A strain relief device for use at a tube/hub junction of a tubular device such as a catheter. The strain relief device forms a lumen which may have a reduced diameter at a distal section thereof which can cooperate with the outer diameter of a catheter tube to form a wicking surface. The wicking cavity is formed to allow bonding material to be added thereto which, through capillary action, forms a uniform and controlled bond pattern between the strain relief device and the catheter tube. A catheter including the strain relief device of the invention is manufactured by inserting the strain relief device over a catheter tube/hub junction and permanently bonding the proximal end of the strain relief device to the hub in a conventional manner. The distal end of the strain relief device is then bonded to the catheter tube. The stain relief device of the present invention resists axial pulling forces, as well as bending forces, which may be applied to the catheter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to strain relief devices for tubular members. More specifically, this invention relates to improved strain relief devices for use at the hub/tube junction of a catheter assembly. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to improvements in strain relief devices for increasing the connection strength of a hub/tube junction of a catheter assembly.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Catheters of the prior art are generally formed of three main elements. A first element is generally an elongated catheter tube (tube) which is intended to be of a sufficient length such that a distal end thereof may pass into a patient while the proximal end thereof remains outside the patient so as to allow the delivery and/or removal of fluids from the patient's body. A second element of the catheter is generally referred to as a catheter hub (hub) which is generally affixed to the proximal end of the tube to form a hub/tube junction. The hub is used to allow connection of a fluid delivery or fluid reception system to the catheter in a manner and for purposes commonly known in the prior art.
When strain relief is required between the hub and tube, the hub and tube constitute merely a subassembly of the catheter, and a strain relief device is included as a third element thereof. The strain relief device is generally attached over the hub/tube junction in such a way as to cause part of the strain relief device to be affixed to the hub while another part thereof encompasses a portion of the tube (See for example, prior art FIG. 1 of the present disclosure).
Strain relief devices of the above described type have been used in the past to prevent the collapse of a tube when it is subjected to lateral (bending) forces. The strain relief device is designed to prevent non-uniform curvature, i.e., "kinking" of the tube of the catheter at or near the hub/tube junction. Strain relief devices of this type are usually attached to a catheter at a point where the tube thereof forms a junction with the more rigid hub structure. This placement of the strain relief device prevents bending forces from concentrating at the hub/tube junction due to the non-uniform flexibility thereacross. The strain relief device is basically designed to spread bending forces along a significant length of the tube and away from the hub/tube junction.
Although strain relief devices have in the past functioned adequately to relieve the strain of bending forces at a hub/tube junction, they have nevertheless been less than adequate to aid in strengthening the junction against axial forces, i.e., forces along the longitudinal axis of the tube which tend to pull the tube away from the hub. Such axial forces can arise either during normal use, or during any number of common accidents or mishaps. Forces exceeding the strength of the hub/tube junction of the catheter can lead to failure thereof, and possibly disastrous consequences for a patient who may heavily rely on its proper functioning.
There exists therefore a need in the art to develop a strain relief device which not only functions to relieve strain at a hub/tube junction due to bending forces, but also function to relieve strain on a hub/tube junction due to axial hub/tube separation forces (axial pulling forces).
Manufacturing of prior art catheters which include a hub/tube junction has generally included either a solvent bond between the hub and the tube, or an insert molding process in which the tube is placed into a hub mold, and molten plastic is allowed to flow into the mold around the catheter to form and secure the hub to the tube.
There is ordinarily no flange, anchor, threading or other securing means used to insure a more secure connection between the tube and the hub due to significant increases in the time and expense of manufacture. As a result, the junction generally formed by the hub as it is melted about the tube is the only bond on prior art catheters which resists axial separation forces.
Inconsistencies may arise in the above molding process which may affect the ability of the molten plastic to adhere to the tube to form the bond between the hub and tube. Consequently, the bond at the hub/tube junction may be insufficiently strong to effectively resist axial separation forces. The inconsistencies may develop in the manufacturing process in several ways. For example, moisture content in the raw hub material may arise, thus inhibiting bonding between the molten plastic and the tube. Also, since many raw hub materials are hydroscopic, they often absorb and are affected by water in a way adverse to the strength of the hub/tube bond.
Further, worn molds which have been used to manufacture a large number of catheters may fit together in a less than perfect manner, allowing flash material to be formed at the parting line of the hub molds. Flash generated in certain areas of the hub of the catheter due to mold wear has been known to cause the catheter to fail prematurely when subjected to axial forces.
Other problems and/or parameters in the molding process, such as molding pressure, temperature and mold gate size also have an effect on the bond formed between the tube and the hub during manufacture.
There exists therefore a need to develop a manufacturing process which can compensate for, and even overcome, possible weaknesses in the hub/tube junction due to inconsistencies in the hub molding step of the manufacturing process.
Catheters of the above described nature are routinely manufactured in large quantities, and are routinely tested for the strength of the bond of the hub/tube junction in order to verify that a predetermined minimum allowable axial force, called a "minimum allowable pull to separation force" is met by the manufactured catheter. For reasons of safety it is critical for certain intended uses of the catheters that no single catheter of a manufactured lot fail when subjected to forces at or below this minimum allowable pull force. A test revealing a substandard catheter therefore, will cause the entire lot of catheters from which it was a part to be scraped, resulting in a significant loss of time and money to the manufacturer.
There exists therefore a further need to develop a catheter and a manufacturing process therefore in which the catheters consistently and uniformly meet minimum pull strength requirements.


Fiber management structures for fan-out assemblies that are used to furcate a fiber optic cable are disclosed, as are fiber optic assemblies with fiber management structures and related methods. The fiber management structures each include channels extending between opposed first and second ends. A plurality of fan-out tubes are received in the plurality of channels such that the fiber management structure organizes the fan-out tubes, thereby allowing a compact furcation body to be formed even when furcating high fiber count cables.

The disclosure relates generally to fiber optic cables, and more particularly to fiber optic assemblies including a furcation body, fan-out assemblies used in such fiber optic assemblies, and methods of furcating fiber optic cables to form such fiber optic assemblies.
Fiber optic cables are widely used in the telecommunications industry to transmit voice, video, and data signals. The cables include one or more optical fibers surrounded by one or more layers of material designed to protect the optical fibers from the environment in which the cables are used. To meet ever-increasing bandwidth demands, fiber optic cables are being developed with relatively large numbers of optical fibers. These high fiber count cables are often the trunk cables that form the backbone of transmissions in local area networks (LANs) and data centers.
In many instances, the optical fibers in a high fiber count cable are arranged ribbons each containing multiple rows optical fibers (e.g., 12 optical fibers per ribbon). The ribbons are stacked on top of each other and may be arranged in arrays with more than one row of stacked ribbons. Ribbon cables provide the highest fiber density relative to cable diameter, allowing the most efficient use of pathways and spaces where the cables must be routed. For these and other reasons, ribbon cables are the primary choice of cable type for applications where fiber counts of 24 or more are required.
One of the challenges associated with using high fiber count cables is that ultimately the cables must be terminated to allow mating with equipment or other fiber optic cables. Termination typically involves installing fiber optic connectors onto the optical fibers. For example, ribbons may be split into individual optical fibers to allow simplex connectors (e.g., LC or SC connectors) to be installed on respective optical fibers or duplex connectors to be installed on respective pairs of optical fibers. Alternatively, multi-fiber connectors (e.g., MTP connectors) may be installed onto each ribbon. Harnesses or modules may then be used to breakout the multi-fiber connectors into simplex or duplex connectors.
Termination can be done in the field, but factory-terminated cables are typically desired for high fiber count trunks because such preterminated cable assemblies expedite installations and are generally associated with lower connector insertion losses. One way of providing a preterminated cable assembly involves using a furcation to distribute/separate the optical fibers from a trunk cable. The furcation includes a body or plug formed over a portion of the cable where the protective layers have been removed to expose the optical fibers. The body or plug is also formed over a portion of furcation tubes/legs that are placed over the exposed optical fibers. The furcation legs provide protection between the furcation body or plug and the connectors. With such an arrangement, the furcation body terminates the strength members and helps isolate fiber strain in the cable from the connectors. The furcation is also able to serve as a load distribution point for pulling grips and as an attachment point to attach the cable assembly to racks, cabinets, or other hardware.
As fiber counts increase, furcating trunk cables becomes more difficult. Guiding the optical fibers into furcation legs can be difficult to manage, especially when attempting to minimize the size of the furcation. Size is an important consideration because if the furcation is too large, the cable assembly may be too big to be pulled through existing ducts and other pathways and/or may limit bend radius to unacceptable values. Space constraints, budgets, installation times, and other practical considerations may not allow for providing larger ducts/pathways.

