A stent or vascular graft for supporting a blood vessel or organ lumen is coated with a biodegradable, resorbable and hemocompatible surface substrate. Biologically active microspheres which controllably release the biologically active agent into the vessel wall or organ to inhibit restenosis of the stent is embedded in the stent substrate. The biologically active microspheres include encapsulated PGE1 in a water soluble polyethylene glycol mix, which over a period of time dissolves and releases the PGE1 into the vessel wall or organ.

The present invention relates to biodegradable drug delivery stents, particularly stents coated with a biocompatible substance impregnated with antithrombocyte/antithrombin agents released over a period of time to reduce or eliminate restenosis in the blood vessel.
Percutaneous endovascular stenting was conceived in the late 1970's as a way to prevent both acute occlusion and late restenosis after catheter intervention, but initial clinical results of coronary stenting in 1987 were plagued by high (>20%) acute and subacute thrombosis and were restricted to use as "bailout" for threatened or acute vessel closure. In recent years, stent outcomes have improved progressively with better placement techniques and in 1995, an estimated 700,000 stents were implanted world-wide. Recent STRESS (Stent Restenosis Study, 1994) and BENESTENT trials (Belgium-Netherlands Stent, 1995) demonstrated that stenting of native coronary arteries is associated with greater procedural success. The trials demonstrated that fewer acute, adverse events and less angiographic restenosis and lower rates of 8-months target vessel revascularization occurred than in conventional balloon angioplasty. Stents are now used as primary treatment and secondary bailout.
Despite their utility, stents have been plagued by two problems, namely, acute occlusion due to thrombosis and persistent occurrence of restenosis. Recent studies show that coronary stenting results in significant platelet, polymorphonuclear leukocyte, and macrophage activation, as well as activation of the coagulation pathway which induce clots despite passivation and/or anti-coagulation treatment of the stent surface. This limitation relates to the surface exposure of adhesion receptors on activated platelets to the foreign surface of the stent, producing the aforementioned thrombogenic activity that must be countered with intense anti-coagulation regimens. Subacute stent thrombosis occurs most frequently during the first few days after implantation and almost always in the first two weeks. Thereafter, neointimal cells including proliferating smooth muscle cells from the vessel wall and endothelial hyperplastic cells encompass the stent surface and ameliate the risk of stent thrombosis.
Notwithstanding the above, vascular stents have proven to be of great therapeutic value in the treatment and prevention of complications relating to percutaneous transminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Mechanical problems of the vessel wall, i.e., vessel dissection, the most frequent cause of acute closure in about 25% of patients leading to acute myocardial infarction associated with PTCA, is virtually eliminated with stents. However, such major acute and chronic adverse events persist in more than 25% of patients. One of the most important causes is the trombogenicity of the stent itself. Despite increased biocompatibility currently available, stents have less than hemocompatibility and are further limited because of late incidence in virtually all stents of restenosis, potentially fatal late complications from clotting and an aggressive type of in-stent restenosis resistant to therapy. In-stent restenosis is much more difficult to treat than PTCA restenosis, frequently resulting in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
In addition to the morbidity and mortality, stents are more expensive than PTCA and require longer hospitalization in order to provide anticoagulant and antispasm therapy due to the induction of thrombogenicity and spasm by the stent, a foreign object, introduced into the vascular wall. The heavy anticoagulation required can produce major bleeding events and vascular complications, often necessitating surgical intervention.
What is desired is a stent coating of antithrombolic, antispasm agents which will biodegrade over time, eluting drugs into the vessel wall to inhibit these complications and obviating systemic oral or intravenous or intraarterial drug delivery with heightened cost and side effect profile. PGE1 is the ideal antithrombolic agent and antispasmodic agent, which also has antiproliferative effects on the smooth muscle cell (SMC). In addition, PGE1 is very effective in antiplatelet activation and deposition, and produces blocking effects on leukocyte adhesion molecules through the lipoxygenase and leukotriene pathway and blocks macrophage migration and aggregation at the injury site.
Much work has been done to both passivate and/or biologically enhance the surface properties of stents so as to reduce the need for anticoagulants and the like. For example, Bolz, et al., described a process for coating stents with a semi-conductor (Bolz, A., et al, Coating of Cardiovascular Stents with a Semi-Conductor to Improve Their Hemocompatibility, Tex. Heart Inst. Jour. 1996;23:162-6) which provided electrical passivation of the surface charge of stents thereby neutralizing the attraction of coagulating proteins. Other investigations have grafted both active and neutral substances to stents, such as hirudin or neutral collagen, in attempts to ameliate coagulation. (Prietzel, K. et al. Inhibition of Neointimal Proliferation with a Novel Hirudin/Prostacyclin Analog Eluting Stent Coating in an Animal Overstrech Model, Abstract, Circulation, Supplement 1, Vol. 94, No. 8, Oct. 15, 1996, p. 1-260); U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,387, Summers, Artificial Support for a Blood Vessel. These coatings have proven less than successful in ameliating the total problem. Two factors, cellular proliferation within the stent lumen itself and late vessel wall remolding, remain unsolved.
Restenosis within and around the stent is a process of chronic new endothelial and medial cellular growth, and remolding of the vessel after intervention which usually occurs by the third month postintervention. Restenosis is a continuum of extracellular matrix rebuilding after stretching, which continues from the time of PTCA, peaking at three months and unusually terminating after six months. Although percutaneous delivery of stents has been shown to slightly reduce the frequency of restenosis as compared to PTCA, when such lesions do occur within a stent, they have been considered to result from intimal proliferation with smooth muscle cells, the predominate cell type, and are resistant to treatment, since PTCA is generally precluded and rotational atherectomy or CABG usually required. Therefore, it is obvious that stent occlusion is a two-phase problem having an acute phase in which platelet, leukocyte, macrophage aggregation, and thrombosis is the primary concern and a chronic and late-phase problem in which intimal in-stent proliferation and vessel wall remolding is the primary concern. It is, therefore, an object of the instant invention to overcome both acute and chronic concerns with the foregoing invention.
Since most cellular interactions are protein mediated, the prevention or reduction in protein absorption to a stent would serve to prevent cellular attachment and subsequent events that may otherwise render the stent materials biocompatible but in doing so, produce the unwanted adverse effects of not coating the stent. A stent coated with a composition of both biocompatible agents and drug eluting systems such as PGEI to retard initial harmful vascular cellular and thrombosis mechanisms, while allowing normal subsequent acceptance of the stent by the vessel wall by orderly vascular cell covering with endothelial and medial cells, and compatible treatment for post-PTCA complications would be desirable.
Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)/Poly-caprolactone (PCL) blends of aliphatic polyester polymers have proven to be both biodegradable, resorbable and hemocompatible. Depending on the ratio of PLLA to PCL, these coatings can provide a benign substrate that provides a microporous structure that can efficiently be impregnated with biologically active microsphere such as liposomes in the range of 20 nm to 1000 nm.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a stent having a PLLA/PCL coating substrate formed thereon and impregnating the coating substrate with biologically active microspheres.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a stent coating whereby the coating substrate is coated with a layer of PGE1-encapsulated liposomes which release PGE1 over an extended period of time.

Composition and method for making a biodegradable drug delivery stent


A pocket cutter knife with a retractable cutting blade that is operated via a blade control unit. The blade control unit includes a thumb slider switch, a blade carrier, and a tension component that are operably connected to extend and retract a cutting blade that is held by the blade carrier. The pocket cutter may also include a magnet retained within the body shell of the pocket cutter.

The pocket cutter is a basic cutting tool that takes on a variety of forms. As the name suggests, a typical pocket cutter is small enough to be carried in the pocket of a user. Additionally, the typical pocket cutter is a compact cutting tool with a folding or otherwise retractable blade. The average pocket cutter requires the user to unfold the blade from the handle or extend the blade with a button or other mechanism in order to lock the blade into place before using the blade. This design feature creates an increase chance of injury, as the blade is left unnecessarily exposed for extended periods of time because many users find it cumbersome and time consuming to securely retract the blade when the pocket cutter is used repeatedly in a short time span.
Current pocket cutters also pose a safety concern in how a user holds the tool. The ergonomics of a standard pocket cutter require a user to wrap their hand completely around the handle of the pocket cutter. This design creates a hazard to the user as the handle can slip through the user's hand and expose the user to the blade of the pocket cutter as it passes through the user's hand. This shortcoming is exacerbated by the fact that the blade of the pocket cutter blade remains extended as it does not automatically retract.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a pocket cutter that incorporates automatically retracting blade and improved handle ergonomics to reduce the risk of injury. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be explained and will become obvious to one skilled in the art through the summary of the invention that follows.


