The present invention includes a downhole component adapted for transmitting downhole data. The downhole component includes a threaded end on a downhole component. The threaded end furthermore includes an interior region, and exterior region, and a mating surface wherein a cavity is formed. A data transmission element is disposed in the cavity and displaces a volume of the cavity. At least one passageway is formed in the threaded region between interior and exterior regions. The passageway is in fluid communication with both the interior and exterior regions and thereby relieves pressure build up of thread lubricant upon tool joint make up.

For the past several decades, engineers have worked to develop apparatus and methods to effectively transmit information from components located downhole on oil and gas drilling strings to the ground's surface. Part of the difficulty comes from the fact that the operating environment for the transmission system can be extremely harsh, including temperatures as high as 200° C., pressures as high as 25,000 psi, and extremely abrasive and chemically corrosive conditions.
Another source of difficulty comes from the fact that a drill string may be made up of hundreds of components, such as sections of drill pipe and various downhole tools. Thus, if a data transmission system is integrated into each of these components, it must be capable of connections that can reliably transmit information across the joints among these components.
Moreover, since these components are connected serially to create the drill string that may stretch for thousands of feet below the earth's surface, reliability is imperative. A failure of a single component in the transmission system can bring the whole system down and require an expensive "roundtrip" of the drill string to replace the defective component.
This invention relates to oil and gas drilling and production, specifically downhole components that are part of a drill string and are adapted to house data transmission elements. Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,880, which is incorporated herein by reference, is such a downhole transmission system that transmits data through a string of downhole components. In one aspect of the '880 patent, each downhole component comprises a pin and a box end. The pin end of the downhole components are adapted to be connected to the box end of another downhole component. Each pin end comprises external threads tapering to a pin nose face, pin end secondary shoulder, or mating surface and each box end comprising internal threads tapering to an internal face, secondary shoulder, or mating surface. The pin nose face and the internal face are aligned with and proximate each other when the pin end of one component is threaded into a box end of another component. A data transmission element is located in a cavity in each pin and box end secondary shoulder, the data transmission element being part of the downhole transmission system.
In general, drilling mud or lubricants trapped within a void formed between the threads and secondary shoulders of the pin and box end of downhole components may create high pressure within this region of the tool joints during "make-up" of two drilling components, i.e. when two drilling components are torqued together. High-pressure potentially damages data transmission elements, sealing rings, or other devices disposed in cavities within the secondary shoulders of tool joints. Mud or lubricants on the tapered threads may result in a build up of pressure adjacent the transmission element or sealing ring when the downhole tool strings are made up. The high pressure may force such a device from its cavity and into the tool joint. When the shoulders of the pin and box end are brought together the dislodged device may be sandwiched between the pin and box end secondary shoulders and damaged. The damaged device may further complicate the operation of the downhole tool string by disrupting the transmission system and/or creating leaks paths to the external surface of the tool joint.
Further, torsional forces cause mechanical stress in tool joints. Trapped fluids between the faces of the pin end and the shoulder of the box end may increase the stress applied to the threaded portion or other components of these connections when under torsional stress. If a drill string encounters obstructions while drilling, additional torsional stress can be applied to the tool joints. Further, when drilling horizontally or when drilling through curved sections of the well bore the outer surface of the drill string may rub against the wall of the well bore. This creates additional friction, and passes even more torsional stress to the tool joints. Eliminating any fluids trapped in the void between the pin face and the shoulder face of the box end may prevent a build up of pressure which may lead to failure in certain functions of the tool joint such as data transmission, attachment, and the prevention of fluids leaking outside of the drill string.
In some circumstances the trapped fluid creates enough pressure while making up the tool string that the torque applied at the surface may not be enough to adequately attach the components of the tool string. Torque readings at the surface may indicate that the joint is fully established when in reality the actual torque additional torque is needed because of the resistance caused by the fluid in the tool joint. Further, the extreme temperature in the downhole environment of the well bore increases the temperature in the joint, which in turn increases the pressure within the joint as well.
Attempts to relieve pressure within tool joints of downhole tools strings are well known. U.S. Pat. No. 1,907,522 relates to improvements in joints for rods, more especially to sucker rods used for pumping oil. The '522 patent claims a sucker rod comprising a removable coupling comprising a rod having a socket and provided with a screw thread portion and having a plurality of grooves extending radially through the wall of the socket. The grooves allow for fluid to drain out of the tool joint and into an annulus of the rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,902 discloses a threaded connection for tubular goods including an externally threaded pin member, an internally threaded box member, and a resilient seal ring positioned between the pin and box members to provide a fluid seal therein. The threaded connection also includes a passage formed in either the pin or box member for conducting thread lubricant or other liquid away from the seal ring as the pin and box members are screwed together. The preferred embodiment of the '902 patent is a flow passage comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves circumferentially spaced about the pin member and extending transversely though the treads thereof. The longitudinal grooves help prevent a buildup of pressure between the threads of the face of the pin end and the face of the shoulder within the box end of the threaded connection.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,750,761; 4,946,201; 6,050,610; 6,442,826; and 6,550,821 disclose other variations of downhole tool joints comprising grooves to relieve pressure between the threads of the pin face and the shoulder face within the box end of downhole threaded connections.
However, specific problems associated with addressing the aforestated difficulties in relieving the pressure generated in connections by making up the joints and trapping the thread lubricant remain in systems having components disposed in cavities in the "pressure zone" have not been addressed by the prior art. These problems are particularly manifested in downhole networking systems employing data transmission elements disposed in cavities within the threaded connections and exposed to the trapped lubricant.

Downhole component with a pressure equalization passageway


A classloader cache class definition is obtained by a processor. The classloader cache class definition includes code that creates a classloader object cache that is referenced by a strong internal reference by a classloader object in response to instantiation of the classloader cache class definition. A classloader object cache is instantiated using the obtained classloader cache class definition. The strong internal reference is created at instantiation of the classloader object cache. A public interface to the classloader object cache is provided. The public interface to the classloader object cache operates as a weak reference to the classloader object cache and provides external access to the classloader object cache.

The present invention relates to memory leak prevention. More particularly, the present invention relates to prevention of classloader memory leaks in multitier enterprise applications.
Memory leaks may occur in association with computer applications. Memory leaks result from memory allocations that are not released when allocated memory is no longer in use by an application, but is not reclaimed for other uses. Garbage collection is performed to attempt to reclaim unused memory. Garbage collection is often performed during configured time periods to reduce interruption of system operation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Prevention of classloader memory leaks in multitier enterprise applications

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


System and method for proxying isomorphic interfaces in different subsystems. Embodiments may provide a proxy mechanism that may generate proxies for isomorphic interfaces at runtime. Embodiments may allow two mutually indifferent subsystems to communicate with each other in a straightforward, transparent manner via proxies, without requiring a common shared library or complex coding. Embodiments of the proxy mechanism transparently generate proxies for isomorphic interfaces between subsystems in a virtual machine. In one embodiment, the application developer registers the interfaces that require proxying. The proxy mechanism then generates proxy instances. Methods may then be invoked, and the proxies handle the details of converting and forwarding the calls in accordance with the appropriate interface. Other subsystems, using different versions of the interface, may use the proxy mechanism to dynamically generate proxies without requiring extensive coding or shared libraries, and without interfering with other subsystems within the virtual machine.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer software, and more particularly to proxying isomorphic interfaces in different subsystems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In strongly typed languages such as Java, subsystems typically require explicit knowledge of each other in order to interact. This makes it difficult if not impossible for two mutually indifferent subsystems to be combined at runtime without having a common shared library to bridge the gap. For example, given the following interfaces:
Interface orange.Foo {                void abc( );
}
interface purple.Foo {                void abc( );
}
void client (purple.Foo foo) {                void abc( );
}
the following call is illegal:
client (new orange.Foo( ));
If a client is programmed against the purple interface, it cannot directly invoke an object that implements the orange interface even if those two interfaces are isomorphic because Java is a strongly typed language.
To make this legal, so that, in this example, the purples can invoke oranges and vice versa, the commonality needs to be factored out and the two subsystems need to be written against it. However, when those subsystems are evolving rapidly, having a common library introduces challenges that include preserving backward compatibility between versions of the subsystems, since any change in the shared library may affect systems currently deployed. Maintaining such a shared library can quickly become tedious and error-prone.
The Java Reflection API Specification, developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc., enables Java applications to discover information about the fields, methods, and constructors of loaded classes, and to use reflected fields, methods and constructors to operate on their underlying counterparts on objects, within security restrictions. This discovery happens at runtime without any prior knowledge at compilation time. However, Reflection is not transparent to programmers—it requires a non-trivial amount of tedious and potentially fragile code in order to perform simple method calls.

