The invention is directed to topical drug vehicle platform compositions for ophthalmological and dermatological use. These compositions comprise a means to sequester tears and an ophthalmological drug. The invention is further directed to methods of treating a spectrum of ocular surface disease epitheliopathies including but not limited to dry eye in a human or mammal. The invention is further directed to contact lenses, punctum plugs, pellets or any other device used to deliver drugs to the surface of the eye, coated or infused with compositions of the invention.

Artificial Tears
The eye produces tears that are spread across the eye while blinking. The unique components of tears combined with the blinking process create a tear film that is made up of a mucous layer, an aqueous layer and a lipid layer. This tear film undergoes significant forces that can compromise the integrity of the film including: 1) evaporation, 2) spreading along the ocular surface, which is driven by high shear blinks, 3) draining, which is aided by blink powered lacrimal pumping and 4) low shear flow along the lid tear menisci. To maintain the tear film the film is continually replenished with new tear film components upon each blink, which is triggered by tear breakup and corneal surface nerve excitation. This unique system creates a barrier between the environment and the surface of the eye and removes any irritants that may enter the eye. Further, tears have critical components derived from the blood plasma that are filtered to nourish the ocular surface, reduce infection risk and promote healing of ocular surface tissues. A healthy tear film is necessary for optimal vision just as an unhealthy tear film results in degradation of visual quality and or acuity. There are several events that can cause a reduction in the quantity or quality of tears including intra- or extraocular surgery affecting the ocular surface, dry eye syndrome, dry eye following eye surgery, ocular surface abnormalities from medication and or preservative toxicity, and contact lens solution and or contact lens use.
The tear film is the single most important optical surface. Disturbances that affect the quality and duration of that film on the cornea can dramatically alter quality of vision. These disturbances include reduced volume as measured by Schirmer's test, reduced tear breakup time and reduced tear prism (i.e. the measure of the meniscus along the lower lid where tears flow). Unfortunately, the true measures of a healthy tear film: the thickness and or volume of each layer, the composition within each layer, and the resulting flow properties and stabilization of the tear film are not easily measured. Tear abnormalities manifest as a large range of tear deficiencies from composition abnormalities of one or more of the mucous, aqueous and lipid layers to volume abnormalities including reduction in the thickness and or volume of one or more of these layers and combinations thereof.
Dry eye is a generic term for any abnormality in tear layer thickness or tear layer composition. Dry eye is a common affliction that is caused by the failure of the eye to produce either an adequate amount or maintain a proper balance of tear components in the mucous, aqueous or lipid layers. In either instance, the tear film that normally covers the eye becomes unstable (i.e. no longer covers the entire eye evenly and for a sufficient period.) A sufficient period is typically about eight seconds. Tear film instability causes tears to bead up leaving surface coverage dry spots while failing to remove irritants. These dry spots and irritants cause many of the conditions associated with dry eye such as burning, stinging, itching and tired eyes. Dry eye symptoms can be exacerbated by activities that extend the time between eye blinks such as prolonged computer use and reading. Even mild tear film degradation can reduce the tear break up time ("TBUT") leading to excessive blinking. Blinking may achieve brief moments of complete even tear film coverage where vision is optimized. However, this relief is sporadic and short-lived, and the tear film may become degraded altogether making even frequent blinking ineffective.
Dry eye often occurs following any incisional or ablative procedure that cuts corneal nerves, by reducing the neurologic trigger for tear secretion, or disrupting the external surface creating abnormal spreading and elevated dry spots (dellen). Procedures include: corneal or scleral eye surgery including but not limited to cataract incisions; corneal transplant surgery; glaucoma surgery filtering blebs; and any incisional or ablative corneal surgery. Dry eye following eye surgery can lead to increased pain to the patient, increased infection risk, reduced vision and increased sensitivity to topical medications and preservatives. This increased sensitivity may exacerbate ocular surface disease, have similar symptomatology to dry eye, and result in prolonged epithelial healing times.
Current artificial tear compositions designed to reduce or alleviate dry eye contain polymers that act to mimic the mucous, aqueous and or lipid layers of the tear film to maintain the stability of the film and prevent rapid evaporation. High viscosity artificial tear compositions maintain a longer lasting tear film. However, these compositions cause viscous drag on the eye lids while blinking creating an uncomfortable "sticky" sensation, may be difficult to apply and create crust on the eye lids. These high viscosity compositions also result in blurred vision, typically for several minutes or longer. Low viscosity compositions do not maintain a long-lasting tear film, in part, due to a quicker loss of these aqueous solutions to evaporation and draining aided by blink powered lacrimal pumping.
Current artificial tear compositions for treating dry eye are deficient for many reasons including: i) they maintain a stable tear film for only a short period of time, typically 15 minutes or less after which tear properties return to baseline; ii) higher viscosity formulations only last modestly longer (about 25 minutes or less) and they cause blurred vision for a relatively long period of time (as long as 12 minutes for Refresh® Celluvisc (400 cps), frequently requiring frantic blinking until it thins out enough and stabilizes; iii) they either do not provide an evaporative shield to reduce drying or they have a synthetic and or oily feeling from added lipids or lipid-like substances that do not stabilize the aqueous layer; iv) they do not provide a protective coating over the conjunctiva of the lids and or sufficiently dissolve lipid inspissation within Meibomian glands, both hallmarks of dry eye characterized by such Meibomian gland inspissation and dysfunction ("MGD"); v) they do not provide a physiologically enhanced environment for epithelial cell healing and maintain integrity; vi) they do not prevent, reduce, or help dissolve protein, cholesterol, or dried mucous that may deposit on contact lens surfaces, the corneal epithelium, or the conjunctiva of the lid and irritate or otherwise degrade these cell membranes; vii) they do not significantly promote tear secretion or provide prolonged exposure to and retention of existing tears (prescription drugs such as Restasis® or Xiidra® attempt to increase tear secretion but cause only marginal increases); and viii) they result in higher osmolality and wetting angle making tear spread more difficult and uneven.
Efforts to create evaporative shielding to retain the aqueous tear layer, such as addition of lipids or phospholipids are compromised not only by the synthetic oily unnatural sensation that results, but also by the poor aqueous layer stabilization and very short duration of the instilled drop or prolonged blur of a more viscous slightly longer lasting artificial tear. While the goal is retention of the artificial tear in the cul de sac, which allows each blink to pull more of the artificial tear across the cornea, there is tremendous lacrimal duct drainage via capillary attraction limiting this benefit with conventional tear formulations. The longest lasting artificial tears on the market use high concentrations of viscosity enhancing agents. Celluvisc® (Celluvisc is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.), which uses high viscosity carboxymethyl cellulose ("CMC") 1%-about 350 centipoise ("cps") viscosity, and Refresh Liquigel® (Refresh Liquigel is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.), which uses a blend of 0.35% high viscosity CMC and 0.65% low viscosity CMC—about 70 cps, are two such compositions. These high viscosity artificial tear compositions are long lasting but cause significantly blurred vision lasting up to 10 minutes or longer.
Artificial tear compositions have made progress. This progression has been based on improving difficult to measure TBUT, duration of added wetting, and degree and duration of blur relative to viscosity. The first generation of artificial tears was a simple saline solution with the addition of other electrolytes and certain minerals still found in eye drops today, such as Theratears® (Theratears is a registered trademark of Advanced Vision Research, Inc.). A second generation was developed by adding natural and synthetic polymers, particularly polyvinyl alcohols and cellulose derivative viscosity agents. The most natural feeling and therefore popular formulation from the second generation is Refresh® tears (Refresh is a registered trademark of Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). A third generation was developed by adding hyaluronic acid (hyaluronates). The third generation promotes slower lacrimal duct drainage and greater retention on the eye by providing non-Newtonian flow properties. However, the third generation has only moderate tear layer stabilization and retention. The third generation also decreases the duration of blur and stabilizes the tear film. However, third generation formulations are oilier and their unnatural, 'moisture-lacking' sensation makes them less popular than many products on the market today from the second generation. Further, the third generation has very little demonstrated therapeutic clinical differentiation from the second generation. A fourth generation was developed consisting of lipid-based oil—in—water ("O/W") emulsions. The O/W emulsions of the fourth generation reduces tear film evaporation, stabilizes the lipid layer and prolongs duration. These formulations require the addition of nonionic or cationic surfactants for stabilization. However, these formulations do not promote increased spreading, provide any useful adjunctive aqueous layer stabilizers across the eye, or retard high shear blink lacrimal pumping leading to minimally enhanced retention. These formulations may be limited by the low concentrations of surfactants in conventional artificial tears due to their known toxicity at 1.0% or greater. Additionally, as with the third generation, the fourth-generation artificial tear has minimal therapeutic detectable clinical benefit and a synthetic and less comfortable quality.
Drug Vehicles
Ophthalmic drug efficacy is severely limited by non-compliance. Compliance is adversely affected by the reduced comfort, irritation, and transient quality of vision loss, which lasts minutes to tens of minutes, that is common to many drugs. In particular, these adverse effects are caused by suspensions commonly used for highly lipophilic drugs or the requirement of very high topical concentrations for highly hydrophilic drugs.
The fundamental challenges of ophthalmic delivery vehicles are to improve comfort; minimize visual blur on instillation; increase drug solubility; increase drug residence time and permeation through the cornea to achieve greater intraocular delivery; reduce systemic drug absorption; and cause minimal local adverse effect. Unfortunately, these objectives are not met by current ophthalmic formulations.
Current artificial tear vehicles may be used for drug solubilization, but do not confer increased drug residence time or offer other efficacy benefits. More viscous artificial tears use high concentrations of viscosity enhancing agents, such as Celluvisc® (Celluvisc is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.), high viscosity carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) 1%-about 350 centipoise (cps) viscosity, and Refresh Liquigel® (Refresh Liquigel is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.), a blend of 0.35% high viscosity CMC and 0.65% low viscosity CMC-about 70 cps, but these formulations have prolonged visual blur that may last for 10 minutes or longer, greatly reducing compliance. These artificial tear vehicles also do not leach drug slowly but rather release a lot to drainage.
Gelling agents have been used with some success in increasing drug residence time and improving drug solubility. By definition such agents are instilled as liquid and then almost immediately triggered to a gel phase, where drug residence time is increased and drug release time extended. Timoptic XE® gel (gellan gum; Timoptic XE is a registered trademark of Merck & Co, Inc.), AzaSite® (Azasite is a registered trademark of Insite Vision, Inc.) (polycarbophil, poloxamer), and Besivance® (Besivance is a registered trademark of Bausch & Lomb, Inc.), (polycarbophil, poloxamer), 0.3% alginate Keltrol®) (Keltrol is a registered trademark of CP Kelco U.S., Inc.) are examples of such agents, where polycarbophil-poloxamer gels are commercially known as Durasite® (Durasite is a registered trademark of Insite Vision, Inc.).
However, most gelling agents: 1) increase blur on instillation; 2) cause lid and lash encrusted gel residue; 3) cause irritation/stinging on instillation; and 4) allow substantial active drug to be released systemically and may have systemic side effects. For drugs with minimal systemic side effects, or intended for only acute use of a few days, these issues are somewhat mitigated; but for drugs with higher systemic effect profiles, particularly lipophilic drugs, and more particularly as chronic use drugs, these issues can seriously affect compliance.
Gelling agents experience a phase transition to a highly viscous state, typically achieving 500-1000 cps or more after their transition. Ionic, pH, and thermal triggers are typically used. However, the high shear force of each blink breaks up such phase modified films into discrete particles easily drained into the nasolacrimal duct to the nasal turbinates where residual drug may readily enter systemic circulation. Many gelling agents combine poloxamers of various molecular weights with viscosity enhancers or other gelling agents to create the desired phase transition from liquid on instillation to gel. Typically for those formulations using poloxamer without a second gelling agent, poloxamer concentrations of 15% or greater are needed to achieve gel-transition temperatures at body temperature (37° C.).
Patel (Int. J. of Pharm. Chem. Sci., Vol. 1, October-December 2012) describes the use of poloxamer and a viscosity enhancing agent—a low molecular weight, low viscosity hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC E50LV) 1.5% with brimonidine and demonstrates on testing concentrations of poloxamer with the HPMC from 1% to 19%, no clinically useful gelling capacity in vitro below 15%. Given the dilution of tear film, this typically requires about 21% poloxamer to achieve phase transition to gel on ophthalmic instillation. For example, Qian (Drug Dev. And Industrial Pharmacy, 2010, 36(1): 1340-1347) describes an in-situ gelling system for methazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (glaucoma), using 21% poloxamer 407 and 10% poloxamer 188 to achieve a preferred phase transition to gel. High viscosity gels have been described with similar limitations to in situ gels, specifically trading off the most egregious noncompliance factors of lid and lash residue and viscous lid drag for lesser amounts of both and with less but still substantially prolonged vision blur.
Use of low viscosity agents reverses the predicament. Other compositions attempt to optimize compliance with formulations that have low viscosity agents such that comfort is good, vision is good and surface residue is absent. However, in such formulations, tear dilution is almost immediate, and drug residence time is severely limited versus in situ gels or viscous liquid gels. Therefore, formulations either improve compliance or enhance efficacy but not both. This is often seen with vehicles for dry eye. Refresh Liquigel® at 70 cps and Celluvisc® at 300 cps are such examples where vision blur is noted.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a topical drug vehicle that can maintain a drug on the surface of the eye or skin. This vehicle should be comfortable to the user and increase residency time, absorbency, safety or efficacy of the drug on the surface of the eye or skin.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Drug vehicle compositions and methods of use thereof