A hardware device outputs management information relating to an event that occurs in a managed object. A management information processing unit generates charts for displaying the management information relating to the event. A management screen editing unit generates a management screen for managing a state of the managed object using the charts generated by the management information processing unit. The management screen editing unit further sets a significance of each of the charts generated; generates a first management screen for selecting one of a plurality of chart groups relating to the event that occurs in the managed object; generates a second management screen for displaying a chart group selected in the first management screen; and provides a special display for a particular chart group that includes a chart whose significance is higher than a predetermined threshold, in order to distinguish the particular chart group from other chart groups.

The present invention relates to a device, a method, and a program for managing states of resources of various managed objects and, in the case where a predetermined event occurs, outputting management information relating to the event that occurs.
A conventional management system manages states of resources of various systems such as a database. This type of management system assumes possible events in a system which is a managed object and, in the case where a predetermined event occurs, presents information (management information) relating to the event, thus aiding an administrator of the managed object system in analyzing and handling the event.
For example, in one known technique, a list of data relating to possible trouble events in a managed device, a list of data relating to criteria for specifying causes of such events, and a list of data relating to handling procedures set according to the causes of the trouble events are stored in association with each other.
Moreover, in another conventional technique, all log data relating to an event are acquired and, if a change of certain log data per unit time exceeds a predetermined threshold, the remaining log data are selected and the selected log data are displayed in graph form.

Outputting management information based on state of managed object

International Business Machines Corporation


It comprises the use of D-fagomine or derivatives thereof in the prevention and/or coadjuvant treatment of bacterial infections, as well as to pharmaceutical, veterinary, or food and feed, pet food compositions containing them.

Bacterial adherence to mucosal surfaces is considered to be an important prerequisite for colonization and infection. A variety of molecules and macromolecular structures, collectively known as adhesins, binding entity coming from the bacterium, recognized and interact with receptors on the surface on the host cells.
Three principal types of adhesin-receptor interactions have been described. The first type of adhesive interaction is due to the binding of lectins with carbohydrate structures. The second type, of which a significant number of cases are known, involves recognition between a protein on the bacterium and a complementary protein on the mucosal surface. The third type, comprises the binding interactions that occur between hydrophobins, frequently involving hydrophobic moieties of proteins interacting with lipids.
The first type, the lectin adhesins are usually classified by sugar specifity. Specifity can be determined by inhibiting the adhesion with either simple or complex carbohydrates that compete with the binding of the adhesins to host cells.
Sharon et al. in the document "Bacterial adherence to cell surface sugars", Ciba Found Symp. 1981, vol.80, pp 119-41, describes that the attachment strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. to epithelial cells is inhibited by D-mannose. Unfortunately the active mannose concentration necessary to produce inhibition, is high, al least about 0.5 M. Escherichia coli is among the most common causes of diarrhea, to receptors on intestinal epithelial cells. Escherichia coli may colonize, too, the vaginal and periurethral area and ascend the urinary tract. Its adhesion to the epithelial cells is the initial step in the establishment of infection. Thus, the ability to attach to the mucosal surface is thought to be essential for Escherichia coli to colonize and to remain in the urinary tract.
The document, Jose A. Castillo et at "Fructose-6-phosphate aldolase in organic synthesis: preparation of D-Fagomine, N-alkylated derivatives, and preliminary biological assays" Organic Letter 2006, vol. 8, no26, pp. 6067-6070, describes that D-fagomine and the N-alkylated derivatives C4, C6, C8, C9 and Ph-CH2 do not show antimicrobial activity.
Other type of inhibitors are iminocyclitols also called iminosugars or azasugars. The document, Barira Islam et al. "Novel anti-adherence activity of mulberry leaves: Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans biofilm by 1-deoxynojirimycin isolated from Morus alba", Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2008, vol. 62, pp. 751-757, describes the anti-microbial activity against S. mutans of 1-deoxynojirimycin, compound isolated from M. alba. DNJ is a glucosidase inhibitor. Unfortunately, these glucosidase inhibitors often cause intestinal discomfort and diarrhoea.
Other botanical extract are described in the following patent applications.
The patent application US20090087501 provides an oral composition having at least two botanical active ingredients derived from plants. The botanical active ingredients provide particularly efficacious antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antiageing and/or healing properties to the oral composition.
The Japanese patent application JP19920073844 describes a toothpaste comprises an extract of Kuwahakubi and an extract of Morus Alba.
The Japanese patent application JP20070230719 describes an immunostimulant comprises water soluble extract of bark of mulberry, as an active ingredient.
The document Asano et al. "N-containing sugars from Morus Alba and their glycosidase inhibitory activities" Carbohydrate Research 1994, vol. 259. pp. 243-255, describes the N-containing sugars from the roots of Morus Alba, and the glycosidase inhibitory activities of these compounds.
Finally the patent application CA2696874 describes an effective fraction of alkaloids prepared from mulberry twig, and the pharmaceutical composition containing the effective fraction for preparing hypoglycemic agents.
Other documents describe sugars or imino sugars for different pharmaceutical applications. The patent application WO2009152665 describes a pharmaceutical composition comprises fagomine for treating and preventing diabetes. The patent application WO2010029313 describes alkaloids and imino sugars with activity against HCV (Hepatitis C virus) and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). The patent application WO03002127 describes the use of a glycoinhibitor substance comprising a pyranose structure with at least one oligosaccharide for treatment an infectious disease.
Finally the patent application EP0852948 describes the use of inhibitors of glycosidase enzymes, such as α-galactosidase, in the treatment of malaria, endotoxic shock and septic shock. The inhibitors reduce the conversion of the toxin precursor to toxin, thereby reducing the amount of toxin circulating in malaria patients.
Thus, from what is known in the art, it is derived that the development of inhibitors of the bacterial adherences is still of great interest.

Use of iminocyclitols as inhibitors of bacterial adherence to epithelial cells

Taihua Shouyue (Hong Kong) International Co Limited


A receiver comprises a security processor and a first memory that stores software code or second stage authentication key and a signature for the software or the second stage key. The receiver also stores a plurality of verification keys (PUAK). When the receiver is switched on or reset, the software or second stage key and the signature are loaded from the first memory. The security processor then loads a PUAK and uses it to verify the signature. In case of successful verification, the software code or second stage key is used and the verification method ends; it is then possible to activate CA specific functions in the receiver. However, if the verification is unsuccessful, then it is verified if there are untried PUAKs. If there are no untried signatures, then the verification has failed and the software cannot be verified; the verification method ends. If there are untried signatures, then the next PUAK is loaded.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present invention that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
It is well known in the art to use so-called Conditional Access (CA) technology to protect digital content, such as e.g. premium value digital television programs. Such technology uses different cryptographic protocols to encrypt and later decrypt the digital content, and also to protect the terminals from unauthorized use.
The CA technology is implemented in receivers, for example television sets and so-called Set-Top Boxes (STBs), using some kind of (usually removable) security element that has been provided, directly or indirectly, to a user by a CA provider. A preferred implementation of such a security element is a smartcard, which is a well-known in the art.
It will be appreciated that it is usually necessary to pay in order to access CA protected digital content and that it is quite common for pirates to try to 'hack' the CA system in order to access the CA protected digital content without having to pay for it. As smartcards become more and more secure—i.e. harder and harder to hack—pirates tend to attack the receivers directly.
Naturally, receiver manufacturers have worked in improving the security of their receivers by implementing certain security features required and specified by the supported CA provider, and using a CA dedicated version of the main IC which implements in particular:                a Secret Root Key (SRK), which can be implemented as a 128-bit symmetric key, and        a Public Authentication Key (PUAK), which advantageously can be implemented as an asymmetric 1024 or 2048 bit RSA key.
These security features that are implemented by chip providers must satisfy the security requirements of a particular CA provided. It is quite likely that a first CA provider A has different security requirements that a second CA provider B. This can mean that components that are customized for A may not work for or be acceptable to B; besides, CA providers usually do not communicate their solutions to other CA providers.
Further, as CA providers often are commercial rivals, it may be difficult for them to agree on a common set of security requirements. This commercial rivalry thus pushes CA providers to improve their security requirements and to keep them secret.
For this reason, certain CA provides provide a proprietary security block for the chip provider to use instead of the chip providers 'standard' security features.
It can thus be seen that different CA providers provide different security features.
It will also be appreciate that the clients of the CA providers, such as pay TV operators, have an interest in being able to use products from a plurality of CA providers. So far, however, once an operator has selected a CA provider, it is difficult to switch to a new one for the following reasons:                it is costly to change the installed receivers; this should be done to ensure that both old and new receivers can work the same way,        it is difficult to provide to the new CA provider a platform that enables the required security features without risking decreased security.
For this reason, pay TV operators would like to be able to be as independent as possible from the CA providers so that the same receiver hardware can be used with different CA systems so that the different security requirements are independently supported.
The requirement that a receiver be compatible with a plurality of CA providers can be met if the security functions, i.e. the security block, of each CA provider is integrated into a chip provided by a chip manufacturer.
SW Authentication Chain:
In order to ensure that only authorized software is installed on a receiver, e.g. by verification at power up that the receiver embedded software (or a second stage authentication key) is valid, it is known to digitally sign the software (or the second stage authentication key) using a Private Asymmetric Key (PRAK) that advantageously is held by the CA provider. At power up, the receiver uses its Public Authentication Key (PUAK), which corresponds to the PRAK, to verify the signature of the receiver embedded software (or the second stage authentication key), as is well known in the art.
The PUAK for a CA provider is part of the customization of a chip to meet the security requirements of the CA provider.
So far, the PUAK of a single CA provider is stored in the chip. This means that it is not possible for the chip to be compatible with a plurality of CA systems, even if all the other security features of another CA provider are implemented in the chip.
The skilled person will thus appreciate that there is a need for a solution that allows a receiver to store and use a plurality of PUAKs. This invention provides such a solution.

