A method for the prevention or minimization of wrinkles in the face and neck areas of a patient by topically applying to the face and neck areas of a patient finely divided safflower seeds or extract thereof in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of for the prevention or minimization of wrinkles in facial skin and neck areas of a patient.
2. Reported Developments
Applicant has discovered and filed patent applications on the following methods utilizing safflower seeds or extracts thereof:
Treatment of rheumatoid-based arthritic diseases and menopause, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,266;
Treatment of inflammaotry diseases, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,519; and
Prevention or minimization of the effect of catabolic illness by enhancing the immune response of a patient, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/364,413.
In the course of further investigation and experimentation using volunteers, applicant has discovered that safflower seeds or extracts thereof can be used to prevent or minimize wrinkles in the facial skin and neck of a patient.
Rheumatoid arthritis (hereinafter sometimes referred to as RA) is a common type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the lining of the joints and sometimes other internal organs. RA tends to persist for many years, typically affects many different joints throughout the body, and ultimately can cause damage to cartilage, bones, tendons and ligaments. RA is a chronic, inflammatory, connective-tissue disorder affecting more than five million individuals in the U.S., and accounting for considerable disability in terms of missed work, lost wages, and reduced productivity. The disease can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins in the third to fifth decades of life.
The American College of Rheumotology has established criteria of the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis which include:
1. Morning stiffness lasting at least one hour;
2. Swelling of three or more joints;
3. Swelling of the wrist, metacarpophalangeal or proximal interphangeal joints;
4. Symmetric joint swelling;
5. Rheumatoid nodules;
6. Positive rheumatoid factor; and
7. Changes on hand radiographs typical of rheumatoid arthritis that must include erosions or unequivocal bony decalcification.
The correct diagnosis of RA is essential for the clinician and involves certain clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. The diagnosis is influenced by the age and sex of the patient, the pattern of joint involvement, the onset and course of the disease and extrarticular manifestations.
In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (hereinafter sometimes referred to as OA), the illness most often contemplated in the differential diagnosis, usually begins after the age of 50 and affects men and women equally. The joints involved in OA are different from those in RA and are not necessarily symmetrically affected. In OA, joint pathology is primarily mechanical, and synovial membrane inflammation is minimal.
As pertaining to the present invention certain other inflammatory arthritis is differentiated from RA as listed in Table I.
With varying clinical significance, RA can at times affect other areas of the body. The most characteristic of these so-called extra-articular manifestations are rheumatoid nodules. They can be found subcutaneously in up to 25% of rheumatoid patients, especially over extensor surfaces and in pressure areas. Common sites include the olecranon regions, fingers, Achilles tendons, the sacrum and the occiput. The presence of subcutaneous nodules is helpful diagnostically, because they are uncommon in the other forms of inflammatory arthritis. Nodules can also occur in visceral organs, including the lungs and the heart.
As discussed above, the primary cause of RA is unknown. It is thought to be triggered by the presence of an as yet unidentified antigen(s) in an immunogenetically susceptible host, and the nature of the antigen responsible for the arthritic reactions in RA has yet to be clearly established.
Heretofore medical management of RA involved three general approaches.
The first is the use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, and low-dose glucocorticoids to control the symptoms and signs of the local inflammatory process. These agents are rapidly effective at mitigating symptoms and signs, but they appear to exert little effect on the progression of the disease.
A second group of drugs includes a variety of agents that have been classified as the disease-modifying drugs. These agents appear to have the capacity to decrease elevated levels of acute phase reactants in treated patients, and therefore, are thought to modify the destructive capacity of the disease.
The third class of agents includes the immunosuppressive and cytotoxic drugs that have bee shown to ameliorate the disease process in some patients. These last two classes of agents, however, often cause serious side effects including the development of heart and liver diseases, increase in blood pressure, blindness and malignant neoplasms.
The prior art treatment of RA is based on the following two principles: first, RA is a systemic connective-tissue disorder that is not remediable solely through local measures. Second, RA is a progressive disease that can potentially lead to severe cartilage and bone destruction, organ damage, and decreased life expectancy. Current regimens are predicated on controlling the immune system disturbance to reduce joint discomfort and destruction and this to maintain the patient""s activities of daily living.
Available drug preparations for the treatment of RA include the following.
1) NSAIDS: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Pharmacologic treatment of RA has advanced steadily in the past several decades, but none of the agents used so far can cure RA. Aspirin remains an important part of the treatment program for many people with RA. To be effective, it must be given in doses much higher than commonly used as an over-the-counter remedy for minor aches and pains. Compared to other similar NSAIDS, aspirin is less expensive and its blood level can be precisely measured. However, it can cause stomach problems in many people. Many physicians recommend the use of enteric (coated) forms of aspirin.
NSAIDS are a large group of drugs that have mechanisms of action similar to aspirin. Like aspirin, these medications can relieve some of the pain associated with RA temporarily. The NSAIDS are the most frequently recommended antirheumatic medications, and the first line of therapy in RA. As a result of the capacity of these agents to block the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase and therefore the production of prostaglandins, prostacyclin and thromboxames, they have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. Table II lists the most commonly prescribed NSAIDS.
Table III lists the commonly prescribed NSAIDs by classification, half-life and dosage range.
These agents are all associated with a wide spectrum of toxic side effects. A common side effect of these drugs is bleeding from the stomach. Overall dose is limited by such gastrointestinal erosions, as well as azotemia, platelet dysfunction, exacerbation of allergic rhinitis and asthma, liver function abnormalities, some renal and cardiovascular irritation, and CNS toxicity like tinnitus, although patients occasionally differ unpredictably in their response to an individual NSAID.
An individual""s response to the various NSAIDS is quite variable. Gastrointestinal ulcerations develop in 0 to 30% of NSAID-treated patients. Duodenal lesions are less common than gastric ulcers. The nephrotoxic effects of NSAIDS are well documented. Several mechanisms leading to renal prostaglandin synthesis may adversely affect renal blood flow and in certain situations, lead to acute insufficiency. At high risk are patients with minor or major pre-existing changes in renal function, such as those with changes related to aging, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congestive heart failure, use of diuretics or low salt diet, cirrhosis, and chronic renal failure of any other cause.
Once the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis has been firmly established as an insufficient response to local measures and NSAIDS determined, the addition of DMARDs (disease modifying antirheumatic drugs) to the regimen is normally considered. These drugs include gold compounds, penicillamine, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate and azathioprine. Estimated rates of efficacy and toxicity of these remittive agents is shown in Table IV.
The ability of these drugs to really modify the disease process is controversial. Unlike NSAIDS or Corticosteroids, their onset of action is gradual over weeks to months. In addition, well-defined toxicity""s can occur with these drugs, and clinical laboratory monitoring must be judicious. The response rate to the DMARDs is also variable, and patients may gradually lose their positive benefits over time. They exert minimal direct nonspecific anti-inflammatory or analgesic effects, and therefore, NSAIDS must be continued during their administration, except in a few rare cases when true remissions are induced with them. Remittive agents have a wide spectrum of biological effects, but their exact mechanism of action in RA is unknown. Each is associated with considerable toxicity and there is minimal evidence that disease-modifying drugs actually retard the development of bone erosions or facilitate their healing. A brief description of each drug follows.
A. Hydroxychioroquine (Plaquenil)
Hydroxychloroquine is a drug originally developed for the treatment of malaria that has also been used for many years to treat RA and has been somewhat effective among patients with mild to moderate RA. Drug-related adverse effects include gastrointestinal disturbances, skin rash, retinal pigmentary changes and visual impairment, and are more frequently found among older patients. Regular eye examinations once or twice a year because of potential damage to the retina is recommended, and Hydroxychloroquine must be discontinued at the first evidence of visual impairment.
B. Penicillamine (Depen, Cuprimine)
Penicillamine is equally effective in elderly and in younger RA patients. However, its rate of severe toxicity is high, and some adverse effects such as serious skin rashes and taste abnormalities are more common in the older patient. Other adverse effects include nephropathy, bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal disturbance, autoimmune syndromes, liver toxicity and neuropathy secondary to pyridoxine (vitamin B6) deficiency. Penicillamine is also a slow-acting drug, thus benefit may be achieved only after 3 to 6 months of use. Patients should be monitored with blood counts and urine analyses weekly for the first 4 weeks, then every 4 weeks, with tests of muscle and liver enzymes biannually.
C. Parenteral Gold (Myochrysine, Solganal)
Parenteral gold (intramuscular sodium aurothiomalate or aurothioglucose) has been widely used for 60 years for the treatment of RA. However, gold may lose its effectiveness over time in people who seem to benefit at first. furthermore, it often takes three to six months to determine whether a person is getting benefits from gold salts and the drug is often discontinued for lack of improvement after the 1000 mg dose is reached.
In some people gold treatment may slow down damage to cartilage and bone. This small group of people with RA experience long-lasting improvement on gold injections, which are given weekly or six months or longer, and can later be tapered to once every three weeks. However, the efficacy of parenteral gold is also hampered by its high rate of toxicity, relative to other remittive agents. Adverse reactions most frequently encountered include skin rashes, oral ulcers, nephropathy and bone marrow suppression. Less common reactions are pneumonitis, enterocolitis and hepatitis. Patients should be monitored with blood counts and urine analyses before each injections, as well as physical examination to look for skin rash and oral ulcers.
D. Auranofin (Ridaura)