Fan-out assemblies and fiber optic assemblies including fiber management structure for furcations


A method of removing impurities from the surface of an integrated circuit and forming a uniform thin native oxide layer on the same surface of an integrated circuit is described. A hydrofluoric acid solution, followed by a rinse and spin dry, is often used to remove gate oxide from within an opening etched in a polysilicon layer. The rinsing leaves water spots. Spin drying leaves impurities where water tracks were. An H.sub.2 O.sub.2 cleaning is performed to remove the water spots. After the cleaning, a uniform thin layer of native oxide is formed on the surface of the silicon substrate. A second layer of polysilicon is deposited over this first thin native oxide layer and doped with an implant dosage chosen so that it will go through the uniform native oxide layer. The substrate is annealed to drive in the buried contact. Processing continues to form polysilicon or silicide gate electrodes. Source and drain regions are formed within the openings to the silicon substrate between the gate electrodes. Spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate electrodes. An insulating layer is deposited over the surface of the silicon substrate. Contact openings are etched through the insulating layer to the second polysilicon layer and to the silicon substrate. A metal layer is deposited over the insulating layer and filling the openings to the second polysilicon layer and the silicon substrate. The metal layer is patterned, completing the formation of the buried contacts within the integrated circuit.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the fabrication of integrated circuit devices, and more particularly, to a method of removing water spots induced by a hydrofluoric acid etch in the manufacture of integrated circuits.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In the manufacture of integrated circuits the presence of tiny impurities on the surface of a wafer may cause failures in devices built upon or under these impurities. Referring to FIG. 1A, there are illustrated droplets of de-ionized water 2 on the surface 1 of a wafer. After a hydrofluoric acid etch a wafer is typically rinsed in de-ionized water. These droplets are formed into water tracks during spin-drying, indicated by arrow 4. Referring to FIG. 1B, the water droplets are spun off in the drying process, but impurities 2 remain on the surface of the wafer 1 in the form of water tracks 3. These impurities contain oxygen and can be seen through a microscope to be on and in the surface of the wafer.
Native oxide layers which are formed when the silicon substrate of an integrated circuit is exposed to the air may also cause problems. Since a native oxide layer is formed in an uncontrolled manner, the thickness of the layer may not be uniform throughout. In particular, in the case of buried contacts, the native oxide layer above a planned buried contact may act as a diffusion barrier when ions are implanted to form the buried contact. It is desirable to control the formation of the native oxide so that its thickness is both uniform and known.
Japanese Patent JA 2-307277 to Ito describes an etching and cleaning process followed by a controlled oxidation of the substrate to produce a uniform thickness oxide layer. This controlled oxidation is a two-hour process.

Peroxide clean before buried contact polysilicon deposition


An improved electrolyte battery is provided that includes a tank assembly adapted to hold an amount of an anolyte and a catholyte, a number of cell stacks operably connected to the tank assembly, each stack formed of a number of flow frames disposed between end caps and a number of power converters operatively connected to the cell stacks. The cell stacks are formed with a number of flow frames each including individual inlets and outlets for anolyte and catholyte fluids and a separator disposed between flow frames defining anodic and cathodic half cells between each pair of flow frames. The power converter is configured to connect the battery with either forward or reverse polarity to a DC power source, such as a DC bus. The anodic and cathodic half cells switch as a function of the polarity by which the battery is connected to the Dc power source.

The present invention relates generally to power supply systems, and more specifically to power supply systems including flowing electrolyte batteries.
Batteries used in certain prior art stand alone power supply systems are commonly lead-acid batteries. However, lead-acid batteries have limitations in terms of performance and environmental safety. Typical lead-acid batteries often have very short lifetimes in hot climate conditions, especially when they are occasionally fully discharged. Lead-acid batteries are also environmentally hazardous, since lead is a major component of lead-acid batteries and can cause serious environmental problems during manufacturing and disposal.
Flowing electrolyte batteries, such as zinc-bromine batteries, zinc-chlorine batteries, and vanadium flow batteries, offer a potential to overcome the above mentioned limitations of lead-acid batteries. In particular, the useful lifetime of flowing electrolyte batteries is not affected by deep discharge applications, and the energy to weight ratio of flowing electrolyte batteries is up to six times higher than that of lead-acid batteries.
However, manufacturing flowing electrolyte batteries can be more difficult than manufacturing lead-acid batteries. A flowing electrolyte battery, like a lead acid battery, comprises a stack of cells to produce a certain voltage higher than that of individual cells. But unlike a lead acid battery, cells in a flowing electrolyte battery are hydraulically connected through an electrolyte circulation path. This can be problematic as shunt currents can flow through the electrolyte circulation path from one series-connected cell to another causing energy losses and imbalances in the individual charge states of the cells. To prevent or reduce such shunt currents, flowing electrolyte batteries require sufficiently long electrolyte circulation paths between cells, thereby increasing electrical resistance between cells.
Another problem of flowing electrolyte batteries is a need for a uniform electrolyte flow rate in each cell in order to supply chemicals evenly inside the cells. To achieve a uniform flow rate through the cells, flowing electrolyte batteries define complex flow distribution zones. However, because electrolyte often has an oily, aqueous and gaseous multiphase nature, and because of structural constraints on the cells, uniform flow rates are often not achieved.
Another issue in these types of batteries where the battery employs an array of stacks of cells is that the stacks share a common flowing electrolyte. Since the stacks share the electrolyte, measurements of the open-circuit voltage across a stack only indicate whether the stack stores some non-zero amount of charge, rather than indicating the stack's state of charge relative to the other stacks in the system. Moreover, differences in the open circuit voltages between stacks are typically indicative of some internal abnormality that has altered a stack's internal resistance.
For example, in a zinc-bromine flowing electrolyte battery, the stacks share an aqueous zinc bromide electrolyte and have their own electrodes for deposit and dissolution of elemental zinc during charge and discharge cycles. In this type of battery, the electrolyte flow to a stack can be inhibited by poorly placed zinc deposits. Additionally, nucleation on the electrodes can cause dendrite formation and branching between cells. In either case, the internal resistance of the affected stack or the open-circuit voltage across the stack could be lowered.
Differences in open-circuit voltages between parallel-connected stacks in flowing electrolyte battery systems can affect the charge and discharge cycles of the stacks and, potentially, the operation of the battery. For example, in the aforementioned zinc-bromine battery, a lowered open circuit voltage in a particular stack causes an increase in the rate of zinc accumulation in the faulty stack during the charge cycle and a decrease in the rate of zinc reduction in the faulty stack during the discharge cycle. Moreover, the additional zinc stored in the faulty stack typically comes from the electrolyte normally utilized by neighboring stacks. As a result of the lowered zinc availability, the energy storage capacity of the neighboring stacks may be reduced. Another consequence is that the stack having the increased zinc accumulation does not fully deplete the zinc during discharge; eventually resulting in zinc accumulating on the electrodes of the faulty stack to such an extent that it causes internal short circuiting between the cells of the stack. This can potentially destroy the stack and possibly, the entire battery system. A further consequence is that the increased zinc accumulation can restrict the channels through which the electrolyte flows. As the electrolyte flow acts to cool the stack, the restricted flow may cause the stack to overheat.
In order to restore open-circuit voltages to a more uniform value, an equalization process may be executed. The equalization process includes fully "stripping", i.e., fully discharging, each stack in the battery, completely removing any stored charge from all of the cells in all of the stacks. Ideally, this process eliminates the abnormality that initially caused the difference in open-circuit voltage between the stacks. For example, a full strip typically dissolves dendrites between plates and/or deposits obstructing electrolyte flow. However, a full strip of each of the cell stacks in the battery typically renders the battery entirely unavailable or available at a significantly reduced capacity for electrical applications, necessitating the purchase and installation of additional redundant battery systems. Moreover, a full strip is often unnecessary since typically a minority of the stacks in the battery is operating abnormally.
In addition, existing methods of stripping battery stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery are typically time consuming and may have to be repeated every few days for a recurring problem. When stripping, i.e., fully discharging, a cell stack, care must be taken to avoid cell reversal in which the polarity of one of the stacks becomes opposite the polarity of the other stacks. In such an instance, the cell stack with the reversed polarity becomes a load, drawing current from the other stacks. Thus, during discharge, a cell stack is first discharged to a low voltage level using a higher current. When the stack reaches the low voltage level, the magnitude of the current is reduced to slow the rate of discharge. As the voltage level continues to drop, the magnitude of current is repeatedly stepped down to reduce the rate of discharge as the voltage level approaches zero. By approaching the zero voltage level at a slow rate, discharge of the cell stack is discontinued when zero voltage is reached. While this stepped reduction in the discharge current avoids cell reversal, it is also a significant factor in the time required to strip the cell stacks in a battery.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved electrolyte flow battery design and methods and apparatus for controlling, monitoring, charging and/or discharging cells in a flowing electrolyte battery.

