A lifting belt sling for lifting loads is comprised of a tubular structure having at least two chambers whereby forming, as one unit, a chamber tube that is contiguous over the width. Loosely inserted inserts are located inside the at least two chambers and endlessly extend from one end of the chamber tube to the other end thereof. The inserts overlap the ends of the chamber tube so that they form loops at this location, whereby the inserts, when situated in the loop area, are covered by a tube protective means. A protective tube, which surrounds the chamber tube and is formed by different weaves, significantly increases the resistance to abrasion, the resistance to cutting, and the edge strength. The lifting belt sling is designed for loads of up to 100 t.

Round slings are predominantly used in industry, in the building trade and in industry for lifting loads. Lifting belts are used in many ways in the transportation industry and especially in branches of building.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,089, a round sling is known which includes two chambers, in order thereby to obtain higher strength and improved resistance to abrasion and cutting.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,278, a textile round sling is known, with additional ribs on the round sling tube, which thereby is to effect an improved cutting and abrasion resistance.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,572, a round sling is known which includes an additional strand of optical cables, in order to be able to emit a signal when there is a break.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,807, a method of production of round slings is known, which relates to a rational production of a round sling.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,047, a lifting belt is known which consists of a woven band, with loops and at least one reinforced edge, which is to protect against premature wear. An additional textile inlay is concerned as the reinforcement.
The following points are disadvantageous in round slings and lifting belts:
Round slings are manufactured from a tube, which normally consists of one chamber, but can also consist of two chambers as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,089. Round slings are manufactured from endless yarn strands, which always give a round, endless ring or round tube, which can, however, be designed in their dimension such that they can lift loads of up to 100 t. Since round slings give an endless ring, they cannot easily be passed under a stationary load object.
Lifting belts are manufactured from woven belts, which according to width and thickness can normally lift loads of up to 20 t. Lifting belts are sewn together to form one piece with two-sided loops. This band can be pulled through under a stationary load and suspended with the loops into a load hook on both sides. Since the bands are under strong stress due to the load, they are very susceptible to wear and cuts. It is frequently sought to eliminate this disadvantage with a costly coating.


A guiding catheter system for delivering an elongated therapeutic or diagnostic device into a patient""s left ventricle which includes a first guiding catheter with a shaped distal extremity configured to be aligned with or parallel to a longitudinal axis or long dimension of the patient""s left ventricle and a second guiding catheter slidably and rotatably disposed within an inner lumen of the first guiding catheter which has a shaped distal shaft section and an inner lumen configured to slidably receive an elongated therapeutic or diagnostic device such as a tissue ablation device, e.g. an optical fiber connected to a laser source, an ultrasonic energy emitting device or a radio frequency energy emitting device. The shaped distal section of the first guiding catheter is shaped or is shapable within the patient""s heart chamber. The second guiding catheter is advanced out of the inner lumen of the first guiding catheter until the distal end extends out, of the port in the distal end of the first guiding catheter and provides a passageway for the therapeutic or diagnostic device to engage the endocardium surface at a perpendicular or near perpendicular orientation.

