A specialized catheter is used in a method to place a stent assembly in a bifurcated vessel in an animal body, such as a human. Primary and secondary guidewires are inserted from a location external of the body through the primary vessel, the secondary guidewire being further inserted into a secondary vessel beyond a bifurcation area. The guidewires are inserted into a primary stent and catheter assembly such that the assembly can move along the guidewires to the bifurcation area where the primary stent is expanded. While retaining the secondary guidewire in the vessels, the primary catheter assembly and primary guidewire are removed, the secondary guidewire passing through specialized openings in the primary catheter. Then the secondary stent, mounted on a catheter, is passed through the primary vessel guided by the secondary guidewire, and into the secondary vessel. There, the secondary stent is expanded to form the bifurcated stent assembly in an efficient manner.

The present invention relates to a specialized catheter and a method of placing the catheter and stents in a bifurcated vessel. More particularly, the method includes placing a primary stent in a primary vessel and a secondary stent in at least one secondary vessel which branches from the primary vessel, the secondary branch vessel(s) and the primary vessel forming at least one bifurcated vessel. The catheter is specialized to allow passage of a guidewire through the wall of the catheter and remove the primary stent assembly so that the secondary stent may be placed into position in the secondary vessel.
A stent, sometimes referred to as a graft, is an endoprosthetic device that is placed within or implanted in a tubular vessel, such as a vascular vessel like an artery or vein, or other vessel, such as intestine, esophagus or other tubular body organ in animals, and particularly humans, for treating blockages, stenoses or aneurysms of the vessel. The stent is implanted within the vessels to act as an internal scaffold or reinforcement to support collapsing, previously fully or partially occluded, weakened or abnormally dilated portions of the vessel wall. Typically, stents have been used to treat dissections in blood vessel walls, for example following balloon angioplasty of the coronary arteries and peripheral arteries, and to improve results of angioplasty by reinforcing the vessel wall. Stents also have been implanted in other body vessels, such as the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the urinary tract, the bile duct, the esophagus and the tracheo-bronchial tree to support weakened or otherwise damaged walls of those organs.
Typically, stents are elongated tubular products that have a first, unexpanded condition in which they are threaded through the appropriate body organs, such as blood vessels, by use of catheters and guidewires. Some stents are expanded by way of the use of a small balloon which is expandable by a fluid, such as a sterile saline solution, when the stent reaches the desired location. There are great number of examples of stents having various types of geometry, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,762 of Palmaz (commercialized in various forms as the Palmaz stent), U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,406 of Gray et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,021 of Jang. Other types of stents have been developed that are made of materials, such as an alloy of nickel and titanium called nitinol, which, when initially compressed, are within the sheath of a catheter, are in an unexpanded state, but when released from the catheter sheath, self-expand to an appropriate degree without the use of a balloon to bear against the vessel walls and retain them in an open condition. A couple of examples of stents of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,829 of Boyle et aL and U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,066 of Palmaz et al. Stents have been commercialized by Cordis Corp. (a Johnson & Johnson Company), Guidant Corp., Boston Scientific Corp., Medtronic Inc., all of the United States, and Medinol, Ltd. of Israel, among others. The manufacture and installation of stents is a multi-billion dollar business which is increasing annually, particularly as populations age.
Some stents are drug-eluting stents by virtue of the material from which the stents are made having properties particularly relating to antithrombotic activity, or antirestenosis activity. Often during procedures relating to vessel repair or even the insertion of the stents, blood may form clots, resulting in potentially serious or fatal thromboses and, over time, scar tissue or other matter builds up in the vessels, often in the vicinity of and on, and even as a result of, the use of a stent, resulting in re-blockage or restenosis of the vessel. Drug-eluting stents, which may also include coatings, thin reservoirs containing leachable active ingredients, and other techniques, have been developed and are in use to help prevent or treat such thromboses or restenosis. Among a great many examples are drug-eluting stents of a type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,536 of Ding et al., or U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,332 of Kutryk et al., which discloses a device coated with an antibiotic that promotes adherence of endothelial cells to the device. Certain materials used in making stents are themselves antirestentotic or antithrombogenic, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,383 of Palmaz et al.
The use of stents in relatively straight and unbranched vessels is fairly straightforward. Complications arise when the damage to be repaired is near or at ajunction or point of bifurcation in bifurcated vessels where a branch vessel joins a main vessel. There are difficulties in inserting stents both in the main or primary vessel and in the branched or secondary vessel, which may result in further damage to the vessel with increased risk of thrombosis and embolism or even additional perforation of the vessel. Complications that may arise are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,202 of Vardi et al., which discloses one type of apparatus and a method of using it for treating bifurcated vessels. Other examples of stents and methods of inserting them for use in bifurcated vessels are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,165 of Richter et al. and in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0186560, published Sep. 23, 2004. The disclosures of these and all other patents and publications mentioned herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Each of the patents or publication mentioned in this paragraph discloses alternative arrangements and methods of insertion. Despite the various techniques, there are still certain inefficiencies and concerns with the methods of inserting stent assemblies in bifurcated vessels. The present invention overcomes the difficulties in alignment and insertion of various types of stents.
The present invention provides a specialized primary stent catheter and the method of its use to positively and efficiently align and insert a stent assembly comprising a primary stent and a secondary stent into a bifurcated vessel. The stent may be a balloon-expandable stent or a self-expandable stent and may include a coating or be made of materials by which it may also be a drug-eluting stent. The stent is made of materials or includes imageable coatings or other markings to allow ready determination of its location within and passage through a vessel, which is particularly important when dealing with bifurcated vessels. Such coatings and technologies are well known to those skilled in the art. Substantially any type or configuration of stent may be used with the method of the present invention.
A portion of the primary catheter is separable so that after a primary guidewire guides the primary stent into a primary vessel, a secondary guidewire may be removed from the lumen of the primary catheter and guide a secondary stent into a secondary vessel. The separable portion of the catheter does not significantly protrude from a cross-section of the catheter, thus making the surface of the catheter less obtrusive as it travels through a vessel than would an external guide mounted on the body of the catheter.
The present invention provides for an improved catheter to guide the stent assembly into a bifurcated vessel, along with the method for placing the stent assembly into the bifurcated vessel, with complete stent support for the full bifurcated vessel, which reduces the risk of restenosis or other adverse consequences associated with treating bifurcated vessels.

Specialized catheter and method for placement in a bifurcated vessel


A sensor mark including: a substrate having: a deep ultra violet (DUV) radiation absorbing layer including a first material which substantially absorbs DUV radiation; and a protecting layer including a second material, wherein: the DUV radiation absorbing layer has a through hole in it; the protecting layer is positioned, in plan, in the through hole and the protecting layer in the through hole has a patterned region having a plurality of through holes; and the second material is more noble than the first material.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine constructed to apply a desired pattern onto a substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). A lithographic apparatus may, for example, project a pattern (also often referred to as "design layout" or "design") of a patterning device (e.g., a mask) onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on a substrate (e.g., a wafer).
To project a pattern on the substrate the lithographic apparatus may use electromagnetic radiation. The wavelength of this radiation determines the minimum size of features which are patterned on the substrate. Typical wavelengths currently in use are 365 nm (i-line), 248 nm, 193 nm and 13.5 nm. A lithographic apparatus, which uses extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation, having a wavelength within a range of 4 nm to 20 nm, for example 6.7 nm or 13.5 nm, may be used to form smaller features on the substrate than a lithographic apparatus which uses, for example, radiation with a wavelength of 193 nm.
In an immersion lithography apparatus, a liquid is confined to an immersion space by a fluid handling structure (or a liquid confinement structure). The immersion space is between a final optical element of a projection system through which the pattern is imaged and the substrate onto which the pattern is transferred or a support table on which the substrate is supported. The liquid may be confined to the immersion space by a fluid seal. The fluid handling structure may create or use a flow of gas, for example to help in controlling the flow and/or the position of the liquid in the immersion space. The flow of gas may help form the seal to confine the liquid to the immersion space. At least part of sensors that are integrated into the support table (e.g. sensor marks) come into contact with immersion liquid.
Immersion lithograph apparatus rely on several sensors integrated into the support table which supports the substrate. These sensors are used for:
substrate/support table alignment with respect to a reference frame;
lens (re)adjustment, setup, heating compensation; and
reticle (mask) heating compensation.
Sensor marks are integrated into a stack of thin film layers which is deposited on a quartz plate integrated into the support table and act as:                spatial transmission filters for DUV (Integrated Lens Interferometry At Scanner "ILIAS" sensor, Parallel ILIAS sensor (PARIS), Transmission Image Sensor "TIS" sensor functionality); transmission filter can be realized as a patterned absorbing layer stack, where absorber is a dense metal (chromium) or other material.        spatial reflective filters for Visible Radiation "VIS", Near Infra Red "NIR", Medium Infra Red "MIR" (Smart Alignment Sensor Hybrid "SMASH" sensor functionality).
The reflection from the top surface of the stack (mark-free region) can be used for the level sensor.
In order to protect a metal (chromium) layer of a sensor mark from galvanic corrosion, a voltage is applied between the fluid handling structure and the sensor mark. This can be seen as a galvanic protection. In the absence of such a voltage, a cell is formed between the stainless steel of the fluid handling structure and the chromium of the layer of the sensor mark, with the immersion liquid acting as the electrolyte.
The presence of the galvanic protection can lead to other layers of the sensor mark which are less noble than chromium corroding at an accelerated rate.
Additionally a photo current can be induced due to interaction of layers with the DUV radiation. The photo current is generated by the photo electric effect. The presence of a photo current can accelerate corrosion.
Corrosion of materials in layers of the sensor marks is undesirable as this degrades the sensor marks and thereby the ability of the sensors to make measurements and also introduces particles into the immersion liquid which can result in imaging errors.

