Vaccines that are active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections contain a single flagellar (H) antigen of serotype a or a combination of a single flagellar (H) antigen of serotype a with a flagellar (H) antigen of serotype b. Applied to man, the vaccines according to the invention induce the formation of antibodies that are directed against any combination of partial flagellar (H) antigens a.sub.0, a.sub.1, a.sub.2, a.sub.3, a.sub.4 and b, inhibiting the motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogens and inducing the killing of the pathogens by phagocytizing cells of the human immune system.

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogenic organism which often occurs with hospital infections, mainly in patients having an impaired immune defense, such as patients suffering from burns, persons suffering from cystic fibrosis or having organic malfunctions, and in tumor patients. Due to the occurrence of resistances, antibiotics are active against Pseudomonas infections only to a limited extent and, therefore, it has been endeavored to find immunologic methods for fighting infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Infections may be triggered by a variety of strains that may be characterized by O-antigens (lipopolysaccharide) and H-antigens (flagella), H- and O-antigen types being freely combinable.
It is known that the motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa attributes to the virulence of the pathogen (Montie et al., Infect. Immunity 38, 1296-1298, 1982). Motile Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains possess a single flagellum. Burned mouse model assays have revealed that a larger percentage of mice survive if non-motile Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains are inoculated in experimentally produced burns than do if motile strains are used (Montie et al., see above). Further assays on the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrated that animals that had been immunized with flaggelar antigen preparations were protected when setting a burn and infecting with motile bacteria strains (Holder et al., Infect. Immunity 35, 276-280, 1982).
Pseudomonas aeruginosa flagella were investigated by serological methods, and it was demonstrated that there may be differentiated between two main types of antigens denoted as type a and type b according to R. Ansorg (Zbl. Bakt. Hyg. I. Abt. Orig. A, 242, 228-238, 1978).
In flagellar (H) antigen type a, the partial antigens a.sub.0, a.sub.1, a.sub.2, a.sub.3 and a.sub.4 are differentiable by using the indirect immunofluorescence technique; they are expressed by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in different combinations, the partial antigen a.sub.0 being found on all flagella of type a. Flagellar (H) antigen type b behaves serologically uniformly, i.e., no subgroups can be identified.
According to Ansorg, a total of 17 H-types may be differentiated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, i.e., one H-type b and 16 H-types of flagellar antigen a, consisting of the partial antigen a.sub.0 present in all a-types and optionally of the partial antigens a.sub.1 and/or a.sub.2 and/or a.sub.3 and/or a.sub.4. Comprehensive studies of flagella of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains 5142 and 13030, which had been characterized by Ansorg as exclusively belonging to subgroup a.sub.0, proved the same to be biochemically and immunologically identical with flagella type b (Montie et al., Infect. Immunity 49(3), 770-774 (1985)).
The obtention of polydisperse native flagellar (H) antigens (FAgs) is described in PCT publication WO 86/03974. Bacterial cultures are grown in minimal medium and subsequently are treated with a detergent, whereupon FAgs are separated from the culture. Prior to the treatment with a detergent, the bacterial culture is disintegrated and subjected to a shearing process. By the addition of detergent, the separability of the antigen from the bacteria mass is promoted; the antigens then being in suspension can be separated from the cells by differential centrifugation.
Subsequently, the antigens separated from the bacterial mass as described above can be freed from adhering impurities, such as lipopolysaccharides, nucleic acids, salts, polysaccharides and the like by chromatographic purification. The detergent still present can be eliminated by an additional column-chromatographic purification step.
The strains used for preparing Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial cultures and the antigens produced are listed in the following Table.
______________________________________ Strain H-type ______________________________________ M-2 b 5142 a.sub.0 (b) 5940 a.sub.0 a.sub.2 WR-5 a.sub.0 a.sub.2 5939 a.sub.0 a.sub.3 1210 a.sub.0 a.sub.1 a.sub.2 170018 a.sub.0 a.sub.3 a.sub.4 ______________________________________
From EP-A-0 252 064 it may be taken that all individual flagellar antigens of the types described in PCT publication WO 86/03974, as components of a vaccine, exhibit protective action and that the serum obtained from mice that had been actively immunized with the flagellar antigens indicated in PCT publication WO 86/03974 is suited for the passive immunization of mice.
However, the protective effect of the individual antigens and of the antibodies derived therefrom was detectable only in the animal model and only in the homologous system, i.e., an activity was observed only against pathogens of that flagellar serotype which had been utilized for immunization.
On the physicians' part, there is the desire to have available a Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine whose efficacy is directed against any combination of the partial flagellar (H) antigens a.sub.0, a.sub.1, a.sub.2, a.sub.3, a.sub.4 and b, since an analysis of 300 clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates by the H-antigen serotyping scheme proposed by Ansorg (Zbl. Bakt. Hyg. I. Abt. Orig. A242, 228-238, 1978) revealed that partial antigens of types a and/or b were actually detected in 98% of all motile Pseudomonas pathogens.
According to the findings disclosed in EP-A-0 252 064, a vaccine of this kind must necessarily contain all these partial antigens, i.e., must be a polyvalent vaccine.

Vaccines and immunoglobulin G-containing preparations active against pseudomonas aeruginosa


An operation stabilization mechanism has a first carriage to which a rotational drive force of a train wheel is transmitted and which is rotatably supported with respect to a main plate, and a second carriage rotatably supported with respect to the first carriage. A constant-force spring is provided between the first carriage and the second carriage and is configured to impart a rotational force to the second carriage so that the second carriage undergoes rotation with respect to the first carriage. An escapement/governor mechanism is mounted in the second carriage and is configured to be driven by a rotational torque generated through rotation of the second carriage and transmitted to the escapement/governor mechanism. A stopper lever is mounted to undergo rotational movement relative to the first carriage for suppressing fluctuations in the rotational torque transmitted to the escapement/governor mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an operation stabilization mechanism, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the mechanical timepiece, when the rotational torque transmitted from the barrel drum to the escape wheel & pinion of the escapement fluctuates in response to the unwinding of the main mainspring of the barrel drum, the oscillation angle of the balance with hairspring changes, resulting in a change in the rate of the timepiece. In view of this, to suppress the fluctuation in the rotational torque transmitted to the escape wheel & pinion, there has been proposed a constant-force device in which a constant-force spring (pre-tension spiral spring) is arranged between the barrel drum and the escapement.
As the constant-force device, there has been proposed, for example, one equipped with a stop wheel having a stop pinion portion (stop wheel pinion), an escape wheel & pinion having an escape pinion (escape wheel shaft), a tension ring mounted to a tension ring pinion, a constant-force spring provided between the tension ring and the escape wheel & pinion, and a cam mounted to the escape pinion. The constant-force spring imparts a rotational force to the escape wheel & pinion so that the escape wheel & pinion may rotate with respect to the tension ring.
Further, in the mechanical timepiece, there is involved an eccentricity error of a dynamic center of gravity based on the inevitable unevenness in the configuration of the balance with hairspring; further, during operation, there is also generated a movement of the center of gravity due to expansion and contraction of the hairspring. Thus, in the case where the timepiece is placed in the vertical position, the oscillation cycle of the balance with hairspring under the influence of the gravitational force undergoes a change depending upon what time direction comes on the upper side. As a mechanism for preventing a change in the oscillation cycle of the balance with hairspring due to the direction of the gravitational force, there is available a mechanism called tourbillon. And, there has been proposed a technique in which the above constant-force device is incorporated into the tourbillon mechanism.
The above-mentioned mechanism is equipped with a stationary wheel (second had fixing wheel), and a carriage (drive gear) rotating around the axis of this stationary wheel, with the escape wheel & pinion and the balance with hairspring being provided on the carriage. And, the escape wheel & pinion is rotated by the power of the constant-force spring. The rotation of the escape wheel & pinion is hindered or released by a pallet of a first anchor, whereas the rotation of a stop wheel is hindered or released by a pallet of a second anchor.
Here, when the rotation of the stop wheel is released, the stop wheel rotates by one tooth. Then, the stop wheel makes a planetary movement around the stationary wheel, with the carriage rotating. Further, when the rotation of the stop wheel is released, the tension ring rotates, whereby the constant-force spring is periodically wound up (See, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4105941 (Patent Document 1)).
In the above-described prior-art technique, however, the carriage rotates along with the rotation of the stop wheel, so that the rotational motion of the carriage is an intermittent motion. Thus, the inertia applied to the carriage applies a shock to the balance with hairspring, with the result that the rotation of the balance with hairspring becomes rather unstable.