This invention relates to elongated devices for therapeutic or diagnostic procedures in a wall of a patient""s heart, particularly to the treatment of myocardial tissue experiencing ischemic conditions, by revascularization of such myocardial tissue.
Myocardial revascularization typically involves formation of one or more channels in a patient""s heart wall which defines the heart chamber, particularly the left ventricle. The first trials of the revascularization process were apparently made by Mirhoseini et al. See for example the discussions in Lasers in General Surgery (Williams and Wilkins; 1989), pp 216-223. Other early disclosures of this procedure are found in an article by Okada et al. in Kobe J. Med. Sci 32, 151-161, October 1986 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,817 (Hardy). Both of these references describe intraoperative revascularization procedures which require the chest wall to be opened and which include formation of the revascularization channels completely through the heart wall, i.e. the epicardium, the myocardium and the endocardium.
Copending application Ser. No. 08/078,443, filed on Jun. 15, 1993 (Aita et al.), which is incorporated herein in its entirety, describes an intravascular system for myocardial revascularization which is introduced percutaneously into a peripheral artery and advanced through the patient""s arterial system into the left ventricle of the patient""s heart. The revascularization channels are not usually formed through the entire heart wall but only the endocardium and into the myocardium from within the left ventricle. This procedure eliminates the need of the prior intraoperative procedures to open the chest cavity and to penetrate through the entire heart wall in order to form the channel through the endocardium into the myocardium. While the percutaneous method and system for introducing the revascularization device developed by Aita et al. represents a substantial advance, one of the difficulties in forming revascularization channels from within a patient""s left ventricle by means of a percutaneously introduced revascularization system has been accurately directing the distal tip of the channel forming device to a desired region of the patient""s endocardium and maintaining the placement of the distal end of the channel forming device against a desired region of the ventricular wall at a proper angle, i.e. perpendicular or near perpendicular to the endocardium, while the heart is beating. Maintaining placement of the operative distal tip of the device is important because lateral displacement can affect the channel formation within the heart wall. The anatomy of human hearts and particularly the relationship of the ascending aorta and the left ventricle can vary considerably from patient to patient. The entry angle from the ascending aorta through the aortic valve into the left ventricle of a human heart does not facilitate the easy access to the free wall of the patient""s heart which in substantial part defines the left ventricle. Direct entry from the ascending aorta through the aortic valve usually leads into the cordae tendonae of the mitril valve and to the posterior sulcus adjacent to the inferolateral papillary muscle to which the cordae are attached. As a result, the distal extremity of a guiding catheter advanced into the left ventricle through the aortic valve from the ascending aorta can inadvertently become entrapped or entangled with the cordae tendonae or be positioned in the posterior sulcus adjacent to the base of the inferiolateral papillary muscle.
What has been needed is an improved delivery system and method for delivering a channel forming or other ablation device within the patient""s heart chamber, particularly via percutaneous introduction into the patient""s vasculature, which provides for an easy and accurate placement of the device against a desired region of the endocardium at the desired orientation and the maintenance of the position of the device within the patient""s heart chamber while tissue is being ablated and the heart is beating. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.
The present invention is directed to a system for delivering an elongated therapeutic or diagnostic device into the interior of a patient""s heart chamber that provides access to a wide region of the patient""s endocardium defining at least in part the heart chamber. Additionally, the system disclosed accurately places and effectively holds the operative distal end of the device at a desired location within the patient""s heart chamber. One embodiment of the present invention may be used to form a channel into the wall defining the heart chamber or to perform other treatments or diagnosis. The system also allows the position of the operative distal end of the device to be readily changed to facilitate performing therapeutic or diagnostic procedures at a plurality of locations within the heart chamber at a desired perpendicular or near perpendicular orientation with respect to the patient""s endocardium.
The guiding catheter system of the invention generally includes a first guiding or delivery catheter which has a relatively straight main shaft section and a shaped distal shaft section having a discharge axis selected so that is generally aligned with or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the patient""s left ventricle, and a second guiding or delivery catheter slidably and rotatably disposed within an inner lumen of the first guiding catheter and provided with a shaped distal section configured to have a discharge axis which is normal or near normal to the patient""s endocardial layer which defines in part the left ventricle.
In accordance with the present invention the first guiding catheter has proximal and distal ends, a port in the distal end and an inner lumen extending within the catheter to the port in the distal end. The first guiding catheter has a relatively straight main shaft section and a preshaped distal section configured to point in a direction so that the discharge axis of this catheter is aligned with or parallel or near parallel to the longitudinal axis of the left ventricle. For many applications the first guiding catheter is about 90 to about 130 cm, preferably about 100 to about 120 cm in length.
In one presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the first guiding catheter has a main shaft section and a shaped distal section with a proximal and distal angled segments which provide a discharge axis approximating the longitudinal axis or long dimension of the heart chamber.
In this embodiment the first segment of the distal shaft section is at an angle of about 95xc2x0 to about 160xc2x0, preferably about 100xc2x0 to about 140xc2x0 with respect to a proximally adjacent second segment of the distal shaft section and the proximally adjacent second segment is at an angle of about 95xc2x0 to about 160xc2x0, preferably about 100xc2x0 to about 135xc2x0 with respect to either the proximally adjacent main shaft section or a third segment of the distal shaft section proximally adjacent to the second segment. If there is a third segment of the distal section, it is at an angle of about angle of about 110xc2x0 to about 170xc2x0, preferably about 120xc2x0 to about 150xc2x0 with respect to proximally adjacent main shaft section. The first and second segments should each be about 0.5 to about 5, preferably about 0.5 to about 4 cm in length, with the total length of the shaped distal section with two segments being about 2 to about 6 cm. If the distal section has a third segment, it should have a length of about 1 to about 5 cm, preferably about 2 to about 4 cm. The length of the shaped distal section with three segments should be about 3 to about 8 cm, preferably about 4 to about 7 cm.
In another presently preferred embodiment, the shaped distal section of the first guiding catheter has a single angled segment which provides a discharge axis approximating the longitudinal axis or long dimension of the heart chamber. In this embodiment the single angled segment of the distal shaft section has a length of about 2 to about 8 cm, preferably about 4 to about 6 cm and is at an angle of about 95xc2x0 to about 160xc2x0, preferably about 100xc2x0 to about 140xc2x0 with respect to a proximally adjacent portion of the main shaft section.
The second guiding catheter of the invention is longer than the first guiding catheter, and is slidably and preferably rotatably disposed within inner lumen of the first guiding catheter. The second guiding catheter likewise has proximal and distal ends, a port in the distal end and an inner lumen extending within the second guiding catheter to the port in the distal end. The second guiding catheter has a relatively straight main shaft section and a distal section which is at an angle of about 80xc2x0 to about 140xc2x0, preferably about 90xc2x0 to about 120xc2x0 with respect to the main shaft section thereof. The second guiding catheter should be at least 10 cm longer, preferably about 15 to about 50 cm longer, than the first guiding catheter and is about 100 to about 150 cm, preferably about 110 to about 140 cm in length. The shaped distal section of the second guiding catheter should have a radius of curvature of about 2 to 30 mm, preferably about 4 to about 20 mm between the main shaft section and the exit or discharge axis through the port in the distal end of the shaped distal section. The length of the shaped distal section is about 0.5 to about 4 cm, preferably about 1 to about 3 cm.
The angles of the various segments of the distal section of the first catheter and the angle of the second guiding catheter facilitate directing the operative distal end of an elongated therapeutic or diagnostic device which is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the second guiding catheter toward the region of the endocardium where the procedure is to be performed at an orientation that is preferably perpendicular or near perpendicular with the endocardial surface of the patient""s heart wall.
A presently preferred elongated therapeutic or diagnostic device is a system for ablating tissue within the wall of the patient""s heart, particularly for the revascularization of an ischemic region thereof. The ablation system is adapted to emit ablation energy from its distal end which may be based on laser, radio frequency, ultrasonic or other high energy emissions. The ablation system is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the second guiding catheter and is long enough so that the distal operative end extends out the port in the distal end of the second guiding catheter and contacts the endocardium and proximal end which extends out the proximal end of the second guiding catheter and be operatively connected to a source of ablation energy such as laser, RF, ultrasound and the like. Preferably, the distal extremity of the ablation system which extends out the distal end of the guide catheter has sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting within the environment of the heart chamber.
In a presently preferred embodiment of practicing the method of the invention, the first guiding catheter of the delivery system is introduced into a peripheral artery, such as the femoral artery, and advanced through the patient""s arterial system until the distal end of the first catheter is disposed within the patient""s left ventricle. The position of the first guiding catheter is adjusted by the physician under fluoroscopic observation or other techniques until the distal tip is oriented generally along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the left ventricle. The second guiding catheter is advanced through the previously introduced first guiding catheter which has a distal end appropriately positioned within the left ventricle. The second guiding catheter is rotatably and slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the first delivery catheter to facilitate the desired placement and orientation of the shaped distal section of the second guiding catheter within the left ventricle normal to the endocardium. In this manner the elongated therapeutic or diagnostic device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the second guiding catheter is properly oriented with respect to the endocardial surface of the heart chamber in order to effectively couple emitted ablation energy to the tissue of the heart wall. Additionally, such perpendicularity helps to maintain the position of the distal end of the device, particularly a channel forming device, against the heart wall during multiple heart cycles. Without such perpendicular orientation, the operative tip of the therapeutic or diagnostic device tends to move laterally while the heart is beating resulting in mislocation of the channel, or ablated tissue or medical procedure.
The longitudinal and rotational movements of the first and second guiding catheters, particularly when the distal extremity of both are shaped, provide access to a wide region of the patient""s endocardial surface and allow for the accurate placement of the operative end of the therapeutic or diagnostic device within the patient""s left ventricle in a number of positions. The location of the distal end of the therapeutic or diagnostic device within the heart chamber, and particularly with respect to the endocardial surface, can be detected fluoroscopically by providing a radiopaque marker on the distal extremities of the ablation device and each of the guiding catheters. The use of dye injections through a port in the distal end of first and/or the second guiding catheter may be employed to further facilitate the location of the distal end of these catheters. Other means such as a variety of proximity detectors may be employed to detect contact between the distal end of the therapeutic or diagnostic device or the delivery catheters and the endocardium.
The distal sections of the first and second delivery catheters are preferably preformed into a desired shape so that they will provide a desired orientation for the delivery system when they extend into the patient""s heart chamber. However, the catheters may alternatively be provided with control lines or other suitable means (e.g. a shape memory or a superelastic or pseudoelastic NiTi element) to deflect or otherwise shape the distal sections of the catheters once the distal extremity of the delivery system extends into the heart chamber.
With the system of the invention, essentially the entire semi-conical inner surface of the free wall defining part the patient""s heart chamber and the intraventricular septum are accessible at a desired normal or near normal orientation by rotating one or both of the guiding catheters.
The first and second guiding catheters are preferably relatively stiff catheters so that the position of the therapeutic or diagnostic device disposed within the inner lumen of the second guiding catheter and extending out the port in the distal end thereof will be maintained during the procedure even though the heart is beating and blood is flowing within the chamber. A supporting sheath may be disposed within the inner lumen of the second guiding catheter which is extended to the surface of the heart wall, to further support the therapeutic or diagnostic device if the ablation device is insufficiently self supporting.
The anatomy of the left ventricle can vary considerably from patient to patient as to dimensions and shape. As a result, in some instances the ablation device may not be able to be directed to the entire region to be treated, particularly in the apex region of the heart chamber where the shape of the second guiding catheter may not be suitable to maintain a perpendicular orientation. In this case, the shape of the distal section of the second guiding catheter can be adjusted to another, more suitable angle to ensure a normal orientation between the operative distal end of the ablation device and the endocardial surface by pulling the second guiding catheter back into the inner lumen of the first guiding catheter a short distance so that part of the shaped distal section is pulled back into the inner lumen of the first guiding catheter. This changes the angle of the particular distal segment with respect to an adjacent segment or an adjacent portion of the main shaft section. Thus, normal or near normal orientation can be maintained in these difficult to reach regions.
While the present invention is described in terms of guiding catheters having permanently shaped distal sections, those skilled in the art will recognize that the distal section which can be deformed or shaped once positioned within the patient""s heart chamber by means such as control wires or strands or by controlling the temperature of a shape memory element within the distal section, in order to facilitate directing the distal portion of the channel forming device or other type of ablation device, toward the region of the endocardium where the procedure is to be performed. A variety of other means may be employed to provide shape to the distal extremities of the guiding catheters.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the ablation or channel forming device is an elongated optical fiber system slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the second guiding catheter. The orientation of the distal extremity of the optical fiber system, controlled by the exit or discharge axis of the distal section of the second guiding catheter, is directed to the area of the endocardium to be ablated or into which a channel is to be formed, is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the endocardial surface of the patient""s heart wall. The optical fiber system is preferably a laser based optical fiber system for forming channels within the wall of the patient""s heart. The distal extremity of the optical fiber system which extends out the distal end of the second guiding catheter is sufficiently stiff to be self-supporting, i.e. it does not sag significantly when unsupported, and can be pressed against the endocardial or myocardial surface with sufficient pressure while forming the channel or performing ablation or other procedure without collapsing. Generally, the distal section of the optical fiber is considered as being xe2x80x9cself supportingxe2x80x9d if a force of at least 4 grams, preferably at least 8 grams, is required to deflect the free end of a cantilevered specimen 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) in length (span length) of the optical fiber a distance of one millimeter.
In a presently preferred embodiment of practicing one aspect of the invention, the system is introduced into a peripheral artery, such as the femoral or brachial artery, and advanced through the patient""s arterial system until the shaped distal portion of the first guiding catheter is disposed within the patient""s left ventricle. The second guiding catheter may be advanced through and out the port in the distal end of the first guiding catheter where it is oriented toward the heart wall. The perpendicular or near perpendicular orientation of the distal extremity of the elongated optical fiber system with respect to the endocardial surface of the heart chamber is required in order to effectively couple the ablation energy emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber system to the tissue. Additionally, such perpendicularity helps to maintain the position of the distal end of the optical fiber system against the tissue to be ablated or removed to form the channel. If not pressed against the endocardial tissue in a relatively normal orientation, the operative distal tip tends to move laterally while the heart is beating resulting in mislocation of the channel, or ablation of tissue outside the desired region. As used herein the terms xe2x80x9cnormalxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cperpendicularxe2x80x9d shall include variations of up to 30xc2x0 from a normal or perpendicular orientation.
The longitudinal and rotational movements of the guiding catheters provide access to a wide region of the patient""s endocardial surface from within the heart chamber and allows for the accurate placement of the operative distal end of the ablation device within the patient""s left ventricle in a number of positions. With the system of the invention, essentially the entire inner surface of the wall defining the patient""s heart chamber is accessible to deliver an elongated ablation device to the desired location with the desired orientation while the heart is beating.
The guiding catheters, and particularly the first guiding catheter, are preferably provided with relatively stiff proximal and shaped distal sections with a more flexible intermediate section which is configured to be disposed within the patient""s aortic arch during the procedure as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,177 entitled CATHETER WITH FLEXIBLE INTERMEDIATE SECTION and filed on Mar. 7, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference. In this manner, the position of the distal end of the optical fiber system will be maintained during the procedure even though the heart is beating.
While forming a passageway through the endocardium into the myocardium of the patient""s heart for the purpose of revascularization is of significant interest, the passageway formed into the myocardium may be used for other purposes. For example, therapeutic or diagnostic agents may be introduced into the channel for delivery to the patient""s endocardium or myocardium. The therapeutic or diagnostic agent may be incorporated into a biocompatible matrix deposited within the channel for delivery or release over an extended period. When delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to the interior of the channel, the channel forming device may be removed and a catheter with an inner lumen extending the length thereof may be advanced through the inner lumen of the delivery catheter until the distal end of the catheter extends into the channel formed in the wall of the patient""s heart. A therapeutic or diagnostic agent may then be delivered through the inner lumen of the catheter and out a port in the distal end into the channel such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,059, filed on Jun. 7, 1995, entitled THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC AGENT DELIVERY which is incorporated herein by reference. The drug delivery catheter may be generally a simple elongated flexible tube with an inner lumen extending therein to a port or opening in the distal end of the catheter. The outer dimensions and surface characteristics are suitable to provide longitudinal movement of the drug delivery catheter within the delivery catheter. The distal extremity of the drug delivery catheter is preferably configured to readily fit into the channel formed in the endocardium and myocardium so that delivery of the therapeutic or diagnostic agent well into the channel is ensured. Systemic delivery of drugs and various therapeutic and diagnostic agents to the ablated tissue can also be employed.
There is evidence which tends to support the position that ablation or insult of heart tissue may, by itself, over the long term enhance or even be a significant factor in the revascularization thereof causing angiogenesis. Thus, other means, including mechanical ablation means and a variety of energy sources such as radio frequency ablation means and ultrasonic ablation means which damage or insult myocardial tissue can be the causal factor in revascularization. For example, an RF energy or an ultrasonic energy system which damages myocardial tissue with or without forming a channel may be used. There is also some evidence that ablation of heart tissue within an ischemic region which is causing the patient discomfort by angina or chest pain, can cause the denervation of the ischemic tissue which results in the termination of the angina. Such pain relief may by itself be a substantial clinical advantage because, without the pain, the patient can resume normal or near normal activity. Denervation minimizes or eliminates the need for debilitating pain medication and allows the patient to exercise which can strengthen the heart tissue resulting in further recovery. These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings.

