A charge pump type voltage conversion circuit comprises a voltage detector which detects whether a boosted output voltage is larger or smaller than a predetermined reference voltage. A clock generator generates a clock signal based on the result of detection by the voltage detector. A charge pump circuit produces the boosted output voltage in response to the clock signal. A transfer control circuit allows or inhibits transfer of the clock signal to the charge pump circuit depending on the result of detection by the voltage detector. When the condition of the transfer control circuit is changed from the inhibited condition to the allowed condition based on the clock signal outputted from the clock generator, an operation of the charge pump circuit always starts from a voltage boost sequence, thereby reducing a ripple components of the boosted output voltage.

The present invention relates generally to a voltage conversion circuit, and more particularly to a charge pump type voltage conversion circuit which generates a boosted output voltage having reduced ripple voltage components.
Conventional voltage conversion circuits are disclosed, for example, in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 8-212781, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 6-165482, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 63-018958, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 63-018959, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 5-276737, and the like.
The voltage conversion circuits described in these publications are used for obtaining a positive or negative output voltage which has a larger magnitude than that of a power supply voltage, from a single power supply voltage. Otherwise, the voltage conversion circuits described in these publications are used for obtaining an output voltage which has a smaller magnitude than that of a power supply voltage, from a single power supply voltage.
In order to compose such voltage conversion circuit on a printed circuit board, there is used a three terminal-type voltage regulator, a switching regulator which uses a coil component, or the like. However, the three terminal-type voltage regulator has a disadvantage that a power loss by a transistor of an output circuit stage thereof becomes large. Also, although a power loss of the switching regulator is relatively smaller than that of the three terminal-type voltage regulator, the switching regulator has a disadvantage that the size of the device becomes large because it uses a coil component.
In order to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages, when, for example, a voltage conversion circuit is to be formed on an semiconductor integrated circuit device, a charge pump-type voltage conversion circuit is used. The charge pump-type voltage conversion circuit has the merits of low power loss, good compatibility with a semiconductor integrated circuit in a manufacturing process thereof, and the like.
As an example, a voltage conversion circuit outputting a positive voltage is used in a power supply circuit portion in an integrated circuit of an RS-232C (interface standard) driver/receiver, and the like. Also, a voltage conversion circuit outputting a negative voltage is used in a power supply circuit for a negative voltage source of an operational amplifier or a comparator, and the like.
Each of these voltage conversion circuits has a voltage conversion portion composed of a switched capacitor circuit which comprises switches and capacitors and which operates based on a clock signal supplied from a clock generator portion.
As another example, in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 11-187545, there is disclosed a circuit structure which has a function of enabling or disabling a voltage raising operation, depending on whether or not a voltage corresponding to the difference between an output of a charge pump and a power supply voltage exceeds a reference voltage.
However, in such circuit structure, when a load is connected to an output terminal thereof, a relatively large voltage ripple arises at the output terminal due to the influence by the electric charges consumed by the load, and it is impossible to make an influence of such voltage ripple small.
With reference to the drawing, an explanation will be made on a practical example of a conventional voltage conversion circuit.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a conventional voltage conversion circuit. As shown in FIG. 5, the voltage conversion circuit includes a voltage detector circuit 1, a clock oscillator circuit 2a, a latch circuit 3, a charge pump circuit 4a, and a compensation capacitor CL. The voltage detector circuit 1 is a circuit which compares a divided output voltage VO2 of a boosted voltage output VO1 with a reference voltage VR1, and outputs a voltage detection signal xcfx861 depending on the result of the comparison. The clock oscillator circuit 2a performs a controlled oscillation operation in response to the voltage detection signal xcfx861, and outputs a clock signal xcfx862. The latch circuit 3 latches the clock signal xcfx862 outputted from the clock oscillator circuit 2 in response to the voltage detection signal xcfx861 from the voltage detector circuit 1. The charge pump circuit 4a charges capacitor elements C1 and C2 in response to the output signal of the latch circuit 3, and produces the boosted voltage output VO1. The compensation capacitor CL is coupled between the output terminal and the ground.
Also, the voltage detector circuit 1 comprises a comparator 11 for comparing the reference voltage VR1 and the divided voltage VO2 of the boosted voltage output VO1, and resistors R1 and R2 for producing the divided voltage VO2. These resistors R1 and R2 are serially coupled between the boosted voltage output VO1 and the ground, and the connection node between the resistor R1 and the resistor R2 is coupled with an inverting input (xe2x88x92side) of the comparator 11. A non-inverting input (+side) of the comparator 11 is coupled with the reference voltage VR1. When the divided voltage VO2 obtained by dividing the boosted voltage output VO1 is lower than the reference voltage VR1, the voltage detection signal xcfx861 which is an output of the comparator 11 becomes logically high. On the other hand, when the divided voltage VO2 is higher than the reference voltage VR1, the voltage detection signal xcfx861 becomes logically low.
The clock oscillator circuit 2a is basically composed of a ring oscillator comprising inverters I2-I4. An output of the inverter 14 of the final stage is fed back to an input of the inverter I2 of the first stage, via a transfer gate TG1 comprising an n-type MOS transistor and a p-type MOS transistor. Other inverters I5 and I6 designate output buffers for outputting the clock signal xcfx862. TG1 designates the transfer gate, Q1 designates a MOS switch, I1 designates an inverter for controlling the MOS switch Q1 and the transfer gate TG1. Since there exist parasitic capacitances C3-C5 at respective nodes in the ring oscillator having the above-mentioned structure, signal transition at each of the nodes becomes dull or blunted. Therefore, the clock oscillator circuit 2a requires buffering for wave shaping.
In the clock oscillator circuit 2a, the transfer gate TG1 is on-off controlled by the voltage detection signal xcfx861 generated depending on the potential level of the boosted voltage output VO1. The transfer gate TG1 becomes conductive only when the signal xcfx861 is logically high, and causes the ring oscillator circuit to oscillate and output the clock signal xcfx862 as an output thereof. On the other hand, when the voltage detection signal xcfx861 is logically low, an input node N1 of the inverter 12 is clamped to low by the inverter I1 and the transistor Q1, and fix the potential level of the clock signal xcfx862 to logically high. Generally, when an operation of a ring oscillator circuit is to be stopped, an input node is clamped to a low potential level or a high potential level, as in this circuit example, to avoid a floating condition of a potential level of each circuit node.
The latch circuit 3 has a transfer gate TG2 composed of an n-type MOS transistor and a p-type MOS transistor, an inverter 114, and clocked inverters 115 and 116. The transfer gate TG2 is controlled by the voltage detection signal xcfx861 from the voltage detector circuit 1. When the voltage detection signal xcfx861 is in a high potential level, that is, when the divided voltage VO2 produced from the boosted voltage output VO1 is lower than the reference voltage VR1, the transfer gate TG2 is turned on. When the voltage detection signal xcfx861 is in a low potential level, that is, when the divided voltage VO2 produced from the boosted voltage output VO1 is higher than the reference voltage VR1, the transfer gate TG2 is turned off. When the voltage detection signal xcfx861 becomes a low potential level, that is, when the transfer gate TG2 is turned off, the latch circuit 3 latches the clock signal xcfx862 of the clock oscillator circuit 2a just before turning off of the transfer gate TG2, by using the clocked inverters I15 and I16.
In the charge pump circuit 4a, the clock signal xcfx862 from the clock oscillator circuit 2a latched by the latch circuit 3 is converted into a pair of internal clock signals xcfx863 and xcfx864 which are complementary to each other, by inverters I7, I8 and I9. These internal clock signals xcfx863 and xcfx864 charge capacitance elements C1 and C2, respectively, and produce the boosted voltage output VO1. In the charge pump circuit 4a, the internal clock signals xcfx863 and xcfx864 have the phases which are inverted from each other, and the charge pump circuit 4a constitutes a complementary type circuit. MOS transistors Q2-Q5 constitute a circuit which functions as a buffer for delivering charged voltages of the capacitors C1 and C2 into the boosted voltage output VO1.
An explanation will now be made on an operation of the above-mentioned voltage conversion circuit. When a load circuit, for example, an operational amplifier, not shown in the drawing, is coupled to the line of the boosted output voltage VO1 and consumes an electric power, the boosted output voltage VO1 decreases, so that the divided voltage VO2 becomes lower than the reference voltage VR1. In such case, the voltage detection signal xcfx861 becomes logically high potential level, and the clock oscillator circuit 2a performs an oscillation operation and produces the clock signal xcfx862. When the clock signal xcfx862 is produced, the charge pump circuit 4a operates in a complementary manner and performs a voltage boost operation to produce the boosted output voltage VO1 which is supplied to the output terminal.
When the voltage VO1 at the output terminal raises and the divided voltage VO2 becomes higher than the reference voltage VR1, the voltage detection signal xcfx861 of the voltage detector circuit 1 becomes logically low, and the clock oscillator circuit 2a stops oscillation and, thereby, a voltage boosting operation of the charge pump circuit 4a is also stopped. As a result thereof, the rise of the boosted output voltage VO1 of the charge pump circuit 4a ceases. That is, the output voltage VO1 is maintained at a high potential level determined based on the reference voltage VR1, with a certain range of voltage variation centered around the high potential level (the width of this variation is called a ripple voltage).