Auranofin (oral gold) therapy appears to be less toxic but also less effective than parenteral gold. The spectrum of adverse effects is similar to that of parenteral gold. However, the frequency of gastrointestinal disturbances, especially diarrhea, is higher, while frequency of other toxicity""s may be lower. Auranofin""s beneficial effects may be achieved only after 2 to 6 months of use. Patients should be monitored with blood counts and urine analyses biweekly initially, then every month.
E. Sulfasalazine (Azulfadine)
Sulfasalazine has been reintroduced recently as a remittive agent in RA. It also appears to have a high toxicity ratio, with adverse effects including skin rash, gastrointestinal disturbances, bone marrow suppression, haemolysis, headaches, hepatotoxicity and pneumonitis. It is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to sulfur drugs. There is a paucity of data regarding efficacy profiles. More elderly patients discontinue treatment mainly because of gastrointestinal adverse effects. Patents should be monitored with blood counts, urine analyses and liver function tests biweekly initially, then every month. Sulfasalazine is not yet approved by the FDA for treatment of RA.
F. Azathioprine (Imuran)
Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug that has gained widespread use in RA. Data are insufficient to asses its efficacy or toxicity profiles in the general population. It can help RA by suppressing overactivity of the immune system but also can increase susceptibility to certain infections and lower blood counts. Common adverse effects include the aforementioned and increased risk of infections and the development of malignancies. It is recommended that elderly patients be monitored with blood counts and liver function tests biweekly initially, then every month.
G. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
Since the mid-1980""s, methotrexate has become the most prescribed remittive agent for RA in many rheumatology centers. This is due to its higher rate of efficacy and toxicity ratio relative to other remittive agents, its rapid onset of action (mostly within 1 month) and convenient scheduling, with once-weekly dosage of pills or injections. It works more quickly than gold and maintains control of the disease in a larger group population. Unlike gold, methotrexate cannot be taken less frequently after the first 6 to 12 months but instead, must be continued every week.
For the above reasons, methotrexate has proved comparatively effective in controlling joint inflammation in many patients with RA and is often chosen first, especially for individuals with rapidly progressive disease. However, long-term trials have indicated that methotrexate does not induce remission, but rather suppresses symptoms while it is being administered. The other agents are tried when less severe inflammation occurs and if methotrexate has failed or has to be discontinued because of toxicity. However, age is positively related to methotrexate toxicity. Adverse effects include oral ulcers, gastrointestinal symptoms, alopecia, hepatotoxicity, pneumonitis and bone marrow suppression. Transient elevations of liver enzymes occur frequently, but their long term significance is unclear, since they sometimes correlate with histological abnormalities. Fibrosis has been reported in 30 to 52% of patients but there have been fewer reports of cirrhosis. Moreover, sequential liver biopsies in patients continuing methotrexate therapy showed evidence of progression of abnormalities in hepatic architecture. Patients with pretreatment liver abnormalities, alcoholism or lung diseases seem to be at increased risk of developing toxicity in the liver and lung, respectively. Patients should be monitored with blood counts and liver function tests weekly initially, then every month. Kidney functions tests and chest x-ray or pulmonary functions tests should be performed once or twice per year.
H. Alkylating Agents
Alkylating agents cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and chlorambucil are very powerful immunosuppressive drugs that are rarely prescribed for the treatment of RA. Despite some proof of efficacy, they can be recommended only for patients with severe, relentless, active RA, not responding to other remittive agents or with serious complications outside the joint such as vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation). This is due to their great risk of frequent and sometimes life-threatening adverse effects, which includes bone marrow suppression, increased susceptibility to infection, and up to a 10-fold increase in the incidence of neoplasia. Other adverse effects are gastrointestinal intolerance, alopecia, pneumonitis and haemorrhagic cystitis. Patients should be monitored with weekly blood counts.
I. Corticosteroids
The role of Corticosteroids (cortisone, prednisone, and other similar medications) in RA is still debated by physicians. In the short run, low dose corticosteroids such as prednisone 5 to 10 mg or cortisone are somewhat effective in some RA patients. However, prolonged administration should be avoided because of long term adverse effects, even with low dosage regimens. These side effects are serious and with respect to cortisone, can include easy bruising, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), cataracts, weight gain, increased susceptibility to infections, diabetes and high blood pressure. Dosage as low as 5 mg/day of prednisone may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Other problems include sodium and fluid retention, hypertension, hyperglycaemis, osteoporosis, infections and skin changes.
For any patient taking a corticosteroid on a regular basis, careful attention must be directed to proper calcium, vitamin and hormone regulation. Corticosteroids sometimes are given an injection into one or more joints or other areas of inflammation. Such injections may have harmful side effects on the joints if given more than a few times a year as shown in Table V.
To date, long term management of RA has required a careful balance of benefit and risk; the estimated relative efficacy and toxicity of remittive agents in patients. Usually therapy begins with the least toxic medications and NSAIDS are prescribed first. If further therapy is needed, hydroxychloroquine, auranofin, or sulfasalazine is added in patients with mild to moderate RA. Methotrexate or parenteral gold may be given in patients with moderately severe disease, or with disease unresponsive to the former remittive agents. Penicillamine, azathioprine and particularly the alkylating agents are reserved for patients with refractory disease. Low dosage prednisone is added for limited periods of time as indicated above, while pulse-therapy with parenteral Corticosteroids can help in the induction of remission of RA. These can be supplemented with intra-articular corticosteroid treatment.
We have now discovered compositions and methods for the treatment of patients suffering from minor to advanced arthritic conditions. The compositions of the present invention effectively replace alternative, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical remedies for persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid-related inflammatory diseases.
We have also discovered that the compositions of the present invention can be effectively used in a regimen for delaying of menopause.
Menopause is defined in medial dictionaries as the cessation of menstruation in the human female. Menopause is better described as a transition period marking the closure of reproductive life, usually occurring during mid-life. The average age at last menstrual period in the U.S.A. is 51, though any time between age 40 and 59 falls within the realm of normal. As menopause approaches, the ovaries begin to fail and there is a sudden dip in the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, which causes the cessation of menstruation. About 75 to 80% of women have some symptoms related to the suddenness of estrogen withdrawal.
Throughout most adult lives, the menstrual cycle operates in an expected way, with hormones ebbing and flowing at levels just high enough to keep the system in a comfortable balance. In early puberty, anovulatory cycles (months in which no egg has been produced by the ovary) are signaled by heavier and longer bleeding than normal. The same happens in reverse as menopause approaches. In the months in which ovulation does not take place, periods tend to be heavier and longer. As premenopause (the time when periods are still regular) moves towards the perimenopause (the transition phase between regular periods and no periods at all), monthly events become more unpredictable.
As used herein the definitions of certain terms are as follows.
The word xe2x80x9cclimactericxe2x80x9d describes the ongoing changes and symptoms of menopause, as it refers to a phase or transition period that my last for 15-20 years, during which ovulation function and hormonal products decline. The climacteric can be divided into 3 stages: pre-, peri- and postmenopause. (Menopause is the point in time signaling the end of premenopause and the beginning of postmenopause.) xe2x80x9cPremenopausexe2x80x9d refers to the years when the menstrual cycle is regular, or most of the female reproductive life. It also refers to the early years of the climacteric, after the age of 40, when menstrual periods may become irregular and heavy. xe2x80x9cPerimenopausexe2x80x9d is the stage lasting several years on either side of the last menstrual period. This time marks many physical changes. xe2x80x9cMenopausexe2x80x9d means the final menstrual period when the female has not had a menstrual period for 12 months. xe2x80x9cPostmenopausexe2x80x9d overlaps with the end of the perimenopausal stage and extends into the years following the last menstrual period until the end of life.
During the reproductive years, two sources of estrogen production exist. The major source is the secretion of estradiol by granulosa cells of ovarian follicles. The second source involves extraglandular aromatization of plasma androstenedione. The endocrine change associated with the female climacteric are due mainly to the loss of estradiol. Cessation of estradiol secretion is attributed to loss of follicular granulosa cells and to a decreased responsiveness of these cells to follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH). These alterations cause the menstrual cycle initially to shorten and then gradually to lengthen as anovulaton occurs, and eventually to cease completely.
In postmenopausal women, estrogen production occurs almost exclusively by a mechanism known as xe2x80x9cperipheral or extraglandular aromatization.xe2x80x9d This utilizes circulating androstenedione, secreted primarily by the adrenals, and converts it to estrogen in tissue of fat, bone, muscle and brain. Little, if any, estrogen is derived from ovarian or adrenal secretion in menopausal women. In fact, plasma levels of estrogen do not change if the ovaries are removed after menopause. The estrogen production in post-menopausal women is characterized by the extraglandular formation of a biologically weaker estrogen, namely, estrone, rather than by the ovarian secretion of the potent estrogen, namely estradiol.
Although the quantity of testosterone secreted by the menopausal ovary does not change from previous levels, testosterone becomes the principal steroidal hormone secreted by the ovary. The growth of hair on the upper lip and chin of many elderly women may be due to diminished estrogen levels and unopposed action of testosterone in these women. Pubic auxiliary and scalp hair are partially lost, residual hair becomes coarser, mainly due to degeneration of skin and loss of skin appendages rather than to hormonal alterations.
Common symptoms associated with menopause are briefly described hereunder.
There exists a wide range of symptoms that commonly affect women during menopause. Despite the documented occurrence of all of the ailments, most medical texts recognize three major physical ailments, which are menstrual irregularity, hot flashes, and dry vagina (a.k.a. xe2x80x9cgenito-urinary distressxe2x80x9d). Osteoporosis is occasionally listed as a symptom, but it is really a condition beginning long before menopause, but which may become critical during the menopausal years. Psychological ailments (anxiety, depression and panic attacks) are viewed and handled differently depending on the source of the expert consulted.