Apparatus and method for signature verification


The interconnection board includes a plurality of non-conductive insulation layers and through-holes running through the insulation layers. A plurality of conductive patterns are provided on each insulation layer, electrically insulated from each other, and exposed to the inside of one through-hole at the same axial position of the through-hole. The connection pin has a non-conductive stem and a connection pattern provided on the non-conductive stem. The connection pattern extends in the axial direction of the connection pin and electrically connects two conductive patterns provided on different insulation layers at the same circumferential position in the through-hole, by bringing the conductive patterns into contact at positions which are axially different and circumferentially the same.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to an interconnection board and a connection pin for connecting a user line of a communication system to a communication network, and to a main distribution frame (MDF) having the above interconnection board and connection pin. In particular, the present invention rotates to a multilayer interconnection board and a connection pin, which allow electrically conductive patterns (referred to simply as conductive patterns in this specification) provided on the insulation layers to be electrically connected along desired routes.
Further, the present invention relates to an MDF, which connects user lines to a service node such as an exchange unit in a public communication system by means of the multilayer interconnection board and the connection pin, and to an end exchange station in which the MDF is provided.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, user lines in a telephone communication system are connected to a multilayer interconnection board, and then to a service node such as an exchange unit by a connection pin. Conductive patterns are provided on each insulation layer of the multilayer interconnection board. One conductive pattern on ore insulation layer is connected to another conductive pattern provided on another insulation layer by a connection pin.
FIG. 1 shows a connection pin 76 of the prior art. The connection pin 76 has a non-conductive stem 20 and annular connection patterns 21 provided on the non-conductive stem 20.
FIG. 2 shows a multilayer interconnection board 23 and the connection pins 76J and 76K (generally referred to as 76) therein of the conventional art. A connection pin 76 connects two of the conductive patterns 12A through 12H (generally referred to as 12) of the multilayer interconnection board 23, when inserted into a through-hole 24 extending through the multilayer interconnection board 23.
In FIG. 2, the multilayer interconnection board 23 includes insulation layers 14A through 14H (generally referred to as 14), which are substantially non-conductive, and conductive patterns 12A through 12H (generally referred to as 12) provided on the insulation layers 14A through 14H, respectively. A conductive pattern 12 on one insulation layer 14 is electrically insulated from that on other insulation layers. The conductive patterns 12 are exposed at the inner walls of the through-holes 24.
When a connection pin 76 is inserted into a through-hole 24J or 24K (generally referred to as 24) provided in the multilayer interconnection board 23, the conductive patterns 12 on different insulation layers are electrically connected to each other by the connection patterns 21 of the connection pin 16. As stems 20J and 20K are non-conductive and connection patterns 21L through 210 are conductive, electrical connections are made on each of routes 12A-21L-12B, 12C-21M-12D, 12E-21N-12F and 12G-210-12H.
FIG. 3 shows the electrical routes 12A-21L-12B and 12C-21M-12D shown in FIG. 2, in detail. The conductive patterns 12A and 12B are connected by the connection pattern 21L and the conductive patterns 12C and 12D are connected by the connection pattern 21M. The connection patterns 21L and 21M are electrically insulated from each other.
A conventional connection pin 76 makes only one electrical path between conductive patterns 12 on two different insulation layers. For example, in FIGS. 2 and 3, only one electrical path is made between the conductive patterns 12A and 12B and one other electrical path is made between the conductive patterns 12C and 12D. The conductive patterns 12B and 12C are electrically insulated from each other.
To obtain enough electrical paths in a small volume by the above-mentioned structure, the multilayer interconnection board needs to include eight to ten layers, the production and operation of which require very high precision.

Multilayer interconnection board and connection pin


An implantable medical device has an impedance processor that determines impedance data reflective of the transvalvular impedance of a heart valve of a heart during a heart cycle. The determined impedance data are processed by a representation processor that estimates diastolic and systolic transvalvular impedance representations. A condition processor determines the presence of any heart valve malfunction, such as valve regurgitation and/or stenosis, of the heart valve based on the estimated diastolic and systolic transvalvular impedance representations.

The human heart comprises four heart valves controlling the flow of blood from the atriums to the ventricles and from the ventricles further on into the pulmonary or systemic circulation system. The operation of the heart valves is critical for the well-being of the subject and any valve malfunctions may lead to severe and possibly life-threatening conditions.
Generally, blood flowing incorrectly backwards through a heart valve, i.e. regurgitation, is either a primary valve related problem that might cause acute heart failure or is a secondary problem in heart failure patients. If it is a primary valve related problem, i.e. the valve has ruptured or has been damaged, e.g. through infection, valve surgery is typically employed, where the damaged valve is repaired or replaced with a new artificial valve. Any heart failure will then often resolve automatically once the valve function has been restored.
If it is a secondary problem in heart failure patients, the main source for regurgitation is probably caused by the dilated state of the heart, making it difficult for the valve to close tightly. In this latter case, monitoring valve condition and status may serve as a valuable tool to monitor heart failure.
Another common heart valve problem is valve stenosis, where the valve kinetics are disturbed making it difficult to close properly or open sufficiently.
There is therefore a need for a tool of monitoring heart valve function in order to detect any deleterious heart valve effects and/or detect primary medical conditions manifesting in change in heart valve operation.
US 2007/0191901 discloses a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device that is being programmed based on various impedance-related parameters. Multi-vector impedance signals associated with dynamic intracardiac impedance are acquired and related to specific time frames of the cardiac cycle to derive indices representative of systolic and diastolic cardiac performance. The impedance signals are further adjusted by static impedance signals associated with pulmonary impedance as to derive composite indices representative of cardiac performance and pulmonary vascular congestion.
US 2007/0191901 also discusses that aortic valve stenosis can be detected using an aortic valve function:
  f  =      1                  T        AVO            -                        T          Z                                      ⅆ            Z                                ⅆ            t                              where TAVO denotes the time of aortic valve opening, TZ denotes the onset time of positive impedance slope and
      ⅆ    Z        ⅆ    t  is the first derivative of the impedance signal and is included to account for cardiac output. A similar equation can be used for assessment of aortic valve regurgitation using delays in time to aortic valve closure from the onset of aortic valve opening or from time of peak impedance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, implantable medical device, and system for determining the condition of a heart valve


Disclosed are methods, compositions and kits pertaining to polymer coatings that entrap enzymes, specifically enzymes capable of degrading bisphenol A.

The following description is provided to assist the understanding of the reader. None of the information provided or references cited is admitted to be prior art.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic molecule containing two phenol groups and two methyl groups attached to a central carbon (HOC6H4—C(CH3)2C6H4OH; C15H16O2). BPA is the primary monomer component of polycarbonate plastic as well as epoxy resins. BPA-based plastics and resins are used in many different consumer plastic products, including use of epoxy resin as a protective lining for metal food and beverage cans, hard plastic bottles, food storage containers, stretchable PVC films and others. Over 8 billion pounds of BPA is produced each year and BPA has been found in human blood and urine in more than 80 biomonitoring studies.
BPA monomers can be released from epoxy resin when polymerization is incomplete and leaching of BPA increases under high heat and acidic conditions. BPA is known to bind estrogen receptors and has been shown to have effects in rodents exposed to levels of BPA similar to those seen in humans. BPA exposure in humans been suggested to contribute to several disorders, including diabetes, obesity, prostate and breast cancer, as well as infertility and genital tract abnormalities.

