A high energy level electronic device is segregated into source diode and utilization diode portions, portions which may also be identified as cathode and main diode portions, respectively. The cathode diode portion is operated at a low voltage such that closure velocity effects therein although present, are minimized. A current of electrons, generated by in cathode diode plasma is fed to the second diode through an anode screen portion of the cathode diode. In this arrangement, since there are electrons, but no plasma cathode present in the main diode, no closing problem occurs therein. In this arrangement, therefore the cathode diode is effectively a source of current for the main diode and is operated at minimal voltage to enable the provision of current for a maximum length of time prior to closure effect terminations. The main diode is separated from the plasma and therefore may be operated at any arbitrarily high voltage free from closing effects, which remain isolated and controlled in the cathode diode. Separate pulse forming network energization of the cathode and main diode portions of the device are also disclosed.

This invention relates to the field of charged particle generation for high energy electronic apparatus.
Pulsed electron beam devices which operate at high power levels and high voltages (powers in the gigawatts and voltages above 100 kilovolts, for example), need electron sourcing cathodes capable of operating at high current densities (densities of 100 amperes per square centimeter and higher, for example), in order to be feasible. An inexpensive and simple cathode which is capable of operating in this environment employs materials such as graphite, carbonized felt, or other substances having the property that when suitably excited there results a high temperature plasma of positive and negative charges which can serve briefly as a source of electrons and therefore be considered to be a plasma cathode. Enhancing the operating cycle time of such a plasma cathode is a principal concern of the present invention.
The generation of a surface plasma in this manner occurs through enhancement of the electric field intensity occurring at a large number of small projections or irregularities found on the surface of the cathode material. Such electric field enhancement can accomplish the field emission of electrons. This emission can be forced to high current densities by a suitable applied voltage, a voltage which tends to thermally heat the cathode surface projections to explosively high temperatures and thereby form a plasma of positive and negative charged particles.
The explosive formation of such a plasma is accompanied by imparting a movement velocity normal to the cathode surface to the plasma. This movement velocity typically ranges from about five kilometers per second at an accelerating potential of 150 kilovolts to velocities of 20 to 30 kilometers per second with accelerating potentials of several hundred kilovolts.
This plasma surface motion is in effect a current flowing through an evacuated structure which contains the cathode and anode elements. The nature of this current is defined by the Child-Langmuir equation which may be expressed as: EQU J=2.34E-6 V.sup.3/2 /d.sup.2 ( 1)
where
J=current density (A/sq meter) PA1 V=cathode to anode voltage (volts) PA1 d=cathode to anode spacing (meters)
In using the Child-Langmuir equation the effective cathode to anode spacing, d, is the distance measured between the moving plasma surface and the anode electrode. Since the plasma is in motion, however, this spacing distance d changes with time. As the spacing d decreases, for example, the current density for the same cathode to anode voltage can be observed to increase according to the Child-Langmuir relationship. Such current change as a result of spacing decrease can be counterproductive, and may be accommodated or compensated in a particular electron device by varying the cathode to anode voltage. However, such change influences the operating power level and may also produce other changes in the operating characteristics of the device. For example, if the operating device is a virtual cathode oscillator, a VICATOR, the oscillating frequency is determined by this voltage and to an even greater extent by the cathode to anode spacing and therefore can be predicted to vary with changes in either of these parameters.
In practice, the changing of cathode to anode spacing in a plasma-dependent electronic device is referred to as "closing" of the cathode. Ultimately the plasma cathode reaches the anode and thereby closes the cathode to anode space to a final value of zero. Typically, this closing action also has the undesirable effect of limiting the usable operating time of an electronic device employing the plasma cathode to times in the 100 to 150 nanoseconds range. The overcoming of this operating time limitation is a principle feature of the present invention.
The patent art shows examples of electron apparatus of this general nature. Included in this patent art is the U.S. Patent of D. M. Goebel et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,615, which is concerned with a high current density thermionic cathode structure wherein heat is used to obtain a high density plasma from a lanthanum hexaboride cathode structure. The Goebel et al lanthanum hexaboride cathode element is mounted in a plasma generating chamber and is coupled to a lower plasma density utilization chamber through one or more openings or apertures which are suitably restricted, in order to maintain the plasma density in the cathode chamber above a critical level for obtaining the desired current density from the lanthanum hexaboride material. The present invention is distinguished by the filamentary heating, the lanthanum hexaboride, the high plasma density cathode chamber and the supplying of a gas stream in order to move the plasma in the Goebel et al apparatus.
Also included in this art is the patent of Bernhard Hillenbrand et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,935, and the patent of Wilhelm Huber, U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,963. Both the Hillenbrand et al and Huber patents are concerned with gas discharge display devices wherein a vacuum-tight enclosure is divided into separate spaces and wherein charged particle plasmas are used as a source of electrons for operating the display. The present invention is distinguished from the low operating power levels and other features in the Hillenbrand and Huber patents.
This art also includes the patent of George Wakalopulos et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,911, which is concerned with an ion plasma electron gun housing dose rate control that is achieved by way of amplitude modulation of a plasma discharge. In the Wakalopulos invention, positive ions generated by a wire in a plasma discharge chamber are accelerated through an extraction grid into a second chamber containing a high voltage cold cathode. These positive ions bombard a surface of the cathode, causing the cathode to emit secondary electrons which form an electron beam. The present invention is distinguished over the Wakalopulos electron gun by structural and functional differences which include the secondary electron emission mechanism.

High energy cathode device with elongated operating cycle time

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A fiber optic cable assembly including a mid-span access location, a cable having at least fiber therein, and a tether attached and spliced to at least one fiber of the cable. The access location and portions of the cables are substantially encapsulated within a flexible body having dimensions sufficient to accommodate a slack coil or loop of bend performance optical fiber therein. A method for making a fiber optic cable assembly including an access location, distribution cable, tether and slack coil of optical fiber maintained within a flexible overmolded body while providing an assembly having a cross-sectional diameter less than about 1.25 inches.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a cable assembly for use in an FTTx optical network, and more specifically, to a low-profile fiber optic cable assembly including a flexible cable access location, tether and slack coil utilizing bend performance optical fiber.
2. Description of the Related Art
Engineered fiber optic cable assemblies are being developed to deliver services to subscribers over optical networks. These networks are commonly referred to as "FTTx" networks, wherein "FTT" stands for "Fiber-to-the" and "x" is used to generically describe a location such as a premises, home, office, desk, building, etc. An engineered cable assembly typically includes at least one mid-span access location, or tap point, at a predetermined position along the cable length at which one or more pre-selected optical fibers are preterminated and routed away from the remaining uncut optical fibers of the cable, typically through at least one tether. The term "preter-minated" is used herein to refer to a fiber that is cut at a position upstream of its end. The mid-span access location and at least one tether are used for the lateral branching of optical fibers from an attached cable. The tether includes at least one optical fiber that is optically connected, typically spliced, to the preterminated fibers of the cable. The downstream end of the tether may terminate in splice-ready optical fibers, connectorized optical fibers or a tethered assembly, among others.
Engineered cable assemblies must be capable of withstanding installation forces placed upon them and must be able to be installed within a variety of installation environments, for example, within small diameter conduit. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a cable assembly capable of being installed within conduit less than about 2 inches, more preferably less than about 1.5 inches, while resisting damage to the assembly, and particularly the fibers and splices within, during installation. Various examples of engineered cable assemblies commonly include the splice interface of the distribution cable fibers and tether fibers to be maintained within some form of closure. Rigid closures are typically inflexible to a variety of installation environments and are typically too large to be successfully installed within small diameter conduit. Flexible closures, in contrast, are typically more flexible to installation environments, but often include strength or preferential bend elements to force the flexible closure to take a predetermined shape when encountering a corner or sheave wheel. This is most often due to the use of a straight through approach of the splice fibers and the need for protecting spliced fibers routed off of the neutral axis of the cable fibers. Additional strength and bending elements are undesirable in that they require an added element, potentially form a tear point and do not always prevent a mid-span access point from flipping over, especially at high tensile loads.
A specific example of a component heavy, semi-flexible closure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,665 entitled "Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Including Main and Drop Cables and Associated Fabrication Method" (the '665 patent). The '665 patent describes a cable access point at which pre-selected optical fibers are branched, spliced and routed separately from the remaining uncut optical fibers of the distribution cable. The '665 patent states that the spliced fibers are straight through routed and must be devoid of a slack coil of optical fiber and has dimensions smaller than sufficient to accommodate the minimum bend radius of a slack coil thereof. An example of a rigid closure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,812 entitled "Optical Fiber Cable Having Spliced Fiber Branch and Method of Making Same" (the '812 patent). The '812 patent describes a rigid, clam-shell closure including pins for preventing a slack coil from forming within the closure, thus also providing a straight through approach in a larger and inflexible package. While the '665 closure is a straight through design for small diameter installation environments, it is a requirement that it be sized small enough so that it cannot accommodate a slack coil. The '812 closure also does not include a slack coil, and it is further an inflexible closure, making it difficult to install through conduit or around a sheave wheel.
Thus, what is needed is an engineered cable assembly including a mid-span access location that is substantially encapsulated with a flexible body and including an advantageous slack coil within the body, all the while providing a package capable of being installed through conduit less than about 2 inches in diameter, more preferably less than about 1.5 inches in diameter. A slack coil having a large amount of fiber in a small diameter package would be advantageous in that it may remove the need for a stiff element to make the body take a predetermined shape, and would also accommodate temperature and tensile induced fiber length changes. Further, a slack coil provided using a bend performance, bend insensitive or bend optimized fiber would allow for a slack coil without increasing the size of the package, a design not possible using conventional closures and standard single mode fiber.

