desirable to have a burnable teaching prop that is portable for field use but that does not need to stapled or glued together and is not expensive.


A method for managing a cache memory of a storage system, the method may include storing a first retrieval metadata of a first data that is cached in the cache memory, in response to an expected or an actual occurrence of a cache memory consuming event; wherein the cache memory consuming event involves storing second data in the cache memory for a second caching period; replacing, in the cache memory, the first data by the second data; wherein the second caching period is a fraction of a first caching period associated with the first data; and evicting the second data from the cache memory and retrieving the first data to the cache memory in response to an actual or estimated end of the cache memory consuming event; wherein the retrieving of the first data involves retrieving the first data from a storage unit that differs from the cache memory while using the first retrieval metadata.

A storage system usually serves one or more host computers. The storage system is expected to respond to input output (IO) requests from the one or more host computers as fast as possible.
Cache memories are used for storing active data so as to shorten data access times and reduce latency I/O operations. A cache memory stores data that is likely to be accessed, for example the most frequently used data, the most recently used data, the least recently used data, and data determined to be accessed according to access patterns detected by prefetch algorithms.
Cache memories may lose their effectiveness when they are overloaded.
There is a growing need to improve the performance of cache memories.


The present invention relates to diagnostic, prognostic and clinical methods of distinguishing high-risk IPMN from more benign IPMN as well as high-grade PanIN and PDAC from low-grade PanIN with moderate sensitivity and very high specificity using Das-1 and related antibodies.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas (IPMNs) are tumors characterized by intraductal proliferation of neoplastic mucinous cells with various degrees of cytologic atypia, which usually form papillae and lead to cystic dilatation of pancreatic ducts, forming clinically detectable masses. Since the first description of IPMN, over the past 30 years, these lesions have been recognized with increasing frequency, accounting for up to 20% of all resected pancreatic specimens in large referral centers. Similarly, a recent study of 2,832 consecutive abdominal CT scans undertaken for indications unrelated to pancreatic disease has found a prevalence of asymptomatic pancreatic cysts to be 2.6% among all comers and 8.7% among those above the age of 80.
Macroscopically, IPMN is classified into main-duct, combined, and branch-duct types based on the differential involvement of the pancreatic duct system. It has been shown that main-duct and combined type IPMNs are more likely to have invasive carcinoma compared to branch-duct type (48% and 42% vs. 11%), and subsequently, 5-year disease specific survival rates of main-duct and combined type IPMNs are significantly lower than that of branch-duct type (65% and 77% vs. 91%). Histologically, IPMN are thought to progress from low-grade dysplasia (adenoma) to intermediate- and high-grade dysplasia (carcinoma in situ) and invasive carcinoma. While the 5-year survival of patients with resected non-invasive IPMN is as high as 77-94%, invasive IPMN carries a much poorer survival of 33-43%. Given the significant difference in survival between invasive and non-invasive IPMNs as well as between main-duct and branch-duct IPMNs, clinical guidelines have been adopted to assist clinicians in determining when a lesion should be surgically resected. However, while sensitive (97-100%), these guidelines have proven to be highly non-specific (23-30%), especially among branch-duct IPMN. Given the prevalence of asymptomatic cysts in an elderly population who tend to have comorbidity, more specific tools that can segregate high-risk and malignant from low-risk lesions are warranted. In an effort to improve diagnostic accuracy, analyses of cyst fluid for genetic changes have been used and several biomarkers including Plectin-1 have been investigated. However, more specific markers of clinically high-risk lesions are needed to aid in the pre-operative diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with IPMN.
Recently, morphologic variations of IPMN have been recognized and criteria established for distinguishing IPMN into four distinct epithelial subtypes: gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary, and oncocytic. Similarly, invasive carcinoma arising in IPMN (invasive IPMN) has also been morphologically classified into colloid, tubular, and oncocytic carcinomas. Of those, the gastric-type (IPMN-G) comprises the majority of branch-duct IPMN, and rarely exhibits high-grade dysplasia (carcinoma in situ). Invasion is uncommon, but when it occurs, is usually of tubular type. The intestinal type (IPMN-I) that makes up the majority of the main-duct IPMN often exhibits intermediate- to high-grade dysplasia and is prone to developing invasive carcinoma. Given its propensity to involve the main duct and to develop invasive carcinoma, IPMN-I, even of intermediate grade, may warrant surgical intervention. Both pancreatobiliary and oncocytic (IPMN-O) types are rare, but typically demonstrate high-grade dysplasia and often contain invasive or minimally invasive carcinoma. Despite these efforts, there still is a need for more specific markers.

Detection of high-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and pancreatic adenocarcinoma

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY


The invention disclosed herein relates to the use of laser energy to weld or melt selected locations in papermachine clothing (“PMC”) and other industrial and engineered fabrics. The invention also relates to an improved seam for a papermaker or other industrial fabric that has properties such as strength, durability, openness, adequate number of support points, and fiber support index (FSI) essentially the same as the fabric body. The invention also relates to a fabric having a durable seam, wherein the seam width as measured in the MD is a fraction of the width of a normal seam or a seam that is formed using a conventional technique of equal strength.