Usually, it is desirable that the ripple voltage of the boosted output voltage VO1 is as small as possible. As one of the conventional methods of reducing the ripple voltage, when the divided voltage VO2 obtained by dividing the boosted output voltage VO1 becomes higher than the reference voltage VR1 and the voltage detection signal xcfx861 becomes low, operation of the charge pump circuit 4a is stopped as soon as possible. Also, when the divided voltage VO2 obtained by dividing the boosted output voltage VO1 becomes lower than the reference voltage VR1 due to the power consumption of the load circuit and the like and the voltage detection signal xcfx861 becomes high, operation of the charge pump circuit 4a is resumed as soon as possible. Thereby, the ripple voltage of the boosted output voltage VO1 is suppressed to a small value.
However, the above-mentioned conventional voltage conversion circuit has the following problems.
As the first problem, in the conventional voltage conversion circuit, the complementary type charge pump circuit is used and, therefore, two capacitors are required. Also, in order to suppress the ripple voltage, it is necessary to use elements each having large capacitance value. Therefore, number and volume of parts required in the charge pump circuit become large. Especially, the sizes of such capacitors are too large to incorporate into a semiconductor substrate, and usually such capacitors are provided as discrete parts disposed outside a semiconductor integrated circuit. Thus, when a voltage conversion circuit having a complementary type charge pump circuit is to be constituted, number of parts provided outside the semiconductor integrated circuit increases, and costs of the voltage conversion circuit also becomes large.
As the second problem, in case a non-complementary type charge pump circuit is used in place of the complementary type charge pump circuit, a magnitude of a ripple voltage becomes approximately twice as large as that of the complementary type charge pump circuit. The reason for this is as follows. When an operation of the clock oscillator circuit is to be halted, the clock signal just before halting the operation is latched. Therefore, when the next oscillation operation is restarted, the non-complementary type charge pump circuit does not always start operation from a voltage boosting operation.
As the third problem, since the potential level of the reference voltage is determined based on the power supply voltage, the potential level of the reference voltage may vary depending on variations of the potential level of the power supply voltage, and variations of the potential level of the reference voltage directly appear at the output terminal as variations of the boosted output voltage.
As the fourth problem, in the conventional voltage conversion circuit, it is always necessary to build the clock oscillator circuit into the semiconductor substrate and, therefore, the conventional voltage conversion circuit has disadvantages in a chip area, precision of a clock signal frequency, power consumption and the like. This is because, in the conventional voltage conversion circuit, when the potential level of the boosted output voltage reaches a predetermined potential level, an input or output node of the clock oscillator circuit is clamped to a low potential level or a high potential level to avoid a potential floating condition of each node of the clock oscillator circuit.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to obviate the disadvantages of the conventional voltage conversion circuit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a voltage conversion circuit in which the number of parts can be decreased.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a voltage conversion circuit in which the magnitude of a ripple voltage can be reduced.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a voltage conversion circuit in which variations of a potential level of a reference voltage does not appear at an output terminal as variations of a boosted output voltage.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a voltage conversion circuit in which it is possible to reduce ripple voltage components, even without building a clock oscillator circuit into a semiconductor substrate.
A voltage conversion circuit according to the present invention basically comprises: a detector means for detecting whether a boosted output voltage is larger or smaller than a predetermined reference voltage; a clock generating means for producing a second clock signal based on the result of detection by the detector means and on a first clock signal; a charge-pump type voltage conversion means which produces the boosted output voltage in response to the second clock signal; and a transfer means which allows or inhibits transfer of the second clock signal that is an output of the clock generating means to the voltage conversion means depending on the result of voltage detection by the detection means.
Also, in the present invention, when the condition of the transfer means is changed from the inhibited condition to the allowed condition based on the second clock signal outputted from the clock generating means, an operation of the voltage conversion means starts from a voltage boost sequence.
Further, in the present invention, it is not always necessary that the first clock signal is generated from the clock oscillator circuit on a semiconductor substrate, but it may be supplied from outside of the semiconductor substrate. Also, the second clock signal is obtained by dividing the first clock signal by using a divider circuit.
In an operation of such voltage conversion circuit, there is used a transfer circuit which is disposed between the clock generating circuit and the charge pump circuit and which is on-off controlled depending on the result of detection by the voltage detector circuit. Thereby, on and off of the operation of the charge pump circuit is controlled immediately in response to the result of voltage detection.
Especially, when the voltage detector circuit detects that the boosted output voltage is higher than a predetermined reference voltage, the transfer circuit is immediately turned off and prevents the second clock signal outputted from the clock generating circuit from being transferred to the charge pump circuit. Also, when the voltage detector circuit detects that the boosted output voltage is lower than the predetermined reference voltage, the transfer circuit is immediately turned on and transfers the second clock signal outputted from the clock generating circuit to the charge pump circuit.
The second clock signal transferred to the charge pump circuit is produced by dividing the first clock signal supplied from an oscillator circuit, which is arranged on a semiconductor substrate or outside of the semiconductor substrate, by using a divider circuit. In this case, when the voltage detector circuit detects that the boosted output voltage is higher than the predetermined reference voltage, the divider circuit becomes a reset condition. When the voltage detector circuit detects that the boosted output voltage is lower than the predetermined reference voltage, the divider circuit immediately starts a dividing operation of the first clock signal. Thereby, the timing of the second clock signal is controlled such that the charge pump circuit always starts operation from the voltage boost sequence.
Additionally, the reference voltage of the voltage detector circuit is determined based on an output of a reference voltage supply circuit which is less dependent on a power supply voltage and a temperature. Thereby, the variation of the output voltage caused by the variation of the reference voltage can be reduced.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a voltage conversion circuit comprising: a voltage detector means which detects whether a boosted output voltage of the voltage conversion circuit is larger or smaller than a predetermined reference voltage; a clock generating means which generates a clock signal based on the result of detection by the voltage detector means; a charge-pump type voltage conversion means which produces the boosted output voltage in response to the clock signal; and a transfer control means which allows or inhibits transfer of the clock signal to the voltage conversion means depending on the result of detection by the voltage detector means; wherein, when the condition of the transfer control means is changed from the inhibited condition to the allowed condition based on the clock signal outputted from the clock generating means, an operation of the voltage conversion means starts from a voltage boost sequence.
In this case, it is preferable that the transfer control means comprises a logic gate which receives the clock signal and a voltage detection signal showing the result of detection of the voltage detector means.
It is also preferable that the logic gate is an OR gate.
It is further preferable that the clock generating means comprises a divider circuit which divides an input clock signal supplied thereto and which is resettable based on the voltage detection signal from the voltage detector circuit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a voltage conversion circuit comprising: a voltage detector circuit which detects whether a boosted output voltage of the voltage conversion circuit is larger or smaller than a predetermined reference voltage and which outputs a voltage detection signal depending on the result of detection; a clock oscillator circuit which has a divider circuit for dividing a first clock signal inputted thereto to generate a second clock signal and which has a reset circuit for resetting the divider circuit based on the voltage detection signal from the voltage detector circuit; a logic gate which perform logical operation of the second clock signal from the clock oscillator circuit and the voltage detection signal from the voltage detector circuit; and a charge-pump circuit which comprises a capacitor and switch circuit for charging the capacitor based on an output of the logic gate and which produces the boosted output voltage;
In this case, it is preferable that, when the boosted output voltage of the voltage conversion circuit becomes larger than the predetermined reference voltage, the charge pump circuit starts operation from a voltage boost sequence.
It is also preferable that the logic gate is an OR gate.
It is further preferable that the first clock signal is supplied by a clock supply circuit comprising an odd number of inverters coupled to form a ring oscillator and a buffer circuit coupled to the output of the ring oscillator.
It is advantageous that the divider circuit comprises a plurality of tandem coupled flip-flops which count the first clock signal to generate the second clock signal and which are resettable by the reset circuit.
It is also advantageous that the reset circuit resets the divider circuit based on an external reset signal or on the voltage detection signal from the voltage detector circuit.
It is further advantageous that the charge pump circuit is a non-complementary type charge pump circuit.
It is preferable that the voltage detector circuit comprises a comparator and a voltage divider circuit, the comparator receiving a divided voltage from the voltage divider circuit and a reference voltage supplied by a bandgap reference circuit.
It is also preferable that the voltage detector circuit comprises a comparator, an operational amplifier and a voltage divider circuit for dividing an output signal of the operational amplifier and supplying a divided voltage from the voltage divider circuit to an input of the comparator, the comparator and the operational amplifier receiving reference voltages each supplied by a bandgap reference circuit.
It is further preferable that the first clock signal is supplied to the clock oscillator circuit by a clock supply circuit disposed outside of a semiconductor integrated circuit including at least a portion of the voltage conversion circuit.
It is advantageous that the first clock signal is supplied to the clock oscillator circuit by a clock supply circuit integrated on a semiconductor substrate including at least a portion of the voltage conversion circuit.