Sensor mark and a method of manufacturing a sensor mark


A novel system, apparatus, composition and method provide facile collection of a physical sample, including in particular noninvasive extraction of buccal cells, specifically directed to capture of PCR-ready DNA from such cheek cells. It is particularly useful in achieving simplified collection, transit, processing and storage of biological samples with minimal chain of custody.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the collection of samples, and is specifically directed to capture of polymerase chain reaction- (PCR) ready DNA. The invention is directed to a system, structure, composition and method particularly useful in noninvasive extraction, facile processing and secure handling and storage of physical samples, including muccocutaneous cells.
2. State of the Art
A high-throughput, low cost, and reliable means of genomic DNA collection is required for research in molecular and genetic studies, as an alternative to collection and processing of blood samples. Buccal (cheek) swabs have been proposed as one approach to providing such means.
A recent study in Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 107, Number 7, July 1999, provides information about the practical application of collection of genomic DNA by buccal swabs for polymerase chain reaction-based biomarker assays. From January 1995 to December 1997, under this study, 995 buccal swabs were processed for use in PCR-based genotype assays in the context of ongoing molecular epidemiologic studies. Six hundred forty-seven of these swabs were processed immediately after collection and 348 were received by mail. At least one genotype was obtained from 99.7% (645 of 647) of fresh-processed biosamples and from 97.4% (330 of 339) of mailed biosamples. A PCR success rate of 90.3% (2,5446 genotypes from 2,819 assays) was achieved. Genotypes were obtained from 96.1% (1,865 genotypes from 1,941 assays) of fresh-processed biosamples and 77.6% (681 genotypes from 878 assays) of mailed biosamples. PCR success rates at any single locus ranged from 92.6 to 98.8% (fresh-processed) and 75.5 to 79.6% (mailed). The PCR success rate among fresh-processed biosamples was significantly higher than among mailed biosamples, and more attempts were required to obtain a successful PCR result for mailed biosamples as compared to fresh-processed biosamples.
A practical application of DNA sample collection is disclosed as a part of a broader invention in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,047 to Duff et al. "Method And Kit for Predicting Susceptibility To Asthma." Duff et al. teach the benefits of early identification of genetic markers that indicate susceptibility to or increased risk of chronic obstructive airway disease, especially in children. Diseases of special interest in this regard are asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic bronchiolitis. Early detection facilitates aggressive treatment in early stages of disease. Genetic testing, also called genetic screening or genotyping, reveals mutations, or polymorphisms, in the nucleic acid of a patient that are indicative of either a cause of or increase in susceptibility to a disease state, or so-called linkage disequilibrium, within the patient's gene.
Linkage disequilibrium refers to the tendency of specific alleles to occur together more frequently than would be expected by chance. Alleles at given loci are in equilibrium if the frequency of any particular set of alleles (or haplotype) is the product of their individual population frequencies. While the cause of disequilibrium is often unclear, the fact of disequilibrium can be detected by genetic testing from suitable specimens of cells and DNA by means including, without limitation, blood, saliva and buccal swabs.
One method for treatment of biosamples, for example, according to Michael J. Kilborn, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical and Scientific Coordinator at Georgetown University Pharmacology Department, would include the following collection steps: (a) obtain a quantity of sterile (individually packaged) cotton swabs which can be placed dry into a clean/sterile container (sleeve, tube, jar or ziplock-bag); (b) if possible, have the patient swish water gently around his or her mouth, for a few seconds only, and spit it out (to remove any large food particles); (c) rub the tip of the swab firmly along the inside of the cheek of the patient, then seal the swab into its clean/sterile sleeve/tube/jar/bag; (d) to ensure an adequate amount of DNA is collected, therefore, at least three (3) and up to five (5) such swabs should be used to collect samples, as a result, step (c) should be repeated two to four times.
The following shipping steps should then be followed: (a) it is preferable that swabs be shipped immediately; (b) samples may be shipped at ambient temperature (no refrigeration or ice necessary); (c) the outside of shipping box/envelope should be labeled as follows: "Store at −20 degrees C. on receipt" and (d) state the address.
For storage purposes, if swabs can not be shipped immediately they should be stored at −20 degrees C. until they are shipped. Upon receipt, they will be stored again at −20 degrees C. until processed.
A commercial example of the foregoing method is embodied in the BuccalAmp™ DNA Extraction Kit distributed by Epicentre Technologies Corp of Madison Wis. According to the designated procedure a swab is rotated on the inside of the cheek, then rotated in a Quick Extraction™ DNA extraction solution within a vial, heated at 56 degrees C. for 30 minutes and 98 degrees C. for 15 minutes, rendering the DNA sample ready for PCR within the vial. This approach contemplates the use of a Catch-All™ sample collection swab which includes a soft foam swab on a flexible plastic handle. The porous foam is thought to capture more sample than standard buccal brushes and is described as easy and safe to use, even for pediatric sampling. These collection swabs are supplied individually in sterile hard plastic cylinders.
While the state of the art is characterized as an extremely easy and rapid method for extraction of PCR-ready genomic DNA from humans or small animals that eliminates the time and discomfort required for sample collection by blood draws, deficiencies in the foregoing methods art are evident.
Accordingly, the art suggests that adequate DNA for PCR-based applications can be obtained from buccal swabs, but that sampling or processing considerations may be important in obtaining optimal results. There is ample opportunity for improvement over the art in the specimen extraction processes, handling protocol and systems for effecting the same.
Prior specimen handling protocols include numerous steps, each juncture of which potentially allows for either inadvertent or intentional substitution of samples, introduction of contaminants in any given sample or confusion as to the substance or nature of the sample.
Heretofore there has been no system or method for extracting genetic markers from buccal (cheek) swabs in numbers sufficient to support multiple generation research. A need exists for such a system and method.
Furthermore there has been no known system that combines a buccal swab with a lid for storage of the swab within a vial and clean and minimal handling of the swab, both prior, as well as subsequent, to specimen extraction, including during shipment to and from the collection site.
There remains a need for such a multi-function vial, wherein the vial may be used for preservation of relative sterility of a buccal swab prior to specimen extraction; for facile retraction of the buccal swab from the vial for extraction of a specimen and contaminant-free return of the swab to the vial; for transport; for microcentrifuge processing; or for any or all of the foregoing.
Heretofore there has been no sample collection tip medium specifically suited to enhancing the attraction of the sought after sample to the tip. A need exists for such a tip medium.
There is yet an additional need for a system comprising a buccal swab, receivable by a vial having a compartment for storage of a composition, releasable into the vial, whereby specimen collection, protection, processing and storage is improved and facilitated.
A further need exists for a method of biosample handling that reduces the number of steps in the chain of custody.
Yet a further need exists for a composition suited to maintenance of a relatively sterile, microbe-free environment, within microcentrifuge-ready vials, during shipment to collection sites, or facilitation of debridement of specimen cells to be extracted, or use as a solvent to enhance recovery of a desired physical sample, or preservation of specimen cells or other physical samples after collection or after processing, or use as a reagent during processing of a physical sample.