Cable assembly having bend performance optical fiber slack coil


The present invention relates to a traffic information providing system and method using a traffic information collecting digital map. A traffic information collecting terminal receives GPS data from at least one GPS satellite, and generates traffic information target location information with reference to traffic information established based on the GPS data. The traffic information target location information includes a coordinate and a time and can further include a type or an order on the traffic information target location information. The traffic information providing system matches traffic information target location information provided by the terminals on nodes and links for collecting traffic information of a traffic information collecting digital map, generates section communication information for a section, processes the section communication information, and provides it as traffic information. Therefore, accurate communication information is generated and more accurate traffic information is provided. For example, it is possible to generate accurate traffic information excluding a traveling time (or a traveling speed) error caused by a probe vehicle's entrance to a rest area from the link having an expressway rest area.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a traffic information providing system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a traffic information providing system using a digital map and a method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Recently, techniques for minimizing operation and time costs by providing real-time section traffic information to road users, and increasing road efficiency by decentralizing traffic amounts on limited roads and scattering vehicles have been developed.
The traffic information is processed and generated from collection information provided by a plurality of probe vehicles.
However, no exclusive digital map for collecting traffic information has been provided. Therefore, information collected by the probe vehicles has been matched with a general digital map for providing traffic information to generate traffic information, and then the generated traffic information has been provided to users.
In the prior art, traffic information generating efficiency has been substantially deteriorated during the process for generating the traffic information by matching GPS tracking information transmitted to a center from a traffic information collecting terminal and the general digital map by using a link matching algorithm. Particularly, traffic information on important crossroads, overpass/underground roadway sections, and main stream dividing sections (e.g., expressways) is inaccurate.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Traffic information providing system using digital map for collecting traffic information and method thereof


This document discusses trajectory guides that include an instrument guide with at least one lumen angled with respect to an orthogonal or other through-axis. In one example, patterned lumens on the instrument guide provide a mirror image pattern of trajectory axes intersecting a target plane. In another example, height adjustment of the instrument guide extends these or other targeting techniques to a three-dimensional volume. This document also describes a method of manufacturing such an instrument guide, which is also applicable to manufacturing an instrument guide providing parallel lumens.

Neurosurgery sometimes involves inserting an instrument through a burr hole or other entry portal into a subject's brain toward a target region of the brain. Because of the precision needed to reach the target, while avoiding nearby structures that are often critical to brain function, stereotactic instrument guidance is sometimes provided. In one such technique, a stereotactic headframe is mounted about the patient's skull. A trajectory guide is mounted to the headframe to provide an instrument-guiding trajectory through the burr hole and aimed toward the target. In another technique (sometimes referred to as "frameless stereotaxy"), a trajectory guide is mounted directly to the skull in or about the burr hole. The skull-mounted trajectory guide also provides an instrument-guiding trajectory through the burr hole and aimed toward the target. In either technique, an image-guided workstation may be used to provide navigational guidance to the neurosurgeon, such as by displaying preoperative images of the subject to assist the neurosurgeon in planning or performing the procedure.
Among other things, the present inventors have recognized that the limited diameter of the burr hole limits the size and location of the target area that can be accessed via the burr hole. The present inventors have also recognized an unmet need for reducing trauma to the brain. For these and other reasons, which will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and viewing the drawings that form a part thereof, the present inventors have recognized an unmet need for trajectory guide systems, devices, and methods that provide improved access and/or reduced trauma.

Trajectory guide with angled or patterned guide lumens or height adjustment


A method and a controller are provided for controlling the execution of a computer program having multitasking capability on a computing element of a controller for controlling and/or regulating a system. The system may take up various possible system states. At the beginning of the execution of a function, the following steps may be executed: subdividing the computer program into a plurality of functionally linked functionalities; defining possible operating states for the functionalities; defining the possible system states of the system, in that specifiable operating states are allocated to the functionalities for each system state; ascertaining the dependencies of the functionalities upon one another, a first functionality dependent upon a second functionality if at least one input variable of the first functionality is ascertained in the second functionality; and centrally specifying the operating states required for a certain system state, taking into consideration the ascertained dependencies among the functionalities and further boundary conditions.

The present invention relates to a method for program control of a computer program, having multitasking capability, on a computing element, especially a microprocessor, of a controller for controlling and/or regulating a system. The system may take up various possible system states.
The present invention also relates to a control program for program control of a computer program, having multitasking capability, on a computing element, especially a microprocessor, of a controller for controlling and/or regulating a system. The system may take up various possible system states. The control program is capable of being run on the computing element.
Finally, the present invention also relates to a controller for the control and/or regulation of a system which may take up various possible system states. The controller includes a computing element, especially a microprocessor, on which a computer program having multitasking capability may be run, and means for coordinating the execution of the computer program.
Conventionally, a computer program is used, for example, for controlling and/or regulating a driving dynamics system (a so-called electronic stability program, ESP) of a motor vehicle. The driving dynamics system may take up various possible system states. Possible system states are, for instance, normal operation (ESP_normal), a first limited operation (backup_ABS), in which a vehicle regulator (FZR) of the ESP is not functioning and only one antilock brake system (ABS) is functioning, a second limited operation (backup_EBD), in which only one system for the distribution of braking force (electronic brake distribution, EBD) is functioning, in order to prevent at least over-braking the wheels on the rear axle, and a faulty state (fail-safe), in which all essential safety functions of the ESP, in particular FZR, ABS and EBD have failed. In order to avoid driving situations that are critical to safety, the driver of the motor vehicle is notified, for instance acoustically or optically by the use of warning lights, of the various system states, but at least as regards the states in which only a limited or a faulty functioning still exists. The computer program is executable on a computing element, which is particularly designed as a processor, of a controller for controlling and/or regulating the driving dynamics system.
The conventional computer program for controlling and/or regulating the driving dynamics system is processed cyclically in a specified time pattern, i.e., only in a single time slice. The function references inside the computer program thus take place in a specified sequence, one after another. The sequence is specified so that the input variables of the functions are available before the execution of the latter. In the case of input variables which are computed from other functions, these other functions thus have to be carried out first, before that function can be carried out which needs the input variables computed in the other functions.
In addition, conventionally, one may execute computer programs for controlling and/or regulating a system on an operating system having multitasking capability, and instead of processing the computer program in a single time pattern, one may process it in various time patterns. This means, however, that the functions of the computer program no longer have to be processed in a strictly fixed sequence, but that now other precautions have to be taken so as to ensure that the input variables of the functions are available before the execution of the latter.
Various priorities are allocated to the functions of the computer program. A higher priority is assigned to functions relevant to safety than to other functions. Higher priority functions are carried out in shorter time patterns, i.e., in time patterns which are repeated more frequently, whereas less safety-relevant functions are processed at a lower priority in longer time patterns which are repeated less often. It must particularly be ensured that the input variables of the functions are always present at the right point in time, i.e., a function which is processed, for example, in a 5 ms time pattern and requires input variables from a 40 ms time pattern, is permitted to be executed only after the 40 ms time pattern has been processed, and the required input variables have been computed.

Method and controller for program control of a computer program having multitasking capability


A blade is mountable to a disc. The blade comprises a blade platform and a blade root extending from the blade platform. The blade root comprises a first hook and a second hook, a first neck between the first hook and the blade platform, and a second neck between the first hook and the second hook. Each hook comprises a contact surface and a non-contact surface. An angle between each contact surface and each non-contact surface is optimized to reduce local stresses.

The present invention relates to a rotating blade for a steam turbine and, more particularly, to an attachment arrangement for attaching a blade of a steam turbine to a rotor that minimizes local and average stresses.
The steam flow path of a steam turbine is formed by a stationary cylinder and a rotor. A number of stationary vanes are attached to the cylinder in a circumferential array and extend inward into the steam flow path. Similarly, a number of rotating blades are attached to the rotor in a circumferential array and extend outward into the steam flow path. The stationary vanes and rotating blades are arranged in alternating rows so that a row of vanes and the immediately downstream row of blades form a stage. The vanes serve to direct the flow of steam so that it enters the downstream row of blades at the correct angle. The blade airfoils extract energy from the steam, thereby developing the power necessary to drive the rotor and the load attached to it.
The blade airfoils extend from a blade root used to secure the blade to the rotor. Conventionally, this is accomplished by imparting a fir tree shape to the root by forming approximately axially extending alternating tangs and grooves along the sides of the blade root. Slots having mating tangs and grooves are formed in the rotor disc. When the blade root is slid into the disc slot, the centrifugal load on the blade, which is very high due to the high rotational speed of the rotor—typically 3600 rpm for a steam turbine employed in electrical power generation, is distributed along portions of the tangs over which the root and disc are in contact. Because of the high centrifugal loading, the stresses in the blade root and disc slot are very high. It is desirable, therefore, to minimize the stress concentrations formed by the tangs and grooves and maximize the bearing areas over which the contact forces between the blade root and disc slot occur. This is especially desirable in the latter rows of a low pressure steam turbine due to the large size and weight of the blades in these rows and the presence of stress corrosion due to moisture in the steam flow. The latter stages experience higher local stresses that may lead to lower fatigue life of the rotor and the rotating blades. There is also an increasing demand for longer rotating blades, which requires the rotor and blades to operate under even higher loads.
In addition to the steady centrifugal loading, the blades are also subject to vibration.
It is therefore desirable to provide a rotor and blade attachment configuration that has centrifugal load carrying capability, reduced local stresses on the rotor (wheel) and the fillets of the rotating blades, while maintaining average and shear stresses low.