Charge pump type voltage conversion circuit having small ripple voltage components


A collar flexibly movable between a first shape defining an opening for receiving one end of a cup and a second shape where the collar is substantially flat. A handle is flexibly connected to the collar. Tension members attach to the handle and collar on opposite sides of the handle to provide two opposing forces which prevent the handle from moving with respect to the collar.

Hot beverage containers have been historically constructed from two materials: polystyrene and wax-coated paper. They both have been well received by fast food industry and its consumers. Wax-coated paper products are becoming more popular in hot beverage industry due to its environmental-friendly properties: they are recyclable and they easily degrade on landfills. Wax-coated paper products, however, have very low insulation qualities.
Polystyrene is not easily recyclable nor biodegradable. It does not degrade easily by the exposure to the environment. It has to be disposed of in sanitary landfills, which are expensive to use. Polystyrene can be also incinerated. That method, however, creates many other environmental problems due to the toxic fumes the material emits during burning. Polystyrene however has excellent insulating properties.
People prefer drinking hot beverages from a mug with a handle. They do not enjoy drinking hot beverages from a glass (or a paper-cup) due to the burning sensation it creates in the hands, especially with a poorly insulated cup.

Beverage container holder and method of forming


Apparatus and method for the simultaneous administration of pressurized oxygen, a nebulized mist of bronchodilator, and an additional liquid medicant into the trachea and lungs of a patient exhibiting little or no respitory function. The oxygen is fed through a tube from a manually operable resuscitator such as an Ambu-Bag. The nebulized bronchodilator is fed from a conventional nebulizer into the tube carrying oxygen from the resuscitator. The additional liquid medicant is fed from the needle of a pre-filled syringe containing the liquid medicant directly into the tube carrying pressurized oxygen and the mist of nebulized bronchodilator. The tube carrying the oxygen, the bronchodilator and the additional liquid medicant is connected to the upper end of an endotracheal tube which terminates in the patient's trachea.

The administration of oxygen into the lungs has long been used for the treatment of low respitory function resulting from such conditions as asthma, croup, pneumonia, mucus accumulation, pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure and coronary thrombosis. In practice, the oxygen under pressure was fed to the upper end of an endotracheal tube extending from the patient's mouth down into the trachea.
More recently, it has been found helpful to introduce various medicants into the trachea and the lungs through the endotracheal tube to moisten tissue, thin accumulated mucus or otherwise stabilize the patient despite the danger of interrupting the administration of oxygen while one or more medicants was moved down the endotracheal tube and into the trachea and lungs.
Thus there was a need for apparatus that would permit the simultaneous administration of oxygen and one or more medicants into the lungs of a patient with little or no respitory function.
This need was particularly acute in emergency situations such as in ambulances transporting a patient who exhibits low respitory function. Emergency personnel are trained to insert an endotracheal tube connected to an Ambu-Bag which when manually manipulated forces oxygen down the endotracheal tube into the lungs. But, for example, if the emergency personnel realize breathing is impeded by an accumulation of mucus, they have the life threatening choice of interrupting the flow of oxygen in order to inject a medicant capable of breaking up the mucus in the lungs.

Apparatus and method for treating the lungs


A vibration dampener adapts to different speeds of rotation. The device comprises a drive collar (1) and several inertial masses (2). The collar rotates around a central axis (3) and the inertial masses pivot around peripheral axes along the direction of rotation. Each inertial mass is secured to the collar by two bolts (5). The bolts, which extend parallel the central axis, are distributed around the circumference of the collar, and roll back and forth along arcs (6). The arcs are concave toward the central axis in the vicinity of the collar and concave in the opposite direction in the vicinity of the inertial masses. The bolts extend through a guide (7) toward the sides facing away from the associated arcs.

The present invention concerns a vibration dampener that adapts to different speeds of rotation. The device comprises a hub or "drive collar" and several inertial masses. The drive collar rotates around a central axis and the inertial masses pivot about peripheral axes in the direction of rotation. Each inertial mass is secured to the collar by two bolts. The bolts are parallel to the central axis and are distributed around the circumference of the collar. The bolts roll back and forth along arcs. The arcs are concave toward the central axis in the vicinity of the collar and concave in the opposite direction in the vicinity of the inertial masses.
A vibration dampener of this type is known from the British Patent No. 598 811. In this device the arcs consist of sections of bore walls. The bores are considerably wider than the bolts. In the event of vibration, the bolts roll over the walls, continuously varying the distance between each inertial mass and the central axis during the course of each individual vibration. Since the frequencies inherent in such a vibration dampener are proportional to the speed of rotation, vibrations with frequencies that are also proportional thereto can be eliminated over the whole range of speeds. All cyclically operating machinery, motor vehicle internal combustion engines for example, exhibit such speed proportional frequencies.
The bolts and arcs in this known speed-adaptive vibration dampener are forced toward each other as long as the shaft turns. The inertial masses all revolve around, and are located as far from the central axis as possible as long as the shaft continues to rotate at a constant speed. This state is disrupted, however, when the shaft stops rotating. All of the components then shift, subject to gravity, as far downward toward the earth's center as possible. The inertial masses and bolts distributed around the device will accordingly differ in distance from the central axis.
When speed-adaptive vibration dampeners stop rotating, the transition from motion to rest is unpleasantly apparent when the inertial masses on the other side of the shaft from the earth's center plummet suddenly downward and the bolts collide against whatever section of the metal bore wall confronts them. The result is a loud clang. A similar phenomenon (and noise) accompanies the transition from rest to motion.