The present invention relates to the papermaking arts including fabrics and belts used in the forming, pressing, and drying sections of a paper machine, and to industrial process fabrics and belts, TAD fabrics, engineered fabrics and belts, along with corrugator belts generally.
The fabrics and belts referred to herein may include those also used in the production of, among other things, wetlaid products such as paper and paper board, and sanitary tissue and towel products made by through-air drying processes; corrugator belts used to manufacture corrugated paper board and engineered fabrics used in the production of wetlaid and drylaid pulp; in processes related to papermaking such as those using sludge filters and chemiwashers; and in the production of nonwovens produced by hydroentangling (wet process), meltblowing, spunbonding, airlaid or needle punching. Such fabrics and belts include, but are not limited to: embossing, conveying, and support fabrics and belts used in processes for producing nonwovens; filtration fabrics and filtration cloths; and fabrics and belts used for textile finishing processes such as calendering and hide tanning.
Such belts and fabrics are subject to a wide variety of conditions for which functional characteristics need to be accounted. For example, during the papermaking process, a cellulosic fibrous web is formed by depositing a fibrous slurry, that is, an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fibers, onto a moving forming fabric in the forming section of a paper machine. A large amount of water is drained from the slurry through the forming fabric, leaving the cellulosic fibrous web on the surface of the forming fabric.
It should be appreciated that these industrial fabrics such as paper machine clothing (PMC) such as the forming fabrics, press fabrics, and dryer fabrics, all take the form of endless loops on the paper machine and function in the manner of conveyers.
Such fabric structures are typically constructed from synthetic fibers and monofilaments by conventional textile processing methods such as weaving, for example. It is often desirable to selectively tailor the fabric structure to affect or enhance a performance characteristic important to, for example, the papermaker, such as fabric life, sheet formation, runnability or paper properties.
For fabrics such as those used for the forming of paper and tissue products, or for the production of tissue/towel or through-air drying "TAD" fabrics, such fabrics are often times joined by a seam. In this instance, the fabric is usually flat woven from yarns, usually monofilaments. Each fabric edge has a "fringe" of machine direction ("MD") yarns. This fringe is rewoven with cross machine direction ("CD") yarns in the same basic pattern as the fabric body. This process of seaming to make endless is known to those skilled in the art. The seam area therefore contains MD yarn ends. The strength of the seam is dependent upon the MD yarn strength, the number of MD and CD yarns used, and the crimp in the MD yarns themselves that physically "lock" themselves around CD yarns to an extent. However, when the fabric is under operating tension on, for example, a papermaking or tissue/towel making machine, these MD yarn ends can literally slip past one another and pull out. The "ends" themselves can protrude above the fabric plane causing small holes in the paper/tissue product or can eventually slip enough so that ultimately, the fabric seam fails and the fabric pulls apart. Typically, the width of the seam area, as measure in MD, formed using conventional techniques range, for example, anywhere between three and one half to twenty inches or even more.
To minimize this, the yarns in the seam are usually sprayed or coated with an adhesive. Unfortunately, this can alter the fluid handling properties of the seam area, and the adhesive can also be abraded and wear off.
While the application of heat to partially weld or fuse yarns to each other in the seam area has been contemplated, the use of heat generally may cause unacceptable change to the fluid handling properties of the seam area since all yarns are affected and the seam may, for example, have a resultant air permeability different than the fabric body.
Other shortcomings of the prior attempts are that either because of the number of yarns used in the MD, or the size of the yarns used, sufficient seam strength cannot be obtained by conventional seaming methods, even with the additional use of glues/adhesives.
It is known in the paper machine clothing and/or industrial fabric arts to utilize thermal energy to fuse yarns together to form a seam in for example, a flat woven fabric of machine direction (MD) and cross machine (CD) yarns.
The need to maintain yarn properties as well as fabric properties in the seam area is paramount. Yarns used in PMC and other industrial fabrics are made from oriented polymers such as polyester, and have a desired shape and size. It is necessary to maintain essentially the yarn size, shape and characteristics after application of thermal energy. However, heat can affect these materials in a variety of adverse ways. For example, heat can cause (a) softening above the glass transition point of a thermoplastic material which effects dimensional changes, or (b) flow by melting above the melt transition point.
Seam openness should be maintained by not causing major distortion of the yarns in the seam area. Also, high yarn tensile strength, especially in the MD yarns should be maintained or resultant seam strength will be unacceptable.
While some "melt flow" is required to have at least portions of two adjacent yarns bond to each other and/or bond to CD yarns that they crossover, no major distortion of the yarn should occur. So there is a need to balance the desired yarn, seam and fabric properties compared to the amount and location of the absorbed thermal energy as exemplified in FIG. 1.
Thermal welding of polymers is achieved by either overlapping of the two MD yarns, for example, to be welded together by some distance, or end to end welding of two yarns, or either of these in conjunction with fusion to a yarn oriented in another direction in the fabric, for example, at least one CD yarn. Welding can also occur with just one MD yarn welded to a CD yarn at a crossover.
There have been attempts to use lasers to weld thermoplastic materials together, but "weld quality" and over-fusing of the material was suspect. Such "over-fusing" would be unacceptable for the yarns used in the fabric applications envisioned.
Laser technology has advanced, producing laser types that would better control and focus the thermal energy.
A further development based upon the principles of transmission (some laser wavelengths are transparent to polymeric materials, such as polyester for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA)) and absorption is to use a radiation absorbing material within a polymer matrix or applying it to for example, a polymeric yarn surface in a discrete location where thermal fusion or welding is desired. US Patent Application US2004/0056006A1 assigned to The Welding Institute, exemplifies such technology. However, nothing in this application addresses the needs of using a similar approach on adjacent yarns for example in the seam of a forming or other industrial fabric.
Another example of using laser energy and an energy absorbing material is taught in PCT Application WO02/057353A2 assigned to EI Dupont De Numours and Company. Again however, the teachings are for bonding materials shaped by injection molding and do not address the requirements of producing fabrics and improved seams in such fabrics when using oriented polymeric yarns.
Canadian patent application 2,552,009, assigned to Heimbach GMBH & Co., KG relates to a forming fabric for use in a sheet forming section of a papermachine, having or comprising a textile planar structure in which, in order to enhance inherent stability, intersecting yarns are engaged into one another at intersection points and in which yarns additionally are fused to one another, which is characterized in that the planar structure comprises intersecting first and second yarns, the first yarns having the property that they absorb laser energy and can be brought by absorbed laser energy, to melting temperatures at least at the surface; and that first and second yarns are fused to one another at least at some of their intersection points.
The application teaches that one of the two yarns contains a laser energy absorbing material. Further, when addressing the seam area of a woven fabric, the application teaches that in the seam region, first yarns (that contain the laser energy absorbing material) should be present that extend in the transverse direction and are welded to second yarns extending in the longitudinal direction. In order to achieve particularly high seam strength there, the first yarns should be present in a higher concentration in the seam region than in the remaining region of the forming fabric, and the first and second fabrics (sic) should be welded to one another at as many intersection points as possible. The longitudinal yarns inserted in correctly woven fashion into the respectively opposite end during the stitching process are then fused to the first yarns. This creates the possibility of shortening the seam region without thereby impairing the strength of the seam. In this fashion the seam region can be reduced from a usual extension of, for example, 100 mm in the longitudinal region to, for example, 60 mm, i.e. the seam region can be shortened by 20-60% in the machine direction.
However, an apparent major shortcoming of this approach is that the other properties of the seam such as its permeability, number of sheet support points, and Fiber Support Index (FSI) will be different from the main fabric body as the end counts in the CD will be different.
Thus, the fusing or welding of synthetic polymeric yarns by focused laser energy, especially those in the seam area of woven fabrics, without causing appreciable loss of yarn properties; major alteration of size and/or shape of the yarns; having a seam that has properties like the body of the fabric; that the seam has, if the seam is the same length in the MD as normally used, higher durability, and strength equal to or higher than an unfused or unwelded seam; and if the seam is shorter in the MD than normally used, strength sufficient to allow the fabric to run a useful life when installed and used on a paper or other industrial machine, is the subject of the present invention.

Process for producing papermaker's and industrial fabric seam and seam produced by that method


The invention relates to a direct reading endoscopic measuring instrument and, more specifically, to a manually operated measuring instrument that is placed in close proximity to an internal anatomical feature and a related method for operation of the measuring instrument. The direct reading endoscopic measuring instrument includes a distal reticule that is passed through an endoscope in a folded position. When extended past the distal end of the endoscope proximate to an anatomical structure to be measured, a remote actuator unfolds the reticule along an axis perpendicular to the endoscope. Graduations on the reticule can be observed to directly measure the size of the anatomical structure.