A secure indoor positioning device, system and method. A mobile electronic device is detected entering into proximity of a stationary electronic device. In response, a plurality of secure session parameters is negotiated via two-way wireless communication between the stationary electronic device and the mobile electronic device. One or more of the negotiated plurality of secure session parameters is communicated to one or more other stationary electronic devices. At one or more of the plurality of stationary electronic devices, secure messages broadcasted by the mobile electronic device are received. These messages are decrypted or authenticated using one or more of the negotiated secure session parameters and are used to determine a position of the mobile electronic device.

The present invention relates to the field of indoor positioning techniques and, more particularly, to secure indoor positioning devices, systems and methods.
Satellite navigation systems do not generally function well inside buildings and other structures due to blocking of the satellite signals by the building or structure. Indoor positioning is a collective name for techniques used to navigate, track and identify things or people in indoor settings. A typical indoor positioning system can include a mobile device (which may also be referred to as a "tag") whose position is to be tracked. The tag can be attached to an object whose location is to be tracked or the tag can be carried by a person whose location is to be tracked. The tag broadcasts a wireless signal which is received by "anchor points." These broadcasted signals, in combination with known locations of the anchor points, are used to determine the location of the tag as it moves within the building or other structure.
Some conventional indoor navigation systems have weak security and/or privacy protection. For example, a conventional indoor navigation system can be susceptible to spoofing, in which a malicious entity mimics a legitimate tag by replaying messages in order to access sensitive information or to interfere with operation of the system.
In some indoor positioning use-cases, however, security and/or privacy can be important. Examples include tracking locations of high value tools or equipment and tracking locations of persons. What is needed, therefore, is indoor positioning systems and methods having improved security.

Secure indoor positioning device, system and method


A cassette transfer mechanism for transferring a cassette recording medium to and from a cassette accommodating portion for accommodating cassette recording mediums, the cassette transfer mechanism having a unit which stores information in a memory included in the cassette and/or reads information from the same and which has a connector structured to be brought into contact with a memory terminal provided for the cassette recording medium when information is stored in the memory and/or read from the same. The above-mentioned structure enables information to be stored in the memory included in the cassette and/or read from the same without a necessity of loading the cassette recording medium into a drive unit whenever information is stored/read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cassette transfer mechanism, and more particularly to a method which is for storing data in a memory included in a cassette and/or reading data from the same without a necessity of loading the cassette recording medium into a drive unit whenever data is stored or read.
2. Description of Related Art
A portion of cassette recording mediums each accommodating a recording medium includes a type having a memory including a semiconductor device whereby storing a variety of information, for example, date of manufacture, a manufacturing plant, title of information stored in the recording medium, name of the file, specifications of the recording medium, state of use, the position of a stored information signal in the recording medium and the contents of the information signal.
The cassette recording medium including a memory of the foregoing type can be used, for example, in a cassette library system for accommodating a multiplicity of cassette recording mediums in an accommodating rack thereof in such a manner that a required cassette recording medium can be ejected from the accommodating rack.
Hitherto, information has been stored in and/or read from a cassette recording medium including a memory of the foregoing type such that a storing and/or reading unit for storing information in the memory and/or reading information from the same is provided in the inside portion of the drive; and information is stored in the memory and/or read from the same.
When information is stored in the memory of the above-mentioned cassette library system or read from the same, the cassette recording medium must therefore be loaded into the drive whenever a storing or reading operation is performed. As a result, the simple operation for confirming the contents of the memory included in the cassette recording medium must be performed by loading the cassette recording medium into the drive whenever information is stored or read. Therefore, there arises a problem in that time is wasted.

Cassette transfer mechanism for use in cassette library system


A fishing game is played with a rod, a reel, and line. A holder is connected to the end of the line and an engaging fabric marker is removably attached to the holder. The holder and marker are cast at a target having an engaging fabric surface. If the marker lands on the target, it remains engaged to the target and separates from the holder when the line is retrieved.

Fishing is a popular recreational activity. Most recreational fishing is done with a rod, a reel to hold a line, and a hook on the end of the line. Combined with the hook is a bait (food such as worms, small fish, cheese, bread, etc.) or a lure (an artificial fish or insect) to attract the fish to bite. In one method of fishing known as casting, the fisherman flips the rod to cast the lure at a desired spot on the water. The fisherman then slowly retrieves the line. The movement of the lure on or through the water increases the likelihood of a bite. Precision casting is a skill that can be improved with practice.
A variety of fishing games have been disclosed for the dual purposes of fun and improving a fisherman's skill at casting. The games use a standard rod, reel, and line, but substitute a game piece for the lure. One such fishing game is disclosed in Land, U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,136, May 5, 1992. In the Land game, the lure is replaced with a cylinder covered with a hook engaging material such as VELCRO hook-and-loop fabric. The cylinder is cast at fish-shaped targets spread out on the ground or water. The targets are covered with a contact engaging material. When the cylinder lands on one of the targets, an engagement (i.e., a temporary attachment) is made. The target is then retrieved using the reel. When the Land fishing game is played, a cast results in either a hit or a miss. There is no means for rewarding a near hit.
A second fishing game is disclosed in Howard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,995, Aug. 19, 1997. In the Howard game, the lure is replaced by a ball. The ball is cast at a game board containing multiple hinged doors. If the ball lands directly on a door, an artificial fish with a suction cup nose springs up through the door and attaches itself to the ball. As with the Land game, the Howard game has no means for rewarding a near hit.
A third fishing game is disclosed in Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,211, Jul. 2, 2002. In the Smith game, the lure is replaced with a fly that is covered with a hook-and-loop fabric. The fly is cast at mats covered with mating hook-and-loop-fabric that are spread out on the ground. A fish replica is mounted near the mat to provide visual appeal. If the fly lands on the mat, it engages. Winding the reel causes the fly to disengage from the mat and enables it to be retrieved for another cast. As with the Land and the Howard games, the Smith game has no means for rewarding a near hit.
Accordingly, a demand exists for a fishing game with a graduated scoring system that provides rewards as casts get closer to a designated spot on the target. A demand also exists for a fishing game in which each cast leaves a visual indication of its location on the target.


The present invention discloses a process for preparing a hydrophobic fluid containing metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed therein such as heat transfer fluids or lubricant fluids, including introducing an alkaline aqueous solution (aqueous phase) and an organic solution of an organic acid metal salt (hydrophobic phase) into a rotating packed bed, the two solutions flowing radially through the rotating packed bed under a great centrifugal force, so that the aqueous phase and the hydrophobic phase contact with each other, reactants in the two phases undergo reactions at the interface of the two phases rapidly, and thus metal oxide nanoparticles are formed. The metal oxide nanoparticles stably dispersed in the hydrophobic phase, which is nanofluid.

Nanofluid is a new working fluid, which can be prepared by blending a small amount (<5%) of nanoparticles into a conventional working fluid, for examples a heat transfer fluid used in the heat radiator, engine, refrigeration or air conditioning systems, and a lubricant oil. The working properties of the nanofluid such as the heat transfer ability and anti-friction coefficient are improved, which can be used as a heat transfer nanofluid or a nano-lubricant oil. The conventional processes for preparing the nanofluid can be classified into two types: one is the one-step method, and the other is the multi-step method. The one-step method at the present utilizes the physic vapor formation, wherein nanoparticles are formed in a sealed reactor under a high vacuum and an elevated temperature, and are introduced into a working fluid; or directly forming nanoparticles in an aqueous phase fluid by arc discharge. The advantages of the one-step method are lesser agglomerates of the nanoparticles and better dispersion of the nanoparticles in the nanofluid. However, there are disadvantages of the one-step method which are difficulty in the control of the nanoparticle composition and the rate of forming the nanoparticles being too slow for mass production. The multi-step method involves obtaining nanoparticles and dispersing the nanoparticles into a fluid. Advantageously, versatile fluids and nanoparticles can be used in the multi-step method. Further, the multi-step method has a better chance for being put into mass production. However, the multi-step method suffers several drawbacks such as a relatively easy agglomeration of nanoparticles and rapid sedimentation of the nanoparticles in the fluid, which cause the nanofluid so produced having a poorer stability.
The recent research on application of a rotating packed bed is rather helpful in finding a solution to the problems which can not be easily resolved in the normal gravity field. The mass transfer process is greatly enhanced by the rotating packed bed in such a way that a 2-meter rotating packed bed can be used in place of a 10-meter packed column, and that the rotating packed bed is exceptionally effective in bringing about an absorption process, a stripping process, or a distillation process, as exemplified by the disclosures of the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,283,255; 4,382,045; 4,382,900; and 4,400,275. In addition, the Chinese patent publication No. CN1116146A (1996) discloses a process for making ultrafine granule by using the mass transfer equipment in such a manner that a multiphase material flow is fed into the axial position of a rotating packed bed via a distributor from a tubular structure formed of two concentric sleeves. Under the effect of a high gravity field, the material flow comes in contact with the rotating packed bed. Such a technique as described above is relatively new and is still under further investigation. To the best of knowledge of these inventors of the present invention, no prior art dealing with the application of the rotating packed bed to the preparation of nanofluids has ever been disclosed. Details of the disclosures in the above-mentioned patents are incorporated herein by referenced.