A method for immobilizing waste chlorides salts containing radionuclides and hazardous nuclear material for permanent disposal, and in particular, a method for immobilizing waste chloride salts containing cesium, in a synthetic form of pollucite. The method for synthesizing pollucite from chabazite and cesium chloride includes mixing dry, non-aqueous cesium chloride with chabazite and heating the mixture to a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the cesium chloride, or above about 700.degree. C. The method further comprises significantly improving the rate of retention of cesium in ceramic products comprised of a salt-loaded zeolite by adding about 10% chabazite by weight to the salt-loaded zeolite prior to conversion at elevated temperatures and pressures to the ceramic composite.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for immobilizing waste chlorides salts containing radionuclides and hazardous nuclear material for permanent disposal, and, in particular, a method for immobilizing waste chloride salts containing cesium, in a synthetic form of pollucite.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrorefining methods involving electrochemical cells are used for the recovery of fissionable materials from spent nuclear reactor fuels, including uranium and plutonium. Typically, in an electrorefining cell, an electrolyte consisting of a molten eutectic salt mixture, such as KCl and LiCl, is used to transport the metal or metals to be purified between electrode solutions. When used to treat spent nuclear reactor fuels, the salt mixture becomes contaminated with radionuclides (e.g., .sup.-137 cesium and .sup.-90 strontium), hazardous materials (e.g., barium), and other species (e.g., sodium and .sup.-129 iodine). Eventually, the salt mixtures are no longer suitable for use in the electrorefining cell.
Since the separation of cesium and strontium from the salt is difficult, the cesium and strontium, and any other radionuclides and toxic metal chlorides and iodides, are disposed along with a portion of the salt matrix. The waste salt containing the cesium and strontium is a high level waste (HLW) which must be deposited in an HLW geologic repository. To prevent an uncontrolled release of the radionuclides and other hazardous chemicals into the groundwater, the waste form must be leach resistant. Due to the very high water solubility of the waste salts, a method for encapsulating and immobilizing the waste salt is required.
The high solubility and volatility of cesium, in particular, has caused difficulties in the identification and preparation of suitable waste forms which would immobilize cesium for the necessary, extended storage time. For example, incorporation of cesium into traditional solid waste forms, including borosilicate glass, synroc, cement, or ceramics, is ineffective due to the relatively high leach rates resulting from the inherently high solubility of cesium and difficulties during processing requiring additional steps. For example, immobilizing cesium in a glass matrix involves converting the waste chloride salts into oxides or other chemical forms compatible with the glass-making process. These conversion processes are expensive and time-consuming, and restructuring the materials to form the glass requires temperatures of about 1000.degree. C., which increases the risk of volatilizing the cesium.
Ion-exchangers are an important class of materials used for the immobilization of cesium in salt solutions and molten salts. Certain cation exchange resins and various cation exchangers, such as naturally occurring and synthetic zeolites (tectosilicate mineral), are available for selectively recovering cesium from contaminated solutions. For example, zeolite matrices, including zeolite A, zeolite X, and chabazite, have been used to immobilize waste chloride salts containing cesium because of their sorption and ion exchange properties. U.S. Statutory Invention Registration H1227 discloses contacting molten waste chloride salt containing cesium with dehydrated zeolite A and maintaining the contact to allow the salt to penetrate the zeolite cavities. The salt is occluded in the zeolite and the cesium in the non-occluded salt is sorbed by ion-exchanging with the cations in the zeolite or the occluded salt, resulting in a leach resistant aluminosilicate matrix, wherein the cesium ions are present as either aluminosilicates or as occluded salt molecules. U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,318 further describes the use of a hydrated sodium phlogopite mica (phyllosilicate mineral) to recover cesium ions from waste solutions, whereby the cesium is selectively absorbed by the modified phlogopite and fixed for long-term storage.
Although methods for immobilizing cesium using ion-exchange materials can effectively purify the salt, the non-occluded surface salt must be removed from the ion-exchanger before it can be stored. In addition, if the cesium is in the form of dry, solid cesium chloride, the cesium chloride must first be dissolved in solution before being ion exchanged into a zeolite. Impurities in the solution, such as the presence of competing sodium and/or potassium ions, may also decrease the zeolite capacity for cesium. Problems are encountered in making dense, leach-resistant waste forms directly from the salt-occluded waste product, and further steps are generally required to immobilize the cesium in the ion-exchange matrix, including calcination at high temperatures or incorporation of either the cesium ions eluted from the zeolite or the zeolite containing the cesium ions into a storage medium, such as glass or cement.
A preferred method of disposing of radionuclides is by encapsulation in specific crystalline, mineral waste forms, such as sodalite and pollucite, because of their refractory properties and high resistance against leaching. Generally, these methods include mixing the radioactive ions with inorganic materials and applying heat and/or pressure to form the synthetic mineral. U.S. Pat No. 5,340,506 discloses forming a sodalite intermediate from alumina, silica, and sodium hydroxide, and mixing the sodalite intermediate with either waste salt or waste salt which has been contacted with zeolite to concentrate the radionuclides. The mixture is compacted under heat and pressure conditions to form sodalite, whereby the waste salt and radionuclides are trapped within the sodalite cage structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,240 further discloses a method for producing sodalite from salt occluded zeolites by the use of heat or heat and pressure in the presence of glass. The method involves heating substantially dry zeolite, waste chloride salts, and glass to a temperature up to about 725.degree. C. to convert the zeolite to sodalite, and thereafter maintaining the sodalite at a pressure and temperature sufficient to form a sodalite product.
Pollucite (CsAlSi.sub.2 O.sub.6), a naturally occurring aluminosilicate containing cesium, is known to be one of the best crystalline waste forms for the containment of radioactive cesium, and, therefore, is a component of several mineral-based nuclear waste forms, such as synroc. Pollucite has a high loading of cesium, high thermal stability, and a high resistance to leaching.
Synthetic pollucite has been produced for immobilizing radioactive ions by aqueous hydrothermal processes and high temperature synthesis, both involving an ion exchange step. Hydrothermal transformation and recrystallization of zeolites, specifically zeolite A, zeolite X, and zeolite Y, which have been loaded with cesium in an ion exchange step, occurs in the presence of water vapor at temperatures and pressures between about 260.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. and 10 to 30 MPa, respectively. However, cesium loaded chabazite subjected to hydrothermal processes reportedly results in the formation of zeolite and not a new mineral phase, such as pollucite. Pollucite has also been produced by the hydrothermal reaction of cesium with siliceous sinter in a sodium hydroxide solution. High temperature synthesis involves subjecting ion-exchanged and cesium loaded zeolite to calcination at temperatures of about 1,200.degree. C. to produce synthetic pollucite. Dense waste forms are further produced by calcination followed by sintering or by hot pressing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,420 discloses a new material: cesium titanium silicate pollucite (CsTiSi.sub.2 O.sub.6.5 or Cs.sub.2 Ti.sub.2 Si.sub.4 O.sub.13), which represents a new class of crystalline phase of Ti-containing zeolites, wherein the cages formed within the compound trap the cesium ions. The method of making the silicotitanate pollucite involves a one-step, direct thermal conversion at low temperatures (700.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C.), which minimizes the risk of volatilizing the cesium and reduces waste volumes. The cesium titanium silicate materials are made by selecting and combining proportions of cesium, silica, and titania, and heat treating the mixture. The components can be combined either by mixing oxides or carbonates of cesium, titanium, and silicon, or by synthesizing and hydrolyzing precursor materials. The resulting compounds are durable glass and ceramic materials, exhibiting low leach rates.
Problems associated with the current methods of synthesizing pollucite are high temperature requirements, which may cause volatilization and loss of the cesium, numerous process steps that increase the cost of immobilizing the cesium, and insufficient leach resistance of the storage material. In addition, cesium titanium silicate pollucite is thermally unstable and difficult to produce on a large scale.
A need exists for a method for immobilizing cesium for long term storage by incorporating the cesium into synthetic pollucite which overcomes the problems experienced in the prior art.
The present method is a simple, one step conversion process for synthesizing pollucite that eliminates the need for aqueous ion exchange and/or hydrothermal synthesis at elevated temperatures and pressures. This reduces the number of waste streams. Since the solid cesium chloride is converted to pollucite without the need to dissolve the cesium chloride in solution to perform an ion exchange step, this method can be used in conjunction with other dry processing technologies, such as pyroprocessing.
The present method for synthesizing pollucite includes mixing dry, non-aqueous cesium chloride with chabazite and heating the mixture to a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the cesium chloride (approximately 680.degree. C.), or above about 700.degree. C. The unexpected and surprising result is that pollucite forms in the presence of the chloride ion. In particular, the chloride appears to remain in the structure of the pollucite, apparently occluded as sodium chloride. The method significantly improves the rate of retention of cesium in ceramic products comprised of a salt-loaded zeolite by adding about 10% chabazite by weight to the salt-loaded zeolite prior to conversion at elevated temperatures and pressures to the ceramic composite.
Therefore, in view of the above, a basic object of the present invention is to provide a simpler method for immobilizing radioactive cesium for long term storage.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method for immobilizing radioactive cesium eliminating the need for hydrothermal synthesis which involves an aqueous ion exchange step for isolation of the cesium ion. In addition, the method is practiced at low temperatures, reducing the risk of loss of cesium.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method for immobilizing radioactive cesium by mixing non-aqueous cesium chloride with chabazite and heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to form pollucite.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method for immobilizing radioactive cesium in a glass product including mixing non-aqueous cesium chloride with chabazite, heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to form pollucite, cooling the pollucite, and heating the pollucite with glass to a temperature sufficient to form a glass pollucite product.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method for immobilizing radioactive cesium which includes mixing a predetermined amount of chabazite with cesium chloride and zeolite A to form a mixture of aluminosilicates, including pollucite.
Yet another object of the invention is to significantly improve the rate of retention of cesium in ceramic products comprised of a salt-loaded zeolite by adding about 10% chabazite by weight to the salt-loaded zeolite prior to its conversion at elevated temperatures and pressures to the ceramic composite.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of instrumentation and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Method for synthesizing pollucite from chabazite and cesium chloride

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


The present invention relates generally to the field of cosmetic powder containers and dispensers and particularly to a cosmetic powder dispenser with rotatable dispensing mechanism. The present invention is particularly easy to use and cost effective by allowing the consumer to dispense only the desired amount of the cosmetic powder by providing a rotating dispensing mechanism, and at the same time allow the consumer to apply the cosmetic evenly to the brush head by providing an application surface to manipulate the cosmetic brush evenly onto the brush head. Furthermore, the rotating dispenser of the present invention, includes and open and closed position as to safeguard the loose powder in the container from spilling out by accident or during use or travel.

A variety of cosmetic powder containers and dispensers are available on the market. Cosmetic powders are generally applied to the face by way of a variety of different types of brushes. To apply the cosmetic powder to the face, the cosmetic powder must first be applied to the brush and then applied to the face in a desired location and manner. Many of the available cosmetic powder container are simply a container for the cosmetic powder with a lid, which leaves the consumer with the task of figuring out how to apply the desired amount of cosmetic powder to the brush and then to the face. Cosmetics are generally expensive, and much of the powder can be wasted if too large of an amount of the powder is applied to the brush. A major difficulty with application of cosmetic powder to the face from a simple container is that a brush is usually dipped into the cosmetic powder and then applied to the face. There is usually little that can be done to even out the cosmetic powder on the brush head. Because dipping the brush head into the powder causes a varying amount of cosmetic powder to be picked up by different regions of the brush head, the application of the cosmetic powder may be uneven, especially if too large of an amount of the cosmetic powder was picked up by the brush head.
Many of the available cosmetic containers and dispensers suffer from the problems discussed above. While there has been a trend to produce more effective and cost saving cosmetic powder containers and dispensers, further improvements in effectiveness and ease of use for of the cosmetic powder container and dispenser is desirable, and the present invention addresses the existing problems and provides related solutions and benefits.

Cosmetic powder container with rotating dispensing mechanism


A back cushioning device is configured for pressure redistribution each of a cervical region, a thoracic region, a lumbar region, a sacral region, and a coccyx region of a spine of an individual with a medical condition or deformity. The back cushioning device includes a cushioning support matrix with a first end configured to be disposed adjacent to the cervical region of the individual and a tapered second end configured to be disposed adjacent to the coccyx region of the individual. A vertical channel is formed along a length of the cushioning support matrix. The vertical channel is spaced apart from the first end and extends to the second end of the cushioning support matrix. The vertical channel is configured to receive the spine of the individual. A horizontal channel is formed along a width of the cushioning support matrix, the horizontal channel is perpendicular to the vertical channel.