Reversible polarity operation and switching method for ZnBr flow battery when connected to common DC bus


A polycarbonate composition comprises chloride, sulfate, phosphate or a combination of two or more of the foregoing ionic species in an amount of zero to about 100 parts per billion based on the total weight of the composition; and phenol, carbonic diester, aromatic dihydroxy compound or combination of two or more of the foregoing organic compounds in an amount of zero to about 500 parts per million by weight based on the total weight of the composition; wherein the polycarbonate has a weight average molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 90,000 dalton as determined by gel permeation chromatography using polystyrene standards and a melt volume rate of about 1 to about 35 cm3/10 minutes when measured at about 300° C. with a force of about 1.2 kilograms.

This disclosure relates to polycarbonate and methods of making polycarbonate, particularly polycarbonate having a low level of ionic species and residual monomers.
Polycarbonate, a thermoplastic that has excellent impact resistance and other mechanical properties, as well as heat resistance and transparency, is widely used in many engineering applications, including mechanical parts, optical disks, and automotive parts.
Polycarbonates may be produced by an interfacial method employing phosgene, a melt process employing phosgene and a melt process that does not employ phosgene. Regardless of the synthetic method it is desirable for the polycarbonate to have a low level of ionic species (cations and anions), unreacted monomers and small molecule side products. Ionic species can affect the quality of the polycarbonate, particularly with regard to color, molecular weight, rheological and/or electrical properties. Unreacted monomers and small molecule side products can result in outgassing and the dirtying of injector molds and extruder dies. Outgassing is particularly undesirable in electronic devices and components where the released gas can have a negative impact on surrounding components and materials. In addition unreacted monomers and small molecule side products can be detrimental to the taste and other organoleptic properties of food and beverages residing in containers made of polycarbonate.
Therefore, a need exists for method of preparing a polycarbonate that has low levels of ionic species, unreacted monomers and small molecule side products.

Polycarbonate composition and method of making thereof


A semiconductor integrated circuit device has a command decoder for issuing a control command in accordance with a supplied control signal, a DRAM core, and a timing adjusting circuit for supplying the control command, set active for a predetermined period, as a DRAM control signal to the DRAM core. The timing adjusting circuit generates n different clocks that are respectively shifted in phase with respect to a supplied reference clock, and generates the DRAM control signal by setting the control command active in a prescribed operation cycle for only a period starting at a first predetermined clock pulse of a first clock of the n clocks and ending at a second predetermined clock pulse of a second clock of the n clocks. In this way, timing design with relatively high accuracy of adjustment can be done in a short period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a timing signal generating circuits a semiconductor integrated circuit device and semiconductor integrated circuit system to which the timing signal generating circuit is applied and a signal transmission system and, more particularly, to a timing signal generating circuit aimed at increasing the speed of signal transmission between LSI (Large Scale Integration Circuit) chips or between a plurality of devices or circuit blocks within one chip.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the performance of components used in computers and other information processing apparatuses has improved rapidly; in particular, the performance of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and processors has improved dramatically year by year.
Namely, processor performance has increased dramatically in terms of speeds whereas DRAM performance improvements have been dramatic primarily in terms of storage capacity. However, the improvement in DRAM speed has not been so dramatic as the increase in storage capacity, as a result of which a gap between the speed of DRAMs and that of processors has widened and, in recent years, this speed gap has been becoming a bottleneck in boosting computer performance.
Further, with increasing chip size, not only signal transmission between the chips but also the speed of signal transmission between devices and between constituent circuits (circuit blocks) within one LSI chip (semiconductor integrated circuit device) is becoming a major limiting factor in chip performance.
On the other hand, if the speed of signal transmission between LSI chips is to be extremely increased, for example, it is required that signal receiving circuits be made to operate with correct timing to the signals, and techniques such as DLL (Delay Locked Loop) and PLL (Phase Locked Loop) have been known for addressing this requirement.
In addition, the need has arisen for high-speed signal transmission between LSI chips, for example, between a DRAM and a processor (logic circuit), or between a plurality of devices or circuit blocks within one LSI chip. There is, therefore, a need for a timing signal generating circuit that can generate with simple circuitry and with high accuracy a plurality of timing signals, having prescribed phase differences, synchronous with a reference clock.
Furthermore, with increasing operating speeds of LSIs, there is also a need for a signal transmission system that can perform large-capacity signal transmission at high speed between LSIs and between apparatuses constructed with a plurality of LSIs.
The prior art and the problems associated with the prior art will be described in detail later with reference to drawings.

Phase interpolator for a timing signal generating circuit


Flip-flop circuits having digital-to-time conversion latches therein include a pair of logic gates that each have first and second data inputs and an output. The first inputs are electrically connected together and are responsive to a latching signal. Each of the second data inputs is electrically connected to an output of the other logic gate in the pair. The pair of logic gates includes a first logic gate having first circuitry therein that, in response to a first control signal, adjusts a pull-down delay characteristic of the first logic gate. This pull-down delay characteristic is adjusted by reducing an effective on-state impedance of a first pull-down path within the first logic gate when an output of the first logic gate is being pulled from a logic 1 value to a logic 0 value by the first pull-down path.

This application is related to Korean Application No. 2000-48992, filed Aug. 23, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to integrated circuit capacitors and methods of manufacturing integrated circuit capacitors.
The width of a set-up/hold window, which means the sum of a set-up time and a hold time, is preferably narrow in order to operate a flip-flop at high speed. The set-up time is a time interval at which data must arrive earlier than the edge of a clock signal, so that the flip-flop latches valid data in synchronization with a clock signal. The hold time is a time interval for which data must be maintained for a predetermined time after the edge of the clock signal, so that data is completely latched to the inside of a latch.
The conventional flip-flop includes a flip-flop using a transmission gate as shown in FIG. 1, a flip-flop using a NAND gate as shown in FIG. 2, and a flip-flop using a sense amplifier as shown in FIG. 3.
In the flip-flop shown in FIG. 1, a difference corresponding to the delay time of an inverter 11 exists between a clock signal CLK applied to an NMOS transistor of a transmission gate T2 and a PMOS transistor of a transmission gate T1 and an inversion clock signal CLKB applied to a NMOS transistor of a transmission gate T1 and a PMOS transistor of a transmission gate T2. When data D is at a logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level, the PMOS transistor of the transmission gate T1 latches the data. When the data D is at a logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level, the NMOS transistor of the transmission gate T1 latches the data. Therefore, the flip-flop shown in FIG. 1 has shortcoming in that the set-up time when the data D is at the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level is longer than the set-up time when the data D is at the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level by the delay time of the inverter I1.
In order to solve this problem of asymmetric set-up time, the clock signal CLK is delayed by the delay time of the inverter I1 using a phase splitter and the delayed clock signal can be applied to the PMOS transistor of the transmission gate T1 and the NMOS transistor of the transmission gate T2. However, even in such a case, it is very difficult to precisely lock the phase of the inversion clock signal CLKB to the phase of the clock signal delayed by the delay time of the inverter I1 due to changes in fabrication process, power supply voltage, and temperature. Also, the area of the flip-flop typically increases with the addition of the phase splitter. Also, since the path of the data D is different from the path of the clock signal CLK, a change in the set-up time with respect to a change in the power supply voltage can be caused. Accordingly, the width of the set-up and hold window increases.
In the flip-flop shown in FIG. 2, the set-up time when the data D is transitioned from the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level to the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level has a value that is almost 0 since the set-up time is determined by NAND gates ND3 and ND4. The set-up time when the data D is transitioned from the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level to the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level is determined by NAND gates ND1 and ND2. Since the input A of the NAND gate ND1 is set after the delay time of the NAND gate ND4 on the basis of the data D, the set-up time when the data D is transitioned from the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level to the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level is longer than the set-up time when the data D is transitioned from the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level to the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level by the delay time of the NAND gate ND4. Therefore, the width of the set-up/hold window increases.
In the flip-flop shown in FIG. 3, SB and RB start to fall from the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level to the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level when the clock signal CLK rises to the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level. Falling speed is determined by the common mode voltages of the data D and inversion data DB. Therefore, the inclination, with which SB (or RB) is pulled-down when the data D is at the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level, is different from the inclination, with which SB (or RB) is pulled-down when the data D is at the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level. Accordingly, the hold time of a sense amplifier SA when the data D is at the logic xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d level is different from the hold time of the SA when the data D is at the logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d level.
Flip-flop circuits having digital-to-time conversion latches therein according to one embodiment of the present invention include a pair of logic gates that each have first and second data inputs and an output. The first inputs are electrically coupled together and are responsive to a latching signal. Each of the second data inputs is electrically connected to an output of the other logic gate in the pair. The pair of logic gates includes a first logic gate having first circuitry therein that, in response to a first control signal, adjusts a pull-down delay characteristic of the first logic gate. Thus, the value (digital or analog) of the first control signal can be used to alter the timing characteristics of the latching operation performed by the latch. This pull-down delay characteristic is adjusted by reducing an effective on-state impedance of a first pull-down path within the first logic gate when an output of the first logic gate is being pulled from a logic 1 value to a logic 0 value by the first pull-down path
An integrated circuit latch according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of logic gates that each have first and second data inputs and an output, with the first inputs electrically connected together and responsive to a latching signal (e.g., CLK) and with each of the second inputs electrically connected to an output of the other logic gate in the pair. The pair of logic gates include a first logic gate having first circuitry therein that, in response to a first control signal, adjusts a delay characteristic of the first logic gate. This delay characteristic may be a pull-down or pull-up delay characteristic. The first control signal may be a single-bit digital signal, a multi-bit digital signal or an analog signal, for example.
An integrated circuit latch according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of logic gates that each have first and second data inputs and an output, with the first inputs electrically connected together and responsive to a latching signal and with each of the second inputs electrically connected to an output of the other logic gate in the pair. This pair of logic gates includes a first logic gate having first circuitry therein that, in response to a first control signal, adjusts a pull-down delay characteristic of the first logic gate. The pull-down delay characteristic is adjusted by reducing an effective on-state impedance of a first pull-down path therein when an output of said first logic gate is being pulled from a logic 1 value to a logic 0 value by the first pull-down path. In particular, the first circuitry within the first logic gate adjusts a pull-down delay characteristic of the first logic gate by reducing an effective on-state impedance of a first MOS transistor within the first pull-down path. The first logic gate may comprise a first pair of MOS transistors connected source-to-drain in a first totem-pole arrangement and the first circuitry may comprise a second pair of MOS transistors connected source-to-drain in a second totem-pole arrangement, with the second totem-pole arrangement being connected in parallel with one of the MOS transistors in the first totem-pole arrangement.