A shroud is provided for an electrical connector having a plug interface for mating with a plug assembly and a component interface engaging an electrical component. The shroud includes a body having side walls defining a connector cavity configured to house the connector therein, wherein the side walls engage the connector. A plug opening is defined by a guide surface, and the opening provides access to the connector cavity and defines a mating window that is larger than the plug interface of the connector. A component surface extends substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the plug opening. The component surface is configured to engage the electrical component when the shroud is secured to the component.

This invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more specifically to cable connector assemblies with mating guide surfaces.
Modern electronic systems such as telecommunications systems and computer systems often include large circuit boards called backplane boards which are rack mounted or retained in cabinets and are electrically connected to a number of smaller circuit boards called daughter cards. Electrical connectors establish communications between the backplane and the daughter cards, and other electronic devices within the system.
As more functionality is added to electronic systems and as electrical components become more miniaturized, the demand for circuit board interfaces with multiple interface connections has increased. Typically, the backplane or daughter cards included within these systems have multiple electrical connectors for transmission of high speed signals, low speed signals, power, etc. that are transferred to the various components of the system. At least some known electrical systems include multiple connectors arranged in a vertically stacked or horizontally aligned relationship along a single circuit board, wherein each of the connectors is configured to mate with a corresponding plug assembly. These electrical systems provide the connectors in a close relationship. Generally, the connectors are difficult to reach once the connectors are installed, as the connectors may be positioned in the back of the cabinet housing the circuit board. As such, mating the plug assemblies with the connectors can be difficult, as the plug assembly must be properly aligned with the connector prior to mating. Additionally, some connectors require large forces to be applied to mate or remove the plug assembly with the connector, thus providing stress to the components and possible damage or fatigue to the connector if the plug assembly is not properly aligned.
Additional challenges are produced by the increasing speeds and density of signals transmitted across circuit board interfaces in some electrical systems. In systems of this type, shielding of the signals is a growing concern. In at least some known systems, the plug assemblies are coupled to a shielded cable having a cable braid terminated to a conductive shell of the plug assembly. While a satisfactory mechanical and electrical connection between the cable braid and the shells may result from such a construction, issues still remain with shielding along the mating interface of the plug assembly and the connector.

Connector assembly with mating guide surfaces


A pill storage and dispensing container has a lower storage unit with a plurality of radially arranged individual pill storage compartments. An upper storage unit positioned directly above and nestled within the lower unit also has a plurality of similarly arranged storage compartments as well as one bottomless compartment. A top cover is positioned directly above the upper storage unit, and a dispensing opening in the cover is arranged to communicate with the various compartments in the upper unit as well as with the bottomless compartment and the various compartments of the lower storage unit as the cover is rotated relative to the storage units. A hub shaft releasably interconnects the upper and lower storage units and the top cover while allowing the storage units and cover to rotate relative to on another. Twenty eight individual storage compartments are provided in a compact container which enables pills to be dispensed four times per day over a seven day period.

The present invention relates to a pill storage and dispensing container, and more particularly to such a container having a plurality of individual compartments for storing and dispensing pills over an extended period of time.
Prior to the present invention numerous constructions have been proposed for the storage and dispensing of various medicines in pill form. The term pill as expressed throughout this disclosure is used in its broadest sense and is intended to include any and all discrete forms such as tablets, capsules and the like. The heretofore available constructions have not adequately addressed the storage and dispensing of pills for heavy prescription regimes. For example, current arrangements that store four pill applications per day over a seven day period tend to be extremely bulky and cumbersome. Moreover, since these arrangements are difficult to carry and use, their effectiveness is therefore extremely limited.


The invention provides a sensor arrangement for monitoring the concentrat of moisture and gaseous substances in ambient air. A gas sensitive intermediate layer is sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes, each of which comprises first and second interdigitated conductive elements, which are coupled to an opposite polarity voltage. The top and bottom electrodes are super-imposed on opposite sides of the gas-sensitive intermediate layer, with fingers of the top electrode having a voltage polarity which is opposite that of adjacent super-imposed fingers of the bottom electrode.