Symptoms of menopause may be both long and short term. Short term symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, loss of libido. Long term symptoms include the thinning and drying out of the vaginal and genital skin and urinary troubles, which may all become permanent. Standard sings of menopause are:
1) Menstrual irregularity, or a fluctuation in the menstrual cycle. Periods may continue to arrive in a timely manner, but there are usually minor changes. For example, the period that lasted 3 or 4 days may last for 2 or 6; the flow might be much grater than typical or the color of the flow may change. All of this is normal, as is the increasing tendency to skip a period.
2) Hot flashes and night sweats, are another very common physical symptom. A hot flash is the sudden sensation of heat. When experienced at night they are called night sweats. Cold chills are not uncommon either. A hot flash is described as a sudden onset of warmth in the face and neck that progresses to the chest, making the neck and face red. It is estimated that 75 to 85% of American women experience hot flashes, marked by a rise in body temperature and a feeling of unbearable heat. The veins of the hands may tingle and swell. Perspiration may bead at the hairline, between the breasts and down the back. Hot flashes can last from one minute to an hour, but they usually last 2 to 3 minutes and are frequently associated with dizziness, nausea, headaches and palpitations. They tend to appear during the time when menstrual periods are erratic and to peak during the year of the last menstrual period. They seem to occur most often just before rising and just before bed.
The combination of a rise in skin temperature, peripheral vasodilation, a transient increase in heart rate and changes in skin impedance is also known as vasomotor instability. 80% of women who experience hot flashes have symptoms for more than 1 year, but less than 25% have symptoms for more than 5 years. It is said than not all post menopausal women experience vasomotor symptoms, perhaps because of alterations in metabolism of catecholamine or catecholestrogen within the brain or because of extraglandular formation of estrone was sufficient in these women to suppress the symptoms. Thus, it appears that hot flashes are triggered by xe2x80x9cestrogen withdrawalxe2x80x9d rather than by a lack of estrogen. The exact mechanism(s) responsible for the vasomotor flush is unknown, although the hypothalamus is the likely site or origin of vasomotor flush.
3) Dry vagina and urinary distress. With menopause""s onset , the tissue of the urethra and vagina tend to thin out and become more fragile. The vagina may also become shorter and both urethra and vagina become more vulnerable to inflammation and infection. This atrophy of the epithelium ultimately leads to symptoms of irritation, burning, pruritis and vaginal bleeding at times. The loss of the vaginal epithelium correlates with the extent of estrogen deprivation and tends to worsen with time. This condition is likely to occur a few years after menopause and may mean that a women""s own lubrication is inadequate for pleasurable penile penetration. The reduction of lubrication during intercourse is due mainly to a decrease in vaginal fluids, blood flow and glycogen production.
More specifically, during reproductive years the vaginal pH is between 4.0 and 5.5 due to the production of glycogen-rich superficial cells. As ovarian function begins to wane, this maturational process is lost and the vaginal pH increases to a range between 6.0 and 8.0. These changes lead to a higher incidence of vaginitis.
Even when vaginal or urinary problems are relatively minor, many woman complain of frequent urination and a tendency to leak when coughing, sneezing or during orgasm. This is known as stress incontinence. Urge incontinence is diagnosed when urine is dribbled on the way to the toilet. Both conditions are treatable.
4) Osteoporosis, or xe2x80x9cporous bonexe2x80x9d, is a condition that results from excess loss of bone tissue. The onset is usually painless, with no advance warning, except for occasional lower back pain as crush fractures happen. Because the pain eases after a few days, few women suspect that a vertebra may have collapsed. The first awareness of osteoporosis for most women is a fracture of some sort.
Normally the amount of new bone formed is equal to or greater than that resorbed. In osteoporosis, bone resorption is greater than bone formation. Maximum bone density is reached between the ages of 25 and 36 years. By the age of 45 to 50, the rate of bone resorption is greater in women than in men and more prevalent in Caucasians than in blacks. After our mid-30""s, we begin to lose bone slowly at first and then more quickly in our late 40""s and early 50""s. Once menopause is past, bone loss slows down again.
Although we recognize an association between estrogen deprivation and progressive loss of bone mass, the role of estrogen in the pathogenesis of post menopausal osteoporosis is still not entirely clear. The balance between the rate of bone formation and resorption is complex and involves a sensitive relationship between dietary calcium intake and absorption , serum concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, and other issues. There are no specific estrogen receptors in bone, and estrogen per se does not stimulate osteoblastic activity. However, estrogen therapy does reduce urinary calcium excretion, (it is presumed) by increasing calcium absorption in the renal tubules.
Thus, while considerable evidence has accrued which lends credibility to the existence of a causal relationship between estrogen deprivation and osteoporosis, the issue of whether estrogen deprivation is the primary cause of osteoporosis has not been resolved. Generally, in estrogen deficient premenopausal women, bone loss is accelerated but corresponds more to the time of ovarian loss rather than to chronological age. Furthermore, women who are menstruating after age 50 have a slower rate of bone loss than do menopausal women of similar age.
5) Psychiatric Symptoms. The female climacteric may be quite stressful. Many menopausal women experience nervousness (easy excitability, mental and physical unrest), irritability (uncontrollable crying, frequent rage or anger), anxiety (feelings of apprehension, uncertainty, fear and loss of self-image), and depression (inability to make decisions, apathy, psychomotor retardation, loss of libido or loss of emotional reaction). Most scientists feel that depression is not hormone-dependent. And the diagnosis of xe2x80x9cinvolutional melancholiaxe2x80x9d which was previously used to describe menopausal depression, has been deleted from the list of acceptable diagnostic codes.
Additionally, the menopausal headache may have many causes which do not relate to estrogen deprivation, such as the hormonal therapy itself. Estrogen therapy alters REM (xe2x80x9crapid eye movementxe2x80x9d) sleep and the number of waking episodes associated with hot flashes in menopausal women.
We have come to learn the affect that our composition has on the climacteric only coincidentally after doing research related to the rheumotoid-based diseases. The compositions seems to extend the premenopause period, delaying menopause and therefore, postmenopause. The exact mechanism(s) responsible for this is unknown, although we suspect that certain component(s) of the composition stimulate the adrenal glands, counteracting the decline in estrogen production and encouraging the production of yet another hormone, cortisone.
With respect to the affect that the compositions have on rheumatoid-based diseases, we do not know how the inflammation triggering the onset of these diseases is controlled or abated, although this is the affect the compositions have.
Acute inflammatory dermatoses and chronic inflammatory dermatoses are usually mediated by local or systemic immunological factors, although their causes generally remain a mystery. Thousands of specific inflammatory dermatoses exist. Some have both acute and chronic stages, others are most characteristic in early or late stages. In general, acute lesions last form days to weeks and are characterized by inflammation, edema and sometimes, epidermal, vascular or subcutaneous injury. Chronic lesions, on the other hand, persist for months to years and often show significant components of altered epidermal growth (atrophy or hyperplasia) or dermal fibrosis.
Eczema falls into the category of acute inflammatory dermatoses. It is an umbrella clinical term embracing a number of pathogenetically different conditions. Al conditions are characterized by red, papoluvesicular, oozing and crusted lesions early on that with persistence eventuate into raised, scaling plaques. It has an acute phase which can become a chronic eruption if untreated. With time, persistent lesions become less xe2x80x9cwetxe2x80x9d (fail to ooze or form vesicles) and become progressively scaly.
Urticaria or hives refers to a common disorder of the skin characterized by localized mast cell degranulation and resultant dermal microvascular hypermeability falls into the category of acute inflammatory dermatoses. Individual lesions develop and fade usually within 24 hours, and episodes may last for days or persist for months. Persistent urticaria may simply be the result of inability to eliminate the causative antigen or may herald underlying diseases. Lesions may vary from small pruritic papules to large endematous plaques.
Erythema Multiforme falls into the category of acute inflammatory dermatoses. It appears to be a hypersensitivity response to certain infections and drugs. Patients have array of lesions including macules, papules, vesicles and bullae, as well as the characteristic target lesion consisting of a red macule or papule with a pale, vesicular or eroded center.
Psoriasis falls into the category of chronic inflammatory dermatoses. It is sometimes associated with arthritis, myopathy, enteropathy, spondylitic heart disease and AIDS. Psoriatic arthritis may be mild or produce deformities resembling the joint changes seen in rheumatoid arthritis. Most frequently affects elbows, knees, scalp, lumbosacral areas, and glans penis. Most typical lesion is well-demarcated, pink and salmon-colored plaque covered by loosely adherent scales that are characteristically silver-white in color. Psoriasis can be the cause of total body erythema and scaling known as erythroderma.
Lichen Planus falls into the category of chronic inflammatory dermatoses. Pruritic, purple, polygonal papules are signs of this skin disorder. It is self-limiting and generally resolves spontaneously one to two years after onset, often leaving zones of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Oral lesions may persist for years. Lesions are itchy, flat-topped papules that may coalesce locally to form plaques often highlighted by white dots or lines called Wickman""s striae. Multiple lesions are characteristic and symmetrically distributed, particularly on the extremities, often about the wrists and elbows.
Gingivitis is the most common form of periodontal disease starting as inflammation of the marginal gingiva which is painless, although the gingiva may bleed on brushing. The disease spreads to involve the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. As the alveolar bone is slowly resorbed, there is loss of periodontal ligament attachment between tooth and bone. The soft tissue separates from the tooth surface, causing xe2x80x9cpocketxe2x80x9d formation with bleeding on probing and during chewing. Acute inflammation may become superimposed on this chronic process, with the production of pus and formation of a periodontal abscess. Ultimately, extreme bone loss, tooth mobility, and recurrent abscess formation leads to tooth exfoliation or may mandate tooth extraction. It is infection associated with the accumulation of bacterial plaque which may become mineralized (xe2x80x9ccalculusxe2x80x9d) and which can be prevented by appropriate oral hygiene measures including tooth brushing, flossing, antibacterial mouth rinses, and the removal of impacted food debris.
