A silica glass containing TiO2, which has a fictive temperature of at most 1,200° C., an OH group concentration of at most 600 ppm and a coefficient of thermal expansion of 0±200 ppb/° C. from 0 to 100° C.

Heretofore, in photolithography, it is common to employ an exposure device to transfer a fine circuit pattern onto a wafer to produce an integrated circuit. Along with high integration and high functionality of integrated circuits, microsizing of integrated circuit has been progressing, and an exposure device is required to form an image of a circuit pattern on a wafer with a high resolution in a deep focal depth, whereby blue shift of the exposure light source is in progress. The exposure light source has been advanced from the conventional g-line (wavelength: 436 nm), i-line (wavelength: 365 nm) or KrF excimer laser (wavelength: 248 nm), and now an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm) is being used. Further, in order to be prepared for an integrated circuit for the next generation where the line width of a circuit pattern will be less than 100 nm, it is considered to be prospective to employ a F2 laser (wavelength: 157 nm) as the exposure light source, but it is considered that even this can not cover beyond a generation of a line width of 70 nm.
Under these circumstances, a lithographic technique employing typically a light having a wavelength of 13 nm among EUV light (extreme ultraviolet light) as the exposure light source, has attracted attention, as it may be applied to the printing of feature sizes of 50 nm and smaller. The image-forming principle of the EUV lithography (hereinafter referred to as "EUVL") is the same as the conventional photolithography to such an extent that a mask pattern is transferred by means of an optical projection system. However, in the energy region of EUV light, there is no material to let the light pass therethrough. Accordingly, a refraction optical system can not be used, and an optical system will be required to be a reflection optical system in all cases.
The optical material for the exposure device to be used for EUVL will be a photomask, a mirror or the like, and it is basically constituted of (1) a base material, (2) a reflective multilayer formed on the base material and (3) an absorber layer formed on the reflective multilayer. For the multilayer, it is studied to form layers of Mo/Si alternately, and for the absorber layer, it is studied to use Ta or Cr as the layer-forming material. As the base material, a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient is required so that no strain will be formed even under irradiation with EUV light, and a glass having a low thermal expansion coefficient is being studied.
TiO2—SiO2 glass is known to be a very low thermal expansion material having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) smaller than quartz glass, and the coefficient of thermal expansion can be controlled by the TiO2 content in the glass, whereby it is possible to obtain a zero expansion glass having a coefficient of thermal expansion being close to zero. Accordingly, TiO2—SiO2 glass is prospective as a material to be used for an optical material for the exposure device for EUVL.
In a conventional method for preparing TiO2—SiO2 glass, firstly, a silica precursor and a titania precursor are, respectively, converted into a vapor form, and then mixed. Such a vapor form mixture is feeded into a burner and thermally decomposed to form TiO2—SiO2 glass particles. Such TiO2—SiO2 glass particles will be deposited in a refractory container and at the same time will be melted to form TiO2—SiO2 glass. However, in TiO2—SiO2 glass prepared by this method, the temperature region where the coefficient of thermal expansion becomes substantially zero, is limited to about room temperature.
Further, U.S. patent application publication No. 2002/157421 discloses a method which comprises forming a TiO2—SiO2 porous glass body, converting it to a glass body, and then obtaining a mask substrate therefrom.
At the time of forming a reflective layer, the optical material for the exposure device for EUVL will have a temperature of about 100° C. Further, at the time of exposure, high energy rays will be irradiated, whereby the temperature of the material may locally increase.
Accordingly, the optical material for the exposure device for EUVL is desired to have a wide temperature region where the coefficient of thermal expansion becomes substantially zero. However, with conventional TiO2—SiO2 glass, the temperature region where the coefficient of thermal expansion becomes substantially zero, is narrow, and such is inadequate to be used for an optical material for the exposure device for EUVL.


A method for correcting distortion of a captured image is provided. The method includes receiving a detection output from a sensor; optically correcting distortion of a captured image in image data from the element due to the positional change of the imaging element by controlling a control mechanism depending on the detection output in the receiving step, the mechanism being configured to control a position at which incident light from a target object enters the imaging element; receiving image data resulting from the optical correction of a captured image in the correcting step from the element, and detecting a motion vector per one screen of a captured image from the image data; and further correcting distortion of a captured image due to the positional change of the imaging element for the image data from the imaging element based on the motion vector detected in the motion vector detecting step.