The present invention relates to a sensor for monitoring the concentration of moisture and gaseous substances in the air.
In order to provide and ensure a healthy, comfortable and safe environment for both humans and machines, air conditioners and air purifiers are needed to improve the quality of ventilation. Sensor technology serving as feedback in the automatic control of the air channels is important for continuous assessment and monitoring of temperature, moisture and gaseous toxic substances.
Measuring systems of a high technical standard and reliability are already available for the determination of the humidity and gas concentration of the air. These include psychometers or dew point measuring devices for determining humidity and gas chromatography or IR-spectrometry for determining the concentration of gas. However, for economical and handling reasons, and in particular due to their complexity, these laboratory devices are not suited for monitoring in air conditioning systems. In order to determine the humidity and gas concentration in the air in a simpler and less expensive manner, various compact, ceramic sensor elements made of semiconductive metal oxides such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2 --V.sub.2 05, MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4, M.sub.N WO.sub.4, MgFe.sub.2 O.sub.4, ZnCr.sub.2 O.sub.4 --LiZnVO.sub.4 or MgCr.sub.2 O.sub.4 --TiO.sub.2 were developed for moisture sensors and of SnO.sub.2, ZnO, TiO.sub.2, WO.sub.3, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, LaNiO.sub.2, CoO or PtO.sub.2 for gas sensors. Despite their more or less major drawbacks, these sensor systems find use in numerous practical applications.
High sensitivity, large measurement range, short response times and small size are the most important requirements for a gas sensor element. Some of these requirements are mutually compatible. However, some of them conflict with each other, making development of an ideal sensor especially difficult.
Gas sensors of the generic type described above utilize the phenomenon of adsorption of water vapor or of the various gases on the surface of a semiconductive metal oxide, which alters the physical properties of the metal oxide, in particular, its surface conductivity. Known SnO.sub.2 gas sensor are based, for example, on the phenomenon that removal of the oxygen ions adsorbed on the SnO.sub.2 surface lowers the electrical resistance of the sensor under the influence of the reducing gases. The moisture sensor is based on the principle that the resistance of many metal oxides changes logarithmically with increasing humidity. By measuring the changes in electric resistance of the metal oxide under the influence of moisture or various gases, the air moisture or gas concentration can be determined.
It is known, however, that the sensitivity of a sensor depends not only on properties of the sensitive material itself, but also on the measurement method used to determine the change in such properties. Thus, the shape of the electrical contacts ("meter electrodes") plays an important role in the effective detection of the sensor signal. The resistance of the metal oxide diminishes following the absorption of the water molecules or the reducing gases. In order to assess these changes (and thus to determine the moisture content or the gas concentration of the surroundings), two different meter electrode arrangements are presently employed in thick-film technology. Each of these arrangements has its advantages and disadvantages.
FIG. 1 shows the buildup of a prior art sensor having planar interdigitated electrodes, such as is disclosed, for example, in O. Niwa et al., Anal. Chem. 62, 1990, 447-452. First the interdigitated electrode is printed onto an AL.sub.2 O.sub.3 substrate by means of serigraphy. Then this structure is dried at room temperature and baked in an oven at high temperatures. Subsequently, the paste composed of the sensitive metal oxides is pressed onto the previously baked electrode and dried or baked.
This sensor element constructed as a planar interdigitated capacitor has the advantage that the components which are to be detected are able to reach the sensitive layer directly without encumbrance, because the finger-shaped (interdigitated) electrode arrangement is located under this active layer. Therefore this sensor has a short response time. However, a disadvantage of this type of sensor is its high internal resistance, which diminishes its sensitivity. Especially in the low water vapor or gas concentration range, the changes in the sensor resistance do not follow the concentration changes of the detected components sensitively enough. This sensor element is therefore predominantly employed in either relatively high concentration ranges or in cases in which only rapid response behavior is required.
In order to improve the sensor sensitivity, particularly in low water vapor or gas concentrations, it is necessary to reduce the internal resistance of the sensor. For this purpose, gas sensors are known, which have a "sandwich" configuration, in which the two plate electrodes are disposed parallel to each other and the intermediate space is filled with the active layer, as shown in FIG. 2. In the thick-film process, the sensor element is built up on an AL.sub.2 O.sub.3 substrate in three printing procedures as follows: the bottom plate electrode, sensor layer and top plate electrode. After printing each layer, it is dried at room temperature and subsequently baked at high temperatures.
With this configuration, and gas sensor has a low interior resistance and can therefore achieve high sensitivity even in low water vapor or gas concentrations. Because of the two large plate electrodes, it measures via a very thin active layer. However, due to the given technological conditions, despite the close mesh sieve only electrodes having layer thickness greater than the micron range can be produced in the layer thickness process. Due to the fact that the water molecules or the gas molecules first have to penetrate the thick, whole surface cover electrode in order to reach to reach the active layer, the sensor element has a long response time.
One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a sensor arrangement which achieves a high sensitivity, and at the same time has large measurement range, with a short response time.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sensor which achieves these goals, and is also compact.
The sensor arrangement according to the present invention accomplishes the objects described above by utilizing a "sandwich" configuration, in which a substantially planar sensitive layer is disposed between two "plates", each of which has an interdigitated structure, with opposed fingers of the interdigitated structure having an opposite polarity. This design of the electrodes results in a reduced internal resistance of the sensor, so that the sensor according to the invention possesses high sensitivity, even in the case of low concentrations of the components which are to be detected. Since the interdigitated structure does not entirely cover the surface of the sensitive layer, this arrangement also allows gas or water molecules to reach the active layer directly, thereby shortening its response time. Accordingly, a compact sensor arrangement is achieved, which has a short response time and a high sensitivity.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Sensor for monitoring concentration of gaseous substances

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Foedering der Angewandten Forschung e.V.


A snowmobile ski has an upturned front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion. A longitudinally extending rib protrudes from a top of the middle portion and is laterally spaced from a longitudinal centerline of the ski. An aperture is disposed in the longitudinally extending rib for permitting attachment of the ski to a snowmobile. A ramp extends from a first point to at least a second point. The first point is disposed longitudinally between the front portion and the aperture, and closer to the top of the middle portion than the aperture. The second point is disposed longitudinally between the first point and the rear portion, and further away from the top of the middle portion than a lower end of the aperture. The longitudinally extending rib is disposed between the longitudinal centerline and the ramp. A snowmobile having a pair of the above-described skis is also described.

As a snowmobile travels over snow, the upturned front ends of the skis encounter stationary air and forces the air up and around the front portion of the skis. For each ski, this creates a low pressure turbulent region behind the upturned front portion which causes air behind the upturned front portion to move toward the center of the ski until it makes contact with a vertical longitudinally extending rib typically found on snowmobile skis. Due to the forward motion of the vehicle, the air then travels along the rib toward the rear of the ski and is passed by the rest of the snowmobile at approximately the width of the footrests because the footrest are laterally aligned with the skis.
As seen in FIG. 6, when a snowmobile 200 travels over a relatively hard packed undersurface that is covered by a thin layer of light snow, the light snow is displaced by the front of the ski 202 and is picked up by the airflow (indicated by lines 204) around the ski 202 and is also eventually passed by the rest of the snowmobile 200.
Protective components of the snowmobile 200 such as a windshield 206, hand guards, and side panel wind deflectors 208 create a low pressure region (schematically illustrated as area 210) around the driver area when moving forward. This low pressure region pulls the turbulent air and the snow traveling with it (indicated by lines 212) toward the driver area. Once the snow contacts the driver's feet and lower legs and/or other vehicle components around the driver's area, it sticks to them and over time, the driver's lower legs are fully covered in snow which is, as would be understood, cold and unpleasant.
In some skis, a head of a fastener used to connect the ski to the snowmobile protrudes from the rib. The head of the fastener causes the air traveling along the rib to lose speed (relative to the snowmobile).
When the snow carried by the air flow makes contact with the head of the fastener and becomes entrained in the turbulent air behind the front portion of the ski, the overall height of the flow from the ground increases and further contributes to the negative pressure area sucking snow toward the vehicle driver area where it is finally deposited onto the foot boards and around the driver's feet and lower legs.
The turbulence caused by the head of the fastener could be minimized by providing a cap on the head or by recessing the head of the fastener in the rib. However, the turbulence caused by the upturned front portion of the ski would still cause snow to deposit onto the foot boards and around the driver's feet and lower legs.
Therefore, there is a need for a snowmobile ski which at least reduces the amount of snow onto the foot boards and around the driver's feet and lower legs due to the air turbulence caused by the ski.


A tool designed specifically for removing roofing shingles, sub-roofing, and the like from roofs, offered in two examples, one powered pneumatically and one powered electrically, each with an elongated adjustable stalk with handle, the lower end of the stalk with an upper blade that moves forward and rearward with respect to the lower blade, a circular saw rotatably disposed between the blades, the forward movement of the upper blade coinciding with upward movement of the upper blade platform and teeth, thereby lifting roofing materials, the saw cutting roofing nails and the like.