Operation stabilization mechanism, movement, and mechanical timepiece


A plurality of operation portions are arranged at a surface on a sub-display side of a cellular phone with a camera so that various kinds of setting, selection and control can be performed without opening the cellular phone in its folded state, and the cellular phone can achieve improved operability and convenience. Cellular phone includes a first display portion at a surface of a first body opposed to a second body in the folded state, and includes a second display portion, an image taking portion and a plurality of operation portions arranged at a rear surface of the first body remote from the first display portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cellular phone having a function of taking pictures.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, cellular phones have been widely used. Shapes of such cellular phones can be roughly divided into three types, i.e., a straight type, a flip type and a clamshell type. Among them, the cellular phone of the clamshell type can be small in size when it is folded so that the needs for it are higher than those for the other types.
Recently, such a cellular phone has been proposed that is provided with a liquid crystal sub-display on a rear surface remote from a main liquid crystal display, and also a cellular phone having a camera function has been proposed.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a conventional clamshell-type cellular phone 100 with a camera (Model Name: SH251i, Manufacturer: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, released on Jun. 1, 2002). Cellular phone 100 includes a first body 101 and a second body 102. First body 101 and second body 102 are coupled together via a hinge 103, and can be mutually turnable around hinge 103 to provide a foldable structure. As shown in FIG. 17, cellular phone 100 is provided at first body 101 with a first display portion 104. First display portion 104 is arranged such that first display portion 104 is located inside cellular phone 100 in the folded state. First display portion 104 (i.e., main display) comprises a liquid crystal display or an EL display, and displays an image based on image data, which is sent via a first display driver portion arranged within the body. Cellular phone 100 is provided at its rear surface of first body 101 with an antenna portion 105 and a helical portion 106. Cellular phone 100 is provided at a side surface of first body 101 with a second shutter button 107 for a camera function. Cellular phone 100 is further provided at its upper portion with a first loud speaker 108, which is used for telephone conversation.
An open/close detector 109 is a detecting portion for detecting whether cellular phone 100 is in a folded state or not. A small projection 109a is formed at a lower portion of first body 101 near hinge 103, and a small aperture 109b is formed at an upper portion of second body 102 near hinge 103. A detection switch (not shown) is arranged within aperture 109b. Open/close detector 109 includes projection 109a, aperture 109b and the detection switch. When cellular phone 100 is folded, projection 109a on first body 101 enters aperture 109b at second body 102, and thereby activates the detection switch (not shown) so that a control portion arranged within the body determines that cellular phone 100 is folded.
Description will now be given on second body 102 of conventional cellular phone 100. An input button portion 110 includes keys for entering numbers and letters. A function button group 111 is a group of buttons for achieving various kinds of setting and function selection in the cellular phone. A power button 112 for power-on/off, a first shutter button 113 for a camera function, which will be described later, a mail/guidance button 114 for a mail function and guidance display, a start and speaker-receive button 115 for starting a call and speaker-receiving, and a multi-guide button 116 formed of a four-way button and a decision button, which are used for performing up/down and right/left selection as well as decision on a function selecting screen. Second body 102 is provided at its lower portion with a conversation microphone 117.
In the conventional cellular phone, hinge 103, function button group 111, input button group 110 and conversation microphone 117 are successively arranged on second body 102.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a rear side of cellular phone 100 shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of cellular phone 100 in a folded state. FIG. 20 is a side view showing an outer appearance of cellular phone 100 in the folded state. First body 101 is provided at its rear surface with a second display portion 120, a camera portion 121, a light portion 122 and antenna portion 105 already described.
Second display portion 120 is arranged to occupy an outside position when cellular phone 100 is in the folded state. Second display portion 120 (sub-display) comprises a liquid crystal display or an EL display. Second display portion 120 displays images based on image data sent via a second display driver portion arranged in the body.
Camera portion 121 includes imaging lenses, an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, and RGB (i.e., tricolor) color filters. In camera portion 121, the color filters produce tricolor light of RGB from the light, which are reflected by a subject and are transmitted through the imaging lenses. As shown in FIG. 18, camera portion 121 is arranged to occupy an outside position when cellular phone 100 is in the folded state.
Light portion 122 is used as an auxiliary light source when taking images by camera portion 121. In general, many kinds of conventional auxiliary light sources employ xenon tubes. In recent times, however, some kinds of auxiliary light sources employ red, green and blue LEDs, which are simultaneously turned on to emit while light.
Second body 102 is provided at its rear surface with a battery portion 123 for holding a battery and a second speaker 124 for playing a ringing tone.
Referring to FIGS. 21A and 21B, description will now be given on a manner of taking pictures by conventional cellular phone 100. FIG. 21A shows a general manner of taking a picture of a subject. A photographer opens cellular phone 100, directs camera portion 121 to the subject, and uses first display portion 104 as a finder. FIG. 21B shows a general manner, in which the photographer takes a picture of the photographer himself. In this case, the photographer uses second display portion 120 as a finder so that the photographer can take a picture while viewing a picture to be taken. In general, many cellular phones are configured to display a mirror image on second display portion 120 by laterally inverting an original image for preventing unnatural feeling. As shown in FIG. 21A, the photographer can use either first shutter button 113 or second shutter button 107, which is arranged on a side surface of first body 101. As shown in FIG. 21B, the photographer takes a picture by operating second shutter button 107 on cellular phone 100 in the folded state. However, a picture can be taken even by cellular phone 100 in an open state. In the open state, the photographer can operate second shutter button 107 arranged on the side surface of first body 101.
Even in the clambshell-type cellular phone with the camera, which has the two display portions as described above, it is still necessary or desirable to improve the cellular phone for effective use of the sub-display by the user.
When the clambshell-type cellular phone is in the folded state, an input portion is not available to the user except for shutter button 107 arranged on the side surface of first body 101. In a camera mode, sub-display 120 is used merely as a finder. In a standby mode, sub-display 120 displays a standby screen, a clock, mail arrival and others. However, these are merely items or matters, which were preset for automatic display on sub-display 120 by the user operating the cellular phone in the open state.
Accordingly, when the photographer intends, e.g., to control an amount of light from light portion 122, which is arranged beside camera portion 121, in a camera mode, it is necessary to open the cellular phone and to operate keys on second body 102 while viewing a controlled amount of light, which is displayed on main display 104. Likewise, for setting the standby screen or the clock display, the photographer is required to open the cellular phone and to perform such setting while viewing main display 104. Further, when sub-display 120 displays arrival of a mail, the photographer is required to open the cellular phone and to view main display 104 for reading contents of the mail. As described above, the display is located on the outer surface of the cellular phone in the folded state, but the operation of such display can be performed only after opening the cellular phone, which is a troublesome operation for the user.
The direction of the body of the cellular phone in the folded state is inverted from that in the open state. When the user changes the state of cellular phone, e.g., from the folded state to the open state, the user must change the direction or position of the cellular phone on the user's hand.


