A system and method are usable as a telescoping, small-scale oil rig, having the ability to rotate tubulars in a wellbore, pull tubulars from the wellbore, and insert tubulars into the wellbore. The system comprises a telescopic derrick section, a casing jack platform, and a base section. The telescopic derrick comprises U-shaped substructure frames that can be nested together, and is connected to an adjacent substructure through hydraulic cylinders. When pressurized, the cylinders extend to separate each substructure and raise the telescopic derrick. The casing jack platform comprises a traveling casing jack and spider for holding, inserting and removing tubulars. The base section supports the telescopic derrick and comprises a rotary floor and another spider for holding, inserting and removing tubulars into and from the wellbore. The combination of the traveling spider and stationary spider can be used for inserting tubulars into the wellbore when the well is under pressure.

In the oil and gas extraction industry, conventional drilling rigs are large, immobile, and often require several days of "rig up" time before commencing operation. In addition, interventions, while wells are under pressure, often require separate snubbing units, usually as part of a specialized "workover" rig, for the make-up and insertion of tubulars into the wellbore. These snubbing units can be attached to a conventional rig, with the drawback of increasing the volume and mass of the rig and increasing the required set-up time.
In response to the need for greater efficiency, portable "mini-rig" designs, which can be transported via trucks, are now common in the industry. These designs offer substantial improvements in terms of efficiency, but have substantial limitations compared to conventional rigs. For instance, many portable rigs are usable for the insertion and removable of smaller drill pipe, but are incapable of handling the larger dimensions of tubulars (e.g., 36-inch diameter casing tubulars). Much of the equipment, such as casing jacks and spiders, have more limited tolerances and weight capacities than traditional rigs, and they generally lack a number of features, such as rotary tables for interfacing with snubbing units.
A need exists for a mini-rig system, which combines the versatility of a conventional rig with a conventional snubbing unit, while still offering the smaller size and quicker set-up advantages of a portable or mini rig design. Embodiments described in the present disclosure meet these needs.


A modular system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, whereby the vehicle is to be provided with a selected instrument panel and at least one selected door, which can be arranged on the vehicle in a pivotal manner in order to close or release a vehicle door opening adjoining the instrument panel, whereby the modular system has at least two different instrument panels and/or at least two different doors for selection, whereby each instrument panel has a first joint region, and each door has a second joint region which corresponds to the first joint region such that each first joint region and the respective second joint region always form the same joint in the closed position of the door.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a modular system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, whereby the vehicle is to be provided with a selected instrument panel and at least one selected door, which can be arranged on the vehicle in a pivotal manner in order to close or release a vehicle door opening adjoining the instrument panel.
2. Description of the Background Art
So that a vehicle door adjoining an instrument panel can be closed securely, a joint remains between the door and the instrument panel in the closed door position. It is known from the Unexamined German Patent Application DE 198 13 037 A1 that to enhance the visual impression, the door overlaps an end section of the instrument panel without a gap, so that the joint is substantially covered. An assembly set for manufacturing a door module, which is to be integrated into a vehicle door and is intended to facilitate a modular motor vehicle door design adapted to different requirements, is known furthermore from the Unexamined German Patent Application DE 10 2009 012 645 A1. If the interior design is to be redesigned or modified, up to now the door and instrument panel must again be matched to one another, so that the necessary joint is retained.


A method for forming inter-metal dielectric is disclosed. The method normally includes the following steps. First of all, a semiconductor wafer is provided. Then, forming a first metal layer on a portion of the substrate is carried out. A first dielectric layer is formed on the first metal layer and the substrate. Consequentially a tantalum nitride layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. A first photoresist layer can be formed on the tantalum nitride layer, especially first photoresist layer has a first pattern defining a trench area located over the first metal layer, and has a second pattern defining an etch stop area. The tantalum nitride layer will be etched by the first photoresist layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the etched tantalum nitride layer and the first dielectric layer. The second photoresist layer can be formed on the second dielectric layer, especially the second photoresist layer has a first pattern substantially aligned with the first pattern of the first photoresist layer, and has a second pattern substantially aligned with the second pattern of the first photoresist layer. Next, etching the second dielectric layer by the second photoresist layer can be achieved, portion of the first dielectric layer over the first metal layer is further etched by the first pattern of the first photoresist layer. Thus trenches are formed in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. Then the tantalum nitride layer is deposited into the trenches, especially barrier layer is formed on top surface of the trenches. A seed layer is formed on sidewalls of the etched first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. Sequentially, the trenches are filled by a second metal layer. Finally, the second metal layer is planarized to expose surface of said second dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates about a method for forming interconnect, more particularly using dual damascene for precisely controlling the shape and area of the interconnect.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently, demand for integrated circuit (I.C.) has rapidly increased due to widespread use of electronic equipment. In particular, the increasing popularity of some electronic equipment such as, for example, many kinds of computers are gradually increasing the demand for the large or very large semiconductor memories in this modern century and next coming twenty-one century. Therefore, the advanced manufacture technology for improvement fabrication of integrated circuit should be urgently need than before.
Normally, the size and performance of the power IC devices depends critically on a specific at a particular breakdown voltage of the output devices. Since the thickness of semiconductor is usually limited by technological constraints, higher breakdown voltages typically require more layers. However, since the device on resistance is proportional to the expitaxial layer resistivity, higher breakdown voltages have to generally be traded off for limited drive current capability.
Thus, there is a conventional method described as referring with FIG. 1A to 1D, which are the method for forming inter-metal dielectric by using dual damascene for precisely controlling the shape and area of the interconnect. Then, The following description will explain the various steps of one conventional method for forming dual damascene structure by reference FIG. 1.
In the manufacture of a conventional dual damascene structure, there a substrate 100 has a metal layer 120 formed therein as shown in FIG. 1A. An inter-metal dielectric layer 130 and a stop layer 132 are subsequently deposited on the substrate 100. This stop layer 132 is silicon nitride as a trench etching stop layer. Then, another inter-metal dielectric layer 134 is coated on the stop layer 132. A via patterned photoresist layer 140 is formed. Then, an anisotropically etch is performed to etch through inter-metal dielectric layer 134, stop layer 132, and inter-metal dielectric layer 130, as shown in FIG. 1B. Another photoresist layer 142 having a trench line pattern is formed next. Referring to FIG. 1C, trench line pattern 152 is transferred into the inter-metal dielectric layer 134 and ceased at stop layer 132. Then, the photoresist layer 142 is removed. A barrier layer 162 is deposited and a metal layer 160, such as tungsten or copper, is subsequently deposited to fill the via hole and trench line, as shown in FIG. 1D. Finally, the dual damascene structure is completed by using chemical mechanical polishing method to remove excess metal layer.
For 0.18 .mu.m process and beyond, dual damascene process is a key technology to push design rule tightly, but it is difficult to control the process window especially in via and metal trench formation. Thus, good resolution of lithography (misalignment issue) and high selectivity of via etching is the key issue for back end interconnection.
Therefore, within the microelectronics industry, there is an ongoing trend toward miniaturization coupled with higher performance. The scaling of transistors toward smaller dimensions, higher speeds, and low power has resulted in an urgent need for low constant inter-level insulators. Low dielectric constant inter-level dielectrics have already been identified as being critical to the realization of high performance integrated circuits. Thus, there exists a need in the microelectronics industry for a thermally stable, non-corrosive low dielectric constant polymer with good solvent resistance, high glass transition temperature, good mechanical performance and good adhesive properties, particularly to copper.

Method for forming interconnect using dual damascene


There is provided a green-light-emitting device which has a high emission efficiency and a long continuous operational life, and which includes a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode; and a layer including an organic compound disposed between the pair of electrodes, wherein the layer includes a first compound represented by the general formula (I):

An organic light-emitting device is a device having a thin film which contains a fluorescent or phosphorescent organic compound and is interposed between an anode and a cathode. Electrons and holes (positive holes) are injected from the respective electrodes, whereby excitons of the fluorescent or phosphorescent compound are produced. The excitons radiate light upon return thereof to a ground state. Recent progress of an organic light-emitting device is remarkable, and the characteristics of the device enable a thin and light weight light-emitting device with a high luminance at a low applied voltage, a variety of emission wavelengths, and a high-speed responsibility. From this fact, it is suggested that the device have potential to find use in a wide variety of applications.
However, in the present circumstances, an optical output with a higher luminance or a higher conversion efficiency is needed. In addition, the organic light-emitting device still involves a large number of problems in terms of durability such as a change over time due to long-term use and degradation due to an atmospheric gas containing oxygen, moisture or the like. Further, when the application of the device to a full-color display or the like is taken into consideration, the emission of blue, green, or red light with good color purity is needed. However, these problems have not been sufficiently solved yet.
In order to solve the problems, there has been proposed incorporation, as a material for an organic light-emitting device, of a relatively large fused ring aromatic compound containing a pentacyclic structure. Specific examples of the relatively large fused ring aromatic compound containing a pentacyclic structure and an organic light-emitting device using the compound are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H10-330295, 2002-170681, 2002-110356, H11-176573, and 2002-008867.