Various devices for removing roofing materials, such as shingles, tar paper, and other sub-roofing have attempted to address the various problems of removal. These problems include (a) removing sub-roofing of various types and thicknesses, (b) removing roofing over the sub-roofing, (c) sheering or removing roofing nails, (d) powering of such a device to eliminate rigorous labor and to save time, (e) powering the device without unduly jarring an operator, (f) adjustability for fitting such a device to various workers, (g) reduction of worker fatigue in operating such a device, and (e) providing a device that lifts the materials to be removed. With such a diverse and difficult number of problems to address in roofing removal, no one device has yet done so successfully. The present invention offers solutions to these and other more minor problems.


Systems and methods for accessing network configuration data identifying one or more working path(s) configured to transport data between source and destination nodes, wherein multiple working paths are prioritized, and including at least one first diversity weight of a first value indicative of at least one communication link in the working path(s), and at least one second diversity weight of a second value indicative of at least one communication link outside of the working path(s); calculating a disjoint protection path with the network configuration data, the first diversity weight, and the second diversity weight; the disjoint protection path including at least the source node and the destination node and at least one communication link that is mutually exclusive from the at least one communication link of the first set; and outputting at least one setup signal to configure the disjoint protection path within the mesh network.

Traffic Engineering (TE) is a technology that is concerned with performance optimization of operational networks. In general, Traffic Engineering includes a set of application mechanisms, tools, and scientific principles that allow for measuring, modeling, characterizing and control of user data traffic in order to achieve specific performance objectives.
A circuit switched network usually includes multiple switch nodes (also referred to as "nodes") which are arranged in a topology referred to in the art as a "mesh network". Within the mesh network, user traffic can be transported between any two locations using predefined connections specifying particular links and/or switch nodes for conveying the user traffic.
The switch nodes in the mesh network are each provided with a control module. The control modules of the switch nodes function together to aid in the control and management of the circuit switched networks. The control modules can run a variety of protocols for conducting the control and management of the circuit switched networks. One prominent protocol is referred to in the art as "Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS)".
Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) is a type of protocol which extends multiprotocol label switching to encompass network schemes based upon time-division multiplexing (e.g. SONET/SDH, PDH, G.709), wavelength multiplexing, and spatial switching (e.g. incoming port or fiber to outgoing port or fiber). Multiplexing, such as time-division multiplexing is when two or more signals or bit streams are transferred over a common channel.
Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching includes multiple types of label switched paths including protection and recovery mechanisms which specifies predefined (1) working connections within a mesh network having multiple nodes and communication links for transmitting data between a source node and a destination node; and (2) protecting connections specifying a different group of nodes and/or communication links for transmitting data between the source node to the destination node in the event that one or more of the working connections fail. Working connections may also be referred to as working paths. Protecting connections may also be referred to as protecting paths and/or protection paths. A first node of a path may be referred to as a headend node or a source node. A last node of a path may be referred to as a tailend node or end node or destination node. Data is initially transmitted over the working connection (such as an optical channel data unit label switched path) and then, when a working connection fails, the headend node or tailend node activates one of the protecting connections for redirecting data within the mesh network.
However, current systems for protection and restoration do not take into account the need for protection paths with disjoint communication links and/or disjoint nodes from the original working path. Systems and methods are needed to determine disjoint protection paths through mesh networks in order to improve network capacity and reliability. Further, systems and methods are needed to prioritize protection for multiple working paths.

Disjoint path computation for arbitrary directed graph


A bilevel continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) respiratory therapy system which applies a prescribed inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) to a patient's respiratory system during inhalation and applies a lower prescribed expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to the respiratory system during exhalation. A blower provides pressurized air at least at the IPAP pressure. A fast response vent valve reduces the pressure applied to the patient to the EPAP level during exhalation and increases the pressure to the set IPAP level during inhalation. Leading edges of pressure changes between the IPAP and EPAP levels are rounded by an adjustable amount to enhance patient comfort and/or to allow the physician to modify the therapy. In an alternate embodiment, the pressure is controlled by controlling the speed of the blower.

CPAP apparatus is well recognized for use in the treatment of a number of respiratory conditions such as, for example, obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea. The apparatus applies a continuous positive pressure through a mask or a nasal cannula to a patient's respiratory system while the patient sleeps. The positive pressure acts as a pneumatic splint for expanding and preventing blockage of the upper airway. Typical CPAP apparatus includes a blower which produces pressurized air, a mask or nasal cannula and a hose connecting between the blower and the mask or cannula. The apparatus also includes a pressure controller. The CPAP pressure is measured either at the mask or at a base unit as delivered to the hose. The pressure is compared with a stored prescribed pressure and errors are used to adjust the pressure, typically by controlling the speed of the blower. The pressure controller also may be programmed to provide variations to the applied pressure, generally either based on time or based on patient need. The applied pressure has been controlled to provide an initial low positive pressure to make the patient more comfortable while falling asleep. As the patient falls asleep, the pressure is ramped up to the prescribed pressure either over a set period of time or after a set low pressure delay time. It also is known that the patient's breathing may be monitored and that the pressure may be automatically adjusted to increase the applied pressure in response to the detection of apnea and/or precursors to apnea, such as snoring, and to gradually decrease the applied pressure in response to the absence of apnea and/or snoring. Apparatus of this type automatically adjusts to the lowest pressure necessary to maintain airway patency.
More advanced CPAP systems provide two air pressure levels to the patient's respiratory system, namely, an inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) during inhalation and a lower expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) during exhalation. For most patients requiring CPAP therapy, a higher IPAP pressure is required to maintain airway patency during inhalation, and a much lower EPAP pressure is sufficient to maintain airway patency during exhalation. Often, the EPAP pressure may be at or only slightly above ambient pressure, while the IPAP pressure is generally set to a pressure greater than the EPAP setting to provide the therapy needed during inspiration. By providing bilevel operation with the lowest necessary EPAP pressure, the work required for the patient to exhale is reduced and therefore the patient's comfort is increased. This in turn promotes patient compliance with the prescribed therapy.
Bilevel CPAP systems typically use one of two methods for controlling pressure. In both systems, a breathing signal is established to determine when the patient inhales and exhales. While the patient inhales, the applied pressure is set to the prescribed IPAP level and, when the patient exhales, the applied pressure is set to the prescribed EPAP level. When a person breathes, there is a slight pause between inspiration and expiration. In some systems, the EPAP and IPAP levels are changed in response to the beginnings of inspiration and expiration and in others the EPAP and IPAP levels are changes in response to the beginnings of the pauses. Some systems modulate the speed of the blower to increase and decrease the applied pressure. In other systems, the blower is set to provide a pressure of at least as high as the higher IPAP level and a vent valve is modulated to reduce the pressure to the prescribed levels during inspiration and expiration. When the blower speed is modulated, the pressure quickly ramps up to the prescribed IPAP pressure when inhalation begins and quickly ramps down to the prescribed EPAP pressure when exhalation begins. There is a slight ramping effect when the pressure is changed due to the inertia of the blower when changing blower speeds. When a vent valve is modulated, there may be a more abrupt change between the IPAP and EPAP levels, resulting in a square wave shape to the applied pressure. In both types of systems, the waveform will tend to have a slight pressure dip at the onset of inhalation followed by a sudden increase in pressure as the level increases towards the desired IPAP level. A short duration pressure spike typically is present during the onset of exhalation followed by a sudden decrease in pressure as the level decreases towards the desired EPAP level.
In the past, each commercially available bilevel CPAP system has had a particular profile to the applied pressure waveform based on the particular response of the blower and/or vent valve and the related control circuitry. The waveform has not been adjustable to enhance the comfort of the patient or to allow the physician to modify the therapy. The only waveform control available to the physician or therapist is to set the prescribed IPAP and EPAP pressures.