System and method for dynamic generation of proxies for isomorphic interfaces


The invention is directed to an alignment device for aligning a prosthetic hip stem implant with an opening formed in a proximal femur. The hip stem implant includes a landmark and the proximal femur includes a visual alignment mark. The alignment device includes an implant engaging portion configured for attachment with the landmark on the hip stem implant. The alignment device also includes a needle indicator connected with the implant engaging portion and having an end which may be positioned relative to the visual alignment mark on the proximal femur, thereby aligning the prosthetic hip stem implant relative to the opening in the proximal femur.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to prosthetic hip stem implants, and, more particularly, to a device for aligning a prosthetic hip stem implant.
2. Description of the Related Art.
A prosthetic hip stem implant typically includes a neck and a stem. The neck is disposed at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the stem, which may vary depending upon the particular make and model of hip stem implant which is utilized.
It is known to align a prosthetic hip stem implant relative to an opening in a proximal femur prior to fully seating the hip stem implant within the opening. One known hip stem implant includes a visual indicia on a lip extending therefrom. The surgeon aligns the visual indicia on the lip of the hip stem implant with a visual alignment mark which is created on the calcar surface of the proximal femur. The hip stem implant typically includes a plurality of longitudinally extending self cutting splines around the periphery thereof which engage the cortical bone in the opening of the proximal femur. With such a hip stem implant, it is necessary to align the visual indicia on the lip with the visual alignment mark on the calcar surface prior to engagement between the self cutting splines and cortical bone of the proximal femur. This alignment is necessary because the hip stem implant cannot be rotated in the proximal femur after the grooves are cut therein by the self cutting splines. Aligning the visual indicia on the lip of the hip stem implant with the visual alignment mark on the calcar surface of the proximal femur can at times be difficult.
What is needed in the art is an alignment device which relatively accurately aligns the hip stem implant relative to the opening formed in the proximal femur prior to engagement between the self cutting splines of the hip stem implant and the cortical bone of the proximal femur.

Rotational alignment guide for a prosthetic hip stem implant and method of using same


A keypad includes a light guide panel, the interior of which light propagates through, a film positioned on the upper surface of the light guide panel and having at least one key button positioned on the upper surface thereof, and at least one reflective pattern fixedly positioned with respect to the light guide panel to reflect a part of the light, which propagates through the interior of the light guide panel, towards the key button.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keypad used in a portable terminal, and more particularly to a keypad and a keypad assembly having a light guide panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
A keypad used in a portable terminal typically includes an elastic pad plate, a plurality of key buttons formed on the upper surface of the elastic pad with characters printed on the upper surface thereof, respectively, and a plurality of protrusions (or actuators) formed on the lower surface of the elastic pad. This type of portable terminal normally has about 15–20 light emitting devices serving as a back light of the keypad.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a keypad assembly according to the prior art. As shown, the keypad assembly 100 includes a keypad 110, a switch board 150, and a plurality of light emitting diodes(LEDs) 170.
The keypad 110 includes an elastic pad 120 having the shape of a plate, a plurality of key buttons 140 formed on the upper surface 122 of the elastic pad 120 with characters, numbers, etc., printed on the upper surface thereof, respectively, and a plurality of protrusions 130 formed on the lower surface 124 of the elastic pad 120, which is opposite to the upper surface 122 of the elastic pad 120. Each of the protrusions 130 is aligned with the center portion of the corresponding key button 140. The elastic pad 120 has a plurality of grooves 126 formed on the lower surface 124 thereof. The grooves 126 are positioned around the respective protrusions 130 to prevent the LEDs 170 from interfering with the protrusions 130.
The switch board 150 has a plate-shaped PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 155 and a plurality of switches 160 formed on the upper surface of the PCB 155 facing the keypad 110. Each switch 160 is comprised of a conductive contact member 162 and a conductive dome 164 covering the contact member 162 completely.
The plurality of LEDs 170 are mounted on the upper surface of the PCB 155, and each LED 170 is positioned to be covered by the corresponding groove 126 of the elastic pad 120.
When the user presses one of the key buttons 140, the portion of the keypad 110 positioned beneath the pressed key button 140 deforms towards the switch board 150. As a result, one of the protrusions 130 corresponding to the deformed portion presses the corresponding dome 164, thus providing an electrical contact with the corresponding contact member 162.
Due to the operation of the switches 160 in the vicinity, the LEDs 170 must not be positioned beneath the corresponding key buttons 140. Light outputted from the respective LEDs 170 passes through the elastic pad 120 and illuminates the respective key buttons 140 at an oblique angle. As a result, the key buttons 140 are dimly illuminated in a non-uniformly fashion. In particular, the center of each key button 140 looks darker, and the periphery thereof looks brighter. If more LEDs are installed to enhance an uniform illumination of the key buttons 140, power consumption and manufacturing cost increase.