The present invention provides for nucleic acid sequences that encode novel mammalian intracellular signaling polypeptides, designated MINC102. The invention also provides assay systems that may be used to detect and/or measure agents that bind the MINC102 gene product. The present invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods for treating muscle atrophy by inhibiting expression or activity of MINC102.

A decrease in muscle mass, or atrophy, is associated with various physiological and pathological states. For example, muscle atrophy can result from denervation due to nerve trauma; degenerative, metabolic or inflammatory neuropathy, e.g. Guillian-Barré syndrome; peripheral neuropathy; or nerve damage caused by environmental toxins or drugs; from denervation due to a motor neuropathy including, for example, adult motor neuron disease, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease); infantile and juvenile spinal muscular atrophies; autoimmune motor neuropathy with multifocal conductor block. Muscle atrophy may also result from chronic disease resulting from, for example, paralysis due to stroke or spinal cord injury; skeletal immobilization due to trauma, such as, for example, fracture, sprain or dislocation; or prolonged bed rest. Metabolic stress or nutritional insufficiency, which may also result in muscle atrophy, include inter alia the cachexia of cancer, AIDS, and other chronic illnesses, fasting or rhabdomyolysis, and endocrine disorders such as disorders of the thyroid gland and diabetes. Muscle atrophy may also be due to a muscular dystrophy syndrome such as Duchenne, Becker, myotonic, fascioscapulohumeral, Emery-Dreifuss, oculopharyngeal, scapulohumeral, limb girdle, and congenital types, as well as the dystrophy known as Hereditary Distal Myopathy. Muscle atrophy may also be due to a congenital myopathy, such as benign congenital hypotonia, central core disease, nemalene myopathy, and myotubular (centronuclear) myopathy.
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), is a small protein growth factor that has been shown to cause hypertrophy when expressed in skeletal muscle (Coleman et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270:12109-16). A signaling pathway activated in response to IGF-1 is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway (PI3K/Akt). (Vanhaesebroeck et al. (1997) TIBS 22:267). PI3K causes phosphorylation of the cell membrane-bound molecule phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate at the 3 position, resulting in phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. Akt then translocates to the cell membrane and binds to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, where the Akt is activated.


A mobility control apparatus comprises: a mobility control unit configured to perform a first processing in accordance with movement of a mobile communication terminal and generate a notification related to the first processing; a processing unit configured to perform a second processing different from the first processing performed by the mobility control unit, based on the notification; and a notification providing unit configured to obtain the notification from the mobility control unit and provide the notification to the processing unit. Moreover, the mobility control apparatus comprises: an instruction unit configured to generate a command to a mobility control unit performing processing in accordance with movement of a mobile communication terminal; a command providing unit configured to obtain the command from the instruction unit and provide the command to the mobility control unit; and the mobility control unit configured to perform the processing based on the command.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobility control apparatus, a mobile communication terminal and a mobile communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a mobile communication terminal includes a function of mobility control, which performs processing of a position registration request to a mobile communication network and the like, in accordance with the movement of the mobile communication terminal. Moreover, a mobility control apparatus installed in the mobile communication network accommodating the mobile communication terminal therein also includes a function of mobility control. Specifically, the mobility control performs processing such as position registration of the mobile communication terminal, handover and the like, in accordance with the movement of the mobile communication terminal. As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile communication terminal 290 includes a mobility control unit 290a responsible for the function of mobility control. A mobile communication network 230 also includes a mobility control unit 230a responsible for the function of mobility control in a mobility control apparatus and the like.
However, in the conventional mobile communication terminal 290 and the mobile communication network 230, in order to advance the mobility control function of the mobility control units 290a and 230a, such as improving the efficiency of the processing performed by the mobility control unit 290a and the mobility control unit 230a of the mobility control apparatus, the entire mobility control units 290a and 230a need to be re-developed and re-constructed. In other words, as shown in FIG. 1, advanced mobility control units 390a and 330a need to be developed, in which the mobility control function of the mobility control units 290a and 230a is advanced as a whole, and the entire mobility control units 290a and 230a need to be replaced by the entire advanced mobility control units 390a and 330a.
Therefore, advancement of the mobility control function of the mobile communication terminal or the mobility control apparatus installed in the mobile communication network brought about problems of enormous costs, work and time being required for development as well as replacement of the conventional mobility control unit and the advanced mobility control unit and costs thereof. These problems have prevented the mobility control function of the mobile communication terminal or the mobility control apparatus installed in the mobile communication network from being advanced, and an advanced mobility control method from being introduced into the mobile communication terminal or the mobility control apparatus.

Mobility control apparatus, mobile communication terminal and mobile communication system


A thermal image forming apparatus includes a platen roller which supports a medium, a print head, including a heating unit which applies heat to the medium to form an image thereon, which rotates around the platen roller and moves the heating unit to a first location facing a first surface of the medium and a second location facing a second surface of the medium, and a restricting element which rotates together with the print head. The restricting element restricts the movement of the platen roller in a transport direction of the medium so that the heating unit is placed at a printing nip formed by the platen roller and the print head when the print head is located at the first and second locations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thermal image forming apparatus which forms images on both sides of a medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
To print images on both sides of a medium, an image forming apparatus can be devised to include two print heads on opposite sides of the medium. However, this will increase manufacturing and operational costs of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus can also be devised to include a single print head in which first and second surfaces of a medium are sequentially presented to the print head for double-sided printing. In this case, the print head is fixed while the medium rotates, or the print head moves between the two surfaces of the medium.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved thermal image forming apparatus including a print head which moves to first and second locations to face first and second surfaces of a medium to print an image on both sides of the medium.