Bilevel CPAP system with waveform control for both IPAP and EPAP


The present invention relates to a surgical microscopy system, comprising a surgical microscope, a stand comprising a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope being mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base, and wherein a conventionally provided lead is replaced by one or more leads fulfilling the function of the single lead together. The present invention also relates to a surgical microscopy system, wherein data or/and energy is transmitted to the surgical microscope by wireless transmission.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical microscopy system comprising a surgical microscope and a stand for the surgical microscope.
The surgical microscope can be used by a surgeon to obtain an enlarged image of a field for surgery during surgery. The stand comprises, starting from a base of the stand, a plurality of pivotally connected arms of the stand, onto one of which the surgical microscope is mounted. The arms are movable with respect to one another, for instance by pivoting, so as to change a spatial position of the surgical microscope relative to that of the base and, thus, relative to the field for surgery. In order to take some strain off the surgeon and in order to enable a spatial positioning of the surgical microscope to be as precise as possible, the stand comprises means for balancing the surgical microscope such that substantially independent of the position of the surgical microscope relative to the base, smallest possible forces need to be exerted onto the surgical microscope or one of the arms of the stand in order to spatially move the surgical microscope.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Examples of a mechanical construction of such balanced stands are known, for instance, from German laid-open patent applications DE 43 20 443 A1 or DE 43 34 069 A1.
Apart from the mechanical function of holding the surgical microscope above the field for surgery, the stand also functions to guide various leads necessary in an operation of the surgical microscope along at least a part of the arms of the stand to the surgical microscope. These "leads" comprise, for instance, electrical wires for supplying driving power to a power consumer comprised in the surgical microscope. Examples of such power consumers are a motor operator for operating a zoom system of an optical arrangement of the surgical microscope, a data acquisition system, such as a camera or a distance metering system, and a data display unit for feeding data and images to be viewed by the surgeon into an optical path of the optical arrangement of the surgical microscope. These "leads" further comprise data lines for supplying data acquired by the data acquisition system, for instance, to a data recording system or a data processing system disposed, respectively, at a distance from the surgical microscope und, additionally, for transmitting data to the surgical microscope, for instance for being displayed to the surgeon by means of the data display system.
Further more, the "leads" also comprise light guides, in order to guide light required to illuminate the field for surgery to the same. The light source for this light is conventionally disposed on the base of the stand and light emitted by the light source coupled into a light guide and led along the arms of the stand to the surgical microscope and emitted by the surgical microscope in a direction of an object plane of the surgical microscope.
However, even carefully balanced stands have turned out to have disadvantages for the surgeon during practical use in that remaining forces of the stand tend to move the surgical microscope into one direction or the other.
In particular, it has turned out that the stand, even if it is satisfactorily balanced out for one position of the surgical microscope, still develops remaining forces in a different position of the surgical microscope.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a surgical microscopy system comprising a stand having improved balancing.
For achieving this object, means are provided which dispose of the need to guide leads of one or another kind along at least some of the arms.
The inventors found that the remaining forces referred to above are generated by those leads and that these remaining forces are eventually generated by a local distortion of the leads in those areas where the leads extend from one arm of the stand to the next. Due to the displacement of the arms of the stand relative to one another, these distortions change and, thus, the remaining forces generated by these leads change. This is also the reason why they cannot be compensated for in substantially all spatial positions of the surgical microscope by balancing.
In order to put the concept of the present invention of reducing the remaining forces attributable to the leads into practice, one embodiment of the present invention involves replacing a conventional lead of little flexibility by a more flexible lead, and, in particular, replacing a conventional lead of a given thickness and stiffness by two separate leads of decreased overall thickness and stiffness.
Further more, an embodiment is provided wherein a transmission by means of a lead is replaced by a wireless transmission by an emitter disposed at a distance from the surgical microscope directly to a receiver disposed at the surgical microscope or from an emitter disposed on the surgical microscope to a receiver disposed at a distance from the surgical microscope.
The embodiments of the present invention described in the following have in common that they comprise a surgical microscope and a stand having a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base.
A base of the stand may be a footing of the stand placed on the floor of a room. The base of the stand may, however, also be a fixing attachment for fixing the stand to a ceiling or a wall of the room or any other object, such as a further stand.
In one embodiment of the present invention a light emitter for illuminating a field for surgery is provided on the surgical microscope, and the surgical microscopy system comprises a light guiding system for supplying light to the light emitter. Herein, at least two separate light guides are provided, which guide the light together to a single light emitter. It has turned out that a light guide with a given light guiding diameter has a larger stiffness than two light guides with only half the given diameter each combined. The at least two light guides are supported on at least one pair of pivotally connected arms of the stand and are attached to each arm of the pair at an attachment position on the respective arm, wherein the two attachment positions are disposed at a distance from each other. The at least two separate light guides still exert remaining forces depending on a position from the position of the pair of arms of the stand in relation to one another, these remaining forces, however, are generally lower than the remaining forces exerted by a conventionally used single light guide.
A further embodiment provides a light source for supplying light to the light emitters, which light source is disposed directly on the surgical microscope. Such an approach has not been taken so far since powerful illumination systems for surgical microscopes make use of light guides, for the supply of light throughout. Disposing the source of light directly on the surgical microscope increases the weight thereof and is thus associated with a certain disadvantage. This disadvantage, however, is more than compensated for by the fact that the remaining forces conventionally created by the light guide are avoided due to the ability of the stand to balance out the higher weight of the surgical microscope.
In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device such as a light emitting diode is used as the light source. The inventors have found that modern semiconductor devices are capable of producing a comparatively high output, which, surprisingly, is sufficient to illuminate a field for surgery in practice to a satisfactory extend. Accordingly, the inventors deviated from the approach laid out by the state of the art, i.e. supply of increasing light output to the surgical microscope by means of ever thicker light guides. In contrast, they have proposed an entirely different solution as compared to this conventional approach, in particular arranging the light source in the form of a semiconductor device on the surgical microscope itself.
In an exemplary embodiment, for generating electrical power (in particular current) and for supplying electrical power (current) to the light emitter or light source, respectively, at least one electrochemical cell disposed on the surgical microscope is provided, such as one of a battery, an accumulator and a fuel cell. This makes it possible to avoid a power supply lead for the light source extending along the arms of the stand.
A further embodiment provides two independent electrochemical cells on the surgical microscope, wherein only one of the cells is sufficient to enable operation of the surgical microscope, which means, herein in particular, the operation of a light source. An exchange of a used-up cell is then possible without interrupting an operation of the surgical microscope.
Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of semiconductor devices are provided as light sources, wherein these emit light in different wavelengths ranges, respectively. Light of different colour of the individual light sources is then superposed in such a manner that a field for surgery is illuminated by superposed light, a colour of which approximates that of white light agreeable to the surgeon.
Such a superposition can be effected such that it takes place at the field for surgery only, for instance by having sources of different colour emit their light directly to the field for surgery. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, however, a light mixer for generation of a superposition is provided, wherein the light mixer provides a light reflecting geometry, wherein at least a part of the light generated by the light sources is reflected once or more.
In an exemplary embodiment, the light mixer takes the form of a light guide which is disposed around at least a part of the circumference of the objective lens of the surgical microscope.
In a further exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided, which emits light and emits at least a portion of this light onto a phosphor (luminophor), which transforms incident light into light of a certain colour by luminescence, which can then be emitted onto the field for surgery. The semiconductor device may be, for instance, a light emitting diode emitting light in the ultraviolet, light of which is incident on a layer of a phosphor, which may contain one or more phosphors such that light emitted by this layer leaves an impression of about white colour. Equally, it is possible that the semiconductor may be a light emitting diode which emits blue light. A portion of this blue light may be used for illuminating the field for surgery, whereas a different portion of this light is incident on a layer of a phosphor, which is configured such that it transforms blue light into red or yellow light, for instance, which is equally used for illuminating the field for surgery. The light emitted by the blue LED and the light emitted by the phosphor can also be mixed in accordance with techniques described above in order to obtain an illumination light of the field for surgery which is about white and as homogeneous as possible.
Apart from the embodiment with a semiconductor device as the light source it is possible to use an organic device, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED), or a light emitting polymer (LEP).
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the light emitted by the light emitter is introduced into the surgical microscope from an outside, for instance by means of a light guide, whilst in addition, a photocell is provided on the surgical microscope, onto which a portion of the light supplied to the surgical microscope is incident, in order to generate current for operating one or more current consuming components of the surgical microscope by means of an optoelectrical process. It is then possible to do without a current supply lead conventionally disposed along the arms of the stand and, thereby, to reduce the remaining forces generated by the conventional current lead.
In an exemplary embodiment, a beam splitter is provided, through which light supplied to the light emitter passes in order to split the portion of light off which is then directed onto the photocell. In a further exemplary embodiment, the beam splitter is wavelength-selective and effects a splitting function substantially only for a range of wavelengths of the light supplied, which range is of no significant importance to the illumination of the field for surgery.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a device powered by electric current is disposed on the surgical microscope, and the surgical microscopy system comprises a power supply for operating this device. Herein, the power supply for leading current to or from the surgical microscope, respectively, comprises an electrically insulated wire each, which wires are separate from one another and extend as separate wires inbetween two attachment portions on different arms of the stand of a pair of arms pivotally connected to each other.
In contrast to a pair of wires of a current supply lead which is conventionally firmly fixed together, a wire separate from another wire provides lower remaining forces, similar to what has been described above in relation to the supply of light by two separate light guides.
In an exemplary embodiment, the two wires are a "twisted pair", i.e. mutually twisted wires.
According to a further embodiment, the power supply comprises an AC generator, an induction emitter supplied without operating power by the alternator, the induction emitter being attached to a first arm of the stand, and an induction receiver, the induction receiver being mounted to a second arm of the stand such as to face the induction emitter and to be movable relative thereto, the second arm being pivotally connected to the first arm. The induction emitter then supplies operating power to the device which is driven by electrical current.
In accordance with a further embodiment, the power supply comprises a contact rail disposed on a first arm and a sliding contact disposed adjacent to the first contact rail, wherein the sliding contact is disposed on a different arm which is pivotally connected to the first arm. Herein, a current lead, which, for instance, bridges a joint between adjacent arms of the stand is rendered redundant altogether.
According to a further embodiment, at least a mechanically supporting component of an arm of the stand is configured to form part of a current path to or from the device powered by electrical current. This current path provided by the mechanically supporting component of the arm of the stand then replaces a conventionally provided current lead such that remaining forces exerted by this conventional current lead no longer exist.
According to a further embodiment, the current required for operation of the current consuming device is not provided by a current lead, but the required energy is transmitted by wireless transmission, for which purpose a radiation emitter is provided at a distance from the surgical microscope and a corresponding radiation receiver is provided on the surgical microscope. The receiver transforms the received radiation into an electrical current for operation of the device. The energy radiation may be, for instance, infrared radiation, microwave radiation or laser radiation.
In an exemplary embodiment, the emitter has a distinctly directional characteristic, which is adjustable in dependence of the position of the surgical microscope such that a large portion of the radiation energy emitted by the radiation emitter is incident on the radiation receiver.
According to a further embodiment, the power supply comprises an electrochemical cell disposed on a base of the stand, such as an accumulator or the like.
This is particularly advantageous when the base of the stand is configured to be placed on the floor of the room and therefore is supposed to have an increased weight for securing a stability of the stand. In these embodiments, power supply leads for supplying energy to the surgical microscopy system are not necessary, which facilitates the work of the surgeon who conventionally has to pay attention not to stumble over leads running across the floor of the operation theatre.
As an alternative solution for this problem, induction emitters attached to the floor or disposed in the floor are provided which work in cooperation with an induction receiver disposed on the base of the stand for transmitting energy to the surgical microscopy system.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the surgical microscope is provided with a data acquisition unit or a data display unit, and the surgical microscopy system comprises a data transmission system for transmitting data to the data display unit or away from the acquisition unit. In contrast to a coaxial cable or the like conventionally used for these purposes a pair of wires is used, which wires are separate from one another. These wires extend separately from one another between two attachment portions or points, which attachment portions are disposed on a pair of pivotally connected arms of the stand, similarly to the embodiment described above in connection with the description of the pair of current supply wires. Also, the possibilities of a "twisted pair" of wires, of the use of contact rails and sliding contacts, as well as using a mechanically supporting component of arms of the stand for electrical data transmission, which have been described in connection with the current supply, are equally applicable here.
In accordance with a further embodiment, a transmission system comprises a data modulator and an induction transmitter powered by the data modulating unit. The induction transmitter is mounted on a first arm of the stand and the induction receiver mounted to a second arm of the stand in such a manner that it faces the induction transmitter and is movable with respect thereto, wherein the at least first arm and the second arm are pivotally connected, and wherein a data demodulator is coupled to the induction receiver.
If the surgical microscope comprises a data display unit, in an exemplary embodiment, a data demodulator is coupled to the data display unit. This coupling may extend over further arms of the stand wherein these, in turn, comprise pairs of induction transmitter and induction receiver.
If the surgical microscope comprises a data acquisition unit, in an exemplary embodiment, the data acquisition unit is coupled to the data modulator, wherein here, also, the coupling may extend over several arms of the stand, pairs of which comprise induction transmitters and induction receivers facing each other.
According to a further embodiment, data transmission is provided by a light guide, which is disposed along the arms of the stand. Due to the high bandwidth of the data transmission through light guides it is possible to save a plurality of conventional data transmission lines.
Furthermore, it is possible to have a light guide for data transmission together with a light guide for supplying illumination to the surgical microscope. For instance, a light source can be modulated for data transmission and this modulation can be detected at the surgical microscope, or light for its transmission can be coupled into the light guide for supplying the illumination light coupled out again at the surgical microscope. In an exemplary embodiment, light for data transmission is coupled into merely one glass fibre or a few glass fibres of light guides for transmission of the illumination light and that only light of this one or few glass fibres is demodulated at the other end of the light guide.
According to further embodiments, wave guides for providing electromagnetic radiation are disposed on arms of the stand and are connected or jointed, at locations where adjacent arms of the stand are pivotally connected, without there being inacceptably high transmission losses.
In accordance with a further embodiment, an optocoupler is provided for transmission of data from one arm of the stand to an adjacent arm of the stand. Components of the optocoupler, i.e. transmitter and receiver, are then movable relative to each other, together with the pivotally connected arms of the stand, without being too detrimental to a transmission quality.
According to a further embodiment, transmission is provided in a wireless form, by having a transmitter or/and receiver for data disposed on the surgical microscope and a corresponding receiver or transmitter disposed at a distance from the surgical microscope. Between transmitter and receiver, a transmission is carried out electromagnetically through wireless transmission. Wireless transmission processes according to at least one of blue tooth standard, IEEE 802.11b standard, and hyperLAN standard are used in exemplary embodiments.
According to a further embodiment, the data are compressed before their transmission by the transmitter and decompressed after their receipt. This enables transmission of large amounts of data in the form of image data in a satisfactory manner. Compression according to a process is used in an exemplary embodiment, wherein conventionally only information with regard to a part of an image to be transmitted is transmitted, which part has changed in comparison to a previously transmitted image. An example for such a process is known as MPEG4 which provides a further advantage in that it allows to use one of a substantially static background and a dynamic foreground.
Such a compression process is typically particularly effective for images taken through a surgical microscope, since the scenario in a field for surgery changes only very slowly in practice and then only in small areas of the field for surgery where the surgeon carries out manipulations with his instruments.