Process for preparing nanofluids with rotating packed bed reactor

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A settop box system for capturing and controlling live and recorded audio and video content. The system records digital and analog data from video and audio content, such as in a home entertainment center. The system records data from the content as specified and the data may be sequenced into clips that can be searched and indexed. A user may create comparison programs that allow searches of either pre-recorded or incoming content to be performed. In addition, the program allows editing of recorded programs, such as filtering of audio content or overlaying a video program with a different audio background. Multiple audio and video feeds may be handled simultaneously and the program's functions may be executed without viewing of the content being manipulated. The recorded content may also be indexed and even clips of the content may be indexed.

In many audio-video systems today, a "settop box" is used to receive communicated services and to interface with the user. Originally, the primary role for settop boxes' was to allow conditional access to the communicated services. Conditional access (CA) refers generally to a technology used to control access to communicated services such as television programming. Several different CA schemes currently exist. The transmissions conveying such communicated services are typically scrambled or encrypted, and only authorized users are provided with means to descramble or decrypt the transmissions. Scrambling typically involves modifying a transmission signal by, for example, removing synchronization pulses. Encryption typically involves modifying digital data conveyed by the transmission signal according to a particular cryptographic algorithm. Conditional access has been used for many years to provide exclusive access to premium television channels and special broadcasts (e.g., sporting events and pay-per-view movies). Conditional access can also be used to provide exclusive access to digital radio broadcasts, digital data broadcasts, and interactive services. Known CA technologies for scrambling or encrypting television transmissions include VideoCrypt™ (Thomson Consumer Electronics, S A FR), VideoCipher™ and DigiCipher™ (NextLevel Systems, Inc., Chicago, Ill.).
A typical CA system used to scramble or encrypt television programming generally includes CA encoding equipment integrated into broadcast equipment (e.g., cable, satellite, or terrestrial broadcast equipment) at a service provider's location. In general, the CA encoding equipment modifies (i.e., scrambles or encrypts) information conveyed by a transmission signal produced by the broadcast equipment. Where the CA encoding equipment employs encryption, the CA encoding equipment encrypts digital data (e.g., digitized video and audio information), and the broadcast equipment transmits a signal conveying the encrypted digital data to the subscribers. The CA encoding equipment may also insert messages into the transmission signal that provide information necessary for decryption of the encrypted digital data.
The typical CA system also includes CA decoding equipment at each subscriber's location. The CA decoding equipment typically includes a box receiving the transmission signal capable of being coupled to a television set or other display means. Such boxes are commonly referred to as "settop boxes" or integrated receiver decoders (IRDs). A typical settop box decrypts the encrypted digital data in the transmission signal, converts the digital data to analog signals (e.g., analog video and audio signals), and provides the analog signals for display on a television set or other display means.
Whether or not a settop box includes this capability, current settop boxes are continually advancing to provide further relatively sophisticated functionality to the audio-video systems in which they are coupled. For example, the settop box may provide menus via the display or television to allow the user to control and interact with the system via a user-friendly, graphical user interface (GUI). Additionally, the settop box may provide personal video recording (PVR) capabilities in which communicated services may be recorded and played back at a later, more convenient, time.
To provide these enhanced control and interfacing services via a settop box, the settop box must generally incorporate increasingly sophisticated hardware and software. Accordingly, existing hardware and software capabilities of settop boxes can be further enhanced to provide even more advanced functionality, and to increase the users' control and enjoyment of the system to which the settop box is coupled.

System and method for controlling audio and video content via an advanced settop box


A zoom lens consists of, in order from the object side, a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a negative third lens group, a negative fourth lens group, a positive fifth lens group, and a positive sixth lens group. The first lens group and the sixth lens group are fixed with respect to an image plane, and a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group changes, and a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group changes, and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group changes, and a distance between the fifth lens group and the sixth lens group changes during magnification change from a wide angle end to a telephoto end.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens and an imaging apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a zoom lens appropriate to be mounted on a digital camera, a camera for surveillance, a camera for film making, a camera for broadcasting and the like and an imaging apparatus including this zoom lens.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a zoom lens, and particularly as a zoom lens appropriate for a camera for film making and a camera for broadcasting, a zoom lens consisting of four lens groups has been widely known. In the zoom lens, the sign of the refractive power of each lens group is, in order from the object side, positive, negative, positive and positive, or positive, negative, negative and positive, and two of the four lens groups move relative to each other during magnification change. Further, a zoom lens in which the number of lens groups that move relative to each other during magnification change has been increased is also proposed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10(1998)-031157 (Patent Document 1), Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-267003 (Patent Document 2), and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-128491 (Patent Document 3) disclose a zoom lens consisting of five lens groups, and in which the sign of the refractive power of each lens group is, in order from the object side, positive, negative, negative, positive and positive, or positive, negative, positive, positive and positive. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10(1998)-268194 (Patent Document 4) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11(1999)-072705 (Patent Document 5) disclose a zoom lens consisting of six lens groups, and in which the sign of the refractive power of each lens group is, in order from the object side, positive, negative, positive, positive, negative and positive.


An adhesive blend is comprised of a hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive comprising the polymerization product of (a) about 15 to about 85 parts by weight of an (meth)acrylate ester monomer wherein the (meth)acrylate ester monomer, when polymerized, has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than about 10xc2x0 C.; (b) about 85 to about 15 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer; and (c) at least about 10 parts based on 100 parts of the sum of components (a)+(b) of a non-reactive plasticizing agent and a hydrophobic pressure sensitive adhesive comprising an elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer including styrene block copolymers (e.g., linear, radial, tapered, star) consisting of copolymerized styrene and isoprene, butadiene or ethylene-butylene; polyisoprene; polybutadiene; polyisobutylene; butyl rubber; styrene-butadiepe rubber; natural rubber; and poly-xcex1-olefins (e.g., polyhexene, polyoctene and propylene-hexene).