System and method for performing a read transaction between a requester device, such as a host processor, and a completer device, such as a peripheral device. A device driver operating on the requester device receives a read request including a target address at which target data is to be read on the completer device. The length of the read request is increased from an initial length by an additional length for exchanging information with the completer device. The completer device generates and sends a read response comprising the target data and information about the target data. The length of the target data is equal to the initial length and the length of the information about the target data is less than or equal to the additional length. The device driver receives the read response and performs a resolution operation.

Communication over a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface can be subject to errors in the communicated data. For example, when an application wants to read information from a peripheral device over a PCI interface, there is a possibility that the read request can fail due to corruption of the data or other issues. The PCI mechanisms to address the failure may not take into account whether such a failure is fatal to the application. In one example, the PCI failure can be propagated to the operating system, which can determine that the failure is such that the entire system needs to shut down.
One PCI mechanism to address the failure is for the PCI controller to "poison" the data when it is determined that the data contains an error by replacing the data containing the error with an error indicator (e.g., 0xDEADBEEF) in the response to the application. The application must then verify the presence of the error indicator and subsequently determine what actions to perform to recover from the error, which may or may not be done transparently to the operating system.
This approach has several downsides, including that it is time-consuming and process-intensive. Not only must each segment of the data be analyzed for the presence of the error indicator, but the PCI controller must be queried by the application to determine whether the controller found an error indicator. The complexity of this approach is further increased due to the possible ambiguity between the actual data and the error indicator (e.g., it is possible that the actual data is similar and/or identical to the error indicator). The entirety of the data must therefore be analyzed for the presence of legitimate error indicators.


A super junction semiconductor device includes a semiconductor portion including mesa regions protruding from a base section and spatially separated in a lateral direction parallel to a first surface of the semiconductor portion, and a compensation structure covering at least sidewalls of the mesa regions. The compensation structure includes at least two first compensation layers of a first conductivity type, at least two second compensation layers of a complementary second conductivity type, and at least one interdiffusion layer between one of the first and one of the second compensation layers.

A super junction structure of a super junction device based on a trench concept may include two or more pairs of complementary doped compensation layers extending substantially parallel to a flow direction of an on-state current flowing in a conductive state of the super junction device in one type of the complementary doped layers. In a reverse blocking mode, the complementary doped layer pairs are depleted, resulting in a high reverse breakdown voltage even at a comparatively high impurity concentration in the doped layers carrying the on-state current. It is desirable to manufacture super junction semiconductor devices more economically.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Super junction semiconductor device having a compensation structure


A propeller system with two propellers, arranged one behind the other and separated by a propeller gap, respectively comprising a propeller hub and at least one rotating force measuring device, comprises at least two differential pressure sensors and an evaluation unit. The rotating force measuring devices are mechanically connected to the respective propellers and are adapted for determining the individual thrust force of each propeller. At least one of the said differential pressure sensors is arranged on or in each propeller and is adapted for measuring a differential pressure between the propeller gap and the respectively opposing side of the propeller. By adding the measured individual thrust forces and by subtracting the gap area forces that are based on the respectively measured differential pressures, the evaluation unit can determine a precise overall thrust force for the propeller system.

The conventional practice for determining the propeller forces to which wind tunnel models are subjected, is to use propeller force balances in the form of rotating force measuring devices. These are also known in English as "rotating shaft balances" (RSB) and are positioned between the propeller and a drive shaft. As well as measuring the forces and moments arising in the plane of rotation, this also measures both the thrust and the torque on the propeller shaft induced by the resistance of the propeller, which run vertically in relation to the plane of rotation.
Measuring the thrust of a propeller is a particular feature when measuring propeller forces, because, as the propeller rotates, an air pressure profile is formed in the gap between the propeller hub and the associated drive mechanism or any other fixed element which is detected by the force measuring device as an apparent thrust. In order to calculate this apparent thrust, pressure sensors are positioned on a fixed surface facing the propeller hub, which can calculate the pressure and the pressure distribution in the gap. The apparent thrust can be calculated from the pressure distribution and a knowledge of the surface exposed to this air pressure and then subtracted from the thrust measured by the force measuring device, so that the aerodynamic forces actually created by the propeller can be determined.
In the case of counter-rotating propeller systems with two propellers, there is not just one gap on one side of an individual propeller, but a total of three gaps, in which a corresponding air pressure profile develops. However, calculating pressure distributions in the gaps of such counter-rotating propeller systems is very costly.
DE 33 40 516 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,269 B2 disclose methods for correcting total thrust measurements for aircraft engines, in which methods resistances are substracted that depend on the air flow into the engine and through a test cell.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,855 A discloses an apparatus for determining the thrust of an engine, comprising a force measuring device and a dynamometer.

Propeller system with two counter-rotating propellers, a method for measuring the thrust of a propeller system with two counter-rotating propellers and wind tunnel with a model positioned therein having a propeller system


A method of merging a head suspension assembly into a plurality of disks for disk drives using a low melting wax is shown. The wax in the method of the invention protects and guides the heads during assembly into a disk drive. A preferred embodiment of the invention guards the head from damage during packaging and transport. The invention also describes a head suspension assembly for information storage and retrieval systems featuring a slider with wax covering at least part of the slider.