Maetan-Dong, Yeong Tong-Gu, Suwon-Si, Gyeonggi-Do


A method of and apparatus for controlling an electroslag remelting furnace by driving the electrode at a nominal speed based upon melting rate and geometry while making minor proportional adjustments based on a measured metric of the electrode immersion depth. Electrode drive speed is increased if a measured metric of electrode immersion depth differs from a set point by a predetermined amount, indicating that the tip is too close to the surface of a slag pool. Impedance spikes are monitored to adjust the set point for the metric of electrode immersion depth based upon one or more properties of the impedance spikes.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to electroslag remelting (xe2x80x9cESRxe2x80x9d) electrode immersion depth control systems and methods.
2. Background Art
As shown in FIG. 1, ESR furnaces 10 have been utilized for over 40 years to refine metals and produce fully dense homogeneous ingots 22. The remelting takes place by immersing a consumable metal electrode 14 into a molten slag bath 18 that is resistively heated through applied power 24 to a temperature above the melting point of the metal. The electrode gradually melts, forming metal droplets that fall through the slag and collect in a pool 20 under the slag. The molten pool is contained within a water-cooled mold 16 that has a slightly larger diameter than the electrode. As the electrode melts, it must be translated downward by an electrode drive 12 at a rate related to the fill ratio and the melt rate, as specified by the system controller 26. A complicating factor is that a small amount of slag solidifies on the surface of the mold, changing the amount of metal needed to fill the mold, and changing the thickness of the molten slag on top of the ingot.
To produce a high quality homogeneous ingot with good surface quality, the deviations in the processxe2x80x94specifically immersion depthxe2x80x94need to be minimized. To optimize process efficiency and surface quality, the immersion depth must be maintained at a constant level, as shallow as possible. However, the shallower the immersion depth, the more sensitive the process is to input or external variables, hence, the more difficult it is to control. If the immersion depth is allowed to get too shallow, gaps can form between portions of the electrode surface and the slag, leading to arcing, atmospheric exposure, and deleterious oxidizing reactions. Conversely, too large an immersion depth, or too much variability in depth, can lead to poor surface and metallurgical quality in the ingot.
Again, the ESR process is used to refine metal, remove inclusions, and produce ingots having a uniform solidification grain structure and good surface quality. The immersion depth is an important parameter to control since it has a major effect on the thermal conditions governing melting and solidification. Deviations in immersion depth will alter the thermal environment of the process, inducing changes in the melting process (rate, efficiency, configuration, droplet location and size) and on solidification parameters (rate, direction, molten metal flow). As a result, immersion depth fluctuations will result in changes to the ingot""s solidified grain structure, compositional homogeneity, and properties, and affect subsequent processing operations and final product quality.
Existing control methods drive the electrode in response to an error between the system voltage (which is related to immersion depth as described below) and a voltage set point. They utilize bi-directional electrode drive to oscillate around the set point, inherently resulting in constant fluctuation of the immersion depth. Shallower immersion depths have been shown to result in improved surface quality, hence improved process yields. The voltage of an ESR furnace system is most sensitive to immersion depth changes near the surface. Thus, it is more difficult to control electrode position at shallow immersions. As a result, existing control systems are only stable at a deeper immersion depth than would be associated with optimum surface quality.
No system currently exists to measure the depth directly, so it must be inferred from measured parameters of the process. At present, the ESR immersion depth is controlled in most systems by using the voltage and voltage swing, which is measure of the variation in the voltage. These methods are referred to as swing controllers.
The voltage is used because ESR furnaces primarily operate with a constant current power supply. At a simplified level, the slag can be viewed as a resistor, so the voltage is given by Ohm""s Law:
V=I[d/(Ak)]
where V is the voltage, I is the current, and the resistance of the slag is approximated by the expression in the brackets where d is the distance between the electrode and the molten metal pool, A is the area of the electrode in contact with the slag, and k is the slag conductivity. However, there are numerous simplifications inherent in this treatment, so voltage is only a rough indicator of the electrode immersion. Additionally, the slag thermal environment and chemistry will change over the course of a melt, hence its conductivity is not constant. The amount of molten slag will also change during a melt due to slag plating out on the cold crucible walls, further altering the above relationship.
Consequently, while voltage is an effective immediate indicator of relative electrode position with respect to the surface of the slag, voltage alone has not been adequate to indicate or maintain a constant average immersion depth over time. Voltage swing cannot be directly related to the immersion depth via an equation such as the one presented above, nor can it be used as an instantaneous indicator. On the other hand, voltage swing is less sensitive to the factors that can change during the course of a melt. Regardless of slag amount, conditions, or properties, the isopotential lines within the slag will be compressed near the surface of the slag. As a result, increases in voltage swing can be reliably, but not quantitatively, related to a reduction in immersion depth.
Existing control systems utilize changes in voltage swing to adjust the voltage set point in response to changing process conditions. The basic method shown in FIG. 2 shows a schematic of an existing control system. Over the short term, the drive speed is determined by multiplying the voltage error (Vrmsxe2x88x92Vsp) by a proportionality constant, Ke. This can be expressed by the equation: Drive Speed=Ke(Vrmsxe2x88x92Vsp) where Vrms is the system voltage applied to the electrode and Vsp is the voltage set point, a voltage indicative of desired electrode immersion depth. In the long term, the voltage swing is measured over a period of time and compared to a voltage swing set point. If the measured voltage swing is greater than the voltage swing set point, the immersion is taken to be too small, and the voltage set point is decreased. Conversely, if the measured voltage swing is smaller than the set point, the immersion depth is assumed to be too large, and the voltage set point is increased.
A more recently developed ESR control system was described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,355, to Damkroger, titled xe2x80x9cDirectly Induced Swing for Closed Loop Control of Electroslag Remelting Furnacexe2x80x9d. In this system, the electrode drive is the combination of a set unidirectional motion and a superimposed periodic fluctuation. This system then superimposes a periodic fluctuation of known amplitude (rather than electrode motion in response to a voltage error) to provide electrode motion relative to the isopotential lines in the slag, and thus generate the voltage swing signal. In the long term, positive deviations of voltage swing from the set point indicate too shallow immersion, and are used to increase the basic unidirectional drive speed. Negative deviations are used to do the opposite.
This directly induced swing system eliminated the confounding effect of the system""s own drive response on voltage swing. However, it incorporates no short-term response to an error, which limits its ability to operate very near the slag surface. Later modifications of the directly induced swing sought to address this shortcoming by incorporating a voltage error response as was used in the original swing controllers. The average is usually a long term average of the drive speed. Over the long term, the voltage swing is measured and deviations from its set point are used to adjust the voltage set point, usually with a linear gain factor. To some extent these modifications mitigated the problem but the immersion depth was still too deep.
The pattern of periodic fluctuations in the impedance of the ESR process, referred to in this document as impedance spikes, are a phenomenon discovered in 1993 by Sandia National Laboratory researchers in the Specialty Metals Processing Consortium. These spikes are most conveniently calculated from measured electrode voltage and current and represent inherent fluctuations in the system""s characteristic impedance that are not associated with electrode motion relative to the slag. Instead, they result from the variation in the melting of the electrode and the rapid change in slag/electrode contact area at shallow immersion depths. Initially the spike is the result of increased electrode melting, leading to a change in the immersion depth. Then contact resistance becomes a factor. The magnitude of contact resistance is considerably greater than the slag resistance, so changes in contact area between the electrode and the slag result in major changes in system impedance. These changes increase dramatically at shallow immersion depths. At shallow depths the impedance spikes are by far the most dominant forces in generating the natural variation of the voltage in ESR furnaces.
The existence of impedance spikes was unknown prior to 1993 because they were masked by the electrode drive response of voltage swing controllers and by melting at deeper immersion depths. Current was held constant, so the impedance spikes were manifested as voltage increases. The system""s response was to drive the electrode downward, damping the spike. Because of the magnitude of the spikes, large responses were required, resulting in severe variations in immersion depth and process conditions and also deeper immersion depths were used to reduce the magnitude of the variation. Evaluation of past data shows that impedance spikes have long been a factor affecting ESR drive response.
In 1993, the application of directly induced swing controllers revealed the existence of the impedance spikes. The spikes were not damped by any short term response to voltage errors, and although the electrode was being driven down at the average speed required to match the fill ratio for the melt rate, the spikes appeared as rapid increases in system voltage.
FIG. 3 shows the voltage rise in response to two impedance spikes at a shallow immersion depth. The large spike at 25 seconds is believed to represent a larger increase in contact resistance than the smaller spike at 50 seconds. The rapid deceases in the voltage at the end of the spikes is a result of the controller""s voltage error response. In order to keep the electrode from arcing (which would occur if the electrode lost contact with the slag pool), the controller responds to the dramatic overvoltages by driving the electrode down at a rapid rate.
Existing control systems use very high electrode drive speeds to overcome the impedance/voltage spikes near the slag surface. The gain of their voltage response is necessarily much higher than needed to respond to non-spike fluctuations, so the system overreacts much of the time and drives the electrode excessively up and down in the slag. Part of that is by design, because the controller needs to generate the voltage swing. Also, because the spikes are asymmetric but current systems respond symmetrically to the voltage error, the systems tend to drive the electrode up in the slag too fast, leading to instabilities. The resulting average immersion depths are too deep, and subject to both short and long term fluctuations.
An additional result is that the spikes dominate the voltage swing calculations. Because of the rapid change in voltage close to the surface, the swing calculations will vary significantly at shallow immersions, leading to oscillations in the voltage set point. These changes cause spurious variations in the immersion depth.
A primary object of the present invention is providing for more stable ESR furnace control.
A primary advantage of the present invention is that it permits shallower, more stable electrode immersion depths than previous systems, resulting in higher quality ingots.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention may comprise a method of controlling the electrode drive speed on an electroslag remelting furnace including the steps of: initially driving the electrode at a nominal rate consistent with the melting rate and geometry; adjusting the electrode drive speed by an amount proportional to the difference between a measured metric of the proximity of the electrode tip to the surface of the slag pool and a set point, and additionally adjusting electrode drive speed by a second amount if a measured metric of the proximity of the electrode tip to the surface of the slag differs from a set point by a predetermined amount; wherein the second amount is greater than the first amount. Additionally it comprises a means for periodically adjusting the first set point by monitoring characteristics related to the impedance spikes and determining if the overall immersion depth needs to be changed.
Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Control of electrode depth in electroslag remelting


In accordance with the present invention, alternate lead-on-chip assembly methodologies have been developed which eliminate the use of a three layer film bonded to the leadframe, as currently employed in the art. According to the present invention, a dielectric paste is dispensed directly onto the top surface of the silicon die instead of the thermoplastic tape currently employed in the art. This approach required the development of apparatus and methods which meet the following requirements, e.g., 1) the method (and apparatus employed therefor) must provide comparable units/hour throughput to existing LOC assembly methods, and 2) the method must provide equivalent or superior package reliability when compared with tape bonded LOC packages. The invention method (and apparatus suitable for use therefor) satisfies these needs.

Lead-on-chip (LOC) assembly technology represents a method for control of package size by eliminating the distance between the edge of the die paddle and the tip of the lead finger. Conventional assembly methodologies employ silicon chips that have aluminized bond pads located along the periphery of the die. Die bonding involves adhesive dispense onto a leadframe die paddle followed by chip pick-and-place. The adhesive, which is typically a silver filled epoxy resin, is subsequently cured off-line in a box oven or cured in-line in a snap cure oven. Following curing, conventional gold wire bonding is performed.
Lead-on-chip assembly methodology differs in several important ways from conventional assembly methodologies. Indeed, LOC assembly methodology requires modifications to the assembly equipment, leadframe design and aluminum pad layout on the silicon chip. The modification to the silicon die is probably the most significant factor since mask modifications are required for both the aluminum metal and passivation layers. In addition, lead-on-chip assembly requires that the pads on the silicon die must be relocated from the die periphery to the central portion of the chip. Furthermore, the lengths of the lead fingers of the leadframe employed for the preparation of lead-on-chip assemblies are extended.
The preparation of lead-on-chip assemblies described in the prior art does not employ conventional die attach to the backside of the silicon die. Instead, a thermoplastic tape is bonded in a window frame configuration to the underside of the leadframe. Typically, the leadframe supplier applies the thermoplastic tape to the leadframe. The tape typically has three layers consisting of a polyimide film, sandwiched between two thermoplastic films. The polyimide film provides rigidity to the tape and alpha particle protection to the active structures of the silicon die.
Bonding of the components involved in the preparation of an LOC assembly involves heating of the leadframe and/or silicon chip to a temperature at which the thermoplastic film softens. The leadframe is aligned over the die and the two are brought into contact. As the thermoplastic film softens, it flows slightly and bonds to the passivating layer of the silicon die.
It would be desirable to be able to carry out high-throughput LOC assembly without the need to use the thermoplastic tapes employed in the art. In addition, it would be desirable to be able to selectively apply adhesive to the die and/or leadframe prior to bonding the two components together. However, commercially available equipment for conventional die bonding and customized equipment for tape-based lead-on-chip assembly cannot be directly retro-fitted to accommodate paste-based LOC assembly. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for the development of apparatus and methods for the preparation of lead-on-chip asemblies employing paste-based adhesives.