Immunity Disorders. The prior art has proposed methods and compositions for improving the immune response of humans using dietary supplements from natural sources. Illustrative are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,386,072; 5,602,109; and 5,731,290 which disclose vegetable oils such as oils of cotton seed, soybean, peanut, corn, sunflower seed, safflower, poppy seed, linseed and perilla for improving the immune response.
I. Topical Composition and Method of Treatment of Rheumatoid-Based Diseases
a) For the treatment of rheumatoid-based diseases the composition of the present invention comprises:
300 to 1500 grams, and preferably 700 to 1000 grams of finely divided powder of safflower seeds (carthamust inctorius 1) admixed into 6 to 7 gallons of warm water.
The method of treatment comprises:
bathing the patient in the composition for about 0.5 to 1.5 hours;
towel drying the patient;
allowing the residual composition to remain on the patient for 24 hours; and
repeating the treatment at least twice a week for 6 to 10 weeks or longer.
(b) In another embodiment the composition of the present invention comprises:
150 to 1000 grams, and preferably 300 to 800 grams of an extract of safflower seeds admixed into 6 to 7 gallons of warm water.
The method of treatment comprises:
bathing the patient in the composition for about 0.5 to about 1.5 hrs;
towel drying the patient;
allowing the residual composition to remain on the patient for 24 hours; and
repeating the treatment at least twice a week for 6 to 10 weeks or longer.
(c) Alternatively, the treatment of patients having rheumatoid-based diseases comprises massaging an extract of safflower seeds onto the affected joint areas of the patient for about 5 to 20 minutes, preferably for 10 to 15 minutes.
II. Compositions and Method of Treatment for Menopause
For the treatment of menopause a combination of topical and oral formulations are used. The topical treatment is as above-described in I(a) and I(b), except that the duration of treatment is extended for as long as necessary.
The oral component of the treatment comprises:
ingesting an oral formulation containing of from about 25 to 30 grams of an extract of safflower, or 30 to 100 grams of finely divided safflower seed twice a week as long as necessary.
While the compositions and treatments described in I and II above defines the specifics as best determined at present and supported by testing on human patients, it is to be understood that a broader aspect of the invention encompasses treatment of rheumatoid-based diseases and menopause by using a xe2x80x9ctherapeutically effective amountxe2x80x9d of said compositions. xe2x80x9cTherapeutically effective amountxe2x80x9d refers to the amount of an active agent sufficient to induce a desired biological result. That result is the alleviation of the signs, symptoms, or causes of the diseases or conditions described under Reported Developments.
III. Method of Treatment of: Inflammatory Diseases, such as Eczema, Urticaria, Psoriasis, Erythema Multiforme and Lichen Planus, Inflammation of the Gums, and Chronic Localized Bodily Pain Derived from Acute Injury
The treatment for the relief of inflammation and or pain associated with inflammatory dermatoses such as eczema, urticaria, psoriasis, erythema multiforme and lichen planus, gingivitis, and acute injury in a mammal comprises: topically administering to said mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a finely divided powder of safflower seed having a particle size of 100 microns or less or its extract sufficient to induce alleviation of signs, symptoms or causes of inflammation or pain in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The xe2x80x9cTherapeutically effective amountxe2x80x9d refers to the amount of an active agent sufficient to induce a desired biological result. That result is the alleviation of the signs, symptoms, or causes of the diseases or conditions described under Reported Developments. xe2x80x9cFinely divided powderxe2x80x9d denotes an average particle size of 100 microns or less.
IV. Method of Improving Immune Response
The method of treatment is preferably prophylactic, however, the treatment can also be advantageously used where the immune system is weakened by disease such as prostate, lung, stomach, esophagus and blood cancers. The method of prophylaxis and/or treatment comprising orally administering a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of safflower seeds or extract thereof sufficient to induce a desired biological result. The treatment comprises: ingesting an oral formulation containing of from about 25 to 30 grams of an extract of safflower seeds, or of from about 30 grams to about 100 grams of finely divided safflower seeds at least two to three times a week.
The active ingredient is preferably combined with food products such as jelly, cheese, ice cream, chocolate and beverages.
Alternatively, the safflower seeds or extract thereof may be incorporated into typical pharmaceutical carriers for convenience.
Oral pharmaceutical dosage forms are either solid or liquid. The solid dosage forms are tablets, capsules, granules, and bulk powders. Types of oral tablets include compressed, chewable lozenges and tablets, sugar-coated or film-coated. Capsules may be hard or soft gelatin capsules, while granules and powders may be provided in non-effervescent or effervescent form with the combination of other ingredients known to those skilled in the art.
Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers utilized in tablets are binders, lubricants, diluents, disintegrating agents, coloring agents, flavoring agents, and wetting agents. Sugar-coated tablets are compressed tablets to which different layers of pharmaceutically acceptable substances have been applied. Film-coated tablets are compressed tablets which have been coated with a water soluble polymers. Multiple compressed tablets are compressed tablets made by more than one compression cycle utilizing the pharmaceutically acceptable substances previously mentioned. Coloring agents may also be used in the above dosage forms. Flavoring and sweetening agents are used in compressed tablets, sugar-coated, multiple compressed and chewable tablets. Flavoring and sweetening agents are especially useful in the formation of chewable tablets and lozenges.
Examples of binders include glucose solution, acacia mucilage, gelatin solution, sucrose and starch paste. Lubricants include talc, starch, magnesium or calcium stearate, lycopodium and stearic acid. Diluents include, for example, lactose, sucrose, starch, kaolin, salt, mannitol and dicalcium phosphate. Disintegrating agents include corn starch, potato starch, bentonite, methylcellulose, agar and carboxymethylcellulose. Coloring agents include, for example, any of the approved certified water soluble FD and C dyes, mixtures thereof, and water insoluble FD and C dyes suspended on alumia hydrate. Sweetening agents include sucrose, lactose, mannitol and artificial sweetening agents such as sodium cyclamate and saccharin, and any number of spray dried flavors. Flavoring agents include natural flavors extracted from plants such as fruits and synthetic blends of compounds which produce a pleasant sensation. Wetting agents include propylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, diethylene glycol monolaurate and polyoxyethylene laural ether. Film coatings include hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose, polyethylene glycol 4000 and cellulose acetate phthalate.
Liquid oral dosage forms include aqueous solutions, emulsions, suspensions, solutions and/or suspensions reconstituted from non-effervescent granules and effervescent preparations reconstituted from effervescent granules. Aqueous solutions include, for example, elixirs and syrups. Emulsions are either oil-in water or water-in-oil.
Elixirs are clear, sweetened, hydroalcoholic preparations. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers used in elixirs include solvents. Syrups are concentrated aqueous solutions of a sugar, for example, sucrose, and may contain a preservative. An emulsion is a two-phase system in which one liquid is dispersed in the form of small globules throughout another liquid. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers used in emulsions are non-aqueous liquids, emulsifying agents and preservatives. Suspensions use pharmaceutically acceptable suspending agents and preservatives. Pharmaceutically acceptable substances used in non-effervescent granules, to be reconstituted into a liquid oral dosage form, include diluents, sweeteners and wetting agents. Pharmaceutically acceptable substance used in effervescent granules, to be reconstituted into a liquid oral dosage form, include organic acids and a source of carbon dioxide. Coloring and flavoring agents are used in all of the above dosage forms.
Examples of preservatives include glycerin, methyl and propylparaben, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and alcohol. Examples of non-aqueous liquids utilized in emulsions include mineral oil and cottonseed oil. Examples of emulsifying agents include gelatin, acacia, tragacanth, bentonite, and surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. Suspending agents include sodium carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, tragacanth, Veegum and acacia. Diluents include lactose and sucrose. Sweetening agents include sucrose, syrups, glycerin and artificial sweetening agents such as sodium cyclamate and saccharin. Wetting agents include propylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, diethylene glycol monolaurate and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether. Organic acids include citric and tartaric acid. Sources of carbon dioxide include sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate. Coloring agents include any of the approved certified water soluble FD and C dyes, and mixtures thereof. Flavoring agents include natural flavors extracted from plants such fruits, and synthetic blends of compounds which produce a pleasant taste sensation.
V. Method of Preventing or Minimizing Wrinkles in Facial Skin and Neck Areas of a Patient
a) For the prevention or minimization of facial and neck wrinkles the present invention comprises:
about 5 to 100 grams of finely divided powder of safflower seeds having an average particle size of about 100 microns or less or extract thereof for one application to the face and neck area of the patient.
The finely divided powder or its extract is applied to the site by rubbing the same by hand or by the use of a woven or non-woven cloth material, or cotton balls.
b) In another embodiment the present invention comprises:
about 0.4 to 25 grams of finely divided powder of safflower seeds having an average particle size of about 100 microns or less or extract thereof admixed in about 10 to 100 ml of purified water.
The mixture is applied by rubbing the mixture to the site by hand or by the use of a woven or non-woven cloth material or cotton balls.
c) In still another embodiment the present invention comprises:
about 0.4 to 25 grams of finely divided powder of safflower seeds, having an average particle size of 100 microns or less, or extract thereof combined with about 10 to 100 ml of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier selected from the group consisting of lotions, creams or gels to form a composition. The composition is massaged into the face and neck of a patient.
d) Additionally, the finely divided powder or its extract can be made into a hot compress by impregnating a woven or non-woven fibrous wrap with said finely divided powder or its extract, dried and packaged for later use. Prior to the treatment the impregnated fibrous wrap is immersed in warm water and then applied to the face and neck of a patient.
Application of the various embodiments is at least once a day, more preferably two or three times a day. Subsequent to an application the face and neck are washed with warm tap water.