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16 each represent, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, a substituted amino group, or a halogen atom; and a second compound with a pyrene skeleton or a fluorene skeleton having an energy gap larger than an energy gap of the first compound.


This invention provides graphical user interface mechanisms for grouping and viewing data elements in a manner analogous to the way in which their physical world counterparts would interact. A system is provided by which users manipulate a pointing device (e.g., mouse, trackball, or touch screen monitor) to position iconic representations of data elements in a graphical representation of space (e.g., on an electronic map). If one icon is placed on top of another one that is an allowable container for the moved icon (i.e., that can be a parent data element for the data element represented by the moved icon), the moved icon disappears from immediate view and is placed inside the container. The contents of container icons can be viewed by placing the graphical pointer on top of them, resulting in the "blow-up" of those icons so that iconic and textual descriptions of their child data elements are displayed. Additionally, users can drill down on any container icon to display its properties and those of its child data elements by performing a selection action (e.g., left mouse button click) on that container icon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a human-computer interface for displaying and operating on data elements in a computer database that describe the characteristics of physical objects existing outside of the data base. This human-computer interface graphically represents the locations of its corresponding physical objects in physical space and uses graphical icons as a means by which the user can associate one data element with another in a hierarchical relationship. The contents and properties of container object parent data elements may be viewed in a manner analogous to the means by which the corresponding physical objects could be opened for deeper views of their contents and properties.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs), including representation of data elements through icons, are in common use in a variety of computer applications. However, prior art GUIs fall short in making visually clear the correspondence between data elements and objects in the physical world represented by those data elements. They are particularly weak in visually depicting the nature of parent-child relationships among data elements to elucidate their correspondence to hierarchical, or container, relationships among the physical objects they represent.
In prior art graphical user interfaces, the "opening" of an icon on a computer video display through use of a computer pointing mechanism, such as a mouse, results in the opening of a computer application (e.g., a word processing application comes up on the screen when the user "double clicks" on its icon), the display of other icons from which corresponding applications can be opened (e.g., as occurs when the user opens an icon representing a program group), or the display of similar icons with different text labels depicting a subordinate relationship to the selected icon (as occurs in utilities for navigating to particular files existing in hierarchical relationships). These mechanisms do not represent physical relationships of physical objects existing in three-dimensional space that are being represented as data elements in a computer data base.
Since some computer applications require graphical representation of "real world" objects, including their relative positions in space, and since the real world objects sometimes contain other objects, it is important for the computer application user to be able to see the location of the container object (parent data element) in a spatial representation as well as the contents (child data element or object) of the container, the properties of the container, and the properties of the objects it holds.

System and process for manipulating and viewing hierarchical iconic containers


A method is disclosed for the potentiation of formation of inclusion complexes of electroneutral and anionic compounds. Included are compositions containing complexes of two different cyclodextrin species. New complexes containing as guest molecules active agents which have been first converted to salts are also disclosed.