Method for the preparation of lead-on-chip assemblies


A fishing lure enhancement device comprises a weighted body having an attachment member at a first end providing for attachment of fishing tackle to the body. A wire-like leg member has a first end thereof secured at a second end of the body, and the leg member has a loop portion adjacent the second end of the body. The leg extends at a 90 degree angle from the longitudinal axis of the body and the leg is at least as long as the longitude of the body. The leg has means for attaching fishing tackle at a second end thereof. Thus, the length and direction of attachment of the leg permit attachment of fishing tackle of various characteristics to the leg and to the attachment member on the body while providing non-interfering operation of the entire apparatus.

Fishing has been one of our oldest activities, originating as a need to gather food of a tasty and beneficial kind from a source of fish which might be easily available. Early man used in the beginning a crude bone or wood object, pointed at each end, attached to a line, and smeared with some form of attention-raising bait. A fish was expected to swallow this article and would be pulled out of the water.
Eventually, ancient man began to indulge in fishing also as a form of pleasure or recreation. Then fishing developed into the form of recreational fishing, generally referred to today as "sport fishing", enjoyed by the individual man, and large-scale fishing, or commercial fishing, practiced by a group, or business entity, organized to gather large numbers of fish for sale to the citizenry.
As man's interest in sport fishing arose, he became increasingly adept at designing new and improved fishing tools, soon to be known as "fishing tackle".
Consequently, as man's interest in fishing, or "angling", increased, he developed better fishing equipment, and as he developed better fishing equipment, his interest grew even more.
The invention of a fishing reel permitted the use of a longer line. Then fish hooks were made more efficient, and fishing rods were increasingly improved.
The ancient fisherman soon began using artificial lures on the fishing line as he found these could successfully attract fish. Throughout history the design and manufacture of artificial lures improved and became particularly specific as the habits of the various species of fish became better known. The fisherman attempted to use artificial lures which would appear most attractive to the fish he was seeking.
The fisherman knows generally the habits of his chosen fish: the fish's preferred food, whether it is a predatory fish, how it responds to temperature conditions, and the kind of water and the depth at which it may be found.
Despite excellent knowledge of the habits of the various fish species, the fisherman must know whether the weather conditions at that particular time would cause the fish to respond any differently than normal to the bait being used.
However, even with the knowledge of a particular fish's habits, I found it exceedingly beneficial to be able to alter the appearance and activity, or "enhance", the action of an artificial lure commensurate with the change I felt that fish's habits for that particular time might be.
In accordance with the usual procedure, I have conducted a patent search which revealed the following patents which were considered to be the closest to my invention:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. 1,352,979 Lawrence Sept. 14, 1920 U.S. Pat. No. 2,589,715 Lysikowski March 18, 1952 U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,700 Pond March 7, 1972 U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,505 Simeti Nov. 16, 1976 U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,007 Stanczyk June 9, 1987 U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,687 Barnett May 1, 1990 ______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. 1,352,979 to Lawrence describes a fish line spreader used for supporting a plurality of fish hooks from a single line. The spreader comprises a body portion from which a plurality of arms extended laterally. The body is formed of 2 parts, an upper portion and a lower portion, between which the long arms are held. In proper position, the inner ends of the arms are positioned in grooves of one body portion and the 2 body portions are held firmly together by a central screw. For storage, the 2 body portions are released and the arms are removed from their grooves then swung into parallel arrangement in the same plane for compact storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,589,715 to Lysikowski describes a fish line sinker comprising a heavy body member mounted upon a wire strand with a yoke at a first end of the wire strand engaging loosely an eye member of one arm of a wire yoke attached to a fish line. The wire strand which passes centrally through the body extends for a distance beyond the second end of the body, so that in use the extended wire strand passes over any obstruction on the bottom of the water bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,700 to Pond describes a take-apart fish hook or line support somewhat similar to the spreader of Lawrence. The lure support includes a weighted body member having wire arms connected thereto and extending in a plurality of lateral directions plus a vertically depending wire arm. The lure support is designed to be easily assembled and disassembled. The central body member comprises 3 parts, each part having an elongated arm secured to it, that is, the two laterally extending arms and the vertical arm. For easy storage the three body parts with their respective arms are taken apart, and may then be stored together in a parallel manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,505 to Simeti describes a fishing spreader connector comprising a flat, plastic, rectangular central member having a connecting eye for attachment of a spreader, and a line loop and a sinker loop for loose connection of a line and a sinker. The line loop and the sinker loop each has a flexible free end which may be held in secure position on the central body portion by catch elements which form latch means with the body portion after attachment of the line and sinker over their respective catch elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,007 to Stanczyk describes a V-shaped wire fishing lure connector and its method of manufacture. The fishing lure connector comprises a V-shaped wire structure being bent in the form of a figure eight at the point of the V to provide for attachment of a fishing line with one eye of the figure eight and attachment of a fishing swivel with the other eye of the figure eight. An eyelet is formed at each end of the V-shaped wire for attachment of lures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,687 to Barnett describes a rotating fishing lure spreader for use while trolling. The spreader provides for the attachment of a plurality of hooks. The basic body member is a triangular planar member having means for attachment to a fishing line at a first of the triangular points, attachment of lures at the other two triangular points, and attachment of a lure at an eye at the central point of the trailing edge. Two vanes extend in opposite directions from the trailing edge to provide suitable rotation of the spreader during use.


A privacy keypad providing privacy for keypad character entry and concealment of a joint in an escutcheon. A privacy keypad may include a faceplate, a keypad disposed on the faceplate, and at least one protrusion integral with the faceplate. An escutcheon for a door lock may include a housing, a keypad disposed on the housing for unlocking the door lock, and at least one protrusion integral with the housing. The protrusion may obstruct at least partially a line of sight to the keypad. An escutcheon may include top and bottom covers with the top cover projecting outward from the surface of a door more than the lower cover, resulting in an at least partially hidden joint between covers. Top and bottom covers may be interchangeable with covers having similar edges.

The invention relates to the field of privacy keypads, and more particularly concerns concealment of operation of a keypad in an escutcheon for a door lock and concealment of a joint in an escutcheon.
Keypads are often used to enter private or secure information. For example, such information includes codes for operating door locks, banking account numbers and passwords, and long distance calling card numbers. In order to prevent people positioned behind or adjacent to a user from viewing the keypad, the user must position his or her body or hand over the keypad. In some instances doing so may be difficult or socially awkward, and in general a user may neglect to take such a precaution.
A keypad is disposed on an escutcheon for an electronic door lock for operation of the lock. Upon entry of a predetermined code, the keypad sends an electrical signal to the lock that unlocks the lock. Shields may be used to obstruct the view of the keypad. A conventional shield for a keypad may obstruct the view of the keypad with a front element that covers the keypad and side elements adjacent to the keypad. The front element may be stationary, leaving enough room for a user's hand to operate the keys, or may move, for example, by having a hinge that allows that element to rotate away from the keypad enough to allow a user's hand to operate the keys. The front element may be opaque, which impedes the view by the user, or it may be polarized, preventing view through the element at an angle but allowing direct viewing. However, the front element can interfere with free operation of the keypad. Further, the front element is a part commonly separate from the device that includes the keypad, and is subject to breakage and vandalism.
Side elements are generally mounted vertically adjacent to the sides of the keypad and may also be opaque or polarized. Unfortunately, like the front element, the side elements are parts that are commonly separate from the device that includes the keypad, and accordingly are also subject to damage.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a view-shielding means that is integral with a door escutcheon that includes a keypad and reduces opportunity for damage.


