A thimerosal-free hyaluronidase preparation wherein the preferred hyaluronidase enzyme is devoid of molecular weight fractions below 40,000 MW, between 60-70,000 MW and above 100,000 MW. Also disclosed is a method for accelerating the clearance of hemorrhagic blood from the vitreous humor of the eye, comprising the step of contacting at least one hemorrhage-clearing enzyme (e.g., a .beta.-glucuronidase, matrix metalloproteinase, chondroitinase, chondroitin sulfatase or protein kinase) with the vitreous humor in an amount which is effective to cause accelerated clearance of blood therefrom.

i. Anatomy of the Human Eye
In human beings, the anatomy of the eye includes a "vitreous body" which occupies approximately four fifths of the cavity of the eyeball, behind the lens. The vitreous body is formed of gelatinous material, known as the vitreous humor. Typically, the vitreous humor of a normal human eye contains approximately 99% water along with 1% macromolecules including; collagen, hyaluronic acid, soluble glycoproteins, sugars and other low molecular weight metabolites.
The retina is essentially a layer of nervous tissue formed on the inner posterior surface of the eyeball. The retina is surrounded by a layer of cells known as the choroid layer. The retina may be divided into a) an optic portion which participates in the visual mechanism, and b) a non-optic portion which does not participate in the visual mechanism. The optic portion of the retina contains the rods and cones, which are the effectual organs of vision. A number of arteries and veins enter the retina at its center, and splay outwardly to provide blood circulation to the retina.
The posterior portion of the vitreous body is in direct contact with the retina. Networks of fibrillar strands extend from the retina and permeate or insert into the vitreous body so as to attach the vitreous body to the retina.
ii. The Causes, Treatments and Clinical Sequelae Of Intravitreal Hemorrhage
Diabetic retinopathy, trauma and other ophthalmological disorders sometimes result in rupture or leakage of retinal blood vessels with resultant bleeding into the vitreous humor of the eye (i.e., "intravitreal hemorrhage). Such intravitreal hemorrhage typically manifests as clouding or opacification of the vitreous humor.
Intravitreal hemorrhage is sometimes, but not always, accompanied by tearing or detachment of the retina. In cases where the intravitreal hemorrhage is accompanied by a retinal tear or detachment, it is important that such retinal tear or detachment be promptly diagnosed and surgically repaired. Failure to promptly diagnose and repair the retinal tear or detachment may allow photoreceptor cells of the retina, in the region of the tear or detachment, to become necrotic. Such necrosis of the photoreceptor cells of the retina may result in loss of vision. Furthermore, allowing the retinal detachment to remain unrepaired for such extended period of time may result in further intravitreal hemorrhage and/or the formation of fibrous tissue at the site of the hemorrhage. Such formation of fibrous tissue may result in the formation of an undesirable fibrous attachment between the vitreous body and the retina.
The typical surgical procedure used for repair of retinal tears or detachment requires that the surgeon be able to look through the vitreous humor, to visualize the damaged region of the retina i.e., "transvitreous viewing of the retina"). When intravitreal hemorrhage has occurred, the presence of the hemorrhagic blood within the vitreous can cause the vitreous to become so cloudy that the surgeon is prevented from visualizing the retina through the vitreous. Such hemorrhagic clouding of the vitreous can take 6-12 months or longer to clear sufficiently to permit trans-vitreal viewing of the retina. However, in view of the potential complications which may result from delayed diagnosis or treatment of a retinal tear or detachment, it is generally not desirable to wait for such natural clearance of the hemorrhagic blood to occur.
Furthermore, even when the intravitreal hemorrhage is not accompanied by retinal tear or detachment, it is often difficult to verify that retinal tear or detachment has not occurred, because the hemorrhagic clouding of the vitreous prevents the physician from performing routine funduscopic examination of the retina. Moreover, the presence of hemorrhagic blood within the vitreous may significantly impair the patient's vision through the affected eye, and will continue to do so until such time as the hemorrhagic blood has been substantially or fully cleared.
Thus, the presence of hemorrhagic blood within the vitreous body causes multiple clinical problems including a) inability to visually examine and diagnose the site of the hemorrhage and/or any accompanying tear or detachment of the retina, b) full or partial impairment of vision in the affected eye and c) impairment or prevention of the performance of trans-vitreal surgical procedures of the type typically utilized to repair the site of hemorrhage and/or to repair any accompanying retinal tear or detachment.
In cases where intravitreal hemorrhage has resulted in substantial clouding or opacification of the vitreous, the treating physician may have the option to perform a procedure known as a vitrectomy, wherein all (or a portion of) the vitreous body is removed from the interior of the eye, and replaced with a clear liquid. The performance of such vitrectomy procedure is intended to allow the surgeon to visualize the retina sufficiently to proceed with the necessary retinal examination and/or surgical repair of the hemorrhage and any accompanying retinal tear or detachment. However, such vitrectomy procedures are highly skill-intensive, and are associated with several significant drawbacks, risks and complications. Among these drawbacks, risks and complications are the potential that the act of removing the vitreous will cause further detachment or tearing of the retina and/or that such removal of the vitreous will cause further hemorrhage from the already-weakened retinal blood vessels.
iii. Prior Ophthalmic Applications Of Hyaluronidase and Other Enzymes
In an effort to minimize the potential for causing further detachment or tearing of the retina during performance of vitrectomy, it has previously been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,509 (Hageman), to inject certain protease-free glycosaminoglycanase enzymes into the vitreous body, to cause the vitreous body to become uncoupled or "disinserted" from the retina, prior to removal of the vitreous body. Such disinsertion or uncoupling of the vitreous body is purported to minimize the likelihood that further tearing or detachment of the retina will occur as the vitreous body is removed. Examples of specific protease-free glycosaminoglycanase enzymes which may be used to bring about this vitreal disinsertion purportedly include; chondroitinase ABC, chondroitinase AC, chondroitinase B, chondroitin 4-sulfatase, chondroitin 6-sulfatase, hyaluronidase and .beta.-glucuronidase.
Although hyaluronidase enzyme has been known to be usable for various ophthalmic applications, including the vitrectomy adjunct application described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,509 (Hageman), published studies have indicated that the hyaluronidase enzyme may itself be toxic to the retina and/or other anatomical structures of the eye. See, The Safety of Intravitreal Hyaluronidase; Gottleib, J. L.; Antoszyk, A. N., Hatchell, D. L. and Soloupis, P., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:11, 2345-52 (1990).
The ophthalmic toxicity of some hyaluronidase preparations has been confirmed by other investigators, who have proposed that such hyaluronidase preparations be used as a toxic irritant for causing experimentally-induced neovascularization of the eye, in animal toxicity models. see, An Experimental Model of Preretinal Neovascularization in the Rabbit; Antoszyk, A. N., Gottleib, J. L., Casey, R. C., Hatchell, D. L. and Machemer, R., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:1, 46-51 (1991).
Unfortunately, it has not been previously known whether the reported therapeutic activities and toxicities of hyaluronidase are universally applicable to all hyaluronidase preparations, or whether such efficacies and/or toxicities are applicable only to hyaluronidase preparations containing certain excipient materials or to hyaluronidase enzymes derived from specific sources. This is an important consideration in view of the fact that the purity and characterization (e.g., molecular weight distribution) of the various hyaluronidase preparations used in the prior art may vary, depending on the source of the hyaluronidase and the solvents and/or other formulation components with which the hyaluronidase is combined.
iv. Purity and Characterization of Hyaluronidase Preparations Previously used for Ophthalmic Administration
The term "hyaluronidase" is commonly used to describe a group of endo-.beta.-glucuronidase enzymes which depolymerize certain mucopolysaccharides, such as hyaluronic acid. Myer, K. et al., The Enzymes; Vol. 4, 2d, Ed., pp 447, Academic Press, Inc., New York (1960).
Hyaluronidase causes hydrolysis of the endo-N-acetyl hexosaminic bonds of hyaluronic acid and of the chondroitin sulfate acids A and C, primarily to tetrasaccharide residues.
Significant evidence indicates that hyaluronidase enzymes derived from different sources differ in enzyme molecular weight distribution and in specific enzymatic activities. Such variability in molecular weight distribution and specific enzymatic activity are noteworthy considerations in view of the fact that hyaluronidase enzymes may be isolated from a variety of sources, including bovine testes, ovine testes, certain bacteria such as streptomyces and certain invertebrate animals such as leeches.
The Wydase.RTM. hyaluronidase preparation is reported to have been previously administered to the eyes of mammals for various clinical and experimental applications, including the treatment of glaucoma and the promotion of liquefaction of the vitreous body during vitrectomy procedures wherein the vitreous body is removed from the eye.
Although some hyaluronidase preparations have been reported to exhibit desirable therapeutic effects when injected into or administered topically to the eye, the potential toxicities of hyaluronidase and/or the thimerosal preservative are cause for concern regarding the safety of routine clinical administration of such, preparations by intraocular injection.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for the formulation and development of a new hyaluronidase preparation which may be administered to the eye at dosage levels which are sufficient to bring about optimal therapeutic effects, but which do not cause ocular toxicity.
Additionally, in view of the above-discussed problems associated with the slowness of natural clearance of hemorrhagic blood from the vitreous body, there exists a need in the art for the elucidation and development of new methods and procedures for accelerating the clearance of hemorrhagic blood from the vitreous body of the eye so as to permit trans-vitreal viewing of the posterior aspect of the eye, including the retina, without the need for removal of the vitreous body (i.e., total or partial vitrectomy).