This invention relates to adhesive blends comprising a hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive and a hydrophobic pressure sensitive adhesive, more particularly to dry- and wet-surface adhesion, which may be present in different layers in a multilayer structure.
Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes have been used for more than half a century for a variety of marking, holding, protecting, sealing and masking purposes. Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes comprise a backing or substrate, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Pressure-sensitive adhesives require no activation other than finger pressure, exert a strong holding force and should be removable from a smooth surface without leaving a residue.
Adhering to skin presents challenges to adhesive manufacturers due to the inherent variability of the properties of skin. Adhesion to skin is dependent upon many factors. These factors include but are not limited to the environment in which the recipient is located. For instance, adhesion to skin will vary on the same person depending upon the humidity. If the same person were tested for skin adhesion using a given adhesive in different climates, different adhesion results would be obtained depending upon if the person were located in an arid versus in a humid environment.
Furthermore, skin varies from individual to individual. One person may have extremely dry skin whereas another person may have oily skin. As well as varying from individual to individual, skin properties may vary on a given individual depending upon the location on the body. For instance, skin located on a hand may be considerably drier than skin located on a back or face. Therefore, it is very difficult to manufacture a skin adhesive that is suitable for environmental and individual variabilities.
Adhesive composition and performance are also dependent upon the intended use of the adhesive. Use of PSAs for masking tape, or pavement markings will differ from uses for medical applications. While all applications require some wet-stick capabilities, there will be different requirements for the applications. For example, some uses require a gentle adhesive, such as adherence to a sensitive area whereas other uses require a more aggressive adhesive, such as when it is necessary that the adhesive remain adhered for an extended period of time or if the adhesive is adhered to an area which is very mobile.
Medical adhesives are generally used in wound dressings, surgical drapes, bandages and tapes. These items are generally constructed of a backing coated with an adhesive. The performance of the adhesive is in part dependent upon the occlusivity of the backing. Backings are generally categorized by their porosity into either nonocclusive or occlusive backings. When occlusive backings are used to prepare bandages or the like for medical applications the resulting bandage typically does not adhere well to skin over extended time periods. This probably occurs because the bandage cannot release water vapor that causes retention of moisture and in turn causes the adhesive to lift from the skin.
Conformability and cohesiveness are inversely related properties and are considered when preparing or selecting adhesives for end-uses, particularly for medical articles and medical applications. It is desirable for a medical adhesive to conform to the terrain of the skin to which it is adhered. This enhances comfort to the wearer and also ensures a higher initial adhesion to the skin because the adhesive is able to flow into the skin""s topography. However, if an adhesive is too conformable it may lack the necessary cohesiveness necessary to remove the article with the adhesive intact. If an adhesive lacks cohesive strength the adhesive on a bandage may split upon an attempt to remove the article leaving some adhesive residue adhered to the skin and some adhesive removed along with the bandage backing. This is unacceptable to most medical professionals and patients.
Pressure-sensitive adhesives require a delicate balance of viscous and elastic properties that result in a four-fold balance of adhesion, cohesion, stretchiness and elasticity. Pressure-sensitive adhesives generally comprise a polymer that is either inherently tacky or can be tackified with the addition of tackifying resins. They can be coated in solvent or as water-based emulsions to reduce the material viscosity to a level that is easily applied to a substrate of choice.
Generally, when additives are used to enhance properties of pressure-sensitive adhesives they are required to be miscible with the pressure-sensitive adhesive or to have some common blocks or groups to permit homogeneous blends to form at the molecular level. Pressure-sensitive adhesives have been modified to extend their applicability into new areas. Tackified thermoplastic elastomers have been dissolved in acrylic monomers and subsequently cured. Tackified thermoplastic elastomers have also been added to polymerized acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives in solvent where each component contains a common segment to permit compatibility. Natural rubber has been added to polymerized acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives in solvent and subsequently thermally cured. The general purpose is to combine the high shear properties of elastomers with the high tack performance of acrylics to achieve adhesion to both polar and nonpolar surfaces. Further improvements and better balance of properties continue to be sought.
Pressure sensitive adhesives that adhere to wet or moist surfaces, so-called hydrophilic or xe2x80x9cwet-stickxe2x80x9d adhesives, are useful in many industrial, commercial and consumer applications. In pharmaceutical and other medical fields, such hydrophilic adhesives are typically used for adhering articles such as tapes, bandages, dressings, and drapes to moist skin surfaces such as wounds or areas of the body prone to moistness. Hydrophilic adhesives also find use in outdoor or exterior applications, such as on roadway materials, traffic control signage, and marine or automotive coatings and surfaces. Labels for food containers and other products that are exposed to moisture due to condensation or subjected to water or ice immersion also must be coated with hydrophilic adhesives.
(Meth)acrylate pressure sensitive adhesives are attractive materials for many tape and label applications because of their hydrophilic character. Copolymerization of (meth)acrylate monomers with hydrophilic acidic comonomers can increase hydrophilic characteristics and can enhance the cohesive strength of the PSA. However, this increased cohesive strength generally diminishes the tack of the hydrophilic acidic comonomer-containing (meth)acrylate copolymer.
At higher acidic comonomer levels, (meth)acrylate copolymers can dramatically lose their tack and become highly hydrophilic. When exposed to water, the moisture helps to transform these highly acidic, low tack compositions into tacky materials that are suitable as wet-stick adhesives used in many medical applications. When the water is allowed to evaporate, these adhesives lose their pressure-sensitive tack. Such compositions can also be useful as water-soluble or water dispersible adhesives. Water-dispersible or soluble (meth)acrylate copolymers can be formulated as repulpable adhesives used to splice dry paper rolls and designed to lose adhesive integrity and fully degrade when undergoing paper recycling operations.
When using high levels of acidic comonomers, it is difficult to effectively copolymerize these materials without a solvent, an aqueous reaction medium, or additives that promote interpolymerization of these monomers. Attempts to copolymerize these monomers in the absence of compatibilizing reaction media often results in heterogeneous materials dominated by glassy regions formed by the polymerization of the acidic comonomers and softer domains comprising the polymerized (meth)acrylate monomers. Thus, (meth)acrylate copolymers having high levels of acidic comonomers have traditionally been made using either solvent or water-based polymerization methods.
Briefly, in one aspect of the present invention an adhesive composition is provided comprising a blend of a hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) (Component I) and a hydrophobic PSA (Component II). Suitable adhesive blend compositions of the present invention comprise a Component I to Component II weight ratio of from about 1:19 to about 19:1 (approximately 5/95 and 95/5 weight percent); preferable adhesive compositions comprise a Component I to Component II weight ratio of from about 1:9 to about 9:1 (approximately 10/90 and 90/10 weight percent); more preferable adhesive compositions comprise a Component I to Component II weight ratio of from about 1:4 to about 4:1 (approximately 20/80 and 80/20 weight percent); and most preferable adhesive compositions comprise a Component I to Component II weight ratio of from about 1:3 to about 3:1 (approximately 25/75 and 75/25 weight percent).
The present invention provides an adhesive composition comprising a blend of a hydrophilic PSA and a hydrophobic PSA, wherein the hydrophilic component comprises the polymerization product of (a) about 15 to about 85 parts by weight of an (meth)acrylate ester monomer wherein the (meth)acrylate ester monomer, when polymerized, has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than about 10xc2x0 C.; (b) about 85 to about 15 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer; and (c) at least about 10 parts based on 100 parts of the sum of components (a)+(b) of a non-reactive plasticizing agent and wherein the hydrophobic component is an elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer including but not limited to styrene block copolymers (e.g., linear, radial, tapered, star) consisting of copolymerized styrene and isoprene, butadiene or ethylene-butylene; polyisoprene; polybutadiene; polyisobutylene; butyl rubber; styrene-butadiene rubber; natural rubber; and poly-xcex1-olefins (e.g., polyhexene, polyoctene and propylene-hexene).
Inherently tacky elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers do not require the addition of a tackifying resin or plasticizer, although tackifying resins and plasticizers could be added to the elastomers or thermoplastic elastomer. On the other hand, tackifying resins and/or plasticizers are added to non-tacky elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers to provide the hydrophobic adhesive (Component II). Preferably, when used, tackifying resins and plasticizers are soluble in the elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers of Component II.
Potential additives that may be added to Component I, Component II, or to the blend of components I and II include initiators, chain transfer agents, pigments, fillers, medicinal additives, hollow or solid microspheres (expandable and non-expandable), as well as compatibilizing agents including block copolymers and homopolymers.
In another aspect, adhesive coated articles are provided, such as medical tapes, pavement marking tapes, labels, duct tapes, masking tapes, and other articles useful for dry- and wet-surfaces, such as wound dressings, and surgical drapes.
Advantageously, the blend of hydrophilic PSAs with hydrophobic PSAs provides for an improved balance of adhesion performance to both dry and wet surfaces, particularly for skin surfaces. Preferably, as measured by the Test Protocols described herein, the adhesive articles of the present invention have an initial (T0) adhesion to wet skin and to dry skin of at least about 0.8 N/dm and no greater than about 8.0 N/dm; and have an extended (24 to 48 hours, T24-48) of no greater than about 15 N/dm. Further, the adhesive compositions of the present invention may also have an initial peel adhesive (bond between the adhesive layer and the testing surface) to stainless steel underwater that is at least 16 N/dm, while the two-bond (bond between the adhesive layer and the substrate) is at least 25 N/dm.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of using the adhesive blends of the present invention is provided comprising the steps of: (a) applying a layer of the adhesive blend to a predetermined thickness onto a substrate, and (b) applying. the layered substrate onto a wet or dry surface. Further, the wet or dry surface is wet or dry skin.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a pressure sensitive adhesive article is provided comprising a substrate and a pressure sensitive adhesive composition disposed thereon, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprises a blend of (I) a hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive and (II) a hydrophobic pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein the substrate is selected from the group of cloth, metallized foil, metallized film, polymeric film, nonwoven polymeric material, paper, foam, and combinations thereof