The present invention relates to compounds useful in therapy, to compositions comprising said compounds, and to methods of treating diseases comprising administration of said compounds. The compounds referred to are positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the nicotinic acetylcholine α7 receptor.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) belong to the super family of ligand gated ionic channels, and gale the flow of cations including calcium. The nAChRs are endogenously activated by acetylcholine (ACh) and can be divided into nicotinic receptors of the neuromuscular junction and neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs). The NNRs are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The NNRs have been suggested to play an important role in CNS function by modulating the release of many neurotransmitters, for example, ACh, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, among others, resulting in a wide range of physiological effects.
Seventeen subunits of nAChRs have been reported to date, which are identified as α2-α10, β1-β4, γ, δ and ε. From these subunits, nine subunits, α2 through α7 and β2 through β4, prominently exist in the mammalian brain. Many functionally distinct nAChR, complexes exist, for example five α7 subunits can form a receptor as a homomeric functional pentamer or combinations of different, subunits can form heteromeric receptors such as α4132 and α3β4 receptors (Gotti, C. et al., Prog. Neurobiol., 2004, 74: 363-396;
Gotti, C. et al., Biochemical Pharmacology, 2009, 78: 703-711)
The homomeric α7 receptor is one of the most abundant NNRs, along with α4β2 receptors, in the brain, wherein it is heavily expressed in the hippocampus, cortex, thalamic nuclei, ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra (Broad, L. M. et al., Drugs of the Future, 2007, 32(2): 161-170, Poorthuis R B, Biochem Pharmacol. 2009, 1; 78(7):668-76).
The role of α7 NNR in neuronal signalling has been actively investigated. The α7 NNRs have been demonstrated to regulate interneuron excitability and modulate the release of excitatory as well as inhibitory neurotransmitters. In addition, α7 NNRs have been reported to be involved in neuroprotective effects in experimental models of cellular damage (Shimohama, S., Biol Pharm Bull. 2009, 32(3):332-6). Studies have shown that α7 subunits, when expressed recombinant in-vitro, activate and desensitize rapidly, and exhibit relatively higher calcium permeability compared to other NNR combinations (Papke, R. L. et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2009, 329(2):791-807).
The NNRs, in general, are involved in various cognitive functions, such as learning, memory and attention, and therefore in CNS disorders, i.e., Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette's syndrome, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, pain and tobacco dependence (Keller, J. J. et al., Behav. Brain Res. 2005, 162: 143-52; Haydar, S. N. et al., Curr Top Med Chem. 2010; 10(2):144-52).
The α7 NNRs in particular, have also been linked to cognitive disorders including, for example, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), age associated memory impairment (AAMI) senile dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, HIV associated dementia (HAD), HIV associated cognitive impairment (HIV-CI), Pick's disease, dementia associated with Lewy bodies, cognitive impairment associated with Multiple Sclerosis, Vascular Dementia, cognitive impairment in Epilepsy, cognitive impairment associated with fragile X, cognitive impairment associated with Friedreich's Ataxia, and dementia associated with Down's syndrome, as well as cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. In addition, α7-NNRs have been shown to be involved in the neuroprotective effects of nicotine both in vitro (Jonnala, R. B. et al. J. Neurosci. Res., 2001, 66: 565-572) and in vivo (Shimohama, S., Brain Res., 1998, 779: 359-363) as well as in pain signalling. More particularly, neurodegeneration underlies several progressive CNS disorders, including, but not limited to, AD, PD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, as well as diminished CNS function resulting from traumatic brain injury. For example, the impaired function of α7 NNRs by beta-amyloid peptides linked to AD has been implicated as a key factor in development of the cognitive deficits associated with the disease (Liu, Q.-S., et al., PNAS, 2001, 98: 4734-4739). Thus, modulating the activity of α7 NNRs demonstrates promising potential to prevent or treat a variety of diseases indicated above, such as AD, other dementias, other neurodegenerative diseases, schizophrenia and neurodegeneration, with an underlying pathology that involves cognitive function including, for example, aspects of learning, memory, and attention (Thomsen, M. S. et al., Curr Pharm Des. 2010 January; 16(3):323-43; Olincy. A. et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006, 63(6):630-8; Deutsch, S. I., Clin Neuropharmacol. 2010, 33(3):114-20; Feuerbach, D., Neuropharmacology 2009, 56(1): 254-63)
The NNR ligands, including α7 ligands, have also been implicated in weight control, diabetis inflammation, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), angiogenesis and as potential analgesics (Marrero, M. B. et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2010, 332(1):173-80; Vincler, M., Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs, 2005, 14 (10): 1191-1198; Rosas-Ballina, M., J. Intern Med. 2009 265(6):663-79; Arias, H. R., Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2009, 41(7):1441-51; Tizabi, Y., Biol Psychiatry. 2002, 51(2):164-71).
Nicotine is known to enhance attention and cognitive performance, reduced anxiety, enhanced sensory gating, and analgesia and neuroprotective effects when administered. Such effects are mediated by the non-selective effect of nicotine at multiple nicotinic receptor subtypes. However, nicotine also exerts adverse events, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems (Karaconji, I. B. et al., Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2005, 56(4):363-71). Consequently, there is a need to identify subtype-selective compounds that retain the beneficial effects of nicotine, or an NNR ligand, while eliminating or decreasing adverse effects.
Examples of reported NNR ligands are α7 NNR agonists, such as DMXB-A, SSR180711 and ABT-107, which have shown some beneficial effects on cognitive processing both in rodents and humans (H312: 1213-22; Olincy, A. et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 63(6):630-8; Pichat, P., et al., Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007 32(1):17-34; Bitner, R. S., J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010 1; 334(3):875-86). In addition, modulation of α7 NNRs have been reported to improve negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (Freedman, R. et al., Am J Psychiatry. 2008 165(8):1040-7).
Despite the beneficial effects of NNR ligands, it remains uncertain whether chronic treatment with agonists affecting NNRs may provide suboptimal benefit due to sustained activation and desensitization of the NNRs, in particular the α7 NNR subtype. In contrast to agonists, administering a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) can reinforce endogenous cholinergic transmission without directly stimulating the target receptor. Nicotinic PAMs can selectively modulate the activity of ACh at NNRs, preserving the activation and deactivation kinetics of the receptor. Accordingly, α7 NNR-selective PAMs have emerged (Faghih, R., Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov. 2007, 2(2):99-106).
Consequently, it would be beneficial to increase α7 NNR function by enhancing the effect of the endogenous neurotransmitter acetvlcholine via PAMs. This could reinforce the endogenous cholinergic neurotransmission without directly activating α7 NNRs, like agonists. Indeed, PAMs for enhancing channel activity have been proven clinically successful for GABAa receptors where benzodiazepines and barbiturates, behave as PAMs acting at distinct sites (Hevers, W. et al., Mol. Neurobiol., 1998, 18: 35-86).
To date, only a few NNR PAMs are known, such as 5-hydroxyindole (5-HI), ivermectin, galantamine, and SLURP-1, a peptide derived from acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Genistein, a kinase inhibitor was also reported to increase α7 responses. PNU-120596, a urea derivative, was reported to increase the potency of ACh as well as improve auditory gating deficits induced by amphetamine in rats. Also, NS1738, JNJ-1930942 and compound 6 have been reported to potentiate the response of ACh and exert beneficial effect in experimental models of sensory and cognitive processing in rodents. Other NNR PAMs include derivatives of quinuclidine, indole, benzopyrazole, thiazole, and benzoisothiazoles (Hurst, R. S. et al., J. Neurosci. 2005, 25: 4396-4405; Faghih, R., Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov. 2007, 2(2):99-106; Timmermann, D. B., J. Pharmacol Exp. Ther. 2007, 323(1):294-307; Ng, H. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci, USA. 2007, 8; 104(19):8059-64; Dinklo, T., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2011, 336(2):560-74.).
WO 2009/043764 recites compounds of the overall structure
which compounds are said to be PAMs of the α7 NNR.
The α7 NNR PAMs presently known generally demonstrate weak activity, have a range of non-specific effects, or can only achieve limited access to the central nervous system where α7 NNRs are abundantly expressed. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to identify and provide new PAM compounds of α7 NNRs and compositions for treating diseases and disorders wherein α7 NNRs are involved. It would further be particularly beneficial if such compounds can provide improved efficacy of treatment while reducing adverse effects associated with compounds targeting neuronal nicotinic receptors by selectively modulating α7 NNRs.
WO 2010/137351 recites compounds of the overall structure
as calcium or sodium channel blockers. Compound examples disclosed in WO 2010/137351 are not intended to be included in the present invention.
Particularly the compounds (1S,2S)-2-Phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {(S)-1-[5-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-pyridin-2-yl]-ethyl}-amide, (1S,2S)-2-(2-Chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {(S)-1-[5-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-pyridin-2-yl]-ethyl}-amide and (1S,2S)-2-(2-Fluoro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {(S)-1-[5-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-pyridin-2-yl]-ethyl}-amide are disclosed in WO 2010/137351 are disclaimed from the present invention

Positive allosteric modulators of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor


A method for controlling recording in a digital recording apparatus enables users to create improved video recordings and also conserves memory space of the recording apparatus. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of detecting a first user input during recording representing a command to stop recording, enabling display of a first predetermined message responsive to the first user input, receiving a second user input representing a response to the first predetermined message, and controlling the digital video recording apparatus to generate a single program recording and a single program listing for the single program recording in response to the second user input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for performing digital recordings, and more particularly, to a digital recording apparatus and a method for controlling a digital recording apparatus that enables users to create improved video recordings and also conserves memory space of the apparatus.
2. Background Information
Personal video recorders (PVRs) are digital recording apparatuses that provide various features such as allowing a user to select for recording, by means of a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on an associated television set, monitor, or other display device, a television program to be broadcast at a future time or which is currently being broadcast. Such apparatuses digitally record the selected program onto a storage module, such as a hard disk, and upon user command playback the stored program by retrieving it from storage, decompressing or decoding the program and outputting the video signal to an associated television set, monitor, or other display device. Apparatuses having such capabilities are currently sold under trade names such as "TiVo," "RePlayTV," "Sky+," and "Showstopper."
Such devices offer features and advantages in controlling the recording and playback of programs that were previously not available to the consumer via analog recording devices. The features include the ability to pause a live program on the screen while continuing to record the program onto a storage device such that the user can continue playback of the program at their convenience without missing any portion of the currently broadcast program, and also simultaneously recording and playing back, either the same program or different programs, thereby providing great flexibility in recording and playing back the received video signals. Since the programs are digitally stored and processed, the devices also allow the user to have greater control of the playback, for example, instantly skipping ahead by the predetermined amount of time. Such devices also generally are designed to work with a program guide that allows the user to easily see, in a grid format, program schedules, and to select a particular program for recording. The devices may also include input terminals for connecting playback devices, such as a camcorder, to the PVR to digitally record the contents of the devices onto the PVR for later playback.
However, with current digital recording apparatuses, if a user presses a "STOP" key during a recording operation, the recording operation is stopped and the recorded video content is stored as a single recording. Thereafter, if the user presses a "RECORD" key to resume recording, a new recording will be created, but it will be considered unrelated to the previous recording. That is, the new recording will be created as an independent recording that is separate and distinct from the previous recording (e.g., having a different name or title). For example, if the user stops the recording during the middle of a selected program that is chosen from a program guide, and then restarts the recording at some later time in the program, for example after a commercial break, the recordings may be listed by the PVR as two separate programs, even though they are of the same program. This may also be problematic in cases where the user wants to create a single recording based on a recording stored on a separate device, for example a camcorder, by editing out unwanted portions of the recording. Therefore, this functionality may be disadvantageous since it prevents users from creating a single continuous recording.
Also with current digital recording apparatuses, if a user presses a "PAUSE" key during a recording operation, the recording continues and a time-shifting function is performed during playback. That is, during playback the recording apparatus shifts in time over the video content that occurs after depression of the "PAUSE" key, but it still records this video content. Accordingly, this functionality may also be disadvantageous since it fails to remove the unwanted portions of the programs and fails to conserve memory space. In particular, the user must perform an editing process after the entire recording has been saved to memory in order to eliminate any unwanted video content. As a result, the recording apparatus must utilize valuable memory space until any unwanted video content is erased through editing.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method for controlling a digital recording apparatus that avoids the aforementioned problems, and thereby enables users to create improved video recordings and also conserves memory space of the recording apparatus.