With advances in optics and miniaturized assembly techniques, endoscopes now play a vital role in modern medicine. Endoscopes are flexible surgical tools used to introduce mechanical instruments, fluids, viewing instruments, and the like into a body. An endoscope, which generally has a tubular shape, is fed into an opening or incision in a body until the distal end of the endoscope is proximate a site to be observed or operated on. The interior of the endoscope includes one or more bores or lumens. These lumens act as passages for various instruments or tools that facilitate diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. For instance, a fiber optic cable with an optical lens (camera) can be integral to the endoscope or extended the length of the endoscope. The camera is operable to view the tissue proximate to the distal end of the endoscope. Other lumens can be used to provide light, fluids, mechanical surgical tools, or the like. Endoscopes are extremely useful to observe or biopsy internal organs such as the colon, bladder, stomach, lungs, liver, or the like. Overall, endoscopes have revolutionalized many procedures by giving the operating doctor much greater information from, and access to, internal structures without an invasive procedure. Doctors can now observe and diagnose organs and joints with minimal impact.
One area where endoscopes are used routinely is in the observation and measurement of tumors, internal growths, or other anatomical structures (ulcers, tears, scars, etc.). The size of such structures can be measured in a variety of ways. For instance, it is known to place graduations onto the camera lens of a fiber optic camera placed within an endoscope. Although the graduation measurements on the lens may be known, it is only possible to estimate the size of the internal structure because the distance from the lens to the structure is unknown. This type of measurement technique does not provide the depth of the structure. Another common solution is to electronically calculate the size of a structure. To accomplish this, a tool with uneven graduations will be placed near a structure. The observation equipment calculates a size scale to correct for the uneven graduations. This approach is generally expensive, overly complex, and not entirely accurate. Typically, this calculated method, as opposed to a direct reading method, will only measure the structure in one direction.
Measurement tools are known to have unevenly spaced graduations that are formed at a tip end portion of a flexible shaft. The shaft is detachably inserted through an instrument tool channel in an endoscope. The shaft is placed next to the structure, and can be observed via a camera. Again, the size of an internal structure can only be measured in one direction. The orientation of the shaft prohibits measurements in two directions. So while it is thought to be an improvement to have a direct reading tool, it is also thought to be nearly impossible to directly measure the dimensions of an object in two different directions with such a tool. Moreover, the known tools may require more than one measuring instrument, endoscope, or are otherwise overly complex. Direct reading tools may not take measurements along an axis perpendicular to the endoscope.
As such, there is a clear need within the medical industry for an inexpensive, easy to operate, simple, durable, and selectively removable direct reading endoscopic measurement instrument ('DREMI'). Ideally, the DREMI provides accurate measurements of internal structures in at least one direction, including along an axis perpendicular to the endoscope. The apparatus and method of the present invention would effectively address shortcomings as known in the prior art.

Direct reading endoscopic measuring instrument and method


One aspect of the inventors' concept relates to a method of forming a semiconductor device. In this method, a gate structure is formed over a semiconductor body. A source/drain mask is patterned over the semiconductor body implanted source and drain regions are formed that are associated with the gate structure. After forming the implanted source and drain regions, a multi-stage implant is performed on the source and drain regions that comprises at least two implants where the dose and energy of the first implant varies from the dose and energy of the second implant. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.

Several trends presently exist in the semiconductor and electronics industry. One of these trends is that recent generations of portable electronic devices are using more memory than previous generations. This increase in memory allows these new devices to store more data, such as music or images, and also provides the devices with more computational power and speed.
Static random access memory (SRAM) is one type of memory that has increased its density and speed in successive generations, thereby facilitating more functional electronic devices. SRAM is typically arranged as an array of memory cells fabricated in an integrated circuit chip, and includes address decoding circuitry to allow access to each cell for read/write functions. These SRAM memory cells are often arranged in rows so that blocks of data such as words or bytes can be written or read simultaneously.
FIG. 1's SRAM memory cell 100A includes cross-coupled inverters 102, 104 that are configured to store a bit of datum through positive (e.g., reinforcing) feedback, such that the cell 100 can only assume one of two possible states, namely a "one" state or a "zero" state. Pass transistors 108, 110 selectively couple the cross-coupled inverters 102, 104 to a bitline (BL) and a complimentary bitline (bitline bar (BLB)). These bitlines can then communicate the bit of datum to and from the outside world. This arrangement is desirable for a memory cell since a state written to the cell will be retained until the cell is reprogrammed.
A WRITE of a "zero" to the illustrated cell 100B (FIG. 1B) is achieved by asserting the desired value on the BL and a complement of that value on BLB. While these values are presented on the bitlines, the WL is briefly asserted to enable the pass transistors 108, 110, thereby passing the values to the cross-coupled inverters. Because each inverter inverts (or flips) its input value, the cross-coupled inverters positively reinforce one another, thereby latching the desired data in the cell 100B.
A READ of the illustrated cell 100C (FIG. 1C) is affected by initially precharging both bitlines to a logical high state and then asserting the WL. In this case, one of the transistors of an inverter in the SRAM cell will pull one bitline lower than its precharged value (in FIG. 1C, BL is pulled low). A sense amplifier (not shown) detects the read current or the voltage differential between the bitlines to produce a logical "one" or "zero," depending on the internally stored state of the SRAM cell.
Because SRAM cells are often arranged in row-column format, the bitlines BL and BLB are typically coupled to multiple pass transistors associated with cells in a column of SRAM cells. Thus, when the bitlines are asserted to read or write to only a single row of cells, the pass transistors of the other unaccessed cells may also be subject to this bitline voltage. To keep the individual cells stable when they are not being accessed, it is desirable to keep the voltage thresholds Vt of the memory cell's transistors sufficiently high. In addition, it is desirable to have the cells provide a high enough read current for the sense amp to quickly sense whether a "one" or "zero" is stored in the cell. This may facilitate fast read times.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have methods and devices that provide increased read current while keeping Vt, the voltage at which a transistor of the memory cell begins to conduct, sufficiently high; particularly where the transistors may be used in SRAM devices.

Multi-stage implant to improve device characteristics


In an FTIR 1, a beam splitter 12, fixed mirror 13 and movable mirror 14 are shared by a main interferometer 10 including a multiwavelength infrared light source 11 and a control interferometer 20 including a semiconductor laser 21. A first detector 16 detects infrared interference light generated by the main interferometer 10 and transmitted through or reflected by a sample. A second detector 26 detects monochromatic interference light generated by the control interferometer 20. A spectrum creator 32 determines an optical path difference between an optical path via the fixed mirror 13 and an optical path via the movable mirror 14, based on the intensity and uncalibrated oscillation wavelength of the monochromatic interference light detected by the second detector 26, and creates a spectrum by performing fast Fourier transform on an interferogram which shows a distribution of the intensity of the infrared interference light detected by the first detector 16 with respect to the optical path difference. An oscillation wavelength calibrator 34 locates an absorption peak of carbon dioxide from the peaks in the spectrum created by the spectrum creator 32, and compares a wavenumber or wavelength of the absorption peak with a true absorption wavenumber or wavelength of carbon dioxide to determine a calibrated oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser 21.