Anti-wrinkle preparation and method of reducing wrinkles in facial skin and neck


A solenoid valve that is constructed as follows: a cap is mounted on a movable iron core such that forward movement thereof is restricted; a pressing member is displaceably arranged between abutting seat surfaces of the cap and the movable iron core; biasing forces F1, F2, and F3 of an iron core return spring for biasing the movable iron core toward a initial position, a cushioning spring provided between the movable iron core and the pressing member, and a valve return spring for biasing a valve member in a direction to open a valve are set so as to be F1>F2>F3; and gaps x and y are provided between the pressing member and the movable iron core and between the pressing member and the cap, respectively, when the movable iron core is at the initial position.

A solenoid valve of a type that opens and closes a valve member in a direct-acting manner by using a movable iron core of a solenoid operation portion is known, as is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-156709.
A solenoid valve of this type generally comprises a fixed iron core and a movable iron core that adhere to each other by a magnetic force generated by energizing an exciting coil, a poppet-type valve member that attaches to and detaches from a valve seat by an action of the movable iron core to close and open a flow path, an iron core return spring that biases the movable iron core toward an initial position (a valve-closing position at which the valve member abuts on the valve seat) at which the movable iron core is detached from the fixed iron core, and a valve return spring that biases the valve member in a direction in which the valve member detaches from the valve seat.
The solenoid valve is constructed such that, when the exciting coil is not energized, the movable iron core is detached from the fixed iron core by a biasing force of the iron core return spring, and the valve member is pressed against the valve seat via the movable iron core to close the flow path. The solenoid valve is also constructed such that, if the exciting coil is energized, since the movable iron core adheres to the fixed iron core and the biasing force of the iron core return spring no longer acts on the valve member, the valve member is detached from the valve seat by a biasing force of the valve return spring to open the flow path.
However, if the solenoid valve is switched from a valve-opening state in which the exciting coil is energized and the iron core return spring is compressed by the movable iron core to the valve-closing state by turning off the energization to the exciting coil, the movable iron core detaches from the fixed iron core at high velocity, causing the valve member to hit the valve seat with high impact by a inertial force of the movable iron core. Thus, there is a problem that the valve member is easily worn away. Also, there is another problem that a transmission member (a pushrod) provided between the movable iron core and the valve member to transmit an acting force of the movable iron core to the valve member is easily worn away.

Solenoid valve having a hollow cap mounted on a leading end of a movable iron core


A coconut shell extract characterized by a particular level of trans-piceatanol and cosmetic and/or dermatological compositions comprising the coconut shell extract. Methods comprising a cosmetic application of at least one of compositions.

The skin, the largest organ of the human body, forms a protective barrier for the body against the external environment and also provides other vital functions. Cosmetic research consists in proposing solutions capable of preserving these natural functions and to protect the skin from aggressions endured daily.
For the last several years, products of natural origin have been proposed, in particular products from vegetable based raw materials. Nevertheless, these products are not always satisfactory and there is still a need for new natural products capable of protecting and effectively improving the condition of the skin, in particular products capable of fighting the signs of aging skin and depigmenting and brightening products.

Coconut shell extracts, compositions containing same and uses


Various embodiments of a pneumatically powered cue stick are disclosed. Both embodiments employ the use of compressed gas to derive the full range of power necessary to engage in the various games of pool and billiards, including the break shot, without the need for modification of surface area of the game table. The preferred embodiment is adaptable to existing forms of metering, triggering, portable compressed gas dispensing devices such as, but not limited to, paintball marker guns. An alternative embodiment integrates the metering, triggering, and gas dispensing components of the adaptable type, eliminating the need for the separate, adaptable devices previously mentioned. Both embodiments incorporate a cylinder assembly 14 and a cue stick rod 12 threadably, or otherwise attached, slidably mounted within a support casement 10, to facilitate a predetermined length not unlike, but not limited to, that of a conventional cue stick. Both embodiments are suitable for one-handed operation.

The traditional cue stick for use in games such as pool, billiards, snooker, etc., is an elongated, single or two piece unit held in both hands. One hand supports the front portion of the cue stick while guiding the ball-striking end, or tip, of the cue stick. The other hand grasping the rear portion, or butt end of the cue stick.
To strike the object ball the user typically pulls the cue stick in a rearward motion with the hand that is grasping the butt end of the cue stick and then pushes the cue stick in a forward motion as to engage the front end, or tip, of the cue stick with the object ball. The front portion of the cue stick is supported and guided by the other hand so that the ball-striking tip of the cue stick will strikes the object ball on a predetermined area, or spot, of the object ball. Furthermore, the front portion of the cue stick must slide freely over the supporting hand and/or through the fingers of the supporting hand to provide accurate guidance for the striking tip. This process is generally referred to as a pool or billiard "shot."
There are two steps involved in accomplishing the desired result in a pool shot. First, the user must visualize the shot with the end result in mind. Second, the user must strike the ball precisely on the predetermined spot of the object ball in order to produce the desired result. This application relates to solving the problems inherent in the second step of the pool or billiard shot. After the user completes the first step of visualizing the shot, the second step requires the user to precisely coordinate the tasks required of both hands and arms in order to strike the ball on the predetermined area, or spot.
After the user grasps the cue stick he/she bends over as to rest one hand on the table supporting the front of the cue stick while grasping the butt end with the other hand. Problems arise when the user performs the task of moving the cue stick back and forth to strike the ball. For all but the very practiced, it is difficult to produce a perfect, piston like motion at the cue stick tip. It is desirable that the piston motion not deviate from the longitudinal axis of the cue stick in order to strike the object ball on the predetermined spot. This perfect piston motion is crucial in accomplishing the desired end result. Furthermore, problems arise with the supporting hand when moving the cue stick back and forth on the surface of the hand and/or through the fingers of the hand. The hand must be completely free of moisture wherever the cue stick comes in contact with the skin. If not, the cue stick will not slide freely across the surface and/or through the fingers of the hand. This free-sliding action is essential for a successful end result. Also, the traditional cue stick does not lend itself to one-handed operation.
The embodiments described in this application eliminate the problems associated with the second step of the shot, as discussed above.
Several patents disclose cue sticks with varying degrees of automation. By and large, these patents disclose variations of complex mechanical devices in various embodiments combining forwardly biased springs, cocking and locking mechanisms, and triggered releasing devices for actuating the cue stick forward to strike a billiard ball. Prior art utilizations of these mechanisms in various embodiments are cited in U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,826 to J. F. Mizgala; U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,882 to Fox et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,370 to Mortellacci; U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,123 Cowan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,718 to Valentine.
U.S. Pat. No. 788,910 to C. S. Jones, discloses a cue stick that is actuated by means of low pressure air. The claimed embodiment describes a cue stick miniature in proportion to a traditional cue stick, and is operated by using both hands; one hand holding the miniature cue stick body, and the other hand squeezing an air bulb to create low pressure air flow through a tube running between the bulb and the cue stick. The air flow is channeled from the bulb through the tube into the rear end of the cue stick whereby actuating a piston inside a cylinder in a forward motion. A piston rod is arranged forwardly so that when the air flow engages the piston, the rod is extended forward through the front end of the cylinder impacting the subject ball.
The complexities associated with the mechanized, spring loaded cue sticks, while solving some of the problems associated with traditional cue sticks, create various and significant obstacles regarding performance and manufacturing. Embodiments of the prior art are, by and large, designed for two-handed operation involving one or more preparatory tasks, prior to operation. A task common to the spring-loaded cue stick involves the compression of the spring and locking a portion of the cue stick into position, whereby forward potential energy is stored in the compressed spring. Generally, in these embodiments, this is referred to as "cocking" the cue stick. Ideally, cocking requires both hands to accomplish the task. This task also requires additional time and effort creating an inconvenience for the user.
Spring-loaded cue sticks, while solving some of the problems associated with traditional cue sticks, typically employ complex combinations of parts, both moving and stationary. This presents significant production design challenges creating proportionately high cost of manufacture and low margins of return on investment, whereby, inhibiting market feasibility.
A demonstration of a refined, spring-loaded embodiment, may be viewed on the YouTube Internet site and is identified as the HOTSHOTS cue stick(inventor unknown). When examined carefully, this demonstration clearly reveals performance challenges facing designers and builders of spring-loaded cue stick embodiments. In the one scene of the video that shows the cue stick verifiably performing the break shot, where as all of the balls are gathered at one end of the table in a triangle shape and are subsequently scattered by the cue ball placed at the opposite end of the game table, demonstrates a shortage of striking power sufficient to effectively scatter the balls in a desirable fashion. Spring(s) with the capability to store the amount of energy necessary to supply the spring-loaded cue stick with ample power to perform the break shot may be disproportionately large and/or difficult to compress when cocking. The remedies for this deficiency may be impracticable, rendering the spring-loaded cue stick ineffective in practice.
The air powered embodiment of a Billiard Cue disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 788,910 to C. S. Jones, reveals significant design deficiencies in physical size, appearance, and, most importantly, practical functionality. Billiard-type game balls are dense in nature and require a substantial amount of kinetic energy to propel them in a way sufficient to satisfy the standards of play. The squeeze bulb design in this embodiment falls far short of satisfying this standard. Recognizing this shortcoming the disclosure suggests using a miniature game table shrunk to the scale proportionate to the limited ability of the cue stick to propel the ball effectively on a conventionally sized game table. As shrinking the scale of the game provides for a theoretical fix for a power cue stick with limited capabilities, problems arise as result of diminished game surface area. In terms of scale, the smaller the surface area becomes, the larger the balls become. This embodiment is limited such that the game surface would be inadequate for practical play. The proportion of game surface area to game ball size makes this theoretical fix impracticable.
As demonstrated by this applications' embodiments, an effective pneumatically powered cue stick can be totally portable, aesthetically appealing, exceptionally powerful, and can be easily manufactured in large quantities. Operation is fully automatic and requires no cocking, whereby lending itself to convenient, one-handed operation. These embodiments require no adjustments to to scale of current pool and billiards surface area standards and are capable of the full range of striking requirements encountered throughout the game, including impressive ability to scatter balls on the initial break.

