A method and composition for disinfecting a contact lens is disclosed. The method includes treating a lens with an aqueous solution having reduced toxicity to the eye which contains an effective amount of a monoperphthalic acid compound in a concentration of less than about 0.5% by weight of the solution. The lens disinfecting solution is capable of disinfecting contact lenses without irritating the eye due to reduced toxicity of the composition.

This invention relates to a contact lens treating method and composition. In particular, the invention is directed to a contact lens disinfecting composition having reduced toxicity to the eye, wherein the composition comprises a monoperphthalic acid compound in a concentration of less than about 0.5% by weight of said composition.
Contact lenses are worn on the cornea of the eye to improve sight. Both hard and soft contact lenses require periodic cleaning and disinfecting to remove protein deposits and undesirable microbes from the surface of the lens. In most cases, the lens is removed from the eye and cleaned with a lens cleaning solution. Then, the lens is disinfected. After disinfection, the lens usually is rinsed with saline solution for placement into the eye.
In the disinfecting of contact lenses, it is very important to select compositions that are effective to disinfect the lens but are not toxic to the eye. Thousands of compositions exist which are capable of disinfecting, but which exhibit toxic or undesirable discomfort to the eye when such compositions are used on lenses. Lens users sometimes fail to rinse the disinfectant solution from their lenses before placing lenses back into the eye. In some cases, lens wearers rinse their lenses poorly. Sometimes, the disinfecting composition adheres or adsorbs into the lens itself, such that even after a rinse, the relatively toxic substances from the disinfectant solution still may be temporarily retained within the surface of the lens. When that occurs, the toxic substances may be released into the eye once the lens is re-inserted. For these reasons, a desirable disinfectant solution preferably does not contain any compositions in concentration levels that exceed toxicity limits for the eye.
Unfortunately, many ophthalmic and lens care products which are effective disinfectants cause undesirable eye irritation. Also, many antimicrobial agents have a relatively narrow spectrum, and may be effective against certain microbes such as bacteria, but not against others such as fungi. Other compositions may be effective against a wide range of bacteria, yeast, and fungi, but may have limited efficacy. Many compositions that would otherwise be good lens disinfectant compositions undesirably react with other components in the lens care solution, producing unwanted side reactions and undesirable reaction products.
Magnesium perphthalate has been used in various medical applications, including contact lens disinfecting solutions. Magnesium perphthalate is a peroxy compound, and is known to have antimicrobial activity against bacteria and yeast.
Great Britain Patent 2,178,189A discloses the use of a monoperoxyphthalate salt such as magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate in a contact lens cleaning solution. The patent teaches using magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate in an amount from 1% to 20% by weight in aqueous solution. Another patent publication (WO 87/01562) discloses using alkaline earth metal salts of monoperphthalic acid for contact lens maintenance in aqueous concentration ranges between 0.5% and 10.0% by weight.
It recently has been discovered, however, that using such compounds in concentration ranges of 0.5% and above may have substantially adverse toxic effects to the user. Significantly elevated toxicity levels are experienced using lens care solutions having magnesium perphthalate concentrations of 0.5% or greater.
Recent data indicates that using such compounds in concentration levels below 0.5% provide surprisingly and unexpectedly reduced levels of toxicity, while still providing good lens disinfection.
European Patent Application 27,693, published Apr. 29, 1981, owned by Interox Chemicals Limited, discloses the magnesium salts of peroxycarboxylic acids, including the magnesium salt of monoperphthalic acid, and processes for preparing these compounds. The compounds are used as bleaching agents in washing compositions.
European Patent Application 96,525, published Dec. 21, 1983, owned by Interox Chemicals Limited, discloses compositions containing magnesium salts of organic peroxy acid/carboxylate compounds, including magnesium monoperphthalate. These compositions are used for the cleansing and sanitization of reusable diapers.
Great Britain Patent Application 2,137,882, published Oct. 17, 1984, owned by Interox Chemicals Limited, discloses disinfectants containing magnesium peroxycarboxylates, including magnesium monoperphthalate. Such compositions are used for disinfecting/sterilizing hard surfaces such as toilets, drains, or equipment used in medical or food processing environments.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,269, issued Dec. 25, 1984 to Gallopo discloses cleansing compositions comprising an effervescent agent and a monoperphthalate, or an effervescent agent and a potassium monopersulfate and a monoperphthalate, as bleaching agents. These compositions are used to cleanse removable orthodontic appliances such as false teeth, dental plates and bridges.
European Patent Application 133,354 published Feb. 20, 1985, owned by Interox Chemicals Limited discloses compositions, generally in tablet form, containing a peroxygen compound (including monoperphthalate) and an effervescence generator. These compositions are dissolved in water to produce a bath in which to soak, and thereby cleanse, removable dentures.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,433, issued Oct. 26, 1976 to Benedict, and Great Britain Patent 1,477,691, issued Oct. 19, 1977 to Jones et al., disclose compositions containing alkyl and aryl peroxy acids. These compositions are used to remove stains from teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,681, issued Sep. 21, 1982 to Fulton, discloses compositions containing benzoyl peroxide stabilized in an aqueous medium by the presence of glycerol. These compositions are used as toothpastes or body scrubs.
Surprisingly, it has been discovered that using perphthalic acid compounds in concentration levels below 0.5% provides reduced levels of toxicity while still providing unexpectedly good lens disinfection.
The invention is directed to a contact lens treating method and composition. In particular, the invention is directed to a contact lens disinfecting composition having reduced toxicity to the eye, wherein the composition comprises a monoperphthalic acid compound in a concentration of less than about 0.5% by weight of said composition.
In the invention, methods and compositions are provided. In some cases, lens care disinfectant solutions are disclosed. Other embodiments provide a powder or tablet containing a monoperphthalic acid compound wherein the powder or tablet may be dissolved in an aqueous environment such as deionized water or saline solution just prior to soaking a contact lens in the solution. One convenient method of using the invention is to provide such powder or tablet with standard saline solution for disinfecting lenses, so that a lens wearer may use solutions already on hand and commercially available to perform the disinfecting operation. One embodiment of the invention is a method of employing a composition wherein the monoperphthalic acid compound is selected from the group of compounds consisting of the following: magnesium monoperphthalate hexahydrate, magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hydrates, calcium monoperphthalate, sodium monoperphthalates, sodium monoperoxyphthalates, potassium monoperphthalates, potassium monoperoxyphthalates, magnesium perphthalates, calcium perphthalates, potassium perphthalates, sodium perphthalates, sodium potassium perphthalates, potassium hydrogen perphthalates, sodium hydrogen perphthalate, potassium acid perphthalates, perphthalic acid, monoperphthalic acid, magnesium perphthalate hexahydrates, perphthalate hydrates, 1,2 benzenedicarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 1,2 benzenedicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 2-carboxy benzenecarboperoxoic acid salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hydrate salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal hydrate salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hydrate salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal hexahydrate salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hexahydrate salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal hydrate salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hydrate salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal hydrate salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal hydrate salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoalkali metal salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,3-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts, 1,3 benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,3-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoalkali metal salts, 1,3-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoalkali metal salts, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkeline earth metal salts, 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoaliali metal salts, 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, and 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts.
One embodiment of the compositions of this invention utilizes magnesium perphthalate hexahydrate. There are numerous related compounds which are capable of providing the advantages of this invention, and the invention is not limited to only those compounds specifically provided herein. Practice of the invention and laboratory experience in cleaning and disinfecting lens solutions would reveal to a person of skill in the art other compositions and variants of the invention which may not be specifically listed, but would be within the scope and contemplation of this invention.
In another embodiment of the invention, an aqueous contact lens treating composition is provided comprising less than about 0.5% by weight of a compound having the general structure:
or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters, wherein M+n is a cation selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a nontoxic heavy metal, trimethyl ammonium, a quaternary ammonium compound, and triethylammonium, and R is 1 or more substituents compatible with the peroxy acid functionality of the aromatic ring. The alkaline earth metal may be magnesium.
A contact lens is also disclosed, in which the lens has been treated with the compositions of this invention. Hard or soft lenses may benefit from disinfection with compositions of this invention. The invention contemplates dry granular compositions which in some instances may be added to aqueous solutions of saline or deionized water for lens disinfecting operations. Other embodiments of the invention include wet compositions that are packaged and sold as self contained, ready-made products for disinfecting lenses. The compositions employed to disinfect lenses have reduced toxicity.
Reference now will be made to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not as a limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in this invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in or are obvious from the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions.
The following description provides an overview of the invention and test results indicating the efficacy and reduced toxicity of compositions of this invention. Examples of lens solutions and their methods of use are provided.
In the lens treating compositions of this invention, a weak acid and corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth salt may be provided to the lens disinfection composition. In many cases, the acid used is boric acid, but other relatively weak acids such as phosphoric acids, citric acids, tartaric acids, carbonic acids, tromethamine hydrochloric acids, amino acids, acetic acids, other organic acids, other physiologically compatible weak acids and their corresponding alkali metal, alkaline earth metal salts or organic cationic ions (such as quaternary ammonium ions) can be substituted.
