Provided is an apparatus for a home network middleware interoperability service using a home gateway and an OSGi platform and method thereof, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of home network devices in which various types of middlewares are mounted; a home gateway in which a plurality of middleware bundles for supporting the various types of middlewares and an OSGi platform are mounted, and with which information on the home network devices is transferred to an external network; and a service provider connected to the home gateway via an external network and receiving information on the home network devices and downloading to the home gateway the middleware bundles appropriate to the user's home network to provide the middleware interoperability service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for a home network middleware interoperability service using a home gateway and an OSGi platform and method thereof and, more specifically, to an apparatus for a home network middleware interoperability service using a home gateway and an OSGi platform and method thereof, wherein an OSGi bundle that incorporates and converts different middleware functions on a home network of a user is downloaded on the home gateway to operate on the OSGi platform so that a service that matches individual characteristics of the service user can be provided and an added interoperability service can be rendered regarding the change of the home network environment such as adding a new middleware and a device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, in the conventional method of providing interoperability among different types of middlewares, every apparatus should be equipped with a conversion module that can converts the different types of middleware, resulting in a heavy weight.
That is, each apparatus should have the conversion module for all middlewares intended to convert. Further, when a new middleware is introduced, the conversion module for this should be newly reconfigured and mounted in each apparatus, thus incurring cost and time issues.
Further, when a new device is introduced to the market, each middleware association should newly redefine the apparatus model to add this to the middleware, in which the conversion of the device level should be newly applied to the new conversion model, so that a problem exists that such an interoperability method provides only restrictive performance.

Apparatus for home network middleware interoperability service using home gateway and OSGi platform and method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A logical information-processing device is allocated based on a request from a terminal device. In an information-processing device, one of plural storage devices is connected to one of plural processing devices each including a managing unit. First correspondence information stores physical identification information identifying the information-processing device in association with address information of the managing unit. Second correspondence information stores the physical identification information in association with logical identification information identifying the logical information-processing device. A managing device obtains address information of the managing unit of the information-processing device corresponding to the logical information-processing device allocated to the terminal device, by using the physical identification information obtained, based on the logical identification information included in the request, from the second correspondence information. A proxy device accesses the managing unit of the corresponding information-processing device based on the address information obtained by the managing device.

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a service which provides, via a network, a server as an information processing device placed at a data center (or provides a virtual machine to be executed on a server as an information processing device). Platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) provide an application interface (API) and a software environment. In contrast, IaaS is differentiated from other cloud services as a mode providing a server (virtual machine) itself as a hardware resource.
Furthermore, according to the mode of provision, IaaS may be classified into IaaS which provides a virtual machine (virtual IaaS) and IaaS which provides a physical server (physical IaaS).
In the virtual IaaS, with the use of a software function, it is easy to increase and decrease the number of virtual machines and change the structure of the virtual machine itself (such as the number of central processing units (CPUs) and memory capacity). A user of the virtual IaaS is allowed to use a desired server resource for a desired time via a terminal device, and is billed according to use results.
By contrast, the physical IaaS is an extension of a server hosting service in the past. It is often the case that a system of the physical IaaS is constructed by placing a physical server configured as specified by the user at a data center and the system is used by the user from outside the data center. The performance of the physical IaaS is higher than that of the virtual IaaS because the physical server is occupied by the user. However, unlike the virtual IaaS, it is not possible to share physical server resources as hardware resources among a plurality of users and use as many physical server resources as the users desire for a desired time.
Meanwhile, in recent years, a server has a management processor called a service processor (also referred to as a base management controller (BMC)) mounted on a motherboard of the server. The service processor is an independent system different from an operating system (OS) to be executed by a CPU of the server, and manages the server itself. The service processor normally has a network interface different from a network interface of a server body. The service processor is connected to a network (hereinafter referred to as a management network) different from a network to be used by a system on the server (hereinafter referred to as a business network).
The service processor provides functions such as obtaining a server state, controlling power supply, and serving as a remote console, and is managed by another management server on the management network in a centralized manner.
In the physical IaaS, the user constructs a system on the physical server, and uses that system or provides that system to a third party. The user also operates the power supply of the server in use, and manages the server via the remote console. Thus, an access from a network outside the data center to the service processor is permitted.
In the physical IaaS system where the system configuration is fixed, the server to be accessed by the user from outside the data center and the physical server (and the service processor) actually placed in the data center uniquely correspond to each other. A service processor login ID for the user to use the service processor, authority to use functions for each service processor login ID, and so forth are set individually for the service processor.
Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2010-526358, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-103931, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-58898, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-128994 are examples of related art.

System and method for controlling access to a device allocated to a logical information processing device


The invention includes a hydraulic head and contactor shaft assembly combination for attachment to a fluid-containing vessel and motor including: a hydraulic head for removable attachment to one end of a vessel and having a circular aperture in the center; a bearing housing having an open-end and a closed-end. The open-end is fixedly attached to the hydraulic head and the closed-end has a circular aperture. The center axis of the circular aperture in the closed-end of the bearing housing is aligned with the center axis of the circular aperture. There is a single-piece contactor shaft having a first end and a second end. The first end protrudes through the circular aperture in the hydraulic head. A first annular passageway is formed between the single-piece contactor shaft aperture. The first end is configured for removable attachment to a rotatable mixing blade and the second end protrudes through the circular aperture in the closed-end of the bearing housing, forming a second annular passageway between the single-piece contactor shaft aperture in the closed-end of the bearing housing. The second end of the single-piece contactor shaft is configured for removable attachment to a rotatable motor shaft. There is a doughnut-shaped seal for preventing passage of the liquids through the first annular passageway. The doughnut-shaped seal is positioned in the first annular passageway. There is a doughnut-shaped bearing for supporting the single-piece contactor shaft. The doughnut-shaped bearing is positioned in the second annular passageway. A rotatable mixing blade is removably attached to the first end of the single-piece contactor shaft.

Chemical process units such as alkylation units require introduction of two liquid reactants and mixture of those reactants. Mixture is facilitated generally by an impeller blade. In known assemblies, the impeller blade is driven by a two-piece drive shaft. The impeller is situated in a removable end portion of the reactor on one end of the alkylation unit. Persons skilled in the art sometimes call this portion of the reactor a "hydraulic head." The two-piece drive shaft is disposed through an aperture in the hydraulic head and connected on one end to the impeller blade and on the other end to, e.g., an electric motor.
The liquid reactants, e.g., in an alkylation unit, pose environmental and safety hazards and therefore it is desirable to avoid leakage of the liquids out of the reactor. The drive shaft disposed through an aperture in the hydraulic head therefore must utilize a seal (a "mechanical seal") at the location where the drive shaft meets the aperture. The mechanical seal is necessary to keep the products and reactants from leaking out of the reactor. The mechanical seal typically includes integral bearing for supporting the drive shaft.
A second weight-supporting bearing is used to support the two-piece drive shaft. The second weight-supporting bearing is located along the two-piece drive shaft at a point between the aperture in the hydraulic head and the motor shaft.
This mechanical seal has a limited life and must be replaced and/or maintained from time-to-time. Such maintenance and/or replacement requires shutting down the process unit.
In theory, the advantage of the existing two-piece drive shaft (also referred to as a "split drive shaft") is that it allows on-site maintenance and/or replacement of the mechanical seal. This is done by detaching the motor shaft coupling and the split shaft coupling. The split shaft coupling is typically accessed by an access door in the bearing housing. The bearing housing is detached from the hydraulic head. The oil seal and bearing housing remain attached to one portion of the split drive shaft. The oil seal and bearing housing cannot be removed in the field from its associated piece of the split drive shaft. These detachments result in access to the mechanical seal for maintenance/replacement. In the absence of a split drive shaft, the procedure would have to be as follows. The motor shaft is disconnected, the hydraulic head is disconnected, and the whole assembly is brought into a repair facility for removal of the oil seal. Only then is the mechanical seal accessible for maintenance/replacement.
The disadvantage of the two-piece drive shaft, however, is that upon reinstallation of the bearing housing, the connection point of the two portions of the two-piece drive shaft must be precisely aligned within narrow tolerances. Any misalignment results in wobble, vibration, and the resulting stress forces to the assembly. Such forces result in premature and possibly catastrophic outage of the contactor assembly. The precise alignment necessary to avoid these premature outages is manpower intensive and requires 6-8 hours to complete. In practice, the theoretical advantage of maintaining the mechanical seal is not possible. This is due to the great difficulty of sufficiently aligning the two-piece drive shaft in the field. In practice, adequate alignment is only possible in the shop. This necessitates removal of the hydraulic head, thus negating the intended advantages of the two-piece drive shaft.
It would be desirable to have a contactor assembly which did not have the deficiencies of requiring precise alignment on installation. Accordingly, the contactor assembly of the invention provides a solution to this problem. It has now been discovered that a contactor assembly having a one-piece drive shaft avoids the deficiencies of the existing two-piece drive shaft.


A resistance device for a baseball bat including a cylindrical sleeve dimensioned for receiving a barrel of a baseball bat therein. The cylindrical sleeve has an open lower end for receiving the barrel therein. A chute portion is provided that is comprised of an essentially planar and flexible rectangular sheet. The sheet has a plurality of straps extending outwardly from opposing long side edges thereof for adjustable securement to the cylindrical sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resistance device for a baseball bat and more particularly pertains to creating resistance when swinging a baseball bat with a resistance device for a baseball bat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of baseball practice device is known in the prior art. More specifically, baseball practice device heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of improving baseball playing abilities are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,625 to White; U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,107 to De Pippo; U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,121 to McCafferty; U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,800 to Passamaneck et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,890 to Szabo; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,268,226 to Martino.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a resistance device for a baseball bat for creating resistance when swinging a baseball bat.
In this respect, the resistance device for a baseball bat 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 creating resistance when swinging a baseball bat.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved resistance device for a baseball bat which can be used for creating resistance when swinging a baseball bat. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An object of the vehicle body vibration-damping control device according to the present invention is to achieve a targeted effect for damping the vehicle body vibration regardless of the responsiveness of an actuator for controlling the drive torque.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle body vibration-damping control device for controlling drive torque to restrain the sprung mass behavior of a vehicle body estimated based on input information during travel.
2. Background Information
In the past, a vehicle body vibration-damping control device has been known in which drive torque is controlled to correct the drive torque so as to stabilize sprung mass behavior (e.g., refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-264628).

Vehicle body vibration-damping control device

Abstract: The vehicle body vibration-damping control device has a body vibration estimating unit (205) for estimating a sprung mass behavior of a vehicle body based on input information during travel, and a torque command-value computing unit (206) for computing a correction torque value for correcting a drive torque command value applied to an engine (106) when the sprung mass behavior is controlled. The torque command-value computing unit (206) has regulator and tuning units (308, 309, 310) for calculating the correction torque value based on the result of estimating the sprung mass behavior, and a nonlinear gain amplifying unit (313) for amplifying the absolute value of the correction torque when in a region where the positive or negative attribute of the calculated correction torque value is reversed, and using the amplified value to correct the drive torque command value.


A storage system for storing jewelry, etc., is shown and described. In one embodiment, the storage system includes a dresser. A mirrored member is fixedly mounted above the dresser. At least one vertically-oriented panel is slidably mounted to the mirrored member.

(1) Field
The present invention relates generally to mirrored dressers, and more particularly to mirrored dressers for jewelry storage. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to mirrored dressers having a slidable compartment for jewelry storage located behind the mirror.
(2) Related Technology
Traditional dressers are known in the art for clothes storage. At least one other has attempted to develop a mirrored dresser for jewelry storage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,719 ("Battista") discloses a concealed jewelry case in a dresser. Battista's dresser uses a pivoting mirror that pivots around a vertically oriented hinge. To gain access to Battista's hidden jewelry case, a user must lift the end of a spring biased pin located on the top panel of the mirror assembly. While possibly functional, Battista's dresser has various problems.
For example, when using Battista's dresser, a user must lift the spring biased pin, pivot the mirror open, and then close the mirror each time the user which to try on a new piece of jewelry in front of the mirror. Such repetition could become tedious if the user does not select the desired piece of jewelry on the first or second series of steps. Some may also consider such repetition to be a waste of time. Applicants' invention overcomes this problem by allowing users to access jewelry and view the mirror simultaneously, without the need for opening and closing doors or panels.
Further, Battista's dresser is potentially dangerous. The weight of mirrors is well known. Using Battista's design, the weight of the mirror is unstable and constantly shifting as the mirror swings with each opening, which could potentially topple the dresser onto those accessing the jewelry compartment or onto young children playing below. Because the dresser is heavy and because broken glass is sharp, such a result would be undesirable. In an attempt to avoid such an undesirable result, those using Battista's design would be limited by several constraints. The mirror's size and weight would be constrained by the size and weight of the dresser. For example, designers would need to ensure that the weight of Batista's mirror is within a range suitable to reduce the potential for dresser-topple as the mirror swings forward. Further, Batista's dresser and/or mirror assemble may need to be secured to floors or wall or both to reduce the chance of topple. Regardless of design optimization, users may still need to avoid swinging Batista's mirror open when dresser drawers are open, which could result in excessive forward weight and dresser topple. Applicants' invention addresses these problems by providing a stable and essentially stationary mirror that does not have the same size and weight constraints that Battista's mirror does. Applicants' invention also provides an improvement in safety.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,388 ("Wheatley") discloses a concealable jewelry box that is shown mounted behind a piece of furniture. Wheatly also discloses that Wheatly's jewelry box can be mounted behind a mirror. Wheatly's box, however, has numerous structural differences from the presently disclosed invention, which translate into various functional differences. By way of example, Wheatly's box is a box designed to stick to preexisting pieces of furniture. In terms of a mirror or dresser this is undesirable because Wheatly's box would prevent furniture from being flushly placed next to a vertical wall. Besides the aesthetic disadvantages of such a limitation, the spacing between furniture and wall would emphasize the positioning and location of valuable jewelry to those, e.g., burglars, searching for such items. Applicants' invention addresses these and additional problems.


A system and method for a printer that receives a data containing multimedia information or a pointer to multimedia content and performs various actions in accordance with the received document. The printer may retrieve the multimedia content based on pointers within the document or the document itself may include multimedia content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to document printers and, more specifically, to systems and methods that receive a document containing multimedia or pointers to multimedia and act in accordance with the received document.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventional printers receive a representation of a document and then print the document in paper form. Generally, a conventional document will contain text and possibly some pictures or static graphics. For example, a printer may print a sales report or a snapshot of a web page. If the document is part of a larger multimedia presentation, however, conventional printers do not adequately represent the complete presentation. For example a sales report might be part of an animated computer slide show. As another example, a web page might incorporate an animated picture. As a third example, a pointer or local address might point to a digital recording of a television program. Conventional printers can only print a captured snapshot of such multimedia presentations.
Today, as more and more electrical databases and computer networks are interconnected, people often have multiple data systems and destinations in which to store information. For example, a person may receive an email containing information and/or a multimedia attachment that he wants to retain. The person may want to print some or all of the information. The person may further want to add the information to a database or to send the information to other people or destinations or to add the information to a web page. Currently, the person will need to execute several different software programs and will need to type multiple commands into the programs. He may also need to re-enter the information into one or more programs. This is not efficient and is prone to human error, since human beings occasionally forget to perform one of more of the tasks usually associated with a received document and are also prone to typographical errors.
What is needed is a printer and method that can capture and print more of the true flavor of a multimedia presentation or multimedia document.

Printer with embedded retrieval and publishing interface


A snow probe device with a portable data logger that measures snow depths snow covered areas. The snow probe componets include: i) a linear displacement magnetostrictive transducer composed of a long probe shaft with an internal magnetostrictive transducer filament that operates in conjunction with a small electronics package for signal generation and detection; ii) a floating plate assembly that includes a magnet that slides on the probe shaft along with a floating plate that rests upon the snow's surface during a measurement event; iii) a pointed tip designed for easy penetration of snow attached at the probe's bottom end portion; iv) a thumb switch for actuating measurements on a cylindrical handle attached at the upper end of the probe shaft; and v) a data logger for controlling and recording the magnetostrictive transducer measurements. Optionally, the device can include a polar fleece sleeve to thermally insulate the transducer's electronics package and a digital counter to record the number of measurements performed.

Devices that provide depth data of a snow covered area are used for determining: i) water resources for spring run-off, ii) snow thickness for climate model, iii) depth during the building of snow roads, snow runways, or structural foundations on the snow, and iv) a vehicle's ability to move through snow. These snow depth data for a snow covered area is compiled from a large number of snow depth measurements along traverse lines ranging from 30 to 500 feet in length. Prior known devices include using a thin cylindrical probe with an attached measuring tape. This type of probe is first pushed into the snow, then an operator bends over and reads the tape value at the snow surface, and then hand records this reading in a field book. This device and method is slow and tedious, e.g. a 100 measurements typically requires over 30 minutes to perform, and over 20 minutes to enter this compiled data in a computer data base. Human errors are common during this manual data recording. Thus, a portable snow depth measurement device is needed that is faster and easier to use, as well as eliminating the need for manual data entry.
Another device that provides snow depth data is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,842 by Boshung et al. entitled "Snowfall Measuring Method & Apparatus." This teaching discloses a stationary device with a rack component alone with an attached probe that is raised and lowered towards a fixed reference ground plate for measurements of snow depth performed by the device's electronics package that includes an alarm and a processor component. However, this device is not adaptable for portable repositioning for measurements at varied locations as provided for by the instant invention.
The problems discussed above are resolved by the instant invention by use of a probe with a linear displacement magnetostrictive transducer for reliable snow depth measurements in combination with a data logger that automatically records these measurements, and that can readily be downloaded to another computer for data analysis or graphical presentation.

The Army Corps of Engineers as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A method and system for allocating bandwidth of a wireless channel to different types of traffic includes partitioning the bandwidth of the wireless channel into a plurality of contention periods. Traffic flows are associated with access categories, and one or more of the access categories are assigned to each contention period. During at least one of the contention periods, traffic flows associated with a proper subset of the access categories contend for access to the wireless channel.

Wireless local and personal (WLAN/WPAN) area networks are rapidly increasing in homes, enterprises, and public access environments. A number of access technologies, commonly known as Wi-Fi technologies, have arisen to meet this demand. Wi-Fi technologies can support diverse applications, including voice over internet protocol (VoIP), high quality video, and Internet access. IEEE Standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 group in the United States, has developed various standards to promote the efficient use of the wireless spectrum and the inter-operability between wireless access equipments from different vendors.
Homes, enterprises, and public access environments have different application requirements. A mix of high-bandwidth multimedia applications, including video, may predominate among home applications, whereas voice, email, and data applications may be more typical of the type of traffic found in enterprises. As the amount of traffic increases on wireless LANs, high-priority and real-time traffic can become less reliable because nodes in the wireless network contend with one another to determine which node can commence transmission. Consequently, quality of service (QoS) mechanisms are necessary to ensure reliable delivery of high-priority and real-time transmissions.
The 802.11e draft standard provides two mechanisms for supporting QoS, called Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) and HCF Controlled Channel Access (HCCA). The standard divides the access time to the wireless medium into contention free periods (CFPs) and contention periods (CPs). The HCCA functions provide controlled channel access during contention free periods, whereas the EDCA functions provide contention-based access during contention periods.
During a contention free period, a point coordinator (e.g., an access point) controls access to the wireless channel through polling. The polling mechanism of HCCA ensures a minimum bandwidth to each node that requests to be added to a polling list managed by the point coordinator. The point coordinator polls each node, one at a time, in order to grant that node permission to transmit on the wireless channel, thus avoiding contention between transmitting nodes. A contention period begins after the point coordinator polls every node on the polling list.
During contention periods, nodes gain access to the wireless channel through contention resolved in accordance with a Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) algorithm. Between contending traffic flows, EDCA gives priority to nodes transmitting high-priority traffic. For example, a node offering high-priority VoIP traffic has an advantage during contention over a personal computer that is downloading a file (i.e., low-priority data traffic). A disadvantage of EDCA, however, is that high-priority traffic can effectively prevent low-priority traffic, such as data traffic, from gaining access to the wireless medium. Although data traffic is generally tolerant of delay, in order to minimize the number of TCP timeouts and to meet user expectations there should be a bound on the length of this delay.

Reliable quality of service (QoS) provisioning using adaptive class-based contention periods


A refractory dielectric body is heated with a plasma torch at conditions which do not result in substantial removal of a surface portion of the body, yet which are sufficient to reduce both surface and bulk impurities. Typically, the body is solid, e.g., a rod as opposed to a tube, and is treated with the plasma in the absence of simultaneous deposition of material onto the body. Advantageously, an isothermal plasma torch is utilized, and the torch advantageously produces an oxygen or oxygen-containing plasma. The invention is useful for reducing chlorine impurities by at least about 30% to a depth of at least about 10 .mu.m, with accompanying reduction of hydroxyl impurities. The invention thus provides a useful method for reducing the concentration of impurities that contribute to imperfections during the process of drawing fiber from an optical fiber preform, without requiring substantial removal of the surface of the preform.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fabricating an article comprising a refractory dielectric body, more particularly to fabricating glass optical fiber preforms.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As the use of optical fiber has increased, the demand for stronger, more durable fibers with improved optical properties has similarly grown. Loss mechanisms and structural faults in optical fiber typically result from imperfections and impurities existing in the glass preform from which the fiber is drawn, and much effort has gone into finding ways to reduce, remove, or eliminate these imperfections and impurities. Techniques for removing such imperfections and impurities include mechanical milling and chemical etching, neither of which is particularly desirable. Mechanical milling often introduces mechanical stresses into a preform that lead to crack formation, and chemical etching, while typically removing the intended imperfections and impurities, often introduces chemical by-products as new impurities. It is also known to use a plasma torch to remove surface impurities and imperfections, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,771, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Each of these methods, however, essentially relies on removing a surface portion of the glass preform, at which the highest concentration of imperfections and impurities are normally found.
Yet, bulk impurities are also found in glass bodies. (Bulk indicates that the impurities are found throughout the glass material, e.g., both at the surface and into the interior of a body, as opposed to impurities that primarily lie within a few microns of the surface.) Typical bulk impurities in silica glass include chlorine and hydroxyl. Both types of impurities are known to induce detrimental bubbling during the drawing of fiber from silica glass preforms. Chlorine is typically introduced during fabrication of synthetic glasses from chlorine-containing compounds, e.g., from SiCl.sub.4, and during a subsequent purification step of such glasses in chlorine gas. It is possible for substantial amounts of chlorine to be introduced. For example, 1000 ppm of chlorine atoms in silica glass is not uncommon. Hydroxyl groups are introduced into silica glass bodies due to the presence of water in sol-gel and other fabrication processes, and due to the common use of oxy-hydrogen torches. Even natural fused quartz glass will contain hydroxyl impurities, although such glass typically does not contain high levels of chlorine.
In some fabrication processes, it would be desirable to leave the surface of a glass body substantially intact, yet still reduce surface impurities, and advantageously bulk impurities as well. Thus, a method for fabricating an article comprising a refractory dielectric body, e.g., an optical fiber preform, is desired in which both surface and bulk impurities are reduced, with substantially no removal of the surface of the body.

Method for manufacturing an article comprising a refractory dielectric body


One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of preventative maintenance of a high-availability cluster. A least-recently-tested active node is determined. The least-recently-tested active node is swapped out from the HA cluster, and a stand-by node is swapped into the HA cluster. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A cluster is a parallel or distributed system that comprises a collection of interconnected computer systems or servers that is used as a single, unified computing unit. Members of a cluster are referred to as nodes or systems. The cluster service is the collection of software on each node that manages cluster-related activity.
Clustering may be used for parallel processing or parallel computing to simultaneously use two or more processors to execute an application or program. Clustering is a popular strategy for implementing parallel processing applications because it allows system administrators to leverage already existing computers and workstations. Because it is difficult to predict the number of requests that will be issued to a networked server, clustering is also useful for load balancing to distribute processing and communications activity evenly across a network system so that no single server is overwhelmed. If one server is running the risk of being swamped, requests may be forwarded to another clustered server with greater capacity. For example, busy Web sites may employ two or more clustered Web servers in order to employ a load balancing scheme. Clustering also provides for increased scalability by allowing new components to be added as the system load increases. In addition, clustering simplifies the management of groups of systems and their applications by allowing the system administrator to manage an entire group as a single system. Clustering may also be used to increase the fault tolerance of a network system. If one server suffers an unexpected software or hardware failure, another clustered server may assume the operations of the failed server. Thus, if any hardware of software component in the system fails, the user might experience a performance penalty, but will not lose access to the service.
Current cluster services include Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS), designed by Microsoft Corporation for clustering for its Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating systems, and Novell Netware Cluster Services (NWCS), among other examples. For instance, MSCS supports the clustering of two NT servers to provide a single highly available server.
It is desirable to improve apparatus and methods for high-availability (HA) clusters. It is particularly desirable to make HA clusters more robust and increase uptime for such clusters.

High-availability cluster with proactive maintenance

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A basketball game includes a generally planar backboard supporting a circular hoop having a basketball net extending downwardly therefrom. A center housing is supported beneath the hoop and secured to the backboard. A pair of score indicators having digital score indicating displays are supported on either side of the backboard. A pair of slap actuated depressible slap-pads are secured to and supported by the indicator housings. A flexible score sensor is secured to the center housing and extends into the net passage. The score sensor includes a flexible joint having a flex gauge or strain gauge operative therewith to provide an electrical signal each time the ball is successfully shot by a player and passes through the hoop and basketball net. In the preferred play pattern, the player having successfully scored a basket is able to increment the player's indicated score by slapping the appropriate one of the slap-pads following the successful shot. In the absence of a successful preceding shot, the slap-pads remain ineffective and operation thereof fails to alter the displayed player's score. A multi-jointed, generally tubular support frame supports the backboard and basketball hoop at a predetermined adjustable height.

In response to the continuous and growing popularity of the sport of basketball, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide a variety of accessories and amusement devices to further enhance game play. These accessories have included items such as scorekeeping devices, score indicating devices and apparatus used generally as game monitoring units which often include various game rule variations or the like.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,977 issued to Mele et al sets forth a MULTIFUNCTIONAL BASKETBALL GAME MONITORING UNIT in which a support housing is positioned for attachment on or near the rear portion of a typical basketball backboard. The scoring unit is capable of sensing the spot location from which a shot is taken and adjusting the resulting score for successful shots based upon the time the shot remains airborne, the shooting location, and other selected criteria.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,603 issued to Mele et al sets forth a MULTIFUNCTIONAL BASKETBALL GAME MONITORING UNITS in which scoring accommodates the number of foul shots and shot positions and includes a processing unit for allowing a great variety of differing output statistics to a visual display included within the monitoring unit. A printer is coupled to the monitoring unit and provides a printed output of the player's performance statistics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,775 issued to Klamer et al sets forth an OBJECT SENSOR FOR DETECTING CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS COLOR FOR GAMES in which a basketball goal and backboard are provided with score indicating displays together with a photosensitive score sensing unit. The photosensing unit is capable of distinguishing differing characteristics between two game balls such as color to separately tabulate the individual scores of each player. A timing device is provided to establish a time interval within which scores may be accepted.
U.S Pat. No. 4,904,981 issued to Mele et al sets forth a MULTIFUNCTIONAL BASKETBALL GAME MONITORING UNIT which allows visual display and printout of total baskets made, score and percentage of total baskets made together with free through and goal shooting tabulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,920 issued to Best sets forth a SCORE SENSITIVE BASKETBALL HOOP for detecting the passage of a basketball through the basketball hoop. The sensor comprises a transmitting light and photoelectric cell receiver which produces a continuous light beam sensed by the photoelectric cell. The passage of the basketball through the hoop breaks the light beam and signals a successful score which in turn produces an audible or visual response.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,292 issued to Cohen et al sets forth an AUTOMATIC BASKETBALL GAME HAVING SCORING INDICATOR AND TIME LIMITATION in which a coin operated game includes a shooting station and remotely positioned basketball hoop. A timer releases a plurality of basketballs to the player and initiates a timing interval. The game further includes a score tabulation system which counts the number of successful shots during the predetermined time interval of the timer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,954 issued to Genuit sets forth an ELECTRONIC SCOREKEEPER FOR TABLE TENNIS in which a ping pong table and net are provided with a score indicating apparatus and a pair of score tabulating buttons which are actuated by a successfully scoring player to increment the score.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have enhanced the enjoyment and amusement value of various basketball games or other activities, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, exciting and amusing accessories for basketball games.

Basketball game having scoring slap-pads


A cleaning apparatus designed for use in conjunction with a lithographic printing member associated with a rotary cylinder comprises an elastomeric (preferably foam) roller for making rotating contact with the printing member; a fixed screen; and a brush in rotating contact with the roller and with the screen. The roller may extend axially at least across the imaging region of the printing member (i.e., that portion of the imaging member that actually receives the image to be printed). The elastomeric roller removes imaging debris from the cylinder, while the brush removes from the roller debris that would otherwise accumulate therein. As the brush rotates past the screen, it sheds debris withdrawn from the roller; debris passing through the screen may be collected, for example, in a container or removed from the system by vacuum. The system may also include one or more doctor blades in contact with the roller for removing debris remaining on the roller following its contact with the brush.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital printing apparatus and methods, and more particularly to a system for cleaning lithographic printing members following digital imaging.
2. Description of the Related Art
In offset lithography, a printable image is present on a printing member as a pattern of ink-accepting (oleophilic) and ink-rejecting (oleophobic) surface areas. Once applied to these areas, ink can be efficiently transferred to a recording is medium in the imagewise pattern with substantial fidelity. Dry printing systems utilize printing members whose ink-repellent portions are sufficiently phobic to ink as to permit its direct application. Ink applied uniformly to the printing member is transferred to the recording medium only in the imagewise pattern. Typically, the printing member first makes contact with a compliant intermediate surface called a blanket cylinder which, in turn, applies the image to the paper or other recording medium. In typical sheet-fed press systems, the recording medium is pinned to an impression cylinder, which brings it into contact with the blanket cylinder.
In a wet lithographic system, the non-image areas are hydrophilic, and the necessary ink-repellency is provided by an initial application of a dampening (or "fountain") solution to the plate prior to inking. The ink-adhesive fountain solution prevents ink from adhering to the non-image areas, but does not affect the oleophilic character of the image areas.
To circumvent the cumbersome photographic development, plate-mounting and plate-registration operations that typify traditional printing technologies, practitioners have developed electronic alternatives that store the imagewise pattern in digital form and impress the pattern directly onto the plate. Plate-imaging devices amenable to computer control include various forms of lasers. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,351,617 and 5,385,092 disclose an ablative recording system that uses low-power laser discharges to remove, in an imagewise pattern, one or more layers of a lithographic printing blank, thereby creating a ready-to-ink printing member without the need for photographic development. In accordance with those systems, laser output is guided from the diode to the printing surface and focused onto that surface (or, desirably, onto the layer most susceptible to laser ablation, which will generally lie beneath the surface layer).
Many kinds of plates imageable by laser or other recording instrument, and particularly those involving ablation mechanisms, generate debris. For example, some of the plates described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,339,737 and 5,379,698 include a topmost silicone layer, an underlying layer ablatable by laser discharge, and a strong, stable substrate beneath the ablation layer. Exposure of the plate to a laser pulse destroys the ablation layer, weakening the overlying silicone layer and de-anchoring it. The silicone layer is not, however, removed by imaging. Accordingly, after the plate has been fully scanned by the laser, the disrupted silicone must be removed.
Various approaches have been suggested for removing plate debris produced in the course of platemaking, and specifically in connection with imaging processing involving ablation. One such cleaning system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,746. Basically, that system comprises a rotating brush affixed to the writing head that can be moved into contact with the surface of the lithographic plate undergoing imaging. While that prior plate-cleaning apparatus operates satisfactorily in many respects, it is relatively slow because the brush cleans only a relatively small area of the plate at any given time. In other words, the brush head must be gradually moved along the entire length of the plate cylinder as it rotates in order to clean the entire surface of the plate. Other cleaning systems for digitally imaged lithographic printing plates are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,768 and copending application Ser. No. 08/756,267.
Particularly in on-press implementations, the cleaning system should be capable of unobtrusive integration within the imaging environment, in terms of both function and structure. That is, operation of the cleaning system should not interfere with the imaging process, and the components of the cleaning system may desirably be mechanically separate from the imaging components. This arrangement would permit the cleaning system to be separately serviced, and also help to avoid unwanted mechanical interactions between imaging and cleaning elements. Indeed, in an on-press configuration, it is generally useful to isolate the cleaning system from ink-transfer components as well.

Retractable cleaning system for lithographic printing plates


A method and apparatus for providing multi-layered graphical user interface controls is described. The user interface controls are comprised of several graphic control layers, each having a transparent region and an opaque region. User input actions over a transparent region is effective to tunnel the user input action to the next graphic control layer until the user input action is determined to occur over an opaque region of a subsequent graphic control layer. In one embodiment, the present invention includes push button and radio button controls. In other embodiments, the present invention includes check boxes, sliders and lists. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes backout behavior in which a selection action over an opaque region followed by motion into a transparent region is effective to cause the appearance of the graphic control layer to change from an activated appearance to an deactivated appearance without tunneling the input action to the next graphic control layer.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to software user interfaces. More specifically, the present invention is related to graphical interfaces for software control of computer functions.
2. The Relevant Art
The development of graphic user interfaces for computers has helped catalyze the explosive growth of the computing industry and especially the personal computing industry. By providing an ability to control the operation of software through the use of screen controls having an appearance similar to common mechanical devices such as push buttons, radio buttons, check boxes, sliders and lists, computing has become accessible to many people who would otherwise be intimidated by the traditional command line interfaces common to the mainframe computing environment that require the user to master numerous complex strings of instructions. In contrast, the user of a graphical interface can take advantage of the intuitive nature of the graphic control elements which, e.g., allow user to turn "on" or "off" parameters by simply "pushing" a button. Thus for example, both the Macintosh.RTM. and Microsoft.RTM. Windows operating systems have developed a widespread and loyal following among computer users based on the relative ease of use provided by the graphic user interfaces of those products.
The structure of graphical user controls is well known in the art. The controls are constructed using bitmapped images or vector graphics to provide the image of the control that the user views on the computer screen (e.g., a circle for a radio button or a rounded rectangle for a push button). Generally graphic user controls comprise two graphic layers, only one of which is displayed at any time. The first layer typically is an image of the control in a non-activated state (e.g., an unpressed button). The second is an image of the control in an activated state (e.g., a depressed button). In some cases, the button will remain displayed after the user has performed an input or selection action on the control. For example, after selecting a radio button, the graphic representing the button remains in the activated state. However, a push button may only display an activated state graphic for the duration of the selection action.
In operation, the operating system determines whether a user input device, such as a mouse-controlled cursor or stylus, is over the control by determining the screen location of the user input device and then comparing the location of the device with the coordinates of a "bounding box" that surrounds the graphic control image. When the operating system of the computer senses that a user input has been moved over the control, a user selection action, e.g., depressing a physical button on the mouse, is processed by the operating system to produce an action corresponding the "activation" of the graphical control (i.e., the button). The action produced by the system generally is determined by the software that generates the image of the button.
Although graphic user interfaces have enjoyed tremendous success in the computing industry, their limitations have become apparent. In general, present graphic user controls can be displayed in only one of two states, e.g., an "on" state and an "off" state. In a few cases (e.g., Motif and Windows) buttons having three states are available. Although this works for applications in which decisions that are binary or ternary in nature, there are still many other applications where more flexibility is needed. For example, using present graphic control technology a computer program can only offer the user an "on" or "off" state or "high", "medium" and "low" states. However, many situations exist in which it would be preferable to offer the user a greater range of options without cluttering the screen. For example, it would be useful to offer users networked to several printers a single button that can "toggle" between the different printers rather than presenting a list of printers that would clutter the user's screen. Such flexibility would decrease substantially the complexity and bulk of the interface.
Another limitation with current graphical user interface technologies stems from the limitation that user controls are activated (or deactivated) by placing a control device (e.g., a mouse or stylus) within a rectangular region surrounding the control (called the "bounding box") regardless of the shape of the control itself. Thus, for controls that are not inherently rectangular in shape (in which case the bounding box and control graphic can be made co-extensive), the user can be faced with unexpected results. For example, the user may make an action within the bounding box, but not on the control device, and yet initiate a system action.
In addition, the requirement that buttons have rectangular bounding boxes limits their application in providing the visually appealing and intuitive interfaces that have so greatly enhanced the utility of the computer. For example, in a database of materials for a complex device such as a jet engine, it would be advantageous to apply graphical user interface technology to produce a representation of a jet engine that can be dissected by activating graphical control objects corresponding to the parts of the engine. Unfortunately, the placement of non-rectangular graphic control devices representing the engine parts is limited by the need to prevent the overlapping of adjacent bounding boxes so as to avoid conflicts between control elements.
Thus, it can be seen that it would highly desirable to provide a graphic user interface where user input actions within the bounding box of a graphic control element did not activate that element. In addition, it would be preferable to have graphic control elements that could provide the same high degree of intuition found presently but allowed for a greater range of user input choices.

Method and apparatus for multilevel software controls


The composition for bone regeneration, comprises a) a first phase (3) comprising a plurality of cross-linked hydrogel chunks (1) having a mean diameter of less than 1000 μm and incorporating an amount of mineral particles (2); and b) a second phase (4) comprising a physiologically-compatible aqueous liquid acting as a carrier for the chunks; the chunks being embedded in the second phase (4). The mineral particles (2) have a mean diameter of less than 10 μm and the amount of the mineral particles (2) is less than 20 weight-% of the first phase.

The invention relates to a composition for bone regeneration according to the preamble of claim 1, to a method according to the preamble of claim 24 for producing cross-linked hydrogel chunks and to application methods according to the claims 26, 27 and 28.
Bone defects can occur in the human body due to many reasons such as trauma, tumors or infections. Depending on the location and the size of the bone defect, it can exceed the body's capabilities of self-repair so that surgeons or dentists have to interfere.
The standard treatment for bone defects is a filling with either autologous bone that is taken from another site of the patient or commercially available bone substitutes. Those bone substitutes are typically either made from processed bone allografts or xenografts (usually bovine) or synthetic materials such as calcium phosphates. The surgeons can choose from solid bone matrix blocks, granules, powders or pastes for which the mineral components are mixed with small amounts of water or gel in order to make them malleable or injectable. There are furthermore also calcium phosphate-based bone cements that are initially well injectable at the time of application, but harden in situ under formation of a big compact calcium phosphate block. The high content of barely resorbable mineral component is one of the major disadvantages of the commercially available materials. Even bone substitute pastes, for which the mineral is combined with a liquid or gel component and which are supposed to be easy to apply, are not injectable through reasonable-sized cannula and therefore require a surgical approach for their application.
What is therefore needed is an improved composition for bone regeneration.
It is an object of the invention to provide a composition for bone regeneration which is needle-injectable is situ thereby forming an osteoconductive scaffold for use in minimally invasive atraumatic applications.
The invention solves the posed problem with a composition for bone regeneration comprising the features of claim 1, with a method for producing cross-linked hydrogel chunks comprising the features of claim 24 and application methods for said composition according to claims 26, 27 and 28.
The composition according to the invention comprises a hydrogel matrix and mineral particles and can furthermore contain one or more active agents such as drugs or metal ions. The special characteristic of the material is its biphasic structure: the first phase contains volume-stable, cross-linked hydrogel chunks with incorporated mineral (preferably hydroxyapatite or other calcium phosphate) particles. The mineral content in this cross-linked phase is less than 20% in order to ensure an excellent injectability of the material. It has been shown in rat studies that this low amount of mineral is sufficient to trigger an apposition of body-own mineral and therefore leads to an in-situ formation of mineralized osteoconductive granules that serve as scaffold for new bone formation. Higher amounts (>20%) of mineral particles have resulted in a reduced injectability of the composition and an impaired crosslinking process.
The gel component has the function to retain the particles and keep the volume of the material until the mineralization of the gel has occurred and the biomaterial is replaced by new bone. This first phase can furthermore contain active agents that can either be bound to the particles or just be integrated in the hydrogel.
The second phase comprises or consists of a liquid or hydrogel-like phase embedding the first phase. It preferably comprises drugs or bioactive molecules, preferably for anti-bacterial, bone anabolic or anti-catabolic, osteogenic and/or osteoconductive purposes, either free or combined with calcium-phosphate particles. Its function is to ensure a fast release of the incorporated substances, to render the composition injectable and to assure a three-dimensional architecture useful for promoting new bone formation through the void spaces in between the mineralizing cross-linked hydrogel chunks.
The main advantage of this composition, compared to the state of the art materials, is its excellent injectability which is mainly caused by the low mineral content. This property is also the reason for the special suitability of the composition for a minimal-invasive application to difficult-to-access bone defects and to bone regions for which the application of state of the art materials requires a surgical approach.
Currently known bone substitutes with hydrogel components comprise typically only non-cross-linked polymer chains that improve the injectability of the materials. Non-crosslinked natural hydrogels, however, are degraded in the human body within days and are not volume stable. Therefore only very low concentrations of non-crosslinked hydrogel can be added to the slowly degradable mineral component as otherwise a lasting defect filling cannot be reached. Attempts have been also made to combine a mineral component with already pre-crosslinked hydrogels (for example commercially available dermal fillers). However, the presence of mineral-free hydrogel chunks, in worst case in combination with hyaluronidase inhibitors that slow down the degradation, leads to the creation of dead voids in bone as bone tissue cannot enter the dense cross-linked hydrogel. The composition according to the invention overcomes this limitation by using only particle containing cross-linked hydrogel that mineralizes via apposition of body-own mineral in a rate which is similar to hydrogel degradation rate. The easily injectable cross-linked hydrogel component is this way transformed into an excellent osteoconductive bone scaffold via an in vivo process without volume loss.
Furthermore, the bi-phasic nature of the composition allows the integration of active agents with tailored release profiles. Depending on the location of the active substance (cross-linked first phase vs non-crosslinked second phase, free molecules vs molecules loaded on carrier particles), either an immediate burst release or a prolonged release profile can be targeted.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be commented as follows:
In a special embodiment the mineral particles have a mean diameter of less than 5 μm, preferably of less than 1 μm.
In a further embodiment the mineral particles may be loaded on their surface with one or more of the following substances:
drugs or bioactive molecules, preferably chosen from
                a) the group of anabolic or anti-catabolic bone active substances, in particular: strontium ranelate, growth factors, anti-sclerostin antibodies, bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptors or RANK ligand inhibitors; or        b) the group of anti-bacterial substances in particular antibiotics, halogen-releasing compounds, peroxides, biguanides, chlorhexidine or        c) metals, in particular silver, zinc or copper compounds.
The advantage of this embodiment lies in the fact that the drugs are—especially when they are linked to the comparatively large mineral particles—released slowly over a long time due to the fact that they are enclosed in the cross-linked, mineralizing hydrogel chunks.
The mineral particles may be any calcium phosphates, preferably chosen from the group of:
calcium pyrophosphate [Ca2P2O7], calcium carbonate [CaCO3], monocalcium phosphate monohydrate [Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O], monocalcium phosphate [Ca(H2PO4)2], anhydrous dicalcium phosphate [CaHPO4], dicalcium phosphate dihydrate [CaHPO4.2H2O], octocalcium phosphate [Ca8H2(PO4)6.5H2O], alpha-tricalcium phosphate [alpha-Ca3(PO4)2], beta-tricalcium phosphate [beta-Ca3(PO4)2], hydroxy-apatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH], tetracalcium phosphate [Ca4(PO4)2O], calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite [Ca10-x(HPO4)x(PO4)6-x(OH)2-x], fluoroapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F], amorphous calcium phosphate oxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6O] or Ca- and P-containing bioactive silica glasses.
Preferably the mineral particles are essentially free of pores.
In a further embodiment the cross-linked hydrogel chunks have a mean diameter in the range of 100-250 μm. The maximum volume of the cross-linked hydrogel chunks is preferably in the range of 4*10−9 mm3 to 4 mm3.
The hydrogel used for obtaining the cross-linked chucks comprises purposefully a polymeric material, preferably chosen from the group of polysaccharides, in particular hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof, heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratin sulfate, chitin, chitosan, agarose or agar, collagen, gelatin, elastin or fibrin.
The content of the mineral particles is purposefully in the range of 1-10 weight-%, preferably 2-5 weight-% of the first phase.
The mineral particles may have a volume larger than 1.0*10−7 μm3, preferably larger than 2.0*10−6 μm3. The mineral particles (2) may have a volume smaller than 50*103 μm3, preferably smaller than 5*103 μm3.
In a special embodiment the mineral particles are in the shape of needles. The needles may have a length in the range of 10-200 nm, preferably in the range of 40-60 nm.
In a further embodiment the volume of the mineral particles is in the range of 2.0*10−7-5.0*103 μm3.
In a further embodiment the first phase has a water content of 75 to 99 weight-%.
Still in a further embodiment the second phase additionally comprises nano- to micro-sized calcium phosphate particles. The nano- to micro-sized calcium phosphate particles may be are chosen from the group of:
calcium pyrophosphate [Ca2P2O7], calcium carbonate [CaCO3], monocalcium phosphate monohydrate [Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O], monocalcium phosphate [Ca(H2PO4)2], anhydrous dicalcium phosphate [CaHPO4], dicalcium phosphate dihydrate [CaHPO4.2H2O], octocalcium phosphate [Ca8H2(PO4)6.5H2O], alpha-tricalcium phosphate [alpha-Ca3(PO4)2], beta-tricalcium phosphate [beta-Ca3(PO4)2], hydroxy-apatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH], tetracalcium phosphate [Ca4(PO4)2O], calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite [Ca10-x(HPO4)x(PO4)6-x(OH)2-x], fluoroapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F], amorphous calcium phosphate or oxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6O].
The amount of nano- to micro-sized calcium phosphate particles in the second phase may be in the range of 1-40 weight-%, preferably 10-20 weight-%.    The nano- to micro-sized calcium phosphate particles may be loaded on their surface with one or more of the following substances:a) drugs or bioactive molecules, preferably chosen from the group of: anabolic or anti-catabolic bone active substances, in particular strontium ranelate, growth factors, anti-sclerostin antibodies, bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptors or RANK ligand inhibitors; orb) anti-bacterial substances, in particular antibiotics, halogen-releasing compounds, peroxides, biguanides, chlorhexidine; orc) metals, in particular silver, zinc or copper compounds.
The advantage of this embodiment lies in the fact that the drugs are released relatively quickly in a short time due to the fact that they are located in the well accessible physiologically-compatible aqueous liquid acting as a carrier for the chunks. Those substances can also be integrated independently from the calcium phosphate particles as not all substances can be loaded on the particles.
The ratio of the first phase versus the second phase in terms of volume may be in the range of 3:1 to 19:1, preferably in the range of 4:1 to 10:1
In a special embodiment the composition according to the invention is essentially free of a hyaluronidase inhibitor and in particular essentially free of ascorbic acid 6-hexadecanoate.
In a further embodiment the composition is free of a third phase with cross-linked hydrogel having no mineral particles.
In a further embodiment the composition is essentially free of anesthetics.
A method for producing the cross-linked hydrogel chunks used in the composition according to the invention may comprise the following steps:                a) Selecting a hydrogel comprising a polymeric material, preferably chosen from the group of polysaccharides, in particular hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof, heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratin sulfate, chitin, chitosan, agarose or agar, collagen, gelatin, elastin or fibrin.        b) Admixing mineral particles to the selected hydrogel in order to evenly distribute them within the hydrogel;        c) Crosslinking the mixture obtained in step b) by the action of a cross-linking agent, and        d) Fragmenting the cross-linked mixture of step c) in order to obtain chunks with a maximum volume of 4 mm3
The derivatives of hyaluronic acid may be chosen from the group of HA-amine, HA-hydrazide, HA-disulfide, HA-tyramine, methacrylated or esterified hyaluronic acid.
The composition according to the invention is capable to be used in repairing bone defects and augmenting fragile bone structures, in particular in the orthopedic or traumatological field. The composition may further be used in dentistry for the treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis-related bone defects or for bone augmentation in particular sinus lift. The composition is also apt for the treatment of periodontal or peri-implant bone defects.
A method for the minimal-invasive application of the composition according to the invention to superficial periodontal or peri-implant bone defects can comprise the following steps:
a) Extensive scaling and root planning of the affected tooth/implant to remove all infected tissues and the plaque/biofilm on the surface of the tooth/implant
b) Application of the composition used in one of the claims 1 to 23 via subgingival injection from the syringe directly into the bone defect
The cleaning done during step a) may be done mechanically, in particular by curette, or by means of light, preferably with laser, ultrasound or with water- or air-jet.
Another method for the minimal-invasive application of the composition according to the invention for minimal invasive sinus lift may comprise the following steps:
a) Gaining access to the site to be treated by creation of a gingival flap;
b) Creation of a small opening to the sinus cavity by means of drilling or punching
c) Elevation of the Schneiderian membrane, preferably with a balloon; and
d) Filling of the created void via an injection of the composition according to the invention through the opening that was created in step b).
A further method for the minimal-invasive application of the composition according to the invention for bone augmentation in orthopedics, in particular for the treatment of the femoral neck or the vertebrae, may comprise the following steps:
a) Gaining access to the targeted bone via a very small soft tissue incision or purposefully sized cannula or trocar.
b) Creation of an opening of less than 1 mm in the cortex of the bone by means of drilling or punching;
c) Application of the composition according to the invention via an injection from a syringe into the trabecular bone; and
d) Closing of the soft tissues.
Detailed Description of the First Phase
The hydrogel of the first phase can be made of any suitable biocompatible and degradable polymeric material that can be cross-linked in order to achieve a dense gel structure. The hydrogel comprises or consists preferably of natural polymeric material (i.e., non-synthetic polymers, polymers that can be found in nature) and/or polymers derived from ECM such as gelatin, elastin, collagen, agar/agarose, chitosan or fibrin. They may also comprise either at least one glycosaminoglycan or at least one proteoglycan, or a mixture thereof. The glycosaminoglycan may be for example a hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate or combinations thereof. Natural and ECM derived polymers are first choice biomaterials due to their biological and chemical similarities to natural tissues.
The preferred embodiment according to the invention for the cross-linked first phase hydrogel is hyaluronic acid or derivatives thereof. In experimental settings, an aqueous solution hyaluronic acid with a molecular weight of 2 million Daltons has been used, with a concentration spanning from 1 to 2% w/v, but concentrations spanning from 0.1 to 5% w/v can be envisaged. No particular method for obtaining the cross-linked hyaluronic acid is preferable; any kind of known non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid composition can be used as long as it permits the incorporation of micro/nanoparticles in the cross-linked gel before polymerization.
In experimental settings, BDDE (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether) was used as a crosslinking agent with a 0.00273 v/v concentration (27.3 μl in 10 ml of final gel). The final gel was purposefully dialyzed after the crosslinking step in order to remove free unreacted BDDE.
After crosslinking, the cross-linked first phase was extruded through a 160 μm mesh filter in order to obtain evenly sized chunks of that size. Chunk size is chosen based on the size of the needle/cannula used for the injection of the final material and the structure of the targeted bone region; this size can preferably vary from 50 to 500 μm.
The first phase hydrogel acts basically as a bulking element in order to fill the volume of a bone defect such as periodontal/peri-implant defects. It furthermore retains the mineral particles that act as "nucleation points" that induce a mineralization of the phase itself. The forming mineralized granules act as in situ-forming osteoconductive scaffold that guides and supports new bone formation.
The first phase can furthermore contain within it bioactive substances that would be released as long as the first phase mineralization goes on, which will be in any case a slow process compared to what will be described later on for the non-crosslinked second phase drug release.
The first phase hydrogel comprises calcium phosphate particles which have the main function of inducing the mineralization of the first phase. In the preferred embodiment, hydroxyapatite particles are chosen, as they have been shown to efficiently induce mineralization. The size of the particles can range from about 50 nm to about 5 μm. Experimental results showed that better results can be obtained with nanosized particles as they have a higher mineralization activity, and therefore seem to link a small particle size to a better mineralization performance. The particles can be substantially round in shape, but 50 nm needle-shaped particles have also been used, showing excellent results. In one embodiment, also 200 nm round or 5 μm round particles have been used. In two particular embodiments, hydroxyapatite particles <50 nm with a BET surface area ≥80 m2/g or hydroxyapatite particles of 5±1 μm with a BET surface area ≥100 m2/g have been used. When using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for visualization, the particles looks substantially smooth on their surface and present no significant porosity in their core.
The concentration of the calcium phosphate particles is preferably comprised between 1 to 20% w/v of the first phase gel, preferably between 1 and 5%. Higher concentrations are not contemplated because of resulting difficulties in injectability of the final gel and crosslinking. As shown in an experimental set-up, a 1 to 2% concentration is sufficient to efficiently trigger a good mineralization process.
The particles are added to the first phase hydrogel before the crosslinking process, and they are evenly distributed therein in order to induce a homogeneous mineralization process.
In an in vivo setting, the mineralization rate of the first phase comprising a cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel as described incorporating a low concentration of hydroxyapatite micro/nanoparticles (10% w/v of final first phase hydrogel), either loaded or not with bisphosphonates (in one embodiment, Zoledronate) has been studied with microCT-based dynamic histomorphometry. The results of the combined material showed a doubled or tripled mineralization rate 3 to 10 days after application into the femoral condyles of rats when comparing to a crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogel without hydroxyapatite. This parameter is based on the comparison of two consecutive microCT scans obtained 3 or 10 days after hydrogel implantation. The mineralization rate is given in %/day and calculated with the ratio of newly created mineralized matrix and previously present mineralized matrix.
Detailed Description of the Second Phase:
The second phase comprises a physiologically-compatible liquid such as water, buffer solutions like PBS or even a non-cross-linked hydrogel material such as non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid. The second phase embeds the first phase and in certain aspects it works as a carrier for it. When a hyaluronic acid hydrogel is used, the concentration thereof would preferably be in the same range as for the first phase hyaluronic acid hydrogel (spanning from 0.1 to 5% w/v), and preferably a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (less than 1 million Daltons) would be used due to its better anti-inflammatory effect in vivo.
Moreover, the second phase can comprise bioactive substances within it such as preferably antibacterial/antibiotic agents, analgesics, cytokines, growth factors, proteins, peptides, small molecule drugs such as for instance an osteoinductive agent, an osteoconductive agent, an anti-resorptive agent or any combination thereof. Depending on the size of the bioactive substances, they can freely diffuse from the second to the first phase and back, or they can be confined in the second phase: therefore the size of the bioactive compound and/or other physico-chemical parameters of the phases (e.g. concentration) influences the release of the active substances once the material is implanted/injected in a subject's body. For instance, free silver ions used as antibacterial agent will be released faster than larger silver particles. Silver is one of the most preferred bioactive and antibacterial substances to be incorporated in the second phase, particularly for dental applications where an infectious process is often a cause of bone loss. Silver is applied either in form of particles, free ions or ions loaded on the surface of calcium phosphate particles as previously described.
In a preferred embodiment, the second phase comprises calcium phosphate particles as described before, possibly loaded with any of the above-mentioned bioactive substances. In a preferred embodiment, such particles are loaded with bisphosphonates and/or silver ions. This kind of combinations would enhance the bone formation process while avoiding possible infectious processes; this combination is particularly interesting for dental bone defects. The loading process can consist in dissolving the active substance in a suitable solvent such as water and then either adding the micro-particles or mixing the active substance solution obtained with a nanoparticle dispersion. The final product will be a micro/nanoparticle coated on its surface with the bioactive substance.
Being a flowable, fluid phase, the second phase facilitates the injection of the final hydrogel and leaves at the same time space between the cross-linked chunks for neovascularization and new bone formation.
The first phase vs second phase ratio in terms of volume is preferably 4:1, but can go up to 19:1 in order to remain injectable.
Applications
The described composition according to the invention is preferable stored in and applied from a syringe. The soft consistency and unique injectability of the material makes it especially suitable for irregular-shaped, non-load-bearing, confined and difficult to access bone defects. Those kinds of defects can be found in the orthopedic, traumatological, aesthetic and the dental medicine.
In dentistry, due to it's much more favorable injectability (easily passes 25G needles) compared to currently used bone substitutes, the material can be applied to peri-implant and periodontal defects with a flap-less minimal invasive technique. Bone defects surrounding natural teeth or dental implants in patients affected by periodontitis or peri-implantitis can be filled by a simple sub-gingival injection of the material after a proper cleaning and disinfection of the site as shown in FIG. 5.
Another possible application for the new biomaterial is a minimal-invasive sinus lift for which bone substitute is injected in a void in the sinus created by an elevation of the Schneiderian membrane for example with a balloon as shown in FIG. 6. Again, due to the excellent injectability of the new biphasic material, only a very small atraumatic access is necessary for the application of the material. An additional benefit of the new material is that it can be completed with an antibacterial agent such as silver-ions. This makes it perfectly suitable for bone defects created by infectious processes such as peri-implantitis.
Beside the minimal invasive treatment of smaller bone defects, the composition according to the invention can also be used for the surgical treatment of larger defects in combination with a membrane that is used to retain the material in place. This is a standard procedure that is also used for most other commercially available bone substitutes.
The composition according to the invention has also big advantages in traumatology and orthopedics. It is preferably used for confined, difficult-to-access bone defects caused by trauma, cysts, tumors or others. Like for dental applications, only a minimal invasive access to the site is needed in order to apply the material. Another possible application is the prophylactic application of the material into impaired, fragile bone structures such as the femoral neck or in vertebrae of osteoporotic patients via a simple intraosseous injection. The material can also be applied to predrilled bone screw holes or the prepared beds of other implants (e.g. hip, knee, shoulder) for a local augmentation of the bone structure. This application has been tested in combination with a bisphosphonate in an osteoporotic rat model with favorable results. An integrated anti-microbial agent furthermore reduces the risk of dangerous implant infections.
Beside the injectable form of the composition according to the invention, a second lyophilized and spongy form of the material is also possible. The lyophilized hyaluronic acid readily absorbs body fluids leading to an in-situ-formation of the hydrogel. The spongy form can be favorable for an application to larger, open bone defects in the frame of an open surgical intervention.

ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)


A surgical instrument of the present invention comprises a tool section provided at a distal end of the insert section, having first and second tool pieces connected to each other by a first opening/closing pivot axis, and a manipulating section provided at a proximal end of the insert section, having first and second manipulating bodies connected to each other by a second opening/closing pivot axis wherein the first opening/closing pivot axis is positioned at a first side relative to the longitudinal center axis of the insert section, the second opening/closing pivot axis is positioned at a second side relative to the longitudinal center axis of the insert section, and the first side and second side are established to obtain a positional relationship which is substantially symmetrical to each other relative to the longitudinal center axis of the insert section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical instrument comprising: an insert section inserted into a patient's body; a manipulating section provided at a proximal end section of the insert section and gripped by a surgeon; and a tool section provided at a distal end of the insert section and articulated and opened/closed by the manipulating section.
2. Description of the Related Art
Surgical instruments carrying out surgical operation are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,275,608, 5,702,408, 5,383,888, and 4,763,669.
The surgical instrument disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,608 is composed of: a shaft, an openable/closable tool section provided at a proximal end section of this shaft; and a handle provided at a distal end section of the shaft. The tool section is composed so that it can be articulated in the same plane by means of a handle manipulation other than an opening/closing manipulation.
The surgical instrument disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,408 comprises: a link lever shaped first link; and second and third links connected to the first link, wherein the second and third links can be moved inwardly each other, and a fourth link is connected to both link end sections. The tool section and manipulating section are set at the same angle by means of a parallel link mechanism for articulating the first link in a first direction and articulating the fourth link in the first direction.
The surgical instrument disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,888 is composed of: a shaft; an openable/closable and articulable tool section provided at the proximal end section of this shaft; and a handle provided at the distal end section of the shaft. A tool section is opened/closed by a handle manipulation, and a manipulating wire is advanced/retracted by a lever provided at the handle side, whereby the tool section is articulated.
The surgical instrument disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,669 is composed of a shaft; an openable/closable and articulable tool section provided at the distal end section of this shaft; and a handle provided at the proximal end section of the shaft. The tool section is opened/closed by the handle manipulation, and a push rod is advanced/retracted by a lever provided at a handle side, whereby the tool section is articulated.
However, almost of the previously-described conventional surgical instrument is articulated on only a single plane. Thus, in particular, when a complicated manipulation for suturing/ligating tissues is achieved, the degree of freedom for articulating is insufficient.
The previously-described surgical instrument can articulate and rotate the tool section from the manipulating section side. However, while a single thumb and fingers other than the thumb are hooked on the manipulating section, it is difficult to turn the tool section and approach it to a target site by manipulation using the same one hand and to close and open the tool section at the target site. Thus, it is difficult to divert the previously-described surgical instrument for suturing and ligating. In actuality, there does not exist a surgical instrument suitable for suturing/ligating, the surgical instrument being capable of being articulated in an arbitrary direction and being capable of being opened/closed by one hand.
The previously-described surgical instrument disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,608 basically has a link in which the manipulating section and tool section move at an equal angle. However, a link composed of: a manipulating section side member made of a disk having a fixed rotary shaft at its center; a main shaft and a movable shaft parallel to this main shaft; and a tool section side member having a fixed rotary shaft at its center, is housed in an insert shaft at its proximal end side. Thus, in fact, the effective width of the manipulating section side member cannot be set to a necessary and sufficient value. In addition, an articulating torque generated by articulating of the manipulating section cannot be sufficiently obtained. Further, the main shaft extends the center of the insert section. Thus, a substantial link width is reduced, and similar effect is considered. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,608 discusses only articulating on one plane. An articulating ratio between the manipulating section side member and tool section side member cannot be set in a plurality of articulating planes, or alternatively, an articulating manipulation cannot be executed. A flexible member is used for an opening/closing mechanism in order to cope with displacement of a mechanism caused by an articulating manipulation. As a result, the required opening/closing gripping force and direct manipulation may be degraded.
An articulating mechanism caused by a parallel link is disclosed in the previously-described U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,408. However, a mechanism for opening/closing manipulation is not suggested, and an embodiment of the surgical instrument having an equal articulating angle at the manipulating section side and at the tool section side is merely disclosed. In the art disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,408, the manipulating section and tool section are connected to each other by means of a simple pair of links, and thus, the entire link is moved in a diameter direction of the insert section by manipulation of the manipulating section. Therefore, a sufficient space is required so that a link does not interfere with an internal hole of the insert section. As a result, there is a problem that the insert section is increased in diameter. When the link is long, an error easily occurs between an articulating manipulation quantity of the manipulating section and articulating movement quantity of the tool section due to slackness of the link itself.
A general problem in the previously-described prior art is that, when the tool section is set into the desirable articulating state by articulating the manipulating section, if a surgeon turns a manipulating section excessively, or if a surgeon articulates a manipulating section with an excessive force, the tool section may be deformed or destroyed so that a normal operation may be failed.
In general, when tissues are ligated by the surgical instrument, a so-called thread manipulation of surgical ligation or the like, for winding a suture thread connected to a suture needle around the surgical instrument for manipulating it, is carried out. However, a transmission member such as link for transmitting manipulation of the manipulating section to the tool section is articulably connected to the insert section each other by a pivot pin. In general, a step is generated at a connecting section between the transmission members. Thus, the suture thread is hooked on the step, and there is a possibility that smooth ligating manipulation is inhibited.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, treating the dielectric layer with a carbon containing group, forming a conductive layer over the treated dielectric layer, and patterning and etching the dielectric layer and conductive layer to form a gate structure. The carbon containing group includes an OCH3 or CN species.

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices, and more particularly to methods and devices for passivating gate dielectric films.
The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and designs have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of these advances, functional density has generally increased while geometry size has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling-down also produces a relatively high power dissipation value, which may be addressed by using low power dissipation devices such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices.
During the scaling trend, various materials have been implemented for a gate electrode and gate dielectric for MOS or CMOS devices. More specifically, high-k dielectric films have been employed for the gate dielectric to achieve the required equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) while keeping the leakage current of the device to a minimum. However, using high-K dielectric films for the gate dielectric may adversely affect a threshold voltage due to Fermi-level pinning phenomenon at the gate dielectric/electrode interface and thus, may lead to poor device performance and reliability.
Therefore, what is needed is a simple and cost-effective method and device for passivating a gate dielectric film in semiconductor devices.

Method for passivating gate dielectric films

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.