Guiding catheter system for ablating heart tissue


A process for the reduction of methylbenzofuran (MBF) impurities in phenol obtained from the decomposition product of cumene hydroperoxide requires treating the phenol to reduce the level of acetol, contacting the phenol containing a low level of acetol with an acid resin at sufficient temperature and residence time to reduce the level of MBF by conversion to higher boiling compounds, then distilling the phenol to separate phenol from higher boiling compounds. The phenol may be treated in known ways, such as by treatment with an amine, to reduce the level of acetol. The phenol containing a low level of acetol is contacted with a strong acid resin to reduce the level MBF.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the production of high purity phenol, particularly to a process for reduction of levels of methylbenzofuran in phenol to obtain desired high purity.
2. Description of Related Art
Phenol may be produced from cumene by the oxidation of cumene to cumene hydroperoxide, followed by cleavage or decomposition of the hydroperoxide to phenol and acetone. The reaction product is introduced into a separation and recovery system wherein acetone is separated from remaining product by distillation. The remaining product is then further distilled to separate cumene. The cumene recovery column can be operated if desired to recover alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) with the cumene, or the product remaining from the cumene recovery column may be introduced into a crude AMS column to separate AMS from the remaining product. The remaining product is introduced into a phenol recovery column to separate phenol from remaining higher boiling constituents.
The phenol product obtained by fractional distillation includes many impurities including AMS, acetol (hydroxyacetone), acetophenone, cumylphenols and 2- and 3-methylbenzofuran (collectively or individually MBF). For certain purposes it is important to reduce such impurities to avoid problems with discoloration on aging or on sulfonation or on chlorination. Since MBF and phenol have similar volatility, MBF cannot be separated effectively by fractional distillation. Distillation in the presence of water, or steam stripping, has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,064,507 and 4,857,151 to reduce the amount of MBF. Such steam stripping requires substantial expenditure of energy to produce the necessary amount of steam and the use of large distillation columns to accommodate the flow of the organic vapors and the added steam. Thus removal of MBF by steam stripping is expensive in terms of operating cost and capital investment. U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,946 discloses reduction of MBF impurities by heating phenol with hydrobromic or hydroiodic acid. Treatment with halogenated compounds, however, leads to problems with corrosion which adds substantially to the cost of materials of construction.
The need exists for an effective and economical process to reduce the level of MBF in phenol to obtain desired high purity phenol.

Phenol with low levels of methylbenzofuran


A high-durability flexible bladder designed for placement within in an ink containment vessel. When inflated and deflated, the bladder maintains proper pressure levels in the ink containment vessel which improves the operating efficiency of the entire printing system. The bladder has a specially-constructed side wall that prevents air and ink materials from passing therethrough and is characterized by a high degree of structural integrity and longevity. The side wall is produced from polyethylene naphthalate which provides the benefits listed above. Either a single material layer produced in whole or in part from polyethylene naphthalate may be used or a plurality of material layers can be employed in combination to manufacture the side wall, with at least one layer containing in whole or in part polyethylene naphthalate. As a result, problems involving premature bladder deterioration, leakage, and the like are avoided.