A primary goal is to make a buffer solution at an appropriate and physiologically acceptable pH range. Suitable buffering systems include the following acid systems: boric acid, phosphoric acids, citric acids, tartaric acids, carbonic acids, bi-carbonic acids, amino acids, tromethamine hydrochloric acids and the corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal borates, citrates, phosphates, tartarates, acetates, carbonates, bicarbonates, amino acid salts, tromethamine salts and mixtures or combinations thereof. The concentration of the buffer may be easily modified and specified by those of skill in the art who are familiar with such buffering systems.
Further, the solution may contain a nonionic detergent such as a polyethylene oxide to improve wettability and cleaning effectiveness of the solution. The solution may also contain either saline or deionized water, and a buffer. The buffer may be made by dissolving a mixture of a weak acid and corresponding salts in isotonic buffered saline solution. Suitable water soluble salts compatible with ocular tissue include especially those salts conventionally employed in providing solutions having a salt content equivalent to about 0.9% sodium chloride (to make isotonic buffer saline solution). Preferred salts include alkali metal halides, sulfates, nitrates and phosphates, but this group is not limiting of the scope of this invention. Suitable water soluble polyols compatible with ocular tissue could be whole or partially replaced or substituted to adjust the isotonic solution.
In one embodiment of the invention, magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate is employed. This compound is commercially available as Interox H48 from Interox Chemicals Limited of Warrington, Cheshire, England, or alternatively may be purchased in the United States from Aldrich Chemical of Milwaukee, Wis. 53201. This compound is freely soluble and is effective at room temperature. Other salts, such as for example, sodium or potassium salts may be employed.
The monoperoxyphthalate is preferably used in a concentration less than about 0.5% by weight in the aqueous solution, and may also be used in a concentration of about 0.25% or less by weight.
This compositions of this invention can be used to disinfect soft lenses, RGP lenses and hard lenses, i.e. lenses of glass or methyl methacrylate, or soft lenses such as those made of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (i.e. xe2x80x9cHEMAxe2x80x9d) or from crosslinked copolymers of methyl methacrylate with hydrophilic comonomers, i.e. polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
In many cases, the aqueous solution may be mixed shortly before use by dissolving a tablet or powder in buffered saline solution. In a desirable formulation, a powder for dissolution contains approximately from about 5% to about 30% by weight magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate and from about 70% to about 95% by weight detergent, protease, binders, fillers, lubricants, disintegrating agents, antiadherant, and glidants.
In the case of a tablet, it is possible to employ a single layer or multi-layered tablet having a controlled release coating built into the tablet to control the release sequence and pH of the final solution. Coating agents and pH adjustment agents as known to a person of skill in the art could be employed as well, including those listed herein. A coating agent such as xe2x80x9cEudragitsxe2x80x9d, an acrylic copolymer distributed by Rohm America of Piscataway, N.J. could be employed. Other suitable coating agents that may be employed in the invention (and their respective suppliers) include: Shellac (Emcoat, Emerson Resources, Inc., Norristown, Pa.); Cellulose acetate phthalates (Eastman Chemical Co., Kingsport, Tenn. and FMC Corporation of Philadelphia, Pa.): HPMCP (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate) (Eastman Chemical and Shin Etsu Chemical, Tokyo, Japan); Polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP) (Colorcon, West Point, Pa.); and Zein (alcohol-soluble protein extracted from corn gluten) (Freeman Industries, Tuckahoe, N.Y.). Agents for adjusting the pH that may be employed in a tablet include but are not limited to: physiological compatible acids or bases, acids such as citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, bicarbonic acid, boric acid, phosphoric acids, tromethamine hydrochloric acid, and others. Bases that can be employed include: sodium acetate, sodium citrates, sodium phosphates, sodium carbonate, tromethamine base, and sodium borate.
Detergents which may be employed in the practice of the invention include the following (the concentration levels used preferably are from about 0.001 to about 5% by weight). Nonionic detergents that may be employed include: alkylglucoside, igepal (GAF), neodol (Shell), polytergent (Olin), sterox (Monsanto), emulphogene (GAF), triton (Rohm and Haas), dexoycholate (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo. 63178), brij (ICI Americas, Wilmington, Del. 19897), tween (ICI Americas), pluronics (BASF), tetronics (BASF), pluracols (BASF), plurfac (BASF), Tergitol (Union Carbide), Alfonic (Conoco), surfonic (Texaco), silwet (Union Carbide), cremophor (BASF), plantaren (Henkel). Anionic detergents that may be employed include, for example, carboxymethylcellulose (AKZO), alkyl sulfosuccinates (Sherex), alkylsulfates (Henkel), dimethicone copolyol sulfosuccinate (McIntyre Group Ltd. Chicago, Ill. 60632), alkyl sarcosinates (W. R. Grace and Co. Lexington, Mass. 02173), Carbopols (B. F. Goodrich, Cleveland, Ohio 44141), Fatty acids alkali metal salts (Aldrich). Zwitterionic detergents which may be employed include products such as, CHAPS (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo. 63178), N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (Lauryl sulfobetaine)(Sigma, St. Louis, Mo. 63178), alkyl glycinates (Sherex, Dublin, Ohio 43017), alkyl betaine, alkyl amidopropyl betaine and alkyl hydroxy sultaine (Sherex, Dublin, Ohio 43017), Alkyl amphoproprionate (Sherex, and Miranol Chemical Company, Inc. South Brunswick, N.J. 08810).
Protease enzymes that may be employed in connection with the invention include: subtilisin, in a concentration of from about 0.0001% to about 5% in which the protease activity ranges from about 20 to about 100 casein units/mg. Use of this protease is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,773 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Binders that can be utilized with the invention include gelatin, sucrose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxymethylcellulose, dextrin, dextran, alkylcelluloses, carboxyalkylcelluloses, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). The concentration of such binders, when used with the invention, prefereably is from about 1 to about 10% by weight.
Fillers that can be used in the invention include the following: lactose, sucrose, mannitol, dextrose, fructose, sorbitol, polyols, water soluble celluloses. The concentration of each may be from about 10 to about 70%.
Disintegrating agents may also be employed, and a person of skill in the art could employ these agents in concentrations of from about 0.01 to about 10%: Alginic acid, microcrystalline celluloses, effervescent system (sodium bicarbonate plus tartaric acid or citric acid), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), carboxymethylcellulose, and carboxyalkylcelluloses.
Other antiadherants, lubricants, and glidants that potentially can be employed in the invention include: Polyethylene glycol 6000, D-L-lucine, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium benzoate, alkylsulfates. The concentration of such compounds may be from about 0.1 to about 5%.
Dyes are sometimes used in contact lens disinfecting/cleaning solutions, such as for decorating the tablet or as an indicator (i.e. reminder). Non-toxic FDA approved food dyes are preferred, such as FDandC Blue No. 2, FDandC Blue No. 1. The concentration of such dyes is usually no more than about 0.00001 to about 0.005%.
In general, when the invention is employed in the form of a powder it may contain from about 10% to about 80% by weight of the monoperoxyphthalate salt and from about 20% to about 90% of detergent. Inert fillers, effervescing agents, and other additives known in the art for use with such solutions may be included if desired, and would still be within the scope of the invention. Further, other lens cleaning ingredients may be employed, such as protease (substilisin A or B).
In one method of the invention, a dry component having the perphthalate species is combined with a wet component such as saline or deionized water. The resulting aqueous solution may be used to treat or disinfect a contact lens.
By xe2x80x9cdry componentxe2x80x9d it is meant a powder, granular, or tablet form of a composition of monoperphthalic acid in the form of a salt or ester. The dry component may be hydrated to form the aqueous suspension of the invention.
The words xe2x80x9cwet componentxe2x80x9d simply refer to an aqueous solution which may be mixed with a dry component to form a disinfecting composition capable of treating contact lenses.
Various forms of the perphthalic acid compounds may be used in the lens disinfecting/cleaning compositions of this invention, including but not limited to the following: magnesium monoperphthalate hexahydrate, magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hydrates, calcium monoperphthalate, sodium monoperphthalates, sodium monoperoxyphthalates, potassium monoperphthalates, potassium monoperoxyphthalates, magnesium perphthalates, calcium perphthalates, potassium perphthalates, sodium perphthalates, sodium potassium perphthalates, potassium hydrogen perphthalates, sodium hydrogen perphthalate, potassium acid perphthalates, perphthalic acid, monoperphthalic acid, magnesium perphthalate hexahydrates, perphthalate hydrates, 1,2 benzenedicarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 1,2 benzenedicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 2-carboxy benzenecarboperoxoic acid salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hydrate salts, 2-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal hydrate salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hydrate salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal hexahydrate salts, 3-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hexahydrate salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal hydrate salts, 4-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkali metal hydrate salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal salts, 5-carboxy benzenemonocarboperoxoic acid alkaline metal hydrate salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal hydrate salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoalkali metal salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 1,2-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,3-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts, 1,3 benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,3-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoalkali metal salts, 1,3-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoalkali metal salts, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, 1,4-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkeline earth metal salts, 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid, 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid monoaliali metal salts, 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid dialkali metal salts, and 1,5-benzene dicarboperoxoic acid alkaline earth metal salts.
The concentration of the perphthalate compound is less than 0.5% by weight, and concentrations of about 0.25%, 0.125, and 0.06% by weight have been found to be effective, yet substantially nontoxic to the eye.
In the practice of the invention, the lenses may be cleaned by soaking, spraying, or any other method which would apply the composition to the lens. After removal from the eye, the lens is soaked in a saline solution and one may add one magnesium perphthalate containing tablet for a time period between 10 minutes and 4 hours. Then, the lens is disinfected, and is ready to wear with or without rinsing with the same saline solution.
Monoperoxyphthalates also may be provided in the form of a salt, or as a pharmaceutically acceptable ester. The cation associated with the monoperoxyphthalate may be an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a nontoxic heavy metal, trimethylammonium or triethylammonium. In one aspect of the invention, an aqueous contact lens treating composition is provided that comprises less than about 0.5% by weight of a monoperphthalate compound having the general structure:
In connection with the above chemical structure, the R group is comprised of one or more substituents compatible with the peroxy acid functionality of the aromatic ring. By xe2x80x9csubstituents compatible with the peroxy acid functionality of the aromatic ringxe2x80x9d, as used herein, is meant substituents on the ring which do not react with peroxy acids thereby reducing the stability and effectiveness of the compounds to treat contact lenses. Nonlimiting examples of R groups include hydrogen, substituted and unsubstituted saturated alkyls having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl), substituted and unsubstituted aryl (e.g., phenyl, naphthyl), substituted and unsubstituted benzyl, chloro, bromo, iodo, fluoro, nitro, sulphonate, trifluoromethyl, trialkylammonium (e.g. trimethylammonium; triethylammonium), cyano, carboxy, carboxylate (e.g. OCOCH3), percarboxylate (e.g. CO3H), and alkoxy (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy). Preferred R groups are hydrogen, saturated alkyls having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, aryl, benzyl, chloro, fluoro, carboxy, and alkoxy. Particularly preferred for use in the above method for treating contact lenses is monoperphthalic acid (i.e., Rxe2x95x90H), or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters. R may also comprise an iodo, bromo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or amido group, but such groups may be less desirable since they sometimes react with peroxy acid groups. Selection of substituents compatible with the peroxy acid functionality of the aromatic ring can easily be made by one skilled in the art.
Furthermore, a composition as provided above may be used with a chloride or other halide containing compound. In additional embodiments, the composition may be buffered to a pH of from about 4.0 to about 9, and desirably from about 6.0 to about 8.0. The composition may be provided in the form of a solid tablet which is soluble in aqueous solution, or alternatively may be provided in granular form as a powder or dry particulate.
Synthesis of substituted and unsubstituted monoperphthalic acid compounds may be achieved by those skilled in the art using methods disclosed in, for example, European Patent Application 27,693, published Apr. 29, 1981, filed by Interox Chemicals Limited; European Patent Application 66,992, to Interox Chemicals Limited; U.S. Pat. No. 3,075,921, to Brockelhurst et al.; xe2x80x9cOrganic Peroxidesxe2x80x9d, Daniel Swern, Editor, published 1970 by John Wiley and Sons, Inc.; and in British Patent Specification 1,378,671; the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Synthesis of the magnesium salt of monoperphthalic acid is disclosed in the European Patent Application 27,693 published Apr. 29, 1981 (Interox Chemicals Limited). This compound is commercially available from Interox Chemicals Limited.
In general, magnesium perphthalate is not stable in aqueous solution. However, it is stable in solid form. Magnesium perphthalate is not compatible with chloride, and will react with chloride to form chlorine or chlorine derivatives, such as oxychloro compounds. Magnesium perphthalate in a chloride containing solution is not compatible with tinted lenses at high concentrations ( greater than 0.5%). In general, magnesium perphthalate in concentrations of about 0.25% and below are not toxic in a chloride or other halide-containing solution. Magnesium perphthalate may have significantly less anti-microbial activity if it is formulated in a solution not containing the chloride or other halide ion. However, magnesium perphthalate dissolved in a chloride or other halide-containing solution will represent a chlorine-or other halide-disinfecting system, and is effective at killing microbes. Further, the contact lenses used with this invention should be compatible with trace amounts of chlorine and oxychloro complexes or other halide and oxyhalocomplexes.
One possible lens disinfection system of this invention may include a tablet containing magnesium perphthalate or other perphthalate derivative with a solution containing chloride and/or other halide and buffer at approximately neutral pH, as previously described. EDTA (ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid) and Dequest 2060 are chelating agents which act to chelate metal ions such as iron, copper, magnesium, calcium and other metals, thereby reducing decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in solution. The metals are chelated in lens care solutions so they do not undesirably reduce hydrogen peroxide levels in the disinfecting solution. Dequest 2060 may be obtained from Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Co. located in St. Louis, Mo., or Solutia Inc., St. Louis, Mo.
Magnesium perphthalate in chloride-containing solutions is not generally compatible with tinted lenses at higher concentrations. Focus(copyright) brand royal blue lenses, for example, are generally more sensitive than Focus(copyright) aqua lenses. A Focus(copyright) royal blue lens is a Vifilcon1(copyright) lens material tinted by royal blue color reactive dye, and a Focus(copyright) aqua lens is that Vifilcon(copyright) lens material tinted by aqua color reactive dye. The lens material, Vifilcon(copyright) A, is a soft hydrophilic co-polymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and povidone, USP. The chemical name is poly(2-hydroxethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate co-methacrylic acid-g-povidone).
1 Vifilcon(copyright) is a registered trademark of CIBA Vision, Inc.
The xe2x80x9cSoftWear(copyright) Salinexe2x80x9d used in the Examples below is CIBA Vision SoftWear(copyright)2 brand saline manufactured by CIBA Vision, Inc. of Duluth, Ga. The components of this saline include an antimicrobial buffer system (the A.B.S. system) which includes boric acid, sodium borate, sodium perborate (generating up to 0.006% hydrogen peroxide stabilized with phosponic acid). Essentially any commercially available lens saline could be used with the compositions of this invention, and this invention is not limited in its use or practice to the above-noted brand of saline solution.
2 xe2x80x9cSOFTWEARxe2x80x9d is a registered trademark of CIBA Vision, Inc.
Saline solutions are indicated for use with soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses. Saline can be used as a rinsing solution following use of a daily or weekly cleaner or following disinfection, prior to lens insertion. Saline can also be used for storage after disinfection, or to dissolve enzyme tablets when sterile saline is required. Such saline solutions may also be used to dissolve tablets or powdered compositions of this invention.
In general, saline may be used to rinse lenses following cleaning, for rinsing following disinfection, or even as a lubricant prior to lens insertion. Saline may be used to dissolve enzyme tablets, or as a storage medium for soft lenses prior to disinfection, and for up to about 30 days following disinfection.
The compositions of this invention are effective in killing, and for a period of time preventing the re-growth, of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Thus, they are useful for treating or preventing topically-treatable aerobic and anaerobe infections, in humans or lower animals.
In testing the toxicity of compounds of the compositions disclosed in solution, an MEM test procedure is used. The MEM (Minimum Essential Medium) test procedure is employed to evaluate cytoxicity using standard USP (The United States Pharmacopeial Convention) elution assays. A description of the test procedure is provided herein.
The assay provides a means of evaluating extracts of polymeric materials under direct contact conditions. This method is appropriate for high-density materials and for dose-response evaluations.
All reagents should be tissue culture grade or equivalent and should be reconstituted in accordance with manufacturer""s instructions using aseptic technique.
Media Preparation
1xc3x97 MEM media is prepared by mixing 100 mL Eagle""s MEM (with Earl""s Salts and Sodium Bicarbonate, without L-glutamine), with 10 mL serum, 1 mL-glutamine solution, and 0.5 mL antibiotic solution (L-glutamine and antibiotic solutions are purchased at correct concentrations and stored frozen at xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C.xc2x12). Eagle""s
MEM is a sterile minimum essential medium and is available from Mediatech Cellgro. Media may be stored up to 2 weeks at a temperature of 2xc2x0 C.xc2x12 after L-glutamine and antibiotics are added, or up to 1 month, if only serum is added.
Preparation of 0.25% Trypsin
10xc3x97 Trypsin is placed in sterile 50 ml centrifuge tubes in 4 ml aliquots and stored frozen at xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C.xc2x12. Before use, a 4 ml aliquot of 10xc3x97 trypsin is diluted 1:9 with 36 ml of Dulbecco""s Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) to yield a 0.25% solution. Dulbecco""s Saline is available from Mediatech Cellgro. Sterile 35 mm diameter petri dishes or 6 well tissue culture plates are used. Sterile serological pipets are employed in the procedure. Sterile absorbent material (e.g. Kay-Drys or similar material) is used. L929 mammalian fibroblasts (ATCC cell line CCL1, NCTC clone 929) are employed.
Overview of Method
Cell cultures are grown to a near confluent monolayer in 6 well plates (the wells are 35 mm). After the test, material is extracted under various conditions (i.e. extracting medium, time, temperature) so as to allow evaluation of extract toxicity in accordance with USP procedures. These procedures define methods to be used to extract materials for in vivo or in vitro toxicity evaluations in accordance with United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), and are hereby incorporated by reference. The Sodium Chloride Injection extract is diluted with serum-supplemented cell culture medium at 25% extract concentration. Each culture is examined microscopically after 48 hours using trypan blue for the presence of morphological changes, reduction in cell density or cell lysis induced by the test material.
Cell Layer Preparation
The next step is to tryptanize cells. Next, one determines cell density using standard methods to define standard cell biology methods to be used to determine and adjust the concentration of a cell suspension, i.e. cell density. Then, an adjustment is made to yield a standard cell suspension with a density of 250,000 to 350,000 cell/mL in serum supplemented MEM for L929 cells. Seed cells are placed into 6 well plates by pipetting 2 ml of the standard cell suspension into each well. Next, one rotates in two directions to ensure even distribution of cells throughout the entire surface of the well.
The plates are incubated at 37xc2x0 C.xc2x12 in a humidified incubator with an atmosphere of 5% CO2xc2x11 in air until the cell monolayer is near-confluent by microscopic examination (approximately 48 hours).
Exposure to Test Extracts
Exposure to test extracts is determined examining a representative prepared cell culture plate using the microscope to observe the cell monolayer for correct confluency. Each experiment includes positive and negative control samples in order to ensure normal biological responses for the cell cultures. While any sample which produces reproducible cytotoxic responses may be employed as judged appropriate, typical controls are as follows:
Positive Control
Cell cultures exposed for 48 hours to 5 ppm and 50 ppm BAK in serum-supplemented MEM at 37xc2x0 C.xc2x12 in a humidified atmosphere of 5%xc2x11 CO2 in air.
Negative Control
USP Negative BioReaction RS in serum-supplemented MEM.
Evaluation of Cytotoxic Response/Vital Staining Methods
Evaluation begins by removing cultures from the incubator following the test period. Next, aspirate off the medium and apply the vital stain by pipetting 0.8 mL of 0.1% trypan blue in PBS to each culture.
After approximately 1 minute exposure to the trypan blue solution, remove excess dye and gently rinse monolayer with 1 ml PBS. Remove PBS and evaluate each culture microscopically for evidence of cytotoxicity as indicated by trypan blue staining, morphological changes, and/or decrease in cell density.
Results
USP Standard Elution Toxicity
Results are reported based on Reactivity Grades, as set forth below.
The present invention may be better understood by referring to the examples set forth below.