An FTIR normally includes a multiwavelength infrared light source which generates infrared light having many wavelengths superposed on each other, a beam splitter, and an interferometer which includes a fixed mirror and a movable mirror (for example, see Patent Literature 1). The infrared light generated by the light source is split into two beams by the beam splitter. One beam is reflected by the fixed mirror, while the other beam is reflected by the movable mirror. The reflected beams return to the beam splitter and are merged into one beam, which is cast onto a sample. The relationship between the intensity of the infrared light cast onto the sample and the position of the movable mirror can be represented by sinusoidal waves of different wavelengths superposed on each other so that the intensity has the highest value at any wavelength when the infrared beam reflected by the fixed mirror and the infrared beam reflected by the movable mirror has an optical path difference of zero (center burst). As the movable mirror moves from this position and changes the optical path difference, the peaks appear at different positions (intervals) depending on the wavelength. The infrared light cast onto the sample passes through the sample as transmitted light, or is reflected by the sample as reflected light. The transmitted or reflected light is detected with a detector to acquire an interferogram showing the relationship between the intensity of the transmitted or reflected light and the optical path difference. By performing fast Fourier transform (FFT) on this interferogram, a spectrum with the wavenumber (or wavelength) on the horizontal axis and the intensity (e.g. absorbance or transmittance) on the vertical axis is obtained. Based on the peak wavenumber (wavelength), peak intensity and other kinds of information concerning this spectrum, a qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the sample is performed.
An accurate measurement by an FTIR requires accurate determination of the position of the movable mirror. To this end, FTIRs are normally equipped with a control interferometer using laser light (monochromatic light), in addition to the (main) interferometer for the infrared light used for the measurement. The control interferometer includes a laser light source, a beam splitter for the laser light, a fixed mirror, a movable mirror and other elements. The laser light is introduced into the beam splitter, which splits the light into two beams. One beam is reflected by the fixed mirror, while the other beam is reflected by the movable mirror. The reflected beams return to the beam splitter and are merged together. The merged laser light is detected with a detector which is separately provided from the detector for the main interferometer. The detected laser light becomes interference light whose intensity is maximized when the optical path difference equals an integer multiple of the wavelength of the laser light. Therefore, it is possible to determine that the optical path difference in the control interferometer has increased or decreased by one wavelength of the laser light every time the intensity of the interference light of the laser light is maximized. Since the beam splitter, fixed mirror and movable mirror are shared by the main interferometer and the control interferometer, the optical path difference determined in the control interferometer can be directly considered as the optical path difference in the main interferometer.
He—Ne (helium-neon) lasers, which are a type of gas laser, have conventionally been used as the laser light source for the control interferometer. In recent years, semiconductor lasers have also been used in order to reduce the size of the device. Semiconductor lasers have standard values of oscillation wavelength. The oscillation wavelength varies within a certain range around the standard value due to the individual differences of the semiconductor lasers as well as the aging. As described earlier, the optical path difference in the main interferometer (and control interferometer) is determined based on the wavelength of the laser light. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately determine this optical path difference in order to accurately determine the interferogram measured with the main interferometer as well as the spectrum obtained by performing FFT on the interferogram. Therefore, for a semiconductor laser to be used as the light source for the control interferometer, it is necessary to calibrate the oscillation wavelength considering the individual differences when the device is introduced, as well as regularly calibrate the oscillation wavelength considering the aging. Such a calibration has conventionally been performed by passing infrared light through air and measuring the transmitted beam using the FTIR. Due to the presence of a trace amount of water vapor in the air, absorption peaks originating from the water vapor appear. The calibration of the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser is performed by comparing a measured value of a peak wavenumber of the water vapor with its true value (standard value).


A method of testing a secondary battery includes step A of charging the secondary battery to a predetermined charge voltage, step B of setting aside the secondary battery for a predetermined time (tb) after the step A, step C of discharging the secondary battery to a predetermined discharge voltage after the step B, and step D of detecting a battery voltage increase for a preset time (t2) after a predetermined time (t1) has elapsed after the step C. This method of testing a secondary battery can evaluate a measurement of how much the negative electrode active material layer covers the positive electrode active material layer based on the battery voltage increase detected in the step D.

In the field of secondary battery, JP 2003-297412 A, for example, discloses a winding apparatus for fabricating an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet are wound spirally with separators interposed therebetween. As disclosed in this publication, the winding apparatus winds the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet while correcting misalignment of the electrode sheets so that winding misalignment of the electrode sheets does not occur.


Analog information is modulated onto a high repetition rate optical pulse stream. This modulated pulse stream is transmitted over optical medium, such as long distances of fiber, and is then detected. The pulses are removed leaving only the original analog signals. The sampled encoding onto pulses allows transmission of very broad band signals and mitigates the deleterious effects of self phase modulation, dispersion and Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

The present invention relates generally to the modulation of optical signals and more specifically to a signal modulation system that samples and modulates a train of pulses.
Major applications where analog signals are transmitted over fiber include cellular (analog/digital/PCS), cable television, and electrical signals from antennae (such as satellite or radar signals). Unfortunately, analog signals are fragile. They are sensitive to dispersion, phase nonlinearities, scattering mechanisms and noise. Here we suggest a modulation format that mitigates these impairments. Consequently, analog signals can now travel longer distances with less degradation.
The current optical fiber universe appears to be dichotomy that is divided between a strict transmission of digital pulses, or in the alternative, a modulated carrier wave that forms an analog envelope. Samples of current technology are illustrated in the following U.S. Patents, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,281 Jul. 10, 2001, Parallel analog sampling circuit and analog-to-digital converter system incorporating clock signal generator generating sub-sampling clock signals with fast and precisely-timed edges, Neff, Robert M.,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,016, Jul. 17, 2001, Methods for interfacing a subscriber link to digital networks, Bellenger, Donald Morgan,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,720, Feb. 20, 2001, Efficient two-stage digital-to-analog converter using sample-and-hold circuits, Zhang,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,192, Apr. 21, 1987, Simultaneous AM and FM transmitter and receiver, Pomatto, Sr., Robert P.
B. Wilson and Z. Ghassemlooy, IEE Proc J, vol 140, Dec. 1993, pp. 346-57.
Optical Fiber Telecommunications IIIA, Academic Press, 1997, edited by I. P. Kaminow and T. L. Koch.
W. I. Way's book Broadband Hybrid Fiber/Coax Access System Technologies, Academic Press, 1999.
Fiber impairments are described in G. P. Agrawal's book, Nonlinear Fiber Optics, Academic Press, 1995. An overview of how fiber may affect analog systems can be found in M. R. Phillips and T. E. Darcie's chapter in Optical Fiber Telecommunications IIIA, Academic Press, 1997, edited by I. P. Kaminow and T. L. Koch. W. I. Way's book, Broadband Hybrid Fiber/Coax Access System Technologies, Academic Press, 1999 discusses this as well as some analog applications. They are incorporated herein by reference.
The Pomatto reference illustrates classic analog signal amplitude modulation (AM). This reference imprints the information of a modulating signal onto a sinusoidal carrier signal to output a modulated signal. The modulated signal is the carrier signal with an amplitude envelope that represents the curve of the modulating signal. The receiver demodulates the modulated signal to retrieve the original modulating signal and the information contained therein.
Using pulses to convey analog (or arbitrary time varying) information is rare but it does exist. Prior implementations have carried information in the pulse's width, frequency, (temporal) position, or interval. Called pulse time modulation, this is reviewed by the Wilson reference. In particular, on p. 348, a diagram alludes to the use of pulse shape to convey information though I have not seen any actual work that does this. Our preferred embodiment uses different characteristics of the pulse (namely, amplitude or envelope) to carry information. This patent also notes that information can also be carried in the pulses' energy, phase, and polarization, too.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


Disclosed are a crystal form (I) as an inhibitor of ACC1 and ACC2, a preparation method therefor, and the use thereof in the preparation of a drug as an inhibitor of ACC1 and ACC2.