The present disclosure relates to a method for correcting distortion arising in a captured image due to a camera shake or the like at the time of capturing of an object image, a device for correcting the distortion, and an imaging device.
In capturing a moving image by a hand-held electronic imaging device, such as a video camera or digital still camera, which stores and retrieves captured images in and from an imaging element based on an electronic system, a comparatively high speed positional change of the imaging element in the horizontal direction and/or vertical direction of the captured image possibly arises due to a so-called camera shake. In the captured image, this positional change appears as image distortion such as image fluctuation.
Specifically, if a camera shake is absent, the formation position of a captured image is identical on the imaging plane of the imaging element. Therefore, when plural frame images along the time direction are arranged, as shown in FIG. 46A, the frame images overlap with each other at exactly the same position. In contrast, if a camera shake is caused, the position of a captured image is not identical on the imaging plane of the imaging element. Therefore, when plural frame images along the time direction are arranged, as shown in FIG. 46B, the plural frame images fluctuate.
The phenomenon of this camera shake readily becomes remarkable when a zoom lens is used on the telephoto side in particular. The occurrence of this camera shake phenomenon leads to a problem that a stationary object fluctuates and hence the image thereof becomes difficult to view. Furthermore, the camera shake leads also to a phenomenon that a target object is blurry in the captured image.
Also in capturing of a still image, when a captured output image is obtained through superposition of plural frame images, the occurrence of a camera shake results in a captured image involving image distortion of a blurry object similarly to the above description.
As far as existing methods to correct image distortion due to a camera shake, there have been proposed an optical camera shake correction system that employs a sensor for sensing a camera shake, and a sensorless camera shake correction system that executes digital signal processing for a captured image to thereby sense a camera shake and execute correction processing for the captured image.
In consumer products presently on the market, camera shake correction for still images is based on the optical camera shake correction system. Specifically, in these products, a camera shake vector is measured by using a gyro sensor or acceleration sensor and the measured vector is fed back to a mechanism system to thereby implement high-speed control so that an image projected on an image sensor (imaging element), such as a charge coupled device (CCD) imager or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager, involves no fluctuation.
As this mechanism system, there have been proposed mechanisms to control the positions of a lens, prism and imager (or module integrated with an imager) by an actuator. These mechanisms are called a lens shift, prism shift and imager shift, respectively.
On the other hand, in the sensorless camera shake correction system, as disclosed in e.g. Japanese Patent No. 3303312 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 6-86149, a motion vector of a captured image is detected per each screen from captured image data read out from an imaging element. Based on the motion vector, the reading-out position of captured image data stored in an image memory is shifted to thereby correct a camera shake.
In addition, as methods to realize sensorless camera shake for still images, some proposals typified by Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 7-283999 have been made. Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 7-283999 discloses an algorithm for executing the following operation. Specifically, some still images are continuously shot with such a short exposure time as to generate no camera shake, and a camera shake vector among the still images is calculated. In accordance with the camera shake vector, the continuously shot plural still images are added (or averaged) with being shifted in parallel (and rotated in the roll axis direction), to thereby eventually obtain a high-quality still image involving no camera shake and no low-illuminance noise.
As an example of a method for detecting a motion vector of a captured image per each screen from captured image information itself, block matching to find the correlation between captured images of two screens is known. The method of employing the block matching uses no mechanical component such as a gyro (angular velocity) sensor, and therefore has an advantage of being capable of realizing reduced size and weight of an imaging device.
The block matching is a method to calculate, for a captured image from an imaging device part, a motion vector per each screen between a reference screen as a screen of interest and an original screen that is the screen previous by one screen to the reference screen, by calculating the correlation between the reference screen and original screen regarding a rectangular block having a predetermined size.
The term "screen" refers to an image composed of image data of one frame or one field. In the present specification, a screen will be referred to as a frame based on an assumption that a screen is composed of one frame for convenience of explanation. Accordingly, a reference screen and an original screen will be referred to as a reference frame and an original frame, respectively.
For example, used as the image data of a reference frame is the image data of the current frame from an imaging device part or the image data resulting from storing of the image data of the current frame in a frame memory and delaying thereof by one frame. Used as the image data of an original frame is the image data resulting from storing of the image data of a reference frame in the frame memory and further delaying thereof by one frame.
FIGS. 47 and 48 are diagrams for explaining the outline of existing block matching. FIG. 49 is one example of a flowchart of the existing block matching processing.
In the block matching, as shown in FIG. 47, a target block 103 formed of a rectangular region that is composed of horizontal plural pixels and vertical plural lines and has a predetermined size is defined at any predetermined position in an original frame 101.
On the other hand, on a reference frame 102, an image block 104 as a projection of the target block (see the dotted line in FIG. 47) is assumed at the same position as that of the target block 103 on the original frame, and a search range 105 (see the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 47) centered on the image block 104 is defined. Furthermore, a reference block 106 having the same size as that of the target block 103 is defined.
The position of the reference block 106 is moved within the search range 105 on the reference frame 102. At each resultant position, the correlation between the image included in the reference block 106 and the image in the target block 103 is obtained. Through this operation, the position of the reference block 106 that has been detected as the block having the strongest correlation is defined as the position of the shifted target block 103 resulting from the movement of the target block 103 on the reference frame 102. In addition, the amount of the position shift between the position of the detected reference block 106 and the position of the original target block is detected as a motion vector as an amount including a direction component.
The reference block 106 is moved in the search range 105 e.g. on a pixel-by-pixel basis or pixels-by-pixels basis in the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, plural reference blocks are defined in the search range 105.
The correlation between the target block 103 and each reference block 106 arising from movement in the search range 105 is detected by calculating the sum of the absolute value of the difference between the luminance value of each pixel of all the pixels in the target block 103 and that of the corresponding pixel of all the pixels in the reference block 106 (the sum of the absolute value of the difference is called "sum of absolute difference", and will be referred to as SAD hereinafter). That is, the reference block 106 at the position yielding the minimum SAD value is detected as the reference block having the strongest correlation, so that the position shift amount of the reference block 106 relative to the target block 103 is detected as a motion vector.
In the block matching, the position shift amount of each of the plural reference blocks 106 defined in the search range 105 relative to the position of the target block 103 is expressed by a reference vector 107 (see FIG. 47) as an amount including a direction component. The reference vector 107 of each reference block 106 has the value dependent upon the position of the reference block 106 on the reference frame 102. In the existing block matching, the reference vector of the reference block 106 offering the minimum SAD value is detected as a motion vector.
To detect a motion vector, in typical block matching, as shown in FIG. 48, the SAD values between each of the plural reference blocks 106 defined in the search range 105 and the target block 103 (hereinafter, referred to simply as "SAD value of a reference block" for simplified explanation) are stored in a memory with being associated with the reference vector 107 dependent upon the position of the reference block 106. Furthermore, the reference block 106 offering the minimum SAD value among the SAD values of all the reference blocks 106 stored in the memory is detected to sense a motion vector 110.
The entity in which the SAD value of each of the plural reference blocks 106 defined in the search range 105 is stored in association with the reference vector 107 dependent upon the position of the reference block 106 is called a sum-of-absolute-difference table (hereinafter, referred to as an SAD table). This table is shown as an SAD table 108 in FIG. 48. The SAD value of each reference block 106 in this SAD table 108 is referred to as an SAD table element 109.
In the above description, the positions of the target block 103 and the reference block 106 refer to any specific positions in these blocks, such as the center positions of the blocks. Furthermore, the reference vector 107 indicates the amount of the shift (including a direction) between the position of the image block 104 as a projection of the target block 103 on the reference frame 102 and the position of the reference block 106. In the example of FIGS. 47 and 48, the target block 103 is defined at the center position of the frame.
Furthermore, the reference vectors 107 corresponding to the respective reference blocks 106 indicate the position shifts of the reference blocks 106 relative to the position corresponding to the target block 103 on the reference frame 102. Therefore, if the position of the reference block 106 is specified, the value of the reference vector is also specified corresponding to the position. Consequently, if the address of the SAD table element of a reference block on the memory for the SAD table 108 is specified, the corresponding reference vector is specified.
The processing of the above-described existing block matching will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 49.
Initially, one reference block Ii in the search range 105 is specified, which is equivalent to specifying of the reference vector corresponding to the reference block Ii (step S1). In FIG. 49, (vx, vy) denotes the position indicated by the specified reference vector, with the position of the target block on the frame being defined as the reference position (0, 0). Symbol vx denotes the component of the horizontal shift amount relative to the reference position, indicated by the specified reference vector, while symbol vy denotes the component of the vertical shift amount relative to the reference position, indicated by the specified reference vector.
The shift amounts vx and vy each have a value in units of pixels. For example, vx=+1 indicates the position shifted by one pixel in the right horizontal direction relative to the reference position (0, 0). Furthermore, vx=−1 indicates the position shifted by one pixel in the left horizontal direction relative to the reference position (0, 0). In addition, for example, vy=+1 indicates the position shifted by one pixel in the downward vertical direction relative to the reference position (0, 0). Moreover, vy=−1 indicates the position shifted by one pixel in the upward vertical direction relative to the reference position (0, 0).
As described above, (vx, vy) denotes a position relative to the reference position indicated by a reference vector (hereinafter, referred to simply as "a position indicated by a reference vector" for simplification of explanation), and corresponds to each of reference vectors. That is, if integer numbers are employed as vx and vy, (vx, vy) represents each of reference vectors. Therefore, in the following description, the reference vector indicating the position of a coordinate (vx, vy) is often referred to as a reference vector (vx, vy).
If the position of the target block, i.e., the reference position (0, 0), is defined as the center position of the search range, and the coverage of the search range in the horizontal and vertical directions is defined as ±Rx and ±Ry, respectively, the relationships −Rx≦vx≦+Rx and −Ry≦vy≦+Ry are obtained.
Subsequent to step S1, the coordinate (x, y) of one pixel in the target block Io is specified (step S2). The step S2 is followed by calculation of the absolute value α of the difference between the pixel value Io(x, y) of the specified coordinate (x, y) in the target block Io and the pixel value Ii(x+vx, y+vy) of the corresponding pixel position in the reference block Ii (step S3). That is, the absolute difference α is calculated in accordance with (Equation 1).α=|Io(x, y)−Ii(x+vx, y+vy)|  (Equation 1)
Next, the calculated absolute difference α is added to the previous SAD value at the address (table element) indicated by the reference vector (vx, vy) of the reference block Ii, and the resultant SAD value is rewritten to this address (step S4). Specifically, if the SAD value corresponding to the reference vector (vx, vy) is expressed as SAD(vx, vy), this SAD(vx, vy) is calculated in accordance with (Equation 2), so that the calculated value is written to the address indicated by the reference vector (vx, vy).SAD(vx, vy)=Σα=Σ|Io(x, y)−Ii(x+vx, y+vy)|  (Equation 2)
Next, a determination is made as to whether or not the above-described arithmetic operation has been performed on the pixels of all the coordinates (x, y) in the target block Io (step S5). If it is determined that the operation for all the coordinates (x, y) in the target block Io has not been completed yet, the processing sequence returns to the step S2, where the pixel position of the next coordinate (x, y) in the target block Io is specified, followed by repetition of the processing subsequent to the step S2.
In contrast, if it is determined in the step S5 that the above-described arithmetic operation has been performed on the pixels of all the coordinates (x, y) in the target block Io, a determination is made that calculation of the SAD value for the reference block has been completed. Therefore, subsequently, a determination is made as to whether or not the above-described arithmetic processing has been completed for all the reference blocks in the search range, i.e., for all the reference vectors (vx, vy) (step S6).
If it is determined in the step S6 that the reference vector (vx, vy) for which the above-described arithmetic processing has not been completed yet remains, the processing sequence returns to the step S1, where the next reference vector (vx, vy) for which the above-described arithmetic processing has not been completed is specified, followed by repetition of the processing subsequent to the step S1.
If it is determined in the step S6 that the search range has been free from the reference vector (vx, vy) for which the above-described arithmetic processing has not been completed, a determination is made that the SAD table has been completed. Therefore, subsequently, from the completed SAD table, the minimum SAD value is detected (step S7). Next, the reference vector corresponding to the address of the minimum SAD value is detected as a motion vector (step S8). If the minimum SAD value is expressed as SAD(mx, my), the intended motion vector is calculated as the vector (mx, my) indicating the position (mx, my).
The completion of the step S8 is equivalent to the end of the processing of detecting a motion vector through block matching regarding one target block.
In large part of general imaging elements, as shown in FIG. 50, all the pixels are not treated as effective pixels, but, of a region AFL composed of all the pixels (hereinafter, referred to as an all image region), the part other than the peripheral region, i.e., the center part defined by the horizontal and vertical effective ranges, is employed as an effective image region EFL.
In the case of using such an imager, even when the reading-out of pixel positions are changed due to camera shake correction, distortion correction can be carried out by use of pixel data originally possessed by the imager as long as the camera shake amount is smaller than the difference between the entire image region AFL and the effective image region EFL. Therefore, the degree of image deterioration is lower compared with the case of producing data necessary for camera shake correction through interpolation processing and so on.
In the recent market for electronic imaging devices, along with trends of gyro sensors toward lower cost, higher performance and smaller size, an optical camera shake correction system employing a gyro sensor has become more predominant as a camera shake correction system.
However, in recent years, a rapid spread of digital still cameras and a concurrent rapid trend toward a larger number of pixels are beginning to cause another problem. Specifically, although there is a strong demand for implementation of camera shake correction also in capturing of still images under low illuminance (long exposure time), only a scheme employing a sensor such as a gyro sensor is available as a solution to this demand. This has exposed certain weak points of gyro sensors and other problems.
That is, it is difficult for the detection accuracy of existing gyro sensors to detect a camera shake vector with pixel accuracy.
Furthermore, in the optical camera shake correction system, a control signal produced based on a camera shake vector detected by a gyro sensor is fed back to the mechanism that controls the positions of a lens, prism and imager (or a module integrated with an imager) by an actuator as described above. Therefore, in addition to the above-described accuracy error of the gyro sensor itself, a delay of the feedback to the mechanism system, error in prediction to avoid the feedback delay, and error in the control of the mechanism system are also superimposed, which makes it impossible to carry out camera shake correction with pixel accuracy.
On the other hand, the sensorless camera shake correction system can realize detection of a camera shake vector with pixel accuracy, including a rotation component in the roll axis direction, in principle. Furthermore, the system does not require a sensor and a mechanism such as a lens shift, and hence is considerably superior also in terms of costs.
However, as long as a technique that depends on existing block matching is employed, the scale of an SAD table increases in proportion to the number of pixels on one screen. Therefore, it is very difficult to realize motion vector detection for present still image sizes over five million pixels with a practical circuit scale.
In the past, manufacturers had a hard time to reduce, with making various improvements, the scale of a circuit for detecting a camera shake vector even for an NTSC (National Television System Committee) moving image with as small as at most one hundred seventy thousand pixels. Furthermore, although the search range for a camera shake for an NTSC moving image may be small because an NTSC moving image is premised on a high frame rate such as 60 fps (frame per second) or 30 fps, the search range for a still image is extremely large because a still image is based on the premise that the frame rate of plural frames to be superimposed upon each other is about 3 fps. This large search range for a still image also contributes to the difficulty of the problems. This is because the number of table elements in an SAD table increases in proportion to the search range as well as the number of pixels.
Thus, the most serious problem in a block matching technique is an increase in the size of an SAD table. As described above, in recent digital cameras, which are based on the premise that an imager therein has five million pixels or more, it is inevitable that the size of an SAD table becomes larger in proportion to the number of pixels. Furthermore, in the case of a still image, of which frame rate is about 3 fps as described above, a search range larger by a factor of several tens than a camera shake range for a moving image, of which frame rate is 60 fps, is necessary. The increase in the size of the search range is equivalent to an increase in the size of an SAD table.
According to studies, it has been revealed that a camera shake range for a still image of 3 fps is about ±10% of the entire frame if the entire frame is 100. According to this evaluation, the estimated value of the necessary SAD table size is about 80 megabits when the existing technique is employed for an imager having twelve million pixels, which is included in some high-class products that have already come to market. In addition, in order to meet practical processing speed, it may be required that a memory in which this SAD table is stored be a built-in static random access memory (SRAM). Although the decrease in the semiconductor process rule has progressed to a large degree, the estimated table size is larger than practical levels by a factor of thousands.
Accordingly, there is a need to address the above-described problems, and to provide methods and devices that allow implementation of camera shake correction with pixel accuracy.