Method for accelerating clearance of hemorrhagic blood from the vitreous humor with hyaluronidase


A drain valve allows liquid to flow into or out of a liquid-container product by use of a restriction cap having a control ring that twists in and out of a base ring in order to control the flow. The restriction cap has a flow valve, having a top, apertures, and a base, and a control ring, having a top, base, center aperture, and protrusions. The control ring is sealed against the flow valve top by an O-ring when the drain valve is closed and is also sealed against the side of the flow valve. As the control ring is twisted into the base ring, control ring protrusions twist within channels inside the base ring and a piston valve is depressed, allowing liquid to flow. As the control ring is twisted out of the base ring, the control ring base blocks the flow apertures, preventing liquid from flowing.

Today's large liquid-container products, such as both portable and stationary above-ground swimming pools containing water, typically have a drain valve to allow removal of the liquid, either for storage of the portable container or during the winter season for the stationary one. Most of these drain valves require that the user insert his or her hand into the water in order to plug or unplug the drain valve. Further, most of these drain valves are not connectable to hoses for routing the draining liquids to a desired disposal area, instead allowing the liquids to run out directly into the area where the container is located. This can lead to various kinds of property and/or environmental damage, such as in the case of drainage of chlorinated pool water onto landscaping.
A prior art drain valve that is connectable to an ordinary garden hose and thus avoids the latter problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,550 (Saputo et al). The valve of Saputo et al has a tubular body with a mating member and a hose connector in communication with each other, the hose connector being disposable along the drain valve passageway and releasably attachable to the valve body by a cap. The hose connector has at least one prong that, when the hose connector is fully inserted into the valve passageway, forces open a drain plug blocking the passageway and allows liquids to drain from the container in which the valve is installed. The plug also has a pull tab and is attached to the drain valve body by a flexible stem. The hose connector can take a variety of forms, allowing it to be connected to either a conventionally sized U.S. garden hose or to the variably-sized hoses found in many other countries.
The valve of Saputo et al has a number of disadvantages. The valve is highly prone to water leakage during attachment of the hose because the prong pushes open the drain plug during installation of the hose connector, before the hose itself has been connected. The stem connecting the drain plug also presents a weak point that is likely to break with repeated usage, such as would be experienced by an inflatable or portable pool, leading to likely loss of the plug. Further, there is difficulty with plug removal in any embodiment that does not employ the hose connector prong to push out the drain plug, because of pressure on the plug from the liquid in the container. Pulling on the plug pull tab to remove the plug under these circumstances exerts extreme stress on the plug pull tab and/or stem, increasing the likelihood of breakage and ultimate loss of the plug. In addition, the user is still required to put his or her hand into the water in order to plug or unplug the valve. A further disadvantage is that, if the hose and connector are left connected during use of the pool, the hose and connector will tend to leak water out of the pool because of leakage around the plug.
What has been needed, therefore, is a drain valve for liquid-container products that allows connection of a drainage hose, that prevents leakage of liquids from the container during installation of the drainage hose, that prevents leakage of liquids from the valve if the hose is left connected, that is not prone to breakage after repeated use, that does not require the user to put his or her hand in the water, and that is easy to operate under all conditions.


15,16-Seco-19-nor progestins are provided which display elevated progestational activity with a minimum of ancillary hormonal activity. Processes for the preparation of the novel progestins are provided as are methods of use. A preferred method of use is in the suppression of ovulation in the human female.

The use of substituted steroids for a number of therapeutic purposes, e.g., in the control of conception in female mammals in the regulation of the menstrual cycle, in conjunction with chemotherapy, and for a number of other purposes, has been known for some time. See, for example, G. Pincus et al., Science 124:890 (1956); J. Rock et al., Science 124:891 (1956); G. Pincus, 1 of The Control of Fertility, (New York: Academic Press, 1965); and C. Djerassi, Science 151:3716 (1966).
The present invention is specifically directed to novel progestins, i.e., synthetic progesterone-like compounds which have no natural counterpart in the human body. These compounds find a wide range of beneficial applications in human therapy. Such applications include, for example, in addition to suppressing ovulation in the human female, control of uterine bleeding, treatment of amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, alleviation of endocrine disorders, and treatment of infertility. Examples of progestins and progestogens (i.e., naturally occurring progesterone-like compounds) which have been used for these purposes include but are not limited to acetoxypregnenolone, anagestone acetate, chlormadinone acetate, desogestrol, dimethisterone, ethisterone, ethynodiol diacetate, fluorogestone acetate, gestodene,. hydroxymethylprogesterone and derivatives thereof (e.g., hydroxymethylprogesteroneacetate),hydroxyprogesteroneand derivatives thereof (e.g., hydroxyprogesterone acetate and hydroxy- progesterone caproate), levonorgestrel, lynestenol, melengestrol acetate, norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, norgesterol, normethisterone, pregnenolone, and progesterone.
Insofar as contraceptive methods and compositions are concerned, progestins are components of both the sequential and combination "pill" as well as long-acting injectables. Progestins are also administered together with an estrogenic component for the treatment of climacteric disturbances. See, e.g.: U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,651 to Rudel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,635 to Segre; U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,502 to Lachnit-Fixson; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,416 to Lachnit-Fixson et al. (Progestins have also been used in oral contraceptive compositions that do not include an estrogenic component, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,355 to Kincl et al. and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,757 to Pasquale. Indeed, such a formulation, containing norethindrone, is currently available and marketed under the tradename "Nor-Q.D." by Syntex Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif.)
While there are thus a number of progestins commercially available, with or without accompanying estrogenic compounds, there is a continuing need to improve efficacy and safety while minimizing unwanted side effects. Perhaps the most serious of these side effects is ancillary hormonal activity, i.e., androgenic, estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities as well as inhibition , of adrenocortical function. The following table illustrates the androgenic, estrogenic, and antiestrogenic effects of currently available contraceptive formulations:
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Androgenic Pill Progestin Effect ______________________________________ Ovcon-35 0.4 mg norethindrone 0.14 Brevicon/Modicon 0.5 mg norethindrone 0.17 Demulen 1/35 1 mg ethynodiol diacetate 0.21 Tri-Norinyl 0.5, 1.0, 0.5 mg 0.24 norethindrone Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 0.5, 0.75, 1 mg 0.26 norethindrone Ortho-Novum 10/11 0.5, 1 mg norethindrone 0.26 Triphasil/Tri- 0.5, 0.075, 0.12 mg 0.29 Levlen levonorgestrel Norinyl and Ortho 1 mg norethindrone 0.34 1/35 Nordette/Levlen 0.15 mg levonorgestrel 0.47 Lo/Ovral 0.30 mg norgestrel 0.47 Loestrin 1/20 1 mg norethindrone 0.52 acetate Loestrin 1/5/30 1.5 mg norethindrone 0.52 acetate ______________________________________ Estrogenic Progestin Effect ______________________________________ Norgestrel (Ovral, Lo/Ovral, Nordette, 0.00 Tri-Levlen, Levlen) Norethindrone (1 mg) (Norinyl and Ortho- 1.00 Novum) Norethindrone acetate (1 mg) (Norlestrin) 1.52 Ethynodiol diacetate (1 mg) (Demulen and 3.44 Ovulen) Norethynodrel (2.5 mg) (Enovid) 20.80 ______________________________________ Anti-Estrogenic Progestin Effect ______________________________________ Norethynodrel (2.5 mg) (Enovid) 0.0 Ethynodiol diacetate (1 mg) (Demulen and 1.0 Ovulen) Norethindrone (1 mg) (Norinyl and Ortho- 2.5 Novum) Norgestrel (0.5 mg) (Ovral) 18.5 Norethindrone acetate (1 mg) (Norlestrin) 25.0 ______________________________________
In Table 1, androgenic activity is expressed in terms of milligrams of methyl testosterone equivalents per 28 days based on a rat ventral prostate assay. The estrogenic effect values derive from a comparative potency test based on a rat vaginal epithelium assay. See R. C. Jones et al., "The Effects of Various Steroids on Vaginal Histology in the Rat," in Fertil. Steril. 24:284 (1973). See also R. P. Dickey, Managing Contraceptive Pill Patients, 4th Ed., Durant, Okla.: Creative Informatics, 1984.) The values for anti-estrogenic effect are calculated using the method of R. P. Dickey as set out in Managing Contraceptive Pill Patients, 4th ed., Turant, Okla.; Creative Information, Inc. (1984).
The ancillary hormonal activity of the above formulations is believed to be at least in part dose-related. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a novel progestin which has potent progestational activity with a minimum of ancillary hormonal activity.


A method and apparatus for controlling a solenoid-operated valve element are provided. The valve element is movable between first and second end positions, and is urgable toward the first end position by magnetic attraction caused by activation of the solenoid and is normally urged toward the second end position. The method further enables detection of the time at which the valve element returns to the second end position from the first end position after deactivation of the solenoid. The method includes activating the solenoid by sending current from a current source through the solenoid to urge the valve element to the first end position, deactivating the solenoid by disconnecting the solenoid from the current source so that the valve element is urged toward the second end position, reconnecting the second end of the solenoid to the second pole of the current source a predetermined time after the solenoid is deactivated such that remaining energy in the solenoid generates a measuring current, and measuring the measuring current to detect a first predetermined characteristic change in the measuring current which occurs when the valve element has returned to the second end position.