As used herein in this application:
xe2x80x9cpressure-sensitive adhesivexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cPSAxe2x80x9d refers to a viscoelastic material that possesses the following properties: (1) aggressive and permanent tack, (2) adherence with no more than finger pressure, (3) sufficient ability to hold onto a substrate, and (4) sufficient cohesive strength to be removed cleanly from the substrate;
xe2x80x9chydrophilic adhesivexe2x80x9d refers to a material that exhibits pressure-sensitive adhesive properties when adhered to a wet substrate. Hydrophilic adhesives may or may not demonstrate pressure-sensitive adhesive properties under dry conditions;
xe2x80x9c(meth)acrylate monomersxe2x80x9d are acrylic acid esters or methacrylic acid esters of non-tertiary alcohols, the alcohols preferably having about 4 to 12 carbon atoms;
xe2x80x9chydrophilic acidic comonomersxe2x80x9d are water soluble ethylenically unsaturated, free radically reactive monomers having carboxylic, sulfonic or phosphonic acid functionality and are copolymerizable with the (meth)acrylate monomers;
xe2x80x9ccompatiblexe2x80x9d when referring to plasticizing agents (as used in Component I) means plasticizing agents that:
1) exhibit no gross phase separation from the hydrophilic adhesive when present in the prescribed amounts,
2) once mixed with the hydrophilic adhesive, do not significantly phase separate from the hydrophilic adhesive upon aging,
3) function as a rheological modification agent for the hydrophilic adhesive, such that this plasticized adhesive exhibits pressure-sensitive properties as defined above, and
4) promote high conversion polymerization, that is greater than 98% polymerization of the comonomers;
xe2x80x9cnon-reactivexe2x80x9d refers to plasticizing agents that do not contain free radically reactive ethylenically unsaturated groups that could co-react with the comonomers or functionalities that significantly inhibit the polymerization of these monomers;
xe2x80x9cnon-volatilexe2x80x9d refers to plasticizing agents that, when present in the hydrophilic adhesive, generate less than 3% VOC (volatile organic content). The VOC content can be determined analogously to ASTM D 5403-93 by exposing the coated hydrophilic adhesive to 100xc2x0xc2x15xc2x0 C. in a forced draft oven for 1 hour. If less than 3% plasticizing agent is lost from the plasticized pressure-sensitive adhesive, then the plasticizing agent is considered xe2x80x9cnon-volatilexe2x80x9d;
xe2x80x9csolventlessxe2x80x9d refers to hydrophilic adhesive polymerizable mixtures that are essentially 100% solid systems. Usually, such polymerizable mixtures have no more than about 5% organic solvents or water, more typically no more than about 3% organic solvents or water. Most typically, such polymerizable mixtures are free of organic solvents and water.
Adhesives blends of the present invention uniquely balance dry- and wet-surface adhesion characteristics and comprise a hydrophilic PSA (Component I) and a hydrophobic PSA (Component II). The adhesive blends can optionally include additives.
Component I comprises a hydrophilic wet-stick polyacrylate PSA comprising the polymerization product of: at least one (meth)acrylate monomer, at least one hydrophilic acidic comonomer, and at least one plasticizing agent. Furthermore, the polymerizable mixture typically contains additional additives, including initiators, chain transfer agents, and/or other additives, such as pigments, glass or polymeric bubbles or beads (which may be expanded or unexpanded), fibers, reinforcing agents, hydrophobic or hydrophilic silica, toughening agents, fire retardants, antioxidants, finely ground polymeric particles such as polyester, nylon, and polypropylene, and stabilizers.
(Meth)acrylate Monomer
The hydrophilic PSAs used as a component of the adhesive blends of the present invention contain at least one monofunctional unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate esters of non-tertiary alkyl alcohols, the alkyl groups of which preferably comprise from about 4 to about 12 carbon atoms, more preferably about 4 to about 8 carbon atoms; and mixtures thereof. Preferred (meth)acrylate monomers have the following general Formula (I):
wherein R1 is H or CH3. R2 is selected from linear or branched hydrocarbon groups and may contain one or more heteroatoms. The number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon group is preferably about 4 to about 12, and more preferably about 4 to about 8.
Examples of suitable (meth)acrylate monomers useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to, n-butyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, isoamyl acrylate, isodecyl acrylate, isononyl acrylate, isooctyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, 2-methyl butyl acrylate, 4-methyl-2-pentyl acrylate, ethoxy ethoxyethyl acrylate and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred are n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, isooctyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, and mixtures thereof
Hydrophilic Acidic Comonomer
Useful hydrophilic acidic comonomers include, but are not limited to, those selected from ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids, ethylenically unsaturated phosphonic acids, and mixtures thereof. Examples of such comonomers include those selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, fumaric acid, crotonic acid, citraconic acid, maleic acid, xcex2-carboxyethyl acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, styrene sulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, vinyl phosphonic acid, and the like, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred hydrophilic acidic monomers are ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, most preferably, acrylic acid.
Minor amounts (e.g., not greater than about 10% by weight) of monomers copolymerizable with both the (meth)acrylate monomers and hydrophilic acidic monomers can be used. Examples of such monomers include (meth)acrylamides, vinyl esters and N-vinyl lactams.
The copolymerizable mixture used to make the hydrophilic adhesive comprises, based upon 100 parts by weight total, about 15 to about 85 parts by weight of at least one (meth)acrylate monomer and about 85 to about 15 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer. Preferably, the copolymerizable mixture comprises about 20 to about 80 parts by weight of at least one (meth)acrylate monomer and about 80 to about 20 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer. More preferably, the copolymerizable mixture comprises about 40 to about 60 parts by weight of at least one (meth)acrylate monomer and about 60 to about 40 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer. The ratio of each comonomer in the hydrophilic adhesive can be chosen to optimize the performance.
Plasticizing Agent
Useful plasticizing agents are compatible with the starting monomers and the resultant polymers of the hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive, such that once the plasticizing agent is mixed with the monomers or the resulting polymers, the plasticizing agent does not phase separate. By xe2x80x9cphase separationxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cphase separatexe2x80x9d, it is meant that by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) no detectable thermal transition, such as a melting or glass transition temperature, can be found for the pure plasticizing agent in the wet stick adhesive composition.
Preferably, the plasticizing agent is non-volatile and non-reactive. Particularly useful plasticizing agents include polyalkylene oxides having weight average molecular weights of about 150 to about 5,000, preferably of about 150 to about 1,500, such as polyethylene oxides, polypropylene oxides, polyethylene glycols, and copolymers thereof; alkyl or aryl functionalized polyalkylene oxides, such as PYCAL 94 (a phenyl ether of polyethylene oxide, commercially available from ICI Chemicals); benzoyl functionalized polyethers, such as Benzoflex 400 (polypropylene glycol dibenzoate, commercially available from Velsicol Chemicals) and monomethyl ethers of polyethylene oxides, and mixtures thereof. Examples of other useful plasticizing agents include CARBOWAX(trademark) MPEG 550, a methoxypolyethylene glycol plasticizer having a molecular weight of approximately 550 and available from Union Carbide Corp.; Polyol PPG 1025, a polypropylene glycol plasticizer having a molecular weight of approximately 1025 and available from Lyondell Chemical Worldwide, Inc.; Polyol PPG 425, a polypropylene glycol plasticizer having a molecular weight of approximately 425 and available from Lyondell Chemical Worldwide, Inc.; and PLURONIC(trademark) 25R4, an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer plasticizer available from BASF Company.
The plasticizing agent can be used in amounts of at least about 10 pph (parts by weight per 100 parts of the (meth)acrylate monomers and hydrophilic acidic comonomers). Typically, the plasticizing agent is present in the adhesive in amounts from about 15 to 100 pph. Preferably, the plasticizing agent is present in amounts from about 20 to 80 pph. The amount of plasticizer required depends upon the type and ratios of the (meth)acrylate monomers and hydrophilic acidic comonomers employed in the polymerizable mixture and the chemical class and molecular weight of the plasticizing agent.
Additives
A. Initiators
A free radical initiator is preferably added to aid in the copolymerization (meth)acrylate comonomers and acidic comonomers. The type of initiator used depends on the polymerization process. Photoinitiators which are useful for polymerizing the polymerizable mixture monomers include benzoin ethers such as benzoin methyl ether or benzoin isopropyl ether, substituted benzoin ethers such as 2-methyl-2-hydroxypropiophenone, aromatic sulfonyl chlorides such as 2-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride, and photoactive oxides such as 1-phenyl-1,1-propanedione-2-(o-ethoxycarbonyl)oxime. Examples of commercially available photoinitiators are IRGACURE(trademark) 651 (2,2-dimethoxy -1,2-diphenylethane-1-one) and IRGACURE(trademark) 184 (a hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone), both commercially available from Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Generally, the photoinitiator is present in an amount of about 0.005 to 1 weight percent based on the weight of the copolymerizable monomers. Examples of suitable thermal initiators include AIBN (2,2xe2x80x2-azobis(isobutyronitrile), hydroperoxides, such as tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxide and cyclohexane peroxide. Depending on the particular initiator used, the product resulting from the copolymerization reaction may further comprise a residue of the polymerization initiator.
B. Chain Transfer Agents
Preferably, the polymerizable mixture also includes a chain transfer agent to control the molecular weight of the polymerized compositions. Chain transfer agents are materials that regulate free radical polymerization and are generally known in the art. Suitable chain transfer agents include halogenated hydrocarbons such as carbon tetrabromide; sulfur compounds such as lauryl mercaptan, butyl mercaptan, ethanethiol, isooctylthioglycolate (IOTG), 2-ethylhexyl thioglycolate, 2-ethylhexyl mercaptopropionate, 2-mercaptoimidazole, and 2-mercaptoethyl ether and mixtures thereof
The amount of chain transfer agent that is useful depends upon the desired molecular weight and the type of chain transfer agent. The chain transfer agent is typically used in amounts from about 0.001 part to about 10 parts by weight per 100 parts of total monomer, and preferably from about 0.01 part to about 0.5 part, and most preferably from about 0.02 part to about 0.20 part.
C. Other Additives