Methods and compositions for oxidizing bisphenol A


A convertible and drapable fabric article for use in a vehicle. The fabric includes a first fabric half and a second fabric half separated by an intermediate section exhibiting a plurality of parallel spaced fold lines. The intermediate section supports the fabric article upon a ledge associated with a door window opening of the vehicle in a first configuration, and such that the first half drapes over an exterior of the vehicle adjacent the window opening. At least one element is associated with at least one of the first and second fabric halves, these typically being releasably attachable magnets to support the paws of a canine perched upon the door window opening and extending across an open window. The fabric article is further converted to a second configuration whereby hook-and-loop fasteners associated with extending straps secure the fabric halves to seat back and seat bottom interior locations of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fabric overlays and covers for use such as with a vehicle interior or window. More specifically, the present invention discloses a convertible and drapable canine fabric article and seat cover for use with a vehicle and which protects a vehicle seat and door panel adjacent a window opening.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is well documented with examples of protective coverings, such as for use with a vehicle. The purpose of such coverings is typically to protect a selected interior or exterior location of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,365, issued to Charnesky, teaches a paw pad removable structure placeable both upon and in a car door on which to allow pets to place their paws in order to allow them to place their head outside an open car door window and which provides a support base which serves to support and restrain them during vehicle motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,341, issued to Addesso, teaches a portable pet car door protector for protecting a car door interior panel. The protector includes a flap insertable in the well between the window and the interior portion of the car door. A pad is secured to the top edge of the flap and pad has a length sufficient to extend over the interior portion of the car door and extend approximately to the interior floor board in order to protect against the animal's nails and teeth. The protector includes at least one hang tab secured to the top edge of the flap, such that a user may easily install and remove the protector from the well.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,043, issued to Reynaldos, teaches a flap for vehicle windows including flexible internal and external sheets that sandwich a cushion member. Three portions or sections are defined, namely, an external end section, a middle section, and an internal section. The middle section mounts over a conventional window opening and includes the cushion member. A magnetic member is further mounted to the underside of the external lowermost end of the external section and it is intended to removably secure the external section against the vehicle. Adhesive means are further provided to removably secure the internal section to the interior of the vehicle's door.
A further example drawn from the prior art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,918, and which teaches an automobile door protector in the form of an elongated cushioned member, the ends of which are connected to a flexible stop through a pair of elastic straps. The straps include hook-and-loop fasteners attached to them near the flexible stops which work in cooperation with corresponding fasteners permanently attached to the inside edge of the automobile door to allow the cushion to fit tightly against the outside surface of the auto door and to hold the cushion in a set position. Upon closing the auto door, the flexible stops are trapped so that the device cannot be removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,528, issued to Campbell, teaches a seat cover constructed of a washable fabric and including flexible foam attachment members and a flexible foam flap and is removably installed on a vehicle's seat. The basic structure of the seat cover consists of a seat portion and a back portion with a flap longitudinally extending between the seat and back portions. The flap portion has one or more deformable pad members affixed to the flap for insertion into the seat between the back and seat cushions. Additional strap members extend transversely from opposite corners of the seat cover and include at least one deformable pad affixed to the end of the strap member for insertion of the end of the strap member between the seat and the car body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,779 discloses a one-piece seat cover for an automotive passenger seat. An additional panel extends from the inside seam which joins the back and seat portions of the cover. Resilient hold-down straps on the seat cover portion are coupled to the panel under the base of the seat by tensioning means. The seat cover cushion is maintained secure and in independent of the position of the seat cushion or its supporting springs.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,695, issued to Norman, teaches a flexible bump protector panel attachable to the outer surface of an automobile door to prevent its being dented or nicked by the doors of nearby vehicles. A flexible flap extends from the lower edge of the panel for disposition about the door lower edge. One or more flexible straps are attached to the flap and to the panel upper edge for extension over the door upper edge. The straps can be tensioned prior to door closure for clamping engagement with the door.

Combination draping canine fabric article and seat cover for use with a vehicle


Embodiments of the present invention pertain to the field of communications technologies and disclose a multi-band antenna and a communications device. The multi-band antenna includes a reflection panel, at least one high-frequency unit, and at least one low-frequency unit. Each high-frequency unit includes a balun structure, a coupling structure, and a radiation arm structure. The balun structure includes two balun sub-structures, the coupling structure includes two coupling sub-structures, and the radiation arm structure includes two radiation arms. The high-frequency unit and the low-frequency unit are disposed on the reflection panel. Each coupling sub-structure is separately electrically connected to one balun sub-structure and one radiation arm. The coupling sub-structure is configured to transmit a signal whose frequency is higher than a preset threshold, and block a signal whose frequency is lower than the preset threshold.

A multi-band antenna is an antenna having a plurality of operating frequency bands, and includes a reflection panel, at least one high-frequency unit, and at least one low-frequency unit. Each high-frequency unit includes a balun structure and a radiation arm structure. The radiation arm structure is two symmetrically disposed radiation arms. Ends that are of the two radiation arms and that are close to each other are separately electrically connected to the balun structure. The radiation arm structure is configured to radiate an electromagnetic wave to the outside. The balun (balance-unbalance) structure is a transliteration abbreviation for an English phrase "balanced to unbalanced transformer." The balun structure is a device configured to implement a signal connection between the radiation arm structure of the antenna and a cable. The distance from a ground terminal of the balun structure to a connection end of the balun structure and the radiation arm structure plus an arm length of one radiation arm of the radiation arm structure is a preset length value. The preset length value is determined based on an operating frequency band of the high-frequency unit. Once the operating frequency band of the high-frequency unit is determined, the preset length value is also determined. Sometimes, the preset length value is close to a quarter of a wavelength of the low-frequency unit. In this case, the balun structure of the high-frequency unit and the radiation arm of the balun structure may be equivalent to a monopole antenna whose operating frequency is close to a frequency of the low-frequency unit. The monopole antenna is an antenna that has a vertical radiation arm and in which an arm length of the radiation arm is equal to a quarter of a wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency of the antenna.
In the process of implementing this application, it was discovered that the related technology has at least the following problem:
When the low-frequency unit operates, the equivalent monopole antenna generates a low-frequency induced current due to the impact of an electromagnetic wave of the low-frequency unit. The low-frequency induced current causes the monopole antenna to radiate a low-frequency electromagnetic wave to the outside. The frequency of the electromagnetic wave from the equivalent monopole antenna is approximately the same as the frequency of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the low-frequency unit. This causes interference to signals radiated and transmitted by the low-frequency unit.

Multi-band antenna and communications device


An image having a quality superior to that of the prior art is obtained even if there are multiple causes of image degradation. In a color image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of rotating bodies for forming a color image by rotating in cooperation, amounts of fluctuation in the rotational speeds of the rotating bodies that cause a decline in the image quality of the color image are detected for every rotating body (i.e., for every cause) and the detected amounts of fluctuation are corrected appropriately.

In general, an electrophotographic image formation apparatus forms a toner image on a transfer belt and transfers the formed toner image to a printing material, thereby forming a permanent image on the printing material. Further, a color image forming apparatus uses a plurality of color toners of different colors one after another to superimpose and form a plurality of toner images. This means that if the rotational speed of the transfer belt when the toner image of a certain color is formed and the rotational speed of the transfer belt when the next toner image is formed do not coincide, the respective images will deviate from each other. This is referred to as so-called "color misalignment".
Conceivable causes of color misalignment are as follows:
(1) a fluctuation in speed caused by uneven thickness of an intermediate transfer belt;
(2) a fluctuation in speed due to eccentricity of the driving roller that drives the transfer belt; and
(3) a fluctuation in the angular speed of the driving roller.
An example of a method of eliminating cause (1) is disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-186787 (Patent Reference 1). This specification proposes a method of forming a registration pattern (a toner image) on a transfer belt, extracting a fluctuation in the traveling speed of the transfer belt based upon pass-by timing of the registration pattern and controlling a driving roller in accordance with extracted fluctuation in traveling speed.
On the other hand, the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-130871 (Patent Reference 2) proposes a method of providing a transfer belt with an optical or magnetic pattern instead of a registration pattern at the time of manufacture, and sensing this pattern by a sensor to thereby detect a fluctuation in the traveling speed of the transfer belt.
With regard to cause (2), the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-172376 (Patent Reference 3) proposes a method of detecting a fluctuation in the traveling speed of a transfer belt by an encoding roller that slides on the transfer belt, and making the distance between the image forming units equal to a whole-number multiple of the circumference of the encoding roller.
With regard to cause (4), the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-175427 (Patent Reference 4) proposes a method of providing the shaft of a driving roller with an encoder and detecting a fluctuation in the angular speed of the driving roll.
In accordance with the prior art described above, only methods of dealing with conceivable specific causes are proposed and it is not possible to deal with color misalignment or inconsistencies in density ascribable to causes other than those conceived. With an image forming apparatus in which cause (1) is dominant, the invention of Patent Reference 1 or 2 is ideal. With an image forming apparatus in which cause (2) or (3) is dominant, however, color misalignment or inconsistencies in density cannot be reduced adequately. Similarly, with the method of Patent Reference 3 or 4 regarding cause (1), color misalignment or inconsistencies in density cannot be reduced adequately. In other words, there is a need for an image forming apparatus in which color misalignment and inconsistencies in density can be reduced even if multiple causes are present.