SAE Technical Paper 850542 "DDEC Detroit Diesel Electronic Control" describes in detail a method for detecting when a solenoid-operated movable valve element reaches an end position. Injection commences when a closed position is reached. The method is based on studying the flow through, or the voltage across, the solenoid, which flow or voltage undergoes a change when the valve element changes from being in motion to being stationary in an end position. The reaching of the end position is defined as the time when the first-order time derivative of the current (dI/dt) or voltage (dU/dt) passes through zero. The zero crossing is caused by a sudden change in inductance when the valve element becomes stationary in its end position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,517 refers to a more developed variant whereby both the closing and the opening of the control valve, i.e. in this case the commencement and cessation of fuel injection in a combustion engine, are detected by analysing the current through the solenoid. The opening of the control valve, i.e. the interruption of injection, is detected by the fact that a free-wheel circuit opens. Free-wheeling means that the current is led into a circuit with a certain resistance so that the energy which is stored in the solenoid in the form of its magnetic field is reduced. When the current is free-wheeled, this value decreases exponentially and the time when the control valve reaches the fully open position is defined as the time when the value of the current has a local maximum value, i.e. the derivative of the current passes through zero. This method is used for measuring the start and length of an injection cycle for the purpose of controlling the fuel quantity injected and the time when the injection takes place. A disadvantage of the free-wheeling method is that the ill-defined phases when the control valve is set in motion from one end position to the other, particularly when the control valve is opening, are unnecessarily long. This is a disadvantage with regard to exact determination of the fuel quantity injected.
DE 4222650 refers to a variant whereby free-wheeling can be limited on the basis of the engine speed at the time. At low speeds, full free-wheeling is permitted but with successively increasing speed the free-wheeling period is shortened until in the higher speed range it is completely eliminated. This solution is used in order to limit noise from the control valve at low engine speeds, at which the result is a slower control valve movement, with a more rapid control valve movement at higher speeds and consequently more precise determination of the fuel quantity injected. The predominance of other noise sources at these higher speeds then makes it less necessary to limit noise from the control valve.
The documents mentioned above refer to solutions which are applied to fuel injectors for combustion engines whereby the fuel pressure builds up when a solenoid-operated control valve is closed, followed by the injection valve opening when the pressure in the fuel reaches a given level, of the order of a couple of hundred bars. In these arrangements the time when injection takes place is calculated by detecting the time when the control valve closes and adding a time which in principle is constant but depends to some extent on the type of injector and certain conditions such as temperature. This time corresponds to the time during which the fuel pressure against the injection valve builds up. In this case the fuel quantity injected can be detected by also detecting the time when the control valve opens, since the fuel pressure then begins to drop, and the injection valve closes when the pressure drops to a predetermined level.
During the period when the control valve is moving towards the open position, the flow through the control valve is not well defined, thereby unpredictably influencing the closure of the injection valve. The determination of the fuel quantity injected thus becomes relatively uncertain, thereby worsening the possibility of exactly controlling the fuel quantity injected with a view to its corresponding to the desired power output from the engine and at the same time to achieving optimum control of fuel consumption and emissions.
To make the determination of the fuel quantity injected more precise and improve the possibility of controlling the fuel quantity injected during the injection period, it is important that the control valve be adjusted as quickly as possible and that the reaching of both of its end positions can be precisely detected in order to determine the fuel quantity injected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,482 refers to a solution whereby the current through an electromagnetic valve is interrupted for a certain time in order to quickly urge the valve towards the other end position. After a certain time a second lower voltage level is applied to create a measuring current which can then be analysed in order to detect when the end position is reached. However, this solution does involve a relatively complicated circuit solution, since two voltage levels are applied.

Method and apparatus for controlling and detecting the position of a solenoid-operated valve element


Backup data is processed by obtaining a set of metadata associated with backup data. A locality-sensitive hash key is generated for the backup data based at least in part on the set of metadata. The backup data is assigned to one of a plurality of deduplication nodes based at least in part on the locality-sensitive hash key.

Deduplication storage systems, such as EMC Data Domain storage systems, perform deduplication to minimize the amount of storage consumed. Instead of storing two copies of the same piece of data, a single copy is stored (e.g., with two links or identifiers referencing the single copy). In backup and/or archiving applications, significant storage savings can be achieved since backups and archives tend to have copies of identical or substantially similar data. It would be desirable if distributed deduplication storage systems operated in a manner which attempts to optimize deduplication efficiency.

Content-aware distributed deduplicating storage system based on locality-sensitive hashing


A method and an apparatus for selecting an antenna from an antenna diversity array in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes the steps of modulating an incoming signal with a spread-spectrum type modulation, measuring a signal quality value for each antenna in the antenna diversity array, and selecting an antenna from the antenna diversity array on the basis of the measured signal quality values. The step of measuring a signal quality value for each antenna may include computing peak-to-average ratio values by dividing a peak sample value by an average sample value, where the average sample value is determined by averaging all of the predetermined number of sample values for each of the plurality of incoming spreading codewords, and the peak sample value is determined by selecting the maximum of all of the predetermined number of sample values for each of the plurality of incoming spreading codewords.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for using antenna diversity for wireless communication in a multipath signal environment, and more particularly to a technique for assessing channel quality based on multipath-related factors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Signal environments that include noise and/or interference present a problem for communication systems that has been addressed using many techniques, including signal amplification, signal encoding, filtering by frequency range, and spread-spectrum modulation. Another technique that has been often used is that of antenna diversity. Referring to FIG. 1, in a communication system 100 that uses antenna diversity, at least two separate antennas 105, 110 are used as inputs to a single receiver system 115. For each data packet, the receiver 115 is designed to select which antenna input is providing the best signal reception for each data packet. Antenna diversity is most useful when operating in a wireless communication system, such as a system that uses radio communication techniques.
Antenna diversity techniques for signal reception in noisy environments and interference environments are very well known in the literature and are the subject of many patents. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,077,753; 5,838,742; 6,061,574; 6,115,406; 6,215,812; 6,215,814; 6,229,842; 6,240,149; 6,256,340; 6,259,721; and 6,278,726, and European Patent Office Publication Number 0 642 243 A1, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Referring again to FIG. 1, one type of interference that is often encountered in communication systems is know as multipath interference. Multipath interference occurs when a signal propagates by more than one path between the transmitter 120 and the receiver 115. For example, a signal may propagate directly by line-of-sight along paths 125 between the transmitter 120 and the receiver 115, and it may also "bounce" off of the ground or some other reflective object en route along path 130 between the transmitter 120 and the receiver 115. When a signal arrives at a receiver after traveling by two or more paths, interference occurs because of the different path lengths, which causes the transmission time to differ and thus leads to the two or more separate reception of the signal to interfere with each other. Furthermore, even if the receiver is designed to filter out other signals based on frequency or coding or modulation, the receiver will typically be unable to distinguish between the multiple receptions of the same signal, because the received signal is exactly the signal for which the receiver is tuned and ready to receive.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in many communication systems that use antenna diversity to counteract the effects of noise and interference, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is the quantity that is typically measured and used as the determinant in the selection of which antenna should be employed. For example, SNR may be determined by measuring the amount of gain applied by a variable-gain amplifier (VGA) to keep the circuit input constant. A gain level 205 applied to noise may be compared with a gain level 210 applied after the start of a data packet, and the SNR is measured by taking the ratio between the two gain levels 205, 210. As another example, a signal power level 215 may be measured and compared with a noise power level 220, and the signal-to-noise ratio may be computed by dividing the signal power level 215 by the noise power level 220 (or, if the power levels are expressed in decibels, by subtracting the noise level 220 from the signal level 215).
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram for a conventional communication system 300 designed to select an antenna from two or more antennas in an antenna diversity scheme by using the signal-to-noise ratio as the determinant. The system 300 includes at least two receive antennas 305 that feed the received analog signal into a multiplexer 310. The signal passes through a low noise amplifier 315 before its frequency is converted to an intermediate frequency IF by a converter 320. The signal is then processed by a variable-gain amplifier 325, then downconverted to the baseband frequency by converter 330. The analog signal is digitized by an A/D converter 335, then filtered by a filter 340 to remove signals outside its frequency range. Finally, the digital signal passes through an automatic gain controller 345, which effectively sets the signal level to a predetermined value and thereby measures the SNR. The predetermined value is set by using a control signal with a known amplitude as a reference, so that the signal power at the input of the automatic gain controller (AGC) 345 remains constant. The control signal is generated by the AGC 345, and then fed back to the variable-gain amplifier (VGA) 325 to adjust the gain level of the VGA 325. Based on the measured SNR, an antenna selection is made by unit 350.
However, in a multipath signal environment, the system performance may depend more upon characteristics related to the multipath nature of the environment than upon the SNR, especially because SNR is generally not a reliable indicator of multipath effects. Hence, to optimize system performance, multipath factors must be taken into account. Accordingly, there is a need for a new method of selecting a receive antenna in an antenna diversity system when operating in a multipath signal environment.