The present invention generally relates to ink printing technology, and more particularly to a specialized bladder system for controlling internal pressure levels in an ink containment vessel which is resistant to the corrosive effects of ink materials. The bladder has a novel side wall structure which accomplishes this goal and also prevents the undesired passage of gases (e.g. air) and ink materials therethrough. As a result, the overall longevity and operational efficiency of the entire ink delivery system is improved.
Substantial developments have been made in the field of electronic printing technology. A wide variety of highly-efficient printing systems currently exist which are capable of dispensing ink in a rapid and accurate manner. Thermal inkjet systems are especially important in this regard. Printing units using thermal inkjet technology basically involve an apparatus which includes at least one ink reservoir chamber in fluid communication with a substrate (preferably made of silicon) having a plurality of thin-film heating resistors thereon. The substrate and resistors are maintained within a structure that is conventionally characterized as a "printhead". Selective activation of the resistors causes thermal excitation of the ink materials and expulsion thereof from the printhead. Representative thermal inkjet systems are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,895 to Buck et al.; No. 4,794,409 to Cowger et al.; No. 4,509,062 to Low et al.; No. 4,929,969 to Morris; No. 4,771,295 to Baker et al.; No. 5,278,584 to Keefe et al.; and the Hewlett-Packard Journal, Vol. 39, No. 4 (August 1988), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The ink delivery systems described above (and other units using different ink ejection devices as indicated below) typically include an ink storage unit (e.g. a housing, vessel, or tank) having a self-contained supply of ink therein in order to form an ink cartridge. In a standard ink cartridge, the ink containment unit is directly attached to the operating components of the cartridge to produce an integral and unitary structure wherein the ink supply is considered to be "on-board". However, in other cases, the ink storage unit will be provided at a remote location within the printing system, with the ink storage unit being operatively connected to and in fluid communication with the printhead using one or more tubular ink transfer conduits. These particular systems are conventionally known as "off-axis" printers. Representative off-axis printing systems are illustrated and described in, for example, co-owned pending U.S. patent application No. 08/869,446 (filed on Jun. 5, 1997) entitled "AN INK CONTAINMENT SYSTEM INCLUDING A PLURAL-WALLED BAG FORMED OF INNER AND OUTER FILM LAYERS" (Olsen et al.) and co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,686 which are both incorporated herein by reference. The present invention shall be applicable to both of these designs (regardless of where the ink storage or containment vessel is located), and may likewise be used in connection with printing devices that employ non-thermal-inkjet technology. Accordingly, while the claimed invention shall be described herein with primary reference to thermal inkjet printing systems, it is also applicable to any ink delivery apparatus which employs a housing or vessel containing a supply of ink therein that is ultimately delivered using at least one ink ejector.
An important consideration in the development of a printing system is the maintenance of proper fluid pressure levels within the ink containment vessel(s) of the system. This factor is particularly important in off-axis systems which normally have fairly large ink supplies associated therewith. While the present invention shall again be applicable to both off-axis and self-contained cartridge-type units as previously noted, it shall be discussed herein with primary reference to off-axis systems and the components associated therewith which will be described in greater detail below. In order to reduce printing system costs and to likewise facilitate a reduction in the operating expense per printed page, off-axis printing systems were developed as previously noted. Off-axis printers basically involve one or more small moving printheads having at least one ink ejector therein (described above) which are connected to relatively large stationary ink storage reservoirs using at least one tubular conduit. In these particular systems, the mass (e.g. weight) of the printhead is significantly reduced so that the overall cost of the printhead drive system and printer size can be minimized. Furthermore, in most cases, this type of system is more economical to operate compared with conventional self-contained ink cartridge units since the ink storage reservoir in an off-axis system can be replaced without requiring replacement of the entire printhead assembly. Accordingly, off-axis printing systems (regardless of the particular ink ejectors being employed) provide many important benefits.
However, typical off-axis printers also include numerous "ink flow restrictions" between the ink storage reservoir and the printhead. These ink flow restrictions (which basically involve barriers to the continuous flow of ink through the system) include but are not limited to (1) multiple internal orifices through which the ink must flow during delivery to the printhead; (2) narrow ink delivery conduits; and (3) shut-off valves. To overcome ink transfer problems caused by these restrictions, the ink compositions originally retained within the ink storage reservoir are transported to the printhead at elevated pressure levels (discussed below). Likewise, to avoid excessive pressure levels which result from this type of system, a pressure reducer/controller is used in order to deliver ink to the printhead at an optimum "back pressure". The term "back pressure" as used herein is generally defined to involve the fluid pressure inside the ink containment vessel during operation.
With continued reference to off-axis printing systems (as well as cartridge-type units with "on-board" ink supplies), it is important that the ink back pressure at the printhead be maintained at a consistent level. Changes in back pressure can adversely affect print density and image quality. Specifically, major changes in back pressure can cause numerous problems including the uncontrolled "drooling" or leakage of ink from the printhead nozzles, depriming of the printing system, and the like. It is therefore highly desirable to create an internal environment within the printing system where the back pressure levels are maintained at a stable, consistent, and minimal level.
There are several causes for undesired changes in system back pressure. One cause of primary importance involves the trapping of air within the printing system (particularly the ink containment vessel or other storage chamber operatively connected to the printhead), followed by changes in environmental parameters including altitude and temperature. As used throughout this discussion, the term "air" shall be broadly defined to encompass not only air from internal and external sources, but volatile compositions which outgas from the ink materials being delivered, as well as other gases which are ambiently present in the printing system. Representative and non-limiting volatile compositions used in connection with ink formulations as "vehicles", "solvents", "humectants", and the like include but are not limited to water and organic materials such as 2-pyrrolidone, 1,5-pentanediol, N-methyl pyrrolidone, 2-propanol, ethoxylated glycerol, 2-ethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol, cyclohexanol, and others known in the art for this purpose. Air (and/or other gaseous materials as defined above) entrapped within an ink delivery system will interact in accordance with the "Ideal Gas Law" [PV=nRT] wherein changes in any one of the parameters associated with this formula (e.g. temperature, volume, etc.) will cause corresponding changes in printhead back pressure. These changes are undesirable for the reasons given above. Finally, an additional problem which causes changes in system back pressure involves a delay which typically occurs between the time the printhead begins ejecting ink to the point at which operation of the selected pressure regulator is initiated.
Regarding a preferred sub-system for controlling back pressure levels in an ink delivery apparatus, the present invention primarily (but not exclusively) involves the use of a specialized arrangement of components which will now be discussed. The pressure control system of primary interest in this case is summarized in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,686 which is referenced above, incorporated herein by reference, and relied upon for priority in this case. More detailed information regarding this particular pressure control system will be presented below in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments section. Basically, this type of system employs multiple components which cooperate to precisely regulate back pressure levels within the ink containment vessel in the printer unit of interest. Subject to a more in-depth discussion provided below, this back pressure control system involves the use of an external ink supply stored within a "reservoir" which is in fluid communication with a chamber (also known as an "accumulator" or "ink containment vessel"). Fluid communication occurs via one or more tubular ink flow conduits. The term "tubular" as used herein shall encompass a structure having a central passageway therethrough that is surrounded by a continuous side wall. It should be noted that the term "ink containment vessel" as used herein shall involve any vessel (or vessels) which are designed to contain ink that is ultimately delivered to the printhead. In the example provided above (and discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,686 the ink containment vessel primarily involves the "accumulator" structure directly associated with the printhead as indicated below. However, this term may also be construed to cover the ink reservoir unit in the system if pressure control is needed therein. It should therefore be understood that the claimed invention shall not be limited to any particular location or type of ink containment vessel which can encompass any housing, tank, or equivalent structure designed to retain ink therein for subsequent transfer to a printhead.
In the system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,686 the ink containment vessel is, in turn, operatively connected to and in fluid communication with a printhead containing one or more ink ejectors. In a non-limiting and preferred embodiment, the ink ejectors will consist of thin-film resistors. The term "operatively connected" as previously noted shall involve a system in which the printhead is directly connected to the ink containment vessel or in fluid communication therewith using one or more intermediate transfer structures including but not limited to single or multiple tubular conduits.
Positioned within the ink containment vessel (which, in this non-limiting embodiment, functions as an "accumulator" as previously noted) is a back pressure regulator. The term "back pressure" is defined above. The regulator maintains the fluid back pressure in the ink containment vessel/printhead at a substantially constant value so that ink is supplied to the printhead in a complete and uniform manner. This goal is accomplished using a very special component that is again described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,686. Basically, a plurality of spring-biased lever members (in the form of "arm-like" structures) are provided within the ink containment vessel that resiliently engage an inflatable (and deflatable) bag member characterized herein as a flexible "bladder". The interior region of the bladder (e.g. the inside of this component) is in fluid communication with ambient air through a series of valves and other related components. The term "bladder" shall encompass a wide variety of different devices including but not limited to any flexible inflatable/deflatable structure regardless of shape, form, or material which is designed to receive one or more fluids (optimally gases) therein.
As back pressure conditions inside the ink containment vessel change, the bladder is designed to inflate and deflate as discussed in greater detail below. Inflation and deflation of the bladder will activate various valves and/or change the volumetric characteristics of the ink containment vessel. This process will accurately control back pressure levels within the ink containment vessel and accompanying printhead. However, to ensure maximum effectiveness, it is important that the bladder have a high degree of structural integrity, longevity, and resistance to chemical deterioration (e.g. "corrosion") by ink materials. Corrosive ink ingredients are discussed above and typically involve organic solvents, acidic dyes, and the like. The bladder should likewise have a side wall which is able to prevent the leakage of air (also defined above) and ink materials into the bladder. The leakage of these compositions into the bladder could cause undesired pressure imbalances and a loss of effectiveness.
Prior to development of the present invention, a substantial need existed for a flexible pressure control bladder designed for use in an ink containment vessel which is resistant to ink corrosion problems, prevents air passage through the bladder side wall, and is characterized by improved longevity. The claimed invention satisfies these needs in a unique and effective manner. Specifically, a novel pressure control bladder, an ink delivery system using the bladder, and a method for producing an efficient ink delivery system are disclosed which provide many benefits. These benefits include (1) the avoidance of ink-based bladder deterioration problems; and (2) the prevention of air, ink, and other materials from passing through the bladder side wall. As a result, high levels of operating efficiency, print quality, pressure control, and longevity are maintained in connection with the ink delivery system under consideration. These and other benefits associated with the claimed invention (as well as the specific features thereof) shall be discussed in considerable detail below.
As a further preliminary note, it shall be understood that the construction materials and bladder designs provided in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments section are not restricted to any particular ink delivery system including the one shown in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,686. Instead, the materials, components, methods, and techniques claimed in this case are applicable to any ink delivery system in which a flexible bladder is employed within a chamber containing ink materials in order to achieve proper ink delivery and effective pressure control, with the invention also being applicable to ink storage bladder units in which a supply of ink is retained directly therein.

High durability pressure control bladder for use in an ink delivery system


A fiber optic sensing system is provided. The fiber optic sensing system includes: at least one fiber optic transducer; an optical backscatter interrogator for interrogating backscatter optical signals from the at least one fiber optic transducer; and an optical fiber between the optical backscatter interrogator and the at least one fiber optic transducer.