Method and apparatus for controlling digital recording and associated user interfaces


An intervertebral disk prosthesis or the intervertebral implant has a cavity-like middle part with a longitudinal axis, an upper end, a lower end, an upper apposition plate, and a lower apposition plate. The upper apposition plate is placed on the upper end of the middle part such that it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The upper apposition plate is suited for resting against the base plate of a vertebral body. The lower apposition plate is placed on the lower end of the middle part such that it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The lower apposition plate is suited for resting against the cover plate of a vertebral body. The middle part has at least two coaxially arranged plate springs, which gives the middle part a progressive spring characteristic.

Intervertebral disks comprising two apposition plates with a compression spring element in between are known. A hollow cylindrical jacket is typically arranged around the compression spring element. The compression spring element is usually made of a memory metal alloy which has superelastic properties at body temperature, or in other embodiments, the compression spring element includes a cup spring column made up of cup springs having the same stiffness. One disadvantage of these known prosthetic intervertebral disks is the linear spring characteristic of the compression spring element, so that in the case of a compression spring element which should also absorb impact forces, the flexibility of the compression spring element is too low, in particular at low compressive forces. Therefore the freedom of mobility of the spinal column is limited in this area.

Intervertebral disk prosthesis or artificial vertebral body


A living-body tissue removing apparatus according to the present invention includes a grip portion, an inserting portion which is connected to the grip portion and is inserted in the body, an endoscope inserting channel which is arranged in the inserting portion and in which an endoscope is inserted, and a blood vessel keeping member which is arranged in the inserting portion and which is movable back and forth in the axial direction of the inserting portion. The blood vessel keeping member includes a blood vessel keeping bed which keeps the blood vessel and a locking member which accommodates therein the blood vessel in closed space when the blood vessel keeping member keeps the blood vessel on the blood vessel keeping bed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a living-body tissue removing apparatus which is used for operation for drawing and removing the subcutaneous vessel by using an endoscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method for drawing and removing the subcutaneous vessel by using an endoscope and an apparatus thereof are known.
In the bypass graft surgery of the blood vessel in the heart, the blood vessel of the lower limb is used as the blood vessel for bypass. Conventionally, the operation that the skin of the lower limb is cut and the blood vessel is removed so as to entirely view the blood vessels from the inguinal region of the lower limb to the ankle.
The present invention relates to the living-body tissue removing apparatus which is used for the above operation.


An amplifier arrangement and also a control loop having the amplifier arrangement are specified, wherein the amplifier arrangement is based on a Gilbert multiplier. Connected in parallel in this case with one of the transistors of the differential amplifier cells is an additional transistor, at which it is possible to tap off a signal that is proportional to the gain factor. Processing this signal in a suitable manner, for example in a control loop, makes it possible to compensate for temperature and manufacturing fluctuations and also to obtain a highly linear characteristic curve having a gain factor which can be set in a stable manner. In addition, the structure shown is current-saving and can be used, in particular, for application in radio frequency technology as an amplifier having a variable gain factor (VGA).

In telecommunications, in particular radio frequency signal processing, the objective of generating a defined output level from a variable input level may frequently be encountered. Amplifiers having variable gain (which are also referred to as Variable Gain Amplifiers (VGA)) are normally used for this purpose.
VGAs of this type may have either a dB-linear or a voltage-linear characteristic curve, the latter being distinguished by the fact that they have a gain factor which is linear with respect to a reference variable, namely a control voltage.
The document by Alan Grebene: "Bipolar And MOS Analog Integrated Circuit Design", ISBN 0-471-08529-4 shows an example of a conventional VGA architecture in figure 8.36 on page 446. The so-called AGC (Automatic Gain Control) amplifier of broadband design shown there is based on the structure of a so-called Gilbert multiplier cell. In this case, provision is made of two differential amplifier cells which are connected in parallel on the control side, the desired gain being applied as a reference variable to the differential input formed in this way. The base points of the two differential amplifier cells are connected to outputs of a further differential amplifier, which likewise has control inputs having a differential input for a signal to be amplified. An amplified output signal—likewise present in differential form—can be discharged at the outputs of the two differential amplifier cells, said outputs being connected up to one another in a suitable manner. In other words, a radio frequency input signal which has been applied, at the base point, to the control inputs of the transistors of the differential amplifier is reversed in the quartet of four transistors of the differential amplifier cells. In this case, a variable signal current component from one transistor of each of the two differential amplifier cells is conducted to an electrical load, while the remaining partial currents of the respective other differential amplifier cell transistors are conducted directly to the supply potential and are thus discarded.
A structure of this type having a reference variable is usually driven using a so-called VGA buffer, to be precise in such a manner that the transistors of the differential amplifier cells are simulated there and are connected up as diodes in order to generate voltages via variable currents on their diode characteristic curves, said voltages in turn serving as a reference variable, namely as a control voltage for the gain of the amplifier having variable gain. The currents to be set are in turn controlled using a guide voltage (gain control voltage). A buffer structure of this type itself has a hyperbolic transfer function caused by the current-voltage conversion on the diode characteristic curves of the simulated transistors. If a linear behavior of the gain factor is desired, this is possible approximately only in a narrow central operating range.
In order to nevertheless achieve a wide dynamic range, a VGA could be embodied in a plurality of stages. However, this would be associated with the disadvantage of a large area occupation when embodied using integrated circuit technology in conjunction with a likewise disadvantageous high power consumption. However, the disadvantage of the single-stage embodiment explained is that, in the case of a high dynamic response requirement, the four transistors of the two differential amplifier cells of the Gilbert multiplier have to be reversed within a very wide range. This means that the diodes modeled on these transistors in the VGA buffer also have to be reversed within a wide range. If high attenuation of the radio frequency input signal is desired in this case, the output transistors and thus also one of the diodes assigned to the latter in the buffer must become virtually de-energized. However, in this virtually de-energized operating state, manufacturing fluctuations during the production of integrated circuits and also temperature fluctuations lead to particularly great changes in the gain factor selected. When the gain is considered logarithmically, this disadvantageous behavior has such an effect that it is practically no longer possible to correctly set a low gain. If the gain factor tends toward zero, the gain tends practically toward minus infinity.
Yet another disadvantage of the known structure described is that the diodes in the VGA buffer have to have the same current density as the quartet of transistors of the differential amplifier cells. If the VGA is to enable high output powers, the largest current component of the VGA buffer is in the two transistor diodes mentioned.

Amplifier arrangement and control loop having the amplifier arrangement


The thin film, circuit device is a subminiature overvoltage protection device in a surface mountable configuration for use in printed circuit board or thick film hybrid circuit technology. The surface mountable device (SMD) is designed to protect against electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to electronic components.. The circuit protection device comprises three material subassemblies. The first subassembly generally includes a substrate carrier, electrodes, and terminal pads for connecting the protection device to a PC board. The second subassembly includes a voltage variable polymer material with non-linear characteristics, and the third subassembly includes a cover coat for protecting the circuit protection device.