Apparatus for antenna diversity for wireless communication and method thereof


A method of determining a mass variation of a conductive film on a substrate with an area, an edge zone, and a center zone, is disclosed. The method includes providing a measured conductive film mass of a conductive film on a substrate. The method also includes positioning a sensor near a set of positions on the substrate; measuring using the sensor a set of electrical responses; and correlating the set of electrical responses to a set of conductive film thicknesses. The method further includes estimating a volume of the conductive film based at least in part on the set of conductive film thicknesses and the area; and estimating a derived conductive film mass based in part on the volume and a conductive film density, wherein the mass variation is a difference between the measured conductive film mass and the derived conductive film mass.

The present invention relates in general to substrate manufacturing technologies and in particular to methods and apparatus for measuring morphology of a conductive film on a substrate.
In the processing of a substrate, e.g., a semiconductor wafer, MEMS device, or a glass panel such as one used in flat panel display manufacturing, plasma is often employed. As part of the processing of a substrate (chemical vapor deposition, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, etc.) for example, the substrate is divided into a plurality of dies, or rectangular areas, each of which will become an integrated circuit. The substrate is then processed in a series of steps in which materials are selectively removed (etching) and deposited (deposition) in order to form electrical components thereon.
Metals are particularly important materials in substrate manufacturing. For example, in a manufacturing method, known as dual damascene, dielectric layers are electrically connected by a conductive plug filling a via hole. Generally, an opening is formed in a dielectric layer, usually lined with a TaN or TiN barrier, and then subsequently filled with other conductive material (e.g., aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), etc.) that allows electrical contact between two sets of conductive patterns. This establishes electrical contact between two active regions on the substrate, such as a source/drain region. Excess conductive material on the surface of the dielectric layer is typically removed by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). A blanket layer of silicon nitride or silicon carbide may then be deposited to cap the copper.
Subsequently, it's generally important to insure that the process is within acceptable parameters. For example, if a process involves multiple steps, each with its own gas mixture, gas pressure, RF voltage and power settings, and duration, it is difficult to ascertain exactly, by examining a post-process substrate, which parameter in which step did not conform to specifications and is thus likely to be the source of the defects. In metrology, one can refer back to the log file to obtain more information but the process is not integrated and requires one or more substrate runs (and possibly ruining one or more substrates) before the problem is spotted.
Furthermore, the whole cycle of processing a substrate, examining the processed substrate, and troubleshooting the plasma processing system based on the data obtained from the processed substrates may take a substantial amount of time. If multiple cycles are required to remedy a manufacturing, installation, or qualification problem, the multiple cycle times increase the total time and effort required to bring a plasma processing system on line for production, thereby contributing to a higher cost of ownership even before a single production IC is created.
Once a plasma processing system is placed into production, the processed substrates outputted by the plasma processing system are periodically examined to obtain information about system performance. While equipment manufacturers try to create a maintenance schedule that cleans and/or replaces parts before problems arise, equipment failure would still occur sometimes. Since raw substrates, processed gases, and plasma processing systems are all expensive, IC manufacturers are motivated to detect failures as quickly as possible to minimize further damage to substrates and/or other subsystems of the plasma processing system and to remedy the failure found to bring the plasma processing system back on line quickly.
In the typical case, once it is ascertained that the processed substrate contains an unacceptably high number of defects, a specialist may be called upon to troubleshoot the plasma processing system. An experienced specialist may be able to guess fairly accurately, based on his/her experience and the data obtained from the defective substrates, the possible sources of the defect and to perform the appropriate maintenance steps to address those possible sources of defect. Once the maintenance steps are performed, one or more substrates may be processed, and the output substrates may be examined again to determine whether the defects have been remedied. If they persist, other maintenance steps may be performed and other substrates may be processed to again ascertain whether the defects have been remedied. The cycles of performing one or more maintenance steps and examining the output substrates for defects may continue until the defects are remedied.
Occasionally, the IC manufacturer and/or the system vendor may wish to upgrade the hardware and/or software of a plasma processing system to address a problem or to improve the system's capabilities. Once new hardware and/or software is installed, it is not unusual to run one or more batches of substrates through the newly upgraded plasma processing system and to examine the processed substrates to ensure that the upgraded plasma processing system performs as designed.
Again, while the processed substrates can furnish certain data useful in monitoring the production of ICs in installed and/or upgraded plasma processing systems, there are disadvantages associated with relying primarily on substrates data to guide the operation and/or maintenance of the plasma processing system. As discussed in the earlier example, if a process involves multiple steps, each with its own gas mixture, gas pressures, RF voltages and power settings, and duration, it is difficult to ascertain exactly, by examining a post-process substrate, which parameter in which step did not conform to specifications and is thus likely to be the source of the defects. Furthermore, the whole cycle of processing a substrate, examining the processed substrate, and troubleshooting the plasma processing system based on the data obtained from the processed substrates may take a substantial amount of time. If multiple cycles are required, the multiple cycle times increase the total time and effort required to remedy the failure and to bring the plasma processing system back on line for production use, thereby contributing to a higher average cost per substrate successfully processed.
One common method of determining that a process is within acceptable parameters is to measure the electrical film properties (e.g., thickness, sheet resistance, etc.) of a conductive layer at a particular point on the substrate, particularly by using eddy current sensors. Generally, eddy currents are currents that are induced in a conductive media by an alternating magnetic field. Generally, a larger physically continuous conductive mass produces a larger eddy current response, while a smaller physically non-continuous mass produces a smaller eddy current response. Likewise, a lower temperature generally increases conductivity, and hence the resulting the eddy current response, while a higher temperature generally reduces conductivity, and hence the resulting eddy current response as well.
In general, if a first alternating current is applied to a wire wrapped in a generally solenoidal shape (e.g., the wire in an eddy current sensor), a first alternating electromagnetic field forms in and around the solenoid extending beyond the ends of the solenoid a distance on the order of the diameter of the solenoid. If this first field is brought into proximity with a second conductor (e.g., a conductive layer on the substrate) a second alternating electrical current will also flow in the second conductor, causing a second field that interacts with (e.g., adds vectorally to) the first field and results in a perturbation to the field around the probe. These perturbations in the probe's initial field may cause detectable changes in the probe's electrical characteristics including the probe's impedance and frequency response. Using an impedance-voltage converter, the impedance change can be converted into a voltage change for further signal processing and analysis.
Many techniques are available for producing a signal from these detected differences in eddy current probe characteristics. For example, in a first technique, the width of the frequency dependent power absorption of the probe/eddy current sensor system (sensor system) can be reported. Likewise, in a second technique, the change in the magnitudes of the real and/or imaginary parts of the probe impedance can be reported between the probe and the second conductor. These measurements are generally made using passive or active circuitry to produce a range of voltages that can be bounded by the signal with no second conductor present and the signal with a second conductor causing maximal change in the signal. The exact shape, thickness and conductivity of the second conductor that causes the maximal change in the probe signal generally depends on the probe geometry, excitation frequency and the method adopted for measurement, but generally it is a thick (on the order of many times the diameter of the probe) conductive film placed as near to the probe as possible.
Depending on the application, conductive or magnetic elements can also be incorporated into the design of the probe in order to modify the spatial extent and magnitude of the probe field and hence the spatial and electrical sensitivity to the second conductive layer. For optimum performance, the sensor system should maximize sensor system sensitivity to the desired electrical property of the conductive film (e.g., thickness, sheet resistance, etc.) while minimizing the sensor system's sensitivity to all other effects and variables.
However, the electrical response of sensor to the magnetic field (eddy current perturbations), and hence its accuracy, may also be affected by the proximity (substrate proximity response) of the sensor to the substrate. That is, as the exciting probe field is of limited spatial extent and its magnitude decreases as the position increases from the probe, the overall eddy current perturbations caused by a second conductor being measured also decrease as the second conductor is moved further from the probe. Thus, an eddy current sensor may be sensitive to both proximity and electrical film properties. In general, it is difficult to isolate the portion of the electrical response caused by electrical film properties (electrical film property response) from the portion of the electrical response caused by proximity (substrate proximity response), which may subsequently introduce an error in the reported value.
Referring now to FIG. 1A, a simplified diagram of an eddy current sensor is shown. Generally, changes in the sensor's coil impedance 102 are caused by varying the distance 104 between the sensor (coil) and substrate 106. Since the electrical parameters of target material resistivity and permeability may determine the magnitude of the measured sensor perturbation, the sensor system is generally calibrated for the target material.
Referring now to FIG. 1B, a more detailed diagram of a sensor head of the eddy current sensor of FIG. 1A is shown. As previously described, sensor coil 102 generates a first alternating electromagnetic field 204 that when brought into proximity by a distance 104 with a second conductor on the substrate 106, a second alternating electromagnetic field 206 will also flow in the substrate that can be correlated to the thickness of a metal film. In addition, the direction 104 refers to the effective measuring proximity of sensor coil 102 and is usually on the order of a few radii of the coil 102. In general, the larger the first alternating electromagnetic field 208, the greater the area that can be measured.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a simplified diagram of a substrate on a turntable with an eddy current sensor arm is shown. Although in this example, substrate 202 rotates in direction 208, as sensor swing arm 204 moves sensors 206 across the surface of substrate 202, other configurations which move the sensors relative to the substrate exist.
Eddy current measurements generally assume an infinite plane of conductive film. For example, one method of eddy current measurements is to consider an infinite plane of conductive film placed a certain proximity to a set of parallel eddy current sensors. Usually the desired sensor system reported output is the film thickness, where factors such as conductivity, connectivity, grain structure, etc. are assumed to be constant, or alternatively, to have a negligible effect on the raw measured eddy current signal.
However, common methods of eddy current measurement presume the lack of edge effects to create eddy current discontinuities. In practice, this assumption tends only to exist in the center area of the substrate (center zone), since in the area near the substrate edge (edge zone) there may exist a discontinuity in the film caused by the absence of the substrate which does not follow the assumption of an infinite plan.
As previously described, eddy current sensors generally depend on creating an oscillating magnetic field and detecting the changes caused by the presence or absence of conductive material within the region of oscillating (vacuum) fields. Since a common way to make a magnetic field is with a coil of current carrying wire, the size of the eddy current sensors' sensing region (transverse size) is generally on the order of the size of the coil or magnetic material sheathing which can modify the flux shape at the sensor tip. That is, the smaller the coil or magnetic sheathing at the tip, the more spatially restricted and hence the more spatially sensitive (and expensive) the eddy current sensor.
Subsequently, reducing the size of the coil would only reduce the discontinuity effect of the substrate edge, and not eliminate it. Additional problems with sensor system repeatability and complexity may plague a solution attempting to reduce the edge effect by reducing the spatial size of the eddy current inducing field region. This can be understood because essentially the same magnitude of field is required to induce detectible perturbations in the coil due to film properties as in a large sensor, the gradient of the eddy current inducing field strength is much larger near a small coil than near a comparably film sensitive larger sensor.
One solution may be matrix deconvolution in which the measured spatial sensitivity of the sensor is expressed as a matrix. That is, the total sensor signal is generally expressed as a summation of the sensor's sub-local spatial sensitivities times and the as yet unknown film at the sub-local location. Given that the sensor sensitivities can be measured, by measuring at many points a matrix problem for the unknown film thicknesses can be determined. However, this method tends to be sensitive to the data input. Subsequently, many more measurements may be required to achieve a sufficient level of accuracy, substantially slowing down the measuring process.
Another solution may be the use thin conductive film measurement tools with reasonably small spatial resolution with either less smaller edge effects or of sufficient spatial restriction that the effects are not of interest for the measurement application. For example, the use of four point probes with about a 3 mm resolution and reasonably well understood edge compensation models, or the use of laser based surface acoustic wave detection less than 1 mm, etc. However, although thin conductive film measurement tools may measure various convolutions of quantities (i.e., metal film conductivity, metal film thickness, crystalline structure, film stack, sensor geometry, contact resistance, etc.), the raw data from the measurements must generally be processed at a later time in order to determine conductive film thickness.
In view of the foregoing, there are desired methods and apparatus for measuring morphology of a conductive film on a substrate.