Traditional interferometric fiber optic sensing systems utilize high sensitivity transducers within optical interferometers coupled with interferometric phase demodulation systems to generate high sensitivity, high linearity, low noise outputs. Recently, interest has been generated in backscatter systems that process scattered optical return from long lengths of optical fiber using a high speed interrogator to produce low sensitivity output that is scalar in nature (highly non-directional) but is extremely inexpensive to produce since the sensor array is simply a long tubed length of optical fiber.
Backscatter systems have some advantages over interferometrically interrogated fiber optics sensing systems, such as cost and reliability (e.g., due to lower parts count). However, such systems have some significant drawbacks including, for example, low sensitivity and output signal fading over time (e.g., leading to time periods of very low signal-to-noise, and reduced performance).
Thus, it would be desirable to provide improved fiber optic sensing systems overcoming deficiencies of the aforementioned systems.

Fiber optic backscatter sensing systems and methods of operating the same


A method includes receiving a Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal carrying at least a data channel, a pilot channel and a control channel. A first noise level is estimated on the pilot channel. A second noise level is estimated on the control channel. The first estimated noise level and the second estimated noise level are combined to produce a noise estimate of noise on the data channel.

The Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) specifications define a high-speed downlink data mode called High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). This mode is specified, for example, in "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA); Overall description; Stage 2 (Release 8)," TS 25.308, version 8.9.0, Sep., 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the HSDPA mode, downlink data is transmitted on High-Speed Downlink Shared channels (HS-DSCH) while control information is transmitted on High-Speed Shared Control Channels (HS-SCCH). User Equipment (UE) operating in the HSDPA mode sometimes synchronize and perform signal measurements on a Primary Common Pilot Channel (P-CPICH).
The description above is presented as a general overview of related art in this field and should not be construed as an admission that any of the information it contains constitutes prior art against the present patent application.

Data channel noise estimation using control channel


The invention relates to processing seismic data that includes signals from at least two sources and typically three or four sources where source separation is necessary for geophysical analysis. Specifically, the present invention is an analytical technique that quickly creates a more accurate source signature delivered by analysis of the source generated data contamination present in the separated data. The technique is to invert a segment of the data using a seed source signature and compute an error that reflects the generated data contamination observed in the separated source data. The source signature is iteratively revised as the segment is continually inverted with the goal of finding the optimal source signature that provides the lowest computed error. The source signature that provides the lowest error is, or is very close to, the true source signature and is then used in the separation process for the entire composite data set. This will provide much more information for geophysical interpretation.

In the process of acquiring seismic data, it is conventional to use a seismic vibrator to input seismic energy into the ground. Seismic energy is generally applied over time where the vibrators begin a sweep by vibrating initially at a low frequency and progressively increase the frequency such that an entire sweep of the frequency range is delivered within a definite time. Sweeps of four to eight seconds have been standard practice for years, but longer sweeps are becoming increasingly common with sixteen second sweeps and twenty four second sweeps also being used.
The costs for a seismic survey can be quite expensive and much effort has gone into improving the efficiency of seismic surveying. One advance is to operate several seismic vibrators at the same time all making a similar sweep, but at different phases with respect to one another. In other words, if the baseplate of one vibrator were to be going up while another is going down, the two vibrators would be about 180 degrees out of phase. Operating four vibes that are out of phase with respect to one another is known and commercially in use as the HFVS or ZenSeis® geophysical prospecting system among others. Thus, commonly four (or some other number of) vibrators can be delivering seismic energy at one time and are each identifiable in the recordings from all of the seismic receivers. Typically, with four vibrators, at least four separate sweeps are performed where the phase relationship between the vibrators is changed between sweeps to enhance the distinctiveness of each vibrator in the data record.
It has also been recognized that being out of phase at an orthogonal relationship to one another is not the most distinctive. If one vibrator is at zero degrees phase and the next vibrators is 90 degrees ahead, the next is 180 degrees ahead and the last is 270 degrees ahead, this combination is described as orthogonal where everything is 90 or 180 degrees different from one another. In this arrangement, echoes and harmonics from the subsurface geological structures are created and are somewhat difficult to distinguish from the principal reflections. So, it is preferred that phase differences are non-orthogonal which makes the phase differences between at least two of the four vibrators to be less than 90 degrees. Unfortunately, equipment and circumstances are never perfect and vibrators that are supposed to be out of phase may actually operate at a phase difference that becomes difficult to distinguish due to equipment drift or wear and tear. In this circumstance, it may not be apparent to the operators that the phase excursion has happened until after much or all of the survey is completed. The cost of re-running the survey or the portions of the survey may not be justifiable.


A vehicle includes a hood that is rotatably secured to a vehicle body. The hood has an upper panel, a lower panel, and a reinforcement member disposed therebetween. The reinforcement member has a baseplate and a tab. The baseplate is secured to an internal surface of the lower panel. The tab has a proximal end that is secured to the baseplate and a distal end that extends away from the baseplate and is secured to an internal surface of the upper panel.

Automobiles may include compartments for housing various components of the vehicle. For example, automobiles may include an engine compartment that houses an engine and other powertrain components. Access may be obtained to these various compartments by transitioning a door or cover, such as a hood to an engine compartment, to an open position.


An MR imaging system independently manipulates a fat and a water component of MR signals used for generating image data. An RF signal generator and a magnetic field gradient generator provide an RF pulse and magnetic field gradient sequence for acquisition of an MR signal discriminating between anatomical objects based on longitudinal relaxation time (T1). The sequence comprises, a first pulse sequence for selectively inverting a water component of the MR signal substantially exclusively of fat, a first time delay adjustable to discriminate between different anatomical elements, a second pulse sequence having a resonant frequency selected to invert a fat component of the MR signal substantially exclusively of water and a data acquisition magnetic field gradient for acquisition of the MR signal. An image shows enhanced visualization of discriminated anatomical elements.

T1-weighted inversion recovery (IR) imaging is a common method used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that is frequently performed in conjunction with suppression of fat signal. T1 is the time constant that describes the rate of recovery of longitudinal magnetization. T1-weighted IR is used for imaging different pathophysiologies in different regions of the body, including but not limited to the heart, brain, and vasculature. This method can be used with or without the administration of a T1-shortening contrast agent. Fat suppression methods are used to make fat appear dark in MR images so that other bright structures can be visualized without being confounded by bright fat, for example infarcted myocardium in contrast enhanced delayed enhancement imaging of the heart. Known different fat suppression methods, when combined with T1-weighted IR (for example in contrast-enhanced MR angiography or delayed enhancement) work poorly or not at all.
A known inversion recovery pulse is used in MRI to create T1-image contrast so image elements with a short T1 value ("short T1-species") appear bright, and long-T1 species appear dark in such images. Fat appears bright due to its short T1 value and its abundance in most patients. This can be a problem in image interpretation as it may be difficult to discriminate fat from the other short T1-species present in the image and this is important for making a clinical diagnosis. Another such short T1-species for example is blood with contrast agent in contrast-enhanced MR angiography, or infarcted (dead) myocardium (heart tissue) in contrast-enhanced delayed enhancement. Using delayed enhancement as a specific example, a bright fat signal can obscure the presence of bright infarcted myocardium, or fat can be mistaken for infarct. In arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), the discrimination between fat and equally bright scar tissue is important and is difficult with known systems.
A common application of fat signal manipulation is fat suppression. One known fat suppression method uses a fat-frequency selective saturation recovery (SR) pulse played immediately before readout of data. This method is not optimal in clinical segmented inversion recovery protocols which acquire only a fraction of the data known as a segment (typically 21-29 lines per segment). In the common linear reordering scheme, by the time the k-space center is acquired, the fat magnetization has significantly recovered due to its short T1 (T1 of fat=230 ms at 1.5 T, 290 ms at 3 T) and is thus poorly suppressed. The fat signal has recovered even more in the case of single-shot imaging where the center of k-space is typically acquired 100 ms to 120 ms after the fat suppression pulse. This method works poorly at 1.5 T and better, but still not proficiently, at 3 T field strength. Centric reordering improves this fat suppression method, but is prone to image artifacts.
A STIR (short tau inversion recovery) pulse sequence provides another known fat suppression method. This method is used in connection with turbo-spin echo (TSE) readout and dark-blood (DB) preparation. One non-frequency selective but usually spatially-selective IR (NFSIR) pulse is played timed to null the fat at the beginning of the TSE readout and not the center of k-space. STIR suppresses fat well due to the nature of the TSE readout; the first TSE readout pulse is a 90 degrees pulse that "locks in" the nulled fat signal (after that pulse, the longitudinal relaxation of fat is irrelevant for the remainder of the readout). Gradient echo (GRE, Siemens proprietary name Flash, fast low angle shot) and steady state free precession (SSFP, Siemens proprietary name TrueFisp, true fast imaging with steady precession) readouts do not have this "lock-in" property and thus require different timing between the NFSIR pulse and the beginning of the readout. Such timing restricts the maximum number of lines per segment, often below a clinically useful value. Thus, the STIR sequence works only in combination with the TSE readout.
Furthermore, STIR works with a single inversion time which is used to null fat. It is substantially impossible to apply an additional non-frequency selective IR pulse to impart T1-contrast, as the application of both pulses unfavorably alters the image contrast and prevents the suppression of fat signal. In addition, a dark blood (DB) preparation is required to be used with the STIR method to avoid image artifacts. DB preparation is restricted to non-contrast agent applications due to timing limitations. Therefore, STIR may only be used without contrast agent.
A SPAIR (Spectral Selection Attenuated Inversion Recovery) or SPIR (Spectral Presaturation Inversion Recovery) sequence provides other known fat suppression methods. These methods work in the same ways as STIR with a difference being that a NFSIR pulse is replaced by a SPAIR or a SPIR pulse. Both pulses are fat-frequency selective and spatially non-selective. The problems are similar to those of STIR, but both pulses can be used as a fat-frequency selective inversion pulse.
Other known methods that render fat dark in the image are Dixon-type methods, variable projection (VARPRO), and other estimation methods. These methods suppress fat well, but require time-consuming post-processing. A known method that uses different echo times (TE) in conjunction with an SSFP readout does not work together with GRE readout. A system according to invention principles addresses the deficiencies of known systems and the combination of IR and fat saturation.