The spine of the human anatomy is made up of 33 uniquely individualized bones, comprised of 5 regions. The regions are the cervical (7), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacral (5) and coccygeal (4), stacked one on top of the other (Textbook of Surgery, Third Edition-Edited by H. Fred Moseley, M.A., D.M., M.Ch. (Oxon), F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S (Eng.) F.R.C.S. (C)) said the spinal column provides the main support for your body, allowing you to stand upright, bend, and twist, while protecting the spinal cord from injury. Strong muscles and bones, flexible ligaments and tendons, and sensitive nerves contribute to a healthy spine. However, any of these structures that are affected by strain, injury or disease can cause pain. When a healthy spine is viewed from the side in an adult it has a natural slight concave curve, the thoracic and sacral regions have a gentle convex curve. In a human with an abnormal shaped spine, i.e. abnormal curve of the upper spine which is known as a medical condition called thoracic spine kyphosis or in layman terms "hunchback". Upon viewing a kyphotic human, the front of the thoracic spine is crushed, that segment of the spine tips forward, resulting in an excessive kyphotic curve and forward stooped posture. Treatment typically will address the underlying osteoporosis (to prevent future fractures) as well as pain reduction and possibly surgical repair. The upper back, or thoracic region of the spine, is meant to have only a slight natural curve. The spine is a bony prominence in itself. In a very kyphotic condition or a very sharp protruding curve to the spine it is evident you can visually see the curved arched back and many disks with a very thin layer of tissue covering the bony prominence of the spine. At risk also for a kyphotic condition are post-menopausal females as they age. Gravity over time and as we age places force on the entire spine thus the spine becomes weakened and will curve and protrude even further putting great pressure on each disk and the bony prominence's causing them to protrude. Bony prominences are any bony protrusion such as the occipital bones on the back of the head, hips, knees, ischial tuberosities which are your sitter bones, or the spine which is what totally supports our entire human skeletal frame. With prolonged pressure or gradients on the tissue of the skeletal frame of our body it may become uncomfortable and may be painful due to this prolonged pressure. Pressure gradients are where one's blood vessels, muscle, subcutaneous fat and skin are compressed between bone and a lying or sitting surface, pressure is transmitted from the body surface toward the bone. The external surface produces pressure and the bone produces counter pressure. These said opposing forces result in a cone-shaped pressure gradient (Pressure Ulcers-Guidelines for Prevention and Nursing Management, Second Edition). All of the tissue between the external surface and the skeletal anatomy is involved. The brain may or may not send a signal of discomfort to the skeletal muscles calling for movement. In most healthy humans, this message would require them to move and cause blood flow, nutrients and oxygen back into the spine and the bony prominences; however, with many patients or persons who are medically compromised the signal never gets through thus causing a vast amount of pressure on the spine and each bony prominence. Without addressing this condition and left unattended the prolonged pressure on the soft tissue will cause decreased oxygenation, nutrition and blood flow thus leading to hypoxia eventually leading to necrotic tissue and causing a decubitus ulcer i.e. pressure injury (Pressure Ulcer Treatment, Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians, Number 15—AHRQ and NPUAP Guidelines).
Prolonged pressure has a profound effect on the soft tissues. All of the tissue between the external surface and the skeletal anatomy is involved. However, the greatest tissue destruction is beneath the skin surface at the bony interface. If left undisturbed this decreased circulation to the area can drive the oxygen tension of the region into a state of hypoxia and eventually necrosis. The necrotic area can then rupture into a wound that begins inside the body and erodes to the outside. These are often referred to as "pressure injuries" (NPUAP, AHRQ Guidelines National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel). If left untreated a Stage IV (NPUAP, AHRQ) pressure injury can in some cases lead to death with a condition known as osteomyelitis.
Healthy individuals are rarely affected with pressure ulcers because they have the feeling and sensation to move and reposition. In a kyphotic, paraplegic, post-surgical stenous surgery patient they may have limited mobility, insufficient oral nutrition, low hemoglobin levels, low MAP (Ostomy Wound Management, February 2018, Vol. 64, Issue 2) and at risk for a pressure injury. In any of these cases the bony prominence of the spine must be off loaded properly with true pressure relief and to maintain that no further pressure is put on the bony prominences of the spine thus causing a pressure injury.
In the medically compromised individual who is admitted into a hospital or long-term care setting and is absolutely immobile or cannot turn themselves the government has set forth the NPUAP, AHRQ guidelines that nursing students are educated during their schooling on how important the turning cycle of a physically compromised patient/person can be with pressure on the bony prominences and the severe outcome of a pressure injury if these guidelines are not followed.
Offloading is a medical necessity to prevent pressure ulcer formation. The repositioning of the body is effective for many patients but for some patients repositioning is not an option. Patients/persons in the end stage of life, traction patients, burn patients or patients/persons that are confined to being immobile. Although regular scheduled repositioning may not be an option, many patients are susceptible to the formation of pressure injuries. Protecting patients/persons from the development of pressure injuries involves monitoring pressure points and making sure persistent pressure contact on bony prominences does not occur by providing pressure redistribution and true pressure relief. This may be done by moving the patient/person to reposition body weight on another part of the body at regular time schedules based on the NPUAP and AHRQ guidelines (Pressure Ulcer Treatment, Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians, Number 15—AHRQ and NPUAP Guidelines). For example, the bony prominence of the trochanter i.e. (hip), ischial tuberosity's (sitter bones) or spine may be a point where a pressure injury may develop. By repositioning on a regular basis, one can often times be successful in preventing tissue hypoxia from occurring.
Studies indicate that comprehensive prevention programs are effective in reducing incidence rates and can be cost effective. Thus, prevention is crucial to reduce overall health costs (AHRQ, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Hospitals, a Toolkit for Improving Quality of Care). In the U.S. 2.5 million patients develop pressure ulcers each year. Pressure ulcers cost $9.1-11.6 billion per year to the US health care system. The cost of individual patient care ranges from $20,900 to 151,700 per pressure ulcer. Medicare estimated in 2007 that each pressure ulcer added $43,180 in costs to a hospital stay. More than 17,000 lawsuits are related to pressure ulcers annually. It is the second most common claim after wrongful death and greater than falls or emotional distress (Goebel et al, Clinical Practice Guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention can prevent lawsuits in older patients. JWOCN). In a study of the impact of compliance on medical malpractice awards: 35 Plaintiffs were awarded $14,418,770. Had health care defendants followed guidelines $11,389,989 might have been saved in 20 lawsuits in addition to the plaintiffs pain and suffering from resulting pressure injuries/ulcers.
Turning a patient/person or offloading a pressure point is simplistic in concept but can be problematic in making sure that the patient/person remains in the desired position. Nursing care often use pillows or blankets rolled in such a way to "pack" in around the patient/person to assist in maintaining the desired position. Whilst these approaches have some utility they are not always useful for offloading the weight. In fact, in some cases pillows and blankets packed too tightly lead to the very complication that they were intended to alleviate. To better serve the patients'/persons' needs and to facilitate offloading of pressure more uniformly, products such as the Global Medical Foam, Inc. (Langer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,388) positioning devices have been developed. These devices are cushioning for the body region and have unique designs that ensures a more even distribution of weight over the device. The devices are constructed of polyurethane foam with a solid foam core for rigidity surrounded by a softer foam layer uniquely cut so that it projects foam fingers outwardly from the core. The fingers compress and bend in such a way that the pressure loading is very evenly distributed over a much larger area of the body and the core center is intended to support the body weight. Moreover, because of the unique finger projects they can be wedged in place to very adequately and comfortably support patients/persons in an offload position and in some cases can decrease the frequency for skilled nursing to assist in repositioning.
There are many examples of devices that have design features and material choices for aiding in the offloading of areas of the anatomy. Synthetic and natural rubberized materials are commonly used for this purpose primarily because they are generally soft to the touch and naturally provide some cushioning. Open and closed cell foams such as those formed of polyurethane are commonly used. Other foams are composed of natural latex or polyvinyl materials. Collectively these are elastomeric foams. All foams can be evaluated and given an RMA Value (Rubber Manufacturers of America) which relates to the cushioning or softness of the foam. Ideally the foam of choice is one that is constructed of sufficient elasticity, flexibility, conformability and etc. so that it distributes weight but does not bottom out when it is used to support the anatomy. In most cases the combination of device design and the cushioning index of the material used in its construction combine to provide some utility of design.
Several other inventors have proposed improvements over the solid back support of a cushion or device. In one such improvement Turner (Turner et al, U.S. Pat. No. 10,052,223 B2) describing a garment worn on the upper body provided with a back-support system that can be selectively actuated as needed. However, while providing good offloading capabilities, this invention is only providing pressure relief to the lower back or lordosis area. It does not allow for versatility of offloading the entire spine. Offloading is in a fixed location only and very limited. White (White et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,459 was a similar concept of offloading the spine, this invention has only been able to provide offloading in the thoracic area and as it is a fixed back attached to a wheelchair, this then becomes limited to not only the thoracic area but also to the size and height of a person's anatomical anatomy.
All of these inventions substantially improved the ability to offload limited designated areas of the spine. However, these devices do address pressure relief but neither have addressed pressure redistribution of blood flow and capillary refill time based on NPUAP guidelines of 14,15 (Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians, Number 15-Pressure Ulcer Treatment). 22 mmHG at the arteriolar end and 12 mmHG at the venous end. In providing true pressure relief with the current invention on the market they do not address the entire spine. They address either thoracic or lordosis (White et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,459 and Turner et al, U.S. Pat. No. 10,052,223 B2) In addition, current products on the market have a design of a large square box opening that can cause demarcation and breakdown of tissue in the scapula area. These devices address the need for managing to offload only certain areas of the spine. Neither can offload the complete spine and offer true pressure relief and pressure redistribution. There has been a need for a product that will completely offload the entire spine, but will provide good pressure redistribution of the rest of the back area. The ideal device would not be a fixed stationary device, it would meet the AHRQ and NPUAP guidelines to provide true pressure relief for the entire spine—cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal area. It would be tapered at the bottom and to not make the patient/person feel as if they are being pushed forward and falling out of their chair/seat. This device would be universal as to where the device could be used as in a seat, wheelchair, airplane, train in the sitting position and it also would be devised so that a person could use it in the supine, i.e. lying down position as in a bed, on a couch, surgery and/or x-ray table, etc. The ideal device would incorporate all these requirements that are mandated by healthcare facilities regarding pressure relief, pressure redistribution and at the same time addressing the comfort need of an individual. This device would meet the AHRQ/NPUAP guidelines for addressing pressure offloading and pressure relief for prevention and treatment of pressure injuries. It will meet the needs of post spine surgery procedures while offloading properly. It would also be offered in a standard size but could be manufactured in sizes for bariatric patients/persons as in most chair sizes are larger after a standard 250 lb. weight capacity.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide configurations for testing arrangements for testing multi-lane active cables. In one embodiment, a testing arrangement may comprise a testing module comprising a pattern generator to be coupled with an active cable having a plurality of lanes to generate a test pattern to be transmitted over the active cable, wherein the test pattern is to be transmitted at least over two or more lanes of the active cable that are concatenated, and a processing unit to be coupled with the active cable to process a result of the transmission of the test pattern over the active cable. The arrangement may further include a plurality of testing cables to concatenate two or more of the lanes of the active cable, to enable the transmission of the test pattern over the concatenated lanes of the active cable. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Active electrical and optical cables are common solutions for high-speed data transfer between systems, such as connection between a computer and a peripheral device, two computers in a cluster, a switch to an endpoint, etc. An active electrical cable may contain electrical wiring and active electronic devices (electrical repeaters or retimers) at both ends, where each device communicates with one neighboring terminal system. An active optical cable may include a pair or multiple pairs of optical fibers with non-detachable optical modules on both sides. An optical module may convert the electrical signals at the cable's interface to optical signals on the fibers and vice versa.
Using active cables may create a challenge of testing the cable quality. Instead of loss data used to test regular passive cables, the important characteristic of an active cable is the bit error rate (BER) of the communication between the repeaters. This characteristic may need to be verified for a given active cable. However, compared to regular cable testing, the measurements involved may take much longer and may require expensive and complex equipment.