Methods and apparatus for measuring morphology of a conductive film on a substrate


An audio distribution system comprises a plurality of individual signal conditioning circuits connected in series. Each circuit comprises a signal conditioning unit to which an audio input (13) is fed. The output from the unit is fed to a precision signal addition device. Each circuit also comprises a balanced line level input (11), which is fed to a balanced to unbalanced precision signal converter the output of which is connected to the precision signal addition device. The output from the precision signal addition device is fed to an unbalanced to balanced converter which provides at its output a balanced line level signal (12). As compared with a conventional distribution system, the system enables only one balanced line level input to amplification equipment eliminating any mixing or control means that equipment and obtaining the need for a conventional mixer.

An audio distribution system consists of a set of audio inputs connected in such a way as to either mix or route these inputs to a single output or set of outputs. There is always one output that may have a multiplicity of inputs which will be either selectable or mixed together to form the composite audio signal, which, after amplification, is fed to output device(s), usually loudspeakers.
The conventional way of combining and routing all these input signals is via a mixer, In the mixer, the audio inputs are combined at various selected levels using volume controls to give a composite output signal which may be fed to an amplifier for amplification and hence to output devices, for example, loudspeakers. Some common features of these mixers are:
Where many inputs are required the mixer needs to be able to handle and control many different inputs which may be in different signal formats, for example, from a microphone and from the stereo output of for example, a CD player.
Many different audio products have different audio output connections as standard. These connectors are not suited to a single 'mixer' which tends to have many audio inputs all with the same input connection system.
All of the audio inputs have to be cabled back to the same point, that is the composite mixer position.
In typical systems different inputs at different input levels are required for, for example background music (BGM) for a stereo output at 0 db (relative to 1vRMS-Line Level) requiring its own mixing, and a microphone input from an electret microphone at −60 db typically.
These conventional types of mixers are used in most audio applications where the audio inputs are all relatively near to each other and prove convenient. However, currently there is an increasing demand for systems to have many inputs spatially distributed around a building at different points with a requirement for many different audio connectors which are not compatible with conventional mixers. In these types of applications conventional mixing systems have several disadvantages:
There will be long cable runs to the mixer from some inputs from various points in a building. If these cables carry conventional unbalanced microphone level inputs then they will be very susceptible to electromagnetic pick up and interference characterized normally by 'mains hum'.
Quite often only one or two inputs are required and the mixers tend to be a least 6-way type units. This leads to many redundant and unnecessary inputs.
Different plug and connection systems employed now in the audio industry (both industrial and domestic) mean that virtually every conventional mixer will require at least some form of special lead to be manufactured from the input device to the mixer and in the case of a stereo signal will require that two inputs are used to mix the stereo signal. Even where the connection system is compatible, the cable from the audio device needs to be so long that it requires extending quite often in very expensive shielded cable.
Many audio sources are not of the so called 'balanced type', In this type of source there are two wires in which neither is grounded. The audio signal is defined as the difference between the signal levels on the two wires. Thus any common mode induced signal is eliminated when the signal is terminated by a suitable balanced to unbalanced converter. This means that if they are not of a high signal level they are susceptible to electromagnetic induction (EMI) causing interference with the wanted signal.
Clearly in situations where audio sources are to be sited spatially away from the central mixing equipment this situation is not ideal. It would be beneficial if the signal conditioning were to be effected nearer to the audio source together with the provision of a suitable connection system to suit the audio source.


An image capturing apparatus includes: an optical system that provides an aberration to incident light; an image capturing unit that transforms the light passing through the optical system into pixels to capture an image; and an inverse transform unit that performs inverse transform processing on the image captured by the image capturing unit in a predetermined range on an optical axis of the optical system using an inverse transform filter that causes frequency characteristics of pixels in an output image in two or more of defocus positions within the predetermined range to include at least one frequency characteristic with a larger value and at least one frequency characteristic with a smaller value with respect to frequency characteristic of pixels in an ideal image of a subject.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus, an image capturing system, and an image capturing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, with the development of information digitization, the digitization in the field of image capturing apparatuses is also significantly developed. Particularly, in the image capturing apparatus such as a digital camera, a solid-state image capturing element is used instead of a conventional film for image capture. As the solid-state image capturing element (hereinafter, "image capturing element"), a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor or the like is used.
The image capturing apparatus using the image capturing element like this captures light reflected from a subject through an optical system, converts the light into an electric signal with the image capturing element, and extracts the electric signal. Exemplified as the image capturing apparatus are video cameras, barcode readers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), and industrial cameras, in addition to digital cameras.
As the image capturing apparatus, there is so-called an extended depth of field (EDoF) camera for extending the depth of field by an optical system. The depth of field refers to the range of distance, over which the subject is acceptably in focus in an optical axis direction of the lens, with respect to a subject at a distance from the lens of a camera.
The extension of the depth of field by the optical system will be specifically explained. A lens and a phase plate included in the optical system serve to provide an aberration to the light of the subject incident to the image capturing element and to add a point spread function (PSF) to the light. For example, the lens provides spherical aberration as the aberration to the light of the subject incident to the image capturing element. The optical system blurs an image captured by the image capturing element but makes the blur uniform in a wide range of depth of field by the aberration. Therefore, the image blurred by the optical system needs to be corrected so as to obtain a value of predetermined modulation transfer function (MTF). The MTF indicates a value evaluates how faithfully contrasts in the subject can be reproduced, i.e., indicates contrast reproducibility. As the image capturing apparatus that corrects the blur to the image blurred by the optical system, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-151448 has proposed a device that improves the MTF and corrects the image to a high resolution image by applying inverse transform processing of the PSF to the image. The inverse transform processing is implemented by correcting the blur of the image by applying filter processing, using an inverse transform filter, to information of pixels (information (value) itself output from a pixel is hereinafter called "pixel") forming an image blurred by the optical system.
However, the image capturing apparatus described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-151448 optically provides the aberration to extend the depth of field and corrects the blur of the image using the inverse transform filter, but the inverse transform filter is derived based on the MTF in one focus position. Therefore, there remains a problem that normal correction is not possible in a position that is different in a shape of a spot from the focus position where the inverse transform filter is derived, among spots optically enlarged in the depth of field. In other words, there remains a problem that a range where the inverse transform filter enables normal correction falls within a range in which the shapes of the spots does not change and that the depth of field can be extended only up to the range.
In view of the above, there is a need to provide an image capturing apparatus, an image capturing system, and an image capturing method capable of extending the depth of field up to a wider range.