System for non-invasive extraction, secure handling and storage and facile processing and facile processing of a specimen


A mobile terminal for displaying an auxiliary display area and a method thereof. All information except for the state information (e.g., reception sensitivity and battery state) and operation information (e.g., background image, call time, and menu list) of a mobile terminal can be displayed in the auxiliary display area. The mobile terminal sets the auxiliary display area differently depending on the characteristics of information to be displayed and displays it with corresponding information. Accordingly, the utilization of the auxiliary display area is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile terminal and a display method thereof, and in particular, to a mobile terminal and a method for displaying a variable auxiliary display area.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates display areas in a conventional mobile terminal. Referring to FIG. 1, a state display area 10, a main display area 20, and an auxiliary display area 30 are defined on the mobile terminal. The state display area 10 displays the state of the mobile terminal (e.g. reception sensitivity, battery state, etc.), the main display area 20 displays the operational state of the mobile terminal (e.g. background image, call time, menu list, etc.), and the auxiliary display area 30 displays buttons that aid the user manipulation of the mobile terminal.
"Menu" and "Select" buttons are defined in the auxiliary display area 30 in FIG. 1, for illustrative purposes. This auxiliary display area 30 is called a command bar or a navigation bar and represents a different command under circumstances, such as Option, End-Call, Menu and the like. The auxiliary display area 30 is fixed in area and always displayed irrespective of the operational state of the mobile terminal.
As a result, the fixed representation of the auxiliary display area 30 limits the use of the auxiliary display area 30. That is, it can be used as nothing but a command bar or a navigation bar.

Mobile terminal for displaying a variable auxiliary display area and method thereof


A safer ear cleaning device having a stop to control depth of insertion, a blunted loop end for preventing perforation of the ear drum, a shaft with a flexing means and with a hole for irrigating wax.

1. Field of Invention
The instant invention relates generally to human and animal body tubular passage manipulators and more specifically it relates to a disposable ear cleaning device.
2. Description of Prior Art
Wax build up in an ear canal prevents adequate examination of the eardrum and may adversely affect hearing. A person may try to remove the wax, for example with a cotton swab, which tending to act as a plunger causes impaction or injury to the ear drum. To help prevent injury earwax cleaners (ear curette) were provided with depth control as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,334,212 and 5,509,921 to Karell, 1994 and 1996. U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,276 to Lay, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,756 to Kruglick, 1997, show ear cleaners combined with a swab.


Semiconductor chips are provided. The semiconductor chip includes a selection phase clock generator and a data input/output portion. The selection phase clock generator is configured to receive an external clock signal and an inversed external clock signal to generate phase clock signals, configured to receive a first external test clock signal and a second external test clock signal to generate test phase clock signals, and configured to output the phase clock signals or the test phase clock signals as selection phase clock signals in response to a test mode signal.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to semiconductor chips and semiconductor systems including the same.
As semiconductor systems are developed for high speed operations, it is becoming increasingly important to realize high data transmission rates between the semiconductor chips constituting a semiconductor system. In response, various pre-fetch schemes have been proposed for realizing high data transmission rates. The pre-fetch scheme may correspond to a design technique that latches data inputted in series and then outputs the latched data in parallel. The pre-fetch scheme may provide the high data transmission rates as well as the data having a high bandwidth. To obtain a parallel data, the clock signals having different phases, for example, multi-phase clock signals are required. The multi-phase clock signals may be generated in the semiconductor chips, and the multi-phase clock signals are used for inputting or outputting of the data.
In general, the multi-phase clock signals may be generated using an internal clock signal having a frequency, which is twice that of an external clock signal, and the internal clock signal may be generated using a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit.
However, the PLL circuit requires a large area in the circuit layout of the semiconductor chip and causes undesirably large current consumption. Thus, the semiconductor chip including the PLL circuit may suffer from high integration density and high power consumption. Further, the PLL circuit may require a relatively long locking time to generate the internal clock signal having a frequency which is twice that of the external clock signal.

Semiconductor chips and semiconductor systems for executing a test mode


Described are systems and methods for storing a variable number of instances of data objects (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or up to N−1 instances, where N is the number of instances of the data object included in primary data) in secondary storage across a data storage network. In some examples, a system for storing a variable number of instances of data objects includes, one or more computing devices storing a set of data objects and multiple storage devices distinct from the one or more computing devices. Each of the multiple storage devices is configured to store at least a single instance of a data object. The system also includes a database configured to store information associated with the data objects. This information includes substantially unique identifiers for the data objects and, for each of the data objects, a number of instances of the data object stored on the multiple storage devices.

An organization typically protects its data by making one or more copies of it. The data to be protected is typically termed primary data, which generally includes production data. The copies of the primary data are typically called secondary copies, tertiary copies, etc. Primary data may include numerous data objects. A data object is any collection or grouping of bytes of data that can be viewed as one or more logical units (data objects include, e.g., files, email messages, database entries, etc.). A data object may be unique (i.e., there is only one instance of the data object in the primary data) or non-unique (i.e., there is more than one instance of the data object in the primary data). Conventional data protection techniques typically involve making a secondary copy of each data object in the primary data, regardless of whether it is unique or not. For example, if the primary data includes N instances of a certain data object, conventional data protection techniques would result in creating a secondary copy that also includes N instances of the data object. Conventional data protection techniques thus minimize the risk of data loss of non-unique data objects (because another instance of a non-unique data object can likely be restored), at the expense of creating secondary copies that are as large as the primary data.
In contrast, single instance storage techniques typically provide for secondary storage of a single instance of a given data object included in primary data. Such single instance storage techniques typically operate by comparing signatures or hashes of data objects in primary data against signatures or hashes of data objects already stored in secondary storage. If a signature or hash of a data object matches that of a previously stored data object, then the data object is not stored, and only a pointer or other reference to the previously stored data object is stored in its place. Such single instance storage techniques result in creating a secondary copy of the primary data that includes only one single instance of each data object in the primary data.
While such single instance storage techniques may be efficient in terms of minimizing the storage space used to store data objects, they do result in some danger in terms of overall data protection. For example, if there is a problem with the media on which the data object in secondary storage is stored, then it may be difficult (if not impossible) to recover the data object from the media. If an organization implementing such single instance storage techniques stores only a single instance of the data object in secondary storage, then the data object may also be unrecoverable from secondary storage across the organization.
The organization may attempt to mitigate the consequences associated with this risk by making other secondary and/or tertiary copies of single instanced data objects, such as copies on tape. However, it may slow and/or difficult to recover such secondary and/or tertiary copies from tape.
The need exists for systems and methods that overcome the above problems, as well as systems and methods that provide additional benefits. Overall, the examples herein of some prior or related systems and methods and their associated limitations are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of existing or prior systems and methods will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the following Detailed Description.

Storing a variable number of instances of data objects


The invention relates to a direct process for the preparation of alkanedioic derivatives, for example alkanedioic diesters, by reaction of an aliphatic conjugated diene such as butadiene with carbon monoxide and a hydroxyl group-containing compound such as a C.sub.1-6 alkanol in the presence of a catalyst system containing. a) a source of cationic palladium, PA0 b) a first bidentate diphosphine ligand having electron-withdrawing substituents on the phosphorus atoms, PA0 c) a second bidentate diphosphine ligand having electron-releasing substituents on the phosphorus atoms, and PA0 d) a source of an anion.

It is known that conjugated dienes can be carbonylated using various palladium catalysts. Depending on the nature of the hydroxyl group-containing compound used as coreactant various alkanedioic derivatives can be obtained. For example, carboxylic acid esters will be obtained in the presence of alcohols, carboxylic acids in the presence of water, and carboxylic anhydrides in the presence of carboxylic acids.
While dienes have two double bonds potentially available for carbonylation, most of the known processes result in the carbonylation of only one of these double bonds and forms monofunctional alkenoic derivatives. For the production of difunctional derivatives, it is required to isolate this alkenoic intermediate product and to subject it to carbonylation of its remaining double bond in a separate step.
Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,912 discloses a two-step process for the preparation of adipic acid or esters. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,912, 1,3-butadiene is carbonylated using a catalyst system containing a palladium compound and a bidentate diphosphine ligand having aromatic substituents on the phosphorus atoms in a first step forming a pentenoic acid or ester, subsequently isolating the pentenoic acid or ester obtained, followed by carbonylating the isolated pentenoic acid or ester in the presence of a second carbonylation catalyst. The requirement of isolation of the intermediate product makes this known process more laborious.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,047 discloses a process for the direct conversion of conjugated diene into carboxylic diacids or diesters using a catalyst system containing a palladium compound, an aryl-substituted monophosphine, optionally in conjunction with an aryl-substituted bidentate diphosphine, and at least one mole of hydrogen chloride per atom of trivalent phosphorus present in the catalytic system. Due to the corrosive nature of hydrogen chloride, this known process suffers from severe equipment requirements when being conducted on an industrial scale. Also, the monophosphine component of this catalyst system tends to become inactivated under the conditions applied.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved direct process to prepare alkanedioic derivatives by the reaction of an aliphatic conjugated diene with carbon monoxide and a hydroxyl group-containing compound.