A device for producing a silicone rubber cupping appliance is provided. The device includes a nozzle, an internal mould core, a separable slide comprising at least two separable slide blocks; and a blowing-demoulding unit. A mould cavity used for moulding the silicone rubber cupping appliance is formed between the slide and the internal mould core. One end of the nozzle is connected to a channel that transports liquid silicone rubber material, and another end of the nozzle is connected to the mould cavity. The blowing-demoulding unit is connected to the mould cavity through a blow duct opening which is set at a contact surface of the internal mould core and the mould cavity.

Cupping appliance is a traditional Chinese medical healthcare appliance, which has existed since the old times and offers astounding effects. Traditional cupping appliance normally is made with solid material such as ceramics, bamboo cone, and glass. Suction cupping appliance made with organic glass has also been applied. The cupping appliance made with solid material normally needs ignition or gas sucking so as to allow the internal cavity to form a definite negative pressure, such that suction may be performed on a specific part of a human body. Cupping with ignition may easily cause burns while cupping with suction is not sufficiently convenient in operation. Furthermore, the cupping appliance made with solid material may easily fall off because the skin swells up after cupping. It is difficult to cup the slim muscles and curvy parts, such as the joints, spine and etc. In addition, it is not convenient to carry the cupping appliance.
In recent years, a novel cupping appliance that is made with rubber or silicone rubber has been introduced. Comparing with the cupping appliance made with hard material, the cupping appliance made with rubber or silicone rubber material has the following characteristics:                1) No need to ignite, will not burn a human, easy to learn how to operate and easy to operate;        2) Large cupping force, firm cupping, and the cupping sucking force may be easily adjusted;        3) Since the cup opening is soft and may change shape, joints, spines and other parts with curvy surfaces may also be cupped;        4) No limitation on physical status of the human, may perform cupping while sitting, standing or even walking;        5) Not easily broken, convenient to carry with.
Since the cupping appliance made with rubber or silicone rubber possesses the above mentioned beneficial characteristics, it is favored by medical practitioners and patients.
However, the rubber material applied in current rubber cupping appliance is not transparent. In addition, silicone rubber cupping appliance also may only be semi-transparent due to the limitation in the manufacturing process. Such would affect observations made by the medical practitioners towards the concerned skin parts of the patients. This is also the main deficiency for the rubber elastic cupping.
The current manufacturing technique of the rubber or silicone rubber cupping appliance applies molding technology. The general process for the molding technology is as follows:
After the solid silicone rubber material is mixed through the mixing mill, a mixed film is cut, using a cutting machine, into a size and width suitable for filling a mould cavity. The rubber with weight slightly greater than that of the product is weighted out. Then it is placed inside the mould cavity. The mould is installed on a pressure forming machine, then the pressure forming machine is turned on. The molding is formed under a certain temperature maintained for a duration of time. Finally, the cupping appliance is completed after demoulding. The molding possesses the following deficiencies: First, the production procedure includes rubber mixing, material mixing, material cutting, material weighting, material placing, mould installing, vulcanization moulding, demoulding, and trimming. The production procedure is complicated, time consuming and has low production efficiency. Second, the moulding method is rough and not meticulous, and has difficulty in avoiding bad quality of the product brought about from human operation in the process of moulding. Third, the demoulding is difficult. During the process of demoulding, the cupping appliance may easily be damaged. The damaged rate is high. At the same time, in the process of demoulding, the die needs to be dismounted, which wastes time and energy, and increases the labour force and lengthens the production time.

Method and device for making silicone rubber cupping appliance

Green Island International TCM Group Limited


A blood analyzing device (100) comprises a light source (120) arranged to generate light (40) of a wavelength at which a Hb species in a hemolyzed blood sample (30) has absorbance. A detector system (130) is arranged to detect output light (50) from the sample (30) and generate a Hb signal representative of an amount of the Hb species in the sample (30) and a parasite signal representative of an amount of malaria parasites in the sample (30). A processor (140) generates a red blood cell value based on the Hb signal and generates a parasitemia value based on the parasite signal and the red blood cell value. A display (160) displays the parasitemia value representing a percentage of the red blood cells that are infected by malaria parasites.

Malaria is a common and still increasing infectious disease in many countries. Malaria affects the red blood cells in a complex system of propagation of the mosquito Anopheles. Sporozoites invade the red blood cells (erythrocytes) and eventually rapture the red blood cells. The effect of malaria is, among others, the destruction of the red blood cells causing anemia in the patient.
Today, microscopy is the gold standard for determination of malaria burden and the effect of treatment thereof. The microscopy methods used are so-called thin layer and thick layer methods. The thin layer method is defined by a single layer of red blood cells, whereas the thick layer method uses hemolyzed red blood cells corresponding to 10-20 layers of red blood cells.
Thin layer microscopy by a skilled operator can morphologically identify the parasite to the species level and determine the percentage of the red blood cells that are infected. The number of such red blood cells containing parasites, as seen as "black dots", in relation to the total number of red blood cells is calculated and used as degree of malaria or malaria burden.
The thick layer method is considered to be the more sensitive method. A defined layer or volume of blood is hemolyzed and the free parasites in a certain area or portion of the blood sample are counted. The disadvantage of this method is that red blood cells cannot be counted due to the hemolyzation. In order to get a measure or estimate of the malaria burden and to follow the effect of any malaria treatment, it is necessary to determine the concentration of the red blood cells.
The above described so-called thin or thick layer methods for determining the degree of the malaria burden require usage of a microscope and a skillful user. In addition, both methods are furthermore quite time consuming.
Malaria diagnosis can furthermore be done by immunological point-of-care (POC) rapid in vitro diagnostic tests. These tests are more costly and are generally not able to directly give information of the degree of malaria burden. Hence, the microscopy methods are the preferred methods in those countries where malaria is most frequent.
WO 2011/123070 discloses determination of the percentage of the red blood cells in a blood sample that are infected by malaria parasites. The disclosed technique uses a flow cytometer together with nucleic acid dyes that react with DNA or react with DNA and RNA and antibodies coupled to a fluorophore and capable of selectively binding to a marker present on leukocytes.
The prior art method of determining a parasitemia value in WO 2011/123070 is marred by a rather complex set-up requiring several chemicals and cumbersome detection equipment.
Hence, there is a need for an efficient solution to determine, preferably automatically determine, parasitemia values for patients infected by malaria parasites and that can be used outside of clinical laboratories.