Image capturing apparatus, image capturing system, and image capturing method that performs inverse transform processing on an image using an inverse transform filter


Methods, systems, and machine readable media are disclosed for providing a user interface for a service distributing multimedia content. According to one embodiment, providing a user interface accessing a media service can comprise generating a representation of a stage for presenting graphical elements related to multimedia content provided by the media service and displaying a first view of the stage, wherein the first view of the stage includes a portion of the stage less than all of the stage. The first view of the stage can comprise at least a first pane and a second pane, the first pane and the second pane including different portions of the stage. The first pane can include a first plurality of graphical elements representing content items available through the media service.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to distribution of multimedia content and more particularly to a user interface for a multimedia service.
Interfaces for providing and/or accessing multimedia content follow a typical paradigm that is similar to that used by web pages. That is, these interfaces allow a user to navigate from one part of the interface to another or between content items as a series of pages. These pages are typically overlaid, one on top of the other. To navigate back to a previous element of content item, a back button may be used to step back though the previous pages in order. However, by overlaying these pages, one on top of the other, the previous pages, i.e., other possible content items and elements of the previously presented page or interface display, are obscured making access to these elements or items more difficult. Hence, there is a need in the art for improved methods and systems for providing a user interface for a service distributing multimedia content.


The invention is a method for the decontamination of CO2 to a sufficient level of purity to allow it to be used in the semiconductor industry. The invention comprises the exposure of fluid CO2 to a combination metallic states of at least one metal under the appropriate conditions for removal of contaminants. The adsorbents are then decontaminated/activated to return the adsorbent to a mixed oxidation state and allow further rounds of decontamination. The adsorbents are selected to be complimentary to each other, preferentially adsorbing different contaminants. Additionally, the adsorbents are selected to undergo reduction differently such that upon regeneration only a portion of the metals are reduced and the adsorbent is returned essentially to its original state.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in a wide variety of industrial processes and products from the carbonation of beverages to the generation of semiconductors. Industrial applications for CO2 include wafer cleaning, removal of residual photoresist, low K dielectric annealing and cleaning, use as laser gases, particle removal and plasma generation. The presence of contaminants in such ultrahigh purity applications can result in products that are unusable in the case of semiconductor applications or the damage of optics and lasers in other relevant applications. Various phases of CO2, liquid, gas and supercritical, are used dependent upon the application.
Purification of CO2 to a high level is difficult as CO2 is inherently wet. Gases can be readily acquired that are ≧99.999% pure (contaminants ≦10 parts per million, ppm; Ultra High Purity); however, there is a need to further purify gases to ≦5 parts per billion (ppb) contaminants to meet the current Semiconductor Industry Association guidelines. Future requirements will be for contaminants of ≦1 ppb, preferably ≦0.1 ppb. Contaminants of concern to the semiconductor industry include moisture, hydrocarbons, particulates and metals. Other contaminants include oxygen-, nitrogen-, sulphur- and phosphorus-containing compounds such as O2, NOx, SOx, COS, and POx, wherein x≦3, and corresponding organoheteroatom derivatives wherein heteroatoms include, but are not limited to, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphate and silicon.
Purification of CO2 to a high level is even more essential when it is used in the supercritical state. A supercritical fluid is a fluid which is in a state above its critical temperature and critical pressure where the gas and liquid phases resolve into a single medium, in which density can vary widely without a phase transition. This allows, for instance, for substances that normally act as solvents primarily for inorganic or polar substances to also become efficient solvents for organic or non-polar materials. The supercritical state of CO2 can be reached under relatively moderate conditions at a critical point of 31.3° C., (88.3° F.) and 74 barr (1070 psi).
Supercritical CO2 is useful as a cleaning agent because it is able to enter small features on surfaces and porous interior surfaces to remove contaminants, etched photoresist and other undesirable materials from substrates. However, this property can also result in impregnation of wafers and other high purity substrates with contaminants present in the CO2 stream. Additionally, the high pressure and temperature of the fluid can result in some contaminants becoming more nefarious. For example, water and oxygen in the context of supercritical CO2 can become highly corrosive, whereby desired structural features on wafers are subject to degradation.
Equipment used in the semiconductor industry can also act as a source of contaminants. Stainless steel components can leach metals including iron, chromium and nickel as metal complexes or metal ions. Leached metals are volatile at low concentrations, ppb to parts per trillion (ppt), and are readily captured in the gas phase resulting in potential contamination of silicon wafers or other high purity products. Therefore, all equipment for use in the semiconductor manufacturing process must be thoroughly cleaned to remove potential surface contaminants.
Spiegelman et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,696, incorporated herein by reference) teach the use of high silica zeolites for the continuous purification of CO2 in a dual bed apparatus. Although the high silica zeolites are able to remove heavy hydrocarbons from CO2 efficiently, removal of other contaminants is limited. Lansbarkis et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,528) teach the use of a series of materials to remove a series of contaminants from CO2 to all for its use in the semiconductor industry. The materials may be placed in a single or multiple containers. Either arrangement results in a complex system. If the materials are placed in a single container, the container must be discarded upon the breakdown of the least stable purification material. If multiple containers are used, complex replacement schedules must be followed to ensure the overall purity of the CO2.


An annular ablative gas blocking device provides for automatic altitude compensation of a rocket engine exhaust plume. The nozzle is over expanded at low level launch altitudes and near optimally expanded at the highest altitude at the terminal burnout or staging altitude of the rocket engine. The ablative gas blocking device in the nozzle exit mitigates low altitude launch effects of an over expanded nozzle and inhibits external atmospheric air entrance into the nozzle at launch. The gas blocking means ablatively erodes away from plume impingement as the rocket ascends in a pre-programmed manner to achieve optimum area expansion ratio at all altitudes.