Method for correcting distortion of captured image, device for correcting distortion of captured image, and imaging device


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for video transmission using tokens. According to one example, computer-readable storage media store instructions that cause a processor to: distribute, toward terminal devices of a plurality of viewers via a communication line, motion data or a first video including an animation of an avatar of a distributor generated on the basis of the motion data; distribute, toward the terminal devices of the plurality of viewer via the communication line, a second video related to a computer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation data by using a received web page; receive, via the communication line, token data indicating that any type of token among a plurality types of tokens is given to the distributor, the token data being generated by the terminal device of each viewer viewing the second video; calculate a score based on the total number of at least one type of tokens given to the distributor using the token data; and control a game object used in the game on the basis of the score.

As one example of a service used for distributing a video related to a computer game from the terminal device of a distributor to the terminal device of each viewer, a service called mirrativ provided on a website at apps.apple.com is known.
With this service, the distributor uses a terminal device to distribute, to the terminal devices of a plurality of viewers, a video including an animation of an avatar generated on the basis of motion data related to the motion of the distributor.

Video modification and transmission using tokens


A piezoelectric member element including a piezoelectric member layer and a pair of electrode layers sandwiching the piezoelectric member layer, wherein at least three layers, which are directed in a preferential orientation to the (110) plane on the (100) plane of Si, are accumulated and the above described at least three layers include the above described piezoelectric member layer and one of the above described pair of electrode layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric member (electrostrictive member) element and a liquid discharge head comprising the element (hereinafter, also referred to as "ink-jet head"). In particular, the present invention relates to a piezoelectric member element that can be applied as a sensor, a transducer and an actuator, etc. In particular the present invention is preferable to MEMS elements and ink-jet heads that have been attracting attention in recent years. In addition, other than ink-jet devices, the present invention is applied to head for memory, optical shutter, etc., ultrasonic motor, speaker, and the like.
2. Related Background Art
As piezoelectric member element, in recent years, taking utilization of semiconductor process into consideration, the one with an element being produced on an Si substrate is developed. Therefore, methods of forming thin film such as sol-gel method, sputtering method, MO-CVD method and the like are being considered. In addition, in order to improve characteristics for piezoelectric member element, consideration on improvement of crystal properties of piezoelectric member film is being implemented as well.
In particular, it has been announced that directing piezoelectric member film such as PZT, etc. to (001) preferential orientation or (111) preferential orientation with an Si substrate having general-purpose (100) surface.
In addition, as piezoelectric member film, films directed to (110) preferential orientation are being considered, but in order to place a piezoelectric member film under crystal control to bring it into film forming onto an Si substrate, high temperature process under 700° C. or more will become necessary.
For example, those having utilized piezoelectric member film in (110) preferential orientation and described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80995 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-179279 are known.
A piezoelectric member element described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80995 is the one having used an Si substrate having (110) surface, and a method of laminating (110) preferential orientation onto the (110) surface, and, as in the prior art, a high temperature step will become necessary. Therefore, stress is left in the film to give rise to a problem in endurance.
In addition, a piezoelectric member element described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-179279 brings a buffer layer (YSZ, etc.) in (100) preferential orientation into film forming onto an Si substrate having (100) surface, and thereafter places it under crystal control to (110) in an electrode layer, but a high temperature step will become necessary to implement film forming of buffer layer as well to give rise to a problem as in case of piezoelectric member element described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80995. In particular, in case of having utilized, as a vibration plate, a buffer layer to an ink-jet head, problems such as cracks in vibration plate, and delamination between an electrode layer and a buffer layer take place presumably due to influence of residual stress.

Piezoelectric member element and liquid discharge head comprising element thereof


Several cluster chips and a shared main memory are connected by interconnect buses. Each cluster chip has multiple processors using multiple level-2 local caches, two memory controllers and two snoop tag partitions. The interconnect buses connect all local caches to all snoop tag partitions on all cluster chips. Each snoop tag partition has all the system's snoop tags for a partition of the main memory space. The snoop index is a subset of the cache index, with remaining chip-select and interleave address bits selecting which of the snoop tag partitions on the multiple cluster chips stores snoop tags for that address. The number of snoop entries in a snoop set is equal to a total number of cache entries in one cache index for all local caches on all cluster chips. Cache coherency request processing is distributed among the snoop tag partitions on different cluster chips, reducing bottlenecks.

This invention relates to multi-processor systems, and more particularly to snoop tags for caches in a multi-processor system.
One challenge to designing systems with multiple processors is sharing of resources, especially memory. A main memory may be shared among several processors by transferring portions of the main memory to caches near the processors. However, sometimes more than one processor may request the same line in main memory. Keeping the shared memory line coherent may require tracking which processor caches have a copy of the cache line at any time. As the line is written to, other copies of the old line must be updated or invalidated.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a multi-processor system with a memory-coherency directory. Central processing unit (CPU) processor 20 temporarily stores instructions and data in cache 14, while second CPU 22 temporarily stores its instructions and data in cache 16. Eventually data is written back to main memory 10, which also supplies new instructions and data for processing to caches 14, 16.
Each memory line 18 in main memory 10 can have an entry 28 in memory directory 12. Entry 28 indicates which of caches 14, 16 has a copy of line 18, and whether the line has been written (dirty) and possibly other information. Caches 14, 16 store a tag portion of the address along with the data in cache lines 24, 26. Cache lines 24, 26 can have a different size than memory line 18.
Memory directory 12 is a central location to track the states and locations of copies of all memory lines in the system. All coherency is typically resolved at memory directory 12. As more processors and caches share main memory 10, bottlenecks can increase at this central coherency directory.
The size of memory directory 12 can be quite large. Main memory 10 is usually much larger than caches 14, 16. Memory directory 12 may store one entry for each line in main memory 10, often requiring a huge number of entries for a large memory such as a 4 Giga-byte memory. Directories may have bandwidth requirements that increase proportionally to main memory bandwidth. Since directories are designed with memory controllers this can be synergetic: add more memory bandwidth and obtain more directory bandwidth. Another characteristic is that the directory size is proportional with the memory size. Memory can get really big, so directories also get really big, perhaps prohibiting placing directories on-chip.
FIG. 2 is a multi-processor system with duplicate tags for coherency snooping. Rather than tracking memory line coherency on a per-memory-line basis in memory directory 12, the caches may themselves track cache-line coherency on a per-cache-line basis. When a cache requests to write to a line, it broadcasts the line's address to all other caches in the multi-processor system. The other caches compare the line's address to tags in the local caches and invalidate the cache line if a tag matches.
Since each cache is often busy supplying instructions and data to its local processor, there may be little available bandwidth to the cache tags for comparing broadcast snoops. A second copy of the tags can be kept for each cache to provide access to these broadcast snoops from other caches.
Duplicate tags 30 are a copy of the tags in cache 14 for addresses of valid cache lines in cache 14 used by processor 20. Duplicate tag 34 can contain a copy of the tag address, and other coherency information such as whether the line is dirty, valid, or owned by the local processor cache. Other caches such as second cache 16 also has duplicate tags 32 for cache lines stored in second cache 16.
When processor 20 desires to write to cache line 24 in cache 14, cache 14 broadcasts the tag in a request to all other caches. Second cache 16 receives the request and compares the broadcast address tag to its duplicate tags 32, finding a match with duplicate tag 36. Cache line 26 in second cache 16 is then invalidated to maintain coherency. More complex coherency schemes may also be implemented.
Since each cache maintains its own duplicate tags 30, 32, coherency processing is distributed among caches 14, 16, preventing a bottleneck. A much smaller number of duplicate tag entries are needed than for memory directory 12 (FIG. 1) since caches 14, 16 are much smaller than main memory 10. Snoop tags have a size that is proportional to the size of the caches. Since snoop tags tend to be designed with caches this is synergetic: adding more cache also adds snoop tag capacity. Also, the snoop tag bandwidth is proportional to the memory bandwidth and the number of caches. One failing of traditional snoop tag designs is that communication bandwidth is also proportional to both memory bandwidth and the number of caches. This quickly turns into a bottleneck as systems become larger.
FIG. 3 is a multi-processor system with a central location for duplicate tags for coherency snooping. Rather than having duplicate tags with each cache, a central snoop directory can store all duplicate tags. Cache line 24 in cache 14 has an entry in central duplicate tags 40 that indicates that the cache line is present in cache 14, and whether the line has been written (dirty). Likewise, cache line 26 in second cache 16 has an entry in central duplicate tags 40. When a cache line exists in more than one cache, entry 38 in central duplicate tags 40 can indicate which caches have the line, and which copies have been written.
Since coherency operations are preformed by central duplicate tags 40, caches 14, 16 do not have to be interrupted for comparing snoop addresses to cache tags. However, a bottleneck at central duplicate tags 40 can result, especially when the number of caches and processors is expanded.
What is desired is a multi-processor system that can expand the number of processors and local caches, while still providing cache-line coherency. Cache-line-base rather than memory-line-base coherency is desired to reduce the size of the coherency directory.

Duplicate snoop tags partitioned across multiple processor/cache chips in a multi-processor system


Articles and methods are provided for sealing a closure having an opening through which more than one elongate article may project. A body is provided having a plurality of axially extending radially projecting ribs defining, between circumferentially adjacent pairs thereof, locations for receiving one or more of the elongate articles. The body includes longitudinally adjacent parts of resilient material and sealant material.

The present application is a National Phase application of PCT/GB99/03253 filed on Sep. 30, 1999 and published in English, which claims priority from Applications GB 9823138.4 filed on Oct. 23, 1998 and GB 9920342.4 filed on Aug. 28, 1999.
The present invention relates generally to a seal for a closure, and more specifically to a seal for sealing an aperture in a closure through which more than one elongate article may extend. The present invention also relates to closures including such a seal, and to seal parts constituting such a seal.
The present invention finds particularly utility as a seal for use in a casing for protecting junctions between elongate articles such as pipes, tubes or cables. As used in this specification the term xe2x80x9ccablexe2x80x9d will be understood to refer not only to electrically conductive cables, but also to bundles of optical fibres. When it is necessary to make end-to-end or branch connections between elongate articles such as pipes, tubes or cables the junction or splice where such articles are joined is almost always less strong and less resistant to environmental agents than is the article itself. Unless protected from such environmental agents, therefore, the junction between the elongate articles is subject to deterioration over time.
In telecommunication or power transmission systems it is frequently necessary to make splices either to join cables end-to-end or make a branch. The cables and the splices may be located above ground, underground, in conduits or in other environments either inside or outside buildings, but wherever they are located there is always the risk of ingress of environmental agents such as moisture or dust. In addition, underground installations are also subject to pressure, particularly hydrostatic pressure, whilst above ground installations suffer from diurnal thermal variations and other effects such as vibration, the risk of impacts or other disturbing forces.
In order to provide environmental protection for splices in cables or other elongate articles various protective measures are known. Systems utilising an enclosing casing have been found to be particularly valuable, such casings being enclosed containers having a housing for enclosing the cable connections or splices and at least one aperture in the housing wall through which the cable or cables can extend. Naturally, in order to prevent contamination by external agents, it is necessary to form a secure seal between the casing and any cable passing through it.
In some cases the opening has to be large enough to accommodate several cables although often a smaller number, less than the full complement, is used in practice. Such situations provide particular difficulties in forming a good seal because not only the size but also the cross sectional shape of a bundle of cables will vary in dependence on the actual number of cables used.
The Applicant""s international patent application WO97/45904 describes such a seal and a casing forming a cable closure in which the space between a cable passing through an opening and the opening itself is occupied with a gel held under pressure by a spring or other resilient means. This device, however, was particularly adapted to be used in circumstances where a single cable passes through each individual opening in the casing, so that the body of gel provided for engagement with the cable surface can be preliminarily shaped approximately to match the surface of the cable. This system works well and effectively, but cannot be immediately applied to casings in which the number of individual cables which may pass out through an opening cannot be determined in advance and for which, for reasons of production economy, it is appropriate to produce a modular casing capable of accommodating a range of cable configurations.
The Applicant""s international patent application PCT/GB99/01898 discusses one attempt to accommodate a situation where a plurality of cables pass out through an opening. This is achieved by providing a core or plug body having a plurality of channels and an associated sealant element the shape of which substantially matches that of the opening into which the sealant element is to be fitted such that, when a cable is fitted into one of the channels of the sealant element, the sealant is deformed and can be compressed in such a way as to form a seal between the cable and the opening.
The present invention is directed at substantially the same problem but provides an alternative solution in which, nevertheless, a good seal between an opening and an unspecified number of elongate elements such as cables may be achieved quickly and economically.
The Applicant""s U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,277 discloses a sealing device comprising flexible ribs which in use extend at least part around the periphery of each substrate so as to provide a sealing block between the elongate substrates and the housing. Foam blocks minimise any movement of the ribs along the body of the device but have no sealing function. Although this known device functions satisfactorily, it was found that its sealing capabilities could still be improved on.
According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, a seal element for a closure having an opening through which more than one elongate article may project comprises a body having a plurality of axially extending radially projecting ribs defining, between circumferentially adjacent pairs thereof, locations for receiving one or more said elongate members, and is according to the present invention characterised in that the body comprises longitudinally adjacent parts of resilient material and sealant material.
In use of the seal element of the present invention elongate elements such as cables can be laid into the locations between circumferentially adjacent pairs of ribs in contact with the sealant material. As will be described in more detail below, a further sealant element may then be wrapped around the sealant part of the seal element and the whole assembly fitted into an opening in a casing. This offers a convenient way in which the elongate elements or cables can be held separate from one another which is advantageous in allowing the sealing pressure of the sealant material to be well transferred between them. A single shape and size of seal element can be made for use with a range of sizes of opening, and is capable of accommodating a range of sizes of cable as well as an unspecified number of cables.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the said ribs have opposite faces which are substantially parallel, the resilient and sealant parts thereof being substantially flush with one another. It would, of course, be possible for the sealant part of the element to have a different shape from that of the resilient part, and in particular to project radially such as to require deformation as an elongate element is positioned into one of the locations between adjacent ribs.
Preferably the ribs are substantially flat although convex or concavely curved ribs may be utilised in certain circumstances.
Likewise, it is convenient if the opposite faces of the ribs converge radially outwardly. Such convergence is preferably at an extremely acute angle of only a few degrees.
The sealant part of the body is preferably a gel and suitable gel materials are known, for example, from our earlier international patent application WO97/45904.
The resilient part of the seal body may be a natural or synthetic elastomer. A preferred embodiment is formed with five said radially projecting ribs and the material of both the resilient part or parts and the sealant parts or parts is such that it can be severed with a cutting instrument.
The present invention also comprehends an assembly for making a seal between an opening through which one or more elongate articles may project, and the articles themselves, comprising a seal element in the form of a body having a plurality of axially extending radially projecting ribs defining between circumferentially adjacent pairs thereof, locations for receiving one or more said elongate members, the body comprising longitudinally adjacent parts of resilient material and sealant material, at least one retainer or tie strap for retaining the elongate articles in position between respective pairs of ribs, and an elongate strip of sealant material to be wrapped around the elongate articles at an axial location corresponding to that of the part of the body composed of sealant material.
The assembly may further comprise an elongate, substantially rigid reinforcing member positionable alongside an elongate element or in a vacant location between two adjacent ribs in a completed seal. Such a reinforcing member is of particular value in circumstances where there may be fewer cables than the minimum number of locations between ribs which it is convenient to provide. This reinforcing member can then be laid in the vacant location and acts as a reaction member against which the retaining member can act in holding together the elongate elements to retain them in the locations between the ribs.
Preferably an assembly for forming a seal also comprises retainers or tie straps for encircling the elongate elements (and, if provided, the rigid reinforcing member or members) at a position axially spaced from the seal body at each end thereof.
The assembly may, likewise, further include an adhesive strip for encircling the sealant strip and retaining it in position around the said elongate elements and the body of the seal element.
In a practical embodiment there is further provided at least one tension resistant retainer which can be fitted so as to extend circumferentially around the elongate elements and the resilient part of the seal element, acting to hold them together whereby to transfer axial loads from one to the other. Such tension resistant retainers are sometimes known as axial pull tapes and suitable examples will be described hereinafter in more detail. One such suitable tension resistant retainer comprises a strip of malleable material having surface formations such as to grip the said resilient part of the seal element when located circumjacently thereabout.
The present invention also comprehends a method of forming a seal for sealing between an opening and a plurality of elongate elements passing through the opening, comprising the steps of assembling the elongate elements with a seal element comprising a body having a plurality of axially extending radially projecting ribs defining between circumferentially adjacent pairs thereof locations for receiving one or more said elongate members, the body comprising longitudinally adjacent parts of resilient material and sealant material, with each elongate element received in a respective location between two adjacent elongate ribs of the seal element and extending there along, encircling the elongate elements with a retainer to secure them in position in the said locations, severing that part of each rib projecting radially beyond the elongate elements and applying an elongate strip of sealant circumferentially around the assembly in axial juxtaposition with the sealant part of the body to form a surrounding band of sealant the dimensions of which are not less than those of the opening to be sealed.
It is of value to be able to provide a universal seal element having a given number of ribs which may be greater than is always required. The method of the present invention thus includes the step of preparing the seal element by removing one or more ribs to provide a number of locations appropriate for the number of elongate elements to be received in the said locations thereof.
Thus, for example, if the seal element has five ribs, therefore defining five locations between circumferentially adjacent pairs of ribs, and it is only required to locate three cables, two of the ribs may be removed at or adjacent their roots to provide three locations for cables.
In some circumstances it may not be appropriate to position a cable in every location, for example if only two cables are to be utilised, because it is impracticable to cut down a seal element to fewer than three ribs. In such circumstances there may be provided a supplementary element to be received in a location not required for an elongate member around which the retainer member passes to retain the elongate elements in position in the locations.
Alternatively, one of the ribs of at least one part is at both ends provided with axially extending retaining bodies for retaining the elongate articles in their respective locations. This allows a better defined position of the seal element relative to the elongate articles, even when only one rib is used and the other ribs have been cut away.

Seal for a closure and a closure incorporating the seal


In order to reduce parasitic inductance of a main circuit in a power supply circuit, a non-insulated DC-DC converter is provided including a circuit in which a power MOS•FET for a high-side switch and a power MOS•FET for a low-side switch are connected in series. In the non-insulated DC-DC converter, the power MOS•FET for the high-side switch is formed by a p-channel vertical MOS•FET, and the power MOS•FET for the low-side switch is formed by an n channel vertical MOS•FET. Thus, a semiconductor chip formed with the power MOS•FET for the high-side switch and a semiconductor chip formed with the power MOS•FET for the low-side switch are mounted over the same die pad and electrically connected to each other through the die pad.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device technique, and particularly to a technique effective if applied to a semiconductor device having a power supply circuit.
A DC-DC converter widely used as one example of a power supply circuit has a configuration wherein a high-side power MOS•FET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) and a low-side power MOS•FET are connected in series. The high-side power MOS•FET has a switch function for control of the DC-DC converter, and the low-side power MOS•FET has a switch function for synchronous rectification. By alternately turning on/off these two power MOS•FETs while synchronization is being achieved therebetween, the conversion of a power supply voltage is carried out.
Such a DC-DC converter has been descried in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-528449 (patent document 1), which discloses a configuration wherein a high-side power MOS•FET, a low-side power MOS•FET, a driver circuit that drives these power MOS•FETs, and an input capacitor are accommodated within the same package.
A package configuration wherein a high-side power MOS•FET constituting a DC-DC converter is constituted of a horizontal power MOS•FET, a low-side power MOS•FET constituting the DC-DC converter is configured of a vertical power MOS•FET, and these power MOS•FETs are mounted over a common frame, has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-217416 (patent document 2).


A semiconductor structure includes a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) including a collector layer located over a substrate, the collector layer including a semiconductor material, and a field effect transistor (FET) located over the substrate, the FET having a channel formed in the semiconductor material that forms the collector layer of the HBT. In some implementations, a second FET can be provided so as to be located over the substrate and configured to include a channel formed in a semiconductor material that forms an emitter of the HBT. One or more of the foregoing features can be implemented in devices such as a die, a packaged module, and a wireless device.

In some semiconductor material systems it is possible to combine different device technologies on a single semiconductor die to form hybrid structures. For example, in certain material systems, it is possible to integrate a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) with a field effect transistors (FET) on a single substrate, to fabricate what is referred to as a BiFET. Devices, such as RF power amplifiers, can be fabricated using BiFET technology to have increased design flexibility. As a result, a BiFET power amplifier including an HBT and a FET can be advantageously designed to operate at a lower reference voltage than a bipolar transistor power amplifier. Of particular interest to device manufacturers are high power BiFET amplifiers, which can be formed by integrating a FET into a gallium arsenide (GaAs) HBT process. However, previous attempts to integrate a FET into a GaAs HBT process have resulted only in an n-type FET device.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a BiFET device structure that includes a p-type FET device, and that may include complementary n-type and p-type FET devices.

Devices and methodologies related to structures having HBT and FET


A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a first electrode pad containing copper as a main component and having a thickness equal to or more than 5 μm and less than 50 μm; an electrode layer containing copper as a main component and having a thickness equal to or more than 5 μm and less than 50 μm; and a semiconductor layer provided between the first electrode pad and the electrode layer.

A power semiconductor device has a problem that a rise in a temperature caused by heat generation of a semiconductor chip causes a degradation in reliability. For example, the heat generation may vary a threshold voltage of a transistor and destabilize a device operation. Furthermore, the heat generation may breakdown the device.
To suppress a rise in the temperature caused by heat generation, copper having high thermal conductivity is used for electrodes provided on top planes of semiconductor chips. The copper electrodes cool semiconductor chip, and suppress a rise in a temperature caused by heat generation of the semiconductor chips.
It is desirable to increase the thickness of the copper used for the electrodes to enhance an effect of cooling the semiconductor chips. However, increasing the thickness of the copper increases stresses of the electrodes and makes warps of the semiconductor chips large. The warps of the semiconductor chips may produce cracks in the semiconductor chips or produce voids in solders used as bonding layers.

Semiconductor device having electrode pad and electrode layer intervening semiconductor layer inbetween and manufacturing method thereof

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation


A toilet that exhausts odious air therefrom. The toilet includes a bowl, a main trap, a housing, a secondary trap, and a fan. The bowl has a rim and contains a chamber that communicates with the rim and receives human waste that produces the odious air. The main trap is contained in the bowl and communicates the chamber with a waste so as to provide a passageway from the chamber to the waste for the human waste. The housing is contained in the bowl and communicates the chamber with the waste so as to provide a passageway from the chamber to the waste for the odious air. The secondary trap is contained in the bowl and communicates the housing with the waste so as to provide a passageway from the housing to the waste for the odious air. The fan is contained in the housing and activates when a user sits on the bowl, and when activated, moves the odious air from the chamber, through the housing, through the secondary trap, and into the waste.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toilet. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toilet for exhausting odious air therefrom.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for toilets have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,370 to Arnold teaches a water closet that has an intake manifold interposed between the seat and the top periphery of the bowl. A suction blower is arranged to draw gases from the manifold, and deliver them to the sewer connection beyond the water trap. The components, including the ventilation connection, are within, or secured to, the bowl and tank structure.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,131 to Sim teaches a toilet assembly which includes a toilet stool having a ventilation conduit disposed adjacent to the back wall portion of the toilet stool for ventilating objectionable odor from a toilet bowl, the ventilation conduit extending annularly around a siphon conduit at the point where they communicate with a sewer discharge line, a fan member disposed in the lower portion of the ventilation conduit, a toilet holding tank having a motion sensor disposed on the front exterior of the toilet holding tank and free of interference from the opening and closing of a toilet seat cover, and an U-shaped gas exhaust duct disposed in the toilet holding tank and connected to the ventilation conduit for allowing exhaust gas to flow from a flush ring to the ventilation conduit, whereby upon opening the toilet seat cover, while the user sits on the seat ring, the motion sensor is actuated to operate the fan member and the objectionable odor is ventilated, and in turn when the user stands and flushes the toilet assembly, the motion sensor is deactivated and simultaneously the flush water discharges the waste product and associated objectionable odor directly to the sewer discharge line.
STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,782 to Sim teaches a toilet assembly which includes a toilet stool having a ventilation conduit disposed adjacent to the back wall portion of the toilet stool for ventilating objectionable odor from a toilet bowl, the ventilation conduit extending annularly around a siphon conduit at the point where they communicate with a sewer discharge line, a fan member disposed in the lower portion of the ventilation conduit, a toilet holding tank having a motion sensor disposed on the front exterior of the toilet holding tank and free of interference from the opening and closing of a toilet seat cover, a gas exhaust duct connected to the ventilation conduit and having a raised portion disposed at the interior surface thereof for allowing exhaust gas to flow from a flush ring to the ventilation conduit and preventing the flush water from flowing into the ventilation conduit, whereby opening the toilet seat cover while the user sits on the seat ring, the motion sensor actuates the fan member allowing the objectionable odor to be ventilated and in turn, when the user stands up and flushes the toilet assembly, the motion sensor is deactivated and the flush water simultaneously discharges the waste products and associated objectionable odor directly to the sewer discharge line.
YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,275 to Klopocinski teaches a multifunction toilet with a conventional flushing system and auxiliary components which include an odor exhaust system which withdraws gases from the toilet bowl and delivers them to the sewage drain downstream of the toilet water trap. Other auxiliary components include a motor driven retractable nozzle pipe which provides a personal warm water spray rinse and a dryer which supplies warm drying air. The auxiliary components are operated under a switch control system which assures proper sequencing and prevents use unless the user is seated on the toilet seat.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for toilets have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a toilet for exhausting odious air therefrom that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a toilet for exhausting odious air therefrom that is simple to use.
BRIEFLY STATED, STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a toilet that exhausts odious air therefrom. The toilet includes a bowl, a main trap, a housing, a secondary trap, and a fan. The bowl has a rim and contains a chamber that communicates with the rim and receives human waste that produces the odious air. The main trap is contained in the bowl and communicates the chamber with a waste so as to provide a passageway from the chamber to the waste for the human waste. The housing is contained in the bowl and communicates the chamber with the waste so as to provide a passageway from the chamber to the waste for the odious air. The secondary trap is contained in the bowl and communicates the housing with the waste so as to provide a passageway from the housing to the waste for the odious air. The fan is contained in the housing and activates when a user sits on the bowl, and when activated, moves the odious air from the chamber, through the housing, through the secondary trap and into the waste.
The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

For a toilet for automatically exhausting odious air therefrom


An apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery adapted to perform blunt dissection between two layers of anatomically named fascia. The dissection performed by the apparatus extends to the limits of anatomic space defined by fusion of said two layers of fascia in a minimally invasive manner. The apparatus is formed of a hollow tube body member including a malleable introducing flange having a spoonbill-like shape. Further, the apparatus includes an elastic dissection balloon movably positioned within the applicator. The dissection balloon is reversibly expandable between a deflated condition and an expanded condition and is movable from a first storage position within the hollow tube body of the applicator to a position exterior thereof. The dissection balloon is formed of a chosen elastic material having a tensile strength less than the tensile strength of the points of fusion between two layers of fascia such that the dissection balloon fails prior to achieving pressures that would destroy the anatomic boundaries of the fascial cleft such that a working space is demonstrated not created. The apparatus also includes a gripping handle and introducing rod slideably positioned within said applicator for positioning said dissection balloon exterior said applicator to within an anatomic space for subsequent inflation and deflation. Finally, a fill tube extends through the hollow introducing rod to the dissection balloon and operably associated therewith for inflating and deflating the dissection balloon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to the field of surgical apparatus for opening an anatomic space. More particularly, the present invention pertains to surgical apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for tissue dissection wherein a balloon device performs the function of tissue dissection in a minimally invasive manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2001, 190,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately one in eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This makes breast cancer the most common cancer among women. These statistics have made breast cancer one of the most pressing issues in women's healthcare today.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports a 174% increase in breast reconstruction procedures between 1992 and 2001, with 81,089 women having reconstructive procedures last year. This trend should increase exponentially as the baby boomer generation matriculates into the high risk age group. In 1998 the Woman's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) was passed. This federal law mandates insurance coverage for breast reconstruction following mastectomy. These demographics should make surgical treatment of breast cancer one of the most pressing issues for insurers over the next decade.
The mainstay of breast cancer therapy is surgery. Treatment falls into two categories: 1) breast conservation therapy—consisting of a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection followed by radiation; and 2) Modified radical mastectomy.
Of the roughly 190,000 new cases of breast cancer each year, approximately 100,000 will undergo modified radical mastectomy. Breast reconstruction has long been an option for women who undergo mastectomy. Over the last twenty years this has evolved from a three stage procedure to a one step operation performed at the same time as the mastectomy. Immediate reconstruction at the same time as a skin sparing mastectomy has been referred to as minimally invasive treatment of breast cancer.
Skin Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Breast Reconstruction
Standard surgical treatments for breast cancer destroy the important connections of the skin of the breast to the chest wall. In addition it leaves a long scar, which covers the entire chest. This creates unnecessary damage that is difficult to reconstruct. Minimally Invasive surgical treatment of breast cancer begins with a skin-sparing mastectomy performed through a circular incision made just outside of the areolar border. In the skin-sparing mastectomy, the skin covering the breast is lifted off the breast tissue, which is removed along with the nipple, areola, and the lymph nodes. The oncologic safety efficacy of skin-sparing mastectomy had been established in the literature with reports such as that by Schusterman out of M. D. Anderson in a report in 1991 from SG&O [The Oncologic Risk of Skin Preservation at Mastectomy When Combined With Immediate Reconstruction of the Breast, Kroll, S. S., Schusterman, M. A. & others. Surgery, Gyn. And Obstetrics, January 1991 Vol. 172, pgs 17-20.]. In this paper the authors described 100 cases of immediate breast reconstruction following skin-sparing mastectomies. In their series, the percentage of local recurrence was 1.2%, which is better than most standard modified radical mastectomy series.
The preservation of the skin covering the breast during mastectomy obviates the need for tissue expanders and thus allows for completion of the reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy. Preservation of the attachment of the breast skin to the chest wall is an important principle of the skin-sparing technique. This is important especially at the inferior and lateral aspect of the breast. It is these attachments of the skin to the chest wall, which give the breast its aesthetic form. Additionally, blood supply through lateral perforators at the lateral aspect of the breast can also be preserved thus insuring the viability of the skin flaps. Removing all of the breast tissue, without going beyond the anatomic boundaries of the breast (and thus destroying the attachment of the skin overlying the breast to the chest wall) becomes the critical factor in this procedure. Understanding of the nature of fascial clefts and their application to breast anatomy is greatly helpful in skin sparing mastectomy.
The breast gland is contained between two layers of superficial fascia. The sub glandular space is in fact a fascial cleft between the superficial fascia on the deep surface of the breast and the deep fascia of the pectoralis major muscle and chest wall. This cleft has anatomic boundaries where all of these layers of fascia fuse and define the limits of the breast. These fusion points have been referred to as the "circum-mammary ligament". The application of fascial cleft surgery to skin sparing mastectomy performs this critical dissection in a quick, easy and accurate manner. What has yet to be developed, that the present invention provides for, is an instrument specifically designed for performance of fascial cleft surgery in skin sparing mastectomies.
Once the breast specimen has been removed an empty envelope of breast skin remains and requires filling. This can be done in certain patients with autologous tissue in the form of a TRAM (tummy tuck) flap. However, most patients are either poor candidate for this invasive reconstructive surgery or do not desire the lengthy recovery that is associated with it. The majority of patients will opt to fill the void created by the mastectomy with breast implants. Prior to the placement of these implants a muscle flap from the underlying pectoralis major muscle and the latissimus dorsi muscle (from the back), is mobilized to cover the opening created by the mastectomy. The implant is placed under the muscle, which gives a natural softness to the breast and the skin repositioned over it. Following this a full thickness skin graft from the groin is placed on the top of the latissimus flap to reconstruct the areola. The back muscle is removed through an incision which runs horizontally and can be easily hidden by a bra or bathing suite. All this can be performed at the same operation as the mastectomy.
Because the skin overlying the breast and its attachments to the chest wall has been preserved, placement of a breast implant is a relatively straight forward procedure. For this reason it can be performed safely and effectively at the same time as the mastectomy. These procedures are not terribly invasive and do not create a difficult recovery. For this reason patients who are healthy without serious medical conditions can easily have this performed on an outpatient basis (23 hour stay). The use of minimally invasive approaches to mastectomy and immediate reconstruction reduces the number of surgeries required to one. This yields benefits to the patient and their families as well as providers who are responsible for the cost of reconstruction.
The concept of minimally invasive surgery therefore does not require the use of one of the most important tool of the surgical movement—the endoscope. It does however require a surgical philosophy of first doing no unnecessary harm to surrounding anatomic tissues and structures in the process of accomplishing the surgical operational plan. An analogy can be drawn to modern military forces which use smart bombs and high tech equipment to avoid civilian casualties and minimize friendly fire injuries. This often involves the use of small incisions when compared to standard open surgery, but more importantly it minimizes unnecessary dissection that might destroy anatomic form and function leading to prolonged recovery or post operative disability or deformity. Minimally invasive ventral hernia repair illustrates this concept nicely.
Ventral incisional hernias are known to occur following 10% of all laparotomies. Each year 100,000 ventral hernias are repaired in the US (with another 100,000 estimated in the rest of the world). Primary closure has a recurrence rate as high as 50%. This has led to the wide acceptance of repair techniques using synthetic mesh implants as patches to cover abdominal wall defects. This however fails to restore functional strength of the abdominal wall and is still associated with an unacceptably high rate of recurrence (20 to 25% in most series). Mesh repairs have the additional drawback of potential devastating entero-cutaneous fistulas and infections.
The "Components Separation" technique for ventral hernia repair, introduced by plastic surgeon, Oscar Ramirez in 1990, marked a novel approach to this difficult clinical problem. The technique involves wide undermining of the abdominal skin to expose the surface of the anterior abdominal wall, after standard exposure and excision of the hernia sac. Long relaxing incisions are made through anterior fascia one centimeter lateral and parallel to the semi-lunar line. Next, open blunt dissection is performed in a fascial cleft between the layers of the external oblique and internal oblique muscles. Dissection to the borders of this fascial cleft allows for mobilization of the rectus muscles to the midline to achieve direct closure without tension. Midline closure obviates the need for mesh and restores proper function and strength of the anterior abdominal wall.
Despite dramatic reduction in recurrence rates (to single digits in multiple published reports) several factors have prevented widespread adoption of this procedure. First, the vast majority of reports on this technique have been published in the Plastic Surgery literature, while 95% of ventral hernias are performed by general surgeons. Second, the wide undermining of abdominal skin and management of resulting skin excess is outside the comfort zone of most general surgeons. In fact, ischemia of the edges of these skin flaps with resultant wound separation and infection has been the major criticism of the Ramirez technique. Finally, the components separation technique requires more effort and time, than the mesh repair, due to the need for open exposure of the anterior abdominal wall. Endoscopically assisted components separation, reported first by Lowe, Rohrich, et. al. addressed these concerns and has shown it to be a safe and effective method of repair of complicated and recurrent midline ventral hernias (Lowe J B, Garza J R, Bowman J L, Et al. Endoscopically assisted "components separation" for closure of abdominal wall defects. Plast Reconstr Surg 2000; 105:720-29).