Contact lens treating method and composition


A film cartridge includes a first container for accommodating unexposed roll film and a second container for taking up exposed roll film, the first and second containers being separably connected with each other. A stationary holding member for holding the second container is mounted on the inner surface of the back lid of a photographic camera. A movable holding member for holding the first container is mounted on the inner surface of the back lid and moved from a first position near the stationary holding member to a second position apart therefrom when the back lid is closed. The film cartridge is held by the movable and stationary holdings members with the first container held by the movable holding member and the second container held by the stationary holding member. The first and second containers can be automatically separated and respectively inserted into the film cavity and the film take-up cavity by closing the back lid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a photographic camera adapted to be loaded with a film cartridge comprising a pair of containers separably connected with each other, one for accommodating unexposed film and the other for taking up exposed film.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been known a film cartridge comprising a first container containing unexposed or raw roll film and a second container for taking up exposed film which is separably connected to the first container, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication Nos. 42(1967)-18594 and 43(1968)-31741.
In loading a photographic camera with such a film cartridge, the first and second containers are separated from each other and respectively inserted into the film cavity and the film take-up cavity of the photographic camera. Also the distance between the containers must be maintained substantially equal to the distance between the film cavity and the film take-up cavity. Conventionally, these operations must be manually carried out and are very troublesome.


An adapter is disclosed for connecting a pair of wire leads to the pin contacts of a fluorescent light fixture socket in which a central pin is located between two pins each connected to a wire lead, the central pin engaging the socket to lock the adapter to the socket with the pins rotated into the socket. A wire lead cap is also provided for an auxiliary socket mounting the light tube in a relocated position, the cap having pins received in the wire lead socket terminals, the cap enclosing the wire leads to avoid a shock hazard.

This invention relates to converting existing fluorescent fixtures by reducing the number of fluorescent light tubes in order to reduce energy consumption. In such conversion, a single tube replaces two original tubes and is relocated to a new location in the fixture in order to avoid the appearance of shadows which would otherwise appear if a tube was simply removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,495 issued to the present inventors on Nov. 29, 1994 for a "Method and Adapter for Relocating a Fluorescent Tube in a Fixture" describes an adapter which plugs into existing sockets in order to provide an electrical connection to an auxiliary socket at the new location for the single replacement tube.
Copending applications U.S. Ser. No. 08/131,718 filed on Oct. 5, 1993 and U.S. Ser. No. 08/310,274 filed on Sep. 21, 1994 also describe and claim related devices.
That patent describes contact pins which are grooved in order to provide a retention of the adapter in the socket. Clips are also provided encircling the socket and the adapter.
An object of the present invention is to further improve the retention force for such an adapter when installed in an existing tube socket over that generated by grooving of the pins.
Another problem encountered with auxiliary sockets is encountered in connecting the wires from the adapter to the socket, since the wires will be exposed, unless molded into the auxiliary socket. Suitable existing sockets have socket contacts receiving stripped wire ends to make an electrical connection. Relatively heavy gauge, high temperature wire is required by safety authorities, which cannot be fully inserted into the socket contact openings in the tip of the auxiliary socket, such that bare wire would be exposed. Exposure of bare wire is not considered acceptable.
Another requirement is to insure proper positioning of the auxiliary socket to be sufficient to provide necessary clearance for installation of large diameter replacement tubes.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a cap for auxiliary sockets which completely encloses the wire leads to avoid shock hazards and to provide a correct spacing of the auxiliary socket and to otherwise facilitate installation in a fixture housing.

Adapter for converting fluorescent light fixtures


A riser assembly and method of supporting a riser assembly are disclosed. The riser assembly includes a riser; at least one buoyancy compensating element attached to the riser; and at least one damped biasing element for controlling movement of the riser about a neutral position with respect to an adjacent underwater structure. The biasing element is directly or indirectly connected to the riser and is directly or indirectly connectable to the adjacent underwater structure.