One limitation common to all types of rockets is referred to as "altitude compensation". Altitude compensation refers to means for compensating the rocket engine for the deleterious effects of operating at an altitude different from the altitude for which the rocket was designed to operate. As a rocket engine powers a payload from ground into space, it must transit all altitudes, from lower altitude to space, and thus altitude degradation has been and continues to be a bane to all rocket engine designs, robbing them from achieving their ultimate potential performance.
Altitude degradation results from atmospheric effects on the rocket nozzle exhaust and negatively impacts thrust and total impulse performance. As the effluent passes through the throat of the rocket engine, its velocity accelerates to sonic speed, producing what is referred to as "choked flow." The effluent then accelerates to supersonic speed as it transits past the throat and down the nozzle due to the nozzle's progressively increasing area at each progressive down stream axial station. As the area becomes larger, the effluent expands to fill additional nozzle area, which in turn increases the axial speed of the effluent while decreasing the local pressure in the effluent at that axial station. This process continues until the end of the nozzle, resulting in a final nozzle exit pressure (Pe). Ideally, Pe=0 but this would require an infinitely long nozzle. Consequently, the nozzle is made as long as possible within other constraints such as size, weight and stability. Additionally, nozzle length is often constrained by other factors related to the altitude compensation.
The majority of a rocket engine's thrust comes from the raw rapid momentum change imparted to the exhaust gas propellant, and Newton's law which states for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. A smaller but still significant amount of thrust comes from Pe and its differential with the surrounding atmosphere pressure (Pa), at least at lower altitudes. In space with zero atmospheric pressure, the additive thrust is approximated by the integral of nozzle exit area times the local exit pressure Pe across the nozzle exit. However, if the rocket is at a lower altitude, the local atmosphere presses downward against the top of the nozzle shell, while the exit effluent pressure presses upwards against the inside of the nozzle shell. At lower altitude then, highest thrust and best performance is achieved approximately when the nozzle exit pressure is about the same as the local atmospheric pressure, about 15 PSI, as then there is no net static pressure force applied to the nozzle, no pressure driven extraneous flows occur, and the highest possible momentum transfer to the exhaust has been achieved.
A related atmospheric effect occurs when a nozzle is notably larger versus notably smaller than the size of the exhaust plume. The larger the nozzle, the lower the Pe and, in fact, Pe can be lower than local atmospheric pressure at lower altitudes. When this happens, the nozzle is said to be over expanded for the given atmospheric pressure because a shorter and less expanded nozzle would have provided a closer match between Pe and Pa. Similarly, if Pe is greater than Pa, the nozzle is said to be under expanded because a larger nozzle would have provided a closer match between Pe and Pa. If Pe=Pa, then the nozzle is said to be optimally expanded. When a nozzle is optimally expanded with the rocket engine providing near maximum thrust and maximum impulse performance at the altitude where Pe=Pa. Consequently, it is desirably to design a rocket engine to run as close to optimally expanded conditions for as much of a launch as possible.
A difficulty in designing a rocket engine is that Pa decreases as altitude increases and a rocket engine nozzle is optimally expanded only at the altitude corresponding to the pressure for which it is designed. Consequently, the rocket engine produces optimal performance at only one specific altitude and suboptimal performance over the majority of its ascent into space. Since most rockets spend most of their ascent trajectory and associated burn time in the upper atmosphere, most ground launched rocket engines employ a slightly over expanded design at lower altitude operation so that they will be operating at a more optimum expanded configuration while transiting the higher altitudes where they spend more time.
When a rocket engine is over expanded at lower altitude, Pe<Pa and the atmosphere presses the effluent together into a narrower column under and inside the nozzle so that the effluent stream is narrower than the exit diameter of the nozzle. This leads to a relative vacuum just inside of the edge of the nozzle exit and inward flow around the perimeter of an annulus inside of the exit aperture of the nozzle exit. A net atmospheric pressure pressing down over this annulus area with no compensating upward force results in a direct thrust loss at launch when the most thrust is needed. Furthermore, the lower pressure can cause separation of the effluent flow from the nozzle wall upstream on the inside near the nozzle exit, leading to potentially significant irregular flows, oscillations, and instabilities in the effluent flow which can cause stochastic and sporadic side thrusts making rocket control difficult. The resultant instabilities can be large enough to damage the rocket engine. Over expansion is less of a problem at high altitudes because Pe and Pa are both lower. However, both over expansion and under expansion lead to wasted potential impulse performance at high altitudes.
An ideal nozzle, called a De Laval nozzle, optimally converts propellant exhaust flow into higher axial velocity effluent which increases thrust over that achieved without such a nozzle. The nozzle does this by partially constraining the exhaust gas in an isentropic manner so that only molecules which are in line with the rocket axis are free to flow in that direction, whereas molecules traveling perpendicular to the axis are reflected from the nozzle wall back into the plume so as to return their energy to the plume. In other words, the nozzle acts as a rectifier, or alternatively a converter, of randomly oriented thermal motion in the exhaust, into a preferred axial direction. By this means, the exhaust thermal energy is converted into axial velocity, and the more energy is thusly converted, the higher the axial velocity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,603 describes an expansion-deflection engine, which employs a design similar to a Pintle injector. A central deflector can be articulated to enable more or less flow along the inner wall of the bell, thereby modulating the terminal exit pressure and allowing it to be adjusted to match local atmospheric pressure for near ideal compensation at the edges which prevents atmospheric inrush and its associated instabilities. The inner core of the plume may operate at lower pressures, but it is shrouded by the high velocity shell of the plume effluent which effectively shields it from any inrush of air. Any pressure lower than atmospheric pressure inside the axial core of the plume, however, subtracts from the net achievable thrust. Disadvantages of the expansion-deflection engine include the need to cool the deflector, which is in the middle of the hottest part of the plume. The deflection of hot gases also increases the cooling requirements for the engine nozzle liner aft of the throat, which adds cost and weight.
US 20040231316 A1 describes a shell annulus of additional nozzle shell liner provided in a forward stowed position during launch to provide a moderately over expanded or optimally expanded nozzle for lower altitude operation. The additional nozzle shell liner is mechanically lowered into a position below the exit of the launch nozzle when the altitude pressure dictates, thereby creating an extended nozzle with the larger area expansion ratio desired to operate ideally at higher altitude. This solution is not continuously varying versus altitude but provides two discrete altitude tuned nozzles.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,434,614 and 4,901,525 describe one or more concentric inner inserts secured internal to a high altitude, over expanded nozzle with an upper attachment point near where flow separation would occur for the design-to lower altitude. During launch, the inner most internal insert defines a moderately over expanded or optimally expanded nozzle used for the first phase of flight. Upon reaching a higher altitude where altitude degradation becomes undesirable, the inner internal insert is jettisoned, leaving the over expanded nozzle suitable for high altitude operation. This solution provides two discrete altitude tuned nozzles. Multiple nested internal liners can be employed to more accurately compensate for each altitude, but adds considerable complexity, weight, and cost.
US 2007/0012820 A1 describes an expanded nozzle below a ridge to create a first nozzle section up to ridge which is either optimally or only moderately over expanded to support lower altitude operation, followed by a larger more over expanded second nozzle, which provides a larger over expansion to support efficient high altitude operation. This solution is not continuously varying versus altitude, and experiences reduced thrust degradation at launch as with any other over expanded launch engine.
Another method of addressing the altitude compensation problem is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,619,851 and 5,683,033 wherein a high altitude, ground level geometrically over expanded nozzle is provided with vents about the nozzle to allow air to ingress and equalize the pressure internal to the nozzle with the external atmosphere during lower altitude ground launch. As the rocket ascends, the vents are progressively closed as a function of altitude to compensate for altitude. Venting inefficiencies, however, would limit net performance versus an ideal variable altitude compensating nozzle.
A further method of addressing the altitude compensation problem is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,171 B2, wherein a gas or rapidly evaporable fluid is injected about a circumferential ring located at an axial station between the throat and the nozzle exit. This injection of the gas or fluid is located near where the flow separation might otherwise occur and fills in the void otherwise created between the plume and nozzle inside wall below the flow separation point.
In view of the foregoing, a need remains in the art for a rocket engine nozzle that automatically compensates for changes in ambient pressure as a rocket gains altitude and thereby provide higher total thrust at launch and higher total impulse and ISP compared to existing altitude compensating engines and nozzles.

Self compensating rocket engine enhancement


A memory cell array, divided into multiple row memory cell arrays, includes multiple memory banks and sense amplifiers. Each of the memory banks includes multiple logical sectors and at least two sub-memory banks of multiple sub-memory banks. The at least two sub-memory banks are included in different row memory cell arrays, and each of the sub-memory banks includes multiple physical sectors. The sense amplifiers are dedicated to the sub-memory banks, respectively.

1. Field
Various embodiments relate to a memory cell array and a nonvolatile memory device, and more particularly, to a memory cell array having a sense amplifier per sub-memory bank, and a nonvolatile memory device including the memory cell array.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices may be generally divided into volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. The volatile memory devices store data by utilizing logic states of bi-stable flip-flops, or by charging or discharging capacitors. The volatile memory devices lose stored data when power is turned off.
The non-volatile memory devices, such as flash memory devices, retain stored data over time, even when power is turned off. The non-volatile memory devices are used to store data or programs in a wide range of applications and devices, such as computers, mobile communication devices, etc. Since flash memory devices, in particular, are capable of electrically erasing/writing data, flash memory devices are widely used in applications requiring continuous updates. For example, flash memory devices may be used as storage devices storing system programs.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of a memory cell array 10 included in a conventional flash memory device. Generally, a memory cell array may include multiple sub-memory banks. In FIG. 1, the memory cell array 10 is illustrated as having two sub-memory banks for the sake of description.
Referring to FIG. 1, the memory cell array 10 includes a first sub-memory bank 12, a second sub-memory bank 14 and a sense amplifier 16. The first sub-memory bank 12 and the second sub-memory bank 14 constitute one memory bank.
The first sub-memory bank 12 includes first sectors S1, S2, S3 and S4, and the second sub-memory bank 14 includes second sectors S5, S6, S7 and S8. The first sectors S1, S2, S3 and S4 are coupled to the sense amplifier 16 through a first global bit line GBL, and the second sectors S5, S6, S7 and S8 are coupled to the sense amplifier 16 through a second global bit line GBR. The sense amplifier 16 senses and amplifies signals output from the first and second sectors S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7 and S8, and provides the amplified signal through an input/output line IOL.
In the conventional memory cell array 10, the sense amplifier 16 may not be located in the middle of the first sub-memory bank 12 and the second sub-memory bank 14, but rather may be located off to one side, due to the existence of circuit blocks, such as a bank driver. Therefore, a coupling characteristic of the conventional memory cell array 10 may be deteriorated since an output signal of the first sub-memory bank 12 and an output signal of the second sub-memory bank 14 are amplified by the same sense amplifier 16 and output through the same input/output line IOL.
To improve the coupling characteristic, a conventional memory cell array may have the same number of sense amplifiers as sub-memory banks, so that the sub-memory banks constituting one memory bank do not share the input/output line IOL. Thus, the sub-memory banks constituting one memory bank are accessed by separate input/output lines and separate sense amplifiers, thereby improving the coupling characteristic. However, in order for a flash memory device to have the same number of sense amplifiers as sub-memory banks, the conventional flash memory device must have a large circuit size. Moreover, in the conventional flash memory device, power noise is increased.

Memory cell array and non-volatile memory device


A mechanism for providing non-volatile memory for suspend-to-RAM in a computer system. A method includes searching for a checkpoint message in a memory upon receipt of notification of restoring of power in a system. The checkpoint message is a confirmation of storing of state of a storage device prior to loss of the power in the system. The method also includes determining whether the checkpoint message indicates that the system reached the power integrity checkpoint. The power integrity checkpoint is a confirmation of the storing of the state of other device prior to the loss of the power in the system. The other device is different from the storage device. The method further includes restoring operating conditions of the system when it is determined that the system has reached the power integrity checkpoint.

The most widely-used form of primary storage for computer memory is a volatile form of random access memory (RAM). With volatile RAM, a loss of power causes the computer to shut down and stop operating resulting in any run time states stored in the RAM, which hasn't been written out to the disk to be lost. Also, the system has to be fully reinitialized when the power is restored. Run time states include information on system configuration, open applications, and active files, which are stored in main memory (RAM), while most of the system's other components are turned off.
Existing systems are instructed to enter suspend-to ram (STR) mode. STR mode occurs when a system enters a low power state. The system is instructed via many ways such as a timer, a lid close of a laptop, hardware button, keyboard press or another explicit user command. The system may resume operation upon events such as a lid open of the laptop, hardware button, timer, keyboard press or another explicit user command. Currently, with many OSs, the time it takes to reach STR mode often reaches multitudes of seconds and even longer depending on the state of the computer system, such as unwritten data stored in the memory. Furthermore, operations involved in reaching the STR mode may be prone to failure, for example due to failure of memory allocation and, more commonly, due to failure to suspend peripheral devices.