A sealing system for repairing an aperture or notch of a damaged plastic pipe. The sealing system comprises a patch member and an attachment tool. The patch member includes a top side, a bottom side, and comprises, in part, a thermoplastic material. The attachment tool includes a housing, a power source associated with the housing, a base member, attachment members for attaching the base member to the patch member, and members which facilitate positioning to the power source relative to the housing. The invention further includes a method of repairing an aperture or notch of a damaged plastic pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to pipe sealing systems, and, more specifically, to a seal system for repairing a damaged plastic pipe through spin friction and pressure, without substantially affecting the flow of the fluid through the plastic pipe.
2. Background Art
Pipelines have long been used for the transportation, movement, and disposal of fluids comprising both liquids and/or gasses. These pipes are often exposed to elements such as temperature extremes, precipitation, solar radiation etc. Pipes, such as plastic pipes, which are increasingly used in the transportation of natural gas, are quite susceptible to these elements. Additionally, at some point during the service life, it is likely that such pipes will develop leaks due to workers digging too close to the pipes, as well as due to the knocking away of fittings.
In addition to the leaks, Federal Regulations require repair or replacement of a damaged plastic pipe wherein the depth of a nick or gouge on the surface of the damaged plastic pipe exceeds ten percent of the thickness of that pipe.
Repair to the pipes is quite difficult and each method has inherent drawbacks. One manner of repair consists of stopping the flow of the fluid and replacing the damaged section of pipe. The major drawback of this procedure lies with both the need to disrupt service in the pipe, and the labor and time costs associated therewith. Not only will the customer be without service, but the replacement requires new pipes, fittings and many labor hours.
Certain sealing type devices have been introduced to repair leaks that do not require the replacement of sections of the pipe. Many of these sealing methods nevertheless require the stopping of fluid for some period of time. Other seals are only a temporary "band aid" which must later be replaced with more permanent solutions.

Method and system for repairing a damaged plastic pipe


A new family of proteins, the SARA proteins, has been identified. These proteins bind to receptor-regulated Smad proteins and modulate signal transduction by TGFβ, activin and bone morphogenetic protein.

The Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGFβ) superfamily, whose members include TGFβs, activins and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), have wide ranging effects on cells of diverse origins (Attisano and Wrana, 1998; Heldin et al., 1997; Kretzschmar and Massagué, 1998). Signaling by these secreted factors is initiated upon interaction with a family of cell-surface transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, known as type I and type II receptors. Ligand induces formation of a typeI/typeII heteromeric complex which permits the constitutively active type II receptor to phosphorylate, and thereby activate, the type I receptor (Wrana et al., 1994). This activated type I receptor then propagates the signal to a family of intracellular signaling mediators known as Smads (Attisano and Wrana, 1998; Heldin et al., 1997; Kretzschmar and Massagué, 1998).
The first members of the Smad family identified in invertebrates were the Drosophila MAD and the C. elegans sma genes (sma-2, sma-3 and sma4; Savage et al., 1996; Sekelsky et al., 1995). Currently, the family includes additional invertebrate Smads, as well as nine vertebrate members, Smadi through 9 (Attisano and Wrana, 1998; Heldin et al., 1997; Kretzschmar and Massagué, 1998). Smad proteins contain two conserved amino (MH1) and carboxy (MH2) terminal regions separated by a more divergent linker region. In general, Smad proteins can be subdivided into three groups; the receptor-regulated Smads, which include Smad 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8, Mad, sma-2 and sma-3; the common Smads, Smad4 and Medea, and the antagonistic Smads, which include Smad6, 7 and 9, DAD and daf-3 (Heldin et al., 1997; Nakayama et al., 1998; Patterson et al., 1997).
Numerous studies with vertebrate Smad proteins have provided insights into the differential functions of these proteins in mediating signaling. Receptor-regulated Smads are direct substrates of specific type I receptors and the proteins are phosphorylated on the last two serines at the carboxy-terminus within a highly conserved SSXS motif (Abdollah et al., 1997; Kretzschmar et al., 1997; Liu et al., 1997b; Macias-Silva et al., 1996; Souchelnytskyi et al., 1997). Interestingly, Smad2 and Smad3 are substrates of TGFβ or activin receptors and mediate signaling by these ligands (Liu et al., 1997b; Macias-Silva et al., 1996; Nakao et al., 1997a), whereas Smad1, 5 and 8 appear to be targets of BMP receptors and thereby propagate BMP signals (Chen et al., 1997b; Hoodless et al., 1995; Kretzschmar et al., 1997; Nishimura et al., 1998). Once phosphorylated, these Smads bind to the common Smad, Smad4, which lacks the carboxy-terminal phosphorylation site and is not a target for receptor phosphorylation (Lagna et al., 1996; Zhang et al., 1997). Heteromeric complexes of the receptor-regulated Smad and Smad4 translocate to the nucleus where they function to regulate the transcriptional activation of specific target genes. The antagonist Smads, Smad6, 7 and 9 appear to function by blocking ligand-dependent signaling by preventing access of receptor-regulated Smads to the type I receptor or possibly by blocking formation of heteromeric complexes with Smad4 (reviewed in Heldin et al., 1997).
Analysis of the nuclear function of Smads has demonstrated that Smads can act as transcriptional activators and that some Smads, including Drosophila Mad, and the vertebrate Smad3 and Smad4, can bind directly to DNA, albeit at relatively low specificity and affinity (Dennler et al., 1998; Kim et al., 1997; Labbé et al., 1998; Yingling et al., 1997; Zawel et al., 1998).
Localization of Smads is critical in controlling their activity and Smad phosphorylation by the type I receptor regulates Smad activity by inducing nuclear accumulation (Attisano and Wrana, 1998; Heldin et al., 1997; Kretzschmar and Massagué, 1998). However, little is known about how Smad localization is controlled prior to phosphorylation and how this might function in modulating receptor interactions with its Smad substrates.