Traditionally flexible pipe is utilised to transport production fluids, such as oil and/or gas and/or water, from one location to another. Flexible pipe is particularly useful in connecting a sub-sea location (which may be deep underwater) to a sea level location. The pipe may have an internal diameter of typically up to around 0.6 meters (e.g. diameters may range from 0.05 m up to 0.6 m). Flexible pipe is generally formed as an assembly of a flexible pipe body and one or more end fittings. The pipe body is typically formed as a combination of layered materials that form a pressure-containing conduit. The pipe structure allows large deflections without causing bending stresses that impair the pipe's functionality over its lifetime. The pipe body is generally built up as a combined structure including polymer, and/or metallic, and/or composite layers. For example, a pipe body may include polymer and metal layers, or polymer and composite layers, or polymer, metal and composite layers.
Unbonded flexible pipe has been used for deep water (less than 3,300 feet (1,005.84 meters)) and ultra deep water (greater than 3,300 feet) developments. It is the increasing demand for oil which is causing exploration to occur at greater and greater depths where environmental factors are more extreme. For example in such deep and ultra-deep water environments ocean floor temperature increases the risk of production fluids cooling to a temperature that may lead to pipe blockage. Also, underwater currents and turbulence can be more severe at increased depths and can cause increased movement of the riser in the water. Increased depths also increase the pressure associated with the environment in which the flexible pipe must operate. For example, a flexible pipe may be required to operate with external pressures ranging from 0.1 MPa to 30 MPa acting on the pipe.
One technique which has been attempted in the past to in some way alleviate the above-mentioned problem is the addition of buoyancy aids at predetermined locations along the length of a riser. The buoyancy aids provide an upwards lift to counteract the weight of the riser, effectively taking a portion of the weight of the riser, at various points along its length. Employment of buoyancy aids involves a relatively lower installation cost compared to some other configurations, such as a mid-water arch structure, and also allows a relatively faster installation time. Examples of known riser configurations using buoyancy aids to support the riser's middle section are shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, which show the 'steep wave' configuration and the 'lazy wave' configuration, respectively. In these configurations, there is provided a riser assembly 200 suitable for transporting production fluid such as oil and/or gas and/or water from a subsea location to a floating facility 202 such as a platform or buoy or ship. The riser may be provided as a flexible riser, i.e. including a flexible pipe, or as a composite riser, or a metallic riser, and includes discrete buoyancy modules 204 affixed thereto. The positioning of the buoyancy modules and flexible pipe can be arranged to give a steep wave configuration 2061 or a lazy wave configuration 2062.
Wave riser configurations as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b may also be used in shallow water applications so as to allow for excursions of the vessel from the point where the riser contacts the sea bed.
During use, a riser may be subject to dynamic loading due to conditions such as motion of a vessel or platform on the sea surface. Surge and heave motion of such surface vessel can cause curvature changes in a riser configuration. Strong currents may also have a similar effect. It is generally advantageous to prevent shape changes or control such changes within predetermined limits. The attachment of buoyancy modules, for example in a wave configuration, is one technique for creating a pre-determined nominal shape without constraining the pipe, although the effects of surface motion or current motion are still significant in the upper section of the riser and in the areas of the sag and hog bends of the wave configuration. A mid-water arch system has a comparatively higher degree of control and constraint on the pipe, as the pipe is typically clamped to a buoyancy module which has guides running across it for the pipe to lie in. However the size and weight of such mid-water arches is such that the costs of design, manufacture and installation can be very high indeed.
In addition, when a riser is located within a relatively short distance of an adjacent underwater structure (e.g. another riser extending to the same turret of a vessel), wave motion of the surface vessel and/or motion from strong currents may cause the riser to collide with the adjacent underwater structure. This can lead to damage of the flexible pipe and may also damage adjacent flexible pipes. The damage may be minor in nature but nonetheless lead to a reduced lifetime of the riser, or the damage may be more severe, requiring emergency repair work.
WO2009/063163, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a flexible pipe including weight chains secured to a number of buoyancy modules on the pipe. The chains hang from the buoyancy modules, extending downwards to the sea bed and having an end portion lying on the sea bed.
Another known arrangement employs a mid-water arch structure (as briefly mentioned above), where a riser is laid over and attached to the mid-water arch, so that the weight of the riser in the water is partially taken by the mid-water arch, reducing tension loading and degrees of freedom of the pipe. These structures tend to be difficult to install because they are secured to an anchor or gravity base on the seabed in a specific location, and also very expensive to install.
It would be useful to provide an improvement or an alternative to the above-mentioned arrangements.


Various embodiments includes a stacked open pattern inductor fabricated above a semiconductor substrate. The stacked open pattern inductor includes a plurality of parallel open conducting patterns embedded in a magnetic oxide or in an insulator and a magnetic material. Embedding the stacked open pattern inductor in a magnetic oxide or in an insulator and a magnetic material increases the inductance of the inductor and allows the magnetic flux to be confined to the area of the inductor. A layer of magnetic material may be located above the inductor and below the inductor to confine electronic noise generated in the stacked open pattern inductor to the area occupied by the inductor. The stacked open pattern inductor may be fabricated using conventional integrated circuit manufacturing processes, and the inductor may be used in connection with computer systems.

The telecommunications and computer industries are driving the demand for miniaturized analog and mixed signal circuits. Inductors are a critical component in the traditional discrete element circuits, such as impedance matching circuits, resonant tank circuits, linear filters, and power circuits, used in these industries. Since traditional inductors are bulky components, successful integration of the traditional discrete element circuits requires the development of miniaturized inductors.
One approach to miniaturizing an inductor is to use standard integrated circuit building blocks, such as resistors, capacitors, and active circuitry, such as operational amplifiers, to design an active inductor that simulates the electrical properties of a discrete inductor. Active inductors can be designed to have a high inductance and a high Q factor, but inductors fabricated using these designs consume a great deal of power and generate noise.
A second approach to miniaturizing an inductor is to fabricate a solenoid type inductor with a core using conventional integrated circuit manufacturing process technology. Unfortunately, conventional integrated circuit process steps do not lend themselves to precisely and inexpensively fabricating a helical structure with a core. So, integrated circuit process technology is only marginally compatible with manufacturing a solenoid type inductor.
A third approach, sometimes used in the fabrication of miniature inductors in gallium arsenide circuits, is to fabricate a spiral type inductor using conventional integrated circuit processes. Unfortunately, this approach has a high cost factor associated with it when applied to fabricating inductors for use in silicon integrated circuits. Silicon integrated circuits operate at lower frequencies than gallium arsenide circuits, and generally require inductors having a higher inductance than inductors used in gallium arsenide circuits. The higher inductance is realized in a spiral inductor occupying a large surface area on the silicon substrate.
For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.


A plasma display system in which display cells in an external electrode type plasma display panel are forcibly fired at a predetermined period regardless of given display signals, which can greatly improve turn-on characteristics of a display without adversely affecting the display function.

The present invention relates to a discharge display system, and more particularly, to a driving circuit for an external electrode type plasma display panel.
Regarding the above-described type of plasma display panels (hereinafter called simply "display panles"), there has been generally known a system in which a row electrode group consisting of a plurality of generally transparent row electrodes arranged in parallel to each other and a column electrode group consisting of a plurality of generally opaque column electrodes arranged in parallel to each other are arrayed in a matrix form, with an ionizable gas interposed between the respective electrode groups, and a discharge luminescent display is made at a crosspoint between a selected row electrode and a selected column electrode. With the aforementioned display panel, an optical image corresponding to an input signal can be displayed by controlling the electrode selecting system for the row electrode and column electrodes in response to the input signal. For instance, an optical image corresponding to an input signal can be displayed on the display panel by successively selecting and scanning the respective electrodes in either one of the row electrode group and the column electrode group, for example, in the column electrode group on a time-division basis, and selectively controlling the respective electrodes in the other electrode group, for example, the row electrode group in response to the input signal while synchronizing with the scanning. In the so-called external electrode type display panel in which the respective electrodes are covered by a dielectric film, it is necessary to drive the panel with an AC voltage, and high frequency pulses called "toggle pulses" are included in the driving signals applied to the row electrode group and the column electrode group. Examples of such a driving circuit are disclosed in "NEC RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT" No. 30, July 1973, pp 56-63, and in the article by the inventors of this invention presented in "NEC RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT" No. 46, July 1977, pp. 18-23, especially in FIG. 5 on page 22.
In the case where the external electrode type display panel is operated after it has been left unused for a long period of time, e.g., several days, an initial discharge hardly occurs because the gas in the display panel is almost not ionized, so that it takes a long time until commencement of discharge after application of a firing signal, and thus the display panel has a disadvantage that the so-called turn-on time becomes long.
Also it has a disadvantage that where an unselected cross-point in the display panel newly takes a selected state, likewise the turn-on time becomes long.
A method for improving the delay of the initial discharge is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,314 assigned to the same asignee as this application. More particularly, according to this U.S. patent, a circuit for superposing a DC voltage on a driving voltage is added, and thereby only when the power source is switched ON in the first place, all the cells emit light only once. In the subsequent operation, however, the superposed DC voltage has no function to accelerate the firing, so that the reliability of firing when an unselected cell has been newly selected is not high. Furthermore, addition of the above-described DC voltage superposing circuit to every display cell is of high cost and not practical.