1. Technical Field:
This invention relates to a method of merging head suspension assemblies into disk drives using a low melting wax. In particular, the invention relates to an improved method for protecting sliders and disks during handling while storing, shipping and assembling disk drives. The invention also relates to an improved slider which is embedded in wax.
2. Description of the Related Art:
In a disk drive or direct access storage device, the disk files are information storage devices which utilize at least one rotatable disk storing information on concentric data tracks. A transducer reads information from or writes information to the various tracks on the data disk. The transducer forms a portion of a "head" which is attached to a slider, forming the head. The slider is attached on its backside to the suspension. The suspension in turn is connected to the actuator arm. The actuator arm positions and maintains the head over the desired track during read and write operations. These parts are assembled into the actuator.
In a traditional disk drive, the rotation of the disk creates a cushion of air over the disk that allows the slider to lift off and float over the disk. The actuator arm suspension provides dimensional stability between the slider and the actuator arm by compensating for the force of the air between the slider's air bearing surface and the disk surface. The suspension controls slider flexibility relative to its directions of motion while resisting out-of-plane movement. This action keeps the slider close to the disk surface without allowing contact between them.
The suspension typically comprises a load beam attached to the actuator arm and a flexure which connects the slider to the load beam. The load beam balances the slider by counteracting the lifting force from the spinning disk. The flexure supports the slider and allows flexibility during the slider's ride on the cushion of air. Such a suspension is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,765, which is assigned to the same assignee as this application.
In a disk drive using a self-replenishment, lubrication system, a liquid lubricant replaces the cushion of air. The sliders do not float above the disk in this system, but ski in the liquid. These sliders glide in a lubricant during track following, like a water skier gliding in a thin layer of water at high speed. There are several milliliters of lubricant in such a disk drive.
Assembly of disk drives is labor intensive. Parts are often manufactured and tested in one place and assembled in another. For instance, a slider may be machined, tested and attached to the suspension assembly to form the head suspension assembly, then boxed for shipment. Any damage makes the head suspension assembly unusable, thereby wasting the part.
Damaged sliders are serious problems in the industry. Sliders are usually made of a hard brittle material, such as a ceramic. If the slider is subjected to a shock, such as dropping or hitting, the slider may crack, chip or break. For example, if the slider of the head suspension assembly has small bearing pads, any damage such as chipping removes a large percentage of the slider bearings and causes an irregular surface. If a chipped slider touches the disk, the hard surface scratches and destroys the disk. The same type of damage occurs with other slider surfaces, for example, rails, grooves, and other textured surfaces. Another situation where damage occurs is when the actuator is handled harshly during shipment. In some circumstances, the actuator holds eight pairs of opposing heads. If the actuator is roughly handled, the heads may hit each other, a phenomenon known as head slap. Simply setting the actuator's shipping container down too hard can cause head slap. Head slap causes chips, dents, cracks, and the like, rendering the heads unusable.
In the case of air bearing sliders, the prior art uses mechanical fixtures to protect the sliders. However, head slap still occurs occasionally due to operator error.
Near contact recording disk drives have very small spaces between the disks. A disk stacking tolerance allows the greatest possible number of disks stacked without wasting any space. This tight tolerance accommodates the worst case scenario, allowing parts to hit without being damaged. The tight tolerance must accommodate back-to-back sliders, arms, spacer rings and the like, all of which vary slightly after manufacture. For the slider, no more than three standard deviations from the mean of the slider size are allowed. For example, a 0.45 mm thick slider allows deviations of no more than a mere 0.05 mm in its thickness. Consequently, merging the slider with the disk is a tight squeeze without much room for error.
Merging the sliders between the disks requires careful manipulation. During merge, the small, fragile heads must squeeze between the delicate disks without touching. If the heads and disks touch, the pressure from contact can damage both heads and disks, thereby rendering them unusable. The same types of problems can occur when moving the head to the landing zone. If the slider touches the disk during movement to the landing zone, and a hard particle of contaminant becomes wedged between the slider and disk the slider can scrape the disk like a needle scrapes a phonograph record. The scraping may scratch and ruin the disk.
One object of the invention is to protect the head suspension assemblies from damage during shipment and handling.
Another object of the invention is to ease the merge operation between the head and the disk during assembly.
Another object of the invention is to guard the head and disk from damage during merge and positioning the head on the landing zone.

Merging of heads into disk drives using low melting wax

International Business Machines Corporation


An exercise platform system and apparatus is disclosed that includes a plurality of angled step surfaces. In one aspect, the exercise platform can include an exercise platform base adapted to interface with a supporting surface and an exercise platform upper surface coupled to the exercise platform base that includes a first step having a first step surface, a second step having a second step surface, and a center landing area located between the first step and the second step, the center landing area being substantially parallel to the exercise platform base, wherein the first step surface and the second step surface are angled toward the center landing area by an angle between 5 and 30 degrees, inclusive. Further, the first step surface and the second step surface can be angled by a second angle between 5 and 30 degrees toward a transverse axis laterally bisecting the exercise platform base.

Raised benches simulating a step have been used for exercise, such as cardiovascular training. For example, a raised bench or other such flat platform has been used in performing repetitive stepping exercises. Step exercise programs have been designed to utilize the entire stepping surface, length and width, of a raised bench. For example, users are instructed to step onto and off of the raised bench repeatedly during an exercise session, often in different directions across the upper surface of the bench.
The difficulty of a stepping exercise program further can be increased by raising the height of the bench. Detachable risers have been developed for use in altering the height of the raised bench, such as during different phases of an exercise program. In order to provide for greater customization, the detachable risers can be of varying height or can be combined. However, matched risers are employed to ensure that the top surface of the raised bench remains level. Thus, a broad, level stepping surface is provided for the user.
Machines also have been developed for performing leg strengthening exercises, such as squats. The machines typically have a padded surface that contacts the user's shoulders and/or back. Further, resistance can be selectively provided through a weight stack or individual weights secured to the machine. The machines also include a level platform on which a user can stand.

Exercise platform with angled step surfaces


Location presence information is provided to advertising services by a femto-cell management system in a femto/pico-cell environment. On registration of a user equipment with a pico-cell which has been previously identified as a designated zone, the management system sends an alert to the advertising services. A SMS controller permits the advertising services to send a welcome text message including advertising content to the user equipment. The management system can also act as a centralized GSMA one API application gateway for location presence.