Blood analyzing device for malaria analysis


An electrophotographic apparatus and method that can effect favorable transfer of a toner image onto a medium under a nip pressure between a transfer roller and a backup roller and a potential difference between the transfer and backup rollers even if the medium has a high insulating property, such as due to its being thick.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus such as a printing press, copier, printer or facsimile machine and, more particularly, to an electrophotographic apparatus in which after a toner image developed on a peripheral surface of a photoconductor drum is transferred onto a transfer roller, the toner image transferred onto the transfer roller is transferred onto a medium such as a web of paper or a film passing between the transfer roller and a backup roller driven to rotate in contact with the transfer roller.
2. Description of the Related Art
In FIG. 1 there is diagrammatically shown a conventional wet electrophotographic apparatus using a photoconductor drum, a transfer roller and a backup roller. In the Figure, numeral 1 denotes the photoconductor drum, numeral 2 denotes the transfer roller in rotational contact with the photoconductor drum 1, and numeral 3 denotes the backup roller in rotational contact with the transfer roller 2. See JP 2009-157176 A.
In the electrophotographic apparatus in image forming, the photoconductor drum 1 is driven by drive means such as a motor (not shown) to rotate at a fixed speed in the direction of arrow. The photoconductor drum 1 has a peripheral surface charged uniformly by a charging unit 4 in dark and then irradiated with light from an exposure unit 5 to form an original light figure on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image as it passes through a development region is visualized with a liquid toner by a developing unit 6, forming a toner image on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 1.
The toner image on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is primarily transferred in a primary transfer region onto a peripheral surface of the transfer roller 2 under a bias voltage applied through the transfer roller 2 and under a nip pressure between the photoconductor drum 1 and the transfer roller 2. The toner image so primarily transferred is secondarily transferred in a secondary transfer region onto a medium 7 passing between the transfer roller 2 and the backup roller 3. In the apparatus shown, there are also provided a photoconductor cleaner 8a for removing a toner residual on the photoconductor drum 1, a transfer roller cleaner 8b for removing a toner residual on the transfer roller 2, a static eliminator 9a and a carrier liquid supply unit 9b.
In the electrophotographic apparatus of this sort, if the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is positively charged, the transfer roller 2 and the backup roller 3 are to have a voltage applied thereto that is of a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 1, i.e., a negative voltage on the backup roller 3 made more negative than that on the transfer roller 2. Thus on the medium passing between the rollers 2 and 3 there is transferred the toner image on the peripheral surface of the transfer roller 2 under a nip pressure between the two rollers and under a potential difference between the two rollers.
Thus in such an electrophotographic apparatus, if the medium 7 used is high in insulating property tending to obstruct the potential difference between the transfer roller 2 and the backup roller 3, e.g., if it has a large thickness, the transfer between the transfer roller 2 and the backup roller 3 tends to be not made by the potential difference between the two rollers, there being no transfer thereby, but only by the nip pressure between them, there being a transfer only thereby, giving rise to the problem that the transfer is not done well. While when the medium is thick it is conceivable to achieve a potential difference enough to transfer the toner image by increasing an absolute value of the voltage applied to the backup roller 3, in the state that the medium 7 is not passed between the transfer roller 2 and the backup roller 3 the increased voltage in absolute value tends to bring about a discharge to the side of the transfer roller 2, leading to the problem that rubber on the transfer roller 2 may be destructed.
Made in view of the foregoing, the present invention has for its object to provide an electrophotographic apparatus that can effect favorable transfer of a toner image onto a medium under a nip pressure between a transfer roller and a backup roller and a potential difference between the transfer and backup rollers even if the medium used is high in insulating property such as by being thick in thickness.


A discharge valve plate of the type used in the conduit between an exhauster fan and a riffle box in a coal fine delivery system for a coal-fired combustion chamber in a power plant. The axis of rotation of the discharge valve plate is oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the exhauster fan, such that the valve plate bisects the flow of coal fines from the exhauster fan into upper and lower flows, each having heavy and light distributions across the width of the conduit. The discharge valve plate is provided with diffuser elements engaging the upper and lower flows to cause the heavy and light flow distributions to mix prior to reaching the riffle box.

The present invention relates to discharge or barrier valves in the delivery chute of a coal-fired power facility between the exhauster fan and riffle box.
Coal-fired power generating facilities commonly use a combustion chamber fed with dustlike coal fines by multiple burner nozzles spaced uniformly around the chamber. It is critical to balance the flow from the burner nozzles to the fireball in the combustion chamber. Imbalances in this flow can result in NOX formation, erosion of boiler tubes in the combustion chamber, and LOI (loss on ignition) contamination of the saleable ash by-product.
The burner nozzles are fed with coal fines by a series of branched delivery chutes which typically emanate from a single source such as an exhauster fan. The exhauster fan provides suction and air flow necessary to pull coal fines from a mill or pulverizer and send them through the branched delivery pipes to the burner nozzles in the combustion chamber.
The centrifugal nature of the exhauster fan typically results in a separation of the coal fines into light and heavy flow distributions as they leave the fan. Each branching of the delivery pipe typically includes a xe2x80x9criffle boxxe2x80x9d of alternately angled diverters or plates whose function is to evenly redirect the flow of coal fines into the two branches. The uneven heavy/light distribution of fines leaving the exhauster fan, however, defeats the purpose of the riffle boxes.
The problem of heavy/light flow distributions of coal fines between the exhauster fan and the first riffle box is further exacerbated by the typical barrier valve plate in the delivery pipe between the exhauster fan and riffle box. The plane of the valve plate bisects the chute in a manner physically dividing the heavy and light distributions.
The present invention solves the problem of heavy/light distributions of coal fines between the exhauster fan outlet and the first riffle box in the delivery chute by (1) reorienting the valve plate axis at right angles to the axis of the exhauster fan, thereby splitting the coal flow in the pipe into identical xe2x80x9cupperxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9clowerxe2x80x9d halves, each of which has a heavy/light distribution across the diameter of the pipe; and (2) providing the reoriented valve plate with diffuser elements on top and bottom surfaces thereof to radially redirect the heavy and light distributions in the top and bottom flows to merge and mix into a uniformly distributed flow upon reaching the riffle box.
In a preferred form the diffuser elements comprise an array of differently-sized semicircular diffuser elements on top and bottom surfaces of the valve plate.
In another aspect of the invention, an initial xe2x80x9ckickerxe2x80x9d diffuser element is located on the heavy distribution side of the entrance to the valve, preferably forming a peripheral semicircle on the heavy distribution side.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, peripheral diffuser elements are secured directly to the inside circumference of the portion of the chute which defines the valve plate housing, located to engage the edge circumference of the valve plate in the valve closed position to define one or more mechanical stops around the edge of the valve plate and further giving a sealing effect around the edge of the valve plate in the closed position.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon further reading of the specification, in light of the accompanying drawings.


A protective, biocompatible coating or encapsulation material protects and insulates a component or device intended to be implanted in living tissue. The coating or encapsulation material comprises a thin layer or layers of alumina, zirconia or other ceramic, less than 25 microns thick, e.g., 5-10 microns thick. The alumina layer(s) may be applied at a relatively low temperature. Once applied, the layer provides excellent hermeticity, and prevents electrical leakage. Even though very thin, the alumina layer retains excellent insulating characteristics. In one embodiment, an alumina layer less than about 6 microns thick provides an insulative coating that exhibits less than 10 pA of leakage current over an area 75 mils by 25 mils area while soaking in a saline solution at temperatures up to 80° C. over a three month period.