Color image forming apparatus and method of controlling same


A microwave oven includes a main body forming a cooking chamber, and a door hinged to the main body. A rear side of the door includes an endless choke groove and a sealing member surrounding the choke groove. The sealing member is biased by a spring into contact with the main body to prevent a leakage of microwaves therebetween.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a microwave oven which cooks food utilizing microwave frequencies produced by a magnetron. More particularly, it relates to a microwave oven which has a door of improved structure for opening and closing a cooking chamber of the microwave oven.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a microwave oven is a cooking appliance which cooks food by frictional heat generated by making the molecules of the food being cooked move at high speeds utilizing high frequency energy.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the overall construction of a conventional microwave oven. As shown in the drawing, the conventional microwave oven includes a main body 10, a cooking chamber 20 and an electrical component compartment 30, both provided to the interior of the main body 10. The cooking chamber 20 of the main body 10 has an open side, and a door 40 is hinged on a front panel 10a of the main body 10 along one edge of the opening for opening and closing the open side of the cooking chamber 20. A latch member 41 is formed on a rear side of the door 40 facing the main body 10, the latch member 41 corresponding to a latch lock assembly 43 provided on the front panel 10a of the main body 10. The latch member 41 locks within the latch lock assembly 43 to firmly secure the door 40 in a closed position, and is unlocked by user manipulation of a release member 45, provided to one side of the door 40 when the same is closed.
The electrical component compartment 30 is provided to one side of the cooking chamber 20. In the electrical component compartment 30 are formed a magnetron 31 for producing high frequency energy and providing the same to the cooking chamber 20, a high voltage transformer 32 applying high voltage across the magnetron 31, and a fan 33 for cooling the electrical components during operation. A control panel 34 is mounted to one side of the closed door 40. Reference numerals 21 and 42 designate a disk-shaped tray and a window, respectively, the window formed on a middle portion of the door 40 to let a user see the inside of the cooking chamber 20 during operation of the microwave oven.
In the conventional microwave oven, if a user operates the control panel 34 after placing foodstuff on the tray 21 of the cooking chamber 20 and closing the door 40, the magnetron 31, provided in the electrical component compartment 30, supplies microwave frequencies of 2,450 MHz to the cooking chamber 20. The microwave frequencies make the molecules of the food being cooked move at high speeds, thereby cooking or heating the food.
However, in the microwave oven structured as in the above, it is possible for the microwave frequencies provided to the cooking chamber 20 by the magnetron 31 to leak out of the cooking chamber 20 through a gap between the door 40 and the main body 10. This leakage of microwave frequencies, even if it is slight, can interfere with other electronic devices and is harmful to humans. Therefore, laws strictly regulate manufacturing standards to allow only a minimal level of microwave frequency leakage.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, prior art microwave ovens include a choke assembly 50 provided on the door 40 for inhibiting microwave frequency leakage (FIG. 4 depicts the door 40 contacting the front panel 10a of the main body 10 when the door 40 is closed) . The choke assembly 50 includes a choke groove 51 formed on the rear side of the door 40, and a seal 52 made by injection-molding using a plastic material. The seal 52 closes an opening of the choke groove 51. Accordingly, the microwave frequencies are prevented from leaking out of the cooking chamber 20 by entering the choke groove 51 via its opening, and being mutually offset and compensated therein, thus eliminating microwave frequency leakage.
However, high frequencies having a short wavelength are created inside the choke assembly 50, and these may easily leak out through small gaps due to their short wavelength. If the front panel 10a of the main body 10 and the rear side of the door 40 are not formed flat, a large gap is created therebetween, thus causing an increase in the amount of high frequencies that leak out of the microwave oven. Thus, there is a limit to the prevention of high frequency leakage by the use of the choke groove 51 formed on the door 40.

Microwave oven door with microwave leakage seal


In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an operating layer and a light-shielding film are sequentially formed to form a recess step on a semiconductor substrate. A first photoresist film is formed on the light-shielding film. The light-shielding film is patterned using the photoresist film as a mask to form a gate electrode formation opening portion. A metal film is formed on the entire surface including the opening portion. The metal film is selectively etched using, as a mask, a second photoresist film formed on the metal film, thereby forming a gate electrode having a T shape in the longitudinal section. The second photoresist film is removed. The light-shielding film is removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a method of forming a T electrode in a field effect transistor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With high integration of semiconductor devices, micropatterning of gate electrodes has been advanced. However, micropatterning of gate electrodes inevitably leads to an increase in gate resistance. As a measure against this, a method of forming a T gate electrode is employed. FIGS. 1A to 1E are sectional views, respectively, showing a semiconductor chip to explain the steps in manufacturing the T gate electrode of a conventional GaAs FET.
As shown in FIG. 1A, after an operating layer 2 is formed on a semi-insulating substrate 1, part of the surface of the operating layer 2 is selectively removed by wet etching or dry etching using a photoresist pattern as a mask, thereby forming a recess step 4. An insulating film 8 made from SiO.sub.2 is formed by LP-CVD on the obtained structure. An antireflection film 9 is formed on the insulating film 8. According to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-204130, this antireflection film 9 is formed by applying a silicon-based organic material by spin coating. Then, a first positive photoresist film 5A is applied on the antireflection film 9.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the resultant structure is exposed by an aligner (not shown) using a photomask (not shown). As an exposure beam, an i-line (.lambda.=365 nm) or a KrF excimer beam (.lambda.=248 nm) is used. In exposure, an exposure beam passing through the photomask is incident on an exposure region L in the photoresist film 5A. The antireflection film 9 below the photoresist film 5A has a low transmittance with respect to the exposure beam, and is made thick enough to prevent transmission of the incident beam to the under-layer of the antireflection film 9, or reflection thereof to an upper layer. For this reason, a pattern is stably formed without being influenced by reflection or interference of the exposure beam coming from the underlayer. Subsequently, the resultant structure is developed by an alkali developing solution to dissolve the exposure region, forming a resist pattern having a resist opening 6A in the recess step.
As shown in FIG. 1C, the surface of the antireflection film 9 to be exposed is processed by an oxygen (O.sub.2) plasma, and selectively changed into an inorganic-system film 9A to attain the same etching characteristics as those of the SiO.sub.2 film 8. Using the first photoresist film 5A as a mask, the inorganic-system film 9A and the SiO.sub.2 film 8 are selectively removed by dry etching with SF.sub.6 gas, thereby forming an opening portion 6B.
As shown in FIG. 1D, after the remaining photoresist film 5A is removed by an O.sub.2 plasma, the remaining antireflection film 9A is completely removed by dry etching using SF.sub.6 gas. A metal film 17 is sputtered on the entire surface including the opening portion 6B to fill the gate opening portion 6B. The following steps will be explained using an example disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-245961. The metal film 17 is made from WSi-Ti-Pt-Au. Using a second photoresist pattern 5B as a mask, an unnecessary portion of the metal film 17 is selectively removed by ion milling.
As shown in FIG. 1E, the photoresist pattern 5B is removed to form a gate electrode 17A. An Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 10 is formed by CVD, and then dry-etched using CF.sub.4 gas to leave it on only the side walls of the gate electrode 17A. Further, the resultant structure is wet-etched using a solution containing hydrofluoric acid to remove the SiO.sub.2 film 8. At this time, the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 10 serves to protect the Ti layer in the metal film 17 from being etched.
The first problem in the conventional technique is that addition of the antireflection film between the photoresist film and the SiO.sub.2 film serving as a target etching film results in an increase in number of steps by the steps of forming, etching, and completely removing the antireflection film, compared to a case of forming no antireflection film.
The step of etching the antireflection film can be performed under the same conditions as those of the step of etching the SiO.sub.2 film. However, since the total film thickness which should be etched is larger than that in the case of etching only the SiO.sub.2 film, the dimensional accuracy for transferring a resist pattern to the SiO.sub.2 film decreases.
The second problem in the conventional technique is that the step of forming and processing the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film is added because a T gate electrode formation metal must be protected by the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film in order to prevent etching of the metal in the step of completely removing the SiO.sub.2 film upon forming the T gate electrode.