A method and apparatus for maintaining the developing performance of an automatic developing and printing system which develops a photographic film exposed, and automatically makes a print from the developed film by using a photographic paper. A photosensitive material is employed on which the pattern having portions different in the quantity of light has been formed by exposure and by development. This photosensitive material functions in the same way the photographic material having the control strips. Hence, the processing performance of the apparatus can be determined without use of the photographic material having the control strips which is expensive and troublesome to handle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus in which the processing performance of a photosensitive material developing is detected, and necessary control is carried out for maintaining the performance within an allowable condition, and an apparatus for practicing the method. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining the developing performance of an automatic developing and printing system which develops a photographic film exposed, and automatically makes a print from the developed film by using a photographic paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
An apparatus is well known in the art in which an exposed photographic film is developed by immersing it in a processing solution, and the film thus developed is automatically subjected to a printing processing to make a print thereof from the film thus developed. An example of the apparatus of this type is disclosed by Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. Sho-64-15741.
The apparatus thus disclosed operates as follows. First, a film cartridge (patrone) accommodating a photographic film which has been exposed but not developed yet, is loaded in the apparatus. Under this condition, the apparatus is started. The apparatus automatically develops the film, and then exposes a photographic paper through the film thus developed. Upon the exposure, the apparatus develops the photographic paper thus exposed, to make a print.
The above-described automatic developing and printing apparatus which develops a photographic film, and make a print from it, has been generally installed at camera stores so as to be effectively used to develop photographic materials to provide prints quickly.
In the above-described automatic developing and printing apparatus including the photographic film developing unit and the printing unit (i.e., a color photographic paper developing unit), the developing performance is controlled separately for the film developing unit and for the photographic paper developing unit so that changes in developing performance are detected and corrected. These changes result from the condensation of the processing solution which is due to the change in temperature of the processing solution or evaporation of the latter, and changes in density of the processing solution which is due to fluctuation in the quantity of supplement solution thereto.
In general, the developing unit and the printing unit are controlled as follows. A photographic film or paper on which control strips (a pattern corresponding to LD, HD, D.sub.max, and D.sub.min) have been formed by exposure and which has not been developed yet, is processed with the developing unit and the printing unit whereas a print is made from an eyeball negative film (a film on which an eyeball-shaped gray pattern has been formed by exposure), thereby to measure the density thereof, so that the conditions of the developing unit and those of printing unit are controlled separately.
Recently, a method has been employed in which an ND filter is built in the light source section of a printing unit, and a densitometer is arranged at the paper discharging outlet thereof, so that operations corresponding to the exposure and print of the eyeball-shaped pattern and the measurement of density thereof are automatically carried out.
Published Examined Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 3-69094 discloses an example of the processing-performance controlling method, in which the condition of a developing solution is detected by using the control strips thereby to control the amount of supplement solution thereto. On the other hand, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 2-162348 discloses a method in which reference data are provided for each of the factors that adversely affect the processing operation, and the condition of the current processing operation is determined by using the control strips, and the results of determination are compared with the reference data to discover what factor adversely affects the processing operation.
However, a photographic material with the control strips is expensive. Furthermore, in order to prevent the change with time of the photographic material, it is necessary to store the photographic material in a refrigerator. Therefore, it is necessary to restore the temperature of the photographic material to room temperature before it is used. Thus, use of the photographic material with the control strips is rather troublesome, and not economical.
On the other hand, the overall finish of a print depends on the accumulation of errors in both the developing unit and the printing unit. Therefore, it is necessary to control the process to eliminate changes in the overall finish, which are caused by individual errors in the developing or printing unit or by the synergism of those individual changes. This control can be made only by a person skilled in the art.
On the other hand, when, in the apparatus, one condition changes to adversely affect the operation of the apparatus, sometimes the adverse effect may be eliminated by a change in another condition. In this case, correction of the conditions is unnecessary; however, it is difficult to determine that the correction is unnecessary.
Furthermore, the overall finish of a print is determined by the synergetic effect of the performance of the photographic film developing section, the performance of the printing optical system, and the performance of the photographic paper developing section. For instance, a print gradation reproducing characteristic with respect to an object depends on the synergetic effect of photographic film developing contrast performance and photographic paper developing contrast performance. On the other hand, as for a particular object, the printing density depends on the synergetic effect of film developing LD and HD performance, the photometric exposure performance of the printing optical system, and photographic paper developing LD and HD performance. Hence, even if the photographic film developing performance and the photographic paper developing performance are mutually shifted to an extent, the overall finish of the print depends on whether the synergetic effect of them acts to increase the error or whether it acts to decrease it.
Hence, in order to control the photographic film developing performance and the photographic paper developing performance separately, those performances must be controlled excessively strictly for the aimed overall finish. That is, the frequency of maintenance operations, such as replacement of the mother liquor, is increased remarkably. On the other hand, it can be made only by the person skilled in the art whether or not the developing performance is controlled for the aimed overall finish. This is another problem to be solved.