Spinal surgery is carried out under direct visualization through a relatively small opening formed in a patient's skin. Intervening tissue between the opening and the surgical site is displaced so as to form a keyhole channel therethrough. The channel is characterized in that it increases in width as it progresses from the opening to the surgical field. The use of the keyhole channel maximizes the surgeon's access to the surgical field while minimizing tissue trauma. Also disclosed are surgical retractors used to provide the channel.

Spinal surgeries such as laminectomies, discectomies, fusions and the like are needed by a great many patients. The fact that the spine is a complex construction of bone, cartilage and nerves surrounded by relatively strong muscles makes spinal surgery difficult to perform and requires a high degree of skill on the part of the surgeon if successful results are to be obtained. Initially, all such spinal surgeries were carried out by what is referred to as "open" procedures wherein the spinal structures being operated upon were exposed via a relatively large skin incision that narrows down in conical fashion to the deep, bony operative target, cutting and destroying intervening soft tissue structures. Formation of the large open incision involved severing and separating a large number of tendons, ligaments, and muscle fibers, and this tissue trauma has been found to cause the patient pain, prolonged hospital stays, prolonged recovery and permanent low back weakness. In addition, many patients were dissatisfied with the scarring resultant from large-scale open procedures. Open procedures and apparatus for their implementation are disclosed in the prior art; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,052,373 and 5,363,841.
In an attempt to minimize problems associated with large-scale open spinal surgeries, the prior art developed a number of minimally invasive techniques. These techniques are often referred to as "percutaneous" and are typically implemented through the use of endoscopic devices. Such percutaneous techniques involve minimal ("puncture") incisions and are less traumatic to the patient. However, endoscopic visualization techniques are limiting insofar as the image provided thereby is a two-dimensional image with compromised resolution, for example an image displayed on a video monitor or visualized through a fiber optic viewing device. Furthermore, many such techniques require that the operation be carried out in a surgical field that is filled with a liquid such as a saline solution, or with a gas such as carbon dioxide. Also, if the endoscope and the surgical instruments are passed, by a cylindrical retractor, through the same access port, depth perception and the normal, bimanual use of instruments is greatly hindered. As a consequence, prior art percutaneous techniques are of limited utility. Such techniques are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,792,044 and 6,206,826.
As a result of the shortcomings of prior art open and percutaneous surgical techniques, spinal surgeons have sought alternative methods whereby spinal surgery may be carried out with minimal tissue invasion, but with maximized visualization of, and access to, the surgical field. Toward that end, direct visualization techniques have been developed wherein a relatively minor incision is formed in the patient's skin, and underlying tissues are displaced through the use of a dilator device, which may comprise a series of dilator mandrels having progressively greater diameters, or through the use of an expansible cannula. The dilator device displaces muscle tissue with minimal tearing or cutting, in a manner analogous to that of a blunt needle being forced through a woven cloth. Once an appropriately sized channel is dilated through the tissue, a working cannula is disposed in the dilated channel, and surgery takes place through the cannula. While this technique does allow for direct visualization and an open surgical field, the dilator devices and cannulae of the prior art provide a cylindrical working passageway through the tissue. This passage has a fairly high aspect ratio insofar as the diameter of the passage is relatively small compared to the passage length. Consequently, the surgeon has a difficult time manipulating instruments through the long narrow channel; furthermore, the geometry of the channel impedes binocular vision of the surgical field. As a consequence, it is often necessary to reposition the cannula during surgery to provide better visualization and/or access. Such repositioning is time consuming, and can tear muscle tissue or cause other undesired surgical trauma. Furthermore, the cylindrical cannula still limits the surgeon's vision and restricts the use of instruments, since access is still provided through a cylindrical channel.
In partial response to the shortcomings of the aforementioned minimally invasive, cannula based techniques, the prior art has developed a transparent walled cannula device which, following tissue dilation, is disposed in the dilated passage. The transparent walls of the cannula enhance visualization of the surgical site. However, the passage defined through the tissue is still cylindrical, and problems of access remain. Such apparatus, and techniques for its use are disclosed in a publication entitled Dilation Discectomy: A System For The Surgeon, Abram, Leon J. M.D., paper published at the 2001 International Intradiscal Therapy Society (IITS) Meeting, and republished July 2001 by Spinal Concepts Inc. as document number 1999-0006-MKC Rev. A per DCR #1327.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there is a need for methods and apparatus whereby a surgeon may carry out spinal surgery under direct visualization with minimal patient trauma. Such techniques should provide a surgeon with a good view of, and access to, the surgical site. Furthermore, it is desirable that such techniques and apparatus be simple and reliable. As will be explained in detail hereinbelow, the present invention provides surgical instruments and techniques which fulfill these requirements. These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, discussion and description which follow.


A light source apparatus comprises: a substrate; a light emission unit that is provided on the substrate; a plurality of reflection units configured to reflect light from the light emission unit; and a first detection unit that is provided on the substrate and detects the light from the light emission unit, wherein each of the reflection units has a substantially n-sided pyramid shape and is provided such that a bottom surface thereof is in parallel with the substrate, and the first detection unit is provided between a vertex of an n-sided polygon corresponding to the bottom surface of one of two of the reflection units adjacent to each other and a vertex of an n-sided polygon corresponding to the bottom surface of the other of two of the reflection units adjacent to each other.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light source apparatus and a display apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Some color image display apparatuses have color liquid crystal panels having color filters and light source apparatuses (backlight apparatuses) that emit white light to the back surfaces of the color liquid crystal panels.
Conventionally, a fluorescent lamp such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or the like has been mainly used as the light source of the light source apparatus. However, in recent years, a light-emitting diode (LED) excellent in terms of power consumption, life, color reproducibility, and environmental load is used increasingly as the light source of the light source apparatus.
The light source apparatus (LED backlight apparatus) that uses the LED as the light source usually has a large number of the LEDs. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-142409 discloses the LED backlight apparatus that has a plurality of light emission units each having one or more LEDs. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-142409 discloses that the brightness of the light emission unit is controlled for each light emission unit. By reducing the light emission brightness of the light emission unit that emits light to an area of a screen of a color image display apparatus in which a dark image is displayed, power consumption is reduced and the contrast of the image is improved. Such brightness control for each light emission unit corresponding to the feature of the image is called local dimming control.
When the spread of light from the light emission unit is suppressed, it is possible to increase the degree of improvement of the contrast by the local dimming control. Specifically, in the case where the leakage of light emitted from one light emission unit to the area corresponding to the other light emission unit is suppressed, it is possible to increase the degree of improvement of the contrast by the local dimming control. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-339148, by surrounding the light source with a plurality of reflection units (conical reflection units), it is possible to suppress the spread of light from the light emission unit and increase the degree of improvement of the contrast by the local dimming control.
The light source apparatus has a problem that the light emission brightness of the light emission unit changes. The change of the light emission brightness occurs due to, e.g., the change of light emission characteristics of the light source caused by the change of temperature, the aged deterioration of the light source, and the like. In a light emission apparatus having a plurality of the light emission units, a variation in temperature or aged deterioration between the plurality of the light emission units causes a variation in light emission brightness (brightness variation) between the plurality of the light emission units.
As a method for reducing the change of the light emission brightness and the brightness variation, there is known a method in which the light emission brightness of the light emission unit is adjusted by using an optical sensor that detects light emitted from the light emission unit. Specifically, there is known the method in which the optical sensor that detects reflected light emitted from the light emission unit and reflected toward the light emission unit by an optical sheet (optical member) of the light source apparatus is provided, and the light emission brightness of the light emission unit is adjusted based on the detected value of the optical sensor. In the light emission apparatus having the plurality of the light emission units, the light emission units are turned on one by one successively and a process in which the reflected light is detected and the light emission brightness is adjusted is performed for each light emission unit. Such a technique is disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-211176.