Fatty acid metabolism disorder caused by increased fatty acid synthesis, decreased fatty acid oxidation, or both is a sign of various metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), etc. In addition, fatty acid metabolism disorder may lead to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases. Fatty acid metabolism disorder is also a sign of cancer, which may lead to abnormal and persistent proliferation of malignant tumor cells. Therefore, inhibiting fatty acid synthesis and/or stimulating fatty acid oxidative metabolism may be beneficial to these diseases (PNAS, 2016, E1796-E1805).
Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) catalyzes the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, which is the first step in fatty acid synthesis, and is also the rate-determining step. There are two subtypes of ACC, namely ACC1 and ACC2. ACC1 is mainly distributed in liver and adipose tissue, while ACC2 is mainly distributed in liver, heart and muscle tissue. In the liver, the malonyl-CoA formed by catalysis of ACC1 in the cytoplasm is mainly responsible for the synthesis and elongation of fatty acids; the malonyl-CoA formed by catalysis of ACC2 on the surface of mitochondria mainly regulates the oxidative metabolism of fatty acids by inhibiting a carnitine transferase I (PNAS, 2016, E1796-E1805). Therefore, inhibiting the two subtypes of ACC simultaneously may reduce fatty acid synthesis and stimulate fatty acid oxidative metabolism.
WO 2013071169 A1 discloses the use of an ACC inhibitor I-181 in the treatment of related diseases.

Crystal form as inhibitor of ACC1 and ACC2, and preparation method therefor and use thereof

ZHANGZHOU PIEN TZE HUANG PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.


The method includes applying a magnetic etching ferrofluid, that contains an aqueous etchant solution within one or more reverse micelles responsive to a magnetic field, onto the substrate at a first depth. The method also includes creating a magnetic field at a first strength that causes the reverse micelle to move in a first direction at a first rate. The method also includes determining whether the substrate is at a second depth. The method also includes reducing, in response to the substrate being at a second depth, the magnetic field to a second strength to cause the reverse micelle to move in the first direction at a second rate.

The present disclosure relates to etching, and more specifically, to magnetically controllable etching.
Wet etching is a process in which liquid etchants remove a target material from a substrate or wafer in a circuit board. Wet etching can be done anisotropically on crystalline materials, e.g., silicon, by using certain type of etchants. Unlike isotropic etching, anisotropic wet etching allows etchants to etch target material in any direction.

Magnetically controllable fluidic etching process

International Business Machines Corporation


Embodiments described herein include methods for improving the SINR, and therefore communication quality or rate, in the downlink of a cellular communication system. In an embodiment, the system is an orthogonal-frequency-division multiple-access (OFDMA) system. In an embodiment, a set of terminals is designated a coordinated-transmission group. The set of terminal is chosen such that the slot-allocations of the set are given special treatment to alleviate interference from other sectors or cells. All terminals within a coordination group generally use the same slot, but embodiments are not so limited.

Cellular telephone users (cellular telephone users and cellular telephones are also referred to herein as "terminals") in the downlink (base station to terminal) path of a cellular system who are on or near the boundaries between cells or sectors usually have low signal-to-interference ratio (SINR) because of the strong interference from neighboring cells or sectors. These terminals often have poor connectivity with their respective base stations as a result.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art cellular telephone system. FIG. 1 includes three cells, labeled A, B, C, in a typical arrangement. Each cell includes three respective sectors labeled 1, 2, and 3. The cell and sector boundaries are indicated by lines. Each sector typically serves its own set of terminals.
Typically the edge of a cell represents a boundary where the signal strength from a serving base station A (not shown) is comparable to the strength from one or more neighboring base stations (base station B, C, and so on, not shown). The transmissions from base station B, in contact with its own terminals, may then appear as interference to the terminal on the boundary, thus causing low SINR and impairing the data rate to the terminal.
In a similar fashion, the edge of a sector represents a boundary where the transmission beam-pattern allows transmissions from one sector to spill over into another sector as interference. Thus, a terminal being served in sector 1 may also see interfering transmissions from sectors 2 and 3. In an orthogonal-frequency-division multiple-access (OFDMA) system, time and frequency are usually divided into sub-units called symbols (in time t) and subcarriers (in frequency k). OFDMA systems are also referred to as orthogonal-frequency-duplex multiple-access systems. The base station typically assigns multiple time symbols and subcarriers to carry the data from the base station to the terminals. Each terminal within a sector is usually assigned a distinct subset of the available symbols and subcarriers. Such subsets of symbols and subcarriers are denoted "slots" herein. The number of subcarriers, the number of symbols, and the level of modulation (which is usually a function of the SINR) determines the data rate to the terminal.
In a "frequency re-use one" system, every cell and sector is free to utilize all of the subcarriers and symbols without regard for the subcarriers and symbols used in other cells or sectors. Such a system therefore has significant interference between sectors and cells, especially on their boundaries. In systems with higher frequency re-use, the interference tends to be less on sector and cell boundaries but can appear elsewhere.
One way of expressing the effect of interference in cellular communication systems is provided by Equations 1-3 below. In this example, Base station A transmits on subcarrier k and time t on Sector 1 the signalsk,t(1)=uk,t(1)  Equation 1where uk,t(1) is a unit-energy data-symbol intended for a terminal in Sector 1. Base station A transmits on the same subcarrier k and time t on Sector 2 the signalsk,t(2)=uk,t(2)  Equation 2where uk,t(2) is a data-symbol intended for a distinct terminal in Sector 2. The terminal in Sector 1 at time t and subcarrier k receivesrk,t=hk,tuk,t(1)+gk,tuk,t(2)+wk,t  Equation 3
where the channel between the terminal and its antenna (in Sector 1) is hk,t and gk,t. The terminal might have trouble decoding its intended message uk,t(1) if the channel magnitudes |gk,t| and |hk,t| are comparable.
Incorporation by Reference
All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Downlink coordinated transmission in OFDMA systems


A local multipoint distribution system having a head end coupled to a plurality of base stations with each base station constituting a cell. Each base station has a plurality of sector beam antennas, each sector beam antenna illuminating a predetermined sector of the cell with RF communication signals. A plurality of RF subscriber stations for each sector of a cell, with each subscriber station having a high gain antenna with a narrow beam width oriented toward the sector beam antenna oriented toward its assigned sector. Time division multiple access control is provided at each subscriber station operated such that each subscriber transmits at a time different from the other subscribers in its sector so that the subscribers in a given sector do not interfere with each others' transmissions, respectively. The power level transmitted by the subscribers are adjusted or controlled so that the subscriber signals arrive at the respective base stations at about the same power level. The cells can be hexagonally shaped and the sectors arranged such that the subscribers do not radiate directly into the three db beam width of base stations of immediately adjacent cells. Alternatively, the cells can be rectangularly shaped and the sectors of the cells arranged such that the subscribers do not radiate directly into the three db beam width of base stations of immediately adjacent cells.

The demand for greater quantities of information and data transfer to and from residential as well as business users continues to grow faster than supply can keep up with it. This information demand is being supplied in a variety of forms consisting of telephone systems of various forms, cable systems, hybrid fiber/cable systems, and wireless systems. This invention relates to a Local Multi-Point Distribution System (LMDS) intended to provide such services as broadcast video, video-on-demand, multimedia capability, interactive video, high speed data, telephony, and computer data links as examples. The system can provide a wireless interface from, for example, a local TELCO central office (CO), or a cable Head End office, in all cases, from a facility in a system defined as a "Head End" facility. FIG. 1 illustrates such a system. Note that the system consists of three basic components, i.e., a Head End facility, a system of Base Stations, and a multitude of system service Subscribers. The overall system is made up of a geographical structure of non-overlapping cells, wherein each geographical cell consists of some several hundred Subscribers all of whom are supported by one Base Station. Some number of Base Stations are all interfaced to a single Head End.
As shown in FIG. 1, the Head End collects all signals to be distributed throughout the system thereby forming a star configuration. The Head End at the center of the star, the Base Stations surround the Head End and the Subscribers surround the Base stations. As examples of signals collected, digital video may be gathered via satellite links, a telephone system interface may be provided via Class 5 switches, and high rate digital data networks may be interfaced via a high rate data switch. The data to/from the Head End is distributed to the system of local base stations each assigned to serve its geographical "cell" of subscribers.
While the description presented herein refers generally to a "micro cellular" system, which is defined as a system of cells of 5 km radius or less, the invention is equally applicable to a "macro cellular" system, herein defined as a system of cells of radius greater than 5 km.
The unique features embodied in the invention described herein include the following:
1) A micro cellular system of signal distribution for local multi-point distribution system (LMDS) application.
2) A micro cellular system of signal distribution with 100% frequency re-use of one with a four sector rectangular array of cells and with a six sector rectangular array of cells.
3) A micro cellular system of signal distribution with 100% frequency re-use of one with a four sector rectangular array of cells with a six sector rectangular array of cells incorporating the use of cross polarization isolation between sectors of adjacent cells operating at the same frequencies.
4) A micro cellular system of signal distribution with 200% frequency re-use of one with a four sector rectangular array of cells and with a six sector rectangular array of cells incorporating the use of cross polarization isolation between sectors of adjacent cells operating at the same frequencies, and operating with increased sectorization of the cells.
5) A micro cellular system of signal distribution with 100% frequency re-use of one with a four sector rectangular array of cells and with a six sector rectangular array of cells incorporating the use of intelligent frequency management between sectors of adjacent cells operating at the same frequencies.
6) A system capable of providing, for example, analog video broadcast, digital video in either broadcast or on-demand modes, interactive multimedia services, high rate digital data services, telephony, and in home monitoring systems such as might be employed for power meter reading or home security alarm systems.
7) A frequency reference technique whereby the Subscribers equipment is synchronized to the Base Station high stability sources and thereby minimize a) equipment implementation costs, b) signal acquisition times, and c) signal bandwidth overhead requirements to accommodate hardware frequency instability characteristics.
8) A closed loop Subscriber transmit power control technique whereby the Subscriber received power levels at the Base Station are all received at the same level thereby minimizing the possibility of any mutual interference between Subscriber signals, and eliminating the need for any significant AGC requirements in the Base Station RF receiving equipment.
9) A closed loop subscriber transmit timing control technique whereby the Subscriber received signal timing as received at the Base Station is adjusted by the Base Station in increments equal to the transmit signal symbol period to ensure the reception of all signals with a minimum of mutual interference from other Subscriber signals.
10) The optional use of antenna polarization diversity as a means of minimizing adjacent cell interference signals and increasing the total achievable capacity of the system.
11) A TDMA signaling structure which maximizes the transmit signaling format efficiency.
12) A signaling system operating within the ATM system specifications enabling an efficient utilization of system signaling capacity, as well as a highly flexible and adaptable signaling format allowing efficient redistribution of system bandwidth width in real time as the Subscriber data requirements change.
13) An order wire channel capability and signalling format which enable the entry and exit of Subscribers easily and efficiently in real time as the Subscriber needs and Subscriber population changes.
14) An order wire channel capability and signalling format which easily and efficiently accommodates real time Subscriber requests for changes in the services required, additions to the services required, and the execution of control functions to the services being provided, e.g., "VCR" like controls to a video being viewed such as the "pause" function.
15) A frequency plan which on the Down Stream provides orthogonal OC-1 channels spaced at F frequency steps where F is the transmission data rate of the Down Stream channel, and on the Up Stream provides ½ OC-1 channels spaced at F where 2F′=F.
16) The optional use of a two-way satellite link interface from the Head End to the Base Station of a cell which is geographically remote from the central cell system.
17) The incorporation of maximally efficient burst modem techniques thereby enabling reception of multiple mutually asynchronous time multiplexed signals each emanating from different transmitting sources by a single receiver thereby simplifying the design and cost of both the transmitting and receiving equipment.
18) The use of asynchronous transfer mode over a wireless medium for high speed data delivery incorporating the implementation of a highly efficient transmit data frame format which partitions the frame into five different types of data and containing the following characteristics and attributes:                a) A medium access control method employing time division multiplexing on the down stream and time-division multiple access on the up stream and where the up stream frame timing is synchronized to the down stream frame timing;        b) Use of a frame start ATM cell on the down stream as a synchronization mechanism for the up stream frame timing;        c) Use of a region of the up stream frame consisting of a group of contiguous net entry slots for asynchronous access by new subscribers entering the network after power on;        d) Use of a region of the up stream frame consisting of a group of contiguous slots for random access transmissions of subscriber service requests;        e) Use of a portion of the up stream frame for polling of Subscribers for the purpose of gathering power meter data, home security alarm monitoring, and health, status data on the operational system hardware;        f) Use of a remainder of the frame for the communication of data in the ATM mode.


Embodiments are provided for a compress and forward relaying scheme in joint multi-cell processing. A plurality of base stations receive similar combinations of user signals from a plurality of users, compress the signals using quantization, and relay the signals over respective backhaul links to a processor in the network for decoding the signal. The processor determines suitable quantization noise levels for the backhaul links according to a weighted sum-rate maximization function for optimizing the quantization noise levels, subject to a backhaul sum capacity constraint on the backhaul links. The determined quantization noise levels are sent to the base stations, which then quantize the received combinations of user signals according to the quantization noise levels and relay the quantized signals to the processor. The quantization is according to a Wyner-Ziv coding or a single user compression algorithm that excludes statistical correlations between the user signals at the base stations.

Joint multi-cell processing (MCP), where the transmitted and received signals and the channel state information are shared between base stations via backhaul links, is an efficient way to mitigate out-of-cell interference. Generally, a centralized signal processor in cloud radio access network (RAN) makes MCP possible. In MCP, a base station (BS) sends log likelihood ratio (LLR) soft bits to the central processor, which generally requires a large amount of backhaul bandwidth. The base station sends decoded bits to the central processor, but does not take full advantage of joint MCP. The central processor performs successive interference cancellation on a per-BS basis. However, this implementation also does not take full advantage of joint MCP. There is a need for efficient compress and forward relaying schemes in joint signal processing between base stations and the central processor, which considers backhaul link capacity.