Printed circuit (PC) boards have found increasing application in electrical and electronic equipment of all kinds. The electrical circuits formed on these PC boards, like larger scale, conventional electrical circuits, need protection against electrical overvoltage. This protection is typically provided by commonly known electrostatic discharge devices that are physically secured to the PC board.
Examples of such a devices include silicon diodes and metal oxide varistor (MOV) devices. However, there are several problems with these devices. First, there are numerous aging problems associated with these types of devices, as is well known. Second, these types of devices can experience catastrophic failures, also as is well known. Third, these types of devices may burn or fail during a short mode situation. Numerous other disadvantages come to mind when using these devices during the manufacture of a PC board.
It has been found in the past that certain types of materials can provide protection against fast transient overvoltage pulses within electronic circuitry. These materials at least include those types of materials found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,097,834, 4,726,991, 4,977,357, and 5,262,754. However, the time and costs associated with incorporating and effectively using these materials in microelectronic circuitry is and has been significant. The present invention is provided to alleviate and solve these and other problems.

Method of manufacturing a surface-mountable device for protection against electrostatic damage to electronic components


An electron gun for a cathode ray tube is formed such that the spacing between the electron beam passing holes in a static focus electrode is longer than that between the electron beam passing holes in a dynamic focus electrode which forms a dynamic quadrupole lens with the static focus electrode, thereby enhancing the focusing and convergence characteristics of electron beams.

The present invention relates to an electron gun for a cathode ray tube, and particularly to an electron gun for a color cathode ray tube, wherein the astigmatism is reduced and the convergence characteristic is enhanced.
Generally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a cathode ray tube is formed such that a panel 21 having a shadow mask frame assembly 24 mounted in the inside thereof meets with a funnel 22 which holds an electron gun 1 in a neck 23 at the end of the funnel, and a deflection yoke 30 is installed on the external surface of the neck.
In the cathode ray tube 20, R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) electron beams emitted from electron gun 1 are optimally focused on the center of a phosphor layer formed on the inner surface of the panel 21. Also, even though the R, G, and B electron beams converge at one spot, when the three electron beams deflect toward the periphery of the phosphor layer, the trajectory of the beam is formed as illustrated in FIG. 1, so that the R, G, and B electron beams do not converge at one spot and, moreover, the beam spot becomes distorted due to astigmatism. These factors degrade color purity and resolution at the periphery of an image.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional electron gun for a cathode ray tube designed to solve above-described problem.
The electron gun illustrated in FIG. 2 is composed of a preceding triode consisting of cathodes 2, a control electrode 3, and a screen electrode 4, a main lens system having a static focus electrode 5 for focusing and accelerating electron beams, a dynamic focus electrode 6, and an anode 7. Vertically-elongated electron beam passing holes 5H are formed in the outgoing side 5a of static focus electrode 5 to correspond to horizontally-elongated electron beam passing holes 6H in the incoming side 6a of dynamic focus electrode 6. In this electron gun, static focus voltage Vsf and anode voltage Ve are respectively supplied to static focus electrode 5 and anode 7, and a parabolic dynamic focus voltage Vdf is supplied to dynamic focus electrode 6, which is synchronized with the vertical/horizontal synchronizing signals of the deflection yoke and its lowest voltage is the same as the static focus voltage.
In the conventional dynamic focus electron gun 1 formed as described above, when the electron beams emitted from cathodes 2 deflect toward the periphery of the phosphor layer due to the deflecting magnetic field of the deflection yoke, dynamic focus voltage Vdf (synchronized with vertical/horizontal deflection signals supplied to the deflection yoke) is supplied to dynamic focus electrode 6. Thus, a quadrupole lens can be formed between static focus electrode 5 and dynamic focus electrode 6, which compensates for the astigmatism of the electron beams deflecting toward the periphery of the image.
The specific description of this operation is presented as below. While the electron beams deflect toward the periphery of the phosphor layer, a dynamic focus voltage higher than the static focus voltage is applied to the dynamic focus electrode 6, so that a lens of weaker focusing force and stronger diverging force is formed in the vertical direction relative to the horizontal direction. Stated conversely, the lens has stronger focusing force and weaker diverging force in the horizontal direction relative to the vertical direction. Here, this lens is formed by the vertically-elongated electron beam passing holes 5H formed in the outgoing side 5a of static focus electrode 5, and the horizontally-elongated electron beam passing holes 6H formed in the incoming side 6a of dynamic focus electrode 6. Therefore, the electron beams passing through the lens are under the influence of a force which focuses in the horizontal direction and diverges in the vertical direction, so that the cross-sectional shape of the beams becomes vertically-elongated. When the deformed electron beam having a distorted cross-sectional shape deflects toward the periphery of the phosphor layer, the deflecting magnetic field of the deflection yoke 30 compensates the distortion of the electron beam caused by a non-uniform deflecting magnetic field. As a result, the same circular beam spot can be obtained at the periphery as at the center of the screen.
Also, since dynamic focus voltage Vdf whose lowest voltage is the same as the static focus voltage Vsf is supplied to dynamic focus electrode 6, the potential difference from anode 7 is relatively decreased, which weakens the intensity of the major lens formed between these two points and, in turn, the focusing distance of the electron beam is lengthened. Therefore, the electron beam is optimally focused at the periphery of the phosphor layer.
However, according to experiments of this applicant, for electron beams deflected toward the right and left sides of the phosphor layer, the electron beams land optimally when the potential difference between focus electrode 5 and dynamic focus electrode 6 is 900 V. When deflecting toward the phosphor layer's corners, the potential difference should be 1500 V.
The aforesaid conventional electron gun enables the focus characteristic to be enhanced and astigmatism to be improved. However, this electron gun has a limitation in that the convergence characteristic which makes the R, G, and B electron beams converge on one spot of the phosphor layer cannot be enhanced. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in order to overcome the functional restriction of the conventional electron gun, a cylindrical blade 5b' is fixed to the edge of the central electron beam passing hole among the electron beam passing holes formed in the outgoing side 5a' of a focus electrode 5', and semi-circular blades 5c' toward the central electron beam passing hole are each fixed to the inner edges of the flanking electron beam passing holes. Also, semi-circular blades 6b' are fixed to the outer edges of the flanking electron beam passing holes, and are formed in the incoming side 6a' of a dynamic focus electrode 6'. Therefore, the convergence is enhanced throughout the entire phosphor layer. However, in this case, even though dynamic focus voltage Vdf is supplied to dynamic focus electrode 6', since a quadrupole lens for compensating astigmatism is not formed, the distortion of the electron beam due to a non-uniform magnetic field of the deflection yoke 30 at the periphery of the phosphor layer cannot be corrected when the electron beam deflects. For this reason, the image resolution of the cathode ray tube deteriorates.


A processing apparatus of this invention has an openable window portion for transferring a target processing substrate, and an inlet port for introducing the outer atmosphere. Further, the processing apparatus includes a closed processing chamber for performing predetermined processing for the target processing substrate transferred via the window portion, an exhaust means for evacuating the interior of the processing chamber, and an opening/closing mechanism for closing the inlet port, and opening the inlet port when the pressure in the processing chamber is negative.

The present invention relates to a processing apparatus such as a wafer cleaning apparatus for cleaning, e.g., a semiconductor wafer.
In the semiconductor manufacturing process, cleaning of a semiconductor wafer (to be simply referred to as a wafer hereinafter), e.g., removal of fine particles, removal of metal contamination, removal of an oxide film, and the like must be performed. In the cleaning process to remove fine particles, liquid phase cleaning using an NH.sub.4 /H.sub.2 O.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O solution mixture (to be referred to as APM hereinafter) is generally performed. In the cleaning process to remove metal contamination, liquid phase cleaning using an HCl/H.sub.2 O.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O solution mixture (to be referred to as HPM hereinafter) is generally performed. In the cleaning process to remove an oxide film, liquid phase cleaning using an HF/H.sub.2 O solution mixture (to be referred to as DHF hereinafter) is generally performed.
Recently, while single wafer processing of each process has been advanced along with an increase in wafer diameter, single wafer processing has also progressed in this cleaning process. For example, one wafer cleaning apparatus for single wafer processing is constituted by arranging processing chambers for performing APM cleaning, HPM cleaning, and DHM cleaning along a wafer convey path for conveying a wafer, and movably arranging, on the wafer convey path, a wafer conveyor for transferring the wafer between these processing chambers.
The respective processing chambers have almost the same arrangement. FIG. 1 shows an example of the schematic arrangement of the processing chamber.
As shown in FIG. 1, a holding member 101 for rotatably holding a wafer W, and an injection nozzle 102 for injecting a predetermined cleaning solution, e.g., the NH.sub.4 /H.sub.2 O.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O solution mixture for APM cleaning, to the surface of the wafer W held and rotated by the holding member 101 are arranged in a closed processing chamber 100. An openable window portion 103 for transferring the wafer W is formed in the front surface of the processing chamber 100 on the wafer convey path side. A wafer conveyor 104 movably arranged on the wafer convey path transfers the wafer W to be cleaned via the window portion 103.
In this arrangement of the processing chamber 100, if the atmosphere in the processing chamber 100, e.g., the NH.sub.4 gas for APM cleaning leaks outside the processing chamber, e.g., to the wafer convey path side, the gas adversely affects a wafer on the wafer convey path. For this reason, such leakage must be avoided. Therefore, an inlet port for introducing the outer atmosphere is formed at a predetermined position of the processing chamber 100 to evacuate the interior of the processing chamber and set the interior of the processing chamber at a negative pressure.
Even if the exhaust means is arranged in the processing chamber of the wafer cleaning apparatus in the above manner, when the window portion 103 is opened to allow transfer of the wafer W, the negative pressure set inside the processing chamber may weaken, and the atmosphere in the processing chamber may leak outside via the window portion 103. When the exhaust means fails in exhaust due to any cause, the atmosphere in the processing chamber may leak outside via the above-described inlet portion.
In this wafer cleaning apparatus, one wafer is loaded into the unit, and cleaned with a cleaning solution such as the APM, the HPM, or the DHF, and then with a rinsing solution such as deionized water (DIW). The cleaning and rinsing solutions used and the like are generally discharged as the waste.
Of such cleaning and rinsing solutions, particularly the cleaning solution is very expensive. When the above single wafer processing is not performed, a large amount of cleaning solution is consumed, resulting in a high running cost. In the single-wafer cleaning apparatus, a cleaning solution bath for storing the cleaning bath is bulky, and the space cost is high.