System and method for independent manipulation of a fat and a water component in magnetic resonance imaging


A nano-pharmaceutical formulation, comprising pumpkin seed oil; D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS); and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200 is provided. Additional cardioprotective therapies such as quercetin may be included in the formulation. Methods of treating cardiac dysfunction by administering the formulation are also provided.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), also referred to as insulin resistance syndrome or syndrome X, is characterized by a cluster of conditions, namely: central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia (Alberti et al., 2005). The detrimental effect of MetS in general is its close association with the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A major indicator of the cardiovascular complications associated with MetS is vascular damage which is translated into exaggerated contraction and attenuated dilation of the blood vessels in response to vasoconstrictors and vasodilators respectively (Bahia et al., 2006). Hypertension leading to arterial wall stiffness, as well as atherosclerosis secondary to dyslipidemia, are some of the MetS conditions which catalyze the appearance of the vascular dysfunction observed (Olijhoek et al., 2004; Oliver and Webb, 2003).
Given the detrimental effects MetS has on health, there is a growing interest in the use of natural products, specifically plant polyphenols, combined with synthetic drugs for better control of the disease (Visioli, 2011). Quercetin is a ubiquitous compound, found in many fruits and vegetables including apples, peppers and onions. Quercetin is reported to confer diverse health benefits, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant and endothelial NO upregulation (Jagtap et al., 2009; Murakami et al., 2008; Shen et al., 2012). Consequently, quercetin is a potential compound that could be used to reduce MetS-initiated vascular damage. However, the exact mechanisms by which quercetin brings forth these advantageous actions remain unclear.
Thus, new formulations are needed for treatment of cardiovascular disorders and to enhance delivery of cardiovascular therapies.


Apparatus for retrieving and stacking bales includes bale engagement and transport mechanism to individually transport bales engaged by the apparatus from the ground to a location on a support platform. A bale displacement member repositions the bale on the support platform to allow room for a subsequent bale. The apparatus includes mechanical linkage of a specific character which includes two link members relatively pivotally movable during a portion of the bale placement procedure and locked together during another portion of the procedure.

A number of bale stacker and retriever systems for use in a field are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,229, issued Apr. 11, 1995, for example, discloses a self propelled "big bale" stacker and retriever wherein bales are serially retrieved from the ground and placed on a rotating support table. The apparatus is so constructed as to limit the capacity of the rotatable platform to two bales disposed side by side. After one bale has been positioned on the rotatable table the table is rotated 180.degree. to accommodate a second bale placed therein next to the first bale. As will be seen below, apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention allows for efficient side by side placement of more than two bales on a support platform without requiring rotation of the support platform.
Other patents disclosing bale stacking and retrieving systems are as follows: U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,111, issued Aug. 28, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,101, issued May 11, 1982, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,829, issued Feb. 12, 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,955, issued Jan. 6, 1970, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,832, issued Sep. 24, 1968.
None of the above-identified patents illustrate the unique combination of structural elements disclosed herein which cooperate in a novel manner to efficiently and reliably retrieve and stack bales.
The present invention is characterized by its relative simplicity, efficiency and ease of use as well as by its ability to accumulate and stack more than two large bales disposed side by side. In addition, apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention incorporates a novel and reliable bale engagement and transport system which is operable to completely invert a bale and place the bale in inverted condition directly over and in close proximity to a mobile support platform prior to placement of the bale on the mobile support platform, lessening the possibility of bale damage during the process.


A socket outlet includes a main module and an expansion module. An expansion socket formed with a through hole, an inner annual groove, and an outer annual groove is disposed on the main module. Three electrodes are disposed on the expansion socket, respectively extended into the through hole, the inner annual groove, and the outer annual groove. An expansion plug including a conductive pin, an inner conductive ring, and an outer conductive ring is disposed on the expansion module. The expansion plug is plugged in the expansion socket, the conductive pin is plugged in the through hole, the inner conductive ring is plugged in the inner annual groove, and the outer conductive ring is plugged in the outer annual groove. The expansion module is connected to the main module by plugging the expansion plug into the expansion socket. The expansion module and the main module can be relatively rotated.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket outlet, especially to a socket outlet capable of being expanded according to actual needs and being rotated with respect to the operating space.
Description of Related Art
A socket outlet is a combination structure in which a plurality of socket is arranged in parallel, and is usually applied in an extension cord. When a plurality of the sockets arranged on a conventional socket outlet is in use, plugs plugged in the sockets may interfere with each other and the operation convenience is not provided. Moreover, when the quantity of the sockets is not as many as required, an additional socket outlet has to be purchased, so that the economic benefits are not provided.
Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention has devoted himself for improving the mentioned disadvantages.