HSC Research and Development Limited Partnership


The present invention relates to a propellant-gas-free apparatus for the dispensing of liquids, a container cartridge suitable for this for storing the liquid and the ensemble comprising both. The invention comprises a device for the exertion of pressure and for accommodating a container cartridge and a container cartridge in which the dispensing facility is integrated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a propellant-gas-free apparatus for the dispensing of liquids, a container cartridge suitable for this for storing the liquid and the ensemble comprising both.
2. Description of the Related Art
The international patent application WO 91/14468 "Atomizing Device and Methods" or also WO 97/12687 disclose a device for the propellant-gas-free administration of a dosed quantity of a liquid drug for inhalative application. Reference is hereby made expressly to the said references and the technology described there is called "Respimat® technology" within the framework of the present invention. This term also includes in particular the technology on which a device according to FIGS. 6a and 6b of WO 97/12687 and the associated description is based in principle, in particular the technology for the exertion of pressure, the locking clamping means and the means for the dispensing of the liquid (nozzle). These inhalers can already atomize quantities of less than 100 microlitres of a liquid active ingredient solution in the therapeutically necessary dosage with preferably a single stroke into a therapeutically-inhalatively suitable aerosol within a few seconds. This consists of particles of an average size of less than 20 micrometres. The inhalable portion of the aerosol corresponds to the therapeutically effective quantity.
In these nebulizers based on Respimat® technology a drug solution is converted by means of high pressure of up to 500/600 bar into a lung-accessible aerosol and sprayed. The solution formulations are stored in a reservoir. From there they are conveyed via a riser tube into a pressure chamber and further nebulized via a nozzle. It is necessary that the active ingredient formulations used display an adequate storage stability and at the same time their state is such that they can be applied directly if at all possible without further manipulation according to the medicinal purpose. Furthermore, they must not contain constituents which can interact with the inhaler so that the inhaler or the pharmaceutical quality of the solution, respectively of the produced aerosol, could be damaged.
WO 01/64268 describes a further device of this type: a needleless injector which operates with a pressure-exertion means similar to the device of WO 97/12687.
A further device which is not based on the previously named technology is described in EP 0918570. Here an atomizer for nose sprays is disclosed which contains, as core elements, a spring-operated piston and a nozzle facility. Between piston and nozzle a container can be inserted which has a plunger on the bottom side and is closed top-side via a seal. This seal of the container is opened before first use by moving the nozzle, integrated in the atomizer, by pushing the nozzle through the seal.
The described devices from the state of the art are intended primarily for continuous use, i.e. for a use without lengthy breaks. In the case of a lengthy time break the part of the solvent of the liquid active ingredient formulation that is located outside the reservoir in only small volumes in the pumping- and/or pressure- and/or spray mechanism can evaporate and lead there to a formulation with a concentrated quantity of active ingredient or the formulation dries up. In these cases the device must, prior to re-use, first be cleaned again by single or multiple activation and spraying of the active ingredient formulation into the air.

Apparatus for the dispensing of liquids, container cartridge suitable for this, and system comprising the apparatus for the dispensing of liquids, and the container cartridge

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG


A high speed dynamic run-out testing apparatus includes a drive source rotatable at a high speed and having an output shaft, a main shaft coupled coaxially with the output shaft of the drive source, a non-contact bearing for rotatably supporting the main shaft in a non-contact fashion, a testpiece carrier shaft provided on one side of the main shaft remote from the drive source for supporting a cylindrical testpiece mounted on such testpiece carrier shaft, and a non-contact displacement detector for measuring a displacement of the cylindrical testpiece.

1. (Field of the Invention)
The present invention generally relates to the measurement of the dynamic roundness of a commutator employed in a commutator motor and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and a method of testing the commutator to evaluate the quality of the commutator as assembled.
2. (Description of the Prior Art)
One of the factors that are determinative of the lifetime of the commutator motor of a kind used in, for example, a vacuum cleaner is reliability of a commutator. If during a high speed rotation of the commutator motor the commutator encounters a trouble such as, for example, radial lift of one or some of the commutator segments and/or eccentricity of the commutator, one or both of brushes held in sliding contact with the commutator will instantaneously separate from their contact with the commutator segments a slight distance corresponding to deformation of the commutator from its design roundness, accompanied by generation of spark discharges which eventually accelerate reduction in lifetime of the commutator. Accordingly, it is feasible that even during the high speed rotation of the commutator motor, the commutator can retain a rigid stability and a design roundness throughout the entire design lifetime and, for this reason, the commutators as assembled must be properly tested or evaluated.
Hitherto, a so-called run-out test method has been known as one of various methods of testing the commutator to evaluate the quality of the commutator as assembled. The details of the known run-out test method will now be discussed with particular reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 which illustrate a rotation testing apparatus and a roundness measuring apparatus, respectively, both of which are necessitated to accomplish the prior art run-out test method.
As shown in FIG. 4, a commutator 11 to be tested is mounted on and fastened by means of a nut 10 to a stud shaft 9 for rotation together therewith. The stud shaft 9 is in turn coupled to a main shaft 4 by means of a releasable chuck 5. The main shaft 4 is rotatably supported by a plurality of, for example, two bearings 3 and is drivingly coupled with an electric drive motor 1 by means of a generally endless drive belt trained between and around step-up pulleys 2. In this testing machine, the commutator 11 to be tested is driven about the main shaft 4 at a speed within the range of 10,000 to 50,000 rpm depending on testing conditions.
In order to simulate an actual operating condition of the commutator in which the commutator is subjected to thermal stress, heated air is supplied by a heater-equipped fan 6 into a simulating chamber 7 enclosing the commutator 11 on the stud shaft 9 so that the commutator 11 to be tested can receive the thermal stress of a magnitude comparable to that that would be imposed on the commutator during actual rotation thereof. A thermometer 8 persistently monitors the temperature to keep the temperature inside the simulating chamber 7 within the range of 200.degree. to 300.degree. C.
The commutator 11 to be tested is tested under this condition for a predetermined length of time with the use of the rotation testing machine shown in FIG. 4, and the commutator 11 so tested is removed from the rotation testing machine and is then loaded in the roundness measuring machine shown in FIG. 5 after having been cooled to room temperatures.
The commutator 11 removed from the rotation testing machine is mounted on a tester shaft 22 of the roundness measuring apparatus which is supported by and extends between generally V-shaped blocks 21 and is driven by an electric drive motor 23 by means of a capstan roller 24 at a low speed. During the testing, an electric micrometer 25 is positioned adjacent the commutator 11 with a measurement probe thereof held in sliding contact with the commutator segments so that during rotation of the commutator 11 distortion and/or run-out of the commutator 11 from the design roundness can be measured by the measurement probe of the electric micrometer 25. A detection signal outputted from the electric micrometer 25 which is indicative of departure from the design roundness by reason of, for example, eccentricity of the commutator and/or radial lift of one or more of the commutator segments is, after having been amplified by an amplifier 26, recorded and/or displayed by a recorder 27.
In the practice of the prior art run-out test method discussed above, the rotation testing and the roundness measurement are different operations to be done separately and, therefore, the commutator 11 once subjected to the rotation test must be removed and is subsequently allowed to stand still for measurement of the residual strain. Because of this, the behavior of the commutator during a high speed rotation thereof cannot be assessed. Also, since vibration induced in the main shaft 4 when the latter is driven by the step-up pulleys 2 at a higher speed than that of the drive motor 1 and, also, vibration brought about by the bearings 3 on the main shaft 4 are both transmitted to the commutator 11 being tested, the commutator 11 being rotated together with the main shaft 4 undergoes fluctuation. Under these circumstances, no proper initial measurement condition is available and, therefore, it is not only difficult to evaluate the physical strength, but also to accomplish measurement of dynamic distortion and/or run-out of the commutator driven at a high speed.
Because of the reason discussed above, there is no way to ascertain the behavior of the commutator being tested and improvement in design of the commutator to increase the reliability is therefore limited. With the prior art system in which the thermal stress is applied to the commutator being tested, the hot air supplied from the fan 6 tends to be stirred up by a windage loss brought about by the high speed rotation of the commutator 11, making it difficult to retain the temperature at a predetermined value. In addition, complicated and time-consuming testing procedures have been required.

High speed dynamic run-out testing apparatus and method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Provided is a machine tool hand including a body portion that is mounted so as to be attachable to and detachable from a spindle of a machine tool, and that is provided with a flow path connected to a coolant-liquid supply path formed in the spindle; and two or more hand members that are attached to the body portion such that at least one of the hand members is pivotable about a prescribed axis, and that are capable of gripping an object therebetween by being closed. The flow path is provided with discharge ports via which a coolant liquid supplied from the coolant-liquid supply path is discharged toward surfaces of the hand members that are exposed to an outside, and a pressure of the coolant liquid causes an opening operation or a closing operation of the hand members.

There is a known gripping device that drives a plurality of hand members so as to be opened and closed by utilizing a coolant liquid supplied to a spindle of a machining center (for example, see Publication of Japanese Examined Utility Model Registration No. 3206020).
This gripping device includes: a cylinder into which a coolant liquid supplied to a spindle is injected; a piston that is movably disposed in the cylinder and that is moved by the pressure of the coolant liquid; and a plurality of hand members that are pivotably coupled to the piston.