This invention relates to the solubilization and stabilization of compounds using cyclodextrins.
Cyclodextrins are a group of compounds consisting of, or derived from, the three parent cyclodextrinsxe2x80x94alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins. Cyclodextrins have numerous uses based on their ability to solubilize and complex chemicals.
Alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins cyclodextrins are simple oligosaccharides consisting of six, seven or eight glucose residues, respectively, connected to macrocyles by alpha (1 to 4) glycosidic bonds. Each of the glucose residues of a cyclodextrin contains one primary (O6) and two secondary hydroxyls (O2 and O3) which can be substituted, for example, methylated. Many cyclodextrin preparations in practical use are mixtures of chemically individual derivatives in which only a part of hydroxyl groups were substituted and which differ in number and position of these substituents.
This invention uses many different cyclodextrin derivatives including several mixtures of partially methylated cyclodextrins. One composition is a commercial preparation (Wacker Chemie, Beta W7M1.8) in which the methyl substituents are about equally distributed between the primary and secondary hydroxyls of glucose residues; it is abbreviated here as RAMEB. A second class has methyls predominantly substituting for hydrogen at the secondary hydroxyls. These are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,828 and are referred to as Pitha""s methyl derivatives. A third type of methylated cyclodextrins is formed by those cyclodextrin derivatives or their mixtures that have more than half of their secondary hydroxyl groups (i.e., O2 and O3) methylated. For brevity, these are called xe2x80x9chighly methylated cyclodextrins.xe2x80x9d Other mixtures of cyclodextrin derivatives used in this work are partial 2-hydroxypropyl ethers, abbreviated as HPACD, HPBCD or HPGCD for derivatives of alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins, respectively.
In addition to the mixtures described in the preceding paragraph, the invention also uses five chemically individual cyclodextrin derivatives: (1) fully methylated alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins, abbreviated as TRIMEA, TRIMEB and TRIMEG, respectively, (2) dimethyl derivative of beta-cyclodextrin, DIMEB, in which all glucose residues carry methyl groups on O2 and O6, and (3) maltosyl derivative of beta-cyclodextrin, G2, in which beta-cyclodextrin carries maltosyl residue on O6. The compounds under (1) are of the group of highly methylated cyclodextrins and, like the highly methylated mixtures, have unique properties. Compounds under (2) and (3) do not belong to this group.
Cyclodextrins solubilize insoluble compounds into polar media by forming what is known as an inclusion complex between the cyclodextrin and the insoluble compound; cyclodextrin solubilization power is directly proportional to the stability of the complex. Inclusion complexes are non-covalent associations of molecules in which a molecule of one compound, called the host, has a cavity in which a molecule of another compound, called a guest is included. Derivatives of cyclodextrins are used as the hosts and the insoluble compound is the guest.
Although cyclodextrins and derivatives solubilize many compounds, they are not useful in all cases. For numerous compounds of general interest, cyclodextrins do not have sufficient solubilizing power to make their use practicable. Overcoming this defect requires using large amounts of host compound. However, this is not only uneconomical (making cyclodextrins too expensive for many applications), but also dangerous. Cyclodextrins in very large amounts can boost the effects of various toxicants potentially present outside and in the body itself (Horsky, J. and Pitha, J., J. Incl. Phen. and Mol. Rec. Chem., 18, 291-300, 1994).
Previous art relevant to the current invention discusses three areas of interest: a) highly methylated cyclodextrins, b) doubling cavity size by association of two cyclodextrin moieties and c) forming salts of guest compounds and choosing counterions when forming complexes between cyclodextrin hosts and ionic guests.
Previous art concerning modification of cyclodextrin hosts has been marginally concerned with highly methylated cyclodextrins. The reason for this lack of interest is that the most accessible compound of this group, TRIMEB, was found to be a weak host for several guests (J. Szejtli, Ccylodextrin Technology, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 1988, p.56). TRIMEA, since it is a derivative of the smallest parent cyclodextrin, was assumed to have a too small cavity. See, for example, A. R. Hedges, Chem. Rev., 98, 2035-2044, 1998; K. Uekama et al., Chem. Rev., 98, 2045-2076, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,738; Japanese Patent JP 10319587A; J. Szejtli, Cyclodextrin Technology, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 1988 and references therein.
Previous art concerning doubling cavity size by using two cyclodextrin moieties relied on connection of these moieties by chemical (covalent) bonds. Specific chemical connection is required for such designs to be effective (K. Fujita et al., J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., 1277-1278, 1984; R. Breslow et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 118, 8495-8496, 1996). Additionally, molecules of some guests are known to form complexes with two molecules of the same cyclodextrin derivative. Such complexes are termed 1:2 complexes and often accompany the usual 1:1 complexes. The present invention shows that some combinations of two different cyclodextrin derivatives lead to better inclusion by host molecules.
Previous art describing complex formation by ionic guests is extensive. A review of those systems, in which parent cyclodextrins were used, counts 271 systems for alpha-cyclodextrin and 342 for beta-cyclodextrin alone (K. A. Connors, J. Pharm. Sci., 84, 843-848, 1995). Statistically, the complexes of anionic guests have about twice the stability compared to corresponding uncharged guests, but there are numerous cases where the situation is reversed and the uncharged guest is preferred. It is not possible to predict whether a specific guest will have greater stability in charged or uncharged state. In previous art, the bases used to form anions of guests were non-volatile and inorganic; many of the guests described there have been used as drugs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,064 discloses that ionization of guest molecules may be an important factor in formation of inclusion complexes of hydroxypropyl derivatives of cyclodextrins and that formation is affected by counterions. Solubilization of retinoic acid in its acidic form and in the form of its sodium, choline and ethanolamine salts were compared and found to increase in that order. The patent also teaches how to prepare such complexes in solid form.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,720 and an article by Pitha, Hoshino, Torres-Labandeira and Irie (International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 80, 255-258, 1992) describe a method for preparing inclusion complexes in which a volatile base, ammonia, was used to bring fast dissolution of acidic guests wherein the cyclodextrin derivative was added immediately after the dissolution. The majority of the volatile base was removed with water after solid complexes were prepared.
Related work described later taught addition of bases or organic acids facilitated the solubilization of drugs while cyclodextrins or cyclodextrin derivatives were already present in solutions (E. Fenyvesi et al., The 7th International Cyclodextrins Symposium, Tokyo 1994, Proceedings, pp. 414-418; E. Fenyvesi et al., The 8th International Cyclodextrin Symposium, Budapest 1996, Programme and Abstracts 3-p48; Italian Patent Application M193 A000 141; PCT WO 95/28965; U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,029). The inventors call their system a multiple complex formation by cyclodextrin derivatives. In their claims, they specify that the characteristic of multicomponent inclusion complexes is the simultaneous salt formation and complexation.
The present invention discloses new methods which have wide applicability to potentiate formation of inclusion complexes between cyclodextrins and guests. These methods were discovered during attempts to solubilize a test compound, S-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (abbreviated as FTS), a potential drug. Highly methylated cyclodextrins were found to form non-covalent complexes with less substituted cyclodextrins spontaneously and rapidly. Such complexes of two cyclodextrin derivatives were found to have a better ability to form an inclusion complex with specific guests than either of the two cyclodextrin derivatives alone. By this procedure, FTS in its acidic form, which is highly water insoluble, was solubilized. Salts of FTS, which have higher water solubility than the acidic form, were well solubilized by these complexes of two cyclodextrin derivatives. However, in this case, even one cyclodextrin derivative leads to useful dissolution. Complexes of two cyclodextrin derivatives, or their components also dissolved representative organics and stabilized colloidal inorganics. In addition to solubilizing water insoluble compounds, complexes of two cyclodextrin derivatives have applications in analytical chemistry for separation of various compounds based on their ability to form inclusion complexes with two cyclodextrins.
In order to evaluate systematically the solubilization potency of the available cyclodextrin preparations and of their combinations, test compound, S-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (abbreviated as FTS), was used. This compound is a candidate anticancer drug and, in its acidic form, has very low water solubility. Several combinations of cyclodextrin preparations were found to be better solubilizers of FTS in acidic form than any cyclodextrin preparation alone.
Example 1 shows potentiation of inclusion complex formation using various combinations of two cyclodextrin hosts. The best combinations are those containing highly methylated alpha-cyclodextrin and less methylated, or substituted, beta-cyclodextrin derivatives. The latter may lack any substitutions at the secondary hydroxyls (e.g., G2). The highly methylated alpha-cyclodextrin can be replaced by the corresponding beta- or gamma-derivatives, but the more preferred complex is formed using the former. On the basis of steric considerations, complexes also can be expected to form between highly methylated and less highly methylated alpha-cyclodextrins.
Both the type of cyclodextrin and the kind of substituents are important. The combination of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin, when used in their hydroxypropylated form, lacks some desirable properties sought. For an improved combination, the inclusion complexes are best formed in a cooperative manner. This cooperativity is measured, in Example 1, by a cooperativity index, which denotes the solubilization of a combination divided by the sum of solubilization components acting separately. Salts of FTS have higher water solubility than FTS in the acidic form and, as shown in Example 1, easily form complexes with cyclodextrin derivatives. Thus, the present invention discloses as preferred inclusion complexes formed by two different cyclodextrin derivatives.
Example 2 shows that the cyclodextrin components of one of the cooperative combinations, TRIMEA-DIMEB, associate spontaneously by themselves; that is, the presence of a guest is not required. Example 3 shows results of evaluation by the continuous variation method indicating that, when combining TRIMEA-DIMEB, about equal amounts of these cyclodextrin components are required for optimal solubilization. Since their molecular weights are similar (1225 and 1331 respectively), this shows that the inclusion complex involves one molecule of TRIMEA and one of DIMEB. [It may be noted that a process similar to formation of inclusion complexes is used in all known living systems for repair of proteins that are in non-native conformation. One of these systems consists of a large subunit chaperonin, GroEL, which has a seven sided cavity that is capped, as by a lid, by co-chaperonin GroES (M. Shtilerman et al., Science, 284, 822-825, 1999).] The TRIMEA-DIMEB combination of this invention has a formal similarity to this chaperonin system. Further, the data in Example 3 shows that the relation between solubilization and concentration of cyclodextrin hosts is about linear. In other words, solutions of the guest in this particular combination of cyclodextrin derivatives will not precipitate the guest upon dilution with water or aqueous solvent. This is an important property for applications in pharmaceuticals and cleaning compositions. Results in Example 4 show that complexes resulting from combinations of cyclodextrins work effectively for solubilization of several water insoluble compounds in addition to FTS.
Complexes of combinations of cyclodextrins also have applications in analytical separations of compounds. Since cyclodextrins are optically active, these complexes can be used for the separation of optically isomeric compounds. A suitable system is shown in Example 5. In this system, TRIMEA-like molecules are immobilized on a solid support which is then used in a column. A mixture of guests to be separated is introduced into the column in a solution containing DIMEB-like molecules and is subsequently eluted by a similar solution. During the elution, complexes consisting of guests, DIMEB and immobilized TRIMEA form reversibly and guests are separated on basis of their ability to support formation of such complexes. The guest forming the most stable complex is eluted from the column last. Results shown later in Example 7 suggest that columns with immobilized TRIMEA also are effective for separation of proteins. In all instances of complex formation using the present invention, highly methylated alpha-cyclodextrins strongly outperformed highly methylated beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins. The use of alpha-cyclodextrins in analytical applications utilizing immobilized forms of these compounds is deemed of much value.
The highly methylated cyclodextrin component of the above complexes was, for some guest compounds, a useful solubilizing agent on its own. This is documented in the Example 6. Data shows that, for several difficult to dissolve guests, such as retinoic acid or hydrocortisone, TRIMEA outperformed other cyclodextrin hosts. This result may be explained on the basis of the recently published crystal structure of TRIMEA (T. Steiner et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 37, 3404-3407, 1998). Substitution of all secondary hydroxyls by methyls obviously leads to steric crowding which, in the case of alpha-cyclodextrin, resulted in widening the opening of the cavity on the secondary hydroxyl side and making the cavity more flat. The data in Example 6 show that this structural change makes TRIMEA a very good host on its own. Data of Example 1 shows that the same flat structure also is beneficial for formation of complexes with two cyclodextrin hosts. In these instances, the flat molecule of TRIMEA may function as a lid closing the cavity of the other cyclodextrin host. On basis of these considerations, the structural criterion for compounds of optimal activity can be definedxe2x80x94the majority of the secondary hydroxyls in these compounds must be methylated. The crowding of methyl groups starts when more than half of the secondary hydroxyls are methylated. Hence, this criterion defines compounds expected to be effectivexe2x80x94highly methylated cyclodextrins.
In Example 7, it is shown that highly methylated cyclodextrins are effective solubilizers of compounds that, because they are true macromolecules, can not be fully included. Example 8 shows that highly methylated cyclodextrins are more effective hosts than otherwise substituted cyclodextrins in formation and stabilization of inorganic guests. Colloidal particles of an electricity-conducting metal, copper, were made and stabilized; the same procedure also was used for preparing a colloidal composition of a ferromagnetic metal, cobalt. In Example 8, it also is shown that these stabilized colloidal metals are highly reactive and, thus, can be converted by chemical reaction into other colloidal compounds. Example 8, additionally, describes complexes of sulphur with highly methylated cyclodextrins; the resulting complexed sulphur has potential application in electrical batteries. Colloidal compositions of calcium fluoride, which have applications in dentistry, can be made in similar manner.
Example 9 describes preparation and subsequent solubilization of salts of FTS. The choline salt of FTS was extracted from an aqueous medium into chloroform providing a lipophilic product. The aqueous solutions of the cyclodextrin-solubilized choline salt of FTS are neutral and can be used in preparations for parenteral or sublingual administration. Ethanolamine and triethanolamine have a similar biocompactibility and structure to choline and is expected to perform similarly in the process described. The sodium salt of FTS, which was used as an intermediate in the above preparation of choline salt, also forms inclusion complexes and can be used to make pharmaceutical formulations of FTS as well. Nevertheless, all choline salts tested in Example 9 formed cyclodextrin inclusion complexes more efficiently than the corresponding sodium salts.

Potentiation of inclusion complex formation of cyclodextrin derivatives


A pneumatic sphere includes a rigid envelope and a deformable flexible membrane disposed inside the envelope to define an upper chamber containing a gas and a lower chamber containing a liquid. In the upper chamber, a device associated with one of the envelope and the membrane punctures the membrane in response to an excessive pressure in the lower chamber, displacing the membrane to reduce the pressure in the lower chamber.