Method and apparatus for maintaining processing performance in automatic developing and printing system


A thermosensitive recording material having a high whiteness and capable of forming thereon colored images having an excellent oil and plasticizer resistance and persistency over a long time, comprises a thermosensitive colored image forming layer formed on a sheet substrate and comprising, together with a dye precursor and a binder, a color-developing agent comprising at least one compound of the formulae (I) to (VIII). ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 =H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl or cycloalkyl, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 =H, alkyl, aryl aralkyl, alkenyl or acetyl, or are fuse-bonded to form a cyclic structure, R.sub.4 =alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, piperidino, succinimide, .rho.-benzylphenyl, etc., R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 =H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl cycloalkyl, etc., or are fuse-bonded to form ##STR2## R.sub.7, R.sub.9, and R.sub.11 =unsubstituted or substituted aromatic groups with alkyl, alkoxyl, acyl, etc., R.sub.8, R.sub.10 and R.sub.12 =unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkenyl with alkyl, alkoxyl, acyl, nitro or halogen, and R.sub.13 =H or unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, aryl aralkyl or alkenyl with alkyl, alkoxyl, acyl, nitro or halogen.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermosensitive recording material on which colored images are formed by heating. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thermosensitive recording material capable of forming thereon colored images having a high persistency for a record storage thereof for a long time.
The thermosensitive recording material of the present invention is able to record thereon colored images exhibiting an excellent resistance to fading caused by moisture, heat, oily and fatty substances, and plasticizers, and thus has a superior stability when stored for a long time, and therefore is useful as colored image-recording sheets, sheets for use in facsimiles, word processors, CRT image printers and cash dispensers, as passenger tickets, commuter's passes, labels such as POS labels, cards such as prepaid cards, and as transit passes.


Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for providing radiation shielding for non-invasive inspection systems. An embodiment of the apparatus may include a radiation shield having a plurality of slats, where each of the plurality of slats comprises a radiation attenuating material. The radiation shield may further include a support structure configured to hold the slats in a non-planar shape. An embodiment of the method may include gathering a plurality of slats, each slat comprising a radiation attenuating material. The method may further include disposing the slats to form a shielding curtain having a non-planar shape. The method may also include positioning the shielding curtain to cover an opening of a scanner.

1. Field of the Invention
The technology disclosed herein relates to radiation shielding systems generally, and more particularly, to a method, apparatus, and system for providing radiation shielding for non-invasive inspection systems.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Explosive detection systems and other types of inspection systems typically use radiation-based scanners, such as x-ray line scanners, x-ray CT scanners, and coherent x-ray scatter scanners, to examine bags (pieces of passenger baggage) for the presence of one or more alarm objects (explosives, weapons, illegal drugs, contraband, product components, and the like). In certain types of inspection systems, such as explosive detection systems, one or more shielding curtains typically blocks the entrance and exit of an x-ray scanner, since highly concentrated dose of high-energy radiation from the scanner can damage human tissue if the dose is too high. Some shielding curtains (hereinafter, "sheet curtains") are formed of solid sections of material. More commonly, radiation-shielding curtains (hereinafter, "strip curtains") are formed of multiple adjoining slats, each of which is aligned with adjacent slats to form a common plane.
FIG. 1, a sectional, perspective view of a conventional explosive detection system (EDS) 100, provides an example of how radiation-shielding curtains are typically arranged. In FIG. 1, a conveyor belt 101, positioned on a base 102, extends from one end of the EDS 100 to the opposite end of the EDS 100. The base 102 houses one or more conveyor belt motors (not shown), a computer (not shown), and one or more components of an x-ray scanner 103. A housing 104 rests on the base 102. A tunnel 105 formed in the housing 104 extends from one end of the housing 104 to the opposite end of the housing 104, and encloses the conveyor belt 101.
The x-ray scanner 103, positioned within a center portion of the housing 104, includes a scanning area 106, into which the conveyor belt 101 introduces one or more scannable objects. Configurations of the scanning area 106 will vary depending on the type of x-ray scanner used. For example, if an x-ray CT scanner is used, the scanning area 106 will be enclosed by a circular, movable gantry, to which an x-ray source and one or more detectors are fixedly attached.
Multiple, closely-spaced, strip curtains 107 hang suspended within the housing 104 over a portion of the conveyor belt 101. The portion of the conveyor belt over which the strip curtains 107 are positioned extends from an entrance 108 of the EDS 100 to an entrance 109 of the scanning area 106. In a like manner, parallel, planar rows of strip curtains 110 hang suspended within the housing 104 over another portion of the conveyor belt 101. This other portion of the conveyor belt 101 extends from the exit 111 of the scanning area 106 to the exit 112 of the housing 104.
In use, pieces of luggage (hereinafter, "bags") may be loaded onto the conveyor belt 101 at the entrance 108 of the tunnel 105. Supported by the conveyor belt 101, the bags proceed through the EDS 100 in the direction of arrow 113 (from the EDS 100 entrance 108 to the EDS 100 exit 112). Enroute through the EDS 100, each bag passes through the scanning area 106 and is scanned by the x-ray scanner 103. After being scanned, the bags are transported by the conveyor belt 101 to the EDS 100 exit 112 and ejected from the EDS 100.
Aligning strip curtains in a common plane in the conventional manner, as shown in FIG. 1, has disadvantages. Chief among such disadvantages is that bags occasionally jam as they pass through the shielding curtains. When shielding curtains are arranged in parallel, planar rows, jamming occurs because most or all of the slats will contact a bag simultaneously, which traps the bag(s) in the strip curtain(s) even though the conveyor belt supporting the bag(s) continues to move. Another disadvantage associated with conventional strip curtains, such as those illustrated in FIG. 1, is that the slats from one strip curtain often entangle the slats of one or more other strip curtains.
One or more solutions are needed, which attenuate radiation produced by a radiation-based scanner while simultaneously permitting objects to enter and exit the scanner without jamming.

Method and apparatus for providing radiation shielding for non-invasive inspection systems


