A prosthetic socket casting device includes a base with a forward side from which an expandable bladder surrounding a central casting area extends. The bladder includes a plurality of inner expandable chambers that generally extend along the length of the bladder interior and peripherally surround the central casting area. The inner walls of the chambers are formed of a pliable, fluid impermeable relatively thin sheet material that is distendable upon pressurization of the chamber volumes. The bladder further includes an outer covering or wall formed of a material or construction that limits distention of the bladder outwardly. The chambers may be expanded using pressurized air or other fluid to constrict the central casting area in which a residuum having a settable prosthetic socket material thereon may be placed for molding and curing under pressure. The multiple expandable chambers create a desirable pressure distribution circumferentially around the central casting area.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a casting device for directly forming or casing prosthesis sockets on residual limbs. More particularly, the invention relates to a casting device that may be placed directly on a residuum to pressurize a moldable and settable prosthesis socket material previously applied over the residuum to thereby produce a socket of finished internal volume.
2. Background of Related Art
Residual limb prosthesis hard sockets have been formed using various techniques, including plaster of paris molds, computer modeling, vacuum forming and various other techniques known to prosthetists. A prior art technique is also known where a prosthesis socket is directly cast on a residuum using a portable pressure casting system, this system being described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,925. This technique enables direct pressure casting of a prosthesis socket on a residual limb while tension is applied to the distal area of the residual limb to thereby produce a definitive socket requiring minimum finishing and adjustment upon completion of the casting procedure.
Another version of a direct pressure casting system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,509, whereby a portable annular pressure casting bladder is rolled over a residuum with a settable socket material thereon and the prosthesis socket is molded and hardened under pressure on the residuum while the residuum is tensioned and elongated during the molding process.
It has been observed that such procedures known in the prior art can be improved to provide better control over distribution of casting pressure during the prosthesis socket molding procedure to yield an improved prosthesis socket having a better fit on the residuum upon completion of the molding procedure.
The present invention is intended to provide an improvement over known prior art systems and in particular, over direct casting systems using a single annular bladder for compressing prosthesis socket material on a residuum during a molding procedure.

Prosthesis socket direct casting device having multiple compression chambers


An automatic re-configurable computer system having a standard processor module and standard main memory and I/O control modules where each module is inter-connected to a common system bus. Automatic re-configuration occurs in the standard modules, when an optional module is connected onto the system bus, permitting inter-cooperation between the standard and optional modules to take place.

In most computer systems there are a series of interconnected logical modules which are (often housed on logic cards) and these modules are interconnected together for data, command, and status information transfers. The actual physical interconnection between these modules may consist of cables, printed-circuit boards, backplane wiring, or plug-in mother boards. Quite commonly, a backplane will provide connective slots for insertion of logical modules residing on PC boards.
In such multiple module systems which are interconnected to each other, some of the modules will always be present, for example, the processor module will always be present. Likewise generally a main memory module will also always be present. In this disclosure, such "always present" modules will be referred to as "standard modules".
However, some of the modules in the interconnected system may also be what are called pluggable system "options" or optional modules. In certain cases these may not be present and in certain cases these may be present in a specific system. In the discussions herein, these options will be referred to as "optional modules". Art example of an optional module would be such type which might be called a "Cache Memory Module". Such types of an optional module can be added to an interconnected system in order to increase system performance.
Normally, it is essential for the so called standard modules to be informed of or "aware of" the presence or absence of the optional modules to which they may or may not communicate. In many systems, this detection is actually accomplished by the activities of human personnel at the time of the system manufacture or the time of system installation. In these type systems, the standard modules must be physically changed or reconfigured manually in some manner to indicate the status of the optional module.
However, it is most desirable and it is far more economically efficient, if all of the standard modules of the same type (for example processor cards) are manufactured and then inventoried identically so that in this fashion there is no special handling required during manufacture or installation.
The problem arises in that standard modules will generally act one way when there is no optional module present and the standard module will operate in another way when an optional module is present. Thus the problem often occurs of how to keep standard modules informed of the presence of, or of the absence of, the optional module situation.
This disclosure describes a method by which the actual standard hardware modules can be enabled to detect the presence of any optional modules. With the method and system disclosed herein, the standard modules will no longer need any special reconfiguration work which is based upon the state of the optional modules in the system. Also, the presently described method in this system presents a method by which the standard modules, upon detecting the state of the optional modules, will modify their own logic accordingly. In this fashion, all of the standard modules of the same type are maintained in an identical fashion and will need no special human reconfiguration, rewiring or redesign.

System for optional module detection and reconfiguration


Disclosed is a method of identifying genes whose gene products cause chromosome missegregation. The method involves transfecting a mammalian gene being assessed into a cell and then assessing whether the progeny cells have increased aneuploidy or increased chromosome breaks or translocations compared with cells that have not been transfected with the gene. Genes identified in this manner are likely to be involved in causing diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's Disease, which result from improper chromosome segregation. Also disclosed is a method of identifying agents which can be used in the treatment of diseases caused by improper chromosome segregation. The method involves treating cells that have been transfected with a gene whose gene product causes improper chromosome segregation with an agent being assessed. Cells showing less aneuploidy or less chromosomal breakage or translocation compared with untreated cells indicate that the agent is useful in the treatment of diseases caused by improper chromosome segregation.

It has been appreciated for some time that Alzheimer's Disease has a complex etiology. At least 15 percent of the cases appear to be due to the inheritance of an autosomal-dominant mutation, but the majority are "sporadic", showing no clear association with any identifiable genetic or environmental factor. Feldman, R. G., et al., Neurology, 13:811-824 1963; Heston, L. L., et al., Arch Gen. Psychiat., 38:1084-1090 (1981); Terry, R. D., Aging, 7:11-14 (1978); Jarvik, L. F. and Matsuyama, S. S., "The Biological Substrates of Alzheimer's Disease", Academic Press, pp. 17-20 (1986). Even identical twins can show a large discordance in the age of onset of the disease. Nee, L. E., et al., Neurology, 37:359-363 (1987). Yet despite this variation, Alzheimer's Disease shows a uniform set of clinical and pathological features--progressive loss of memory and other intellectual functions beginning in middle to late life, coupled with neuronal cell loss in the higher centers of the brain. Price, D. L., Ann. Rev. Neurosci., 9:489-512 (1986).
While much has been learned about the biochemistry and expression of the aberrant protein deposits that characterize Alzheimer's Disease, progress toward the development of methods for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease has been slow. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that the molecular basis for the disease pathology has remained obscure.

Assay for identifying agents that inhibit chromosome non-disjunction

President and Fellows of Harvard College


An image processing device which compensates for a stereoscopic effect of a stereoscopic image, the image processing device including: an obtaining unit which obtains a left-eye image and a right-eye image which are included in the stereoscopic image; a recognition image generating unit which generates a recognition image corresponding to the stereoscopic image by applying a pattern to a virtual stereoscopic structure generated based on a depth represented in the stereoscopic image; a right/left recognition image generating unit which generates, from the recognition image, a right-eye recognition image and a left-eye recognition image according to a disparity of the stereoscopic image for stereoscopically viewing the recognition image; and an image combining unit which combines the right-eye recognition image with the right-eye image obtained by the obtaining unit and combines the left-eye recognition image with the left-eye image obtained by the obtaining unit.

A stereoscopic image display device has been known conventionally, which presents different images having a disparity therebetween to a right eye and a left eye of a viewer to allow the viewer to view the images stereoscopically (for example, see Patent Literature (PTL) 1).
FIG. 39 illustrates a perspective view of a configuration of a conventional stereoscopic image display device.
An image receiving tube 2601 is a shadow mask color cathode ray tube (CRT). A polarization plate 2602 has two kinds of segments disposed alternately in stripes in a lateral direction and the polarizing directions of the two segments are perpendicular to each other. The polarization plate 2602 is attached to the screen of the image receiving tube 2601. It should be noted that FIG. 39 illustrates the polarization plate 2602 separately from the image receiving tube 2601.
FIG. 40 is an enlarged partially cut-out view that schematically illustrates a screen portion of the image receiving tube 2601.
An image receiving tube 2701 is a detailed illustration of the image receiving tube 2601 in FIG. 39. A polarization plate 2702 is a detailed illustration of the polarization plate 2602 in FIG. 39.
An electron beam 2705 passes through a shadow mask 2703 and collides with a fluorescent substance 2704 applied on the image receiving tube 2601 to illumine the fluorescent substance 2704. The light from the fluorescent substance 2704 passes through the polarization plate 2702 and is emitted as a polarized light.
The polarization plate 2702 is segmented into A segments which transmit only vertically (V) polarized waves and B segments which transmit only horizontally (H) polarized waves as illustrated in FIG. 40. For example, it is assumed that an image to be seen by a right eye corresponds to the V polarized waves, and an image to be seen by a left eye corresponds to the H polarized waves. In other words, a polarization filter which transmits the V polarized waves is provided on the right eye of glasses for viewing the screen of the image receiving tube 2701, and a polarization filter which transmits the H polarized waves is provided on the left eye of the glasses.
A stereoscopic image is captured using stereo cameras each having an image capturing unit which corresponds to a left eye or a right eye. When the stereoscopic image is reproduced on the image receiving tube 2701, image signals are switched to project the image of the stereo camera corresponding to the right eye (right-eye image) on the A segments, and project the image of the stereo camera corresponding to the left eye (left-eye image) on the B segments.
FIG. 41 illustrates an example of the right-eye and left-eye images that are captured by two stereo cameras.
A left-eye image 2801 is an image of the stereo camera at a position corresponding to the left eye, and a right-eye image 2802 is an image of the stereo camera at a position corresponding to the right eye. The left-eye image 2801 and the right-eye image 2802 shown in FIG. 41 have a disparity.
FIG. 42 is a diagram showing FIG. 41 with scales.
A scale 2903 is for the left-eye image 2801 and graduated from 1 to 21. A scale 2904 is for the right-eye image 2802 and graduated from 1 to 21 as with the scale 2903.
In FIG. 42, the number 4 on the scale of the left-eye image 2801 corresponds to the number 5 on the scale of a right-eye image 2802. Similarly, the number 16 on the scale of the left-eye image 2801 corresponds to the number 17 on the scale of the right-eye image 2802. In other words, the right-eye image 2802 and the left-eye image 2801 have a disparity in a horizontal direction. A viewer can view the images stereoscopically by viewing the right-eye image 2802 with the right eye and the left-eye image 2801 with the left eye.