Conventionally, a pneumatic sphere comprises a rigid exterior envelope, for example metallic, composed of an upper part and a lower part connected together or formed in a single piece, and a deformable flexible membrane fixed at the interior of the envelope at the region of an interface between the upper and lower parts. The membrane thus defines an upper chamber for receiving, for example, a gas, and a lower chamber for receiving, for example, a liquid. In this case, the lower chamber communicates with the hydraulic circuit of the suspension of a vehicle.
Such a sphere is already used for replacing the spring of a MacPherson type suspension.
In the interior of the sphere, the pressure of the liquid is generally between 0 and 250 bar in normal operation.
Fortuitously, the pressure can increase considerably and can reach several times the pressure of use.
It has then been possible to observe the explosion of the sphere and violent ejection of the interior components from the sphere.
An explosion constitutes a great danger to the user of the vehicle.

Sphere or accumulator with membrane, such as for motor vehicle hydropneumatic suspension


A hybrid system of satellite-based beamforming that includes digitally beamforming in one axis and physically beamforming in an orthogonal axis. Based on the orientation of the satellite, the digital beamforming axis may be the in-track axis, the cross-track axis, or anywhere in between those two axes. In the digitally beamformed axis, the beam pattern can be steered to different positions along the axis and it can be compressed or expanded, as desired.

A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is a satellite orbit around Earth with an altitude between 160 kilometers (99 mi) (orbital period of about 88 minutes) and approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) (orbital period of about 127 minutes). These orbits can be distinguished from a higher-altitude Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) in which a satellite remains above a fixed point on the Earth. Several large LEO satellite constellations are currently being developed. Many of these constellations utilize fixed beam patterns to provide spatial division and better link performance to subscriber terminals. The fixed beams are generated either by individual horns, or by the use of Butler matrices to operate the horns as a phased array antenna system.
Systems using fixed beams suffer from similar launch and operation issues. First, due to requirements for non-interference with GEO spacecraft, they must avoid transmitting and receiving directly up/down to ground equipment near the equator. Second, because these constellations must utilize many spacecraft for full coverage, it can take many months/years from launch of the first satellite to completion of the constellation. During this time, systems do not have full coverage, and so cannot begin paid operation, delaying the revenue stream. Third, the density of spacecraft increases in higher or lower latitudes for constellations with near-polar orbits, as the planes of such orbits move closer together near the poles. This results in increased beam overlap, which may result in increased interference since the spacecraft all use the same frequency channels over a particular region. This also means the constellation is less efficient than it could be over these regions.
The first issue (non-interference with GEO spacecraft signals) is solved by either disabling the links near the equator, or tilting the beams (possibly by tilting the spacecraft) in the in-track direction to provide coverage which is not in line with GEO spacecraft. For fixed beams, there is no solution for the second issue. Generation of revenue must wait until enough spacecraft are in orbit. For the third issue, beams may be turned off to conserve power, but the beam placement and coverage will not be ideal as the spacecraft moves through the latitudes. This means a loss of revenue, as the system serves fewer subscribers than it would if the beam pattern were optimized throughout the range of operating latitudes.
What is needed, therefore, are improved techniques for beamforming.


An improved collapsible protective enclosure for feeding butterflies and the like includes a cylindrical sidewall having circumferential ribs and therebetween a mesh material having members sufficiently spaced from each other to allow the ingress and egress of butterflies and the like while excluding larger animals. The sidewall further includes a peripheral flange at each end of the protective enclosure to provide opened or closed ends. A feeding platform and ant guard assembly can also be included, and the protective enclosure may hang in either a vertical or a horizontal orientation.

The present invention relates to a collapsible protective enclosure for feeding butterflies and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a new and improved collapsible enclosure for feeding butterflies and the like while protecting them from larger animals such as birds by preventing or discouraging such larger animals from entering the feeder.
A variety of collapsible cages are commonly known in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,244 a collapsible bird cage is described having a rigid central rod member encircled by a plurality of tensioned limp flexible members; such as threads, strings or cords. The resulting overall design has sidewalls which are flimsy and cannot support appendages for a cage nor the weight of even a small animal in a stable manner. This design also has a disadvantage that both ends of the cage must remain closed to the outside.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,845,895 a collapsible cage is described which has a frustro-conical sidewall attached to a flat circular top and a circular pan-shaped bottom secured by rounded lugs or clips. This design also has a disadvantage in that it does not allow for an orientation in which both the top and the bottom may remain open. Nor do these examples of collapsible cages include or allow for specially designed feeding trays.
In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible protective enclosure and feeder which is constructed in a manner to allow the ingress and egress of butterflies and the like while simultaneously substantially impeding the ingress of larger animals which may consume the food and/or harm or destroy the butterflies and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible protective enclosure and feeder which may be suspended in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved collapsible generally enclosed feeder which allows for the suspension of a feeding platform.
It is a still another object of the invention to provide an improved generally enclosed feeder for butterflies and the like which may be vertically collapsed into a small easily movable shape.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved collapsible feeding device made of a low cost, attractive, rugged material which provides for prolonged use of the feeding device outdoors.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved collapsible feeding device having an ant guard and rain shield suspended above the feeder.

Collapsible feeder and protective enclosure


A disc-shaped throwing toy includes a collapsible shell cooperatively formed by a plurality of segments coupled between a first and second center element and at least one elastic element coupled between at least two of the plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments includes a first and second segment member operatively coupled together by a hinge wherein corresponding first and second segment members are selectively movable between a first or collapsed position and second or expanded position relative to each other such that as disc-shaped throwing toy with the corresponding first and second segment members in the first or collapsed position relative to each other is thrown the centrifugal force initially maintains the disc-shaped throwing toy in a substantially flat configuration and as the rotational speed of the disc-shaped throwing toy decreases the elastic element causes the corresponding first and second segment elements to move to the second or expanded position relative to each other whereby the disc-shaped throwing toy forms a substantially spherical configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
A throwing toy comprising a collapsible shell formed by two symmetrically formed halves in combination with an elastic element coupling opposite sides thereof such that when the throwing toy is thrown the initial centrifugal force maintains the throwing toy is a substantially flat configuration and as the throwing toy looses rotational speed the elastic element draws the sides toward each other to form a ball-like configuration.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous disc-shaped toys have been developed. Generally these toys are formed in the shape of large saucers with enlarged edges. These edges may include an extension in a plane normal to the central section to define an upper, convex surface and a lower concave surface. When the toy is hurled into the air with a rotational motion the toy exhibits aerodynamic properties to prolong flights and create true trajectories. However, the maneuvers that can be imparted to such toys are restricted due to fixed configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,985 discloses a discus toy comprising a hollow disc supporting a pair of inflatable members. Air scoops are formed on the periphery of the disc so that when the disc is thrown the inflatable members will expand into a sphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,946 teaches a discus-like toy formed of cloth having a gathered and downturned hemmed edge having a plurality of small metallic weights fixed therein. When hurled with a rotational motion the centrifugal force acting on the weights extends the device so that it exhibits aerodynamic properties to prolong its flight and create a true trajectory.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,714 discloses a collapsible and expandable toy. Each side wall is provided with an inwardly extending tongue connected by elastic bands which pull the wall back from their folded position into planar state as soon as the pressure on the top is released.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,720 shows an attachment for a flying disk toy has a plurality of cantilevered radial vanes extending over the upper surface of the disk toy and flexing toward and away from the upper surface in fluttering movements during flight.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,734 teaches a flying saucer type toy. A flat disc is provided with a plurality of spiral through-cuts to define spiral blade members therebetween. The center of the disc is raised relative to the rim so that the blade members extend between the planes of the disc center and rim to provide lift when the disc is spun about an axis perpendicular to the disc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,652 discloses a plastic film including indicia stretched over a continuous elastic circular member to form a planar toy. A player holds the continuous elastic circular member on opposite sides by both hands, twists the elastic circular member into a FIG. 8 shape, and then folds the elastic circular member into three overlapping portions, which configuration is retained until disturbed. When the folded toy is thrown, the toy opens to the original, flat, circular shape with a frightening sound, while simultaneously displaying the indicia.


A vibratory apparatus includes a trough assembly comprising first and second plates, the first and second plates joined together in close proximity so as to define a space through which a fluid may pass at a high velocity, a vibration generator coupled to the trough assembly, and a frame resiliently coupled to the trough assembly. Also included is a system including the vibratory apparatus and other equipment, and a method of using the vibratory apparatus.