The invention provides a compactly contained multiple-component sensing device for detecting toe-walking and other physical conditions and providing repetitive positive reinforcement stimuli to correct the same. A comprehensive software system enables therapeutic management of the sensing and stimulus device and easy changes in therapy, stimulus content, stimulus frequency and other factors. A variety of circuit and housing arrangements allow adaptability to manufacture, user, and treatment professional demands.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for mitigating undesirable "toe-walking" and or "heal-walking" by training; namely prompting an auditory stimulus as positive reinforcement when pressure is placed on an inappropriate portion of the foot. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and training system for limiting "toe-walking" or "heel-walking" action as well as a system for providing a portable adaptive technology which is client-initiated thereby creating repeated opportunities for therapeutic reminders, exercise, and stretching. Additional alternatives enable electronic tracking measures for treatment purpose and interaction with computer tracking systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
The related art involves a number of shoe innersoles and coordinated pressure sensing electronics enabling a pressure sensing to stimulate bone growth during medical treatment involving running or walking actions.
A first related art example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,332, to Brown, discloses a sensor shoe for monitoring the condition of strike force a foot within a shoe.
A computerized foot pressure microcomputer is provided for receiving signals from sensors and analyzing the signals to determine if a critical situation exists regarding whether or not sufficient foot pressure is applied by a walking patient for medical treatment of broken bones. The capacity to provide medication is asserted as well as the capacity for continuously monitoring foot pressure and making determinative analyses for the release of pharmaceutical products to mitigate pain based upon a calculated expectation of pain.
A second example US Pat. Pub. No. 2003/0009308 to Kertley, is directed to a combination of sensors in a shoe sole wherein data from the sensors is stored and relayed to a monitoring assessment for determining running/walking cadence and the power of the walking test subject. Principally, Kertley, provides such electronic systems as are common in the art, and notes the use of related equipment to adjust the use of medical treatment for podiatrist related injuries, namely foot injuries involving Done and joint damage.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,606, to Walczyk et al., is directed to a shoe and shoe system that provides biofeedback relating to a gait vector wherein there application of stress or weight during a medical therapy is essential to the healing process of bone structures. This reference teaches the combination of a gait and forced sensor that provides some amount of physical measurement in terms of measuring a patient's force placed upon an injured limb during use. No patient sensing ability is discussed.
In an additional example of related art, children's shoewear or sandals often provide auditory stimulus when the child places pressure on a heel portion of a sandal, the auditory stimulus is made by a simple squeaky-air pressure type mechanism for entertainment (generating a "squeak-sound").
It is additionally known that children's shoes may include an LED or light mechanism light up during walking action upon each heal-pressure occurrence as an entertainment enhancement or as a safety signal during darkness. Similar mechanisms are involved in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,789,716, 5,812,063, and 6,280,045.
What is not appreciated by the related art is the need by, and the existence of, particular disable children (and even some adults) who require medical therapy for so-called "toe walking" or "heel-only-walking" disabilities.
It is known that very young children often learn to walk by stepping on their toes in the 8-24 month range. Thereafter, non-disabled children readily learn to walk, grow out of this toe-walking process, and develop suitable heal-to-toe walking with suitable stretching of the Achilles tendon and muscular development.
Unfortunately, a small percentage of children remain as toe-walkers, namely those who continue to toe-walk beyond an expected and initial developmental stage. This continued toe-walking is often a resultant indication of those children having a mental, physical, or emotional disabilities (broadly labeled as autism). Even for those non-autistic children who lack the ability to normally terminate their toe-walking, due to hyper-activity or attention deficit disorder (ADD) for example, there is a severe limitation on the enjoyment of life and often a medical risk to their norm muscle, ligament, and bone development. In some cases, a subset of the greater whole, such toe-walking is reflected instead as also heel-walking wherein the heel is solely used for walking. Similar concerns arise for such heel-walking patients. Thus, there is a need for a therapy system and apparatus that enables timely therapeutic treatment of such inappropriate gait issues for typically children but also patients of all ages.
The related art similarly fails to recognize the detriment of employing short-term human-only vocal reminders for gait-training, for example to place a heal-first while walking, particularly for autistic or otherwise disabled persons (ADD) who will not improve (or will improve very slowly) without constant almost-ever-present reminders/stimuli to reinforce therapy. Sadly, such physical disabilities are often compounded with learning disabilities rendering conventional physical therapy difficult or impossible for some patients.
Therefore what is not appreciated by the art is the need for a system to rapidly and repeatedly train toe/heel-walkers in a manner that enables continuous and acceptable forms of physical auditory and/or electronic reminders to a toe-walking or inappropriately heal-walking patient.
What is additionally not appreciated by the related art is a training mechanism that is patient/client-initiated, and provides a positive reinforcement to a disabled subject. What is further not appreciated by the prior art is the need for an auditory stimulus that is interchangeable and downloadable while linked with a walking gait motion determining system to retrain students away from toe/heal-walking disabilities.
Finally, what is not appreciated by the prior art is the use of such systems as disclosed herein in conjunction with managing computer programs or internet communications enabling storage, tracking, monitoring, and manipulation of data throughout an entire historic time period for analysis and the management of such patient treatment (including the changing of the stimulus when a previous stimulus has lost effectiveness and other treatment variables) from a distance by skilled therapeutic and medical professionals.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved electronic auditory stimulus to decrease toe walking in treatment of individuals and to eliminate inappropriate heel walking in overcompensated toe walker patients.

Stimulus training system and apparatus to effectuate therapeutic treatment


An apparatus and system provide drag reduction and energy efficiency for a transport vehicle. Cover sections of transport vehicles are formed to include solar panels comprising photovoltaic cells and dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator arrays. The vehicle cover also generates electricity to charge onboard battery racks. The cover sections are integral with and shaped to conform with areas such as a trunk lid or roof. Fiber Bragg grating sensors are placed to detect formation of a separation layer. Plasma actuator arrays are actuated either to inhibit formation of the separation layer or to create span-wise waves to reduce skin drag.

The United States Energy Information Administration has released data showing that the transportation of people and goods accounts for about 25 percent of all energy consumption in the world and that passenger transportation, in particular light-duty vehicles, account for the most transportation energy consumption. The share of transport in world energy consumption is expected to increase to 30 percent by 2040.
Self-generation of energy by transport vehicles using solar energy will reduce transport's foot print in the consumption of world energy. Another major drain on energy utilization in transport vehicles is aerodynamic drag. Depending on the geometry of a vehicle, aerodynamic drag may account for as high as 60% of its energy consumption. Reduction in aerodynamic drag would significantly reduce the environmental footprint of transport vehicles and result in major cost and environmental benefits due to reduced fuel consumption.
Prior art arrangements have been provided for reducing drag for an object comprising a vehicle of a given shape. A few of such type of arrangements include creating a plasma between a surface on the object and an area of laminar flow above the object.
Historically, plasma actuators have had very limited success in flow control due to a number of factors. The structure for any given drag-reducing unit based on traditional plasma actuators does not allow for seamless integration in a number of vehicle geometries. None of the prior art uses sensors to judge flow separation in a transport vehicle in real time. Neither do these take into account the most fundamental contributing factors to aerodynamic drag including vehicle speed, atmospheric temperature, coefficient of drag, Reynolds number, relative humidity, surface area of the transport vehicle, air pressure, and its reduction based on any one or more of these parameters. For example, it was determined that the creation of plasma on the surface of transport vehicles at low speeds, e.g., less than 25 mph, increased drag for most transport vehicle geometries. However, almost all prior art supports the activation of plasma actuators as soon as the vehicle starts moving.
DBD plasma actuators have a high electrical energy consumption that overrides the saved power from the skin-friction drag reduction. However, if an efficient design of DBD plasma actuators is used, then substantial power saving is achievable. Prior art has not been able to specify that efficient design as yet.
Active flow control technologies have not yet been adopted in controlling aerodynamic drag essentially due to the disorderly nonlinear nature of the key physical processes and because of the difficulty in monitoring or estimating the chaotic flow status and parameters accurately, resulting in a very challenging optimal control problem. Many other factors regarding deployment of actuators for drag reduction have not been considered by the prior art.
The ability of traditional plasma actuators in flow control at highway speeds is practically non-existent. Successful demonstration of vehicular drag reduction using plasma actuators at highway speeds has as yet not been reported.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,951,800 discloses a surface plasma actuator having a conducting wire attached to a surface of a target object and electrically insulated from the target object. Surface plasma is generated adjacent to the conducting wire by applying a pulse voltage to the conducting wire. This arrangement is particularly suited to the vanes in gas turbines. The wire structure is not suited for incorporation in transport vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,821,862 discloses a system, for controlling aerodynamics of a vehicle comprising multiple pairs of opposing plasma actuators positioned at lateral positions on an underside of the vehicle, wherein each pair of opposing plasma actuators comprises two electrodes. The plasma actuator may be configured as a small strip, similar in thickness to a strip of aluminum foil, having or connected to a glue layer for easy attachment to a transport vehicle body, and then connected to a power source. The plasma actuator is not interacting with another body component integral with the shape of a vehicle.
United States Published Patent Application No. 20180065690 discloses a plasma actuator including a first electrode disposed on a substrate, covered by a dielectric layer, and a second electrode disposed on the dielectric layer. The plasma actuator creates a plasma region, altering air flowing over the actuator. A particular structure for reducing drag is not shown.
Prior art arrangements have also been provided for directing electric current generated by photovoltaic cells to the transport vehicle. Most of these are restricted to the roof or part of the roof of the vehicle while some other structures do not blend seamlessly into the shape of the vehicle and increase aerodynamic drag. Also, the photovoltaic cells in most of these structures are single cell with a maximum theoretical efficiency of about only 33%. The solar arrays in prior art are not concealed and do not blend-in with the rest of the surface of the vehicle and early adoption was inhibited because of aesthetic reasons.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,148 B1 discloses a solar cover for a motor vehicle for the roof only with a transparent cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,729 B2 discloses a solar cover for a motor vehicle for the roof only with a carrier plate with a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a cover plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,436 B1 discloses a solar module for mounting on motor vehicles, which is provided with a top cover layer and a bottom cover layer, between which a solar generator is embedded which has plurality of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,261 discloses solar roof for motor vehicles with a solar generator having photovoltaic cells for supplying power to a power consumer and/or a battery and with a DC converter for impedance matching between the solar generator and the consumer and/or battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,481 discloses a vehicle roof with at least one cover that, alternatively, closes or at least partially opens an opening in a fixed roof surface of the vehicle, carries a solar power source for supplying power to at least one power consuming device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,636 discloses a solar roof for motor vehicles having a cover with photovoltaic cells which are located between an outside cover plate and inside covering, at least one power consumer which is separate from the solar cover.

Drag reduction and energy generation apparatus and method for transport vehicles


A method of operating a drive-train which comprises an automated shift transmission having an unsynchronized main transmission and a synchronized downstream group that is drivingly coupled downstream from the main transmission. An input shaft of the automated transmission is connected, via a clutch, to a drive aggregate and an output shaft of the automated transmission is connected to a drive axle. When the vehicle is driven and the main transmission is in a neutral position, if the drive aggregate malfunctions, to engage a gear, the downstream group is adjusted to stop transmitting power and thereby coast to a stop. A shifting impulse is applied to a shifting cylinder of the main transmission so that shifting elements, of the main transmission, ratchet over one another and eventually mesh thus engaging the main transmission, and once the main transmission is engaged, the downstream group is brought to a power-flow-transmitting position.