Image processing device and image processing method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A proteomic expression platform to identify age-related sepsis risk is disclosed using patients with an intra-abdominal infection. A semi-quantitative plasma proteomics workflow was applied which incorporated tandem immuno affinity depletion, iTRAQ labeling, strong cation exchange fractionation, and nanoflow-liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. A protein profile was determined that exhibit statistically significant differences in expression levels amongst patients with severe sepsis as a function of age. Representative pathways that are differentially-expressed include, but are not limited to, acute phase response, coagulation signaling, atherosclerosis signaling, lipid metabolism, and production of nitric oxide/reactive oxygen species.

Sepsis is a systemic infection that leads to immune dyshomeostasis, organ failure, and in severe cases morbidity. Cohen J, "The immunopathgenesis of sepsis" Nature 420:885-891 (2002). Approximately 750,000 people develop sepsis annually commonly after an initial diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Angus et al., "Epidemiology of severe sepsis in the United States: analysis of incidence, outcome, and associated costs of care" Crit Care Med 29:1303-1310 (2001). Recently it has been reported that mortality in sepsis patients increases with age, although there is no direct correlation in the expression levels of key cytokines and transcription factors. Martin et al., "The effect of age on the development and outcome of adult sepsis" Crit Care Med 34:15-21 (2006).
What is needed in the art is a quantitative proteomics platform in order to identify age- and outcome-related differences in global protein expression in plasma obtained from sepsis patients.

Proteomic biomarkers of sepsis in elderly patients

The University of Pittsburgh—the Commonwealth of Higher Education


A method and apparatus for providing a switchable electromagnetic interference (EMI) barrier. The method protects an object against electromagnetic radiation, through the steps of: providing an object to be protected from electromagnetic radiation; placing a barrier sheet adjacent to the object, the sheet being opaque to radiation when exposed to light; directing the light against the sheet when a barrier to the radiation is desired; and extinguishing the light when passage of the radiation through the sheet is desired. One embodiment is a switchable electromagnetic radiation barrier system that includes a photoresistive sheet interposed between a source of electromagnetic radiation and an object to be protected from the radiation. This sheet is opaque to the radiation when exposed to light of a selected visible intensity range. A light source adjacent to this sheet directs the light against the sheet. A second embodiment is an apparatus for protecting an EMI-sensitive device in an air vehicle from external electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The apparatus includes: a cavity in an air vehicle; an EMI-sensitive device in the cavity; and a barrier window covering the cavity. The window includes a support sheet having a layer of photoresistive material. This material transmits EMR when exposed to light and does not transmit EMR when unlighted. A light source is provided to selectively illuminate the layer. Another embodiment is an antenna element of layered sandwich construction, including a polyimide film layer. Switchable means are used in the embodiments to turn the light source off and on.

This invention relates to novel improvements and use in a method and apparatus for using photoresistive materials, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to provide a switchable electromagnetic interference (EMI) barrier.
Electrical circuitry often must be protected from disruptions caused by EMI entering the system. External EMI energy is an undesired conducted or radiated electrical disturbance that can interfere with the operation of electric equipment. EMI interference describes redistribution of energy in space or time because of reinforcement and cancellation of parts of the disturbance. When the same frequencies are in proximity to each other, exact reinforcement or complete cancellation can occur depending on the phasing of the waves. Slightly different frequencies interfere to produce beats, alternate reinforcements and cancellation that are periodic with time.
Interference is the process whereby two or more waves of the same frequency or wavelength combine to form a wave whose amplitude is the sum of the amplitudes of the interfering waves. If the two waves are of equal amplitude, they can cancel each other out so the resulting amplitude is zero. In optics, this cancellation can occur for particular wavelengths in a situation where white light is a source. The resulting light will appear colored. This phenomenon gives rise to the iridescent colors of beetles' wings and mother-of-pearl, where the substances involved are actually colorless or transparent. Many methods exist using mirrors or prisms to illustrate the interference that can result from different frequencies.
With the development of nuclear explosives, another type of electromagnetic radiation has been observed. Nuclear explosion, and in some circumstances large scale chemical explosions, produce a sharp pulse (large impulse type) of radio frequency (long wave length) electromagnetic radiation. The intense electrical and magnetic fields created by electromagnetic pulse (EMP) energy can damage unprotected electrical and electronic equipment over a wide area. As a result, a demand has appeared for materials that can provide sufficient, or substantial shielding effectiveness against EMP energy threats.
"Smart" materials can be classified as materials that react or take an action to an external stimulus to provide a useful result. Cadmium Sulfide is a well known photoresistor used in lamps and light fixtures around homes and businesses to turn lights on automatically after dusk, and then off again at dawn. In the process of performing this function, the material becomes more or less conductive based on the presence or absence of light.
Photoconductive effects, in which the radiation changes the electrical conductivity of the material upon which it is incident, have been known for many years. There are two types of photoconduction extrinsic and intrinsic. In the intrinsic case, the photoconduction is produced by absorption of light to create a band-to-band transition across the bandgap, where the absorption coefficient is very large because of the large number of available electron states associated with the conduction and valence bands. With the advance of microfabrication technology, photoconductive switches of various configurations have been fabricated in different materials. The addition of light photons to a cadmium sulfide compound results in the freeing up of free electrons which are able to conduct current. As the material becomes more conductive, the inherent ability to block RF energy becomes apparent.
An optical interferometer is based on both two-beam interference and multiple-beam interference of light. Typically these phenomena are extremely powerful tools for metrology and spectroscopy and a wide variety of measurements can be performed. Other types of interferometers exist. Two basic classes exist: division of wavefront and division of amplitude.
Radar-absorbing materials are designed to reduce the reflection of electromagnetic radiation by a conducting surface in the frequency range from approximately 100 MHz to 100 GHz. The level of reduction achieved varies from a few decibels to greater than 50 dB, in percentage terms reducing the reflected energy by up to 99.999%. The performance of any material as a microwave absorber can be calculated from Maxwell's equations if the electrical and magnetic properties are known. However, in the most simple terms, two conditions are necessary to produce absorption. First, the characteristic impedance of the material must match the characteristic impedance of free space so that the electromagnetic energy may enter the material. Second, the material must then attenuate the electromagnetic radiation, which means that it must exhibit either dielectric or magnetic loss, or both.
Microwave-absorbing materials are widely used both within the electronics industry and for defense purposes. Their uses can be classified into three major areas: (1) for test purposes so that accurate measurements can be made on microwave equipment unaffected by spurious reflected signals, such as the anechoic chamber; (2) to improve the performance of any practical microwave system by removing unwanted reflections which can occur if there is any conducting material in the radiation path, and (3) to camouflage a military target by reducing the reflected radar signal.
Despite the theoretical possibility of absorption, in practice, materials have not been found which will give a good impedance match over an appreciable frequency range. It is therefor necessary to adopt specific design methods to manufacture practical absorbing materials.
Two methods have been widely adopted in order to produce such absorbers. The first is to avoid a discrete change of impedance at the material surface by gradually varying the impedance. For example, a thick profiled lossy layer could be used. The removal of the discrete discontinuity at the surface allows the microwave energy to be transmitted into the absorbing medium without reflection. Tapering of the material over distances which are large compared with the wavelength provide this absorption characteristic. Practical absorbers giving greater than 20 dB absorption vary in thickness from about 0.8 inches (2 cm) at 10 GHz and above to six feet (2 m) at 100 MHz and above.
A second technique provides for much thinner absorption layers. These materials consist of lossy layers where the absorption is produced by a destructive interference at the frequency for which the material is electrically a quarter wavelength. The performance is a function of the wavelength frequency, and is tunable from 100 MHz to 100 GHz. In addition to providing a relatively narrow bandwidth frequency performance, it is possible to broaden the bandwidth through a technique of multiple layer absorbers. With two layers of material it is possible to tune one absorber to two different frequencies. By placing these two frequencies appropriately, such as within one octave of each other, a broadband absorber is obtained.
Prior art has shown developments in use of apparatus in the form of seals as one way of providing the necessary shielding. Electrical connectors are illustrated in COOPER et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,166, and static housing or gasket seals for equipment cabinets, as illustrated in KEELER U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,413. NEHER U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,891 describes a resilient metal bellows surrounding a static electromagnetic pulse rotary seal.
Existing apparatus and methods only partially solve the problems overcome by the present invention. Finally, current known technology has different purposes than the present invention, not just different applications. One difficulty with the mentioned prior art is that NEHER is applicable to parts moving in relation to each other, whereas the present invention involves static parts. In addition, the other prior art also does not provide for permitting electromagnetic radiation to pass through when required. The connectors or seals are only designed to prevent the transmittal of radiation.