Pneumatically powered billiard cue stick


A transport tank for mounting to a truck has a composite tank body, an outer boss mounted to an outer side of the tank body, an inner boss mounted to an inner side f the tank body, and a flange disposed such that at least a portion of the inner boss is disposed between and abuts the inner side of the tank body and the flange. The tank body, the inner boss, the outer boss and the flange each have an aperture defined therein. The flange is fastened such that the outer boss, the tank body, and the inner boss are compressed by the flange.

Many industries use trucks for the transportation of their goods. To transport a liquid, a truck is provided with a transport tank mounted to a frame of the truck or to a trailer of the truck. When the liquid is to be transported under pressure, the transport tank needs to be constructed to withstand this pressure. One example of such a liquid is a liquefied petroleum gas, such as propane. Typically, in order to withstand internal pressures, transport tanks are made of metal, such as carbon or stainless steel, and have a cylindrical central section and two generally curved ends. Although metal transport tanks such as the one described above are suitable for the transport of pressurized liquids they have some drawbacks.
In most jurisdictions, the total truck weight (truck plus payload) or total trailer weight (trailer plus payload) is not allowed to exceed a predetermined maximum weight. As a metal transport tank is heavy, the maximum weight of the payload that can be transported is less than could otherwise be transported if the transport tank was lighter. Also, a metal transport tank tends to corrode over time which requires maintenance, repair, and in some cases replacement of the tank.
One solution to at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks of metal transport tanks consist is making the transport tank out of composite material. For tanks of the same volume, composite transport tanks are lighter than metal transport tanks. As a result, by using a composite transport tank the maximum weight of the payload that can be transported can be increased. Also, composite materials are typically less susceptible to corrosion than metals.
In order to fill and empty a transport tank, a number of features are provided on the tank body to permit the attachment of pipes and pumps. Similar features are also provided to permit the attachment of various gauges providing information such as internal temperature and pressure of the transport tank.
In metal transport tanks, apertures are made inside the tank body and fittings made of metal, such as steel, are inserted into the apertures. The fittings are then welded to the tank body, which simultaneously connects the fittings to the tank body and provides a seal between the fittings and the tank body.
However, in composite transport tanks this arrangement cannot be used. As would be understood, metal fittings cannot be welded to a composite material tank body. Furthermore, metals and composite materials have different material properties which means that they have different allowable stresses and different thermal coefficients of expansion. As such, providing a connection and a seal between a metal fitting and a composite tank body cannot be achieved in the same manner as in a metal transport tank. Additionally, cutting an aperture into a composite tank body creates a stress concentration in the material adjacent to the aperture due to loadings and internal tank pressure, thus weakening the transport tank in the area of the aperture.
Therefore, there is a need for a transport tank for mounting to a truck which is made of composite material and provides at least one feature for connecting at least one of a pipe, a pump, a gauge or other element to the tank.