Wireless communication systems, such as the 3rd Generation (3G) of mobile telephone standards and technology, are well known. An example of such 3G standards and technology is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS™), developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP™) (3gpp.org). The 3rd generation of wireless communications has generally been developed to support macro-cell mobile phone communications. Such macro cells utilise high power base stations (NodeBs in 3GPP parlance) to communicate with wireless communication units within a relatively large geographical coverage area. Typically, wireless communication units, or User Equipment (UEs) as they are often referred to in 3G parlance, communicate with a Core Network (CN) of the 3G wireless communication system via a Radio Network Subsystem (RNS). A wireless communication system typically comprises a plurality of radio network subsystems, each radio network subsystem comprising one or more cells to which UEs may attach, and thereby connect to the network. Each macro-cellular RNS further comprises a controller, in a form of a Radio Network Controller (RNC), operably coupled to the one or more Node Bs, via a so-called Iub interface.
The second generation wireless communication system (2G), also known as GSM, is a well-established cellular, wireless communications technology whereby "base transceiver stations" (equivalent to the Node B's of the 3G system) and "mobile units" (user equipment) can transmit and receive voice and packet data. Several base transceiver stations are controlled by a Base Station Controller (BSC), equivalent to the RNC of 3G systems.
Lower power (and therefore smaller coverage area) femto-cells (or pico-cells) are a recent development within the field of wireless cellular communication systems. Femto-cells or pico-cells (with the term femto cells being used hereafter to encompass pico-cells or similar) are effectively communication coverage areas supported by low power base stations (otherwise referred to as Access Points (APs) or Home Node B's (HNBs) or evolved Home Node B's (HeNB's). These femto-cells are intended to be able to be piggy-backed onto the more widely used macro-cellular network and support communications to UEs in a restricted, for example 'in-building', environment. Each femto-cell (or pico-cell) is I served by one Access Point.
Typical applications for such Access Points include, by way of example, residential and commercial locations, communication 'hotspots', etc., whereby Access Points can be connected to a core network via, for example, the Internet using a broadband connection or the like. In this manner, femto cells can be provided in a simple, scalable deployment in specific in-building locations where, for example, network congestion at the macro-cell level may be problematic.
Although there are no standard criteria for the functional components of a HNB (or Access Point), an example of a typical HNB for use within a 3GPP system may comprise Node-B functionality and some aspects of Radio Network Controller (RNC) functionality.
A HNB is an access point that provides a wireless interface for a user equipment connectivity. It provides a radio access network connectivity to a user equipment (UE) using the so-called Iuh interface to a network access controller known as a Home Node B Gateway (HNB-GW). One HNB-GW can provide network connectivity of several HNB's to a core network.
Conventionally, in a femto-cell network, each HNB has an Iuh connection to a single HNB-GW (Access Point).
Often in a femto-cell network, an access point management system (or HNB management system) is provided which communicates with the access point controller (HNB-GW). This management system is typically configured to manage a large number of access points (HNB's), for example, monitoring, software upgrades, failure management.
Each access point (HNB) goes through a registration procedure in order to establish a communications link with the network access controller (HNB-GW). Conventionally, it does this using a HNB application part (HNB AP) request message. If the registration has been successful, the HNB-GW returns a HNBA P register accept message.
When a user equipment (UE) camps on to a particular HNB, the HNB attempts to register the UE with the HNB-GW by sending a HNBAP UE register request message. The message can contain a UE identity and will be acknowledged with an accepted message via the HNB-GW if the registration is successful.
The HNB monitors the UE via periodic location updates. If a number of location updates are missed, the HNB assumes that the UE is no longer camped on and has left the HNB's' area of coverage. The HNB then informs the HNB-GW of this occurrence by sending a HNB AP deregister message.
A current industry model is to implement a GSMA one API on one of three places: viz. on the user equipment (for handset applications) or on the femto-cell (for local applications) or on the application Gateway (for external third-party access). The GSMA one API is an application programming interface which has been developed by the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) Association. It is intended to be a web service interface. An application developed with one API can obtain information across network operators that support it. It is intended for operation on servers and mobile devices and the first API's to be implemented will be for messaging and location functions. Specifically, version 1 requires "location presence" capability and the ability to send and receive short message services (SMS) and multimedia messaging services (MMS) through the application Gateway using the GSMA one API.
"Presence" services in general permit an individual and equipment which he uses for communication to share information on the state of the individual and that equipment. Such information can include whether the individual and his communication equipment are currently able to communicate with others or engaged on a video call, for example. "Presence" can also include information relating to the location of a user communication equipment.
Location information can be very useful to retailers and advertisers who may wish to communicate with shoppers who are known to be in a certain location at a certain time, a shopping mall for example. Hence, it would be advantageous to provide a means for providing such location presence information. It would also be advantageous to provide a centralized GSMA one API Application Gateway for location presence.

Network elements, cellular communication system and methods therefor


The present inventions provides drug-drug conjugates, drug-porphyrin conjugates, nanoparticles of the conjugates, as well as modified nanoparticles having PEGylated exteriors or encapsulated by red blood cell vesicles. The conjugates, nanoparticles and nanocarriers are useful for treating cancers and other diseases, as well as for imaging diseased tissue or organs.

Nanoscaled drug delivery system (NDDS) is engineered by nanotechnologies for targetedly delivering and controllably releasing the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to specific focus. The application of NDDS is widely expected to bring new hope to create novel therapeutics for cancer therapy, as the NDDS enable to improve the solubility of APIs, protect them from degradation, enhance the blood circulation time and bring them specifically to the tumour tissue without inducing side effects along the healthy organs. The clinic trended applications of inorganic NDDSs were restrained, due to their potentially accumulated long-term toxicities. Therefore, scientists put great efforts on developing of organic NDDSs, which mainly include liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, protein-based nanoparticles, etc. Thanks to the excellent biocompatibility and biodegradation of organic materials, a few nanodrugs are already commercial available, such as paclitaxel loaded albumin (Abraxane), liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) and paclitaxel loaded polymeric micelle (Genexol-PM), etc. Nevertheless, these organic NDDSs still suffer from the drawback of low drug loading capacity (% DL, confined as [entrapped drug/nanoparticles weight]*100). So far, most organic NDDSs have been reported are with % DL below 20 wt %, which means that a majority part of non-pharmaceutical ingredients are employed just for delivering a minority of APIs; and this step consumes huge resources. Most carriers are claimed to be nontoxic, this claim is, however, limited within a safety threshold. When we need to elevate the API amounts to achieve better efficacy, the quantities of non-pharmaceutical ingredients will be increased correspondingly, and may surpass the safety threshold, thus exhibit toxicities. For instance, the most acceptable polymer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), shows some extents of toxicity when they were administrated in high concentrations.
To address this issue, one-component nanomedicine (OCN) was developed for improving the % DL and correspondingly decreasing the carriers amounts. The OCN directly integrates hydrophobic antineoplastic drugs into the building blocks, acting as hydrophobic core of the nanoparticles, thus providing driven force for molecules self assembly in aqueous environment. As each building block intrinsically harbors one share of API, the drug loading efficiency enables to reach a higher level, comparing to the conventional NDDSs. As such, the non pharmaceutical parts of OCN are mostly introduced for carrying the payloads, like "on trick pony", their sole role is to deliver the pharmaceutical ingradients. When they fulfill the drug delivery mission and come to post-delivery period, they become useless, and may yield toxicities for our health. Not only that, their dispositions remain mysterious both in vitro and in vivo, as most OCNs are not traceable. To impart the traceable features, exotic imaging agents are usually introduced to the NDDS. However, the introduced imaging agents only indicate their own dispositions, but not the real biological behaviours of NDDSs once the imaging agents leak out. Therefore, it is desirable to develop self-indicating NDDSs with innate imaging features to unveil the real biological dispositions. In our mind, the ideal NDDS should meet the following features: i) Drug delivery. First and formost, they can be self-assembled into a nanostructure to carry the drugs to the specific focus or providing the driven force to guide the drugs assemblying into nano-formulations; ii) High % DL. The % DL is requisite to be as high as possible, leading to less non-pharmaceutical ingredients introduction, and therefore decreasing the unnecessary toxicities; iii) Self-indicating. The NDDSs, themselves, are engineered with imaging features, so that their real biological dispositions can be visualized; iv) Therapeutic effect or synergistic effect. The carrier parts of NDDS are better to exhibit therapeutical effect, which can make the whole NDDS become more efficacious. Or at least, they can achieve some extent of synergistic effect with encapsulated API, and thus improve entire efficacy of NDDS.
Nowadays, chemotherapy is widely used in clinic for cancer treatment. However, sole modal chemotherapy is not efficient enough to control the tumour progression, as cancer is extremely aggressive, and constantly with high risk of recurrence even they seem to be cured. Combination therapy is a promising means to address these problems. The non-invasive phototherapies, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), are conceived as two alternative tumour ablation methods. PTT is realized by transforming photo energy to heat, and PDT refers to produce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the circumstance. The phototherapeutic agents are intrinsically non-toxic in dark, but with high photo-induced toxicity that only occurs in a confined area where the laser points, phototherapies thus enable to accurately ablate the specific regions of tumour in spatiotemporal manner. Hence, the combinations of highly controllable PTT and PDT with conventional chemotherapy may achieve precise and more efficient tumour ablation, and lower the risk of recurrence.
Here, we inaugurated a self-indicating full active pharmaceutical ingredients nanoparticle (FAPIN), which was not only composed with 100% API, but also seamlessly orchestrated a broad range of smart and clinically relevant functionalities in one simple nanoparticle, including self-indicating features, like energy transfer dominated dual-fluorogenic and near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging; and controllable trimodality therapy (photothermal-, photodynamic- and chemo-therapies). To realize 100% API loading capacity, we only introduced two commercially available APIs into the FAPIN. The first API was a porphyrin derivative, pheophorbide A (Pa), acting as the hydrophobic building blocks. Porphyrin derivatives were extensively employed to build theranostic nanoplatform, which possesses excellent PTT and PDT effects, and NIRF imaging features. A FDA-proved chemo-drug, irinotecan (Ir, Camptosar®), was introduced as the second API. Ir is a relatively hydrophilic anti-neoplastic drug, which prevents DNA from unwinding by inhibition of topoisomerase II, and thus terminate the proliferations of tumour cells. As illustrated in FIG. 1, Pa and Ir were covalently conjugated through cleavable ester bond, and forming amphiphilic chemical structures (Pa—Ir conjugates, PI). PI molecules can be rearranged and forming nano-formulations (Pa—Ir nanoparticle, PIN) in aqueous solution through self-assembly. In this particular construct, 100% API loading capacity was achieved, as the PIN were directlssy fabricated through pure APIs self-assembly. In PIN, the fluorescence of Ir was quenched because of the energy transfer from Ir to Pa, and the fluorescence of Pa was further inactivated, due to the π-π stacking among the planar chemical structures of Pa in the nanostructure of PIN. Hence, even the building blocks of PIN were composed with two fluorescently molecules (Pa with excellent NIRF and Ir with blue fluorescence), PIN exhibited no fluorescence, as an energy transfer relay dominated and inactivated both fluorescence of Pa and Ir. The dual fluorescence inactivation was supposed to give a dual-fluorogenic process when specific stimuli were applied and caused the energy transfer relay invalid. The conventional NDDSs usually need extra step to introduce imaging agents to indicate their biological dispositions. The PIN was intrinsically self-indicating, Pa bestowed the nanoparticles with excellent NIRF imaging feature, which enable to indicate the behaviours of PIN in vivo. The energy transfer dominated dual-fluorogenic process contributed to indicate the drug releasing behaviours of PIN in real time manner. PIN was then administrated into patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumour bearing mice through tail vein injection, because of the excellent enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of solid tumour, PIN preferentially accumulated in tumour region, and specifically exerted the anti-cancer role. PIN that accumulated in tumours were triggered with laser beam, and realized laser triggered trimodality therapy, including direct phototherapies (PPT and PDT), and indirect chemotherapy (laser-triggered drug release).