Method of forming T electrode in field effect transistor


The present disclosure provides techniques for a self-commissioning and locating lighting system. The system includes a group of light fixtures, each emitting a unique optical data signal. A remote control device detects the unique optical data signal from the light fixtures when the light fixture is within a visual field of the remote control device. A central controller receives a signal from the remote control device, wherein the signal comprises data regarding the GPS location of the remote control device and the digital identities of the light fixture within the visual field of the remote control, wherein the signal further comprises a control command for operation of the light fixtures, and wherein the central controller sends a control signal to the light fixture implementing the control command.

Low cost microprocessors and electronics have enabled the increased granularity of control systems in lighting and energy management controls. Whereas lighting systems have utilized a central panel with breaker or relay controls to switch or dim a circuit of lighting, today's systems are incorporating smart, solid state lighting fixtures, sensors, keypads, and a plethora of other devices. As systems have moved from a centralized control methodology, to an addressable topology, the number of devices in a system as increased dramatically. In large systems, as many as 30,000 digital, addressable devices may be present in one building's lighting or energy management system.
In order to properly program these systems, a commissioning agent must first "address" or associate the digital address to the physical location of these devices. This can be done via a visual/optical method, such as flashing an LED or the light fixture to signify a particular digital address corresponds with a certain device in a particular location. This can also be completed by a physical method of pushing a button on the device or reading an RF ID tag out of the device and associating that signal with a map of the floor plan. In all of these circumstances, this commissioning process can be time consuming and complicated.

Systems and methods for self commissioning and locating lighting system


Even when a contact hole is formed before thin-film resistor formation, a contact area exposed in the contact hole is prevented from damaging. A semiconductor element is formed in a silicon semiconductor substrate and an oxide film is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. Then, a contact hole is formed on the oxide film and moreover, a CrSiN film serving as a thin-film resistor and a TiW film serving as a barrier metal are formed on the oxide film. The TiW film is patterned by a mask and the CrSiN film is patterned through chemical dry etching. Finally, an Al electrode is formed on the semiconductor element and the CrSiN film through the contact hole and moreover a protective film is formed thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a thin-film resistor.
2. Related Arts
Various thin-film resistors made of a CrSi compound or the like integrated on an IC are hitherto proposed. For example, as shown in EP-A-0350961 or EP-A-0443575, such thin-film resistor is formed as follows: a layer insulating film is formed on a substrate with a semiconductor element; a thin-film material such as CrSi compound or the like is deposited; after patterning the thin-film material into the thin-film resistor, a contact hole is formed on the layer insulating film; and a wiring electrode made of aluminum or the like is formed.
That is, a thin-film resistor is constituted and thereafter a contact hole is formed. This is because of the following reason. Although two types of methods such as wet etching and dry etching are considered as methods for patterning a CrSi film, the dry etching method is more prospective because wet etching has a problem that fluctuation of etching of the CrSi film increases. In the case of normal dry etching using plasma, however, if a contact hole opens in an element area when patterning a thin-film resistor, the semiconductor exposed area is damaged. Specifically, a problem occurs that plasma under dry etching collides with the element area exposed in the contact hole to cause an element defect and an imperfect contact with an electrode, i.e., an open circuit. Therefore, a contact hole should be formed after a thin-film resistor is patterned.
However, when forming a contact hole after CrSi patterning, it is clarified that the following problem occurs. That is, when forming a contact hole after depositing and patterning a CrSi thin-film resistor, as shown in FIG. 5A (in this figure, CrSi thin-film resistor is not shown), photoresist 8 is formed on a layer insulating film 2 to use it as an etching mask. In this case, the adhesiveness of the photoresist 8 is deteriorated because surface chapping occurs under etching of CrSiN film performed in the preceding process and thereby, the photoresist 8 is lifted due to peeling. Therefore, when forming a contact hole through wet etching, the layer insulting film 2 is excessively etched, and the contact hole expands to expose the p-n junction formed on the semiconductor substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 5B.

Method for fabricating semiconductor device having thin-film resistor


A method for fabricating an organic electroluminescent device (OLED) includes the following steps. First, a substrate is provided. Next, an anode layer is formed on the substrate. Next, a buffer layer is formed on the anode layer, wherein the buffer layer include a CFx film (fluorinated carbon films) containing carbon-fluoride bonded molecules. Next, a treatment process is performed on the CFx film to convert the carbon-fluoride bonded molecules into carbon-carbon bonded molecules. A plurality of organic layers is formed on the buffer layer. A cathode layer is formed on the organic layer. Because the buffer layer has a better conductivity, the organic electroluminescent device (OLED) of the present invention has a better luminous efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating an organic electroluminescent device (OLED), and more particularly to a method for fabricating a carbon-enriched film with high conductivity and a method for fabricating an organic electroluminescent device (OLED) employing the carbon-enriched film as the buffer layer thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display serving as an interface between human and information plays a significant role in everyday activities. Currently flat panel displays have become the major trend in the display field. Wherein in particular, an organic electroluminescent display has enormous potential and is expected to become the main stream of the next generation flat panel displays, thanks to its predominant advantageous features, such as self-emitting, no viewing angle dependency, power-saving, simpler process, low-cost, lower operation temperature range, fast response and full colorization.
An organic electroluminescent display mainly takes advantage of the self-emitting nature of an organic electroluminescent device (OLED) to achieve displaying effect. Wherein, the organic electroluminescent display mainly comprises a pair of electrodes and an organic layer. When current flows between the anode and the cathode, electrons and holes in the organic layer are recombined to produce excitons and enables the organic layer to produce lights with different colors depending on the material property of the organic layer. Thus, a luminous display is achieved.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a structure of a conventional organic electroluminescent device (OLED). Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional OLED 100 includes a substrate 110, an anode layer 120, a hole transporting layer (HTL) 130, an organic electroluminescent layer (OEL) 140, an electron transporting layer (ETL) 150 and a cathode layer 160. As an offset voltage is applied between the anode layer 120 and the cathode layer 160, electrons are injected into the electron transporting layer (ETL) 150 from the cathode layer 160 and are transmitted to the organic electroluminescent layer (OEL) 140, while holes are injected into the hole transporting layer (HTL) 130 from the anode layer 120. Further, the injected holes are transmitted to the organic electroluminescent layer (OEL) 140, where the electrons and the holes are recombined to generate excitons and produce luminous effect.
The anode layer 120 is typically comprised of an indium tin oxide (ITO) material, and therefore the contact interface between the ITO (an inorganic material) and the hole transporting layer (HTL) 130 (an organic material) has a poor electrical contact. In order to resolve the above problem some proposed suppressing the switching current by treating the surface of the ITO anode layer with an UV-ozone and a plasma. However, exposure of the surface of the anode layer 120 to the UV-ozone and plasma may damaged the surface of the anode layer 120, which may adversely affect electrical properties of the anode layer 120.
Some others propose disposing a buffer layer (not shown) between the anode layer 120 and the hole transporting layer (HTL) 130. However the conductivity of the buffer layer is poor, which lower the luminous efficiency of the organic electroluminescent device (OLED) 100.

Method for fabricating organic electroluminescent device


A data entry system includes a hand held data entry unit having a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data, rewritable storage for storing information relating to selectable items, a controller (a microprocessor or other processing circuitry) and a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of the commands and/or stored information for a selected item, and a telecommunication interface for the telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from the storage to a remote processing center and for the telephonic information relating to selectable items from the remote processing center to the storage. Preferably a telecommunications interface is provided in the hand held unit for cellular or other wireless telephony systems. The hand held unit can be configured to combine the data entry functions with those of audio telephony.