A hot-rolled steel sheet having a tensile strength of 900 MPa or more, the hot-rolled steel sheet consisting of, in mass %, C: greater than 0.050% and less than or equal to 0.10%, Si: greater than or equal to 0.1% and less than or equal to 2.0%, Mn: greater than or equal to 1.0% and less than or equal to 3.0%, P: less than or equal to 0.1%, S: less than or equal to 0.01%, Al: greater than or equal to 0.005% and less than or equal to 0.05%, N: less than or equal to 0.01%, Ti: greater than or equal to 0.10% and less than or equal to 0.20%, Nb: greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 0.06%, B: greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 0.03%, Ca: greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 0.005%, and the balance: Fe and impurities. An average crystal grain size is less than or equal to 7.0 μm, and an X-ray random intensity ratio in {211} <011> orientation that is parallel to a rolled surface and a rolling direction is less than or equal to 2.5.

In recent years, in order to reduce the weight of the body of a car to increase fuel efficiency of automobiles, for example, high-strength steel sheets have been used for suspension members. In addition, since the regulation on collision safety has become stronger, there are needs to use high-strength steel sheets also for members having complex shapes, which have been made of low-strength steel sheets only. However, in general, as the strength of the steel sheet becomes higher, the ductility thereof is decreased and the formability degrades. Accordingly, in order to use the high-strength steel sheet for a member having a complex shape, it is necessary to manufacture a steel sheet that has both high formability and high strength. In particular, since a hot-rolled high-strength steel sheet is subjected to stretch-flanging to be used for suspension members of automobiles, stamped hole expandability is important as the index of strength and stretch-flanging. The stamped hole expandability of a steel sheet can be evaluated by an evaluation method regulated in ISO 16630.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method of performing cooling, immediately after final rolling at a temperature of lower than "Ar3 point+100° C.", at an average cooling speed of greater than or equal to 400° C./second until the temperature becomes "Ar3 point−100° C." so as to refine ferrite grains and obtain a strong <111> texture. This method improves the ductility and stretch-flanging property, resulting in improvement in the anisotropy of mechanical characteristics.
Patent Document 2 suppresses rolling textures and refines colonies having the rolling textures by increasing the final temperature of the hot-rolling after the addition of B. Further, by performing quenching at a temperature of higher than or equal to the lowest cooling temperature that is decided by the B amount in a run out table, recrystallization of austenite is promoted, the {110} surface strength of the rolling textures is decreased, and expansion of inclusions and ferrite crystal grains is suppressed. Thus, a method having high hole expandability and suppressing variations is proposed.
In a similar manner, as a technique of increasing the hole expandability while the strength of the steel sheet is increased, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique of improving the balance between the strength and the hole expandability by optimizing the fraction of a steel structure of ferrite, bainite, or the like, and precipitates in the ferrite structure. However, the technique of Patent Document 3 does not have a sufficient hole expansion value, and does not have a sufficient balance between the strength and the hole expandability. In contrast, Patent Document 4 reveals that the hole expandability of the hot-rolled steel sheet can be improved by reducing the X-ray random intensity ratio in the {211} plane that is parallel to the rolled surface by using V as an essential element. Further, Patent Document 4 reveals that as the final rolling ending temperature is higher in the hot-rolling process, the X-ray random intensity ratio in the {211} plane is reduced more.

Hot-rolled steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


The present invention provides a latch assembly carriable on a tubing string extendible into a subterranean well, the latch assembly being selectively engageable between upper and lower sections of the tubing string. The latch assembly comprises an outer housing and an inner body, with latching means carried on one of the housing and the body for selectively securing the latch apparatus to the lower section. Latch engaging means are carried on the other of the housing and the body and the lower tubing section for selective co-engagement between the latching means, the lower tubing section, and one of the housing and the body. Piston means are on one of the housing and the body and have a piston head with first and second piston chambers between the piston head. Control means are removable from the latch assembly to direct fluid pressure transmitted through the tubing string to the latch assembly and having passageways to selectively provide a first fluid flow path within the control means and the latch assembly to one of the upper and lower piston chambers to shift the housing and the body relative to one another to release the latching means from the lower section. The control means has passageways selectively providing a second fluid flow path therethrough to the other of the upper and lower piston chambers to shift the housing and the body relative to one another to engage or re-engage the latching means to the lower section.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a latch assembly and method for latching, unlatching and relatching of two tubing conduits, typically defined in a production or other tubing string for use in a subterranean well. The assembly may be utilized to, for example, release or re-engage a tubing string relative to a production tubing hanger. The latch assembly also may be used to hydraulically activate an auxiliary tool.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the production of well fluids, such as oil and/or gas, from wells, it has been the practice to provide automatically closeable shut-off or safety valves which are located downhole in the well and are held open by control fluid pressure, the valves closing automatically when control fluid pressure is purposely reduced to allow the valves to close or damage occurs to the control fluid system at the well head or on an offshore platform. Such valves are employed below the well head, and in the case of offshore wells, the valves are installed below the mud line at such depth as may be desired or established by regulation, so that in the event of damage of the well caused by shifting earth or subsidence, or well head catastrophe, the well can shut in to avoid loss of valuable well fluids into the water, and also, to avoid contamination of the water and the shore.
Many offshore wells are produced from spaced well zones through separate strings of production tubing, and a safety or shut-off valve is required for each zone. Since, from time-to-time, it is necessary to perform various remedial operations through the tubing strings, it is preferred that the safety valves be easily removed from the well for service or repair. Accordingly, commercially available safety or shut-off valves have been provided which have been run into the well casing on production tubing and landed in a tubing hanger which supports the greater weight of the downwardly extending production tubing strings. Typically, such a tubing hanger has been run into the well casing on a setting tool to a desired location, and, in the case of an offshore well, to a prescribed depth below the mud line. In such an apparatus, the tubing hanger is anchored in the well casing and the setting tool is released from the tubing hanger and removed from the well. The tubing hanger provides a seat for the safety or shut-off valve assembly which is run into the well on an upward extension of the production tubing and landed in the tubing hanger, subsequent to the setting of the hanger and retrieval of the hanger setting tool.
The necessity of two trips into the hole with work strings and/or other means to first carry and anchoringly set the tubing hanger and thereafter land the conduits containing the safety valves therein is an economic deterrent since considerable rig time is expanded in running a first work string and/or other means for anchoring the hanger, retrieving the work string and/or other means, and thereafter running the production tubing containing the safety valve or valves into sealing engagement with the hanger.
The present invention obviates many of the problems typified by prior art, commercially available apparatuses, and is an improvement thereto by providing a latch assembly which may be utilized, as described below, in one embodiment, to engage an upper tubing string section extending from the surface of the well into sealing engagement with a tubing hanger or a conduit below the latch assembly.
The latch assembly incorporates means for hydraulically releasing the latch assembly for retrieval of the conduit extending to the top of the well which has been initially sealingly engaged with a lower conduit. The latch assembly also has auxiliary mechanical disengaging means which may be activated in the event of failure of the latch assembly to disengage from the lower conduit by hydraulic means.
In an alternative embodiment, the latch assembly also incorporates hydraulic means for setting of an anxiliary tool, such as a tubing hanger, to anchor the auxiliary tool to the well casing. Thus, the auxiliary tool may be set hydraulically without the use of a wireline activated or other separate setting tool.
The mechanical release backup feature of the latch assembly alternatively incorporates a swivel sub apparatus which permits rotation of the section of conduit immediately above the latch assembly when the conduit above the latch assembly is not easily rotatable because of, for example, securement against rotation into a surface hanger at the top of the well.


A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal fats and oils. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating, decarbonylating, and hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel. A sulfur containing component is added to drive the conversion preferentially through carbonylation and carbonylation with reduced hydrodeoxygenation. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties.