Conjugates of active pharmaceutical ingredients

The Regents of the University of California


An arrangement is provided for mounting and adjusting a sensor, particularly a radar distance sensor, on a motor vehicle. The sensor is accommodated in a sensor housing. The sensor housing is fastened on a holder so as to be tiltable about a degree of freedom. The holder is fastened to the motor vehicle. The sensor housing includes receiving devices in a first lateral edge area and an opposite, second, lateral edge area, in which fastening domes are in each case arranged. The sensor housing is fixed in the first lateral edge area by way of at least two fastening domes and fasteners engaging therein on the holder. The sensor housing is tiltably fixed with respect to the holder in the second lateral edge area by way of at least one fastening dome and a threaded bolt engaging in this fastening dome and the holder.

The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting and adjusting a sensor, particularly a distance radar sensor, on a motor vehicle, the sensor being accommodated in a sensor housing which is tiltably fastened with a degree of freedom on a holder to be fastened to the motor vehicle.
Arrangements of the above-mentioned type for fastening such a sensor are known, for example, from German Patent Document DE 10 2004 046 559 A1, European Patent Document EP 1 444 114 B1 or European Patent Document EP 0 937 311 B1. In the case of holding arrangements according to the state of the art, the sensor housing is either fastened by use of at least three screws to a holder and adjusted, or an adjusting screw is rotatably and tiltably held in a torsion-proof manner at the mounting point in a fixing dome. In the case of the systems known from the state of the art, although the adjusting of the sensor housing can take place by way of a plurality of adjusting devices, this also involves the risk of an adjusting of the alignment of the sensor housing with respect to the holder at several adjusting possibilities. A radar distance sensor can basically predominantly be adjusted in the vertical direction; a horizontal alignment plays a subordinate role and can be omitted.
Based on this background, it is an object of the invention to provide a simplified arrangement for mounting and adjusting a sensor on a motor vehicle, by which a vertical alignment of the sensor becomes possible using a single adjusting device.
This and other objects are achieved by an arrangement for mounting and adjusting a sensor, particularly a radar sensor, on a motor vehicle. The sensor is accommodated in a sensor housing, which is fastened in a tiltable manner with a degree of freedom on a holder to be fastened on the motor vehicle. The sensor housing has receiving devices or seats in a first lateral edge area and an opposing second lateral edge area, in which fastening domes are, in each case, arranged. The sensor housing is fixed in the first lateral edge area by way of at least two fastening domes and fasteners engaging therein, rotatably about an axis, on the holder. The sensor housing is tiltably fixed with respect to the holder in the second lateral edge area by way of a fastening dome and a single threaded bolt engaging in the fastening dome and the holder.
The sensor housing can be moved with respect to the holder in only one degree of freedom, so that only a vertical tilting of the sensor housing becomes possible. The pivotal point or the axis of rotation of the sensor housing with respect to the holder is situated in the two fastening domes arranged in the first lateral edge area, fasteners devices engaging into the fastening domes.
In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening domes reach around receiving spaces in which correspondingly complementarily designed sections of the fastening devices can engage, so that a rotation can be achieved.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the fasteners are ball clips having a ball end (head), which fits into the correspondingly spherical receiving space of the corresponding fastening dome. The ball clips are snapped or clipped with their respective ball ends through the holder into the respective pertaining fastening dome. The ball clips therefore fasten the sensor housing to the holder by way of the fastening domes arranged therein, but simultaneously permit a rotation or tilting of the sensor housing with respect to the holder along an axis of rotation formed by the ball centers of the ball ends of the ball clips.
The continuous adjusting of the tilted position of the sensor housing with respect to the holder takes place exclusively by way of a single threaded bolt. The threaded bolt engages in a third fastening dome arranged in the second lateral edge area of the sensor housing and engages with the holder at a corresponding pertaining point. This is done in order to define the variable distance of the sensor housing from the holder in the second lateral edge area with respect to the defined distance of the sensor housing from the holder in the first lateral edge area, and thereby coordinate the tilted position of the sensor housing with respect to the holder. In this case, it is advantageous for the fastening dome inserted into the sensor housing in the second lateral edge area to have an open design toward the front, so that an adjusting tool can be guided through the fastening dome to the threaded bolt. As a result of the rotation of the threaded bolt, the tilted position of the sensor housing can be adapted with respect to the holder.
In an advantageous embodiment, the threaded bolt is constructed as a spherical threaded bolt and engages with its spherical section in the pertaining fastening dome, which has a complementary receiving device, in order to be rotatably fixed therein. The threaded bolt extends through an opening in the holder, in which an insert nut is arranged which fixes the threaded bolt in its position at the holder. As an alternative, it may be provided in a simplified embodiment to make available a thread, which correspondingly matches the threaded bolt, directly in the opening of the holder.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the fastening domes have slots. These extend along the holding area, which rests against the sensor housing, as well as along the area which is inserted into the receiving devices of the sensor housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the ball clips are also slotted, in which case, a holding area extending along the holder also has slots, and these extend in an area that is inserted through the holder into the fastening domes. The slots have the advantageous effect that the fastening domes have a certain elasticity in the area of their receiving spaces. As a result, when the sensor housing is rotated with respect to the holder, no deformations will occur in the area of the fastening points at the connection between the ball clips and the fastening domes.
The advantageous material for the fastening domes as well as the ball clips is plastic material; the spherical threaded bolt is preferably constructed of metal.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Arrangement for mounting and adjusting a sensor