This invention provides a labeling format for use in assays that require the immobilization of biomolecules on a flat substrate surface. The ceramic labeling indicia of the present invention provide a format that can supply the user with required identification about the substrate and its content without adversely affecting a chemically active surface required for probe immobilization.

The present invention relates generally to the field of laboratory test slides, and specifically to the use of patterned ceramic indicia as a labeling means for substrates used to immobilize biomolecules.
High density arrays are new tools used by drug researchers and geneticists which provide information on the expression of genes from particular cells. A high density array typically comprises between 5,000 and 50,000 probes in the form of DNA strands, each of known and different sequence, arranged in a determined pattern on a substrate. The substrate may be any size but typically takes the form of a 1xc3x973 inch glass microscope slide.
The arrays are used to determine whether target sequences interact or hybridize with any of the probes on the array. After exposing the array to target sequences under selected test conditions, scanning devices can examine each location in the array and determine whether a target molecule has hybridized with the probe at that location. DNA arrays can be used to study which genes are xe2x80x9cturned onxe2x80x9d or up-regulated and which genes are xe2x80x9cturned offxe2x80x9d or down-regulated. So for example, a researcher can compare a normal colon cell with a malignant colon cell and thereby determine which genes are being expressed or not expressed only in the aberrant cell. The regulation of these genes serves as key targets for drug therapy.
In order to immobilize the probe sequence to the substrate, a coating is applied to the slide to enhance the attachment. One common film that is applied for this purpose is gamma aminopropyltriethoxylsilane (GAPS). After such a coating is applied, the DNA is printed onto the substrate surface by any number of printing methods including piezoelectric, typo pin printing, capillary pin printing, ink jet printing, etc. The end result is an array with spots of immobilized probes at a pitch of between 10-500 xcexcm.
A means for linking the physical slide and the vast amount of genetic information contained on it, to a corresponding database which stores information about each of the thousands of sequences contained on the slide, is required. This link takes the form of a bar code label, for example. In order to meet a market demand for pre-coated GAPS slides for use by customers to print their own arrays, the Assignee of the present invention prepared a product for market. Applicants affixed adhesive bar code labels to the surface of the coated slides and stored them at various conditions as a test in preparation for product release.
It was discovered that the GAPS coated slides having the bar-code labels were becoming progressively less effective at immobilizing DNA probes over time, while non-labeled slides remained effective. This discovery led to focused study on the effects of the labeling on the chemistry of the GAPS coating. After some study, it became clear that the chemical adhesive from the bar code label was deleteriously affecting the GAPS surface film. The present invention solves the problem caused with adhesive labels by providing a chemically inert labeling system for substrates designed to immobilize biomolecules.
This invention provides a labeling format for use in assays that require the immobilization of biomolecules on a flat substrate surface. The ceramic labeling indicia of the present invention provide a format that can supply the user with required identification about the substrate and its content without adversely affecting a chemically active surface required for probe immobilization.

Use of ceramic labels for identifying biomolecule immobilizing subtrates


An apparatus includes a housing coupled to a medicament container, which is coupled to a needle. An injection assembly is disposed within the housing and includes an energy storage member and an actuation rod. A distal end portion of the actuation rod is disposed within the medicament container. The energy storage member can produce a force on a proximal end portion of the actuation rod sufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container. This can convey at least a portion of a substance from the medicament container via the needle when a distal tip of the needle is disposed within a first region of a target location. The force is insufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container when the distal tip of the needle is disposed within a second region of the target location.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to the field of ophthalmic therapies and more particularly to the use of a microneedle for delivery and/or removal of a substance, such as a fluid therapeutic agent into and/or from ocular tissues for treatment of the eye.
Although needles are used in transdermal and intraocular drug delivery, there remains a need for improved microneedle devices and methods, particularly for delivery of substances (e.g., drugs) into the posterior region of the eye. Many inflammatory and proliferative diseases in the posterior region (or other regions) of the eye require long-term pharmacological treatment. Examples of such diseases include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis. It is often difficult to deliver effective doses of a drug to the back of the eye using conventional delivery methods such as topical application or an intravitreal administration (IVT), which has poor efficacy, and systemic administration, which often causes significant side effects. For example, while eye drops are useful in treating conditions affecting the exterior surface of the eye or tissues at the front of the eye, the eye drops are often not sufficiently conveyed to the back of the eye, as may be required for the treatment of some of the retinal diseases listed above.
Although there have been advances in the past decade regarding the utilization of systemically delivered substances, there are obstacles to wide spread adoption of such methods. For example, in certain situations, direct injection into the eye (e.g., into the vitreous) using conventional 27 gauge or 30 gauge needles and syringes can be effective. Direct injection, however, can be associated with significant safety risks, and physicians often require professional training to effectively perform such methods. Moreover, in some instances, targeted injection of a therapeutic agent is desirable. In such instances, however, the relatively small anatomic structures of the eye often result in significant challenges to placing a needle at a target location using known devices and methods, especially as they pertain to placing the distal end of the needle at the desired depth within the eye. Furthermore, IVT administration can have side effects such as increased intraocular pressure or faster onset of cataract formation.
In addition, many known methods of direct injection of a drug into the eye include inserting a needle or a cannula at an acute angle relative to a surface of the eye, which can make controlling the depth of insertion challenging. For example, some such methods include controlling the angular orientation of the needle such that the injected substance exits the needle at a particular location. Moreover, some known methods of injecting substances into ocular tissue include using complicated visualization system or sensors to control the placement of the needle or cannula.
Known devices for ocular injection do not provide the mechanism for adjusting needle length so that the needle can be inserted into the eye to the desired depth. Known systems also do not provide a reliable mechanism for determining when the needle tip is in the desired location, for example, the suprachoroidal space (SCS) of the eye. Such shortcomings in known systems and methods are exacerbated because the size and thickness of various layers included in the eye can vary substantially from one person to another. For example, the thickness of the conjunctiva and the sclera can be substantially different and their true value cannot easily be predetermined via standard techniques. Furthermore, the thickness of these layers can also be different in different portions of the eye and at different times of the day in the same eye and location. Therefore, using known systems and methods it can be challenging to determine and/or adjust the length of the needle for puncturing the eye, such that a tip of the needle is at the desired depth, for example, the SCS. Too short a needle might not penetrate the sclera, and too long a needle can traverse beyond the SCS and damage the retina of the eye. Further, known systems do not provide a convenient way to detect the position of the needle tip within the eye.
Because of the sensitivities associated with intraocular injection (e.g., the sensitivity of the tissue, the potential impact on intraocular pressure and the like), many known systems involve manual injection. More particularly, many known devices and methods include the user manually applying a force (e.g., via pushing a plunger with their thumb or fingers) to expel a fluid (e.g., a drug) into the eye. Because of the small needle size and/or the characteristics of the injected drug, some such devices and methods involve the use of force levels higher than that which users are comfortable with applying. For example, some studies have shown that users generally do not like to apply more than 2N force against the eye during ocular injection. Accordingly, in certain situations a user may not properly deliver the medicament using known systems and methods because of their reluctance to apply the force to fully expel the medicament.
Moreover, injection into different target layers of the eye can cause variability in the amount of the force required for insertion of the needle and/or injection of the medicament. Different layers of the eye can have different densities. For example, the sclera generally has a higher density than the conjunctiva or the SCS. Differences in the density of the target region or layer can produce different backpressure against the needle exit, i.e., the tip of the needle from which the fluid emerges. Thus, injection into a relatively dense ocular material such as sclera requires more motive pressure to expel the medicament from the needle than is required when injecting a medicament into the SCS.
Furthermore, the injection force to expel the medicament also depends on the density and viscosity of the liquid medicament, length of the needle, and diameter of the needle. To inject certain medicaments into the eye via desired needles (e.g., 27 gauge, 30 gauge, or even smaller) can require more force than many practitioners are comfortable applying.
Intraocular injection can also lead to leakage of intraocular fluids (e.g., aqueous and vitreous humour) or the medicament from a delivery passageway formed by the needle penetrating into the ocular tissue. By way of example, if the medicament is delivered to the sclera instead of the target ocular tissue layer, for example, the SCS, the high backpressure of the sclera can force the medicament to leak from the insertion site. Known systems do not provide a convenient way to prevent leakage from insertion site, which can lead to discomfort and loss of medicament. This can prolong treatment as well as increase costs associated with the treatment.
Thus, a need exists for improved devices and methods, which can assist in determining if the needle is at the correct depth, can facilitate injection of the medicament into ocular tissue, and/or can prevent leakage of ocular fluids and/or medicament form the insertion site.