UK patent GB-B-2,202,664 describes an example of an application for a data entry system for the automated ordering of merchandisable items. Merchandisable items are represented in a printed catalogue or other form of list and are associated with bar codes. A merchandise ordering unit comprises a bar code reader with a telephone transmission capability for use in selecting one or more items from the catalogue and transmitting electronically an order for the merchandise to a processing centre over the public telephone network. The orders for the merchandisable items received in this way are processed in the processing centre. As described, the hand held data entry terminal comprises a calculator-like processing unit with a pen-like bar code reader wand electrically connected to the processing unit via a flexible cable. The processing unit includes a display for displaying information and a telephone transmission capability for transmitting captured data via the telephone network. Although this system works well, it is rather bulky and can be somewhat inconvenient in use as it requires two handed operation, one hand for the processing unit and one hand for the wand. Alternatively, if the processing unit is not carried all the time, it needs to be located in a position where the display on the processing unit can be seen and the keys on the processing unit can be operated. It will be appreciated that particularly where the processing unit is being carried in the hand, operation of the keys on it while holding the wand requires considerable dexterity.
European patent application EP-A-0,094,571 describes a self-contained portable data entry terminal positioned within a portable wand-type enclosure. The wand contains a bar code optical reader, signal conditioning electronics, a microprocessor, a memory and a rechargeable battery. The optical reader is operable as a transmitter/receiver so that readout of data stored in the memory is possible. An example of the use of the portable data terminal is described in which captured bar code data can be output from the memory via the optical reader to an optical receiver and from there via an audio coupler to a telephone line for transmission to a remote station. Another example is described where the bar code data relates to items on a menu in a restaurant. Captured menu selections can be output from the memory via the optical reader to an optical receiver and from there via a computer to a printer in a kitchen. Also described is the programming of the portable data entry terminal using an optical transmitter to input data via the optical reader. The wand includes a beeper for indicating the correct reading of a bar code and the current memory loading. The wand described in EP-A-0,094,571 is relatively simple in construction, and although it is readily portable, it does not provide any confirmation of what has been read.
A further portable data entry terminal manufactured by Telxon Corporation is described in an article entitled "Telxon Corporation, Portable Data Collection and Entry Systems" published by McGraw-Hill in 1989 and referenced "R51-832-101 SKU/UPC Marking and Reading Equipment". The article describes various models of data entry terminals similar to that described in UK patent GB-8-2,202,664. Data from the terminals can be transmitted to a remote station via various telecommunication options including direct connect modems and acoustic couplers. The data entry terminals have a generally rectangular format, similar to a large scientific calculator with a rectangular display and an array of keys. For most models, a separate bar code reader wand is provided which is connected to the data entry terminal via a flexible cable, requiring a two-handed operation as described above. One model PTC-620 has the same basic format as the other terminals, but is described as being for simple applications and features a snap-on reversible head for one-handed operation with either the left or the right hand. However, this terminal is still relatively bulky and cumbersome and in use it is easy inadvertently to operate one or more keys in the array of keys.

Hand held telecommunications and data entry device


An apparatus for separating relatively light fractions from relatively dense fractions in a pulp suspension. The apparatus has a tubular housing of circular cross section defining a separation chamber extending longitudinally from an inlet end to an outlet end, with an inlet at the inlet end for tangentially introducing a flow of the pulp suspension into the housing for vortical flow along the length of the separation chamber towards the outlet. The vortical flow effects a separation of the relatively light fraction from the relatively dense fraction. The housing has at least two outlets at the outlet end, one outlet being positioned to accommodate an exiting flow of the relatively light fraction and the other outlet being positioned to accommodate an exiting flow of the relatively dense fraction. The diameter of the separation chamber at an intermediate region along its length is enlarged in comparison to its diameter at the inlet and outlet ends.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus commonly referred to as a "hydrocyclone" used to separate a light fraction from a liquid/solid suspension.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hydrocyclones are commonly used to separate contaminants from liquid/solid suspensions, e.g. pulp/water suspensions. The suspension enters the hydrocyclone through an inlet disposed tangentially to the interior wall of a longitudinally extending separation chamber. The inlet pressure creates a high inlet velocity which in turn sets up a free liquid vortex within the chamber with a central air core. Centrifugal forces act on the liquid and solids resulting in a separation based on their relative densities. The size and shape of the solids, the geometry of the hydrocyclone, and the properties of the liquid will also significantly affect the efficiency of the separation. The hydrocyclone will have at least two outlets from the separation chamber, one outlet being positioned to accommodate an outflow of the less dense fraction and the other outlet being positioned to accommodate the outflow of the higher density fraction. Many hydrocyclones are designed to create a separation, from the suspension, of the denser fraction. Other hydrocyclones have been to designed to remove the less dense fraction from the suspension.

Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.


A fixed ring rail and a moving ring rail sandwiching a moving route of a radiation beam irradiating section therebetween, forms a cylindrical passage with a semicircular cross-section having a horizontal floor. Upon that passage is placed a moving floor composed of a continuous series of multiple plates which are connected freely flexible with each other. The moving floor is moved in synchrony with the rotation of radiation beam irradiation section, and, at the same time, the moving ring rail is allowed to rotate in the reverse direction by the same distance. A horizontal floor necessary as an access floor to the treatment bed and to the radiation beam irradiating section is formed regardless of the rotating position of the radiation beam irradiation section, and the patient is surrounded completely to remove him/her of fear.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotating radiation chamber for radiation therapy which has a radiation beam irradiating section rotatable round a patient, particularly to a rotating radiation chamber for radiation therapy which is suitably used as a rotation gantry of a cancer therapy device by use of a proton beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional cancer therapy based on radiation of active rays uses X-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, fast neutron beams, etc. These active rays, as shown in FIG. 9, become the strongest at sites close to the surface of a patient, and thus may inflict damages on normal tissues close to the body surface when those rays are directed towards a cancer in a deeper part of the body. By the way, a proton or a particle which comes into being when a hydrogen atom has been removed of the electron, has a positive charge, and has a mass 1836 times as large as that of electron, can be accelerated under a high energy state by an accelerator to give a proton beam. The proton beam is characterized by having the maximum dose peak or a Bragg peak P at a certain depth from the body surface, and then declining rapidly to zero.
This is because, as the electric force a proton exerts on electrons becomes large in proportion to its proximity to the latter, when the proton has a high kinetic energy and runs at a high speed, the time for the proton to interact with nearby electrons is short, and ionization is small in magnitude, but, when it loses the kinetic energy to nearly make a stop, the time for interaction becomes long and ionization rapidly increases in magnitude.
Thanks to this nature peculiar to protons, it is possible to apply proton beams for cancer therapy keeping normal cells other than a cancer comparatively free from damages, even if the cancer lies in a deeper part of the body. Further, as the radiation-based biological effect (RBE) of a proton beam is nearly equal to that of X-rays, the proton radiation therapy is advantageous in that it can make the most of knowledge and experience accumulated in the field of conventional X-ray radiation therapy. With these features, the proton radiation therapy device is being introduced as a therapy means to treat a cancer without removing any functional organs and encroaching on the quality of life.
In the radiation therapy of cancer, it is ideal to concentrate a lethal dose of active rays onto the cancer alone without inflicting any irreversible damages to nearby normal tissues. The Proton radiation therapy, as shown in FIG. 9, exploits the feature characteristic with protons that a proton beam incident on a substance gives the maximum dose or Bragg peak P just before it ceases to move. Namely the therapy in question aims at achieving this ideal by covering only the cancerous lesion with that Bragg peak.
By the way, protons obtained from an accelerator are in the form of a slender beam, and its energy is constant (the depth of Bragg peak is also constant). On the other hand, cancerous lesions are varied in size and have complex shapes, and their depths in the body are not constant. Further, the density of tissues through which a proton beam must pass is not constant neither. Accordingly, to achieve an effective radiation therapy, it is necessary to (1) enlarge the proton beam to have a sufficient width to cover the whole cancer lesion in one radiation; (2) adjust the beam energy according to the depth of lesion; (3) give a sufficient energy distribution in depth so that the whole cancer lesion having a certain depth can receive a uniform irradiation; and (4) make corrections according to the irregularities in contour of the lesion, and in density of the tissues through which the proton beam must pass.
It is also necessary to accurately focus the proton beam which has been adjusted in accordance with the shape and depth of a tumor, onto the cancerous lesion in the body of a patient following the radiation condition as determined previously, and to adjust radiation so that its dose and distribution occur as designed, and fall within tolerable errors.
To achieve above, it is necessary not only to reproduce the initially designed distribution of dose by properly adjusting the irradiation field forming unit including a bolus and a collimator, but also to accurately determine the radiation position of a proton beam with respect to the patient.
To attain this object, a rotating radiation chambers for radiation therapy has been developed which has a radiation beam irradiating section rotatable round the patient.
However, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the conventional rotating radiation chamber is so constructed as to push forward a projecting deck 36 as needed, in synchrony with a radiation beam irradiating section 22, together with a treatment bed 32 which is also driven forward from the housing base 30 by a bed driving mechanism 34, into a rotating capsule 20 which rotates round a patient 10 as indicated by the arrow of FIG. 12. Thus, when the radiation beam irradiating section 22 rotates until it comes beneath the treatment bed 32 to allow the radiation beam 24 to strike the patient 10 from a proper direction, the radiation beam irradiating section 22 and the projecting deck 36 interfere each other in their paths. Accordingly, a deck driving mechanism 38 and its control section must be added to project or retreat the projecting deck 36, in accordance with the position of radiation beam irradiating section 22. This complicates the structure. Further, as the deck driving mechanism 38 has to be installed on the housing base 30 on the same side with the rotating capsule 20, and on the same side the bed driving mechanism 34 is also installed, the deck driving mechanism 38 might interfere with the bed driving mechanism 34 but for some preventive means against it. Avoiding such interference with the bed driving mechanism 34 would further complicate the structure of deck driving mechanism 38. Furthermore, when the radiation beam irradiating section 22 comes downwards, and the projecting deck 36 is retreated, access to the interior of rotating capsule 20 becomes impossible. Still further, as the projecting deck 36 and the rotating capsule 20 are entities independent of each other, they have inevitably a space between them, through which a hard object may fall down, or their existence limits the work space. Still further, although a back panel 26 is installed against the background within the rotating capsule 20 to form a part of the enclosure surrounding the patient 10, but the floor is open. Therefore when the projecting deck 36 is retreated, the distance from the treatment bed 32 to the floor to be lengthened because then the inner surface of rotating capsule 20, instead of the projecting deck 36, forms the floor, which may cause a fear in the patient 10.