An image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member for bearing and transporting a developer to enable development of a latent image formed on an image bearing member. A regulating member regulates the thickness of a layer of the developer borne on the developer bearing member. A fixing device fixes a developer image on a recording medium transferred from the image bearing member. One of a first mode in which a developer image is formed only on one side of a recording medium and a second mode in which developer images are formed on two sides of a recording medium can be selected. The image forming apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the peripheral speed of the developer bearing member according to the selected mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process and to a developing device used in the image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine, and to a developing device used in the image forming apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, many image processing apparatuses have been proposed as a hardware unit for digital information communication through a data communication network and for outputting digital information.
This kind of apparatus comprises a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile machine.
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing essential portions of a digital printer, which is an example of this kind of conventional image forming apparatus.
A photosensitive drum 1 provided as an image bearing member is formed of a cylindrical electroconductive base member and a photoconductive layer formed on the base member, and is supported so as to be rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 9.
Around the photosensitive drum 1 are successively disposed, along the direction indicated by the arrow A, a primary charger 2 which uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, an exposing device 3 which reads an original to obtain an image signal according to the density of an image and exposes the photosensitive drum 1 on the basis of the image signal to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing device 4 which attaches toner (developer) to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image (developed image), a transfer-separation charger 5 which transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 onto a sheet S and separates from the photosensitive drum 1 the sheet S having the transferred toner image on its surface, a cleaning device 6 which removes residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 after transfer of the toner image, and a pre-exposing device 7 which eliminates residual charge on the photosensitive drum 1.
Sheet S having the transferred image on its surface is transported to a fixing device 8 after being separated from the photosensitive drum 1. In the fixing device 8, the toner image on the surface of sheet S is fixed and the desired printed image is formed by image forming means to be delivered to a place outside the image forming apparatus.
In a reader unit 91, an original placed on an original glass stand 911 is irradiated with light emitted from an illumination lamp 912, and reflected light from the original is imaged on a single-line photoelectric element array 913 provided as a photoelectric conversion element to be converted into an electrical signal in accordance with image information. Reflected light from the original irradiated with light from the illumination lamp 912 is guided by mirrors 914a and 914b and imaged on the photoelectric conversion device 913 by a lens 916. The electrical signal output from the photoelectric conversion device 913 undergoes analog to digital conversion in an analog to digital (A/D) converter 915 to be converted into an 8-bit digital image data. This image data undergoes logarithmic conversion in a black signal generation circuit 917 to convert luminance information into density information, thereby obtaining image density data.
Eight-bit digital image data formed as described above is supplied to a laser drive circuit 301, which is a well-known pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit. The drive circuit 301 modulates the emission time of a semiconductor laser 304 according to the supplied image density signal so as to change the area grayscale level in each pixel area, thereby realizing a tint or tone.
Laser driving methods are generally grouped into those using a PWM circuit corresponding to that described above and those using a binary laser drive circuit. The PWM circuit modulates, according to the level of the input image density signal, a pulse width signal corresponding to the time period during which the semiconductor laser emits light, as described above. On the other hand, the binarizing circuit converts the image signal into a two-step signal consisting of particular emission-on and emission off signals and inputs this two-step signal to the laser drive circuit 301, thereby turning on and off the semiconductor laser device 304.
Laser light emitted by the above-described laser driving according to the image signal is led to the photosensitive drum 1 by a polygon mirror scanner 302 rotating at a high speed and by a mirror 303 to perform raster scan writing on the photosensitive drum 1, thereby forming a digital electrostatic latent image as image information.
A number of electrophotographic methods, including the inventions patented as U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,961, Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) Nos. 42-23910 and 43-24748, etc., are known. Ordinarily, an electrical latent image is formed by one of various available means on a photosensitive drum provided as a recording medium using a photoelectric material and is developed by using toner (developer), and the obtained toner image is transferred onto a recording member such as paper selected as desired and is fixed on the recording member by heating or processing using a solvent vapor or the like to produce an image output.
Also, various development methods for visualizing an electric latent image by using a developer are known, which are, for example, magnetic brush development methods relating to U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,063, powder cloud methods relating to U.S. Pat. No. 2,221,776, fur brush development methods, and liquid development methods. In particular, among these development methods, magnetic brush development methods using a two-component developer having toner and a carrier as main components have been put into wide practical use. This kind of method makes it possible to obtain a good image with comparatively high stability, but entails drawbacks relating to the two-component developer, i.e., degradation of the carrier and variation in the toner/carrier mixture ratio.
To avoid these drawbacks, various development methods using a monocomponent developer composed of toner alone have been proposed. This kind of development method eliminates the need for control of the amount of toner with respect to the toner/carrier mixture ratio and has the advantage of simplifying the image forming apparatus.
Such a monocomponent development method is carried out in such a manner that a developer bearing member 41 of the developing device 4 is disposed so as to be opposed to the photosensitive drum 1 for bearing an electrostatic latent image in a noncontact relationship therewith, and a developing bias voltage E from a power supply 49 is applied between the developer bearing member 41 and the photosensitive drum 1 to perform development of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum (image bearing means) 1 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).
Methods which have been widely used as a method for forming a developer layer on the surface of the developer bearing member 41 to perform the above-described development are a method in which a member 43 in the form of a plate is used as a developer layer forming means and a suitable pressure xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d is applied to the member 43 to maintain the same in contact with the developer bearing member 41 (FIG. 6), and a method in which a developer layer forming member 43 is disposed with a suitable gap G1 formed between the member 43 and the developer bearing member 41 (FIG. 7) and a developer is fed to the vicinity N of the plate-shaped member 43 by rotation of the developer bearing member 41 in the direction indicated by the arrow B. The latter method is suitable for a high-speed image forming apparatus.
Ordinarily, the peripheral speed Vdahm of the developer bearing member is set higher, more specifically 1.4 to 2.2 times higher than that of the image bearing member.
Under the background of the public""s increasing awareness of energy saving in recent years, the proportion of users who perform printing on only one side of toner image bearing media, i.e., printing sheets, in a conventional manner is decreasing while the proportion of users who perform printing on two sides of printing sheets is increasing.
As a dominant system for continuously performing printing on two sides of a plurality of printing sheets (which operation hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9ctwo-side continuous printingxe2x80x9d), a system has been used in which transfer and fixation are first performed continuously on one side of each of a plurality of sheets (which operation hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cone-side printingxe2x80x9d), the sheets on which one-side printing has been performed are temporarily stacked on a stacking means 921 capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, and transfer and fixation are continuously performed on the other sides of the sheets stacked on the stacking means 921 simultaneously or approximately simultaneously with the completion of one-side printing on all the predetermined number of printing sheets or after passage of a predetermined time period (this system hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cstacking systemxe2x80x9d) (FIG. 14).
The above-described stacking system, however, requires a space for stacking means in or outside the image forming apparatus and requires setting of a procedure in which recording medium sheets on which one-side printing has been performed are temporarily stacked on the stacking means 921 before one-side printing on all the recording medium sheets is completed. Therefore there is a limit to the number of sheets on which two-side image formation is continuously performed on one printing instruction, and there is also a limit to the reduction in the time required for two-side image formation. For this reason, it is difficult to meet requirements recently made for a higher image formation speed as long as the above-described stacking system is used.
A system for two-side continuous printing, different from the above-described stacking system, has therefore been proposed in which continuous printing is performed on a plurality of sheets in the order of arrival at a transfer region Ztr formed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer device 5 from either of a sheet feeding means such as a sheet feed cassette for feeding a sheet toward the transfer region Ztr and a surface reversing means 922 for retransporting one of the sheets having a toner image transferred onto and heat-fixed on its one surface to the transfer region Ztr after reversing the front side and the back side to enable transfer onto the other surface. (This system will hereinafter be referred to as xe2x80x9cthrough-pass systemxe2x80x9d) That is, the sheet having a toner image fixed on its one surface is transported to the transfer region immediately after being reversed. In this system, when two-side image formation is performed continuously on one printing instruction, either of two, or a mixture of two different kinds of sheets, i.e., one passed through the fixing device and one supplied from the feed cassette and having no transferred toner image (not passed through the fixing device), is supplied to the transfer region. In contrast with the stacking system, this through-path system is free from the above-described restrictions and makes it possible to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus and to increase the two-side image formation speed.
The above-described conventional art, however, entails a problem described below.
Image forming apparatuses based on the above-described conventional art, particularly a high-speed digital type of image forming apparatuses have a problem that deterioration of various image qualities, typically a reduction in image density occurs in the course of continuously outputting images onto two surfaces of a plurality of sheets while minimizing the distance between the sheets successively supplied (minimizing sheet feed intervals).
FIGS. 11 and 12 and Table 1, respectively, show changes in plate inner portion temperature Tdbr, image reflection density Drmax, etc., after two-side outputting of one million pages with A4-size images of a standard image proportion (6%) at a high temperature and high humidity (30xc2x0 C., 80%RH, hereinafter, the same).
A leading cause of these changes is considered to be a process in which the temperature in the vicinity of the developing device is increased by heat caused by eddy current produced by high-speed rotation of the developer bearing member 41 in a case where a magnetic field generation means is incorporated and/or by heat accumulated by successive passage through the transfer region of sheets fed for toner image transfer on the second side of the sheet after being heated by the heat-fixing device, the sheets being fed at such small intervals that the temperature of the sheet is not lowered before the sheet enters the transfer region; the temperature of the plate-shaped member 43 and the sleeve surface are thereby increased; and the developer having its layer thickness regulated (rubbed) between the plate-shaped member 43 and the development sleeve is affected by the heat, that is, degradation and a reduction in chargeability of the developer composed mainly of a resin are caused by the heat. It is also considered that as the developer takes up moisture, degradation and a reduction in chargeability of the developer occur.
It can be understood from FIGS. 11 and 12 and Table 1 that when the temperature Tdbr of the atmosphere in the apparatus or the absolute water amount xcex7aw in the atmosphere in the apparatus is increased, the image reflection density Drmax or the like becomes reduced and other image qualities become worse.
xe2x80x9cImage reflection density Drmaxxe2x80x9d referred to in this specification is the average of values obtained by measuring, with a reflection densitometer, a product RD-914 (trademark) from MacBeth Corp (USA), five points in a copied image corresponding to circular original image portions having a reflection density of 1.2 and a diameter of 5 mm.
Also, xe2x80x9cfoggingxe2x80x9d referred to in this specification is represented by a value obtained by subtracting from the reflectivity of unused paper the average of the reflectivities of measurement-object paper at nine white points after image formation, measured with a reflection densitometer, a product TC-6DS (trademark) from Tokyo Denshoku Co.
Today, with the development of network environments, etc., there is a need for further increasing the image outputting speed and the amount of copies and the above-described problem is becoming more serious.
To prevent an increase in the temperature of the plate-shaped members, a Peltier element (also called a semiconductor heat pump, a device which becomes cooler at its one side and becomes hotter of its the other side when supplied with current, and which is used for temperature compensation in a temperature-sensitive device such as a semiconductor laser) may be used. However, such a device is high-priced and requires a fan or the like for generating air flow for removing heat radiated from the high-temperature side.
In two-side printing performed with growing frequently as mentioned above, the sheet having a high temperature (e.g., 80xc2x0 C.) immediately after passage through the fixing device 8, i.e., immediately after the completion of printing on the first side passes through the transfer section Ztr again without a pause or detour for cooling, and heat radiated from the sheet increases the temperature in the vicinity of the developing device.
In the through-path system, a temperature reduction effect similar to that in the case of the stacking system where the temperature of sheets having fixed toner images on the first surfaces is reduced while the sheets are accumulated on the intermediate tray cannot be expected. For this and other reasons, the sheet temperature immediately after the completion of printing on the first side is much higher than that in the system using the intermediate tray, and the increase in temperature in the vicinity of the developing device is considerably higher (FIG. 13).
Further, if the relative humidity is higher, i.e., the absolute water amount is high while the atmospheric temperature is constant, the influence on image quality (a reduction in image density) is larger (Table 1).
In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming high-quality images on two surfaces of recording mediums with stability during a long period of time.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention.

Developing device and image forming apparatus


A portable thermal testing system includes a portable thermal chamber box for attaching to a stationary object. A tested device is inserted through an aperture in the portable thermal chamber box and sealed from the external environment via sliding doors. Temperature-controlled air is circulated through the portable thermal chamber box and a baffle provides equal distribution of the air over the tested device. An aperture is provided for attaching a test probe to the device under test.

Modern telecommunications equipment undergoes a battery of testing and diagnostic procedures to ensure proper operation. One of these tests measures the thermal tolerance of the equipment to verify that the components contained therein are able to function in environments ranging from the sub-zero temperatures of the Alaskan tundra to the scorching heat of the Saudian Arabian desert.
The thermal tolerance tests require operation of the equipment to be tested in a controlled room (that is, a thermal chamber) specifically designed to create a wide variety of ambient temperatures. By altering the environment in the thermal chamber from a very low temperature (e.g., minus 20 degrees Celsius) to a very high temperature (e.g., 80 degrees Celsius), the performance of the telecommunications equipment in various locations around the world can be established.
If the equipment fails to function properly during the thermal tolerance test, a technician must determine which of the many components embedded within the equipment is malfunctioning. This determination is a daunting task considering that telecommunications equipment is normally comprised of thousands of individual parts encased in a massive housing which must be maneuvered and dissected before diagnostics and repair can begin.
For example, thermal tolerance testing of a switching system such as the 5ESS.RTM. manufactured and sold by Lucent Technologies requires positioning the entire switch, one or more twelve hundred pound (1200 lb.) modules at a time, into a stationary thermal chamber. If malfunction is detected, the faulty module and component therein must be identified and extracted for repair. After repair, the switch module must be placed back into the stationary thermal chamber for re-testing. This labor intensive testing process is complicated by the need for the technician to maneuver and manipulate an awkwardly large, heavy piece of equipment for testing of a particular component therein.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for more efficient thermal testing of large equipment such as telecommunications switching equipment.