This patent is directed to a vibratory apparatus and related methods, and, in particular, to a fluid-cooled vibratory apparatus and a method for cooling.
It is known in the art to provide a trough to guide a material between two points, and to cool the trough by passing a coolant, such as water, through the trough. U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,995 illustrates one such trough. Molten material, such as molten slag, moves from an elevated feed point to a lower discharge point along the trough under the force of gravity. Water is passed through a coolant guide disposed below the trough, from the feed end of the trough to the discharge end of the trough, and then back from the discharge end to the feed end. Great emphasis is placed in '995 patent on the use of copper for the trough, with the suggestion made that use of steel in such an application is a "technical felony."
It is also known to provide a trough to guide dross between two points in small amounts using a vibratory apparatus. The trough of the vibratory apparatus may be water-cooled by joining a plate to the trough to define a space adjacent to a surface of the trough, and then passing water through the space. Like the '995 patent, this trough is made of copper. Unlike the '995 patent, the velocity of the water through the space is significantly lower. Such a device was not considered appropriate for use in an application where a greater heat load would be experienced by the trough, either because a different material was to be transported along the trough or a greater volume of material was to be transported, or both.

Fluid-cooled vibratory apparatus, system and method for cooling


The present disclosure is related to deposition of print treatments. In an example, treatment is to be deposited on substrate dot locations to receive ink according to selected treatment-to-ink regimes. The selected treatment-to-ink regimes include a variable treatment-to-ink regime and a constant treatment-to-ink regime. The variable treatment-to-ink regime is for depositing a variable amount of treatment dependent on the amount of ink to be deposited in a substrate dot location when the ink amount in the substrate dot location is below a threshold. The constant treatment-to-ink regime is for depositing a selected constant amount of treatment in a substrate dot location and an area surrounding the substrate dot location when the ink amount in the substrate dot location is above the threshold. Other examples are illustrated herein.

Some printing systems form a printed image by ejecting printing fluids from printheads. Thereby, printing fluids, such as treatment fluids and inks, are applied onto a print medium for printing a pattern of individual dots at particular locations. The printed pattern reproduces an image on the printing medium. At least some of these printing systems are commonly referred to as inkjet printers.
A treatment fluid may be used for enhancing print quality of a printed pattern. For example, a pre-treatment fluid (e.g., a fixer) may be applied on a substrate location prior to ink deposition for addressing coalescence, bleed, feathering, or similar effects caused by ink or pigment migration across the printed surface. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a post-treatment fluid (e.g. a coating), may be applied on a substrate location after ink deposition for protecting the printed pattern.
Common methods for applying a treatment fluid include roll coating, spray coating, manual application or treatment ejection.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A rotary quad control interface that allows a vehicle driver to control several vehicle systems without focusing on the interface itself. The interface includes four touch pads disposed in four quadrants of the interface, an outer rotary dial positioned substantially at the center of the four touch pads and an inner rotary dial disposed within the outer rotary dial and being concentric thereto, where the inner rotary dial also operates as a push button. A display screen displays the operation of the interface, and includes a first display portion, a second display portion, a third display portion and a fourth display portion that are provided as quadrants on the display screen and are representative of the touch pads on the interface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a control interface for controlling various passenger systems in a vehicle and, more particularly, to a reduced complexity software flow control design for a rotary quad human machine interface that controls several occupant systems in a vehicle.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A vehicle typically includes various components and systems that are designed to enhance the comfort and convenience for the driver and passengers of the vehicle. These systems include, for example, audio systems, such as radio, compact disc player, DVD, cassette player, MP3, etc, climate control systems, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning, navigation systems, date and time displays, etc. Each of these systems typically includes a control interface through which the driver or other occupant of the vehicle can control and adjust the system parameters. Various types of control interfaces are known in the art for these types of systems, such as switches, buttons, dials, touch screens, voice recognition devices, etc.
U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0017585 to Lenneman et al., assigned to the assignee of this application and herein incorporated by reference, discloses a multifunction control system for a vehicle including four touch pads separated into quadrants and having two concentric rotary dials at the middle of the quadrants, where the center rotary dial also operates as a push button. A display is associated with the control system that displays the various system parameters in response to activation of the touch pads and rotary dials so that the driver can visually see the selected parameters. It would be desirable to simplify the software flow control of such a multifunction quad-based interface.

Software flow control of rotary quad human machine interface


A plurality of hydraulic actuators are connected by valve assemblies to fluid supply and return conduits. Desired operating velocities are specified for the hydraulic actuators and used to define the amounts of fluid flow required by each actuator to move at the respective velocity. Provide the requisite flow amounts, fluid at related pressures must be provided at the different hydraulic actuators. In order for those pressures to occur, a pump has to furnish fluid at a greater pressure to allow for supply conduit losses. A process is provided for determining the pressure that the pump must provide to satisfy the greatest pressure that is necessary for the desired operation of all the hydraulic actuators.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hydraulic systems for powering machinery, and more particularly to distributed hydraulic systems in which each hydraulic actuator is operated by a control valve assembly located relatively close to the associated actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference to FIG. 1, a backhoe 10 is a well known type of earth moving equipment that has a bucket 12 rotatably attached to the end of an arm 14 which in turn is pivotally coupled by a boom 16 to a tractor 18, thereby forming a boom assembly 15. A hydraulic boom cylinder 20 raises and lowers the boom 16 with respect to the tractor 18 and a hydraulic arm cylinder 22 pivots the arm 14 about the end of the boom. The bucket 12 is rotated at the remote end of the arm 14 by a hydraulic bucket cylinder 24.
Traditionally, the boom assembly 15 is controlled by valves located within the chassis frame of the tractor 18 and mechanically connected to levers which the operator manipulates to independently move the boom, arm and bucket. As separate valve is provided for each of the cylinders 20, 22 and 24 on the boom assembly 15. Operating one of the valves controls the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid from a pump on the tractor to the associated cylinder and controls the return of fluid from that cylinder back to the tank on the tractor. A separate pair of hydraulic conduits runs from each cylinder along the boom assembly to the respective valve on the chassis frame. Each of these conduits is subject to fatigue as they flex with motion of the boom assembly.
More recently, there has been a trend away from mechanically operated valves to electrohydraulic valves that are operated by electrical signals. Electrical valve operation enables computerized control of the functions on the machine. In addition, hydraulic control now can be distributed throughout the machine by locating the valves for a given hydraulic function in close proximity to the hydraulic actuator, such as a cylinder, being operated by those valves. In the distributed hydraulic system, the operator in the cab of the tractor 18 manipulates joysticks or other input devices which send electrical signals to separate valve assemblies located adjacent each of the boom assembly cylinders 20, 22 and 24.
Such distributed control reduces the amount of hydraulic plumbing on the machine. In the case of the boom assembly 15, for example, only a single hydraulic fluid supply conduit and a single fluid return conduit are required to be run along that assembly in order to power the functions for pivoting the boom 16, the arm 14 and the bucket 12. In this case, the number of hydraulic conduits has been reduced to one third of those required in the traditional hydraulic control system. Reducing the number of hydraulic conduits also reduces conduit failure and the machine maintenance.
However, distributed control is not without drawbacks. In traditional hydraulic systems, the pressure produced by the pump is controlled to meet the greatest pressure demand among all the hydraulic functions being operated at a given instant in time. The pressure demands are obtained by sensing the workport pressures at the mechanical valves on the chassis frame. A mechanism selects the highest workport pressure from among all the valves and uses that pressure to control the output pressure of the pump. Either a variable displacement pump is used, or an unloader valve or similar mechanism regulates the supply conduit pressure at the outlet of a fixed displacement pump. The supply conduit pressure usually is set some amount, referred to as the "margin", above the highest workport pressure to provide a differential pressure to meter oil from the output pressure of the pump to the workport pressure. This pump pressure control technique works satisfactorily in a hydraulic system with a centralized assembly of valves to which the actuators are connected by separate pairs of hydraulic conduits.
It has been found that a distributed hydraulic system, in which a common pair of supply and return conduits is connected to a plurality of hydraulic functions, that losses in different sections of the fluid distribution system affect operation of each of the hydraulic functions differently. For example, the loss in a hydraulic conduit section relatively near the tractor through which fluid flows to or from several hydraulic functions, affects the operation of all those functions, whereas the loss in a section through which fluid flow to or from only one hydraulic function affects operation of only that function. Furthermore, sensing the pressure at the hydraulic valves located in close proximity to the actuator being controlled does not adequately account for the conduit losses between that valve assembly and the tractor when determining the pressure level that the pump has to supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,759 describes a velocity based method for controlling a multiple function hydraulic system. That method is based on modeling each hydraulic function by an flow coefficient which represents the equivalent fluid conductance of the hydraulic branch in a selected metering mode. The equivalent conductance coefficient then is used along with the desired velocity for that function's hydraulic actuator, the metering mode and sensed pressures in the function to calculate individual valve conductance coefficients, that characterize fluid flow through each control valve of the function and thus the amount, if any, that each control valve is to open. Alternatively, this control method may be implemented using restriction coefficients, which are inversely related to the conductance coefficients, as both characterize the flow of fluid in a section or component of a hydraulic system. Conductance and restriction coefficients are generically referred to as "flow coefficients".
This method, based on deriving flow coefficients, requires that fluid at the proper pressure be supplied to the valve assembly at each hydraulic actuator. For optimal performance, this method requires knowledge of that pressure in order to achieve the requisite amount of fluid flow and thus operate the hydraulic actuator at the desired velocity. As a consequence with this type of system, losses in different sections of the supply and return conduits of the hydraulic system become very important.