Rotating radiation chamber for radiation therapy


A rod holder has a platform with upper and lower planar surfaces, and a support. The support has an upper portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion being rigidly connected to the lower surface of the platform. The lower portion of the support is adapted to be connected to a boat. A first rod receiving member has a first upper end and a first lower end, and a second receiving member has a second upper end and a second lower end. The first and second lower ends are coupled to the upper surface of the platform to pivot the first and second rod receiving members about first and second pivot axes, respectively, while prohibiting the first and second rod receiving members from moving relative to the platform in a direction that is parallel to the first and second pivot axes. The first and second pivot axes are perpendicular to the upper surface.

While fishing, it is often desirable to employ fishing rod holders to avoid constantly holding the fishing rod with one's hands. Typical fishing rod holders are tubes attached to a boat or a dock that receive the butt of a fishing rod. This type of holder has the disadvantage of requiring a separate brace for attaching the tubes to the boat or dock. Also, these holders maintain the fishing rods in only one position.
Other known fishing rod holders are found within the upper edge or gunwale of the side or bulwark of a fishing boat. These holders are known as gunwale rod holders and are generally located on the starboard and port sides of a fishing boat. A gunwale rod holder is generally a tube that sits within the bulwark, inclined at an angle of about 30.degree. from vertical, and open at the gunwale. Fishermen using gunwale rod holders are limited to the extent that each gunwale rod holder is capable of receiving only one fishing rod. Further, since the tube is fixed within the bulwark, a fishing rod within the gunwale rod holder can point in only one direction.
Presently, it is known to place a multiple fishing rod holder within a gunwale rod holder in order to support multiple fishing rods from a single gunwale rod holder. Such fishing rod holders have multiple tubes rigidly attached to a member that is inserted into the gunwale rod holder. However, these multiple fishing rod holders do not permit fishing rods to be pivoted relative to each other while they are supported by the gunwale rod holder. Each fishing rod must be lifted out of its original tube and placed into another tube if it is desired to change the direction of the fishing rod. This type of multiple fishing rod holder is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,579, to Hawie.


In some embodiments, a system calculates a user risk score, and determines a first subset of questions using the user risk score and type of user device. The system communicates and receives answers to the first subset of questions. The system determines a second subset of questions based on the answers to the first subset of questions. The system communicates and receives answers to the second subset of questions. The system determines whether the answers to the first subset of questions are accurate. If the verification indicates that the answer to one or more of the first subset of questions is not accurate, the system determines a third subset of questions. The system communicates and receives answers to the third subset of questions. The system determines a plurality of repayment plans based on the user risk score and the answers to the first, second, and third subset of questions.

Financial institutions often issue loans to their customers in the form of mortgages, installment loans, credit lines, credit card accounts, and other accounts whereby the customer incurs a debt in favor of the financial institution. In some cases, a customer might not repay the debt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the loan. For example, the customer might not make a payment by the due date. Missing a payment may be indicative of the customer's inability or difficulty in meeting loan obligations and may present financial risk to the financial institution in the event the customer is unable to satisfy the outstanding loan balance. To mitigate this risk, representatives of the financial institution may manually contact the customer (e.g., via telephone, letter, e-mail, etc.) to offer assistance to the customer in paying all or part of past-due balances or installments of a loan account. In some instances, the customer may initiate contact with the financial institution to seek such assistance. Such assistance may be an offer for credit counseling, an offer for an alternative payment plan for the loan, or other suitable assistance.

Dynamically modifying an application questionnaire


A method for creating stacked capacitor structures, with increased surface area, obtained using storage node electrode structures comprised of an HSG silicon layer, on a heavily doped amorphous silicon layer, both overlying polysilicon storage node shapes, has been developed. A dilute hydrofluoric acid pre-clean procedure is used prior to depositing a heavily doped amorphous silicon layer, on underlying polysilicon storage node shapes. An overlying second amorphous silicon layer is in situ deposited, in the same furnace used for the prior deposition of heavily doped amorphous silicon layer, followed by an in situ seeding/annealing procedure, converting the second amorphous silicon layer to an HSG silicon layer. This invention features the use of the acid pre-clean, to improve adhesion of the heavily doped amorphous silicon layer, to underlying polysilicon storage node shapes. In addition the width of the polysilicon storage node shapes is initially designed to be narrow, to accept subsequent amorphous silicon depositions, and thus to result in the desired spacing between storage node electrodes, after deposition of the amorphous silicon layers, on the sides of the polysilicon storage node shapes.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method used to create a stacked capacitor structure, for a dynamic random access memory, (DRAM) device.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Improved device performance and the reduced manufacturing costs of these devices, are major objectives of the semiconductor industry. These objectives have been successfully addressed by the ability of the semiconductor industry to fabricate semiconductor memory chips with sub-micron features, or micro-miniaturization. Sub-micron features allow the reduction in performance degrading capacitances and resistances to be realized. In addition the smaller features result in a smaller chip, however still possessing the same level of integration obtained for semiconductor chips fabricated with larger features. This allows a greater number of the denser, smaller chips to be obtained from a specific size starting substrate, thus resulting in a lower manufacturing cost for an individual chip.
The use of smaller, or sub-micron, features, when used for the fabrication of dynamic random access memory, (DRAM), devices, in which the capacitor of the DRAM device is a stacked capacitor, (STC), structure, presents difficulties when attempting to increase STC capacitance. A DRAM cell is usually comprised of the STC structure, overlying a transfer gate transistor, and connected to the source of the transfer gate transistor. However the decreasing size of the transfer gate transistor, limits the dimensions of the STC structure. To increase the capacitance of the STC structure, comprised of two electrodes, separated by a dielectric layer, either the thickness of the dielectric layer has to be decreased, or the area of the capacitor has to be increased. The reduction in dielectric thickness is limited by increasing reliability and yield risks, encountered with ultra thin dielectric layers. In addition the area of the STC structure is limited by the area of the underlying transfer gate transistor dimensions. The advancement of the DRAM technology to densities of 64 million cells per chip, or greater, has resulted in a specific cell in which a smaller transfer gate transistor is being used, resulting in less of an overlying area for placement of overlying STC structures.
One method of maintaining, or increasing STC capacitance, while still decreasing the lateral dimension of the capacitor, has been the use of rough, or hemispherical grain, (HSG), silicon layers. For example Thakur et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,531, describe a process for forming an HSG silicon layer, on a capacitor storage node structure, however this invention does not provide a surface preparation, applied to the storage node shape, prior to deposition of the amorphous silicon layer used for HSG formation. The absence of a pre-clean, prior to amorphous silicon deposition can result in poor adhesion between the amorphous silicon layer and the storage node shape. Zahurak et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,685, do show the use of a pre-clean procedure, however this pre-clean step is applied prior to the deposition of the polysilicon layer, used for the storage node shape, not prior to the deposition of the amorphous silicon layers, used for HSG formation. This invention will describe a process for increasing the surface area of a storage node structure, and thus the capacitance of the DRAM capacitor, via the use of an HSG layer on a patterned polysilicon storage node structure. However this invention will feature a pre-clean sequence, used prior to a deposition of a heavily doped amorphous silicon layer, on the patterned polysilicon storage node structure. The use of a heavily doped amorphous layer, prevents silicon migration. In addition native oxide formation, at the interface between HSG and the underlying silicon stack, can lead to HSG peeling. The a pre-clean procedures, followed by the deposition of a heavily doped silicon layer, prior to HSG formation, retards the native oxide growth, thus reducing the risk of peeling, or of poor adhesion of the HSG layer, to the underlying stack. This invention also features a subsequent deposition of a lightly doped, or undoped, amorphous silicon layer, and a subsequent seeding/anneal procedure, performed in situ, in the same furnace used to deposit the heavily doped amorphous silicon layer, resulting in the formation of a roughened HSG surface. In addition this invention will describes a storage node structure, intentionally designed with a narrow width, to accommodate the additional amorphous silicon layers, thus avoiding shorts between rows of tightly packed capacitor structures.

Resolution of hemispherical grained silicon peeling and row-disturb problems for dynamic random access memory, stacked capacitor structures

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation