Method and devices to administer a bioactive material within a vessel while maintaining nearly-constant pressure within the vessel are disclosed. In one embodiment the methods and devices include a multi-lumen catheter to administer bioactive materials and simultaneously drain or evacuate excess fluid or bio-inactive materials at an aneurysm site within a vessel.

Aneurysms arise when a thinning, weakening section of an artery wall balloons out and are often treated when the aneurysm diameter is more than 150% of the artery's normal diameter. Aneurysms are estimated to cause approximately 32,000 deaths each year in the United States. Additionally, aneurysm deaths are suspected of being underreported because sudden unexplained deaths, about 450,000 in the United States alone, are often simply misdiagnosed as heart attacks or strokes while many of them may be due to aneurysms.
The most common and deadly form of aneurysms occur in the aorta, the large blood vessel stretching from the heart to the lower abdomen. Aortic aneurysms are detected by standard ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and the increased use of these scanning techniques for other diseases has produced an estimated 200% increase in the diagnosis of intact aortic aneurysms. A normal aorta is between 1.6 to 2.8 centimeters wide; if an area reaches as wide as 5.5 centimeters, the risk of rupture increases such that surgery is recommended.
U.S. surgeons treat approximately 50,000 abdominal aortic aneurysms each year, typically by replacing and/or bypassing the abnormal section of vessel with a plastic or fabric graft in an open surgical procedure. A less-invasive procedure that has more recently been used is the placement of a stent graft across the aneurysm site. Stent grafts are tubular devices that span the aneurysm to provide support without replacing a section of the vessel. The stent graft, when placed within the artery at the aneurysm site, acts as a barrier between blood flow and the weakened wall of the artery, thereby decreasing pressure on the damaged portion of the artery. This less invasive approach to treat aneurysms decreases the morbidity seen with conventional aneurysm repair. Additionally, patients whose multiple medical comorbidities make them excessively high risk for conventional aneurysm repair are candidates for stent grafting. Stent grafts have also emerged as a new treatment for a related condition, acute blunt aortic injury, where trauma causes damage to the artery.
While stent grafting represents an improvement over previously-used vessel replacement techniques, there are still risks associated with the procedure. One of these risks is migration of the stent graft due to hemodynamic forces within the artery. Graft migrations lead to endoleaks, a leaking of blood into the aneurysm sac between the outer surface of the graft and the inner lumen of the blood vessel. Graft migration and resulting endoleaks are especially possible in curved portions of vessels where asymmetrical hemodynamic forces in the area can place uneven forces on the stent graft. Additionally, the asymmetrical hemodynamic forces can cause remodeling of the aneurysm sac which leads to increased risk of aneurysm rupture and increased endoleaks.
Based on the foregoing, one goal of treating aneurysms is to provide a stent graft that does not migrate. In an attempt to achieve this goal, stent grafts with stainless steel anchoring barbs that engage the vessel wall have been developed. Additionally, endostaples that fix the graft more readily to the vessel wall have been developed. While these physical anchoring devices have proven to be effective in some patients, they have not sufficiently ameliorated the graft migration and endoleak problems associated with current stent-grafting methods and devices in all cases.
An additional way to reduce the risk of stent graft migration is to administer to the treatment site, either before, during or relatively soon after stent graft implantation a cell growth promoting factor. This administration can be beneficial because, normally, the endothelial cells that make up the portion of the vessel to be treated are quiescent at the time of stent graft implantation and do not multiply. As a result, the stent graft rests against a quiescent endothelial cell layer. If cell growth promoting compositions are administered immediately before, during or relatively soon after stent graft deployment, the normally quiescent endothelial cells lining the vessel wall, and in intimate contact with the stent graft, will be stimulated to proliferate. The same will occur with smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts found within the vessel wall. As these cells proliferate they can grow into and around the stent graft lining such that portions of the stent graft becomes part of the vessel lumen rather than merely pressing against its surface. This endothelialization helps to prevent stent graft migration. In addition to cell growth promoting factors, it can be beneficial to administer a number of other bioactive materials, such as, without limitation, anti-inflammatory agents and/or anti-coagulant compounds.
While it can be beneficial to administer a bioactive material in an area to be implanted with a stent graft. This administration can also be problematic, however, because an increase in volume and internal pressure near an aneurysm site caused by the administration of an exogenous substance can increase the likelihood of aneurysm rupture. Therefore, a need exists for methods and devices that can administer a bioactive material to an aneurysm site while maintaining nearly-constant pressure in the area. Such methods and devices would allow for the introduction of beneficial bioactive materials without increasing the likelihood of aneurysm rupture.

Methods and devices to deliver injected agents to an aneurysm site


Methods and apparatus for cooling a surface on a flight vehicle and generating power include advancing the vehicle at a speed of at least Mach 3 to aerodynamically heat the surface. A first working fluid circulates through a first fluid loop that heats the first working fluid through a first heat intake thermally coupled to the surface and expands the first working fluid in a first thermal engine to generate a first work output. A second fluid loop has a second working fluid that receives heat from the first working fluid and a second thermal engine to generate a second work output. The first and second work outputs are operably coupled to first and second generators, respectively, to power primary or auxiliary systems on the flight vehicle.

Flight vehicles traveling through atmosphere at high speeds may experience extremely high temperatures. When traveling at speeds greater than Mach 3, and more particularly at hypersonic speeds greater than Mach 5, temperatures can locally exceed 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, necessitating the use of high density materials such as superalloys or expensive non-metallic materials such as ceramic matrix composites. Additionally, turbofan and turbojet engines cannot be used at speeds much above Mach 3 without air cooling. Moreover, as speed increases, a greater fraction of the total engine air flow is diverted around the turbomachinery into an augmenter, also called an afterburner, which is essentially a ramjet. As a result, a smaller amount of power is generated by the turbine, therefore the ability of the turbine to generate electrical power for vehicle systems is diminished.

Methods and systems for generating power and thermal management having combined cycle architecture


A skate for a wheel assembly of a motor vehicle is used to maneuver the vehicle in confined spaces. The wheel skate has a U-shaped frame fitted to the wheel assembly by adjusting the width of the expandable/contractible frame until the unit is wide enough to position a plurality of rollers in engagement with opposing sides of the tire of the wheel assembly. A foot pedal lever is operated to contract the frame assembly and raise the tire clear of the garage floor. A locking knob drops into a hole in the frame assembly to lock the position of the frame assembly. A fork drives the frame assembly together. The locking knob does not move into the following hole until the fork is moved into another hole. The device is used in pairs which are attached to either the front or back wheels in order to swing one end of the vehicle around.

The use of wheeled dollies and trucks having lifting assemblies and structures for maneuvering or positioning vehicles in interior spaces of garages, warehouses and the like is known.
Elam in U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,960 discloses a dolly for lifting and transporting an automobile. The dolly has a generally U-shaped frame with a pair of arms attached to a base member at right angles. The arm assemblies engage the wheel assembly of the automobile to lift and transport the automobile. Casters secured to the arms allow movement of the dolly over a ground surface.
Barosko in U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,859 discloses a truck for picking up and transporting heavy wheel and tire assemblies having generally horizontal load bearing arms. A hydraulic jack is actuated to raise the arms.
Carruthers in U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,415 discloses a wheel and tire lift having a pair of plates joined with telescoping tubes. A screw shaft extending through the tubes is rotated to pull the tubes together. Each plate carries an arcuate-shaped rockable cradle having rollers that can be set under the wheel.
Baum in U.S. Pat. No. 2,362,981 discloses an airplane lift dolly having a frame having shoes that fit under the sides of the tire. Shoe is adapted to move inwardly and upwardly in a scooping motion to lift the wheel. Shoe has a plurality of rollers to avoid sliding friction between the shoe and tire as the tire is scooped up.
Safety is a concern when using trucks and dollies to lift, support and transport vehicles which are relatively heavy objects having weights producing a large amount of inertia. It is essential to have dependable, safe and automatic lifting and locking structure to avoid damage to the motor vehicle or personal injury.


The present application discloses a standing vertical lower limb exercise device. The lower limb exercise device includes two major pivotal members, a horizontal bridge member that connects the major pivotal members, a stretchable spring, a string member for limiting a split angle formed by the two major pivotal members, and wheels, gears, and shafts to facilitate movement of the two major pivotal members. The stretchable spring and string member are coupled between the two major pivotal members. Wheels are coupled to each major pivotal member.

Traditional fitness equipment for exercising inner and outer thigh muscle group found in common gym were large and not as user friendly. A typical inner and outer thigh exercise equipment in gym normally consists of added weight stack system and it occupies a large space due to its horizontal leg movement. These traditional inner and outer thigh exercise equipment have a steep learning curve because it requires device setting between inner thigh exercise movement and outer thigh exercise movement. Hence, the traditional inner and outer thigh fitness equipments are likely to be found in commercial gym where trainers or equipment instructors are assessable, but they are not common at home.
The present invention provides a novel device for performing inner and outer thigh exercises without requiring switching setting between inner thigh exercise and outer thigh exercise; it provides assisted force with intuitive adjustment for assistive force feedback and this invention does not require added weight system; therefore, it is small in foot print compare to traditional inner and outer thigh fitness equipment and it is portable that can be used on common flat surface such in commercial gym or at home.

Lower limb exercise device and method of using thereof


A globalization component including a base class NewResourceManager that provides a layer of abstraction from the Microsoft Resource Manager and a new WinForm class that inherits from the .NET Windows Form and utilizes NewResourceManager. The globalization component uses culture information and resource folder information from the registry to set a culture-specific resource folder and file. Decoupled assembly culture-specific resource files include all string resources in the target language and can be stored in any folder. New culture-specific resource files are easily generated without having to recompile the assembly or any satellite assemblies and without having to modify any configuration files. The NewWinForm class can also iterate through all controls on the form and if values are missing from an associated resource file, the resource manager will save the missing controls to a text file. Translators need only receive this text file to translate from one human language to another.

Many software programs are written with a view toward translating them into multiple human languages for multi-cultural distribution (a process known as globalization). One software development platform used for such purpose is the .NET Framework by Microsoft® that provides a large standard library from which software developers can develop assemblies, which are basically code libraries. In the Microsoft® Windows® environment, an assembly takes the form of a process assembly (EXE) or a library assembly (DLL). The code in an assembly is partially compiled into a Common Intermediate Language (CIL), which is then fully compiled into machine language at runtime by a Common Language Runtime (CLR) virtual machine (VM). The standard .NET framework libraries include, among other things, standard classes, a resource manager, and forms.
A challenge for software developers developing software destined for multiple countries is that all the resources (typically text strings) must be extracted from the .NET assembly (or other assembly, such as an Internet-based assembly) so that the strings can be translated into other languages. The .NET Framework includes a standard ResourceManager class that will extract resources from embedded resource files or from satellite assemblies. But a disadvantage to embedded resources is that they are "embedded" into the assembly, which must be compiled with all necessary culture-specific resource files for each target language. In short, each translation requires that the code be recompiled. Corrections to existing resources (such as a typographical error in a string) also undesirably require that the code be recompiled, a time-consuming and error-prone process.
Another undesirable solution is to use satellite assemblies, each compiled for a specific culture. However, changes to resources of a satellite assembly or the development of a new satellite assembly for a new culture would require that the code be recompiled and that one or more configuration files be shipped with the new or modified files. This is necessitated by the fact that recompiling any .NET assembly often introduces incompatibilities between other related assemblies that were not recompiled. Introducing configuration files allows the developer to eliminate any specific incompatibilities that arise; however, producing and deploying these configuration files is a complicated process and creates additional work for the developers. Additionally, for every control in every form in an assembly, the software developer must include additional code that detects the culture and extracts resources from the pre-programmed file locations. This process is very tedious, prone to error, and significantly increases code size.
Thus, a need exists for an improved apparatus and method. The present invention is directed to satisfying one or more of these needs and solving other problems.


A method for analyzing a sample includes the step of irradiating a reaction portion of a sample BL and a reagent 40 in a reaction cell 34A of an analysis unit with light to obtain data D0 indicating optical characteristics of this portion. The method further includes the steps of irradiating a reference cell 34B which is not provided with a reagent 40 with light in a state in which the sample BL is supplied to the cell to obtain reference data D1 indicating optical characteristics of this portion, irradiating a base portion 34C of the analysis unit with light to obtain reference data D2 indicating optical characteristics of this portion, and obtaining data D3 indicating optical characteristics of the sample BL before reaction with the reagent 40 based on the reference data D1 and D2.

In a conventional method to analyze a sample by using an optical technique, use is made of an analysis unit including a cell in which a reagent is provided (see e.g. Patent Document 1). In this method, a sample is supplied into the cell and reacted with the reagent. The reaction portion of the sample and the reagent is irradiated with light, whereby optical data on the reaction portion such as the amount of light transmitted or reflected are obtained. The sample is analyzed based on these data.
In this method, the sample is often diluted before it is reacted with the reagent. Since the color of the sample becomes lighter due to the dilution, the optical data on the above-described reaction portion are not largely influenced by the color of the sample. Correction processing called "blank correction" is also often performed in this method. Specifically, in the blank correction, a cell provided with a reagent but not provided with a sample is irradiated with light, whereby optical data (blank correction data) on this portion are obtained. By utilizing these data, the optical data on the reaction portion are corrected.
However, the above-described conventional analysis method has the following drawbacks.
In the conventional method, the sample itself is not precisely analyzed before the reaction with the reagent. Thus, even if the sample is not normal (for example, if the color or concentration of the sample is abnormal), the analysis of the sample is still performed, with such abnormalities overlooked. Specifically, in the case where the sample is blood, the blood is yellow when it has a high bilirubin content, red when it is hemolysis and milky white when it is chyle. In the conventional analysis method, even when the sample blood has such an abnormal color, the abnormality is not detected in advance, and the sample blood is analyzed by the reaction with a reagent anyway. Thus, there is a possibility that although the blood itself is abnormal, the abnormality is overlooked and the analysis is regarded as correct. When the blood is diluted before the reaction with the reagent, the above-described color abnormalities are more likely to be overlooked.
The reagent can be provided in a cell of the analysis unit in various manners. For instance, the reagent may be provided in the form of a solid in the cell, so that the surface of the reagent may readily scatter and reflect light. The reagent may include a high content of a substance which has a high absorbance. In these cases, when the cell is irradiated with light to obtain the above-described blank correction data, the light is scattered and reflected by the reagent or easily absorbed by the reagent. As a result, the amount of light which passes through the cell reduces. The blank correction data obtained based on such a small amount of light transmission tends to be incorrect, so that it is difficult to properly correct the optical data on the above-described reaction portion.    Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,480

Method of optical analysis using reference cell and base plate correction and apparatus thereof


A gas circuit breaker is configured by comprising a tank filled with arc extinguishing gas, a pair of fixed side arc contact and moving side arc contact in the tank, a puffer chamber formed with a puffer cylinder including the moving side arc contact at its end and a fixed piston, and an insulating nozzle, attached to the end of the puffer cylinder, surrounding the moving side arc contact, that forms a flow channel to guide arc extinguishing gas from the puffer chamber to the contacts. A puffer cylinder 104 has a cylindrical member 104a at a breaker side end, an end of the insulating nozzle 101 is provided in the cylindrical member 104a. And the gas circuit breaker is configured by further comprising a hollow moving side main contact 102 at a breaker side end of the cylindrical member 104a, a pressing metal fitting 103 to engage an insulating nozzle 101 in the hollow part of the moving side main contact 102.

In recent years, a circuit breaker with enlarged capacity is developed along with development of high-voltage and high-current electric power system. On the other hand, there are increasing needs for cost reduction and space saving by optimization of a breaker part structure. Accordingly, a circuit breaker in which puffer gas pressure is higher in comparison with conventional circuit breakers, typified by a small heat puffer type circuit breaker having excellent breaking performance, is being propagated.
Generally, in a breaker-part moving side structure of the gas circuit breaker including the heat puffer type circuit breaker, an insulating nozzle and a moving side main contact are provided on the breaker part side from a puffer cylinder part. The insulating nozzle is provided for the purpose of effectively blowing arc extinguishing gas to arc which occurs between moving side and fixed side arc contacts.
As a typical insulating nozzle fixing method, known is a structure where an outer peripheral part of a rear end of the insulating nozzle is cut in a screw, and is screwed with an inner peripheral screw part at the end of the puffer cylinder from the breaker part side, thus fixing is made.
In this fixing method, it is possible to simply perform attachment and centering work at the time of assembly. Further, upon nozzle change at the time of maintenance, it is possible to perform work from a manhole provided in the vicinity of the breaker part.
However, in accordance with increment in the above-described puffer gas pressure, a holding function with respect to the puffer gas pressure cannot be expected only with the screw fixing structure. Accordingly, the problem is that the potential of accident such as drop off of insulating nozzle upon breaking operation is high.
Regarding such problem, as shown in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, a structure to prevent drop off of the insulating nozzle is proposed. The insulating nozzle is engaged with the inner diameter side at the end of the puffer cylinder, and is held with a nozzle presser which also works as a moving side main contact.
In this structure, the insulating nozzle is firmly fixed in comparison with the above-described fixing structure with screw holding, and the drop off of the insulating nozzle due to gas pressure increasing is prevented.


Thermal tuning and quadrature control of opto-electronic devices using active extinction ratio tracking is proved by phase shifting, via a first phase shifter, a first optical signal carried on a first arm of an interferometer relative to a second optical signal carried on a second arm of the interferometer; combining the first optical signal with the second optical signal as an output signal; detecting a peak value in the output signal; and adjusting a relative phase offset imparted by the first phase shifter on the first optical signal relative to the second optical signal, based on the peak value, to increase an amplitude of the peak value. In various embodiments, the peak value is increased over time to maximize an extinction ratio of the optoelectronic device and maintain the extinction ratio in a maximized state during operation.

In various photonic circuit elements, such as switches, modulators, and Variable Optical Attenuators (VOA), input optical signals are split and/or combined to produce various output optical signals of desired amplitudes. Extinction of an optical signal may occur by splitting an input optical signal into two signals and combining the two signals to interfere with one another so that an output optical signal has a reduced amplitude from that of the input optical signal. An extinction ratio (re) can be calculated based on the relative ratio in amplitude of the high and low output optical signals, (e.g., re=Phigh/Plow). In some photonic circuits, it is desirable to produce an output signal such that re is below a threshold, so that downstream circuit elements are not inadvertently activated and so that carrier waves are suppressed for signal analysis. In other photonic circuits, it is desirable to maximize re so that the input optical signal is used at a maximum modulation efficiency.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially used in other embodiments without specific recitation.

Thermal tuning and quadrature control using active extinction ratio tracking


There is provided an apparatus provided with a tray which goes up and down with sheet stack being supported, a pickup roller which feeds the sheet on the tray a first detecting sensor which detects a object placed on the tray other than the sheets to be fed by the pickup roller, as the tray goes up.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and particularly to a sheet feeding apparatus and Invention
The present invention relates an image forming apparatus equipped with a large capacity sheet accommodating portion and a tray which can control lifting and lowering.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers equipped with a large capacity sheet accommodating portion capable of replenishing to one tray a large quantity of sheets as many as several thousands of sheets have been increasing. Such large capacity accommodation portion is frequently equipped with a tray which is capable of lifting and lowering by driving from the sheet accommodating portion body.
With the sheet accommodating portion equipped with the tray, when sheet stacks are replenished on the tray and the sheet accommodating portion is set to the main body, the tray then goes up. When an uppermost surface of the sheet stack is detected by a paper surface position detecting unit, tray stopping control is executed. By this operation, the uppermost surface of the sheet stack becomes as the feeding position.
In many cases, such sheet accommodating portion meets with a plurality of sheet sizes. In this case, when sheets smaller than the maximum size capable of being accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion are replenished, a space free from sheet stack is generated on the tray
It frequently occurs that a paper bag for spare sheets or a surplus sheet stack (hereafter referred to as foreign object) is left on this empty space. When the tray goes up while a foreign object is being placed on the tray, this foreign object may result in damage of the sheet accommodating portion apparatus.
This will be described referring to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a drawing for describing a problem due to the foreign object based on conventional configuration. For example, with a tray 61 as illustrated in FIG. 9A, a paper surface position detecting unit (not shown) for detecting upper surface of a sheet stack 50 being set on the tray 61 is usually provided. When upper surface of the sheet stack is detected by the paper surface position detecting unit, lifting of the tray 61 stops.
With this configuration, when a foreign object 90 is placed on the tray 61 and height of the foreign object 90 is higher than that of the sheet stack 50, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, the foreign object collides with uppermost part of an apparatus body 60 before the uppermost surface of the sheet stack 50 is detected by the paper surface position detecting unit.
This occurs similarly when, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, height of the foreign object 90 on the tray 61 is lower than that of the sheet stack 50. In other words, as the sheet is being fed, the tray 61 goes up by as much as lowering of upper surface position of the sheet stack 50. With this state, if upper surface position of the sheet stack 50 becomes lower than upper surface position of the foreign object 90, the foreign object 90 will collide with the uppermost part of the apparatus body 60.
In view of such problems, there is an apparatus which detects a foreign object on a tray, as described by, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-246470.
According to this proposal, holes are provided to a plurality of locations on the tray capable of lifting and lowering, and sensors are disposed respectively so as to cause a contact to protrude from these holes, when the tray is located at the lowest limit. With this configuration, when an object is placed so as to cover holes on the tray, the object can be detected by the contacts protruded from each of holes. When an object is detected by sensors provided at the position where a sheet is not to be originally placed, it can be determined that a foreign object exists.
However, with above-mentioned unit, in order to detect a foreign object on a sheet, the tray should be lowered to the lowest limit of lifting and lowering range whenever sheets are replenished. Therefore, when sheets are consumed thoroughly, the tray is lowered down to the lowest limit, it takes longer time before the tray is lowered completely, and the user have to wait during this period of time.
Further, according to the composition for detection of a foreign object, which is described by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-246470, area of the tray covered by sheets replenished depends on the size of sheets. Therefore, a setting as to that touching of which sensor flag is determined to be foreign object should be made differently for every sheet size. In addition, if sheet size is set erroneously, it is probable that even a normal sheet is detected as a foreign object.

Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus


A capacitor for use in a memory cell (10). A transistor is formed overlying a substrate (10). The transistor has a first current electrode (16) and a second current electrode (18). The current electrodes (16 and 18) are separated by a channel region. A gate electrode (26) is formed overlying the channel region and is physically separated from the channel region by a gate dielectric layer (24). A plug region (32) is formed overlying and electrically connected to the first current electrode (16). An annular high-permittivity dielectric region (33) is formed overlying the transistor and is formed from a high-permittivity dielectric layer (36). A first capacitor electrode is formed via a conductive region (38"), and a second capacitor electrode is formed via a conductive region (38'). The memory cell (10) can be formed as a non-volatile memory cell or a DRAM cell depending upon various properties of the annular high-permittivity dielectric region (33).

For decades, capacitors have been an important and irreplaceable circuit element used often in electronic circuit designs. For example, capacitors are widely used in applications such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), active and passive filters, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters (A/D and D/A converters, respectively), operational amplifiers, radio and tuning circuits, oscillators and multivibrator circuits, time critical and time delay circuitry, noise reduction circuitry, charge pumps, power electronics, and many other diverse applications. A capacitor is defined in the simplest terms as a device having two conducting surfaces separated by an insulating material. A capacitor stores electrical charge, blocks the flow of direct current (DC), and permits the flow of alternating current (AC) depending essentially upon the capacitance of the device and the frequency of the incoming current or charge. Capacitance, measured in farads, is determined by three physical characteristics: (1) a thickness or average thickness of the insulating material separating the two conducting surfaces; (2) how much surface area is covered by the two conducting surfaces; and (3) various mechanical and electrical properties of the insulating material and the two conducting surfaces or electrodes.
Many forms of capacitors exist in the semiconductor industry. In the early development and marketing of the above mentioned technologies, parallel plate or parallel electrode capacitors were used as capacitance structures. The parallel electrode capacitor is a capacitor that has a planar top and a planar bottom conducting surface separated by a planar dielectric or insulator. The planar capacitor, although easy to manufacture, consumes a large amount of substrate surface area. Capacitors which have a large substrate surface area are not practical for use with current memory technology. Current memory technology requires capacitors which have small substrate surface areas in order to achieve competitive integrated circuit densities.
Another widely accepted capacitor structure is known as a trench capacitor. The trench capacitor is formed by first etching a deep well, trench, or hole in a substrate surface or a surface overlying the substrate surface. This trench or hole is used to form and contain two electrodes separated by an insulator, which is referred to as an inter-electrode dielectric. Other known structures such as double box capacitors, crown capacitors, fin capacitors, and other similar capacitive structures have been developed for memory cells.
In most cases, the capacitive structures discussed above are not easy to manufacture when the inter-electrode dielectric of the capacitive structure is made of an advanced material, such as a ferroelectric material or a high-permittivity dielectric. Capacitor electrodes that are made of advanced materials, such as conductive oxides and refractory metals, are also difficult to manufacture with the capacitive structures discussed above. In addition, all the capacitor structures mentioned above have a first electrode that is formed before the inter-electrode dielectric is formed. Therefore, the first electrode is exposed to heat cycles and various ambient conditions, such as an oxidizing ambient, which may damage or alter the performance of the overall capacitor structure.
As memory technology advanced, new materials, such as lead zirconium titanate and other ferroelectric materials were used to transform a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell into a non-volatile memory. In most cases where ferroelectric materials or high-permittivity dielectric materials are concerned, the capacitor structures described above are too complex or inadequate for use as a non-volatile memory. In many cases, non-volatile memories require inter-electrode dielectrics that are thicker than the inter-electrode dielectric thickness typically found in DRAM cells. Therefore, some capacitor structures, such as the trench capacitor and box capacitor, although ideal for DRAM applications, become more difficult to manufacture or increase in substrate surface area for non-volatile memories.

Capacitor and a memory cell formed therefrom


An apparatus and method for collecting a predetermined amount of blood or other fluid using an automated sampling system is provided.

Automated blood sampling ("ABS") is a method of automatically collecting serial blood or other fluid samples from a patient for diagnostic or research purposes. ABS reduces the trauma associated with multiple "sticks" (insertion of a needle into a vein or artery) during the repeated blood sampling that is necessary to monitor disposition of drug treatments. This may have particular relevance in sampling blood or other fluids from very young infants, such as those in neonatal or pediatric intensive care, who may have little blood to spare.
ABS has benefits in research, such as during Phase 1 and Phase 2 Clinical Trials (in association with electrocardiography, blood pressure recording, and body temperature monitoring). Automating the process of blood or fluid sampling potentially allows sampling to be done with greater volume and temporal accuracy (i.e. the collection of particular sample volumes at specific times), allows for the use of less human personnel, and reduces the amount of fluid wasted compared to manual methods of acquiring the same samples and data. Automated blood sampling may also reduce the risk of infections, including nosocomial infections. Automated blood sampling also eliminates labor for manual assurance of catheter patency.
ABS units may also be provided in a portable embodiment. In some embodiments, the ABS unit includes a battery or other portable power source. The use of a portable ABS allows for greater mobility of the patient during sample collection. Patients may be able to go about daily activities, such as eating meals, sending mails, reading a book, and walking to a restroom, while attached to an ABS unit. Greater mobility and fewer sticks may lead to reduced stress. Stress involves the release of various hormones, and such hormones may affect the samples being collected in both human and non-human studies. U.S. Pat. No. 8,052,617, directed to a PORTABLE SAMPLING OR TESTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHYSIOLOGY STUDIES, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/431,377, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0261499, directed to a CARTRIDGE FOR AUTOMATED BLOOD SAMPLING SYSTEM, disclose apparatus and methods for conducting automated blood sampling, the teachings of each are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Biomedical research techniques, such as infusion, in vivo microdialysis, in vivo ultrafiltration, in vivo electrochemistry, and electrocardiology study the performance of living organs, such as the brain, heart, circulatory system, muscles, etc. These techniques also require connections between one or more external devices and one or more sensors or implants in the body. Examples of devices include syringe pumps, fraction collectors, electrometers, vacuum sources, light sources, and potentiostats. Examples of implants include infusion cannulae, ultrafiltration probes, microdialysis probes, electrodes, and biosensors.
In typical fluid collection systems, an operator must make multiple selections from a menu to set-up and begin the testing protocol. In complex and sometimes chaotic medical care environments, such as intensive care units, critical care units, neonatal intensive care units, and emergency department rooms, the use of simple, repeatable procedures is desired to reduce the occurrence of errors. In addition, typical blood sampling procedures require time for a health care provider to set up any test and/or manually withdraw samples for testing. Improvements in the foregoing are desired.
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for collecting a fluid sample from a subject for a test. In one exemplary embodiment, the test subject is an adult human. In another exemplary embodiment, the subject is a human child. As used herein, "test" may comprise collection of a fluid sample, as in automated blood sampling, sampling of another body fluid, or parallel acquisition of an electronic signal, such as during blood pressure or electrocardiogram monitoring. The fluid sample collected may be used in medical or clinical analysis of the patient for diagnostic or research purposes. In one embodiment, the sample collection and analysis are provided as a part of neonatal, pediatric or adult intensive care of the patient, including but not limited to military intensive care. In another embodiment, the sample collection and analysis are provided as a part of a personalized medicine regime or treatment. Example of personalized medicine treatment include, but are not limited to, measuring the circulating concentration of an administered drug or tracking the patient's chemical response to a drug. In still another embodiment, the sample collection and analysis are provided as a component of biomedical research. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the sample collection and analysis may also be provided as part of other medical or clinical processes.
In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for conducting an automated fluid collection. The method comprises: connecting the test subject to the automated fluid sampling device. The fluid sampling device includes: a pump being moveable in a first direction to draw fluid into the pump and a second direction to expel fluid from the pump; a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, the reservoir having a first opening and a second opening; a first conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a first fluid fitting configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to tubing having a distal end inserted into the subject; a second conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a second fluid fitting configured to connect the cartridge to a sample collection component; and a third conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a third fluid fitting configured to connect the cartridge to a sterile fluid supply. The pump is configured to move in the first direction and second direction in response to movement of a portion of the fluid sampling device and the fluid conduits are configured such that a first valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the first fluid conduit, a second valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the second fluid conduit, and a third valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the third fluid conduit, each valve having an open state and a closed state; and wherein the fluid sampling device includes a controller for controlling the pump and valve.
The method further comprises activating a predetermined routine on the automated fluid sampling device, said predetermined routine including the steps of: opening the first valve, and moving the pump in the first direction to draw sample fluid through the first conduit and into the reservoir; thereby forming a sample fluid/sterile fluid interface; opening the second valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force a sample fluid from the reservoir through the second conduit to the sample collection component, the sample collection component collecting a predetermined amount of fluid; re-opening the first valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force the sterile fluid out of the first fluid fitting, thereby flushing the first conduit; re-opening the second valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force the sterile fluid out of the second fluid fitting, thereby flushing the second conduit and the sample collection component, and opening the third valve, and moving the pump in the first direction to draw the sterile fluid through the third fluid fitting and into the pump through the first opening of the third conduit. The activating step is performed by depressing a single button on the automated fluid sampling device.
In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure provides an apparatus for conducting an automated fluid collection. The apparatus includes: a pump being moveable in a first direction to draw fluid into the pump and a second direction to expel fluid from the pump; a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, the reservoir having a first opening and a second opening; a first conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a first fluid fitting configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to tubing having a distal end inserted into the subject; a second conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a second fluid fitting configured to connect the cartridge to a sample collection component; and a third conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a third fluid fitting configured to connect the cartridge to a sterile fluid supply. The pump is configured to move in the first direction and second direction in response to movement of a portion of the fluid sampling device and the fluid conduits are configured such that a first valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the first fluid conduit, a second valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the second fluid conduit, and a third valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the third fluid conduit, each valve having an open state and a closed state; and wherein the fluid sampling device includes a controller for controlling the pump and valve.
The automated fluid sampling device further includes a user interface comprising a single button. Upon activation of the button, a predetermined routine is activated including the steps of: opening the first valve, and moving the pump in the first direction to draw sample fluid through the first conduit and into the reservoir; thereby forming a sample fluid/sterile fluid interface; opening the second valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force a sample fluid from the reservoir through the second conduit to the sample collection component, the sample collection component collecting a predetermined amount of fluid; reopening the first valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force the sterile fluid out of the first fluid fitting, thereby flushing the first conduit; re-opening the second valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force the sterile fluid out of the second fluid fitting, thereby flushing the second conduit and the sample collection component, and opening the third valve, and moving the pump in the first direction to draw the sterile fluid through the third fluid fitting and into the pump through the first opening of the third conduit. In a more particular embodiment, the automated fluid sampling device further includes a cover covering at least a portion of the user interface. In an even more particular embodiment, at least a portion of the cover covers the single button.
In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for conducting an automated fluid collection into multiple vials. The method comprises (a) providing an automated fluid sampling device, the automated fluid sampling device comprising: a pump being moveable in a first direction to draw fluid into the pump and a second direction to expel fluid from the pump; a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, the reservoir having a first opening and a second opening; a first conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a first fluid fitting configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to tubing having a distal end inserted into the subject; a second conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a second fluid fitting configured to connect the cartridge to a sample collection component containing first and second sample collection vessels; and a third conduit fluidly connecting the reservoir to a third fluid fitting configured to connect the cartridge to a sterile fluid supply, wherein the pump is configured to move in the first direction and second direction in response to movement of a portion of the fluid sampling device when the cartridge is operably connected to the fluid sample device and the fluid conduits are configured such that when the cartridge is operably connected to the fluid sampling device, a first valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the first fluid conduit, a second valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the second fluid conduit, and a third valve of the fluid sampling device controls fluid flow in the third fluid conduit, each valve having an open state and a closed state; and wherein the fluid sampling device includes a controller for controlling the pump and valve.
The method further comprises (b) connecting the distal end of the tubing to the subject; (c) opening the first valve, and moving the pump in the first direction to draw sample fluid through the first conduit and into the reservoir; thereby forming a sample fluid/sterile fluid interface; and (d) opening the second valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force sample fluid from the reservoir through the second conduit to the first sample vessel positioned in the sample collection component. The method further comprises (e) moving the pump in the second direction to force sample fluid from the reservoir through the second conduit to the second sample vessel positioned in the sample collection component. The method further comprises (f) re-opening the first valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force the sterile fluid out of the first fluid fitting, thereby flushing the first conduit; (g) re-opening the second valve, and moving the pump in the second direction to force the sterile fluid out of the second fluid fitting, thereby flushing the second conduit and the sample collection component, and (h) opening the third valve, and moving the pump in the first direction to draw the sterile fluid through the third fluid fitting and into the pump through the first opening of the third conduit, wherein steps (c)-(h) are executed by the controller.
In a more particular embodiment, the controller repeats steps (c)-(h) a plurality of times in succession. In another more particular embodiment, the method further comprises prior to step (c): actuating the pump to fill the pump with the sterile fluid; opening second valve, and actuating the pump to fill the reservoir and the second conduit with the sterile fluid; opening the first valve and actuating the pump to fill the first conduit with the sterile fluid; coupling the tubing to the first fluid fitting; opening the first valve, and actuating the pump to draw a first amount of fluid from the tubing; and opening the first valve, and actuating the pump to return the first amount of blood through the tubing to the subject. In still another more particular embodiment, the first and second sample collection vessels are different sizes.
In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure provides an apparatus for conducting an automated fluid collection into multiple vials. In a more particular embodiment, the first and second sample collection vessels are different sizes.
The above mentioned and other features of the invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Simplified blood sampling device and method


Redundant data in a streaming disk image is identified using commands to indicate unused disk blocks, such as TRIM/UNMAP commands. A TRIM/UNMAP layer is added between an operating system and a disk driver to support the use of TRIM/UNMAP commands. Using the TRIM/UNMAP layer, blocks of a streamed disk image that are unallocated by the operating system are identified. The identified unallocated blocks are streamed to a server for analysis and storage.

The present invention relates to disk image streaming, and more specifically, to providing commands to indicate unused disk blocks (such as TRIM and UNMAP commands) to identify redundant data for disk image streaming efficiency.
With the increased virtualization of computers, users typically expect their data to be accessible from all over the world. In addition to simply storing a user's data, the contemporary art can store an entire desktop disk image, including an operating system, applications and application data, in a server and synchronize the image as necessary with locally available storage. In the contemporary art, the complete disk image is typically copied or streamed from one computer to another. Although contemporary disk images have the size of an entire hard disk, only a small part of the entire disk image is actively used by the operating system. A majority of the disk image is typically unallocated or unused disk space.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Identifying redundant data for disk image streaming

International Business Machines Corporation


A hair clip comprises a first clip member including a first arcuate rod and a second clip member including a second arcuate rod. The second arcuate rod includes a first end pivotally engaged with a first end of the first arcuate rod and a second end releasably engaged with the second end of the first arcuate rod. Arcuate first teeth project from the first arcuate rod and extend toward the second arcuate rod. Arcuate second teeth project from the second arcuate rod and extend toward the first arcuate rod.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hair clip with improved clipping effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrates a hair clip suit for men and women that includes a first clip member 1xe2x80x2 and a second clip member 2xe2x80x2. A peg 12xe2x80x2 with an engaging end 13xe2x80x2 is formed on a first end of the first clip member 1xe2x80x2 and is pivotally connected with a pivot hole 23xe2x80x2 defined in two spaced lugs 22xe2x80x2 on a first end of the second clip member 2xe2x80x2. Another peg 12xe2x80x2 with an engaging end 13xe2x80x2 is formed on a second end 12xe2x80x2 of the first clip member 1xe2x80x2 and is releasably engaged with a second end of the second clip member 2xe2x80x2. Each clip member 1xe2x80x2, 2xe2x80x2 has a plurality of straight teeth 14xe2x80x2, 24xe2x80x2 extending inwardly from an inner side thereof. Thus, the hair clip can be moved to an open state shown in FIG. 6 or a closed state shown in FIG. 7 for clipping hair. However, although the hair clip is engaged on the hair by the alternately disposed teeth 14xe2x80x2 and 24xe2x80x2, it was found that the hair clip cannot be securely retained on the hair. It is discomfort when wearing. The hair clip tends to disengage from the hair before it is moved to the open state.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a hair clip with improved clipping effect to prevent disengagement of the hair clip from the user""s hair.
A hair clip in accordance with the present invention comprises a first clip member including a first arcuate rod and a second clip member including a second arcuate rod. The second arcuate rod includes a first end pivotally engaged with a first end of the first arcuate rod and a second end releasably engaged with the second end of the first arcuate rod. A plurality of arcuate first teeth projects from the first arcuate rod and extends toward the second arcuate rod. A plurality of arcuate second teeth projects from the second arcuate rod and extends toward the first arcuate rod.
In an embodiment of the invention, the first arcuate rod includes an outer side that faces away from the second arcuate rod. The arcuate first teeth project from the outer side of the first arcuate rod and extend toward the second arcuate rod. The second arcuate rod includes an outer side that faces away from the first arcuate rod. The arcuate second teeth project from the outer side of the second arcuate rod and extend toward the first arcuate rod.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

No. 7, Alley 116, Lane 175, Sec. 1, Tatung Rd.


A method, apparatus, and computer-readable media include receiving a signal representing a request from a remote user for a secure resource residing on a network employing a generic application-layer network protocol; determining, without the intervention of the user, the type of security credential required to access the secure resource; and sending a signal representing a second request to the secure resource, the second request including a security credential for the user of the type required to access the secure resource.

This disclosure relates generally to information retrieval and distribution systems. More specifically, it relates to a method and system for assembling and distributing content components generated by multiple resource servers having diverse authentication requirements.
It is common for today's enterprise networks to comprise scattered arrangements of different hardware and software systems. This is due to the ever-changing data management needs of corporate enterprises, and to continuing advances in the computing hardware and software available to meet those needs. Commonly, different entities within an enterprise (for example, different departments or work sites) have disparate software applications, groupware systems, or data maintenance architectures/procedures, such that information created or maintained by one entity is not usable by another entity.
Corporate portals, also referred to as intranet portals, have been introduced to increase the accessibility and usability of information stored across the heterogeneous systems of an enterprise network. A corporate portal, which is usually overlaid onto an existing enterprise network, is designed to extract content from disparate systems on the enterprise network and to allow easier, personalized access to that content by end users. It is to be appreciated that while the features and advantages of the implementations described herein are particularly advantageous for corporate portal environments, enhancing their speed, openness, scalability, and stability, the features and advantages of the implementations are also applicable in other environments, such as with personalized "Web portals" that serve broad user bases. By way of example and not by way of limitation, one example of a corporate portal is the Plumtree Corporate Portal available from Plumtree Software, Inc. of San Francisco, California, while examples of personalized Web portals are typified by the MyYahoo! resource from Yahoo, Inc. of Sunnyvale, California and MyExcite from At Home Corp. of Redwood City, Calif. Corporate portals are also described in commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 09/896,039, filed Jun. 29, 2001, which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of an exemplary user screen 102 associated with a corporate portal system, comprising a plurality of content components 104-110. A content component refers to any content that is assembled, along with other content components, into a unified body of content. In the example of FIG. 1, a company news content component 104 includes an HTML display of news that is extracted, for example, from one or more company news servers, and arranged for display to the end user. A company stock quote content component 106 comprises an HTML display of a stock quote for the company and its competition that is extracted, for example, from a stock quote server. Also shown in FIG. 1 is an email content component 108 and a customer relationship management (CRM) content component 110. According to the end user's ID 112, the corporate portal displays the content components 104- 110 in a personalized arrangement (for example, news at the upper left, company stock quote in the upper right, and so on) and also selects the information within each content component based on the user's ID (for example, showing the user's personal e-mail account only, showing sports news on top of world news, showing only the user's personal CRM information, and so on). The user screen 102 of FIG. 1 would typically appear after the user (Jane Smith) has logged into the corporate portal system by supplying a user name and password.
More generally, the content components themselves can be any information communicable via any generic application-layer network protocol such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), and the like. Information communicable via a network includes text information, image information, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), or any other type of information that can be stored in a computer file, including images, sounds, and video. Throughout this specification we refer to any information sent over a network as content. We use the term content component to refer to any content that is assembled, along with other content components, into a unified body of content.
An exemplary content component is the HTML output generated by a script that communicates with an email client application. An email client application sends and receives email. Such applications usually let users compose email, and store email addresses in an address book. This script provides an HTML interface to the email client application. This script is hosted by the computer hosting the email application. This script generates HTML displaying the user's email messages, along with HTML allowing the user to compose and send email messages. This script can communicate with the email application through the application's programming interface. In this example, the HTML generated by the script is the content component (see, for example, FIG. 1, content component 108).
Other exemplary content components are two types of HTML generated by a program that communicates with a database application. This program can be hosted by the same computer hosting the database application. The database application stores and maintains a database of information organized into records. This program can communicate with the database application via the application's interface. This program generates HTML that allows the user to search for database records. For this case, the content component is a query box. This program also generates HTML that displays database records to the user. For this case, the content component is a view of the database records (see, for example, FIG. 1, content component 110). Further examples of content components include, but are not limited to, resources generated by a calendar application, a workflow application, a database storing proprietary personal information, a database storing proprietary business information, a database storing secure personal information, a database storing secure business information, an e-business application, and the like.
Content components are obtained from servers referred to herein as "resource servers." In some cases, resource servers may be secure, so that security credentials are required to gain access to the content on a secure resource server. FIG. 2 shows a system 200 for delivering personalized content according to a prior art method. A plurality of secure resource servers 202-208, each protected by an authenticator 222-228, host various types of content. Each authenticator 222-228 authenticates each user before allowing access to the protected server. Referring to FIG. 2, a CRM server 202 protected by an authenticator 222 hosts content such as customer lists and customer contact information. An email server 204 protected by an authenticator 224 hosts content such as email messages for a group of users. A stock quotes server 206 protected by an authenticator 226 hosts content such as stock quotes and charts. A news server 208 protected by an authenticator 228 hosts content such as headlines and news features. A main process 216 within a Web server 210 maintains a list of the types of content available from resource servers 202-208, and advertises these types of content to users.
Users employ user terminals 218A and 218B through 218N to access Web server 210 over a network 220 such as the Internet. A user establishes personalized settings in part by selecting certain of the types of content that are advertised by Web server 210. Subsequent to this personalization step, the user sends a request for personalized content to Web server 210. The personalized content can include content residing upon secure resource servers. Therefore, Web server 210 must provide security credentials to each secure resource server.
According to one prior art method Web server 210 simply forces the user to supply a security credential every time a secure resource server requires one. Since remembering multiple passwords or authentication methods is difficult for many users, users often write down or forget passwords, or use the same password for all of the secure resource servers. These user reactions create potential security and management problems.
According to another prior art method Web server 210 collects and stores the user security credentials for all of the secure resource servers. Whenever a secure resource server requires a security credential, Web server 210 simply provides all of the user's security credentials to the secure resource server. While relieving the user from entering his security credentials again and again, this technique creates significant security risks. For example, one of the secure resource servers could access another of the secure resource servers by spoofing the user.
To overcome these deficiencies in the prior art, techniques referred to as "Single-Sign-On" (SSO) have recently been developed. SSO techniques allow a user to access computers and systems to which he has permission through a single action, without the need to enter multiple passwords. One such technique is Kerberos, which allows a user to delegate authentication functions to another entity, such as Web server 210. One significant disadvantage of kerberos is that it does not support generic application-layer protocols, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) or file transfer protocol (FTP). Therefore a user cannot use Kerberos through a standard Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, without significant modification to the browser.
Some commercially-available off-the-shelf SSO products, such as Netegrity Siteminder and Securant Cleartrust, employ HTTP as the application-layer protocol, and so are compatible with unmodified browsers. When a user first visits a web site employing this type of SSO product, the web site authenticates the user and then gives the user browser a token, such as a session cookie, that allows the user to access any other web site that is guarded by the same SSO product without going through the original web site or authenticating again. One disadvantage of such SSO products is that they work only with other SSO products. A token from one SSO product will not provide access to a secure web site that does not employ that SSO product.
Another prior art solution is Microsoft Passport, which provides a single authenticator, controlled by Microsoft. According to Passport, the secure resource server shares a secret key with the Microsoft Passport Authenticator. One disadvantage of Passport is that, in order to share a private key with the Microsoft Passport Authenticator, each secure resource server must enter a business relationship with Microsoft.
Another prior art solution is represented by the capability of some browsers to store a security credential required by a Web site, and to forward the security credential to the Web site automatically when the user directs the browser to that Web site. Such security credentials can include session cookies, persistent cookies, and digital certificates. One disadvantage of this approach is that it is not portable. In order to use this approach on a second computer, the user must install the credentials on that computer as well. In addition, if the second computer is available to other users, the credentials must be removed when the session ends to prevent a security breach.

Delegated authentication using a generic application-layer network protocol


Predicting execution duration for user-defined functions on function-as-a-service (FaaS) cloud computing platforms is disclosed herein. In one example, a processor device of an FaaS cloud computing platform detects an event that triggers execution of a user-defined function, and automatically fetches an environmental metric that represents a current attribute or condition of the operating environment in which the user-defined function will execute. The processor device then calculates a predicted execution duration for the user-defined function based on the environmental metric, and compares the predicted execution duration to an execution duration threshold. If the predicted execution duration exceeds the execution duration threshold, the processor device prevents execution of the user-defined function by the FaaS cloud computing platform. If the predicted execution duration does not exceed the execution duration threshold, the processor device may initiate execution of the user-defined function. In this manner, the FaaS cloud computing platform's computing resources may be conserved.

Cloud computing platforms are systems that provide automated, on-demand, self-service computing resources to customers via an application programming interface (API) over a network using a shared pool of configurable computing devices. A function-as-a-service (FaaS) cloud computing platform is a subset of cloud computing platforms that enables customers to define, execute, and manage user-defined functions using on-demand computing resources. While an FaaS cloud computing platform may shield customers from the need to build and maintain the underlying computing infrastructure, the complexity and usefulness of user-defined functions executed by the FaaS cloud computing platform may be limited by execution duration limitations imposed by the FaaS cloud computing platform.


An anesthetic agent analyzer having six or more independent analytical channels, where each channel comprises a first thermopile which receives incident infrared radiation and a second thermopile behind the first thermopile which is blocked from the incident infrared radiation and thus serves as a reference for detecting ambient temperature variations. The first and second thermopiles are connected in a "parallel opposed" fashion so that the effects of ambient temperature variations automatically cancel and the detectors may be readily configured in a detector package. The anesthetic agent analyzer of the invention is designed for use with a wideband infrared radiation source so that anesthetic agents having characteristic absorption bands in the far infrared wavelength range (6-15 microns) may be more readily detected and discriminated. When implemented in a mainstream configuration, a disposable airway adapter with windows formed of polypropylene or some other suitable window material which minimally attenuates the infrared energy at the wavelengths of interest is also used. The concentrations of the discriminated anesthetic agent gases are then calculated using a second order polynomial equation having cross product terms. By connecting the first and second thermopiles in a back to back configuration, the detector device of the invention permits twice as many independent analytical channels to be provided in the same substrate area, with the resultant reduction in ambient temperature gradients.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anesthetic agent analyzer for determining the amount of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and other anesthetic agents contained in the respiratory gas of an anesthetized patient. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multichannel mainstream anesthetic agent analyzer which measures the partial pressures of constituent gases in a respiratory gas stream without using any moving parts and displays the representative gas information on a display.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is frequently of critical importance to monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in the gases inspired and expired to/from a patient under anesthesia, for expired CO.sub.2 concentration is a reliable indicator of the carbon dioxide concentration in the arterial blood. In a clinical setting, monitoring expired CO.sub.2 prevents malfunctions in anesthesia rebreathing apparatus from going undetected and delivering excessive amounts of CO.sub.2 to the patient. Rebreathing of anesthetic gases is very cost effective and environmentally desirable, but accurate CO.sub.2 concentrations are difficult to maintain in the patient circuit without a concentration monitor.
Numerous CO.sub.2 concentration monitors have been described in the prior art which direct infrared radiation through a sample of a gaseous mixture and measure the incident radiation illuminating a detecting device, thereby obtaining a measure of the infrared absorption of the CO.sub.2 gas. Electrical signals produced by the detecting device are indicative of the infrared absorption of the CO.sub.2 gas and can be processed to produce an output indicating the concentration of the CO.sub.2 component in the gas being analyzed. This type of gas analyzer operates on the principles that CO.sub.2 or any other gas being measured exhibits substantially increased absorption characteristics at specific wavelengths in the infrared spectrum and that higher gas concentrations exhibit proportionally greater absorption.
Analysis of the inspired and expired respiratory gases of a patient also provides information regarding the amount of nitrous oxide (N.sub.2 O) and other anesthetic agents the respiratory gas contains. Anesthetic agents are typically present as a single agent gas or as a mixture of a number of agent gases during transition from one type of agent gas to another. Some of the most common anesthetic agent gases, other than nitrous oxide, are halothane, ethrane, isoflurane, desflurane and sivoflurane. Such agent gases when administered to a patient must be carefully controlled by the anesthesiologist because of the great risk of supplying too much or too little agent gas.
Previously, the gas analyzers that were used to measure agent gases were not the same devices that were used to measure end-tidal CO.sub.2 and N.sub.2 O. These devices have included mass spectrometers and non-dispersive infrared gas analyzers. Mass spectrometers that are used for such gas measurements are usually part of operating room suites in which one spectrometer is shared among many rooms to measure a multiplicity of gases. However, a mass spectrometer has the disadvantages of cost, maintenance and calibration requirements, slow response time, and non-continuous measurement. Infrared gas analyzers, on the other hand, have the ability to measure the concentrations of inspired and end-tidal CO.sub.2 and N.sub.2 O in real-time. Prior art nondispersive infrared gas analyzers have also included features for making CO.sub.2 and N.sub.2 O cross-channel detection as well as temperature and collision broadening corrections to their partial gas pressure measurements. Some of these corrections have been made automatically by the analyzers, while others have been made manually by the operator.
Such non-dispersive infrared gas analyzers generally have two configurations. The first type, and more common, is the sampling or side-stream type which diverts a portion of the patient's respiratory gas flow through a sample tube to the infrared analyzer. The second type, or mainstream type, mounts on the patient's airway and uses a portion of the airway as the sample chamber. A mainstream gas analyzer is often desirable since a sampling system with its pumps and filters and the like is not necessary, thereby substantially reducing the cost of the device. The present invention is directed to such a mainstream infrared gas analyzer, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that the techniques of the invention may also be used with a sidestream configuration such as that described in a commonly owned patent application to Braig, et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/976,145 filed Nov. 10, 1992.
In typical infrared gas analyzers, the wavelength band of the beam of infrared energy passing through a sample cell containing the unknown gas mixture or through a portion of the main airway is changed periodically by the interposition of one or more filters in the path of the light beam. Typically, this is accomplished by providing a rotating filter wheel containing a plurality of filters which each pass only that radiation in a narrow band corresponding to a characteristic absorption wavelength of a particular gas of interest. Another filter may also be used as a reference filter at a wavelength band close to but not substantially overlapping the characteristic absorption wavelength band of any of the gases present in the sample cell or in the expired air in the mainstream airway. Gas analyzers with such filter wheels are described by Passaro et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,621; by Conlon et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,719; by Williams in WO 90/04164; and by Flewelling et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,018. Such infrared gas analyzers also commonly use a chopper wheel for chopping at a predetermined frequency the infrared light passing through openings in the sample cell or mainstream airway and a source aperture aligned with the reference cell and gas pathway. The chopped light passes through the openings in the detector aperture aligned with a reference cell in the gas pathway to the remaining portions of the assembly so as to provide synchronization for subsequent processing. Such a multi-channel gas analyzer is described, for example, by Corenman et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,166.
Gas analyzers of the type described in the aforementioned patents usually continuously reference the radiation detected in the characteristic bands to radiation detected at reference levels (i.e., a non-absorbed wavelength with a dark or totally blocked level). By doing so, the effect of drift is minimized and the effect of background noise is reduced. As known to those skilled in the art, drift can occur as a result of contamination on the windows in the sample cell or in the windows of the mainstream airway adapter which will attenuate the radiation passing therethrough and which can be interpreted erroneously to indicate the presence of the gas to be detected in the gas sample. Drift can also be caused by shifts in the output of the detector and temperature changes in the source of the infrared radiation.
Another source of error for infrared gas analyzers is the presence of certain gases or combinations of gases in the measured airstream or sample cell which have absorption bands which substantially overlap. This is undesirable, for there are instances where the gases that need to be measured simultaneously have very significantly overlapping absorption bands in the infrared range. A well-known example is the case of the anesthetic halocarbons: halothane, ethrane (or enflurane), and isoflurane. These three gases, which are hydrocarbon derivatives, have relatively weak absorption bands bunched together in the 3.3-3.5 micron (middle infrared) range, much like other hydrocarbons, and thus have modulations in the middle infrared range which are hardly sufficient for a useful measurement. This leads to poor sensitivity, a bulky sample chamber, and vulnerability to interference from other gases. However, as will be noted in more detail below, these gases also have strong but overlapping absorption bands in the far infrared range (beyond the 3.3-3.5 micron range) extending all the way up to 15 microns. Since these anesthetic hydrocarbon derivatives have much stronger absorption in the 6-15 micron (far infrared) range, it is desired to develop a measuring instrument which can measure the absorption of infrared light in the 6-15 micron (far infrared) range, despite the overlapping characteristics of the absorption bands of the halocarbons at these wavelengths.
Accordingly, the present invention is intended to measure the concentrations of the anesthetic agents in the far infrared wavelength range so as to provide a more precise measurement of the concentrations of these anesthetic agents than has previously been possible. It is also desired to develop an anesthetic agent analyzer which, unlike the above-mentioned devices, has no moving parts and is relatively inexpensive. In particular, an anesthetic agent analyzer is desired which can measure the concentration of anesthetic agents in the far infrared wavelength range in a system which does not use rotating filter wheels or choppers as in the aforementioned prior art patents.
Infrared gas analyzers have previously been described which do not require a motor driven chopper wheel or rotating filter wheel for its operation. For example, Aldridge discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,790 an optical gas analyzer which uses thermopiles as optical detectors. The thermopiles are formed of an array of interconnected thin films deposited on a heat insulative substrate to form a multitude of thermocouples. The array is configured such that infrared light impinges upon a number of the thermocouples, while the remainder of the thermocouples are shielded from the infrared light and employed to compensate each thermopile output signal for changes in ambient temperature. Similarly, Junkert et al. disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,612 an infrared thermometer which shields one thermopile from the incident infrared radiation and uses its output to compensate for changes in ambient temperatures. Of course, both of these detectors require close matching between the detecting thermopiles and the "shielded" thermopiles in order to prevent mismatch errors.
Another infrared gas analyzer which does not require a motor driven chopper wheel or filter wheel for its operation is described by the present inventors in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,081,998 and 5,095,913, which are also assigned to the present assignee. The present inventors therein describe an optically stabilized, shutterless infrared capnograph which provides the absolute concentrations of the constituents of the respiratory airstream of a patient without the thermal drift problems normally associated with thermopile detectors. The detector described in these patents eliminates the need for a mechanical shutter to modulate the incident infrared beam and the need for a modulated source by providing a unique arrangement whereby paired thermopiles are connected in series opposition to each other and are preceded by an analytical reference filter for passing a desired wavelength. A neutral density filter is also placed in the optical path of one of the thermopiles in the pair to attenuate the incident light, and the difference between the outputs of the thermopiles is used to eliminate the effects of background thermal noise so as to increase the reliability and response time of the device.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, such an optically stabilized infrared energy detector comprises a pair of thermopile detectors 100 and 102 which are connected in series opposed relation to each other. As shown, while infrared light impinges upon both of the infrared detectors 100 and 102, reference element 102 is disposed behind a neutral density filter (as shown by phantom outline) which attenuates a portion of the incident infrared radiation. As a result of this arrangement, the background temperature effects equally affect both detectors 100 and 102 and cancel when the outputs are summed. The sum output of operational amplifier 104 is thus unaffected by variations in ambient temperature and the like.
An exploded view of an optically stabilized infrared energy detector is shown in FIG. 2. As shown, the optically stabilized infrared energy detector 200 comprises an aperture 202 which is placed over analytical filters 204 including CO.sub.2 filter 206, N.sub.2 O filter 208 and a reference filter 210. A neutral density filter (not shown) is also placed over one channel of each analytical filter 204. Two substrate layers 212 preferably formed of antimony and bismuth are then placed on either side of a thin film thermopile layer 214 which includes thermopiles for detecting the incident infrared energy which has passed through the apertures 202, the analytical filters 204, the neutral density filter, and the openings in the substrates 212 so as to impinge upon the respective thermopiles in thermopile layer 214. A foil background 216 is also provided on the back of the lower substrate 212 so as to prevent the impingement of infrared energy from the back of the detector 200 onto the thermopiles of thermopile layer 214. A bead thermistor 218 is also provided behind foil 216 to measure the absolute substrate temperature for use in computing the ratio between the incident signals after cancellation of thermal effects. The entire assembly is then placed upon a header assembly 220 via header pins 222 as illustrated.
The optically stabilized infrared energy detector illustrated in FIG. 2 incorporates six coplanar detector channels, three of which serve as reference channels and three of which serve as analytical channels. As shown in FIG. 1, each reference detector in a reference channel is connected to its analytical partner in a series opposed configuration. It is desired to modify this configuration such that all six of the illustrated channels may be used as independent analytical channels, thereby permitting three or more additional anesthetic agents such as ethrane, halothane, and isoflurane to be detected with the same thermopile layer 214. However, it was discovered by the present inventors that the system of FIGS. 1 and 2 had to be substantially geometrically reconfigured into a new topography in order to permit six or more independent analytical channels to be used with a comparable thermopile assembly. As will be described in detail below, a new topography has accordingly been developed in accordance with the present invention.
Accordingly, a discriminating anesthetic agent analyzer is desired which has no moving parts and thus overcomes the problems of the aforementioned prior art agent analyzers and which is small, inexpensive and simple to operate. A discriminating anesthetic agent analyzer is also desired which is light in weight and durable so that it may be used in a mainstream configuration. An anesthetic agent analyzer is further desired which is accurate and which does not require excessive calibration. In addition, a discriminating anesthetic agent analyzer is desired which improves upon the topography of the above-mentioned optically stabilized infrared energy detector so that more analytical channels may be disposed in the same relative area. The invention described herein has been designed to meet these needs.

Shutterless mainstream discriminating anesthetic agent analyzer


A lifting sling and a lifting grommet are disclosed which can be fabricated of a high tensile strength polymeric material, preferably a woven polymer such as liquid crystal polymer fibers, that are woven in a rope or cable configuration. The apparatus features an elongated woven material length of cable that is spliced. Plastic, preferably polyurethane spring cut tube sleeves are positioned as a grip on the splices to allow for handling in the field without concern for the splice becoming disassembled or undone. The sling and grommet of the present invention can each be provided with a clear cover spring cut tube that serves as a flexible protective cover for minimizing abrasion and maintaining the slings appearance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rigging, namely slings and grommets that are used during heavy lifting and more particularly to a heavy lifting system that includes a specially configured sling and grommet of improved construction wherein an elongated sling member includes an elongated woven portion having first and second ends and a central passageway surrounded by the woven material, and wherein one or more flexible sleeves can be optionally fitted to the elongated sling member at its loop portions and at its connecting portions. If the tensile material is one large circular loop, it is referred to as a grommet. These elongated sleeves are preferably of a spiral construction that can be easily installed in the field once a sling length is selected, and function to prevent abrasion during use and to prevent slippage at the splice. The grommet has a similar flexible sleeve fitted to splices of the grommet.
2. General Background of the Invention
In the lifting of very heavy items, lifting harnesses are typically employed which comprise an elongated length of tensile material having loops at each end. These slings have commonly taken the form of wire rope having looped ends. In the case of wire rope, the looped ends are often secured using a crimp or band. Once the sling is constructed, its length is "fixed". A user must plan the lift in advance by selecting slings of a desired fixed length.
Polymeric and plastic material has been used to construct slings and grommets. A grommet is a sling that is circular in shape so that the user simply hooks or grabs the entire sling rather than a looped end portion. New England Ropes publishes a "Splicing Guide" that discloses various rope splicing techniques.
One of the problems with slings and grommets of either metallic or plastic construction is that of field adjusting the sling length. Wire rope slings are not adjustable. Plastic and polymeric slings are typically sewn to form the loops so that they are not easily adjustable on the job site.
One polymeric material that has a high tensile strength is liquid crystal polymer fiber. One brand that is manufactured by Celanese Acetate LLC is sold under the trademark Vectran®. Celanese literature states that Celanese has contracted aerospace and rope manufacturers to conduct pin diameter tests on Vectran® braid and wire rope respectively. The same literature shows a braid test using a braid having two eyes at the ends. However, this type of "test" braid would quickly become disassembled and or slip in routine use as a sling in a construction environment.
When rigging for many different lifts during a day, a rigger desirably wants a sling that is adjustable so that the length can be varied to fit the particular item being lifted. Further, slings should not slip or become disassembled on the job.


Comminuted wood is converted to a colored wood product useful as a mulch by feeding the comminuted wood into the lower end of an angularly upward positioned screw conveyor having an internal auger. The comminuted wood is contacted in the lower end of the conveyor by a liquid color-imparting agent, preferably an aqueous solution containing iron oxide pigment, carbon black pigment or a mixture of both pigments. After contacting, rotation of the auger draws the moist colored wood product towards the upper end, permitting runoff of excess liquid agent, which returns by gravity to the basin for further contacting with newly-fed comminuted wood. Colored wood product discharges through a chute at the upper end of the conveyor for further drying, if necessary.

It is well known to utilize dark colored ground wood product as a mulch material in gardening applications. In such applications, the coloration of the wood chip material is critical to the marketability of the product. Particularly, wood product prepared from the bark of certain trees. The distinctive color of such mulches, typically into red and orange colors range in spectrum from a near black shade through the brown range and into red and orange colors. At least as important as the exact color is a uniformity of color in the mulch. A blonde colored mulch seems to lack the attraction of other colors of material for gardening applications.
Although the preferable material in a mulch may be the bark, it is clear that the supply of such mulch is limited and generally not expandable without expanding the amount of wood being felled. At the same time, however, there is a significant amount of lumber, particularly light colored lumber as used in producing pallets, that is disposed of yearly. If this material were capable of being converted into an aesthetically pleasing mulch material that would compete favorably with the bark mulches on the market, the inherent problems of land filling with this material could be avoided. Additionally, the supply of available light colored lumber of this sort is at least adequate to meet the demand that would be made for the preferred mulch material. In this way, an additional supply of a desired product is brought to the market without increasing the destruction of forest lands and an ecologically sound disposition of the material, otherwise landfilled, is also achieved.
It is also known that surface oxidation of light colored lumber will occur naturally, resulting in a darker colored material. It is not generally feasible to use this natural darkening through oxidation, however, to prepare a dark colored mulch material. This is because the natural oxidation is subject to variation among the wood, so that achievement of a uniform color is certainly not at all probable. Additionally, it is desirable to move the wood through a processing facility in a rapid fashion so that no piles of ground wood are sitting around waiting for the natural oxidation of the surfaces to occur. It is well known that, under proper weather conditions, a ground wood pile can spontaneously combust due to the heat generated internally to the pile by the oxidation process.

Method for coloring wood chips using a screw conveyor


An example method may include determining a first planned stimulation location within the formation. The first planned stimulation location may be based, at least in part, on a pre-determined model of a formation. A borehole in the formation may be drilled with a downhole tool. The first planned stimulation location may be adjusted based, at least in part, on data received at the downhole tool. Additionally, the downhole tool may stimulate the formation at the adjusted first planned stimulation location. A second stimulation location also may be determined based on data received at the downhole tool after stimulation of the formation at the adjusted first planned stimulation location.

The present disclosure relates generally to well drilling and hydrocarbon recovery operations and, more particularly, to systems and methods for optimized well creation in a shale formation.
Shale formations have become increasingly important in hydrocarbon recovery, as the global prices of oil and gas have increased. Hydrocarbon extraction from shale formations is typically expensive, however, and therefore has relatively small profit margins. In typical drilling operations, a borehole may be drilled separately from stimulation and completion operations. This increases the time and cost of the drilling operations generally. Additionally, by separating the drilling, stimulation and completion operations, it can be difficult to dynamically modify stimulation operations based on downhole conditions. This also increase the overall time and cost of the operations.
While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted and described and are defined by reference to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, such references do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure.

Systems and methods for optimized well creation in a shale formation


Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of 2-substituted furan derivatives, such as furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C═O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (α) and beta (β) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an α-, β-dihydroxy carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the α-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the β-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate undergoes cyclization and dehydration, to produce the 2-substituted furan derivative. Optionally, a further step of oxidation may be carried out, for example to convert a hydroxymethyl group, as a 5-substituted about the furan ring, to a carboxy group of FDCA.

The depletion of fossil fuels has created major incentives for seeking alternative sources to petroleum-based carbon for the synthesis of so-called "platform" molecules that can serve as the building blocks for commercially significant products. Biomass is currently viewed as a potential replacement from which many such high value chemicals can be derived, but the development of sustainable technologies for the production of such chemicals from renewable resources remains a significant challenge.
Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is recognized as a bio-based monomer for the polymer known as polyethylenefuranonate (PEF), which is a substitute for, and in fact superior in a number of respects to, the petroleum derived commodity product polyethylene terephthalate (PET). FDCA is also a useful platform chemical in the production of polyamides, polyurethanes, and esters having diverse applications as plastics, fibers, coatings, adhesives, personal care products, and lubricants. In the case of PEF, this bio-plastic is particularly useful as a material for bottles and fibers, as well as films used to manufacture pouches, wrappers, and heat shrink materials. In the area of packaging, PEF can be blended with PET to provide a superior product in terms of barrier properties for CO2 and O2, leading to an improved shelf life over pure PET and providing an acceptable container for products such as beer which are susceptible to oxidative degradation. Other important characteristics of PEF relate to its high mechanical strength and recyclability.
Industrially important organic molecules such as FDCA are therefore seen as viable alternatives to their counterparts derived from conventional petroleum refining. The present state of the art would benefit significantly from synthesis pathways to such high value chemicals, from readily available or obtainable substrates.

Dehydration and cyclization of α-, β-dihydroxy carbonyl compounds to 2-substituted furan derivatives