Light source apparatus and display apparatus having a plurality of reflection unit each with a substantially N-sided pyramid shape and a detection unit


The present invention is a system and method for optimizing electrical circuits by means of derivative-free optimization. Tunable parameters such as component values, transistor sizes or model parameters are automatically adjusted to obtain an optimal circuit. Any method of measuring the performance of the circuit, including computer simulation, can be incorporated into the optimization technique, with no derivative requirements. An arbitrary continuous optimization problem can be posed, including an objective function, equality and inequality constraints, and simple bounds on the tunable parameters. The optimization technique is efficient and guarantees that it will find a locally optimal solution from any starting point. Further, the procedure includes a method of automatically recovering from electrical failure to enable automatic and productive circuit optimization. A set of measurement widgets is provided to automatically introduce the checking required to recover from electrical failure. The automated circuit optimization leads to higher quality circuits, increases designer productivity, results in a better understanding of the tradeoffs inherent in the circuit and lifts the thinking of the circuit designer to a higher level.

Electrical engineers spend a great deal of effort optimizing circuits. The goal of the optimization may be to minimize the delay or power of the circuit, subject to certain constraints. The optimization is carried out by adjusting or tuning electrical parameters such as component values, transistor sizes and model parameters. Traditionally, electrical engineers simulate the circuit using a circuit simulation computer program to determine the behavior and performance of the circuit. They inspect the results of the simulation and use their intuition or experience to change the tunable parameters and then re-simulate the circuit to determine whether the changes improved the circuit. This process is repeated until the circuit has sufficiently been improved, the product schedule does not permit further optimization or the optimization task is deemed to be impossible or too difficult.
Unfortunately, the above procedure is manual, tedious, error-prone and relies on the intuition (and perhaps luck) of the designer. Therefore, it is desirable to develop automated methods of optimizing circuits. Automatic circuit optimization yields circuits of higher quality or better performance. Automated methods also offer other benefits such as increased designer productivity, better means of understanding the tradeoffs inherent in the design, and lifting of the level of thinking of the designer to a higher level.
Optimization implies minimization or maximization of some objective (such as power or delay), often subject to constraints (such as cost, area, component value limits or transistor size limits). The objective and constraints are often nonlinear functions of the tunable parameters; hence we are interested in nonlinear optimization methods. Most nonlinear optimization software packages, such as SNOPT [Ph. E. Gill, W. Murray and M. A. Saunders, "SNOPT: An SQP Algorithm for Large-Scale Constrained Optimization," Siam Journal on Optimization, Vol. 12(2002), No. 4, pp. 979–1006], require derivatives of the nonlinear functions of the optimization problem with respect to each tunable parameter. The first derivative of a function ƒ with respect to a tunable parameter x, denoted
            ∂      f              ∂      x        ,gives the optimizer an idea of how the function ƒ will change with a small change in the parameter x. First-order derivatives are also called "gradients" or "sensitivities." The availability of derivatives enables the solution of large nonlinear optimization problems, with as many as 10s of 1000s of tunable parameters, as demonstrated by the dynamic circuit optimization software JiffyTune [A. R. Conn, P. K. Coulman, R. A. Haring, G. L. Morrill, C. Visweswariah and C. W. Wu, "JiffyTune: circuit optimization using time-domain sensitivities," IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Circuits and Systems, volume 17(12), December 1998, pages 1292–1309] and the static circuit optimization software EinsTuner [A. R. Conn, I. M. Elfadel, W. W. Molzen, Jr., P. R. O'Brien, P. N. Strenski, C. Visweswariah and C. B. Whan, "Gradient-based optimization of custom circuits using a static-timing formulation," Proceedings of the 1999 ACM/IEEE Design Automation Conference, June 1999, New Orleans, La., pages 452–459]. There is a wealth of information and literature on derivative-based nonlinear optimization methods.
Unfortunately, there are many situations in which derivatives are not available. For example, a design problem may require actual fabrication or assembly of a circuit to measure the values of the objective and constraints. Or the circuit may require simulation by means of a legacy software simulation package whose source code is not available for modification to implement a derivative calculation capability. Or the circuit may have special requirements that dictate that it be simulated by a certain simulator such as SPICE [L. W. Nagel, "SPICE2, a computer program to simulate semiconductor circuits," Technical Report, University of California at Berkeley, number UCB/ERL M520, May 1975] in which it may be impossible or prohibitive to implement a derivative calculation capability. Or the circuit models may be too complicated or even unavailable, making the necessary chain-ruling of derivatives impossible. In all of these situations, any automated solution is forced to use derivative-free optimization techniques. The situation is further complicated by the fact that simulation of the underlying circuit is often computationally intensive.

System and method for derivative-free optimization of electrical circuits

International Business Machines Corporation


A wire soldered structure includes a substrate including a main body, a first conducting layer disposed on the main body, and a through hole extending through the main body and the first conducting layer; a wire including a soldered portion that is disposed on the first conducting layer and that is adjacent to the through hole; and a solder disposed in the through hole; wherein the soldered portion of the wire is soldered to the first conducting layer of the substrate via the solder.

Conventionally, when soldered a mesh conductor of a plurality of coaxial cables (also called metallic braid) or wires together with a circuit board, an area of a bonding pad on the circuit board is usually not enough for soldered since the number of the coaxial cables or wires is substantial and the coaxial cables or the wires are packed closely together. The conventional means of solving the aforesaid problem is to increase the area of the bonding pad on the circuit board or to increase space between the coaxial cables or the wires so as to provide enough area of the bonding pad for a soldered torch to perform the soldered (i.e., heating on the bonding pad). It is noted that a heated iron or a laser soldering process can also be applied in other embodiments.
However, electronic devices nowadays are made to be smaller than they were before. As a result of this, a diameter of the coaxial cable is designed to be smaller, as is the circuit board for soldered the coaxial cables thereupon. Consequently, if the circuit board cannot provide enough area of the bonding pad for soldered, a heat conduction path and time for heating will be increased, resulting in a failure of the soldered process between the mesh conductor of the coaxial cables and the bonding pad.
Moreover, if the soldered torch (or the heated iron or the laser soldering process) cannot be applied on the bonding pad, a heating temperature will be unable to reach a required degree in a predetermined period of time. Furthermore, if the soldered torch is directly applied on the mesh conductor of the coaxial cables, a solder will deteriorate due to overheating, incurring a deformation or collapse of the mesh conductor of the coaxial cables. In addition, if the soldered torch is applied for a long period of time, an insulating layer of the mesh conductor of the coaxial cables will be melted, which may result in short circuit of the mesh conductor and a central inner conductor, as well as damage of the coaxial cables.


The invention relates to a hydroxylapatite material, for the production of which a nanoscale hydroxylapatite paste is subjected to a thermal treatment.

Hydroxyapatite is known as a bone substitute material.
In particular, nanoscale hydroxylapatite, i.e. hydroxylapatite having a mean particle size of less than 100 nm, is known and is being used as a paste for treating bone defects. In particular, hydroxylapatite is used which has a length of less than 200 nm as measured in a longitudinal direction of the particles. The particles are needle- or rod-shaped and have a small thickness of preferably less than 50 nm.
Also known are compressed or sintered form bodies made of hydroxylapatite which may be used as an implant.
Known hydroxylapatite pastes have the drawback of exhibiting a relatively low form stability which means that in many instances the paste is only suitable to a limited extent since it might be re-pressed out of the defect site after having been introduced, due to mechanical stresses. Moreover, handling of such pastes is often difficult.
Sintered bodies of hydroxylapatite, on the other hand, lack flexibility and are generally replaced only slowly by natural bone material.

Hydroxylapatite material, and method for the production thereof


A semiconductor memory device having a dummy memory cell and a reading method of the same, wherein provision is made of a memory cell 11 connected to a word line WL and a pair of bit lines BL and xBL, a dummy memory cell 12 connected to a word line WL and a pair of dummy bit lines DBL and xDBL, and a word line driver 13 for activating the word line at a common timing, and when the data is read out from the memory cell, a timing of the reading of the data is determined in accordance with a level of the dummy bit lines connected to the dummy memory, and when a voltage difference of a pair of dummy bit lines becomes a threshold voltage, the word line driver deactivates the word line and precharges the dummy bit lines.