Portable thermal chamber and testing system


A hydration and motorcycle protection combination system for providing impact protection for a motorcycle rider and a liquid to be drank and keep the motorcycle rider hydrated includes a breast plate and a back plate positioned over a portion of a torso of a person to inhibit damage to a chest and back of the person when the breast plate and back plate are impacted. Each of a plurality of torso straps is coupled between the breast plate and the back plate to press the breast plate and the back plate against the torso to secure the back plate and the breast plate to the torso. A hydration assembly is coupled to the back plate. The hydration assembly contains a consumable liquid to be drunk by the person to keep the person hydrated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective vests and more particularly pertains to a new protective vest for providing impact protection for a motorcycle rider and for providing a liquid to be drank to keep the motorcycle rider hydrated.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of protective vests is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,408 describes a device for permitting air to pass through a layer saturated with water to cool the air passing therethrough and thereby cooling the air and cooling a wearer as the cooled air passes over the wearer. Another type of protective vest is U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0244100 for providing a protective vest that deploys an air bag from in front of a wearer to protect the wearer. Another type of protective vest is U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,490 for providing a container for liquid in the shape of a vest to be worn by a person and allow the person to drink the liquid from the container.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that has certain improved features that provide impact protection for a portion of the torso and arms of a person and carries a supply of liquid to be consumed by the person to keep the person hydrated.

Hydration and motorcycle protection combination system


A plunger lifting mechanism of a rotary-valve gas carburetor includes a carburetor body, a cam, a plunger, a torsion spring, a fixed plate, a throttle wire bracket, a main measuring needle, a sleeve and a main jet pipe. The plunger is rotatablely mounted in the carburetor body, which passes through the cam, the torsion spring and fixed plate in turn and then extends out of the carburetor body, and a top of the plunger is connected with the throttle wire bracket and then fixedly connected with the sleeve; the fixed plate is fixedly connected with the carburetor body; one end of the torsion spring is elastically suppressed by the fixed plate, and the other end of the torsion spring is elastically suppressed by protrusions on side walls of the plunger. The configuration can ensure sufficient flexibility of its plunger and improve the reliability of the carburetor.

Carburetors are equipments that mix the proportional fuel and air in a vacuum condition generated by an engine. The carburetor acted as an exact measuring apparatus plays an important role in the engine and thus is called as a "heart" of the engine. The carburetor apparatus includes a starting device, an idling device, a moderate load device, a full load device and an accelerator. According to different working status demands of the engine, the carburetor can proportion the corresponding concentration and output the mixed gas with corresponding quantity. To uniform the mixed gas, the carburetor can further atomize the fuel to support the normal operation of the apparatus.
While a rotary valve plunger type carburetor is one type of carburetors that changes the amount of fuel outputted by lifting or lowering a plunger. Commonly, a conventional plunger lifting mechanism of a carburetor includes rollers, plunger, cam and main measuring needle and the like. This plunger lifting mechanism is configured at outer top of the carburetor body, and the spiral surface is formed on the throttle wire bracket, and the lifting and lowering movement is driven by engaging the spiral surface with steel balls of the fixed plate. However, for this structure, scraps are easy to be accumulated at the spiral surface, to reduce the agility of the plunger. Furthermore, the movement of the plunger along the spiral surface has only supporting point, which may generate deflected force of the plunger, and bring problems such as the plunger is blocked and the plunger is not flexible.

Plunger lifting mechanism of a rotary-valve gas carburetor


A low profile, two lumen dilator is provided for an arteriotomy closure system. The dilator includes a first lumen adapted to receive a guidewire and a second lumen having a proximal segment that defines a blood marking lumen and a distal segment that receives the distal ends of stabilizers in a common pocket. The blood marking lumen and pocket are arranged in tandem. The guidewire lumen may extend the full length of the dilator or may be shortened to provide rapid exchange capability.

Various cardiovascular procedures, such as angioplasty, stent placement and atherectomy, among others, are performed by inserting into and manipulating within the vasculature, wires and catheters adapted to perform those procedures. Access to the vasculature typically is through the femoral artery and is percutaneous, involving insertion of a needle in the region of the groin to form a track and to puncture and create an arteriotomy in the femoral artery. A guidewire then is advanced through the needle and into the femoral artery. The needle then is removed. An introducer sheath is then advanced over the guidewire. The wire and sheath provide access into the femoral artery, through the arteriotomy, for catheters or other instrumentalities in order to perform the selected procedure.
After the procedure has been completed, the procedural devices are removed and the arteriotomy must be closed. A number of techniques are known to facilitate closure and healing of the arteriotomy. These include application of pressure at the puncture site for a relatively extended length of time or the use of biological adhesives or plugs adapted to seal the arteriotomy, among others. Also among the techniques for closing the arteriotomy is the use of a staple system such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,506,210, 6,767,356 and 7,074,232 to Kanner et al., of which the disclosures of the devices and methods are hereby incorporated by reference. The Kanner patents described a system by which the original introducer sheath is removed, leaving the guidewire in place. Then, an assembly that includes a closure sheath and dilator is advanced along the indwelling guidewire to bring the distal end of the closure sheath into proximity to the outer surface of the arteriotomy. The closure sheath also carries an arrangement of display extending, wire-like stabilizers that, together with the dilator, pass through the arteriotomy into the artery.
The free ends of the stabilizers extend beyond the distal end of the closure sheath and are retained within pockets formed in the sides of the dilator to prevent the ends from interfering with advancement of the dilator or closure sheath through tissue.
The system enables the portions of the stabilizer wires, once disposed within the artery, to be formed into a temporarily enlarged shape that prevents removal of the stabilizer wires through the arteriotomy. The stabilizers and distal end of the closure sheath then are drawn together to grip the tissue about the arteriotomy and thereby secure and fix the position of the distal end of the sheath over and in alignment with the arteriotomy. The dilator and guidewire then are removed through the closure sheath, leaving the sheath in place adjacent the outer surface of the artery with the stabilizers within the artery, holding the sheath in place in readiness to provides direct access to the arteriotomy.
An arteriotomy closure device, such as a catheter-like stapler, with a staple carried in its distal end, then is inserted into and advanced through the closure sheath to located the staple in proximity to the arteriotomy. As described more fully in the Kanner patents, the sheath and stabilizer mechanisms orient the staple in registry with and at a fixed distance from the arteriotomy. When the stapler is actuated, the prongs of the staple expand and advance toward and into the arterial wall and surrounding tissue on opposite sides of the arteriotomy. The stapling mechanism then draws the prongs of the staple together to draw the edges of the arteriotomy together into approximation and then releases the staple. The stabilizers are caused to return to a linear shape, enabling their withdrawal. With the staple deployed and having closed the arteriotomy, the stapling mechanism and sheath may be removed, leaving the staple in place.
The dilator described in Kanner U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,356 is circular and has four separate lumens, including a guidewire lumen, a blood marking lumen, and a pair of side lumens. The distal ends of the side lumens server as pockets to temporarily receive the distal ends of the stabilizers when the dilator and closure sheath are advanced through tissue. The dilator includes side port openings in it sides, just beyond the distal end of the sheath, through which the distal ends of the stabilizers can be placed within the pockets. The portions of the side lumens proximal of the side ports, although useful in forming the stabilizer pockets, performed no function during operation or use of the system. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a dilator for use in the arteriotomy closure system that omitted the proximal side lumens. The resulting dilator thus could have a lower profile or, alternatively, would enable the dilator or closure sheath to be further modified to include other operating functions and elements.

Low profile dilator for arteriotomy closure system


A spin valve element 10 including a spin injector 12 made of a ferromagnetic material, a spin detector 16 made of a ferromagnetic material, and a channel part 14 made of a non-magnetic material. The spin detector 16 is arranged at a position separated from the spin injector 12, the channel part 14 is connected with the spin injector 12 and the spin detector 16 directly or through an insulating layer, and a plurality of spin diffusion portions 30 to 34 with enlarged cross section areas in a direction perpendicular to a spin current is formed in the channel part 14.

Conventionally, in the field of spin electronics, spin valve elements using a spin state of electrons are used (for example, see Patent Literature 1). The spin valve elements include a spin injector and a spin detector made of a ferromagnetic material, and a channel part made of a non-magnetic material, which bridges the spin injector and the spin detector. The spin valve elements generate a spin current without accompanying a flow of charges in the channel part between the spin injector and the spin detector by a so-called non-local technique, and detect a spin accumulation voltage generated in an interface between the spin detector and the channel part. Further, it is known that, in the spin valve elements, the spin current, that is, the flow of angular momentum of electrons exponentially attenuates depending on the distance from the spin injector, and the diffusion length of the spin (for example, see Patent Literature 2).


A heat-sensitive stencil is disclosed which includes a porous substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, and a thermoplastic resin film bonded to the first surface of the substrate with an adhesive, wherein the second surface of the substrate is negative to a wax No. 6 pick test defined in the specification herein so that the fibers constituting the substrate are not picked off during its contact with a platen roller in the master forming stage.

This invention relates to a stencil for preparing a printing master and, more specifically, to a stencil having a porous substrate on which a thermoplastic resin film is bonded with an adhesive.
A stencil printer capable of performing a series of printing operations including the feeding of a stencil to a master forming section, the cutting of the stencil with a thermal head to form a printing master, the mounting of the master on a drum, the printing of a paper with an ink through the master, and the discharging of the used master is now widely used in various facilities, such as schools and offices, for producing various kinds of printings, because of easiness in handling, low costs and compactness thereof.
The stencil is generally composed of a porous substrate such as a thin paper, a thermoplastic resin film laminated on the substrate with an adhesive and, optionally, an anti-stick layer for preventing the fuse bonding of the thermoplastic film with a thermal head and the blocking of stacked stencils.
The problem with known stencil printers is that thin lines of the printed pattern are apt to be broken and white blanks are often present in the printed solid pattern. Such printing defects are more significant with an increase of the number of the printing masters produced. While extensive studies have been made on both printer parts and stencils, the above problem has not yet been completely solved.

Heat sensitive stencil having a porous substrate with tightly bound fibers