As the demand for diesel boiling range fuel and fuel blending components increases worldwide there is increasing interest in sources other than petroleum crude oil for producing diesel boiling range fuel. One such source is what has been termed renewable sources. These renewable sources include, but are not limited to, plant oils such as corn, rapeseed, canola, soybean and algal oils, animal fats such as tallow, fish oils and various waste streams such as yellow and brown greases and sewage sludge. The common feature of these sources is that they are composed of glycerides and Free Fatty Acids (FFA). Both of these classes of compounds contain aliphatic carbon chains having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms. The aliphatic carbon chains in the glycerides or FFAs can be saturated or mono-, di- or poly-unsaturated.
There are reports in the art disclosing the production of hydrocarbons from oils. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,009 discloses the use of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites to convert plant oils such as corn oil to hydrocarbons such as gasoline and chemicals such as paraxylene. U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,605 discloses the production of hydrocarbon products in the diesel boiling range by hydroprocessing vegetable oils such as canola or sunflower oil. Finally, US 2004/0230085 A1 discloses a process for treating a hydrocarbon component of biological origin by hydrodeoxygenation followed by isomerization.
Applicants have developed a process which comprises one or more steps to hydrogenate, decarboxylate, decarbonylate, (and/or hydrodeoxygenate) and isomerize the renewable feedstock. The consumption of hydrogen in the deoxygenation reaction zone is reduced by driving more of the conversion to occur through decarboxylation and decarbonylation which, unlike hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation, does not consume hydrogen. At least one sulfur containing component is added in an amount sufficient to increase the amount of decarboxylation and decarbonylation relative to the hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation. The sulfur containing component also operates to maintain the catalyst in a sulfided state.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Production of diesel fuel from biorenewable feedstocks with lower hydrogen consumption


A fly reel for storing and adjustably dispensing fishing line. The inventive device includes a main housing having a center hub projecting therefrom. A spool is rotatably mounted over the center hub and operates to receive and dispense a fishing line thereon. A brake assembly is mechanically coupled to the spool to allow the spool to rotate freely in a first direction, and to adjustably retard rotation of the spool in a second direction. The brake assembly includes a cylindrical beating interposed between the spool and the center hub. A ratchet plate is mounted to the cylindrical bearing and is engaged by a pawl mounted to the spool when the spool is rotated in the second direction. A center axle extends through the cylindrical bearing and can be axially biased against the cylindrical bearing to cause a frictional engagement of the ratchet plate with an interior of the main body, thereby retarding rotation of the spool in the second direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing reel structures and more particularly pertains to a fly reel for storing and adjustably dispensing fishing line.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of fishing reel structures is known in the prior art. More specifically, fishing reel structures heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,632 to inventor Yeh discloses a fly-fishing reel having a clicker type brake which utilizes adjustable spring force applied to a pawl of a ratchet to regulate a resistive force against rotation of the reel.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,245 to Sato discloses a brake for a fishing reel which utilizes centrifugal forces to regulate the amount of braking applied to the reel.
Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,432 to Kaneko which teaches a spinning reel brake in which a drag adjusting knob produces an increased engaging force to a plurality of axially aligned friction plates.
Other known prior art fishing reel structures include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,107,876; 3,185,406; 5,318,245; 4,881,698; 5,301,899; and 5,273,235.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a fly reel for storing and adjustably dispensing fishing line which includes main housing having a center hub projecting therefrom, a spool rotatably mounted over the center hub for receiving and dispensing a fishing line, and a brake assembly mechanically coupled to the spool to allow the spool to rotate freely in a first direction, and to adjustably retard rotation of the spool in a second direction. Further, the prior art does not teach a fly reel of the aforementioned structure wherein the brake assembly includes a cylindrical bearing interposed between the spool and the center hub, a ratchet plate mounted to the cylindrical bearing and engaged by a pawl mounted to the spool when the spool is rotated in the second direction, and a center axle extending through the cylindrical bearing which can be axially biased against the cylindrical bearing to cause a frictional engagement of the ratchet plate with an interior of the main body, thereby retarding rotation of the spool in the second direction.
In these respects, the fly reel according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of storing and adjustably dispensing fishing line.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a device for extracting and/or morcellating tissue or other unwanted material from within a patient's body. In one embodiment, a medical device may include an elongate member including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The medical device may also include an expandable member disposed at the distal end, wherein an interior of the expandable member is in fluid communication with the lumen in the elongate member, wherein the expandable member includes a plurality of conducting elements extending from and disposed circumferentially about the elongate member, wherein at least two of the plurality of conducting elements are joined together by a material extending therebetween.

Bladder obstruction, arising from enlargement of the prostate gland in males, is one of the most common disorders in urology. The prostate gland lies under the bladder and surrounds the passageway known as the prostatic urethra, which transfers fluids from the bladder to the sphincter and ultimately outside the body through the rest of the urethra. An enlarged prostate may constrict the prostatic urethra leading to a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia ("BPH"). BPH may cause a variety of obstructive symptoms, including urinary hesitancy, decreased size and force of the urinary stream, bladder calculi, and in extreme cases, complete urinary retention, which may lead to renal failure.
To overcome these and other problems, the enlarged prostate may be surgically removed after severing the gland from the body. One BPH treatment, referred to as enucleation of the prostate, may employ a minimally invasive device, such as a cystoscope or a nephroscope, that may include one or more channels to insert devices such as an incising device, a morcellating device, and/or an extraction device. The incising device, which may include, e.g., a Holmium laser or another mechanical cutting device, may carve out or cut the prostate lobes. The severed prostate lobes/tissues may generally be large, and be pushed or fall into the bladder. Therefore, a morcellating device may be used to fragment the larger tissue pieces to facilitate easier removal of the excised tissue.
Typically, morcellation of a tissue may be accomplished with a mechanical morcellator. A mechanical morcellator may include blades (e.g., attached to a handle) to morcellate the tissue into smaller pieces. A vacuum pump or other source of suction may be connected to the morcellator to provide suction through the blades for suctioning the morcellated tissue pieces out of the bladder. The process may be conducted with saline circulation through the bladder to prevent the bladder walls from collapsing into the morcellator blades.
The morcellation process, as described above, has the possibility of injury to the bladder walls in case the bladder walls come in contact with the morcellator blades. Further, the process of morcellation may be time consuming.

Retrieval device and related methods of use


Disclosed is a dimmable safety mirror which is adaptable for mounting over a conventional motor vehicle mirror. The safety mirror comprises a dimmable mirror subassembly having a surface selectively switchable between at least a high reflectance state and a low reflectance state and a mounting mechanism for attaching the dimmable mirror to the conventional mirror in a manner to make the dimmable surface a viewing surface of the safety mirror. In the case of a power loss, the dimmable mirror subassembly can be quickly and easily removed to make the conventional mirror the viewing surface.

During night driving, the vision of a motor vehicle driver may be impaired by headlight glare reflected into his or her eyes by the vehicle's rearview or side mirrors. To alleviate this problem, conventional rearview mirrors in modern automobiles utilize prismatic methods and associated mechanisms to change the mirror from a high reflectance state to a low reflectance or dimmed state. In such a prior art rearview mirror, the dimmed state is achieved under night conditions by pointing a high reflectance surface of the mirror at the dark interior portion of the automobile roof to produce a dark background, while a partially reflective surface of the mirror reflects images from behind the vehicle to the driver's eyes. Thus, in this prior art mirror, the driver effectively sees a dimmed image of the view of objects behind the motor vehicle over a dark background image.
However, these rearview mirrors are incapable of producing a dimmed state in anything but dark conditions. Any ambient light will illuminate the interior roof of the vehicle causing the interior portion of the roof to be visible in the rearview mirror and thereby obstructing the image of the view behind the vehicle. Since prismatic dimmable mirrors cannot operate in a dimmed state without a dark region to which the high reflectance surface can be pointed, these mirrors can not be used as side mirrors located outside of the vehicle. Exterior side mirrors lack a dark region to which the high reflectance surface of the prior art prismatic mirror can be pointed.
Currently, no cost effective technique is utilized on large trucks, classes 6, 7 and 8 to operate a side mirror in a dimmed state. One prior art dimmable mirror technique, which is used in some luxury automobiles, positions an electronically controllable neutral density filter in front of a standard mirror. Two different technologies, electrochromic and dichroic liquid crystal, have been used to implement these electrically dimmable mirrors. However, each one of these technologies has major disadvantages which have limited their use. Solid state electrochromic technology has been used for dimming mirrors. The disadvantages of electrochromic mirrors is that they possess undesirable optical characteristics and are often too expensive for truck and many automobile applications.
Alternatively, dichroic liquid crystal ("LC") technology has been suggested for the manufacture of dimming mirrors that provide good optical characteristics at a reasonable cost. See in this regard U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,937, issued Apr. 28, 1987, to Richardson. However, existing prior art dichroic LC mirrors possess the undesirable characteristic of reverting to a low reflectance state when the electrical power to the mirror has been interrupted.
In addition, as a consequence of conventional dichroic LC mirrors' power loss behavior, these dichroic LC mirrors do not meet the safety requirements of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") for rearview mirrors. The NHTSA safety requirements are set out in 49 CFR .sctn. 571.111 (1992). The relevant part of this regulation provides:
"All single reflectance mirrors shall have an average reflectance of at least 35 percent. If a mirror is capable of multiple reflectance levels, the minimum reflectance level in the day mode shall be at least 35 percent and the minimum reflectance level in the night mode shall be at least 4 percent. A multiple reflectance mirror shall either be equipped with a means for the driver to adjust the mirror to a reflectance level of at least 35 percent in the event of electrical failure, or achieve such reflectance level automatically in the event of electrical failure."
Conventional dichroic LC mirrors do not comply with this NHTSA safety requirement because upon failure into a low reflectance state no means have been provided to adjust the failed mirror into a high reflective state as is required by the regulation.