Providing non-volatile memory for suspend-to-random access memory


A device for measuring a voltage of an electric power line conductor of a power system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first electrically conductive housing configured to be installed on a first power line conductor and a first virtual grounding member configured to electrically ground a first housing to a first power line conductor voltage. A first measuring resistor is electrically connected between the first virtual grounding member and an electrically isolated lead wire, the electrically isolated lead wire is electrically connected to a first voltage dropping device, the first voltage dropping device is configured to be electrically connected to a second power line conductor. A sensor electronics module is configured to measure a voltage drop across the first measuring resistor, the voltage drop being directly proportional to the voltage between the first power line conductor and the second power line conductor.

The present disclosure relates to a multiple parameter sensor-transmitter/receiver unit which may be installed on or removed from an energized electric power line, such as an overhead power line. With the advent of Smart-Grid applications for electric power systems, there is an ever increasing need for a device that measures electric, mechanical, and environmental parameters of the power line.
In order to address the increasing need for monitoring power lines, devices have been developed that attach directly to the power line. These devices generally require a power source, such as batteries or solar panels. When utilizing batteries, regular maintenance must be performed to replace the batteries, which can become costly. When solar panels are used, the device may only be power during sunny weather conditions and during daylight hours. Therefore, there is a need for a device which is low maintenance and can be constantly powered independent of weather conditions.
The function of a voltage transformer is to produce a low secondary voltage output, typically 120 volts, which is representative of the high primary voltage of the electric power distribution line or transmission line. The low secondary voltage output is proportional to the turns ratio of the transformer and would be in phase with or in phase opposition to the primary voltage depending upon its connection to the primary phase wires. However, the secondary voltage could only be in phase with the primary voltage for an ideal transformer which has no leakage impedance, no excitation current, and no losses. But, actual voltage transformers require excitation current to magnetize the iron core which is supplied by the primary lines through the leakage impedance of the primary. Also, the load current in the transformer windings causes a voltage drop in the leakage impedance of the primary and secondary windings. The load current and excitation current cause a voltage drop which results in a turns ratio error and a phase angle shift other than a 180 degree phase shift between the primary voltage and the secondary voltage output. Therefore, a turns ratio correction factor and a phase angle correction factor must be applied to obtain the true ratio and the true phase angle between the measured voltage and the measured current on the primary, or the power factor.
Other methods of measuring the voltage have included (1) high voltage divider circuits, (2) voltage based on measurement of the electric field outside the conductor at some point, and (3) voltage based on measurement of the electric field using optics. The high voltage divider method normally involves a high value resistor or resistors being attached to one line or phase conductor at one end and the other end of this high value resistor or resistors being connected in series with a low value measuring resistor with its other end being attached to earth ground at zero voltage. The voltage measurement is then a measurement of the low value current flow from the high voltage line conductor to ground through these series connected resistors and the resultant voltage drop across the measurement resistor. This voltage drop can easily be measured with instruments at ground potential. The problems with this method are the resistors are dissipative and can result in overheating and it cannot be used to measure phase to phase voltages because of the high voltage that appears on the measurement resistor prevents the use of measuring instruments normally located at ground potential. The series connected resistors can be replaced with series connected capacitors which are non-dissipative, but then a phase shift occurs in the measured voltage.
Voltage is defined as the integral of the electric field between two points, the one point being the line or phase conductor itself and the other point being in space around this conductor. The problem with this method is the electric field in space around one phase conductor can be significantly affected by the presence of the other phase conductors of a three phase system and various structures which support these phase conductors may be steel towers or poles which are grounded, or wood poles which have ground leads connected to lightning arresters or other equipment grounds. Therefore, the measurements of the electric field and thus the voltages are very inaccurate. The use of optics has been employed, but their use thus far has resulted in flashovers across the fiber optic lead wires in high voltage transmission lines applications and the cost of such devices have been excessive, especially in high voltage measurement applications.

Portable self powered line mounted device and method for measuring the voltage of electric power line conductors


The present disclosure provides for a processor that can include digital processing circuitry that receives a digital clock signal from a supply regulated phase locked loop. The supply regulated phase locked loop can include a voltage controlled oscillator that can output an analog signal and a level restorer that can receive the analog signal from the voltage controlled oscillator and can translate the analog output into a digital signal that corresponds to an analog output of the voltage controlled oscillator. The supply regulated phase locked loop can receive an analog input having an input voltage that is within a range of acceptable input voltages. The supply regulated phase locked loop can also be configured to generate the digital output signal, such that the range of acceptable input voltages includes voltage values that are greater than and less than the output voltage.

Digital electronic circuits use quantized signals to store and process information reliably. The quantized signals or digital signals can have multi-modal distributions, such as the bimodal distributions that characterize binary digital signals. The process of converting an analog signal to a digital signal may be affected when there is a difference between a mean level of an analog signal and a decision threshold of a quantizer. The process of converting an analog signal to a digital signal may be also affected when the peak-to-peak level of the analog signal is smaller than a quantizer threshold uncertainty or below a desired peak-to-peak digital signal level divided by the quantizer gain.


A pet vehicle safety restraint device for protection of household animals, the device including a one piece molded base frame having a pet seating floor and a back panel, the pet seating floor and the back panel being in a substantially ninety degrees relationship to one another; a harnessing system designed to contain the upper torso of a pet and containing an adjustable and flexible chest band; and a first adjustable leash, a second adjustable leash and a third adjustable leash, the adjustable leashes connecting the harnessing system, and subsequently a pet, to the one piece molded frame wherein the one piece molded frame is ultimately connected to the vehicle by means of a vehicle seat belt.

Pet vehicle safety restraint devices are needed to provide safety for pets, vehicle occupants, pedestrians and other vehicles. Devices generally tend to become portable for ease of installation and removal from the vehicle. The restraint devices must be comfortable for the pet, but at the same time provide a large degree of safety for the pets. Since pets do not sit in the same way as humans, there is a need for a pet-friendly design that allows for use by various body sizes. Thus small animals and rather larger animals can be restrained by use of the same safety device.
Published Patent Application US 2006/0150922, published to Kroculick, relates to a portable pet transportation device, especially for medium and large size pets. A thin, lightweight, rigid device rests on a seat of the vehicle, with a portion of the device snugly inserted between the seat and the backrest. A portion of the device extends over the footrest area.
Published Patent Application US 2004/0182329, published to Kroculick, relates to a portable pet transportation device, especially for medium and large size pets. A thin, lightweight, rigid device rests on a seat of the vehicle, with a portion of the device snugly inserted between the seat and the backrest. A portion of the device extends over the footrest area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,373, issued to O'Donnell, relates to a portable pet booster seat apparatus. It includes a base portion and wall portions. A removable and replaceable cover assembly is also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,394, issued to Dickison, relates to an adjustable leash that incorporates a shock absorbing handle and an automatically releasing wrist strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,235, issued to Larsen et al, relates to a pet flotation aid and walker that includes a hollow top panel that contains a piece of internal foam flotation material. An adjustable belly strap is also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,892, issued to Edwards, relates to a vehicle safety seat for pets that includes four relatively low walls surrounding a central pet seating area. The walls extend upward from a storage compartment situated below a removable pet seating floor. The rearward portions of the side walls and the back wall can contain strap passages and straps extending therefrom. The straps are attachable to a harness or halter that is in turn secured about the upper torso of a pet. When properly secured, the pet seat secures the pet in a positive fashion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,541, issued to Thompson, relates to an easily transportable pet restraint that keeps a pet within certain bounds in a vehicle. It also serves to prevent injury to the pet in the event of a vehicular accident. The pet is restrained with a harness having an adjustable flexible belly band, a flexible chest band that is joined to the belly band, and a flexible collar joined to the chest band. A member connects the belly band and the collar at a clasp secured to the member to join with existing seat belts in a vehicle.


Protective sleeve for a medical device having a moveable joint including a tubular assembly comprising a flexible material that satisfies International Organization for Standardization ISO13997 (1999) for a cut resistance of at least ISO level 5. The tubular assembly has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a length extending therebetween. The tubular assembly includes a base member made of the flexible material having an internal surface and an external surface and a reinforcing member made of the flexible material coupled to the base member along the internal surface and the external surface of the base member. The reinforcing member forms a channel at the first end portion. The tubular assembly has an internal cross dimension sized to receive a medical device having a moveable joint therein. The protective sleeve further includes an adjustment member received in the channel to radially adjust the first end portion.

Field of the Disclosed Subject Matter
The disclosed subject matter relates to a protective sleeve for a medical device, such as a prosthetic or an orthotic.
Description of the Related Art
Medical devices, such as prosthetics and orthotics, are commonly used throughout the medical industry. Often times, medical devices are worn underneath clothing. For example, an individual may have a prosthetic leg with a movable knee joint which conveniently fits within conventional clothing, such as pants or the like. Unfortunately, a drawback of with some prosthetics is that the outer clothing, such as pants, catches within the movable knee joint. Such instances can unnecessarily wear the movable joint and even damage the joint, which can be extremely expensive to repair or replace. Furthermore, often the clothing is abraded or even punctured by the engagement of the movable joint with the clothing. The quick abrasion, cutting, and tearing of clothing requires individuals to purchase clothing more frequently than individuals without medical devices.
Thus there remains a continued need for an efficient and economic system for a protective sleeve for a medical device. The presently disclosed subject matter satisfies these and other needs.