Conduit loss compensation for a distributed electrohydraulic system


Disclosed is a shaped, thin-walled, thermoformed, heat-set article, the composition of which comprises:. (a) a crystallizable polyester having repeating units from at least 90 mol % terephthalic acid and repeating units from at least 90 mol % 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, the total dicarboxylic acid mol % and the total glycol mol % each being 100 mol %, said polyester having an inherent viscosity of about 0.7-1.1, and PA1 (b) a heat stabilizing amount of an antioxidant system comprising a hindered phenol, a thio ester or ether and a phosphate salt.

There is presently a need for ovenable food trays capable of withstanding high temperatures. Most conventional home ovens are calibrated to only about .+-.50.degree. F., and may reach temperature during use of up to about 450.degree. F. It is desirable that the containers do not lose impact strength, dimensional stability or discolor, so that they may be reused.
Normally, the ovenable containers are thermoformed from a polymeric material. In thermoforming, a sheet of material is preheated to a temperature sufficient to allow the deformation thereof. The sheet is then made to conform to the contours of a mold by such means as vacuum assist, air pressure assist and matched mold assist. Thermoforming is a desirable method of producing thin wall articles.
Conventional materials used to produce thermoformed articles such as food trays include polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate. U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,807 teaches a process for thermoforming articles from a composition comprising a crystallizable polyester, a crack stopping agent and a nucleating agent. The crack stopping agent improves impact strength, and the nucleating agent provides faster crystallization. Crystallization is necessary to achieve high temperature stability.
Also of interest in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,121 which teaches thermoforming thin-walled articles from a composition consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, a polyolefin and optionally, a heat stabilizer such as a hindered phenol. This patent teaches "higher molecular weights, as measured by increased intrinsic viscosities tend to display greater strength than lower molecular weight polyesters. When working with moderate and high molecular weight polyesters, higher crystallinity is used to increase tensile strength; however, flexural properties then diminish and the polyester becomes stiff and brittle. For any particular use of polyesters, therefore, the particular composition of materials and parameters must be carefully selected". Certain phosphate salts are known stabilizers for vinyl polymers in which they act as acid acceptors. However, it is not believed to be known in the art that they are effective antioxidants for polyesters.
Applicants have now discovered that selected phosphate salts, namely CaHPO.sub.4 and Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4, provide improved thermo-oxidative stability to articles thermoformed from polyesters described herein. Applicants have discovered an article thermoformed from a high molecular weight polyester having high tensile strength, yet having the ability to retain its flexibility and impact resistance when subjected to high oven temperatures. In these articles, it is necessary that the polyester contain repeating units from particular dicarboxylic acids(s) and a particular glycol, and have a high inherent viscosity indicating high molecular weight. In accordance with this invention, the article contains a heat stabilizer system which will prevent brittleness when subjected to high oven temperatures. Furthermore, articles thermoformed from the polyesters in accordance with this invention retain their toughness even after being subjected to very low temperatures (about -20.degree. F.) following being subjected to high oven temperatures of about 450.degree. F. Contrary to the teachings of the art with polyethylene terephthalate, crack stopping agents or impact strength-improving additives are not necessary with the present invention.


Adoptive immune cells obtained by a method including (a) obtaining mammalian antigen-presenting associated cells; (b) culturing the resulting cells from step (a) in a culture liquid contained in a culture vessel coated with a sugar chain-containing polymer; and (c) detaching the cells from step (b) by shaking the culture vessel without treating the cells with an enzyme and without using a cell detaching tool. A method for treating a malignant tumor, type I diabetes, an atopic allergic disease or an infection, by administering the adoptive immune cells to a patient. A pharmaceutical composition for treating a malignant tumor, type I diabetes, an atopic allergic disease or an infection, including the adoptive immune cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Cell Immunotherapy for Cancer
The following methods are known as cell immunotherapy methods for the treatment of cancer (Choi D et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 4, 2709-2716, 1998, Hsu F J et al., Nat Med., 1996, Takamizawa M et al., J Clin. Invest 95, 296-303, 1995, Reichardt V L et al., Blood, 93, 2411-2419, 1999, Wang J et al., J. Immunol., 161, 5516-5524, 1998, Morse M A et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 5, 1331-1338, 1999). Cells obtained by selectively collecting dendritic cells (DC)/macrophages by apheresis are further cultured in a culture liquid to which has been added interleukin 4, GM-CSF and TNF-α to induce differentiation (Steinman R M et al., Adv. Exp. Med., 1997). Subsequently, the cells are detached and recovered from the culture vessel by any method of (i) enzyme treatment, (ii) scraping with a scraper, or (iii) blowing the culture liquid with a pipette (Hodes R J and Singer A., Eur. J. Immunol., 7, 892-897, 1977). Mature DC/macrophages obtained in this manner are then co-cultured in medium containing a target antigen to produce cancer-specific antigen-presenting cells having a complex of target antigen epitope and MHC class II molecules. The antigen-presenting cells adhered to the bottom of the culture vessel are detached and recovered by any method of (i) enzyme treatment, (ii) scraping with a scraper, or (iii) blowing on the culture liquid with a pipette, followed by administering to the same person in the form of cancer-specific, antigen-presenting cells.
In conventional immune cell therapy, cultured cells were detached and recovered from a culture vessel by any method of (i) enzyme treatment, (ii) scraping with a scraper, or (iii) blowing on the culture liquid with a pipette (Hodes R J and Singer A., Eur. J. Immunol., 7, 892-897, 1977).
Detachment and Recovery Methods Using Enzymes
A method using trypsin is most commonly used for detaching and recovering adhered cells (Hodes R J and Singer A., Eur. J. Immunol., 7, 892-897, 1977). In this method, after washing the culture vessel to which the cells are adhered with PBS not containing Ca++ or Mg++, PBS containing 0.05% trypsin and 0.024% EDTA is added to a depth of 0.1 to 1 mm from the bottom of the flask and allowed to stand undisturbed at room temperature. 5 to 10 minutes later, culture liquid containing 0.1 to 1% albumin chilled to 4° C. is added followed by stirring gently to gather the suspended cells. The gathered cells are then washed with culture liquid containing albumin for use in subsequent experiments.
However, detaching methods using enzymes have a problem in that, since functional protein molecules on the cell membrane of the adhesive immune cells are digested and decomposed, even if they are detached and recovered, they are unable to adequately demonstrate cell functions. Although methods using a Teflon film and so forth for the culture vessel have been previously attempted (Van der Meer J W M, Bulterman D., Van Zwet T L, Elzenga-Claasen I, and Van Furth R, J. Exp. Med., 147, 271-276, 1978; Van der Meer J W M, Van de Gevel J S, Elzenga-Claasen I, and Van Furth R, J, Cell Immunol., 42, 208, 1979), since adhesion to the culturing surface is obstructed, it was difficult to acquire the function by culturing. Consequently, there is a need to develop a culture base having the offsetting properties of maintaining adhesion during culturing, but losing affinity for cells during detaching and recovery.
An object of the present invention is to provide adoptive immune cells capable of adequately demonstrating cell functions by using a culture base that solves the aforementioned problems.