Other additives can be included in the polymerizable mixture to change the properties of the adhesive. Such additives include fillers, pigments, chemical or physical blowing agents, anti-microbials, antibiotics, medicinal additives, glass or polymeric bubbles or beads (which may be expanded or unexpanded), fibers, reinforcing agents, hydrophobic or hydrophilic silica, toughening agents, fire retardants, antioxidants, finely ground polymeric particles such as polyester, nylon, and polypropylene, and stabilizers. Crosslinking agents could also be added, such as copolymerizable mono-ethylenically unsaturated aromatic ketone comonomers free of ortho-aromatic hydroxyl groups such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,559. Specific examples of useful crosslinking agents include para-acryloxybenzophenone, para-acryloxyethoxybenzophenone, para-N-(methylacryloxyethyl)-carbamoylethoxybenzophenone, para-acryloxyacetophenone, ortho-acrylamidoacetophenone, acrylated anthraquinones, and the like. A preferred crosslinking agent is acryloyloxybenzophenone. When used, additives are added in amounts sufficient to affect the desired end properties, as known to those skilled in the art.
Methods
A method for preparing a hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive comprises the steps of:
(a) combining a polymerizable mixture comprising:
(i) about 15 to about 85 parts by weight of an (meth)acrylate ester monomer wherein the (meth)acrylate ester monomer, when homopolymerized, has a Tg of less than about 10xc2x0 C.;
(ii) about 85 to about 15 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer; and
(iii) at least about 10 parts based on 100 parts of the sum of components (a)+(b) of a non-reactive plasticizing agent; and
(b) polymerizing the polymerizable mixture to form a pressure sensitive adhesive that adheres to wet substrate surfaces.
An alternative method for preparing a hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive comprises the steps of:
(a) combining a polymerizable mixture comprising:
(i) about 15 to about 85 parts by weight of an (meth)acrylate ester monomer wherein the (meth)acrylate ester monomer, when homopolymerized, has a Tg of less than about 10xc2x0 C.;
(ii) about 85 to about 15 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer; and
(iii) at least about 10 parts based on 100 parts (a)+(b) of a non-reactive plasticizing agent;
(b) enveloping the polymerizable mixture in a packaging material; and
(c) exposing the enveloped polymerizable mixture to radiation sufficient to polymerize the polymerizable mixture and to form a pressure sensitive adhesive that adheres to wet substrate surfaces.
Yet another method for preparing a hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive comprises the steps of:
(a) preparing a prepolymeric syrup comprising:
(i) about 15 to about 85 parts by weight of an (meth)acrylate ester monomer wherein the (meth)acrylate ester monomer, when homopolymerized, has a Tg of less than about 10xc2x0 C.; and
(ii) about 85 to about 15 parts by weight of a hydrophilic acidic comonomer;
(b) combining the prepolymeric syrup with at least about 10 parts based on 100 parts of the sum of components (i)+(ii) of a non-reactive plasticizing agent to form a polymerizable mixture; and
(c) exposing the polymerizable mixture to radiation sufficient to polymerize the polymerizable mixture and to form a pressure sensitive adhesive that adheres to wet substrate surfaces.
Polymerization Processes
Polymerization methods, such as the continuous free radical polymerization method described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,979 and 4,843,134; the essentially adiabatic polymerization methods using a batch reactor described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,646; and, the methods described for polymerizing packaged polymerizable mixtures described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,610 may be utilized to prepare the polymers.
Polymerization can also be effected by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,752.
Component II comprises a hydrophobic PSA that includes an elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer and, optionally, a tackifying resin and/or plasticizer.
Thermoplastic Elastomer
Thermoplastic elastomeric materials are generally defined as materials that behave as elastomers at ambient temperatures, but are thermoplastic at elevated temperatures where they can be molded and remolded. Thermoplastic elastomeric materials useful in the present invention include, for example, linear, radial, star and tapered styrene-isoprene block copolymers such as Kraton(trademark) D 1107 and Kraton(trademark) D1113, both available from Shell Chemical Co., Houston, Tex.; EUROPRENE(trademark) SOL TE 9110, available from EniChem Elastomers Americas, Inc., Houston, Tex.; linear styrene-(ethylene-butylene) block copolymers such as Kraton(trademark) G1657, available from Shell Chemical Co.; linear styrene-(ethylene-propylene) block copolymers such as Kraton(trademark) G1701, available from Shell Chemical Co.; linear, radial, and star styrene-butadiene block copolymers such as Kraton(trademark) D 1118X, available from Shell Chemical Co.; EUROPRENE(trademark) SOL TE 6205, available from EniChem Elastomers Americas, Inc.; polyetheresters, such as HYTREL(trademark) G3548, available from DuPont; poly-alpha-olefin-based thermoplastic elastomeric materials such as those represented by the formula xe2x80x94(CH2xe2x80x94CHR)xe2x80x94, where R is an alkyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms; and poly-alpha-olefins based on metallocene catalysis, such as ENGAGE(trademark) EG8200, an ethylene/poly-alpha-olefin copolymer available from Dow Plastics Co., Midland, Mich.
B. Elastomer
Elastomeric materials are materials that generally form one phase at 21xc2x0 C., have a glass transition temperature less than about 0xc2x0 C., and exhibit elastic properties. Elastomers are among the group of polymers that can easily undergo very large, reversible elongations (up to 500 to 1000%) at relatively low stresses. Elastomeric materials useful in the present invention include, for example, natural rubbers such as CV-60, a controlled viscosity grade, and SMR-5, a ribbed smoked sheet rubber; butyl rubbers, such as Exxon Butyl 268 available from Exxon Chemical Co.; synthetic polyisoprenes such as Kraton(trademark) IR305, available from Shell Chemical Co.; NATSYN(trademark) 2210, available from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.; ethylene-propylenes; polybutadienes; polyisobutylenes, such as VISTANEX(trademark) MM L-80, available from Exxon Chemical Co.; and styrene-butadiene random copolymer rubbers such as AMERIPOL(trademark) 1011A, available from B F Goodrich, Akron, Ohio.
C. Tackifying Resin or Plasticizer
Optionally, these thermoplastic elastomeric or elastomeric materials can be modified with tackifying resins or plasticizers.
The tackifying resins or plasticizers may or may not be miscible with Component I. A tackifying resin or plasticizer, when present generally comprises about 5 to 300 parts by weight, more typically up to about 200 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the elastomer or the thermoplastic elastomer. Useful examples of tackifying resins suitable for the invention include but are not limited to liquid rubbers, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon resins, rosin, natural resins such as dimerized or hydrogenated balsams and esterified abietic acids, polyterpenes, terpene phenolics, phenol-formaldehyde resins, and rosin esters. Preferred tackifying resins include Escorez(trademark) 1310LC available from Exxon Chemical Co. and Wingtack(trademark) 95 available from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Useful examples of plasticizers include but are not limited to polybutene, paraffinic oils, naphthenic oils, petrolatum, and certain phthalates with long aliphatic side chains such as ditridecyl phthalate.
Additives such as pigments, fillers, medicinals (e.g., antimicrobials and other biologically active agents), crosslinkers, and antioxidants may be used in the adhesive blends of the present invention. Examples of fillers include but are not limited to inorganic fillers such as zinc oxide, alumina trihydrate, talc, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide and silica. Other additives such as amorphous polypropylene or various waxes may also be used. Pigments and fillers may be incorporated into the adhesive blend in order to manipulate the properties of the adhesive according to its intended use. Radiation crosslinkers such as benzophenone, derivatives of benzophenone, and substituted benzophenones may be added to the adhesive blends of the invention. Finally, antioxidants may be used to protect against severe environmental aging caused by ultraviolet light or heat. Antioxidants include, for example, hindered phenols, amines, and sulfur and phosphorous hydroxide decomposers. A preferred antioxidant is IRGANOX(trademark) 1010 available from Ciba-Geigy Corp.
Although Components I and II are preferably blended and coated using melt extrusion techniques or by solvent coating, blending can be done by any method that results in a substantially homogeneous distribution of Components I and II.
If a hot melt coating is desired, a blend is prepared by melt mixing the components in the molten or softened state using devices that provide dispersive mixing, distributive mixing, or a combination of dispersive and distributive mixing. Both batch and continuous methods of blending may be used. Examples of batch methods include Brabender(trademark) or Banbury(trademark) internal mixing, and roll milling. Examples of continuous methods include single screw extruding, twin screw extruding, disk extruding, reciprocating single screw extruding, and pin barrel single screw extruding. The continuous methods can include both distributive elements such as cavity transfer elements such as CTM(trademark), available from RAPRA Technology, Ltd., Shrewsbury, England, pin mixing elements, and static mixing elements and dispersive elements such as Maddock mixing elements or Saxton mixing elements.
An example of a batch process is the placement of a portion of the blend between the desired substrate to be coated and a release liner, pressing this composite structure in a heated platen press with sufficient temperature and pressure to form a pressure-sensitive coating of the desired thickness and cooling the resulting coating.
Continuous forming methods include drawing the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition out of a film die and subsequently contacting a moving plastic web or other suitable substrate. A related continuous method involves extruding the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition and a coextruded backing material from a film die and subsequently cooling to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape.
Other continuous forming methods involve directly contacting the pressure-sensitive adhesive blend to a rapidly moving plastic web or other suitable substrate. In this method, the pressure-sensitive adhesive blend can be applied to the moving web using a die having flexible die lips such as a reverse orifice-coating die. After forming, the pressure-sensitive adhesive coatings are solidified by quenching using both direct methods, such as chill rolls or water baths, and indirect methods, such as air or gas impingement.
Optionally, Components I and II are blended and coated using solvent blending and solvent coating techniques. However, it is preferable that Components I and II be substantially soluble in the solvents used. Mixing can be done by any method that results in a substantially homogeneous distribution of Component I and Component II.
The adhesive blends of the present invention are useful to prepare adhesive coated articles. The present invention provides adhesives that are skin-compatible and thus are particularly suitable for medical applications, such as surgical tapes and drapes, bandages, athletic tapes, wound dressings and the like. The adhesive blends may be coated onto any backing suitable for medical applications including occlusive (substantially non-breathable) and non-occlusive backings (breathable). Occlusive backings are also known as low porosity backings. Nonlimiting examples of occlusive backings include films, foams and laminates thereof Nonlimiting examples of non-occlusive backings include woven substrates, knit substrates, nonwoven substrates such as hydroentangled materials or melt blown webs, foams and thermally embossed nonwoven substrates.
The coated adhesive blends of the present invention can be crosslinked by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from, for example, medium pressure mercury arc lamps, or by exposure to an electron beam (e-beam). For example, coated adhesive blends can be irradiated with E-beam radiation at a level of 2 Mrad dosage at 175 kV directly after and in-line with the coating process using an ELECTOCURTAIN(trademark) CB-175 electron beam system available from Energy Sciences, Inc., Wilmington, Mass..

Adhesive blends comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic pressure sensitive adhesives


A high pressure pump for a fuel injection device of an internal combustion engine, having a housing, which has an inflow region and a delivery region, having at least one piston, and having a drive element which act upon the piston. The piston is movably disposed in a piston guide of a pump cylinder element and establishes a work chamber in the piston guide which is operatively provided between the inflow region and the delivery region, which chamber, depending upon the movement direction of the piston, can alternatingly communicate with the inflow region and the delivery region. In order to reduce the assembly and handling expenditure for the assembly and to thus cut corresponding assembly costs, it is provided that the pump cylinder element together with a valve which is provided between the work chamber and the delivery region, is fixed in a retaining element which is fastened to the housing.

The invention relates to a pump for a fuel injection device of an internal combustion engine.
A known pump of this kind, (H. Ebertshauser, "Fluidtechnik von A-Z" "Fluid Technology from A to Z"!, 1989, Vereinigte Fachverlage, Mainz, p. 339), which is embodied as a swash plate pump, has a cylinder block in a housing, with a plurality of cylinder bores in which the individual pistons are movably disposed. The cylinder block is associated with a valve plate, which is connected to a housing cover part, which has the individual pump connections. The housing, the cylinder block, the valve plate, and the housing cover part are secured to one another.
In another pump of this generic type (loc. cit., p 295f), which is embodied as a swash plate pump, the cylinder block with the individual pump cylinders is embodied as a rotating drum, which is associated with a valve plate which has the individual valves.
Pumps of this kind have the disadvantage that the individual components are relatively difficult to produce and costly to assemble.

High pressure pump for a fuel injection device


A method for parking a vehicle in which distances of the vehicle from obstacles as well as the length and/or width of a parking space are determined. Sensors are used for parking space determination as well as distance measurement in this context.

Measuring devices, in particular ultrasonic measuring devices, for warning a motor vehicle of the approach of an obstacle are conventional. An information signal is provided to the driver visually and/or acoustically as a function of distance. In particular, this renders it possible to prevent impact with obstacles that are not visible to the driver or for which the distance is difficult to estimate. However, if a parking space is too small to accommodate the vehicle, such a measuring device only provides the driver with limited assistance since the driver may unsuccessfully attempt to park the vehicle in the parking space. German Patent Application No. DE 196 16 447 describes a method for determining the length of a parking space and a parking assistance device suitable for the method via which the length of a parking space between a front and a back parked vehicle is determinable when driving slowly past. However, the described parking assistance device does not allow measurement of the distance to obstacles during the parking operation so that the driver is responsible for monitoring these distances during the parking operation.


An infant feeding bottle assembly includes a container and a top assembly including a collar coupled to the container at a top portion of the container, a nipple, and a nipple protector. The collar further includes a holding portion. The nipple protector is coupled to the collar and is capable of transitioning between an open state and a closed state. In the closed state, the nipple protector covers and protects the nipple. In the open state, the nipple protector retracts into or rests on the holding portion and exposes the nipple.

Infant feeding bottles often have a top that detaches from the main bottle to reveal the nipple. However, because the top is a separate piece, the top can be easily lost after it is removed from the bottle. Without the top, the liquid inside the bottle is able to spill from the bottle. Additionally, the nipple is exposed to the environment, which can cause unwanted contamination of the nipple.
Therefore, there is a need for an infant feeding bottle with a top that protects the nipple, prevents spilling, and is not easily lost.


A physical retractor apparatus and method for retracting anatomy during surgery wherein the apparatus includes a handle rod, a body portion, a retractor blade and a mechanism which allows the retractor blade to be angularly adjusted, and secured, to one of any number of angular positions. The handle rod may be attached to an extension arm of a surgery support frame via a standard joint clamp. Once secured, the retractor blade may be manually positioned to the desired angular position and secured in place. The adjustment mechanism includes a notched push bar which engages a brace member of the retractor blade thereby effecting movement of the retractor blade when the push bar is moved by the user. A releasable engagement member then engages one of several notches in the push rod to inhibit any further movement of the retractor blade. Pursuant to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retractor blade may be precisely adjusted to its desired angular position with respect to the retracted anatomy without having to also adjust the position of the handle rod itself.

The present invention relates to a surgical apparatus for retracting anatomy to provide exposure of the operative site and, more particularly, to a retraction apparatus in which the retractor blade is angularly-adjustable.
In surgical operations, it is customary to use a retraction device in order to properly access internal organs and bone structures. Such devices are particularly designed to hold back the anatomy in the immediate area of the operative site to enable a surgeon to have both an optimal view of the site and a sufficiently-open area within which to work.
Known retraction systems typically include a frame assembly mounted to an operating table, a plurality of support rods extending from such frame, a retractor device having a blade and handle, and a variety of clamping devices for use in securing the support rods to the frame and the retractor devices to the support rods. The majority of the above-described retractor system is located above the operative site where surgery is to be performed--the retractor blade itself being the only component in substantial contact with the retracted anatomy.
The usefulness of any retractor device is necessarily limited by the number of ways that the retractor can be positioned with respect to the retracted anatomy as well as the ease with which the surgeon can adjust the relative position of the retractor both before and during surgery. Obviously, the less obstructive and more versatile a retractor device is, the more desirable it becomes for use in the above-described manner.
Given the variances in patient size as well as the types of surgery with which retractor systems are used, a variety of adjustment mechanisms have been developed in this field of art. One such area which has seen improvements is that relating to the configuration of support structures. Through various combinations of support rod inter-connectivity, these developments assisted in allowing a retractor (blade and handle) to be more particularly positioned at the operative site. The following patents are illustrative of such developments: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,617,916, 4,717,151, 4,949,707 and 4,971,038.
Improvements also have been observed with regard to the clamping devices used to inter-connect support rods and retractor handles. By increasing the pivotability of such elements, the precision and ease with which retractors (again, both blade and handle) can be positioned has increased. Illustrative of such developments include the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,421,108, 5,020,195, 5,025,780 and 5,242,240.
Additional developments in this field of art include the use of interchangeable retractor blades with a single retractor handle assembly. Such interchangeable blades come in a variety of angles whereby the desired angle of retraction may be obtained by first attaching the proper retractor blade to the handle and then securing the entire assembly to a support rod. In addition, it is now known that such detachable retractor blades can "swivel" in place to compensate for inexact positioning of a blade handle or support rod and ensure that the face of the retractor blade remains flush with the retracted anatomy.
In light of the above-described developments, however, there is nothing in the prior art which provides for the acute angular adjustment of the retractor blade itself so as to precisely position the blade without adjusting the blade handle, clamping member or associated support rod. Indeed, with all of the retractor systems known in the prior art today, the ultimate positioning of a retractor blade requires, at a minimum, that such blade and corresponding handle assembly be adjusted via a clamping member at the associated support rod.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a surgical retractor apparatus having a retractor blade which is angularly adjustable with respect to its handle.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide an angling surgical retractor apparatus whereby the angular position of the retractor blade may be adjusted after the handle of the apparatus is secured to a support rod.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an angling surgical retractor apparatus whereby the retractor blade may be easily secured in its desired angular position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an angling surgical retractor apparatus whereby the retractor blade may swivel in place.
In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an angling surgical retractor apparatus whereby a variety of retractor blades may be interchangeably used with the apparatus.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an angling surgical retractor apparatus having a compact angling mechanism to ensure an unobstructed view for the surgeon.

Angling surgical retractor apparatus and method of retracting anatomy


Searching a database involves creating an access structure including a first tree data structure having a root node and at least one child node. Each child node is associated with match data corresponding to a data value of a field of a database record. Leaf child nodes of the first tree data structure include a link to another tree data structure in the access structure. Leaf child nodes of a further tree data structure include a link to a database record. The tree structures are traversed and scores are computed for the paths traversed that reflect the level of matching between the match pattern data of the nodes in a path and a search request to identify a database record that best matches the request.

There are many problems that can arise when attempting to search a database. For example, some databases are so large that they cannot be stored entirely within the internal memory/Random Access Memory of a computer being used to perform the search. This means that the searching process has to select portions of the database to be retrieved from an external store in order to search. As transferring data from an external store to the internal memory will normally take more time than retrieving data within the internal memory for processing, frequently accessing data from the external memory can significantly reduce the speed of the overall searching process. It is therefore beneficial to reduce the amount of data transferred from external storage during a searching operation, ideally by only retrieving the data that is relevant to the current search.
Another problem that can arise is that at least part of the search request to be processed may not exactly match data that is stored in the database. For example, when the search request data is based on human speech then natural variations between different users' pronunciation of search terms can make it difficult to match the input with database records.
Embodiments of the system described herein are intended to address these problems.
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System, method and technique for searching structured databases