The use of Fascial Cleft Surgery allows for quick and easy performance of endoscopically assisted components separation repairs. It alleviates the need for undermining of skin and accomplishes dissection of the abdominal wall components (external oblique and internal oblique muscles), with the new surgical instrument constituting the present invention, to the limits of the fascial cleft. Endoscopy allows for release of the external oblique fascia under direct visualization. This maneuver is performed as quickly and easily as introduction of trocars in laparoscopic procedures. The remainder of the procedure is reduced to direct closure of the midline defect. Attempts by Lowe and others to use existing balloon dissectors based on the Kieturakis prior art failed to dissect the fascial cleft to its anatomic borders due to limitations of its design and the inelastic nature of the balloon. This required multiple insertions of the balloon into the cleft between the external and internal oblique muscles. It also failed to fully dissect the entire anatomic space since dissection was limited to the dimensions of the device. Perhaps this incomplete dissection resulted in insufficient release of tension when the midline was closed and accounts for the higher recurrence of hernia formation in Lowe's endoscopic series when compared to his open components separation repairs. This makes a strong argument for a new improved surgical device for performing minimally invasive ventral hernia repair with fascial cleft dissection.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery was born in the "fertile crescent" of the peritoneal cavity. Complex surgical maneuvers performed through small incisions are enabled by opening the potential space that is the peritoneal cavity through gas insufflation. Gas is used to inflate the anatomic space until the anatomic boundaries are reached. Once the anatomic potential space has been opened and inflated to its limits an endoscope is inserted and the space is inspected and manipulated as necessary. Minimally invasive procedures outside the peritoneum have defied exploration because of the lack of an easily accessible and inflatable working space.
Bonutti, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,949, recognized the need for retraction of soft tissues when working outside the peritoneal cavity. He envisioned cannulas and catheters that were inserted into a mass of tissue and used inflatable devices to expand perpendicular to the axis of the cannula. This created a working space when the distal end of the cannula expanded and caused separation along natural tissue planes for a substantial distance.
A surgical balloon dissector and method of use is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,345, to Kieturakis et al. This device provides for an expansible tunneling apparatus that creates an anatomic work space in a body mass. It is comprised of a tubular member with a rigid tunneling shaft having a blunt tipped obturator for tunneling through tissue to a desired location for dissection. The device contains a non-elastomeric balloon designed in the shape of a mantaray. This balloon on the distal end of the shaft is positioned in the preferred embodiment behind the inguinal region in the pre-peritoneal space after being introduced through an incision at the umbilicus.
In Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,026, Johnson embellished Bonutti's work by describing a method for dissection using a tissue expander. He described use of a hollow endotube with a bullet shaped obturator that is used to tunnel to a desired location between skin and subcutaneous fat, skin and bone, skin and muscle or skin and fascia. The endotube is then used to deliver a tissue expander to the location which is then expanded to create spaces, cavities, or pockets in the body. He recommends overfilling the inflatable hollow member by 50%. The preferred embodiment of this method is a breast augmentation performed through an umbilical incision.
Johnson is still limited to creating spaces based on the dimensions of the device, even when the device was "overfilled by 50%". Johnson was also imprecise in the tunneling of the endotube and positioning of the inflatable dissector. Its method lacked a sophisticated understanding of soft tissue anatomy and implied that it is practical and possible to create a dissection space at any desired location or plane of tissue. This is in fact not the case. For instance, it is not possible to perform minimally invasive blunt dissection with an inflatable device within the subcutaneous fat as Johnson claims. This is because of the existence of anatomic entities named "vertical cutaneous ligaments" which run up vertically from superficial fascia (which is in the horizontal plane) to the skin. This anatomic construct is analogous to a honey comb filled with honey, where the fat is the honey and the comb is the fascia and ligaments. Dissection in this natural plane (i.e. the subcutaneous plane) can only be performed with sharp dissection, or a constant combination of sharp and blunt dissection as in face lift surgery. This is because the vertical cutaneous ligaments cross the horizontal subcutaneous plane and resist blunt dissection.
In Rehnke, U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,989, fascial cleft surgery was first disclosed. A fascial cleft is an anatomic potential space between layers of fascia throughout the body with defined limits or boundaries, much like the peritoneal cavity. Fascial cleft surgery enables minimally invasive endoscopic surgery outside the peritoneal cavity in all regions of the body. Fascial cleft surgery not only respects the soft tissue anatomic layers and boundaries but takes full advantage of their existence. Unlike the peritoneal cavity, in laparoscopy, the potential space between layers of fascia has more cohesion and can not be separated into a true working space by CO2 gas insufflation. A specialized dissection instrument is required. The present invention relates to a specialized surgical instrument for use in fascial cleft surgery.
The patent to Bonutti, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,949, discloses the use of cannulas to tunnel through a body mass indiscriminately and CREATES a work space in unspecified natural planes. The surgical apparatus comprising the present invention for use in fascial cleft surgery for tissue dissection utilizes a balloon device to perform the function of tissue dissection in a minimally invasive manner. The inflatable device of the Bonutti apparatus determines the size of the work space and retracts tissue based on the construct of the device shape. This method does nothing to delineate the size or boundaries of an underlying anatomic space. Bonutti's method relies on the design of the instrument rather than the inherent anatomic design of the body to create a space.
The surgical apparatus comprising the present invention uses open dissection, through a small incision, to a specific anatomic cleft between layers of known named fascia to enter a particular fascial cleft, which is analogous to the peritoneal cavity in laparoscopy. The inflatable device comprising the present invention, which has no predetermined inflated fixed shape or dimensions, is delivered into the fascial cleft without any tunneling through layers of tissue. The inflatable balloon apparatus of the present invention is designed to fail before achieving pressures that would destroy the anatomic boundaries of the fascial cleft. The pressure generated by the expansion of the device is weaker than the integrity of the fascia and the points of fusion between the two layers of fascia. The working space is not created, it is demonstrated. This is a fundamental difference in philosophy of dissection which requires a distinct difference in design and use of the instrument.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,345, to Kieturakis et al. discloses a device used for practicing a method of dissection. The only anatomic distinction made is in regard to the preperitoneal space in the preferred embodiment of inguinal hernia repair. It also creates a work space of dimensions that follow the design of the device rather than demonstrate existing anatomic spaces. The patent teaches a "balloon is formed of a non-elastomeric material; it is a volume-limited balloon to prevent overexpansion." This reflects a fundamental departure from the philosophy regarding minimally invasive soft tissue dissection. The shape of the Kieturakis device has a non-elastic balloon of designed dimensions that creates a work space according to its fixed size. This is undesirable in the '989 Rehnke method of fascial cleft surgery. The present invention requires an elastic device which expands until it reaches the anatomic limits of the fascial cleft.
The Kieturakis device is made of a hollow tube with a rigid shaft with a hemispherical or ellipsoidal obturator at the end, designed to tunnel through tissue. This sort of straight rigid shaft with a bullet shaped obturator is highly undesirable if one wants to keep the device within a specific anatomic cleft during introduction of the inflatable member. The Present invention comprises a flat, beveled spoonbill distal end with a malleable end ideally suited for inserting the inflatable device of the present invention into a fascial cleft of curvilinear proportions without straying from that space. The Kieturakis device with its rigid shaft and obturator is prone to tunneling out of a desired fascial cleft.
In Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,026, augmentation is disclosed wherein the surgery is performed through an umbilical incision. Johnson teaches the use of a hollow endotube with a bullet shaped nose piece for tunneling from a remote incision to a desired location for creation of a space, cavity, or pocket. This method of dissection relates to dissection of soft tissues in various regions within subcutaneous fat, between skin and bone, skin and muscle, or skin and fascia. It also describes dissection between fat and bone, fat and muscle fat and fascia and peritoneum and fascia; including between tissue and: bladder, nerves, blood vessels and muscle. This intrusive approach to invasive dissection generally disregards human anatomy. It is a method groping in anatomic darkness, hoping to hit an undefined mark. The use of a penetrating obturator for tunneling has the same design drawbacks of the Kieturakis device. The expander or prosthesis that is inflated to "overfilling . . . by about 50%", relates to breast implants and tissue expanders. Thus this method patent advocates use of relatively inelastic prostheses that are "overfilled" to create a pocket; as apposed to the present invention device which is completely elastic and follows the design of the anatomic space and is stopped by the anatomic boundaries of the fascial cleft, rather than the point 50% beyond a prescribed fill volume.
Young, U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,497, teaches a device for dissecting along natural tissue planes to create a tissue pocket to hold the device which is left in place to perform traditional tissue expansion over a long term (days and months). It uses a device with a rigid base to establish the footprint and orientation of the expansion effort. This sort of device clearly has no use in fascial cleft surgery.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved surgical apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for minimally invasive surgical dissection to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages in the prior art.
The use of surgical dissection tools of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, balloon disectors of known designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of surgical dissection through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a surgical apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for tissue dissection wherein a balloon device performs the function of tissue dissection in a minimally invasive manner.
In this respect, surgical apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for tissue dissection according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of utilizing a balloon device for performing the function of tissue dissection in a minimally invasive manner.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved surgical apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for tissue dissection which can be used for performing the function of tissue dissection in a minimally invasive manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for opening an anatomic space