In a data erase operation of the present invention, a drain terminal is opened. A negative voltage of about -10 V and a voltage of about 5 V are applied to a cell gate and a source terminal, respectively. The voltage of about 1-2 V is applied to a P well terminal and an N well terminal. A ground potential is provided to a substrate. A voltage which is lower than the voltage of the source terminal and higher than the substrate voltage (ground voltage) is applied to a P well and an N well between a source diffusion layer and the substrate. Thus, an electric field generated between a source and a floating gate realizes the erase by means of F-N tunneling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of erasing information (data) stored in nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, more particularly, nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices such as EEPROM including a floating gate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is a semiconductor memory in which written data is not lost even when a power source is turned off. This memory has been heretofore diversely researched and developed. Since EPROM (Electrically Programmable Read Only Memory) and a flash memory have a memory cell structure advantageous for a fine formation, they are suitable for high integration of a device. More specifically, since a flash memory can electrically write and erase data, it is receiving attention as a means of replacement of magnetic media, etc. For writing the data onto this flash memory, a channel hot electron method or F-N (Fowler-Nordheim) tunneling is used so as to inject electrons in a floating gate. On the other hand, a known method of erasing the data is drawing out of electrons out from the floating gate by F-N tunnel phenomenon occurring between a source and the floating gate.
Such data erasing methods include a so-called source high voltage erasing method. In this method, a high voltage (for example, 12 V) is applied to a cell source constituting a cell and having MOS structure and then a cell gate (control gate) is grounded, whereby a high electric field is generated between the source and the floating gate, so that the F-N tunnel tunneling is produced. For this method, it is necessary to form a source-side diffusion layer having a high voltage-resistant structure. Thus, this method has a problem, i.e., a difficulty in finely forming the cell.
An erasing method has therefore been proposed in which a source potential is reduced. FIG. 1 shows a technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,691. In this drawing, the memory cell has the structure described below. An N-type impurity diffusion layer, namely, source 2 and drain 3 are formed on P-type silicon substrate 1. Floating gate 5 is also formed on P-type silicon substrate 1 between the source and the drain through gate oxide film 4. Control gate (cell gate) 7 is further formed on floating gate 5 through inter-gate oxide film 6. Source diffusion layer 2, drain diffusion layer 3, cell gate 7 and P-type silicon substrate 1 are connected to voltage terminals VS, VD, VG and Vsub, respectively.
For this flash memory cell, a voltage of about 5 V and a negative voltage of about -10 V are applied to VS and VG, respectively. A high electric field is thus generated between the source and the floating gate. Consequently, erasing is realized by means of the F-N tunnel tunneling. FIG. 2 is a table showing an operating voltage in this case. In this erasing method, compared to the above-described source high voltage erasing method, the high voltage is not applied to a source terminal. Thus, the source-side diffusion layer does not need the high voltage-resistant structure. Therefore, a fine cell is easily formed. It is also said that this method can reduce the generation of holes having high energy due to inter-band tunneling and can improve the reliability of the gate oxide film under the floating gate.
This improved erasing method is effective for the formation of a fine cell, because a source voltage is reduced. However, the electric field is high between the source and the floating gate. Thus, when many electrons are stored in the floating gate (i.e., when the data is written), a silicon band is considerably curved on the surface of the source diffusion layer near a channel and thus an inter-band tunneling current may be increased. As a result, it is difficult to completely prevent the deterioration of quality of the gate oxide film under the floating gate. In this case, the following solution is suggested. That is, for the purpose of reducing the inter-band tunneling current, the source diffusion layer is constituted of a graded junction in order to relax the electric field between the source-side diffusion layer and the substrate. However, in this solution, the area of the source diffusion layer is increased. Thus, this solution has the difficulty in achieving an original object, namely, in forming a fine cell.

Method of erasing data in nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices


Disclosed are a method, information processing system and wireless communications device for suppressing interference. The method includes receiving a transmission from each of a target (104) and interfering device (106). A set of pilot sequences (604) for an interfering device (106) and the target device (104) are determined. A channel estimate (608) for the target device (104) and the interfering device (106) is determined. A set of combining weights (610) associated with each pilot sequence for the interfering device (106) is determined as a function of the determined channel estimates (608) of the target device (104) and the interfering device (106). At least one pilot symbol estimate (612) for each pilot sequence in the set of pilot sequences for the interfering device is determined as a function of the received transmission and the determined set of combining weights (610).

In IEEE 802.16 Uplink Partial Usage of SubChannels ("PUSC") permutation, the minimal signal unit for receiver processing is a tile as shown in FIG. 2. A tile comprises four consecutive tones in the frequency domain and three consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access ("OFDMA") symbols. Six tiles chosen according to a pseudo random hopping sequence comprise a subchannel. A collection of subchannels used to transmit to a particular user is called an allocation. The OFDMA tiles hop around in a frequency-time grid to facilitate tone-hopping for interference mitigation where this hopping pattern is unique for each cell. The four pilot symbols (tones) existing in a tile are simply binary-phase key shifting ("BPSK") symbols and therefore there are only a total of 16 possible different pilot sequences.
In the PUSC uplink of an 802.16 system, a base station receives a PUSC tile from a desired user (the desired user is also known as a target device). This tile may be interfered with by one or more PUSC tiles received from other sectors and/or another cells. One way to suppress the interfering tiles is to employ an array of receive antennas at the base station and use one of the interference suppression methods known in the art. These interference suppression methods can be broken into two categories: ones that require knowledge of the pilot symbols to both the desired user and all interference and methods that do not require knowledge of the interferers' pilot symbols but require an estimate of the spatial correlation matrix of the interference.
The first set of methods (the ones that require knowledge of the interferers' pilot symbols) clearly work well only if the interferers' pilot symbols are known. However, the knowledge of the interferers' pilot symbols is very difficult in cellular systems especially when the interferers are in other cells. The other category of interference suppression methods try to estimate the spatial correlation matrix to the interference by first estimating the channel to the desired user and then canceling an estimate of the desired user's signal on the pilots, thereby leaving only interference. One problem with these methods is that if the interference is very strong the channel estimation to the desired user is poor which results in some of the desired signal still being present when the spatial correlation matrix to the interference is estimated. The resulting interference suppression weights then suppress some of the desired signal along with the interference resulting in poor performance.
Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Interference suppression for partial usage of subchannels uplink


A memory device may be provided, including a substrate; one or more bottom electrodes arranged over the substrate; one or more switching layers arranged over the one or more bottom electrodes; and a plurality of top electrodes arranged over the one or more switching layers. Each of the one or more bottom electrodes may include at least one corner tip facing the switching layer, and an angle of each of the at least one corner tip may be less than ninety degrees.

Non-volatile memory devices are often used in various consumer electronic products such as smart phones and tablets. One type of non-volatile memory device is the resistive random access memory (RRAM) device. A RRAM device typically includes a switching material (such as a dielectric material) sandwiched between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. The switching material is normally insulating. However, when a sufficiently high voltage difference (set voltage difference) is applied between the top and bottom electrodes, the switching material can become conductive through the formation of conducting filament(s) therein. The switching material can be made insulating again by breaking the conducting filament(s) with a sufficiently low voltage difference (reset voltage difference) between the top and bottom electrodes. When the switching material is conductive, the switching material has a low resistance and the RRAM device may be referred to as being in a low resistance state (LRS). On the other hand, when the switching material is insulating, the switching material has a high resistance and the RRAM device may be referred to as being in a high resistance state (HRS).
A typical conductive filament formed within the switching material of a RRAM device can be about a few atoms in size. Further, the formation of conducting filament(s) within the switching material is often random in terms of their sizes and locations. For instance, the paths along which the conductive filament(s) are formed in a switching cycle may differ from those in another switching cycle. In addition, incomplete rupture at certain portions of the switching material may occasionally occur, resulting in the formation of differently sized conducting filament(s) in the switching material. Therefore, the resistance of the switching material, and hence, the RRAM device, often varies greatly over different switching cycles.

Memory devices and methods of forming memory devices


A system for producing music from a stringed musical instrument includes a sensor/actuating transducer arrangement coupled to each or all of one or a plurality of the tensioned strings and supervisory system that governs one or more motion controllers associated with the transducer to affect the string vibration through at least one actuator transducer coupled to the string(s) in accordance with technique commands issued by the player of the instrument, the technique commands being recognized by processes in the supervisor from among characteristics of signal features extracted by further processes continuously analyzing the motional behavior of one or more strings.

Prior art stringed instruments have included simple electromagnetic or piezoelectric pickup both with and without signal processing effects and guitar "sustainers" that employ a feedback loop around the tensioned string to produce prolonged notes.
The instant invention differs from or improves upon these known devices and makes possible better sounding stringed instruments that may be more pleasurable to play.

Player technique control system for a stringed instrument and method of playing the instrument


An electric plug system includes a stabilizing base constructed to stand on a horizontal floor surface, a vertical support element supported by and extending from the base and defining a vertical axis, and an electrical socket block coupled to a top portion of the vertical support element and supported thereby. The electrical socket block has a plurality of electrical sockets constructed to receive the plugs of the devices. Also, the system includes an electrical wire extending from the horizontal electrical socket block, down the vertical support element, and along or through the base and there-beyond, the electrical wire terminating in an electrical plug constructed to plug into the wall or floor electrical outlet. The system can include a device holder removably attached to the vertical support element. The base can include a first base portion and a second base portion removably attached to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject disclosure relates to multi-outlet electrical power source connections. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to electrical plug systems that are easily usable by users whose flexibility and/or strength has been impaired by handicap, age, illness, or injury.
2. State of the Art
Power strips having a plug, a power cord, and block of electrical sockets (outlets) are ubiquitous in the modern home, office, and other facilities where multiple plug-in electrically powered devices, machines or equipment are utilized. The electrical sockets of the power strip are typically arranged in one or two rows. A power strip generally includes a circuit breaker or surge (overload) protector that safely limits the electric current flowing through the strip and prevents surges of current that can damage the equipment which receives power through a power strip outlet. The power strip also generally includes an on-off switch that turns the power strip on and off, thereby preventing current from reaching the outlets. If desired, each outlet may have its own switch. The switch is often illuminated. Many power strips also include sensor circuits that can detect the level of current flowing through a socket, and if the socket is not "active", will place the socket in standby mode in order to reduce current consumption.
Power strips are used by plugging the plug into a convenient wall or floor outlet, and by plugging the plugs of multiple devices into the electrical sockets of the power strip. In order to make the connection between the devices and the power strip outlets, the user often must crawl under a desk, table, or other furniture.