A semiconductor memory such as an SRAM (static random access memory) or ROM (read only memory), having a dummy memory cell and reading the data of a memory cell based on the timing signal of the dummy memory cell, is known.
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a semiconductor memory device provided with a general dummy memory cell. FIGS. 12A to 12G are timing charts of the semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 11. A simple explanation will be given on a read operation of a SRAM, ROM, or other semiconductor memory device provided with a general dummy memory cell DMC with reference to FIG. 11 and FIGS. 12A to 12G.
A signal S182b is output to a predecoder 16 by an internal timing control circuit 18b. When a predetermined word line WL is activated as shown in FIG. 12C by the predecoder 16 and a word line driver 13b, bit lines BL and xBL (xBL indicates an inverted BL), connected to a memory cell MC, as shown in FIG. 12E, and dummy bit lines DBL and xDBL, connected to a dummy memory cell DMC, as shown in FIG. 12D, are discharged.
A comparator unit 14 compares potentials of the dummy bit lines DBL and xDBL, as shown in FIG. 12D. When, for example, a voltage difference is a previously set threshold voltage Vthcomp or less, it outputs a signal S14 as the timing signal via a timing signal line TL to the internal timing control circuit 18b.
This timing signal line TL is formed longer than one side length of one row of memory cells 11 from the comparator unit 14 to the internal timing control circuit 18b via a sense amplifier 19 etc. when components are arranged, as shown in, for example, FIG. 14.
The internal timing control circuit 18b outputs a pulse signal S181b based on the signal S14 input via the timing signal line TL, as shown in FIG. 12F, makes the sense amplifier 19 read out the data of the predetermined memory cell MC via the bit lines BL and xBL, as shown in FIG. 12G, and then outputs the signal S182b to make the predecoder 16 and the word line driver 13b deactivate the word line WL, as shown in FIG. 12C, and outputs a signal S183b to make a precharge circuit 15b precharge the predetermined bit lines BL and xBL and dummy bit lines DBL and xDBL to the predetermined potential, as shown in FIGS. 12D and 12E.
In the above reading method, however, after the internal timing control circuit 18b receives the timing signal S14 via the timing signal line TL, the dummy bit lines DBL and xDBL, connected to the dummy memory cell DMC, are precharged; therefore, a start time of the precharge is delayed, so there is a problem of a long cycle time.
Further, the deactivation of the word line WL of the memory cell MC is slow. Therefore, the bit lines BL and xBL of the memory cell MC repeat a precharge and discharge operation in each cycle from a (voltage) power source Vcc to a reference voltage GND, so there is a problem that excessive power is consumed.
Japanese National Publication (Kohyo) No. 2001-521262 discloses a memory circuit in which a dummy memory cell for approximating an RC (resistor-capacitor) delay of a core cell is connected to a word line folded so that a terminal end is provided at a position close to the word line driver in order to shorten the cycle time of the memory.
Further, Japanese National Publication (Kohyo) No. 2001-521262 discloses a memory system in which overlapped columns and a padding column are formed adjacent to the memory cells.
For example, in the memory circuit disclosed in Japanese National Publication (Kohyo) No. 2001-521262, the dummy memory cell is connected to the word line folded so that the terminal end is provided at a position close to the word line driver, a standard delay time is set by a delay time of the RC along with the word line connected to the dummy memory cell, and the read processing is carried out based on the standard delay time, but the precharge etc. of the dummy bit line connected to the dummy memory cell are not controlled and the cycle time due to the precharge is not improved.
For example, in the memory system shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-351385, the "ON" state of the sense amplifier is controlled based on the timing signal (also referred to as a self count control signal) by the overlapped columns and padding column, and the self count control signal is input from the overlapped columns and padding column to the predecoder via a long distance signal line. This signal line is long, therefore the resistance of the signal line becomes large. At the same time, a stray capacitance generated between an interconnect and an inter-layer film is large. Therefore, the time constant of the CR generated by this becomes large. As a result, the transmission characteristics of the signal, particularly the rise and fall (time) of the pulse waveform become slow. This will exert an influence upon the signal transmission. Namely, a delay occurs due to the distance of the signal line, so there is a problem of a long cycle time.

Semiconductor memory device and method for reading semiconductor memory device


An apparatus for measuring a characteristic and a chip temperature of an LED includes a thermal conductive component. An LED chip is disposed on the thermal conductive component. A temperature control unit is connected to the thermal conductive component for providing a temperature to the thermal conductive component, and therefore providing the temperature to the LED chip via the thermal conductive component. A power-source and voltage-meter unit provides a current to the LED chip, and measures a voltage value of the LED chip. Under a measurement mode, the current is featured with a current waveform having a high current level and a low current level which are alternatively changed, for applying to the LED chip. Measurements are conducted respectively corresponding to the high current level and the low current level, and a correlation curve between the voltage and the temperature can be obtained with the results of measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring a characteristic and a chip temperature of a light emitting diode (LED).
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, benefited from the drastic development of the epitaxy technology, LED semiconductor technology has successfully improved the light emitting efficiency of LED chips. As such, LEDs are more widely used, for example in projection pens, and illuminations. LEDs are known as having advantages of small sizes, longer lifetime, no contamination, and low cost. In addition, LEDs have better optical characteristics such as good color saturation, and ideal dynamic color control. In these manners, LED and related technologies are specifically concerned for further development.
However, when a high power illumination is demanded, for example, a larger current density has to be inputted. Unfortunately, under the situation that the light emitting efficiencies of the current LED chips is limited, most of the inputted power is converted into heat causing a drastic increase on heating generating density. In such a way, the overheat problem is a bottleneck in technology development. Thermal resistance, is defined as a quantity of a junction temperature of an LED being subtracted the ambient temperature and further divided by a corresponding input power. The thermal resistance is a criterion for evaluating a capability of heat dissipation of an LED package. A larger thermal resistance indicates a worse capability of heat dissipation, while a smaller thermal resistance indicates a better capability of heat dissipation.
When packaging an LED, an upper limit of the thermal resistance should be restricted. As such, the measurement of thermal resistances of components is important and representative. As to the parameters for calculating the thermal resistance, the ambient temperature can be conveniently obtained by measuring with a thermal couple. As to the thermal-generating component, the inputted power is also known and easy to obtain. However, a junction of a packaged LED is encapsulated inside, and therefore the junction temperature of LED chip is difficult to measure with a direct measurement. As such, the junction temperature is usually measured with an indirect electrical measurement. If the method can fast and accurate measuring the thermal conductivity and the effect on optical characteristics due to heat of the component to be tested, it would be helpful in facilitating to the design and testing of the thermal conductivity of LED chips.
Typically, conventional measurement mechanisms for LED chips are similar with those for ordinary IC chips. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a testing circuit for measuring a thermal conductivity of a conventional IC chip. Referring to FIG. 1, it is a real die method. There is no standardized thermal conductivity testing chip can be used for such a high power LED chip 100, and therefore the real die method is then adapted for the high power LED chip 100. The real die method includes two steps for measurement. One step is to measure a temperature sensitive parameter (TSP). In this step, a real current, e.g., 350 mA, is provided to the LED chip 100 by an operation current 102 and a voltage meter 104, and in another hand, a small current, e.g., 1 mA, is also provided to the LED chip 100 by a current source 108 and another voltage meter 110 in a temperature controlled environment for measuring a relationship between a chip temperature and an output voltage. Another step is to switch between the real current, i.e., 350 mA, and the small current, i.e., 1 mA, with a fast switch 106. Generally, a time of inputting the small current, should be less than 0.01% of a time of inputting the real current, for example shorter than 200 ms, or even shorten than 1 ms. Under this circumstance, a forward voltage under 1 mA is measured for the calculation of the chip temperature.
There are also some other conventional technologies for measuring thermal resistance. However, they are usually complicated, which often require the use of a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), or a rectifier diode, or even an OR logic circuit including at least two rectifier diodes. Otherwise, for an optical measurement, the substrate is just simply operated for obtaining the temperature control without capability to measure the thermal resistance. As such, those conventional approaches of measuring the thermal resistance are all restricted because the measurement of the TSP requires a stable testing condition which correspondingly requires a relative long time for getting the temperature balanced. Therefore, conventional approaches are not suitable for fast measurement of thermal resistances, optical characteristics of LEDs under different temperatures. Currently, these are the difficult issues in measuring the LED characteristics. As such, a critical concern in the art is to find out a solution and provide an apparatus and a method for measuring a characteristic and a chip temperature of an LED in a faster manner.

Apparatus and method for measuring characteristic and chip temperature of LED

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A system for removing sulfur from a gaseous stream includes (a) a reaction bed for receiving the gaseous stream and for reacting sulfur dioxide and at least some of the hydrogen sulfide of the gaseous stream into elemental sulfur to provide an elemental sulfur stream and a first product stream; and (b) a circulating fluidized bed comprising (i) a first region for receiving the first product stream and using a sulfur adsorption material to adsorb and remove any remaining hydrogen sulfide from the first product stream to generate saturated sulfur adsorption material and a second product stream substantially free of sulfur; and (ii) a second region for receiving a regeneration stream and for using the regeneration stream to regenerate the saturated sulfur adsorption material and to generate the sulfur dioxide.

This invention relates to systems and methods for removing sulfur from gas streams.
Many industrial fuel gases contain sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbonyl sulfide (COS). For example, synthetic gas (syngas) typically prepared by reforming or gasifying a carbonaceous fuel via partial oxidation reactions under high temperature conditions, generally comprises H2, CO, steam, and gaseous contaminants including H2S and COS. The carbonaceous fuel may be any of various solid, liquid, or gaseous materials having a substantial elemental content of carbon and hydrogen. Such materials include, for example, coal or petroleum coke, biomass waste, liquid feedstocks such as heavy naphtha fractions, or gaseous feedstocks such as natural gas.
In recent years, substantial research and investment has been directed towards various syngas processes, such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and Coal-to-Liquids (CTL) processes. IGCC is a process for generating syngas by gasification of solid or liquid fuels with the syngas then being used as a fuel source in a combined cycle power plant. CTL is a process that uses syngas from coal gasification as a raw material for generation of high-value chemicals or zero-sulfur diesel and gasoline as transportation fuels. Syngas can also be used to produce hydrogen for fuel cells. Although syngas-based technologies offer considerable improvement in both thermal and environmental efficiency, the cost of these technologies is currently impeding market penetration.
The sulfur removal process represents a significant portion of capital costs associated with IGCC plants, CTL and coal to hydrogen plants, and other plants that require removal of sulfur compounds from syngas. Three types of sulfur removal technologies have been suggested: solvent-based processes, sorbent-based processes, and direct oxidation processes. Direct oxidation processes have attempted to use air or oxygen to oxidize H2S directly to elemental sulfur in a syngas stream, but no successful example has been reported for an actual industrial application. In order to remove sulfur using liquid solvents, syngas exiting the gasifier is usually cooled to room temperatures through multiple stages which are energy and capital cost intensive. Solid sorbents, such as ZnO or MnO based sorbents are used to remove H2S in commercial scale hydrogen production from natural gas. Since the sulfur level is low in natural gas and ZnO is relatively inexpensive, regeneration of the adsorption material is not critical in such applications. Solid sorbents can also be used to remove sulfur from coal-derived syngas at warm temperatures (250° C.˜600° C.). However, it is generally required to regenerate solid sorbents in such applications due to the high sulfur content in coal syngas.
Regeneration of sulfur adsorption material usually produces sulfur dioxide, which needs to be further processed using additional equipment, thereby complicating and increasing the cost of the whole system.
Accordingly, there is a need for a feasible process to remove hydrogen sulfide from gas streams while minimizing loss of thermal efficiency and process complexity.

System and method for removing sulfur from gas stream


An approach to identifying problematic data storage devices, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), in a data storage system involves retrieving and evaluating a respective recovery log, such as a media error section of a device status log, from each of multiple HDDs. Based on each recovery log, a value for a Full Recoveries Per Hour (FRPH) metric is determined for each read-write head of each respective HDD. Generally, the FRPH metric characterizes the amount of time a head has spent performing recovery operations. In response to a particular head FRPH reaching a pre-determined threshold value, an in-situ repair can be determined for the HDD in which the head operates. Similarly, in the context of solid-state drives (SSDs), a latency metric is determinable based on time spent waiting on resolving input/output (IO) request collisions, on which an in-situ repair can be based.

There is a commercial demand for high-capacity digital data storage systems, in which multiple data storage devices (DSDs) are housed in a common enclosure. Data storage systems often include large enclosures that house multiple shelves on which rows of DSDs are mounted. A typical approach with data storage systems is to decommission, or stop using, DSDs that misbehave or fail in the field. Such DSDs are then often swapped for replacement DSDs by technicians at the internal lab or customer deployment site. Failed drives are either destroyed by the customer or returned to the manufacturer for failure analysis.
Any approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Use of recovery behavior for prognosticating and in-situ repair of data storage devices


An illuminating device includes a clamp tube including an open front end and an opposed open rear end and defining an inner cavity extending from the front end to the rear end. A light assembly is receivably connected to the clamp tube at the rear end. The clamp tube is configured to receivably connect to an eyepiece of a scope of a firearm at the front end. The light assembly projects illumination through the inner cavity and through the scope.

Over the years, modern advances in hunting equipment have enhanced the sport, providing hunters with increased success. Among these products, optical scopes or telescopic sights used on high-powered rifles and pistols offers long-range targeting capabilities with pinpoint accuracy.
However, such devices, despite their high technology appearance, are still sighted in using a trial and error process not unlike that used for iron sights made over a century ago. Additionally, an accurate setup requires a controlled scenario that is properly illuminated. Additionally, the field of hunting equipment and accessories is highly competitive and highly profitable, meaning that manufacturers are on the constant lookout for the next "big thing" that adds a competitive edge to their product lineup.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which optical scopes used on firearms can be utilized in a more accurate and easy to use manner.


A lens apparatus capable of realizing better optical performance by suppressing an inclination of each lens unit more reliably while shortening the overall length in a collapsed position to the smallest possible level is disclosed. The lens apparatus comprises a fixed member which makes up the body of the apparatus, first and second lens holding members which hold their respective lens units and are movable in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the fixed member and a driving member which engages the first and second lens holding members and drives these first and second lens holding members in the direction of the optical axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telescopic lens apparatus having a plurality of lens units, and a camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, image-taking apparatuses such as a small camera which takes pictures using a silver film and a digital still camera which causes an image pickup element such as a CCD to photoelectrically convert an optical image, electrically reads image information and records it in a recording medium such as a memory are provided with a so-called collapse type lens-barrel which is housed in the body of the image-taking apparatus when not in use with its overall length shortened from the length of the lens-barrel when the apparatus is in use for the purpose of improving portability.
There are various proposals of a configuration of a collapse type lens-barrel. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-304999 (Document 1), a collapse type lens-barrel is disclosed. The collapse type lens-barrel performs a magnification varying operation and collapses the entire lens-barrel by rotating a cam member (cam frame) provided with a plurality of cams on its inner surface or outer surface around the optical axis and moving a plurality of lens holding members (lens frames) engaged with their respective cams through a cam pin forward or backward in the direction of the optical axis.
Furthermore, with an increasing number of pixels and miniaturization of image pickup elements in recent years, there is an increasing demand for a lens-barrel having an image-taking optical system with higher performance. There is also an increasing demand for a small image-taking apparatus with a zoom lens of a high magnification varying ratio.
In the lens-barrel proposed in the above described Document 1, a second lens holding member (second lens frame) is guided in the direction of the optical axis by a guide shaft which protrudes from a fixed member (fixed frame) and the inclination of the second lens holding member is suppressed through a sleeve portion of a predetermined length engaged with the guide shaft.
However, the second lens holding member is supported only through the guide shaft and only one end of the guide shaft is supported by the fixed member, and therefore especially when the second lens holding member moves in front of the guide shaft, the guide shaft is easily bent by a force transmitted from the cam member through the cam pin, etc., an inclination of the second lens unit with respect to the designed optical axis of the overall lens system occurs, resulting in a problem that satisfactory optical performance is not acquired.
Furthermore, trying to repress the inclination of the second lens holding member by increasing the length of engagement of the sleeve portion with respect to the guide shaft results in another problem that the presence of the long sleeve portion prevents the full length of the lens-barrel from being fully shortened when it is in a collapsed state.