Apparatus and methods for ocular injection


The present disclosure discloses a camera lens assembly. The camera lens assembly sequentially includes, from an object side to an image side: an alignment group, having a positive refractive power and including at least one lens, a lens closest to the object side in the alignment group having a positive refractive power; and a fixing group, having a refractive power and including at least one lens, a lens closest to the image side in the fixing group having a negative refractive power. An effective focal length fa of the alignment group and an effective focal length f of the camera lens assembly satisfy: 0.6<fa/f<2.0. The camera lens assembly of the present disclosure includes an automatic alignment group and a fixing group, which can realize the alignment function by grouping lenses, thereby improving the module process yield and shortening the AF duration.

At present, commonly used photosensitive elements in optical systems include charge-coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor elements (CMOS). With the improvement on performance and reduction in size of the commonly used photosensitive elements, higher requirements on high imaging quality and miniaturization of the counterpart camera lens assemblies have been brought forward. At the same time, people have higher requirements on the imaging quality of portable electronic products, and electronic products such as mobile phones and tablet computers become thinner, and smaller in sizes, also demanding the high imaging quality and miniaturization of the camera lens assemblies.
A conventional high-pixel lens assembly adopts the active alignment technology, and the entire camera lens assembly needs to be corrected when performing the alignment. Therefore, the conventional active alignment technology imposes limitations on improving the product yield and is not conducive to achieving a good imaging effect. In order to further improve the module process yield and shorten the auto focus (AF) duration, the present invention provides a camera lens assembly having an automatic alignment group and a fixing group that realizes the alignment by grouping lenses.


A mobile telephony device, comprising:                a storage device (1) (for example a SIM/USIM card) comprising means for storing at least one application (3A, 4A);        at least one data array manager module (5) for managing data arrays of at least one application stored in the storage device, comprising means for receiving, by means of a remote access (OTA) message, at least one instruction for operating on at least one piece of data contained in an array of a specified application, means for accessing said array according to said instruction, and means for performing at least one operation on said at least one piece of data in said array, according to said instruction.

There are currently different types of mobile telephones (also called "portable" or "cellular telephones") which are usually provided with a keyboard and a display with the capacity to show alphanumerical symbols and, in many cases, graphics as well.
There are currently several mobile telephony systems, among them are the GSM and UMTS (also call "Third Generation Mobile Telephony") systems.
The subscriber equipment in the GSM system as well as the UMTS system comprises:
a) on one hand, a terminal (which is what many times is called "mobile telephone") (which includes a casing, display, keyboard, power source and several circuits); and
b) on the other hand, an ICC or UICC (UMTS Integrated Circuit Card) card. In the case of GSM, this is an ICC card called SIM card or simply SIM (Subscriber Identity Module), or it is a UICC card with a SIM application, and in the case of UMTS, it will be a UICC with a USIM application. Both the SIM card as well as the UICC card (with one or several SIM and/or USIM applications) contain a set of files with data of the mobile telephony network operator or of the subscriber, and they are provided with means for carrying out operations associated with a series of commands which permit the terminal to access those files (to read them, write them, select them, verify subscriber keys, etc.). The data authenticating the subscriber to the network is contained among the subscriber data.
Until the arrival of UMTS (the so-called Third Generation Mobile Telephony), no distinction was usually made between the physical interface of the application (dependent on the nature of the integrated circuit card ICC) and the application itself: both were called SIM. Third Generation Mobile Telephony (UMTS) introduced the separation of the physical interface and the applications. The physical interface receives the name UICC; it is a platform on which several applications can simultaneously coexist; there can be SIM and/or USIM applications among them. In UMTS, the subscriber identification application receives the name USIM.
An integrated circuit card is considered a physically secure device, i.e. it is a device in which the stored data is protected against third party attacks trying to read them, modify them, delete them or falsify them without permission of the owner of the information.
Reference is occasionally made below to the subscriber identity module as SIM for both GSM and UMTS (i.e. with SIM, reference is also made to a UICC with the corresponding SIM or USIM applications).
In the field of mobile telephony, the SAT=SIM Application Toolkit (in UMTS, USAT=USIM Application Toolkit) concept is known, consisting of a set of tools for SIM applications; reference is made below to an application based on said tools as a "Toolkit application".
At first, mobile terminals were only capable of sending commands to the SIMs, whereas the SIMs were only capable of responding to commands received from the mobile terminal.
An evolution of mobile terminals and SIM cards later occurred, and on one hand, it permits the terminals to send commands to the SIM card as well as to receive commands therefrom, and on the other, it permits the SIM card to respond to commands received from the mobile terminal as well as to send commands thereto. These commands permit the SIM, for example, to request the terminal to send a short message (SM), to make a call, to show the subscriber a list of options, to request data from him/her, etc.
The applications existing in the SIM card capable of sending commands to the mobile terminal are known by the name of SAT (SIM Application Toolkit) applications. In UMTS, they are known by the name of USAT (USIM Application Toolkit) applications. Both of them are generally called Toolkit applications.
Toolkit applications are an optional feature of both SIM cards and UICC cards (with the corresponding applications). High level procedures, command content and command encoding, are specified in the GSM 11.14 standard for GSM and in the 3GPP TS 31.111 standard for UMTS.
The OTA (Over The Air) concept is also known, which refers to the remote access to the SIM (or USIM) card. When the cards initially became available on the market, the operator could not modify anything in them, they were out of its reach. However, it seemed interesting to be able to modify the content of some files in the card, to modify the customization profile and to load or modify Toolkit applications once the card was in possession of the client.
Therefore, card manufacturers began to incorporate OTA (remote access) systems which permitted managing the contents of the card by means of special short messages. Each manufacturer had a proprietary solution incompatible with that of the other manufacturers. Standard specifications have been subsequently generated for carrying out this type of remote OTA modifications (GSM 03.48 and 3GPP 23.048). Based on these specifications, compatible OTA systems which permit file and application management can be implemented.
Work is currently being done to define standards which permit using other types of carriers, not only short messages, to make communications faster and more flexible, these carriers can be GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), Bluetooth, data call, etc.
A multitude of SIM Toolkit applications are being developed in mobile telephony which are intended to be managed remotely by the operator. The problem arises when wanting to remotely access application data, such as the texts it shows, telephone numbers being called or being sent short messages, or any other type of data.
The applications can be loaded remotely following the standards, but the creation of files in a remote manner is not defined, therefore, if the desire is to be able to load an application and for it to contain some type of data, the data must be stored in an array and not in a file so that it can be downloaded remotely in the card. The problem is that remote access (i.e. "via OTA") to the data stored in arrays is not defined in any way.
Therefore, if the intention is to load applications remotely, the data must be stored in arrays and not in files, but the arrays cannot be modified remotely, therefore the data of an application loaded remotely could not be modified remotely. To currently modify one piece of this data, the application must be deleted and completely reloaded with the modified data, losing all the information that the subscriber may have introduced to customize the application.
Having to eliminate and reload the application to modify, for example, a telephone number, makes it necessary to send between 40 to 60 short messages for a typical application (depending on the size of the application) when one short message would suffice if the telephone number to be modified were in a file.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the state of the art: a SIM (or USIM) card 1 contains a remote access manager (OTA manager) 2 comprising a remote application manager module 2A and a remote file manager module 2F. The card 1 also includes a first Toolkit application 3A and a second Toolkit application 4A. The applications can be SAT or USAT. The first Toolkit application 3A is related to (it reads, writes, handles, etc.) data 3D stored in a file 3F. Said file is established during the customization of the card in the factory (arrow "a" in FIG. 1). The second Toolkit application 4A is related to data 4D stored in an array forming part of the application itself.
The card 1 can be managed remotely by means of an OTA system; OTA messages are received in the subscriber equipment and transmitted to the card, where the remote access manager 2 (constituting a Toolkit application in itself takes charge of performing the appropriate operations. The applications 3A (arrow "b") and 4A (arrow "c") can be loaded in the card by means of the remote application manager module 2A, and if the file 3F has been established in the factory during the customization of the card, the data 3D can be written, read or manipulated remotely (OTA) by means of the file manager module (2F) (arrow "d"). (However, if the file 3F was not created during said customization in the factory, it will not be possible to correctly load the first Toolkit application 3A, since the associated file 3F cannot be created remotely (OTA)).
On the other hand, with regard to the second Toolkit application 4A, the current remote access (OTA) system permits loading the application correctly even though it does not have an associated file, since the application does not require a file: as indicated, the data 4D is stored in an array in the application itself. However, the current remote access (OTA) system for accessing the card does not permit modifying the data 4D associated to said application remotely, since the remote access system (including the remote access manager 2) does not comprise means for accessing and manipulating data in one array of one application. Therefore, to modify any data 4D, it would be necessary to delete the entire application 4A and reload it through the application manager module 2A, with the drawbacks this entails.