Method and apparatus using photoresistive materials as switchable EMI barriers and shielding


Disclosed herein is a display device using an optical modulator equipped with a lens system having an improved numerical aperture. The display device includes numerical aperture reducer for reducing a numeral aperture by causing +1st order diffracted light and corresponding −1st order diffracted light of a diffracted light, which have passed through a relay lens system, to approach each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a display device using an optical modulator and, more particularly, to a display device using an optical modulator equipped with a lens system having an improved numerical aperture, which considerably reduces the numerical aperture of the lens system in the condensation of +1st order and −1st order diffracted light formed by the optical modulator.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of microtechnology, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices and small-sized equipment, into which MEMS devices are assembled, are attracting attention.
A MEMS device is formed on a substrate, such as a silicon substrate or a glass substrate, in microstructure form, and is a device into which an actuator for outputting mechanical actuating force and a semiconductor Integrated Circuit (IC) for controlling the actuator are electrically or mechanically combined. The fundamental feature of such a MEMS device is that an actuator having a mechanical structure is assembled in part of the device. The actuator is electrically operated using Coulomb's force between electrodes.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the constructions of representative optical MEMS devices that utilize the reflection or diffraction of light and are applied to optical switches or light modulation devices.
The optical MEMS device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a substrate 2, a substrate electrode 3 formed on the substrate 2, a cantilevered beam 6 configured to have an actuation electrode 4 that is disposed opposite and parallel to the substrate electrode 3, and a support 7 configured to support one end of the cantilevered beam 6. The cantilevered beam 6 and the substrate electrode 3 are electrically insulated from each other by a gap 8.
In the optical MEMS device 1, the cantilevered beam 6 is displaced by electrostatic attractive force or electrostatic repulsive force generated between the cantilevered beam 6 and the substrate electrode 3 depending on electrical potential applied between the substrate electrode 3 and the actuation electrode 4. For example, as illustrated by the solid and dotted lines of FIG. 1, the beam 14 is alternately displaced in directions inclined with respect to, and parallel to, the substrate electrode 3.
An optical MEMS device 11 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a substrate 12, a substrate electrode 13 formed on the substrate 12, and a beam 14 formed across the substrate electrode 13 in bridge form. The beam 14 and the substrate electrode 13 are electrically insulated from each other by a gap 10.
The beam 14 includes a bridge member 15 configured to have a bridge shape and made of, for example, an SiN film, and an actuation electrode 16 supported by the bridge member 15 to be opposite and parallel to the substrate electrode 13, made of an Al film having a thickness of 100 nm and configured to function as a reflecting film also. The substrate 12, the substrate electrode 13 and the beam 14 may employ the same constructions and materials as those of FIG. 1. The beam 14 is constructed in a so-called bridge form, in which both ends thereof are supported.
In the optical MEMS device 11, the beam 14 is displaced by electrostatic attractive force or electrostatic repulsive force generated between the beam 14 and the substrate electrode 13 depending on electric potential applied between the substrate electrode 13 and the actuation electrode 16. For example, as illustrated by the solid and dotted lines of FIG. 2, the beam 14 is alternately displaced in directions depressed towards, and parallel to, the substrate electrode 3.
The optical MEMS devices 1 and 11 may be used as optical switches that are provided with switch functions in such a way as to radiate light onto the surfaces of actuation electrodes 4 and 16 which also function as reflecting films and detect reflected light having one direction based on the fact that the reflected directions of light are different depending on the actuated positions of the beams 6 and 14.
Furthermore, the optical MEMS devices 1 and 11 may be used as optical modulation devices for modulating the intensity of light. When the reflection of light is utilized, the intensity of light is modulated using the amount of reflected light per unit time in one direction by vibrating the beam 6 or 14. This optical modulation device employs so-called spatial modulation.
FIG. 3 illustrates the construction of a Grating Light Valve (GLV) device that was developed by Silicon Light Machine (SLM) Co. as a light intensity conversion device for a laser display, that is, a light modulator.
The GLV device 21, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is constructed in such a way that a shared substrate electrode 23, made of a high-melting-point metal, such as tungsten or titanium, and the nitride film thereof, or a polysilicon film, is formed on an insulated substrate 22, such as a glass substrate, and a plurality of beams 24, in the present embodiment, six beams 24 (241, 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246), are arranged parallel to each other across the substrate electrode 23 in a bridge form. The constructions of the substrate electrode 23 and each of the beams 24 are the same as those of FIG. 2. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the beam 24 is formed by forming an actuation electrode, configured to have an Al film about 100 nm thick, and also configured to function as a reflecting film, on the surface of the bridge member parallel to the substrate electrode 23.
The beams 24, which include bridge members, and actuation side electrodes configured to be disposed on the bridge members and also to function as reflecting films, are commonly called "ribbons".
When a small amount of voltage is applied between the substrate electrode 23 and the actuation side electrodes also functioning as reflecting films, the beams 24 move toward the substrate electrode 23 due to the above-described electrostatic phenomenon. In contrast, when the application of the voltage is stopped, the beams 24 are separated from the substrate electrode 23 and return to the initial positions thereof.
In the GLV device 21, the heights of the actuation side electrodes are alternately changed by an operation in which the plurality of beams 24 approach or are separated from the substrate electrode 23 (that is, the approach or separation of the plurality of beams 24) and the intensity of light reflected by the actuation side electrodes is modulated by the diffraction of light (a single light spot is radiated onto a total of six beams 24).
The dynamic characteristics of the beams activated using electrostatic attractive force and electrostatic repulsive force are determined almost entirely by the physical properties of the SiN film formed using a CVD method or the like, and the Al film chiefly functions as a mirror.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an optical device using a GLV device that is an optical modulation device to which the above-described MEMS device is applied. In this example, the case of application to a laser display is described.
A laser display 51 related to the present embodiment is used as, for example, a large screen projector, particularly a digital image projector, or as an image projection device for a computer.
The laser display 51, as illustrated in FIG. 4, includes a laser light source 52, a mirror 54 positioned with respect to the laser light source 52, an illumination optical system (lens group) 56, and a GLV device 58 functioning as an optical modulation device.
Furthermore, the laser display 51 further includes a mirror 60 for reflecting laser light the intensity of which has been modulated by the GLV device 58, a Fourier lens 62, a filter 64, a diffuser 66, a mirror 68, a Galvano scanner 70, a projection optical system lens group 72, and a screen 74.
In the laser display 51 based on the conventional technology, laser light emitted from the laser light source 52 passes through the mirror 54, and enters the GLV device 58 from the illumination optical system 56.
Furthermore, laser light is spatially modulated by being diffracted by the GLV device 58, is reflected by the mirror 60, and is separated according diffraction order by the Fourier lens 62. Then, only signal components are extracted by the filter 64.
Thereafter, the image signal is decreased in laser spectrum by the diffuser 66, is propagated into space by the Galvano scanner 68 synchronized with the image signal, and is projected into the screen 72 by the projection optical system 70.
According to the conventional technology, when the interval between the diffraction gratings of the diffractive optical modulator decreases, a diffraction angle increases. Accordingly, the Numerical Aperture (NA) of the lens system located in the rear end of a projection lens or the like increases.

Display device using optical modulator equipped with lens system having improved numerical aperture


A LED optical communication receiving lens includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface includes a first spherical surface and a second spherical surface connected to the first spherical surface. The second surface includes a third spherical surface and a planar surface connected to the third spherical surface. A position of the LED optical communication receiving lens is defined as a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (x, y, z). Sphere centers and symmetric central points of the first spherical surface, the second spherical surface, and the third spherical surface are located on the x axis. The first spherical surface and the planar surface are transmitted surfaces. The second spherical surface and the third spherical surface are reflective surfaces. The present application also relates to a LED optical communication system including the LED optical communication receiving lens.

Grantham K. H. Pang first proposes visible light communication technology. Based on infrared communication, Grantham K. H. Pang proposes an indoor visible communication for audio transmitting, and makes signals of CD music or telephone transmit to earphone. Maosao Nakagawa has studied on multipath effect, shadowing effect, and intersymbol interference of the indoor visible communication. People pay more attention to the research of encoding mode and communication protocol of communication.
However, there is little research on optical system of an optical communication terminal. Optical system of an optical communication receiving terminal decides field of view and received light energy of communication system, which affects communication rate and signal-noise ratio (SNR). There is not a receiving lens with wide field of view and miniaturized in prior art.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a LED optical communication receiving lens and a LED optical communication system including the LED optical communication receiving lens that can overcome the above-described shortcomings.

LED optical communication receiving lens and LED optical communication system


A method of preventing contraction and peristaltic wave action of an esophagus in which a GARD is placed, preventing displacement of the GARD towards or into a stomach, the method comprising injecting botulinum toxin very precisely in the muscular layer of the esophageal wall at the level where the GARD is or will be placed. A system comprising a catheter having one or two expandable balloon(s) which carries guide needle catheters that can pierce the esophageal wall and reach precisely the muscular layer of the wall of the esophagus, the needles used to inject the toxin at precisely the exact location in the esophageal wall in relationship with the GARD device to block esophageal peristalsis locally.

This invention relates to the field of medical devices, particularly medical devices relating to gastroenterology, and more specifically to methods of implanting gastroesophageal anti-reflux devices and or obesity devices in an esophagus.
GARDs are thin walled tubular medical devices placed in the esophagus which are placed in the esophagus or extend from the esophagus into the stomach with a top ring that is calibrated precisely to the millimeter to the diameter of the esophagus with a calibration basket that is passed through the working channel of the endoscope at the level of the lower third of the body of the esophagus under visual control of the gastroscope to determine the diameter of the esophagus once opened. The calibration basket is opened up to the point where the three arms of the calibration basket are in contact with the wall of the esophagus, the size is marked on the handle of the calibration basket, then the calibration basket is closed, removed from the working channel of the gastroscope and is reopened to the same opening outside the patient. In order to determine the appropriate size ring, usually between 20 mm and 30 mm of diameter, the calibration basket is reopened to the same size measured in the esophagus and a calibration card with sizing holes is used to determine to the millimeter the size of the GARD device needed for a given patient.
The Diagnosis and Management GARD ("DM-GARD") has a tube in the range of 5 cm to 10 cm, preferably 7.5 cm, long with a 2.5 cm long ring for a total length of 7.5 to 12.5 cm, preferably 10 cm, wherein the thin-walled tube will fold onto itself during reflux back-pressure and will straighten back into the original position spontaneously when the back-pressure stops and is indicated to diagnose gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) not responding to PPIs, defined as "Refractory GERD." As the DM-GARD is a mechanical device, all refluxate that is acid, bile, mixed, and/or gastric enzymes that reflux form the stomach into the esophagus will be blocked while Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) which are widely used to treat GERD will only help to treat acid reflux but do poorly with other kinds of reflux. Also, we now know that the volume of reflux is the same when the patients take PPIs even when the content is less acid. Up to 30% of patients who have GERD do not respond well or not at all to PPIs and are diagnosed as having Refractory GERD. These patients have no treatment as they do not respond to PPIs as a rule. Surgeons avoid operating on patients who do not respond to PPIs, fearing that the patients will be worse off after surgery as the diagnosis is unclear. Also, about 1% of the population has Laryngo-Pharyngeal Reflux (LPR) which is reflux content reaching the larynx causing chronic sore throat, chronic cough, voice changes affecting quality of life and often careers where oral communication is important. In many cases, high dose PPIs corresponding to the double of a normal 40 mg Nexium (esomeprazole) pill will be prescribed to these LPR patients for 8 to 12 weeks with no effect on the LPR symptoms. pH-impedance tests can demonstrate reflux in these patients if there is high volume but the quality of the refluxate is poorly changed with PPIs, particularly when there is bile reflux. The DM-GARD can be expected to help these patients when implanted for longer periods of time as the device is purely mechanical and stops all refluxate mechanically without distinction of pH or volume of the refluxate content.
A DM-GARD placed temporarily for less than a month can help the doctor and patient decide if a longer, slightly more invasive device, called the Therapeutic GARD, should be placed in a given patient for a much longer period of time. The GARD family of devices is the only method that allows a trial period with a temporary device, namely the DM-GARD, to help determine if the patient should be managed with the DM-GARD and help avoid implanting a device that would not be helpful as can happen in the case of surgery or other non-medication based treatments for GERD. The main difference between the temporary DM-GARD and the Therapeutic GARD is that the DM-GARD has a thicker ring with a nitinol helical spring as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,572,701 dated Feb. 21, 2017 while the Therapeutic GARD has a much thinner ring that can incorporate in the wall of the esophagus as described in U.S. Provisional application No. 62/629,216 filed Feb. 12, 2018.
The OB-GARD has tubes longer than 7.5 cm, usually from 10 cm to more than 30 cm and reaching well into the stomach which, in addition of blocking reflux, will force patients to eat small quantities at the time, chew their food better, and eat more slowly, leading to earlier satiety as the food passes through the length of the tubes and helping the patients to lose weight with appropriate diets. Longer tubes reaching through the stomach can reversibly mimic the second most common bariatric operation, namely the "sleeve" gastrectomy, where three quarters of the stomach are definitively removed along the greater curvature of the stomach, leaving a "sleeve" along the lesser curvature of the stomach. The OB-GARD as the Therapeutic GARD will also have a thinner ring capable of integration in the esophageal wall with additional features and techniques.
The tube of the OB-GARD does not require such surgery as the OB-GARD is placed through the mouth. To keep the GARD family of devices in place, a ring at the top, or proximal end, of the device is placed in the lower third of the esophagus, more precisely in the last 5 cm of the esophagus above the Z line or esogastric junction. The presence or not of a hiatus hernia does not affect the use of the GARD family of devices as it can in other endoscopic treatments available. Even longer OB-GARDs going through the stomach into the duodenum and jejunum can be considered mimicking the effect of the most efficient present bariatric operation, namely the gastric by-pass operation as an internal tube in the duodenum and small bowel would hold the food separately from all the gastric, bowel, bile and pancreatic secretions and enzymes helping the patient lose weight, which is done presently only through major surgery in high risk morbidly obese patients.
Also, GERD will often appear when patients gain weight. Often as little as a 5 to 10 pound (approximately 3 kg to 5 kg) can be sufficient to cause severe GERD that will improve with weight loss. The GARD is the only treatment that addresses both obesity and weight loss.
However, even with very careful sizing of the ring as described above, if the ring is wide enough to keep the GARD in the esophagus, the peristaltic contractions will not automatically push the GARD in the stomach but strong peristaltic contractions of the esophagus immediately above the ring will press hard on the top part of the ring of the GARD and cause ulcers in the esophageal mucosa at the level of the ring or immediately above as these peristaltic contractions try in vain to push the GARD downwards into the stomach. These esophageal ulcers can bleed or lead to perforations. However, above these esophageal ulcers the esophagus is normal.
There is a need to prevent displacement of a GARD from its intended location in the smooth muscle area of the esophagus resulting from contractions and peristaltic wave action without causing ulcerations of the esophageal mucosa.

Medical device and method of implanting gastroesophageal anti-reflux and obesity devices in an esophagus


Methods and compositions for the screening and isolation of ligand-binding polypeptides, such as antibodies. In some aspects, methods of the invention enable the isolation of intact soluble antibodies comprising a constant domain. Screening methods that employ genetic packages such as bacteria and bacteriophages enable high through-put identification of ligand binding molecules.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of protein engineering. More particularly, it concerns improved methods and compositions for the screening of combinatorial antibody libraries expressed in bacteria.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently recombinant therapeutic antibodies have sales of well over $10 bn/yr and with a forecast of annual growth rate of 20.9% they are projected to increase to $25 bn/yr by 2010. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) now comprise the majority of recombinant proteins currently in the clinic, with more than 150 products in studies sponsored by companies located worldwide (Pavlou and Belsey, 2005). In terms of therapeutic focus, the mAb market is heavily focused on oncology and arthritis, immune and inflammatory disorders, and products within these therapeutic areas are set to continue to be the key growth drivers over the forecast period. As a group, genetically engineered mAbs generally have higher probability of FDA approval success than small-molecule drugs. At least 50 biotechnology companies and all the major pharmaceutical companies have active antibody discovery programs in place.
The original method for isolation and production of mAbs was first reported at 1975 by Milstein and kohler (Kohler and Milstein, 1975), and it involved the fusion of mouse lymphocyte and myeloma cells, yielding mouse hybridomas. Therapeutic murine mAbs entered clinical study in the early 1980s; however, problems with lack of efficacy and rapid clearance due to patients' production of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) became apparent. These issues, as well as the time and cost consuming related to the technology became driving forces for the evolution of mAb production technology. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) facilitated the cloning of monoclonal antibodies genes directly from lymphocytes of immunized animals and the expression of combinatorial library of fragments antibodies in bacteria (Orlandi et al., 1989). Later libraries were created entirely by in vitro cloning techniques using naïve genes with rearranged complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) (Griffiths and Duncan, 1998; Hoogenboom et al., 1998). As a result, the isolation of antibody fragments with the desired specificity was no longer dependent on the immunogenicity of the corresponding antigen. Moreover, the range of antigen specificities in synthetic combinatorial libraries was greater than that found in a panel of hybridomas generated from an immunized mouse. These advantages have facilitated the development of antibody fragments to a number of unique antigens including small molecular compounds (haptens) (Hoogenboom and Winter, 1992), molecular complexes (Chames et al., 2000), unstable compounds (Kjaer et al., 1998) and cell surface proteins (Desai et al., 1998).
During the past decade several display methods and other library screening techniques have been developed for isolating antigen specific binders from large ensembles of recombinant antibody fragments. These technologies are now widely exploited to engineer antibody fragments with high affinity and specificity. Many of these screening platforms share four key steps with the procedure for antibody generation in the in vivo immune system: first, the generation of genotypic diversity; second, the coupling of genotype to phenotype; third, the application of selective pressure; and fourth, amplification.
Phage display is currently the most widespread method for the display and selection of large collections of antibody fragments (Hoogenboom, 2002). In this methodology, a gene of interest is fused in-frame to phage genes encoding surface-exposed proteins, most commonly pIII. The gene fusions are translated into chimeric proteins in which the two domains fold independently. Phage displaying a protein with binding affinity for a ligand can be readily enriched by selective adsorption onto immobilized ligand, a process known as "panning". The bound phage is desorbed from the surface, usually by acid elution, and amplified through infection of E. coli cells. Usually, 4-6 rounds of panning and amplification are sufficient to select for phage displaying specific polypeptides, even from a very large libraries with diversities up to 1010. The most successful application of phage display include the following: first, the de novo isolation of high-affinity human antibody fragments from nonimmune and synthetic libraries (Griffiths et al., 1994; Vaughan et al., 1996; de Haard et al., 1999; Knappik et al., 2000; Hoet et al., 2005), including antibody fragments against self antigens; second, the generation of picomolar affinity antibodies by in vitro affinity maturation (Yang et al., 1995; Schier et al., 1996; Lu et al., 2003) and third, the discovery of antibody fragments with unique properties from non-immune (Chames et al., 2000; Huie et al., 2001) and immune libraries from animal or human donors (Moulard et al., 2002; Kramer et al., 2005).
Ribosome and mRNA display represent another method for the display and screening of libraries of antibody fragments. The concept relays on the stable formation of a complex of antibody fragment and its encoding mRNA (Lipovsek and Pluckthun, 2004). In ribosome display, the link between antibody fragment and encoding mRNA is made by the ribosome, which at the end of translating this mRNA is made to stop without releasing the polypeptide. The ternary complex as a whole is used for the selection. In mRNA display, there is a covalent bond between the antibody fragment protein and the mRNA which is established via puromycin as an adaptor molecule. These display methods are carried out entirely in vitro.
In microbial cell display screening is carried out by flow cytometry. In particular, Anchored Periplasmic Expression (APEx) is based on anchoring the antibody fragment on the periplasmic face of the inner membrane of E. coli followed by disruption of the outer membrane, incubation with fluorescently labeled antigen and sorting of the spheroplasts. APEx was used for the affinity maturation of antibody fragments (Harvey et al., 2004; Harvey et al., 2006). In one study over 200-fold affinity improvement was obtained after only two rounds of screening.
Nonetheless, all high throughput antibody screening technologies available to-date rely on microbial expression of antibody fragments. The use of antibody fragments rather than intact or full length IgGs, in the construction and screening of libraries has been dictated by limitations related to the expression of the much larger IgGs in microorganisms. IgG libraries have never before been expressed or screened using microorganisms such as bacteria or yeasts. As a result the isolation of antigen binding proteins has been carried out exclusively using antibody fragments that are smaller and much easier to produce. Once isolated such antibody fragments have to then fused to vectors that express full length immunoglobulins which in turn are expressed preferentially in mammalian cells such as CHO cells.
Antibody fragments, including Fabs and especially single chain Fv's (scFv), pose several limitations: (1) Antibody fragments often exhibit low affinity for the target antigen. Unlike IgG or IgM antibodies antibody fragments are monovalent and therefore they cannot capitalize on avidity effects for stronger binding to antigens (Pini and Bracci, 2000). Thus, the isolation of recombinant antibody fragments to targets that cannot be recognized with high affinity e.g. carbohydrates, is problematic. (2) Antibody fragments generally exhibit lower thermodynamic stability than their corresponding full length IgG counterparts (Worn and Pluckthun, 2001). (3) Because of their small size and their lack of an Fc region, antibody fragments exhibit very short circulation half-lives compared to full length IgG proteins (Milenic et al., 1991). Therefore for the vast majority of clinical applications antibody fragments isolated from combinatorial libraries have to be converted to full length IgG molecules.
The need for isolating intact IgG molecules from combinatorial libraries has long been recognized. In an attempt to establish a platform for the isolation of recombinant IgGs, researchers recently displayed small libraries of IgGs on the surface of mammalian cells. After homologous integration of a single-gene copy in each cell, the population was sorted by flow cytometry to obtain single selected clones (W. D. Shen, Amgen, cited by Hoogenboom (2005)). Nevertheless, this technology is time-consuming, cumbersome, and expensive and is not amenable to the screening of large libraries comprising of many tens of millions of different antibody proteins. The present invention overcomes these limitations by avoiding the need for expression of IgG libraries in mammalian cells. Instead, the inventors have devised methodologies for the screening of libraries produced and secreted by E. coli bacteria.
E. coli possesses a reducing cytoplasm that is unsuitable for the folding of proteins with disulfide bonds which accumulate in an unfolded or incorrectly folded state (Baneyx and Mujacic, 2004). In contrast to the cytoplasm, the periplasm of E. coli is maintained in an oxidized state that allows the formation of protein disulfide bonds. Notably, periplasmic expression has been employed successfully for the expression of antibody fragments such as Fvs, scFvs, Fabs or F(ab′)2s (Kipriyanov and Little, 1999). These fragments can be made relatively quickly in large quantities with the retention of antigen binding activity. However, because antibody fragments lack the Fc domain, they do not bind the FcRn receptor and are cleared quickly; thus, they are only occasionally suitable as therapeutic proteins (Knight et al., 1995). Until recently, full-length antibodies could only be expressed in E. coli as insoluble aggregates and then refolded in vitro (Boss et al., 1984; Cabilly et al., 1984). Clearly this approach is not amenable to the high throughput screening of antibody libraries since, with the current technology it is not possible to refold millions or tens of millions of antibodies individually. The expression of full length IgG antibodies in secreted form in E. coli was reported only recently (Simmons et al., 2002). However, there is no information on whether antibody libraries consisting of many different antibodies can also be expressed in bacteria. Equally importantly, the prior art does not disclose any methods for isolating E. coli cells expressing a particular IgG with specificity towards a desired antigen from a vast excess of cells expressing IgGs of unrelated specificities.
E. coli expressed antibodies are not glycosylated, and fail to bind to complement factor 1q (C1q) or FcγRI and thus cannot elicit complement activation or mediate the recruitment of macrophages. However, aglycosylated Fc domains can bind to the neonatal Fc receptor efficiently (FcRn). Consequently bacterially expressed aglycosylated antibodies exhibit serum persistence and pharmacokinetics similar to those of fully glycosylated IgGs produced in human cells.


The present application is directed to devices and methods for cutting a spinal implant. In one embodiment, the device includes a handle and a head. The handle is sized to receive a predetermined length of the implant. A head is rotatably attached to the handle and includes a blade. After the implant is inserted into the handle, the head is rotated causing the blade to move around the implant and cut an excessive length from the predetermined length.

The present application is directed to devices and methods for cutting a vertebral implant, and more particularly, to tools and methods for cutting an elongated implant to a desired length.
The spine is divided into four regions comprising the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacrococcygeal regions. The cervical region includes the top seven vertebral members identified as C1-C7. The thoracic region includes the next twelve vertebral members identified as T1-T12. The lumbar region includes five vertebral members L1-L5. The sacrococcygeal region includes nine fused vertebral members that form the sacrum and the coccyx. The vertebral members of the spine are aligned in a curved configuration that includes a cervical curve, thoracic curve, and lumbosacral curve. Intervertebral discs are positioned between the vertebral members and permit flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation.
Various conditions may lead to damage of the intervertebral discs and/or the vertebral members. The damage may result from a variety of causes including a specific event such as trauma, a degenerative condition, a tumor, or infection. Damage to the intervertebral discs and vertebral members can lead to pain, neurological deficit, and/or loss of motion.
Various procedures include replacing the entirety or a section of a vertebral member, the entirety or a section of an intervertebral disc, or both. One or more replacement implants may be inserted to replace the damaged vertebral members and/or discs. The implants reduce or eliminate the pain and neurological deficit, and increase the range of motion. The size of the implant is carefully measured to match the existing anatomy.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Devices and methods for cutting a vertebral implant


A sensor for the seat of a motor vehicle includes a compressible, preferably foam layer disposed between two conductive sheets. In one embodiment, the capacitance between the conductive sheets is measured to determine what and whether an object is disposed on the sensor, while in another application, apertures are formed through the compressible layer to allow the conductive sheets to contact one another through the apertures. One embodiment having relatively low resistivity to produce a short circuit, and another embodiment has higher resistivity in which the magnitude of the change and resistance may be used to determine the nature of an object.

There are many applications for weight sensors which can be used to facilitate a triggering system or attenuate a triggering system that is made operative automatically upon the occurrence of certain events. One such circumstance is the deployment of safety airbags from a vehicle interior. It has been widely reported that the force with which such airbags are deployed can cause injury to the very persons such bags are thought to protect. The force of deployment is especially detrimental to children and other small persons below a certain weight. A sensor used in combination with the airbag that could record, interpret and transmit signals to the airbag release mechanism related to the weight of the occupant currently in the car seat would be highly advantageous. In a sophisticated airbag release system, the rate and degree of inflation could be adjusted to occur in safe proportion to the weight of the seat occupant so as to reduce the degree of potential injury due to high velocity deployment.

Conductive fabric sensor for vehicle seats


Methods and apparatus are provided for generating scratch wear resistance information on a given specimen 13 by measuring off-specular light scattering. The technique employs a focused light beam 10 that illuminates the area of the specimen surface which is scratched or otherwise altered by a stylus 5 pressed to this surface with a determined force (load). The stylus is slid along this surface with a determined speed and for a determined distance. In a preferred embodiment, the specimen is mounted on a turntable 4, and the stylus and the optical elements are stationary. The light scattering intensity is measured using a light detector 7 continuously or quasi-continuously and data is evaluated using a computer 9.

Hard thin films have become pervasive in advanced technology. Numerous industry groups in the US and the global economy will benefit from the availability of a reliable tool with high sensitivity for testing of wear of thin films. Specific industry groups that will benefit from improved methods and equipment for wear characterization include automotive, aircraft and other transportation industries, the electronics and metals manufacturing industry as well as the sector producing machinery for the chemical, food and other process industries. A relatively new area of coating applications that will also benefit is biomedical components. Improved methods for evaluating wear encompass economic benefits that relate to extending the lifetime of machinery and bio-systems, to making engines and devices more efficient, to conserving scarce material resources, to saving energy, and to improving safety.
A number of new superhard materials in the form of thin surface films (coatings) are being developed and produced. Dynamic mechanical characterization, and wear testing in particular, is necessary to assess the quality of such coatings both during development and fabrication of numerous products. In their recent review article on microtribology entitled "Recent Progress in Microtribology" and published in Wear, Vol. 200, pg. 296, (1996), Kaneko et al. describe the ultimate goal of microtribology namely, "to create practical zero-wear devices with very small mass and very light load". The authors concede that "we have very little of the knowledge needed for microtribology" and more data must be obtained.
Currently, standard ASTM (and VAMAS) tests are used for wear testing at the macroscopic scale. Nanoindentation measurements and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) are available for testing of mechanical properties of such films at the microscopic scale. Macroscopic testing relies on weight and/or height loss measurement. Both macroscopic and microscopic methods use profilometry of wear marks. The macroscopic methods of wear testing are not adequate, however, to provide meaningful test results for superhard thin films. Also, wear testing at the microscopic scale is both expensive and cumbersome.
The difficulty in film characterization using macroscopic methods arises from two primary factors: (1) the hard film material is often deposited on a less hard substrate, and (2) film thicknesses are commonly very small. As a result, such films are not well supported against a highly localized force such as that of a stylus or pin. Coating failure may often only be detected as a change in the friction force. The critical load, which is the load at which the film is scratched off, decreases with decreasing film thickness. Dynamic multipass tests which allow repeated passage of the same area have revealed that in practice, failure may occur at forces that are less than one-third of the critical load.
For these reasons, standard macroscopic approaches for tribological coating evaluation, such as the Pin-on-Disk test (ASTM G 99-95a, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 03.02, 1997), are not appropriate since these lack the necessary sensitivity for the measurements which are required. The standard tests use detection methods that include height and weight loss evaluations, wear track profilometry, ball area measurements, and friction force measurements. Of these detection methods, only friction force measurement qualifies as a dynamic test. Taken alone, however, it is quite insufficient to describe coating quality. No direct relationship has been established between changes in friction force and wear quality. The height and weight measurements are also not well suited for extremely thin superhard films deposited on less hard substrate materials. Changes in height observed as indentations may be related to compression of the substrate and not to film wear and changes in weight may be very small and difficult to detect when extremely thin films are removed during testing. Methods for hardness testing of very thin films using displacement versus force diagrams have been developed but hardness is not always predictive for wear properties of superhard coatings. These films often contain multiple solid phases and the combination of phases of different hardness can significantly reduce the wear resistance.
Nanoindentation methods have been developed in the last fifteen years. See, for example, J. B. Pethica, "Microhardness Tests with Penetration Depths Less than Ion Implanted Layer Thickness", in Ion Implantation into Metals, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1982, p. 147. In such methods, displacement of a stylus is continuously recorded as the applied load gradually increases and decreases. Further development of these methods has proceeded toward controlling ever decreasing loads and increasing the displacement sensitivity. Today, loads as low as 100 nN can be applied and penetration depths as small as 1 nm can be detected using either capacitance displacement sensors or optical fiber displacement sensors.
While this approach is very useful for hardness measurement, it does not provide information related to surface wear. Most nanoindenters provide for no motion of the specimen and thus yield no wear information. If motion of the specimen is allowed, measurement of the scratch produced by the stylus is performed by cross-sectional profiling. Continuous wear testing is also not feasible using this method.
The wear testing procedure using AFM involves the use of the AFM stylus for causing wear of the specimen. The wear, if any, is periodically tested by obtaining micrographs of the area influenced by the stylus. Continuous or quasi-continuous testing is not feasible. Another weakness of this method as applied to superhard materials is that the stylus is subject to wear during the test and thus subsequent AFM micrographs are subject to changes not only due to changes in the specimen (wear) but also due to changes in the measuring device.
Both AFM and nanoindenter instruments are well developed and are commercially available from a number of manufacturers. These instruments are quite expensive because of their highly technical and complex design. The complexity results from measuring very small mechanical displacements of a stylus, wherefore the instrument must be extremely well insulated from vibration. A broader industrial application of nanoindenter and AFM instruments is hindered not only by the expense and complexity of these instruments but also by the complexity of the information obtained. Neither of these techniques is mentioned in the context of wear testing in the recent text on tribology by K. Holmberg and A. Matthews entitled "Coatings Tribology", which was published by Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1994.
It has been established that high contact pressure, low speed, and a large number of passes are necessary to obtain statistically significant results in scratch-load testing. See, for example, S. Bennett and A. Matthews, "Multifunction Scratch Tester", Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol. 75, p. 869 (1995). These requirements are very difficult to implement. In the case of AFM and nanoindenters, the achievement of statistically significant results would require making many scratches and going back to analyze maps of each of them. The underlying problem is that in these methods one obtains too much information about the detailed shapes of scratches. This information is excessive in the sense that it is not necessary for establishing the presence of wear. However, it may be useful information for other research purposes.
Although there is interest in obtaining information about the wear in a continuous fashion, neither the macroscopic nor the microscopic methods are adequate to provide such data. The ASTM G 99-95a Standard expressly warns against using continuous wear depth data collection using position-sensing gages because of the errors associated with such measurement. This warning applies both to the use of machine vision devices and interferometers to obtain continuous wear test data.
Light scattering measurement has not been previously used in the area of wear testing. The light scattering technique for surface roughness measurement was developed more than 20 years ago. The variation of the measurement of off-specular light scattering with the collection of the off-specular light using a hemispherical mirror is called total integrated scattering (TIS) technique and henceforth will be referred to with this acronym. The measurement of surface features using TIS on small surface areas has been demonstrated to allow surface roughness measurements with a sensitivity of 1 nm rms or better, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,722 and the article "Scanning Scattering Microscope for Surface Microtopography and Defect Imaging", Vol. 14, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, pg. 2417 (1996), by J. Lorincik et al.
None of the prior art techniques discussed above are well suited for easy and reliable wear testing of films and particularly very hard thin films. The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention. Improved methods and apparatus are hereinafter disclosed which are relatively simple and may be easily, economically, and reliably operated to test the wear of various materials.

Apparatus and method for scratch wear testing of thin films


A method for dynamically storing files/data, comprising: a) acquiring the file/data by an initial random Virtual Machine (r VM); b) shredding the file/data to a plurality of segments; c) wrapping, in a standalone state, each of the remaining segments with a unique code comprised of at least one or more destination storage locations, a pointer to a following segment in the file/data, and a timer; d) autonomously and independently roaming each segment to the destination storage location appearing in its unique code; and e) periodically, according to the timer, continuously roaming segments between storage locations until receiving a request for retrieving of the dynamically stored file/data.

In today's world, data is commonly required to be available anytime and anywhere. These requirements expose data to security risks, some of which isn't known by data owners. The average cost of a corporate data breach is estimated at millions of dollars. As the availability requirement grows, along with hacking sophistication abilities, this average cost is expected to grow, as more public and private sector takedowns, hacks and exposure of sensitive personal information are expected to occur.
Presently several solutions exist, mainly revolving around an inherent coupling between system performance (e.g. data integrity), availability and security. This approach results in high vulnerability of data created and managed on platforms where availability and performance are guaranteed. One explanation for this vulnerability is the relatively low level of ease and simplicity that static data locations can be targeted, therefore making such data vulnerable to hacks, data theft or harm. Other approaches entail compromising on availability and/or performance, which in many cases is less preferable than security.
It would be profitable to have a system and/or method capable of dynamically (i.e. non-statically) storing data while decoupling the link and co-influence between data integrity, availability and security requirements.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to describe a system and method for dynamically storing data.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for allowing owners of data to securely and seamlessly create data on an agile platform that maintains data integrity while minimizing a security breach caused by elimination of data in a single location.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for removing the ability to target data at any point, thereby making all current cyber-attack tactics obsolete while keeping user interface and interaction unchanged and familiar.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.


A beverage container includes a primary reservoir adapted to hold a first fluid and a storage compartment located external to the primary reservoir. The primary reservoir is accessible through an opening for filling the primary reservoir with the first fluid and for consuming the first fluid. The beverage container further includes a coupler attached to a wall that defines at least a portion of the storage compartment. The coupler is adapted to mate with a portion of a peripheral container so that the peripheral container is securely housed in the storage compartment. The peripheral container holds a second fluid having a composition that is different from a composition of the first fluid.

To enhance a beverage, additives or agents, such as natural and artificial flavorings, natural and artificial colorings, sugars, sweeteners, mineral supplements, vitamin supplements and etc, can be added. One common type of enhanced beverage includes enhanced water. Enhanced water is marketed to improve the health, taste and functional benefits of water.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Beverage container with storage compartment


Heater assemblies comprising a cylindrical body with a surface and a central axis including a plurality of heating elements are described. The plurality of heating elements is axially spaced on the surface of the cylindrical body. Each of the heating elements forms an axially spaced heating zone. Each heating element has a spiral shape with an inner end and an outer end defining a length of the heating element. Each coil of the spiral shape is spaced from an adjacent coil by a distance sufficient to prevent arcing between adjacent coils.

Semiconductor device formation is commonly conducted in substrate processing systems or platforms containing multiple chambers, which may also be referred to as cluster tools. In some instances, the purpose of a multi-chamber processing platform or cluster tool is to perform two or more processes on a substrate sequentially in a controlled environment. In other instances, however, a multiple chamber processing platform may only perform a single processing step on substrates. The additional chambers can be employed to maximize the rate at which substrates are processed. In the latter case, the process performed on substrates is typically a batch process, wherein a relatively large number of substrates, e.g. 25 or 50, are processed in a given chamber simultaneously. Batch processing is especially beneficial for processes that are too time-consuming to be performed on individual substrates in an economically viable manner, such as for atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes and some chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes.
Temperature uniformity may be an important consideration in CVD or ALD process. Resistive heaters are widely employed in the heating systems of CVD and ALD systems. Even slight variations in temperature uniformity across a wafer, on the order of just a few degrees Celsius, can adversely affect a CVD or ALD process. The size of the batch processing chambers further increases the complexity and requirements of the heating sources. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved heaters for batch processing chambers

High temperature heater for processing chamber


A pneumatic impact power tool has a tool body with a bit-receiving axial bore in its end surface. A cap is threaded on the end of the tool body and has an end wall spaced from the end surface to define a cavity and a lobed opening in the cavity matably receiving a like-lobed bit shank, the cavity being dimensioned to accommodate the lobes. Spring-biased balls project into the cavity from radial bores in the end cap to engage the shank lobes and bias them to a rotational position non-aligned with the opening lobes to inhibit removal. The cavity is dimensioned to afford a slight axial clearance to accommodate axial movement of the lobes. A cover on the end cap is recessed to receive the bias springs, retaining both the springs and the cover in place. The end cap has a annular channel communicating with an exhaust passage in the tool body and four exhaust ports in the end wall.

The present invention relates to coupling mechanisms for coupling power tools to tool bits and, more specifically, relates to the coupling of bits, such as chisel bits, for pneumatic impact tools.
Heretofore, power impact tools, such as air hammers and the like, have typically been provided with quick-coupling mechanisms for mounting tool bits. One common quick-coupling arrangement includes a coupler with spring-biased balls which project radially into a bit shank-receiving bore and engage a raised shoulder or flange on the bit shank. Upon insertion of the bit, the shoulder or flange snaps past the balls, which then cooperate with the flange to resiliently retain the bit in place. Such couplers rely on the spring-biased balls to provide the retention, the balls affording only line contact with the bit shoulder. Bits may inadvertently become disengaged from such couplers in use. Furthermore, the coupler mechanism is typically adapted to be mounted on the front end of the tool, substantially extending the overall length of the tool.
It is known in other types of tools to provide a quick-coupling of bits and the like by use of a keyed coupler with a keyway for receiving a key portion of the bit shank which, once inserted, is rotated to move the key out of alignment with the keyway to retain the bit in place. However, such rotatably latching coupling mechanisms have heretofore been provided with very specialized, and sometimes complicated designs.

Quick coupler mechanism for power tool bits


A method and system for designing a test circuit in a System on Chip (SOC) includes identifying the test design constraints of the test circuit. The SOC is partitioned logically into a first set of logic blocks and a second set of logic blocks. A first set of scan chains is inserted in the first set of logic blocks, and a second set of scan chains is inserted in the second set of logic blocks, based on the test design constraints. Bypass circuits are inserted in the paths of the second set of scan chains, which are capable of bypassing at least one logic block of the second set of logic blocks during testing of the SOC.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits (ICs), and more specifically, to a method and system for designing a test circuit in a System on Chip (SOC).
An SOC usually includes several logic elements. These logic elements include the design logic specific to the basic features of the SOC and the design logic specific to certain applications of the SOC. Designers have observed that the application specific design logic has a significant gate count in the SOC. As the gate count in the SOC design increases considerably, it requires a lot of testing strategy, effort and time to verify the SOC against manufacturing defects. There has been a continuous effort to reduce cost involved in the testing process of the SOC.
There exist some standard testing techniques such as inserting multiple scan chains in the SOC design. In these techniques, a set of test patterns are applied through the multiple scan chains to test the SOC design for faults. In most of these techniques, multiple scan chains are inserted inside the SOC logic. A set of scan patterns is applied and the patterns are propagated through the SOC design, producing output scan data that is checked to ensure that the output response is same as that of expected response.
These existing techniques do not take into account the application-specific aspect of the logic blocks of the SOC. In a typical SOC, each logic block of the application-specific logic is not necessarily for the use of the target user. In these techniques, the length of the longest scan chain, and the number of scan chains used during the testing of the SOC, remains the same, even if testing of some of the application-specific logic blocks is not required.

Method and system for designing test circuit in a system on chip


According to one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction decoder to decode an instruction to read a plurality of data elements from memory, the instruction having a first operand specifying a storage location, a second operand specifying a bitmask having one or more bits, each bit corresponding to one of the data elements, and a third operand specifying a memory address storing a plurality of data elements. The processor further includes an execution unit coupled to the instruction decoder, in response to the instruction, to read one or more data elements speculatively, based on the bitmask specified by the second operand, from a memory location based on the memory address indicated by the third operand, and to store the one or more data elements in the storage location indicated by the first operand.

Loop routines are common in software programs because they allow codes to be written in a concise manner. Moreover, with the use of loops, programs can be written in an abstract manner which enhances readability. However, there are situations where a loop cannot be vectorized by a compiler, thus the program fails to make use of the capabilities of single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) processors. For example, certain loops cannot be completely vectorized due to the presence of conditional data dependencies or dependencies arising from potential memory aliasing. Microprocessor architectures provide new vector instructions to partially vectorize such loops. These instructions are used to determine the dynamic vector dependencies and generate a predicate mask that indicates the next set of independent scalar iterations (each scalar iteration maps to a vector element). Then by masking execution of the vector loop body with this predicate mask the loop can be partially vectorized. Often memory loads occur early in the dependence chain and due to memory safety reasons dynamic dependencies cannot be determined and hence the loop cannot be partially vectorized. To solve this problem, processor architectures introduced a form of speculative vector load/gather operations where the least significant vector element that has a TRUE predicate mask bit is non-speculatively loaded and the remaining mask enabled elements are speculatively loaded. This enables partial vectorization of certain loops. However these instructions are not sufficient to vectorize other loops, such as the loops illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 1A is a snippet of a source code illustrating a class of loops where the loads requiring speculation are conditionally executed. Such loops are commonly found in general purpose integer codes and in system software. To vectorize the loop of FIG. 1A, we need to insert data dependency checks in the vector loop and break vector execution when the inter-iteration dependency on variable occurs (i.e., we need to break vector execution after condition "(a[i]<j∥b[a[i]])" evaluates to true). To determine where the inter-iteration dependency occurs the condition "(a[i]<j∥b[a[i]])" has to be evaluated for all remaining iterations within the vector width. Due to C short circuiting rules, load "b[a[i]]" should be performed only if "a[i]<j" evaluates to FALSE. If "a[i]<j" evaluates to FALSE for the first vector element (i.e., vector element 0) we know that "b[a[i]]" can be safely accessed for this element. However if "a[i]<j" evaluates to TRUE for the first vector element and evaluates to FALSE for one or more subsequent element(s), the load of "b[a[i]]" is unsafe for these elements and hence has to be done speculatively. Hence to vectorize this loop a speculative gather is needed that treats element 0 as non-speculative and all other elements as speculative.
FIG. 1B is a snippet of a source code illustrating another class of loops that cannot be efficiently vectorized using conventional processor architectures. The loop of FIG. 1B can be partially vectorized as long as variable "j" is not changed and hence variable "last" remains unchanged. This can be done by moving the computation of "last=b[j]" above the use of "last" in "if (a[i] !=last)" (similar to loop rotation) and using a vPropagateShiftTrue operation which shifts vector elements to the next higher element by one position, and copies a scalar input to the first element position. Here after performing the operations:
last=b[j];
last=vPropagateShijtTrue(0, last);
the vector representing variable last will contain 0 as the first element and "b[j]" in all other elements. We can then evaluate "a[i] !=last" and can partially vectorize the loop until and including the vector element where the condition "a[i] !=last" evaluates to TRUE, i.e., "j" is modified. To compute "last=b[j]" as the first operation (moved up as indicated earlier) "b[j]" has to be speculatively loaded since we are assuming that "j" is not modified before the access to "b[j]" in the original source code. To do this we need a non-faulting vector load that speculatively loads all its mask enabled vector elements. And if the loop contained the statement "last=a[b[j+i]]" instead of "last=b[j]" we would need a non-faulting gather that speculatively gathers all its mask enabled elements instead of a non-faulting vector load operation.

Speculative non-faulting loads and gathers


A computer-implemented method of building a database of pulse sequences for parallel-transmission magnetic resonance imaging, includes a) for each of a plurality of subjects, determining an optimal sequence for the subject; b) for each subject, computing the values of the or of a different cost or merit function obtained by playing the optimal sequences for all the subjects; c) aggregating the subjects into a plurality of clusters using a clustering algorithm taking the values, or functions thereof, as metrics; d) for each cluster, determining an averaged optimal sequence for the cluster; e) receiving, as input, a set of features characterizing an imaging subject, comprising at least a morphological feature of the subject; f) associating the subject to one pulse sequence of the database based on the set of features using the computer-implemented classifier algorithm; and g) performing magnetic resonance imaging using the pulse sequence. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for carrying out steps e)-g) of such a method is also provided.

High field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proved its utility in clinical routine thanks to the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) it provides, allowing finer temporal and/or spatial resolutions. However, a number of problems inherent to high field still hamper the spread of high-field (3T-7T) scanners in hospitals worldwide. Among them is the "B1 artifact" that occurs when the RF wavelength gets close to, or smaller than, the imaged region ([1]). In such a case, the transmitted radio-frequency "B1+" field becomes inhomogeneous within the region of interest, resulting in an inhomogeneous distribution of nuclear magnetization flip angles. This leads to the appearance of zones of shade and loss of contrast, which can affect diagnosis by hiding pathologies or by altering the observed enhancement ratio in contrast-agent-injected sequences. At 3T, this artifact is particularly pregnant in abdominal imaging, while for brain imaging it becomes relevant at ultra-high fields (UHF-7T and above).
Several tools have been proposed to solve this problem, including passive and active RF shimming.
Passive RF shimming involves the use of dielectric pads for compensating B1inhomogeneity ([2]). Its effectiveness is somehow limited.
Active RF shimming makes use of parallel transmission (pTx), i.e. of multiple RF coils for exciting nuclear spins. Two main sorts of active RF shimming techniques exist: static and dynamic.
In static active RF shimming, the plurality of radio-frequency RF coil elements all transmit the same RF pulse with different complex weights, optimized to homogenize the B1 field [3]. For abdomen imaging at 3T, this technique is satisfactory for most patients, but it fails to offer homogeneous-enough excitation in about 10 to 20% of the cases, which is not acceptable. For higher field values, static active RF shimming is usually not satisfactory.
Dynamic RF shimming [4] consists in using multiple RF coils to simultaneously transmit respective RF pulses having different temporal waveforms, usually defined by complex time-varying envelopes. This technique allows achieving better uniformity than static shimming, but its complexity has made it essentially a research tool.
Reference [5] demonstrates the superiority of kT-points [6] dynamic RF shimming in clinical routine for nonselective excitation of the abdomen at 3T.
Optimizing weighting coefficients (static shimming) or RF waveforms (dynamic shimming) requires calibration consisting at least in the measurement of B1+ maps from each transmit channel; moreover, for optimal dynamic RF shimming, an off-resonance frequency Δf0 map (corresponding to a static field inhomogeneity ΔB0 map if no chemical shift like fat tissue is present) is also required before computation of the RF pulse. These computations are time consuming. For instance, on a 3T scanner with two channels, the whole calibration process can last nearly two minutes: 30 seconds for B1+ mapping, 15 seconds for Δf0 mapping, and between 5 seconds (static RF shimming) and 60 seconds (kT-points) for pulse design itself. This is even worse when the number of channels increases.
[7] describes a simplified static RF-shimming approach whereby several sets of complex weights—optimal for different categories of patients—are pre-computed; during clinical activity, the best suited one of these sets of parameters is chosen for each given patient. Calibration is then avoided, at the cost of a reduced homogeneity of the magnetization flip angle distribution.
"Universal pulses", introduced in [8] and [9], allows calibration-free dynamic RF-shimming: instead of designing a pulse specific to each subject, a pulse robust to inter-subject variability is created once and for all using calibration data of a population of subjects. Universal pulses were successfully implemented in the brain at 7T, with a variety of sequences and weightings, and different underlying pulse designs: kT-points [8], [9], [10], [11], fast-kz spokes [10], direct signal control [12].
Universality, however, compromises individual homogeneity. Even if they provide acceptable results for a majority of the subjects, they fail to provide homogeneous-enough excitation in a significant number of cases.
A compromise solution, suggested by [9], consists of computing different "semi-universal" pulses, tailored to different groups of imaging subjects. More precisely, according to [9], a set of subjects are grouped into a plurality of cohorts according to morphological features—e.g. the size of the head for brain imaging—and a "semi-universal" pulse sequence is designed for each cohort. The same morphological features are then used for choosing the best suited pulse sequence for additional subjects. A drawback of this approach is that the cohorts are formed on an empirical basis, with no guarantee of the relevance of the features used for sorting the imaging subjects.
Other approaches have also been proposed to avoid the time-consuming calibration required by optimal RF-shimming. Reference [13] describes a method to infer RF coefficients of a static slice-specific RF shimming pulse using geometrical features of the head and limited B1+ information with good accuracy; this method has been designed for brain imaging and it is not certain that it would be effective for dealing with body parts showing larger inter-subject shape and dimension variations than those of the head, such as the abdomen. Reference [14] describes a neural network solution to predict dynamic RF shimming pulses, but the produced pulses lack performance. Both methods target slice-specific pulses for brain examinations at 7T.

Computer-implemented method of building a database of pulse sequences for magnetic resonance imaging, and a method of performing magnetic resonance imaging using such a database

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

INSTITUTE NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE EN INFORMATIQUE ET AUTOMATIQUE


A payload is enclosed within a container that is dimensioned to fit within the channel that runs through a hollow optical fiber. The container is also adapted to carry a payload. When laser light shines into the optical fiber, some of the laser light strikes the container and propels the container through the channel. As a result, the payload is transported through the hollow fiber.

Transportation of materials from one location to another requires energy and is usually achieved either by a transporting vehicle or, when the material to be transported is fluid or particulate, by flow. In the first case the movement is done by a device equipped with a motor or other mechanical arrangement that performs work involving such movement. In the second case the movement results directly from forces due to pressure differences, gravitation, etc.
In all such cases the required energy is obtained from various sources such as burning fuel, electric current, etc. In practice, gravitation and similar forces cannot maintain movement continuously and effectively.
A source of energy that has only recently been used to directly create movement, although predicted by Maxwell's theorem, is light. It is now well established that a light beam illuminating a solid surface, preferably of reflective nature, exerts force or pressure on that surface. Such forces are also well known in astronomy. Light force or pressure, has recently been utilized, for example using laser beams, to maneuver micro-organelles and even molecules within cells and often termed optic tweezers.

Transporting matter that is enclosed within a container through a hollow optical fiber