An adaptor for retrofit attachment to a syringe has a slide slideably mounted on the barrel of the syringe, a housing for releasably engaging a flange formed on the trailing end of the syringe plunger, an elongate connector for interconnecting the slide and the plunger housing, and a guide that releasably engages a flange formed at the trailing end of the barrel. Movement of the slide effects simultaneous and corresponding movement of the plunger. This allows a syringe operator to perform aspiration and injection in sequence with one-handed operation of the syringe. The slide is adjacent the leading end of the plunger so that the operator can see the leading end of the plunger. The user's fingers support the syringe from below. The flange housing permanently engages the flange in a second embodiment. In a third embodiment, the elongate connector and plunger are formed integrally at their respective trailing ends.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to syringes. More particularly, it relates to an attachment that is retrofit to a syringe to enable one hand operation and control of the position of the plunger from a point near a leading end of the syringe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional syringe structure includes a needle held at its base by a hub that is mounted at the leading end of a barrel. A plunger is slideably mounted in the barrel, and a piston having annular seals is provided at the leading end of the plunger. In a syringe used as an aspirator, withdrawal of the piston/plunger in a leading-to-trailing direction creates a vacuum in the leading end of the barrel that pulls liquid fluid into the barrel. In a syringe used for injection, displacement of the piston/plunger in a trailing-to-leading direction drives a liquid fluid out of the barrel and through the needle into the patient's tissue.
Some syringes are used for aspiration and injection. Thus, the plunger is retracted to accomplish aspiration, and thereafter advanced to accomplish injection. When a conventional syringe is used in this manner, the physician must develop a technique whereby the needle remains properly positioned during the retraction and the advancement of the plunger. The most common way of performing an aspiration is for the operator to hold the barrel in a first hand and to retract the piston/plunger with a second hand. For injection, the operator usually employs a one-handed technique. The operator steadies the barrel by holding two laterally-extending tabs at the trailing end of the barrel with the index and middle fingers and by using the thumb to advance the plunger in a distal-to-proximal (trailing-to-leading) direction in a well-known way.
There are occasions, however, when it is necessary to inject substances in a precise location, such as a vascular space. Any inadvertent injection of the substance outside its intended target may harm the patient. For example, in the practice of sclerotherapy, a caustic substance is injected into superficial, diseased veins to destroy them. The veins may be quite small and thin-walled and they are typically difficult to cannulate precisely with a needle tip. The patient experiences tissue destruction, ulceration and the pain concomitant therewith if the caustic substance is injected into tissue adjacent the diseased vein, so precision injection is a necessity. Accordingly, when performing an intravascular injection, the physician confirms needle tip location in the vascular space by aspiration until blood is seen. This requires retraction of the plunger. Injection, which requires advancement of the plunger, may then proceed.
The syringes now in use require the physician to change hand positions between the aspiration and the injection. Most physicians have developed their own personal techniques for controlling the plunger position with the same hand that holds the barrel of the syringe. These techniques include positioning a little finger on the trailing end of the plunger, holding the barrel in the palm of a hand so that the palm controls the plunger position, and other non-ergonomic techniques. The drawback of these techniques is that they require a high level of skill and cannot be repeated with consistency. Moreover, a change in hand position can lead to an accidental extravascular injection.
A number of syringes suitable for one-handed operation have been patented, but many of them are relatively complex in construction, difficult to use, and expensive to manufacture.
An earlier invention by the present inventor is believed to represent the most pertinent prior art to the present invention. That invention provides a syringe that can be controlled with one hand, but the novel mechanism is formed integrally with the syringe. Therefore, it does not compare favorably in price with conventional syringes because conventional syringes are made in very high quantities and thus are very inexpensive on a per syringe basis.
What is needed, then, is a low cost device that facilitates one-handed control during aspiration and injection that can be retrofit onto an existing syringe. The device should reduce the level of skill required for its use. Moreover, it should have a simple construction, be easy to use, easy to attach to an existing syringe of conventional construction, and should be economical to manufacture.
More particularly, a syringe attachment retrofittable to a conventional syringe is needed that enables sequential aspiration and injection with one hand in the absence of any need to change hand positions or to otherwise place the fingers, thumb or palm in an awkward position. The attachment would enable the operator to control the instantaneous position of the plunger with a single digit such as a thumb or a finger without requiring movement of any other part of the hand. This would provide more stability so that accurate injection into the proper space could be accomplished. The control point should be positioned forwardly, near the needle, to facilitate its use.
However, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art how the needed syringe could be provided, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made.

Forward-Mounted Plunger Control for Retrofit Attachment to an Existing Syringe


Sheets for use with medical containers are described. An example sheet for use with medical containers includes a plurality of layers. At least one of the layers includes polyolefin and the plurality of the layers comprises approximately less than 15% of at least one of a plasticizer or a low molecular weight material that is to decrease a rate of hemolysis when exposed to a blood component. At least one of the plurality of layers being modified to enable autoclavability and radio frequency sealability.

Some medical containers may be used to store blood components such as, red blood cells, plasma and/or platelets. The medical containers may have a variety of properties to enable the storage of the different blood components. For example, to decrease the rate of hemolysis and, thus, increase the amount of time that the red blood cells may be stored in these medical containers, some known medical containers include plasticized polyvinyl chloride because low hemolysis has been observed in such medical containers. Medical containers used to store plasma may enable the plasma to be frozen in the medical container and subsequently thawed and medical containers used to store platelets may enable gas transmission through the medical container to support metabolic processes of the platelets.


Methods for inhibiting a ROS1 kinase with compounds of Formula I:

ROS1 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is closely related to ALK, and, like ALK, it undergoes genomic rearrangement that creates fusion proteins in various cancers (Davies K D and Doebele R C (2013) Clin Cancer Res 19: 4040-4045). It is well established that these fusion proteins act as oncogenic drivers and that ROS1 inhibition is anti-proliferative in cells that express ROS1 fusions (Davies K D, Le A T, Theodoro M F, Skokan M C, Aisner D L, et al. (2012) Clin Cancer Res 18: 4570-4579). Thus, it appears that ROS1 targeted therapy will likely soon be the standard of care for this patient population. However, based on the experiences with other kinase inhibitors in various cancers, it is fully expected that acquired resistance to ROS1 inhibition will occur, and this will ultimately limit the treatment options for patients.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Macrocyclic compounds as ROS1 kinase inhibitors

Abstract: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein ring A, ring B, W, m, D, R2, R2a, R3, R3a, and Z are as defined herein. The compounds and methods provided herein are useful in the treatment of cancer (e.g., ROS1-associated cancers as defined herein).


Disclosed is an apparatus, including a shaft; a scoop, coupled to a distal end of the shaft, for collecting and holding a bolus of a compressible medium, the compressible medium retaining a post-compressed shape when operated from a proximal end of the shaft; and a former, coupled to the scoop and mating with the scoop, for molding and compressing the bolus into a generally spherical ball retained within the scoop. A method for forming a throwable ball, includes scooping a bolus of a compressible medium with a scoop coupled to a distal end of a shaft, the compressible medium retaining a post-compressed shape; and molding compressively the bolus into the scoop using a former coupled to the distal end, wherein the molding step creates the ball retained in the scoop when a user operates a proximal end of the shaft.

The present invention relates generally to an object launcher, and specifically to a single-handed device for engaging the object with the launcher, and more specifically to forming and throwing a snowball using the same apparatus, and most specifically to single-handedly forming a snowball using an apparatus and thereafter using the apparatus to launch the snowball thereby formed.
The art and practice of molding snowballs is well-known. In the simplest embodiments, a person gathers a suitable quantity of snow into her hands and compresses and molds the gathered snow into a ball. The person then may throw it without it "breaking up" because the compressive formation creates a solid snowball. Without the compression, the handful of snow cannot be thrown very far.
There are a couple of disadvantages to the prior art. One is that the person must use his hands to gather and compress the snow. Because the snow is cold and compressing the snow results in a certain amount of melting, the person's hands quickly become wet and cold, often limiting the duration of snowball making and throwing activities. In particularly cold weather, there may be some personal health risk to extended periods of snowball manufacture.
A second disadvantage is that snow varies widely in its density and nature. Some snow requires a great deal of compressive force to form into suitable snowballs. Other snow may be particularly icy and difficult to gather. Snow having nearly ideal conditions for hand formation is not always available, and the quality and duration of snowball formation and throwing activities again may be limited.
The prior art has developed a device to aid in snowball formation. An example of such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,572 entitled "SNOW BALL MAKING DEVICE" that issued on 14 Jan. 1992. The abstract of the patent describes the device:                A snow ball making device is provided which includes a pair of elongated arms each of which has a first handle end and a second working end. These arms are pivotally secured to each other at a location intermediate their first and second ends, preferably within angled portions which connect longitudinally spaced parallel portions of the respective arms. The working end of each arm is provided with an open semi-spherical cup portion, such that the handle ends of the elongated arms are manipulable to move the semi-spherical cup portions between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the open semi-spherical cup portions are in flush engagement so as to insure the formation of a substantially spherical snow ball.
This device operates by gathering snow into the two semi-spherical cup portions and operating the two handles using one hand per handle. Operating the handles compresses the snow and forms it into a "substantially spherical" snow ball. The user removes the ball for use. While the device overcomes some disadvantages of using one's hands, there remain disadvantages to using it. These disadvantages include finding a way for the device not to interfere or get lost while throwing the snow ball, and the user is still left with handling the cold, wet snow ball with her hands during throw preparation and launch.
What is needed is another solution to snow ball formation that overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art while preserving the benefits.

Object forming and launching apparatus and method