Adoptive immune cells for tumor vaccines


A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having an open, sharpened tip at its distal end. A cannula is telescopically disposed within the needle. The cannula has a closed, blunt tip at its distal end, a hollow lumen, and an open proximal end. The cannula is made of a flexible metal material and has an insulating material covering except at its distal portion defining the distal end. A metallic wire capable of transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy is telescopically disposed within the cannula. The cannula lumen has a seating surface for accommodating the distal end of the wire. The cannula distal end is capable of extending beyond the needle so that the blunt tip may be seated in a critical treatment region in a patient's spinal canal without damaging any nerves. A method of treating a patient's pain includes a step of inserting the catheter apparatus into a critical treatment region in the spinal canal of the patient. Once the needle is located near the treatment region, the cannula is advanced until the blunt tip extends beyond the needle's distal end. RF energy is then transmitted through the wire, the cannula's blunt tip, and to the treatment region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical devices, and more particularly to an improved catheter for providing radio frequency (RF) treatment to a prescribed region within the spinal canal of a patient. Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for utilizing such a catheter.
2. Background Art
Radiofrequency (RF) treatment of pain has a long history in the field of pain management, and has been extensively utilized for the treatment of spine pain due to facet joint origin, in particular. Typically, a hollow cannula whose tip is sharp may be inserted percutaneously and positioned under fluoroscopic monitoring over the medial branch nerves that supply the involved facet joints. A probe whose tip emits radiofrequency energy is inserted into the hollow cannula, and causes tissue to heat around the un-insulated cannula tip, resulting in a thermal lesion to the medial branch nerves. With the nerves to the facets joints deactivated, the joints are no longer painful.
Unfortunately, thermal lesions to spinal nerve roots or other painful peripheral nerves often result in a worsening of the pain due to a thermal neuritis. Recently, a non-thermal mode of lesioning using a "pulsed" RF energy has become available with remarkably good results for pain relief. This technique does not produce neuritis, and has allowed for successful RF treatment of painful peripheral nerves. In addition, the technique has been applied to spinal nerve root pain sources, including the Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG). Pulsed RF lesioning of the DRG has been extensively utilized using a transforaminal approach with generally good results. However, spinal stenosis, post-operative scarring, or other conditions may make the DRG inaccessible via a transforaminal approach; in such a setting, there is no currently available device or technique for performing RF treatment.
Spinal Cord Stimulators are also frequently utilized to target the dorsal root ganglion via the epidural space for treatment of pain stemming from spinal nerve root source. This may be due to conditions such as post herpetic neuralgia, radiculitis from disc disease or foraminal stenosis, post laminectomy syndrome or other neuropathies. The epidural space is accessed through a large bore epidural needle (17 G or 16 G) and then the SCS catheter is inserted into the epidural space and advanced to the target DRG under fluoroscopic guidance. The SCS catheter, once positioned, delivers a current of electrical energy that produces a paresthesia that effectively masks the pain stimulus. If the pain responds to the electrical stimulation, the SCS lead and an electrical generator is permanently implanted within the patient. This procedure with the SCS lead and generator has costs in excess of $20,000, and many patients do not desire a foreign body to be surgically implanted. Furthermore, SCS only serves to disrupt the pain signals by creating a competing parasthesia signal, which can be unpleasant or ineffective for some patients, rather than creating a lesion on the nerves which actually blocks the pain signals from being transmitted. Accordingly, RF lesioning can be more effective for pain management than SCS treatment without having to permanently implant medical devices within a patient.
The pain relief obtained with RF lesioning is similar between the non-thermal pulsed lesioning mode as it is with the standard high temperature lesioning. This suggests that the thermal aspects of the lesion are not the critical elements for obtaining long-term pain relief. The simple application of the radiofrequency electric field appears to be the primary factor. There is emerging substantial body of evidence that the radiofrequency electric field energy when applied to the DRG has neurophysiologic and neurobiological effects at the dorsal horn within the spinal cord. Indeed, the true origin of pain relief from RF treatment may be due to cellular effects on the dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord, rather than a peripheral thermal lesion of the spinal/peripheral nerve. This evidence suggest that perhaps the dorsal column itself may be a potential target for therapy using RF electric field energy and obtaining sustained pain relief. In this regard, the epidural RF device may also be easily positioned over the dorsal column of the spinal cord, similar to the standard SCS lead placement, and it would be possible to deliver RF energy directly to the dorsal horn. In summary, the epidural radiofrequency catheter is a new device that has current applications for the treatment of spine and nerve pain, and has potential other therapeutic application by way of providing radiofrequency electric field energy to structures within the spinal canal.
Epidural anesthesia is also well known in the medical arts; that is, injecting pain medication through a catheter directly into the epidural space of a patient's spinal canal. However, the analgesic effect of epidural anesthesia is only of a temporary nature. Furthermore, it is impractical and inconvenient to provide repeated epidural injections to a patient for use as a long-term pain management solution.
Accordingly there is a need in the art for a catheter capable of providing RF lesioning treatment directly to critical areas without substantially risking permanently damaging the nerves located in the treatment region. There is also a need in the art for a method of relieving a patient's pain by administering RF energy directly to the patient's spinal nerves. In this regard, a device that can access the DRG via the epidural space, similarly to the SCS lead, and can deliver radiofrequency energy would provide a means of performing radiofrequency treatment to the DRG that is not possible with current technology. This would be an effective, less expensive alternative treatment for spinal nerve pain in patients who are not candidates for, or do not desire, implantable SCS catheter placement.

High frequency epidural neuromodulation catheter for effectuating RF treatment in spinal canal and method of using same


An ignition generator includes an energy source having a transformer, and a first circuit connected to a first secondary winding of the transformer. The first circuit includes a series connection of a first energy storage capacitor, an inductor and an ignition spark plug, and a free wheel diode connected in parallel to the inductor and the ignition spark plug. Circuitry is provided for shorting the first circuit to produce sparks between the electrodes of the spark plug. The generator further includes a second circuit which is electrically equivalent to the first circuit and which is connected to a second secondary winding of the transformer. The second circuit includes a second energy storage capacitor and impedance means connected in series. A comparator is provided for comparing the voltage of the second voltage energy storage capacitor with a reference voltage. Shorting of the first circuit is carried out according to an output of the comparator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a high energy ignition generator in particular used for a gas turbine.
2. Description of the Related Art
French patent Application No. 8812272, filed by the present inventor, discloses a high energy ignition generator of the type comprising a power supply provided with a transformer whose secondary winding is connected to a first circuit comprising an energy storage capacitor, an inductor and an ignition spark plug connected in series, a free wheel diode being connected in parallel to the terminals of the inductor and the ignition spark plug, and means for shorting the first circuit in such manner as to produce sparks between the electrodes of the spark plug, wherein the shorting means comprises at least one semi-conductor switching means controlled by means for comparing the voltage at the terminals of the storage capacitor with a reference value, and wherein means for controlling the charging of the capacitor at a first rate during a first period of time and at a second rate during a second period of time, the second rate being higher than the first rate, are interposed between the power supply and the first circuit.
In the embodiment disclosed in said French patent application, the means for comparing the voltage at the terminals of the energy storage capacitor of the first circuit with the reference voltage are directly connected to the terminals of this energy storage capacitor.
This results in a number of drawbacks in that it is necessary to provide a secondary power supply for these comparing means and there is no galvanic insulation between these two parts of the generator.

High energy ignition generator in particular for a gas turbine


A system and method for secure generation and distribution of digital encryption keys is disclosed. The system may also be used to protect and distribute other types of secure information, including digital, audio, video, or analog data, or physical objects. The system may include a tamper-respondent secure token device, which may be configured to destroy or disable access to the secure information contained therein in response to attempts to physically or electronically breach the device. Outputs may be provided in a secure manner through various interfaces without using electricity (wires) or electromagnetic radiation. Inputs may be provided in a secure manner, including through the use of a gesture-based input interface. Destruction or disablement of the device and/or its secure contents may be provided upon detection of tamper attempts or upon input of a self-destruct command. Proof of the destruction or disablement of the device or its contents may be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to secure data communication and more specifically to a system and method for distributing secure digital information using a tamper-respondent device.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Security issues have become a major concern in the area of digital communication. In order to address security concerns, the use of cryptography, digital certification, and digital signatures has been increasing in all areas of digital communication, including data transfers across networks, access to secure email servers and web servers, etc. Communication protocols involving the exchange of one or more encryption keys or other security information are becoming more and more common.
More and more of the devices exchanging information are relatively small computing devices, such as phones, PDAs, and other wireless, handheld devices. For these devices, conventional public-key cryptography systems (RSA, DH, DSA, etc.) may be impractical for small devices, in part because they involve the use of very large keys (e.g., 1024 bits), which may be cumbersome for a user to enter using the conventional input/output interfaces on these devices.
An alternate approach is to use a symmetric-key system. However, with symmetric-key systems, secure distribution of keys may be problematic. There is often not end-to-end security between users of a symmetric-key system. That is, there may be several security domain borders, at which the information may need to be decrypted and re-encrypted along the way. If one or more nodes along the path are compromised, the security of the entire network may be jeopardized. Another solution is to use public key encryption, such as encryption based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). In public key encryption systems, even if the public key becomes known, a user may not be granted access to secure information until they enter a user-specific private key. In these systems, private keys are generated from the public key using a particular mathematical algorithm. Key generation may be performed on the small computing devices described above, but conventional small devices may not adequately protect the algorithm and authorization codes for generating keys from tampering and access by unauthorized users.

Method and apparatus for secure information distribution


An object of the present invention is to provide a polyamide resin composition from which the solvent is easily removed during film formation and which gives a film or adhesive layer reduced in residual solvent content. It is suitable for use especially as vanish. The composition and vanish are characterized by comprising as essential ingredients a phenolic hydroxyl group-having aromatic polyamide resin and a cycloalkanone as a solvent and preferably further containing a curable resin.

Aromatic polyamide resins have excellent properties of heat resistance, film formation and toughness, and they are widely used as functional engineering plastics.
However, since their solubility in solvent is poor, aromatic polyamide resins are problematic in that their workability is not so good when they are used as films or adhesive layers. Some amide solvents may dissolve aromatic polyamide resins, but, in general, their boiling point is high and their evaporation rate is low, and therefore, the problem with them is that the solvent removal in film formation with them is difficult. As a result, the solvent used often remains in the films or adhesive layers of conventional aromatic polyamide resins, and in case where the solvent has remained therein, it has significant influences on the physical properties such as adhesiveness to substrates and heat resistance of the resin films or adhesive layers. Moreover, in case where films or adhesive layers of conventional aromatic polyamide resins dissolved in amide solvents are formed on organic substrates, there occurs still another problem in that the amide solvents of high solubility often corrode the surfaces of the organic substrates.
In view of these situations, polyamide resin-containing varnish is desired, which is free from the problems noted above and from which the solvent removal is easy during film formation to give films and adhesive layers with little solvent remaining therein.

Polyamide resin-containing varnish and its use


An orthodontic bracket includes an archwire slot with mesial and distal end sections that present archwire relief areas. The bracket also includes a latch movable between a slot-open position in order to enable insertion or removal of an archwire, and a slot-closed position in order to retain an archwire in the archwire slot. The bracket includes at least one flange that extends along at least a portion of the mesial and distal archwire end sections and over a portion of the latch in order to provide enhanced rotational control over the underlying tooth without undue deformation of the latch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention broadly relates to brackets used in orthodontic treatment. More specifically, the present invention concerns orthodontic brackets that have a latch for releasably retaining an archwire in an archwire slot of the brackets.
2. Description of the Related Art
Orthodontic therapy is a specialized type of treatment within the field of dentistry, and involves movement of malpositioned teeth to orthodontically correct locations. Orthodontic treatment often improves the patient's occlusion and typically enhances the aesthetic appearance of the teeth.
Many types of orthodontic treatment programs involve the use of a set of tiny appliances and wires that are commonly known collectively as "braces". During such treatment programs, small appliances known as brackets are fixed to the patient's anterior, cuspid and bicuspid teeth, and an archwire is inserted into a slot of each bracket. The archwire forms a track to guide movement of the teeth to orthodontically correct locations. End sections of the archwires are typically captured in tiny appliances known as buccal tubes that are fixed to the patient's molar teeth.
Many types of orthodontic brackets have archwire slots that are open on one side for insertion of the archwire, and bounded on remaining sides by a central body of the bracket, by tiewings or by other structure. Brackets that are intended to be bonded to the patient's front tooth surfaces often have archwire slots that are open either on a buccolabial side (i.e., a side facing the patient's cheeks or lips) or an occlusal side (i.e., a side facing the outer tips of the teeth) of the archwire slot. Some brackets, however, are intended to be fixed to the lingual side of the patient's teeth (i.e., the side of the teeth facing the patient's tongue) and in that instance typically have an archwire slot that is open on a lingual side or on an occlusal side.
Many orthodontists use ligatures to connect the archwire to the brackets and to urge the archwire into an orientation of seating engagement in the archwire slot. One type of commercially available orthodontic ligature is a small, elastomeric O-ring. Orthodontic O-rings are installed by stretching the O-ring around small wings (known as "tiewings") that are connected to the bracket body on the gingival side (i.e., the side facing the patient's gingiva or gums) and on the occlusal side of the archwire slot. Once installed, the O-ring ligature extends around the tiewings as well as over the labial side of the archwire and urges the archwire toward a lingual wall of the archwire slot.
Metal ligatures, such as ligatures made of stainless steel, are also used to retain archwires in archwire slots of brackets. Metal ligatures are typically made of a short section of initially straight wire. During installation, the wire ligature is hooked around the tiewings and extended over the labial side of the archwire, and end sections of the ligature are then twisted together to form a loop to retain the ligature in place.
Unfortunately, some orthodontists are not entirely satisfied with elastomeric and metal ligatures. Such ligatures are somewhat time-consuming to install, both during initial installation and also during reinstallation whenever replacement of the archwire or ligatures is desired. As can be appreciated, a savings in the amount of time needed for ligation can help to reduce the total time that the practitioner must spend with the patient and consequently aid in reducing the overall costs of orthodontic treatment.
Other disadvantages are also associated with elastomeric and metal ligatures. For example, there have been reports that certain polyurethane elastomeric ligatures have exhibited deformation and force decay during the course of treatment. In some instances, elastomeric ligatures are stained by food and beverages consumed by the patient and become somewhat unsightly. Metal ligatures often have sharp ends that may retain plaque and food debris and also may increase the risk of infection.
In an effort to overcome the problems associated with conventional ligatures, a variety of orthodontic brackets have been proposed having various types of latches for coupling the archwire to the bracket. Such brackets are also known as self-ligating brackets. The latch comprises a clip, spring member, cover, shutter, bail or other structure that is connected to the bracket body for retaining an archwire in the archwire slot.
Examples of self-ligating orthodontic brackets having generally U-shaped ligating latch clips are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,772,787, 4,248,588 and 4,492,573. In general, the clip of such brackets is slidably mounted on the bracket body, and a dental explorer or other small-tipped dental tool is used to move the clip relative to the body when needed in order to open or close the archwire slot. A self-ligating bracket known as the "Speed" brand bracket also has a movable, generally U-shaped clip for ligating the archwire to the bracket.
Other types of self-ligating brackets have latches that resemble swinging shutters or closures that pivotally move between a slot-open and a slot-closed position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,999 has a rotatable cover plate that is pivotally connected at one end to a tiewing of the bracket along one side of the slot, and is releasably engagable at the other end with a tiewing that is located along the opposite side of the archwire slot. Other orthodontic brackets with swinging latches are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,423, 5,516,284 and 5,685,711.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,371,337 and 4,559,012 describe self-ligating orthodontic brackets having latches that rotate about the longitudinal axis of the archwire slot. The latch of these references has a somewhat cylindrical shape and is rotatably received in a mating, cylindrical channel, and an outwardly extending arm is provided to assist in rotatably moving the latch between a slot-open and a slot-closed position.
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket that is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,666 has a ligating latch that comprises a flexible flat spring member. One end of the spring member is fixed to the bracket body on one side of the archwire slot, and the opposite end of the spring member has notches that releasably engage latch sears or catches when the spring member is moved to a slot-closed position. To open the slot, the notches are disengaged from the catches and the spring member is bent to an orientation sufficient to enable the archwire to be removed from the archwire slot.
Other types of self-ligating orthodontic brackets have latches that comprise essentially flat plates that are slidable between a slot-open and a slot-closed position. Examples of such construction are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,094,614, 5,322,435 and 5,613,850. In general, the sliding latches described in those references move in upright channels that are located buccolabially of the archwire slot.
Another type of self-ligating bracket that has been proposed in the past has a latch that is made of a section of wire material that functions similar to a bail. The orthodontic brackets described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,149,314, 4,725,229 and 5,269,681 have wire-like latches that swing between a slot-closed position and a slot-open position. The orthodontic bracket described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,375 has a wire latch that is slidable between a slot-open and a slot-closed position.
Many of the self-ligating brackets described above as well as commercially-available self-ligating brackets have structure that is intended to prevent unintentional movement of the latch. It is undesirable, for example, for the latch to accidentally move to a slot-open position during the course of treatment since the archwire may disengage the bracket once the slot has been opened. Once the archwire has separated from the bracket, control over movement of the associated tooth is temporarily lost. In such instances, the patient must return to the orthodontist's office so that the wire can be re-inserted in the archwire slot in order to resume treatment.
It is also often desired to restrain movement of the latch in an opposite direction in some manner so that the latch does not unintentionally detach from the body of the bracket when the latch is opened. For example, the orthodontist may move the latch of each bracket to a slot-open position during the course of treatment in order to replace the archwire with an archwire having different characteristics. If the latch becomes separated from the bracket body during such procedures, the practitioner must interrupt the procedure to retrieve the latch and replace it on the bracket body.
Many practitioners prefer self-ligating orthodontic brackets over brackets that are not self-ligating because the need to ligate each bracket with an initially separate elastomeric O-ring or a metal ligature wire can be avoided. However, conventional self-ligating orthodontic brackets are not entirely satisfactory because of the lack of optimal control over movement of the underlying teeth. During the course of treatment, it may be necessary to shift each tooth relative to adjacent teeth in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing result at the conclusion of treatment. Precise control over movement of the teeth is desirable so that each tooth can be shifted as needed to its exact, intended orientation and in proper orthodontic relation relative to other teeth in the oral cavity.
In general, there are three types of tooth movement that are important to orthodontic practitioners. Tipping movement is one such type of movement, and may be defined as pivotal movement of the long axis of a tooth in a mesial-distal direction. Another movement is torque movement, and can be defined as pivotal movement of the long axis of a tooth in a buccal-lingual direction. The third type of tooth movement is rotational movement, and can be defined as rotational movement of a tooth about its long axis.
An orthodontic bracket offering superior control over movement of teeth during the course of orthodontic treatment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,911. While the commercial embodiments of the inventions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,911 have been commercially successful and received widespread acclaim, such brackets are not self-ligating and as a consequence do not provide the advantages of the self-ligating brackets described above. U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,850 describes a self-ligating bracket that incorporates concepts of U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,911, but also is not entirely satisfactory.

Self-ligating orthodontic bracket with enhanced rotation control