Mobile telephone device and data-management method

Abstract: The invention also refers to a method for managing data in arrays of applications stored in a card of a mobile telephony subscriber equipment.


The present subject matter relates to a personalized weight management program incorporating dynamic feedback control using a validated mathematical model of metabolism and weight change. In general, the subject matter provides a system for repeated monitoring of one or more parameters such as, for example, body weight, physical activity, diet, eating behavior, or various other physiological and behavioral measurements, and using the parameter(s) to calculate an objective and personalized measure of adherence to a prescribed intervention, iteratively update mathematical model parameters, and adjust the prescribed intervention based on revised model predictions. Such a dynamic feedback control methodology can improve adherence to weight management interventions and result in greater weight loss and improved weight maintenance. The present subject matter also relates to a novel, cost-effective, weight management tool that could be widely disseminated through the internet and mobile computing platforms.

Obesity and diabetes have undergone explosive growth within almost every nation in the world. The medical profession, health maintenance organizations, and insurance companies have realized that this epidemic must be brought under control. Many corporations have implemented programs in to inspire employees to lose or control weight. Commonly, individuals struggle to find a diet or exercise plan that fit their needs and results in effective weight loss. Diet, physical activity, and exercise may each contribute to body weight management, but specifics and personalization are lacking regarding what is required to achieve and maintain an individual's ideal weight. Previous research has suggested that personalization and feedback may be useful aspects of web-based weight management programs and simple weekly feedback based on daily weight measurements may be effective at preventing weight gain for some individuals. While promising, these previous efforts made either limited or no use of personalization and feedback but rather used tools such as progress charts and journals which may be difficult for many individuals to maintain and use consistently. Thus, there remains a need for an easy to use personalized weight loss program.

Personalized dynamic feedback control of body weight

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH


The embodiments herein relate to a method in a first network node for measuring processing power in a second network node in a communications network. The first network node obtains a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message. Based on the obtained signaling load value, the first network node measures the processing power of the second network node.

A typical communications network or system is a collection of User Equipments (UE), links and network nodes which together enable communication between the user equipments. In the communications network, which also may be referred to as cellular network, the user equipments, communicate via a Radio Access Network (RAN) to one or more core networks (CN).
A user equipment is a mobile terminal by which a subscriber may access services offered by an operator's core network and services outside the operator's network to which the operator's RAN and CN provide access. User equipments are enabled to communicate wirelessly in the cellular network. The user equipments may be for example communication devices such as mobile telephones, cellular telephones, laptops with wireless capability, machine-to-machine devices, or embedded devices in other electronic equipment. The user equipments may be portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the radio access network, with another entity, such as another user equipment or a server.
The communications network covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas. Each cell area is served by a base station, e.g. a Radio Base Station (RBS), which sometimes may be referred to as e.g. evolved Node B (eNB), eNodeB, NodeB, B node, or Base Transceiver Station (BTS), depending on the technology and terminology used. A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the base station at a base station site. Each cell is identified by an identity within the local radio area, which is broadcast in the cell. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the user equipments within range of the base stations
In some versions of the radio access network, several base stations are typically connected, e.g. by landlines or microwave, to a Radio Network Controller (RNC), as in 3rd Generation (3G), i.e. Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA). The radio network controller supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. In 2nd Generation (2G), i.e. Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the base stations are connected to a Base Station Controller (BSC). The network controllers are typically connected to one or more core networks.
Machine-to-Machine (M2M) is a term referring to technologies that allow both wireless and wired systems to communicate with other devices of the same ability, for example computers, embedded processors, smart sensors, actuators and mobile devices may communicate with one another, take measurements and make decisions, often without human intervention. Machine Type Communication (MTC) may be seen as a form of data communication between entities that do not necessarily need human interaction. M2M traffic is, for example, used in applications such as electricity meters, home alarms, signaling from vehicles, such as e.g. cars, trucks etc.
There exists a clear industry consensus that mobile machine-to-machine communications will play an increasingly prominent role in carrier networks and Information Technology (IT) operations. It may be predicted that there will be 50 billion wirelessly connected devices by the year of 2020. These devices may be connected via GSM, High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and Long Term Evolution (LTE), and will be used for both machine-to-machine applications and connected consumer devices.
It is commonly believed that M2M communication will be applied in a long range of very different areas with completely different communication requirements and patterns. Some electricity meter applications may for example connect and communicate just a few bytes of data only once a month, whereas other applications such as video surveillance may be constantly connected and transfer Gigabyte of data every hour. Connecting M2M devices with such different communication patterns to the same infrastructure as is used for normal human-to-human (H2H) communication puts new challenges on the communication equipment. New 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) requirements related to M2M communication have been specified to try to address some of these challenges. A service optimized for machine type communications is different from a service optimized for H2H communications. Machine type communications is different from current mobile network communication services as it may involve:                different market scenarios,        data communications,        lower costs and effort,        a potentially very large number of communicating user equipments with,        for many applications, little traffic per user equipment.
M2M devices, also referred to as MTC devices, that do not move, move infrequently, or move only within a certain region may be associated with a feature called "low mobility". A requirement for low mobility may be that the network operator may be able to change the frequency of mobility management procedures or simplify mobility management per M2M device. Another requirement may be that the network operator may be able to define the frequency of location updates performed by the M2M device. M2M devices that are expected to send or receive data infrequently, i.e. with long period between two data transmission, may be associated with a feature called infrequent transmission. For the infrequent transmission, the network shall establish a resource only when transmission occurs.
One serious problem with connecting M2M devices with new communication patterns to the same infrastructure as is used for H2H communication is how the model for dimensioning of network nodes are currently designed. The state-of-the-art is that the dimension of a communication node is often based on the number of served user equipments and/or the number connections the node may handle. Another problem relating to connecting M2M devices with new communication patterns to the same infrastructure as is used for H2H communication is how the price model and licensing of network nodes are currently designed. The price of a communication node is may also be based on the number of served user equipments and/or the number connections the node may handle. This is also naturally related to the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) which is an important measure for operators.
When looking closer at what resources user equipments and connections consume in the network, it is found that they consume two types of resources, memory resources and processing resources. The network equipment may also be referred to as a communication node or network node. Memory resources in the network node are used to store certain parameters related to a user equipment that is registered in the node, i.e. the network, or related to a connection that is established in the node, i.e. in the network. Processing resources are needed when the state of user equipments or connections are changed, e.g. registering a user equipment in the network/node or deregistering a user equipment, establishing a new connection or removing it, changing the state of a connection from idle to connected, or vice versa, or changing the current location of a registered user equipment etc. Processing resources are also needed for some other purposes, e.g. regularly checking the reachability of a user equipment/terminal, or notifying the user equipment or network of certain events such as that someone wants to communicate with it.
When dimensioning the hardware for a communication/network node, in general the amount of required memory resources and processing resources need to be decided. This is usually done by trying to define a "typical user equipment". This is accomplished by a "traffic model", which defines e.g. how many registrations/deregistrations a typical user equipment does per day, how many times per hour it initiates communication, how much the typical user equipment moves between different cells and mobility areas etc. Through the traffic model, the balance between memory and processing resources will be known, and hence the hardware may be properly dimensioned. When the hardware is dimensioned the price may be set based on the number of user equipments and/or connections that the node may serve. When a traffic model is used as a base for node dimensioning and pricing/licensing, there will be a certain balanced relation between memory and processing resources.
A problem with connecting M2M devices to the same infrastructure as H2H user equipments is that there is no "typical user equipment" for M2M. They are expected to span over a wide range of different communication behaviors. Optimization for M2M that is being done in 3GPP has made this span even larger. Therefore it becomes very difficult to use "traffic models" as a base for hardware dimensioning and therefore also for price/license models. A more flexible approach for dimensioning of network nodes is therefore required.
Some M2M areas, often with "low activity" communication patterns, are also expected to be cost sensitive. It is therefore important that the price/license models are flexible enough, so that they don't prohibit such M2M communication to use the 3GPP infrastructures.
The growing use of Smart Phones has to some extent also put requirements on changed or more flexible traffic models, but with the expected growth of M2M devices the problem is growing critical.
In addition to memory and processing resources, the hardware of a communication node that handles payload, i.e. forwards IP packets, is also dimensioned based on its packet forwarding capacity measured in Packets Per Second (PPS), or simply its throughput capacity measured in Giga- or Terabit per second. In some embodiments, a communication node may also be priced based on its packet forwarding capacity measured in Packets Per Second (PPS), or simply its throughput capacity measured in Giga- or Terabit per second. However, since the hardware for payload handling is normally quite separate from the hardware resources described above, it may to a certain extent be dimensioned and priced separately.

Method and node for measuring processing power in a node in a communications network