System and methods for compress and forward relaying schemes in joint signal processing

The Governing Council of the University of Toronto


A check valve for disposable pressure infusion systems having an inflation bulb with a single open end includes a valve body with a pair of intake ports and a discharge port. Disposed at such single open end of the inflation bulb, one of the intake ports permits a flow of pressurizing air from the inflation bulb when squeezed to a pressure cuff through flexible tubing coupled to the discharge port. A flexible diaphragm having slitted openings is disposed within the check valve which provides for opening and closure of a specific port alternatively during squeezes and release of the inflation bulb.

Liquids administered by intravenous injection, such as whole blood, plasma, saline and dextrose solutions, are typically supplied in disposable infusion bags which are most often made of a flexible, transparent plastic having an outlet port or delivery tube which is adapted to be punctured by a coupler of a recipient set. In use, the infusion bag is suspended above the patient and the liquid contained therein is permitted to flow by gravity into the patient's vein. There are many situations, particularly when the infusion bag is nearly empty or in cases of severe hemorrhage and shock, where the administration of fluid by gravity flow with conventionally employed infusion bags is unacceptably slow.
Various pressure infusion apparatus have been used in the past to overcome such problems of slow delivery. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,907, issued to Wallace, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,153,414, issued to Beall et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,514, issued to Hinck et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,116, issued to Leibinsohn; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,613, issued to Bellin et al. Such known pressure infusion apparatus characteristically comprises bladder means for maintaining a fluid under pressure, means forming a pocket with the bladder means for holding an infusion bag against the bladder means for pressurizing the infusion bag by transmission of pressure from the pressurized bladder means to the infusion bag, and pressurization means which is coupled to the bladder means for introducing a flow of the fluid into the bladder means and thereby pressurizing same. A conventional inflation, or "squeeze" bulb is typically used as a pressurization means to minimize manufacturing costs.
One problem with such inflation bulbs is their tendency to leak and, therefore, their inability to maintain pressure during use of the pressure infusion apparatus. Typically, inflation bulbs used with pressure infusion apparatus are of a "double-ended" type, such as the inflation bulbs which are shown in the above-referenced patents of Beall et al., Hinck et al., Leibinsohn and Bellin et al. These double-ended inflation bulbs are so called because they have one check valve at the distal end of the inflation bulb and another check valve at the proximal end of the inflation bulb. A squeezing of this type of inflation bulb simultaneously closes the distal end check valve while opening the proximal end check valve, and thereby creates a positive pressure for pumping air into the bladder means. When such inflation bulbs are released, the distal end check valve opens and the proximal end check valve closes to create a negative pressure until the inflation bulb is reinflated. Since the distal end check valve in such double-ended inflation bulbs is exposed to the ambient air, it can be readily appreciated that these check valves may leak.
Accordingly, it is desirable to use a single-ended inflation bulb having a check valve at the end, wherein the check valve has two valves, one valve for providing a passage for fluid flow from the inflation bulb to the bladder means during squeezes of the bulb, and a second valve for providing a passage for fluid flow from an intake port to the inflation bulb during releases of the bulb, in order to refill the bulb with air. Check valves are known, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,490, issued to Demers et al, which comprise a dual valve assembly, wherein a flexible diaphragm provides for opening of one valve and simultaneous closure of the other valve, in order to alternately allow fluid flow through one valve and prevent fluid flow through the other valve. Such a valve comprises a flexible diaphragm which has flaps or reeds which provide for opening and closure of the fluid flow ports.
However, a problem has been recognized in that the use of flap or reed type diaphragms in dual flow check valves may be ineffective in some cases. The flaps are prone to curling and/or twisting, causing attendant leakage at the valve closures and tearing of the diaphragm material.
Therefore, there is a need for a single-ended inflation bulb for use in a pressure infusion system, wherein a flexible diaphragm effectively provides for closure of a specific valve and is not prone to the problems associated with flapping or curling. The present invention provides a check valve which satisfies this need.


An apparatus and method for holding and manipulating a miniaturized ultrasound transducer includes a flexible member, a retaining member, and a control member. The miniaturized ultrasound transducer is mounted on the flexible member proximate a distal end of the flexible member. The retaining member retains the flexible member proximate the distal end of the flexible member. The control member is coupled to the retaining member and is operable to move the retained flexible member and ultrasound transducer to optimize ultrasound visualization.

The present invention relates to ultrasound transducers, and more particularly, to apparatus and method of holding and manipulating small or minute ultrasound transducers.
Ultrasound is a ubiquitous technology capable of obtaining images, assessing functions, measuring hemodynamics, characterizing tissues, visualizing fluid flows, etc. One of the major attributes of ultrasound is its safety, adaptability, low cost, and high spatial and temporal resolution.
As less invasive surgical techniques evolve and the complexity of such procedures increases, direct alternative imaging and control of an event becomes essential. Today, ultrasound is one of the most practical energy sources that can be formulated into small usable devices capable of being manipulated within a surgical environment. Ultrasound can be used as a visual substitute within the opaque confines of body cavities and tissues. Ultrasound vision provides an immediate imaging solution to evaluate the intended result of an intervention.
As a result, ultrasound technology has evolved to be one of the most commonly employed imaging modalities in medical practice. Recent advances include the development of sophisticated multi-array devices, which are of small caliber typically attached by flexible electronics to a fully complemented ultrasound system. Until recently, the applications of small interventional ultrasound transducers have been principally confined to endoscopic applications. Endoscopic devices are rigid or semi-regid scopes, inserted through ports into body cavities (such as esophageal, rectum, vagina, etc.) or vessels. Such devices are rigid enough to be manipulated by hand or self-contained mechanisms.
However, miniaturized or small ultrasound transducer devices are still a recent advent and intend to incorporate ultrasound attributes, such as Doppler, color flow imaging, parametrics, etc. These ultrasound transducer devices are of small caliber, flexible, and incapable of having sufficient internal control. The use of very small caliber ultrasound devices within a body cavity, e.g. a surgical field, has not been previously feasible. There are at least three principal reasons for this reality. Firstly, most early ultrasound devices and transducers were too large or too rigid to accommodate manual and/or digital manipulation within the surgical field or within the appropriate body cavity. Secondly, it is very difficult to control a small or minute transducer. Thirdly, there is insufficient means of controlling the small transducers in the moist confines of a body cavity.
Currently, in a surgery involving the use of ultrasound imaging, a primary surgical physician rarely personally uses ultrasound imaging. Typically, a separate physician outside the immediate surgical environment performs the ultrasound examination. This second physician monitors changes in anatomy, physiology, and procedural outcome and communicates these observations to the primary physician. The primary physician is dependent on a disconnected, and sometimes, unpredictable or unreliable resource. It is desirable to have the primary physician use an imaging device suited for its own specific needs.
Accordingly, there is a need for means of controlling a small ultrasound device, which would allow one to easily manipulate such device in an underfluid environment, particularly in the moist confines of a body cavity. Also, there is a need for a versatile, inexpensive means of controlling such a small device.
In accordance with this invention, the above and other problems were solved by providing an apparatus and method for holding and manipulating a miniaturized ultrasound transducer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes: a flexible member, a retaining member, and a control member. The miniaturized ultrasound transducer is mounted on the flexible member proximate a distal end of the flexible member. The flexible member can be a catheter or other types of thin tube carriers. The retaining member retains the flexible member proximate the distal end of the flexible member. The control member is coupled to the retaining member and is operable to move the retained flexible member and the ultrasound transducer to optimize ultrasound visualization.
Further in one embodiment, the retaining member is a clip having a C-shape. The clip retains the flexible member. The control member is a clip having a C-shape. An operator""s finger is clipped onto the control member. The backsides of the C-shaped retaining member and control member are integral to each other. The operator""s finger controls the movements of the flexible member and the ultrasound transducer mounted thereon.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining member is a semi-rigid tube. The flexible member is inserted through and retained by the semi-regid tube, and the ultrasound transducer is exposed at an end of the semi-rigid tube. The control member includes a plurality of handles and an articulation mechanism. The articulation mechanism is connected to the handles and the flexible member, and the handles are operable to control the movements of the flexible member and the ultrasound transducer.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining member is a hollow tube. The flexible member is inserted through and retained by the hollow tube, and the ultrasound transducer is exposed at an end of the hollow tube. The control member includes a multi-faceted articulated joint and a handle. The handle is connected to the multi-faceted articulated joint and is operable to control the positions of the flexible member and the ultrasound transducer.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining member includes a hollow tube, a handle, a rigid shaft, and a clip. The flexible member is inserted through the hollow tube within the handle and is held in position by the clip affixed to the rigid shaft. The control member includes a trigger mechanism having a trigger and a deflecting cable or wire. The deflecting cable or wire is connected to the flexible member and the trigger. The trigger is operable to control the movements of the flexible member and ultrasound transducer.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining member is a clip having a C shape. The flexible member is inserted into the clip. The control member also includes a pair of suture holes for fixing the retaining member onto a surface. The flexible member is repositionable and/or rotatable within the clip so as to move the ultrasound transducer at will.
One advantage of the present invention is that it allows one to hold and manipulate a very small ultrasound transducer, particularly within a moist surgical field.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it accommodates surgeon""s needs, such as the size of a surgeon""s hand, etc., and surgeon""s ability to reach a specific location and function in an underfluid environment.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it empowers an operator, e.g. a surgeon, to personally and interactively assess the status and result of the operation without having a second operator to perform a separate examination and communicate the results to the operator. Accordingly, the operator is able to assess a personal status and result, thereby giving the imaging capability to the hands of an actual person who performs intervention.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Apparatus and method of holding and manipulating small ultrasound transducers

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research


The present invention describes a low frequency, low shear, in-line mixer which operates using a pressurized flow of material, in gas or liquid form, to efficiently mix the flow with another gas, liquid or solid (small, particle-sized) material. The essential components are a chamber, an inlet orifice and a tapered, cantilevered reed with a weight on the unattached end of the reed. The pressurized flow of material across the cantilevered reed induces it to vibrate, thereby mixing the materials in the pressurized flow. Mathematical formulae are used in setting the construction parameters for the reed so that it vibrates at a lower frequency, creates less shear and consumes less power than previous mixers of similar design.

Mixing is an essential processing step used in the manufacture of chemicals, food products and pharmaceuticals, and in numerous other applications, such as wastewater treatment, paper production and agriculture. The present invention satisfies the requirements of many industries for a low pressure, low shear mixing device.
Mixers are used to combine liquids with other liquids and with gases and solids. Mixers are also used to mix different gases together. The difficulty in forming mixtures depends upon the properties of the materials being combined.
Miscible liquids present few mixing problems because they easily disperse into a mixture. Immiscible liquids can be combined in dispersions or emulsions by producing and distributing tiny droplets of one liquid within another.
Gases can be dissolved in liquids by simple mixing. Once a liquid is saturated with a gas, generating tiny bubbles of gas and suspending them in the liquid can form a supersaturated mixture. In addition, a highly viscous liquid can be effectively foamed by mixing it with tiny bubbles of gas.
Mixing solids and liquids can be simple when a solid is soluble in a liquid. An insoluble solid is more difficult to mix with a liquid because it may tend to agglomerate into lumps. Agglomeration can be a particular problem when the solid is a long-chain polymer or a fibrous material; the mixture must be formed using low shear forces so that the properties of the solid are not degraded.
Several kinds of whistle-type mixers, which basically consist of a cantilevered reed or blade with its free end facing an inlet orifice, have been developed and used for a limited range of mixing processes. These mixers are installed in-line of a fluid flow and have the advantage of being powered solely by the fluid flow. Within a high-pressure fluid flow, the free end of the cantilevered reed can be made to vibrate at high frequency so as to produce cavitation in the fluid. The cavitation is effective in mixing miscible liquids together and in emulsifying gases and immiscible liquids within liquids. However, because of the high shear forces associated with the high frequency vibration of the reed, these mixers are not suitable for mixing long-chain polymers or other materials that are degraded by shear forces.
Examples of in-line mixers that utilize cavitation generated by a cantilevered reed are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,413 (D'Urso), U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,387 (Grange), U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,816 (Folland), and U.S. Pat. Reissue No. 25,324 (Cottell). These mixers require high pressures to function due to the high amount of kinetic energy consumed by the cantilevered reed to produce cavitation in the flow of material. The typical pressure drop between the inlet side and the outlet side of these mixers is above 100 psi. The high frequency of vibration needed for the reed to cause cavitation also means that the fluid flow is subjected to high shear forces at the free end of the reed.
Disclosure of a whistle-type mixer that operates in a manner that avoids cavitation is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,050 by Jacobs. The Jacobs patent shows a cantilevered reed that has a blunt bar on the free end of the reed. The blunt face of the end bar is placed almost against the inlet orifice for the mixer and just covers the inlet orifice. The cantilevered reed is induced to oscillate as the stream of liquid coming from the inlet orifice mechanically pushes the blunt face and deflects the reed from its static position. The elasticity of the reed causes it to rebound and to be alternately pushed back and forth by the stream of liquid coming from the inlet orifice. Also, the Jacobs patent states that "a long narrow slot is desirable because it induces higher frequency in the oscillations of (the) blade" (underline added). If the reed, or blade, is forced to operated at a frequency higher than its natural frequency of vibration, then substantially more power would be consumed, requiring a greater pressure drop.
Several limitations are presented in the design described by the Jacobs patent. First, the distance between the inlet orifice and the blunt face of the end bar is specified to be from 0.004 to 0.008 inches. Second, the dimensions of the inlet orifice must closely match the dimensions for the blunt face of the end bar. Third, the movement of the end bar, alternately back and forth across the inlet orifice, subjects the fluid flow to high shear forces.
As a consequence of these limitations, it would be difficult to introduce solids and gases in the fluid flow for the Jacobs mixer. Gases within the fluid flow can reduce the fluid's effectiveness in mechanically pushing the end bar back and forth. Solids within the fluid flow can become deposited on the blunt face of the end bar and can become wedged between the end bar and the discharge side of the inlet orifice due to the small amount of clearance, thereby hindering the mixer's operation. In fact, the Jacobs patent only describes the mixing of liquids that have a viscosity equal to or greater than the viscosity of water. No mention is made of mixing solids or gases in a fluid flow.