Processing apparatus for target processing substrate


New antisense oligonucleotide compounds inhibit expression of Akt-1 and also induce cytotoxicity in several cancer cell lines.

The protein, Akt-1, is a signaling protein that is produced in increased amounts by several kinds of human cancer cells. This protein is believed, among other things, to be involved in a complex process that transmits a survival signal to cells under stress, which may allow preferential survival of tumor cells by helping them avoid the normal progression to apoptosis, or cellular death. This protein is also involved in the transmission of control signals related to important physiological functions, such as insulin metabolism and protein synthesis, as well as various aspects of cell growth and differentiation, including the growth of platelets, skin cells, and fibroblasts. Alteration of the Akt-1 protein can have a pleiotropic effect. That is, mutation of the protein can result in multiple, apparently unrelated, effects within an animal's cells. These effects point to the importance of Akt-1, and its potential usefulness in the treatment of disease, provided the appropriate precision in use can be obtained. Thus, the objective here is to inhibit the production of Akt-1 in the right context, that is, when it sends an undesirable survival signal to cancer cells.
Akt-1 exerts its effect through a process known generally as cell signaling. Cell signaling is a mechanism, or biological pathway, that regulates cell growth and survival. Various chemicals produced by the body, such as growth factors and cytokines, function as extracellular signals that interact with a cell's membrane. The membrane propagates the signals to the inside the cell, where various biological effects are manifested. A signal pathway is activated when an external signaling molecule, or ligand, binds to the cell membrane, and a protein kinase or a phosphatase modifies a target protein at a specific location on the molecule. Protein kinases are enzymes that (along with other materials such as phosphatases) regulate the propagation of the extracellular signals to inside of the cell. Protein kinases function to phosphorylate proteins at specific locations, namely at serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues. As a result, kinases are classified by their specific phosphorylation site. Akt-1 (also, "PKB alpha and RAC-PK alpha") is a member of the AKT/PKB family of serine/threonine kinases. In many signaling pathways, several steps using different kinases may be involved. An "upstream" kinase can phosphorylate, or activate, a "downstream target" protein, which may in turn be a kinase that has several targets. Cell signal propagation pathways are often found to be altered in cancer and other disease conditions. Such changes may indicate that this signaling pathway is affected when cells lose their normal signaling mechanism.
For example, tyrosine kinase activity, or signaling, becomes overactive in the early stages of cancer development, or oncogenesis. One consequence of this increased activity is an increased activity by another kinase, PI 3 kinase. PI 3 kinase is known to activate a number of members of the AKT/PKB family, and elevated levels of AKT/PKB have been observed in breast and other cancers. In a recent study, the function of Akt was the only factor found to be affected by an altered tumor suppressor gene, PTEN, in fruit flies. (Stocker, et al., Science, 2002, 295: 2088).
Due to its pleiotropic effect on, that is, its importance to, many metabolic pathways in the cell, Akt-1 has been extensively studied as a drug target for cancer and diabetes. Inhibitors of upstream kinases for Akt-1 have been the major focus on developing drugs that might change Akt-1 function. However, this approach was not yet proved specific enough, because the inhibitors were toxic to cells generally.
Other strategies aimed at inhibiting Akt-1 function have involved the use of various inhibitors for the upstream kinases immediately responsible for phosphorylating Akt-1. However, these strategies are not specific to Akt-1, and other important proteins were altered as well.
Another approach has been proposed, namely to use antisense oligonucleotides, to modify small portions of the gene that controls the expression, or production of, Akt-1.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,773 issued to Monia, et al., Sep. 28, 1999, relates to the use of various antisense oligonucleotides for the modulation of expression of nucleic acids encoding Akt-1. Results are reported in terms of inhibition of production of Akt-1. The specific oligonucleotides disclosed and claimed in the present invention were not disclosed in that patent.

Use of antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit the expression of human Akt-1


The invention disclosed herein provides for methods of treating cancer using inhibitors of the Raf/Mek/P-Erk 1/2 pathway. These inhibitors include B2AR agonists (such as ARA-211 (pirbuterol) and isoproterenol), adenylyl cyclase activators, cAMP analogs and Epac activators. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing cancer in an individual.

Throughout the specification, various references to scientific publications are indicated by the use of numbers. The full citations for these scientific publications are located after the Examples section. The disclosures of all publications, patents, patent applications and published patent applications referred to herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Malignant transformation of normal to cancer cells requires the acquisition of several oncogenic traits such as uncontrolled cell division, resistance to programmed cell death (apoptosis), invasion and angiogenesis (1). These malignant transformation traits are believed to be the consequence of the accumulation of genetic alterations that result in dysregulated signal transduction circuits (2, 3). Such genetic alterations can simply be point mutations that result in constitutive activation of key signal transducers such as Ras, a GTP/GDP binding GTPase that contributes to 30% of all human cancers (4). Alternatively, these alterations can involve entire genes such as the receptor tyrosine kinases epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2 that are found overexpressed in many major human cancers including breast and lung tumors (5, 6). Often such genetic alterations result in constitutive activation of common downstream signal transduction pathways such as the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade c-Raf-1, Mek-1, Erk 1/2, p38 and JNK (7, 8). Other pathways involved in uncontrolled proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and angiogenesis also include those mediated by the signal transducer and activator of transcription STAT3 and the serine/threonine kinase Akt (9, 10). Not only have these oncogenic and tumor survival pathways been found constitutively activated in the great majority of human cancers but also their hyperactivation has been associated with poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy in cancer patients (11, 12). This has prompted drug discovery efforts targeting receptor tyrosine kinases, for example, Ras, c-Raf-1, Mek, Akt and STAT3, to thwart aberrant signal transduction pathways in tumor cells (13-16).
In normal cells, it is well established that the activation of the kinase Erk 1/2 is regulated by receptor tyrosine kinases such as EGFR and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) via activation of Ras, which in turn activates the Raf-1/Mek-1/Erk 1/2 cascade (17). Because this signal transduction pathway is hyperactivated in many human cancers, inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases, Ras, c-Raf-1 and Mek-1 have all been identified and are at various stages of development (18, 19). One of these inhibitors, gefitinib (marketed as Iressa), an EGFR kinase inhibitor, was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with lung cancer.
More recently, the beta-2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) stimulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) has been shown to regulate the activation of Erk 1/2 in normal cells (20, 21). Interestingly, in some normal cells such as cardiac myocytes and bone cells, B2AR stimulation was shown to activate Erk 1/2, whereas in others such as adipocytes and endothelial cells it was shown to inhibit Erk 1/2 activation (21). In tumor cells, however, whether B2AR stimulation results in inhibition of the Raf/Mek/Erk kinase cascade is not known. The present invention provides for methods of treating cancer by inhibiting the Raf/Mek/Erk kinase cascade.

Inhibition of the Raf/Mek/P-Erk pathway for treating cancer


An antiwrinkle cosmetic composition comprising a substantially purified essential oil extracted from flower tops of Helichrysum italicum and a method of treating wrinkles in skin comprising applying on the skin an effective quantity of a cosmetic composition.

There are approximately 500 Helichrysum species. They are very polymorphous and difficult to distinguish from each other. Knowledge about them remains very limited and extraction of the essence by distillation is rarely performed.
Nevertheless, there has already been reported in the prior art the preparation of an essential oil of Helichrysum italicum comprising neryl acetate (28.9%) (Satta M. et al., CAS, Vol. 132, No. 17, Apr. 24, 2000).
Isolation of flavonoids from Helichrysum italicum and their protective activity in relation to the degeneration process of the skin has also been described (Maffei Facino R. et al., CAS, Vol. 115, No. 1991). However, the flavonoids are not related in any way to neryl acetate.
Finally, it has been reported that the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum exhibits antimicrobial properties (Chirkina N. N. et al., CAS, Vol. 81, No. 9, Sep. 2, 1994) and can be used in antiseptic compositions to promote cicatrization (U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,972).

Cosmetic composition comprising an essential oil extracted from