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


An assembly for an optical read out device for biochips, in which in a manner known per se an optical path of light that is emitted from the samples is evaluated by a CCD camera. For this purpose, the samples are illuminated by a light source, which e.g. stimulates fluorescence in the samples. According to the invention, the light source consists of luminescent, porous silicon. The latter can constitute the surface of a luminous disc, which extends parallel to an analysis plane that is formed by the sample carrier. This allows the light source to be directly connected to the sample carrier, obviating the need for complex optical systems for distributing the light evenly from a punctiform or linear light source to the samples. The light source is particularly cost-effective and the required light intensity is low. The luminous disc can be simply produced by the etching of a silicon substrate.

Such an assembly is known, for example, from German Patent Application DE 198 58 490 A1 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,621,575 corresponds). That document describes an assembly for the simultaneous optical illumination of a multiplicity of biological cells, each forming samples, by means of a light source made of luminescent porous silicon. This luminescent porous silicon is part of a luminous disk referred to as a nanosource array, which has a biocompatible adhesion layer for fixing the cells. The nanosource array is formed by a multiplicity of so-called apertures in the luminous disk, which are partially filled with the luminescent porous silicon. In this case, the luminescent porous silicon forms a surface with the rest of the luminous disk, so that it is directly next to the biocompatible adhesion layer.
A similar assembly for the illumination of samples is known, for example, from German Patent Application DE 199 40 752 A1. According to FIG. 4 of that document, this assembly consists of a sample support, for example a biochip, and a so-called system module which contains all of the components needed for illumination onto or through an array of samples arranged on the sample support. The assembly may be connected to another system module for optical analysis of the measurement signals output by the sample support.
The former system module for generating the light field has a matrix arrangement of light sources which, for example, may be formed by a microlaser array or a microdiode array. The effect achieved by interconnecting this multiplicity of microlight sources is that a luminous matrix with luminous points of uniform intensity can be produced on the sample support in order to optically analyze the individual samples.

Assembly for the optical illumination of a plurality of samples


Multi-layer puncture-resistant biaxially oriented coextruded films or tubings are disclosed for use in dilatation balloon catheters. The catheter balloons so formed comprise a first, inner layer of an orientable thermoplastic resin; a second layer of a thermoplastic inomeric olefin copolymer secured to the outside surface of the first layer; and an optional third layer of an orientable thermoplastic resin secured to the outside surface of the second layer. Processes for forming the dilatation catheter balloons herein are also disclosed.

Dilatation catheter balloons are used in invasive medical procedures such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). This particular procedure has become a tool of major importance in the treatment of coronary heart disease, as described by D. S. Baim, MD, in Heart Disease. A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 4th Edition, Chapter 41, E. Braunwald, Ed, published by W. B. Saunders Company, 1992. A vascular stenosis is relieved by expansion of a dilatation catheter balloon which has been introduced into the occluded blood vessel at the site of the lesion by way of a catheter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,421 (Levy) discloses high strength, high modulus biaxially oriented articles exhibiting a preferred mode of failure, the process being particularly well-suited for the production of dilatation catheter balloons for invasive medical procedures, as taught therein. It has been found in the practice of PTCA that a significant percentage of the stenoses relieved thereby are subject to restenosis, essentially a reversion to the previous occluded condition after removal of the balloon catheter. This may occur over a period of minutes, or may take weeks or months to occur. Increasingly, intraluminal prostheses known as stents are placed in the treated vessel to serve as a reinforcing member, and prevent the further accretion of materials at the location of the original lesion. Stents are for the most part made from metal wires or tubes. A preferred method for implantation of the stent is to place the stent around the outside of a balloon catheter. As the balloon is expanded to treat the lesion, the stent is simultaneously expanded. The balloon is subsequently deflated and withdrawn, leaving the stent in place.
During the dilatation procedure, the balloon is undesirably susceptible to puncture by the sharp edges of the stent during the expansion and implantation phase of treatment. A puncture so caused then induces a failure in the balloon, forcing the procedure to be aborted, thus subjecting the patient to unnecessary risk and adding undesirably to the cost of the procedure
It is known that improved puncture resistance of dilatation catheter balloons may be achieved by forming them from a coextruded tubular article wherein the inner layer is a polymer suitable for use as a dilatation catheter balloon, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a second layer is a more rubbery or so-called "toughened" composition affording improvements in puncture resistance. The tougher or more rubbery layer is resident on the outside of the catheter balloon, adjacent to the inside surface of the stent. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,306 discloses the use of a thermoplastic elastomer, of a hardness less than 55 D according to ASTM D2240, preferably a polyurethane, as the outer layer in a biaxially oriented coextruded tubular article wherein the inner layer is PET or polyamide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,969 discloses a biaxially oriented coextruded tubular article consisting of an inner layer of PET film and an outer layer of a so-called toughened blend of PET. These articles are said to exhibit improved puncture resistance.
It is thus highly desirable to provide a puncture-resistant dilatation catheter balloon suitable for use in PTCA accompanied by the implantation of vascular stents, and in other medical dilatation procedures.

Dilatation catheter balloons with improved puncture resistance