Dimmable safety mirror suitable for motor vehicles and method of operation


An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a resistor, a first superconducting structure coupled to a first end of the resistor, and a second superconducting structure coupled to a second end of the resistor. A thermally conductive heat sink structure is coupled to the second end of the resistor for moving hot electrons from the resistor prior to the electrons generating phonons.

Monolithic Microwave Integrated circuit (MMIC) chips operating at cryogenic temperatures have superconducting circuits that need to be thermally managed by removing the heat from the superconducting circuits down towards the substrate. Heat removal off the top side is inefficient due to superconducting solder bumps. This leads to unacceptably high temperature gradients. However, ground planes made of superconducting mesh material in lower level layers in the MMIC bring the entire layers to a thermal equilibrium. Because of this, portions of devices on the MMIC that need to be maintained at lower temperatures end up becoming exposed to higher temperature components. At the cryogenic conditions, heat load, cooling resources, and temperature are strongly tied to each other. The savings of one unit of power dissipation is magnified by multiple orders of magnitude when lifting from cryogenic temperatures to room temperature.
A typical superconducting electronic circuit will contain resistors made from a metal with a low electrical conductivity and superconducting elements that are fabricated in or on an insulating material. In typical operation, currents flowing through the resistors will generate heat in the form of hot electrons. The heat will be trapped in the electrons until it can convert to phonons via the electron-phonon coupling. The hot phonons will then travel through the circuit to the package and ultimately to the cryocooler. During their migration to the cryocooler, they heat the entire electronic circuit resulting in an increase in energy to maintain the electronic circuit at a desired operating temperature.

Superconducting device with thermally conductive heat sink


A method for inhibiting the restenosis of blood vessel walls after angioplasty, including the application of low grade heat to the vessel walls. A heat applying perfusion catheter is advanced to a recently dilated vessel region. Heat is applied to the region walls to inhibit restenosis. A preferred temperature range is from 42 to 45 degrees C. A preferred time period for treatment is from 3 to 6 minutes. A perfusion catheter allows longer heat treatment times. Electrical resistance heat, radio frequency current passage through inflation fluid, and microwave radiation are all heat sources within the scope of the invention.

Coronary arteries provide blood and nutrients to the heart muscle. The arteries are subject to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Vascular regions have plaques formed within, resulting in stenosed regions having reduced cross-sectional area. The reduced area causes a reduction in transport of blood, oxygen, and nutrients which can result in angina, myocardial infarction and death.
A commonly used method for treating atherosclerosis is Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA). PTCA includes insertion of a balloon catheter through an insertion in the femoral artery near the groin, advancement of the balloon over the aortic arch, advancement within the selected coronary artery, continuing until the balloon portion is placed across the stenosed region. The balloon is inflated, widening the narrowed vessel region.
After catheter withdrawal, significant vessel reclosure may develop. The reclosure may occur within hours or days of dilation, an "abrupt reclosure." When reclosure does occur, it more commonly occurs progressively, within six months of the angioplasty. The gradual reclosure is referred to as "restenosis", and largely negates the dilatation treatment. More highly stenosed vessel regions have a greater chance of becoming restenosed.
One approach to dealing with restenosis utilizes stents, short tubular sections, placed across the recently dilatated vessel region. Stents can be either self-expanding or balloon-expandable. Stents are normally left in place indefinitely. As the stent is forever pushing radially outward against the vessel wall, the wall can be undesirably irritated over long time periods. Stent ends, which push radially outward, are adjacent to soft tissue which can be irritated by the stent end. Stents commonly have wire mesh or spring structures, with openings in the stent walls. "Intimal hyperplasia", rapid tissue growth through stent openings has also been reported. While the exact mechanism of restenosis is not understood, it is believed that the vessel narrowing is due more to cellular growth and/or a response to vessel injury than to an elastic rebound mechanism.
Thus, to prevent restenosis, use of a stent, or a stent without additional therapy, may not be a solution for all patients. An alternative to stents or an additional treatment associated with the use of stents may be desirably for some patients.
Once therapy for reducing restenosis which has been suggested is heated balloon angioplasty. Some attempts were directed to making the tissues "flow", by heating vessel tissue at 60 and 80 degrees C. Other attempts utilized high temperatures for the stated purpose of sealing the splitting of the intimal layers of the blood vessel walls, fusing tissue and coagulating. However, such attempts led to increased rather than decreased restenosis.
What is desirable and has not heretofore been provided is a method for inhibiting restenosis after a stent has been put in place. What would be more desirable is a method for inhibiting restenosis not requiring any stent placement.

Heated perfusion balloon for reduction of restenosis


An interface mechanism is used for shutter systems, which includes a hollow nylon bushing and a pin. The pin is positioned within the hollow bushing by inserting the pin therethrough and into the louver. The nylon bushing is press fitted into the stile and is held immobile by ears or flanges. Rotation of the louver causes the pin to turn within the bushing providing a uniform tactile feel and long life, as a result of a section of tiny grippers located adjacent to the head of the pin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of shutters. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interface mechanism for interfacing a louver to a stile of a shutter system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the manufacturing of shutter systems, a standard component used in the industry for interfacing a louver 12 to a stile 14 is shown in FIG. 8.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, there is shown at 10 a one piece nylon part which is used for interfacing the louver 12 to the stile 14 of the shutter system. The one piece nylon part 10 comprises a cylindrical distal portion 11 with a distal end 13, a proximal portion 15 with a proximal sharp tip end 16, and a circular washer 17 integrally connected between the distal portion 11 and the proximal portion 15. The sharp tip end 16 of the nylon part 10 is driven into the louver 12, where the proximal portion 15 is embedded therein. The distal portion 11 is installed within an aperture 18 drilled in the stile 14 such that the distal portion 11 rides rotatably within the aperture 18, where the circular washer 17 is located between the louver 12 and stile 14, thereby providing space for the louver to rotate in the traditional manner.
The disadvantage with the standard nylon part 10 is that the distal portion 11 rotates within the aperture 18 of the stile 14 as the louver 12 is rotated vertically. Eventually the interface between the distal portion 11 of the nylon part 10 and the aperture 18 of the louver 12 becomes "polished" (the aperture gets larger), and thereby the louver 12 has a tendency to droop after a period of time after it has been in use. It is therefore desirable to have a new interface mechanism, with which the manufacturer can avoid this significant disadvantage.

Interface mechanism for interfacing a louver to a stile of a shutter system


A system and method for creating, sending, receiving, or displaying messages with smart variable expressive text or graphics is described. The method includes providing a user interface for inputting content and specifying an appearance of the content, receiving the content and an appearance control input via the user interface, responsive to the appearance control input, creating a message including the content and formatting information, and sending the message including the content and the formatting information.

In recent years, there has been widespread adoption and use of smart phones and mobile phones for communication. There are a number of applications that operate on these devices including communications applications. More specifically, these devices allow communication by voice as well as various types of messaging. However, users struggle to communicate clearly, effectively, and with desired nuance and tone when they use digitally-mediated mechanisms such as mobile messaging.
There have been attempts to solve this problem by providing a small digital image, symbol, or icon (emoji) to express an emotion or an idea. There are numerous different emojis available; however, the range of expressiveness using them continues to be limited. Even using these emojis in electronic communication, digital communications are still inadequate for communicating desired nuance and tone. Further, as the number of emojis has greatly increased, they are difficult to identify, select and add to messages making them less effective in communications.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Smart variable expressive text or graphics for electronic communications