The present invention relates to very thin layers of electrical insulation that may be used to coat and protect microminiature components and devices that are intended to be implanted in living tissue and/or to maintain electrical leakage of such components/devices within acceptable limits, e.g., less than 1 μA/cm2 when the components and/or devices are submerged in water or salt water. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of alumina or aluminum oxide as a safe, biocompatible, coating material that provides a reliable, protective and insulative layer or coating for components, or devices comprised of components, wherein the insulating layers can be made extremely thin, on the order of microns, yet wherein the electrical leakage through the thin insulative layer (when the coated component or device is implanted or otherwise immersed in a saline solution or in distilled water) is less than about 1 μA/cm2 (or less than about 12.1 nA for an area of 0.075 inches×0.025 inches, corresponding to an area of 0.1905 cm by 0.0635 cm).
The use of alumina as a thick insulator for use with implantable devices has previously been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,940,858 and 4,678,868 assigned to Medtronic, Inc. In these applications, however, the alumina insulator is very thick and is used only as part of the feedthrough for the implantable device and is often carried by a metal ferrule. Such use of alumina (or other ceramic) as an insulator requires a relatively thick layer. Many materials work well as an insulator when put down in a thick layer, e.g., in a layer thicker than 25 microns (where 1 micron=1×10−6 meter). But all such materials, except as discussed herein, typically leak at a rate greater than about 1 μA/cm2. Applicants invention, as set forth below, uses a nonconductive ceramic, such as alumina, in very thin layers, e.g., less than about 25 microns.
It is also known to use the ceramic alumina as a case material for an implanted device as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,582, incorporated herein by reference. Again, however, the alumina, while comprising a material that is biocompatible (and is thus not harmful to, and is not harmed by, living tissue and fluids wherein it is implanted), is relatively thick, e.g., greater than 25 microns.
A problem with the related art is that the thickness of the insulation needed for implantable devices is typically on the order of about several millimeters thick. None of the related art, to applicant's knowledge, has heretofore achieved an insulating layer with very small dimensions and free of micro-holes. The presence of a micro-hole, or "pin-hole", destroys the insulating properties which may lead to eventual failure of the implantable device.
Further, some components or devices which need to be implanted in living tissue, such as magnets, are susceptible to extremely high temperatures, i.e., extremely high temperatures may damage or destroy such components. When such components or devices must be implanted, it is important therefore that whatever coating or encapsulating material is used to coat them be one that can be applied without subjecting the component or device to extremely high temperatures. That is, the coating or application process must not subject such components to extremely high temperatures.
It is seen, therefore, that what is needed is a way to utilize a very thin layer of a suitable insulating material, such as alumina (aluminum oxide), zirconia (zirconium oxide), or alloys of alumina and/or zirconia, at relatively low temperatures, as a coating to cover, insulate and/or encapsulate any type of component or device that must be implanted, thereby effectively rendering such coated component or device biocompatible and safe for implantation. In particular, it is seen that what is needed is a very thin insulative coating that can be applied at relatively low temperatures for the purpose of insulating electrical connections on implantable devices and other microminiature devices, or for coating non-biocompatible components (thereby making the coated component biocompatible) wherein the coating can be as thin as about 1/1000 of an inch or less yet still maintain the electrical leakage through the insulator at or below acceptable levels.
The present invention addresses the above and other needs.

Alumina insulation for coating implantable components and other microminiature devices


The present invention includes a modular component skate wheel particularly usable in connection with preferably an in-line skate boot. All of the components are interchangeable and the components in preferred embodiments include snap fit surfaces. Preferably, a three piece wheel with interchangeable tire, hub and stationary drum is included to allow the user to adapt the modular skate wheels to the intended purpose. The tires may contain at least one light source for purposes of illuminating the preferably clear, transparent (or translucent) tires. The removable inner hub may be adaptable to contain a two-bearing configuration similar to existing skate wheels for the lightweight skating and maneuverability, such as required for roller hockey or speed skating. A generator may be snapped into the inner hub and used as a means of power to illuminate a light source contained within the tire or located on the boot if a flashy appearance is desired. This arrangement permits the user to mix and match components, so as to customize the modular skate wheel.

The present invention relates in general to in-line skates, and more particularly to an improved modular light generating and emitting in-line skate wheel for use upon an in-line skate.
In all known embodiments there is provision for a single unit roller skate wheel. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,910 to Price, U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,188 to Vancil, U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,572 to Tseng, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,502 to Bakerman. Generally, these wheels appear to have been assembled at the point of manufacture, and then marketed as a single unit. So far as is presently known, there are no multiple component skate wheels which can be easily assembled or disassembled by the user. Improvements are necessary and desirable to permit user-friendly interchangeability or replacement of components. Specifically, the ability to replace a worn tire without replacing the entire wheel would be cost effective. Designer colored tires could be mixed or matched by the user for his enjoyment. If the wheel contains a generator hub, it may be easily replaced if damaged. For racing, the wheel may be made lighter if the generator is removed and the original hub is used in its place.
It is known from the prior art that alternating current generators and direct current generators exist and that alternating current generators have been incorporated in the design of roller skate wheels. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,910 to Price. The physical exertion of a skating enthusiast is used to produce rotational energy in the skate wheel, which powers a means of electrical generation to power a light or sound producing device. So far as is presently known, direct current generators have not been adapted for use with in-line skate wheels. Because modern technology has allowed miniaturization of electrical components, it is possible to convert an alternating current generator to a direct current generator within a confined space. As the inventor hereof has discovered, it would be desirable to have the armature of the direct current generator, including the electrical components which make it a direct current generator, contained within an interchangeable hub of a three component in-line skate wheel that the user could easily assemble.
Improvements to existing devices are necessary to allow for the use of a direct current generator contained within the interchangeable hub of an in-line skate wheel. In addition to the armature, the hub would contain either a bridge rectifier, an in-line diode or a capacitor. The beneficial and non-obvious effects of these combinations include the facts that the addition of any of these components will convert an alternating current generator to a direct current generator. Also, the addition of an in-line diode will permit electron flow in one direction only, thereby producing intermittent flow of direct current. The bridge rectifier will allow electron flow in one direction only producing continuous flow of direct current. The capacitor will allow electron flow in one direction, discharge when it reaches capacity and produce a relatively large intermittent flow of direct current. It has been discovered that these effects are desirable for in-line skate wheels because electric power can then be transmitted to the illumination means in various forms or pulses which permit production of interesting visible light variations to the observer. This invention in-line diode combination will produce an intermittent visible light, the bridge rectifier combination will produce a continuous light, and a capacitor combination will produce a relatively bright slow pulsing light. Because the current invention allows for interchangeable wheel parts, an in-line skate enthusiast may use any combination of parts to produce a unique personalized lighting effect.
It has been known from the prior art that roller skate wheels may contain an alternating current generation means. (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,910 to Price) or a direct current battery (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,188 to Vancil, U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,572 to Tseng, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,502 to Bakerman) to illuminate light emitting diodes for a stroboscopic effect. It is also known from the prior art to illuminate roller skate wheels on the outboard side of the wheel (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,188 to Vancil, U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,572 to Tseng, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,502 to Bakerman). Improvements on the roller skate wheel design have been shown to be necessary to accommodate the restrictions imposed by the wheel supports of in-line skates. In particular, illuminating a wheel on the outboard side is practical for traditional roller skates because there are no outboard side barriers to restrict the visibility of the emitted light. However, in-line skates are constructed with outboard supports which would obstruct the visibility. What seemed practical for roller skates is not practical for in-line skates. In-line skate wheels are arranged in a straight line and are anchored both inboard and outboard within the skate framework. Thus, it has been discovered that using a transparent or translucent illuminated tire would allow light to be seen 360.degree. around the skate.
From the prior art it is also known that generators contained within a roller skate wheel produce alternating current to power light emitting diodes (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,910 to Price). The light produced is flashing or stroboscopic in effect. So far as the inventor is aware, generators which produce direct current have not been used to produce unusual and desirable light patterns in an in-line skate wheel. Improvements are warranted to permit various illumination patterns for lighted in-line skate wheel. Since in-line skate wheels are supported on both sides by the skate framework, it would be desirable to illuminate that portion of the tire which is visible to an observer. A direct current generator contained within the hub of the in-line skate wheel in conjunction with a single light source would produce interesting patterns of light. For instance, a direct current generator with an eight pole magnet produces four stationary points of light, one in each of the quadrants of the tire. At least two quadrants are visible around the skate wheel framework at all times. Concurrently, other stationary light patterns are visible in direct proportion to the number of poles on the generator magnet or magnets. In addition, light projected through the transparent or translucent tire is visible directly ahead and behind the skater. This is not the case with wheels described in previous art. If a reflective strip is added to the inner diameter of the tire, the emitted light is reflected and intensified within the transparent or translucent tire. The light becomes more evenly distributed and makes the whole tire glow. Because the whole tire glows, more light becomes visible to the observer.
It is further known from prior art that generators have been affixed to bicycle wheels to illuminate identification lamps, (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,988 to Kumakura) or hand held lamps, (See U.S. Pat. No. 1,333,119 to Krag-Moller). It is also known that the wheels of roller skates can be illuminated by means of an internal generator and light source, (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,910 to Price. So far as the inventor is aware, there is no means to convey power from a generator in a skate wheel to the skate boot for purposes of producing sound or illuminating a company logo or other decoration. Improvements are necessary to permit the transfer of energy from the generating wheel to the skate boot. Illuminating a company logo or other design would be desirable and fashionable. For instance, tee shirts, umbrellas and other paraphernalia with company logos are currently in vogue.

Modular light generating and emitting roller skate wheel