Automated shift transmissions designed as group transmissions with a multi-gear main transmission and a downstream group, in particular one designed as a range group drivingly coupled downstream from the main transmission, and sometimes with an upstream group, in particular one designed as a splitter group drivingly coupled upstream from the main transmission, have been known for a long time and are preferably used in utility vehicles. By means of a splitter group of two-stage design with a gear ratio interval that corresponds approximately to half of an average gear ratio interval between two successive gears of the main transmission, the gear intervals of the main transmission are halved and the total number of gears available in the group transmission is doubled. For example, by means of a two-stage range group with a gear interval above the overall gear interval of the main transmission by approximately an average gear interval between two successive gears of the main transmission, the ratio spread of the group transmission is approximately doubled and the total number of gears available is again doubled.
The splitter group can be connected upstream or downstream from the main transmission and can therefore be made as an upstream or a downstream group. Likewise, the range group can be connected upstream or downstream from the main transmission and can therefore be an upstream or a downstream group. Automated shift transmissions, which comprise interlocking shifting elements, are to be distinguished from automatic power shift transmissions with frictional shifting elements.
The sole FIGURE shows a layout of a group transmission CT of the so-termed AS-Tronic family produced by the present applicant together with a drive aggregate A and an axle drive AB. The group transmission CT shown in the FIGURE comprises a main transmission HG, an upstream group in the form of a splitter group GV drivingly coupled upstream from the main transmission HG and a downstream group in the form of a range group GP drivingly coupled downstream from the main transmission HG. The main transmission HG of the group transmission CT in the FIGURE is in the form of a direct-gear transmission of countershaft design and comprises a main shaft WH and two countershafts WVG1 and WVG2, the first countershaft WVG1 being provided with a controllable transmission brake Br.
The main transmission HG is formed as a three-stage transmission with three gears G1, G2 and G3 for forward driving and with one gear R for driving in reverse. Loose wheels of the gears G1, G2 and R are respectively mounted to rotate on the main shaft WH and can be engaged by associated claw clutches. The associated fixed wheels are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the countershafts WVG1 and WVG2. The highest gear G3, made as a direct gear, can be engaged by means of a direct shifting clutch. The shifting clutches of the gears G3 and G2 and the shifting clutches of the gears G1 and R are in each case in the form of claw clutches and are respectively combined in common shifting packets S1 and S2.
The upstream group of the group transmission CT in the FIGURE, formed as a splitter group GV, is a two-stage group and is also of countershaft design such that the two gear steps K1 and K2 of the upstream group GV form two shiftable input constants of the main transmission HG. By virtue of a small gear ratio difference between the two gear steps K1 and K2, the upstream group GV constitutes a splitter group.
The loose wheel of the first gear step K1 is mounted to rotate on the input shaft WGE, which is connected by way of a controllable separator clutch K to the drive aggregate A indicated by broken lines, which is in the form of an internal combustion engine and is not part of the group transmission.
The loose wheel of the second gear step K2 is mounted to rotate on the main shaft WH. The fixed wheels of the two gears K1 and K2 of the upstream group GV are respectively arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the countershafts WVG1 and WVG2 of the main transmission HG, in each case extended on the input side. The synchronized shifting clutches of the upstream group GV, formed as claw clutches, are combined in a common shifting packet SV.
The downstream group of the group transmission CT in the FIGURE, arranged after the main transmission HG and formed as a range group GP, is also of two-stage design but is of planetary configuration with a simple planetary gearset. The sun gear PS is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the main shaft WH of the main transmission HG extended on the output side. The planetary carrier PT is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the output shaft WGA of the group transmission CT, which is connected to an axle drive AB indicated by a broken line. The ring gear PH is connected to a shifting packet SP with two synchronized shifting clutches in the form of claw clutches by means of which the range group GP can be shifted alternatively, by connecting the ring gear PH to a fixed housing component to produce a slow-driving stage L or, by connecting the ring gear PH to the main shaft WH or the sun gear PS, to produce a fast-driving stage S. The range group GP can be shifted with synchronization.
Power can be branched off from the countershaft WVG2 of the group transmission CT to drive a power take-off PTO.
Such a group transmission is known for example from DE 10 2007 010 829 A1, wherein this prior art also shows a group transmission with a four-stage main transmission.
The main transmission HG of such a group transmission CT is made as an unsynchronized main transmission, while in contrast the downstream group that forms the range group GP and the upstream group that forms the splitter group GV are designed as synchronized transmission components. In this case, when carrying out a shifting operation, depending on the existing rotational speed difference, the transmission input or input shaft WGE of the group transmission CT has to be accelerated or braked to a required rotational speed, the braking taking place with the help of the transmission brake Br and the acceleration by controlled action upon the drive aggregate A with the separator clutch K engaged. For this synchronization process, the main transmission is then brought to a defined neutral position.
Now if, in a vehicle that is being driven and whose main transmission HG in the group transmission CT is in the neutral position, a gear is again to be engaged in the main transmission or the group transmission, then to do this it is as a rule necessary for the drive aggregate A to provide some assistance. In such a case, namely due to the speed of the moving vehicle, the output shaft WGA of the group transmission CT is being rotationally driven so that to produce a synchronized condition, the transmission input shaft WGE also has to be driven.
But if the drive aggregate A is malfunctioning, for example if it has stopped or can no longer be controlled, then the drive aggregate A can no longer provide any motor assistance for producing the synchronous condition, so that according to the prior art it is no longer possible to engage a gear.
Accordingly, a method for operating a drive-train with a group transmission is needed, with the help of which, when a vehicle is being driven and its main transmission HG is in the neutral position, a gear can be engaged in the group transmission CT even without motor assistance from the drive aggregate A.


A method and system for automatically aligning an industrial truck in a warehouse, comprising the steps of determining a relative position of an operator with respect to an industrial truck by a positioning unit of the industrial truck, aligning the industrial truck in first predetermined side orientation with respect to a first object located on the left side of the industrial truck in the drive direction of the industrial truck when the relative position of the operator lies on the left side of the industrial truck, and aligning the industrial truck in a second predetermined side orientation with respect to a second object located on the right side of the industrial truck in the drive direction of the industrial truck when the relative position of the operator lies on the right side of the industrial truck.

Industrial trucks must be aligned within a warehouse in order to correctly pick up and deliver the goods to be transported. For example, order pickers are positioned within a shelf aisle of a warehouse near a storage bin from which materials are to be removed. The order picker is positioned on one side of the shelf aisle. For the operator, this allows a very short transportation path from the storage bin to the picking vehicle. Currently, such a side orientation of an order picker within the shelf aisle is basically done manually. It is, for example, known that the operator moves the order picker to the corresponding side of the shelf using a control unit provided on the industrial truck or a remote control unit. Semi-automated procedures are also known in which the operator indicates by pressing a button whether the industrial truck is, for example, supposed to orient itself on the right or left of the shelf, and then the industrial truck independently moves to the corresponding side of the shelf. It is also possible for the industrial truck to automatically be oriented on the side of the shelf on which it was (manually) approached by the operator. The described methods therefore always require additional input by an operator to specify a side orientation.
A method is known from EP 2 851 331 B1 for controlling an industrial truck in which the industrial truck has an optical sensor with a monitoring region, wherein the optical sensor is connected to a control device that determines the position of a person within a monitoring region specified for the optical sensor, and makes the industrial truck follow the person. For this, monitoring limits are specified within the monitoring region, and their breach by a person is monitored by a control device. If a breach of a monitoring limit is discerned, a drive of the industrial truck is controlled to move the vehicle forward until the person is again located on the original side of the monitoring limit. The vehicle thereby follows the person.
A method for integrating an autonomous industrial truck in a plant administration system is known from EP 2 500 871 A1. The industrial truck has a navigation system and a plurality of other sensors whose data are transmitted wirelessly to the plant administration system. By means of the plant administration system, an operator can interact with the industrial truck and accordingly control it remotely. If the industrial truck becomes inoperable, for example due to an obstacle in its driving path, the event is reported to the plant administration system, and then an operator can intervene in the driving behavior of the industrial truck.
A horizontal order picker is known from EP 2 392 538 A2 that comprises an operating element that, upon being actuated, independently moves the horizontal picker a length corresponding to a distance between an operating state of the horizontal order picker and a bin. This can save the path of the operator between the pickup point and bin.

Method for automatically aligning an industrial truck in a warehouse, and system comprising an industrial truck and a warehouse